Squall stroked her raven hair gently, savouring the sweet feeling of just being there with her. The others hung back respectfully, talking quietly amongst themselves to allow the reunited lovers their solitude. Irvine gripped his wife protectively to his side, for some unknown reason fearful for her safety. He eyed Zell; relieved to see his own tension mirrored in the blonde mans face. Laguna joined the small party, laying a hand on Seifer's shoulder, a gesture of thanks for something he did not yet understand. The hushed whispers stopped, the eyes of the group turning to the older man. He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the words to make verbal his confusion. "I always said he'd be late for his own funeral."

Irvine's mouth turned upward. "Yeah. Difference is we never really expected it to happen. Sure does explain a lot though, huh?"

"It explains nothing! What the hell has been going on for the past few weeks? Two Squall's, disturbance in Garden, Seifer turning up out of the blue…" Quistis exploded, throwing up her hands. "I don't know what to believe anymore. It all seems so unreal."

"Why did you come back, Seifer?" Irvine inquired.

The green eyed man frowned. "I, I dunno. Raijin, Fujin and me, we just kinda ended up here and back at Garden. No idea how we got here or why we came. There's a lot we need to find out."

Laguna stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe there's something Odine can do. He's got to be good for something. At least, I hope he is." He shook his head. "Wouldn't want to be wasting the tax payers money."

"What about Elle? Could she not connect to one of them and see what happened?" The blonde woman questioned.

"That's definitely another avenue we could explore. I'll talk to her later; she's had a bit of a shock. Just like us all." Laguna looked down at the still exposed casket. "I'm just so glad it isn't him."

"Hey, hey, do we even know who him is?" Zell interrupted.

Selphie grinned. "Some guy who looked like Squall? Didn't after he got splatted though, huh? Hey, shouldn't we bring him up? That is where Squall's gonna be buried after all."

Irvine put an arm around his wife's shoulders, pulling her even closer to him as he sighed in mock disappointment. "Sefie, Sefie. How many times do I have to tell you? We do not dig up the dead, my morbid little cowgirl. It's bad luck, hon."

Quistis' eyebrows knitted. "Did you have to bring up the whole mental image of crushed Squall? It made me ill enough seeing him the first time around, I don't really want that in my head."

The petite brunette stuck out her tongue. "You guys are no fun!"

Laguna chuckled before resuming his serious demeanour. "Well, I for one want to know who was impersonating my son. Maybe if we get to the bottom of your reappearance, Seifer, we'll get a better idea of just what we're up against here. Something tells me this isn't over."

"I think so too. Not by a long shot." The blond agreed darkly.

"Everyone's being awfully serious. It's so weird to see you acting all grown up like, Sir Laguna!"

The older man smiled wryly. "I can be serious when occasion dictates the necessity for solemnity."

The rest of the small group stared at Laguna open-mouthed as they digested his words. A lazy grin spread over his face. "What? You didn't think I was a total moron did you?" He shook his head, muttering. "Jeez, they get inside your head at a few choice moments and think you're an ass. People always underestimate me."

Quistis quirked an eyebrow before resuming the previous conversation. "Anyway…did you know that man was an impostor, Seifer?"

He nodded and she continued. "Why didn't you tell any of us?" She cried in despair. "This could have been avoided."

"Would you, any of you, have believed me?" They hung their heads. "Thought not. He wasn't stupid, he knew my reputation, he knew I wasn't trusted. He knew to whom he could safely reveal himself. The word of the lapdog was worth shit to all of you. I hope that's changed."

Selphie placed a hand on the mans arm, sincerity glowing in her jade eyes. "It has."

"Good. Well, this has been one hell of a day. I'm turning in." He turned to Laguna. "Hey, uh, if you see Elle? Will you tell her I'm asking for her?"

He saluted. "Will do. Thanks for…just thanks."

"No problem."

Seifer sauntered away, leaving behind him a rash of unanswered questions. Irvine frowned, the easy smile replaced by uneasiness. "So what now? Where do we go from here?"

"We watch and we wait. If there is a threat it won't be long in showing itself, we've learned that much through experience. We can't go around scared of every shadow and jumping at every noise. We're SeeD's. We've handled worse than this." Quistis stated.

"I dunno Quisty, Ultimecia never tried to replace one of us. She never tried to destroy us from within."

The blond woman looked exasperated. "Yes she did! Think about it Irvine, why do you think she chose Seifer? Our reluctance to fight one of our own could have been our downfall. Whoever is behind this latest attack is using her methods, albeit slightly more advanced."

Zell grinned. "I love it when you're right."

She blushed. "Later, Zell. Right now we need to explain to Garden that our Commander is alive and well and that an unknown entity may pose a threat to all our safety. We need to ensure everyone is extra vigilant, at least for the time being."

Selphie jabbed her thumb in the direction of Rinoa and Squall. "What about those two? Do we just leave them here?"

"We do. Selphie, arrange for the body to be removed and buried in another location. After what he done he doesn't deserve the honour of a SeeD burial."

"Hell, Quistis, he wasn't even a SeeD! He doesn't deserve anything!" Zell raged.

"But he was a man, good or bad is of no consequence now. We will not stoop to his level; we're better than that. I think he was shown little compassion in life and that's why he was the way he was. We'll show him solicitude in death, maybe then he can find some peace."

Zell took her in his arms and she laid her head on his shoulder. He shook his head slightly, whispering in her ear. "You're amazing, do you know that?"

"I just try to care."

"Never lose that, Quisty. It makes you so special."

~*~*~

"I thought I'd lost you forever. I thought you were gone."

Squall lifted her chin so she was forced to meet his eyes. "I'm here now, that's what matters, right? I won't put you through that again, I promise."

"I saw you die. I watched your life ebb away." Rinoa whispered, eyes wide as she remembered the scene.

"Not me. Him. That's the difference, Rin." He hesitated. "He…didn't hurt you or…anything, did he?"

"He wasn't you, he was mean."

The black gloved fist clenched. "Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head. "Not physically." The sorceress pointed to her heart. "Here he did."

"I'll sort it." Squall sighed, looking around his home. "It's good to be back with you, it's good to be home. Has everything else been ok? You've not been ill or…"

"No, I'm fine, so is the baby." She giggled. "Laguna's thrilled that he's going to be a granddad."

Squall's mouth turned up slightly at the corners. "A baby? Rin, that's fantastic, I can't believe I'm going to be a father! Well, with that great news I suppose there's only one thing left to do."

Rinoa looked confused. "What?"

"We'll need to make this family official. Let's set a date for the wedding."

The raven-haired girl squealed, hugging him to her tightly. "Really?"

"Really. We'll make it soon, so that if anything does happen…you'll be safe."

She frowned. "Don't say things like that."

"I'm being practical, Rin."

"Well, be more practical and just make sure nothing happens to you." She pouted.

"You know it's not that easy." He tried to soothe her.

"Quit then! We don't need the money, why do you need to always be the one to run off and save the world?"

He tried to explain. "It's my job, this is my home. I love them both, not as much as you, but they're part of me. I don't want to leave it behind now that I feel I belong somewhere." He looked at her, suddenly noticing the black she donned and raised an eyebrow. "When I do die, do me a favour? Wear any colour but black. That's not the girl I fell in love with."

She smiled, nodding absently as she looked out over the still graveyard. "It's so quiet."

"Peaceful." He agreed as he sank down to the grass. "This is what life should be. No war, no fighting. But human nature can't be altered. I wouldn't change the choices I made."

"I never thought that my life would turn out like this." Rinoa commented as she joined him.

He glanced sideways at her. "You have regrets?"

"No." She said quickly. "I never thought it would be this wonderful."

Squall put an arm around her shoulders. "Me either."

They fell into silence, watching as day faded gently into night. Stars twinkled softly overhead, the only sound their gentle breaths and the slight rustle of leaves as the twilight breeze tenderly caressed the trees. The salt scent of the ocean infused with their still sun warmed skin, the small hairs on their arms brushing together tentatively. The sorceress leaned into the embrace of her knight, placing a loving hand atop his arm. As the dying embers of the sun faded into the dark nothingness, her voice broke the calm.

"Where have you been?"

"Kashkabald Desert. Somewhere."

She ran a finger lightly down a thin scar on his arm. "How did you get home?"

"A ship. You don't want to know where I had to stay while I waited for the transport." He shuddered slightly at the memory.

Rinoa sat up slightly and grinned. "I do now. Tell me later?"

He rubbed his temples. "If you're good."

"I'm always good."

"We'll see."

~*~*~

The man howled in rage as he inspected the empty cell. Since Squall had escaped he had returned to the scene of the knights subterfuge every morning and night, hoping in vain that the man would be awaiting him when he entered the dungeon. He knew it was hopeless, but still he clung to the increasingly faint hope that the escape was a bad dream. There had been no news of his recapture; the clone he had placed his hopes on had been killed. Events were forcing his hand sooner than expected and he raged against the injustice of Hyne. His minion entered the cell with some amount of trepidation, clearing his throat nervously. "My liege…"

"What?" He barked. "You better have some good news for me. Have you recaptured Leonhart?" He added menacingly.

The smaller man, terrified, shook his head. "N, no. Leonhart has returned to Garden. Almasy is questioning his own reappearance. Things do not bode well, my lord."

The man narrowed his eyes. "Indeed. We must act quickly while they are still vulnerable. The work and toil we have invested, we will reap the rewards. SeeD shall fall, and with their destruction shall I rise and claim my revenge. They will pay for the wrongs perpetrated against me and none shall live to rue their transgressions. The day of reckoning draws ever closer."

A/N: Happy Birthday to me! Leave me a review as a present!

Thanks to: Refugee, Pierson, Noacat, Caleb Nova, The Angel of the Lion, and Squalleternally.