***
I'm sorry this took so long, I really really really am... But I went to camp, I went to Canada, and I got caught up with another fic, and such... but someone e-mailed me and now I want to work some more. ^_^ That, and a fic that has three pages of reviews deserves to be finished. I write for the reader as much as I write for myself.
***

Who's a cute little baby? I think you are! You are! Yes, you are!
Squall heaved a sigh and sat heavily on the grass beside Zell, who had been cooing over the same Chicobo for about fifteen minutes now. It was impossible for them to pass through Winhill without stopping to play. Even when Irvine was with them.
It had always been the three of them. Quistis and Selphie had always worked well together, and he'd not wanted to separate them... and Zell refused to be taken from his side. Every time they needed to split into groups, Zell would stand by his side, no matter why they were separating, no matter how much Rinoa insinuated she wanted to go with Squall.
His pondering was interrupted by the sudden weight in his lap. Squall blinked, then peered down at the pile of feathers that was chirping cheerily up at him. Zell was wearing a cheeky grin, one finger still scritching the Chicobo that was now settled firmly on Squall's legs.
Looked like ya needed t' play, Zell explained.
Squall eyed him, then heaved a sigh and stared down at the bird.
They sat in wordless quiet for some time, the Chicobo warking softly, Zell cooing faintly as he petted it.

The blond perked up, leaning on his elbows. Squall leveled a Look on him, then sighed.
Are we going to do something useful or not?
Zell chuckled, stretching his muscled arms over his head, then draping on carelessly over his shoulders. Squall blinked at the sudden gesture, his back stiffening in a reaction that was almost instinct...
And yet, he melted against the half-embrace almost instantly, a faint smile quirking his thin lips. Needed to play, indeed... After a moment, a long moment of his heart beating against his ears, he shifted slightly to lay his head against Zell's warm shoulder, uncertain... But rather than jumping away or laughing or anything, anything he could have feared, he only tugged him closer...
You just don't know how to go on vacation, baby, Zell smiled against his hair. You don't do anything, that's the point! If you're gonna DO somethin', it's not vacation!

Squall closed his eyes against Zell's shoulder, the Chicobo squirming a little in his lap, the wind playing affectionate fingers through his hair. He felt... almost small... cradled against his side, feeling his heartbeat through the cage of his ribs, one gloved hand petting over his arm, fingers scraping deep enough to be felt through his coat.
Something about Zell had always made him feel small... His smile, his laugh echoing down the hallways, the unafraid touch of his hand. He was short. He sometimes seemed more comical than forbidding. He was an Everyman that everyone felt comfortable with. Not someone who you would ever expect to become a hero.
Because he was the type of man who was a hero no matter what he did.
Something about him was... just bigger and more grand than he could understand.
Squall blinked, startling himself out of those thoughts as Zell shifted, the arm that had supported him suddenly disappearing. He craned his neck to peer over his shoulder, the fur that ridged his collar tickling his nose, the Chicobo squawking in protest as her seat was disrupted.
Zell was lying on his back in the grass, arms and legs splayed out at angles that seemed almost painful, bright cerulean eyes watching the clouds move across the sky. Squall sat silently, unsure, letting the noon sun beat down on them both until he could feel beads of sweat soaking his shirt to his sides.
he inquired archly after a few moments.
Zell grinned, then curled his fingers into the back of Squall's leather jacket, tugging sharply. Try it. S fun.
I'll get grass stains on my jacket, he protested calmly, allowing the Chicobo to scramble away. The fluffy bird preened for a moment, then bit him lightly on the knee and chirped itself away. It was just as well, he mused, watching the downy back hide amongst the grass. If they kept the baby much longer, her mother would get annoyed. And that was never a good thing, especially when they were unarmed.
Oh, live a little, wouldja? That's what laundries are for!
Squall settled for a sigh and compliance, knowing protesting would get him nowhere. Protesting had never gotten him anything but guilt, really...
He couldn't bring himself to be annoyed by that.
Strangely enough.
Squall stretched out on the grass next to him agreeably. It was rather comfortable, actually... The grass was soft enough to not prickle his skin, the skin that was again becoming used to being inside... But after a moment of consideration, he slid out of his jacket. It was hot in Winhill during the summer... a knowledge that seemed almost second nature to him.
Zell welcomed drowsily.
How did you ever become a SeeD? Squall muttered, poking Zell almost irritably in the ribs. You can't just fall asleep whenever you're warm.
Zell answered him with a raspberry and an arm flopped over his chest. Squall jumped, then focused surprised, wide eyes on his companion. Zell raised himself to one elbow next to him, having turned over easily to his stomach.
I thought we could put the house in th' back of that field there, he nodded to where the Chicobo had disappeared. Nice n secluded for ya.
Squall cast an obligatory glance at the space he had indicated, then nodded. It didn't really matter to him where the house was going to be. They could build it in the place with the penguins for all he cared...
It was a curious thing, that even in the shade Zell had provided, the sun was still burning in his chest. He was still warm, almost uncomfortably hot, the light silhouetting Zell and flaming though his hair to light it like a crown of radiance...
Is that fine for you? I mean, we could go into town if you wanna. That's fine with me, I mean, it's your house. But the Chicobos are fun t' play with, and it's out f the way, and it's halfway to both halves of the town, and-
I love you.
It had passed his lips without even his own permission, and he found himself blinking in dumb amazement at his own boldness. He was used to interrupting Zell's tirades, but it was usually with a command, or even an insult, something, anything other than words he couldn't ever remember having said before, not even to Ellone, to Matron, to anyone...
But it couldn't possibly be untrue if he hadn't forced himself to say it. He had done that before, spouted untruths, but only after effort, only after thinking of them! But he had never lost control of his own voice box, never like that, never-
His internal monologue was interrupted by the quiet taste of salt upon his lower lip, and he lifted his eyes to Zell's, only to see them brimming...
Do you, now? the blond whispered, something he couldn't read in those eyes, some pain he couldn't imagine, something he knew he should remember, something that touched the depths of his mind and yet remained unknown...
he responded soberly. You know I don't lie to you.
At that Zell laughed, and that darkness he had glimpsed only for that brief moment was gone, gone into the familiar brightness. he chuckled. That's true. You never have, have ya?
Squall let Zell tug him up into a tight hug, resting against his strong chest and closing his eyes to the serene expanse around them. This time he managed to return the embrace, if with a childish shyness. And if he had his way, it wouldn't end as quickly as the last one had.
With whatever God there was as his witness, he wouldn't let this end.