Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII...

Author's Note: I know, I know, I took forever to update! I'm really sorry, but blame my school, lol! Oh well, I only have 19 days left anyway, and then I'm home free, which will give me plenty of time to write. Thanks to everyone that reviewed.

On the Ice

Chapter 9- Heading to Deling

"You're ready," Cid said proudly. A week had passed by since the incident with Seifer and Quistis and no one had heard anything. Squall and Rinoa had taken the opportunity to train non-stop.

"You really think so?" Rinoa asked. "Are you sure?"

Cid nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. You two have really mastered this routine, and I think you should enter yourselves into the next competition."

Squall frowned. "When is the next competition?"

"It's in a week, and is going to be held in Deling City. I suggest that you enter as soon as possible."

Squall turned to Rinoa. "What do you think?"

"I say that we go for it. I mean, this will be our first time competing together! I think it'll be exciting," Rinoa said enthusiastically.

"We'll have to leave Dollet as soon as possible...."

Rinoa shrugged. "Then let's leave now. We can't pass up this opportunity!"

Squall nodded. "Alright, let's do it."

"That's the spirit, my boy!" Cid exclaimed. "I have the utmost faith in the two of you. I know that you'll be able to pull this off."

"You will be coming with us, right?" Rinoa asked.

"Of course! Whoever heard of skaters without a coach!" Cid smiled. "I'm lucky because my wife can travel with me." He winked, causing Rinoa to giggle. "Anyway, do you think you will be ready to pack up and go by tomorrow morning?"

Squall nodded. "That shouldn't be a problem."

"Excellent! I'll enter you two in the competition right away! Meet me at the Dollet Train Station at 9:00 sharp!"

Rinoa waved. "See you then!"

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Once they were back at the hotel, Rinoa and Squall began the task of packing up their stuff and getting ready to leave.

"I'm so excited about the competition!" Rinoa exclaimed. "Do you think Seifer and Quistis will be there?"

Squall nodded gravely. "Wherever there's a chance to be number one, they're going to be there."

"Yeah, you're right, but I suppose we can't get hung up on them." She paused. "I used to live in Deling City, you know."

Squall looked up from what he was doing. "Really?"

"Yes. Why do you look so surprised?"

Squall shook his head. "You just look more like one of those Estharian girls. You know...living in a high-tech city."

"Oh, really?" Rinoa teased. "So are you saying that I couldn't survive in a place like Deling City?"

"You left, didn't you?"

Rinoa became silent. "Yeah, I did...but it wasn't the city I couldn't handle."

"What was it, then?" Squall asked softly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, it's alright. I left Deling because of my father. My mother died when I was very young, and after that, it was like he couldn't handle life. The anger and pain I saw in his eyes..." She shuddered. "I guess he figured he'd take it out on me. I mean, he never abused me, not physically. Mentally... His words hurt...badly. I don't want to forgive him for the way he treated me. Squall..." She looked up at him. "Please, don't let him near me when we're in Deling City."

"Do you think he'll come after you?"

"Honestly, I don't know. He's going to hear that I'm in town for the competition and I'd rather not see him."

Squall nodded. "Just stay close to me. I won't let him, or anyone, hurt you."

"Thank you, Squall," Rinoa said as she embraced him. "I don't know what I would ever do without you."

He stroked her hair gently. "You don't have to worry." They stood like that for a few minutes. "Uh...we should finish packing."

"It can wait. Right now, I just want to stay with you," She kissed him softly.

Squall gave in to the kiss, but broke it off after a few seconds. "Rinoa, we really shouldn't be doing this right now. We're leaving tomorrow morning," Squall told her gently.

She sighed. "It always leads back to our career, doesn't it?"
Squall shook his head. "No...it doesn't have to be. I promise you, we'll have plenty of time to continue this later." He smirked.

"Really?" Rinoa grinned. "Okay, but that's a promise you had better keep."

"Do I ever break my promises?" He smiled.

"No," Rinoa said, smiling back. "You don't."

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"Squall, Rinoa, over here!" Cid called.

Rinoa waved. "Good morning," she said happily.

"Good morning! Are you two ready to get going?" Cid asked.

Squall nodded. "Everything seems to be in order. Do you have the tickets?"

"Yes I do," Cid smiled. "Then it looks like we can get going."

Cid led the way and boarded the train. Rinoa and Squall followed him onto the train. Cid sat down next to Edea, who had already boarded. Irvine and Selphie were seated behind her. Rinoa and Squall took the two vacant seats adjacent to them.

"Hey guys!" Rinoa greeted them happily. "Cid didn't tell us that you were going to be taking this train."

"Well, here we are," Selphie grinned. "I'm so glad that you two are entering the competition. I can't wait to see you guys skate!"

Rinoa smiled warmly. "I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous about performing, but I'm really looking forward to it."

Irvine tapped Selphie on the shoulder. "Hey Seffie, are you thirsty? This train is supposed to have a great bar. I'm gonna go check it out. Do you wanna come?"

"Sure," Selphie told him. "See you later, Rin."

Once Irvine and Selphie left, Rinoa turned to Squall. "You're being awfully quiet."

Squall shrugged. "I was just thinking."

"What were you thinking about?" Rinoa asked.

"A lot of things. The competition, Seifer, Quistis, you..."

Rinoa looked at him in surprise. "Me? What were you thinking about me?"

"Nothing..." Squall said as he started to turn red.

"You're blushing!" Rinoa exclaimed. "Oh, come on, Squall! You can't just tell me that you were thinking about me and expect to leave it at that."

"Why not? My thoughts aren't for your viewing pleasure," he said as he surprised a grin.

Rinoa hit him playfully. "Squall! I can't believe you just said that!"

"What?" He laughed. "It's the truth!"

"Well, if your thoughts aren't for my viewing pleasure, then what is?"

Squall turned even redder than before. "I'm not even going to answer that."

"Aw, you're so cute, taking it so seriously," she said, laughing quietly to herself.

He turned the other way and looked out the window. "Laugh if you want, but you can find someone else to talk to on this train."

"Oh, come on! I was only kidding!" Squall still didn't turn his head. "Squall..." Rinoa gently pulled his face towards hers. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make fun of you. I was just teasing." She gave him her most pathetic look. "Will you forgive me?"

Squall smiled slightly. "I suppose that I don't have much of a choice, do I?" He stroked her cheek caressingly. "I can't stay mad at you...." He drew her towards him and kissed her deeply.

Edea turned to her husband. "Look at those two...they look so happy together," She sighed contentedly. "I hope they make it and this business doesn't tear them apart."

Cid looked at his wife, surprised. "Do you think that it will?"

Edea shook her head. "No...but with this business, you never know. It's a whole different world. I'll have to pray for them."

"They'll make it," Cid said, a look of pride on his face. "I know they will."

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"Seifer, I need to talk to you!" Quistis knocked on the door to his hotel room. "Come on, Seifer, I know you're in there!"

Seifer flung the door open. "What?" He snapped.

"Look, I just wanted to tell you that we can't keep this up if we want to win. We haven't even been talking, let alone practicing. How do you expect us to win the competition? This is going to be one night only, which means that we only get one shot."

"Do you think I don't know that? I shouldn't even be looking at you, Quistis. I know where your loyalties lie."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. You all but said that you regretted leaving Squall."

Quistis shook her head. "You know that I never said that! And you weren't so innocent, either. I'm willing to let it go this time."

"Why?"

"Because a successful team needs to be on speaking terms to operate," she said as she stuck out her hand. "Truce?"

Seifer shrugged. "Fine, but there aren't any guarantees that it'll last."

"Well, that will just have to be good enough for now, won't it?"

"Regardless of whether or not it's good enough, it's all you're getting."

Quistis sighed. "You are impossible."

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"Hello! May I help you?" The secretary at the Fairview Hotel asked Squall and Rinoa. They had spent hours training vigorously at the Deling City Arena. After that, they had gone out for dinner with Irvine, Selphie, Cid and Edea. Then, they had all gone their separate ways and the rest of them would probably be checking in a bit later.

"Uh, yeah. We need two single rooms for a couple of nights," Squall told her.

Rinoa elbowed him. "Squall," she whispered, "One room is fine! Plus, it'll save us money."

"Okay, make that one room for two," he said reluctantly.

"The current single rooms available contain one King-sized bad. Will that be a problem?"

How did I know... Squall looked at Rinoa and she winked. He turned back to the woman. "We'll take it."

"Very well. That will be 200 gil." Squall handed the woman the money. "Thank you. Here's your key. You're in room 113."

Squall took the key and headed upstairs with Rinoa. "Did you set this up?"

Rinoa turned to him, puzzled. "Set what up?"

"For there not to be any rooms with two beds. This is the second time that it's happened to us."

Rinoa smiled. "Of course I didn't set it up! Maybe this is a sign..." She trailed off as they arrived at room 113.

Squall opened the door and Rinoa walked right in. The room was medium-sized. A King-sized bed was located on one side of the wall. There was a desk, a love seat, and a big screen TV also located in the room. Off to the right was the bathroom, and directly in front of them were double doors leading out to the balcony.

"Not bad," Squall commented.

Rinoa sighed happily. "I, for one, am exhausted. I'm going to get changed and go to bed."

Rinoa disappeared into the bathroom and Squall took the time to change out of his clothes and into a pair of black pajama pants. He was also exhausted and couldn't wait to lay down and fall asleep.

A few minutes later, Rinoa re-entered the room, dressed in a blue nightgown. She yawned. "God, I can't keep my eyes open. Come one, let's go to sleep."

"We?" Squall asked.

"Yes, we! Squall, you are not going to sleep on that tiny love seat. And don't you even think about sleeping on the floor. We have a King-sized bed! There's plenty of room for the both of us! Besides, didn't you make me promise to stay close to you?"

"If you insist..."

Rinoa grinned. "Really?"

He shrugged. "I don't see the harm in it. Besides, if I had to sleep on that love seat, I don't think I would be able to skate tomorrow."

Rinoa smiled to herself as she climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers. Squall got in beside her, but made sure to keep his distance. Rinoa snuggled close to him.

"Hold me tight tonight, okay? Really tight," she begged him.

Squall nodded and pulled her close. "Good night, Rinoa," he said as he kissed her forehead. Rinoa didn't respond and Squall realized that she was already asleep. He watched her for a few minutes and then he, too, fell asleep, a grin upon his face.

~*~