A/N: Hi! Thanks to Stormy Dreamer for reading and reviewing my fic. Thank you for encouraging me to continue writing this story. Here's the second chapter and I DEDICATE THIS ONE TO YOU! Hope you like it!

To everyone else, hope you'll like this story! Please read and review! Thanks in advance!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII nor its characters.

BENEATH OLD DREAMS

Chapter Two

Twenty-two years ago...

Julia was sitting on the sofa and reading the newspaper. She skimmed down the contents of the page when a familiar name caught her eye.

"Kiros O'Brien died last June 4 at the age of 26. He is survived by his widow Yumi and their daughter Saki. His body lies in state at…"

She couldn't continue reading the rest of the page. The newspaper was shaking violently in her hands. Kiros, dead already? She couldn't believe what she had just read. She put the newspaper down on the sofa and she weakly leaned her back and closed her eyes. Her chest threatened to explode as the bitter memories of yesterday flashed into mind.

Edea and she were in good hands. Despite their anguish, they obeyed what their parents wanted for them. They went to Deling and took up commerce at a community college without meeting any guy. Besides, both had not any intention to meet guys. Julia decided that she was going to wait for Laguna. She was sure that he would find a way for them to be together again.

Edea also believed and trusted in the love that the shared with Kiros. She was certain that Kiros would ask for her hand in marriage once he graduated and had established a stable life. Her parents would not have any reason to decline such a request.

While the cousins were studying, Julia's parents James and Renee put up a grocery beside the house that they bought in Deling. When the young ladies had no classes, they help out in the grocery. But they were referred to as the "ice queens" in Deling because they did not smile at the male customers that went into the store.

They sacrificed their happiness and held on to the promises of their lovers for four years.

When Edea graduated, she asked her parents to allow her to go back to Balamb. They obliged. When she got there, she learned that Kiros also went to Deling to study.

Edea still waited in Balamb for Kiros' return, as Julia waited in Deling for Laguna. They were both doing the same thing—watching the family grocery.

After a few months, Kiros came back to Balamb with a wedding band on his finger. He met and fell in love with a woman in Deling.

Only Julia knew of the pain Edea went through. Everybody thought that four years were enough for Edea to forget her high school boyfriend.

Edea went back to Deling. Julia cried with Edea.

"Why did he do that to me?" Edea sobbed. "Why did he not keep our promise? I waited for him, didn't I?"

Julia didn't know what to say. She did not know what to tell her cousin because she also felt betrayed with what happened to Edea. She thought, what if Laguna also got married? Did he forget their promise? Was that the meaning of four years without communication?

She couldn't do anything but wait for him. Where in Esthar would she write Laguna?

But Laguna can do something to get in touch with her. If he will go back to Balamb like he promised, he can face her Uncle Edward. And maybe, at this point in time, her uncle would not deny them their chance to meet with each other.

Why hasn't Laguna returned yet?

A few days later, when Edea finished her mourning, Julia asked her, "What will you do now?"

"I'll stay here in Deling," Edea replied. "I won't live long in Balamb, too many memories."

"Ed, you're only twenty-six years old," she said. "Just forget about it. At least, now that you had graduated, if you meet someone and you fall in love with him, no one can get in your way."

Edea shook her head. "Kiros is the only man I love… and ever will love," she softly said.

"Despite what he did?" Julia asked, eyebrows knitted together.

"Even if I'm angry because he forgot our promise, I still love him very much, Julia," Edea wept. "I love him so much."

And Julia cried too as she hugged her cousin. She cried because she felt the hurt Edea was feeling. And she cried for herself—because like Edea, she can't do anything about her feelings.

She was starting to doubt Laguna. She wanted to give up waiting. But she can't. Her heart did not want her to give up on him. Her heart was telling her not to forget Laguna. She knew she still loved him, no matter what happened.

And because of that, the cousins sacrificed their happiness. Edea still continued loving Kiros even if she knew that the love of her life would never come back to her. Julia continued to love, wait and dream.

When the fifth year passed, she believed that maybe Laguna was still learning how to do his job.

The sixth year passed, she believed that maybe Laguna was still saving up enough money for them.

Now, she remembered that it had been already ten years since Laguna left. Six years since the four of them finished college, and after Kiros got married. Why didn't she notice the passing of time? Did she will herself to be blind, to be emotionless so as not to feel the pain of waiting too long?

And now Kiros is gone. He died without crossing paths with Edea.

Julia thought, would she and Laguna ever meet again? She felt tears stream down her face as she sat alone in the living room.

"Julia?" Edea called as she entered the room.

Julia slowly opened her eyes.

"Why?" Edea asked as she stood in front of her and noticed her tear-stricken face.

She silently handed her the newspaper that was opened on the obituary page.

One look and Edea fell to the floor.

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

She waited for a month to pass. She waited for Edea to recover from this great ordeal in her life.

Then, she told her, "Edea, I'll marry Vincent."

Vincent Caraway was Julia's most persistent suitor. He was a very good-looking man and was recently promoted general. He had been courting her for two years, ever since he got assigned in Deling. Vincent was the only man she met that was not intimidated by her heartless demeanor. He was the only one who persevered wooing her despite her unfriendly attitude.

At first, she only entertained him because of good manners. But these past few days, she considered him a friend. But she never thought the day would come that she will agree marrying Vincent Caraway.

"Why?" Edea asked. "Why did you suddenly come up with that… idea?"

"Because of what happened to Kiros," she answered.

Edea knitted her eyebrows in confusion. "Please tell me… Is there a connection between Kiros' death and you marrying Vincent?" she asked incredulously.

Julia sighed before she answered her cousin's question. "When Kiros got married, you still held on to your love for him, and I held on to Laguna's promise," she said. "I don't know why or how, but I felt like I was kind of borrowing… influenced by your strength in. But when Kiros died, I felt weak. As if… my hope for Laguna died, too. Don't ask me what is the connection between all of these. I really don't know. I just felt that… I immediately became scared… I don't want to be alone. I don't want to die without loving someone and without someone loving me."

Edea held gently held her hand. "I understand what you're feeling. "But are you sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with Vincent? I know that he loves you so much. But the question is: Can you love him? Can you return his love?" she slowly asked.

"If I give him my commitment, I will do everything to learn to love him. I believe that won't be difficult. Vincent's a great man. He's a very kind man and a good provider, too."

"Okay. What if you're already married… and then Laguna comes back for you?" Edea asked.

At that point, Julia felt her eyes well up. Tears ran down her pretty face. "I will stand by my marriage to Vincent," she answered, her voice shaking. "But I know it will feel like dying."

Edea hugged her. "Don't be like me, Julia," she said as she wept. "Go on and learn to love again. Take the risk. Don't be afraid of getting hurt again. That's not new to us. We know how it feels to be hurt. Try learning how to be happy. Even if it's not perfect happiness."

After a month, Julia got married. Her parents were extremely happy for her. They approved of Vincent. Their lives remained the same. Only this time, Vincent was with them. They continued to live together in their house in Deling. Edea still lived with Julia.

Julia tried to be a good wife. And after nine months, her efforts were rewarded. A child came and brought happiness to her life. And she named her Rinoa.

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

It was Julia and Rinoa's first night at the house. The new mother can hardly sleep even if the baby was sleeping soundly beside her. Julia can't believe that this little angel beside her was bringing joy to her. Her heart was brimming with love. She never felt this happy since Laguna left her.

Julia was surprised as that name came into her mind. She felt guilty.

Here she was, with daughter sleeping peacefully at her right and her loving husband at her left, and she was thinking of another man. Since she got married to Vincent, Julia forced herself not to think of the name Laguna. It was difficult, but she did it, nevertheless. And she promised herself as Vincent and she knelt at the altar, while the man she chose to marry is alive, she will never be unfaithful to him. She will never think of another man. She will never think of 'that' man.

That was the sacrifice she offered Hyne in exchange of a wish for a little bit of happiness. And Julia believed that Rinoa was the answer to her prayers. The heavens not only gave her a little bit of happiness but a lot.

But now, in this very moving moment, Laguna's memory came to mind. And she had to push it away. Julia looked at her daughter, and then at her husband. And she softly whispered, "You deserve all my love."

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Thirteen years had passed…

They were happy for ten years, she and Vincent. As Julia thought about those years, she realized that that is true happiness. She uttered a prayer of thanks, not only to Rinoa, but also to Vincent.

Vincent loved her deeply. And that was enough for Julia to learn to love him. She also loved him deeply. She realized that that was possible despite Laguna's memories.

Julia was shaken. It had been ten years since she gave birth to Rinoa. Of all the time her mind chose to drift to Laguna… Julia was standing in front of her husband's grave, three days after he was buried. She shook her head.

"Vincent, I never betrayed you… I never thought of another man besides you," she softly said. "Please forgive me of thinking of Laguna while I'm standing in front of you."

But at that moment, as she knew that she really loved Vincent, she also knew and accepted the fact that Laguna always had a part in her heart. He never took the space she had for Vincent and Rinoa. He never became a hindrance when she loved her husband and daughter.

But her love for Laguna was endless. It never died. And in that hidden part, her love for Laguna was silent. That love sacrificed itself to let her feel love and happiness in Vincent's arms. Her heart jumped at the joy it felt. She never knew it was possible. That love did not die. That it did not end.

And now, that truth also brought her good news. And that means that her love for Vincent, too, will never fade. Just like Laguna, Vincent will remain in her heart.

Tears ran freely on her cheeks as Julia looked up to the heavens above her.

"Thank you," she whispered into the wind.

That was for Vincent, for the power of Hyne who gave her the ability to love and be happy.

Rinoa held her hand. "Mommy…" she wept.

Julia knelt and embraced her nine-year old daughter.

"Always remember, Rinoa," she told her. "Daddy will always live in our hearts. He'll always stay in our hearts because he loved us and we loved him so much. All the people you loved and loved you back, they have a permanent space in your heart. Nothing can ever take them away from you."