Disclaimer: I think we all know the drill.  –Sigh- okay here goes.  Squall, Seifer Zell, and all the other happy little people belong to Squaresoft. Oh! And I found out yesterday while at the video store, that I don't even own my title! The prison song is the name of some movie with Mary j. blige or something. I am just so embarrassed, here I thought I was being original :'( . so, I hate having to do this…but 'the prison song' belongs to Hollywood.

I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long, but this story is giving me nothing but grief (translation: writer's block…) For those of you who thought I was taking a hiatus in order to write a really amazing chapter, I'm sorry to disappoint.  This chapter sucks, worse than the plague sucked. You are warned.  On a happier note I know pretty much what's going on from here so the updates should come at least once if not twice a week. (Does anyone care?) Thank you for sticking with me this far, it's greatly appreciated.

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[Squall]

            It's somewhat of a surprise to find Zell up and about so early in the morning.  I had come to apologize, but was sidetracks by the blonde's antics.  He seems to be practicing some kind of kickboxing, an up punch, dodge, and karate kick to the stomach.  I feel sorry for the poor imaginary foe.

            "Zell."  He doesn't seem to hear me and continues his timed jumps and punches.  "Zell."  Still no answer. Well, no need to get creative.  I walk up behind him and grab his shoulder.  "Zell!"

            I almost feel bad as the boy jumps in shock and turns to face me, fists held high. When he sees it's just me he stands at ease and removes a before unnoticed headphone from his ear.  "Yo Squall, S'up?"

            I lift a shoulder.  "Just came to apologize."

            He puts a hand on the back of his head and stretches in an embarrassed matter   "Eh, don't worry about it.  S'all good right?"

            Zell hardly seems to be the wreck Laguna described last night.  Must be pretty resilient.  "Yeah, s'all right."

            He smiles brightly, and then holds up the CD player.  "Do ya like it?  Ma gave Seifer the money and he went out and got it.  He even bought me some cd's with his own money."

            "You met Seifer?"  Looks like the big blonde forgot to mention one little detail.       

            "Oh yeah!  He came and did his paperwork here last night.  Man!  He told me a lot about you. You're a pretty funny guy.  I don't know why he was so nice to me though, I thought all prison guards were supposed to be hardasses?"

            "Seifer always has to bend the rules. You do him a favor, he'll do one for you." Mhm, so Seifer met with Zell.  Damn him, he saw past me again.  Only Seifer has ever been able to read me and know exactly what I'm thinking.  …Bastard.

            "What's that mean?"  What, bastard?  Oh, I guess Zell's talking about what I said about the favor.  I guess it takes me longer to figure out then I thought, because Zell starts talking again.

            "Heh, he told me you didn't talk much.  That's ok, I'll talk for both of us!"  He grins, then scowls and punches the air.  "He called me a chicken wuss! What kind of stupid name is that anyway?"

            I shrug. "He calls me Puberty Boy. 

            Wrong thing to say.  I can tell before he moves he's going to want to hear the story.  I go to leave quickly, muttering something about visitation.  Hopefully he'll get the drift.

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[Ma Dincht]

            "Hey Ma!"  My little boy looks like he's holding up fine, but one can never be sure.

            I blink back moisture threatening to slip from my eyes.  "Hi Zell.  How are you doing in there?"

            Zell flashes me his hundred-watt grin.  "Great! I've made lots of friends.  I really think you would like them ma."

            I nod. It's good he's meeting new people.  I bite my lip and hesitantly I ask the question that has been plaguing me since his sentencing.  "Has anybody tried to...I mean have you…oh dear."

            "Huh…Oh!"  Zell blushes and laughs nervously into the phone.  "No, I've got Squall and Seifer looking after me, so I should be fine."

            The tension drops from my shoulders.  Seifer was such a nice man, easy to talk to and quite friendly.  "Who's Squall?"

            "Oh!"  Zell perks up quite a bit and bounces on the stool.  "He's one of my best friends.  He saved me from Ifrit and introduced me to a lot of cool people.  You would really like him!"

            "I'm sure I would. What's he in for?"

            "Murder."  Okay, that part where I said it was good for him to meet friends, scratch that. 

            I swallow. "Murder?"

            "Yeah Ma!  They…they're going to kill him in twenty six days!"  His crestfallen face breaks my heart.  "But he didn't do it, honest it was Rinoa!"

            "Oh hun…" I don't know what to tell him, this sure wasn't covered in the parent guide.  So I just say to him what I said when he was a little boy.  "Do you want to tell ma all about it?"

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[Irvine]

            Ah..it sure feels good to sit back, relax, and chat with a lovely lady on a day like today.   I flash my famous grin at the gorgeous brunette. "So beautiful, been a while."

            Xu glares at me, not good.  I rack my brain trying to figure out what I've done this time.  Oh Hyne, please don't let there be a baby. Please, please, please…I cross my fingers under the countertop and lean forward apprehensively.  "Is something….wrong?"

            "You no good dirty lying son of a mother fucker!"  Theres a baby isn't there.  She stands up and snarls at me, "Just who the hell is Quistis?"

            I perk up hopefully.  "Quistis?"

            "Yes Quistis!  It was my address on the envelope, but the letter was to her!"

            So then there's no baby? I let out a loud sigh of relief and smile stupidly at her.  "Xu baby, Quistis is my sister."  Heh, good one Kinneas.

            Xu snorts in disgust.  "You want to cover your sister in chocolate sauce and 'crash into Uranus'!?"

            Bad one Kinneas.  I flounder for an answer in my endless supply of excuses, but come up blank.  Xu quivers in anger and opens her mouth to speak.  Then she shakes her head, closes her mouth and let's out a long frustrated growl.  Hooboy, I sure am glad for the bulletproof glass separating us. 

Xu slams the phone forcefully back in the cradle and storms off down the visitors hall, snapping something unheard at the defenseless door guard. I punch the air in celebration, now I don't have to choose between Xu and Quistis! I always liked the regal blond better anyway.  The guard comes from behind me to replace the handcuffs.  I hold out my wrists with a wide grin on my face, already planning out my next letter.

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[Diablos]

            Ifrit looks at me, but knows enough not to speak before spoken to.  I take a minute to put my thoughts in order, and then motion him to sit with me on the bed.  "Ifrit, so glad you can make it."

            He rolls his eyes.  "It's not like I had anything else to do.  So what's up?"

            I sigh.  "Do you remember what we were discussing two weeks back?"

            The redheaded man looks at the ceiling for a moment, and then turns to me with a smirk on his face.  "The thing with Squall?  Yeah I remember.  We still gonna do it?"

            I rub the bridge of my nose.  Why must I be surrounded by dolts?  "Yes, you idiot.  We're still going to do it.  And I've come by a plan."

            He frowns.  "But the last time we talked you didn't have a plan."

            Must.  Refrain.  From.  Killing.  The.  Scapegoat.  I bare my teeth at him in a forced smile.  "Unlike some people I know, I'm capable of devising a plan in less than a year."

            He grins and nods.  "Yeah, some people can be so stupid."  I don't bother to comment.  "So," he continues, "What did you come by?"

            Ah, that is the question.  I slip a folder from under the mattress and turn back to the big man.  "Let's just say when you're in the right place at the right item you hear the most interesting tidbits…"

BS: I told you this would suck…but yeah it's up, and I can move on with the fic. I know that everyone in this chapter was off the hook OOC, especially Ma Dincht. But in my defense, all she ever really said in the game was 'hi Zell, are these your friends'? So I can't have done that badly –shrug-. What do you guys think?