Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Final Fantasy VIII and you know what? I'm poor…
IMPORTANT NOTE: Squall and Rinoa's son's name has been changed to Alessandro (nicknamed Alex). It's the Italian version of Alexander or Alexandro. I just find that 'Alessandro' rolls off the tongue better, heh … sue me if you don't like it. When you read it, read it with some sort of Italian tone … it'll sound better … hee hee …
Chapter Seven
Squall shifted uncomfortably on the spot, not knowing what to say, exactly. He had forgotten, worse, he had completely slept through his duty. She turned around and stared at him defiantly. "I can't believe you forgot the kids! Of all things to forget, the most important slip from your mind into oblivion."
"I… you… I… you said four thirty P.M. so it's not that bad! I'll be… like… fifteen minutes late, it'll be fine." He was suddenly tripping over his words and was speaking so nervously fast. He reached for the car keys.
"It's elementary school, Squall! Logic is your friend, think! School ended over an hour ago! They don't do eight thirty to four thirty… that would be insane!" Rinoa snapped at him.
"But you told me it was four thirty!" He argued back.
Rinoa shook her head, "And because I say four thirty, that's ok? Can you think for yourself? When Ackroyde tells you that killing this man is fine, then it's fine! When your wife tells you to pick up your kids at four thirty, then it's fine! Squall, what do you do on your own?"
The doorbell rang and Rinoa went to open it. As expected, her two kids were there. "Hi mommy…" Riana greeted and entered the house with her older brother.
"Holy Hell, you kids walked home?" Squall ran a hand through his hair and sat down on the couch as if he'd been reduced to tears.
The kids gave their father the oddest look ever as if he'd completely gone nuts. However, their mother gave them a warning look not to speak. "That's right Squall, you're so irresponsible! You make my father look like a role model!" The odd look turned towards their mother now.
Squall said nothing for a moment, feeling the maximum of guilt numbing his heart. Feeling her point was easily proved, his wife continued, "Oh, get over it! They always take the bus home. See what I mean? You are so gullible. Did it never cross your mind that they left in the morning on a bus and so they were most likely to return the same way?" Rinoa rolled her eyes and walked back to the kitchen where she continued to prepare supper.
Squall shot a confused glance at his two kids and seeing no explanation from them he got up from the couch and told them, "Uh… go up to your rooms or something, I just have to talk with your mom privately…"
The kids shuffled up the stairs and Squall entered the kitchen, "Was that… some big joke… or something?" He asked her curiously.
"No… it was just something to prove my point," Rinoa replied simply, putting the chicken in the oven. "You aren't a responsible father, you aren't a responsible husband. A responsible father wouldn't have forgotten his kids, he would have known they take the bus, he would have known at what time their school ended. A responsible husband would have remembered the laundry and he could have thought for himself and he wouldn't be so stubborn to ask questions."
Squall stayed quiet, listening to her. She had been testing him the whole day and he had flunked miserably as she knew he would. His wife continued, "You are neither a responsible father, neither a responsible husband. Squall, I don't know…" She closed her eyes and sighed, "I just… can't trust you with anything."
"I'm… I'm so sorry, Rin." And he did look very sorry, "It's just that… I fell asleep."
"Ok…" she replied skeptically, though he could sense the tone of voice that she normally used when she simply didn't care anymore. The tone she had used when he had cornered her in the hallway about seven years ago.
"I'm… really sorry." He touched her lightly on the shoulder. "Rin?"
She pulled herself away roughly and muttered, "Yeah, I have to prepare supper right now. Go watch TV or something." He sighed slightly and left her to her work, making sure he didn't get in her way.
The rest of the evening he had decided it wise to keep out of her path. Until finally, there really was no avoiding that could be done. He had just stepped out of the shower and she had finished putting the kids to bed. He watched her slip into bed noiselessly and he soon followed suite.
He lay facing her back for a while. Until finally, he rolled over onto his stomach and smelled her sweet scent. He shoved his face in the pillow to make sure he wasn't dreaming, and he wasn't. She must have fallen asleep hugging his pillow or something… and then a wonderful feeling washed over him. Maybe she had missed him.
"Rinny…?" He asked cautiously.
"Hmm?"
"Did you… use my pillow while I was gone?"
Suddenly she seemed slightly irritated. However Squall didn't see the faint blush that had rose to her cheeks. "I don't know, Squall, maybe! I had the whole bed to myself so I really don't know! Just let me sleep…"
He smiled inwardly. She had missed him. With these comforting thoughts in mind he fell asleep.
***
Bright sunlight lightened the room and Squall awoke to find himself fairly refreshed and (though the guilt was still nibbling at his insides due to yesterday's events) he was filled with a new resolve to please his wife and prove to her that he could be everything she wanted him to be.
However, his plan was slightly flawed when he glanced at the clock that stated it was noon and three quarters. "Oh shit!" Those were the first words that came out of his mouth once more.
Hurriedly brushing his teeth and getting dressed (dark jeans and a t-shirt) he ended up tripping down the stairs and ending up with a sore behind. Scowling, he got up and made his way to the kitchen where he expected (and his expectations were met) to see his wife.
"Morning…" he said cheerfully.
"Afternoon," she replied mockingly.
"Sorry…" he mumbled an apology, "anyways… what are you doing?"
"Work for my dad," she replied simply, "you know… that restaurant he opened up. Doing the taxes."
"Can't he do them himself?" Squall snorted slightly as he dug in the fridge for some food to fill his empty stomach.
"I'm sure he can. Just as I'm sure you can walk down the stairs without falling down." she said, not looking up from her papers. "Stop rummaging around… I'm making lunch soon."
Squall smiled slightly and he sat down in a chair, opposite to her. "So…"
Rinoa kept punching in random numbers on her calculator, "So what?" she asked uninterestedly. Squall shifted slightly.
"Well… I don't know… could we talk about something?" He requested nervously, though honestly.
"Squall… I'm doing my father's taxes." Rinoa answered in an annoyed fashion. He had to bite his bottom lip to keep himself from smiling. He knew that tone of voice all to well.
"So… you don't want to talk about anything?" He pushed his luck, knowing only too well where it was leading up to.
"You wanna die?" She asked suddenly, putting down her pen, glowering at him, "Since you've been back you've been acting like a little kid. Two is enough… the third I kill, ok?" And this being too much for him, he cracked a wide smile. "Wipe that smirk off your face…"
"You know… I would have never thought when I wasn't dating you that you would turn out this way at all." Squall leaned back in his chair. "You didn't used to be so snappy…"
"Raising two kids and putting up with am immature husband does that to you," she retorted maliciously however he didn't seem fazed by this direct attack.
"Do you remember when we found out you were pregnant with Riana?" He, once again, couldn't help grinning at the memory. It had been quite a shock. "Alessandro was only about a year old… or at least he was going to be a year old…"
"He was going to be a year old…" Rinoa corrected, "I was already three months pregnant with Riana when he turned one. Why are you talking about this?"
"I'm making conversation…" He smiled slightly, 'Just a little further till she snaps and vents off all her anger… then she'll be calm again and she might listen to what I have to say…'
"I'm trying to do Caraways' taxes…" She hissed venomously, "I thought you had comprehended that fact… was I wrong?"
"No, no… you were right as always… I did understand. I'm just trying to get you to blow up because I'm pretty sure you're still pissed at me…" He tilted on the two back legs of the chair.
"You're right, I am still pissed at you!" She slammed her fists on the table in a frustrated manner, "You're stupid, you're annoying, you're childish, you're irresponsible, you're hard-headed, you're gullible, you're… you're just everything that pisses me off and you just sit there, grinning, because you can read me like a fucking open book!!" She yelled at him.
"There we go… feel better now?" He asked, not the least bit shaken.
She breathed in deeply and replied, "Yeah, a bit." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, "Hyne, why do you do this to me?" It was a rhetorical question; she didn't want nor cared about the answer.
"You know… I'm a good agent… I've never failed a mission you know?" No answer, "So you can trust me. Maybe I'm not as reliable and resourceful at home, Rin… but that doesn't mean you can't rely on me. I know I can be a good father if I want to. I know I can make you happy…"
"Then why don't you?" It was neither a scream nor a hiss. It didn't withhold tones of sarcasm, anger or malicious intent. It was just a simple question that left him stumped. Why didn't he?
"Because you aren't letting me!" He cried out helplessly, "Give me stuff to do! Tell me to do the groceries! I've always been bad at cooking and housework but I can do other stuff… you can't always expect me to fail at everything."
"Grocery shopping… are you crazy?" She suddenly exploded again, "There are reasons for 'Friday Night Football'… no one wants to do the groceries! That's just crazy!"
"I'll do it! I bet you I can get everything on the grocery list!" He challenged, "No really, I can seriously bet you that I can!"
"Yeah, you're ready to bet your share of the bed for it?" She snapped back angrily.
"Yeah, I really am! I'll sleep on the couch for the next two months if I can't accomplish this task! Give me the grocery list and any other errands you want me to run and I swear I could do them without mucking up…" He retorted in a determined fashion.
"Oh yeah? Fine! Tonight you do the groceries, because it is Friday, and Alex needs a new pair of shoes. Oh, Riana wanted to buy a dog and I told her to ask daddy. Deal with it and trust me, saying no to her isn't the easiest thing on the planet."
"I'll handle all of it. But… if I win… I want something in return," Squall pressed on, "I just want you to forgive me all of my mistakes up to here, ok? And as a husband I want a kiss…"
Rinoa rolled her eyes, "You want me to clear the slate so you could fill it up with more mistakes?" She gestured impatiently, "Whatever, just don't screw up the groceries or I will kill you."
"You're on…"
Sammy: Heh heh heh … this isn't really a cliffhanger because you all know how this 'bet idea' works with me. Don't ask WHY I do this, I just do … I would have never started writing Squinoas if it wasn't for that bet idea so yeah. Anyways, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE *is on her knees* PLEEEEEEAAAAASSEEE review, thank you all so much!