Disclaimer: I asked for SquareEnix for Christmas and told Santa I had been good.  Unfortunately, he died laughing, so sorry … I don't think I'll own FF8 soon.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Alessandro had been stitched to the best of the doctor's ability.  The young boy jumped off the table which he had been sitting on and stated, "I'm ok now, really." He looked up at his mother who was about to burst into hysterical sobs.  She kept her cool, however.

"Thank you very much." She thanked the doctor repeatedly and Kadowaki pleaded that it was no trouble.  Squall bit his tongue so not to say anything rash.  He had never liked the doctor, and he had never really found out why.  She just seemed to be judging him, as a boy, as a man.  He led Riana out of the infirmary.

"Be careful." He heard the doctor caution his wife and his frown deepened.  She had always treated them as children, never as grown adults who could assume their responsibilities and know when to take precautions. "You too, Squall.  I'm sure it's necessary to remind you to cut down on the risks." The last part came out icily.

"I'm sure I'll be fine." He answered coldly, barely turning around to face her, "I'm twenty-five … I believe that's way past the certified adult age."

"Well, as comforting as those words are supposed to be … they fail at their purpose.  Though you're considered an adult within government law but you're still a child in my eyes." The doctor walked them to the doors.  Squall was going to bite back with hot anger but Rinoa urged him on, once again telling the doctor how much she appreciated her services.  Kadowaki wished them luck and closed the infirmary doors.

Squall grumbled a while as they strode down towards the elevator while Rinoa rolled her eyes behind him, "Squall, where're we going?" She asked, noticing the way they were going.

"Straight up to Ackroyde's office, I'm tired of this wandering around aimlessly and what's the use of even trying to find Zell." Squall replied.  Rinoa grabbed his shoulder angrily and dug her nails in, "Gah!" Squall howled in pain.

"Thou shalt not do anything without thy precious wife's consent!" She snapped at him angrily, "First commandment that you swore to abide by when you married me!  Don't you remember?"

"I'm not sure, jog my memory, what was the second one?" He asked sarcastically, trying to pry her hand loose.
"Thou shalt obey her every sacred order!" Rinoa informed him, "Memory refreshed?  Good, then I think we should sit and talk about this some more!"

"Oh sure!  Let's sit in our enemy's hallway and have a little chat you and I!" Squall rolled his eyes sarcastically as the two children looked on, wide-eyed.  They were used to this but still quite surprised that it was happening under the certain circumstances.

"Mom, dad's right …" Alex put in meekly and Squall pointed at his son triumphantly.

Before he could make a comment on his boy's sheer amount of genius, Rinoa spoke up, "Alex, honey, when you get married, you'll learn that you're wife is always right.  Ok?  Don't argue with her … but especially, don't argue with your mother.  Under NO exceptions, is your mother wrong!" Alex just nodded in agreement.

"Unless, unless … you're mother was raised by a crazy mofo such as your grand-father … THEN, it's ok to think she's wrong most of the time like when she suggests irrational things … like having a heart-to-heart on enemy fields.  THEN, it's those Caraway chromosomes kicking in."

"Why don't I shove your head up through your-" Rinoa cut herself off, remembering her children's presence, "Ok, you know … forget it!  I'm arguing with a 'class A' dumbass!  It's useless!  Fine!  Whatever!  Might as well talk to Ackroyde, at least he's more intelligent and understands English.  I'll think twice before marrying an Estharian again."

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?  What's 'again' insinuating?" Squall glared at her hotly.

"It's insinuating that next time, I'll get a nice Galbadian guy.  With dark eyes, dark hair." She sighed, just to feed his anger and flipped her hair dreamily as her eyes gazed at the ceiling.

"Oh, you're really starting to push my buttons!" Squall snapped.  Riana and Alessandro just watched the ongoing tennis match between their two parents.

"Well, I think we've wasted enough time here." Rinoa looked at her watch and tapped its frame as a signal that time wasn't waiting for them.

"You're the one who wanted to sit here while I 'got your consent'!" Squall pointed out, angrier than ever.

"Yes, but it clearly looks as though you aren't going to, so … I'd like to leave this place soon.  It's making me very uncomfortable.  Let's go!" Rinoa rushed him on.  The children followed, still slightly awed at the fact that their parents had actually ensued an argument in dangerous waters.

***

Mr. Caraway and his wife were also going at it, "AND TO THINK YOU ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED IT!" He raged at the top of his lungs.  The guard that was on duty at the door came into the room, looking quite annoyed.

He managed out calmly, "Listen, you guys can catch up on old times or tear yourselves apart for all I care but could you turn it down a notch?  We're going deaf outside."

Caraway turned his head towards the guard, almost frothing at the mouth in anger and managed to hiss out, "You, my pathetic little friend, can go to Hell!" The guard  rolled his eyes and left the room.

Julia couldn't help roll her eyes in utter frustration, "Come off it, James!  The girl is old enough, let her do what she wants to do!  She was never as naïve as you'd thought she was!  This is completely ridiculous.  Just shut up!  She's married now, for Christ's salty sake!"

"Yes, and look!  You know what I've just come to the realization?" He didn't wait for her to answer, "That she has two children!  Do you know what that means?  It means that she's had sex with Leonheart at least twice!" 

Julia rolled her eyes and groaned in utter annoyance, "And that's not counting the times that fertilization didn't take place.  You know, if Rinoa knew we were talking about her private life, I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate." She only added gasoline to the fire.

"I DON'T CARE!" Roared Caraway, "I'm her father and I feel damn well insulted that she never tells me any goddamned thing!"

"Hm … gee, I wonder why that could be." Julia snapped sarcastically.

"Well, it's not as if I over-react!" Caraway claimed.

"Noo … of course not." Julia rolled her eyes and continued listening to her husband's incessant ranting.

***

The family of four had rung the elevator and were now awaiting for a miracle, "Good job, Squall … so how were you expecting to get up there again?"
"My digital fingerprints still work, look …" Squall was about to press his thumb onto the black square used as a security device for Ackroyde's office.  If the computer recognized the digitals, access would be granted to the head honcho's quarters.

Rinoa slapped his hand away just in time, "You idiot!  You think they'd just leave your prints in the system after you turned Ackroyde's proposition down?  Like it or not, Squall, you're a wanted man and I doubt they'd keep your prints in there just for fun.  It won't work … or worse, it'll set off a bomb or some sort of contraption that pries out your insides." Riana began to whimper, "Sorry, it's to make daddy understand." Rinoa replied, regretting her words a bit.

"It's going to work, Rinoa … stop being a paranoiac!" Squall snapped back and applied his thumb onto the reading square.  The green 'Certified' button lit up and he smiled at his wife triumphantly as he pressed for the 60th floor. 

"It's too easy … something's wrong." Rinoa's eyes sparked deep fear, "It's not possible Squall, they aren't that stupid, they're not!  Squall!" He looked at her as if she was psycho.

"What's wrong with you?  Something's finally going right!" He answered her, getting a bit frustrated.

"HOW COULD YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A MORON?" Rinoa screamed back and she had a reason to be.  Alex let off a moan and dropped limp to the floor, it wasn't long until Riana followed suite. 

Rinoa felt her muscles relax, her eyelids droop and her legs seemed to turn to jello.  She was unconscious before she hit the floor.  Squall fought against the overwhelming urge to just meet the ground, "That's right, Leonhart … how could you have been such a moron?" It was the last thing he heard.

Sabam: *Big smile* Review. *Smile lingers* Or I'll break your face.