Author's Note: Chapter 8 was kind of short. Well, I don't know what else to write as a note besides please read and review. Thanks in advance!! By the way, sorry for taking a long time to update. I've been very tired and very busy. Oh also, there will now be some song chapters in these. You guys will see…

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Chapter 9

"Laurette Heartily Leonheart, and Arnoux Soul, you are to report to the commander's office at this instant, I repeat, Laurette Heartily Leonheart, and Arnoux Soul, please report to the commander's office at this instant." The intercom went off. "Huh? What would your dad want with you two?" Iven asked. Laurette shrugged. "Hey, why don't you two meet us in the quad after you're done alright?" Garland shouted to them. "Alright, we'll be there." Arnoux said and got up with Laurette to leave. They walked out of the area and took the elevator up to the 3rd floor. Two SeeD in front of the commander's office saluted them and opened the door. Laurette and Arnoux stepped in. They got in and saluted Squall who was still doing paper work. They kept their saluting post for a while until Squall looked up from his papers and got up. He saluted them and they then stood at attention. "Well good morning you two." He greeted. "Well today I've bring you two here because I would like to assign you two a SeeD mission. It's not that big of a mission though. Come have a seat." Squall motioned for them to sit down, and they followed. "What is it sir?" Arnoux asked. "Well Deiling City's general Caraway asked us to send two SeeD out there to get some things put together." Squall told them handing them a file. "What kind of things?" Arnoux asked. "We're really unsure, but it must be too big for his soldiers to handle. He said that it has to deal with some of the monster breaking into the city." Squall said. "But, they're just monsters. The ones around there are pretty weak." Laurette explained. "Yea, she's right." Arnoux agreed. "Well, I don't know, but he offers us a lot just for 2 SeeD, and if we need back-up, he'll pay them too, now will you two accept this mission?" Squall asked. The two looked at each other. "Yes sir." They said in unison. Squall nodded. "You'll be leaving tomorrow morning by train. There should be a car to pick you guys up and then to the General's mansion where he'll be meeting you guys. Is that clear?" Squall asked. The two nodded their head. "Any questions?" Squall asked. "Yes, how long are we planned to stay?" Arnoux asked. "I'm unsure, but pack for at least 3 days at the most. This mission doesn't seem like a big deal." Squall said. "Any other questions?" He asked. They didn't respond which indicated a no. "Alright, you are dismissed." He said and they saluted him. They then walked out of the room and down the elevator with the folders in their hands.

"Our first SeeD mission huh?" Arnoux asked. "Yea, I guess." She sighed. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Nothing really." She answered and laid her head back. He looked at her strangely. "You positive?" He asked after a few minutes of silence walking down the hallway. She then stopped and turned around to look at him. She studied his face and then nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Promise." She did her best to give a small grin. He smiled at her hoping that whatever it was that was bugging her would go away before their mission tomorrow. They stood there just staring at each other for a while until Laurette's cell phone rang. "Oh sorry hold on." She quickly grabbed her cell. "Talk to me." Laurette answered. "Tehe! Laurette you done yet? We're waiting for you and Arnoux at the quad." It was Garland, her cheery voice could be heard any where. "Yea, we know. See ya!" She said and hung up. "Who was it?" Arnoux asked. "Garland, she just reminded us about meeting them in the quad, weird she sounded more excited then usual." Laurette said cocking an eyebrow. He gave a small chuckle. "Well why don't we drop by our dorm 1st and drop these folders off. You know, don't wanna loose them in the quad or around here." Arnoux suggested. "Alright." Laurette said and they both walked to their dorms and dropped their things off.

A few minutes later, the two walked into the quad, empty as usual. She could hear her friends laughing on the steps already. "Hey you're back!!" Garland was the first to acknowledge them as they walked up to them. "What's up?" Arnoux asked as Laurette and himself stopped walking when they got to the group. "We were thinking about going to Balamb today ya know? Just hang out and all." Jules told them as he was jumping around punching and kicking the air. "Yea, and…and!! There's going to be like this thing!!" Garland giggled. "Thing…well that explains a lot…" Laurette rolled her eyes. "What thing now is it Garland?" Laurette asked. "Oohhh!! They're having this awesome shopping thing in Balamb!! Everything's on sale!! I figure we could update our weapons and all, and SHOPPING ROCKS!! BOOYAKA!!" Garland giggled. Laurette rolled her eyes again and put her hands on her hips. "Well, we have nothing else better to do." Rosemarie added on, wanting to go shopping as badly as Garland, but trying her best not to show through her feelings. She was really excited inside. "Well, Arnoux and I are assigned a SeeD mission tomorrow…I guess we'll go get some new gear before we leave…" Laurette trailed off. "WOO HOO!! WE'RE GOING…wait!! Did you said SeeD mission?" Garland all of a sudden stopped her excitement. "Wow!! Your 1st SeeD mission!! Congrats you two!!" Iven smiled sweetly. "SeeD mission…SeeD mission…SEED MISSION?!!" Garland then just started to freak out, talking way too fast for anyone to understand. "Garland! Stop!!" Jules tired to calm her down. She then tripped and fell. Jules rushed up and caught her. He spun her around and looked at her. "Garland, you alright ya?" He asked her looking awfully worried.

Garland then snapped out of it and jumped out of his arms and ran up to Laurette. "Laurette!! You can't go!!" Garland was now just hanging off Laurette's black sleeveless over coat.  Laurette looked at her a bit annoyed yet very confused. "Huh?" Was all she could have let out. "Please don't leave!!" Garland was totally getting to Laurette now. She didn't know what to do but just stood there and let her best friend cling on to her shirt. "Laurette…" Garland whined. Laurette looked over to Iven for any help, but he was as shock as she was, never have he've seen his sister like this. Laurette then looked at Garland's bright green eyes. Garland was on her knees in front of her begging for her not to go. Laurette then shrug and kneed down in front of her. She then placed her hands firmly on Garland's shoulders. Garland was sobbing by now, for unknown reasons. "There…there…" Laurette said and looked at her best friend sitting there. "I'll just be gone for a day or two…nothing big right?" Laurette tired to sound as heart warming as possible. She wasn't used to doing any of these kind of things anyways, so she's doing her best to try. "But…b-but what if something happened to you? Wh-what if you never come back?" Garland asked. Laurette the shook her head. "So…is this what she's scared of? Me not being here…oh Garland you're so childish…" she thought and put on a small grin. "Hey! Who say I'm not going to come back?" She then lifted Garland's chin and wiped her tears. "Don't cry alright? Don't." She couldn't think of anything else to say. "Laurette, what if you don't come back from the mission?!!" Garland asked. "I will!! Don't worry!!" Laurette was doing her best. "We're SeeDs now…all of us will be sent to different places at different times." Laurette told her. "But we'll come back….right guys? " Laurette asked her friends who watched. "Yup!!" They said smiling. "Yea…so don't worry…" Garland the hugged Laurette tightly. All of Garland's life, Laurette was like an older sister, even though if they were the same age. Laurette has always been the bold one, protecting her from everything. "Thank you Laurette…" Garland stopped her tears and just hugged her friend, who was now a bit shocked because of the hug. Garland was deftinitly choking Laurette, but she didn't say anything.  She just returned the hug. "Don't worry okay….don't worry…" Laurette said.


Arnoux watched just simply smiling at the same time. Laurette could be cold sometimes…but this? This was heart warming. He stood there putting more weight on one leg then the other, and he had his arms crossed. "She is a true leader…" Arnoux thought with a grin. He looked over to Jules to find him a bit heart broken. "Hey man what's wrong?" He whispered. Jules' face was down and everything. He just looked sad.  "Nothin…" He said with a shrug and walked away. "What's wrong with everyone?" Laurette got up with Garland and asked. "Garland, Jules? Is there something to matter?" Laurette asked knowing that they're the two that are usually hyper and excited. Iven stood there spinning his gun again, and Rosemarie shrugged. "Hey, why don't we just head out to the mall now? Ya know, cheer up ya?" Iven suggested and pointed his gun at the wall. "Bam, heh heh…" He chuckled and put his gun away. "Yea, lets go!!" Rosemaire jumped up. They all then dragged themselves to the parking lot and got into one of the SeeD car's.

They reached Balamb and Garland finally cheered up. She jumped out of the car all excited with Jules fallowing behind her. "Since we're here, I think I'll go visit my ma." He told them as they entered the town. "Yea same here, but I think my mother's at work." Laurette sighed. "Hey, doesn't your mom work as a singer at the pub?" Arnoux asked. Laurette nodded. "Yea, that's why Balamb's pub is so famous…" She sighed. "Cool, I read something about that in the news paper. I was just wondering." Arnoux smiled at her. She just shrugged feeling a bit tired. "Well you guys wanna stick together, or meet back for lunch or something?" Rosemarie asked. "Oh my god!! That's so pretty!! Come on Jules!!" Garland grabbed his gloved hand. "Huh WHOA!!" He shouted and was being dragged by her. "Looks like we're meeting for lunch…" Iven sighed. "SEE YOU AT THE PUB!!" Rosemarie shouted to them hoping they would hear. "WE WILL!!" Jules' voice faded as they ran down the street. "So, Arnoux and I need to go pick up some gear, we'll meet you two at the pub okay?" Laurette asked. "Yea sure, have fun guys!" Iven put his arm on to Rosemarie's shoulders. She just giggled. "Alright then, see ya!!" Arnoux smiled. "See ya man." Iven and Rosemarie then walked the other way, leaving Arnoux and Laurette alone. "So where should we start?" He asked. "Potions? Antidotes? Healing stuff?" Laurette asked. "Yea good point, lets go." The two walked down to the shop and grader some of potions. They then went to the weapon shop to get some new gear for their weapons. Some armors to protect them also. "Hey not bad…" Arnoux say picking up this updated daggers. "Yea thank you!!" Laurette said to the old shop keeper. "No problem Laurette. How's your father doing?"  he asked. "He's doing fairly well. Thank you for asking." She said to him. The old man nodded. "Well take care sir." Arnoux said. "Yes, have a nice day kids!!" he smiled. Laurette nodded and walked out the door.

"You must know everyone around here pretty well…" Arnoux said as they headed to the pub. "Yea, mostly. Once you've grew up in a small town, and your parents' famous, you meet a lot of people…" She said not really wanting to get into details. "Oh I see, must be pretty cool then right?" Arnoux asked hoping he'll get a good response. Laurette shook her head. "It gets to be a pain…" She told him. "Hey we're here! I think they're already in there." She changed the subject and went through the door, and knowing her friends, they were all already there. "Miss Heartilly Leonheart, how nice it is to see you." The women up front said.  "Mrs. Lovering, how are you?" Laurette greeted. "I'm wonderful now that you're here, wow you surely have grown since the last I've seen you here." She smiled sweetly at her. Laurette shrugged not wanting to get into conversation with Mrs. Lovering knowing that she would babble on for what seems like hours and not being able to let her go. "Well who's this? Some new friend of yours?" she asked realizing that Arnoux was standing behind Laurette. "Oh! Aaa…this is Arnoux, a friend from the Garden." She introduced him. "Hello." Arnoux greeted with a wave. Mrs. Lovering gave a small chuckle. "Well go on you two, your friends are waiting." She let them go. "Thank you. Take care bye!!" Laruette then took Arnoux into the room and to their usual table filled with their friends. "Finally!" Jules said. "We thought you were missing or something ya know?" He added on chuckling. "Haha Sorry, everywhere we went we had a side conversation so yea, I guess it held us up." Arnoux explained. "Yup, that's what you get when you're a local." Jules said. "Yup, Laurette, Jules are locals here. My bro, Rosemarie, Aleron and myself all grew up grew up in different areas. But since our parents were so close we often see each other." Garland explained. "So I'm taking it that your parents travel a lot huh?" Arnoux asked. "Yea! If you're a SeeD, you get to travel everywhere! My mother works as an instructor. So does Rosemarie's. Our dads though, works as SeeDs, so does Jules' dad. And as you know, Laurette's father is commander of the SeeD force." Iven pointed out. "I see, that's cool." Arnoux said.

The gang ordered some food, and ate. They hung out, and talked until Mrs. Lovering went up to the stage. Laurette looked around realizing that the place was packed now. "Good evening everyone!! Welcome to Balamb's #1 pub, Faith!!" She said through the microphone. The horde of people clapped and cheered. Laurette just clapped. "Tonight, and always, please welcome Rinoa Heartilly on to the stage!!" Mrs. Lovering then went off the stage, and Rinoa came on to the stage dressed in a glamorous outfit.  She waved at the crowd of people and walked gracefully to the grand piano sitting there on the small stage.  She then started to play ever so gracefully. The tune was a really pretty tune…soft, and graceful, a song that would calm a cold heart. She played and slowly the cretins were open and was exposed as the rest of Rinoa's band, a violinist, drummer, and a guitarist.  Rinoa then swayed her head back getting her long raven-black hair out of her face, and then pulling the microphone closer to her. She started to sing.

When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

And there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breath again

When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

She ended the song, with a perfect note, and the horde of people cheered. "WOO!! GO MRS. LEONHEART!!!" Garland jumped out of her seat and cheered. "YEA!! YOU'RE DA BOMB!!" Jules added in. Iven and Rosemarie smiled as they clapped. "Wow, your mom is pretty good…that was such a peaceful song." Arnoux commented. "Yea…" Laurette just watched as her mother took her bows, and signed some autographs for her fans. She sighed and looked away wishing to be at another place.

"Alright now, we're going to take a short break!!" Rinoa said after about a half hour playing with her band. She then walked over to the bar to get some water. "Yo!! Mrs. Leonheart!! Over here!!" Jules shouted. "Huh?" She turned around to find her daughter and friends sitting over at the booth.  She smiled and waved, then walked over to them. "Hello guys, how are you?" She asked with a smile on her face. "We're super Mrs. Leonheart, how are you?" Rosemarie asked. "Everything is going great here too." Rinoa said and then looked over at Arnoux. "Oh, this is Arnoux, he's hanging out with us today." Iven pointed out. "Arnoux, I see. Nice to meet you Arnoux, I'm Rinoa, Laurette's mom." She smiled at him and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you." He said. Laurette just sat there not saying a word. Rinoa chuckled. "Well are you guys going to stay for the whole show?" Rinoa asked. Everyone then looked over at Laurette. "They expect me to make all of the chooses?" she wondered. She looked at them, seeing in their eyes that they would love to stay for the rest of the show. "Yes mom, we'll stay for the rest of the show." Laurette answered. "Great!! Well see you guys again in another half hour." Rinoa then went back up stage and started to play once again.

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For anyone who wondered, the song that Rinoa sang was by Savage Garden, "Crash and Burn". It kind of reminded me of Squall and Rinoa, So I used it. I was never the kind of person that would write songs (I usually write poems and stories). That's about it.