Red Violets and Forget-me-nots: Slide

Song is by Bryan Adams, Please Forgive Me I have decided the outcome of this story. It will only be two more chapters with an epilogue. These will hopefully be posted every two days for a week, if my arm doesn't flare up.

Esthar. The city of technology. A beacon of hope. A place of ingenuity. A renewal of dreams. Selphie softly squeezed Seifer's hand as the train came to a stop. He knew she was a bit depressed due to the fact she wasn't strong enough to stand up from the wheelchair she was confined to through the duration of the trip to see the scenery. Though most of it was underwater. Seifer had tried to help her but she decided that it wasn't necessary. Besides, she had him for company.

It wasn't long to them, though a train stop at Fisherman's horizon complicated the matters (note there is no train system going to Esthar in the game). They finally arrived at Esthar. "We have to meet Dr. Dasio at a lab near Dr. Odine's," Seifer remarked.

"Okay," replied Selphie. Within minutes, on the lifts, they came to a lab separate but part of Dr. Odine's. A woman, about her mid-forties, told them to come in.

"Hello Selphie, I'm Doctor Dasio," she greeted. She turned to Seifer. "You must be Seifer. Nice to meet you. I hope you don't mind if I take Selphie to my office for a preliminary check-up."

"Um, sure," Seifer mumbled. The thought of being separated from Selphie ever for a second caused uneasiness in the young man. He gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. As Dr. Dasio wheeled her away.

He started pacing again.

¤

It was nearly three hours since Selphie had gone to the doctor's office. He was still pacing. Finally, the little ball of energy appeared bouncing down the hallway. "Seifer!" she yelled in glee. "Guess what?"

"You're walking," he said matter-of-factly.

"Yup!" Dr. Dasio came out of her office.

"She'll be fine," she said addressing Seifer. "She's still young. Her heart is young. It will take a lot to finish up that heart. I'd advise her to keep some light exercise and at least once a week some heavy exercise for an hour or more. Just to keep her heart healthy, but if she has difficulty breathing lie her down and elevate her head slightly so her passageway is as opened as it can be. If this is persistent, we might have to operate. She will start EECP treatment tomorrow morning at nine. I will supervise the first to show you what to do, but afterwards, she's all in your hands."

"Thank you doctor," he said slightly exasperated. He took Selphie's hand and together they left."

"Let's go visit Laguna!" Knowing better then to say no, he nodded and mentally kicked himself. He's always heard of Selphie's little crush. He only hoped she still didn't have that crush. After all, she had him, now. He sighed, knowing bravado when he saw it. "On second thought... let's go to the hotel and call room service!" Suddenly he was wishing that they went to visit Laguna instead.

¤

*But since the day I met you Every wrong became a right Every night into a new day It should not be this way Why does it feel so good (I know it shouldn't)*

A few hours later when they were both thoroughly stuffed with various foods, they settled down on the bed. "I am stuffed," Selphie groaned. Seifer leaned over to kiss her. She giggled and pushed him off. "I think the cake is going to my hips." He leaned down and kissed her hip. She giggled again. "That tickled. You're silly."

"You are," he replied, "and you're beautiful." He kissed her cheek. "You have very soft skin." He cuddled in her hair. "You smell good."

"Why... aren't you full of compliments today?"

"Oh, I'm just buttering you up."

"Really and what do I need buttering up for?"

"You already know."

"Hmm... yeah. You want to get in my pants."

"Yeah well, I have the advantage. You need heavy exercise, you're a sucker for my compliments and..." He looked at the dress on her small frame, "you're not wearing pants... or panties for that matter." She giggled.

"Guess you win." She kissed him as he took her hand.

"I won a long time ago.

¤

The treatments became boring and so routine. Seifer would hook her up to the machine and let it do its job and talk to Selphie for the duration of the treatment. It became so ordinary in their lives.

After the treatments they usually went to get breakfast, but after the third week it became too routine. "Could we go visit Laguna now?" Selphie pleaded. Seifer eager for a change hastily agreed.

"Yeah come on," he said leading her onto a lift. After getting off they walked silently for a few minutes when they came up to the Presidential Palace. They went in with the same air of silence until they met up with the aide guarding a door.

"Ah, Ms. Tilmitt!" the aide greeted quickly. "Mr. Almasy. The president has been expecting you!" He quickly pushed them towards the tunnel to Laguna's office. Selphie glanced humorously at Seifer who smiled warmly. He took her hand and led her through the tunnel. They met up with Kiros and Ward.

"Hey!" Kiros said enthusiastically.

"Hi!" Ward followed suite. They opened the door and let the couple go in before coming after. Laguna looked up a little startled, but decided not to chastise his old friends for not knocking when he saw why they didn't.

"Selphie, Seifer!" he practically yelled when he saw them. Kiros dragged Ward out leaving the trio some privacy. Some, for as soon as the door closed, ears were pressed. "Squall told me you two were here. But mind you, I had to coax the reason out of him. He is quite stubborn. Just like his mother. Well, the reason why I had expected you two to visit was... actually there is no reason, I just wanted to talk to you two."

"Um... hi," Selphie said meekly. Laguna looked at her for a moment as if she were out of her mind then slowly realized he hadn't left a moment for greetings.

"Oh, sorry." Seifer just shook his head as if to say don't worry about it and glanced at Laguna to continue. "Ah, yes, well what I was getting to was why you both are here. Dr. Dasio is a fine doctor and so far all her patients have become healthy and lived long lives. Only one had to go through an operation, out he had pulled through easily. So I have high hopes for you Selphie." He cleared some of the papers on his desk. "Well since you both are here, I might do well to invite you to the ball we are having tonight."

"Ooh, a dance, Seifie can we?" Selphie squealed turning to her lover. He smiled.

"Of course, precious," he purred.

"Then it is settled then?" Laguna asked.

"Yes."

"Good. By the way Squall and your friends will be coming too. To represent SeeD."

"Really!" Selphie jumped out of her seat. Seifer pulled her down.

"Don't get too excited Selph," he warned.

"You can let it slide once."

^You can let it slide Like a knife through butter And no one will have to know Just let it slide It won't be hidden away But no one will have to know If you let it slide^

¤

The lights shone bright, dangling from large chandeliers. The women were in beautiful gowns and the men in expensive suits. And just about all the guests were there. The SeeD representatives were still missing. Except two. They were on the dance floor like an elegant and classic couple. Seifer was all spiffy in his suit, whereas Selphie, who was no longer a SeeD much to her demise wore a strapless yellow dress and cuddled warmly in Seifer's arms. Their thoughts drowned in the music.

*It still feels like our first night together Feels like the first kiss It's getting better baby No one can better this Still holding on You're still the one First time our eyes met Same feeling I get Only feels much stronger I wanna love you longer Do you still turn the fire on?* They danced. *So if you're feeling lonely, don't You're the only one I'll ever want I only want to make it go So if I love you a little more than I should ...* They kissed and danced. *Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Please believe me, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you* Seifer gathered her closer, the kiss becoming deeper, more desperate. *Still feels like our best times are together

Feels like the first touch

Still getting closer baby

Can't get closer enough

Still holding on

You're still number one

I remember the smell of your skin

I remember everything

I remember all the moves

I remember you yeah

I remember the nights, you know I still do* They pulled away.
*So if you're feeling lonely, don't

You're the only one I'll ever want

I only want to make it go

So if I love you a little more than I should ...

Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Please believe me, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you* He took her hand and took out something from his pocket, placing it over her wrists. Her bracelets. An audible gasp escaped Selphie's lips. *The one thing I'm sure of

Is the way we make love

The one thing I depend on

Is for us to stay strong

With every word and every breath I'm praying

That's why I'm saying* Squall, Irvine, Zell, Rinoa and Quistis barely came up to them when Selphie stiffened in Seifer's arms. *Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Babe believe it, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, if I can't stop loving you

No, believe, I don't know what I doPlease forgive me, I can't stop loving you* Seifer lowered her to the ground before her body could slide from his grip. "Selphie..."
*I can't stop ... loving you ...* TBC Last Chapter: The Vertical Ray of the Sun; The Epilogue will follow.