Disclaimer: No I don't own Final Fantasy VIII. I don't own the computer,
I don't even own the truck I claim to be mine! Just leave me alone people!
Author's notes- This is seriously the last time I'm putting this on a chapter:
~*~*~*~ - progression in time
_____ - Change in character pov or situation
"..." Spoken words
'...' Thoughts
Morning Shift
The ringing wouldn't stop. Why wouldn't it stop? She groaned as she rolled onto her stomach and buried her head under her pillow. She hadn't set her alarm clock. At least she didn't think she had. She swatted at the offending time piece futilly as she discovered that it wasn't going off. Realizing that it wasn't the clock, she threw the pillow aside and kicked away the blankets in order to better reach the phone. She grasped the receiver tightly as she held it up to her ear.
"Hello?" She asked frantically thinking that it was Irvine calling to say that something was wrong with Toby. Who she got wasn't who she'd expected. In fact, he was one of the last people she expected. "Sir Laguna? No, its okay. Are you serious? Okay thanks!" Selphie hung up her phone and then called Irvine's room. She watched her feet dangle along the side of her bed and absently knocked her heels against a box underneath. "Hey Hon," She answered. 'Finally an answer,' She thought. "I know its late, but I got really good news. Squall's surgery worked! He can see again! Look, I need you to get him some kind of welcome back, get well gift....Yes I realize this is Squall we're talking about. Just do it. Oh yeah, don't get anything with red on it. I don't think he can see that color. Okay, goodnight Sweetie." Selphie hung up the phone and pulled on a pair of jogging pants. She had to make sure all of Garden knew the commander was coming back and that he had a little surprise waiting for him at his arrival.
~*~*~*~
There were flowers everywhere. Lining the walls of the dormitory hall and leaving just a few feet of walking space. How on earth had Selphie alerted this many people in just a few hours and persuaded them to do this? Organization was definitely one of her strong points. A sleepy looking Zell followed Irvine once again into Squall's room holding a few flower arrangements.
"So how do you think he's going to react to all these flowers?" Zell yawned.
"Probably the way he reacts to most things. Stands there and stares at it for a minute, lets what he's seeing sink in, and then proceed to be shocked," Irvine answered.
"You make him sound like a robot."
"No I don't. He's just predictable." Irvine sat his flowers down on the desk and then went back into the hall. "Toby no," He said sternly to his son who was taking a great interest in one of the arrangements. Toby pulled his hand back and sat back down in the hallway with his Chicobo plush. Irvine picked up another pair of arrangements and a box of who knows what and went back into the room. Zell was standing in the middle of the floor looking around.
"I don't think we can get many more in here man," Zell assessed the crowded room. "Squall will be lucky if he can get in here with all this stuff."
"What about the rest?" Irvine asked as he sat the flowers in the floor and tossed the box on the bed.
"Guess we'll just have to leave the rest in the hall," Zell ran his fingers through his disordered hair. Irvine laughed lightly at the sight of Zell. He was so used to seeing the blonde's hair spiked up that he never even tried to imagine his hair somewhat down, plastered to his head and sticking out at odd spots.
"What time is it?" Irvine asked.
"Six fifteen," Zell yawned again. "Hey man, the cafeteria doesn't open until nine, which is a joke if you ask me. Got anything to eat?" Irvine nodded and then looked over to where Toby was playing with one of the arrangements again.
"Toby!" Irvine pulled him away from the flowers. "I said no."
"Fowurs," Toby pouted.
"No," Irvine repeated again.
"Ahh, come on man. Its just a flower. Not like Squall will notice it anyway," Zell said in the background.
"Zell," Irvine was on the brink of agitation. "Ya don't understand. If I give in to his cryin' he'll be impossible to manage whenever he gets older."
"All over a flower?" Zell asked.
"Yeah," Irvine answered. "I'm tryin' to avoid as many future temper tantrums as possible."
"But its just a flower..."Zell looked at the arrangement. "It makes sense but it still sounds silly to me."
"Yeah it does," Irvine agreed. "One time won't hurt right?"
"Nah....I won't tell anyone," Zell replied. Irvine gave in and pulled one of the small flowers free.
"You're creatin' a monster," Irvine said as he handed the flower to Toby.
"At least he's a cute one," Zell joked.
~*~*~*~
They all sat in a circle and ate quietly. At least Irvine did. Zell and Toby were too busy playing with Toby's food. Irvine sat aside his cereal bowl and watched them in disbelief. Zell, who'd long since inhaled his breakfast was making what Irvine assumed was supposed to be airplane sounds as he made Toby's spoon fly through the air. Normally it was Irvine's job to do that. He almost felt as if he was brushed aside and replaced, but then he realized that Zell was unknowingly giving him the opportunity to eat undisturbed. He waited until they were done eating and then picked up their dishes and put them in the sink. He turned the water on and began to wash them off as he watched Toby play in the reflection of the mirror above his head.
"Hey uh Irvine!" Zell called out. "Man we got an emergency here! I think little dude needs a change. Immediately!"
Irvine laughed lightly. "The diapers are in the closet on top of the desk," Irvine answered as he let the water out of the sink and then began rinsing the dishes.
"What!?" Zell cried out. "I can't change a diaper!"
"Yeah ya can," Irvine assured him.
"No I can't," Zell protested.
"What happened to 'know it all Zell' hmm?" Irvine joked.
Zell grumbled as he dug through the closet and pulled out a diaper. "I'll get it for you but I've never done this before."
"There's a first time for everything," Irvine said as he dried his hands and sat Toby up on his bed. "Open it up."
"Huh?" Zell asked. "Oh, okay." Zell did as he was told.
"Oh yeah, ya might want to get the baby wipes too." Zell grimaced at the thought.
With the diaper ordeal over, Irvine watched as Toby dragged all of his toys out into the floor. Zell hopped up on the bed and sat with one leg tucked underneath the other. Irvine turned his attention to his friend when he noticed that Zell had found the journal.
"What's this?" Zell asked.
"Its just a journal slash baby book."
"Mind if I look through it?" Zell asked. Irvine shrugged. Out of the corner of his eye, Irvine could see Zell's facial expressions as he studied the pictures.
'Just like Zell,' Irvine thought. 'Skip to the pictures.'
"Whoa dude!" Zell exclaimed loudly. Both Toby and Irvine turned to him in surprise. "Your hair is barely passed your ears. That's crazy, I've never even tried to picture your hair like that."
Irvine rolled his eyes. "I never tried to picture your hair like it is but I didn't make a scene about it," Irvine teased.
"My hair?" Zell looked confused and then he remembered. "I didn't fix my hair this morning! I can't let Garden see me like this!" Irvine stood in shock at his friend's overreaction. "You don't have any gel in here do ya?" Zell asked as he ran into the bathroom.
"No Zell," Irvine answered.
"Ah man!" The water was turned on and Irvine stepped closer to the door to see what his friend was doing. It was amusing to watch Zell try and comb his dampened hair into its normal spikes. Zell slumped his shoulders in defeat. "They'll spike but they'll end up frizzed before the day's over with."
Irvine shook his head as he watched Zell come back into the bedroom and sit down on the bed. He'd never imagined that Zell would get that upset about his hair. "It looks fine," Irvine said.
"Yeah sure to you," Zell pouted. "I mean those spikes are one of my identifying features."
"You're not going to loose your identity just because ya have a bad hair day," Irvine replied.
"Hah! So you admit that its bad!" Zell pointed his finger.
"No, I was just sayin' that your hair not doin' like ya want isn't that big of a deal," Irvine picked up a few of Toby's toys and put them away.
"Maybe not to you," Zell said. "But I'm going to look funny now," Zell added as he picked up Toby and sat him in his lap. Toby grinned. "See, even your kid is laughing at me."
"I'm raisin' him right then," Irvine aggravated Zell.
Zell frowned. "That's not funny man."
Irvine grinned. "Your hair is fine, geez. You wonder why Seifer always called you names that began with chicken?"
Zell stared at him in disbelief. "How did Seifer get into this conversation?"
"Your spikes are nice, but they resemble the feathers on a rooster," Irvine joked.
"Really?" Zell leaned forward so he could see himself in the mirror. "I like roosters."
"Yeah you've never been chased by one," Irvine muttered.
"You were chased by a rooster! That's awesome!"
Irvine shook his head and laughed. " I was six, and it was mean." Zell was holding onto his stomach as he laughed causing Toby to laugh as well. Irvine stood in silence and silently wondered how red his friend's face could really get. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Don't let him fall," Irvine said to Zell as he made his way across the room. Irvine opened the door to see Squall ready to knock again. "My someone's impatient." He noticed immediately that Squall had on glasses. 'Must be because of the surgery,' Irvine thought. Squall stepped inside slowly and looked around. Irvine noticed with a little unease that Squall's gaze fell on Toby. He didn't think that Squall would look down on him or anything, but he wasn't sure how Squall would react.
"Hey man!" Zell sat Toby on the floor as he stood up. "How're the eyes?"
"Better," Squall said. "How are your arms?"
Irvine watched as Zell pulled off his long sleeved shirt and let Squall look over his finally heeled lacerations. "It took forever for them to heal," Zell stated as Squall turned his right arm over and frowned. From the inside of Zell's wrist around to nearly the crook of his elbow was one massive scar. The skin on his left arm looked a slight shade darker than the rest around and a series of small scars that went from his forearm up to his bicep. "These are nothing compared to what's on my leg," Zell nodded down to his leg. Irvine and Squall followed his gaze and stared at the pinkish looking scars that ran diagonally up his shin and around the back of his knee. Irvine didn't know why he looked. It wasn't like he'd never seen it. He'd seen it before it was healed, when it was still infected. Irvine frowned at the memory. "Ma freaked out, but its healed up now." Squall fell silent and then looked from Zell over to Irvine.
"Can you guys come with me?" Squall asked.
"Sure," Zell answered as he pulled his shirt back on.
"Yeah, if I can bring Toby," Irvine nodded down to his son who was busy looking up at Squall through curious hazel eyes. Irvine grinned as Squall stared back at him uncertainly.
"Papa who he?" The little boy backed away from Squall and then took a firm hold of Irvine's leg.
"That's your Uncle Squall," Irvine said as he hefted Toby up to his hip and pointed at his friend. Irvine grinned to himself at Squall's startled expression.
************************************************************************
Dark Topaz - Here you go, and thanks for being such a loyal reviewer.
Diamonddust1414 - I hope you at least liked the last chapter. That one and this one are building up to the future ones. Unfortunately I have to include these less interesting chapters in order for you guys to keep up with the later ones. Hang in there. It'll get better.
Verdanii - It is very nice to have loyal reviewers. Thanks ;)
Ameli Stoncius - Although I don't always get your reviews because FF.Net hates you, I know I have you're support and I appreciate it. :)
Aratcorien - Where did Seifer really go....could that be a hint to another one of my stories? *wink wink* I like Nida......poor guy was so under developed in the game. And yes Raijin makes his appearance! Glad you liked it. That's all Irvine needs huh, to have Toby run up to Seifer one day and call him Papa. lol No, Seifer called Irvine Toby's Dad, and Toby was calling Irvine Papa, either out of excitement that they were talking about Irvine, or just correcting Seifer's mistake. You pick.
element6 - Hey thanks. I personally think Darkened Ice is better, but it appears that this story has its own little fan club. I'm not complaining. Thanks for your review.
Bleeding in Vein - Glad you liked it.
************************************************************************
Chapter 14. This story was only supposed to be about 12 chapters long and now it looks like its going to be over 20. Special thanks to the character you guys all seem to hate and a few of you want to do bodily harm too. Right now I'm going to make a guess that this story will be about 22 or 23 chapters long. That's not set in concrete so please don't get mad if its longer. You wouldn't would you?
Oh yeah, I'm going to start the voting on the next story over again because there was a big problem with Zell and Fujin's story. I don't know exactly how I'm going to fix it yet, but I know that if I try and type it up I may end up with a mess that none of you will want to read. I'm sorry for those of you that had voted for that one. I messed up the plot line pretty bad. I'll rewrite it so its really good to make up for it. I promise. I'm open to ideas about what you guys want to see in it. In the mean time, the voting will be between Quistis and Nida story, and the Ellone and Seifer story.
Anyway, (notice that that word is always in my author's notes), please read and review and I'll try and update quickly.
Author's notes- This is seriously the last time I'm putting this on a chapter:
~*~*~*~ - progression in time
_____ - Change in character pov or situation
"..." Spoken words
'...' Thoughts
Morning Shift
The ringing wouldn't stop. Why wouldn't it stop? She groaned as she rolled onto her stomach and buried her head under her pillow. She hadn't set her alarm clock. At least she didn't think she had. She swatted at the offending time piece futilly as she discovered that it wasn't going off. Realizing that it wasn't the clock, she threw the pillow aside and kicked away the blankets in order to better reach the phone. She grasped the receiver tightly as she held it up to her ear.
"Hello?" She asked frantically thinking that it was Irvine calling to say that something was wrong with Toby. Who she got wasn't who she'd expected. In fact, he was one of the last people she expected. "Sir Laguna? No, its okay. Are you serious? Okay thanks!" Selphie hung up her phone and then called Irvine's room. She watched her feet dangle along the side of her bed and absently knocked her heels against a box underneath. "Hey Hon," She answered. 'Finally an answer,' She thought. "I know its late, but I got really good news. Squall's surgery worked! He can see again! Look, I need you to get him some kind of welcome back, get well gift....Yes I realize this is Squall we're talking about. Just do it. Oh yeah, don't get anything with red on it. I don't think he can see that color. Okay, goodnight Sweetie." Selphie hung up the phone and pulled on a pair of jogging pants. She had to make sure all of Garden knew the commander was coming back and that he had a little surprise waiting for him at his arrival.
~*~*~*~
There were flowers everywhere. Lining the walls of the dormitory hall and leaving just a few feet of walking space. How on earth had Selphie alerted this many people in just a few hours and persuaded them to do this? Organization was definitely one of her strong points. A sleepy looking Zell followed Irvine once again into Squall's room holding a few flower arrangements.
"So how do you think he's going to react to all these flowers?" Zell yawned.
"Probably the way he reacts to most things. Stands there and stares at it for a minute, lets what he's seeing sink in, and then proceed to be shocked," Irvine answered.
"You make him sound like a robot."
"No I don't. He's just predictable." Irvine sat his flowers down on the desk and then went back into the hall. "Toby no," He said sternly to his son who was taking a great interest in one of the arrangements. Toby pulled his hand back and sat back down in the hallway with his Chicobo plush. Irvine picked up another pair of arrangements and a box of who knows what and went back into the room. Zell was standing in the middle of the floor looking around.
"I don't think we can get many more in here man," Zell assessed the crowded room. "Squall will be lucky if he can get in here with all this stuff."
"What about the rest?" Irvine asked as he sat the flowers in the floor and tossed the box on the bed.
"Guess we'll just have to leave the rest in the hall," Zell ran his fingers through his disordered hair. Irvine laughed lightly at the sight of Zell. He was so used to seeing the blonde's hair spiked up that he never even tried to imagine his hair somewhat down, plastered to his head and sticking out at odd spots.
"What time is it?" Irvine asked.
"Six fifteen," Zell yawned again. "Hey man, the cafeteria doesn't open until nine, which is a joke if you ask me. Got anything to eat?" Irvine nodded and then looked over to where Toby was playing with one of the arrangements again.
"Toby!" Irvine pulled him away from the flowers. "I said no."
"Fowurs," Toby pouted.
"No," Irvine repeated again.
"Ahh, come on man. Its just a flower. Not like Squall will notice it anyway," Zell said in the background.
"Zell," Irvine was on the brink of agitation. "Ya don't understand. If I give in to his cryin' he'll be impossible to manage whenever he gets older."
"All over a flower?" Zell asked.
"Yeah," Irvine answered. "I'm tryin' to avoid as many future temper tantrums as possible."
"But its just a flower..."Zell looked at the arrangement. "It makes sense but it still sounds silly to me."
"Yeah it does," Irvine agreed. "One time won't hurt right?"
"Nah....I won't tell anyone," Zell replied. Irvine gave in and pulled one of the small flowers free.
"You're creatin' a monster," Irvine said as he handed the flower to Toby.
"At least he's a cute one," Zell joked.
~*~*~*~
They all sat in a circle and ate quietly. At least Irvine did. Zell and Toby were too busy playing with Toby's food. Irvine sat aside his cereal bowl and watched them in disbelief. Zell, who'd long since inhaled his breakfast was making what Irvine assumed was supposed to be airplane sounds as he made Toby's spoon fly through the air. Normally it was Irvine's job to do that. He almost felt as if he was brushed aside and replaced, but then he realized that Zell was unknowingly giving him the opportunity to eat undisturbed. He waited until they were done eating and then picked up their dishes and put them in the sink. He turned the water on and began to wash them off as he watched Toby play in the reflection of the mirror above his head.
"Hey uh Irvine!" Zell called out. "Man we got an emergency here! I think little dude needs a change. Immediately!"
Irvine laughed lightly. "The diapers are in the closet on top of the desk," Irvine answered as he let the water out of the sink and then began rinsing the dishes.
"What!?" Zell cried out. "I can't change a diaper!"
"Yeah ya can," Irvine assured him.
"No I can't," Zell protested.
"What happened to 'know it all Zell' hmm?" Irvine joked.
Zell grumbled as he dug through the closet and pulled out a diaper. "I'll get it for you but I've never done this before."
"There's a first time for everything," Irvine said as he dried his hands and sat Toby up on his bed. "Open it up."
"Huh?" Zell asked. "Oh, okay." Zell did as he was told.
"Oh yeah, ya might want to get the baby wipes too." Zell grimaced at the thought.
With the diaper ordeal over, Irvine watched as Toby dragged all of his toys out into the floor. Zell hopped up on the bed and sat with one leg tucked underneath the other. Irvine turned his attention to his friend when he noticed that Zell had found the journal.
"What's this?" Zell asked.
"Its just a journal slash baby book."
"Mind if I look through it?" Zell asked. Irvine shrugged. Out of the corner of his eye, Irvine could see Zell's facial expressions as he studied the pictures.
'Just like Zell,' Irvine thought. 'Skip to the pictures.'
"Whoa dude!" Zell exclaimed loudly. Both Toby and Irvine turned to him in surprise. "Your hair is barely passed your ears. That's crazy, I've never even tried to picture your hair like that."
Irvine rolled his eyes. "I never tried to picture your hair like it is but I didn't make a scene about it," Irvine teased.
"My hair?" Zell looked confused and then he remembered. "I didn't fix my hair this morning! I can't let Garden see me like this!" Irvine stood in shock at his friend's overreaction. "You don't have any gel in here do ya?" Zell asked as he ran into the bathroom.
"No Zell," Irvine answered.
"Ah man!" The water was turned on and Irvine stepped closer to the door to see what his friend was doing. It was amusing to watch Zell try and comb his dampened hair into its normal spikes. Zell slumped his shoulders in defeat. "They'll spike but they'll end up frizzed before the day's over with."
Irvine shook his head as he watched Zell come back into the bedroom and sit down on the bed. He'd never imagined that Zell would get that upset about his hair. "It looks fine," Irvine said.
"Yeah sure to you," Zell pouted. "I mean those spikes are one of my identifying features."
"You're not going to loose your identity just because ya have a bad hair day," Irvine replied.
"Hah! So you admit that its bad!" Zell pointed his finger.
"No, I was just sayin' that your hair not doin' like ya want isn't that big of a deal," Irvine picked up a few of Toby's toys and put them away.
"Maybe not to you," Zell said. "But I'm going to look funny now," Zell added as he picked up Toby and sat him in his lap. Toby grinned. "See, even your kid is laughing at me."
"I'm raisin' him right then," Irvine aggravated Zell.
Zell frowned. "That's not funny man."
Irvine grinned. "Your hair is fine, geez. You wonder why Seifer always called you names that began with chicken?"
Zell stared at him in disbelief. "How did Seifer get into this conversation?"
"Your spikes are nice, but they resemble the feathers on a rooster," Irvine joked.
"Really?" Zell leaned forward so he could see himself in the mirror. "I like roosters."
"Yeah you've never been chased by one," Irvine muttered.
"You were chased by a rooster! That's awesome!"
Irvine shook his head and laughed. " I was six, and it was mean." Zell was holding onto his stomach as he laughed causing Toby to laugh as well. Irvine stood in silence and silently wondered how red his friend's face could really get. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Don't let him fall," Irvine said to Zell as he made his way across the room. Irvine opened the door to see Squall ready to knock again. "My someone's impatient." He noticed immediately that Squall had on glasses. 'Must be because of the surgery,' Irvine thought. Squall stepped inside slowly and looked around. Irvine noticed with a little unease that Squall's gaze fell on Toby. He didn't think that Squall would look down on him or anything, but he wasn't sure how Squall would react.
"Hey man!" Zell sat Toby on the floor as he stood up. "How're the eyes?"
"Better," Squall said. "How are your arms?"
Irvine watched as Zell pulled off his long sleeved shirt and let Squall look over his finally heeled lacerations. "It took forever for them to heal," Zell stated as Squall turned his right arm over and frowned. From the inside of Zell's wrist around to nearly the crook of his elbow was one massive scar. The skin on his left arm looked a slight shade darker than the rest around and a series of small scars that went from his forearm up to his bicep. "These are nothing compared to what's on my leg," Zell nodded down to his leg. Irvine and Squall followed his gaze and stared at the pinkish looking scars that ran diagonally up his shin and around the back of his knee. Irvine didn't know why he looked. It wasn't like he'd never seen it. He'd seen it before it was healed, when it was still infected. Irvine frowned at the memory. "Ma freaked out, but its healed up now." Squall fell silent and then looked from Zell over to Irvine.
"Can you guys come with me?" Squall asked.
"Sure," Zell answered as he pulled his shirt back on.
"Yeah, if I can bring Toby," Irvine nodded down to his son who was busy looking up at Squall through curious hazel eyes. Irvine grinned as Squall stared back at him uncertainly.
"Papa who he?" The little boy backed away from Squall and then took a firm hold of Irvine's leg.
"That's your Uncle Squall," Irvine said as he hefted Toby up to his hip and pointed at his friend. Irvine grinned to himself at Squall's startled expression.
************************************************************************
Dark Topaz - Here you go, and thanks for being such a loyal reviewer.
Diamonddust1414 - I hope you at least liked the last chapter. That one and this one are building up to the future ones. Unfortunately I have to include these less interesting chapters in order for you guys to keep up with the later ones. Hang in there. It'll get better.
Verdanii - It is very nice to have loyal reviewers. Thanks ;)
Ameli Stoncius - Although I don't always get your reviews because FF.Net hates you, I know I have you're support and I appreciate it. :)
Aratcorien - Where did Seifer really go....could that be a hint to another one of my stories? *wink wink* I like Nida......poor guy was so under developed in the game. And yes Raijin makes his appearance! Glad you liked it. That's all Irvine needs huh, to have Toby run up to Seifer one day and call him Papa. lol No, Seifer called Irvine Toby's Dad, and Toby was calling Irvine Papa, either out of excitement that they were talking about Irvine, or just correcting Seifer's mistake. You pick.
element6 - Hey thanks. I personally think Darkened Ice is better, but it appears that this story has its own little fan club. I'm not complaining. Thanks for your review.
Bleeding in Vein - Glad you liked it.
************************************************************************
Chapter 14. This story was only supposed to be about 12 chapters long and now it looks like its going to be over 20. Special thanks to the character you guys all seem to hate and a few of you want to do bodily harm too. Right now I'm going to make a guess that this story will be about 22 or 23 chapters long. That's not set in concrete so please don't get mad if its longer. You wouldn't would you?
Oh yeah, I'm going to start the voting on the next story over again because there was a big problem with Zell and Fujin's story. I don't know exactly how I'm going to fix it yet, but I know that if I try and type it up I may end up with a mess that none of you will want to read. I'm sorry for those of you that had voted for that one. I messed up the plot line pretty bad. I'll rewrite it so its really good to make up for it. I promise. I'm open to ideas about what you guys want to see in it. In the mean time, the voting will be between Quistis and Nida story, and the Ellone and Seifer story.
Anyway, (notice that that word is always in my author's notes), please read and review and I'll try and update quickly.
