The Raganork raced through the air towards Esthar. The three occupants were currently dozing in the crew quarters. Cid had called them to his office quite early to embark on the trip so now they were catching up on their much-needed rest. Selphie for once was glad that the Raganork had an auto pilot feature.
When the craft reached Estharian air space, it gave a slight roar that awoke the passengers. Selphie was so startled that she bumped her bed before quickly dashing to the front to begin landing procedures.
Once they landed, they quietly boarded a transport and were taken to the palace. Once there they were brought to the President's office.
Laguna looked up excitedly at the rag tag group that graced his office. "Hey guys!"
Irvine gave him a thin smile, "Laguna."
Quistis bowed, "Sir"
When the hyper active brunette tackled him in a hug he was thrown for a loop. Patting her back he awkwardly set her back down. Looking at their sad faces he asked what was wrong.
"Uh, we'd rather not talk about it right now."
"Well, okay but I bet I have something to cheer you up!" Suddenly losing his jovial express. He took on a look of such seriousness that one would never think to see it on his face.
"Well, before I show you I have to have your word, not just SeeD but your own that you won't divulge what I'm about to tell you anyone else."
They all looked at each other before each giving an affirmative answer.
As quickly as the expression came it was gone, replaced by another dazzling grin. Kiros and Ward quickly appeared seemingly out of nowhere to stand beside him. "Okay, right this way folks." He led them past the official side of the palace to the homey interior. Quistis and Selphie were quite amazed. Irvine was used to it having spent the better part of a month here. He recognized where they were headed began to feel his spirits lift, but he tired not to get his hopes up.
Once the trio was in front of a rather large door. Laguna knocked twice in fast succession, then three times more slowly. Then the door opened and Laguna, Kiros and Ward quickly ushered them in. The three SeeDs eyes quickly scanned the room taking in all its detail but their eyes came to rest on the people. Looking out the window was a longhaired man with one arm resting on his hip wearing an all too familiar black leather ensemble.
Quistis surprised herself by shouting the thought-to-be-dead commander's name.
When he looked up in response, she ran over and wrapped him in such a fierce hug that it knocked them both to the floor. Squall lay there dazed for a second, half expecting the Instructor to get up but was thoroughly surprised to see unshed tears in her eyes. Wrapping his arms around her, Quistis just snuggled into the embrace.
Hearing the commotion in the other room, Zell and Ravi came out from the bedroom.
Zell was then tackled to the floor in a bone-crushing hug thanks to Selphie. Ravi ran over to the still embracing Quistis and Squall and got down on all fours looking at them curiously.
"Legs no work?"
That sent the room into a fit of laughter. Luckily, Irvine saved the two from having to explain. "Naw partner, they just don't feel like moving."
Ravi gave a little noise of understanding before running over to him with his arms outstretched in the universal 'pick me up sign'.
Once Ravi was in the cowboy's arms he looked at all his friends and let a squeak of happiness.
After the short reunion, everyone gathered on the oval couch in the room and sat down to hear the boys' explanation.
"Wait! Before we start, I want the full version, not the Leonheart, little to no detail special."
Squall sighed in resignation and stood up. Then he began pacing the room as he talked. "Okay, when I left the room. I wandered for a bit trying to figure out how to solve everything on my own. I didn't want to risk getting you involved. I knew that Garden couldn't be trusted so I went outside of Garden and called my Dad, Laguna and asked could I get sanctuary for a friend."
Risking a look, to see if they would interrupt, he gauged their actions. No one made a move, so he kept going.
"After I got the okay, I went to see Seifer. I asked him to bring Ravi to Esthar. Then he would return to Garden before anyone would notice he was gone. No one would suspect him since he wasn't a friend of Derek and I. Remember the two G-Garden soldiers? They were Fujin and Rajin. I knew they wouldn't or couldn't hold us, but I had to put on a believable act for Martine and I knew if you were involved then your emotions wouldn't have been true. Too many actors and actress would have ruined everything."
Squall let out a shaky breath. All this talking was getting to him. He never liked giving speeches and this felt no different than a speech. Luckily for him, Irvine realized this and took over for the flustered boy.
"Hey Squall, how about Zell and I take over from here?" Squall quickly nodded and sat down next to Laguna, who was smiled at him when he seated himself. He stiffened briefly when Laguna put his arm around his shoulder but quickly relaxed in the embrace.
Zell smoothly hopped to his feet. "Okay, where to start? Oh I know." He flashed a sheepish grin. "Squall and I met up later that night too. He told me to trust him and said he had everything taken care of, so I didn't press him for answers. He just told me to run on his signal the next day."
He stopped and bounced in place for a second trying to remember the next part.
"We used Ravi's escape as a means to get outside. Later Squall told me that he planted a tracking device on Ravi so Seifer could find him and get him aboard the helicopter that was piloted by Fujin. That's why the two SeeDs went with him. Martine never knew the difference."
Turning to Irvine, "Yo it's your turn."
Irvine walked to the front and leaned against a wall. "Squall was making a lot of rounds that night. He came and told me not to miss. I bought dang never blew a gasket. Till he told me missing would be obvious and against my nature as a sniper. He wanted me to aim for something. So they both wore special bullet proof padding on their backs. I just did what came natural, but I still didn't like the idea of shooting my best friends." He voiced dropped to barely above a whisper as he stroked his slightly bruised cheek. "That's why Martine felt the need to correct me." Suddenly he stood up straighter and his voice became more confident. "I think that about explains it all. Any questions?"
Selphie quickly raised her hand, waving it enthusiastically. Irvine chuckled at her exuberance. "Selphie?"
"Did I hear Squall correctly when he said Sir Laguna was his father?"
Saving Squall from any further explanations, Laguna answered with a rather enthusiastic yes.
Selphie then stared at the two for a moment before commenting. "LUCKY!" Then she crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "I wish I was related to Sir Laguna. Wait I know, maybe Ward's my Dad or uncle?"
The room burst into a fit of laughter, except for Selphie who looked rather indignant at the moment. "Maybe Selph, just maybe."
"Thanks Irvy." She jumped in the cowboy's arms and planted a kiss on his slightly bruised cheek.
"Well shucks, if I get a kiss for agreeing with ya, I wonder what'll happen if I go along with your craz…special plans."
Looking coyly at him. "Well we'll just have to see won't we?"
Then something happened that no one ever thought they'd see. The lady's man blushed a deep scarlet. He tried to pull his hat down to hide it but it was too late.
Irvine was spared any more discomfort by Quistis as she cleared her throat. "Well, I only have one thing to say about this whole thing. Listen Squall, I understand you reasons and accept them, but if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll show you what Save the Queen can really do to a man." Then she smiled sweetly at him. "You're forgiven by the way." Then she stood up and exited the room saying she was going to go sight seeing.
Squall made a small gulping noise that thankfully no one heard. Note to self don't make Quistis mad.
AN: Well I just wanted to say. THANK YOU to everyone who's reading. There's just one more chapter left after this one. Also, I uploaded two fan art pics by me on my site. It's in the same section as the TC fic, in the extras part. Now I'm not an artist so don't expect a lot. XD I call it my Ghetto Paint Skillz! You can find a pic of Ravi and Black Sheep Seifer... you'll understand that better after reading the next chapter. If I can every find a way to draw Ravi decently or if anyone is so inclined to draw him or any other character, I'll post it. That's all. Until next chapter, G.