Disclaimer: I do not own Squaresoft, Final Fantasy VIII, or its characters.

You are the One for Me

Chapter Seven

Each second that passed by was an eternity. Rinoa couldn't tear off her eyes off Squall. Whatever Squall would choose, she would have to accept. Her schooling, the well-to-do lifestyle that she and her parents were living... all these would be gone in an instant. And she had to admit that she would surely miss Squall.

They would go back to their old life. One that had no definite future. Rinoa could apply as a housemaid. Housemaid again! She'd be bad-mouthed and neglected!

But maybe she could think of a different solution to this problem of their family.

Rinoa was too busy thinking of what would happen if Squall would agree to his father's proposal that she got surprised when she heard Squall speak.

Each word that left Squall's lips was direct and firm.

"Please tell Father, Aunt Edea, that I can't accept what he is offering."

Rinoa couldn't prevent herself from smiling. She felt as if she had won a tournament.

"Have you gone crazy? You chose this girl over the money that's waiting for you and our acceptance?" Edea asked, her eyes crossed angrily.

"Money's still important to me, Aunt Edea. If a person had no money, he'll never survive in this world. Because I want to have money, I'm working my ass off to earn it. Once I have all the money that I want, I want to make sure that that money is mine... no one can tell me when and where to use it. I will use my money the way I want to."

"And about you and father's accepting me again," Squall continued. "I'm afraid I can't allow myself to be under your shadows again. Now I know how to live free... to decide for my own self without thinking of what would others say and taking care of the reputation of the Loires. I am a different person now and if you want me to come back, you need to accept what I am today, my wife, and my future child."

Edea's mouth opened to say something, but she quickly closed it. She glared at her nephew, before turning around and storming out of the house.

At that moment, Rinoa couldn't think of anything to say to end the silence.

Julia, who was quietly listening behind the couple spoke, breaking the silence. "Aren't you going to eat breakfast? I'll set the table for both of you."

"Maybe, we'll eat in a few minutes, Mom," Squall said as he put his arm around Rinoa's shoulders.

"You're not hungry?" Rinoa asked.

"Maybe you're forgetting that we were doing something important before Aunt Edea barged in here?" Squall said, winking at her.

Embarrassed, Rinoa glanced at her mother.

"I'll leave you two here and I have to do something in the kitchen," Julia said, smiling knowingly at Squall.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Rinoa knew that Squall wanted to bear a child with her. But she never knew what would be his reaction when she told him that she was two months pregnant.

"Are you sure?" he inquired.

"I already went to the doctor."

Squall rose from their bed, jumping and throwing his fist in the air. Then he embraced her, laughing. But he released her almost at once. He looked at her stomach with concern in his eyes.

"Do you already have your ob-gyn? There should be a doctor who should be checking you regularly. I have heard many dangers when a woman is pregnant. You should eat a correct diet, even your regular routine should be lessened..."

Rinoa giggled. She had never seen Squall like this.

"You worry too much! When Mommy was pregnant with me, she even helped out my dad with planting rice at the province!"

"No! You will never do such a thing! I don't want anything bad to happen to you or our child!" he said sternly to her, gently cupping her face in his hands and gazing into her chocolate eyes.

It was only then that Rinoa noticed fear in his blue eyes. She remembered that Squall never cared when Yumi got pregnant.

Squall breathed deeply. He embraced her lovingly.

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself," he said, his face buried in her neck.

"Of course."

"Tomorrow, I'll go with you to a doctor that will take care of you and our baby's health."

"Thank you."

Squall pulled back from the embrace, kissed her tenderly, and again cupped Rinoa's face in his hands. "I should be the one thanking you, Rinoa. You are giving me a son."

"And what if it will be a girl?"

"She would still be my daughter and she'd carry my surname. Besides, we can always try again. I want to have a junior."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Zell scratched his head. He and Squall were at the infant section at the mall. He noticed that everyone inside there were all women. And if there were men, they were with their pregnant wives. He and Squall looked out of place! They even had their ties on! It was a good thing they left their business suits at the office.

"You're child's still in Rinoa's womb and yet you're buying things for him as if there's no tomorrow!" he told his friend who was busy choosing from a set of baby clothes.

"When our child is born, I want him or her not needing anything. He—"

"Or she!" Zell cut him off.

Squall nodded. "Yeah... He or she is my child and I don't want him or her to suffer what I had suffered."

All of Zell's protests were drowned. He knew Squall's life story. He learned how Squall had lived from his nanny. As much as possible, Squall didn't want anyone to know of his past. The last thing he needed from anyone was pity.

But Squall's story was heart-breaking.

Squall's parents were not expecting him. Both were busy with their respective careers. If Edea, who believed that killing a child was a sin, had not interfered, Squall's mother would have had an abortion.

Squall was born with only a nanny to look after him. Sometimes, Edea would visit him but he only got pinches from her because Edea thought he was too playful.

Squall was six when his mother died. Ovarian cancer. Laguna blamed Squall for his wife's death. He neglected that fact that his wife had not taken care of herself. She neglected all the signs just to arrange business deals or projects.

Squall grew up without experiencing any love from his parents. His actions and steps were judged. Aside from that, he was always compared to Seifer's achievements, his father's godchild.

If Squall's personality were weak, he would have ended up a nerd or an introvert. But Squall was a fighter. He loved challenges. He wanted to get the attention and love of both his father and his aunt.

"I'd let my child know and feel the love that I never got from my parents," he told Zell as they approached the cash register.

"Squall, wouldn't it be better if you start with loving the mother?"

He looked at Zell. Zell had this look that he was about to say something serious, but then he quickly covered it up by a sudden smile.

"I think you're being dramatic, Zell."

Zell shook his head slowly. One of the traits that Squall had was that he always kept his emotions to himself. He hid what he felt.

"You should learn to let other people know what you feel," Zell said to him.

"That's hard... I might get rejected," Squall said slowly.

"What's the difference of that and what would you do to your future child?"

"I'm his father and he would never reject my love."

"What if that was the same case with Rinoa?"

Squall chuckled. "You know, Zell, you're acting like a girl, always changing your mind. When I asked Rinoa to marry me, you always told me 'no'. Now you're telling me to love her?"

"Because I can see that she had a very good influence on your life. You have really settled down. Forget the rivalry between you and Seifer."

"That's where you are wrong. Our fight is not yet finished. I'm just starting."

They were already near the counter. The two men stopped talking about Squall's personal life.

Zell had always asked himself why his friendship with Squall remained intact. Squall did many things that Zell disliked and Zell did things that Squall also disliked. Maybe it was because when one of them needed help, the other was always there for him.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

With her pregnancy, Rinoa needed to stop from school the next semester. She'd graduate late. It looked like she would finish the four-year course in six years.

Rinoa knew she should be irritated. But she couldn't. She was enjoying all the attention she's getting from Squall. She felt as if Squall's world revolved only around her. She had already tried to ask a favor from her husband twice, and Squall immediately obeyed her. All her wants were fulfilled. In addition to that, Squall now always came home early just to be with her.

"Hey, Rinoa! Wake up! Stop daydreaming! Have you finished reviewing for our test?"

Rinoa glanced at the girl who sat next to her. Garnet was one of her new friends at the community college she transferred to. It would be difficult if Rinoa would still pursue her college education at her former college because all the people who went there knew that she was considered a prime suspect for murder.

"What about you? Why are you late?"

"My boyfriend's car broke down. I'd been waiting for thirty minutes before he called me up telling me he can't make it. Hmp! Men!" Garnet looked at her. "I envy you, Rinny. You have no problems with your husband. I have heard that once men married their girlfriends, they'd neglect their wives!"

It was quite the opposite of what had happened between Squall and her. When they were not married yet, they always argued. Now, she couldn't recall a single argument between them as husband and wife.

"Maybe it depends on the men," Rinoa answered

"You really are lucky with Squall! He really seems to love you very much!"

Love? Squall never uttered that word. He was concerned, but that was not the same as love.

What about her? What was she feeling for the father of her child?

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"I might be gone for a month, Rinoa," Squall said as they were getting ready for bed. "I need to arrange this business deal in Trabia and I happen to be the best man for the job. When I was still in Father's company, I was always asked to deal with the Trabians. I know how they think and bargain."

In Rinoa's mind, 'one month' kept repeating itself. She would surely miss him. She would be all alone.

She laid down in bed quietly. Squall followed.

"Since your parents are here, I won't worry too much. Just follow everything your doctor advises you." Squall turned off the lamp beside him.

Rinoa did the same. "When will you leave?"

"Monday."

It was Friday. She would only be with Squall for two more days.

She didn't want him to leave. There was no logical explanation. That was what she felt. Squall was still here yet she was already missing him.

"Are you alright? You don't look good," Squall said, concern in his voice, as he turned to her side and kissed the top of her head. He caressed Rinoa's stomach.

"I'm fine. Even your four-month old son is doing very well according to the doctor."

"S-son? I-it's a boy?" Squall asked.

Rinoa nodded and smiled at her husband. "I saw the doctor today and I had an ultrasound. You always bought two sets of clothes for the baby," she gently scolded Squall.

Squall kissed her passionately. "Would our son mind if I'd make his mother do a little bit of exercise?" His hand went down to her hips.

As an answer, Rinoa kissed her husband. She wanted to fill the days that she would be alone.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Monday. Rinoa was very sad because this was the day that Squall was scheduled to leave for Trabia.

"What would you like me to bring home to you?" he asked as he put on his clothes.

"Anything." She wanted to add, 'just hurry and come home'.

When he was finished, Squall stepped closer to her and kissed her tenderly.

"See you next month, Rin."

Rinoa forced a smile.

They walked towards the gate of their house. Squall did not want her to see him to the airport because he'll take a cab going there. It would be better if Rinoa stayed at home.

Squall was already getting in the cab when Rinoa burst into tears.

"Squall!" she called loudly. She hurried towards him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I've fallen in love with you."

A/N: Hi! I've been really busy lately. Sorry for the lack of update. My god... over a month??? Waaaa! I'm really sorry. Anyway, I hope I'd be able to make it up to all of you with this chappy. I promise I'll update this sooner!

Thanks to my very good friend remote mine for never losing patience with me. Thank you so much for beta-reading this chapter. I really owe you a lot. T_T

Britt: I'm really sorry for the delay of this chappy. Anyway, thanks for the compliment. I really appreciate it. Hope you find this latest chappy good! Thanks!

Kan: Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed this one!

Melian and Luthien: Yes, Squall and Rinoa have each other in this fic. Thanks so much!

SoulSwhispers666: Wow... 4 reviews for one chappy! *hugs* Thanks you so so much! Well, I hope this chappy made your day. ^_^

RandomFan: Yes, OOC! I'm glad you found this fic okay. Thanks!

LionHeart823: Hehe! Hope you enjoyed this one! Thanks!

baka_shinji_01: Thanks so much! Hope you also found this chappy okay.

c-kai: Thank you very much!

Etherealist: I hope you liked this one. It has more on Squall's feelings for their baby... and of course Rinoa. ^_^ Thanks!

Manjo Leonhart: Please don't hold Squall hostage! You must share him with me! Hehe! Hope you enjoyed this one.

And thanks to everyone who added me on their fave list and author alerts! I really feel honored. Thank you, guys!

~bembem~