AN: Hey everyone! I'm back with the latest update! Just to clear up a few things, the first chapter actually takes place during the middle of the story, so this chapter is actually the first chapter. This stuff is all kind of like a flashback, except not just what Quistis has seen, get it? I know it's confusing…. Anyway, I've been reading some fics, and discovered that I really like Squall and Selphie pairings. I've never been a big Rinoa fan, which isn't to say I hate her, but I just don't care for her all that much. So this story, which is a Seiftis, is also a Squalphie, and possibly a Zelnoa. So that's your warning. For those of you who don't like those pairings, feel free to skip past the scenes with just them in it, though I would really appreciate it if you read it anyway. I promise that those romances will not go too fast or be stupid and cliché. READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! And thanks for the great reviews for the first chapter! OH YEAH. Squall's had a wardrobe change. It looks like Leon's from Kingdom Hearts now, because that outfit is infinitely cooler.

Seifer Almasy was back. It had been nearly three years since he had vanished without a trace, and now he was back. Almost twenty-one, the cut-off age for SeeD, and he was back to try again. After a long and difficult trial, at the end of which he had been pardoned for his crimes, he had left without a word to anyone. Most of Garden had thought that he had died, but Quistis hadn't been so sure. He had been her student, after all, and she felt that she knew him better than anyone did, except for maybe Raijin and Fujin. But even they had come back after a year away and were now SeeDs. They had refused to speak a word about Seifer. And granted he had failed to become a SeeD under her guidance, but in a way, she knew she had failed him. She had continually favored Squall, believing herself to be in love with him, and had not given Seifer the attention he needed. Had she of tried as hard with Seifer as she had with Squall…but Seifer was just as difficult, if only more emotional about it.

Quistis shook her head away from these guilty thoughts as she stepped into the elevator, a smile of triumph etched on her face. The Seifer she knew would not have died without a fight, would not have merely ceased to exist in the world, like everyone else believed, wanted to believe. And she had been right all along, because Seifer was back. Quistis forced a serious expression as she entered Cid's newly established office. Despite the fact that Squall was the commander, Cid had stayed on, acting as his advisor and the chief authority, and would until he felt that Squall was ready to handle all the responsibility. Quistis had lost some of her respect for Cid over this. He had let Squall take control in times of crisis, but now that there was peace he was once again the higher authority. Currently, he was sitting at his desk along with Matron, whom she favored with a small smile, and the rest of the group was already there and sitting in a half circle of chairs facing them. A man she did not recognize stood looking out the window, his back to them, and she wondered where Seifer was as she took a seat. (AN: Duh!)

"Now that we're all here, let's begin. There's really no need for an introduction, I'm sure you all recognize Seifer Almasy." Cid looked pleased at the confusion of all but Squall and Rinoa, who were looking rather uncomfortable. Cid had not recognized Seifer at first either, until Edea had told him.

At his name Seifer turned around and faced them, and Quistis found her eyes widening in shock. Now she recognized him; from the back his long hair and clothes had thrown her off, but the scar across his nose was unmistakable. His hair was very long, at least for him, reaching past his shoulders and tied back, it's golden hue still there but looking ashened, and his face was unshaven, looking as if it hadn't for the time he'd been gone. He wore baggy jeans and a leather jacket, his familiar old clothes no longer acting as a trademark. He'd lost them during the trial. He looked thinner than she'd remembered, but it was difficult to tell because of his clothes and beard. His emerald eyes were dim and hard, and the sparkle that was once in them had seemingly been lost. A strong sense of pity rose up in Quistis and she hastily quelled it. The Seifer she knew would not want her pity.

"Seifer was pardoned as you know, and has since come to me asking to be readmitted to Garden, and I have agreed. The upcoming SeeD test will be his last chance at making SeeD, but I have a good feeling this time."

"Headmaster, I mean, I know he was pardoned and all, but still…" Zell seemed at a loss for words. His archenemy, according to him, was back to become SeeD, and it was happening like it was no big deal. Selphie jumped to his rescue when both Cid and Edea frowned.

"This is a big deal, you know? After all the trouble he caused, the death…Are you sure this is a good idea? I don't think the Garden students will be especially pleased about this."

"That is why I called you all here, first so that it would not be a shock to you when Seifer walked in the cafeteria, and second because I want you to set a welcoming example for the rest of Garden." Quistis was surprised at Cid's firmness, and even more so at the complete apathy of Seifer's expression. Her friends were talking like he wasn't there, and he had yet to say anything at all.

"I suppose that's okay, 'cause I mean he was pardoned and all, because it wasn't entirely all his fault." Rinoa was next to speak, causing heads to turn, there was a moments pause then Edea asked, "Squall? What are your feelings on this?"

"If it's all right with Rinoa then it's all right with me," he said simply, his expression never changing. Rinoa smiled at him. Quistis noticed Zell roll his eyes and Selphie frown, but they both consented when Matron asked them.

"Irvine?" Edea questioned, and the cowboy tipped his hat and grinned.

"I never knew him that well myself, so it's fine with me." Quistis waited for Edea to call on her, but she never did.

"That settles it then, but I have a favor to ask of my children." Edea said, smiling around at them all. "I would like it if you helped Seifer prepare for his exam." There was an audible stir in the room at her request. "Those of you who can, of course. I would greatly appreciate it, as I know Seifer would." A grumbled consent was her answer to which she thanked them all.

"Is that it? Can we go now?" Zell asked, anxious to go get a hot dog. He didn't want to think about Seifer. Cid dismissed them at that moment and he made a hasty retreat. Just as Quistis turned to go Edea called her back. At the sound of her name there was a flicker in Seifer's expression.

"What it is Matron?" She asked, glancing over at Seifer, who seemed to be ignoring her presence.

"Are you free for dinner tonight? There is something that I'd like to discuss with you." The motherly woman asked, and Quistis agreed. Then, when she took her leave and as the door closed behind her she could have sworn she heard Seifer say, "Well, that was fun." The remark made her smile. The old Seifer Almasy wasn't completely dead after all.

* * *

Selphie was skipping merrily down the hall. Now, under ordinary circumstances this would have seemed perfectly normal, but this time it wasn't under ordinary circumstances, if that made any sense. Selphie had just learned that Seifer Almasy was being readmitted to Garden, and yet she was still happy. Why? Because Seifer Almasy was being readmitted to Garden. Her opinion of the idea had changed radically in the last five minutes and she had decided that it was awesome that he had come back to try again because then the orphanage gang would be back together again, and maybe she would get to be friends with him. She always liked getting more friends.

So now she was skipping down the hall to the Quad. The Garden Festival was in three weeks and there was still so much to do! 'Maybe Seifer will help,' she mused, as she got to work, then realized, 'Hey! Squall said he would help! Where is he?! GRRRRRR!"

So then Selphie was skipping down the hall once more, back to the elevator to get to Squall's office, which was on the top floor, which the workers at Fisherman's Horizon had been kind enough to add. She wasn't angry anymore, because one, she was very fast to change her emotions, and two, she was thinking of all the wonderful things that Squall would be able to help her with.

Meanwhile, Squall was in his office, trying not to be annoyed. As much as he loved Rinoa, sometimes he could only take her in small doses, and now was one of those times. She was trying to snuggle up to him, kissing his neck, while he was trying to get some work done. Hyne knew how he was expected to get all of the paper work done while she was trying to cuddle up to him.

Then Selphie bounced into his office, without knocking, and giggled when she saw what was going on. Squall sighed with relief when Rinoa blushed and let him go. But upon realizing just why Selphie was in his office he visibly paled. Why, oh why, had he told her he would help out with the Garden Festival? He'd avoided it for the last couple of years, but for some reason he'd said yes this year. Why was that? Oh yeah, because she'd gone all teary-eyed and pouted and he had been in a good mood. The good mood was gone.

"Did I catch you at a bad time?" Selphie asked, still giggling.

It seemed Rinoa knew what Selphie had come for as well, because she quickly stood and said, "Actually, I was just leaving." She winked at Squall. "Can't wait to see what you come up with for the Garden Festival Squall!" And with a little wave and a smile, she exited his office.

Squall groaned, and allowed his head to fall onto the desk with a bang.

"OOOH. That looked like it hurt. You okay?" Selphie asked, peering down at him so that her own head was less than five inches away.

"NO," Squall grumbled, eyes shut.

"Well then maybe you shouldn't bang your head on your desk anymore," Selphie replied, straightening, hands on her hips.

"Whatever."

"In any case, you're supposed to be helping out for the Garden Festival, remember?"

Squall lifted his head. "How could I forget?"

Selphie pouted. "Come on Squall! It's not that bad! It'll be fun!"

Squall merely looked at her. Selphie squinted at him with one eye, lips pursed, playfully angry. She soon gave this up, as his blue-gray eyes showed no sign of relenting. But when she grinned deviously his eyes did betray emotion as they flickered nervously.

Before he could even blink she had already grabbed his arm, pulled him from his chair, and was currently dragging him through the door. Rather than get into a 'scuffle' with the sugar happy Selphie, he allowed her to drag him to his final destination; hell.

* * *

A few hours later, it was time to meet Matron, so Quistis was on her way to the elevator. Imagine her surprise when a very grumpy looking Squall joined her in passing as she walked by the Quad entrance. He was carrying his jacket, which was notably cooler than it had been, because the white fur was gone from the collar, the sleeves were short, and on the back was a pair of cool-looking red wings. The rest of his outfit had changed a bit too. His leather pants had zippers down the sides, which were slightly open at his boots, and on his forearm were three smaller versions of the belts he wore around his waist. Hyne knew what those were for, but Quistis guessed it could be for arm protection.

Anyway, his outfit was not the reason she was staring at him, though he looked incredibly hot in it under normal circumstances. She was staring at him, while he was staring straight ahead with an expression that dared her to say one word, just one, because Squall had paint all over him. It looked like someone had taken a bucket of the stuff and then tossed the contents of it at him. And it wasn't just any color paint; it was pink paint. His white T-shirt was now a brilliant shade of the color, and it was all over his pants, on his shoes, in his hair, splattered on his face… His jacket, which she guessed he hadn't been wearing for once, was the only thing not pink. He was also limping.

Quistis suppressed a chuckle as she asked, "What happened to you?"

"GARDEN FESTIVAL," Squall grunted out in reply, sounding very much like Fujin, who coincidentally enough, happened to be walking by along with Raijin. She glared at him but he ignored her, and she took out her annoyance on Raijin by kicking him in the shin.

Quistis smiled. She'd guessed as much. "Shouldn't you go get cleaned up?"

"No."

"Where are you going?" She dared to ask.

"Library."

"The library?" Quistis frowned, and cautiously asked him one more question. "Why the library?"

"To kill Zell and Irvine."

Quistis stopped at the stairs, blinking. Squall kept going, ignoring the stares of his fellow SeeDs. Of course that was where to find Zell, because he had finally started going out with the library girl with the pigtail, whose name was Celia, and also Irvine, because he would be there hitting on the other girls. He had gone out with Selphie for a little while, but the hyperactive girl had called it quits when he wouldn't stop flirting with other girls. It was in his nature. So now they were just good friends.

There was a sudden girlish scream, and Irvine came pelting out of the library, Zell hot on his heels. They rushed past her, and when she turned to see where they were going, she saw them entering the quad at full speed. Laughing now, she looked back to the library to see Squall limping out of it, a smug look on his face. He went in the opposite direction, most likely to the dorms to take a shower.

It was weird. He and Rinoa had been a couple for the last three years, and he had still not proposed to her. Maybe he--. No. Quistis shook her head. Despite what she had said about her feelings for him actually being sisterly feelings, deep down, she still thought she loved him in a very non-sisterly way. She had been working on getting over it for the last three years, and she almost was. It had been hard, seeing him and Rinoa act as lovers, knowing that he would never leave her and fall into Quistis' waiting arms, and occasionally it was still hard. Sometimes, when he'd let a little bit of his human side show and he smiled at her, she would feel the familiar pull at her heart, or just when he looked particularly hot. But she was nearly over it. After all, it had been three years.

Quistis gave sudden start. She was supposed to be having dinner with Matron, not standing in front of the stairs and letting her mind wander. She quickly sprinted up the stairs and got in the elevator, wondering what it was exactly that Matron wanted to talk to her about. Hmmmm.

AN: So what do you guys think? Let me know in a review. No flames, please! They make me sad…..Hugs everyone REVIEW!