My Son's Wedding
Chapter Four: Adventures in Carawayland
By PasifiKStaR

Author's Note: Thanks for waiting everyone! This is mainly a SquallxRinoa chapter, so the other characters won't be around as much. Mostly light hearted stuff featuring an over-protective father and his future son-in-law. Have fun.

All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy.


"...so Squall and I are going to Deling City." Rinoa beamed a smile at her friends as a set of never ending eyes looked at her. Quistis and Selphie nodded from their seats in the library loft couch.

"I don't know, Rinoa..." Quistis mumbled thoughtfully. "Isn't traveling a bit stressful? You'll need a hotel and then rent a car...and all that driving around the city..."

"Well, we'll be staying at my dad's and there are maids and butlers and a chauffeur," Rinoa explained. "So it's not like I'll be straining myself."

"Hmmm..." Selphie mumbled. She nodded. "All right, Rin! Just take care of yourself. We'll hold the fort down here."

"Great," Rinoa smiled. "It's only for a few days."

"A few days?" a voice drifted from the stairs and Selphie and Quistis turned around from their seats on the couch Rinoa looked past them and smiled warmly.

"Dad, have a seat," Rinoa said cheerfully as the youthful President made his way over. "I was just telling them for my plans next week."

"Next week?" Laguna asked, slightly confused. He bit his bottom lip as he began to worry. Did I miss something? Did I not read the schedule correctly? As his heart began to beat faster, Rinoa lifted up her copy of her wedding binder.

"Squall and I are making an unexpected trip to Deling City," Rinoa told him. "We'll be staying at my dad's."

"Oh..." Laguna frowned disappointedly. "Um...may I ask why?"

Rinoa paused slightly and mentally debated how she should tell her future father-in-law. She took a deep breath and held the wedding binder up to her chest. "I was going to go look for something at the mansion..." Rinoa trailed off. Laguna tilted his head to the side, still not getting it.

"Oh? Is it for the wedding?" he asked. Rinoa smiled a bit and nodded.

"My dad kept everything my mom ever had...even after she died," Rinoa told him, watching his face carefully incase he grew uncomfortable. A flash of pain went through his eyes, but he quickly recovered and looked interested. "I'm going to find my mother's wedding album."

Immediately she regretted telling him, although she knew he would have to figure it out sometime. Laguna's eyes dropped and he stared at the coffee table in front of them. Rinoa glanced over at Selphie and Quistis, both didn't know what to do.

"I'd...I'd love to see it," Laguna said, choosing his words carefully. He smiled weakly and looked up. "I'd love to see how she looked like on her wedding day." His eyes were sad and moist, but shimmered in the light from the library windows by the loft. All three young women looked over at him in near admiration.

Sir Laguna is so sincere... Selphie thought to herself as she nodded. It must hurt so much to remember that his first love married someone else... Selphie paused and frowned. I bet IRVINE has a lot of 'First Loves'...

Quistis looked thoughtful as she looked over at the middle-aged man. Laguna is such a sensitive man...why can't Seifer be sensitive? Would it KILL him to ask how MY day was...? She frowned slightly.

Rinoa nodded. "I'll show it to you when we get back. But we'll only be gone for less than a week," she reminded them. She looked back at Quistis and Selphie. "Everything with the play will continue as planned. I'll be by to watch rehearsals when I get back."

"Understood." Quistis said.

"And the rest of the wedding plans?" Laguna asked, standing up as Quistis and Selphie did in preparation to leave. "Some more samples are supposed to be coming in and-"

"Relax, dad," Rinoa chuckled. "The only samples that are coming in are the invitation samples, which I'm picking up in Deling City. You have a week of break, just go ahead and take it. You know, Kiros called last night."

Oh crap... Laguna thought. He smiled slightly, trying to hide his anxiety. "Oh...really?"

Rinoa nodded and frowned slightly. "He was trying to reach Squall, but Squall was in the shower when he called. Since I won't be here to plan the wedding, why don't you head over to Esthar next week to do some catch up work?"

"And the rest of us will be quite busy as well," Quistis added. "With the play and all."

"We need to concentrate on the upcoming play, so we'll all be busy. You might get bored." Selphie pointed out.

Laguna hesitated. He didn't really FEEL like returning to Esthar, where he would sit behind his desk reading stack after stack of paper. Then signing them. And sitting there as Kiros lectured. Kiros lectured a lot lately...

"Okay, dad! We'll see you later!" Laguna snapped out f his daze and turned around just as Rinoa waved and ran down the stairs, leaving Laguna alone.

"He...hey!"


Squall finished packing the last of his things into a standard issue SeeD duffel bag when there was a knock at his door. He quickly zipped up the bag and turned, walking to the door without another thought. With a simple press of a button it slide open and his mind began to curse him.

"Why didn't you TELL me you and Rin where leaving!?" Laguna nearly bawled as he stepped into the room before Squall could stop him.

Squall stepped aside and ran his hand through his thick brown hair as his father paced the room in front of him. "Laguna, it was a rush decision-" he paused in his speech. Why in the world was he explaining this to his father of all people?

"Do you know what this means!?" Laguna gasped. "It means that I have to go to Esthar! Kiros and Ellone won't let me come back if I go there NOW!"

Squall rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Laguna, Kiros called this morning and said that he's sent a private ship for you. It'll be here soon-"

"No! I don't want to go!"

"What's going on in here?" Rinoa's voice called as the doors slid open. She walked in and frowned. "Dad? Squall..." she frowned and looked over at Squall. "What did you do to him?"

Squall's mouth nearly dropped. "For your information, he's the one who doesn't want to go back to Esthar."

"But dad, Kiros already sent a private ship-" she began, but Laguna shook his head. "It's only for a few days. You can get a lot of work done."

I don't think he wants to do work... Squall thought to himself as he wandered into his bathroom to make sure he had gotten everything.

"But if I go there now, Kiros and Ellone won't let me come back-"

"Then we'll pick you up on our way back," Rinoa assured him. Laguna's whimpering face looked up hopefully. "It's a little out of the way, but we'll pick you up."

"We will?" Squall said. He walked out of the bathroom, clutching a bottle of shaving cream. "Rinoa, that's over twice the distance!" he exclaimed. "We just don't have the funds-"

"Yes, we do," Rinoa frowned, despite Squall shaking his head furiously. Laguna's face lightened up and he sniffled slightly. "We'll pick you up in a week, dad. Just try and get some work done."

"Really?" Laguna asked. Rinoa nodded.

"Leave the wedding binder here. Just focus on work in Esthar, okay?" she asked. Laguna paused for a moment and nodded. "Great! Now you better get packing! The ship will be here any time soon!" She smiled cheerfully as Laguna gave her a hug and rushed out.

"Why did you say we're going to pick him up?" Squall gasped as his door slid closed behind his father. "You KNOW that's out of our way!"

"He can't stay at the Garden for a week! Everyone is too busy," Rinoa gasped. "Besides, it was the only way to get him to go back and I already feel bad for dragging him to Balamb to help with the wedding."

Grumbling, Squall shoved the shaving cream into his bag and frowned "Yeah...well...we'll see how you feel if your father ever 'helped' with the wedding."

"Are you mad?" Rinoa frowned slightly. Squall rolled his eyes.

"No, I'm peachy keen," he mumbled. He turned around and looked over at her. "What do you want me to say?"

"Squall..." Rinoa threatened in a low voice. Squall winced, bracing himself for a scolding. Rinoa watched his face steel itself for a verbal shredding and smirked to herself. She'd already won. Instead, she turned around and headed out the door. "Pack up Angelo's things."


The train to Deling City was smooth and on time. Squall cursed it. Why? Why couldn't it have had a break down? Why couldn't it have had a delay or something!? He glared out the window at the passing landscape as in the distance he saw the outline of Deling City against the morning sun. Deling City...once home to Edea the Sorceress. Now home to an even worse monster - General Caraway.

"Mmm..." He felt Rinoa's face rub against his shoulder before she lifted her head from it. "Are we there yet?"

"Almost," he replied softly. "Go back to sleep." Instead of listening to him, Rinoa yawned and stretched out slightly. She looked past him and out the window to his right. A smile graced her lips as she saw day break over the city where she was born and raised.

"You okay?" she asked as she stretched her arms around his waist and clung on to him. She looked up at him from where her head was situated against his chest.

"I feel just like a rabbit moments before I'm eaten." Squall grumbled out. Rinoa giggled slightly and pulled away from him. She looked across from them to the seat, where Angelo was sleeping.

"You worry too much," Rinoa assured him as she reached out and stroked the dog's fluffy fur. "Daddy knows you're coming."

"And so he's waiting with the Galbadian army to kill me?" Squall asked casually. Rinoa chuckled and shook her head.

"No," she insisted. "Just relax. He's not going to skin you alive, if that's what you're afraid of."

"No, I'm worried he's going to shoot me on sight," Squall told her. He crossed his arms over his chest. Just a few days, Squall...just a few days. You stay out of his way, he'll stay out of yours.

Much to his displeasure, the train arrived at the station much faster than he would've liked. Rinoa walked Angelo out of the train as Squall dragged their luggage behind them. Right outside the train station was a black limousine. As soon as they stepped out of the station, a chauffeur standing by the limo opened the back door and out stepped out a familiar imposing figure.

"Daddy!" Rinoa smiled cheerfully. She picked up her pace as she went to hug her father. "How are you?"

"Good now that my Rinny is back," Caraway told her warmly. He even bent down and petted Angelo. "Good girl, keeping that boy away from my daughter?"

Angelo seemed to think for a moment before giving a weak bark, which Caraway took as a positive answer. Rinoa turned around and waved for Squall to hurry up. He swallowed and quickly approached them. He saluted the older man. "General Caraway, sir! A pleasure seeing you again, sir!"

"Like wise..." Caraway mumbled, rather bored. He looked Squall up and down. Squall was wearing comfortable dark colored jeans and a navy shirt underneath a black leather jacket. "Put my daughter's things into the trunk."

With that, he pulled Rinoa aside and helped her into the limo, leaving Squall standing there with their luggage. Even Angelo jumped into the limo with them. Squall struggled to keep from scowling at the man as the sound of the trunk being popped reached his ears. Mentally cursing, he dragged their things there and put them into the trunk one by one.

The chauffeur didn't even help him. Instead, the sharply dressed driver returned to the driver's seat. When Squall slammed the trunk closed, he half expected the limo to go off without him, but it stayed put. Probably Rinoa's doing... he thought to himself as he opened the other door and got into the limo.

Rinoa was sitting across from her father and Angelo was on the back seat of the stretch. He was asking her about her trip and Rinoa was telling him the few details, although mostly she slept. "Thank you for putting them away, Squall." Rinoa told him sweetly as she turned to him.

Squall merely smiled and closed his door before he nodded. Caraway's icy eyes turned to Squall. "So... what hotel are we dropping him off at?"

Rinoa whirled around to look at her father as Squall looked confused. "What? Daddy, I told you, Squall is staying with US. At the mansion," she said, stressing certain words. "NOT at a hotel."

Squall watched the older man's hands clench disapprovingly at his sides. "Fine..." he mumbled in a low voice. He reached over and took the head set to the phone. "Get me the house," he ordered quickly. There was a pause. "Prepare a guest room in the SOUTH wing."

Rinoa rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her light blue sweater. "Daddy, really-"

"Just to warn you," Caraway said in a menacing voice. "My room is between you and Rinoa's...I keep my door open."

"Daddy!" Rinoa gasped with a frown. "For crying out loud! He's my fiancée!"

Those words seemed to sting Caraway and Squall made a mental note of it. He straightened himself up and looked at Rinoa. "It's all right, Rin," he assured her warmly. "He's your father. It's his job. I'll be fine across the hall."

Rinoa groaned and ran her hand down her face. "Squall, the South wing is a newly added extension. You're not across the hall, you're across the house."

Squall looked over at Caraway, who held a smug look on his face. It's just a few days... Squall's mind began to chorus once more. Just a few days...more...


The door slammed in his face and Squall bit his lip to keep from yelling. "Daddy!" a voice screamed in from inside the mansion. The door flew open and an apologetic Rinoa ushered him in. "Squall, I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine..." he mumbled as he stepped into the foyer.

"Daddy, what is the matter with you?" Rinoa snapped at her father Angelo ran into the house to re-explore her old home. "Squall isn't some stranger!"

Caraway merely mumbled something under his breath that Squall or Rinoa couldn't catch. "Can you show me to the my room?" Squall said as he held up the luggage.

"Carry my daughter's things to her room," Caraway snapped. "And be careful." Rinoa let out a frustrated groan as she trudged up the steps followed by her father and lastly Squall.

She lead them down the hall and through a large white door. Inside was a perfectly kept blue and white theme room with glow in the dark stars lining the high ceiling. As Squall put the things down, he noticed that the floors were spot less and that there wasn't a trace of dust anywhere. Not to mention that Angelo's bed in the corner was practically new.

"Thanks, Squall," Rinoa said as she took her things from him. "Do you want to put your stuff away first? We'll get some breakfast in a bit."

"Sure..." Squall trailed off. Rinoa looked over at her father with a warning look.

"Don't do anything to him." she insisted strongly. Caraway merely shrugged as he walked out the door.

"You," he said, pointing to Squall. "Follow me." Squall merely nodded and gave Rinoa a worried look. She smiled and was about to kiss him when he darted after her father, depriving her of a kiss for two reasons. The first so her father wouldn't kill him and the second to get back at her for the situation.

Rinoa was left to her bedroom to put away her things as Squall followed his future father-in-law down the seemingly never-ending hallway. As they turned a corner, Squall began to wonder if Caraway was really leading him to the guestroom or to some secret passage where he would be killed. Finally, the general pointed to a door at the far end of the hall.

Squall looked back down the corridor. He was a good distance away from Rinoa. The door creaked open, signaling that the room was hardly used. Squall hesitantly walked in before Caraway and found a simple room with one twin sized bed, a dresser, a desk with a chair, and a wardrobe instead of a closet. Squall's eyes stayed on the bed the General flicked the light switch behind him to make sure that the electricity worked in the barely used room.

"Uh...sir..." Squall mumbled. "Do I get a blanket?" He dropped his duffel bag on the floor, sending up a cloud of dust around him. He frowned and coughed slightly.

"A BLANKET?" Caraway asked incredulously. "You're a mercenary! What the hell do you need a BLANKET for?" His eyes fixated on the younger man.

Squall frowned as he turned around. "For one thing sir, this room is cold and I feel a draft..." he replied, looking around suspiciously. "Secondly, I doubt Rinoa would be happy to find out I died via freezing in my sleep." he added smugly.

The general's eyes narrowed. "I'm sure she'll deal." The dark wooden door slammed closed, leaving Squall standing in the middle of the room. He looked back at the bed and hesitantly sat down. He winced as a series of screeching and squeaking hit his ears.

Suddenly, there was a crash, and the bed fell off its old wooden frame, sending the box spring and mattress on the floor. An even larger cloud of dust flew around Squall as he sat there in surprise, choking out dust. Great...there is just one thing that can make this room better... he told himself sarcastically. Then, the single light bulb that was hanging over his head brunt out, sending him into a the windowless room's darkness. "Oh yeah...paradise."


"How's your room?" Rinoa asked cheerfully as they sat around the table in the dining hall. Across the massive table was her father and half way between them was Squall.

"It's..livable..." Squall muttered half heartedly. He could just sense Caraway smirking. Rinoa raised an eyebrow and looked over at her father.

"You put him in the storage room, didn't you!?" Rinoa said quickly. Squall looked over at Caraway, who shrugged. "Daddy! Ugh...Squall, we'll get you another room later. Seriously, daddy, stop it!"

"Rinoa, it's fine," Squall assured her. "It's okay."

"Squall, that room has a draft. It's full of old, rotten furniture, and I don't even know if the asbestos has been torn out." Rinoa replied. Squall frowned and Caraway smirked some more.

"Asbestos?"

"And don't even talk about the hornet's nest in the rafters above it..." Rinoa added.

"Hornet's nest...?" Squall mumbled quietly. That settles it...the man is trying to kill me." Squall suddenly felt like getting a hotel room wouldn't be so bad.


Squall woke up and looked around the room. He let out a sigh of relief as he recognized the white washed walls and the posts of the king sized bed he laid on. After much arguing the night before, Rinoa's father allowed him to get a room closer to Rinoa's. It was still it the south wing, but was a full fledged guest room. It had a walk in closet, a bathroom with a marble tub, and a beautiful wooden canopy bed draped with sheer dark blue sheets.

The only thing missing was the young woman at his side. He frowned and sat up, yawning as he stretched his arms in the air. He tossed his sheets aside and put his feet into the thick white rug that covered the room before heading towards the bathroom.

As he turned on the shower, there was a knock on his door. Frowning, he headed over. Just before he reached it, Rinoa burst in, slamming the door against his face. "Squall! I found it! I found it!" she screamed excitedly as she jumped up and down waving a key in the air. She paused after her brown eyes scanned the empty bedroom and found Squall nowhere. "Squall?"

"Behind the door..." a muffled voice sounded. Rinoa stepped aside and pulled the door forward.

Squall's eyes were half closed as he rubbed his nose. "Oh! Baby, I'm sorry!" Rinoa gasped as she let go of the door and walked over to him. She lifted up her hand and gently caressed his nose. "Does it hurt?"

You hit me with a solid oak door! OF COURSE it HURTS! his mind screamed. "No..." he mumbled. "I'm fine." Rinoa nodded and reached up, putting her arms around his neck. She leaned up and kissed the tip of his nose softly.

"I'm sorry, baby..." she cooed as she planted kisses along his face. Her lips gently tugged on his lower one before trailing down his unshaven chin and down his neck. "Did you get some sleep?" she asked in between breaths.

Squall stood there, frozen. Part of him wanted desperately for her to continue, but another part of him feared her father walking in on them. His hands were held stiffly at his side as he decided to play the middle ground and allow her to go as far as she wanted, but not reinforce it. "Uh...yeah..." he whimpered weakly as he struggled to keep his hands from rising up and holding her.

Rinoa's warm lips caressed the sensitive skin against his neck as Squall closed his eyes. "I missed you..." she said softly.

"I...I missed you, too..." Squall replied weakly. Must...get...to...shower...Need...cold...shower... He winced as he gently pushed Rinoa away. "Rin...Rinoa, wait...Stop!" he gasped out. I never thought I'd actually say those words in THIS situation... he thought to himself. He shook his head and looked over at Rinoa. "Your father might come in at any moment."

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "He already left for work an hour ago-mph!"

Oh...yeah...way to constrain yourself, Leonhart... Squall practically lunged at her as he immediately reciprocate the kiss she had planted him earlier. Rinoa closed her eyes and gently tried to push him away as she felt her balance failing her. Her eyes flew open as she fell back, only to have Squall hold her up against him.

Sure, this would've have been the first time that they hadn't slept with each other since they were engaged. As a matter of fact, Rinoa had spent most of the time in her room concentrating on her work lately. But this was the first time that they had been forced to stay away from each other. That alone made it feel like they were away from each other for years.

Squall picked her up and carried her to his bed. Just as he dumped her unceremoniously on to the silken sheets, someone's voice cut through. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" Rinoa's eyes went wide as she and Squall looked to the door. Squall felt his heart stop completely as he lost all color in his face.

"Daddy!"

"Sir!" Squall gasped horrified. The General was shaking with rage as furious eyes eyed Squall dangerous. "Sir! I...we...I can...explain! Let me explain!" Squall gasped.

"Daddy!" Rinoa shouted in panic. She looked around nervously as she sat up on the bed and seemed to scoot further away from Squall. "I hurt my ankle and Squall was just helping me get on the-"

"Don't lie to me!" Caraway growled. "I thought I told YOU to stay away from my RINNY!"

"Daddy, I'm going to be his wife-"

"He's not your husband yet!" Caraway growled. "Damn YOU!" Caraway growled as he stepped into the room and headed towards Squall. "How DARE you? Under MY roof! You have some nerve...!"

Squall swallowed fearfully. "Sir, with all do respect, I love your daughter! I would never do anything to hurt her-"

"You're damn right you won't!" Caraway hissed. He was now face to face with Squall and seemed to be towering over him. "I-"

"Daddy!" Rinoa shouted. Caraway turned around and looked at his daughter who was standing there, looking extremely angry. "Stop it! Squall didn't do anything! You know he'd never hurt me! That's why you're even allowing him to stay here, remember! You said so yourself!"

Squall's steel blue eyes took on a look of confusion as he looked from Rinoa to her father. The General seemed frozen in his spot. He let out a low growl and turned to look at Squall once more. Squall took a cautious step back. "If my daughter so much as lets out a sigh complaining about you..." he trailed off threateningly. He turned to his daughter. "Rinoa, don't tempt him either!"

"Daddy!" Rinoa nearly screeched. "WHAT are you doing back here anyway!"

"I wanted to personally invite him to have lunch with me later this week before I forget!" Caraway snapped back. His eyes narrowed. "I need to talk to him ALONE."

What? Squall thought to himself, slightly alarmed. Alone? With you? As in...without witnesses? He swallowed and watched as Rinoa sent her father an annoyed look.

"Why?" she asked suspiciously. The General headed out the door.

"That's between me and him." The door closed. There was a brief pause. A second later it opened widely so that the couple was revealed within and Caraway gave them one last look of warning before leaving. As his footsteps disappeared down the hall, Rinoa looked at Squall.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." she told him curiously. Squall merely nodded.

"I thought I was about to be one." he replied. He let out the breath that he didn't even know he was holding in. Rinoa giggled slightly and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm sorry about that," Rinoa said. "Don't worry, he won't kill you."

Speak for yourself... Squall mentally replied.

Rinoa stepped away and headed out the door. "I found the key to my mom's old chest. It's in the attic somewhere so we'll look for after breakfast, okay? I'll see you downstairs." She blew him one last kiss before taking the door and closing it.

Squall shook himself out of his stupor and blindly stumbled back to the bathroom. He had been awake for ten minutes and already he was ready to climb back into bed.


"Squall, just let me get a chair or a step ladder or something!" Rinoa exclaimed with a heavy sigh as she watched Squall attempt to jump and grab the latch at the held the stairs to the attic closed.

"I can get it!" he insisted proudly. Rinoa had joked that he couldn't unlatch it by jumping and Squall wanted to show her that he could. That had been ten minutes earlier. Now he was just jumping up in vain.

"Squall..." Rinoa sighed tiredly as she rubbed her hand against her forehead.

"Uh...young Mistress?" a quiet voice said from the stairway. Rinoa looked over as Squall attempted to jump up and grab the metal latch once more. "I heard jumping so I thought you might want to use this." The black and white dressed maid climbed up top the stop of the stairs.

She lifted up a small white metal step ladder with rubber lined steps. Rinoa beamed a thankful smile as she walked over and took it from the older woman hands. "Thank you," she sighed tiredly. "I was beginning to think that he'd create a hole in the floor." The older woman nodded and returned to her work.

Wordlessly, Rinoa walked over to Squall and took over his spot under the latch. She unfolded the step ladder and climbed up the two steps. She reached up and unlatched the metal pieces. She grabbed the handle and smirked at Squall. He merely rolled his eyes. "I would've gotten it eventually."

"Of course, Squall..." Rinoa cooed. She tugged on the latch and brought down the coiling stairs opposite here. "Okay..." she said as she climbed off the steps. "Let's go!" She waved the small key connected to a chain around her wrist in the air as she ascended the steps.

Squall followed behind her, making sure that she didn't fall. He looked up and smirked. "Those pants look good on you." he commented.

"Oh really?" Rinoa replied absent mindedly. "Thanks, I saw them at the mall with Quis...Hey!" she gasped as she reached the top of the stairs. She whirled around and glared at Squall. She tugged her shirt down in a pointless attempt to cover her butt. She quickly turned around and shot Squall a glare as he climbed up the rest of the way behind her.

Squall merely shrugged and looked around for a lamp switch. He saw a light cord dangling and pulled it. A series of hanging lamps turned around, illuminating the entire attic. "Wow..." he mumbled as he looked across the expanse of the attic floor. It was littered with old boxes, chests, and piles and piles of random things. "I see we'll have our hands full."

"It's marked," Rinoa sighed with a roll of her hands. "Daddy's an organization freak..." she mumbled as she pasted him. She glanced over his shoulder. "Remind you of someone?"

"Obviously not you, Rin."

"Shut up," she grumbled. She looked around the attic. "Okay...Daddy's stuff is over there...that area has my old toys and clothes...weapons are over there..." Rinoa began naming off various sections in an attempt to find where her mother's old chest was.

Squall wandered around, casually looking over old cardboard boxes. As Rinoa had said, they were all marked. Including the dates of when they were put away. He saw an old box covered with dust without any markings. He looked over at Rinoa, who was standing across the attic, trying to decide if she should start in left or right.

Quietly, Squall stepped over a pile of old military books and opened the boxes. He raised an eyebrow as he lifted up a magazine. Almost immediately the centerfold rolled out and he let out a whistle. Rinoa looked over her shoulder and saw Squall sitting on box of books looking at a magazine. Curiously, she sneaked up behind him. Wow...I guess Rinoa's dad had one hell of a collection...

Rinoa looked over his shoulders and her eyes went wide. "Squall!" she growled. "What are you looking at!?"

The magazine flew into the air as Squall jumped up in surprise. His face flooded with color as Rinoa's stern brown eyes locked on to his. "I...uh!" he looked around nervously. "Well, your mother's chest isn't here! Let's move on!"

He attempted to step around her put she placed a hand on his chest and stopped him. "Were you looking at my father's old weapon magazines!?" she asked incredulously. Squall swallowed nervously. "I can't believe you! We're supposed to be looking for my mother's wedding album! Not gawking at machine guns!" She threw her arms in the air. "Hyne! What is it with men and long pointy objects!?"

"Sorry..." he sighed. "I was just looking..."

"Yeah yeah..." Rinoa grumbled. "Take the left side, I'll take the right." she sighed as she lead him back to where she was standing. Squall followed and dutifully began to look for the correct chest. He managed to push back one box of music scores when he saw an old dark brown chest marked with 'Wedding'.

"Rin!" he shouted over his shoulder. "I think I found it!" Rinoa shot up from where she was crouched and jumped over some boxes. She stumbled over to where he was sitting and looked over him.

"Yes! Move the stuff off of it!" she said as she knelt down in front of it and fumbled with the key. Squall lifted the card board boxes that were on top of it off. He put them side as Rinoa turned the key. It made a click sound and she quickly unlatched it and lifted the lid.

Squall helped her life it up and watched intently as Rinoa's eyes lit up at the sight. He couldn't help but smile as her sparkling eyes looked down at the bodice of her mother's wedding dress. It had been neatly packed away in a protective plastic bag. He watched as she reached it and hesitantly lifted the dress up. Hyne, she's beautiful...

"Squall..." she whispered softly. "It's my mother's dress..." she whispered, a smile on her face. She swallowed as tears rimmed her eyes. She looked up at him. "Squall..." she whispered once more. He nodded to acknowledge her. "Can you do me a favorite?"

Squall nodded once again. "Of course, Rin..." Anything! You name it!

She looked down at the two and a half by three by three foot tall chest filled with her mother's possessions. "Carry the chest downstairs." Squall's eyes went wide as she stood up and, clutching her mother's dress, scurried to the stairs and disappeared from the attic.

His eyes went back to the chest. 'Of course, Rin'... his mind mocked as he glared at it. He looked up at the ceiling and narrowed his eyes. "You're really pushing it..."


Several hours, three butlers, and a bruised and aching Squall later, the Garden Captain fell across the couch in the second floor loft. "Rinoa!" he shouted tiredly. "It's FINALLY down!" He winced as his muscles ached from attempting to carry that damned chest from hell down from the attic. It had slipped and nearly flattened him six times too many.

"Thanks!" Rinoa called. They had taken a break for lunch a few hours before and then Rinoa had disappeared, once again leaving Squall to face the chest alone.

Squall heard her footsteps walking down the hall and turned his head tiredly. His blue eyes locked on the figure in white and went wide. Just seeing her sent his heart thumping as she appeared down the hall, walking into the loft.

Her hair was down around her face as she wore an old veil around her face. Wrapped around her body was a gorgeous white satin gown. Strapless and sleeveless, it clung to her upper body with a bodice lined with lace. The upper piece that made her bodice went down over the thick white satin skirt and split down the middle from where her belly button would've been. Underneath the first layer was another layer of satin. It had a two foot long train behind her lined with lace.

Squall's mouth dropped as he sat up, his sweaty damp hair falling over his eyes as she appeared in front of him dressed as an angel. I've died...yes...that's it. The chest fell on me and I died. I'm seeing an angel...

"What do you think?" Rinoa giggled, blushing as she walked in a little circle and showed off her mother's wedding dress. "Mommy was a little taller than me, but it fits well."

"Yeah..." Squall mumbled dumbly. Behind her, the maids who had helped her into the dress giggled as they watched Squall nervously stand up. His palms began to sweat as he slowly walked over to her. "Rinoa..." he whispered softly. "I...you're beautiful."

Rinoa's entire body burned as she blushed and stepped forward. "Thank you, Squall..." she replied sheepishly.

Squall smiled slightly, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. He took a step forward and reached out with his hand. His crooked finger went under her chin and lifted her face upwards to meet his. Blushing furiously, Rinoa's chocolate eyes met his cool blue ones. "Let me practice..." his warm breath spread across her cheeks as Rinoa felt her eyes closing. Her heart raced against his chest. "I do..."


"Good evening, sir!" one of the maids said as General Caraway walked into the door.

"Good evening," he nodded. "Where is Rinoa?"

"Upstairs, sir." the maid replied, giggling slightly. The General thought nothing of it as he climbed the stairs. As soon as he reached the top, he arrived at the loft and his eyes went wide.

Standing in dusty dark pants and a plain white T-shirt was Squall Leonhart kissing his DAUGHTER who was dressed in his late WIFE'S wedding dress. His mouth dropped. "Rinoa..."

His quiet voice cut through her thoughts and she pulled away from Squall. Rinoa turned her head and her eyes went wide. "DADDY!"

Carrying a look of horror, Caraway stared at them. Squall immediately jumped several feet from Rinoa. "Sir!" he gasped.

"My little girl..." Caraway whispered quietly. The General slowly walked over to Rinoa and put his hands firmly on her shoulders as he studied her. "Just as beautiful as her mother..." he said softly, almost sadly. He took a deep breath and turned to look at the man who would take her away from him. "You. In my office NOW."

Squall felt his insides churn as he stood there stoic and nodded. The General marched downstairs and Rinoa looked over at Squall. He gave her one last look before following her father.

For Squall, the walk to General Caraway's office seemed like he was walking to his death. He swallowed hard and eyed the doors ahead of him. Nervously, he opened the doors and stepped inside. "Sir...?" he asked in a shaking voice.

Inside the office, Caraway was pouring himself from brandy. He didn't look over at Squall as he began. "You know...I never wanted to believe that my daughter would marry you," he mumbled. "I thought that she'd have her fling and then leave you. I should've known..."

Squall looked around the room nervously. "I see..." he breathed out nervously.

Caraway avoided Squall's gaze as he walked over to the window and looked outside. "She's my only child. My only family," Caraway said wistfully. "She's all I have left that keeps me connected to Julia. I knew that one day she'd bring a man home and get married and leave...I just never expected it to be so soon."

"She's a grown woman, sir," Squall mentioned in a low voice. "She has a career and everything."

"I never wanted to see the day that she's in a wedding dress...every father's nightmare, if you ask me," he told him wistfully. He frowned. "It hit me just how much she loved you when I saw her in her mother's dress. Julia looked just like that when we were married...so in love. And then," he continued to blabber on. "She probably doesn't even remember, but when she was three Julia got her a dress up kit. Complete with a wedding outfit. She used to say 'daddy will marry me!' And I would play along..."

Okay... Squall thought to himself.

"And whenever it came down to the 'I do' part, she'd start laughing and proclaim she'd never marry... and now I see her..." his voice trailed off filled with sadness.

Squall didn't know exactly what to feel. She's not dying...she's only marrying me, he wanted to say. Whatever, it's probably the same thing to you...

"You're an excellent soldier," Caraway said. That comment made Squall confused. "I respect that. You're diligent, reserved, and self disciplined. You're a hard worker and you obviously have my daughter's heart. I hate to admit it, but I'm glad it was you of all people that Rinoa wants to marry...Hyne forbid it was that Almasy boy..."

Squall smirked slightly. "I love Rinoa, sir. I'd never hurt her."

"I give you my blessings," Caraway breathed reluctantly. He turned around and took a gulp of brandy before looking at Squall. "Take care of my little girl. Treat her like the princess that she is. And I've told you before; if you so much as hurt a single hair on her, so help me, I will rip you apart with my bare hands."

Squall nodded, hearing the threat loud and clear. "Understood, sir."

"We have an understanding then," Caraway put down his glass and walked around his desk. Squall took a deep breath as Caraway extended his hand. "Take care of Rinoa, Squall."

Hesitantly, Squall extended his hand and grasped Caraway's firmly. "I will, sir..."

Caraway took a deep breath and stepped back, retracting his hand. "Good," he mumbled. "And for the record, never call me father. You will refer to me as 'sir'."

Oh, big surprise... Squall nodded. "Yes, sir."

Caraway paused and let out a cough. He reverted to military mode. "You're dismissed!"

"Yes, sir!" Squall said, playing along. Inside, he was beaming, although outwardly, his expression didn't change.

He turned around and headed towards the door. As he slipped out, he saw Rinoa leaning against the wall in the hallway, smiling from ear to ear. He raised an eyebrow questioningly, knowing she had been eavesdropping.

"Go take a shower and meet us for dinner," she told him as she walked up to him and kissed him. "I'm just going to talk to my father a bit."

Squall nodded and kissed her back before walking back up the hall. Rinoa watched him leave, admiring the way he moved, before slipping into her father's office. She was now wearing jeans and a blue tank top. "He's a responsible young man," Caraway said as he sat on his chair looking over his desk. "Hyne knows you could've done worse."

Rinoa chuckled and nodded. "Thank you, daddy."


Next Time: Rinoa and Squall return earlier than expected, forgetting to pick up a certain someone.