Disclaimer- Yeah I own Final Fantasy......yeah.....whatever......
Element6 - I like Seifer too
Crescent pearl - I know all about computer problems (grumbles) I'm just happy to have another review from you. :)
Aratcorien - OMG! It IS like ER! I used to watch that show... And yes I really like the idea of some kind of drinking scene between Squall and Seifer. It'd be funny.
In His Manor
His each step echoed down the empty hallway. He knew he'd find her eventually. There were only so many rooms she could be in. Extending his right arm, he ran his fingers along the stone of the wall. It was cold and harsh. It almost reminded him of the isolation cells hidden beneath D- District. Almost. He pushed that thought away when his fingers brushed across the tapestry hanging on the wall. Letting his hand fall to his side, he rounded a corner and walked towards the end of yet another hall. He heard her voice, barely audible over the silence that seemed to encompass the manor. Stepping lightly, he walked over to the door and looked in on her. She was with her uncle. He should've known she'd be here. Remaining where he was, he silently watched her from his dimly lit hallway.
The curtains behind her danced like a trail of smoke on a light breeze. She sighed as she placed a cool cloth on his forehead. The cloth really wasn't supposed to help him but it made her feel as if she was doing some part in making him recover. Tracing his unmoving face with her fingertips she closed her eyes to keep from crying.
"I need you to be here," She whispered. "I'm not alone but I'm scared." She opened her eyes just wide enough for a tear to fall and land on his cheek. She gently wiped it away with her thumb. "So much is happening all at once. I don't know what to do or think. Everything's just so crazy." She laid her head on the pillow his head shared and smiled. "I can remember back a long ways. I remember the first time you came into Raine's pub. You were screaming and crying so loud it woke me up. I was scared. I'd never heard someone cry like you were. I used to sit close to your bed and scribbled little drawings of you. You were my main source of entertainment. I stayed in your room as long as Raine would let me. I drew pictures, lots of pictures. And then there was the day you were feeling well enough to sit up. You took my drawing and my crayon and you drew a picture of me beside the picture of you. It didn't really look like me but I figured it was pretty good considering Raine had told me you'd broken your wrists and hurt your hands." She paused as she brushed some of his hair away from her face. "I got in the habit of bringing all of my toys in your room and putting on little plays and puppet shows for you. But Raine said that I should stop. I think she wanted me to leave you alone but I didn't. Raine helped restore you to health but I took care of you. You used to let me brush your hair. It wasn't that big of a deal but it was so special to me. With Raine always at work behind the bar you were the first person I really got to spend a lot of time with. I always wanted the three of us to be a family," Her voice wavered. "We were but it was too short lived. I know I have Squall, now that he remembers who I am, but he's not the same as you. You have to be okay," The tears began to fall unrestrained. "You're the closest thing to a father I ever had. I can't loose you. I need you too much. I don't know what to do. I need you to shrug your shoulders and make light of the situation. I need to hear your near endless optimism you almost always have when you're around me." She wiped off the side of his face where a few of her tears had fallen and she then paced along the tall open windows beside the bed.
"I'm so scared," Her voice was barely audible. "I'm pregnant and I don't know what to do. If you were conscious right now you might faint at the news," She chuckled lightly at the thought. "I'm going to have twins...so long as everything works out okay." She closed her eyes as she leaned against the side of the window and let the wind play with her hair. "I want everything to work out. I think Seifer's still shaken by the news but he'll be alright. I have faith in that. I try to support him. It can't be easy to have a majority of the world's civilized population afraid or angry at you. He thinks he's just one big screw up. He still talks as if my condition is all his fault and I'm somehow being punished for sticking by his side." She stared down to the cobblestone driveway below the window. "He'll realize he's wrong. Once they're born, he'll realize he's wrong. I hope your not too upset about it. I mean I remember when you found out about Rinoa being pregnant you didn't sleep you were so upset. You paced around, worrying partly that what happened to Raine might happen to Rinoa and that Squall would end up walking back out of your life because he'd started a family of his own.
"I want a family with him. I hope he feels the same way. I'm not doubting him," Her voice grew lower. "He's just been acting different and it worries me. He's so stressed but he won't admit it. He doesn't talk about what's bothering him anymore. I wish you could say something." She stopped and looked around the room she was in. The equipment he was hooked up to kept the room from being too silent, but it was still too quiet for her liking. "This talk is nonsense," She said to herself as she picked up her shaw and started for the door.
From the doorway he had been watching her unmoving. Shocked by what he'd heard, he backed away from the doorway and turned to go back down the hall. Instead he bumped into Kiros, standing a few feet behind him. Ignoring the man he walked around him and continued on his way.
"We should talk," The older man said quietly as he followed him. Seifer rolled his eyes at the statement and kept walking. "What are you planning on doing?"
Seifer shrugged but continued his pace. "None of your concern old timer." At that Kiros took hold of his arm and pulled him into the main hall, shutting the doors behind them.
"Don't tell me what my concern is. Laguna is like family and so is Ellone."
"What I decide to do is none of your business," Seifer's voice started to take on an edge.
"It is my business if you hurt her," Kiros warned. "She's the closest thing to having a child of my own that I'll ever have."
"What!?" Seifer exclaimed. "You're suggesting I'm gonna just dump her! Look. I understand you don't like me cause hey, I can't stand you, but don't go making critical assumptions of my actions based solely on what little you know about me!" A few feet behind them, Ward walked quietly in the room. He stared silently at the scene before him.
"Actions speak louder than words," Kiros said evenly as he watched a now angry Seifer pace around the hall. "You're past is far from impressive."
"Like you really know my past. All you know are the exaggerated headlines the media spreads around. Don't even start talking about something you don't know shit about!" Seifer stopped pacing and approached Kiros. "All you need to know is that I'm not going anywhere. I love her. But loving her doesn't mean I have to eagerly embrace her three former guardians. In all honesty, I don't want you here. I never wanted you here but I just bit my tongue and let you sit up your little army base on my property," He paused. "Now that I think about it. I don't want the soldiers here. I want to be able to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without guards posted everywhere. I want to be able to walk down my hallways without being dragged to another room!" Seifer swiftly scooped up Kiros' equipment bag by the door and pushed it into his arms. "I want you and your men out by midnight."
Letting the bag fall to the ground, Kiros grabbed Seifer by his shirt collar and pushed him up against the wall. "In all honesty. I never liked you. I always thought you were a worthless troublemaker. Definitely not the kind of person I would allow my daughter to date."
"Lucky me she's not your daughter," Seifer spat.
"Lucky you Laguna and Ward seem to like you so much. Lucky you Ellone loves you. Lucky you she's planning on marrying you. If that weren't the case I'd have had you thrown out a long time go. But don't worry. I'm not here because I want to be friends. I'm only here because of Laguna!" He snapped as he released Seifer's collar. "And don't tell me what to do with my security forces..."
"I don't really give a damn!" The fuming blonde cut him off. "This is my house and I say what goes!" The hall they stood in seemed to grow smaller with every tick of the ancient clock on the wall. "Don't try me."
"Don't mess with Estharian National Security," Kiros warned.
"Watch me," Seifer growled in response. Behind them in the doorway, Ward watched silently as they dared one another to take action. "This is bull shit! Get out of my house!" Seifer flung his arm to the nearest exterior door in anger.
"Make me."
Seifer sneered at his challenge.
Element6 - I like Seifer too
Crescent pearl - I know all about computer problems (grumbles) I'm just happy to have another review from you. :)
Aratcorien - OMG! It IS like ER! I used to watch that show... And yes I really like the idea of some kind of drinking scene between Squall and Seifer. It'd be funny.
In His Manor
His each step echoed down the empty hallway. He knew he'd find her eventually. There were only so many rooms she could be in. Extending his right arm, he ran his fingers along the stone of the wall. It was cold and harsh. It almost reminded him of the isolation cells hidden beneath D- District. Almost. He pushed that thought away when his fingers brushed across the tapestry hanging on the wall. Letting his hand fall to his side, he rounded a corner and walked towards the end of yet another hall. He heard her voice, barely audible over the silence that seemed to encompass the manor. Stepping lightly, he walked over to the door and looked in on her. She was with her uncle. He should've known she'd be here. Remaining where he was, he silently watched her from his dimly lit hallway.
The curtains behind her danced like a trail of smoke on a light breeze. She sighed as she placed a cool cloth on his forehead. The cloth really wasn't supposed to help him but it made her feel as if she was doing some part in making him recover. Tracing his unmoving face with her fingertips she closed her eyes to keep from crying.
"I need you to be here," She whispered. "I'm not alone but I'm scared." She opened her eyes just wide enough for a tear to fall and land on his cheek. She gently wiped it away with her thumb. "So much is happening all at once. I don't know what to do or think. Everything's just so crazy." She laid her head on the pillow his head shared and smiled. "I can remember back a long ways. I remember the first time you came into Raine's pub. You were screaming and crying so loud it woke me up. I was scared. I'd never heard someone cry like you were. I used to sit close to your bed and scribbled little drawings of you. You were my main source of entertainment. I stayed in your room as long as Raine would let me. I drew pictures, lots of pictures. And then there was the day you were feeling well enough to sit up. You took my drawing and my crayon and you drew a picture of me beside the picture of you. It didn't really look like me but I figured it was pretty good considering Raine had told me you'd broken your wrists and hurt your hands." She paused as she brushed some of his hair away from her face. "I got in the habit of bringing all of my toys in your room and putting on little plays and puppet shows for you. But Raine said that I should stop. I think she wanted me to leave you alone but I didn't. Raine helped restore you to health but I took care of you. You used to let me brush your hair. It wasn't that big of a deal but it was so special to me. With Raine always at work behind the bar you were the first person I really got to spend a lot of time with. I always wanted the three of us to be a family," Her voice wavered. "We were but it was too short lived. I know I have Squall, now that he remembers who I am, but he's not the same as you. You have to be okay," The tears began to fall unrestrained. "You're the closest thing to a father I ever had. I can't loose you. I need you too much. I don't know what to do. I need you to shrug your shoulders and make light of the situation. I need to hear your near endless optimism you almost always have when you're around me." She wiped off the side of his face where a few of her tears had fallen and she then paced along the tall open windows beside the bed.
"I'm so scared," Her voice was barely audible. "I'm pregnant and I don't know what to do. If you were conscious right now you might faint at the news," She chuckled lightly at the thought. "I'm going to have twins...so long as everything works out okay." She closed her eyes as she leaned against the side of the window and let the wind play with her hair. "I want everything to work out. I think Seifer's still shaken by the news but he'll be alright. I have faith in that. I try to support him. It can't be easy to have a majority of the world's civilized population afraid or angry at you. He thinks he's just one big screw up. He still talks as if my condition is all his fault and I'm somehow being punished for sticking by his side." She stared down to the cobblestone driveway below the window. "He'll realize he's wrong. Once they're born, he'll realize he's wrong. I hope your not too upset about it. I mean I remember when you found out about Rinoa being pregnant you didn't sleep you were so upset. You paced around, worrying partly that what happened to Raine might happen to Rinoa and that Squall would end up walking back out of your life because he'd started a family of his own.
"I want a family with him. I hope he feels the same way. I'm not doubting him," Her voice grew lower. "He's just been acting different and it worries me. He's so stressed but he won't admit it. He doesn't talk about what's bothering him anymore. I wish you could say something." She stopped and looked around the room she was in. The equipment he was hooked up to kept the room from being too silent, but it was still too quiet for her liking. "This talk is nonsense," She said to herself as she picked up her shaw and started for the door.
From the doorway he had been watching her unmoving. Shocked by what he'd heard, he backed away from the doorway and turned to go back down the hall. Instead he bumped into Kiros, standing a few feet behind him. Ignoring the man he walked around him and continued on his way.
"We should talk," The older man said quietly as he followed him. Seifer rolled his eyes at the statement and kept walking. "What are you planning on doing?"
Seifer shrugged but continued his pace. "None of your concern old timer." At that Kiros took hold of his arm and pulled him into the main hall, shutting the doors behind them.
"Don't tell me what my concern is. Laguna is like family and so is Ellone."
"What I decide to do is none of your business," Seifer's voice started to take on an edge.
"It is my business if you hurt her," Kiros warned. "She's the closest thing to having a child of my own that I'll ever have."
"What!?" Seifer exclaimed. "You're suggesting I'm gonna just dump her! Look. I understand you don't like me cause hey, I can't stand you, but don't go making critical assumptions of my actions based solely on what little you know about me!" A few feet behind them, Ward walked quietly in the room. He stared silently at the scene before him.
"Actions speak louder than words," Kiros said evenly as he watched a now angry Seifer pace around the hall. "You're past is far from impressive."
"Like you really know my past. All you know are the exaggerated headlines the media spreads around. Don't even start talking about something you don't know shit about!" Seifer stopped pacing and approached Kiros. "All you need to know is that I'm not going anywhere. I love her. But loving her doesn't mean I have to eagerly embrace her three former guardians. In all honesty, I don't want you here. I never wanted you here but I just bit my tongue and let you sit up your little army base on my property," He paused. "Now that I think about it. I don't want the soldiers here. I want to be able to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without guards posted everywhere. I want to be able to walk down my hallways without being dragged to another room!" Seifer swiftly scooped up Kiros' equipment bag by the door and pushed it into his arms. "I want you and your men out by midnight."
Letting the bag fall to the ground, Kiros grabbed Seifer by his shirt collar and pushed him up against the wall. "In all honesty. I never liked you. I always thought you were a worthless troublemaker. Definitely not the kind of person I would allow my daughter to date."
"Lucky me she's not your daughter," Seifer spat.
"Lucky you Laguna and Ward seem to like you so much. Lucky you Ellone loves you. Lucky you she's planning on marrying you. If that weren't the case I'd have had you thrown out a long time go. But don't worry. I'm not here because I want to be friends. I'm only here because of Laguna!" He snapped as he released Seifer's collar. "And don't tell me what to do with my security forces..."
"I don't really give a damn!" The fuming blonde cut him off. "This is my house and I say what goes!" The hall they stood in seemed to grow smaller with every tick of the ancient clock on the wall. "Don't try me."
"Don't mess with Estharian National Security," Kiros warned.
"Watch me," Seifer growled in response. Behind them in the doorway, Ward watched silently as they dared one another to take action. "This is bull shit! Get out of my house!" Seifer flung his arm to the nearest exterior door in anger.
"Make me."
Seifer sneered at his challenge.