~~Mistakes~~

~Chapter 1: Bliss~

Squall gazed at himself in the mirror, shrugging his body as the bridal personnel, whatever they call themselves, fussed on his attire. They had fitted him with a pair of black suit pants, going with a matching grey shirt, and a raven jacket. Pretty much suits me. He mused, gently tugging at the hem of his blazer. They definitely have a way with these things. Weeks before, they had insisted that he at least trimmed away a few centimetres of his hair, and now it stayed away from his collar.

"Can't believe I'm doing this." He muttered to himself amidst the hemming and hawing of the bridal shop staff. Louisa stood between him and the mirror, peering up at his neck and fussed with the tie and collar. He winced a little, unused to the stuffiness caused by the choking tie. He resisted the temptation of grabbing that damn strap off his neck. Hell, standard issue SeeD attire weren't even half that tight.

Whatever that tie is, it better not choke me. And where's Rin? "Louisa…"

His bridal attendant turned her back towards him, looking at the other selections of ties, and he took the chance to ease off the pressure on his neck. "Hmm? What's the matter?"

"I haven't seen Rin. Where is she?"

Louisa flipped her waist-length hair off her face and onto her shoulders as she bent down to pick out his shoes. "Ms. Heartilly? My colleagues have her in the next room. Don't worry, Mr. Leonhart. She's being taken care off." She laid her eyes on a pair of shoes, and handed it over to Squall. "Now, if you would just put on this pair…" She scrutinised at his attire, noticing that his tie was skewed, and bit back a laugh. The man rose from his sitting position, and stood before the mirror.

"There." She saw the dashing man before her, and beamed. "I bet Ms. Heartily would be so mesmerised."

"…I am, Louisa." There and then, the sorceress had stood at the doorway, decked out in her white flowing dress, smiling.

"Rinoa." He strode towards her, and gathered the bride in his arms.

"Hi, pretty guy. How's your outfit?"

"Ugh. Uncomfortable." He twitched his lips, and noticed her dress. Sequined top that stopped at her nape, revealing her shoulders and back, dipping down to her waist. Flowing silk from the waist down, all the way to covering her ankles, and then some, leaving a trail of white elegance. Ravishing. "You look beautiful."

She blushed at his overt comment, never really used to him being so frank. "Thank you." Sashaying in front of him in her dress, she did a bow that resembled the curtsies ladies in the medieval ages used to do, grinning at her fiancé.

"Wow, look what being a bride can do some… Ouch." He playfully winced from the whack on his shoulder, wrapping his left arm around her waist and pulling her close to him. He gently tapped his finger on her forehead, and Rinoa wrinkled her nose, pushing him away before he could advance on her. "Louisa's here." Her lips drew thin, but Squall knew she was refraining from laughing.

The bridal attendant cleared her throat awkwardly. "Well, I'll just leave the attractively stunning couple here so you guys can… er, decide on your, er… outfits." She smiled, and left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Well, she left."

"I can tell… Wha!" She was swept off her feet, and into his arms in an instant, plopping onto the two-seater in the middle of the room. She didn't struggle, but looped her arms around her fiancé. "I'm nervous."

"So am I." His lips had curled into a soft smile.

The sorceress pressed herself against his chest, and played with the Griever chain that he still had on. She could feel his heartbeat quicken, and laid a hand where his heart was, calming him. "Shhh…" She lifted a finger to her lips, trying to take in the emotions that circled around them at this very instant.

"Never thought…" The knight's face drew near to his sorceress', and lightly brushed his nose against hers. He stopped, watching her hazel eyes blink back a tear, and gathered her cheeks in his hands, brushing a thumb over a wet eye. For once, he was glad he didn't have his gloves on. Then, in one swift motion, his lips met hers, interlocking with each other, breathing in the same air. His hands crept smoothly up her bare back as she sifted through his hair with her fingers.

"Gee… Wish you guys be a little more discreet…" Zell's hands flew up to his eyes to cover his vision from the couple on the couch. Quistis and Selphie followed behind him, now trying to hide their laughs. Realising that his hands were still trailing on Rinoa's back, he snatched back his arm, straightening himself like a boy caught playing hanky-panky.

"How's the selection doing?" Zell plopped himself down on a chair, scanning through some of the samples on the table.

"This should be the last time we are coming back." Rinoa stood up, and twirled around for her friends to have a good look. "And Squall keeps complaining the suits are uncomfortable." She rolled her eyes at him, and threw her arms up into the air in defeat.


"You forgot who you are talking to, Rin." Quistis chuckled, crossing her arms together and stole a glance at the solemn Squall. "Looks like you guys are all set for the wedding. Guests? Food?" She did a mental checklist, ticking off her fingers.

"Left the guest list to confirm, Quistis. Gosh, you are making me panicky." On impulse, she hugged her friend, and gathered Selphie in her arms. "Group hug, people." Tears were forming at her eyes already, and Squall stepped in, patting her on the shoulder.

"No one's dying, Rin… Oof…" Three sharp whacks had hit him before he knew what happened.

"Squall!" The ladies shrieked in unison, and Zell shrugged gleefully. "Can't help you, Commander Leonhart."

*******

"Right." Rinoa picked an apple from the basket on the table and crunched it, mumbling a little as she ate. "We have… about a million people to confirm. And another zillion calls to make. Great."

"Well, that's what we are here for, Rin." Selphie slung an arm over Quistis' shoulders while the instructor whisked through the papers, "Both of us are ready to do some battle with the phones, and where's that Irvy?" The petite woman looked around, and saw the man emerging from the kitchen, his hands grabbing several bottles of lemonade.

"Right up, ladies, and no liquor, it's working time." He settled down around the table beside Zell, pouring through the lists of names, and frowning a little. Irvine lay back on his chair, and slumped an arm over his shoulders. "What's up, Zell? Something wrong?"

"Yeah, couldn't find Sis' name." He responded without glancing up, still searching for Ellone's name, and didn't catch the three ladies exchanging looks.

"Don't bother, she's not in that list." Rinoa finally spoke up, breaking the discomfited silence. Zell's head rose slowly away from the papers, and faced her. "Why?"

"She had turned down the invitation, and said she had something to do. She didn't explain, but I could hear that she was a little upset."

The martial artist grew serious; thin lines drawing across his forehead. "You mean, Sis… she would actually…?"

"I don't want to believe it, but… Try to keep it from Squall, would you?"

"You don't have to keep anything from me, Rin." The knight had stood by the doorway, hands carrying a pile of invitation cards. His face was sober, and he stepped into stunned silence as he cast the stack on the dining table. "I understand the situation." And he strode out of the room.

"Wait! Squall!" Rinoa dashed out of the room, and caught him from behind. "You don't understand…"

"Understand what? That my sister isn't coming to my wedding? What's so confusing about that?!"

"She has a reason, Squall."

"So I know, Rin." He shrugged away from her, walking off. "Should I care?"

*******

Quistis stood in her room, trying to absorb the events that had happened this afternoon. She paced about the phone, her head bowed, before settling down beside it, and dialled.

"Ellone? You have to come. Squall… Yes, I know that you can't, but… Something the matter…?"

Author's Notes: It's my second draft for this storyline. Actually wrote a little and published on site, but decided that it was crap and took it out. Darn, can't believe I'm actually doing this again, but yeah, and it'd take quite long to finish, if I ever finish… I hope you guys don't find it too boring, since I won't be writing directly into the plot, but yeah… Please stick with me… =) And Marty, if you remember, I ever talked to you with the idea of Julia and Laguna on Relena's site…

Made a few changes, like adding a prologue before this, so it isn't too confusing… Sorry about that…