"Hi Rin! Wait up!"

"Oh, hi Ell" She replied in a happy tone, which she knew wouldn't fool the other woman, and slowed her walk.

Rinoa looked at the older woman now in her mid-twenty's. They didn't often talk but both made a conscious effort to when they were in the same place. She did however wonder what would happen if Ellone ever found out the truth, that she had kept to her self and cried about every night. She felt whatever the other woman had to say or do to her it couldn't cause the pain that she deserved.

"Rin... how are you" Ellone knew that it was a pointless question and that the other woman would give the same lie that she had for the last two years

"Fine" 'you're a bad liar even worse then me' Ellone thought with despair. They had hoped that her recent trip would have helped but alas it didn't seem to have changed any thing.

"You want to get some lunch?" That's it keep to mindless chit chat rather than address the real issues. God I'm a Coward.

"I can't. I have to get back to work I have a lot to catch up with." 'Really lots to do despite the fact I know your working sixteen hours a day every day.'

"Well I understand" she said pouting "Cid would be lost without you. How about dinner?" 'Maybe then I'll get some answers... or more likely we'll keep up the same dance we've been having for two years.'

"Uhm sure... I guess" good at least if you're with me you won't kill yourself... NO I will not think that... she... she wouldn't.

"Well this is my turn. Bye Rin." God I hope we can sort this out

"See ya."

Ellone watched the other girl and once again cursed her brother for destroying the sprit of the once loving and free willed woman walking away from her.

'But still...'

Ellone couldn't help but wonder exactly what happened that night. Rinoa never spoke of it even the times when she had been found sobbing or worse doing nothing at all but staring into space. Ellone had compared notes with Quistis and Selphie on what she had said at those times. All they had found out from that was Rinoa blamed herself. They all believed however that Irvine and Zell knew something more. None of them had been able to drag it out of the boys though and it had caused one of Selphie and Irvine's many break-ups.

Seifer was another story altogether. He was a SeeD now having been a student back then, welcomed home to Garden by a headmaster happy to give one of his children who had strayed off the path a second chance and a Commander happy to know that WHEN Seifer screwed up again he wouldn't have to traipse all over the world in order to kill him. There was no reason at all to think that he was involved in what happened. That's what worried her. Mainly because something so bad had happened involving Squall and Seifer had said nothing, the Seifer she had known would have at least made a few vindictive remarks towards the others, even if he wouldn't hurt Rinoa.

Ellone continued to walk along the ground floor of the recently redecorated Garden. But her convocation was opening up well worn pathways in her brain. Starting with that bastard of a brother of hers and where he was. Every ounce of her being was telling her to hate him. He destroyed Rinoa and Laguna, he brought Garden into chaos due to its lack of a leader, he condemned the two major continents into internal fighting Esthar against the monsters that were rampant in the city and Galbadia's political vacuum caused more then enough problems until General Caraway became President Caraway. Add to that what he had done to his friends as well as Cid and Edea and ...and...and she should hate him.

What was really starting to irk her was that she didn't and couldn't. He was missing. Missing! That term doesn't even come close she thought in the mental equivalent of a growl. He had dropped off the face of the planet. That night when he left garden the trail ended and the best intelligence agents of Galbadia, Esthar, SeeD and surprisingly the Shumi village. He'd emptied his bank accounts, sold his car and purchased a ticket for Deling. And that was it, Garden, Esthar and Galbadia had their intelligence agents actively searching for any information on him. The Ex-SeeD commander and defeater of Ultimecia was hot property when it came to public relations. Ha Squall would love that. Twelve years worth of training and missions, one of the few and best Gunblade masters in the world and agencies were after Mr whatever for Public Relations

The problem that everyone was facing however was how do you find someone who has been trained from a child to work in hiding?

"That is unacceptable." Was the statement that echoed throughout the highest negotiation room in the Esheterian presidential palace.

"I'm sorry you feel like that but it is the only compromise we are willing to make"

The two men glared at each other across the room and made no attempts to hide their hatred of each other.

"Gentlemen please!"

Those were the first words that the woman had spoke since the conversation had descended into thinly veiled threats and even more thinly veiled insults but she knew it was dangerous to seem to chastise the two younger men even in private no matter how humorous their reactions were.

"We all know that we won't get any where like this." A statement which both men privately agreed with but would to the other deny to their dying breaths.

"I suggest we continue this on neutral ground and together invest in a force which could oversee each of our militaristic advances and prevent misunderstandings like the one which just occurred."

"Two questions M'lady what area can be called neutral."

"...And what kind of force can claim to be neutral enough to oversee as you suggest?"

Very cleaver she thought. They both knew exactly where and what she was talking about but by forcing her to present it fully she would lose some of her initiative. Not cleaver enough though... but they were still young.

"Gentlemen as you well know I'm talking about the island of Balamb and using SeeD as the task force"

"Cid will have views"

"We will... alleviate them. He will agree. They are mercenaries we will pay them and it would give Cid power over us"

"Not enough to give him any real control"

"No, but enough to give the illusion of control and secure the future of his precious Garden."

"...There are details which we must go into."

"Yes, I will approach Cid. In the end HE will offer Garden as the overseeing force. There will be a meeting arranged at B-Garden where we can make the final details clear. If the two of you agree of course?"

"..."

"..."

"Well since there are no objections it's agreed."

"..."

"..."

"And with that I bid you goodbye. President Caraway, President Loire."

With that she walked out of the conference room of the Estharian palace and toward her ship at the air station and towards her waiting ship. She knew that both men would follow her lead and Caraway leave the country in the most expedient method possible while Loire would go back to his rooms and pout. Their childish jealousy, while amusing, meant the two would never spend any time together that they didn't have to. She wondered how they would react when they found out it was to be her daughter representing Centra at the talks. They will be relived at first...until they see the captain of her guard. She chuckled at this thought knowing that he would cause all kinds of trouble that none were prepared for. Yes this was a suitable test for her daughter and would clarify the relationship between her and the captain or, depending on the outcome, future king.

Squall Leonhart. That was a name that had destiny written all over it. Of course he would never let her call him that. She did however marvel at the way his assumed name had the same feel. Leon Stormheart. So much like his own yet so different. She was frankly amazed that no one had figured it out. Well they had... but they were all too afraid of him to bring it up. She wasn't. But still, the look in his eyes when she had first called him that the ice cold dead look that would have frightened even the hardest of monsters. She knew better then to bring it up again. After all everyone had a past

She sighed as she looked out over the city from her balcony viewpoint. Situated high above the city she had an awe inspiring view of Velleia the capital city of the Centrian commonwealth which only recently re-entered the world after losing the stealth shields much like those Esthar used, only better of course she reminded herself, after time recompressed. She did this everyday before he arrived watching the roads waiting for a glimpse of his trademark coat knowing this was her only chance to stare at him without him knowing. He would be reporting in soon. She found herself waiting fraught with anticipation and nervousness. She knew her mother would scold her for it. She was in charge her mother would say he's only the captain of the Royal Guardians he has to obey your orders. But he had made it perfectly clear that he could walk away from the job at any point and that point may have been reached. The fact he was the one in control was part of the reason she found him so enthralling. She was used to gentlemen falling over themselves to please her and she was sick of it. He was defiantly not a gentleman yet he had all of the skills and talents of one but with more abilities as well, the ability to make a princess feel like she was unable to control what she wanted to was one of these.

She was in love with him. Everyone at court knew it and the only person in the city who was oblivious to it was him. She knew her mother actually approved of this, unlike her last three crushes, She said he was exactly the type of leader the country needed, the type of person who would be willing to do the dirty work to make the country great again as well as being strong and smart enough to keep the nobles in line.

The problem was how do you make someone love you?