Laguna took a seat on a small couch in the corner of the large office. He
looked at the desk and noticed stacks of papers lying untouched by Squall.

"Like father like son." He thought with a small chuckle.

Laguna stood and noticed a small picture sitting next to the stacks of papers. He walked
over and picked it up. Inside the small black frame was a picture of
Squall, and his group of friends, that Laguna had briefly met a few times.

There was Squall, in the middle, looking serious as usual. Next to him was a
pretty girl with black hair, Rinoa, Squall's girlfriend.

Next to Rinoa, was a smaller girl with reddish brown hair, grinning happily. Selphie.

To the left of Squall was a shorter man, with spiky blond hair, and a black tattoo on his face. Zell.

And standing in the middle above Squall and Rinoa was a taller man with a black cowboy hat, and a sideways grin, putting "bunny ears" on Squall and Rinoa. That was none other than Irvine.

Laguna then noticed a pretty girl standing over to the side, almost out of the picture.
She had a small smile on her face, and golden blond hair pulled back.

There was something about her eyes, though. They were a beautiful shade of blue, but there was a glint of sadness in them.

Laguna remembered her as Quistis, the serious ex-instructor of the group. "Her eyes." Laguna thought. "They are beautiful."

The office door opened noisily, and in came Xu, and Squall. Laguna put the picture down quickly, and blushing slightly, walked up to the two young
people.

"Oh no..." Squall thought as he saw whom the "special guest" was.

Laguna approached him smiling broadly.

"Commander Squall," Xu said, "Here is our guest, President Loire from Esthar!"

"Thanks Xu, you may leave now." Squall said, sounding less excited than
what Xu had expected.

 "Yes sir." Xu replied.

 On her way out she turned around and said to Laguna, "It was an honor to meet you Mr. President."

"The honor was all mine, Xu, and you may call me Laguna."

"Thank you sir! I mean...Laguna!" She then proceeded to shut the door quietly on her way out.

Laguna turned to Squall. "How have you been son?"

Squall looked the man over. He was getting up there in age, but there was no sign of it on his face. He still had the same youthful grin, and wore his black hair pulled
back. He didn't look a day over 30.

"For starters," Squall said, his eyes narrowing, "Don't call me son. Call me Squall. That is my name you know."

"Sorry! Sorry!" Laguna said, laughing a little. He was never one to be hurt by Squall's bluntness.

"How have you been.... Squall?"

"Fine. What brings you here to Balamb Garden? Don't you have a country to run?"

Laguna laughed loudly.

"Well...its nice to see you too! I came to Balamb to visit my so...you…and your friends. We haven't seen each other in a while. As for my country, I have very reliable people at home running it for a while."

"So you're on vacation here?" Squall asked. "Why didn't you say anything? What if there's no room for you here?"

"You mean you wouldn't make room for me?" Laguna asked, a hurt expression on his face.

"........"  Squall stood silent, not knowing how to answer.

The awkward silence between the two men was broken, though, by Squall's door opening again. In came Zell, Selphie, Rinoa, and Irvine.

"Sir Laguna!" Selphie exclaimed loudly running to Laguna, and throwing her
arms around his neck.

"Whoa! Hey Selphie!" Laguna said, surprised by her hug. "Nice to see you
again."

Zell and the others walked calmly up to Laguna.

"Hey Laguna! Long time no see!"  Zell said in his loud voice.  "What brings you to our little garden?"

"A well deserved vacation."  Laguna said, after Selphie had removed her arms from his neck.

"Oh Sir Laguna!"  Selphie said clapping her hands excitedly. "You are going to have so much fun! There are parties, and clubs, and classes to speak at, and mmmrrrffmmll…."

Selphie was silenced suddenly by Irvine's hand over her mouth.

"What she's tryin to say is….you will never get bored here Mr. Loire." Irvine said with a smile.

Selphie removed Irvine's hand from her mouth, and her green eyes lit up.

"Oh! And Sir Laguna!  You must come to the Starlight Masquerade Ball!  Oh what a handsome Zorro you would make!"

"Uhhh…well…Selphie..I will think about it."  Laguna said, uncomfortable at the thought of himself in a Zorro costume.

"Mr. Laguna," Rinoa said shyly, "Would you like me to show you around Balamb Garden?  It would be my pleasure."

"Why thank you Rinoa.  You don't mind Squall, do you?"

Squall sighed quietly.  "No I don't care. I have to finish some work anyways."  He knew there would be no arguing with his girlfriend. Laguna was here to stay…at least for a little while.

"Just give your things to Xu, and she will put them in your room.  You will be staying in the guest dorms. Here's your key."

Squall handed Laguna the key to his room, and then walked with Rinoa to the door. 

"Don't work too hard sweetie."  Rinoa whispered to Squall, before kissing him lightly on the lips.

"See you later."  Squall said back, blushing slightly at Rinoa's public affection.

He watched as Rinoa, Laguna, and the others walked off.  Every one of them talking excitedly to the older man as if he had never been away from Balamb Garden.

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What do u guys think of ch.2??  Don't worry!  I will be getting to the mushy love stuff soon!  Seifer will finally be making his appearance in the next chapter!  Please Read and Review!!