Yay! Already on to chapter 12! Wow, some of you guys must be going into seizures because I updated so closely together! I just wanted to say thanks to all of my faithful readers! Especially: Quistis88, Sickness in Salvation, and Verdanii. Thanks you guys! You have stuck with me for a while, and I really really really appreciate it!!! HUGS! Well anyways, here's chapter 12 for ya!!
"Quistis, umm...can we talk for a few minutes alone?" Laguna asked, as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

Quistis smiled at his nervousness, and quickly answered, "Of course Laguna. Do you want to go up to my room where it is quiet?"

Laguna, not knowing if he could keep control of himself alone in a room with Quistis stuttered, "Umm...n..n..no,no, let's meet in the rose garden at the bench you were sitting at a few days ago."

"Alright." Quistis said, as Laguna took her hand and led her through the crowds of people and out of the doors in the ballroom.

Meanwhile

Seifer, who was still fuming from his little chat earlier, slammed his empty glass on the bar, and watched as Quistis and Laguna walked hand in hand out of the ballroom. Seifer breathed in sharply through his clenched teeth, and walked over to an empty corner to converse with Dante. He casually lifted his arm up to his mouth, and whispered into his sleeve where his transmitter was hidden.

"Dante, can you hear me?" A slight crackling sounded in Seifer's ear, followed by Dante's deep voice.

"Hyne man! My balls are freezing off out here! Where in the hell is he?"

"He's on his way now. Just be patient! Remember, make it quick, and silent. NO witnesses."

"Got it man." Dante replied.

Meanwhile

"Quistis, here take this." Laguna took off his hooded cloak, and handed it to Quistis.

"Thank you Laguna, but won't you be needing this?" Quistis said, as she took the soft velvet cloak from Laguna.

"Well, I think it was raining outside, and it may be pretty chilly. Besides, if I get too cold, we can always use body heat...." He smiled slyly at Quistis.

Quistis smiled back, and wrapped the large cloak around her shoulders. Laguna then stepped closer to Quistis, and pulled a small white rosebud out from the front pocket of his costume. He smiled his nervous, yet beautiful smile, as he slipped the small flower into Quistis' golden curls.

"There, now you are perfect." He whispered into Quistis' ear softly. Quistis looked up into Laguna's deep green eyes, and suddenly felt a surge of emotion for the older man standing so closely to her. Sure he was older than her...much older, and president of a large country, and Squall's father, and....and.........who cares........

"Oh, Hyne." Quistis said aloud as she wrapped her hand around the back of Laguna's neck, and drew him into a passionate kiss. Laguna, though surprised at Quistis' forwardness, returned to his senses, and kissed Quistis back with even more desire. This kiss was like none other that Quistis had ever experienced. Laguna was passionate, and gentle, and his lips were so soft, as he kissed her. Then, to Quistis' immense dissappointment, Laguna suddenly broke their kiss. A young couple had emerged from the ballroom, and walked by giggling quietly, obviously sensing the scene they had just broken up. After they were out of sight, Laguna said, "Quistis, meet me in the rose garden, there is something I would like to give you. I need to go upstairs, and get it from my room."

"Of course Laguna, I will meet you out there." Quistis replied, still trying to catch her breath. She turned to leave, but before she could take two steps, Laguna's warm hand had again grasped hers. He pulled her close to him, and kissed her again, before turning and walking toward the stairs leading to his room. When he reached the top, he turned and smiled at Quistis, and his voice echoed down the stairwell. "See you in a few minutes."
Quistis walked slowly down the narrow pathway towards the rose garden. She smiled to herself as she remembered Laguna's smile, and how he had kissed her. She realized she liked him more and more, as she spent time with him. Suddenly the beautiful rose garden came into view in front of her. The large rose blossoms were illuminated by small lights that were shining from the ground, lighting the pathway through the menagerie of bushes. Quistis stopped, and glanced up at the huge garden. She could see the figures of people dancing through the ballroom windows. She smiled slightly, as she watched couples appear and disappear in and out of view. Suddenly, a small drop of water hit the tip of her nose. She jumped slightly at the cold surprise, and looked up at the dark gray sky just in time to be hit with more cold drops.

"Oh great." She said aloud, as a small sprinkling of rain began. "Good think Laguna gave me this." She said as she pulled the hood of Laguna's cloak over her head.

Meanwhile

"Aw shit!" Dante said to himself, as a small drizzle poured down upon him.

"What happened!?" Seifer shouted in Dante's ear.

"Nothin man, just a little rain. No biggie." Dante replied, moving closer to the edge of the quad's balcony, where he stood engulfed in darkness. "Actually, the rain is a good thing. It will hide me better."

"Just keep your eyes open!" Seifer hissed through the mic.

"I am! I am!" Dante replied impatiently.

At that moment, a figure emerged from below, and made its way to a bench in the rose garden.

"Holy Shit." Dante said, as he crouched low, and steadied his sniper rifle on the edge of the balcony. 'It's him."
Quistis settled herself onto the slightly damp bench, and pulled Laguna's cloak more tightly around herself. She shivered slightly, more out of nervous anticipation, than from the chill in the air. "I wonder what Laguna had to get from his room." She thought.
Dante watched the cloaked figure's back, as they wrapped the cloak around themselves. "Alright, here goes." He wiped the water from his eyes, and smiled as he focused on the person through his riflescope. He aimed the crosshairs on the figures neck. "One shot baby." He thought.
Quistis shifted slightly in her seat. The rain was coming down slightly harder now, and she felt her feet getting wet. 'Laguna, hurry, please..." she thought.

Dante slid a single bullet into place, as he kept the crosshairs of his rifle planted firmly on the figure's neck. He smiled slightly as he whispered, "And we have ignition in five......

"Squall is wrong about Laguna and I." Quistis thought, as she remembered Squall's angry face.

"Four...."

"Laguna may be his father, but Squall will just have to understand."

"Three...."

"Laguna is an adult, and so am I. We can make our own choices."

"Two....."

"And Laguna is so perfect. Perfect for me..."

"One.....:

"Could this be love? Could I actually love Laguna Loire? I think I...."

"See you in hell...."

BAM!!!!!!!!!

Dante's aim was true, and he fired his rifle with perfect precision. He looked up in time to see the hooded figure fall off the bench with a soundless thud. He had done it! He had killed President Laguna Loire.

There wasn't any time for celebration on Dante's part, though. He set his gun down, and quickly started to gather his things up. Seifer's strict instructions were to get the job done, and get the hell out of there. Dante packed everything away, and turned to leave. As he walked away, something about the motionless figure below him caught his eye. He squinted through the darkness, as the rain let up, and gasped in shock. "Oh damn....." He whispered. The person's hood had fallen off when they had fallen, and a cascade of golden blonde hair was framing the lifeless face of a beautiful young woman.

Dante couldn't believe his eyes! He had killed the wrong person. "Oh Hyne! Oh shit!" Dante said louder. He heard Seifer's voice in his ear.

"Dante! Dante! What the hell is wrong! Dante!"

Dante didn't answer back, he was too shocked. "Not him....It isn't him.....some girl....I killed some girl!!!"

Dante turned quickly, and ran through the quad, and disappeared into the night.