Zell's POV

The moment we got to my hometown people were all gathered around the entrance of Balamb. They were all starring at the flaming sight of Balamb Garden. All the children were crying along with the women, the men were trying to comfort their families. (We're never going to make it through with all the people in the damn way!) "We gotta get out, no way we're gonna make it through." We both jumped out of the car.

Me and Seifer pushed through all the people just standing there. (We have to get to the train station!) "Zell!" All of a sudden I feel two protective arms embrace me. I'm tellin you for a woman she's pretty strong. "I…can't breath Ma." After a couple of seconds she let go of me. "I was so worried you got hurt in that explosion back there." "No worries, we made it out." I said dusting off my shoulder. "We…?" She asked confused looking around.

Seifer stepped up next to me smiling a little. "Ma Seifer, Seifer Ma." "…Hello Mrs. Dincht." Seifer said holding out his hand and my Ma took it. "Hi Seifer." She was looking at him hard like she was trying to figure something out. "Do I know you from somewhere? You look very familiar…" "No Ma I don't think you would know him." She nodded still looking Seifer over and I could tell he was uncomfortable.

(We gotta get going…) "Listen Ma we gotta go to Deling…gotta see if a friend is all right." I could see the disappointment in my Ma's eyes but we really had to go. "Oh ok honey just be sure to call." She said giving me another hug. "Will do Ma." I headed for the train station but saw Seifer wasn't with me. I turned around to see My Ma talking with Seifer, they were whispering but I could hear what they were saying perfectly.

"Could you take care of my Zellie?" Ma said with pleading eyes. "Err…Sure thing Mrs. Dincht." (What the hell I don't need Seifer to take care of me…) "Thanks hun I can tell you're a nice boy." "Thanks Mrs. Dincht." (Does Ma really not know who Seifer is?) "Come on let's go." Seifer said walking up to me and we ran to get our tickets.

"What the hell are you talkin 'bout!" "I'm sorry sir, but with everything that is going on we had to stop running the trains for today. (This is bullshit!) "You're gonna start them up again." I grumbled giving the salesman a death glare. "Sorry sir but we can't…" (This numbskull doesn't seem to understand.)

"Ha ha ha…" I glanced at Seifer laughing, he just gave me a blank stare. I turned back to the person and grabbed him by his shirt collar pulling him closer to my face. "You listen here kid, I'm really pissed off right now. If you don't give us those tickets to Deling City right now I'll put my fist so far into your face you'd have a black eye for weeks, you got me!" "Uhh…yesir!" Two tickets for Deling City. The boy said into the microphone. "The trains are shut down for today…" Said a train station employee coming out of the back.

I smiled at him evilly tugging on the kid's shirt. "Well then turn them back on!" "Will do sir!." The worker said running back into the room. "Here are your two tickets gentlemen they're on the house." He said handing me the tickets and I let go of the boy's shirt. "That's very kind of you…" I squinted at his nametag. "…Joe" The employee raised a hand up as to say don't mention it. "Ticket?" I held a ticket in front of Seifer's face and he took it shocked. Bob grabbed Seifer's shoulder stopping him. "Hey do yourself a favor and get rid of that fool he's going to get you killed." (Yeah we'll just wait and see about that…)

Rinoa's POV

Right now I'm lying in one of the many bedrooms in the Ragnarok and I can't seem to get any sleep. We've all been on here for at least a few hours and I'm so restless. (It is sooo freaking cold in here) I just can't get Zell off my mind, I really hope he's all right. Me and him have become really close these last 6 months. I mean with everyone else kinda splitting apart since the….incident.

I do miss being around everyone we all just lost contact since…Squall left us. I really miss the way Irvine used to make a complete fool of himself in front of the ladies. Selphie with her peppiness and very hyper personality always made you think if you banged your head against the wall could you still hear her. Zell tells me that she and Irvine went to go help rebuild her old Garden. I still miss her I think Zell does too despite the fact he kept complaining how cheerful she was. Quistis was made an instructor again…I never really gotten along with her. I guess that's because we both loved the same man.

So the only one left from our little group was me and Zell. I was really depressed after Squall died. I didn't eat, couldn't sleep, and I isolated myself from everyone. I just couldn't take it anymore and I thought the only way out of this pain was to take my own life. But Zell had other plans in mind….

When we defeated Ultimecia only a couple of days ago a part of my heart died along with it. We all fought Ultimecia except for Squall he said that he had to take care of some personal business. He said that we didn't need him to fight Ultimecia that we were strong enough as it was. He also said that we'd meet up again when it was all over. We killed Ultimecia and the castle started to shake and rumble. Rocks started to fall from the ceiling.

Everybody was running out not even looking back to see if I was coming. I ran around the castle searching for Squall but I couldn't fine him. "SQUALL where are you!" and then I found him, he was on the ground all bloody. My heart stopped and I couldn't breathe. I fell down and started crying on his chest. "Rinoa come on we have to get out of here!" A voice came and I could tell it belonged to Zell. "No I'm staying here!" Zell wouldn't allow it and I felt two strong arms pick me up and sling me over his shoulder.

I complained, cried, and pounded his back as he ran to catch up to the others. After we made it out I wouldn't even talk to Zell. Everyone saw the look on our faces and they knew something has happened to Squall. I yelled at him saying I never want to see him again and how he was never my friend in the first place. I've been ignoring and avoiding him since then I just didn't want to be near him or anybody.

He took me away from my love and I would never forgive him or so I thought. Here I am atop the Fire Cavern sitting on a pretty big rock staring out at the ocean. It was around 5:00AM and the sun was getting ready to rise. I looked over the edge and it was a huge drop to the rocky waters below. (I could end it all right now…) I got off the rock and stood at the edge of the cliff still looking down.

(It could be so easy to end all of my sorrow…) "What the hell are you doin Rinoa!" I looked surprised and saw a very concerned Zell in a Garden jeep. (Oh just great!) "What are you doing here!" I shot back at him. He got out of the vehicle looking at me funny. "I think the more important question is what are you doing here." (It's pretty obvious don't you think!)

"Go away Zell!" I screamed glaring at him. "I'm not going anywhere." He took a step closer and I took a step closer to the cliff. "Don't come any closer!" I warned him and he kept his distance. "You don't want to do this Rinoa…" "Yes I do! Me and Squall would be together on the other side so why the hell not!" "Listen Rinoa, I know what you're goin…"

"How the hell do you know what I'm going through Zell you don't even know what the hell love is!" I could see I hurt Zell and his eyes were watering up. (Oh no…) "Oh Zell I'm…" "No you're right how the hell could Zell Dincht know what the fuck love is!" He yelled back angrily and I felt even worse.

He took a few steps towards me and I didn't move at all. "You're not the only person who lost someone he was my best friend!" He said peeking over the cliff down at the ocean. "Zell…" "Now I'm about to loose you too the one thing he loved above all else." This time he let the tears fall freely from his face. (I never knew Zell could get this emotional…) It was the first time I've ever seen a man cry let alone one of the toughest ones, Zell. "I have to do this…" "Just cause Squall died doesn't mean you have to kill yourself! …There are other ways to go about it." (You don't understand Zell, it just hurts way too much…)

"Zell I just can't handle it I need to do this…" He stomped on the ground very mad. "No you don't! Everyone needs you…I need you…" He mumbled not even wiping the tears that fell from his eyes. "Zell I have to do this…" He looked shocked and nodded his head. "Fine…" He came up to me and held my right hand with his left. "What are you doing?" I asked looking up at Zell confused. "If you're jumping then so am I." My eyes went wide, trying to let go of his hand but he wouldn't budge. (No, no, no!) "Zell I'm doing this and I'm doing it alone…"

"Whenever you're ready." Zell said keeping his eyes on the rising sun. "You don't understand…" "Ohhh! Another thing Zell doesn't understand well let me tell you something I'm not fucking stupid!" I was shocked and hurt by his words. "Zell I didn't mean…" He nodded and his face softened a bit. "Squall would have wanted you to live a full and happy life even if it wasn't with him. He wouldn't want you to throw yourself off a cliff…he loves you way too much."

I took a step back from the cliff pulling Zell with me. "It's just so hard to live without him." I mumbled letting go of Zell's hand. "I know…but I'm willing to help." Zell said finally looking down at me. (What did he just say? He was willing to help?) I was speechless, he was offering to help me through this after everything I've done to him over the past few days.

"I'm tellin you right now it's gonna take a lot of hard work, this ain't gonna be easy…" "I know…but I accept." I said looking down at my feet. I felt his hand lift my chin so I was again staring at him. The sun shone perfectly onto his spiky hair. "Hey cheer up it can only get harder from here." (Don't I know it.) Zell smiled and began walking back to the jeep. "Zell!" I yelled and he turned around surprised when I jumped into his arms grabbing on to him as tightly as I could. He stiffened at first, after a couple of seconds he relaxed and brought his arms around me and for the first time in days I felt safe. "Thank you."

Zell's POV

It was about one in the morning I knew I should get some sleep. But the truth was I couldn't no matter how hard I tried. We were in the SeeD cabin, I was lying down on the couch and Seifer was shuffling around on the bed. It looked like he was having a nightmare or something. I rolled around on the sofa until I found a comfortable position… THUD! (Ouch…)

I hit the floor knocking my head really hard on the ground. (What's the use I'm not gonna get any sleep until I find out Rinoa's alright…) I got up and looked around the room. Seifer was still in the same place he was since we boarded the train. (I guess he was really tired…) I sat up on the floor and looked up at the ceiling. (I'm not so sure about Seifer coming back and everything… I mean everything is going to be tougher with him around. If Squall could trust him and everything I guess I could too…)

Dear Zell

Hey you probably know what this is so I I'm not going to say it. Me and

you have had some good times fighting the good fight and everything. I'm not

going to lie when I first met you I couldn't stand you at all but as time went on

things changed. You became one of the few people I would trust my life with

and I'm glad to call you my friend. I'm leaving you my chain with the Griever

pendant on it. Take good care of it I think it was from my parents I'm not sure

but ever since I could remember I've had it. I know you're not very fond of

Seifer but he's probably going to be lonely and looking for forgiveness after

this is all over. It wasn't his fault with what happened with the Sorceress and I

know you know that. If I know Seifer he's probably going to come back to

Garden to try and redeem himself. I'm not saying you have to forgive him

right away but I want you to keep an eye on him make sure he doesn't get into

any trouble or anything. Well I guess I'll be seeing you around.

Squall Leonhart

(Yeah I'll try my best Squall, it still doesn't mean I have to like the guy…) "Maybe some food will help me get to sleep…" The cafeteria was abandoned there was not one lone soul in there. (I guess everybody is still sleeping.) After I got my cheeseburger and my Zapic cola I sat and started eating like a madman. I always ate like this I don't know why I just did ever since I was a kid. Rinoa always scolded me for eating like this…I still can't get Rinoa off my mind.

(Why can't I stop thinking about her! Every thing I do reminds me of her!) I pounded the table as if it were its fault. (It's because you care about her and want to know if she's alright…) My mind answered me. "Yea that has to be it…I just miss her." Then all of the sudden out of no where a song comes into my head…

I don't know anything at all and I'm somebody else It could take years to find you, it could years to find myself And I don't need to hear your answer I just need you to see That I think it's time to break down these walls that we throw
It was the song I wrote when we were on the adventure to defeat the Sorceress. I put my heart and soul into this song…
Am I still breathing have I lost that feeling Am I made of glass 'cause you see right through me I don't know who I am and you're the only one who sees that I can't ask these questions that cannot be answered today

We got to perform it at the concert we put on for Squall in FH. It was when he became our commander. I was on the Guitar and was vocals, Irvine on the bass, Selphie on the drums, and Quistis on the piano…

And even if everything goes wrong and we start to fall apart

I will understand where you are, I will understand this by myself

And I don't need to hear your answer I just need you to feel

Like there are no boundaries at all

We all played it so perfectly that night I was trying really hard to impress her. I was so nervous that night I could feel my heart forming in my throat…

Am I still breathing have I lost that feeling

Am I made of glass 'cause you see right through me

I don't know who I am and you're the only one who sees that

I can't ask these questions that cannot be answered today

Then we started playing and I saw her look at me for a second and all my fears went away. But of course she never gave me a second glance because the only thing she saw, the only thing she wanted to see was Squall…

And how far have we come, too far to throw away the past

Will you be there waiting for me

I have to ask what we are, if I ask today it just won't last

So I'll be here waiting for you

Since that moment that I laid eyes on her I knew she was the one but why would she ever love a "chicken-wuss" like me anyways…

Will we ever feel this good again

Will we ever feel this real again

As time went on I just knew she'd never feel that way about me. I began to hide my feelings for her so nobody grew suspicious. I just wanted her to be happy even if it wasn't with me… Squall made her happy…

Will you ever be mine again

Will we ever feel this real again

But when Squall died and the feelings for her just kinda faded... at least I think…

Rinoa's POV

KNOCK KNOCK! (Who could that be…?) "Rinoa…It's Headmaster Cid may I come in?" I sat up in the bed and wiped my eyes. "It's open." Cid walked in holding two cups of coffee handing me one. I could feel the bed shift when he sat down and he had a very concerned look on his face.

"Are you alright?" (Well it depends on how you define alright…) "Yea sure I'll be ok." He cleaned his glasses on his shirt then put them back on. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" I shifted uncomfortably so I was now looking at him. "I dunno I guess I'm just worried about Zell…" "Ahh yes you two have gotten pretty close since…Squall's…death."

I looked down and nodded my head it still pained me to talk about it. Cid lifted my chin back up so I was staring into his eyes. "Listen Rinoa he did love you…even if he didn't show it that much. Squall wasn't very good at expressing himself." "I know…" I said laughing as I pictured Squall standing there saying 'whatever'. A tear slowly ran down my face. "I loved him too…it just hurts too much." Headmaster Cid pulled me to a hug and I just cried on his shoulder. "Well from what I see you have Zell to help you out…" (Yeah I do and in a way I guess I sorta help him out too…) "He cares about you an awful lot."

"I know… if it wasn't for him I probably wouldn't be here right now. I already lost the first most important thing in my life…I don't want to loose the other." I said letting go of him and he smiled. "If I knew anything at all about Mr. Dincht he had found a way out" (Yeah that Zell…he's a survivor) "That man would do anything to see you again believe me." My face turned bright pink and Headmaster Cid began laughing.

"Headmaster Cid…why'd you let Seifer back into Garden?" He took a long hard look at me. "Well …Mr. Almasy, Mr. Leonhart, and myself we kind of had a different kind of relationship then that of my other students. They were like my children and I was their father. So when I saw Seifer doing all those horrid things because he was possessed it killed me…When he came back to me begging to me for my forgiveness I couldn't give it to him. But maybe someday I'd be able to…that's why I gave him a second chance." (Yea maybe even in time I could forgive him too…)

"I guess I can understand that." "Mr. Almasy may have been a jack ass before all of this, but I'm telling you he's changed…you can see it in his eyes." (He does seem different…maybe he has changed…) "Well I should be getting back to the cockpit…god knows where Niadia is taking us." "Could we head for my house in Deling City?"

"That probably wouldn't be a bad idea I could talk with General Caraway to see if he knows anything about the missiles that hit Garden…Is there any specific reason you want to go there?" "That's where I'm supposed to meet up with Zell and…Seifer." Cid nodded his head and stood up. "Well then I guess our minds are made up, next stop Deling City!" (I just hope we get there soon.)

Seifer's POV

"Yes we're finally here! I never thought we'd get off that train!" Zell yelled outstretching his arms. (I don't know what he was complaining about I slept fine…those sleeping pills really work.) "So I guess next stop Rinoa's?" "Reason we're here." Zell answered as we reached the top of the escalator. I could see all the bright lights of the city. It looked exactly the same as the last time when I was here. "If I remember correctly we have to take the 08 bus to get to Rinoa's." I look at the boy dressed in a low budget blue suit. "Excuse us sir but do you know when the next bus will be coming through here."

"I'm sorry but there seems to be a slight technical problem with our busses this evening another one won't come for at least a couple of hours." (Damn.) "You gotta be shittin me!" Zell yells and the boy just shrugs and walks away. "Well it looks like were walking…" I say and Zell nods. "Yea lets get going."

(This place reminds me of so much that happened…when I was the Sorceress's 'lap dog'.) It just brought too many memories of my past back to me. All of that night the SeeDs tried to assassinate the Sorceress. Back then I felt like I was on top of the world, nobody could stop me. But now I could just see that I was very stupid. We were getting close to the gateway arch the place that feared me most about this place. "Uhh…Zell could we take another route?" "What's wrong with going this way?" He asked looking around and then he noticed the gateway arch we were about to pass under.

"Oh… don't worry Seifer I won't close the gates on you… this time." (Very funny.) He kept on walking through leaving me behind. (Come on Seifer you're braver then this!) I walked under it still feeling very scared and nauseous. "EEEERRUAG!" A loud screeching sound went through my head and I fell to the ground. "What the hell?" Zell turned back running up to me. "Snap out of it!" The pain in my head soon rushed through my whole body and I blacked out.

It was dark everywhere and I couldn't see anything. (What's that?) There was a red ball of light about 100 feet in the sky. "Where the fuck am I?" "That's not the question you should be asking boy." Anger ran through my veins and I stomped on the ground. "I am not a boy!" "Whatever you say boy, but the reason for you being here is simple... I want you to work for me."

(What the fuck is this thing talking about?) "You see me and you we could do great things… we could rule the world. All the cries of helpless children… spreading the blood of the innocent the thought alone excites me." "Find yourself another guinea pig you sick fuck. I'm not going back to that gig I'm not evil, at least not anymore."

I tried to run but wherever I ran I always ended up in the same place with that big red ball still in the sky. "Haha you can't leave not until I release you that is. Your still evil I can sense it in your blood, you were meant to kill." "You don't know shit about me go to hell!"

"Been there… done that." "What are you, what do you want!" "That is for you to find out child…" (This is really starting to creep me out.) "I'll give you some time to think over my offer." "Fuck you!" Then I felt an electrical charge go through me and I fell to the ground, everything becoming darker.

"Wake up Seifer! Come on man!" I felt something slapping my face, I'm guessing it was Zell. "I'm up you can stop now!" Despite what I said he kept slapping me. "ZELL STOP!" "Oh your awake, that's good we gotta get going."He said with a grin on his face. (Dumb ass.) I got up and brushed my shoulders off. "You didn't hear me the first time?" I touched my face which was probably red now. "Oh I did I just thought it would be fun to slap you some more." He smiled back at me and we started walking to General Caraway's mansion.

(I guess it's going to take some time for him to start trusting me…) "What the hell happened you were out for like ten minutes." (Yeah what did happen to me?) "It was nothing I guess it was the medicine I recently started taking." "Well it looks like its working great" Zell said sarcastically. "Zell isn't Rinoa's house the other way?" "Were going to take a short cut and plus we don't have time to deal with those lame ass guards." "I guess your right" About 5 minutes later we came to a high brick wall covered in vines.

I'm pretty sure on the other side of this wall was Rinoa's house. We both started climbing the wall using the vines as leverage. Once we were at the top we both jumped down into a bunch of bushes. "URGH I think there's a branch up my ass!" I couldn't help but grin at Zell. The back yard of the mansion was amazing there were trees everywhere and a huge fountain. I could see the house it was only about 50 feet away from us. "There it is come on get up Seifer were almost there."

"Hold it right there, either one of you move and I'll be forced to kill you!" (Just our luck.) There were 2 soldiers holding guns to us. "Excuse me but we are personal friends of the General's daughter, so if you could let us go…" Zell said but the guard came up and hit him in the head with his gun. "No way in hell I'm not letting you anywhere near the general or his daughter." I looked down at Zell there was blood coming from his mouth. "You're going to regret doing that." Zell then winked at me and then I threw a punch to the one soldier and Zell tripped the other making him fall to the ground.

We both made a run for the house. We made it to the glass doors leading to the study when I felt someone tackle me and I went crashing through the door. I looked over and saw that Zell was on the ground right next to me. The soldiers were on top of us. "Time to die you worthless scum." (I mean come on who uses the word scum anymore?) "Zell! Is that you?" I knew that voice…

Well that was the 2nd chapter hoped you liked it please review and I'll post more soon. By the way that song is by Trapt-Made of Glass. I don't really like them that much but this song just seemed to fit.