(a/n:…. You know the drill. Don't own square, don't own 8. feh. I'm sorry if anyone's out of character. So sue me. I'm 13. By the way, there's a very faint Squall/Selphie in this chapter! Squall fangirls like myself, do not kill me! I know Squall belongs to us, but he and Selphie are cute, too! I heart Squall. bursts into tears Sorry…. Sorry, read on to find it out…)

I walked through the monotonous swirls of multiple shades of black, brown, and gray. Images danced before my eyes, ones I didn't wish to see. I walked and walked and walked and just didn't get anywhere…where was I? I sank to my knees, unable to move. A tall brown-eyed blonde stood over me. I recognized him as Landon Almasy, Seifer's older brother. He smirked in a most intimidating fashion, and I winced.

"Ultemecia already has a sorceress knight…"

"Who?" My voice wavered.

"Me." He smiled cruelly and tried to stab me again, but I woke up to a tearful exclamation of my name.

"Sierra! Wake up!" sobbed Selphie.

"What is it?" I mumbled, moaning. My stomach ached.

"Squall's…. he's…" she couldn't finish.

"Squall's what?" I asked, disoriented from having just woken up.

"Oh, Sierra! Sir Laguna is—"

"Laguna Loire…? What about him? Is he okay?" At hearing my dad's name I kind of snapped out of it.

"Sir Laguna's all freaked out because Squall's…. y'know… he's here, Sierra. Sir Laguna wants to talk to you."

"Sefie, you're not making any sense…"

She darted out of the room, and there was a quiet knock before Dad walked in, a sad, pained expression on his face.

"What happened, Dad?" I whispered.

Dad sank down next to me, running a hand through his hair, sighing.

"I… found out about Squall today. I mean, I didn't even know I –had- a son till this morning when they found him… and couldn't identify him, and did a DNA search. Squall, your brother…" he seemed to be struggling to get the words out, and I wondered what he meant when he'd said, 'they found him', "….is dead."

It was too surprising to sink in. "….What?"
"They took him prisoner… and then a sorceress named Ultemecia found him."

"What…? Why'd they have to DNA test him?"

"…what was left of him." Was all Dad would say for a long time. He was struggling with this, but it hadn't quite sank in for met yet because he had been the most powerful SeeD in Garden, and the fear Ultemecia had instilled in me grew. "…He was…. Mangled."

I winced. "Omigosh… I am –so sorry-…" I felt responsible, and tears streamed down my face. I struggled to sit up, looking at Dad.

"…He was a part of Raine, just like you…" he shook his head, more talking to himself than me, reaching over and hugging me, and I felt even worse. I buried my head in his shoulder. "It's okay, Sierra. It's okay." He whispered to me, trying to reassure himself as well as me. He embraced me for a long time before Dr. Kadowaki came in and ushered him out, saying I needed to rest.

I didn't want to be alone…. Not knowing that my brother was dead because of me. So instead of sleeping I laid there with my arms wrapped around the pillow, crying uncontrollably. I don't know how long that lasted, but I soon drifted off to sleep, a miserable, light sleep.

I woke up with someone hanging over me with his arms crossed. He smiled faintly.

"Hey, Sierra." It was Squall.

"You're alive!" I shrieked, throwing my arms around him.

"No. Just snapping you out of it. It wasn't your fault."

"You're…?"

"Yeah. But you need to know that it's not your fault."

"It was!"

"It wasn't." He said firmly. "I wish I woulda known who you were sooner. I'm sorry." He brushed my bangs outta my face. "I didn't wanna leave yet… I just thought I needed to visit you one last time."

"If you're still sticking around—"

"No, I can't come back. But I'll –always- watch over you, Sierra." He said reassuringly. "…Will you tell Selphie that I love her?"

"Yes." I felt my throat tighten, making it hard to talk.

"…Thanks. Already talked to Laguna. We're square now." He nodded, as if finishing his business and getting ready to move on.

"…So you hung around—"

"To do unfinished things. I wish I could talk to Selphie myself." He sighed, staring at the ceiling. "…I'm sorry. I shouldn't be this way."

"Squall…"

"I have to go now. Just… take care, Sierra." He squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry I didn't get to know you. Goodbye, Sierra." He faded away, and I attempted to jump up after him, but a searing pain enveloped me, starting at my stomach and spreading.

I woke up with a start. It was a dream…. It was all a dream.

(a/n: I am SOOOO SORRY! I just had to make this happen… my poor Squall…

Squall:….sure. That's why you killed me. turns away

Sefie Lynne Tilmitt: for really! I love you!

Squall:…whatever.

But for really, don't hurt me… I just… this had to happen. Please don't be mad at me and continue to read!)