Warnings: Yaoi
Pairings: Squall/Zell
Discl.: Final Fantasy VIII doens't belong to me
A/N: Thanks for the reviews!


Chapter 3

Zell looked up when he heard a familiar high-pitched childisch voice. He smiled when he saw Squall's daughter point towards him and wave when she noticed Zell looking at them.

Carme ran over to him and quickly sat down at Zell's side, grinning. "How are you?" She asked, looking up in Zell's pale eyes. "Can we sit here?" She quickly continued.

The blonde man smiled and nodded. "Of course, and I'm fine, you?"

The little girl shrugged and then watched her father sit down across from Zell, Aleixo next to him. She started to play with the doll she had brought with her.

Squall watched Zell for a while, not sure what to say, all ready glad his daughter had taken the step to go and meet the blonde instead of him. "Where is the brunette?" He asked, not knowing the name of Zell's friend.

"Quinn?" Zell asked, taking a sip from his drink. "He is very busy with his studies." The blonde told him, smiling a little when he remembered the sight of Quinn when he had fallen asleep, still holding his book in his hands.

Aleixo tugged at his father's jacket, biting his lower lip. "Daddy, I want to drink." He told the brunette and watched him with large eyes.

Squall took his wallet out of his pocket and gave it to Carme. "Get yourself and your brother something to drink." He watched Carme nod and grab her brother's hand, pulling the smaller one with her.

"Do you ever wonder..." Zell started softly, not sure if it was the time to start about something which was still so deep inside of his heart. "If we would've still been together..."

Squall looked at his hands, a frown on his pale face. "Yes, Zell, I do." He breathed and then looked up at Zell again, a saddened expression on the blonde's face which made it hard for him to swallow.

"Oh..." Zell muttered and took another sip of his coffee, keeping the mug in his hand, almost like it was his only support.

Squall tried to smile a little. "Things would've been different." He looked at his two children for a second. "I wouldn't have them though..." He wondered for a second, maybe he would've given everything up for Zell. Everything, except his children.

"Why did Rinoa die?" Zell asked out of curiosity.

Squall looked at Aleixo and let out a tired sigh. "She died giving birth to Aleixo." He said almost automaticly. "There was no way to safe her, but she was happy Aleixo was all right."

Zell frowned, feeling bad all though he hated Rinoa more then anything. He was not sure what to say, what to do.

"How did you meet Quinn?" Squall asked, trying to change the sensitive subject of his wife.

Zell smiled a little. "He was the son of my doc and he kind of grew on me." The blonde decided, not able to even think what it would be like without Quinn at his side. "He helped me, day after day, he never left my side...I owe him my life."

Another stab of jealousy filled Squall, wishing he could've been the one at Zell's side. But it was his own fault he hadn't been, his own fault for caring more about his image for others then for the one who was right next to him, the one who cared for him. Squall opened his mouth to say something when he was interupted by his children.

"Daddy, when are we going? I'm bored." Carme asked, placing her hands on her small hips.

Squall sighed and then got up.

"We are going to the F.H.'s museum, want to join us?" Carme asked. Aleixo grinned and clasped his hands together. "You have to come." They both agreed in unison.

Zell looked up at Squall for an anwser but the brunette said nothing and nothing about his stone exterior changed. "If it's all right with Squall."

Then the brunette smiled a little and nodded. "Of course."

Zell then helped himself up and agreed to come with them. Aleixo and Carme quickly ran off, leaving Squall and Zell alone for a second. Zell placed his hand on Squall's shoulder, giving it a little squeeze.

The brunette shivered slightly, feeling the warmth of Zell's hand course through his body, he turned to look at him and for a second he thought they were back in Garden, before everything had gone wrong. Before his mistake and before Rinoa. He placed his hand over Zell's squeezing it as a reply.

"Squall I want you to know, " Zell said, pulling his hand away from Squall's. "Even though we are nice to each other now, what had been between us is not forgotten and it hasn't been forgiven."

The brunette felt his stomach drop and a stab in his heart. He should've known, it couldn't be forgotten so easily. Giving up a relationship of two years, even if it had been one of hiding for the world wasn't something which could be easily forgotten.

III

When Zell found out the musuem was about SeeD he wished he hadn't come. All though he once loved being a soldier he hated SeeD now. He looked around, uncomfortable because of the surroundings. When he felt a hand on his right shoulder he tensed up and quickly turned. "Oh, Squall."

The brunette nodded, his cold expression once again in place. "There is a lot about the war here." He stated, looking around. "I should've told you, I'm sorry, I forgot."

"It's fine. " Zell lied, trying to act comfortable around Squall. The brunette's hand was still resting on his shoulder, making him feel less then comfortable.

"I could leave the children with someone for a day, then we can have a day for our own." Squall breathed, watching Zell.

Zell blushed just a little, looking down. "All right."

"Great." Squall decided.

Carme watched the two of them and frowned, pouting a little. Aleixo was standing next to her, holding her hand tightly. Carme looked down at her brother. "Do you think daddy will forget us when he saw a new friend?"

Aleixo shook his head. "Of course not."

Carme made a funny face, making Aleixo laugh a little.

Squall turned to look at his two children and smiled when he saw Carme. He walked over to the two of them, pulling Carme in his arms making the girl laugh.

Zell watched them and couldn't help but feel a little akward in the situation. He knew Squall had been happy with Rinoa and it still hurt him. He had been, after two years, the second choice after all with Rinoa as first. Perfect Rinoa, with her charming looks and gentle smile. The perfect woman for the perfect man, to make a perfect picture for those around them. Leaving Zell in the dark, were they had been hiding for two years.

When the blonde heard his voice he looked up and saw Aleixo looked up at him, a smile on his childisch face. He held up his hand for Zell to take. "Don't be sad Zell." The little child said softly and started to pull Zell with him.

III

When Quinn heard a knock on the door he wondered who it could be. He gasped when he saw Zell standing outside, rain pouting down on him and his eyes red and puffy. "Quinn..." Zell started, his voice shaking. "I feel so lost..."

Quinn pulled him in his arms, pulling him inside and away from the pouting rain. "What happened, Zell?" The brunette whispered, quickly closing the door but still holding Zell.

Zell sighed, burrying his face in the crook of Quinn's neck. "I thought I was over my past, but now that Squall is back...I think I still love him, you need to help me, you need to listen..."

Quinn nodded and pulled him into the living room. "Then I'll listen..."