Author's Note: I'm sorry that I haven't updated in awhile, but I haven't forgotten, nor will I ever forget this story. I know my updates during the non-summer months will be sporadic at best, so if you'd like me to email you when I upload a chapter, tell me via review (be sure to include your email if this is the case!). Thank you for reading ^_^.



Malicious. The dictionary would have defined it as "Characterized by intense ill will or spite," but Zell would have defined it as "Seifer."

Ever since Seifer had been punished for the fish incident, he'd been tormenting Zell. Playing keep-away with anything Zell wanted, blaming him anytime anything was broken, calling him a crybaby. Calling him a crybaby was the most justified of all these things, but still, Zell didn't think it was fair. It wasn't fair that he got in trouble for things Seifer did, it wasn't fair Seifer was bigger than him, and it wasn't fair that Seifer picked on him. In the past, it hadn't been quite so bad as it was now; Squall had always been fair- telling Matron who was really the source of trouble - but ever since Ellone had disappeared, he'd become so withdrawn and self-absorbed that Zell wasn't even sure Squall lived at the Orphanage anymore.

And now, with Squall mostly out of the picture, Seifer was having a field day.

It was the time of the year near the beginning of spring, when potential adopters came to visit the Orphanage, walking through the rooms, watching the children carefully, generally appraising them like prized chocobos. The children at the Orphanage viewed them with suspicion, maybe being orphans had made them cynical, but in their view, who would want to adopt them? Besides, the children that got alone well would never want any of their friends to leave the Orphanage. Logically, one would conclude that Seifer would want Zell to be adopted as quickly as possible, but to Zell, it seemed like the opposite was true. Seifer seemed to be trying the best he could to make sure that Zell would never be adopted.

The first family to take an interest in Zell, a husband and wife, was the Halcyons. Both were quite short and stout, with dark eyes and dark hair that gave them a Galbadian look. They'd seen him playing with Selphie, and were captivated immediately by Zell's beguiling blue eyes. The two talked it over quickly, in hushed tones. This little boy seemed to be sweet and caring, not one to cause trouble. Just the kind of child they were looking for. While the Halcyons were talking about the prospect of adopting the blue-eyed moppet, Seifer saw his chance to make trouble. He ran abruptly over to where Zell and Selphie were playing, and shoved Zell down the small set of stairs. Landing on the stone hurt- Zell wailed and flung himself at Seifer, flailing his fists wildly. The pair of them fought furiously, until Zell managed to hit Seifer exceptionally hard, and Seifer howled. Edea rushed into the room, and escorted the children downstairs into the bedroom, making hearted apologies to the Halcyon family, who had long since decided that were not, in fact, going to adopt this wild little troublemaker.

The next family to take interest was the Anders. Husband and wife along with baby girl, the wife had red hair that made Zell wish to be back at home in Balamb, with Gella and the Dinchts. Zell had no idea the family was considering adopting him, and he never would, for Seifer chose that very moment to grab Zell's favorite toy, a stuffed fish Edea had bought him to 'replace' the wooden fish, and throw it on top of a tall table so that Zell couldn't reach. His face scrunched up the way it always did before he threw a tantrum, and Zell sat down hard on the floor and started bawling. This time, Cid himself stepped in to end the situation. The Anders left then, without any adoption papers.

Cid set Zell down on the edge of the narrow bed in the downstairs bedroom. Zell was clutching the recently retrieved stuffed fish tightly.

"Zell. . ." Cid began, "We need to have a talk."

"I do something wrong?" Zell asked, wide-eyed.

"No. . . but, I need to explain some things to you." Cid answered carefully.

"'Kay."

"Zell, every child born in the world is like a seed. Some seeds get carried away by the wind, to a much different place then they started out. Those seeds are like you." Cid said, placing a large hand on Zell's shoulder.

"I no be blowed away by wind." Zell told him.

"But somehow, you and all of the other children ended up here. Now, seeds need certain things to grow, like water and sunlight. The same thing is true for you. You need a family besides your family at the orphanage. But, some seeds don't always get a lot of water, or sunlight, yet they grow up to be strong and healthy plants. They're the ones that are just like you." Cid continued.

"Don't understand." Zell said with pout, comically frowning at Cid's enigmatic speech.

"You're a survivor, Zell. Wherever you end up, wherever the wind blows you, whatever garden you grow in, you're never going to let the weeds choke you out, right?" Cid asked him earnestly.

"Okay!" Zell chirped happily, still not actually understanding. Cid sighed. Maybe his similes were lost on the children after all.

Seifer's third effort at making sure Zell would never be adopted didn't quite go the way he'd planned.

"See them people?" Seifer asked Zell, pointing discreetly at the blonde couple gazing around the Orphanage.

"Yeah. . ." Zell answered slowly.

"They're king and queen of the Midgekin! Yoo'd better hide!" Seifer said, faking anxiety. Zell's eyes grew large.

"Really?" he asked fearfully.

"Yeah! Run!" Zell took off at a jog. "Run! Hide!" Seifer yelled after him. Mission accomplished, Seifer sunk back against the wall and laughed.

Zell was curled up in a ball under his bed, clutching the fish stuffed animal close to his chest. The door at the top of the steps leading down to the bedroom was open- Zell hadn't thought to close it in his haste to hide, and he could hear snatches of conversation through it. It sounded like Quistis. . .Quistis and two unfamiliar voices. The king and queen of the Midgekin.

". . .name?" asked the queen.

". . .'s Quistis."

". . .pretty name. . ." said the king.

". . .Thanks!"

"What. . .like. . .to do?" asked the queen, whom Zell had mentally named Midge.

". . .to read!"

". . .wonderful for. . .your age. . ." commented the king, whom Zell had silently dubbed Kin.

". . .family is nice. . .you. . .think?" inquired Midge.

". . .oh yes."

". . .be a part. . .family?" Asked Kin.

"Really?"

". . .course." reassured Midge.

Quistis was adopted soon after that. The next week, in fact.

Quistis left, hopeful and sad at the same time. As she got into the small rented car with Cid, who was taking her to the nearest train station, the children waved to her through the sheeting Centran rain. All the children except Squall.

"Squall, maybe someday, if you can be strong, you can go visit Quistis." Edea comforted, arm around his shoulders. Squall got tear in his eyes. Edea patted him on the head, not knowing that the real source of Squall's tears was Ellone and not hearing his last muttered remark, a complete misinterpretation of her promise.

"Gotta be strong so I can see Sis Elle. . ."