A/N: I also decided to changed the title to "Unexpected" only instead, because to be honest I never really liked the first title.

I apologize for those who are actually still following this story and for the delays in updating. I am working on the next chapters and hopefully I can finish this fic soon. I think this has been dragged out for far too long. Again I am so very sorry to all my readers.

I admit. I have been slacking on writing this fic. I've been busying myself with too many other projects.

I'm sorry about the weird formatting. FFNet decided to mess with it again, and I didn't take the time to check if they messed it up. Well I fixed the formatting errors; hopefully they didn't confuse you guys too much.

Chapter 7

Quistis waved good-bye to the last members of her team. Their long two-month mission, during the coldest winter in Shumi history, was over. She didn't think she would ever feel warm again. She felt exhausted and nauseated as got on a snow speeder and told the scientist driving to take her to Doctor Sheppard's tent.

She had given an excuse to her team that she needed to visit to a Shumi artist she befriended years ago before she would head back to Garden. Her story wasn't a complete lie. She did know an artist in Shumi, but she wasn't going to visit this friend of hers. She, in fact, had an appointment with one of the research team's medical doctors for her test results. Test results to confirm if she was pregnant or not.

At first Quistis thought her biological friend was late because of the stress from digging, long hours, and the cold weather. Then the nausea, exhaustion, and vomiting followed. Of course she shrugged it off as stress again, but one of the doctors on the research team took one look at her and said she was definitely pregnant. Quistis was horrified by the thought and didn't believe her, but she agreed to get tested. Now she was on her way to find out her results and her fate.

She arrived at one of the research tents at the dig site. Quistis told the young scientist driving the speeder to wait for her and walked into the tent.

"Doctor Sheppard," Quistis said when she walked into the warm tent and found a curly brown-haired scientist sitting behind a table typing into her laptop.

"Miss Trepe, you're early," the older woman smiled and gestured for Quistis to sit in the chair in front of her table. "Please sit. I have your results and congratulations. You are definitely pregnant," she said slowly.

Quistis didn't know what to say. Suddenly she felt sick. She wasn't sure if it was the confirmation that she was pregnant or the morning sickness that was making her sick. But she managed to force a smile and thanked Doctor Sheppard for the news.

"Miss Trepe, I know that you weren't planning for this pregnancy, but if you want someone to talk to. I have time," Doctor Sheppard patted the back of Quistis's hand in understanding.

"Thank you, Doctor. But I should get going. I believe the last research team transport for Esthar is about to leave."

Doctor Sheppard nodded, "Take care of yourself, Miss Trepe. It was nice working with you over the last two months."

Doctor Sheppard gave her a small smile. "Whatever you decide, Miss Trepe, I hope the best for you," she said and continued typing on her computer.

Quistis nodded and excused herself. She was relieved to see the scientist driving the snow speeder still waiting for her when she remerged from the tent.

"Sorry about that, let's get to the transport," she said. The man nodded and they rode off.

As the chilling wind blew past them, Quistis thought about returning to Garden and making up an excuse to quit and leave, but her thoughts returned to Seifer. She should tell him. He was the father of this child, and it was the right thing to do.

Quistis started imagining the worst possible scenarios. Seifer would hate her or worst laugh at her stupidity or even gloat at his virility of getting the prudish Instructor Trepe 'knocked up.' But there was also the possibility that he wasn't the jerk he made himself to be. What if he surprised her and accepted the child and maybe even married her? Quistis laughed at herself. There she was trying to see the bright side of things. She was definitely around Selphie too much.

Quistis sighed. Seifer hated being tied down to anything let alone a child. She didn't know what to do.

"Miss Trepe," the scientist driving the speeder called to her over the windy weather. Quistis noticed that they had arrived at the transport to Esthar. Quistis figured she would decide what she would do when she got to Esthar. She would either go back to Garden or hide away some where.

Seifer stood leaning against a wall as ten SeeDs walked down the hall still dressed in snow gear, which made them look out of place since the weather in Balamb was relatively warm. Seifer stood there staring menacingly at each person, since each person passing by wasn't the one he sought.

"Hey!" Seifer called out to the last person heading down the halls. The person he called to jumped slightly. Seifer remained leaning on the wall and gestured for the young man to come to him. He saw that the young man he called was relatively young, probably a new SeeD. Seifer couldn't help but smirk at the thought that, even five years later, he was still intimidating newbies.

"Hey," he repeated. "Your team just come back from Shumi?" He asked.

"Yes, sir," the young man quickly replied.

"Where's your leader?" he asked, still keeping an eye on the hall in case Quistis trailed behind.

"She's still at Shumi, sir. She stayed behind to go over a couple more things with the scientists."

"Guess the ice queen found herself a new home," he muttered to himself and waved for the young man to leave.

At this point, Seifer was thoroughly irritated. He scowled at the empty halls as he continued leaning on the wall. Figuring out what he should do next.

"What's with the scowl, Almasy? Is that your new look to get the ladies with?" Irvine said placing has hand on Seifer's shoulder as he came up next to him.

"Fuck off, cowgirl," Seifer said shrugging Irvine's hand off his shoulder.

"Why are you so bent on finding Quisty?" Irvine asked.

Seifer scoffed. "Because she owes me something. Everyone owes me something," Seifer said with a menacing grin. "You should know that by know Kinneas."

Irvine rolled his eyes, "That's right, because you are Seifer Almasy, and everyone owes you something."

"Damn right. Now why don't you go and find your cows, cowgirl, before I find them and turn them into a steak dinner," Seifer said and pushed himself off the wall. As he walked passed Irvine, he made sure to accidentally bump into Irvine's shoulder on the way.

Irvine only shook his head. Some things just weren't going to change. He then headed to his previous destination. The opposite direction that Seifer was headed.

As Seifer walked back to his dorm, he let his mind wander. Seifer was irritated that Quistis wasn't back from her mission yet. He couldn't understand why he felt that the one night they shared together was something more. He was irritated with himself. Why couldn't this one night stand be like any other one night stand? The only difference he came up with was that Quistis wasn't just any other woman off the streets. She was Quistis Trepe, his former instructor. Someone he grew up with. Someone he enjoyed irritating. She was a friend. After that night, she was a friend with benefits.

Seifer frowned at the thought of labeling Quistis as friend with benefits. That label just did not suit Quistis, in fact it was degrading. Seifer kicked the side of a wall in frustration. There was no point in denying it any longer. He loved her, and there was a high probability that she would never want to hear those words from him. Seifer opened his dorm door and slammed the door shut.

He walked across his room and plopped himself on his bed and just lay there. Thinking in silence. He stared at the ceiling tiles until they blurred together. Then he sat up remembering. He was Seifer Almasy. He always said things without caring what everyone else thought. He was going to tell Quistis his feelings for her if she wanted to hear it or not. It would be the first thing he would do when he saw her, he decided. He would only have to wait a couple more days and Quistis would be back. He had already waited two months a couple more days would be no different…

Twenty minutes later Seifer was marching down the halls towards the headmaster's office. Without a courtesy knock, he just pushed the double doors open and stalked in the room. He was ready to demand an explanation to why Quistis was still staying at Shumi, when clearly, the contract and mission was over.

Instead of finding the peaceful old Headmaster Cid, he found a young man with blonde hair frowning at him. He was face to face with his former rival.

Seeing Squall on the other side of the desk, Seifer reverted to his cocky mode, and crossed his arms across his chest and smirked.

"Leonheart, didn't know you were back from your honeymoon. How's the Mrs.?"

Squall rolled his eyes at the unwanted confrontation before him. "What do you want Seifer?"

Seifer decided to get to the point.

"I want to know why Trepe was allowed to stay a few more days on Shumi, when I wasn't' even allowed to take a break after my last mission. I had accumulated vacations days too! I think you guys are playing favorites…" Seifer trailed off as he noticed Squall's lack of attention to his complaints. "What's going on?"

Squall slouched back into his chair and let out a breath. He gave Seifer another look, but this time the look he had was one of concern and worry.

"What's with the guilty look, Leonheart?" Seifer asked cocking his head to the side.

"Quistis was not authorized to stay a couple more days. She was ordered to come back with everyone else. In fact, she never notified anyone of her intentions. I just called the research team to find her whereabouts. They told me she left with the last of our teams, supposedly," Squall said.

"Supposedly? What is that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that Trepe is playing hooky?" Seifer asked, unsure of Squall was implying.

"I don't know," Squall shrugged. "Maybe some of your bad traits rubbed off on her, but you and I both know that work is Quistis's life."

"Yeah, she's a damn workaholic if you ask me. So what are you saying? Trepe is missing?" Seifer asked still trying to comprehend Quistis's disappearance.

"Actually it doesn't sound like she's missing. It sounds like she left, without telling anyone," Squall clarified.

"You mean little Miss Follow-the-rules has gone AWOL?" Seifer furrowed his eyebrows.

"Apparently, Quisty has been surprising us all lately," Squall said, hinting something in his voice.

Seifer furrowed his eyebrows. He wasn't sure what Squall was implying, but he decided to ignore it and pretend that he didn't notice the hint.

"You can say that again," he muttered to himself. "Shouldn't we be sending someone to go after her?" he asked Squall. "She is going against orders. I know if I pulled some shit like this, you'd send a whole brigade of SeeDs after my ass."

"We are setting up a group to find her, but that isn't our priority right now," Squall said flatly.

Seifer could no longer contain his frustration. "Not our priority? One of your top SeeDs goes AWOL and you are not the least bit concerned? This is bull shit."

"Right now, I want you and Zell to go undercover for another mission.'

"Fuck you! Who they hell made you commander anyway?" Seifer said with obvious irritation.

"The Headmaster, remember?"

"No, I'm trying to forget," Seifer replied sarcastically.

"There have been reports of a secret resistance buried in Galbadia," Squall continued to explain.

"I guess they aren't that good at keeping secrets, since you guys know about their little secret," Seifer said.

Squall ignored Seifer's comment and continued. "From the intelligence we have received, the resistance consists of the rough and tumble type," he said reading from the opened file in front of him.

"I can see why I'm your first choice. But Chicken Wuss?"

"You have no choice in your partners," Squall said.

"Doesn't matter. I'm not going on this mission. I'm going to find Trepe," he declared and prepared to leave the room.

Squall stood up from his desk. "You are assigned to the Galbadia mission and that is an order," he said with a commanding tone. "If you refuse to comply with these orders, you will be discharged from SeeD again. And this time Quistis isn't going to be here to speak on your behalf again."

Seifer gave a death glare to Squall. "Fine," he said curtly, "as soon as this mission ends. I'm going to find Trepe, and when that time comes. You won't be able to stop me."

"Suit yourself; remember this is an undercover mission. Don't blow it and put yourself in danger again," Squall reminded.

"Are you worried for my well being, Leonheart?" Seifer smirked.

Squall shook his head and ignored Seifer's last comment and sat back down on his desk. "You will leave for Galbadia next week. There will be a briefing that you are required to attend tomorrow. Don't be late." As soon as the last words came out of Squall mouth, Squall heard the doors to his office slam close.

Seifer stepped into the elevator and angrily punched the buttons for the doors to close. This was just his luck. Just when he realized he had found the love of his life, she disappears. To top it off, he couldn't go and find her. This had to be Fate's sick way of fucking with him. Fate was such a bitch, he thought as he walked out of the elevator.