Author's notes: I decided to completely redo this story cause in the past two years or so since I've updated I've had some different ideas about how I want this to go. Any ways, this is a FFVIII story, if you didn't know. It happens a long time after the whole incident with Ultimecia so this story is actually going to be about the gang's kids. If you have a problem with that, don't read.
Disclaimer: If you recognize the character, I don't own them, Squaresoft does. If you don't recognize a character, I probably made them up.
In a small cozy house located in Galbadia, a young girl, perhaps four or five sat curled up in a ball on her grandpa's lap, listening to him tell her stories. Her raven black hair fell down to her shoulders and her storm blue eyes gleamed innocently from a face filled with wonderment and curiosity. One small hand played absent mindedly with a stray strand of hair as she focused on every one of her grandpa's words, absorbing them with an intensity that was rare in on so young.
"So then with the president's help the soldiers went to the ship and fought and defeated all of the sorceress' warriors."
"Wow. What happened then Grandpa Laguna?" She asked her young face full of curiosity.
"Kiriauna Raine Leonhart! Have a little patience." The stern look on the man's face faded at his granddaughter's slight pout. "Okay, I'll tell you. Well then-"
"Dad, I thought I asked you to stop filling her head with that kind of nonsense. Anyways, she'll learn more than enough about this at Garden." Squall said, walking over and scooping up his young daughter. She wrapped her arms around her father's neck, and snuggled close. Squall in return, hugged her tightly and for a brief moment rested his head on hers, as though they were reassuring each other that both still existed.
"Son, you can't deny me spending time with my only granddaughter. And I thought I should do you and Rinoa a favor and distract her for a moment, given the circumstances." Laguna paused for a moment, and the silence hung heavily in the air, as both men considered the current circumstances. "How is Briar anyway? Is there any improvement?"
Squall shook his head, and then was distracted by a tug on his shirt from his daughter, "Daddy, what's wrong with Briar? How come everyone's so worried?" Her young face wrinkled in confusion and worry for her younger brother, now only about two years old.
"He's very sick. He caught a bad fever. We don't know what this could do to him if he gets better." Kiriauna, or Kiri as she was often called, listened to her father, the worry in her eyes never lessening. Neither of the men in the room doubted that she understood the full implications of what her father had told her. Even at a young age, she had always been remarkably bright. Kiri tilted her head to the side for a moment, which both men knew meant she was thinking or she had something to say that could upset them.
"Daddy, do I have to go to Garden? I don't want to leave Briar when he's sick. And who will help my mother make supper? And pick flowers? And who will Grandpa tell stories too?" The words spilled out in a rush, and both men shook their heads in amazement at the thoughts. If it had been any other five year old, both would have disregarded the statement, but from Kiri there were very few things said that could not be taken seriously.
"Oh Kiri, you know that both your mother and I will miss you very much when you go to Garden in the fall. But we have Briar to keep us company for now, and maybe I'll finally get around to learning how to cook something edible. Besides, Einar is really excited about being able to show you around Garden. You know how much he likes being in charge. And he's all alone at Garden. He probably needs someone to keep him company there." Kiri nodded, and in all honesty she was very excited about seeing her elder brother again. Two years apart, they had always been very close. She had however one point to make.
"Einar's not alone; he has Nel, Genova, Remo, Seto, and Zarina for company." Naming her cousin and some family friends children all the same age as Einar. What she said was true, Squall knew, and he thought now on how strange it was that all of his friend's children and his own were the same age. Seven year old Einar, his oldest the same age as Nel, Ellone's daughter, Genova, Seifer and Fujin's oldest, Remo, Kiros's grandson, Seto, Ward's grandson, and Zarina, Quistis and Irvine's oldest child. Five year old Kiri, the same age as Roatsen, Quistis and Irvine's second child, Caden, Seifer and Fujin's second child, and Catten, Selphie's daughter. And finally, two year old Briar, the same age as Ramone, Raijin's son, Ajax, Zell's son, and Yusho, also called Fudoo, that being his first and only "word" as of yet, and Tiauni Seifer and Fujin's twin children. They were all close, and often in contact; only this morning they had received a call from Selphie asking if Kiri could come play with Catten tomorrow to give both Squall and Rinoa a break from watching her. Laguna had been a huge help, often stopping by in the afternoons to play with his granddaughter, or sit with Briar, or even to cook supper or run errands for them. Squall shook his head, everyone had been such a huge help, he and Rinoa both had gotten lucky when it came too their friends. Speaking of which, Rinoa entered the room, dark bags under her eyes. She smiled at the sight of Squall comforting Kiri, who would have ever thought he'd be such a good father? She swept one hand through her dark hair, although clearly exhausted she continued to sit by her son's side day and night.
Walking over to Squall and Laguna she leaned against her husband as he wrapped his spare arm around her waist and pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, "Briar's finally sleeping. I'm going to take a nap quick. Squall, can you watch the kids for a couple of hours?"
"Rinoa, I can watch them for a bit. Then you and Squall could both rest." Laguna offered.
"Actually Laguna I was wondering if you could run to the store and get Briar's medicine. I'll give you the money and prescription. If you don't mind of course."
Laguna reassured her it was no problem and after receiving the said money and prescription he drove to the store to pick up Briar's medicine. On his way back it started raining, and grumbling he turned on the windshield wipers and wondered why his son and daughter-in-law had chosen to live so far out in the middle of nowhere. He finally arrived at Squall's home to find it a scorched charred shell. It had been of fire, but the house had not burned down thanks to the rain. He rushed inside but stopped at the door gagging. The house was torn apart, and blood lay everywhere. Blood was dragged along the walls, and long strings of words had been written in it. Pictures of friends and family, mostly his grandchildren lay smashed on the ground. It looked as though someone had been torn apart. He covered his mouth and stepping inside the house searched for his family. He had reached the hallway leading to the rest of the house when he saw a lump halfway down the hall. Praying it was not who he thought it was he rushed towards, and cried out in sorrow and rage to find the mangled body of his son. It was obviously him whose blood lined the walls of the living room and hallway. He paused and collected himself for a moment and continued towards Briar's room at the end of the hall. Inside he found Rinoa's body in the same shape Squall's had been, and Briar's room looking much like the living room. Kiri was sitting in the corner. She had one long cut across her right cheek, and arms were bruised. She lay half-conscious in a pool of blood looking as though she had been thrown across the room. Her blue eyes were blank and empty, and in her lap she lay Briar.
"Oh Hyne!" Laguna screamed to the heavens. "What kind of bastard does this?" he ran to his grandchildren scooping them and bringing them to his car, remembering to bring Briar's medicine back with him. He dropped into his seat crying his tortured eyes staring at the house.
"Oh Hyne. Oh Hyne."
Kind of a brutal beginning but it has a huge effect on Kiri's development. A lot of the story will be like this so if you didn't like the first chapter don't read beyond it.