This is NOT the last chapter. The last chapter will be put up soon.

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Selphie went through a wedding catalog with Rinoa whenever they had a little break at work. Soon Rinoa became sick of all the dresses but she kept her enthusiasm for her friend. Finally the magazine was put off to the side. "So, do you have any idea how Squall is doing?" Selphie asked.

"Um… I haven't seen him in a while," Rinoa lied. She'd been seeing him once a week every week since he took her out. She missed him so much she couldn't help it.

"Oh you're such a bad liar. He's still trying to quit, right?"

"Yeah. Of course." They hadn't really discussed it. She only answered he was still trying. They had talked about living together again though, something she did not want to tell Selphie. In fact, she hadn't even told her mother.

"Good. I'm sure he'll be better in no time. All he has to do is keep working at it. Anyway, sometime after the wedding, Irvine and I are going to use the money we've been saving up to start a little family."

"I thought you were going to go to college? Change your mind?"

"Yeah. We both have steady jobs so…"

"Well, as long as you're prepared…"

"We are, don't worry."

"If you need anything, just ask."

"Thanks."

At her parents' house, Rinoa decided to call Squall. He wasn't home and she didn't feel like leaving a message. Julie was gone. Raine had decided to take Ellone and Julie to the park. Caraway was at work and Julia was resting in her room. The house was pretty much empty. Rinoa didn't have anything to do. For a while she lay in bed, thinking. Selphie was going to get married soon. Her and Irvine dated for years. Rinoa knew they'd have a happy life together. But thinking about their relationship made her think about her own with Squall. She wished they hadn't rushed into things but that was the fault of both of them not one or the other. Maybe if she hadn't gotten pregnant, maybe it would've ended up differently. Of course she always had these thoughts when she was alone.

Around five o'clock, the phone rang. Rinoa grabbed it in an instant. "Hello," she answered.

"Hello. Rinoa?" It was Squall's voice.

"Squall. I tried to call you but you were at work."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. So what can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to talk."

"He laughed, "Really? Just talk or something else?"

"Oh shut up." She giggled. "That's what you had on your mind. Well… how was your day? Have fun at work?"

"Tons. We have parties all the time and get to do whatever we want."

"Your sarcasm is amusing." The laughter in her voice made his boring day a whole lot better. "Same-old thing then, huh? Did you get the invitation to Selphie's wedding?"

"Yeah. I also noticed she sent them a few months in advance."

"Well they're putting the finishing touches on everything. I suppose they sent them out ahead of time incase something went wrong. Are you going to go?"

"If that's okay."

"Well I didn't mean it like that… Maybe Julie can sit by you."

"Nope," he said. "She'll have to sit with your mother or mine. Irvine asked Zell and I to be his best men."

"Right… I suppose I should've guessed that. I feel like an idiot."

"Why? You're beating yourself up over nothing. You're not an idiot. Anyway, she can probably sit with Ellone." They were quiet for a moment. Rinoa wished she were in Squall's arms now. "I wish you were here," he whispered as if reading her mind.

"Me too. But I have to wait for Julie to get home. Your mom took her and Ellone to the park."

"You think I can come visit Julie tomorrow? Maybe we could all do something, go on a little trip."

"Yeah, sure. I don't have to work tomorrow 'cause it'll be closed. When Julie gets home I'll ask her if she'd like that, though I'm sure she would. Give you a ring back later, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye." She hung up the phone and went downstairs. Julia was starting dinner. "Let me help you," Rinoa volunteered. While they prepared the meal, Raine decided to take Julie home. She arrived just as the finishing touches were being applied. "Did you have fun today sweet heart?" Since she had food in her mouth, Julie could only nod. "So, what did you guys do?"

"Well," Julie said between chews, "we went to the park for a while. Then Ellone's mom took us out to eat for lunch. And then we played at their house until she brought me home. What did you do?"

"Worked. Uh, I have to talk to you after dinner. So don't take off."

"I wont but… am I in trouble?"

"No, you're not in trouble." Caraway had not joined them for dinner once again because he was too busy. When they were finished, the three cleaned up and washed the dishes. Julia picked a book off the shelf to read. Rinoa took Julie to their room. Rinoa said, "Your father called today. He wanted to know if we could do something with him tomorrow. I don't have to work so it's up to you."

"Um I don't know. Is he going to hurt you again?"

"We'd just spend the day with him, honey. We're not moving back in."

"You say that now," she mumbled under her breath. "Okay. I guess."

"Do you want to call him or should I?"

"You can. I'm going to my room." The door shut with a quiet slam. Rinoa sighed. She knew she should be more careful around Squall but she missed him so much. Julie hadn't sounded thrilled to see him. Maybe if they all spent a little time together, things would get even better. Squall answered on the first ring.

In the morning, Julie and Rinoa dressed up nicely without making it too extreme. After all, they didn't want to look too fancy (like they were going to some royal person's birthday), just nice. They met him at their house. Julie was quiet and being a tad stubborn. "Can't we give it a try?" Rinoa asked as she looked at her daughter through the rearview mirror. "Please?" Her daughter gave no response. Instead she turned her head toward the window. Squall waved as they pulled up. "Do you want me to drive? All you have to do is tell me where to go." He got in the passenger seat. "Where are we going?"

"Well," he said. "What would you guys like to do?"

"Julie, what do you want to do? We could go to the park."

She sighed, "I did that yesterday."

"How about a movie?"

"Nothing I want to see."

"Oh honey, please don't be difficult…" She quickly tried to come up with another suggestion. There wasn't a whole lot in their small town to do. In fact there was a little theater here but a couple years ago, it was changed into a country-western theater. No big names ever appeared on the sign though. It mainly seemed to be people who were getting started. The people that attended these concerts didn't seem to mind though. Rinoa decided they'd have to go out of town. "Well, Julie, how about shopping then? Afterwards we can go eat wherever you'd like. So what do you say?"

"Fine." Rinoa could feel Squall's hurt by their daughter's nonexistent enthusiasm even though he tried to hide it with a confident grin. During the drive he tried to ask Julie questions. Sometimes she answered, sometimes she didn't. The whole conversation made Squall feel like a boyfriend just meeting his girlfriend's daughter for the first time. Finally he quit and turned around. Silence filled the car as Rinoa fought back tears. Squall saw them but didn't think she'd want to be questioned about it in front of Julie. Since it was Sunday the parking lot at the mall wasn't completely packed with cars. But it was still difficult to find a good space. She had to settle for a spot at the end of one of the rows. Everyone piled out of the car and headed inside.

"Where would you like to go first?" Rinoa asked. They'd decided to go to the mall so they could go everywhere without having to drive all over the place. "Wait. I need to stop at the bathroom real quick. Is that okay?"

Squall said, "No problem. We'll wait out here for you." When she disappeared behind the door he turned to Julie. "I know you're mad at me but do toy hate me?"

"No," Julie said.

"You didn't have to come if you didn't want to."

"It's not that, daddy. I just… feel like I'm having a bad day." He nodded, believing the lie she'd just fed him. She didn't do it to hurt him. It was the exact opposite. After all, how could she say, 'Oh daddy I don't trust you yet'? She looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back. This was the moment Rinoa came out. Seeing them like that made her feel better. All three of them got to browse the stores of their choice (without separating from one another). Squall paid for the few things Julie picked up. Rinoa bought a couple of books to enter herself when she became bored. For lunch, Julie said they should go to the food court so everyone could get what they wanted. She dragged Squall over to the pizza stand.

"I'll find us a table," Rinoa called to them. Finding an empty table was difficult. A couple dirty ones were open. "Should've come sooner." She grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped one clean. "Oh gross." The two joined her carrying two giant slices of pizza in their hands. "Honey, are you sure you can eat all that? It might make you sick."

Squall sat down next to her as he said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Not you." She hit him playfully.

"I know. I was only kidding. Anyway if she doesn't finish hers, I will."

"Okay. I'm going to find myself something. I'll be right back." A moment later she returned with a sandwich that appeared to be nothing more than bread.

"Are you on a diet or something? 'Cause you shouldn't be if you are."

"No I'm not on a diet. Why do you ask?"

"Because you're not eating much."

"Really I'm fine. There wasn't much over there I liked so I got a little sandwich."

"It has pepperoni in it."

"Okay, okay. I'm just checking."

Julie said, "What are we going to do after this?"

"What do you want to do?" Squall asked. She shrugged. "We could go by a couple more stores and head home. Then maybe we can rent a movie. It's up to you two, really. Think about it. We got time." In the end they decided to go along with the plan Squall had outlined as a possibility. By the time they got home, it was a little after four. Julie selected a couple of movies to rent. She tried to sneak a horror movie in there.

"I don't think so. You're only nine," Rinoa said. Her daughter tried to defend herself by pointing out the fact that she'd be turning ten soon. "Not until you're sixteen, maybe fifteen. But nine is too young. Put it back, we'll get these." At home, their home, the family of three watched the two movies that'd been rented. It was nearly eight when the movies were over. "Oh we should get home."

"Really? I was hoping you could stay a while."

"Oh Squall, I told you we can't stay the night."

"I know, I know. I was just hoping we could spend some time together…"

"Oh Squall, I can't tonight. Maybe another time." She hugged him. "I need to get Julie home. Goodnight, Squall." They kissed before she left me with their daughter.

The next weekend was saved for Selphie. She wanted Rinoa and Quistis to go with her to pick out bride's maids dresses. On the way, Selphie kept questioning Quistis on her relationship with Zell. "So," she asked, "how are things between you two? Are things getting serious?"

Quistis shrugged as she said, "We're doing all right. I don't know what you mean by serious. I'm guessing you mean marriage and if that is what you mean, I don't think things are getting that serious. Plus, I'd like to finish college before I even think about getting married."

"But you could be in college for such a long time."

"Well, let's just say Zell is thinking of proposing to me. If he loves me then he should be able to wait."

"I understand that. I just don't get why you'd want to wait 'til after you finish college."

"Because after college I'll get myself a job and a place to settle down."

"Oh. I see your point." She waited a moment then changed the subject, "Rinoa, how's Squall doing?"

Rinoa said, "Better" although she wasn't exactly sure. The two still hadn't talked about it. The subject was always something she felt the need to avoid. But, being as he wanted them back together so badly, she assumed he was working on it. "Hopefully Julie and I can move back in with him."

"Good. Just don't rush things."

"I know. Don't worry." When they reached their destination, all three of them climbed out of the car. Selphie asked her two friends if they would mind wearing yellow bride's maids dresses. "Selphie, if that's the color you want then that's perfectly fine," Rinoa said.

"As long as it's not blind-everyone-in-the-room yellow," Quistis added with a smile.

Selphie laughed, "No of course not." Inside the bridal shop each one of the three friends picked a section and began looking through the dresses. Every couple of minutes someone would hold one up to say, "What about this?" Selphie would respond in ways such as "Too poofy; too classy; a bit too yellow; maybe we should try a different color". Finally a cream colored dress was presented to her. It had no sleeves, just clear straps. The top was sewn on in a way that made it look separate from the skirt. A matching shawl came with it. "It's beautiful. Who wants to model it?"

"Quistis does," Rinoa said.

Quistis responded, "Uh, okay." She asked one of the clerks to show her to the fitting rooms.

"It's not quite yellow though. Does that matter?"

"Not if it looks nice," Selphie said. "And if you two like it."

"Oh, well, Selphie you have to like it too. It is your wedding."

"I think it's beautiful. Let's see how it looks on you guys." After a few moments, Quistis came out wearing the dress. She looked very sophisticated without being over the top. She twirled around in it then stopped. "It's absolutely perfect. What do you think, Quistis?"

"I like it," she said. "And as long as you like it, that's all that matters. But, I think I need a smaller size. This one's a tad too small."

"Okay. Let's have someone get you girls fitted."

At the wedding, when it finally came time, Julie sat with Rinoa's parents. Selphie received help from her friends getting dressed she had a hard time containing her excitement ("Oh this is so wonderful. It feels like a dream. Am I dreaming?"); and nervousness ("Are you sure this looks all right? Maybe if I fluff this up a bit more… How many people do you think are out there?"). The whole time her friends reassured her everything would be fine and that she looked gorgeous. Finally they took their places. Rinoa tried not to look at anyone she knew in fear of bursting into a fit of laughter. Nervousness sometimes transformed that way. Squall, who stood across from her, kept thinking how beautiful Rinoa looked. He wanted her back so much. Lately he'd begun to feel lonely, which prompted him to have a drink- a few drinks. He didn't talk to Rinoa about this; she had no idea.

Music started, signaling Selphie to start her walk down the aisle. One of her uncles accompanied her in place of her father. During the ceremony Rinoa and Squall kept glancing at one another. Carol watched with happiness in her heart for her daughter. Fujin sat in-between Rajin and Seifer (whom Selphie gave the okay to invite) wondering what everyone was feeling. She couldn't picture herself in Selphie's shoes (not marrying Irvine in this hypothetical situation of course) or wearing a wedding dress at all. Then again she had a hard time picturing herself in any situation without trying it out first. A few rows ahead Edea tried to conceal her tears. 'She's not the girl's mother so why is she crying?' she figured everyone was thinking. Still, a wedding was one of those occasions where you felt happy and sad at the same time.

When it came time for the reception, Selphie gathered all her friends around so they could catch up with one another. Seifer was allowed to join in on the conversation as well. Family members came by to say a few nice words to Selphie and Irvine occasionally. Not far from them all the kids played tag together. The group of friends raised their glasses in a toast to the new married couple and the reuniting of Rinoa and Squall. If only their daughter was as thrilled as everyone else was about the news.

For about two weeks, everything went great. Julie didn't hold her breath. Then it all began again. Squall and Rinoa fell back into the same old habits. Every time they got in a fight Squall would get what Julie called 'sympathy points'. This process would begin after a fight. While Rinoa cried in bed Squall would tell her how sorry he was and how he didn't deserve her. She obviously always forgave him. Otherwise she would've left Julie, right? Soon a couple of bruises appeared on Rinoa's arm.

"Mom, what happened to your arm?" Julie decided to ask one day even though she already knew what had happened.

Rinoa said, "Just a little accident."

'She can't even come up with a good lie'. "Mom, why are you letting him do this? I love dad too but… that's not my dad. My dad wouldn't do anything to hurt either of us. He's not my dad. You shouldn't let him do that."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Make him stop. Tell him to get help, mom."

'She's only nine and she sounds like she's my age. What have I done to her?' "Don't worry. Everything will be fine, I promise." However things did not get better. It slowly got worse. Julie screamed at the top of her lungs for her daddy to stop. Did the neighbors hear? Most likely. But this was one of those towns where no one interfered with someone else's business, be it life-threatening or interesting. Gossip was practiced more than kindness. Every morning Squall was unable to remember what he did the night before. Then he saw the bruises and it all came flooding back. Julie now only ever looked at him with coldness in her eyes. None of these times was the worst.

All of them remembered the incident but not what triggered it. Julie remembered panicking upon hearing her mother scream. Squall's fists pounded on Rinoa's curled up body. She had her hands protecting her head as she cried and yelped. Blood came down from wounds inflicted by an unrecognizable man. Julie ran straight to Selphie's without stopping to put shoes on. It was the only place she knew the exact location of, even in the dark. Selphie wasn't home but Carol was. She called the police at Julie's request.

Rinoa remembered the pain she felt as Squall began to hit her. He hit her harder than he'd ever hit her before. She'd seen Julie watching. The fearful look on her face was stuck in Rinoa's mind forever. Her arms were over her head for protection. It didn't seem to help much. The first bone in her body that cracked made her yelp. Tears ran down her face as she kept her arms over her face. Soon she was huddled in a corner, hiding her face behind her knees. Her wrist burned and pulsated with a searing pain. She remembered feeling his fist against her head before blacking out.

Squall was the only one who remembered it as if it were some kind of nightmare he made up. If any thoughts had been going through his head at the time he didn't know what they might have been. When the police found him, he was kneeling by Rinoa's body. A pool of blood had begun to form underneath her. Despite not being able to see straight he was trying to figure out a way to help her. When the cops grabbed him, he resisted saying he needed to help Rinoa (though they could barely understand him). Paramedics tended to his injured wife.

At the hospital, Carol called Rinoa's parents. Julie sat in the waiting room trying to swallow her tears. "Julie, if you need to cry let yourself do it, honey," Carol said. She sat next to the child and gave her a gentle hug. "What's on your mind?" Julie just shrugged.

"When can we see my mom?" she asked.

"She's in the emergency room now. A nurse will come out and let us know. But… we may not be able to see her tonight. It all depends." Not long later Rinoa's family joined them. They sat for a long time. Julie was beginning to fall asleep when the nurse came in.

"You wont be able to see her tonight, I'm afraid. She's resting," the nurse announced. Julie went home with her grandparents. In the morning they would be back to visit. Selphie showed up with Carol and Irvine. Bruises were starting to form in various places on Rinoa's body. She had to have help sitting up.

She brushed Julie's hair from her face as she said, "Hi, sweetie. How are you doing?"

"Bad. When are you coming home?" Julie asked.

"I don't know. Hi Selphie, mom, everybody. Can someone call the nurse? I need to get up." Someone came to help her so she could go to the bathroom. Selphie went out into the hall. She couldn't stand to look at Rinoa, especially knowing who caused the injuries. In her heart she felt the same guilt everyone else was feeling.

Squall didn't bother fighting the charges against him. Everyone knew he was guilty, even he did. While he did his time, Rinoa recovered from her physical injuries and with her daughter began to piece their lives back together (part of this process required the now family of two to move). For a couple of years Rinoa had to be taken care of. She fell into a depression for which she had therapy. Julie also had to receive therapy for what she'd been through. She started feeling like the adult at home. She had to make sure Rinoa took her medication and took herself. Whenever Julie needed it, Selphie volunteered to help out. Rinoa's parents came by three times a week. Fujin and Quistis dropped by on the weekends. Raine brought Ellone over everyday. Ellone gave Julie a chance to play while Raine helped Rinoa figure out what to do next.

Squall had to go through all sorts of therapy programs. In a way, he was glad because it helped. He felt he was gradually getting better. But he was also in jail for beating Rinoa, the woman he loved so dearly. He could never forgive himself for that. A million apologies no matter how much he meant it would never makeup for what he'd done.