A/N: Sorry about the lack of an update but I've had some rather bad personal problems that have prevented the posting of this chapter. Anyway I'm back now. I made it a bit longer to make up for the time it took for the update. Enjoy!

She drifted away from the groups and familiar faces, smiling at those who acknowledged her presence. Soon she was finding it hard to tell if she was drifting mentally away from them or physically. She spotted Squall alone in a corner. She smiled as he looked over and decided she'd rather be by his side than wondering in and out of groups of strangers.

He took a sip of his drink as he noticed Rinoa walking in his direction. "Hi." She smiled weakly while holding her hands shyly over her front. "Hi." He said back a little colder than he had meant to. An awkward silence floated between the two, and Squall felt himself eyeing her over from the corner of his eye, she took his breathe away. Why do I feel like this? What is this I'm feeling? Rinoa looked up at him as she turned away from the dance floor, "Dance with me?"

"What?" Could she have asked a worse person he wondered? "Come on please, I've wanted to dance all night. Please?"

"Rinoa I can't dance."

"It's because you don't like me. Isn't it?"

"No. Not at all." How could I not like her, she drives me crazy. "I really can't dance!"

"Then now will be a good time to learn!" She grinned widely as she grabbed his hand, dragging him to an empty space.

He tried to walk away but she held him firmly, smiling reassuringly at him she took his hands and positioned them on her body, slowly taking a step closer to him. At first she tried to lead him but that only resulted in him falling over his own feet. Frustrated Squall tried to walk away, "This is pointless." Rinoa continued to keep a firm hold on his hand, "You'll be fine you're doing great." Trying again this time she let him lead and it all went smoothly until they ended up crashing into another couple, the woman glared at Rinoa and the man mumbled something about sorceresses. Squall smiled as Rinoa stuck her tongue out at the snobbish couple and then focused her attention back on him. It wasn't long before he'd finally gotten the hang of the dance and their every move looked like it had been rehearsed for hours.

Ellone was getting bored of Laguna trying to make out to the rich men surrounding them that he understood perfectly what they were all complaining about. Her eyes drifted around the room as she looked for Squall and Rinoa, her jaw almost dropped to the floor as she saw Squall dancing, and well at that. "Uncle Laguna . . ." She pulled on the end of his sleeve, "uncle Laguna I think Squall's dancing." Even her own voice was filled with disbelief. "You've just mistaken him for someone else Ellie, Squall doesn't dance, remember?" Laguna said mimicking the way his son had said it not long before boarding the Ragnarok. "No, really Laguna, Squall is dancing!" Ellie stared in amassment at the couple as the song drew near to a close.

Disbelieving of his Ellie, Laguna turned to face the dance floor, his mouth hung open as he watched his moody teenage son doing the one thing he had tried so desperately to convince his father that he would not do, dance. "Maybe Squall has a secret identical twin." Laguna said trying to justify the sight before him. Ellie giggled in joy as she shook her head, "That's Squall!" She exclaimed her eyes almost as wide as her smile. Laguna watched with 'all knowing' parent eyes as the song ended and the pair ended up a lot closer than they had anticipated.

Rinoa felt Squall pull her body flat against his own as the song ended she could feel his breath on her cheek as she looked up into his mysterious grey eyes. She felt her eyelids begin to get heavy as his face came closer and closer to her own. Soon his breath was tickling her lips as they leaned further into each others embrace. Only seconds away from a possibly regrettable kiss they turned to the window as the crowd stood in awe of a shooting star, despite their regular occurrences. She could quickly feel Squall's intense stare back on her and she smiled shyly before pulling away from their embrace. She knew that she wouldn't be able to shake off those few precious moments easily and it's all that continued tofill her thoughts for the remainder of the night.

The ride home had been uneasy for both him and Rinoa, Ellie and his Dad had been hounding them most of the way home, fortunately neither mentioned the near kiss incident. He sighed as he reached his door, resting his head on the frame as he thought about her once more. "That dance was perfect you know." He frowned before he lifted his head from the door frame, "What do you want Quistis?"

"Just a moment of your time, I wanted to talk if that's alright."

"Look Quistis, Laguna hired you to protect Rinoa, not stalk me around my home. Now if you don't mind I just want to get some sleep." How am I going to be able to sleep tonight? I can't even stop thinking about her long enough to talk to Quistis. "Oh, ok well I'll see you tomorrow then." She crossed her arms over her chest as she walked away, "Night then Squall." He felt a nagging feeling in the back of his head, "Night Quistis." He said as she walked away.

He'd only been in his room long enough to get changed into some loose trousers before a knock came at his door. "Quistis, look I meant what I said, I just want to sleep."

"It's me son." He sighed heavily he already knew what this was going to be about, "Err. . . . Can I come in? Only, erm . . . Rinoa's dog's beginning to creep me out." Squall shook his head, "Dad how did you, of all people, ever make president?" He laughed as he opened his door for Laguna. "What do you want?" Squall questioned his dad as he carefully put his gunblade back in its case. Laguna wandered around the room for several minuets before finally settling in one place. "Didn't think you danced." He said as he picked up a photo of Raine from Squall's desk. Squall rolled his eyes, "Is that all this is about? Because if it is then can't it keep till morning?"

"Actually son this is about you and Rinoa, she's a nice girl I'm not saying she isn't but . . ."

"But, but what dad? What's wrong with her?" Squall did his infamous frown as he swept his arm out dramatically. "Son I just don't think you should get close to her."

"Who said I was going to?"

"You did, just then when you got protective of her." Squall fell onto his bed and dropped his head into his hands, "Squall I think . . . I think your job and who she is might clash." Squall glared at the man he called dad, "She's just a girl!" That was a lie she was more than just a girl to him. "Squall she's a sorceress, why do you think I hired SeeDs?"

"Get out!"

"Squall don't loose your temper lets talk about this."

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM! . . . LAGUNA!" He turned his back on the older man, "I hope you rot in hell for the trouble you caused mum and the trouble your about the cause Rinoa." he mumbld as he watched Laguna leave his room.

Thank you to all who review the last few chapters.