Chapter Three---Truce
Disclaimer: I don't normally do this bull crap during my stories but just so I have proof---I DONT OWN FFVIII. Just the characters that aren't in the game, Aka the ones I made up!
Oh and By the way: I dedicate this story to my newly claimed Muse, Sorceress Fujin! Clap for her dammit.
And to my other reviewers (Matron Renae, Jasmine, Jack Hanek and Falke-Ness) I love you keep reveiwing!
Ok hopefully I wont have to do this before the story crap. If you want my a.n's just read the bottom. Ok on with it!
When Squall returned to the apartment, he found Rinoa still sleeping. He smiled at the brunette on his bed and sat down beside the phone. He needed to talk to Headmaster but he wasn't sure if he should. Squall had just spent an hour talking with Seifer Almasy. The same Seifer Almasy who'd disappeared for three years.
It was strange, actually talking to Seifer when they'd spent so many years fighting. But it was...nice. He'd leanred alot about Seifer, including his desire to retake his SeeD tests. Squall had not so directly promised to try and arrange it and he would. Seifer was an arrogant jerk but Squall knew him.
It was hard for the man to even be civil to Squall sometimes and Seifer had humbled himself enough to be the brunette's friend. If only for an hour. And the strangest part was that Squall had enjoyed that momentary friendship. A small scuffling sound signaled that his wife had awoken.
"Your thinking Squally...what happened?" Her voice was thick with sleep and exhaustion. She'd been sick with the flu for two weeks so Squall helped her back to bed as he explained his encounter with Seifer.
" Why do you think he came back now?" Rinoa asked, nuzzling his neck. Squall pondered this. Seifer never ran away from anything that stood in the way of what he wanted. More likely, he would stop, rethink his strategy and then dive back in to get it. If he was back now, more then likely he was done thinking. Seifer always came back to claim what was his. A certain silver-haired woman flashed through Squall's mind.
Fujin. Seifer was back for Fujin.
" Well just have to wait and see." Squall told her but Rinoa was already fast alseep.
"Seifer? Where have you been?" Seifer looked up into the green eyes of his brother and smiled ever so slightly.
"Ran into an old friend, Makai. Squall Leonheart. He may even help me get back on SeeD." Seifer collapsed onto the couch and suprisingly, it didn't break.
It was kind of like going home, to see Squall. Still in the leather, still somewhat cold. But he had changed too. When Seifer walked up and said hello, the suprise was replaced by a small smile. When Seifer made small talk, Squall turned it into an actual conversation. A conversation with Squall was well...new. But Nice.
"Really? Ice Man? Has he thawed out any?" Makai snickered, brushing shaggy strands of chocolate colored hair from his eyes. Seifer chuckled.
"Yea, actually. Married his little Princess too. I was actually happy for him. He deserves to be happy after all the crap I put him through. I think he is happy now. Still SeeD. Turned down Headmaster position at Garden. Gave it to Xu. Scary but logical. It was...nice talking to him. Maybe if I'd spent more time talking instead of fighting, things would have been a little different." Makai laughed while Seifer chose to ignore him.
"Don't think like that Seifer. You're trying to make it right. And it seems like he's trying to help you. I told you the whole world wasn't against you." Seifer rolled his eyes.
"Oh gee, five against 6 billion. Those are real encouraging odds." Makai stuck his tongue out.
"You're so cynical. I hope you bring that girl home soon. Maybe she'll lighten you up." Seifer tuned Makai out as he thought about Fujin. Would she come with him after what he did? Just leaving like that? He couldn't blame her if she didn't want too. But if she didn't...all those years of work and scrounging and 'reforming' were wasted. For nothing.
"Seifer? Makai? What are you two doing?" The brunette woman asked sleepily, patting the two young men on the shoulder.
"Just talking mom. Seifer ran into Commander Boy." Makai smiled up at their mother just before Seifer's foot tipped his chair back, dumping him onto his arse.
"Did you talk to him much?" Cale asked, helping her youngest son up. Seifer nodded.
"I think he might help me get back on SeeD. I found out alot. About things I missed. I gave him our address and told him to bring Rinoa down so he could meet you guys. He just as much a brother as Makai here." Cale smiled.
"I'm proud of you, Seifer. Of course, your friends are welcome anytime." Seifer frowned at this. But were they still his friends? What of Fujin? What if she wanted him to just disappear again?The thought made his chest ache and he stopped thinking about it. Cale noticed her son's pained expression and rubbed his shoulders.
"Who are those two in all of your pictures? The boy and the girl?" Seifer smiled. The few pictures he did take were all of Fujin and Raijin. Mostly of himself and Fujin.
"Fujin and Raijin. They've always been there for me. Always." A brow was raised on his mothers part.
"And what about now?" Seifer looked away from her.
"I left. They didn't know. I haven't talked to anyone in three years. I had to...I had to sort things out myself. Raij and Fuu have always followed where I lead, always helped me keep my head. I guess I wanted to see if I could make it alone. And when I found you and dad...I didn't want them to see me...if you guys still didn't want me. They always looked up to me...and I didn't want them to see me fall anymore." Cale sat in her sons lap and looked at him with tear filled eyes.
"Seifer Alan Almasy. We had never not wanted you. But your father and I were much to young to handle such a responsiblility on our own and your grandparents refused to allow such a thing to continue. We were forced to place you in Edea's care. When we were ready to take care of you properly, you'd already been placed in Garden and we didn't want to upset such a fine education. One we'd never be able to give you. We thought maybe you'd be happier without us. So when you showed up on our door..." Seifer wrapped his arms around his mother's waist and laid his head on her chest, feeling so very much like a scared little child.
"We were so happy, Seifer. That we'd found you. I'm just sorry we weren't always there. But I'm glad we're here now. With you and Makai and Ashlyn. And now... I do recall Makai mentioning something about this Fujin." Cale's jade orbs sparkled and Seifer grinned. He was really home. Only, something was missing.
Fujin.
" Squall?" Rinoa's voice was small, almost frightened. Squall frowned at her and wrapped her into his arms.
"What's the matter?" She fiddled with his necklace and bit her lip.
"I went to the doctor today." Squall raised his brow. And...?
"...I'm pregnant." Squall staggered a little bit. Pregnant?
"Pregnant? As in...a baby?" Rinoa giggled. Squall broke into laughter with her and Rinoa felt like an immense weight had been lifted. She had been hoping this would be his reaction.
"Yes, a baby. Your baby...who do you want to tell first?" Squall pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and looked at it with a small smile. He had just the person.
A.n: Weeee I'm really liking this story so far! I hope all of you are too!
Falke-ness: Thank Jack Hanek for this no longer being a one shot...so now you know who Seifer's friend is. His brother Makai (just in case you didn't catch that lol) Glad you like! Review pwease!
Jack Hanek:I didn't mean to make things so confusing but I did want the switching of scenes. However I'm glad you like this and you are my inspiration for continuing as I orginally planned to keep it a one-shot. Thank you much!
Jasmine: I love you! You're such an awesome reviewer! Keep it up! lol
Sorceress Fujin: Honestly, you have become my muse. Of course the Whipe and Boot helps -- but! I love your reviews! Hope you like this so far!
Matron Renae: Yay! I'm glad you like! And I'm really thankful for your reviews in my other stories! Its encouraging :)