"You slept in." The blonde told him jokingly. Squall held back a groan as he stumbled from his bed to the table. "I see you didn't get much sleep." She said quietly. He nodded slowly, trying to fully wake himself up.

"Yeah." Squall mumbled, smoothing back his hair. Quistis have him a small smile which was soon covered by her own hand.

"Why do you do that?" He asked quietly.

"Do what?"

"You show fake smiles freely, but you hide the real ones. Why is that?" She looked shocked for a moment, and he thought for a moment he had offended her. Squall watched as she cast her eyes downwards, obviously trying to think of a suitable answer.

"I don't know." She admitted quietly, her fingers finding the table cloth and beginning to nervously tug at it.

He paused a moment. "I want to see the real ones."

This time, when she smiled, it was a real one.

[ o [ o [ o

"Don't worry! He'll remember!" Selphie said, bouncing onto Rinoa's bed.

The raven haired girl nodded, slowly. "I had a bad dream last night." She confessed quietly.

Selphie raised an eyebrow. "Spit it out! You know, they say if you tell somebody about the dream it'll help! C'mon, you're talking to Selphie, the dream expert!" Rinoa laughed at her the other girl's hands waving around like a physic would have done. "Please?" Selphie asked, pulling the puppy dogs eyes.

Rinoa sighed. "Okay, okay; but you can't tell anyone, okay?"

"Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!" Selphie swore, making a cross shape on her chest.

The ex-sorceress smiled. "Well, it starts with me looking for Squall in the wasteland before.. and it was all dark and I couldn't find him. But then I search a while longer and I find him, but he doesn't remember me. The only one he remembers is Quistis, and then she appears..."

"Annnnd?" Selphie prompted. "Spill the beans!"

"He kissed her, but when I called to them, they didn't even hear me! They ignored me!"

"Hmmm.." Selphie thought for a moment, before snapping her finger together. "You're scared of being replaced by Quisty! I'm a genius, booyaka!" Upon looking at the other girl's expression, she sobered up. "Look, Rinny, this is Quistis we're talking about. She wouldn't do anything like that, especially to Squall. She said herself it was like, a misunderstood love."

Rinoa nodded quietly. "Yeah. I know she wouldn't..."

But was it really misunderstood?

[ o [ o [ o

"Yesterday... when you asked me about Rinoa..." She took a small breath. "I didn't tell you very much, did I? Or about anyone else for that matter."

He didn't know much, but he did know this topic was making her rather uncomfortable. "Rinoa loved you more than anything. She would do anything for you, and would have done anything for her." She was trembling, and it was hardly noticeable but she knew. "You loved her more than anything, Squall. If you won't believe anything else I tell you, believe that."

Why did she keep telling him this? Why was it over and over again, everything always came back to that one girl. "Why are you telling me this?" He asked quietly.

"Because you've got someone waiting for you." She whispered, "She's putting every bit of faith she has in you, because she needs you. She loves you." She wasn't sure if she was talking about Rinoa or herself anymore, and that thought alone made her nearly on the verge or breaking down. It seemed like breathing alone hurt, the words seemed to burn her throat, and if felt like her conscience was slowly dragging her under. "I promised her that I would bring her back to you."

So many promises. So many that she knew she wouldn't be able to keep. Maybe... maybe Rinoa knew that too.

"Only because you made a promise to her." Squall said quietly; the words ringing in his ears. Only because of some promise, maybe she did hate him after all. "I see." Perhaps he had been wrong about his imaginative love stories made up in his head. Slowly, he got up.

She stopped him. "I think you misunderstanding this." Cautiously, she took his hand and made him sit back down; the slightest touch making invisible electricity spark. "I.." The blonde took a moment to breathe before continuing. "I didn't do it just because I made a promise."

His heart stopped for a moment. "Why did you do it, then?"

"The woman... the one who's waiting for you..." She tried to force back any emotions that would get in the way before saying it. Only it didn't work. "She doesn't want to lose you. And I... I don't want to her to lose you, either." Tears stung her eyes, and she knew she couldn't keep it up anymore. "The reason I'm doing this..." She swallowed hard. "I want you to be happy."

"Why are you crying?" He whispered.

"Because I know what all Rinoa has to lose." She told him softly. "But I shouldn't cry, should I? You'll find a way back to her. It's destiny."

"I don't believe in destiny."

She let out a weak laugh. "You should. It's destiny that brought you together."

"What if destiny was wrong? What if I'm supposed to be with the woman that's waiting for me?" He asked quietly, his eyes searching hers.

"The woman is Rinoa-"

He shook his head. "No. I don't think it is." He watched as she took a breath and slowly met his eyes. Cautiously, he raised his hand to wipe away the tears, and she closed her eyes as his fingers brushed her skin. It made his shudder. He leaned in only enough to brush his lips with hers. Feather light at first, then with a bit more pressure. He felt her shiver beneath him before pulling away.

"No." She whispered, shaking her head. "Don't. I promise you you'll regret it." She raised her hands to push his away, but he only caught them in his own, feeling the warmth of hers.

"Tell me the truth, Quistis. Are you the woman who is waiting for me?"