Hello! Haven't got much to say to today, so I guess you all get off lucky again. Tee-hee!

Disclaimer: You know, this story is 46 chapters long, do I really have to keep saying that I don't own anything? So, here goes: I OWN NOTHING!

Chapter Five

About an hour after she saw his light go out, Rinoa crept silently into Squall's dorm. She could here his heavy breathing that told her he was deep in slumber. It was so peaceful. She walked over to his side. He is so… beautiful. No. Wrong word. But it fits. She thought.

Rinoa pulled out a red rose. The symbol of love, She thought. She held it for a few moments, before carefully placing it on his chest. She moved her hand up, and with two timid fingers, placed them on his cheek, gently rubbing them against his soft skin. With great courage, she moved her other hand around his lion necklace, Griever. He really is a sleeping lion. She smiled.

Suddenly, his hand came up and took hers by his cheek. He held it tightly but gently. He opened his eyes, closed them again and reopened them. She's here! She came back! He placed his other hand against her cheek.

"Rinoa," His voice barely audible. "You're… back." He sat up.

She nodded. He then noticed something; she was crying.

Without speaking a word, he dried her tears, sat her down next to him, and placed her head against his chest, gently rocking her. She gripped his shoulders.

For a few moments, they sat like that, until Rinoa lifted her head and broke the comforting silence.

"A-are you a-angry at m-me?" Her voice quivering as she struggled to look in his pale eyes.

"I could never be angry with you." Was his reply. "But I do want to know why you left."

Rinoa looked away, "I was scared. I still am. I was scared of losing you to a mission or something and with me being a sorceress…" Rinoa fought the tears with a great struggle. "Anything could happen."

"Please don't cry. Nothing will happen. I promise." She nodded. His tone came out as a near plea. Something he was not used to using. "I'm not going to lose you. Never." Rinoa smiled weakly. "But I ask only of one thing. Don't ever leave again. Please. It would…" He couldn't finish. He just gently kissed her cheek and pulled her back closer to him. And as he wrapped his arms around her, he laid down. She didn't object.

Rinoa closed her eyes as he stroked her hair. She felt him kiss the top of her head. I love you. She wanted to say but didn't voice it.

He watched as she fell asleep quickly in his arms, but he remained awake for a while but finally drifted off. The rose that had been placed on his chest had fallen on the floor, forgotten.

Selphie's alarm sounded, waking her from a perfect dream. She sighed and grumbling, got up. They had lots of work to do before the party that night.

After dressing, Selphie walked down to the Quad. She met up with Zell and Irvine. "Good morning guys!" She called, entering the room.

"Hey, Sefie." Irvine replied. Zell nodded.

"Well, come on!" Selphie urged them. "We've kinda got a lot of work to do."

Selphie, Irvine, and Zell started to work, picking up from where they had left off the night before. They had to work fast, for they only had a couple of hours and quite a bit to do.

Quistis sat at her desk in her classroom. Class would start soon, but she was too worried about Rinoa. She had left in a hurry yesterday and no one had seen her since. Quistis had a bad feeling that Rinoa wasn't going to wait for the party tonight.

Rinoa opened her eyes. She had the best dream ever. She had dreamt that she had gone into Squall's dorm and that he wasn't angry with her.

Suddenly she realized where she was. She had gone into his dorm and he wasn't angry! Rinoa glanced over at the clock. 6:45AM. She really should be getting up, but didn't want to. She felt the heat of him next to her. He shifted and she felt herself drifting back to sleep.

Squall glanced at the sleeping beauty next to him to make ABSOLUTELY sure that she was still asleep. Quietly and carefully, he got up and dressed. Opening the door, he turned back towards her. He felt like he was forgetting something.

Walking back to her, he gently pulled the covers up to her shoulders. He was going to let her sleep in and make sure that no one bothered her.

Squall left the room feeling happier than he had in weeks.

"Where is that girl!" Cid anxiously asked Xu. "It's 9:20 and she was supposed to be here two hours ago!" He was yelling again now. Xu bit her lower lip. Cid was not very pleasant when he was really mad.

"I don't know, sir." Xu whispered, frightened.

Squall entered the Headmaster's office looking rather bewildered, yet he remained calm.

"Something the matter, sir?" Squall asked.

Xu looked up and Cid dropped his glasses.

"What? Oh, that! No, nothing." He fumbled with some papers in order to avoid the Commander's gaze.

"Well, sir, if you're getting something out of your system, let it all out." Squall commented, handing his report to the red-faced Headmaster. "I'm sure there are some people 10 miles away who didn't hear you."

Squall turned to leave, "Oh, and if you're looking for Rinoa, she's still sleeping." There was a hint of warning his voice as if he was daring Cid to go and wake her up. With that, he left.

Cid bent down to pick up the papers he had dropped. "How…? Did someone…?" He stuttered. "Did I miss something!"

Xu shrugged in shock. She was still on the shock that Squall had said something. "Should I go get Rinoa then?"

"What? Oh, yes, please." Cid replied, still puzzled. "Oh, and if you see Laguna, tell him I'd like to speak with him."

Xu left the office and headed towards the elevator. She passed Squall's office. He looked happy. Finally. Xu walked into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. She wondered to herself, What did Squall mean 'some people 10 miles away who didn't hear you?' She was very much confused.

"Oh, well," She said, walking into the dorm area. She knocked on Rinoa's door. No answer. She walked in. no one was there.

"Xu?" Xu spun around to see Rinoa. "Please, tell me I'm not late." Xu smiled, and they headed back to the third floor.

Cid watched Xu leave his office before collapsing into his chair. She shook his head. His eyes fell on his desk. "Oh, no!" He moaned.

The intercom had been on the entire time.

A/N: Oh, very nice indeed. Well, hey! I just remembered something. There have been, in order to make this right, some adjustments to Garden. It's sort of like on the 3rd floor there are two, maybe one more, offices. Cid's is the big one and Squall's is down from his a ways. Don't worry, the Garden is still mobile. Well, let me know what you think and get back to me. R&R. Suggestions welcomed! Thanx and Later Days!