Here ya go!

Disclaimer: I have finally figured out what I own! I own this plot and three characters that you all will not meet for quite awhile, but they are definitely worth waiting for!

Chapter Nine

"You mean, you're just going to let him go?" Zell asked Laguna, his eyes popping out of his head.

"What else can I do?" Laguna replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Squall will leave whether I allow it or not. He loves Rinoa and I guess it's his duty as her 'knight' to protect her."

"Zell," Irvine had been thinking and finally spoke up. "How would you feel if your girlfriend could be used by an evil sorceress to destroy the world? Squall's just trying to protect her. If you remember, he didn't want her to come in the first place because it's too dangerous for her."

"Exactly!" Laguna nodded his head at Irvine. "He'll probably keep her somewhere safe until all this blows over. Which means you," He pointed to the two of them, " and Selphie and Quistis will have to take care of Ultimecia on your own."

"Did he say where he was taking her?" Zell asked.

"No. I imagine he's keeping her whereabouts secret so no word can reach Ultimecia." Laguna replied.

They were all quiet for a few moments before anyone said anything.

Suddenly, there was an ear-shattering scream, followed by the pounding of feet.

"Sir Laguna! Squall! Irvine! Zell!" Selphie and Quistis were heard screaming, running into the room. "Rinoa's gone! We have to do something!"

Laguna sighed. "Everything's fine. Squall took Rinoa and left." He was getting tired of explaining his son's situation. "He came to me after he brought Rinoa back and told me what happened. He told me that he was taking Rinoa from here. He's just trying to keep her safe." There was a strange pain in his eyes.

"So you just let him go?" Quistis demanded. She somewhat understood that Squall was trying to protect Rinoa, but why had Laguna allowed him to go? "What about what is needed to be done?"

Laguna turned around and looked out the window at the grand city. He had a feeling that this time Ultimecia would do more damage. His son, his only son, was out there alone with a sorceress who could easily be manipulated by Ultimecia and cause great damage. Ultimecia would not easily give up.

"Sir Laguna?" Selphie asked the president. Obviously, Quistis had struck a nerve.

"Please don't go looking for them. Ultimecia will probably use Rinoa if she finds her. Just get rid of her." Laguna turned and slowly walked out of the room. He felt as if someone had ripped his heart out. It was the same feeling he had when he was told that Raine was dead…

"But Squall's not going to die! He's going to take care of Rinoa and they're going to come back just fine," Laguna said aloud, though he still wasn't totally convinced. Squall meant so much to him. He was the only real thing that he had that reminded him of Raine besides an old photograph. If he were to lose Squall, he would go crazy. Squall was his son and he cared deeply for him.

Laguna had taken to Squall ever since he met him. That serious expression he had held when he first walked into his quarters had made Laguna smile.

Flashback

Then on the Ragnarok, Kiros had made that simple comment in agreement with Ward. "…good thing you don't look like your father." Squall had looked at Laguna, his eyes huge.

"No, no, no!" He had shaken his head forcefully. "He's my father!" Kiros had only nodded. The sideways glance he made towards Laguna when he said that had given it all away. A small smile had made its way to Kiros face.

Irvine and Rinoa had been with them and the two had been finding it very difficult to remain calm when Squall had had look like THAT on his face.

End flashback

Laguna laughed.

"Uncle Laguna? Are you alright?" Ellone had walked to him. "Is something the matter?" Laguna turned to face the young girl.

"No, I'm fine. I was just thinking of when Squall found out I was his father. It feels like that happened ten years ago, not two. I remember his expression. I remember the shock. His eyes. They were huge. It was just funny." Laguna's smile grew a little bigger.

"Kiros told me about that. He said that Squall had thought you were a moron." Laguna laughed at Ellone's remark.

"I know, I know." Laguna sighed a happy sigh. "Probably because of how I acted when I was around Julia and Raine. I was always so nervous around those two. Raine caught it better than Julia had. I think Julia just ignored it. But Raine caught it. I remember the night I proposed to her. She told me to relax, said I was too jumpy."

"Squall's a lot like Raine, isn't he?" Ellone asked standing next to him. "Both in looks and attitude."

"Yeah, only Raine was never that bitter or bad-tempered, but she certainly had her serious moments." Laguna chuckled.

"No, but you were. Very, very rarely, but you were." Ellone nudged him in the side.

"Only on rare occasions. Plus, the only time I did get mad was when Odine wanted to do experiments on you."

"Oh! So it's my fault?" Ellone faked an insulted reaction. She couldn't hold it, though and laughed. Laguna soon joined her.

After a few moments, Ellone spoke again, "Don't you think it's odd that Squall will only trust Rinoa? He'll tell her anything but will barely say anything to anyone else."

"I've always wondered that myself." Laguna nodded. "That boy puzzles me so much. There's so much I've got to learn about him, but he won't give me a chance. I know that I'm not much of a father, but I'm trying! Oh, Elle! I'm trying so hard!" His voice had started to crack, like he was on the verge of tears.

"It's okay, Uncle Laguna. It's okay. You just have to give him time. He'll come when he's ready. He just has a hard time trusting and opening up to people. It's a side he hates. Trust me." Ellone patted his shoulder.

Laguna nodded. "I do trust you." He smiled again. "You know, there is one thing about Squall that I keep picturing: his serious expression!"

"Uncle Laguna?" Ellone hugged him. "Promise me that you'll never change."

"I think I can manage that." He hugged her back. "Thank you, Elle. Thank you for the all the good times." Laguna felt a tear slip down his cheek.

"You're very welcome, Uncle Laguna. You're welcome. I'm just glad I could help."

A/N: I would like to explain something really fast before I forget. I invented that extra part of the situation on the Ragnarok. Yes, Kiros did say that sentence, but I added the reaction from Squall because when I played the game the first time, I had that reaction. It had just suddenly clicked that Laguna was Squall's father. Yes, sometimes I am a bit slow at things. Anyway, I added that situation reaction. Also, I think I set this to almost two years after Ultimecia's defeat, but I have a bad feeling that I had a different time stated in one of the earlier chapters. I couldn't find it. Will someone let me know if I made that mistake? I will change it if that is brought to my attention. I'm sorry for that little problem. Thanx, R&R, and Later Days!

P.S. For those who would like to know, I say "Later Days" all the time after my writing as you might have known. I got it from an idea I had in another fanfic that I have not posted. It was something said by Seifer. I thought it was cool and decided to use it. If it bugs anybody, let me know and I'll stop. Thanx!

E/N: I just have to tease her about this. When Laguna was talking about his flashback with Squall and he says the line "It feels like that happened two years ago, not ten." Katelyn had put "two years ago, not two." See why I'm so useful? ;)

A/N: MEGAN! MEANIE! First of all its supposed to be "It feels like that happened ten years ago, not two." miss Editor! Now who needs to get it right? Hmm? Hmm?

E/N: All you said was "it's supposed to be ten!" How was I to know which one to change! PFFT your fault for miscommunication!

A/N: No I meant that it was supposed to be ten meaning the longer one. Geez, Megan! Now who has the communication problems? And you should know that I usually always mean the opposite that I say. What's wrong with you! xD

E/N: Nuh uh, you didn't imply that! I am your editor, remember... This means WAR! En garde, ye scurvy scallywag!

A/N: Bring it on you homosexual Ken doll! This is WAR! And I ALWAYS WIN! Mwhahahahahahaha!

E/N: I am NOT a homosexual Ken doll! I'm female, recall? But I am SO suggesting that to Mattel and buying you one for your birthday! You can give it to Buster Bloom if you don't want it. ;)

A/N: Buster would eat it! Anyway, this WAR will continue in ch.10.