Dedicated To You
Disclaimer: I didn't create any of the characters in this story, except a few here and there (see previous chapters).
Chapter9
Squall took a deep breath. No one was going to stop him this time. This was more important than anything.
" I love you, Rinoa." he said quietly, almost in a whisper.
Rinoa threw her arms around him, almost renewed in strength. She didn't laugh, and she didn't cry, but she did say, " Thank you."
Squall smiled slightly, but no one was there to see. It wasn't until his eyes started welling up with tears that Selphie walked in, dropping a cupcake she had brought Rinoa as a snack. Her eyes grew wide in disbelief, and her hand flew to her mouth before she could say anything regrettable; for instance, exactly what she was thinking, " Holy shit."
Squall almost jerked away from Rinoa, when he remembered her health. He pulled away slowly instead, and looked away to wipe away the small trickles of water that had slid down his cheeks. Rinoa, a bit puzzled at first, turned around and saw her friend.
" Selphie," she said, "...hi..."
" Hey, Rinny, I am SO sorry-" she stared, a bit flushed.
" No, it's fine." Squall said, sounding strangely normal.
'That's not like him,' Selphie thought, 'At least, with how he's been acting lately, it isn't...' " Well, if you say so, I guess..." she replied, picking up the cupcake, now missing half the frosting on the top. It also had a bit of dirt on the side, and seeing it made her sad. Her bottom lip was begining to quiver when someone ran past her with something that smelled like meat, covered in more meat, and '...Chesse?' Selphie thought, looking over to see Zell.
" Dincht to the rescue!" he shouted, putting a chilidog in front of Rinoa. She giggled weakly.
" Thank you, Zell." she said, taking a bite. After swallowing, she set it aside. " I think I'll finish that later." she added, trying to be polite.
He picked it up. " Well, the cafeteria lady said that if you weren't up to it now, that she'll fix you up a plate of 'em when you do." He looked down at the partly consumed snack, then looked back up at her. " May I?" he asked, hopeful. When she nodded, he shoved the whole thing in his mouth. Everyone, including Squall, laughed.
" Leave it to Zell!" Selphie giggled. She hugged him, that is, after making sure it was safe.
He sighed deeply. " Oh, man, that was good!" he said, " I want the cafeteria lady to make 'em like that everyday!!"
Selphie put her hands on her hips. " Who says I can't make them for you like that?!"
Zell panicked. " Uh....bye!" he replied, bolting out of the infirmary. Selphie pretended to growl.
" YOU GET BACK HERE, MR. DINCHT!!!" she shouted, chasing after him. Rinoa giggled as she left. Then, she looked at Squall.
" You don't let anything stop you, do you?" she asked. When he shook his head, she smiled. " I thought so." she replied. Looking out the window, she added, " I guess that means nothing will stop you when you have to do a mission, no matter how hard it may be."
" Right again." he answered. " Whenever I do a mission, it's for the good of all. Not once have I thought of myself when I'm doing my job. Not once." He paused thoughtfully. " Why?"
For a moment, Rinoa didn't say anything. Then, she said, " No reason, really." She almost looked sad, at least, that's what Squall thought.
" Rinoa, what's wrong?" he asked.
" Nothing." she replied. She did yawn, though, so he guessed she was tired. He started to stand up, but she touched his hand. " Don't go." she said. " Please don't..."
Now Squall was worried. " Rinoa, what's wrong?" he asked again, sitting down.
"....I'm...scared..." she said quietly, curling into a little ball. Squall put his arms around her.
" It's okay, Rinoa," he said softly, " You don't have to be scared." She didn't reply. " Whatever it is, I'll protect you. I swear, no matter what, I will always protect you."
Rinoa buried her face in his shoulder. 'But he doesn't know what I am...' she thought, 'How can he swear to protect me when he doesn't know...'
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The next morning, Rinoa woke up with the sunlight shining in her eyes. When she was finally able to open them, she saw that Squall's hair was in her face. His head was resting on her chest. She grinned. 'How sweet...' she thought. She stroked his hair, waiting for him to wake up. She thought of how everything had happened yesterday. Just as her memories were getting really good, she felt him stirring. His head lifted, and he looked at her sleepily. She smiled. " Good morning, sweetheart." she said softly.
" Mmph." was his reply.
" And how are we feeling today, Miss Heartilly?" asked a rather familiar voice. The couple looked at the doorway to see Dr. Kadowaki. She grinned. " Oh, and, by the way, Commander, may I speak freely?"
" Yes." he replied, his voice still thick.
" It was really quite lovely to see you asleep like that. Sweet, if I may say so." She said.
" Thank you." Rinoa replied, " And I feel about...80% better, thank you."
" That's good news," she replied, " Otherwise, I'd have to send for your-"
" Thank you, Doctor." she cut in.
Dr. Kadowaki nodded. " Of course." she replied, walking out.
Squall, puzzled, gave her a look. " What was that all about?" he asked.
Rinoa shook her head. " Nothing." she replied, " I just don't want anymore visitors."
'Something has to be wrong...' he thought to himself. " ...Okay..." he replied, slowly rubbing her hand. It felt a bit like ice, but that was because he slept on it; so he realized, embarrassed.
She smiled again, and used her free hand to tossle his hair again. " Did you sleep okay?" she asked, " That chair looks a bit uncomfortable."
" It was fine," he replied, " But I slept on your hand."
Rinoa only chuckled. " I never noticed." she said, sighing.
" What?" he asked, grinning.
" Did you mean what you said?" she asked suddenly, " Yesterday, when you said you would protect me, no matter what?"
The urgency of her question startled him. " Why?" he asked, " Is something wrong? What aren't you telling me?" The look on her face worried him; what if she wasn't telling Dr. Kadowaki the truth, what if she was dying?
Her face softened, and her voice became gentle. " I just want to know," she said, " I just wanted to know if you were telling me the truth." She caressed his face. " Don't be afraid."
" I meant every word." he replied earnestly, " I would do anything."
She smiled, and Squall almost swore he saw a tear. " Squall..." she started, but paused for a moment.
He came closer. " Yes?"
" I love you..." she said.
He smiled, and came up into her face. " I love you, too..." he said, right before he kissed her again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the meantime, the gang was in the cafeteria, catching up during a late breakfast. Quistis was too busy grading papers, so she couldn't make it. Selphie was a bit nervous. Irvine was just begining to realize that Selphie loved Zell, but, for some reason, it wasn't coming through clearly. 'Maybe it's the hat...' she thought, puzzled. She was mearly pushing the eggs on her plate around; they weren't really going anywhere. Just the same, she added, as the concept of her love for Zell was going with Irvine.
" So, Irvy," she said, hoping to break the silence, " What happened while we were gone?"
He shrugged. ' Maybe it IS coming through...' she thought.
" Are you okay, buddy?" Zell asked, putting his hand on the cowboy's shoulder. He only shrugged.
The couple shot a worried look at each other. " Irvine..." Selphie said, " What's wrong?"
He sighed, standing up. " My sister..." he mumbled. Suddenly he ran off. That startled everyone.
" Zell?" Selphie asked.
" Yeah?"
" I think..." she started.
" What?" he asked.
" You and Irvine need to talk."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
...I love you.
Squall grinned, and looked at his love, curled up in his lap. He was thinking, just as she had, about past events. He couldn't stop thinking about it, but, also, he couldn't help but worry.
Did you mean what you said? Yesterday, when you said you would protect me, no matter what?
Yes...he had replied, and he should have left it at that. But... She looked so worried... he thought, So...terrified... He felt her move. He guessed she may be waking up.
" Squall?" she asked sleepily, her eyes not even open yet.
" Yeah?" he asked, leaning forward, trying to see her face.
" Aren't you tired?" she asked.
" No."
" Come on."
" I'm not." he said honestly.
She turned to face him, tracing his jaw line. " You know, I can't thank you enough for not leaving. I was scared last night."
" Why?" he asked gently. She only shrugged. Then, she frowned. " What is it?" he asked quietly.
" You don't have to stay just because I want you to." she replied.
" I know." he said.
" Then, why do you?"
" Because I want to."
Rinoa's eyes shone. She burried her face in his neck, taking every bit of him in. " Thank you," she whispered again.
Squall grinned. " ...-
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Author's Note: Ahhhhhhh, we're gonna cut it there! Big kudos to my dad who fixed the comp for me today! Time to get the ball rolling! Sorry it took so long for my update, everyone, but I've had comp troubles even before my last chappie, and I just couldn't write when the comp is aggrivated with me. Anyway, HUGE shoutouts to everyone who waited patiently, and whomever R&Red me! Let's name a few:
Gracie (aka Welsh Dragon) Freekstyle, RavenWolf11, Rikku290, PrettyLikeDrugs, yummychocolatexD, ladyrinoa, Maths, scott-land, and anyone else I missed (if I missed you, SORRY!!!!!!) Love you all, and hope to hear from ya about the long awaited CHAPTER 9!!!! See ya!!!
Disclaimer: I didn't create any of the characters in this story, except a few here and there (see previous chapters).
Chapter9
Squall took a deep breath. No one was going to stop him this time. This was more important than anything.
" I love you, Rinoa." he said quietly, almost in a whisper.
Rinoa threw her arms around him, almost renewed in strength. She didn't laugh, and she didn't cry, but she did say, " Thank you."
Squall smiled slightly, but no one was there to see. It wasn't until his eyes started welling up with tears that Selphie walked in, dropping a cupcake she had brought Rinoa as a snack. Her eyes grew wide in disbelief, and her hand flew to her mouth before she could say anything regrettable; for instance, exactly what she was thinking, " Holy shit."
Squall almost jerked away from Rinoa, when he remembered her health. He pulled away slowly instead, and looked away to wipe away the small trickles of water that had slid down his cheeks. Rinoa, a bit puzzled at first, turned around and saw her friend.
" Selphie," she said, "...hi..."
" Hey, Rinny, I am SO sorry-" she stared, a bit flushed.
" No, it's fine." Squall said, sounding strangely normal.
'That's not like him,' Selphie thought, 'At least, with how he's been acting lately, it isn't...' " Well, if you say so, I guess..." she replied, picking up the cupcake, now missing half the frosting on the top. It also had a bit of dirt on the side, and seeing it made her sad. Her bottom lip was begining to quiver when someone ran past her with something that smelled like meat, covered in more meat, and '...Chesse?' Selphie thought, looking over to see Zell.
" Dincht to the rescue!" he shouted, putting a chilidog in front of Rinoa. She giggled weakly.
" Thank you, Zell." she said, taking a bite. After swallowing, she set it aside. " I think I'll finish that later." she added, trying to be polite.
He picked it up. " Well, the cafeteria lady said that if you weren't up to it now, that she'll fix you up a plate of 'em when you do." He looked down at the partly consumed snack, then looked back up at her. " May I?" he asked, hopeful. When she nodded, he shoved the whole thing in his mouth. Everyone, including Squall, laughed.
" Leave it to Zell!" Selphie giggled. She hugged him, that is, after making sure it was safe.
He sighed deeply. " Oh, man, that was good!" he said, " I want the cafeteria lady to make 'em like that everyday!!"
Selphie put her hands on her hips. " Who says I can't make them for you like that?!"
Zell panicked. " Uh....bye!" he replied, bolting out of the infirmary. Selphie pretended to growl.
" YOU GET BACK HERE, MR. DINCHT!!!" she shouted, chasing after him. Rinoa giggled as she left. Then, she looked at Squall.
" You don't let anything stop you, do you?" she asked. When he shook his head, she smiled. " I thought so." she replied. Looking out the window, she added, " I guess that means nothing will stop you when you have to do a mission, no matter how hard it may be."
" Right again." he answered. " Whenever I do a mission, it's for the good of all. Not once have I thought of myself when I'm doing my job. Not once." He paused thoughtfully. " Why?"
For a moment, Rinoa didn't say anything. Then, she said, " No reason, really." She almost looked sad, at least, that's what Squall thought.
" Rinoa, what's wrong?" he asked.
" Nothing." she replied. She did yawn, though, so he guessed she was tired. He started to stand up, but she touched his hand. " Don't go." she said. " Please don't..."
Now Squall was worried. " Rinoa, what's wrong?" he asked again, sitting down.
"....I'm...scared..." she said quietly, curling into a little ball. Squall put his arms around her.
" It's okay, Rinoa," he said softly, " You don't have to be scared." She didn't reply. " Whatever it is, I'll protect you. I swear, no matter what, I will always protect you."
Rinoa buried her face in his shoulder. 'But he doesn't know what I am...' she thought, 'How can he swear to protect me when he doesn't know...'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning, Rinoa woke up with the sunlight shining in her eyes. When she was finally able to open them, she saw that Squall's hair was in her face. His head was resting on her chest. She grinned. 'How sweet...' she thought. She stroked his hair, waiting for him to wake up. She thought of how everything had happened yesterday. Just as her memories were getting really good, she felt him stirring. His head lifted, and he looked at her sleepily. She smiled. " Good morning, sweetheart." she said softly.
" Mmph." was his reply.
" And how are we feeling today, Miss Heartilly?" asked a rather familiar voice. The couple looked at the doorway to see Dr. Kadowaki. She grinned. " Oh, and, by the way, Commander, may I speak freely?"
" Yes." he replied, his voice still thick.
" It was really quite lovely to see you asleep like that. Sweet, if I may say so." She said.
" Thank you." Rinoa replied, " And I feel about...80% better, thank you."
" That's good news," she replied, " Otherwise, I'd have to send for your-"
" Thank you, Doctor." she cut in.
Dr. Kadowaki nodded. " Of course." she replied, walking out.
Squall, puzzled, gave her a look. " What was that all about?" he asked.
Rinoa shook her head. " Nothing." she replied, " I just don't want anymore visitors."
'Something has to be wrong...' he thought to himself. " ...Okay..." he replied, slowly rubbing her hand. It felt a bit like ice, but that was because he slept on it; so he realized, embarrassed.
She smiled again, and used her free hand to tossle his hair again. " Did you sleep okay?" she asked, " That chair looks a bit uncomfortable."
" It was fine," he replied, " But I slept on your hand."
Rinoa only chuckled. " I never noticed." she said, sighing.
" What?" he asked, grinning.
" Did you mean what you said?" she asked suddenly, " Yesterday, when you said you would protect me, no matter what?"
The urgency of her question startled him. " Why?" he asked, " Is something wrong? What aren't you telling me?" The look on her face worried him; what if she wasn't telling Dr. Kadowaki the truth, what if she was dying?
Her face softened, and her voice became gentle. " I just want to know," she said, " I just wanted to know if you were telling me the truth." She caressed his face. " Don't be afraid."
" I meant every word." he replied earnestly, " I would do anything."
She smiled, and Squall almost swore he saw a tear. " Squall..." she started, but paused for a moment.
He came closer. " Yes?"
" I love you..." she said.
He smiled, and came up into her face. " I love you, too..." he said, right before he kissed her again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the meantime, the gang was in the cafeteria, catching up during a late breakfast. Quistis was too busy grading papers, so she couldn't make it. Selphie was a bit nervous. Irvine was just begining to realize that Selphie loved Zell, but, for some reason, it wasn't coming through clearly. 'Maybe it's the hat...' she thought, puzzled. She was mearly pushing the eggs on her plate around; they weren't really going anywhere. Just the same, she added, as the concept of her love for Zell was going with Irvine.
" So, Irvy," she said, hoping to break the silence, " What happened while we were gone?"
He shrugged. ' Maybe it IS coming through...' she thought.
" Are you okay, buddy?" Zell asked, putting his hand on the cowboy's shoulder. He only shrugged.
The couple shot a worried look at each other. " Irvine..." Selphie said, " What's wrong?"
He sighed, standing up. " My sister..." he mumbled. Suddenly he ran off. That startled everyone.
" Zell?" Selphie asked.
" Yeah?"
" I think..." she started.
" What?" he asked.
" You and Irvine need to talk."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
...I love you.
Squall grinned, and looked at his love, curled up in his lap. He was thinking, just as she had, about past events. He couldn't stop thinking about it, but, also, he couldn't help but worry.
Did you mean what you said? Yesterday, when you said you would protect me, no matter what?
Yes...he had replied, and he should have left it at that. But... She looked so worried... he thought, So...terrified... He felt her move. He guessed she may be waking up.
" Squall?" she asked sleepily, her eyes not even open yet.
" Yeah?" he asked, leaning forward, trying to see her face.
" Aren't you tired?" she asked.
" No."
" Come on."
" I'm not." he said honestly.
She turned to face him, tracing his jaw line. " You know, I can't thank you enough for not leaving. I was scared last night."
" Why?" he asked gently. She only shrugged. Then, she frowned. " What is it?" he asked quietly.
" You don't have to stay just because I want you to." she replied.
" I know." he said.
" Then, why do you?"
" Because I want to."
Rinoa's eyes shone. She burried her face in his neck, taking every bit of him in. " Thank you," she whispered again.
Squall grinned. " ...-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Ahhhhhhh, we're gonna cut it there! Big kudos to my dad who fixed the comp for me today! Time to get the ball rolling! Sorry it took so long for my update, everyone, but I've had comp troubles even before my last chappie, and I just couldn't write when the comp is aggrivated with me. Anyway, HUGE shoutouts to everyone who waited patiently, and whomever R&Red me! Let's name a few:
Gracie (aka Welsh Dragon) Freekstyle, RavenWolf11, Rikku290, PrettyLikeDrugs, yummychocolatexD, ladyrinoa, Maths, scott-land, and anyone else I missed (if I missed you, SORRY!!!!!!) Love you all, and hope to hear from ya about the long awaited CHAPTER 9!!!! See ya!!!