Disclaimer: All usual disclaimers apply.

Note: Nothing really to say… I'm sorry again? On with the next! -RUNS AWAY-

The Choices We Make

Squall let the door of the infirmary drop behind him, and began walking at a slow pace towards his dormitory. Thoughts ran through his head, but of course, his face was a mask. Had anyone else been out walking so late, they would have seen nothing on his face to suggest the chaos within. He walked up to the railing around the pool at the center of the Garden. The water was undulating just barely; nothing more than a faint ripple passed though the clear, sparkling surface. He studied his blank visage in the waters below. It was shocking, even to him, how absolutely void of feeling or thought his face appeared as his mind raced through the events of the previous days.

The tired male took a few steps towards the nearby bench and seated himself upon it, resting his elbows on his knees and cradling his head in his hands. He thought about what Rinoa had done, what he had done, and what she had said. Everything meshed together into one massive movie reel that played over and over in his head.

After a time, he pulled the ring box out of his pocket. He still carried it around, as he had ever since he'd gotten it. He'd almost worn a thin spot in the smooth velvet, fiddling with it nervously in his pockets as he went about his daily activities. Like he had so many times before, he opened it.

Inside was the gleaming ring. The angles of the dim nightlights of the Garden shone on the great diamond, making it sparkle and glisten - a white-hot stone made of light and prismatic color. His insides fluttered a bit at the sight of it, as they did each time he saw it. A yearning within him arose, just as it always did. His brow softened, and he gazed at the ring.

I still love her.

Griever glinted hopefully up at him; the sparkling lion somehow looked pleading. He considered it thoughtfully for a moment, and then shut the box and put it back in his jacket pocket. He stood, and headed purposefully back to his dorm.

Selphie tossed and turned, trying to force herself to sleep. The bed felt like a pile of rocks badly trying to disguise itself as a mattress, and the itchy sheets clung to her tired, sweaty limbs. Her head was full of chaotic thought, which was not helping her sleep. Urg! I give up! she yelled inwardly, throwing off the covers and swinging her feet over the side of the bed. She slid her feet into her bright yellow bunny slippers and stood. She grabbed the nearest sweatshirt, yanked it over her head, and headed out the door for a quick walk to clear her mind.

Squall and Selphie nearly bumped into each other before both looked up and dodged the other at the last second. They turned back to one another, and Selphie grinned.

"Ha! So much for our amazing SeeD awareness training," she said laughingly.

For the first time in a few days, Squall smiled.

"Yeah… or you could just be very stealthy. You'd have to be, to get past my amazing SeeD awareness. Especially with such… interesting clothing choices."

Squall pointed at her, looking somewhat amused. Selphie examined herself, and saw his point. The forest green "Trabia is for Lovers!" sweatshirt, orange pajama pants, and yellow slippers didn't exactly make for the most stylish attire. She blushed, grinned, and pointed down at her slippers.

"It's not me with the stealthy skills. It's all in the bunnies."

Squall laughed aloud. Selphie felt a little leap in her heart; seeing him laugh was a great relief.

"How are you feeling?" she asked tentatively. "I mean, with everything that's happened…"

She trailed off, not wanting to bring up sore subjects. Not that she hadn't just done that. Dolt, she thought to herself. But, to her surprise, Squall didn't get surly or quiet.

"Better, actually. I've been doing a lot of thinking," he replied.

He stopped, apparently not intending to go on. But Selphie was struck at such a quick change in him, and had to know more.

"…Aaaaand?" she queried.

He opened his mouth, paused, and ran his fingers through his hair. The slanty, dim light shining across his prolific brown locks was quite a sight, and Selphie couldn't help but gaze at him. His strong features stood out, half-shadowed, half-outlined by the dimmed light above. Squall began to speak, and she shook herself, turning her attention back to his words.

"Well, I went to see Rinoa in the infirmary. I didn't really speak to her… but she spoke to me. She said she was sorry. I mean… sorry isn't like an amazing fix-all or anything. But…"

He trailed off, considering his words carefully.

"I believe her. I believe she's really sorry. And… and I still love her."

Selphie, for reasons she could not explain, suddenly had the funny feeling that her stomach was in her feet. She ignored it, and smiled.

"Sounds like you're gonna be okay."

He smiled back at her. She met his smile, but couldn't bear it for too long. She broke eye contact and moved past him, beginning to head out into the Garden circle.

"G'night, Squall!" she called over her shoulder.

"Goodnight!" he called back.

She took a few steps, but then heard his voice again. He'd come up behind her.

"Selphie?"

"…Yeah?"

She turned, looking searchingly at him.

"…Thanks. For everything."

And then he did something Selphie wouldn't have expected him to do in his entire life – he hugged her. She was so surprised that she didn't even hug back at first. But after just a moment's pause, she returned the hug, her insides all aflutter. His arms were so warm around her, his presence so comfortable. She melted into his embrace, and had the strangest feeling; he felt like home. And then he released her, and it was gone, like a fleeting dream that you try so hard to hold on to but can't quite grasp.

Selphie wondered what was going on with her mind. She watched Squall disappear down the dorm hall, and then started the short walk back to her own door, deciding that a walk was no longer necessary. She didn't understand why she couldn't look away from him, but couldn't bear his gaze for too long. She didn't understand why her stomach just dropped, why her insides fluttered, why she, the shameless Selphie, blushed over some orange pajama pants.

When she came to her door, she grasped the shiny metal knob, pausing before turning it. It felt so cold, so lifeless, so lonely. And the room beyond, she knew, was empty, except for a bed and some personal items. Empty, like she felt now. Selphie sighed, turned the knob, and shuffled in, closing the door behind her. She flicked on the light, and nearly screamed in shock.

Irvine grinned up at her from his recumbent position on her bed.

"Nice slippers."