Disclaimer- You guys know the drill. I own nothing except my cat.

Author's notes- Sorry for the delay folks, I've just been having a few problems getting ontothe site. There's only two little things you really need to know for this chapter to make sense. One is that Cid and Squall aren't entirely on the same page when it comes to promoting Nida. Second is that if you've read Darkened Ice you'd remember that due to an accident, Squall's eyes are now very sensitive to bright lights and don't pick up on . That's why he's always wearing his glasses, which are tinted.

JadeAlmasy- Glad you liked their date so much. I'll try to have the next chapter up as quickly as possible.

Rune- I really appreciate your review. Thanks.

Sulou- I'm glad you're catching up with my chapters. The Seifer/Quistis scenes in this story are getting more and more fun to write as I go on. I just have to keep reminding myself that Quistis is with Nida and Seifer is taken. lol

Headmaster

The second hand ticked louder with each passing moment. Despite the abnormally hot day outside, Squall's office had become colder than Trabia in an ice storm. Squall quietly removed his thin framed glasses and leaned back in his chair. Across the desk from him, Xu stood rigid, her hands clasped firmly at the small of her back. She watched him silently. He looked up at her through the hair that hung in his face.

"Its early," He stated as he rose from his chair and opened one of his windows.

"Not even eight o'clock Sir," Xu confirmed his statement. He looked her over suspiciously. she remained silent. Growing tired of her game, he started his own. He put on his glasses and began flipping through a pile of folders on his desk. Xu remained silent. Casually reaching into his top desk drawer, Squall pulled out a pen and a stamp. Opening the folder before him, he scanned over the papers it held. Xu looked on as he signed his initials in a few places and then went to the second page. The process continued for a few more pages before Xu cleared her throat.

"I talked to Quistis last night," She said as she crossed her arms.

Squall responded by stamping all of the signed papers with Balamb's seal.

"She and Nida had dinner."

"Did they," He asked as he methodically opened another folder. 'Why are you telling me this?' His mind groaned.

"Squall!" She cried as she abruptly dropped into the chair across from him. He looked up at her in surprise but remained quiet. "I thought you were going to talk to him," Xu stated.

"There was a change of plans."

"Change of plans?"

Squall looked up at her and nodded.

"Why?" Xu slid her hands over his papers, obstructing his view. He stared at the back of her hands for a moment before looking up at her face. "What made you change your mind?" Squall sighed as he pulled his papers free.

"I don't have to explain anything. I run this garden," He said as he signed another paper. Xu fell back in her seat and sat unmoving.

"Come on," She argued. "I got up early so that I could come talk to you, one concerned friend to another. I got five minutes before my duty starts. I was just curious as to why you changed your mind."

"I never asked to be Commander," Squall spoke. "I never asked for any friends." Xu raised an eyebrow. "And yet I have both," He rubbed his temples. "Its confusing sometimes when I need to make a decision. I sat in this office all day yesterday trying to figure out what to do."

"What do you mean?" Xu asked.

"..." Squall looked away. "I've never told anyone this before. But I still hate this job."

"Really? Why?"

"See this piece of paper?" Squall held up a form from his desk. "This is a release form to allow Seifer to accompany Quistis to Fisherman's Horizon today. Two weeks ago I signed a contract that sent thirty-four SeeDs into the trabian wilderness to help control the monster population. Nearly a month ago, eighty-five SeeDs were sent down to Centra to help control and regulate the warring tribes that were threatening a small fishing village. All I do is sign away lives." Xu looked confused. "I tell people where to go, who to fight, who to defend, and where to die."

"Squall, they're SeeDs, they chose this life."

"You say that because you're not the one behind this desk," He stood. "I don't like being in charge of all of this. But I don't know what else to do. I think Nida is capable of doing this job. As a friend I want to promote him. But all night I laid awake trying to figure out if our friendship was clouding my judgement."

"Have you decided anything?"

"I have no proof to suggest he's mentally stable enough to do the job and by the same token, I know he's capable."

"What if we knew what was stressing him out?" Xu suggested. "If we knew and could remedy the problem, then would that influence your decision?"

Squall crossed his arms and stood up. She watched as he walked over to the window and looked out. "I don't know," He admitted.

"Its his stepmother," Xu spoke.

Squall looked over at her. "Stepmother?"

"I talked to Quistis last night. She said he started talking about how his stepmother sent him here after his father died. She's pretty much disowned him, except for the gil she's somehow gotten him to fork out to send his younger sister to a private school. Zell said she called yesterday while he and Nida were training and they got into a fight over the phone."

"We don't know for sure if that's his only problem."

"There can't be anything worse for a child to have their only surviving parental figure hate them."

Squall remained silent.

"I have to go replace Natasha on the bridge. We can talk later...if you want."

Squall nodded and watched as she left. Now alone, he sat on the corner of his desk and rubbed his temples.

-------

Quistis had never felt as frustrated with a mission as she did this one. Dobe was at the bottom of her list when it came to people she enjoyed associating with. She walked faster, hastening her descent down the rickety metal staircase. Her hand lightly held onto the railing as she continued on her way. Once she reached the bottom, she quickly stepped into the lift and waited for Seifer. Once he was with her, the lift was lowered down. While they descended, she looked at her hand, stained red from the rusted railing. She grimaced as she tried to wipe the offending color off.

"This is so pathetic," She said through grinted teeth.

Beside her, Seifer raised an eyebrow. "I'm glad I'm not the only one looking forward to this mission."

Quistis turned to face him. "Don't get sarcastic with me. I'm in charge on this mission and we have to at least appear to be on the same team when we meet him."

Seifer snorted. "That wasn't sarcasm dear Instructor. I can't stand that man. Dobe's such a pansy," He said as the lift operator opened the door for them and shot him an aggravated look. Seifer shook his head and stared at the man as he followed Quistis down the final few steps.

"Stop intimidating people," Quistis said as she slapped him across the chest with the back of her hand.

"You forget, that's my job in this mission," Seifer responded. Quistis fell silent as she continued walking. "Nice day for fishing," Seifer noted.

It was Quistis' time to snort. "Oh yes the temperature's nice and hot, there's no humidity, the birds are chirping, and the children are laughing as they play on rusted rebar suspended out over the ocean."

"You don't like this place do you," Seifer stated.

"I hate this place. This place represents laziness and spinelessness," Quistis confessed. "Look at these living conditions!" She flung her arm out around her. "Its detestable and unacceptable. The citizens here are smart people. They can do better but they choose not to."

"I'm not arguing with you on that one."

Quistis stopped walking and looked up at him. "Finally. We agree on something."

"I figured it had to happen once in our lifetime so I thought I'd get it over with."

"I'm elated," She grinned as she continued walking down to the mayor's house. "When we get in there, I do the talking. You just look intimidating."

"That's it?" Seifer's voice sounded let down.

"That's all you said your mission description entailed."

"This sucks. I just made that up you know."

"Yes I know. But I'm also Captain on this mission and I say what you do."

"The Instructor strikes back," Seifer mumbled.

"Seifer," She turned to him before she knocked on the door. "Behave. That's all I'm going to say." A loud creak signified their presence as known. Quistis turned around to see Flo in the doorway.

"We're here to speak with Mayor Dobe regarding his affiliations with Balamb Garden."

"Come on in," Flo held the door open for them. "He's been waiting on you all morning. You can have a seat in there." Quistis nodded and then entered the room where Dobe sat silently.

"We're here on behalf of Balamb Garden. We've met before, but this is my partner, Seifer Almasy," Quistis introduced them.

The mayor nodded. "Please have a seat." Quistis grimaced as she sat back down in the same place he'd had her sit the time before. Seifer remained standing behind her. "Mr. Almasy. Have a seat...I insist."

Seifer shook his head. "I hurt my knee a few weeks back. If I sit down there I'll never be able to get back up." The mayor chuckled at his comment and then shrugged it off.

"Very well. Don't say I didn't offer you a seat," He turned his attention to Quistis. "I am exalted that Balamb Garden has reopened negotiations with my humble city. I apologize for our last encounter. I was acting quite out of character that day. So what have you come to discuss? Have you reviewed the questionable curriculum?"

"No, I don't need to. I teach that curriculum to four different classes of students on alternate days," Quistis answered.

"Then why are you here?" Dobe's voice took on a darker tone.

"To find out how quickly you can withdraw your engineers from our Garden. We're no longer in need of the services in which they can supply."

Mayor Dobe stared at Quistis in dismay. "You can't possibly be serious."

"She is," Seifer spoke up. "We've trained replacements."

"We've found its better for Balamb Garden to remain self-reliant than to bend to the demands of aiding governments. It makes us look more neutral in international affairs. You understand don't you?"

"You want them all gone?" Dobe asked.

"As soon as possible," Seifer let his voice take a deeper tone. Dobe stiffened.

"Fine. We have nothing else to talk about. They'll all be back here, where they belong, within the hour. You can leave."

Quistis silently stood and led the way out of Dobe's house. As soon as she'd stepped off the front porch she waited for Seifer. "That went well."

-----

He walked nervously down the hallway on the newly remodeled third floor. He'd come from Headmaster Cid's empty office and had since passed the Commander's office, the conference room, and was nearing the Headmaster's apartment. Taking a calming breath, he pressed the buzzer and then quickly withdrew his hand. The silence of the floor around him made him even more uncomfortable as he waited for someone to answer the door. He fidgeted uncomfortably and played with the ends of his sleeves. The door hissed open abruptly, causing him to jump in surprise.

"I'm sorry child," Edea laughed. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"No its alright," Nida assured her.

"Did you need something?" She asked as she pulled her long raven hair back up into a hair clip.

"I needed to talk to Headmaster Cid," He answered. "Its important."

Edea stepped to the side and let him enter. "He should be finished with his lunch. I'll go get him."

Nida nodded in appreciation and then looked around. On the floor, he watched as Irvine's son scribbled on the pages of his coloring book. He knelt down and watched him.

"Hey Toby. Whatcha coloring?" Nida asked the red-headed child beside him.

"Itz uh buttufly," Toby answered as he handed Nida a crayon. "Here. Colur wit me." Nida grinned as he took the slightly chewed green pastel from Toby's hand. A shadow fell across the floor. Dropping the crayon, Nida quickly rose and saluted Cid's silhouetted form in the doorway.

"At ease boy," Cid smiled. "Come have a seat and we'll talk."

Nida nodded hastily and followed him into the kitchen. Cid walked over to his chair and slowly sat down. He carefully folded the newspaper he'd left on the table and waited while Nida took a seat.

"Mr. Poe, I mean Roe," Cid corrected himself. "I apologize. You have a simple name but for the life of me I just can't seem to ever get it right," He chuckled. Nida grinned nervously. "So," Cid cleared his throat. "What is it you needed to talk with me about?"

Nida opened his mouth to speak but stopped. He concentrated on the wheat colored swirls of the kitchen table before him as he tried to form words. "I talked to someone who said that you and your wife used to run an orphanage," He stated.

Cid looked at him in surprise. Edea stepped into the kitchen, curious as to where the conversation was heading. "You were told correctly," Cid confirmed. "Is that why you came here?"

"Kinda," Nida swallowed and then took a deep breath. "I...I um...am going to get custody of my little sister in a few days. Problem is I don't exactly trust my stepmother. She said that I would get full custody...but she's just handing my sister over too easily."

Cid furrowed his brow as he leaned forward on his elbows and listened. "You'll bring your sister here to live?" He asked.

"Is that a problem?" Nida asked.

"Yes and no," Cid answered. "First of all, we're swamped with new students. Given you're going to have custody of her, that would put her at a higher priority than the other students. She's guaranteed admittance because her only guardian is a SeeD member. She'd be expected to go through the same training and classes you did. The problem however, would lie in her boarding. Because she is in your guardianship, she will be roughly viewed as your child or dependent thus making her ineligible to have a seperate dorm and making it necessary for her to live in yours with you." He paused. "Edea dear, go get my folders please." Nida watched as Edea walked out of view and into the other room. Cid leaned forward. "Don't say anything yet, but later on, you may be awarded an apartment. They were originally going to be reserved for SeeDs that were married or parents, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that wouldn't work. We just don't have the room. So, I've hired a crew to convert the storage space and two classrooms on the second floor into apartments. More classrooms will be built in the basement to compensate but that's an entirely different matter," He paused. "I plan on awarding the apartments to all members of my senior staff and a few other higher ranking SeeDs." Nida leaned forward, hanging on his every word. "Has Squall talked to you?"

"No," Nida answered. Cid looked troubled. "Was he supposed to?"

Cid shrugged. "I don't know. But that doesn't matter. Any promotions he decides upon have to clear through me, not vice versa." Edea returned with a bundle of folders. "Thank you dear," He said as he quickly opened them. "Nida, my council has agreed that the next Chief Engineer should be someone from a Garden. We're about to leave Fisherman's Horizon's engineers behind. We called some down from Esthar to compensate but despite what we do its going to look like we're playing favorites...unless we use our own. The council has agreed to promote you up to senior staff, thus raising your rank to twenty-five, increasing your salary, providing extra training and upgrading your living quarters."

Nida sat stunned. Cid grinned.

"That's not what you came here for was it," He laughed. Nida numbly shook his head. "Well, do you still want the position?"

"Yes Sir!"

Cid smiled. "Good. Now let's get back to this custody issue you originally came here about. Did you need papers or what?"

"I don't really know Sir. I just don't want her to supply them and then there be some kind of loop hole I didn't know about."

Cid nodded. "Don't worry about that. I'll get that taken care of. I can have you a copy of the papers tomorrow after thirteen hundred hours."

"Thank you Sir."

Cid rose from his seat. "Come on," He waved Nida towards the doorway. "We have a lot of paperwork to start on to prepare for your sister's arrival and to finalize your promotion." Edea watched silently as the two men walked past her and out the front door.

------

The infirmary doors hissed open, revealing an empty room. Squall stepped inside quietly and looked around. He winced at the intensity in which the sunlight radiated off the white walls. Hastily, he pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Slowly sliding his glasses back on, he was relieved to find that the lenses had darkened and thus his pain subsided.

"Do you need something Commander?" Dr. Kadowaki asked as she came out of the storage room carrying a box of supplies. Squall looked down towards the floor as he shifted his weight over to his right him. Kadowaki watched as he placed his right hand on his hip and ran his left hand through his near shoulder length hair. She shrugged. "You came to me. I figured you had to need something or be looking for someone," She said as she sat her box on her desk.

"I need advice on something," He mumbled as he crossed his arms loosely across his chest. Dr. Kadowaki looked over at him in surprise.