I am SO sorry this one is so short. I've been juggling too many things these past few days.

pinklove: Yeah, Interesting

JadeAlmasy: Please do, more reviewers would rock!

Lady-Rinoa: Nah, this isn't a prologue. This just starts with Laguna in Esthar, but he's not there anymore! As for the new characters, Davis and Zeke are in Children of Destiny.

zornoid13: Here's the update.

SquallRinFF: Uhh, are you trying to tell me you like it?

Cerulean Devil: My own storyline will soon take over. After all, Laguna never got to see Raine one last time, like he does here.

CHAPTER 4: LAGUNA'S HOMECOMMING

Laguna had slept most of the way across the ocean, but that was only about four hours worth. Once he sensed it was getting brighter outside, his eyes opened. He was still on the boat, and Winhill was on the horizon. With his sleep-deprived eyes, Laguna skimmed the northern side of the small town until he spotted the pub; knowing there were two special people waiting for him. Of course, he had no idea about the unborn person in that house, but little did he realize, he would soon find out about Squall. As the sun peaked over the hills, the boat was beached, and Laguna had hopped off onto shore after tossing his bag over.

"Thanks for the lift guys." Laguna said to them.

"No problem." Said one of the crewmen. "When should we come back to get you?"

"I dunno, I'll give you guys a call." Laguna said. He was glad he made some money writing for Timber Maniacs, because Raine would probably flip his lid if he made an international phone call where she would have to pay for it. He did that once, and then never made that mistake again. "I have to call Kiros anyway and see what's going on with Adel's situation."

"I see." The crewman said. "Well, until then, so long Laguna. May we meet again someday." Laguna didn't know what it was, but it was like every person he met, he made an impression on.

"Maybe it's a gift." Laguna whispered to himself as he waved the boat off. He soon found himself walking toward the entrance to Winhill, which then turned to jogging, then running, and finally, a full-on sprint.

As the sun rose, a middle-aged man in Winhill stepped outside and began to sweep the steps in front of his shop. Soon, a growl came from about 5 feet away. A Blood Soul had spotted him, and was advancing. The shop owner lifted his broom up and smacked the monster on the head. However, all this did was anger the monster. As the Blood Soul was preparing to attack, something struck the monster and it exploded. Not so much as a loud boom, but more that of a long sizzle.

"What the heck was that?" The shopkeeper wondered.

"A Flare Stone." Someone said. "I picked it up in the Trabia Canyon." The shopkeeper looked over and saw that 'outsider' standing there.

"Oh, it's you." The shopkeeper said.

"Good morning, Mitchell." Laguna said without a facial expression. He knew the shop owner didn't like him, never had. But Laguna wasn't going to give him any anger for his satisfaction.

"So, you did come back." Mitchell said.

"I said I would, and here I am." Laguna told him.

"Why." Mitchell asked.

"To get on your nerves." Laguna said. "Just because I know you hate me. But either way, I'm married to Raine, and there's nothing you or anybody else can do about it." Laguna walked away as Mitchell gave a sneer. After a few minutes, Laguna was standing at the door to the pub. Quietly, he slid his key in and unlocked the door. The place was quiet, no doubt Raine and Ellone were still asleep, it was only six thirty in the morning, and nobody in this town, except for Mitchell, got up before seven. Laguna walked over to the door on his left, which was slightly ajar, and found Ellone in her bed sound asleep. He didn't want to wake her, or Raine for that matter. He figured he'd just let them sleep and surprise them whenever they got up when they came into the kitchen and found him sitting there. Next, Laguna quietly climbed the stairs and saw Raine. Her back was turned to him, so he didn't notice the bulge in her stomach. Laguna then headed back downstairs and put some coffee on to brew. After pouring a cup he stepped outside to grab the newspaper. He was none to shocked to see himself on the front page under the headline "Sorceress War ended with a push."

"Took more than a push," Laguna thought, "It took a hell of a plan." Laguna sat down outside while reading the paper and sipping at his coffee. As he read the weather section, a voice jolted him back into reality.

"Laguna, your back!" Said a female voice. He looked up and saw Raine's friend, Elise, standing before him. Elise was different from the other Winhill residents, Laguna didn't know what she thought of him, but at least she had enough decency to call him by his name. "When did you get back?"

"About half an hour ago, I guess." Laguna said.

"Have you seen Raine yet?" She asked.

"I didn't want to wake her up," Laguna said, "But I looked in on her. Even if she had her back to me, she still looks like an angel when she's sleeping."

"She had her back to you?" Elise said. "So, that's all you saw, was her back?"

"Yep." Laguna said.

"Oh hyne, you still don't know!" Elise said.

"Know what?" Laguna asked.

"Um, you might want to put your coffee down and remain seated." Elise said. Laguna did so before he spoke up.

"What are you getting at?" Laguna asked.

"If you would've gone around to her front side," Elise began, "You would've seen…well…her stomach is bigger then the last time you've seen it."

"What are you talking about?" Laguna said.

"Look, there's no easy way to say this." Elise said. She gave a deep breath before speaking again. "Laguna, Raine is carrying your child. She's almost nine months pregnant." Laguna's eyes shot up, and he felt dizzy.

"Oh man." Laguna whispered. "Wow, this is…just…wow. I'm glad I was sitting down. Raine and I talked about kids before I left, but, wow."

"That's why I'm here." Elise said. "This baby has confined her to her bed, I'm here every day helping her."

"Well, at least she had you." Laguna said. "But she should've had me. Man, I feel so guilty now."

"It's not your fault." Elise said. "You had to save Ellone."

"Yeah, but now there's a talk with Raine I have to have." Laguna said. "But now I can't give an answer to General Mason for a little longer."

"What are you talking about?" Elise asked.

"After that speech I gave yesterday, Mason asked me to be President of Esthar, and I promised him an answer in person." Laguna said. "I can't go back until this child is born now."

"That's the right thing to do." Elise said. "Stay here for as long as you can."

"Y'know what?" Laguna said. "You're the first person from Winhill that isn't Raine or Ellone who told me to stay." Their conversation was soon interrupted when the front door creaked open and a little girl stepped outside. Laguna watched as Ellone rubbed her eyes, then spotted him just sitting there.

"Uncle Laguna, yoo're back!" Ellone said as she ran over to him and gave him a hug.

"Quiet, kiddo." Laguna said. "I don't want to wake up Raine yet. I want to surprise her." Ellone did the motion where she was buttoning her lip.

"Well, Elise, you can go home now if you want." Laguna said. "I'll take care of her from here."

"See that you do, Laguna, Raine's my best friend." Elise said before walking off.

"Uncle Laguna, I'm hungry." Ellone said.

"Lucky for you, the Shumi's taught me how to cook some good food." Laguna said. "What would you like."

"Waffles!" Ellone said. "Uncle Laguna, what's a Shumi?"

"Shumi's live underground way up in the north, where it snows a lot." Laguna said as he started mixing the ingredients. "They taught me lots of stuff, and I taught some moombas how to talk."

"Really, I never see'd a talkin' moomba before!" Ellone said.

"That's saw cutie, not see'd." Laguna said as he put a plate in front of her. "You want me to cut that up for you?"

"No, I can do it." Ellone said. For as long as he'd known Ellone, she was always intent on doing things herself. Soon, Laguna heard someone calling from upstairs.

"Elise, can you bring me some coffee?" Raine called. Laguna gave a sigh, she didn't know that Elise wasn't there this morning, and might go nuts when she found out her husband was home.

"Tell her she's coming." Laguna whispered to Ellone.

"She's coming, Raine!" Ellone yelled up the stairs as Laguna filled up a coffee cup. Soon, He found himself walking up the stairs. Raine still had her eyes closed, but her arms were up, stretching. She reached out as she heard someone approaching her. Laguna guided the coffee cup into her hand before she took a sip.

"Thank you Elise." Raine said, eyes still closed.

"I'm not Elise." Laguna said. Raine slowly opened her eyes and saw Laguna standing there.

"Oh…Laguna!" Raine said as Laguna bent down, allowing Raine to wrap her arms around him. Laguna returned the gesture and hugged Raine back. It was in stone, Laguna was home.