Chapter Three---Rage and Envy

Quistis sat at her desk, deep in thought when she should be deep in paper work. Squall's treatment of Fujin had not improved over the past two weeks. If anything, it had worsened. Something about her return or perhaps simply about Fujin made him...change. He was quieter, sullen and inwardly seething in something like resent.

Quistis knew Fujin was not one for doing something for no reason. Fujin had to have good reasons for her decisions because the woman simply did not want regret. It was not in Fujin's blood to regret things. Quistis knew Fujin didn't regret dating or leaving Squall. The woman did not regret coming back to Garden.

She thought back on the confidence Seifer had bestowed in her, knowing Quists would be the sole of secrecy. Not a single syllable of what he told her would be repeated or even suggested at. And as he told her all he knew, Quistis could see how he felt in those pretty green eyes. How he still loved Fujin though he refused to admit it outloud. And of course she could see his sheer jealous and angry demeanor towards the brunette gunblader. Quistis herself felt his anger.

Squall was not the unwavering hero she had trained herself to believe. He was nothing at all like she had told herself and admired all these years. Yes, he was still her friend and Commanding Officer and she still respected him. Only just a bit less. After all, she could not forgive the sin she felt in heart he would soon make. No woman could.

A knock at her office door brought Quistis out of her mind and back to the real world. Straightening her shoulders and pretending like she was working, she called the person in.

"Slephie? God, Selphie what's wrong?" Quistis took two long strides to Selphie, shut the door and wrapped the sobbing woman into her arms.

"He...Quisy...All I wanted...but...and her!" Selphie's sob tore their way from her chest while tears streamed down her small face and onto Quistis' shirt while she held the shorter woman.

"Selphie...just...just cry. You don't have to explain anything now. You cry." Quistis herself hated to cry but she had to admit she felt better afterwards. Seeing the normally cheery and vibrant woman in such a down trodden state made Quistis' heart ache and she couldn't shake off the forboding feeling of betrayal.

Squall watched Seifer and Fujin sparr, anger coating his heart. How could she?

How could she betray him like that and not even think twice about it!

The fact that Fujin had betrayed his sacred trust, the trust he had in her, made his blood burn like never before. There was something about that kind of betrayal that hurt more and made his anger so intense it almost frightened him.

And that man she had left him for. Who was he? What had he accomplished? What could he possibly have given Fujin that he himself had or could not? What?

Fujin sat on the ground beside Seifer, taking a long drink of water, not noticing the burning azure pools attempting to burn a hole through her. She was too busy laughing with Seifer.

Seifer.

Seifer had known about this too. And he hadn't told Squall. Yet another person had betrayed him. He had thought Seifer was a friend. But to leave Squall clueless as to why Fujin left...that was too much for Squall.

The image of the smiling silver-haired boy would not be erased from his mind. The child Fujin had with someone else. He had never wanted children but the thought of the child made him angry it wasn't his when it should have been. Fujin had been his girlfriend after all.

"Fujin? I've decided you'll be taking the SeeD tests at the end of this month with the Senoir Cadets instead of with the Junior Cadets in two months. Understood."

"Understood." Jack ass, she added silently to herself. Squall turned to leave abruptly and Fujin shrugged, she could have more time with Seifer.

"Are you sure? I can take you and Arien out to eat and that way you don't have to cook." Seifer was hesitantly accepting Fujin's offer to come over for dinner. Of course, he was thrilled she wanted to spend that time with him, but he didn't want to invade her space or seem overeager.

"Seifer. Idiot. Come." She still had slight tendencies to revert into her soldier method of speaking. Seifer had a vague thought of it being rather cute.

"...Ok." As they entered the apartment, Fujin was suprised to see Quistis and Selphie sitting on her couch, Arien on the floor in front of Selphie while she braided his hair back into two rows. He smiled at his mother.

"Aunt Sephie fixed hair momma!" Arien giggled again while Quistis stood to explain why they were in her home uninvited.

"Well you see... we needed to get Selphie away. She needs a break, so Squall gave her the months vacation she's due and I brought her here...it was the only place away from Garden I could think of." Fujin's gaze snapped to the green eyed woman on the couch who was so detached and hazy eyed.

"Selphie..." Fujin murmured to herself, as if seeing her for the first time. Fujin crossed the room and kneeled down in front of the woman.

"Stay as long as you like." Somehow, Fujin understood why Selphie was here, and she wouldn't turn the woman away. Selphie needed her more then anything right now.

"Thank you." Fujin gave her friend a smile and turned to Seifer with a grin.

"So, how about ordering us some pizzas?" Seifer couldn't help but smile in return as he felt Arien tug at the hem of his shirt.

"Uncle Seifer!" Arien made it clear he wanted to tell Seifer something while the three women went about getting food.

"What Ari?"

"Christmas soon!" Arien covered his mouth, trying to contain his excitement. Seifer picked the boy up and settled him onto his lap.

"And what are you gonna ask for this year?" Arien looked at him long and hard before his pretty little face broke out into a grin.

"You be my daddy!"

A.n: Ohhhhhhhh left ya a little cliffy of sorts there:P oh and btw to those of you reading Early November (which you all are lol) You missed the hint in my change of POV at the end. -shakes head- I thought you would have caught it, but sadly, you missed it.

-sighs-

Sorceress Fujin: Hum, forceful now aren't we? -grins- oh well, so here's chappy three oh lady-oh-mine lol -laughs- aint I cute! lol jk

Jasmie: Yesh, the glomp is kinda cute...though I'm not sure I like her little glowy eyed mood, chapter two of Early November wasn't even that romantic lol

Becca: Oh Stop, your making me blush! -blushes- But I'm glad you like teh stories :D

Blue Eyes: Don't we all wish we we're sweet when we were little? lol update as requested:D