Author's Notes: Man… It's been a LONG time, over two months. But as you know, Authoresses have lives too… Yes, I DO have a life thank you very much! But really, I wrote the chapter before I had the last one up, but I just hated it's ending. It's taken me this long to get it to my liking. Upside, I DID do an overhaul on my fanfic site. It looks nice now. And guess what… PEOPLE ACTUALLY GO THERE! dances Now… onto the real notes… Long Chapter girls and guys (though I doubt there are many males reading this). This is because it started out as two separate chapters, but it ends better if they become one. Some reference to the previous smut. Deal with it!!! Upside… Well… There is none. Bad news all around this chapter. Including the sad news that the story is drawing close to a close… Yes, I don't expect to make 20 chapters, but this IS a long fix, admit it. I figure one for dealing with time compression, one or two for Ultimecia's castle, one or two for the world cleanup, and a final one for a good neat little tie up. Then I'm going to Origins: Odin. After that is coming along good I'll be doing the sequel to this one, which I don't have a name for yet. That will be a nice little tie up fic. Then I'm launching myself into the Origins series… But keep an eye on Seeds: Darkness Versus Light, and the wonderful AU fic I intend to do as a parody of this, or a paradox caused by this story… Funness!

Silver-nex: No, if you want the ULTIMATE, e-mail me and I'll give you the links of MY favorite fan-fiction author ladies… One is solely FF8, the other two are a bit jumpy… And sorry this wasn't soon…

Firefly-Dreams: Sorry… That is the end of written smut for a while. And the Hyne Yes line was PERFECT!

Chapter 9: Feelin's

"Cor?" a voice came shocked from the door.

"Hyne 'Jin, you ever heard of knocking!?" I groaned as my cheeks burned red.

Seifer looked at Suijin in shock, "I thought you had a single room…"

"It is a single," I hissed at Suijin, who seemed torn between pointing out what was wrong with this situation, laughter at catching me in such a position with another man, and congratulating me for landing Seifer Almasy in my bed.

"Uh, we've got a meeting Cor," Suijin said uncomfortably, "And I have a feeling that…"

"They can wait. They'll know where I am, who I'm with, and what I'm doing," I smirked and ran my hand down Seifer's naked thigh, letting his moan punctuate my point.

"What should I tell them?" the larger teen chuckled at my intentions for the morning.

"The minimum," I chuckled in response before Suijin fled.

"Who was that?" Seifer asked, his own cheeks reddening. It probably wasn't everyday he had a guy that looked like his best friend walk in on him and a guy that looked like Squall Leonheart.

"A friend of mine… I have to go Seifer."

"Will I see you again?" he questioned.

"Not like this," I replied, kissing his fingers.

"Don't leave me. Stay here and I'll make you feel good."

I gently kissed him before forcefully pushing him out of my bed. There was a loud thus as Seifer hit the floor, grumbling about something. Before I could even get out of the blankets, he was back on the bed, arms around my waist. Right now my only motivation to get away from him comes from the fact I might cease to exist if I stay.

"Come on," he said, lazily tracing patterns on my bare back with his fingers, "Stay with me. I can make you happy."

"All I wanted was a good fucking Seifer. We had that, so let me go."

"Don't Cor," he used the partial name Suijin had used, "I need you. There is no one else for me."

"What about Leonheart?" I questioned, and used his shock to get away from him.

"What about the Ice Princess?"

"You only wanted me because I look like him!" This was of course a reference to my now brown hair and the figure I seemed to have due to the powerful magic of Angelus.

Before he could reply I kissed him. We both knew I was right, so he gave in. Hyne, Squall must even now enjoy the feeling you get when you have control over this gunblade master. I've only known him like this for a few hours, and he's already begging. Too bad I can't stay here.

"Seifer, promise me something," I whispered as I pulled back.

"Yes?" the green eyed puppy dog look nearly tempted me back into the warm bed and body.

"Dream about me," I pleaded, before pulling back. His nod was all I needed. After today he'd be consumed by thoughts of Squall, but just the idea of him dreaming about me… Hyne help me, I'm falling in love with my lover's father.

"Where are you going to go?" he asked, running his hands over my body.

"Timber… Watching over some new SeeDs that are supposed to take out the Galbidian President for some Timber resistance group."

When the words slipped from my mouth I wanted to shoot myself. We weren't supposed to let things slip. But Hyne on high his touch just made me so weak… Then again, Seifer had to find out somehow, didn't he? Maybe I was the one who told him? Pushing all thoughts of meetings and showers out of my mind I allow Seifer to coax me back into his arms for another go at our pleasurable fun…

Rhiale

"Where is Corin?" Darus questioned as Suijin entered the room.

"Um… Well…" Suijin began in his gruff tone.

"You can tell us," Valen said softly to Suijin.

"He is with Seifer," the teen frowned.

"But Seifer is here," I piped up.

"He is with Seifer," the large male said, looking at his hands and fingers as if they were the greatest thing since the Mona Lisa.

"What is he with Seifer?" the darker half of the summon growled, looking at his pure partner.

"They are… Um…" Suijin started.

"Having sex. Just say it. He has nothing to be ashamed of, and neither do I!" Valen growled, taking the form of Seifer Almasy-Leonheart.

"You slept with our son's ex-lover!?" Darus shouted angrily.

"I didn't know Squall!" Seifer shot back, "I didn't even know his name until now!"

"You and I need to talk," Darus insisted, "Alone."

"Whatever you're going to say, you're gonna say it in front of me," Corin's voice came from the door. His hair was wet and tussled though his clothes were neat.

"Darus, calm down. We had a mission," Fiera pointed out, though she was blushing.

"Come on you guys," I spoke up, "We'll meet up with Corin later. He has to take care of Quistus anyway…"

"Yeah," Suijin agreed and lead us away.

Of course, once we were outside of the room we did not depart, but listened into the conversation through the door.

"What were you thinking?"

"We weren't. It was purely sexual, right Seifer"

"Yeah, you're the reason I wanted to go after Squall."

"Bullshit! How could you Corin?!"

"I needed to forget."

"I came on to him. I guess he really just wanted a shower."

"How could you do this?"

"Squall, calm down. If he affected the time line, we would know. And I've always remembered him. Hell, I dreamt of him many times before we were together."

"I'm flattered that you kept that promise Seifer."

"But…"

"Let him go Squall. He was the one that told me about the mission today. He is the reason I want to Timber."

"It's his fault that Ultimecia exists then!"

"No, he's the reason so many helped you defeat the woman that would exist, regardless of what I did. He's the reason we had Drew and Reyn. He's the reason they ALL exist, and that we will be together for eternity."

"Come on guys, we should be going. We still have a mission," I spoke up, looking at Suijin and Fiera, "Fiera, have fun with Ellone. Suijin, it's time to watch people like little meddling hawks!"

(Reyn)

"We don't want to hurt you!" I shouted furiously at the trip that blocked our way.

"Yeah, you only want to destroy us," my former friend shouted back.

"We're doing what is best for the world!" Sorceress Rella shouted, throwing a fireball at Suijin.

"You're only doing what is best for your mother! She wants to rule it all!" Rhiale growled.

((Duded… Total FF7 déjà vu there. Is Rella like Sephy in her blind following of 'mother'?))

"We're not here for these kiddies," Drew spoke, his tone cold, "Come on."

"But Drew!" Rella complained.

"Cowards!" Corin growled, "We're not letting you in here! We won't let you meddle. If you want through, you'll have to go through us! You're not stopping Squall!"

"I don't want to stop him," Drew said.

"Only want to make sure none of you are stopping Edea from grabbing Seifer," I finished for my brother, looking pointedly at Corin. Darus had come to me this morning to tell me and Drew what had happened the night before.

"Why would we want that?" Suijin growled, "It would destroy us!"

"Then where are Jason, Ward and Fiera?" Rella growled.

"Elsewhere," Valen said as he appeared with a frown, "How did you three get here?"

"If you must know, our Lady sent us here to deal with you meddling punks," I said, hating the tone I was taking with my father.

"Whatever," Valen and Corin said as one.

"Just back off!" the newly arrived Darus and Drew barked at the group.

"You'll have to fight us," Suijin declared, echoing Valen's words.

"No thanks," Rella mumbled, "I can sense Edea and mother. The work is done. Come Drew, let's get out of here. Reyn, cover us!"

I let the other two flee, knowing I could easily handle these three if I needed to. Neither Corin nor Rhiale actually seemed to be too happy to see me, but I could let that go. Our presence here was truly quite the scare to them earlier, for none had expected us here. Honestly, my appearance would be a bit scary too, as I was no longer clad in something distinctly 'Reyn'. Instead I'd been given silver tinted clothes to wear, a sign of Ultimecia's blatant disregard to the hazards silver could pose to a sorceress.

"Aren't you gonna go too?" Suijin hissed at me.

Oh, I must have played my part well if that really is my friends preparing to fight me. "I am not here to fight you. Ask Valen. When they head for the Lunatic Pandora, come find us in Galbidia Garden."

No other words were said as I walked away from them, and maybe my life.

0

Days faded into weeks, and weeks into months, but the groups did not meet directly again. Whenever Rella would send people to disturb the past on her mother's behalf, Corin would rush in with the others to stop them. It went on like this for a long time, neither faction interacting unless through Darus and Valen. Soon time compression would be reached, and they would have to go back home, and yet not all was finished.

Suijin

"Tomorrow," Jason said, leaning against me, "Tomorrow is the day."

"She'll try something tomorrow," Ward confirmed for his twin, smiling faintly at his brother's new openness about our relationship.

"No way she won't," Fiera, who was curled up beside Corin, added.

"We're strong enough," I assured them, kissing Jason's neck.

"You think Reyn and Drew will come back to their senses?" Rhiale asked, sounding very worried.

"Yes," a cold voice answered her. Corin's whole attitude had changed since our arrival to this time. He had become the cold hearted and distant person that Squall and Drew Leonheart-Loire already were. Yet somehow it made us all stronger, because he never doubted our capabilities. The teen wrapped an arm around Fierua and pulled her close enough for a gentle kiss. "None of us should worry," he said, his eyes still closed from the kiss, "We can do this!"

"He's right," Darus/Squall said from his place at the door near Valen/Seifer and Cid, "You need to be careful though. You could run into us, which is a bad idea…"

"Don't worry Squall; it's time compression we should fear. How we'll get back… That is a different story…" Valen said, wrapping an arm around his darker half's human form. None of us missed the hungry gaze he sent to Corin, except maybe Fiera that is.

"What shall we focus on?" I asked carefully.

Corin spoke, looking up at us for once, "Galbidia Garden."

"Why there?" Cid asked, ignoring the fact that we were talking about things he didn't know.

"I have a gut feeling. Think about it, Ultimecia is from OUR time. So when we go back to OUR time, we'll be in time compression. Galbidia Garden is not only where we will be tomorrow, but is the only place unaccounted for in the stories the 'heroes' told about time compression. From the history of the war, they said also that the sorceress had sealed all the cities off… I have a feeling that if we were able to get in to one, we'd see the date on a paper would show the year as one year after we LEFT…"

"You mean…" Rhiale questioned.

"Our leaving might have lust us the war!" I shouted angrily.

Reyn

"I can't actually believe you guys remembered," I declared with a joyous laugh as I hugged Rhiale.

"Where is Rella?" Corin asked suspiciously.

"Lunatic Pandora," Drew supplied, guiding the others to seats. Just three months ago Squall and Co had sat here, believing Seifer dead.

"You aren't," Suijin pointed out.

"Yeah, won't you sit?" Drew asked, standing near a coffee machine and pouring himself mug.

The group reluctantly sat, all but Corin, who stood glaring at me. I rolled my eyes at him before taking a seat beside Drew and Rhiale. Was it honestly my fault that I was helping Rinoa? All of our lives were on the line, and aiding her made us stronger, ready to fight in the future. Drew and I had come here for that purpose, and while we had to baby-sit Rella, we were still strong. Our free time in this past was spent training on the Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell, fighting creatures that were near extinct in the future (probably from our extensive training).

"You trying to stop us from helping?" Fiera asked, looking quickly to Corin. Seems that the man I love fell for her.

"No, I think they wanna help," Ward spoke up, "Think about it for a moment. They haven't fought us, or hurt us or done anything to us."

"Except betray us, become sorceress knights," Jason pointed out to his twin.

"Have you ever been lured by a sorceress? Ever been tempted by their voice? Have you heard her in your head, felt your body obeying? You think we enjoy it?" Drew asked bitterly, his words having a poisonous edge to them, "You think it's fun to fight the only family I know? To fall as my parents before me fell?!"

Everyone was silent for a while, the others absorbing what was said by the darker knight. Sadly I could not understand my brother's pain ether. I had not been lured and I was never fully under. Rinoa liked my independence, my subservience, albeit false. I was free because I joined her at other's requests. Drew had always been under Rella's spell, something he regrets now because he can't be sure of his feelings for her. Then again, I wasn't sure of my feelings for Corin and Rhiale.

"Why are we here?" Rhiale whispered in my ear.

"Because…"

"Because NONE of you should be seen in the Lunatic Pandora. Rella's course has been diverted," Darus cut me off as he appeared. Damn parents.

"Because we need to prepare for the real fight, something few will ever remember. All but the sorceress will think we're dead, and she must believe we are all harmless. It's time to plan," I spoke up.

"How can we trust you?" Rhiale said, gazing into my eyes.

"We had Reyn infiltrate as a knight," Valen said, "And Drew is in a position of power, and has had Squall beside him since the beginning. We've been planning. So please listen to them."

"Why?"

"Because they know," Corin said, looking hard at me, "Know how to beat her."

The others looked hard at us, a frown upon their faces. Slowly a few faces softened, then those of the rest. Our former friends (and relatives) looked at each other and back to us. A silent nod from Corin was all I needed to prove they wanted to listen. Everyone was deathly silent while I outlined the plan.

Authoress likes butterflies

"God, how much longer do we have to wait?" Fiera questioned Corin with a frown on her face.

"'Til time is no longer relevant," Drew mumbled from where he and Suijin were going over plans.

"It is a good plan," I spoke up. We'd all been silent for too long, "We'll have a Garden at our command, so we could head right for a gate and slip through one of the portals. Get in, get out and wait."

"Won't be that simple though," Jason said from where he was working on the weapons with Squall (who for some reason forbade Seifer to touch them, mumbling something about how the last time Seifer had inspected weapons they had ended up 'like this').

"Yes, we could have been going fifty years…" Rhiale said in my arms.

"Or just a few months," I pointed out, "Rinoa was already starting to look like Ultimecia when we left. It's more likely to only have been a few years. And when compression is destroyed with her, all of us need to be sure to focus on OUR time."