Hi-hi, it's me! All right, FF7 is driving me crazy; I can't get Bahamut Zero! Ok, whatever, reviews and then we continue with the story! We figure out how Squall can fix his arm… yay! WARNING: EXTREME FLUFFINESS! Yay!

Lady-Rinoa- Yay, it's nice to get reviews from you! Good to know there's a new reader. Anyways, thanks again, hope you keep reading!

Ej- NP? What's NP? Anyways, you think "Stuck?" is a good title? Well, I'm doing something right! Glad you like it, the suspense of Squall's arm is soon to be solved!

Chapter 11: Bandages, Reports, and Portraits

Squall stood in her room and looked around. It was painstakingly clean, and it had a funny scent to it, like perfume. Rinoa stood in the corner, rifling through her desk for a medical kit. Squall rolled his eyes, remaining standing. Of all the places to be, and of all the people to be with, he was in immense pain, and that was the ultimate killjoy. Rinoa turned, small white box in her hand.

"Roll up your sleeve," she said. Squall obliged, wincing as his sleeve touched his elbow. Rinoa eyed him, almost curiously. "You can sit down," she said quietly, motioning towards her bed. He quickly sat, turning his face as she sat by his arm. "This may hurt, I'll have to touch the arm," she whispered gently. Squall nodded. No way was he going to cry or do some other baby thing like flinch. Still, he couldn't help but make a face as the strip of cloth laden with ointment was wrapped around his entire arm. Tying the edges gently, Rinoa pulled back. "There!" she said enthusiastically, and noticed his head was turned. She watched him, as he slowly turned his head around once more.

"Thank you," he murmured gently. Rinoa slowly nodded, staring into his eyes. Squall did the same, just gazing into those pools of melted chocolate. Suddenly, he felt as though he was the one melting. His heart pounded against his throat, and his left arm also suddenly felt numb. Her lips twitched into a smile, and his did the same. Slowly and deliberately, Squall leaned further towards her, smile leaving his lips but not his eyes. After a single tense second, Rinoa leaned forward gently, letting their lips meet. Gigantic rockets seemed to explode in front of their eyes as her hands slowly moved around his neck. He responded by sliding his left arm around her waist, thoughtfully leaving his right at his side. Before he could let himself get carried away, Squall pulled apart, his arm still around her. A grin spread across his face, as did hers. He broke away from her embrace and stood at the foot of the bed, wishing for her arms still around his neck.

"Squall…?" she said quietly, not moving from her spot.

"Thank you again…" he said, smile once more disappearing. "Not just for the bandages, though…" he trailed off, before walking slowly out of her room. Rinoa sighed and leaned up against the wall. He had left… did that mean he didn't care? Her heart had almost burst with joy when they had kissed… and he acted as though it meant nothing. Still, it was passively beautiful… when would she see him again? Pushing the box off her bed, she flopped down, dress fanning out as she turned onto her side. Whenever it was, it would be perfect.

-POVC-

Squall sat on his bed, tenderly examining his arm. He couldn't believe it… of all the stupid things to do. While she's trying to bandage his arm, or whatever she was doing, he was trying to kiss her. It was probably the dumbest thing she'd ever seen… He clapped a hand to his head. What if… things went too far? His thoughts had been pure at the moment, but… Groaning, he flopped over, staring at the ceiling and gently fingering his lips. They still burned, as if he had touched them to fire. He wanted nothing more than to touch them to hers once more, to feel her hands around his neck, his around her waist. He frowned, grunting as he shifted his arm. No matter what… he would have to talk to her again. It would be worth it, if she was angry at him, just to see her face again. Slowly, he fell asleep, dreams filling his head of holding her in his arms once more.

-POVC-

Seifer laughed. The newly-formed grapevine that Ultimecia had established was bringing more and more… interesting news. Ultimecia looked up and frowned. "What in hell could possibly be funny?" she asked testily. Seifer waved a hand, shooing the other werewolf away.

"I love this connection you've set up," he said laughingly. Ultimecia's frown deepened.

"You're using it for your own entertainment, aren't you?" she asked.

"No, no, of course not." Satisfied, she dropped her head once more, reading out of a book with grueling details on transforming and pain. "I have the reports on the two you're watching."

"All reports are supposed to go through me first, Seifer," Ultimecia added without looking up.

"Yes, yes," he said impatiently, and he re-opened the report. "Apparently," he studied the parchment, "The two you're watching… have something going on!" he laughed, chuckling fit to burst. Ultimecia looked up.

"Meaning?" she pushed.

"Someone was watching them. Rinoa, you said, broke… Squall's arm and then took him back to her room to bandage it. Inside…" Another fit of laughter barricaded him from completing his sentence; however, Ultimecia had gotten the gist of things.

"So… we've got a new-found love on our hands." She rose from her seat and stared out the window. "They will be… very fun to destroy…" Seifer stared at her back before settling into his chair and leaning back his head.

"I'm wondering… when do we strike? All you seem to be doing is filling in your pleasure time with reading and studying old documents." She laughed once more.

"We strike at midnight, in a week." Seifer grinned and clapped his hands together. "Once I kill those two… you can have the rest."

-POVC-

Caraway put his head in his hands. On the same night, his best cowhand had been found dead and ripped apart, his entire ranch was devastated, and his daughter had gone missing. And, recently, the town had closed. Now, they were almost doomed. No supplies from the town meant that they would slowly starve. It gave him a different perspective in life, since he was destined to die. The last time he had seen her, he yelled, forbid her from going near someone who probably had good intentions. His favorite maid, Xu, walked in, tray of food balanced on her left hand. No, she wasn't a maid, she was a close friend. She only had duties, no one thought of her as a servant.

"Look, sir, she'll be fine. If she is in the town, she's perfectly safe! Don't worry," she said, leaving the plate on the table. He grinned slightly.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's Reno, not sir," he said with a smile. She nodded and left the room, silently wishing that he would eat and get some rest. Caraway looked at the family portrait he had done when Rinoa had been just four. Her mother, God rest her soul, had been as beautiful and sweet as Rinoa could be. Then the accident… just one year later. He stood and walked to the painting, slightly fingering his late wife. She had gone riding, against his wishes, and the horse had fallen, rolling over her and crushing her neck. Rinoa herself found her, and came home in tears, blaming herself and her father.

"Sir, uh, Reno, we're very low on rations, and the horse meat is slowly running out." Xu stopped and stared at him; he was looking at the portrait when they had been a happy family. Xu silently stepped backwards and shut the door, leaving him to his sentiments.

"Julia… what would you have done?" he asked her spirit, and walked back to his chair, sinking so low his chin could almost touch his chest without moving his head. His wife had gone, and his daughter was missing. What more could they take away from him? A single tear escaped his eyes, and Caraway turned in the chair, staring at his portrait until he fell asleep.

Hee, okay, about Caraway's first name, it is unknown, and I had to give my tribute to the Turks. Some o' the best villains yet. Besides, it'd sound funny if his name was Rude or Tseng. Anyways, Xu will not have an important role, she is another background character, a supportive character, per say. I finally have a plot line, but sadly, I will not be updating for a week because I'm going to Disneyland with my buddy. Hope I didn't disappoint you guys too badly, but it doesn't mean I'm gonna stop writing! Oh no, I'm gonna work on this while I'm gone too, so I can update when I get back. Happy Friday! -greiverwings