AN: I hope this update will last you guys at least 2 weeks. Sorry its not as good as the previous chapter though. Its that time of year again at campus and everything is going nuts. I picked this story of the 3 im currently updating because i've recieved some excelent feedback recently and i did not want to hold anyone off too long. I hope reviews (both good and bad) keep coming in. Enjoy!

Squalls instincts went on full alert upon entering the building since it definitely didn't look safe. They were offered no illumination as they slowly climbed the stairs as each additional step reinforced the eeriness of the atmosphere. His eyes darted to every corner of the room until he was satisfied they were actually alone, though he cursed himself for not bringing his gunblade with him. Was that even proper date attire? This would require some research.

They reached the end of the stairs and found a door in their path, the main event for the evening on the other side. Rinoa looked back at him assuringly with a little nervousness in her voice, hoping he would like it. "Ready?" Once Squall nodded she opened the door and they both walked out onto the roof of that building.

The darkness shrouded them both, but the glittering stars that littered the midnight sky and the full moon out that night did what they could to offer the young couple some radiance. Rinoa ran out and spun around bathed in the moonlight laughing like she were just 6 years old again. Her lose strands flailed about chaotically as she abandoned the order and regulations set by society and embraced the solitude they shared together.

Finding Squall just watching her, she glided through the air back over to him and sat him down next to her and pointed upwards. "Best view in all of Esthar. No one around to bother us with only the stars to keep us comfortable. I thought… I thought you might like something like this."

'Is it possible she understands me?'

< Yes >

'Get lost Griever.'

< Just making sure you don't mess things up young pup. Like keeping a lady waiting for an answer >

Squall's eyes were encompassed by a vision of loveliness as Rinoa's face scrunched up with worry the longer he took to answer. It should have made him feel bad. It should have made him respond quickly. However no matter what he tried to think, it just made her look cuter by the minute.

"I do, thank you." He said as reassuringly as he could, his gaze never leaving the stars. 'It's so rare to see any from the garden…'

They didn't need to talk. There was no need. The expressions they exchanged between one another said more than any amount of words could have. A stoic Squall exchanged glances between the sky and his companion as if in debate which he preferred to provide his attention. The answer was simple enough no matter how hard the warrior tried to deny it.

The raven-haired beauty whom sat at his side and tried so hard to get this man to speak was now glad he was at a loss for words. She almost admired it. His unrestricted actions spoke louder and meant more than any amount of words that were limited in meaning and lacked the feelings a person wished to convey. Maybe Squall was better at communicating at everyone else. Other people just had to learn to listen. She certainly felt this way as she felt his arm drape across her shoulder allowing her head something soothing to rest upon.

Rinoa leaned against him as they stargazed to their heart's content. She started to shiver as the night grew cooler leaving Squall to only curse himself for not brining a coat. It was his first date, he was allotted some mistakes. He could only reach over and rub her arm with his gloved hands hoping the warmth would pass through. Rinoa now shifted so she could rest her head against his shoulder sending a waft of sweet perfume to tantalize his senses further. Here our mysterious commander sat, feeling for once just a little bit happy.

As all good moments must come to an end so did this one. After watching the stars twinkle in the sky for several hours they both realized they had best make their way back to the Garden. There were classes tomorrow after all. Squall briefly toyed with the idea of canceling them for his benefit. What was the point of being in charge if one couldn't abuse their powers every once in a while?

Rinoa stood up still feeling a bit in a daze, still having trouble accepting the fact this night was real and not just fantasy in her mind. Hand in hand they walked out of the building that night and onto the street making their way back to Garden, back to their home.

Rinoa had other plans though, wanting the night to continue for as long as possible. It was strange that the one with classes was the one not concerned for them. She saw an ice-cream vendor attended by an elderly man on the other side of the street. Not really wanting any, Rinoa felt it would buy her a few more seconds. "Squall, would you go get us an ice-cream?"

"Us?" His mind started racing at the thought of a sneak attack.

"Mm hmm" If sweetness could cause heart-attacks, her voice would have required Squall to get a pace-maker

"An? Just one? Us?" Primary line of defense breached. Defenses scattered. Evacuate.

"Please?" her eyes fluttered once more. The self-destruct device went off in Squall's head. New frame of thinking required. Need Input.

"uhh…" Hard drive formatted.

"We can share." Tactical nuclear strike detected. Defeat imminent.

"You don't want to share with me?" She slowly licked her lips as she traced a finger down his chest while looking at him with big deceivingly innocent eyes.

"Fine. Don't go anywhere." The white flag was now raised over the barren wasteland that was now his mind. It was open to the conqueror to rebuild it as they see fit. The fallen hero developed a sudden fear that all things recreated would be baby blue or pink which forced a trail of tremors down his spine. A counterattack would be needed at a later date and time.

He ran across the street to retrieve some ice-cream wondering what the people at Garden would say if they could see him now.

This was going to be a complicated decision. Choose the wrong flavor and he may end up being the court jester for the invading army. The right one may grant him some favor for his new lord and ma-

'What the hell am I thinking? I'm not going to let her walk all over me. I'll pick the flavor I wanted.' Squall couldn't hear the sigh of disgust that escaped Griever's mouth as both realized just how lame that sounded.

He carefully perused the selection the old man had brought with him as he contemplated which flavor suited him best. His eyes quickly landed on the perfect choice. Good old reliable Vanilla. He smiled as he started to point to that flavor and order the single cone.

His mind flashed the image of a thunderbolt when even he knew he had chosen the wrong one. She was a free spirit. A woman free to adventure and explore the full rainbow of flavors to experience. He would have to be a little outgoing this time. Time for the rebel in him to really strut his stuff.

'Better make that a vanilla bean.'

Rinoa smiled to see him run off to get her a treat just because she asked. 'I'll have to reward him when he comes back…' But her thoughts were interrupted as a hand covered her mouth and pulled her into an alleyway, her attacker never within her sight.

She was forced up against the wall and could feel the hands of the stranger run up and down her side as she struggled to break free with her few days of training already long forgotten. It was then she felt a cold blade pressed against her neck causing her to cease her fidgeting. "Make a sound, and you die." Those words stabbed through her worse than the knife ever could with the realization of what was about to happen finally dawning on her.

The attacker appeared to be an older guy in his mid thirties with dirty blond hair and the stench of garbage on his breath. His eyes were distant and cold, but unlike Squall's she saw no little spark in them, no hint of life. He tugged down upon her dress trying to force it off and let him get exactly what it was he was after. The attacker was in for a rude awakening.

He was snapped back and soon fell unconscious as his face collided with the fist of a very angry young man. The assailant lay motionless on the floor except for the breathing that noted he was still alive. That just wasn't acceptable for Squall. His feral instincts quickly took over with the desire to protect and seek vengeance thus leading his thoughts into a slaughter.

He kicked the form below him repeatedly and received a grunt in response for each one while the man's mouth soon started drooling blood that formed a river down the alley. Squall bent down over the man and grabbed him by the hair pulling him forward to meet with one last punch. One last punch that should finish the job.

He pulled his arm back but found it had a little more weight on it than it should. He turned his head to find a sobbing Rinoa holding his arm and shaking her head. "Squall, no… please, lets just go home…"

Squall released his grip from the man's hair allowing the form to slump back onto the floor. He stood up and gave the mugger one last kick to the abdomen before taking Rinoa back into his arms and escorted her back toward the Garden.

The walk went on quite, but he could feel her trembling against him. He didn't know how to offer someone comfort. That wasn't his job. He was merely a tool to kill. A tool that could get the mission done. Emotions had no place dwelling inside tools.

But he wasn't just a tool anymore. He felt. He started to give a damn. And as Hyne as his witness, he smiled. More importantly, it was possible he was cared for. Valued even. She might value him. If that was to ever be completely true, he would have to giver her reason to.

He couldn't imagine what would have been running through her mind, the shock too big to handle. He didn't know how to act or what to say, but he did know this, he had to try. "I dropped your ice-cream. Sorry."

Rinoa looked up at him a little puzzled, almost questioning where it came from. She could see the look he had on his face. It wasn't the usual blank expression, but one that held concern for her well being over it. She giggled a little bit at both his attempt at humor and for changing the topic though it was not something so easily forgotten.

"Squall, please, just hold me and don't go" He nodded though she never saw it and trusted only in the fact that his arms were wrapped around her as they walked back to the Garden where they could put the horrors behind them.

Without anything else being said they soon reached the Garden while still holding onto one another and made their way to the dorm area. "Rinoa, which room is yours? I will walk you back."

She hesitated in her answer. "Squall, could I…could I spend the night in your dorm? I could stay in the extra room. Please, it would make me feel better." He didn't like the sound of her voice. He wanted to hear that spirited girl again from the past few mornings. The same girl that pestered him when he secretly wished to be bothered.

They stood still in the hallway for 5 minutes before Squall could come to terms with what he was about to say. "Yes." He had to bring back that girl somehow.

He led her into his room but scanned the hallways to make sure no one saw them. He didn't need rumors to spread and tarnish her name. People could say what the wanted about him. He never cared; at least that's what he would keep telling himself.

Once inside his living area she found the strength to release from his gasp and made her way to the restroom as the desire to wash off the dirty feeling from the night overpowered her worse than her attacker.

Rinoa exited the bathroom to find a cup of hot chocolate awaiting her in Squall's hands which she gladly accepted. "I thought you might like a cup, calm your nerves and help you sleep. I put an extra shirt and baggy pants for you to change into so you might be a bit more comfortable. Don't worry, I just had them washed."

Another attempt at humor. Squall was defiantly falling for this girl. She smiled at him, though it lacked much of the luster it usually held. Rinoa finished off the warm soothing liquid and headed in the room to change. When she exited the room she found that Squall had not done the same. In fact he now held his gunblade in hand. "Aren't you going to change and go to bed?"

Squall shook his head as he replied. "No, I will wait till I'm sure you are asleep. I'll watch over you here and make sure nothing more happens." Rinoa's smile began to reclaim some of its original shine 'He is going to watch over me hoping the added feeling of security will help me sleep. Who would have known he was so thoughtful…'

She signaled for Squall to come closer, not wanting to say this too loudly even though she knew they had complete and utter privacy. "I hope you uh... don't mind my asking but um… could you maybe, hold my hand while I sleep? I'll feel better knowing you are right there." Squall nodded to her request, not feeling it unreasonable.

He waited outside the door till she was under covers, not feeling right coming in before then. Rinoa watched him enter the room and put the lethal gunblade down at his side. Squall pulled a chair near the bed and held Rinoa's hand as her eyes closed and she fell asleep just a few moments later.

He watched her rest for a few minutes before realizing that she was indeed actually asleep. Feeling a bit sheepish he released her hand and walked over to his room, leaving his gunblade there somehow feeling that its mere presence would keep away danger.

Once in his own room, which was almost as barren as the rest of his domicile, he took off his shirt and changed into his night pants before lying down on his bed. He stared up at the ceiling with one hand behind his head as he hoped the girl sleeping in just the next room would have a peaceful night after such a horrendous event. He cursed himself for letting it get as far is it did feeling her protection was his responsibility as her date. He would not let that happen again. There was nothing he could do about it now, except…

'Griever. I don't ask much of you other than the occasional peace and quiet'

< That's right. You don't >

'I can't watch over her all the time'

< You are maturing. I am proud > But the rare praises form Griever were buried within his preoccupied mind.

'I know you may feel less of me for asking you this but…'

< I have a feeling I would have never been prouder of a youngling… >

'I need your help. Watch over her when I can't.'

The response was the only thing he needed to hear before he too closed his eyes and found himself immersed in sleep.

< You have grown rapidly young pup. Your request is granted. >

what do you think? A little cliche maybe but (shrugs) thats how i saw things in my head. I hope you guys liked it and will take the time to review. The next chapter is only about half written though. I will do my absolute best to update as soon as possible and thats a promise. until next time, thanks and take care all. :-)