AN: First thing is first. This story has broken all my personal stat records. Basically you guys are awesome! Second. My fluff ff8 piece is updated and finished. Hooooray. This chapter is short and sweet but i hope you will enjoy the reading none the less. I will probably add just one more chapter. After that i will be releasing another story. Thank you to all the beta readers on that one. You all have provided valuable insight. I may come back and do a sequel here, but who knows.

Thanks for everything guys. You have made me really happy with your reviews. I hope i earn the privilage of recieving some more.

The Garden was alive with a new buzz as the students and faculty moved about like busy bees. There was much news floating about. While it was true that many were shocked to hear that the Commander had came so close to falling through death's door, something else was far more stunning.

Someone was taking care of their Commander. Word had it that it was a student no less. A female student at that.

Naturally the whole Garden had been concerned when their leader found himself gripped in-between the jaws of death. The whole situation felt rather unbelievable as their symbol of courage and power fell victim to circumstances. This was a man who changed their destiny and altered the future and yet he was unable to handle simpler situations in the present.

However once his life was assured, far more important news had spread faster than wildfire. Their Commander may have a girlfriend. More than that, someone he loved.

Since Squall had been unable to lead due to his dire medical condition, the faculty stepped up. Against his authority they released his picture after he had been found and thrust Squall Leonhart into becoming an overnight idol. It was the only opportunity they would have in helping him come out of his shell and dealing with the fame that was bound to catch up with him.

His privacy was now officially intruded upon. Stories sprang up left and right about those who met the scarred warrior in chance encounters from students either seeking momentary popularity or in quest of the posisition as his new love interest should his current flame burn out.

A new after school activity had arisen. Capture the Commander. His pain and injuries were disregarded as everyone sought him out. When his identity had been revealed, one of the greatest mysteries this world new had been exposed to the masses and they in response reacted in typical fashion.

Everyone wanted to deny him his personal life. All wished to clamor around him as a constant reminder of the tasks he accomplished in his past. None were concerned for what potential still remained for the future. Well, one person did. It was the only person who knew where the Commander lay holed up.

In the A wing of the dorm area, one man lay curled up in a bed he shared with another. Many questions hung in the air because of their compromising position, questions with easy and simple answers.

Was it his bed? Certainly not. He would have been easy to find had he remained in his own domicile but few would expect him to be in a woman's room. Who was the person sleeping comfortably next to him? That was a query whose answer was too obvious to directly answer. Why was Squall clinging so tightly to her as they both rested? When one acted so foolish to drive one they love away, is it absurd to think they might awaken and find out they had succeeded?

That left the heaviest hanging question of them all. With them sleeping together like that, had anything physical happened between the two? Well Squall was never one to kiss in tell. Actually he was never one to say much of anything to anyone. As mentioned before, he was a man who appreciated his privacy.

His eyes opened and gaze upon the curvy form that was embraced upon him. Her glowing face was but an inch away from his own with shining black strands of silk flowing about her peaceful expression. Her eyes were tightly shut hiding her laughing chocolate brown eyes from view. If only there was a way to cause her eyelids to flutter open like the flapping of wings from a new butterfly.

As his eyes slowly wandered down from her shielded eyes and landed upon her lightly pursed pinkish lips, that way was made clear to him. There was little choice but to obey the indescribably magnetic pull her lips had upon his own as Squall obeyed what must be yet another law of nature.

His original intentions had been to steal a quick soft kiss from a woman he not only lusted after, but loved vigorously. When the once sleeping women released an amorous purr while caught within the depths of the kiss, Squall learned that oftentimes plans need to adjust and grow to suit everyone's growing needs.

The deepened kiss activated hidden instincts in Squall that shut his eyes to his Rinoa. No longer could they feast upon her milky white skin that cast a radiance that challenged the moon. No longer could he follow her form down from her supple chess to her long slender legs. And oh yes, no longer could he see the feather clad wings that stretched out from her back.

She is a sorceress. His bloodline was one that habitually slayed them. Is? Was? Words when switched drastically change the meaning of a sentence. He was one to kill those who could bend the world of magic to their ways. Now he is but a knight who will uphold an oath to protect their longevity.

Many thoughts ran through his mind as he lay there with his lips busy entertaining Rinoa's. He had all too easily cast aside his beliefs and values in order to protect someone who should by all means be his enemy. Was it possible that he had been bewitched without his knowledge? Was the vow he spoke to her merely the result of some strange life debt? Even if the answer to both or either question was yes, would it make a difference to him? That answer to as best he could tell was absolutely not.

In truth the burden Rinoa now bore was partially his fault. She was the recipient of Ultimcia's curse. That sorceress' defeat in the future left time in disarray. The powers one such being wielded has yet to be permanently defeated as they sought out another carrier. The vagueness of time compression allowed them to not only wander the globe this time, but time itself. They found something different in this particular girl.

Unlike their previous master, these powers found one whose heart would not be so easily blackened by having their love scorned. They found a host who was innately innocent and by nature pure. Perhaps the sorceress' powers may have finally found someone to break the cycle.

< Indeed the cycle may be broken my love. > It was a deep and confident voice. The pleading sounds and insecurities held before were long gone.

< My My Griever. Is it possible that you sound the least bit optimistic? > Hers deeply contrasted Griever with a light and playful aura.

< I truly believe these fated children have broken the cycle. He spurned her and yet she did not turn towards evil. There was not even the slightest temptation. >

A soft melodious laugh followed after. < Not in that Griever, but in thinking you had finally hooked your claws into me and claim me as your love. >

< But of course, how could you resist a icon for great pride and strength. >

< I have been doing it for eons. What has changed now? >

< Everything love, everything. > Griever pulled the mysterious finger closer into his grasp as she offered little to no resistance.

< Hush now Griever. It is their moment now, not ours. >

< I have waited years for your affection. I can be patient. >

The world of Guardian Forces was indeed peculiar, but no more than the land of humans. Finally a passionate kiss had ended and two lovers clutched tightly onto one another. Squalls hand glided down past Rinoa's shoulder and reached her outstretched wings which were now wrapped around them both.

Gently he began to slowly stroke them as his fingers danced between each individual feather. Rinoa could retract and call upon her wings at will, but now he seemed utterly fascinated by the new appendages. She would let him explore each and every part of him. What was the saying? To use a feather was erotic, but to use the whole damn chicken made things kinky.

With that much said, Squall Leonhart was not one to do…kinky things, but there was nothing wrong in experimenting in more erotic activities.

The feel of hands upon her wings was enough to bring a wide smile to her lips. He accepted her. He loved her. He did not shun her for what made her different. No, his only response was to learn more about her. Probably the most important fact of this all was that Squall did not kill her.

Rinoa's room was quiet as it served as the sanctuary from the ongoing clatter outside. They were temporarily ignorant to the manhunt that was going on in their doorsteps and it was in that ignorance did they stumble upon bliss with one another.

The problem with such serenity is that it can easily be shattered by the simplest uttering from any blameless person. When that simple uttering becomes a complex conundrum, havoc may ensue.

"What would you do if I told you Siefer lives?" His question had been blunt and out of place and yet needed to be addressed.

Rinoa's eyes gave way to a slight twitch as her eyes fought growing wide with shock. Siefer? Alive? For whatever reason his role in the war against Ultimicia was made extremely public. News of his death spread quickly. The most shocking revelation was that when Rinoa happened across the news and yet she didn't shed a single tear.

"I would continue to hug you and kiss you and love you for as long as you choose to receive it." She once again closed her eyes but did not let sleep claim her. She rested her head against his chest while she awaited his response. Squall never liked saying much, except to her.

Complex conundrums don't always lead to chaos and havoc.

"You have weakened me." Rinoa's eyes immediately shot open. She began to open her mouth in order to speak but stopped herself. Squall spoke in weird ways. She learned that after their first and only date thus far. Often what sounds like an insult will turn into the deepest and most meaningful compliment. "I have become addicted to your hugs, to your kisses, to your love, and to your affection. A warrior and leader can't afford to become addicted. Addiction leads to dependence. Dependence leads to weakness. Leaders must be strong."

Squall's hand moved up to caress the side of her face as he neared the point he wanted to convey. "But my addiction to you also means I will do everything I can to keep you safe, and to keep you to myself. Even if it means becoming selfish, I would seek to keep your feelings all to myself. I don't like to share." A soft giggle escaped Rinoa. Simultaneously both thought. 'Unless I had to share that love with children. Our children.'

Rinoa blushed while Squall cleared his throat and his mind of that thought. Getting married and having children was still sometime away.

< HAH. You wish. Think twins. One boy, one girl. > It seems Griever was back to stay within Squall.

Squall gulped. He could never tell when Griever was kidding. Wait, Griever was never one for humor.

"Squall? What's the matter? You froze all of a sudden." Her voice was like that of a timid little mouse. He could never tell her. No she must never find out. That would have been the end of him if she ever found out he found that voice to be terribly cute.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it." He kissed her softly upon her rose petal lips.

"So, do you feel better yet from your injuries to…?" Her face was nothing short of red. Partially from embarrassment at being so forward, partly at seeing Squall's face blush as well.

"I well…uh…" He was in a lot of pain but that was one hell of an offer to refuse.

Rinoa immediately flipped him over so she was on top. With a sly wink and a smile she glared down upon the man beneath her.

"Aw poor baby. Still feeling a bit weak? Don't worry. You just let your Rinny do all the work." The sultry tone was enough to get him excited.

Squall did nothing to stop her. He was after all an 'injured' man.

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