Author's Note: Thank you all to my reviewers and people who added me/this story to their favorites. It is greatly appreciated. I failed to mention last chapter that there will be some out of character-ness. I will try to stay within reason of some characters but for the sake of this story I need to chance some people just a bit. Um, also I haven't seen this movie in the longest time, which is a good thing. It won't be a cookie cutter copy of the original with only name changes. I hate that. Anyway, thanks go out to Seigneur Chat Noir, for reading this over and making sure I don't fail at life.

Disclaimer: The plot isn't mine, neither are the characters. But the words in-between are mine so.


Chapter 1

Squall awoke to the sound of loud music. He wrapped the sheets around his naked form and stood up.

"Well it's about time you got up," a blonde woman said coming out of the bathroom.

"Mm-hmm," he mumbled pulling on his pants. "How can I sleep with that Hyne-damned music up so loud?"

"Awe," cooed the woman. "He pretends to be mad now, but he didn't say a thing about it last night."

"Quistis, no one could complain about you at night," Squall said pulling her into a kiss.

"You better get a move on," she said breaking from him. "Or you'll be late."

Squall looked at the clock on the night stand. "Son of a bitch," he said pulling on his shirt and running for the door. "Can I see you again tonight?"

"Doubtful, I've got a mission. I should be back in a few days though."

"Beautiful. Call me when you get back."

"You bet. Now get out of here."

Being a mercenary not affiliated with a Garden was a bitch. Squall Leonhart learned that the hard way. But he couldn't go crawling back now. He pushed his way through the crowded room carrying his gunblade case. The Underground was the only place for someone like him to get work.

"There he is," someone called from behind him and slapped his shoulder.

"Irvine," Squall greeted.

"Don't-cha just love it man. The world's underground looking for guys like us to carry out their dirty work because the Gardens don't do illegal assassinations," Irvine said, pushing Squall through the crowd.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Squall said. "Make yourself useful and put in a call for me at the front desk will ya? Make my name announced. Make me look important."

"Alright, but next time you do it for me" Irvine said walking off into the crowd. Squall stood waiting in the ant farm and lit himself a cigarette.

"Phone call for Mr. Squall Leonhart," the loudspeaker blared.

"That was fast," Squall thought. He pushed his way through the crowd in the same direction Irvine had gone.

"Thanks man," Squall said patting the cowboy's back.

"That wasn't me. I didn't do it yet."

"What the hell?" Squall thought aloud. He continued to push his way toward the front table.

"Name?" the man at the desk asked.

"Squall Leonhart."

"Oh yeah, there's a woman here looking for you."

"Where is she?"

"I dunno, she went that way," the man said point into the crowd.

"Thanks," Squall muttered and dove back into the throng of people. He suddenly found himself face-to-face with a short black haired girl.

"Squall," she said.

"Yeah, that's me. Were you the one looking for me?"

"Yes. You don't remember me do you," she stated looking to the ground.

"Can't say I do. Sorry lady."

"I'm pregnant," she said softly.

"What's that?"

"I'm pregnant," Rinoa repeated louder, gaining the attention of some of the guys around him. Some of them chuckled and offered their congratulations. The girl looked up at him and he could now see the tears in her eyes.

"Oh wow. You were the girl at the…"

"Yes."

"Wow, I… uh…"

"Don't worry," she said. "I am not looking to force you to marry me or nothing, just the name of a doctor."

"A doctor?" Squall asked.

"Yeah. You know, I don't plan on keeping it."

"Oh geez. I dunno. Are you sure it's mine?" Squall asked.

He saw the pain twist her face, then anger. "Of course it's yours, you son of a bitch. What do you take me for, huh?" Rinoa pushed against him with all her might and then ran the other way toward the door.

"Hey, wait a minute," he called running after her. "Wait." He caught up to her out in the hallway. She turned around and faced him.

"You are a real jerk, you know that? You got me into this trouble. I was hoping you could at least help me out. You are a real… Meany!" She began to walk off again.

"Hey com'on wait," he said grabbing her arm and stopping her. "I'm sorry. Listen, I was just shocked is all. You can't just drop something on a guy like that."

She pulled roughly away from him. "Well it wasn't any picnic when I found out, either. And it won't be if my father finds out."

"Well why come to me? Why not just go to some clinic out of this city and get rid of it?"

"I can't afford it all on my own. And besides I can't just go to 'some clinic.' It's not that easy."

"Why not? Seems like it should be."

"You don't get it Squall. My father he's -- well he's someone very important, and if I got spotted going into a place like that, it would ruin him."

Squall stood there in silence. "What the hell does she want from me?" his mind asked.

"Listen I don't expect, you to understand. Sorry I wasted your time." She walked away again.

"Hey wait. Where can I find you?"

"I work at the Deiling City Hotel." With that she disappeared out the door. Squall stood there with his thoughts.

"Shit," he yelled, kicking the nearest wall.

He walked back into Quistis' apartment, glad she hadn't left yet.

"Back already?" she asked. "My Hyne you are white as a ghost everything okay?"

"Yeah."

Quistis got up and went back to packing.

"No," Squall said finally. "I need a doctor."

Quistis moved back to him quickly.

"Oh my Hyne. What's the matter are you sick?" She asked placing a hand on his forehead.

"Oh it's not for me. It's for a friend. He sort of got a girl in trouble." Quistis stood up and moved away from Squall.

"You son of a bitch," she screamed, slapping him. "You have the nerve to come here and ask me for a doctor because you knocked someone up? Get out."

"Quis let me explain. I said it's not for me."

"What do you think I am stupid? Get out," she screamed pointing at the door.

Rinoa picked up her bag from under the desk and swung it over her shoulder. She let out a tired sigh and she walked out the front door of the posh Deiling City Hotel.

"G'nite Miss Rinoa," said the old door man.

"Good night Watts."

"Hey Rinny," someone called from the street.

"Oh Hyne," she muttered to herself and began walking down the well lit street.

"Rinny. Hey," called the man again, honking his horn this time. Rinoa tried to ignore him and continued walking.

The blond man run up and stopped her.

"Hey Rin, what's this, you don't acknowledge your brother in public anymore?" he asked.

"Seifer, I don't need you picking me up from work. I am a big girl I can take care of myself. Besides you are embarrassing me."

"What? How do I embarrass you?" Seifer asked. "What getting a ride from your brother is such a bad thing now? So I suppose taking the bus now is cool."

"Leave me alone," she muttered walking toward the bus stop.

"Wasn't it you," Seifer continued, "Who would beg me to pick you up from school everyday just so you wouldn't have to take the bus?"

"Hyne you know what fine," Rinoa said, climbing into his car.

"You are such a pain in the ass, Rin. You know that?" Seifer said as he climbed into his car and sped off.

"Maybe I wouldn't be such a pain in the ass if you would quite babying me. I am old enough to take care of myself."

"No, if you weren't such a pain in the ass I wouldn't have to baby you."

"I hate you," she said folding her arms across her chest.

"I love you too. Now when we get home you need to get dressed, we got company coming over for dinner," Seifer said.

"Oh Hyne tell me you and that man aren't trying to set me up with another one of his associate's sons is he?"

"No."

"Thank Hyne."

"Zell's coming over."

"No, not Zell Dincht," Rinoa whined.

"What's wrong with Zell?" Seifer asked.

"He's a dope that's what. We have to hide all our valuable china things while he's around."

"He's not a dope he's just nervous is all. You make the boy nervous."

"Nervous. I make him nervous? Hah. He makes our furniture nervous."

Rinoa jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped in the driveway of the Caraway mansion. She pushed open the door and pounded up to her room and slammed the door. She curled up into fetal position on the bed and began to cry softly. There was a soft poke at her arm, startling her.

"Oh Angelo," she cried. "I had the worst day ever." She hugged the collie dog around his neck. The dog moved and began licking her face. "Why can't all men be as sweet as you?" she asked getting off the bed.

Rinoa walked her adjacent bathroom and turned on the faucet. She crouched down and opened the cupboards under the sink and pulled out a bottle of bubble bath and poured it into the tub. Rinoa began to remove her shirt when the door burst open.

"What are you doing? Get out," Rinoa shrieked.

"You aren't taking a bath are you?" Seifer asked.

"No, ya know I just like watching the bathtub fill with water."

"Rin, you don't have time. Zell's gonna be here any minute."

"Well good make him wait. I need a bath."

"Like hell. Let's go," Seifer said grabbing her arm.

"Let me go."

"Mister Seifer, Miss Rinoa. There is a Mister Dincht here," announced a voice from the bedroom door. Seifer smirked triumphantly at the scowling Rinoa.

Zell Dincht stood in the large hallway of the Caraway mansion. He shifted his weight from one foot to another and he glanced around the hall. He heard running water from the upstairs stop and a loud shriek that caused him to tense. He then heard muffled yelling followed by several door slams. He contemplated, for a minute, opening the front door and making a run for it.
The sound of calm footsteps moving down the stairs broke his thoughts. Zell smiled innocently as Rinoa came into view with Seifer close behind.

"Zell," she greeted. Seifer moved to stand next to Zell.

"Hello Rinoa. I – uh. It-it's good to see you again."

Seifer elbowed Zell slightly, causing Zell to cough.

"I –uh- ya know brought these flowers for you," he said, handing Rinoa a handful of half-wilted flowers that looked as though they had been plucked from his mother's garden.

"Thank you, Zell," she said, taking the flowers and walking away.

"Dincht," Seifer said looking at the shorter man. "Stop acting like such a chicken-wuss around my sister. She isn't gonna bite."

"I don't know Seifer, sometimes I think she will."

"Hah, hah. Let me get you a drink," Seifer said dragging Zell into the sitting room. Zell plopped down onto a couch, while Seifer busied himself at the bar.

"What can I get you?"

"Oh ya know, whatever you're having," Zell replied.

As Seifer handed Zell his glass Rinoa entered and sat down at a wing chair in the corner. Zell squirmed in his seat.

"Hey Rin. Can I get you a drink?" Seifer offered.

"No, thank you," she muttered.

"Dinner is served," a butler announced.

General Caraway was already seated at the table when the others entered. He stood when Rinoa entered. The three men sat down after Rinoa had.

"Mr. Dincht, good to see you again," Caraway said as the food was set before them.

"Thank you sir. It was good of you to have me."

"How's your mother?" Caraway asked.

"Oh, ya know good as one could hope. I suppose," Zell said reaching for the salt. As his hand traveled across the table he knocked over a candle, which in turn dumped Rinoa's water glass all over her. She let out a shriek and stood up.

"Oh geez. I'm real sorry. Let me." He jumped up and moved to help Rinoa. His chair slid back into a desk behind him knocking over a vase, which shattered on the floor. Zell stopped and looked at the vase on the floor. Rinoa shot Seifer a winning look and left the room.

"I'm real sorry about this," Zell said, almost in tears.

"It's okay Zell. Don't worry about it, huh?" Seifer said, patting Zell on the back. "She makes a lot of people nervous."