(11)

Of Friendship and Reunions

Seifer walked into Trisha's room, a slight frown on his face as the woman glared at him, "If I remember, you're my son's Caretaker, right?"

Seifer shrugged and sat down on one of the chairs available for visitors, "Actually I'm here for Squall. I want to understand you…maybe to understand him."

Trisha frowned suspiciously, "Did he ask you to come?"

"No, he's sleeping this early in the morning."

"Early? It's 9 and my son waked up with the sun. He told me so."

Seifer smiled, "Well then, I assure you I kept him up so late last night that he won't wake up till noon."

Trisha frowned slightly, "You screw Squall?"

"No. I make love to him." Seifer challenged.

Trisha waved the last remark away, "So, he's your personal pet now."

"No, he's my lover." Seifer snapped, "I'm really not here to describe our sexual life for you, rather I want to know why you hate him so much?"

"Hate him? I don't hate him…he's my son…how could I hate him?"

Seifer snorted, "Yeah, and the sun suddenly decided to rise at night. For heaven's sake."

Trisha chuckled, "You wouldn't understand. All of you rich, pampered men are the same. It's so sad that Squall still doesn't get it."

Seifer frowned, "Get what?"

"That if he is to survive, he's got to be cruel and callous…cold and nonchalant."

The blonde just stared at Squall's mother. Her eyes were identical to Squall's, except her hair was a darker shade of brown.

"Squall's father was also elite. Squall was a result of one short fling with that bastard. He had vowed his love to me, left Squall and I alone without a penny to help."

Trisha's eyes clouded with the memory, "I had been so enchanted by Loz's superfluous life and extravagant words that I let him take my virginity and do as he pleased till I was pregnant with his heir. I thought he would be happy, bet he suggested abortion and that I could be his paramour. Who would have known, he had been married and had four daughters to call his own. I lived with my sister and Squall. I can't say my life was a happy one, but we were together, we were a family, broken, but still a family. But on Squall's 12th birthday Loz showed up and took Squall away from me. I couldn't say anything. No lawyer would aid a penniless woman's case. By then Loz had founded the Elite Club as he called it. He raped my son and put him to work there. Squall escaped to me the first few times, but Loz would come and take him again. No matter where we hid, he seemed to find us. After the third try, Squall never came back. My sister died four years ago and Squall somehow managed to find out and come to the funeral. His father is out of the country, living in America with his wife and daughters, and Kei became the owner and manager. Squall then started to visit me here…I had already developed lung cancer. He was still a cheerful boy. Not like an innocent child, but rather a boy who smiles in hope of holding on. Denzel, I heard, is a good friend of his. I think Denzel was also part of the reason Squall still laughed and goofed around."

Trisha looked out the window and waited for it to sink in…the history of a lost child.

Seifer frowned, "But that doesn't explain why you are so cruel to him now."

"In hopes of turning his heart to stone." Trisha whispered.

Seifer stood up, "Tche…I think it would have been wiser if you had shown some support here and there. But what is done is done. I heard you won't be lasting much longer."

Trisha smiled weakly, "It's been four years…how long can mutated, cancerous lungs last?"

"You know, I could send you to the best hos"

"I'd rather you spend all that on Squall. My time is over. Do you mind if you bring Squall over tomorrow. Maybe it's time for a reunion."

Squall smiled as Seifer walked in, looking glum and brooding. "Mmm…Where have you been?"

"To see your mother."

Squall frowned, "Huh? Why?"

"Nothing, really. She wants us to visit tomorrow."

Squall pouted in confusion, "Why?"

Seifer shrugged, "Who knows. She told me a story of a little, lost lamb who found his angel, or rather, who found his flock."

Squall shook his head, "I don't get it, Seifer."

The blonde smiled brightly, "Tomorrow will come soon enough. Now, how about we go for a swim?" Squall looked dubious for a minute but then nodded and went to fetch his swimming trunks.

Squall looked slightly nervous as he walked into his mother's room, "Mother!"

Squall gaped at a pretty brunette with grey eyes smiled warmly at him. She wore a beautiful but rather pale dress with a ribbon on the back. He hair was tied to the side in a very modest fashion. "Squall, I've been waiting for you."

The brunet gasped as his mother hugged him tightly, "You really look surprised. What? You never thought your mother could be this pretty?"

Seifer leaned in the doorway, "Yes, I suppose you do look stunning."

"Why, thank you." Squall just stood rooted to the spot, staring at the woman who had been and the one she had become, "Mother?"

Seifer smiled, "You sound genuinely worried, Squall. Is there a problem with her looking pretty for you?"

Squall frowned, "I don't understand. You told her something yesterday, didn't you?"

Trisha chuckled merrily, "Now, son, don't be rude. Seifer is a good listener. I poured my heart out to him yesterday."

"What?" Squall pouted, "Whatever. I'm glad you look well mother. You…wanted to see me."

Trisha nodded and held her son's hand, walking over to sit on the bed and pulling Squall to sit beside her. She still held onto his hand in her laps and smiled at him, tears clouding her vision of the man her son had become, "You take good care of yourself…and don't ever change."

Squall's heart skipped a beat as his mother pulled him closer and cried, her tears falling onto his neck, "I'm so sorry. I can understand if you don't forgive me, but I am so sorry."

"M…mother." Squall whispered as she stroked his hair and patted his shoulder like he was the one crying.

Seifer rolled his eyes at the emotional scene, "I'm jealous."

Trisha pulled back, a small smile on her face, "That's really all I wanted to say to you. I love you, son, and I am sorry for all the things I used to say. I never meant a word of them."

Squall still looked dazed as Seifer led him to a table on the far side of a restaurant, "What exactly has you so surprised? That she looks pretty or that she could be kind?" Seifer joked.

Squall smiled, "I don't know. It's just so sudden. Did you see her? It's been years, Seifer. There must be something wrong, even if the nurses say she's doing fine."

Seifer shrugged, "You're worrying too much. Let's enjoy the night, will you?"

Denzel walked over to their table, "HEYALL!"

Squall gaped at his friend and frowned at Seifer, "You could have at least told me if you asked Denzel to come."

"Hey, you stole my damned line. It wasn't me."

Denzel laughed as he sat between the couple, "Mary is the culprit I tell you, but don't tell her you heard it from me."

Squall groaned and Seifer rolled his eyes, "I always knew she was a tattletale. Too bad she's married. You two make a great team."

Denzel laughed loudly, attracting people's attention. "Hush, people are looking this way." Squall whispered.

"Looking? Where? Of course they are looking at me. For heaven's sake I am the embodiment of"

"Stupidity and madness." Seifer cut in.

"I wasn't going to say that." Denzel laughed, "So what have you guys been up to?"

"Nothing you would be so interested in." Squall put in.

Denzel looked thoughtful for a minuet before a bright grin lit his face, "You want to hear my newest song? Actually Leonardo," Denzel said, referring to his lover, "Helped me make up these lyrics."

"No no no…thanks but no thanks. How about we…umm…eat?" Squall sputtered.

"By the way, Leonardo…he…bought my freedom."

Squall lit up and Seifer nodded. "You should have said so earlier!" the brunet clapped his hands, "That is great. I'm glad…"

Denzel nodded but a slight frown overtook his features, "Yeah, but there is something else connected to my freedom."

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Seifer picked on.

Denzel nodded, "You're a shrewd one, huh." Squall choked on his drink, "Whatever do you mean?"

"Leonardo is going to Spain, and he's taking me with him."

Squall looked dismayed, "You're leaving forever!"

Denzel nodded but smiled, "Our flight, it's in three days, I'll spend them with you, don't look so heartbroken, I wouldn't have left if I wasn't sure you're in good hands. Angel here will kiss all your pain away and screw all your sadness."

Seifer cleared his throat as the waitress placed their orders.

"But"

"Ah, comon." Denzel ruffled the brunet's hair, "You'll be just fine. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again sometime."

Squall snorted but Seifer nodded, "We'll go visit them after I'm done with my latest business project; in a month or two."

Squall nodded and Denzel chuckled, "Anyway, the song goes like this…