13

Squall stopped smiling yesterday.

Seifer sent a small smile over his shoulder as he stopped in front of the castle gates, "We're home."

Squall nodded, "We made it, huh."

The blonde raised an arm and cheers sounded form the inside. The castle gates were thrown open and the couple rode in accompanied by Dran.

Shouts of welcome were coming from the crowd who had seemed to have anxiously awaited the arrival of their king.

Seifer blew kisses and waved to everyone, looking truly at home.

Dylan, Seifer's first in command rushed ahead and took Seifer's horse, "Well, I told them you wouldn't go down easy."

"Hah. Are you sure you weren't the one that said I was down?" Seifer patted Dylan's back.

The elderly man grinned, "Glad to have you home."

"Yeah, glad to be home. As for my survival, you have Squall to thank."

Dylan turned and smiled at Squall, "Well, please accept my deepest gratitude on behalf of the kingdom, but I assure you we would have felt the same even if you didn't save his sorry ass."

Squall's eyes widened and Seifer laughed, "Excuse Dylan, he's an old friend of the family. He means well, trust me."

Squall nodded and smiled, looking around the place Seifer called home. Lush trees and grass covered the whole place. There were roses and daisies everywhere in every possible color. Children ran around laughing and playing while their mothers tended to the cows or watered the plants. Men talked together as they worked on building and fixing things, even the oldies were to be seen, playing chess or enjoying the fresh air. There were many pats on the back and hugs fro the king's safe return. Birds and bees sang and hummed as they explored the beautiful landscape.

Seifer grabbed Squall's arm, "So? You like it here?"

"It's warm and beautiful. Yes, it's wonderful. People here are very lucky."

"Yeah. I will never allow anyone to take over this place. Now you understand why I'm so protective."

Squall nodded but there was a hint of trouble in the bend of his shoulders.

"Cheer up; we will share the same room if that's what you're worried about."

Squall blushed furiously, "No way. I'm glad to finally get rid of you."

"You are, aren't you?" Seifer laughed as he led his lover to his home.

"Here."

"Hey, how come…your home…the building."

Seifer laughed at squall's shocked face, "Yeah, well…the castle is more like a public fun place where parties are made and celebrations and stuff. I would rather live in a place like this; after all it is only me and the housekeeper, so there is no need for anything extravagant."

Seifer's home was a tad larger than everyone else's, lying atop a green hill all by itself, overlooking the other houses and places. The blonde pulled Squall into his home and the housekeeper, an elderly lady, hugged him, "Well, Seifer, I was so worried. I knew if I was ever going to die its going to be because of you. I just knew it. Still trying to give this old lady a heart attack."

The blonde chuckled, "Laura, this is Squall…he's going to be staying here."

"Oh, that's nice. I'm Laura. It's a pleasure to be meeting a fine young lad like yourself."

Squall smiled and shrugged offhandedly, shaking the woman's hand.

"Squall, I'm going to go catch up on the happenings of Esther, please make yourself at home. Laura, I trust you can take care of him. And by the way the wolf roaming outside is his pet; I assume you wouldn't mind his presence. Such a dear thing, really…when he isn't growling at you."

Laura laughed, "I see."

Squall nodded, "I'll go walk outside for a while, be back before nightfall."

"Okay, great. Please do."

Squall waved and left the cottage, his heart as heavy as rocks by a cave.

Dran looked up as Squall petted his halfheartedly, whining at his master's frown.

"Let's walk around, Dran." Squall walked away from the homes in the shadows of a low sun. Grass swayed with the breeze, "It's pretty nice here, huh. Mother would love it, don't you think. The weather and nature here would do her good. But…"

Squall sat beneath the shade of an oak tree, "Mother and Gavin are with the king…you want to know why, old friend?"

Dran sat by Squall, his head nestled on the brunet's laps. Squall stoked the wolf's fur, "Ransom. That's why they're there. And then there is Seifer. Heh, I have to betray him…find his weakness…so that this beautiful, peaceful place will be nothing but ashes, right?"

Dran nuzzled Squall's hand. "Seifer loves me, you know. That's why I'm here…if only he would find out…what do you think he'll do, Dran? I've never seen the blonde fight…"

Squall hugged his pet's neck and cried into his fur, "Why did it become like this? Why do I have to choose between him or my family? What should I do, Dran? Tell me!"

Violet eyes flashed with the setting sun, and wiping off tears that weren't his, Leon snorted and stood up, "Let's end this charade, Dran."