Disclaimer: I don't own FF8, never will. I found the cutest picture of Squall && Rinoa though, it made me go awww. . .I don't own that either, though.

Chapter 10 - A New Leg and Surprise

I didn't expect it to be THAT good of a day.

During the last six weeks remaining, nothing significant at all happened. We did, however go to a few more doctor appointment with Squall(Sometimes we would pick him up and Quistis would not attend), but his memory was barely progressing. He remembered a bit of his past, and who he was, but he didn't remember me at all, and my failed attempts were depressing. Everyday that past was a day I marked down on my calendar, waiting for the day that my leg cast was going to come off - February 5th. I had been waiting such a long time, and as soon as the day approached, I was even more excited then when my arm cast was coming off.

Barely sleeping, I dressed, which was now much easier thanks to my arm, and used my technique to get downstairs. My 'Technique' consisted of sitting down on one step, then using my arms to push me to the next, but first I had to slide the crutches downstairs. It was much easier then having to wait for Seifer to wake up, and I'd always been an early bird.

I even cooked breakfast for Seifer and I, to waste time and calm myself. I was already half way through with mine by the time Seifer came tiredly stumbling down the stairs, rubbing his eyes. He sat down and opened his eyes and jumped.

"Woah, you're up already?"

"I'm always up before you."

"My ass, sleeping beauty." I thought his morning grumpiness was hilarious, but he even though he was grumpy he managed to clear his plate in record time. He threw his napkin on his plate, and like always I had to clean the dishes, while he went and dressed. When he came back down, the kitchen was again, spotless, and he walked out the door without bothering to help me. I kneeled down and grabbed my dropped crutches and tried to get myself out the door. Although I was slow, I eventually made it to the car and into the passenger seat. The ride there was mostly me talking out of excitement, and him nodding and speeding.

When he did his infamous 'Stop on a dime' routine, I didn't even care, as long as we were at the hospital. This time, he did as much to open the door for me as we marched in. As we took our seats on the old, leather chairs, I couldn't wait for the doctor to call my name. A nurse then came out.

"Tifa Lockheart." A brown haired girl stood up and went into the room. Another nurse came out.

"Adelbert Steiner." I watched as a tall, pudgy man went down the hall. I rocked myself in anticipation and excitement.

"Rinoa Heartilly." I nearly squealed and jumped out of my seat, dragging Seifer down the bland halls until the nurse stopped in front of a room. Sitting on the chair, I fidgeted and squirmed, waiting to hear the solid footsteps of the doctor coming down the hall.

"This is the second time we've been through this, and you're still obnoxious as hell." I didn't mind the rude remark, because after what seemed like forever, the doctor appeared in the doorway.

"Hello, Rinoa. You're here to get your cast off today, I'm guessing?" I nodded and obnoxiously clapped my hands. The doctor could only smile at my excitement, as he began to take the cast off. He took the cast saw, and began to saw through the plaster. The friction made the cast seem extremely hot and I close my eyes until the buzzing was done. I looked down, and finally after WEEKS, my leg was free!

"Thank you so much Doctor!" I stepped on my 'new' leg. I could walk! My first few steps were wobbly from lack of use, but soon, nothing could stop me. We left the hospital and I jumped up and down. It was so fantastic!

"Race you to the car!" I said, running. He didn't join in, but continued his casual walk across the parking lot. I sat in the car, and kicked my legs begging him to drive before he even got buckled in.

"Nope, even if you can drive, I'm not letting you."

"Why?" I said in an exasperated tone.

"Because, it's my car." When we pulled out of the parking lot, I noticed Seifer took a different turn then the one that was supposed to bring us home.

"Seify, why aren't we going home?" I didn't know why I used the word 'Seify,' perhaps because of the natural high I was on, or perhaps to butter him up and let me drive. . .

"I have a surprise for you." I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh really?"

"Yes indeed." He smirked.

"And this surprise doesn't include you making moves on me in any way, right?"

"Damn, now I'll have to find something else." He said sarcastically. I laughed and watched him hit the gas pedal.

"So, how long will it be until we arrive at the surprise?"

"Quite a while, I'd take a nap if I were you." I nodded, but I was too excited to nap. I turned on the radio and sung along, until Seifer got annoyed and turned it onto the station he liked. I had no idea what song it was, or who was singing, all I knew was that Satan himself would have shunned the music for being so evil. I felt tainted even listening to it. So we just settled on keeping the radio off. Eventually, I started to feel drowsy from lack of sleep, and I did take a nap. I felt the car slow down and come to a stop. Seifer shook me, trying to wake me up. I slowly opened my eyes and yawned while I started to get out of the car. Once I was out, he covered up my eyes and started to walk me forward. The only thing I felt was the feeling of grass brushing against my feet.

"Okay, now open them." He removed his hand, so I opened my eyes, and I was amazed at what was in front of me. It was Edea's orphanage - but all fixed up! There was no longer broken down walls and dreary gray stones strewn along the walk way. There were no more weeds and the roof was fixed and patched up.

"Seifer, what did you do?" I could sense his smile behind me.

"You said you'd need to find a place. . .right?" My mouth was agape and I was still in awe when I turned around to still see his confident smirk.

"Seifer, this had to cost a fortune." His smile only got wider. He wasn't the richest person in the world, but he was very far from poor.

"Go ahead, admit it." I smiled too.

"Admit what?"

"How great I am." I laughed, once again caught up in the natural high of the moment - in the day, for that matter.

"Seifer is the greatest in the world. Ever." When I walked up the brick path that led through the courtyard, Seifer walked ahead of me and blocked the door. "Oh, so I only get to see the outside." He grinned and shook his head.

"You have to promise me, no matter what the inside looks like, you want say the words 'money, costs,' or any increment of numbers. Okay?"

"Alright. . ." He moved away from the door, and I opened it and the inside blew me away. There were hardwood floors and a dining room and a bright yellow kitchen.

"Seifer. . .oh my god." I stared at the chandelier and the dark, wood doors that were down the halls. I was afraid to even step foot in the house in fear of ruining everything that I saw.

"Am I amazing or what?" I didn't even realize he was talking. I opened one of the hallway doors, and there was a bedroom, one that was almost a replica of the one on the timber train, and completely pink.

"You really outdid yourself." I was surprised that with his obviously hideous decoration decisions in his last house, he managed to make something so beautiful in this one.

"Well, Selphie helped me some." He admitted. This surprised me even more. Selphie managed to keep her mouth shut about something. "You're in awe." I nodded inspecting everything about the interior in the house.

"Seifer. . .you didn't have to do any of this." He shook his head.

"You helped me redo my house when you were crippled. That's quite an accomplishment, so I returned the favor."

"You've. . .wow." I couldn't even exclaim how he exceeded my highest expectations out of a house, and how he surprised me. For once, I was at a loss of words. "Can I ever return the favor?" He nodded.

"I'm not in the mood for driving back, so I'm going to stay here tonight. If you want, you can make me dinner, too." I thought for a moment.

"I don't have my clothes or anything for tomorrow, though."

"Your suitcase is in the truck."

". . .So this is really my house?"

"Yup. No strings attached. Oh, and by the way, all the things you own at 'The Caraway Mansion' will be on it's way here tomorrow."

"You're kidding me." He shrugged his shoulders. "I have a gift of persuasion."

"Why did you do this all for me." He paused for a moment and looked me in the eye.

"I told you, I was returning a favor."

"There's more to it then that."

"You shouldn't accuse your provider." I wasn't even half satisfied with that answer, but I agreed and stopped questioning him. It was better not to analyze the motivation and to start appreciating. Seifer wandered around the house, admiring his work, and I went outside, because seeing the orphanage set one thing on my mind.

The field.

I went through the gate and I took a deep breath as I looked at all the pink, white, and yellow flowers that covered the field. It made me remember our promise, what Squall had promised me.

But he wasn't there.

My knight had made a promise he couldn't keep, and now I was alone in our flower field. How stupid was I to believe that no matter what, I'd meet him here. My high hopes kept me paying a price. These thoughts were to depressing for someone who just found a place to live, so I turned my back on the field, and I promised myself I wouldn't go back until Squall had come back with me. I could keep my own promises.

I went inside and started to cook the dinner I had promised Seifer, with the sad moment still grim in my mind. Then two pieces of key information in my head clicked together, a thought that made me stop everything I was doing. The idea was tough, unsure, but a small piece of hope that I convinced myself could be the answer.

I knew how to make Squall remember.

Did you spot the other Final Fantasy mentionings? I hope you did, hehe. It was a little short, but how else was I going to leave you at that part? Mwaha. I'm evil.

Thank you to my reviewers:

Blue Jae - Thanks for reviewing! In future chapters, I'll make Quistis redeem herself.

Angel Wings-008 - Insanely good? Yay! I've wanted to punch Quistis for a longg time. Thanks for reviewing!

Cerulean Crystal - I think I found a way to use that promise, whether it be in the alternative RinoaXSeifer story, or maybe even in this one. Watch out for your idea, you'll probably see it used! Thanks!

SavannhX - Thanks! You're a great writer, by the way.

Reality Trance - She's always been mean and bitter Quistis, bah. But maybe that's my disliking opinion from what I've seen of her in the game. I'm givin' her a chance later in the story. . .perhaps. Lol, thanks!

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