Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII

Hello everybody! I do hope that you're excited about this next chapter! (Or not. That's cool too. Just read, please!)

Enjoy!

110. Endless Night

It was a cold night in Esthar. The wind seemed to be blowing a cruel path across the salt plains and straight into the invisible city, freezing the blood in Rinoa's veins. She and Squall were sitting outside, waiting for Laguna's meeting to finish and for them to know what came next.

Squall hadn't said anything in ages. He was just silently leaning back in his chair, staring out over the city and across the salt plains.

Rinoa was looking at him, wondering what on earth to say. She felt that between the two of them, there was a lot left unsaid - and not just small things in the healthy, conversational way. And she was too proud and he too guarded to address any of it. They knew they liked each other. Everyone knew they liked each other. Even Kiros, a man they'd just met, had dropped a hint to her that he knew. He said that the two of them reminded him of the first time he went to visit Raine and Laguna.

Well, at least something had happened between those two.

Rinoa let out a sigh and was disappointed to see a cloud of mist lingered for a moment. It really was cold, and she wasn't wearing nearly enough clothes. That's it, it was time to go. Oh god, these shorts had been a mistake from day one! She should've just got up a bit earlier that day in Timber, and put on something actually nicer than the bicycle shorts she threw on at the last minute.

She stood and Squall seemed to snap out of a daze or whatever it was. "Where are you going?"

"Inside. I'm cold."

He looked at her for a moment as she stared down at him.

"Why?"

Rinoa closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky. She may be uncontrollably, irreversibly falling in love with this man but it didn't stop how much he could annoy her sometimes.

"I'm cold."

She could've heard an icicle melting fifteen miles away. Sometimes, she wasn't even surprised by it. When she was in less forgiving moods, she just wanted to grab him by the shoulders and give him a strong lesson in social cues. But today she understood, but she was also tired. Without a sound she turned, taking a few steps towards the door that she'd sworn until just a few hours ago was a 'fire exit only' door.

A hand caught her wrist. A warm, gloved hand.

Rinoa looked back, half-startled and half-pleased. "Yes?"

"Would you stay with me?" Squall looked at her with a confusing glint in his eye.

Rinoa stepped back and nodded. "Okay." But give me your jacket "I'm still cold, though." She mumbled, hoping that would be enough of a hint. It wasn't.

"Rinoa, I think we should talk."

She wouldn't have been surprised if you'd said her eyebrows looked like they were in her hairline.

"Okay."

"I-" he looked out over the salt plains again. But now he wasn't leaning back; he looked stiff, and tense, leaning forwards. "I care about you more than any other person on this planet."

Rinoa only stared at Squall with wide eyes and prompted him on with an affirmative hum. Speaking with purpose and saying the right words were never her best skills - even when she wasn't on the verge of throwing her pancreas up through her mouth.

"I don't care what Laguna says has to happen to you, I'll stay with you."

"Squall, I-"

"Rinoa, I love you."

Rinoa looked at him with her mouth half-open. She'd stayed to get his jacket, not a confession of love.

"Squall, I-" he stood up, and leant against the nearby balcony, standing with his back to her. It made her job a lot easier. "I know."

It felt pathetic coming from her mouth, but she didn't know what to say. "You matter to me more than anyone else ever has. And whilst I couldn't say I love you now, I almost do."

She stood, and walked next to Squall.

"Almost in love?" He looked at her, and was smiling. It meant a lot. More than the words he was saying, at least.

Rinoa nodded with a half-smile. "Yes." There was still something in the bottom of her stomach that made her feel like she was about to either get the worst cramps or throw up before the hour was out. All those songs her mother wrote and sang and left as her legacy were slowly beginning to make sense.

Suddenly, she gave an involuntary shiver. She'd briefly forgotten about the cold but now it'd struck her again with a vengeance.

"Oh god!" She breathed as she clamped her arms around herself, trying desperately to warm herself up.

Squall laughed - laughed! - and then took off his jacket. He placed it around Rinoa's shoulders, and she finally remembered what warmth felt like.

She looked at him with a smile and thanked him, drawing it around her shoulders.

So she'd stayed outside to steal his jacket and ended up with both that and a love confession.

There was a lot more waiting to be done for that long, endless night, but at least the air between them was much, much clearer by the end.

Yay for a representation of a relationship that's developing to be a healthy, long-lasting one! Wooo! I was thinking the other day and oh my word I challenge you to present a very healthy relationship in ANY of the Final Fantasy titles. Even Cecil does Rosa dirty at one point! I am actually very curious though; if you can think of one - please, leave it in a review! I'd be really interested to find out your thoughts on this topic!

Please review if you've got time and follow for more. Thanks!