Part 4

A little less than nine months had gone by when Zell found himself once again making the journey to Galbadia Garden, or at least the Seed Village. Rinoa's baby had been born a few days earlier and Zell had been dying for the time off so he could visit both mother and child. Quistis had gone ahead of him to meet Selphie and Irvine who had actually been there since the birth. As he drew nearer to the house in which his friends were currently gathered, laughter filled his ears and he smiled. He opened the door to find Selphie and Irvine's young son Nathan making a break for the new opening. He quickly scooped up the 3 year old and closed the door behind him he turned to find smiles all round.

"Long time no see buddy" said Irvine shaking his hand and taking his struggling son from the blond. Selphie smiled and Quistis nodded, he briefly acknowledged all of their greetings but he turned his eyes to the one person he wanted to see the most.

"Glad you could make it Zell" she said quietly with a smile

He went a little closer and leant in to kiss her cheek quickly he then sat on the arm of her chair and watched over her as she cradled the new life in her arms.

"How are you doing?"

"I couldn't be happier" she replied softly shifting the blanket in her arms slightly so that he could see the baby. "It's a boy"

"He's so beautiful…"

"He's got his Father's eyes… They were the part of Squall I loved the most. I couldn't have been happier when he opened his eyes for the first time and laid those little blue eyes on me"

Rinoa never took her eyes from her child as she spoke all the while she just smiled down at the little life in her arms. She finally turned slightly and offered the baby to Zell placing the child gently in his arms he nearly froze as she did so.

"No Rinoa… I can't…"

"You're going to be a Father soon aren't you? You can't hide from holding a baby forever"

He shifted the child in his arms and watched him yawn sleepily, he rocked gently and the baby slowly drifted to sleep. The friends all just remained silent for a while there hadn't been a new baby for so long now. They were all perfectly aware that someone else should be here now he hadn't been forgotten it just wasn't appropriate to point out he wasn't there to hold his son.

"What are you going to call him?" Zell asked finally

"I thought for a long time about the right name… I eventually decided on calling him Leon"

"That's a great name it suits him. A good strong name" Zell smiled

Quistis came and took the baby from Zell before returning to her seat by Selphie who was now trying to sit Nathan down still.

"Baby! Baby!" the toddler started to repeat irritably

"You're too small Nathan… Wait till you're older and you can hold him. Come on sit still and be a good boy for Mommy"

"Baby! Baby!"

"He's so much like his Father refuses to listen to a thing I tell him to do"

Everyone, bar Irvine, laughed he simply folded his arms and gave an almost childish pout.

"That… is not true…"

They all laughed again including Irvine, Seifer came into the room from just behind Rinoa and stood over her, he had done an incredible job taking care of her. It had taken a while but Seifer had earned the respect of the group even Zell half admitted to liking him. A lot had happened since the days they had fought the Sorceress, they were no longer young soldiers fighting for their World. They were adults with their own families now and Zell inside felt he'd rather take on the Sorceress another twenty times than become an adult. He loved his wife and was excited about the child she was expecting but he was at the same time absolutely terrified about the future. What if something else happened and he had to go and fight another war? Would he be able to leave his family? What if something happened? What if one of the others was killed? As he viewed the carefree scene all these thoughts raced through his head, would these smiles last forever or would they once again be replaced by tears and heartbreak.

18 Months Later

The first and second anniversaries of Squall's death came and went, a Memorial was held for all those who were lost at Maideen during the horrific events of two years ago. There were more tears and feelings of loss but never again had they experienced events as terrible. Maideen had been ruled off limits and no one went there anymore, it was a dead City ruled by those from beyond the grave. It soon got a reputation for being haunted by wandering and restless spirits who sought vengeance on the World of the living. The creatures that had attacked the SeeD that day had never been identified and also never seen again.

In a step toward her own independence Rinoa had moved to her own place with Leon although she still lived in Galbadia in Deling to be exact. This was a place she never thought she'd find herself living again since she'd left home, she would have preferred to move back to Timber but at the time of her move it hadn't been possible. She'd been on her own roughly two months and Leon being a toddler like any other was more than a handful for Rinoa.

"Leon come here… Don't touch that… Put it down… I mean it Leon."

The child of course did the exact opposite of what his mother had asked and with waning patience she had picked him up and moved him elsewhere. Immediately as soon as she took hold of him he screamed at the top of voice until she put him down. Placing him on the floor again she had kept hold of his hand to tell him that he'd been bad. But he just struggled and fought to get away eventually unable to bear his yelling and fighting any longer she let go of him and the mischievous boy went straight for the door. But just as Zell had walked in and caught Nathan making a break for freedom Seifer came in and lifted Leon into his arms. The blue eyed child screamed and wriggled all the more. Quietly Seifer began talking to the boy keeping eye contact at all time the exhausted young woman sat on the floor couldn't hear quite what he was saying. But he eventually came over and deposited the now quiet Leon into her arms.

"This I believe belongs to you"

"It's hard to keep up with him when he's in a temper… I love him to pieces but he's hard work and I get so tired sometimes…"

"That's why I'm here Rinoa…"

"What?"

"I want to help… I want to be a Father to him"

"Seifer…"

"I don't want to take his place but you can't cope. I want what's best for Leon that's why I want you to come and live with me."

"I don't know… I…"

"That's not all I'm asking Rinoa…" He knelt down next to her "Will you marry me?" She was so stunned she couldn't even reply even Leon seemed silent as he leant against her. "You don't have to decide straight away…."

"I don't think I could Seifer…"

"Are you saying you don't feel anything for me and you couldn't marry without love?"

"No… I mean…"

"Don't you remember what we had before you ever even met Squall? You said I was your first love. What about what we had together just a couple of months ago? Did it mean anything to you?"

"I remember… But things are so different now… It's so sudden…"

"So we can never be together?"

"I don't know… I'm going to stay with Quistis for a while"

"Do you need a ride to the station?"

"No Zell is coming to get me"

"Alright… I'll see you when you get back"

Seifer left Rinoa she cuddled Leon her troublesome but loveable son. His blue eyes feel on her and she smiled he smiled back at her, silently she stayed there for a few minutes just holding the boy. She had so much on her mind could she really cope? Was she being selfish? Rinoa suddenly felt guilty for never truly thinking about her son and how raising him alone might affect him.

"What am I going to do with you Mr? You're a total handful and you're going to have a little brother or sister soon… I want you to have a Daddy but I'm so afraid"

"Rinoa…"

"Seifer?!" she exclaimed jumping up and looking at him still stood there

"I'm sorry I listened in but I want to know how you really feel…"

"I do love you Seifer! I'll marry you! Just don't leave me alone anymore"

She broke down and he pulled her close to comfort her.

"Don't feel you have to… Don't feel pressured."

"But I'm carrying your baby!"

He pulled her close again and she clung to him tightly, Leon stood a couple of metres from there his eyes fixed on them.

"Mommy…"

"What?"

Rinoa looked down at the child surprised; the small boy had his arms stretched out to her. She bent down and picked him up giving him an affectionate kiss, Seifer put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

"I'll protect you both. I'll always be here for you"

He smiled and left her alone with her son she kissed him again.

"You're all I have left of him… Don't ever change…"