Wow…I…actually did it. I sat down and wrote something. But guys, I'm a little rusty, so I do apologize if this chapter seems a little off…Can you really blame me though? Anyway, please bear with me, as it was hard enough to take off from that last chapter.

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Disclaimer: reads from a card in her palm …I do not…own…Squaresoft, or any of its affiliates…but don't we all wish so, except for me…I don't know what what've happened had I gotten a hold of Square-enix. Just like Advent Children, there would be a movie for FF8 coming out as well. …Geez, I guess I do know---

Chapter 10: The War of the Roses

Early the next morning, Rinoa hadn't mentioned anything about Squall to her daughter. She knew the girl had had a heartfelt conversation with her infamous father, all to which the girl had no idea of him actually being so; somehow Rinoa knew Rori's brilliant mind had probably pieced together the possibilities of Squall being her paternal parent. Because she hadn't questioned, Rinoa pretended to pay the matter no mind at all.

"Will I have a scar?" Asked a peculiar little Rori, curiously rubbing her fingers across the white bandages on her forehead.

Rinoa smirked and moved the girl's hand away as she spoke in her protective motherly tone, "Keep touching it and you will…"

With a loud, kiddy laugh, Rori drew her hand back and covered her mouth, "Sorry!"

"It's alright, sweetie, I'm just glad your bruise isn't that serious."

"Don't call it a bru-ise…call it a Bo-Bo!" Rori demanded.

Rinoa raised an eyebrow. "Bo-Bo?" She questioned Rori's enthusiastic literary vocabulary.

"Yeah, that's what Sefie calls them!"

The young woman folded her arms and smiled, unable to compete with Selphie's thesaurus for kids. "Okay, I'm just glad your Bo-Bo isn't that serious!" Rinoa said with a laugh, and Rori slapped her forehead, finding it awkward to hear her mother say such a foreign word for the first time.

The laughter of the mother and daughter was interrupted when the door to the hospital room opened. Both females faced the void when Seifer stepped inside with a smile, making a sudden intrusion with a voice that broke the stillness in the air, "Rori!" He said, surprised to see the little girl up and smiling as opposed to her possible sleepiness and irritability. Seifer sighed in relief, entering the room with a pink stuffed animal.

"Seifa!" She yelled, pointing at the stuffed rabbit first and then to him. He expected this; such was the typical reaction of a kid to any toy, suddenly the person who bought the toy became non-existent. Yet he brought it over to the eager little girl anyway, despite her desperate reaching for its soft furs.

Rinoa watched him walking toward them with a smile that faintly displayed his dimpled cheeks, the smile she favored the most.

"Guess what I have for you?" He asked Rori, knowing full well she had already seen the toy behind his back.

Finally Rori sat back and squealed, "A pink bunny!" She had to grip the linen of her comforters to resist the urge of tackling the cuddly animal from his hands.

"Ah…you're too good for me…" He faked a frown and handed Rori the rabbit, a well pleased sight indeed. She squeezed the little stuffed animal in her arms and kissed its forehead, muffling that it was the cutest thing she ever seen before.

Rinoa was glad to see the child back to normal even with the bruises from Seifer's car. She admired Rori's strong spirit, something even she had lacked greatly as a child. Even through the roughest times, Rori would always find a means to smile. The courageousness of her little heart continued to astound Rinoa, such as the events that occurred throughout that evening; the girl had run away, but then the accident happened in the driveway of their home. Rinoa realized Rori had most likely returned home, through the dangerous storm, to make amends with her. She had smiled gracefully at her daughter.

"Thank you!" Rori exclaimed, hugging the bunny profoundly. Seifer returned her gesture with a nod, "You're welcome, Rori, but…let the poor guy breathe." He said, pointing at how its neck seemed to be squashed between the firm grip of Rori's inner arms.

"No, it's a girl!" She protested.

"Oh, sorry…" He said, scratching the back of his head and then turning to Rinoa who had been staring at Rori all the while. Seifer heaved a sigh and touched Rinoa's arm, as he whispered to her, "…I need to ask you something."

Rinoa, broken from her stare, faced him hastily, "…Seifer…can all that wait for a little while? I don't want to think about any of this mess, is that okay?"

"…Please, this will only take a second. I promise I won't ever bring it up anymore…" He continued with the whisper, eyes growing as soft as his voice, yet the eagerness of his heart ran through his veins. When she stared into his eyes, she knew he deserved to know about Squall and she, no doubt in her mind that his question would concern Squall in someway.

Finally, Rinoa sighed and led him to the window of Rori's room, giving the girl a little time to sing a song to her new friend whilst they involved themselves in adult concerns. Rinoa unfolded her arms and looked out of the window, staring down at the trees aligned in rows on the hospital's parking lot. Seifer joined her at the window, though his eyes had studied her very essence as a woman. He then focused his attention elsewhere, wanting to keep his intentions directly on the basis of her past. "…So…" He started calmly. "…Does he know?"

'Does he know?' Rinoa had immediately released a mollifying sigh, a release of breath that soothed the thought of her having finally told Squall about Rori, and a faint smile took its toll on her lips. She answered simply, "…Yeah."

"…How did he take it? And where is he right now?" Seifer purposely avoided Squall's name, even not really knowing him personally, he had held a natural grudge against the man. There was no way his name would ever come from Seifer's mouth.

"…He's not here now, obviously." She said, slowly facing the blonde.

"…Getting a cup of coffee or something?"

"No…"

"…Then where is he?"

Rinoa heaved a heavy sigh this time, becoming frustrated with Seifer's questioning. She lowered her voice to avoid shouting into the young man's ears, "…Let's talk out there." She had glanced over to Rori on the bed, who was deeply involved in a story where her new bunny friend was its main character. Rinoa smiled warmly watching her daughter clueless to the harsh reality unfolding at the base of her very existence. She suddenly wished the reality could be has calm and gentle as the song Rori had whispered under her breath when making the bunny hop across the snow mound of covers that lay across her bed.

Seifer had licked his lips, knowing that their conversation would have to make its way out in the hallway eventually. He didn't want Rori to overhear any of the quarrels, though she probably wouldn't understand any of it at her youthful age anyway, but Seifer felt just as Rori within it all, oblivious to the main factors and understandings in Rinoa's past. Why she would continue to see Squall even when he would leave after learning of the existence of his only child with Rinoa had baffled Seifer. He wanted Rinoa to open up to him in a way she never had before.

Outside of Rori's room, Seifer folded his arm, his foot tapping with the rhythm of passerby who were busying with the patients in need. He wanted to know everything Rinoa was willing to offer to him about Squall. He wanted to see why she would have hope in a man who had left her all alone for four years. Seifer wanted to understand what was so special about Squall. "So where is he?" He asked, repeating his earlier question with a hint of impatience and arrogance.

"I don't know, Seifer… He left last night and hasn't been back since." Her eyes were beginning to glow with a glare…a glare to him, a glare to Squall, it was indistinguishable, but he knew those eyes were meant for someone.

He wondered if his curiosity had angered her; that was the last thing he wanted to happen. "…Look, I'm sorry." He had apologized, hoping she could drop the glare that was thickening by the second.

Rinoa had lightly cleared her throat before speaking again, "…I mean, we talked for a little while after I told him the truth—" She frowned, thinking back to their petty arguments, an exchange of heated words of truth from both sides, an ongoing war and struggle that made her feel as though it wouldn't be easy to rise victoriously.

He noticed her frown, but continued his quest for understanding, and so he interrupted her words, "Do you think he'll come back this time?"

"…I really can't say." She said, her eyes tracing the floor. Thoughts of the conversation they had had later on that night began to bloom into her memory. Once again she found herself wondering how she could hate a person so much, but then she could…love him at the same time. Yes, deep down in her heart, Rinoa hoped he would return, if not for her, but at least for Rori. She finally admitted to wanting to see him again…for Rori's sake…and a little for her own sake as well.

Seifer saw that her eyes became glossy, the corners beginning to weld with an ocean of tears. Rinoa then clutched her hands into fists at her sides; groaning with a whisper, "…Ooou, he makes me so mad."

Seeing this display of strange behavior from Rinoa, Seifer couldn't help but notice the woman had stayed too much in thought about Squall's return. He already knew she disliked him to boot, but then, there was a side of Rinoa he hadn't met at all. The side of her he had begun to see more of when Squall first appeared in Balamb. Normally, she was witty and down to earth, but lately, he had witnessed a warped version of Rinoa who only consumed her time with the muse of Squall. He understood she had some unfinished business with him, undoubtedly, but he never knew she could become so involved with the matter. Call it curiosity or just a hunch, but Seifer had finally decided to ask the question he feared the most, the question that would take everything to a whole new level, "Um…" He interrupted Rinoa's one man show, buying valuable time to actually gather his thoughts for the proper inquiry. "…Can I ask you something..?"

She immediately snapped out of her trance and upturned her face to Seifer's. "…I thought that's why we came out here in the first place?" She stated plainly, gesturing to the white, melancholic halls of the hospital.

Seifer pushed aside his likeable smirk with demanding sternness, "Rinoa, please just hear me out…okay?"

"…Sure." She said, her fists easing back into their normal appearances as palms at both of her sides. When she realized how serious he was, the calmness in her voice returned, and she questioned him this time, "What is it?"

Seifer sighed, finally having the real Rinoa back for a change, but then he realized just how difficult it would be to ask what his heart had honestly wanted to know and understand from her. "…Rinoa, I know you and Squall were…married for a while. I mean, it's only natural for you to still sort of…care about him, but…what I want to know is… Do you still…still have feelings for him? …Be honest."

She was silent.

If he had asked that questioned a year ago, he would've received a heartless response of no, the likes of someone who was abandoned and then learned that she was pregnant, and had to go forth with nine months of agony, all alone, just to bring his child into the world…and he wasn't even there to see anything. She hated Squall! Her first intention was to say no, but then…she allowed herself to be honest, Seifer's biggest mistake. If he had left honesty out of the equation, maybe she could have answered him no. Now that she had to be honest, all those emotions that were trapped within her heart began to take form, make a mold in her soul, and recall those heartrending, quaking desires and feelings for Squall.

Sure, she could say that her feelings for the man would never die, but then…that didn't mean he would love her exactly the same. Yes, he had returned from the grave and made an appearance in her life once again, but just as easily as he had returned, he could without a doubt leave. Squall was no idiot, he would probably establish some progress and trust from her, but just when everything fell back to the way things were, he would leave. It was a scary thought for her, indeed.

Rinoa feared she would never trust him for the rest of her life, not wanting to be a fool for Squall, not wanting to allow him to have that power to play with her heart. However, just as simply as she could answer yes, she would lose Seifer, a man who could indeed live up to his word, unlike Squall. He would be there for her in every way possible. He would love her to the best of his ability, and she could possibly care for him for the rest of her life. She loved how greatly his relationship with Rori had evolved; he was more a father to her than Squall could ever be.

Than Squall could ever be? She repeated in her own mind.

And then his words hit her like a thousand stones to a glasshouse, shattering her mind into millions of pieces, "…But you didn't give me a chance! You're about ready to take off with that other guy!"

He was right; Squall was right, wasn't he…? How could she prejudge his ability as a father? It was already wrong for her to inform him of their child the way she had, so why should she go about and add another wrong move to her name. Rinoa feared she was losing the war…had she been wrong about Squall since day one? And then, she could recall the very first time she had heard Squall speak Rori's name aloud that night; so soft…and so fatherly.

Seifer's voice immediately tore through her thoughts once again, "…What about us? …Is it…is it over? …Just like that?"

"…Seifer." Rinoa, caught in the muse of her thoughts once again, had reached out for Seifer's being, but he backed away from her slowly, his head shaking from side to side as he voiced his frustration, "…Why can't you see that he's just toying with your emotions? He won't ever be there for you when you need him, Rinoa! Where is he now! Why isn't he here with Rori when she's in the hospital! Can't you see that he doesn't give a living shit about you! I love you, dammit! I'm always here for you! How can you trust him, that piece of--" Rinoa suddenly and regrettably struck Seifer's cheek with a hard palm. His left cheek reddened, eyes piercing the door across the hall of Rori's room. He was frozen with the pain of his foolish ramblings. He hadn't meant to explode, and he hadn't meant any harm… He didn't dare to look at Rinoa or any other person who might have passed them in this moment. He was ashamed.

Rinoa forced, through her caving throat, a silent whisper, "…We got married at eighteen knowing it was a premature marriage, but we knew one another for a long period of time before we tied the knot. We went through some harsh times together." She paused, "I know that Squall's made plenty of idiotic choices during these last years…but I still know my Squall. It doesn't matter how long it takes for him to realize…" She had finally exhaled, noticing Seifer's eyes glimmering from the hot ceiling lights though they had never moved from the number imprinted upon the surface of the door across the hall, "…or how badly I might want him to go away…there's no denying the fact that I'll wait for him until the day I die." She had begun to feel her own eyes welding with tears. "…There's no way I can give my heart…this broken, damaged heart…to you as I can to Squall, Seifer. It's just not possible."

And with one final sigh, Rinoa muttered, "…And if he never comes back, I'll continue to feel this way about him…because I love him." She placed a gentle and on Seifer's cheek, soothing the reddened skin of his face where she had slapped him previously. "But I want you to know that I do care about you too Seifer. …I just don't feel that I can be there for you in the way that you want me to be. There can never be an Us, and…I'm sorry."

This time, Seifer was silent. He shrugged away from her hand and proximity, backing away from her in the halls. Never saying a word, the young blonde shook his head from side to side, acknowledging her presence no more. Before she could call him back for any more hurt, Seifer was out of her reach, out of her sight, and out of her life.

Even if he hadn't known her for a few years longer, just as she and Squall, he still knew there was something special about her. He loved her, only God knew that he wanted to take care of her with the rest of his days, with all the money he had acquired from his family. He wanted to be everything for Rinoa, everything she lacked, needed, and loved…if not everything possibly, he wanted to at least near her state of perfection.

There was only one thing that lay in the way of his wants…Squall.

Parked along the rough sands of Balamb's coastline was a dark Convertible, and on the tip of its hood sat a very confused man. Squall had been sitting there for a while, staring out into the open sea, staring out until he felt as if the ground would drift and wither away into nothingness. He saw the clouds scraping the surface of the waters, taunting the reflections they projected. He felt the gusts of wind swaying in; prickling his face with grains of sand, continuing its violent onslaught of blustery winds though his mind wandered elsewhere, caring less of nature's meddling.

He was there in the prime of sunrise, but he was not quite there.

Though the golden light had pierced the sky moments ago, there was no acknowledgement of its full glory on Squall's behalf. His mind was in a completely different place...

"…Squall?" Her little voice echoed like sweet music to his ears.

"Yes Rori?"

"…Are you my daddy?"

He took a deep breath, completely unexpected the question.

"Squall?"

He walked closer to her darkened figure and helped her to lie back onto her marshmallow pillow. He smiled, moving the loose strands of hair behind her ears and leaning in to kiss her cheek tenderly. Squall muttered, "Go to sleep Rori."

And before the girl could understand his answer, he was out of the door.

He understood that what had happened was wrong. It was wrong to leave the girl in the heat of the night as he had, but there was no way he could face her innocent questions. Even he wasn't ready for news such as that. He had believed Rinoa was injured and hospitalized, but quickly learned that he had been deceived…and then a daughter was thrown into the mix! Squall pushed his fingers together, palm in palm, to help ease the tension that had built up with the thoughts of his mind.

He thought to himself, I'm not ready…I'm not ready for all this. He definitely needed time alone; he was entitled to that right, right? Rinoa wouldn't think of him as selfish if he went away to figure things out on his own, would she?However, was his having to go away truly necessary? Did he really need to leave them behind?

What am I doing…? What am I doing here? He questioned the wind, hoping it would have his favor and answer his inquiries. But just as everything in his life, his questioning fell upon deaf ears: no one to listen, no one to understand, no way to get through to Rinoa… nowhere to go. Just as he received the upper hand beside Rinoa, he sadly felt as though it was now being drawn back from his reach. Suddenly, the problem was not about winning Rinoa's heart once again, but carrying out the duty of being a pleasing sight in Rori's eyes, and knowing what type of father to be to her. His own experiences as a kid weren't too grand, so he had no idea what specialty he might be able to offer Rori. Plus, Rinoa might feel that he is a stranger and keep Rori away from him anyway. She had the potential to do something like that, didn't she?

Squall shook his head to the measly voice of deceit, his own feelings overtaking his thoughts once again. He tried to focus on the brighter sides of things…but somehow, even that attempt seemed difficult. His mind then wandered back to the likes of Rori.

When she had asked him that dreadful question, it was as if all the answers in his mind had abandoned him, and he was left in a dark room, standing on a platform of shame. Never fancying suspicion too much himself, he wanted to say that he was her father, but only if it were that easy! He couldn't explain why the answer wouldn't come, he didn't want to see her face, and he didn't want to hurt her as Rinoa insisted he would…

Squall sighed amidst the winds that were now calming his nerves with breezy gentleness, freely swishing the shorelines into the crunchy sands beneath the fair sky. So much time had passed since he first pulled out of the hospital's parking lot and driven down the long road, parking at the coast. Or not even within the last hour, but years…so many years had gone by him, just where was he? His life seemed to sift away between his fingers. Suddenly, he was back in Balamb, four years later and changed…different.

What would've happened had he never returned? Would Rinoa be so stressed, disoriented? Definitely not, he hoped.

Was Rinoa so distracted by his presence that she averted her attention away from Rori, and allowed the girl to wander into the street, directly into the pathway of a car? How in the world could Rinoa let that happen?

Finally he sighed to himself, Well, I know it's not Rinoa's fault…but why wasn't she with Rori? And the time! It was late when Squall arrived at the hospital, Rori was still in the emergency room. …Maybe they were there earlier...maybe Rinoa didn't know how to tell me about her…? He thought, hoping to shed light unto his muse, but that hope only created doubt.

…Why would she wait so long to tell me..? …I know, she apologized to me later on about the whole situation, but…it doesn't help the fact that she waited so long to tell me about Rori in the first place. Doesn't she trust me at all?

What about everyone else? Do they know? Mom and Laguna…do they know? I'm sure her father knows…he knows about everything that goes on between us. He groaned in disgust, why am I always the last to know…?

His mind continued, growing in confusion, concern, and anger. At one moment, he didn't want to be a father at all, but at the next he was just as concerned as a father would be. He knew Rinoa hadn't meant to keep anything from him…he knew their past was on the rocks, and that a rough road was ahead of them, but the longer he sat on the hood of the car, the more he found doubt in the successfulness of their relationship.

And he knew that if he were to ever leave again, Rinoa would never forgive him.

He looked up into the skies as a flock of seagulls flew by, flying in the beams of sunlight that were now beginning to sting the pupils of his eyes. He shielded his face from the light, and averted his gaze to the water once more. From the dawn of a new day, Squall was glad Rinoa had been asleep at his departure; he only wished the sea would tell him which move he should make next.

- - - - - -

"I expect to see my car fully furnished in this here shop in less than ten minutes-Do you understand me?" A short, angry customer yelled into Zell's face, sprinkling him with the S' and T's as he demonstrated his anger by smashing one fist into a rough palm, aiming to be Zell's face on contact.

Zell held up his hands in defense, "Please, I told you, the car is in good hands, it's just…uh…undergoing…an—"

The man cut off Zell's half baked explanation, "I'm supposed to believe you! You can't even tell me where my car is! Are you really the owner, you sound like a newly hired teenager—" Suddenly, the dark convertible pulled into the shop's driveway, the driver exiting from the newly washed, waxed, and gassed automobile emerged with a dazzling smile, one that made Zell want to puke.

"Your car, sir, filled to the tank with fuel, of course, and washed, as per complimentary of Zell's Auto Mechanics' Shop. Sorry for the delay." Squall said, drawing upon the memories of his days as a businessman.

And the man stood before Zell and the other male, speechless, jaw-dropped in all his glory, his attire matching the likes of his cherished car almost perfectly. He could stand there all day, but Zell shooed him away with a friendly smile, "Thank you, and please do come again."

"…Why…yes…yes, of course…uhm, pleasure doing business with you." The old man said, ridiculed but thankful. He half bowed to Squall and after a few seconds of hesitation, he bowed to Zell as well.

When he finally curled into his car and pulled away, Zell had stared at Squall and then smiled, "…You never cease to amaze me, but that was too close. If you were any other person, you would've gotten fired for pulling a stunt like that Squall."

Squall would've had a good finishing touch to Zell's amusement, but there was something far more important on his mind, bothering him since he had neared the city in that black car. The tension and frustration had built upon itself, and all of Squall's world would feel the fury lounging at the tip of his tongue.

He struck out at Zell. "…Did you know about her…about Rori?" And as soon as he asked, Zell had sighed, throwing a dirty towel over his shoulder and made his way toward the back of the shop.

The blonde sighed, "Aw, c'mon Squall…everyone knows about her." He knew the day would come when he would have to explain everything to Squall, being the best friend he was entitled to be.

"It's not everyone if I had no idea about it. …You could've at least told me before. Then I wouldn't have wasted anymore time around here."

"What-you saying you would've left Rinoa again!"

"No, I wouldn't have gotten a job here, in this stinky shop, with you!" Squall yelled, truthfully answering the question Zell had first posed to him upon the day he had first asked for a job in the shop. Squall approached him angrily, "Did Rinoa make this into a group discussion or something! Let's all not tell Squall about his kid, let's lie in his face and make him feel guilty about not coming back sooner!"

Zell questioned him curiously, "All…all, who?" There weren't that many people in the town that Squall knew of personally, not unless one would count the other friends he had probably made during his long run.

"You, and everyone else who knows about Rori, who happens to know me! I'm sick of you all butting into our problems and taking a side--Forget it, why am I even wasting time here…" He took a deep breath, but continued his hazy glare into Zell's eyes, "…All I ask is that you tell me the things I need to know. I don't care if Rinoa told you to keep a secret from me, you should tell me anyway… The things she informs you all about…she…she doesn't even allow my input, so you see, how could I have known about Rori when I never had the chance to know? …Zell, Rori was hit by a car…and I'm pretty sure the girl could've died, but Rinoa would've said nothing to me!"

"…Geez, Squall…I didn't know it was like that. …She only said it was to keep Rori safe."

"Safe from who? I'm not a monster!"

"…But you've been gone for so long. She thought if you ever did come back, you might not be the same…" Zell sighed and admitted, "…She did it to protect Rori…not to harm you, Squall. …Why can't you just get that through your head?"

Not to harm me? Squall thought to himself, his eyes dropping to the oil-stained floors of the shop. He backed away from Zell and faced the opened entryway. "…I'm sorry Zell…I didn't mean it." He said, never turning around to confirm his apologies with the blonde. Zell only nodded, not speaking a word, he knew what pain Squall had to have endured during the last few days…his words would do nothing to support him at this time.

Squall had walked, his body keeping a steady pace, yet his mind was elsewhere once again. He hadn't known what to do with himself since he stepped foot from the hospital's grounds. All day in a world of his own, the land of thoughts: his utopia, his hell. He hated to shelter himself in his thoughts this way, but every now and then, it was inevitable. He needed to think about his life and the people in it. How they could help him, but betray him at once, and all for the sake of one person…Rinoa.

With his mind at center to an array of thoughts, Squall stepped out into the street, crossing over to his and Rinoa's favorite place at the docks in Balamb. Usually, it was a peaceful sight, the sea and its horizon, but today there was an ominous aura enveloping his body. He was halfway in the street when a car, brakes screeching aloud, swerved to a dead stop before him, its hood tapping Squall's thigh.

It was the red sports car again; the hood of its engine smoking just as the head of its mad driver, who opened the door and climbed out, lunging toward Squall with an accusing index finger, "You! Who do you think you are?" Seifer yelled, continuing to point to Squall, and Squall stared at him, absentmindedly…his mind not yet summing up the fact that he was almost hit by a car, the car belonging to mystery man, Rinoa's lover.

"Get out of my way." Squall said, no longer angered by Rinoa possibly moving on. He knew the two of them had had problems; the list of things that he needed to come clean to Rinoa about had continued to grow on. He noted that she probably would leave him for someone else eventually…so why not let her be with someone who wouldn't harm her…like the mystery man himself.

"No!" Seifer said, pushing Squall back and trotting toward him, "Not until I get a good explanation of why you can't stand her."

Her, being Rinoa, Squall knew…but he just hadn't felt like answering him. Squall, aiming to walk around the man, was pushed back into the street by him again. Angered by the man's persistent nuisance, Squall glared into his eyes, his voice as deep and threatening as his smoldering eyes, "I don't know who you are, but you had best get out of my way."

"The name's Seifer, and no, I'm not moving an inch. You've got balls coming back here, making her fall into your little scheme, man, and I admit that it worked. Rinoa obviously needs you. I'm betting it all that she's praying for your safe return, but where are you! Thinking about leaving again like the true coward you are! ….What the hell are you afraid of! Rori?!"

Seifer had merely giggled before Squall as he continued, "Personally, I don't care if you never come back, I'd love to see that happen…but then Rinoa won't be the same again. I don't understand what it is that you're waiting for…nothing out there can compare to what you have right here…trust me. But if you think I'm just going to sit by and let her raise Rori alone, you better guess again, 'cause faster than the speed of light, I'll be there for her… Rinoa, Rori, and me…a big, happy family, and as for you then? …Well Squall, I suggest you go to hell, because once she's with me, you won't be able to crawl back to her again…"

And with that, the blonde proceeded back to his car. He hesitated a moment before pulling off, almost as if he had wanted to say more. No…I've already done enough. Everything else is up to this jerk… Still, if she could have it any other way…why him? He had pulled away…leaving Squall with more burden on his heart.

Noticing that everything he did on his own had never gone right, Squall realized his thinking things through was also falling into that same pattern. Every moment he spent away from her, he had become angrier with the world. He was angry with himself, with the people he knew, and angry with Rinoa even more. What could he do now?

The brunet sighed into the wind, taking in the fact that there was only one thing to do. His battle did not lie with everyone else who knew about Rinoa's decision, but his war was with Rinoa herself, and alone… He had finally accepted his very fate…what he needed now was the strength and courage to actually face it.

Once Upon an Author's Brave Return
How many "returns" do I have now? I've probably set the record, lol. Seriously, things have been so crazy for me with the hurricane and all…so I hope it continues where I left off last time. Feel free to help me out here, this chapter was tougher than you might think! This was something I had to do for myself, most of all…so I hope the next chapter to follow will be much more exciting. Of course, it's boiling to its end anyway, you know. So in a way, that sucks.

Anyways, let me know what you think, hate it, like it, love it, dig it, I'm all ears, haha. No worries, I'll just push harder to bring better chapter to you next time.

To all of you who reviewed since I've been away, I thank you. You know who you are…I bet I had replies to all of your reviews, but with everything going into turmoil, I can't remember what I would've thought to write for the life of me.

I'm so sorry…

Thanks again,

StardustRay