A/N: Heres the second chapter. Please read and review, I do accept anonymous reviews as I do like to know every readers thoughts. If you believe there are any major changes needed please let me know but I will not tollerate flames.

Quite how he'd managed to get to this secluded village without as much as one member of the press following he did not know, but whatever Ellone had done he was grateful for it. Already there was a pleasing silence to the place as he approached. It only struck him when he finally entered the village just how startlingly quiet it truly was. He wanted to laugh at himself for expecting there to be a herd of paparazzi waiting for him on the old stone cobbled streets. He was fully aware of the people peering out at him from behind their netted curtains but it was a much more pleasing kind of attention than being mobbed by press. Feeling somewhat lost despite how small everything was by comparison with Esther he hesitantly tried to catch a flower girl's attention.

"Yes, can I help you?" Her red hair shone brilliantly in the light and was complemented by the yellow sundress and emerald cardigan she wore.

"I'm lost." Never one for many words he stayed true to his form, ever doubtful that she didn't really know who he was.

"If you're looking for Deling city or the army missile base I'm afraid your way off." Squall frowned at the statement.

How would someone possibly get lost looking for one of those places?

"No I'm looking for this house." He fumbled with a small map Ellone had given him. The girl seemed somewhat sceptical of him upon viewing the map.

"Are you sure, we don't exactly get many visitors."

"Yeah." He was surprised he hadn't yet developed a nervous twitch in his right eye because his head felt like it might explode it this girl didn't start believing him soon. She offered him a coy smile before pointing down a narrow dirt track.

"You need to go straight down there and over the bridge. That house is just after the pub on your left." She studied his face before continuing. "That scar doesn't look too good are sure you're alright?" His hand involuntarily moved to the scar running across his face.

"Fine." He nodded to thank her but did little more past that as an attempt to be friendly. Hopefully she'd get the message that he wasn't a people kind of person although he doubted it.

He did as she had told him and followed the little dirt track taking heard of the chocobo signs posted left, right and centre. Even jumping back in shock at one point as a small chicobo ran straight across his path. Shaking his head he continued on until he was met with another cobbled part of town. Crossing the bridge he glanced to the pub on his left as he past. He couldn't tell for certain if it was still a working pub or just housing now but the girl had used the term pub. Maybe he'd look into it sometime. There as he had been told right next to the pub was a small house that practically screamed Ellone at him. Taking out the keys she had given him he went about trying each one in the lock. After finally finding one that fit he pushed open the door and walked straight into the kitchen. Dropping his bags by the side he shut the door behind him. This was definitely going to be different to Esther.

"I want to go away for a while." She intertwined her fingers as she approached her father's desk hesitantly.

"A holiday?" he barely looked up from his paper work.

"Not exactly, I want to get far away for a while, somewhere where I won't be recognised or at least a chance to travel around for a bit until I can lose the press." This caught his attention. She could see him thinking as his mouth tightened in one corner. Calmly he set the pen on the desk and crossed his arms over his chest as he leant back in his chair.

"I'll send for Biggs and Wedge to accompany you then."

"No... I need to go alone, besides those two only draw more attention to me than I do."

"Rinoa I don't want you in any danger."

"Please Caraway you know I can hold up my own do you really think all those lessons went to waste? I just can't do this whole press thing anymore I never asked to be the child of famous parents. Do you know they've swamped the gates again? I can't even relax in my own home because one of them might find a way in." the desperation on her face must have meant more to him than she imagined because before she knew it he already had a small black book out on the table and had begun flicking through the pages.

"I may know somewhere. Just give me a little time to make some calls. Can you do that?" She gave him a weak smile as she tucked a stubborn section of hair behind her ear.

He had spent the first hour opening a few windows to try and get the stagnant air out of the place and tucking his clothes away in the upstairs room. He'd wiped down a few surfaces and despite a few randomly placed objects belonging to him the place still looked empty, like it hadn't been touched in years. He decided that with the afternoon quickly drawing to a close it was best that he went and fetched a few supplies from the small store he had passed on the way in to the village. The air was still warm and he left his jacket discarded on the bed where he had thrown it. He'd be warm enough in just his t-shirt.

Upon closing the door and turning his back to the world in an attempt to remember which key he had used to open the door he was greeted with the voice from earlier that day.

"Hello again." He glance at her over his shoulder and gave her a nod. "So are you moving in here then?" Satisfied that he had somehow managed to lock the door he stared questioningly at her. "It's just that you know there isn't much here for holiday makers around here so I figured that you must be moving here."

She talks too much.

"I don't know how long I'll be here." It was honest enough he didn't, Ellone had said the house was there for as long as he needed. She giggled to herself before speaking.

"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself, my name's Sophie."

"Squall." Not being one for the company of others he set off on his way.

"You really don't have the best manners do you?" She didn't sound particularly angry and he felt no guilt in saying the next word to leave his mouth.

"Whatever."

"I think I might have found somewhere for you to go but I really would feel better if you would at least go with someone." Rinoa shrugged.

"I can't go with anyone that will draw any attention to us... me." Her father racked his brain for a moment.

"Wait I have a soldier I've just refused him some leave, went on about how upset his girl friend was going to be. You remember that little girl you went to nursery with short brown hair always hyperactive?"

"You mean Selphie?"

"I believe that is the name that came up in the conversation. Why don't I bring him in for a word this evening see how he feels about taking some sort of extended leave?" She turned away thoughtfully and nodded her head.

"Thank you... you really didn't need to do all of this."

"Nonsense, you're my daughter and I need to have you feel safe. Now if everything checks out with this lad then I'll make some arrangements for accommodation and transport out there."

"I'll talk to you at dinner. You can tell me then." She made her exit as he reached for the phone.

"Hello Sara could you please find me a number for an Irvine Kinneas, I believe he was booked in for about noon today... No, no you needn't call him I shall do that myself... yes... uhuh... perfect, thank you Sara."

"So you're the young lad Sophie was telling us all about." This puzzled Squall as he paused before placing the basket of good by the till. The elderly woman smiled, her wrinkles exaggereated by the action. "Don't worry we're a pretty tightly knitted community word gets around fast."

"Apparently so." He muttered as the woman began to pack his items.

"Our young Sophie does seem quite taken with you, though mind you there aren't that many people her own age around here."

Does everyone here talk this much or do I just attract the eccentric in everyone I meet?

"So where are you from?" He raised his eyes to meet hers and studied her carefully, did she know? She couldn't... could she?

"Just another City. No where important." She smiled and the skin at the edges of her eyes wrinkled even more.

"Winhill must be a big change for you then."

"I guess so." Again he meet her gaze as she tapped a few keys on a very old fashioned till.

"Well that comes to fifty-three Gil." Squall nodded and rummaged in his back pocket from which he pulled out a leather wallet and handed her the money.

"Don't worry about the two Gil." He mumbled as he shoved his wallet back and gathered up the two brown paper bags. The woman had obviously heard him and she smiled gratefully.

"You take care." She called after him as he left the shop.

"Hello Irvine, I'm sorry about calling you out again." The man sat opposite him tilted his hat up and gave the general a scrutinising look.

"I am curious as to why I was called back." The general smiled and nodded his head.

"Of course. I believe something has come up to which I believe you're dilemma may just be the answer." He tilted forwards on his seat.

"I'm listening."

"I believe you mentioned a Selphie in our earlier discussions."

"Selphie Tilmitt yes what of it?"

"Selphie and my daughter used to be friends. I know this may not have been the kind of leave you were expecting but I would like you and your girlfriend to escort my daughter on a trip she wishes to take."

"This is all sounding a bit peculiar, if you don't mind me saying so."

"Not at all. Maybe I'm not wording this correctly. I want you to take paid leave for the foreseeable future, all major expenses paid by myself the only catch is that I would like yourself and Selphie to go with my daughter."

"The media attention she receives, that ain't exactly our kind of thing."

"Don't worry the exact aim of this trip is to escape all that unwarranted media attention." Irvine rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he stared down at his boots.

"Why me?"

"You're the best sharpshooter the Galbadian army has to offer and I need someone around who will be able to keep my daughter safe. So what do you say?"

"Let me get this straight you want to offer me and my girlfriend an all expenses paid trip to wherever, for Hyne only knows how long just for following you're daughter?"

"If that's how you see it then yes." Again he readjusted his hat before extending his hand.

"You've got yourself a deal."

"So how did it all go?" The General had barely made it to his seat before his daughter began hounding him with questions. He almost laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Could I at least seat myself before you being throwing a multitude of questions my way?" She grinned shyly and picked up her fork to poke at her food with. "Everything went fine."

"Selphie... I haven't seen her for such a long time I wonder what she's like now."

"If the young man's near panic attack in my office earlier today was anything to go by then I'd imagine that she's no different from how she used to be."

"I hope we still get on. So where exactly are you planning on sending the three of us anyway."

"Somewhere safe. Even walls have ears in these places Rinoa you should know that better than anyone after last year. I mean what with that boy and..."

"Can we please not talk about that?" Her fork clanged against her plate at her father's words.

"Of course." He ate a few fork full's of his food while Rinoa simply seemed to poke at hers before finally eating some of her vegetables. "I have arranged for you to leave this evening hopefully you'll arrive at your destination tomorrow morning."

"Everything's ready then?"

"Everything."

"This means a lot to me... thank you."

"You can thank me all you want later on but right now I'd like to see you eat your food instead of just playing with it." She smiled widely and did as she was told.