The Mountains Win Again

A/N: Well, hey everybody! I was going to hold out until at least fifty reviews, but I figured screw it. I'm hoping for this fic to finish at about 25 chapters or so. But don't worry; I've already got a sequel planned. And depending on how many reviews I get, it may or may not happen.

Well, to all my loyal fans, I have an announcement. The lonely insomniac known as Almasy11 is no longer lonely! That's right, I'm in love. At least I think so.

Once you read the beginning of this chapter, then whatever was left unexplained in the last one will quickly become clear to you…

Chapter eleven

Seifer awoke with a start, as the events of the night before flooded his mind. He realized he wasn't on the couch, but next to Quistis… In her bed. His blue/green eyes quickly scanned the room, as the cold air nipped at his bare chest, most likely a result of the window being left open. The sun's rays shone through the window, casting a n orange glow throughout the room.

Sitting up, Seifer rubbed his eyes and looked over at the clock. It was still early. The tall blonde lay back again, looking over at Quistis, who was sleeping peacefully.

A strong arm snaked it's way around Quistis' waist from behind, as Seifer gently kissed her on the cheek. "I love you." He said softly, making sure not to wake her.

He closed his eyes as he nuzzled against her neck. Just as he began to drift off again, Quistis began to stir. Slowly turning around while still in his arms, she greeted him with a loving smile, and a kiss. "Hey there."

"Hey yourself." He replied.

Quistis buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "So now are you convinced that I love you?"

Seifer replied with his signature smirk. "Maybe you should prove it to me again, I seem to have forgotten."

"Maybe later." Quistis replied with a teasing grin.

Seifer frowned. "Well it was worth a try."

Quistis giggled, and snuggled closer as they both shut their eyes and quickly were whisked away to another realm.

In the cafeteria, Zell and Selphie were in their usual spots, across from each other at the upper left corner table of the cafeteria. Selphie was reading the paper as usual, and Zell was busy eating his cereal.

Just as Selphie was getting into an interesting article concerning the growing obesity percentage in the population of Galbadia, she was yanked from her trance-like state by Zell's ever-so-annoying voice.

The short blonde had a look on his face as if he had just seen a ghost. "Selph! There's a message in my alphabets! It says "Ooooooooooooooooooo"" Zell was as serious as ever.

Selphie leaned forward slightly, in order to examine Zell's bowl. None to her surprise, there was an easy explanation as to the otherwise unusual occurrence. "Zell, those are cheerios." The tiny seed returned to her paper, as Zell sat in shock.

"Oh." Was Zell's only reply.

That was when Quistis walked into the cafeteria, and was immediately spotted by Zell. Only there was one problem, she was with Seifer. The two strode over to the table, hand in hand, and each took a seat.

Zell didn't look happy, and Selphie's only response was a cocked eyebrow. Normally she would be bouncing off the walls, but she had really matured in the seven years since the Ultimecia incident, and was now able to contain her excitement. Unfortunately, Zell hadn't changed at all.

"What the hell is that traitor doing here?" Zell's voice echoed through the now silent cafeteria. Before he knew what was happening, he had been cracked over the head by Selphie's nunchaku. Slumping forward, his face dipped into the milk still left in his bowl.

"That'll teach him to interrupt my reading." Selphie muttered

Seifer quickly seized Zell, grabbing him by the hair and yanking his face out of the milk. Zell quickly regained consciousness, and was quite curious as to why his face was covered in milk, he had a headache, and Seifer had him by the hair.

"I'm going to politely ask what's going on, before I go ballistic." Zell informed, quite out of character.

"Seif here just saved your life." Selphie commented.

Zell grabbed a napkin and wiped the milk from his face, as Seifer leaned back in his chair, frowning.

"Uh… There's kinda something I would like to say to Seifer…" Zell started, hesitating. "Um… Th-thank… You." Zell managed to speak the words he could have never in a million years, thought he would have spoken to Seifer.

"You're welcome." Seifer replied, his frown not fading.

"Now Zell, don't you feel like a total piece of crap for nearly getting Seifer kicked out of Garden?" Quistis asked, the agitation apparent in her voice.

"Y-yeah…" Zell replied, lowering his gaze. "So why did you decide to sit here?"

Seifer rolled his eyes. "Do we need a reason?"

"Well, it's certainly unexpected." Selphie interjected, not looking over from her paper.

"What, you don't want us sitting here?" Quistis inquired, narrowing her eyes.

"No no, it's not that." Selphie dismissed, now becoming more interested in her newspaper.

"Messenger girl, I'm not stupid." Seifer started. "It's obvious you haven't forgiven the things I did under the influence of Ultimecia, and I'm pretty sure you don't think I should be with Quistis." A disgruntled expression came over Seifer's face, as he got up from the table. "Come on Quistis, we don't need this." He said as he way his way for the door. Quistis mumbled a few apologies to Selphie and Zell for Seifer's behavior, and then took off after him.

Seifer stopped outside of the cafeteria, waiting up for Quistis. The other blonde came out shortly after, slightly angry.

She walked up to Seifer, looking him straight in the eyes. "What was that about?" She asked, obviously irritated.

Seifer sighed heavily, rolling his eyes and doing a head motion that suggested his annoyance. "Your little messenger girl friend obviously doesn't trust me."

Quistis put her hands on her hips, also sighing. "You didn't even give them a chance!" she half whispered, half yelled.

"Look Quistis, I don't feel like being around people who consider me a menace to society right now, alright?" The tall blonde put an extra emphasis on the last word.

Quistis' expression softened. "You can't expect them to warm back up to you so quickly, Seifer."

Seifer leaned back heavily against the wall, looking up in frustration. "God, I need a drink." He said to no one in particular.

Quistis half smiled, as she tried o see things from Seifer's perspective. In a way, he was right.

"Look, how about for now we just go back to your dorm for awhile and rest. I didn't sleep much last night." Seifer suggested.

"Alright." She replied, deciding to give him some slack.

The two started down the long circular corridor, and minutes passed before the silence was broken again.

"So I heard a rumor somewhere that you and Rinoa were seen leaving your dorm together. What would that be all about?" Quistis inquired, slightly suspicious.

Seifer sighed and lowered his head. "I hoped I wouldn't have to tell you this."

"What?"

"Rinoa is still in love with me, although she has an awful funny way of showing it. What with all the lies, and the leaving me to die with my broken heart." Seifer said in response. "She keeps bothering me, trying to win me back."

Quistis released the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "That's a relief." She commented. As much suspicion as there should have been, for some reason she trusted him.

"So you believe me?" Seifer inquired, surprised.

Quistis cocked an eyebrow, as the two came up on the door of her dorm "Of course. What reason would I have not to believe you?"

"Uum… Just forget I said that." Seifer replied as he opened the door and stepped in.

A/N: I tried to make this chapter little longer… But as you know, I prefer to write shorter stuff so that it's more convenient for the reader. Anyway, don't forget to review.