Nine › Lova Smotha ‹

I woke the next morning to Sally's smiling face.

She was lying on her tummy while absently biting on the fingernail of her pinkie. When I opened my eyes, she lowered her hand and said, "Good morning," in a soft voice that, to me, sounded like a purr.

Duuuuuuude…

What could I do? I grinned, immediately drunk on something. "Mornin, kitten. Whatcha doin?"

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away. "Just watching you sleep."

"Oh yeah?" Why she would want to do that I had no idea. Just like I had no idea why I did the same thing to her. I rolled over onto my side and up onto one elbow. "What for?" Maybe she knew?

"Because I can."

I guess it was the same reason I had for just staring at her, sometimes trying to figure out how I got here. So, I just smiled at her.

She flushed a little darker and lowered her gaze, and after last night it made me wonder what she was thinking. But I didn't ask. "So, whatcha want to do today? Walk around Winhill some more? Maybe actually catch a chocobo? Have a picnic?"

She nodded and sent me a peek. "I really wanted to see the tree fort Marshal told us about."

"Oh yeah!" Booya! "Sure! You want to have breakfast there?"

Sally shook her head, still looking down at her fingers, and sent me another peek.

I smirked and reached out a hand to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. …duuuuuude… Dincht! I lowered my hand and just covered hers, hardest duty of my life, this 'backing off'.

"Um… Zell…"

"Hm?" I wonder how she gets my name to sound like that?

"Can… Um, I mean, could we…"

My Mega-Phoenix mind finally focused on her words instead of her mouth. "'Sup, Meg?"

She let out a quick breath before giggling and meeting my gaze. "Lova smotha."

I laughed, still not sure just what it meant but fine with going along with whatever, and reached out to draw her close against me as I leaned back into the pillows. She snuggled and then let out a content breath. Booya!

"So… You're really okay with everything, Sally?" I heard myself asking. I didn't even know I was still worried that she was still worried about the whole 'All I can think about is sex' confession she'd made the night before.

She nodded against me. "I just need to get used to Sally Dincht."

I knew I certainly did.

"Just cut yourself some slack, shy girl, and try to turn your brain off sometimes. I don't like the knots in your back."

"I know you don't, and I'm trying to. Really I am." She sighed, deep, as her fingers stroked an absent pattern on my t-shirt that had me seeing stars. "Zell?"

"Hm?"

"Let's not ever stop being newlyweds."

I looked down but couldn't see anything but the top of her head. "Wha?"

"I don't want to ever stop feeling like this, here with you. This happy. This safe. I want it like this every day possible. Forever and ever."

'Forever' with the library girl? It already felt like I'd known her most of my life; seen her face in the hall; heard her in the library; saw her at the cafeteria… "Sure, Sally. You got it."

Come magicite, purists, or terrorist radicals, it was her and me. And I would do my damndest to keep it that way.

Sally let out a deep breath and tightened her arms around me. "Okay," she whispered.

And she sounded like she believed that just because I'd said so, it would happen. She trusted me more than anyone had ever trusted me in my life. Which had me thinking that was one of the reasons I busted my hump to get her what she wanted. Even if she didn't know it.

Damn straight.

Sally gave me one last squeeze before sitting up and back onto her heels. I laced my fingers behind my head and, you guessed it, just stared at her with a stupid smile on my face. I mean, geez, what else could I do with her in her silk satin PJs that I had bought her, wearing a wedding ring with my name on it, and wearing my last name.

Her cheeks flushed and she giggled, covering her face with her hands and peeking at me from between her fingers. Booya! But I fought back the visions of wrestling, pink teddies, and bunnies and motioned to the shower instead. "You can get dibs. I'm going to veg for a bit."

"Okay." Then she scrambled off the bed and headed for the shower, her step slowing until she halted at the door.

Dincht, if she asks…

Sally rested one hand on the doorjamb. "Zell…?"

I sat up. …oh man… "Yeah?"

She finally looked over at me. "Could you…"

Please, oh please…

"Could you set the bag with the bikinis inside the door? I… I think I'll try them anyway." She sent me one of those cutesy-hot smiles. "Just for you, though."

Sure visions of showers went right down the crapper, but seeing Sally in a bikini? It was definitely better than nothing! "Sure thing, Meg. No sweat."

Sally fluttered her lashes at me, sending me straight into overload, and then stepped into the safety of the bathroom to close the door. I collapsed back onto the bed with a groan, slapping my hands over my face when I heard the water run. Swim, Dincht. Now!

I nodded and scrambled off the bed and out of the cabin, keeping my mind on how we could find more magicite, when I should tell Squall… and how I could take a shower with my wife.

Hey, you've got to have priorities, right?

Remembering I had to get Sally the bikinis before I could go for the swim, I headed for the bikinis' new hiding place in the cupboard behind the main helm. While I was hauling the bag out, I came up with the idea that maybe I could persuade Sally to shower with me if we both wore our swimming things. And she'd offered once to share, but I'd been an idiot and turned her down. That would so rock.

So, promising myself to not be a jerk-off and push her into it, I trudged downstairs and lightly tapped on the bathroom door. "I've got the bikinis, Meg," I told her, carefully opening the door and not looking inside. Thank goodness the mirror was fogged over. "Want them on the counter?"

I heard the sliding door of the shower and stiffened. Oh crap.

"No. Can you give them to me? I want to rinse them off before I put them on."

"Oh sure." Dincht, keep your eyes averted, soldier! I opened the door wider, stepping inside while not looking up from the bag as I made like I was searching inside. "Which one did you want? The Balamb Blue one or the pink one? Did you want to wear a different color top with different color bottom, or what?" Control, soldier! Control! But the whole shower room was warm, and steamy, and smelled like Sally…. Duuuuuuuude….

"I think I want to do just the blue one… although the pink one was really cute, too. Which one do you want?"

…none… But that wasn't the right answer… at least, I don't think it was. "Um… well…" My brain wouldn't grab the answer, so my hand just reached in and grabbed whatever was there, offering it forward to her while still 'searching' in the bag for another option other than walking into the shower and helping her change.

…

"Can you find the bottoms?" she asked, sounding as innocent as the day I'd met her.

I was about ready to melt through the floor. "Um…" I knew where to find the bottoms, I just also knew that wasn't what she meant. I just didn't know how to get the thought out of my head. I mean, geez!, pink panties!! So, I dug in and hoped I'd found the bottoms, offered them to her, and hoped to Hyne's holy ass that she didn't ask why I was redder than I'd ever been in my life.

If she asked, I'd probably show her.

"Thank you," she said, and I could hear that sexy smile in her voice moments before I heard the too-slow sound of the door closing.

"Sure." And how I sounded calm I have no idea. I mean, I was chasing after my control like a dog chases a slab of steak, wondering if I could ask Sally if I could join her the same time I was wondering if she'd ever ask me to come in. I mean… dude! It sucks being mature! All I could do was stand there, rooted to the spot with my hands gripping the handles of the bag and my eyes afraid to venture outside the bag while my brain couldn't stop listening to her under the spray of water and then the material of the bikini as she rinsed it off… All the while chatting about how she rinsed or washed all the clothes she ever bought before she wore them because of something that had happened to her Aunt once.

…soldier…. control… I slowly blinked when I heard the soft sound of her stepping into the bikini bottoms. "…erm… Sally…?" …control…

"Hm?"

"Um… Could, erm…"

"'Could' what, sweetie?"

"Could I-" Soldier! Down, boy! "Um… Well, uh…"

"Silly boy. What's the matter?" she giggled.

The matter was I couldn't get my feet to leave because they only wanted to go forward and not backward and out of the bathroom. …duuuuude…

"Oh good. The top fits just right."

…it fits… Soldier, do it now! The bikini bag splutted to the floor as I moved forward, sliding back the shower door and stepping inside. Sally squealed, "Zell! What are you doing?!" as I backed her to the wall, a hand pressed against it on either side of her, and grinned down into her wet face. Sure I was taking the brunt of the water, but that was probably the best thing anyway.

"I changed my mind."

Quickly wiping hair and water out of her face, her cheeks redder than ever, she asked, "Changed your m-mind about w-what?"

"Dibs. Me dibs." I wiggled my eyebrows at her, because that was all I could do after the last word. All my others were completely gone.

Sally's jaw dropped as she continued to hold her arms wrapped around her. Then she wrinkled her nose at me and giggled, "Silly boy," before pointing to the shower caddy, a pink bottle, and saying. "There's the shampoo."

I grabbed for it so fast I nearly tripped on my own feet.

Sally giggled again and all I could think was… duuuuuuude…. as I showered with my wife.

***

I intercepted Zell's light kiss as we waited in the restaurant lobby for Harry, amazed again at how everything had changed. It seemed like the moment 'Sally Regal' had made the confession to Zell, heard his promise to not think her a horrible person, and then woke to see him still sleeping beside her… she stopped fighting. Stopped arguing. Stopped questioning every little thing. It felt as if Sally Regal had looked down at the wedding band on her finger and then said, 'Oh,' as she realized just what exactly it meant.

That wasn't to say I was cured. No way. I still found myself fighting back a lot of feelings and images, biting my lip when his touch to my thigh during a conversation would incite a reaction. But I wasn't… well, I wasn't as guilty. Or… as afraid. I was getting used to how he made me feel. Seeing it as… as the new me. It would just take more 'personal attention' to get completely over it.

Which was fine with me!

I loved Zell so much for his patience. Especially when he did nutty things like stepping into the shower in his t-shirt and boxers. But sharing a moment like that with him touched me more than anything I remembered. The gentle way he had washed and rinsed my hair, how he'd washed my back and arms with soft strokes, standing so close…

Seifer had been right about showers together.

And then the way Zell had wrapped me up in the plush towel, holding me tight against him as he nuzzled my neck? Yes. Definitely a first I would remember and look forward to from then on. I just didn't understand how I had finally made it here: Married to Zell Dincht. I suppose you could call it post-euphoria shock.

Zell gave my shoulders a jostle and pressed his lips against my temple, making me smile. Of course, I felt like I was smiling all the time now. Yet another symptom of this new 'trauma'. One that I wouldn't mind living with for the rest of my life.

"I wonder if we should get a table?" Zell asked. "He's late, and he said he might-"

Harry entered the restaurant then, wearing the same 'cords', sweater vest, and wrinkled dress-shirt that I had seen him wear before. His red hair was a mess, I still hadn't reasoned out if it was intentional, his glasses were a little crooked, and his hands were full of computer cases and notebooks.

"Yo, doc, you're going to pull something," Zell said, chuckling as he stepped forward to retrieve something from Harry's slipping hold.

Harry smiled his thanks, adjusted his glasses, and offered us each a greeting nod. "Sally. Zell. Good evening. Sorry for being late. Conference call ran long."

"They do that a lot, doc?" Zell asked absently, catching the attention of the host and wordlessly requesting a table.

"Hm? Oh. Conferences. Yes, well, I don't recall ever putting a specific number to the occurrence, but I suppose it does happen more often than not. The Foundation has a great many of projects in the works, and then mine isn't the only subsidiary that travels about the globe searching for answers to questions, so they must prioritize and regulate the influx of information, communicating all that's been discovered from other scientists such as myself and then-"

"Doc, doc, doc," Zell laughed, gripping Harry's shoulder, "Like I'm always telling, Sally, Harry. There's no way I can listen that fast."

I giggled, shielding my mouth and shaking my head as I sent Zell a smile.

"Hm? Oh. So sorry."

And I had begun to notice Harry began a lot of his conversations with 'Hm? Oh.' As if he had to persuade his mind and attention back from some place it went on a regular basis so that he could understand what everyone else was talking about. It was kind of cute.

Of course, I thought a lot of people were 'kind of cute'.

Zell gave Harry's shoulder another grip before chucking him on the arm while offering his infamous boyish grin and stating, "No prob, doc." Then he motioned toward the main room of the restaurant where the host waited by a booth in the corner. "They've got something ready. Let's go. I'm hungry. Forgot to eat lunch."

I flushed crimson as Zell wrapped his arm around my shoulders and guided me forward. When I sent him a quick peek, he winked at me.

"Oh? Did the satellite determine the location of more magicite shards?"

My cheeks burned so red I thought I was going to catch on fire. Zell, however, sounded calmness itself as he said, "Nah. Was checking out the sights here and there. Lost track of time."

Zell… I nearly groaned, embarrassed beyond words. The tree-fort had been a little too… perfect. And with 'Sally Regal' staying so quiet in the corner now, 'Sally Dincht' had found it a lot of fun to make-out with her husband.

Booya!

…ahem…

"Ah. Yes. I've found myself returning to Winhill quite a few times," Harry volunteered while sitting across from Zell and I at the booth. He placed his computer case onto the table while setting the peripheral equipment case onto the seat beside him. "Mostly as a stop directly between Foundational appointments in order to work on my reports and catalogues. There seems to be a quietness to the atmosphere that invites smoothness of thought."

" 'Smoothness of thought', eh?" Zell looked over at me with that same impish smile I remembered and loved. "That explains a lot, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Having no problem with the whole getting together of the security plan and stuff. Knowing what to do and things like that."

I momentarily frowned before giving him a soft punch on the arm. "Zell, for heaven sake. How many times do I have to tell you that you're good at this because you're good at this?"

"Ow! Hey! Leave off the mutilation until we're alone so I can fight back."

Mouth now gaping open, I blinked at him until he winked. Then I complained, "Zellander Dincht!" and punched him again.

He laughed and defended, which resulted in pulling me close against him so that I couldn't move. I didn't really mind and only half-heartedly protested.

I really loved being married.

Noticing that Harry seemed to be off in his own little world while setting up his laptop, I poked Zell in the ribs with a soft scold of "Zell, please behave yourself."

He winked, jostled me, and gave me a light kiss. "Sure thing, Meg. Sorry."

"The Foundation has been extremely excited in the information you've provided regarding the Figaro signet," Harry was saying. "There is a bit of a myth surrounding the family that has incited a great deal of controversy as to whether there is any truth to it."

That instantly grabbed Zell's attention. "Yeah? What do they say about 'em?"

Sending Zell a small smile while thinking You're so cute when you're interested, I wrapped an arm around his middle and gave him a squeeze before just resting my head against him. He gave me another jostle and a kiss on the head while still focused on Harry.

"Much of what is known is conjecture, due to the time-line and the multitude of civil and global wars that have resulted in the interim, destroying certain records. However." Harry typed in a few commands into his computer before turning it to a 90-degree angle so that we could all view the information on the screen. "As you can see here, from the artifacts I was able to procure from you and the resulting information, my computer was able to gather quite a bit of information."

"Um…" Zell's arm left my shoulders as he reached out to draw the laptop a bit closer. He grimaced and motioned to the information on the screen with a wave of his hand. "A lot of symbols and numbers, but it's all Ancient Estharian to me."

Harry chuckled. "Well, as a matter of fact there is a resemblance between the Figaro type-set and the base text the Esthar scientific community uses. However, this collection of symbols and numbers aren't writing; they're actually composites and metallurgy tables of that which was used in the formation of the Figaroan artifacts."

I blinked and focused my mind on the information.

"As you can see, I have them listed in a hypothesized chronology of advancement, based on those same composites, etc. Figaro was quite advanced for their age, having the technology for mechanics and power-propulsion when most others were still utilizing the most basic of energies. It's these facts that have the Foundation so intrigued. We've been able to piece together the beginnings of one of the Figaro histories that tells of a collection of weaponry the king had designed and created himself."

"Whoa," Zell said under his breath. "This guy was a brain like you?"

Harry smirked. "Yes, well, we've certain conflicting reports on his character, but he was an intellectual, most certainly. However, mechanical and engineering-based genius is different than the other sciences. So the comparison is impossible to make."

Chuckling while shaking his head, Zell said, "Yeah. I guess," in an amused tone of voice and sent me a smirk.

I smiled at him before focusing back on Harry. "Do you think you might be able to find information about where the other magicite shards might be? I mean, with Queen Terra being so closely involved with the Espers, and therefore the magicite, King Edgar would more than likely keep those kinds of things written down, wouldn't he?"

"That's what the common conjecture has been, yes."

"But you have to wait until the translation of the histories is done," I finished.

"Correct. The Foundation has worked continuously since your discoveries of the varying runes and writings. However, translation is always a slow process, and I'm afraid there won't be a finding of any extreme level for quite a few weeks at the present rate."

Zell frowned. "We don't have that kinda time, doc. We've got to find all those shards as soon as we can. If there's a chance that some radical jerk-off has some and is doing their best to get the magic, we've got to step in."

Harry nodded. "I understand that all too well, and such is the very reason I am prepared to approach Commander Squall and work jointly with him."

Zell blinked and leaned slightly back. "Wha- Really?" he pressed, leaning forward again. "I thought the Foundation doesn't work with Garden."

"There is a time and place for all joint efforts as well as separations." Sending Zell a somewhat lopsided smile, Harry informed, "As you've so aptly stated, we don't have the time to continue a separation. The Foundation reluctantly agreed this morning to my insistence that I be allowed this particular action."

I smiled. "That's wonderful. I know Cmdr. Squall will do his best to help however he can. Even Sub-Lt. Cmdr. Seifer. He doesn't like it when things get out of control."

Zell chuckled. "Yeah. You can say that again."

"I certainly hope so, as I've told the Foundation that I would do my best to make an appointment with Cmdr. Squall this very evening. Hence the reason I shortened the length of the conference call as much as I was able. You see, I need you to initiate the security protocol required for said same meeting."

Zell looked over at me. "We were gonna make the report after dinner anyway, so why not just do a conference call? We'll just wait to have Harry come in until we clear it with Squall."

I nodded, my heart pounding at the excitement of the coming adventure.

"Cool." Zell motioned to me. "Why don't you call up Seifer and let him know about the conference call, let's say for it to be about 1900 hours, as that'll give us about an hour to eat, and then we can get over to wherever we'll have the meeting."

I nodded again, lowering my focus to my purse and the task of finding the hand-held phone as Zell focused again on Harry.

"We'll order some grub while she's setting up the meeting. We'll more than likely just head on back to the Moon Spinner, what with it already being secure and stuff."

Harry absently inclined his head as he packed up his computer. "Certainly, certainly."

Retrieving the phone from my purse, I gathered Zell's attention and motioned outside. "I'll go outside and do it. Be right back."

Zell nodded, gave my arm a squeeze, and then I felt him watching me as I left the restaurant to make the phone call. As I input the security code and initiated the scrambling sequence, I had no idea what I was going to tell Seifer in order to have him approve the conference call. I mean, I didn't want to present too much information without Harry and Zell being present because of the fact that we were all involved. On my own, I didn't have all of the information, so I wouldn't be able to answer all his questions.

Worrying my lower lip while trying to convince myself to just 'take it as it goes', I typed in Seifer's direct security line and waited for the pick-up. If Seifer wasn't in his office, it would be immediately forwarded to a phone he kept on his person at all times.

Before it picked up or transferred, however, I heard a step behind me that I recognized as Zell's moments before he took the hand-held from me.

"I'll handle this, Sally," he told me as he met my wide-eyed gaze. "I've been leading this half-assed adventure from the first, so there's no reason for you to get blasted." Then he winked, which caused a smile from me, and took hold of my hand just as I heard Seifer's brusque "Report," on the other end.

I twitched without meaning to and flushed, immediately lowering my gaze when Zell sent me a knowing look.

"Hey, Seif. It's Zell. I need you to set up a meeting for me and Sally with Squall at 1900 hours."

"Reason?"

"To keep Hyne's unholy hell from breaking out."

Silence.

I peeked up to send Zell a concerned glance.

He winked again, giving my hand a pressure as he said, "It might even make the difference with some operations you've got going on," he added.

Operations? I knew that I didn't know all of what was going on in the security office, but I generally was involved in some process of a majority of them. I don't remember hearing anything about an operation that would be effected by this. And that, of course, had my mind working overtime trying to piece together a puzzle I only had one portion of.

"You'll need to give me something more, Dincht."

"I'm not in the know about it all, Seif, but it's important. More important than weird GFs showing up whenever they want." Then his expression grew serious and his eyes focused away from mine. In fact, the look on his face gave me the shivers. "It's no joke, and it could get major real quick."

There was silence yet again before I heard a muttered curse and then an exhalation of breath before Seifer's somewhat sharp, "Affirmative. 1900 hours it is."

Zell's smirk returned. "Thanks, Seif. Talk to you then." Then he disconnected the call and presented me the phone.

I absently retrieved it, staring up at him with wide-eyes that must have brimmed with questions.

Zell's smirk altered to his usual boyish smile. "Don't ask, Sally. I can't tell you."

Blinking in surprise, mostly because his comment admitted that there was something going on more than what I knew, I then wordlessly nodded. Security was a life of secrets and not asking the questions you wanted to ask.

I hated it, but it was still my job.

***

I don't remember what we talked about during dinner, mostly because my mind had wandered through my 8 to 9 months with the security station while trying to solve the puzzle of the operation that might have had something to do with these magicite shards. I figured it more than likely had to do with a terrorist faction, mostly because of Zell's extreme reaction when Harry had first told us about the shards. But the only highly dangerous faction had been those involved with the Winhill black-market ring, and they had been disbanded by Ahndra and Marshal several weeks before-hand.

The interrogation of the one remaining member hadn't turned up any information regarding possible splinter factions in other locations, either.

"Hmm." I jabbed a piece of cheese from my salad and absently nibbled the end.

The faction in Winhill had been directly connected to a small group of renegade Galbadian militia members that had broken off during the invasion of Dollet. They had been involved with the rape and murder of Marshal's little sister about the same time that Zell and Squall had their Field Exam. A somewhat eerie coincidence, especially considering that Seifer and Marshal had been friends growing up.

Needless to say, Seifer had been extremely… pleased to have this opportunity for vengeance.

In addition, this same faction of deserters had somehow been able to deter shipments of weaponry from Trabia and Galbadia Gardens to Winhill. Wasn't there something from Deling? I shook my head, frowning. Heavy weaponry didn't find its way to Deling, due to the security risk factor of the candidates and SeeDs stationed there. But don't they sometimes have personnel from Deling man the trucks that do deliveries from Garden to the storage facilities or vice versa?

My frown deepened and I skewered another chunk of cheese. There's always SeeD Security Personnel assigned to those. I knew, because I was one of the people that approved the security clearance of those responsible. It was highly unlikely that someone I had approved, and whom had also been approved by Seifer and Cmdr. Squall, would be involved in the relocation of weaponry. Especially missiles.

But if I followed the clues, Galbadian free-militia from the Dollet invasion routed by Garden had somehow begun selling Garden weaponry through the black-market. Something like that was just too… too huge to orchestrate without a person inside.

My eyebrows twitched downward as I somewhat firmly set down my fork and then crossed my arms on the table. But that means they bypassed all our security screenings! And that was not going to go over well with Seifer or Cmdr. Squall at all.

Resting my chin on my arm, I released a deep breath. Was there something I could have seen to warn me about this? Communication? Altered logs? Time discrepancies with the weaponry dispatch caravans? But all … had…. I sat up, tilting my head as I stared at my half-eaten salad. Wait. Wasn't there that communication log between Trabia and Deling that seemed a little odd? But I remembered bringing that to Seifer's attention weeks ago. He would have done something about that if it was anything worth noting.

Sighing, I lowered my head again. "…shoot…" I muttered.

At a soft nudge of Zell's elbow into my side, I gave a twitch and then looked up to meet his lopsided and very adorable boyish smile. I smiled.

"Are you done saving the world in that sexy head of yours so we can go and get ready for the meeting?"

With a nod and a flush, I gathered up my purse and scooted out of the booth. "Sorry."

"Don't sweat it, Meg. Doc and I were having a blast trying to figure out what all your faces meant. I think he got most of 'em right, though. Which means I probably lost out 1000 gil."

Gasping, I looked at Zell with wide-eyes. But when he winked, I laughed and slugged his arm. "Zell Dincht!"

He took the punch and drew me close with an arm around my shoulders as Harry paid the bill, upon his insistence, and then gathered up his computers to follow us out.

"I've my car here," Harry said, motioning to a white vehicle that was a very expensive-looking stationwagon. "I'll take you to the dock in Moor's Head, as we've not enough time before the meeting to walk."

"And you've got too much trash," Zell teased, giving Harry a playful slug on the arm.

"Hm? Oh. Yes. Quite."

That had me sniggering and thinking again how geeky-cute he was. I knew of several girls that would go wild over him.

Zell helped Harry load his gear into the back of the stationwagon, and then loaded me into the front as he took the back passenger seat behind mine. Which, of course, afforded him the opportunity to give me a shoulder rub on our way out of Winhill to Moor's Head.

If there was a conversation, I don't remember what it was.

Once we arrived at the dock, Zell helped Harry unload the things he needed from the stationwagon and hauled a good portion of them to the Moon Spinner. Harry and I followed behind.

"I will remain on deck until permission is obtained to meet with your commander," Harry was saying as part of me kept my eye on Zell to make sure he didn't need any help.

"Sub-Lt. Cmdr. Seifer might want to debrief you first," I admitted. "It's something he has a tendency of doing before letting anyone meet with Cmdr. Squall."

"Hm? Oh. Quite honestly, I expected such to be the case. I'm certain your commander is a very busy man, considering he is the one responsible for the synchronization of four Gardens as well as the building of a security station."

Smiling, I nodded. "He does such a wonderful job, too. And never seems to have a harsh word for anyone. At least, not that I've heard anyone say. Of course, Cmdr. Squall doesn't seem to say much at all to anyone. Though his reports are very good. Have you ever read any of his reports?" And I don't know why I wanted Harry to be impressed by Cmdr. Squall. It was the oddest thing to feel a need to bring up a person's good points to another person that wouldn't, or couldn't do anything to change that other person's standing anywhere.

Harry's expression remained serious and somewhat distracted. "As a matter of fact, I've quite a few of his reports regarding Guardian Forces and their effect on the human synapsis. It's an intriguing hypothesis he's presented based on his own experiences and what Garden has commonly accepted as fact."

Harry absently boarded the Moon Spinner, turning to watch as Zell helped me aboard, still speaking on his previous subject without missing a word or rhythmic beat.

"In fact, his theory of the near-symbiotic relationship between Guardian Forces and humans has caused quite a stir in many sections of the Foundation. Yet it is quite the intriguing idea, supported by the fact that once a Guardian Force has paired himself, or herself, with a human, another cannot utilize their abilities until the pairing has been ceased. That causes me to wonder how many Guardian Forces there are, considering how many militia throughout the world use magic as a major weapon, and how many humans are able to tap into the magical-aura surrounding our planet much as the Guardian Forces do."

Still speaking, Harry followed us below. "There have also been reports of creatures being called by humans, though those in a certain area still seem to transport to an outside dimension while the called creature utilizes their ability on whatever was targeted. Initially, we believed they were Guardian Forces as well. However, when these people were questioned, they denied any such pairing. Or junction, as you of Garden have classified it."

Zell and I exchanged glances. It sounded a lot like what had happened to me when Cmdr. Squall, Rinoa, Zell, and I had been on the train to Timber and it had been attacked by radicals.

"What'd they say about the whole creature thing coming then?" Zell asked, motioning for Harry to enter the galley.

"To be truthful, those that have performed the 'calling', as we've come to term it, have been young children that have believed the creatures to be their imaginary friends whom battle evil." Harry smiled as he sat at the table and began setting up his computers. "It's been quite the challenge to gather scientifically accurate information from six, seven, and eight year olds. The oldest, I believe, is eleven. They're all under observation at the Foundation in Esthar."

Zell wrinkled his nose. "You've got kids under the scope at that place? Geez."

Harry looked up from plugging in one of the many peripheral devices for his computer, his attention finally seeming to fully focus on Zell. "Hm? Oh. They're free to go at any time, and the families are always in control of the child's coming and goings. How long they stay as a whole. How long they remain in session. Et cetera, et cetera. We've found that cooperation and information is more easily come by when it is acquired voluntarily. Much as your Garden enrollment has altered in years past."

I smiled, and I could tell that Zell was even more impressed by not only Harry, but by the Foundation.

Focusing again on his computer, Harry made the final connection and then stood. "I seem to be ready, and as it's only five minutes before the appointed time, I believe I will go on deck and take a moment or two to mentally prepare myself for the meeting." He smiled and nodded to each of us before leaving the galley and going on deck.

I giggled, shaking my head as I sat on the couch and gripped the seat. "He's so cute."

Zell smirked as he leaned back against the table. "Whatever. I still haven't figured out how old the guy is, and it's driving my crazy. One sec I think he's the same age as me, and then he goes and does something that makes me think he's at least 30. He's all messed up, everywhere."

Laughing, I shook my head again. "No he isn't. He's eccentric. Like everyone is in their own way. Me, you, Selphie, all of us."

"Yeah. I guess you're right. He's going to drive Seifer nuts, though. You know he will."

"Why?"

Zell's smirk twitched. "'Cause the guys clueless about stuff other than what's going on in his head. I don't think Seifer's going to be able to push a single button."

I grimaced. "If someone has a button, Seifer will find it."

Zell laughed. "Yeah. You're probably right."

My internet phone threatened an incoming call. So, Zell released a deep breath and straightened before taking up the phone from the table and sending me a 'Here it goes' look.

I stood and moved to sit in the chair nearest Zell, taking his hand in mine to give it a squeeze.

"Hi, Zell," Cmdr. Squall greeted.

"Heeeeey. Got the man himself. Sweet."

Cmdr. Squall chuckled. "Well, I figured that since you were calling on a security issue while on your honeymoon, it was more than a normal security hiccup. I don't have anything else scheduled for the rest of the evening, so there's no rush."

"Thanks, Squall. I appreciate it. Say, is Seif there? He's going to want to be in on this, too."

"Yes. We're in his office on speaker phone."

"Oh good." Zell gave my hand a squeeze, but didn't meet my gaze. "Well… Geez. It's hard to know where to start." Then he released a quick breath, gave my hand another pressure, and shrugged. "I guess I just dive in. Alright. Well, day one we found a treasure chest…"

Lightly clasping Zell's hand in both of mine, I continued to smile up at him as he told the story of our adventure as only Zell could tell it: With passion. I only heard a couple of curses from Seifer when he got to the part where we met Harry and used the satellite to find the shards, but mostly there was silence.

Then Zell told Cmdr. Squall that Harry wanted to work with Garden to help find the rest of the shards and posed the fated question, "So, what do you think?"

There were several minutes of muted silence - the kind that came when someone hits the 'mute' button on a speaker phone - and then I could have sworn I heard a door slam.

"Sorry, Zell. Seifer's off to arrange a conference with Galbadia, Trabia, and Deling security chiefs. Is Dr. Tahlson there now?"

"Yeah. He's up on deck. You want me to get him?"

"No, that's alright. Why don't you have him come to Balamb Garden next Monday. Be sure to have him check in with Seifer before going anywhere else. We'll begin organizing the search using all of the Network satellites as soon as we can get it all arranged."

"Sure thing, Squall." Zell sent me a quick glance. "Say, Squall, can you promise me that Sally won't get it from Seifer for using the satellite? It was my idea."

I protested, but he muted the mic and sent me the sternest look I'd ever seen. "I'm the ranking officer, Sally, so it's my ass. Not yours," he hissed.

"But, Zell! It wasn't your idea," I protested.

"I gave the go ahead, so it's my ass! If no one gets written up, then I'll make sure I put the full story in the report. But until I know for sure that Seifer's not going to go Bahamut, it's all me. Okay?"

To my surprise, I frowned and skulked back in the chair as I crossed my arms. "…fine…" I mumbled, not liking the idea of him getting in trouble when it was my suggestion.

Zell unmuted the mic, still watching me. "Yeah, Squall, I know about the whole classified thing and stuff, but there wasn't any way else to get what we've gotten. We had to do something as fast as we could, especially when Harry told us about the whole 'not needing to be junctioned' thing to use magic. They've only got to wait the weeks or whatever for them to learn the magic. And I made sure we used a satellite that wasn't being used somewhere else. And it wasn't like we had it locked. If someone had needed to use it, they coulda reprogrammed the coordinates without a problem."

"Zell, I didn't mean it that way. I just mentioned the fact the satellite is classified because you're supposed to file a report with Seifer any time a classified piece of equipment is used. Of course it's fine. Like you said, the satellite was 'off-duty' and not scheduled to be used for another five weeks. And since Sally was there, I'm sure she made sure there wasn't any malicious programs in the software you used, whatever it was. Just make sure you both file a report when you get back, and I'll make sure I retroactively date the approval."

Zell grinned and sent me a wink, which, unfortunately, negated my pout and had me sounding a soft giggle. "Cool, Squall! Thanks."

"No problem. I need to go talk to Selphie about setting some diplomatic talks in motion with this Foundation, so you and Sally just take your honeymoon and don't do any other classified adventuring. Okay?"

And I could hear the amusement in his tone.

"Hey, it's been fun!"

"Zell…"

"Aw man. Come on. Just a couple more days? We got a blip over by the orphanage that I want to check out. Then I promise: We're done."

"Alright, but only because you're so close to that location anyway. After that, you contact Seifer or me before going to another location. If one of the radical groups has figured out the location of these shards, I don't want you and Sally going in without back-up."

"Sure thing, Squall. No prob."

"Okay. Well, have fun."

Zell's grin grew to be his usual lopsided boyish smile that had me seeing stars. "You know it. Later, dude." Then Zell terminated the call and set the phone behind him before crossing his arms and leaning once more against the table. "Piece of cake."

I forced my frown back, my arms crossed the same as his. "I'm mad at you, Zellander."

"Oh yeah?" His smile twitched. "We need to take this outside?"

I scoffed and looked away so that I wouldn't break out into a fit of giggles.

Zell chuckled and straightened, reaching out to pull me to my feet and then settle his hands on my hips. It had to be the most glorious feeling in the world. "So… What can I do to make the kitten stop spittin at me?"

I adjusted my crossed arms as I continued to 'frown' off to the right side. "Don't ever do something like that again. When I make a suggestion that might jeopardize my career, you let me take my share of the responsibility." I sent him a quick glance to catch his softly smiling expression. "I'm a SeeD Security Officer, so I know what I'm doing the same as you."

"Okay," he said, voice serious. "I promise I won't do that again."

I let go of the frown and smiled up at him, arms and hands going up around his neck. "Okay."

Zell chuckled. "You're too easy to please, Meg."

"Nuh-uh."

"Yeah you are. You just don't know it." He kissed me briefly on the lips. "But that's okay. I like things easy. Being a SeeD is hard enough. I don't need 'hard' at home, too."

Home. It sounded better than it ever had before. Sending Zell a silly smile, I adjusted my arms around his neck and said, "Lova smotha" in a silly voice that had him laughing and then doing just what I wanted him to.

Drawing me even closer and hiding his face in my neck to whisper "Booya!"