A/N: yay! another fluffy chapter. ;) a tad bit of lemon people. remember you have been forewarned. so now, chapter 8!

Disclaimer: i don't own any of SquareEnix's games.

--Chapter 8—

A Night of Passion

As Rinoa descended the stairs to the Great hall, she looked to Squall and gave him her goofiest smile. This made Squall look at her in a funny way, he didn't give out his usual death glare but instead, he gave her another look; the look of pure infatuation.

Oh Hyne she looks good, no not good, like an angel!

She wore an of shoulder gown, with a dark indigo color, the fabric that was used was silk, and it was a balloon cut too, so the fabrics inside were of lavender shade and were really puffy; perfect for evening occasions. It had sequins and beads attached to the edges and the design looked pretty intricate. The beads form a spiral flower shape on the bottom part of the gown and on the back, were ribbons; lots and lots of ribbons. Her hair was kept in a tight bun, which pulled out most of her bangs, but some were able to escape the spray net. She also wore simple single-band, 4in heels; which were studded with diamonds by the cuffs. She looked like a gift and an angel at the same time.

"Well?" Rinoa said as she gracefully descended the last remaining steps to finally reach the ballroom itself. "Why are you looking at me all funny?"

"Is there something on my dress?" she added as she searched her dress for any imperfections and when she found nothing, she looked up and raised her eyebrows at Squall. "Well?"

Oh I must speak!

"Ssso-so-sorry," he stuttered as he tried to reply to Rinoa's inquiries. "You were saying?"

"Nothing at all… c'mon, let's meet the guests!" she said as she pulled Squall by the arm and went straight for the Entrance. "So a lot of people really come to Galas huh? I only went to one of these once when I was a kid."

I should really give her a compliment.

Squall really is quiet tonight I wonder if something's still bothering him.

"Rinoa," he said as he stopped in the middle of the hall. Rinoa spun around to look at what he is doing or what his reason is for stopping abruptly. "You look good. No, not good. Perfect."

Rinoa blushed at the statement and went to run to give Squall one big hug. "Thank you!"

"The only thing missing from your dress is an attachment of wings." He commented as Rinoa spun around to let him marvel her gown.

"No not wings." She replied and then she pulled Squall again to the door. "What then if not wings?" he asked as they reached the doorway, but the only reply he ever got was a sweet smile that graced her lips as she intertwined her arm with his.

They greeted all the guests, and Rinoa was always given a compliment, or if not, they asked who she is in Squall's life. When these questions arise they blush and cannot answer properly, thank Hyne Ellone was there to explain everything, but the guests do not find it convincing; especially Irene.

"Good evening, welcome!" Rinoa said as the Duchess of Cerulean came and shook hands with her. The Duchess came with her infamous niece, Irene.

Irene shook hands with Rinoa and was about to say something pleasant when she saw that Rinoa was Squall's date for the night, she changed her mind. "Who are you?" she said as she pulled Rinoa to eye level, in Rinoa's case, 12 inches lower.

"I, um…" Rinoa stuttered not really knowing how to react or even what to say. Seeing this happen Squall came into the rescue. "Irene this is Rinoa," he said as he took her hands and led her inside. "My date."

"She's not!" Irene exclaimed, but to no avail she was pushed asunder when another couple stepped in to be greeted.

"Who was that girl?" Rinoa whispered to Squall as she shook the hands of the guests. "I'll tell you later, long story."

Rinoa just nodded and awaited the next guest to step in. After much handshaking and small talking, the welcoming of guests finally ended and it was time to do some mingling.

The party was as expected, nothing short but spectacular. This time there was a theme, and the theme was, the Victorian. The guests were all having fun and Ellone was really happy to produce such a marvelous Gala.


"Ellone this is by far the best Gala you ever arranged." Squall whispered into her ear as he passed her by on the dance floor.

"Remind me to thank Rinoa for your compliment!" she called out as her partner spun her 'round and took her to the other side of the dance floor.


Laguna was most certainly enjoying himself, while being in the company of his two best buddies who arrived just a little bit before the down pour of guests. He was animatedly talking to Kiros when he realized that it was time for him to give his speech about the charity gala.

He then went to the center of the dance floor with a wine glass in one hand and a microphone in the other.

"Good evening! Ladies and gentlemen, guests, friends, relatives, fellow Estharians!" he greeted them in his usual friendly manner and everyone immediately fell silent to listen to him. "We are gathered here today in this grand celebration to hold our annual Charity Gala. As always our goal is to raise enough money for the needy, in Esthar or in some other country that we don't know of. "He paused allowing the information to sink in on the audience.

"Firstly, I would like to thank all of you who came. Of course the Duchess for gracing us with her presence once again," he said as he raised his glass to the direction of the Duchess of Cerulean. "And of course do not think that the rest of you that came here are of less importance, because you are most important to me and my family. "He then paused and gave a warm smile.

"Secondly, I would like to thank my daughter: Elle," he said as he called upon Ellone to come to his side. "For making this Gala a reality and pushing through with the wonderful theme of…What is the theme again Elle?" Of course, Laguna wouldn't be Laguna if he's not to make any mistakes in his speech. "Its Victorian, dad," Ellone muttered under her breath and gave Laguna and the audience a smile. "Oh yes, yes… "

"Thirdly, I would like to…"


"C'mon Rin let's get outta here." Squall said as he tugged at Rinoa's arm. "But Laguna's speech is not yet finished." She protested.

"Trust me; it won't be finished in another 15 minutes." He replied as they squeezed through the mass of people gathered on the dance floor.

Wow, he sure doesn't like his father's speeches; he must have really gotten tired of it.

Ugh if only Rinoa knew that my father can give out a speech for almost an hour she would've jet sooner.

"Squall, where are we headed anyway?" Rinoa asked as she saw that they passed quite a lot of corridors and that she was lost. "And can you please slow down, my shoes are not flat you know!"

"Sorry for making you walk, but don't worry. We're near." Squall called out from his shoulder while amidst pushing a huge statue out of the way.

Near where exactly, the dungeons? I doubt they would have one of those! Rinoa thought as she felt the painful effects of the 4in heels that she was wearing.

Squall led them both to a passageway within the bowels of the palace. He then helped Rinoa up a ladder that led to yet another walkway, although this time it was outside and one could definitely hear the waves.

"Squall, where are you taking me?" Rinoa asked once again, thinking if Laguna's speech would have been finished by now.

"Just trust me." Squall said as he pushed the wooden oak door to reveal to Rinoa a tiny patch of shore.

Rinoa can't help but push past Squall and remove her heels to run to the water. "WOW!" she yelled to Squall as she went to the waters. "I never thought there would be a place like this here in Esthar."

"Well there really isn't," Squall said as he removed his own shoes to walk towards Rinoa. "This is man-made."

"Oh wow." Despite hearing this Rinoa can't help but ogle at the view.

"So this is where you go when you get bored of your father's speeches?" she asked him as she saw him sit down on the sandy shore.

"Well, yeah, or when I get pissed at Ellone." He said as he reminisced of the times that he went here. "I come here when I get disappointed or sad or bored or when I'm happy."

Wow he sure does come here a lot. No wonder he didn't get lost.

"Oh I see, do a lot of people know about this place?"

"No, not really. Just the servants and I; not even dad or Elle knows." Squall said as he stared intently to Rinoa's eyes.

"Why not?" She asked as she approached Squall's side.

"Well, for one is that I never told them and two, they don't explore the palace that much."

"This sure is a nice place Squall. Thank you for showing Me." She spoke softly this time. She played with the sand and curled her toes on them, so that they would be able to dig into the sand.

Wow, so I'm an addition to the people who know this place.

"I wonder why it is here though." Rinoa muttered as she realized that there was a full moon tonight.

"Well I think the people who made this place, came from a place with lots of sandy beaches, since Esthar is in the desert you can only make one of these not find them." Squall replied while curling his own toes too.

But this time Rinoa didn't reply. She was busy staring up the night sky. Squall did the same, seeing that his raven haired companion was preoccupied with this feat. He found it relaxing to just listen to the waves and stare up the night sky.

He always did this; ever since he came across this place many years back. He was looking for some peace and quiet then when he had a naptime nightmare when he was a kid. He remembered his mom telling him that she was always calmed by the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. He was pretty desperate then, or maybe his mom guided him to find this place, whichever the reason he's glad to have found this place.

"Look a shooting star!" Rinoa exclaimed, breaking Squall from his trance-like state. "Make a wish! Quick!"

"You still believ—"

"Shhh!" she shushed Squall as she went to close her eyes and made a wish.

After a while she reopened her eyes and smiled at Squall.

"Did you make a wish?" she asked him.

"Yeah." He answered.

"What did you wish for?" Squall asked Rinoa.

"I can't tell you! If I do then it won't come true!" she then laughed and lied down on the sand. "What about you Squall? What did you wish for?"

"Well it already came true so," he said as he looked into her eyes and went to turn over her. "So what is the point of wishing for it again?"

Rinoa blushed scarlet. Oh my Hyne this is it! But she just laughed and went to tickle Squall.

"Really now?" she teased. "Did you wish for this exact moment? I mean you being on top of me?"

"Yeah, but then not all of it has come true yet." He replied with a mischievous smile. "I still haven't closed the gap."

Rinoa realized what he was talking about, but it was already too late for realizations for now their lips were locked in place.

Oh Hyne! This is it!


Squall kissed Rinoa ever so gently, much like how the waves crashed to the shores. But not after long he parted his lips to let out his tongue; to feel, to taste Rinoa's. Rinoa was a bit hesitant to opening her mouth to him but she gave in to his searching tongue nonetheless. She parted her lips and almost instantly Squall's tongue went in to probe the entrails of her mouth. But Rinoa wasn't the one to be dominated; she rolled over Squall and made the kiss her own. She darted her own tongue into his maw; to explore and to discover what he tastes like. To her he tasted like honey with a hint of blueberry, yes that was how he tasted for Rinoa.

Seeing that Rinoa was so keen to take their passionate kissing to another level, Squall then untangled the ribbons on the back of Rinoa's dress, he untangled them one by one, taking his sweet time, not planning on rushing things. Finally, after much fiddling with the ribbons Rinoa's dress finally was ready to be taken off. Squall was now caressing her bare back, and was kissing her passionately as well. He then pulled down the dress from Rinoa's arms, fully divulging her bare front. While he kissed her neck, down the now newly exposed skin, Rinoa on the other hand started to moan. "Squall… I think…. "She shuddered as Squall then nibbled her ear lobe and whispered, "You think we should what?" he said his voice becoming husky from the lust and pleasure that he was feeling. He then continued his venture as he pulled down Rinoa's dress off her completely, leaving Rinoa with nothing more on, than her lacy underwear. Squall once again went to pay attention to Rinoa's mouth, kissing her harder and more fervently while his hands traveled to the small of Rinoa's back. She arched her back as she felt his balmy touch on her icy skin. As Squall reached his hands goal, he gently tugged on the lacy material. But this time Rinoa's hands intervened. "No… not yet…. "She said, her voice betraying her. Squall kissed her again and asked, "Do you really want me to stop?" this time looking at her straight in the eye. "Please, I… I'm not ready for this yet…not that I don't want to, it's just…"

Squall let out a sigh and nodded. He immediately ceased what he was doing. "Rinoa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"No, it's my fault, I'm sorry, it's just that… um, I'm sorry, and it's not your fault okay? It's mine, I… I don't know, but it…it felt so good, and I… I don't…" she said as tears ran down her face.

Squall initially didn't know what to do. He just hugged her, keeping her safe, locked in his arms. "Shh, don't cry… it's not your fault, it's mine, I was too fast, I kept on…hush now, and I'm sorry Rin." He whispered to her ears as she cried on his chest.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled into his chest.

Squall just hugged her more tightly and kissed her on the forehead as a sign that he forgave her.


A/N: i'm sorry! i just can't let it all happen now! LOL many to come :D more i tell you more! thanks for the reviews, keep em coming :) i promise they will eventually get to that xD