As they walked back to the apartment Rinoa could hear Squall mutter angrily to himself.

"Will you stop?" she said with a half-hearted laugh

"Can you blame me?" He stopped walking

She turned and gave him a small smile. He replied with stern face but the worry could be seen in his eyes.

"No," she laughed "I guess I can't," she tried her best to hide her own fear.

Squall walked slowly to where she stood. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked directly into her eyes.

"No matter what, I'll protect you,"

Rinoa didn't know how to respond. She wanted to comfort him and tell him he didn't need to worry but she also wanted to ask him for his protection. She reached her hands around his waist and buried her face into his chest.

"I know you will. But…try not to get too carried away,"

She felt a tug on her jeans. She looked down.

"I think Angelo needs to go…"

"I'll take her, just go inside and try to sleep,"

"I couldn't sleep before and now you expect me to sleep after seeing those messages?"

Squall shrugged.

"Well, up to you. I'm wide awake now so maybe if you stay up we'll do something fun…" he winked

Rinoa smiled bashfully

"You mean play triple triad?"

Squall turned red with embarrassment

"No…I meant-"

"I know…I'm not stupid"

Squall cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Right…well…be right back…come on girl,"

Rinoa smiled as him and Angelo walked away. She put the key in the door and turned on the light. She sighed…unsure of the emotions flooding through her; fear, sadness, anger but oddly a bit of excitement of another adventure. She slumped on the couch. She tutted her teeth in tune and slapped her hands on her knees. She scanned the room; she found herself doing this a lot. It was a habit she'd had since a young age; five to be exact. After her mother's death she decided to take in everything as much as she could so she'd never forget anything because she'd never knew if that was the last time she'd see it.

She went over to her computer and turned it off. Above the desk was a window. Peering out of the curtains she saw Squall and Angelo. He was sitting on a bench waiting for her to do the business. Rinoa laughed and closed the curtain.

He sure has changed…a year ago he wouldn't even go near her.

She rested her hand down on the desk, it met with the telephone. She picked it up and fingered the buttons slightly.

She finally decided to call the number she'd been thinking about since they left the office.

"Hello, Operator? I'd like to make a collect call to Wutai please,"

"Yes certainly, who do wish to call?"

Rinoa smiled,

"Yuffie…Yuffie Kisaragi,"

She waited a few moments.

"Sorry but there isn't a Yuffie Kisaragi located in Wutai and the only other one listed is in Midgar"

"Um,"

That's strange she thought "Ok I'll try that one,"

Again she waited, until she heard a ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hi…Yuffie?"

"Yeah…who's this?"

"Wow…has it really been that long you can't even tell who it is?"

"Um…Tifa?"

"NO! It's me…Rinoa!"

"OH MY GOD! Rinny-nee!" She squealed

"Man, haven't heard that in a while!" Rin laughed

"Wow…oh wows! I haven't spoken to you in two years!"

"I know…it's been too long!"

"So why for the sudden call….there must be something you need?"

"Heh! You still know me like the back of your hand…look…I need you to gather the best of the best and come to Balamb Garden…I have a little job for you…"

x x x

Rinoa lay with her head on Squall's bare chest. Once again he was fast asleep. She stared over to the bedroom door. There was nothing but darkness. She sighed heavily and held onto Squall a bit tighter. She lifted her eyes to the clock…6:38am. On any other day she'd be fast asleep and Squall's alarm would go off after 7 minutes. Slowly she leaned forward and turned it off. She knew it would annoy him but she thought it'd be better to let him sleep longer. She was now over tired. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't snooze off. She just leant on Squall's chest and appreciated his security. She felt his hand move up and down her arm.

"You're shaking," he said

"I guess I'm a little cold,"

He shifted so they were in a full embrace. She felt him yawn.

"Go back to sleep…I know you need it and don't worry I'm not going anywhere,"

"Have you slept at all?" he said stroking her bare arm.

"Hm…no. At least I don't think I have," She slowly felt her eyes drooping

"Maybe you should try," Squall started to stroke her back.

"I…have been…but…I..." her voice drifted and suddenly she was sleeping heavily.

x x x

Rinoa awoke with a minor headache.

That'll teach me to stay up all night…next time I'm taking pills.

She noticed she was alone in the bed. She spread out and stretched her muscles. The clock read midday. Pushing back the covers she got out of the bed. Wearing nothing but one of Squall's old shirts she walked into living room.

"Squall?" She called although she knew she'd get no reply "In his office I suppose,"

She walked back to the bedroom and opened the doors to the balcony. She breathed in the fresh spring air. Leaning on the bar she looked at all her surroundings. Everything seemed as any other day. Nothing had changed.

Rinoa blew a raspberry. As if anything was to happen on such a nice day. Or maybe she'd dreamt the whole thing? She decided to get dressed and make herself lunch. She made Squall a sandwich at the same time at went straight to his office which was right next to Cid's.

As she arrived she saw Xu typing away at the computer.

"Hey Xu,"

She looked up from her work with a smile.

"What's up?"

"Nothing really…your computer back to normal?"

"Yes, took me a while but everything's working…although I lost my work for the past month and I have to start over,"

"Bummer, Is Squall in his office?"

"Yeah, he's really distracted though…not that I blame him,"

Rinoa nodded. She walked toward the office door. She pushed it open and leaned in.

"Knock, knock,"

The brunette looked up and smiled.

"What brings you to the dullest place on earth?"

She held up the sandwich which was wrapped in tin foil.

"I couldn't tell if you'd eaten or not so I made you something,"

"Thanks,"

For a couple of minutes they just stared at each other. Rinoa was the first one to break the gaze.

"So...err…what were you working on?"

"Oh…um…" he hid the paper under his arm; Rin saw doodles he had tried to cover.

"Nothing really," He went into his drawer and pulled out a badge. "Here, you have to wear this; it was Cid's idea…anyone who hasn't got a student ID number needs to wear this, it shows your friends with the Garden,"

"Very clever," She looked to the one hanging off his belt "Why are you wearing one?"

"He also thought the faculty and staff should where them," he pinned it off to show her

"Squall Leonhart, Age 19, Commander," she read allowed

He nodded. She looked down to hers.

"Rinoa Heartilly, Age 18, Support," she read the last word again and again. "What's support?"

Squall eyed her curiously.

"Well, you're not a SeeD and you don't have a job here, so you give each department support and assistance whenever they need it,"

She nodded and pinned it to her trousers

"Although I was thinking, Mrs Kay retired yesterday and she always said I was just as good as her, if not better. So I was thinking, why don't I become the new counsellor?"

Squall thought for a moment

"You'd better give that badge back; I'd better change the occupation,"

Rinoa squealed and jumped on Squall's lap.

"Aren't you a bit over excited?" he asked slightly shocked

"No, I've been thinking about this for weeks!"

"Why haven't you said anything?"

Rinoa paused.

"I…have. Recently when I talk to you it feels like you're not listening. Now I know that's true," She looked away in embarrassment. She knew how much he hated these types of talks.

"I'm sorry; I think I've been over worked. I do try to listen but my minds somewhere else,"

"Its ok," She laughed "I think I'll make a good counsellor,"

"Me too,"

She gave him a peck on the lips and jumped off his lap.

"See you later; I have some business to take care of"

Squall raised an eyebrow. She blew him a kiss and squeaked cheekily. Leaving the office she walked over to Xu.

"I need a few of these ID badges, I have some friends popping in and I don't want to think they could get hurt. Also we'd need a couple of dorms,"

"Ok, how many of each?"

"Uh…I don't know…I'll have to get back to you, just think of…I dunno…9?" she tried counting everyone in her head. "If it changes I'll tell you,"

Xu nodded and typed it into the computer.

Rinoa waved and left.