Author's note: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters. This is AU.
Home Sweet Home
Quistis let out a happy sigh and swung down from the saddle. She'd just finished riding the fences, checking the repair job that had just been finished yesterday. Last week on of the steers had somehow managed to tear up a large section of the fence in the south pasture. They had managed to recover the animal, and the repairs hadn't taken too long, but Quistis had wanted to check the finished repair work herself.
Caledonia Canyon Ranch was doing very well this year. It was good thing too. Repairing the damage that Adel had done a year ago had drained much of their financial reserves. But this year's sale of cattle and sheep should make up for that and then some. Which was just as well. Quistis had an additional three mouths to feed now, though she would be losing one soon enough. Squall had proposed to Rinoa just after the mess with Adel had been cleaned up. The wedding was only a few weeks away now. The young couple would be moving to a little house that Squall had gotten built for them. It was on Quistis' property, but it was at least a twenty minute ride from the main house.
"Have a good ride?" Seifer smirked at her, leaning against the corral fence.
Quistis smiled back. "Yes."
Squall and Rinoa hadn't been the only ones to have their relationship change spurred by Adel's actions. Irvine and Selphie were also now engaged, though their wedding probably wouldn't take place for another few months. Zell had gotten serious about courting Hypatia, the new school mistress. And Quistis herself was now happily married.
Like just about everything else in their relationship, Quistis and Seifer's marriage had not exactly started normally. Six months after Adel had been dealt with and Seifer had moved into the ranch, the pair had gotten into a screaming row. Somewhere during the fight there had been a proposal. Actually, Rinoa loved to recount the story. Quistis might not remember the exact words from the fight, but Rinoa did. And she took a great deal of glee recounting them to anyone who would listen. According to Rinoa, the whole proposal had gone down something like this:
"I do want to marry you, you highhanded idiot! I'd marry you right now if we had a priest handy."
Seifer had narrowed his eyes at her. "I accept."
Then he had kissed her. Quistis did remember that particular kiss.
They had been married barely a week later. It might be an unconventional start to a marriage, but both Seifer and Quistis were happy. They still bickered and fought constantly, but Quistis had come to realize that that was simply just part of who they were. If they ever stopped fighting, she would probably be worried.
Quistis led Shiva to the stable with Seifer trailing after her. "Is Irvine back from town with the supplies yet?"
Her husband shook his head. "Nope. He probably stayed for dinner with Selphie and her folks."
It didn't take her long to care for her horse. She and Seifer headed back to the main house hand in hand. Quistis couldn't help smiling as she looked around. You couldn't even tell there had been a large gunfight here now. The sun was just beginning to set as they stepped onto the front porch. Seifer pulled her into his arms, and Quistis took a moment just to relax and rest her head against his chest. A year ago this would have been inconceivable. But her home was safe now, and she was happy. With a smile, she tilted her head up and kissed her husband. Here in his arms was her home just as much as this ranch was, and she wouldn't have it any other way.