March 17th

"…Happy Birthday to Zell!" Everyone sang "Happy Birthday to you!"

Clapping everybody tried to be as cheerful as possible.

"I just wish we had a cake for you," Ellone said as she gave him a sisterly hug "But as always we'll try and make it the best we can"

"Thanks everyone," Zell sat on the settee under the window "It's not so bad…but I do feel old,"

"Imagine how I feel," Ellone and Quistis said in unison causing the room to fill with laughter, but everyone stopped as they saw Rinoa start to walk down her steps carrying a brightly coloured box. To everyone's surprise she stopped at the cell's door and opened it slightly. She put the box on the floor and closed the access, but instead of running away she stood there for a few moments.

"Happy Birthday," she whispered and then started to take a few steps back.

"Thanks Rin," Zell said walking toward her slowly "You can stay for a bit of ya want"

Leon watched as Rinoa held onto her rings as she would in any tough situation. She stuttered a bit as if having trouble deciding.

"Please," Zell said now lifting up the box "I'd love to have all my friends with me on my birthday,"

Leon saw her hold her breath and then to everyone's surprise she nodded. Slowly she walked to the steps and took a seat. She held onto her knees a bit worried about the whole condition. Leon smiled slightly and he could tell that by the position of her hood she was looking at him. He wondered if she was smiling back at him and Hyne he wished she was. When he heard Zell yell in delight he turned away,

"Wow! This is awesome!" Zell put the box on the desk and pulled out a large chocolate cake. On the top was a hotdog made out of icing and biscuits.

"Just what we wanted!" Ellone said cheerfully

"Thank Hyne for the Midnight Faerie!" Irvine cheered

Everyone applauded and Quistis ran into the wardrobe and produced a set of plates and forks and a very long knife. Zell greedily picked off the hotdog icing and then resumed to cut the cake. He cut off six slices and handed them out. He handed Leon two and gestured toward Rinoa. Leon took a fork and slid the cake through two bars; amazed it fit. Rinoa looked up at him and then timidly stood. She reached forward and took the plate and fork. She held them both with two hands and then thanked him quietly. Now Leon didn't return to his seat. Instead he sat down between the bars and desk; although it was a tight squeeze, but this way he was closest to Rinoa.

"This is delicious," Irvine choked with his mouthful "Where did you get it Rin?"

"Umm," her voice, as always, was very quiet "From a bakery in the Village outside Beast's Castle,"

"If we ever get outta here I'm so going there," Zell sang as he had another bite.

Leon watched as Rinoa took very small pieces on her fork. Others would see it as dainty but him and his friends knew it was because she was now shy around them.

Everything was peaceful. They did try and start a conversation but there wasn't much left afterward.

"Who's up for another slice?!" Zell asked licking his lips

Everyone agreed apart from Rinoa who was still finishing her first. Zell passed out the slices and then walked back holding his own and Leon's. But as he approached his foot got caught on the rug and he fell forward; the cake flying from his hands and landing straight onto Leon's face. Standing up he panicked slightly,

"Yo man, you can't be mad at me on my birthday, right?" He took some timid steps backward. Everyone was silent as Leon rubbed the cake from his eyes; his expression not so pleasant "I'm sorry, here lemme get-"

And that's when everybody heard it, at first they thought their ears were tricking them but turning to face her it was true. Sitting on the stone steps, trying her best to stop…Rinoa Leonhart was laughing uncontrollably. Her whole body was shaking and it caused the now empty plate to fall and spin on the ground. She placed her hands to her face and bent her body forward trying to stop her sides from splitting in two. And then, like some miracle, one-by-one the others joined in until there was only Leon left and slowly but surely a smiled appeared at the corners of his mouth and he began to laugh along with his friends. The room echoed with laughter and soon it seemed everyone had even forgotten what they were laughing at. Happy tears appeared in some of their eyes which they wiped away with more giggles. Rinoa was still bent forward and now her hands were around her waist. Leon had been given a towel and had wiped his face a few times still chortling loudly.

But like some cruel fate just when everything was happy the metal doors clanged open and Isis ran in slightly out of breath.

"Milady, we have just been told that the Key-Bearer is no longer in Radiant Garden,"

Rinoa stood urgently.

"Where has he gone?"

"He's made his way to the Land of Dragons, but Sorceress there are two other wielders with him,"

"What? How is that possible?!"

"We're unsure but now Maleficent has ordered you to kill them all, you must leave right away"

Rinoa stood for a few moments before nodding and running toward Isis and through the door. Leon stood hastily,

"Rinoa no, you'll be killed!"

But it was too late and she was gone.

"Don't worry Squall she's been going after him for years and she always comes back alright," Ellone rested both hands on his shoulders

"But you don't know what he's capable off…he's killed Heartless and Nobody's and Xenahort, MCP and at one point even Maleficent I'm sure!"

"How do you know so much about him?"

"Because I was the one who found him!"

"What?!" everyone cried in unison

"It was back in Traverse Town, he wasn't…listening to reason so we fought. He collapsed straight after so Yuffie and I carried him to my hotel room. He was really out of it when he woke up thinking Yuffie was his friend Kairi. Then some Heartless attacked and he met up with two members of the King's court, Donald and Goofy. He travelled with them and saved the world. Next thing we know he's gone for a year and when he comes back the Organisation is involved and then there was some business with the towns defence mechanism and Ansem's computer and…well it's a very long story…but I know what Sora's capable of and-"

"Alright, calm down," Ellone pulled out the desk chair and ordered him to sit "I'm sure if Rinoa feels she'll be out numbered she'll return. She's not stupid; she knows how to look after herself,"

As night approached Leon decided to take a hot shower and then go to bed. Everybody soon taking his lead.

X-X-X

"You're getting slow, Mr Leonhart!" Rinoa ran into the courtyard and spun around elegantly. Squall appeared not too far behind her gasping for breath,

"I let you win," he said between gasps "...Mrs Leonhart,"

Rinoa giggled and looked at her left hand,

"Still not used to it," she smiled. By now Squall had appeared beside her.

"Well you better get used to it…that ring cost me a fortune," he joked

"Oh it shows," Rinoa agreed. She then dropped her arm and sank to the floor "It's so heavy!"

"Oh…well then maybe I should exchange it for a smaller one," he said taking her left hand and pretending to take it off. She quickly snapped her hand away

"Don't you dare!"

Squall laughed and took both of her hands lifting her off the ground. She dusted herself off and turned her head to look at her back. She dusted her rear,

"You missed a spot," Squall said still holding onto one of her hands

"Where?"

Squall then used his free hand to pat her rear end and stroke it slightly. Rinoa giggled and slapped him playfully on the arm

"Under those mean, serious eyes is a rabbit waiting for the opportune moment to…hump,"

"No, just a hungry lion waiting to pounce,"

"No, no I can see right past those icy, blue eyes,"

"Really?" he leant toward her and fluttered his eyes stupidly "so what do see now?"

"A really bad impression of Irvine," she laughed playfully pushing him away

"Oh so you'd rather be married to Irvine?" Squall asked jokily crossing his arms

"No…" she waited for him to smile slightly "He's not as rich as you,"

At that remark he started chasing her once again. She ran up the stairs towards their house and he stood at the bottom. She hopped to the door frame,

"Come on then Lion, come up here and show me what you've got that Irvine doesn't,"

And then she was chased into the bedroom; the door shutting quickly behind them.

X-X-X

Leon opened his eyes. That had been the first dream he'd dreamt of Rinoa that didn't end in losing her. He actually awoke with a smile on his face instead of sweat. He looked down to see Quistis awake reading a book with a torch.

"Quistis," he whispered. She looked over to him "Has Rinoa come back yet?"

She shook her head,

"Not that I know of, I've been asleep for the past few hours so she might have, I dunno"

Leon nodded his head and went back to sleep.