Author's Notes: For this chapter, I felt that the author's notes really needed to be at the beginning to warn readers of what they were about to get themselves into. I want to start off with an apology for how long it has taken me to update. This chapter is much longer than my previous chapters and getting it edited ended up taking a lot longer than I had anticipated. In the end, I attempted to edit it myself. I can't swear that there aren't a lot of comma issues, or instances in which I accidentally started typing like I normally speak. That being said, I did the best I could with this chapter. Editing got overwhelming at times because I packed a lot of information into every scene that I included. I just hope that it reads decent enough that nobody flames me. lol That being said, I'd like to thank my WiBi support group for helping keep me motivated as I struggled through this chapter, and I'd like to thank everyone who takes the time to read it. I hope you enjoy.

Waltzing in the Rain

Twin-Lance

Chapter Five: Things that Shine

The silence was getting awkward. Squall was really starting to wish he'd left the cheesy talk show on. Of course it would help things if Laguna would stop gaping at him. Squall shifted his weight, loosely crossing his arms across his chest.

"What did you tell her?" Laguna asked for the third time.

"I told her I would," Squall answered. He didn't understand why he was making such a big deal about it.

"When?" he asked. "How soon? This is a big deal," Laguna continued rambling. "I need more coffee to have this conversation with you."

Squall blinked, watching as Laguna brushed past him. Was he supposed to follow? He was going to pass. Yawning, he started back towards the room he was sharing with Irvine and Zell.

"I'm not done talking to you," Laguna called out from the kitchen.

Squall made a face. Was this what it was like to have a parent? Was he getting lectured? Older people always lectured. This was going to grow annoying very quickly.

"Squall?"

Too tired to really protest and hoping to avoid having an audience later, Squall followed the sound of his voice. It was better to let Laguna say his piece before the others woke up anyway.

Laguna eyed him intently as he came into the spacious kitchen. "Squall, marriage is… marriage is a very serious thing."

"And being the Commander of Balamb Garden isn't?" Squall asked defensively. "I can handle responsibility."

"Oh I'm not saying you can't," Laguna assured him. "You're very responsible. I'm just saying that marriage requires a certain level of, emotional and personal…. maturity," he offered. "You need to know who you are and what your priorities are in life before you enter into vows with someone else."

"I know my priorities," Squall scowled. "Married or not I will live and die for her."

Laguna just stared at him, the early morning sunlight washing the kitchen in a warm glow. "That's a really serious statement for you to be making so young."

"I don't see where my age is relevant to this conversation," Squall dismissed him with a wave of his hand, growing frustrated. "She is a sorceress and I'm her knight. I've already taken on the obligation of protecting and supporting her. Whereas you married my mother, and then abandoned her for a leadership position in an uppity civilization without ever looking back."

Laguna stared at him as if he'd been hit in the stomach.

"For someone preaching the responsibility of marriage, you haven't practiced any of it. And the fact that you left her for a society of people, and not another woman, makes it even more of a betrayal on your part." Squall stood silently as he watched Laguna appear to be fumbling with the thoughts in his head. He crossed his arms over his snarky moomba shirt as the older man bent over to tend to, what he hoped was, a very severe muscle cramp.

"Squall I never meant for things to work out the way that they did," he told him. "But looking back, had I gone back she probably would've died the same way regardless. Like you said, I'm no doctor." Laguna leaned against the counter heavily, hand still trying to massage away his cramp. "But as bad as things might've been, if they hadn't have happened, then you wouldn't have been in the position you were to save the world."

Squall narrowed his eyes. "You're using the 'fate' card to excuse your failures?"

"What?! No! Squall! Dammit," Laguna sighed in exasperation.

"Because as the President of Esthar, you could have sent someone for her and brought her to Esthar. She could've seen a real doctor and not some hick town, back woods medicine man or under qualified midwife. Had you held up your part of the marriage, she wouldn't have died, Ellone wouldn't have grown up alone on a boat and I wouldn't have spent seventeen years of my life not knowing anything about my past."

Laguna didn't even bother with a response, his gaze down and his hair hanging in his face.

"And don't talk to me about fate," Squall stated. "I would like to think that my mother's role in life was more important than to be an incubator, meant only to live long enough to give birth to the leader of the Gang of Six that saved the world. She was more important than that. She was a very compassionate person, much more so than most people I come across through Garden… But even if I hadn't been there to lead the team, pretend for a moment that you did come back and you did raise me to be as clueless and oblivious as you are, I have faith that most of the SeeD in my Garden would've been able to have taken my place. Every SeeD is exceptionally trained. It was the team that was strong, not just me. By myself I am insignificant."

"No you're not," Laguna managed in a defeated tone. "You're one of the most important things in my life. Next to Ellone… well, you and Ellone."

"You're one to preach about priorities," Squall told him. "Raine should've been the most important thing in your life."

Laguna held up a hand in defeat. "Alright Squall. Dammit. Stop it already."

Squall watched him warily. He was feeling irritated enough he could continue to pile this guilt trip on for days. He knew what he wanted in life and Laguna's disapproval was frustrating. He didn't like being told no. "You're about as useless as General Caraway."

"I… what?" Laguna asked, pausing to think on it for a moment. "He told you that you couldn't marry her didn't he?"

Squall nodded. "Not that Rinoa cares about his opinion."

"That explains the shiner."

"Not really but close enough," Squall replied as he uncrossed his arms and rested his hands on his hips.

Laguna frowned. "Fury can be such a bully."

Squall shrugged it off. "I might've deserved it."

Laguna smiled just faintly. "Alright. Look, if you're really serious about this, and really serious about proceeding without her father being involved, the least you can do is give her an amazing ring."

It was Squall's turn to smile, even if it was thin and barely visible. Who knew lumping the bumbling president in with the obnoxious general would get him to change his tune so easily. He was going to have to remember that in case he needed to use it again later.

"And, as a matter of fact," Laguna smiled broadly. "I happen to know just the perfect place to buy an amazing ring."

Squall matched his smile, more of a bluff than a genuine gesture. He didn't really believe Laguna really meant to be helpful. This was either just a recommendation to appease his momentary guilt, or some kind of dare on Laguna's part. For the moment Laguna may have been going along with him, but Squall had a feeling Laguna was going to make this either as expensive or as difficult as possible. That was fine, Squall didn't mind the challenge.

"But first," Laguna interrupted his thoughts. "I have to know, did you lose a bet or something?" he grinned. "Because those are some nice jammies."

Squall looked down at his burgundy Moomba t-shirt and yellow cactuar pants. He started to play it off but the thought crossed his mind if he did the old man might actually start buying him clothing like this. "I'm being punished," he admitted with a shrug.

Laguna chuckled as he sipped his coffee. "Punished huh?"

Squall sighed. "Rinoa thought we were coming up here to visit you alone. I invited the others to come along without telling her. When she found out, she took most of the clothing I'd packed from my duffel bag and replaced it with random things she and… the girls had bought for me over the past year."

Laguna grinned broadly. "What other shirts do you have with you?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh come on you're no fun," he smiled, offering Squall a cup of coffee.

"Oh I'm as fun as a sac full of grats," Squall assured him as he took the coffee. "I have the t-shirt to prove it."

Laguna grinned. "What color is it? I want one."

Squall shook his head. Laguna would. Squall was about to start out of the kitchen when Laguna interfered with his escape once again.

"Hey uh, Squall. There was something I wanted to talk to you about," Laguna offered, still holding onto his coffee. Squall looked him over a moment before nodding. "I know that, you and uh, Rinoa are living together at Garden," he told him.

"It isn't exactly common knowledge," Squall stated. "She has an apartment in her name on the first level but she stays with me."

"I bet," Laguna stated. "If her father had known back before she turned eighteen, he could've come after you."

Squall made a face. "He didn't even go after her when she was living on a train with a bunch of men in a resistance group," he stated.

"He might not have known."

Squall shrugged it off.

"It's a big deal," Laguna told him.

"What's a big deal? She's eighteen. She's an adult now."

"But you're not married. …Yet."

"Are you going somewhere with this?" Squall asked, sipping his coffee for the first time. He fought a face. This wasn't coffee, this was coffee flavored water. He was used to his coffee being thick and strong like a rich, hazelnut sludge. Quistis needed to teach Laguna how to make coffee. He sat the cup aside quietly, wetting his lips and willing the weak taste off of his tongue.

"Yeah, I uh, I you know, you're an adult and she's an adult. You're both young ….adults. But you're living together in close quarters…"

Squall quirked an eyebrow. "Actually, as the Commander I have a three bedroom apartment. One bedroom is an office, the other is Rinoa's art room. The quarters aren't small at all."

Laguna rubbed his face and sighed.

"..What?" Squall asked.

Laguna shifted uncomfortably before deciding what to say next. "I'm talking about, you know…. sex," he blurted as he shifted uncomfortably.

Squall stared at him. How had this man honestly donated the necessary fluids for Raine to conceive him? Was it too late to demand another paternity test just to be certain Ellone and Kiros weren't feeding him a pack of lies? "…What?" he managed. He didn't want to talk about this with Laguna. He barely talked about it with the guys. But at least when he did talk about it with them, they made the subject sound more casual and fun. Laguna was an embarrassment to his gender. "I don't know that this is appropriate," he settled on.

"Well …yeah, that's the point," Laguna blurted. "I-I mean, she's a beautiful young lady but you need to make sure she's always treated that way."

Squall blinked. Was he still insisting they talk about sex? People usually dropped any subject when he questioned the appropriateness or importance of it.

"I know that the uh… that the um, temptation is there," Laguna offered, his face growing a bit flushed. "But um, you shouldn't give in," he offered, abandoning his coffee mug on the counter and shoving his hands in his pockets.

"It's too late for this talk," Squall stated dismissively. Did all teenagers end up having to go through this with their parents?

"I… It's never too late for this talk," Laguna told him. "One, you shouldn't be foolin' around if you're not married."

"We're not hurting anything," Squall frowned. "Not that it's any of your business."

"It's my business because I'm your father," Laguna stated.

Squall stepped back, recoiling. "Look, you said just half an hour ago that you were going to treat me—"

"Like an adult and not the child I never had," Laguna finished for him. "I know. That's why we're having this conversation. You didn't grow up with a father. You didn't grow up with a family. How are you supposed to know how to act as a father if I don't set some kind of example?"

"…Act as a father?"

"Yeah," Laguna shifted again. His body language was radiating awkwardness. "You know… if you get her pregnant? Reproduction is its actual purpose."

Squall made a face. Were they talking about him reproducing? He felt cornered like a first year cadet in the training hall restroom by a senior class bully. It was mortifying. Words failed him.

"Exactly!" Laguna gestured towards him. "She is a remarkable young woman," he assured Squall. "She's very intelligent and very big-hearted. And I have no doubt in my mind that she's crazy about you. …even if you are about as cuddly as well, a cactuar," he grinned, glancing down at Squall's pajama pants.

Squall looked away, his hair falling into his face. "Look," he started, even though he had no idea where he was taking the conversation.

"Tell me you are, at the very least, being safe," Laguna told him. "I'm not telling you what you can and can't do," he added a bit of emphasis. "But at the very least, tell me that until you two get to the point where you want children, there aren't going to be any accidental children."

"Sorceresses can't get pregnant," Squall informed him.

"…And you know this for a fact?" Laguna asked. He wanted grandchildren so it looked like he was going to be doing a lot of research after Squall left on Sunday.

Squall sighed. "There are entire courses dedicated to studying every known sorceress in history," he informed him. "Some have been tyrants and others have been guardians of their villages and homelands. But in all the texts we have to study, there is no mention of any of them having children. Occasional husbands but no children." Squall abandoned his history lesson to listen. The sun was coming up and he was starting to worry that someone might wake up and get to witness this horribly awkward conversation.

"No mention at all?" Laguna frowned.

Squall shook his head. "It would've been noteworthy if there was. Are powers passed down? Could a sorceress pass her powers to a daughter? Would she pass all of her powers or would they be divided between the two of them? Could sons act as carriers, unable to utilize the powers but capable of passing them on to a more suitable person? Or could they possibly just be born with elemental strengths or weaknesses influenced by their mother's strengths and weaknesses?"

Laguna just stared at him, fascination briefly flickering across his face. It was then Squall knew he'd struck a chord and derailed the conversation.

"Don't you dare consult Odine," Squall ordered him.

"I-I wasn't even thinking it," Laguna lied.

"Good," Squall said, watching him cautiously.

"But just because you haven't found proof of it happening, don't assume it can't," Laguna stated.

Squall groaned.

Laguna grinned. "Yeah, thought you had me sidetracked didn't you."

"I did," Squall admitted.

"Nice try," he smiled, punching Squall playfully in the shoulder. Squall couldn't help but grin just slightly. "But, suspending your little theory on sorceress fertility problems, pretending you're wrong, I think you and I can both agree that you are not ready to be a father."

Squall massaged his temple. At least no one else was up to overhear this conversation.

Meanwhile, in Deling, Caraway huffed in frustration as he plopped down in lounge chair in the study. He stared at the phone on the table, willing it to ring. In the background the ticking of the grandfather clock taunted him, calling out every second that the phone wasn't doing anything.

"You should give it up Fury," the maid's voice interrupted the silence.

How had she snuck up on him so easily? He looked over his shoulder at her. "She's not in Timber anymore, I'm sure of it. My intelligence placed her in Balamb but they've lost her. And the dragon ship has left Balamb Garden. I have my suspicions that she was on it."

The maid smiled faintly, leaning against the doorframe. "You two are more alike than either of you will ever admit."

He frowned. "We are not."

"You're stubborn as a mule," she pointed out. "Everything has to be your way. She's the same way."

"She takes after her mother," he replied.

"She looks like her mother maybe," she argued. "But she acts like you."

"Lavender," he groaned.

"Fury. She ran away to join a resistance group against your own army," she pointed out. "Few teenagers are that brash. …And that is coming from someone that was once a very wild teenager," she smiled.

"He wants to marry her," he stated, changing the subject.

"So let him," she replied.

Caraway looked at her as if she were mad. "Absolutely not."

"If you want any hope of getting her back into your life you will. Telling them no is only going to widen your divide with her and make them want to do it more," she informed him as she sat on his knee. "Consenting will smooth things over and at least give her your approval."

"But I don't want to give her my approval. She's too young."

"She's seen too much to be so young," she argued. "Why not give her a reason to let her celebrate something in her life?"

"They're both too young," he informed her. "And he's a mercenary."

"He doesn't seem like a bad kid," she offered. "A little socially awkward, but not a bad kid."

Caraway grumbled under his breath.

"Do you know what I think?" she asked as she trailed a finger along the collar of his shirt. "I think you're jealous of him."

"I am not," he frowned, standing and making her stand as well.

"I think you are," she stated, putting her hands on her hips with a knowing grin. "He makes her smile. When was the last time you made her smile Fury?"

He frowned, crossing his arms.

"Well?"

"..She was only a few years older than Azalea," he mumbled.

She nodded. "And what a travesty that is. Now, that'll give you something to think about while you're giving Azalea her bath," she stated as she handed him a rag.

"What?"

"Hurry up, I want her in bed before it gets too late," she warned him.

Out at one of the side entrances to the palace, Ellone dangled a thin turquoise scarf in the air, letting the breeze lift it up so that it danced around gently. Bouncing around her, Angelo barked excitedly. Rinoa smiled broadly as Angelo backed up, watching the scarf intently.

"She's in the zone now," Rinoa grinned, pulling her hair back with one hand. Angelo hunkered down and stared at the scarf, fixated. "Look at her eyes."

"It's serious now," Ellone smiled. She let go of the scarf and watched as it floated on the breeze. Angelo leapt up and caught the corner of it while the rest of it wrapped around her head and then blew over her back. Chasing it down, she pounced on it, grabbing it by the corner before bringing it back to Ellone.

"Good girl!" Rinoa clapped as Angelo sat and waited for Ellone to take the scarf.

Squall watched them quietly from his place just outside the door. Ellone seemed to be feeling better. It was going to be an innocent enough trip. Zell, Quistis, Ellone and Jasper were going to one of the science museums and Rinoa was going with them. It still took everything Squall had not to look visibly uncomfortable with the situation. He glanced back over at the girls as they continued playing with Angelo before looking over at Zell and Jasper. "Keep your eyes peeled," Squall said quietly. "Trust no one here."

"I already don't," Jasper assured him. "The President included," he admitted. "He puts too much trust in the intentions of people. He sees the good long before he sees the bad—if he ever sees the bad."

Squall nodded. He liked this guy already.

"Don't worry man," Zell assured him. "Rinoa will be safe with me. You've got my word."

Squall nodded again. "I appreciate it," he told him, his stomach in a knot. For just a moment, his eyes caught hers. Rinoa offered a reassuring smile to him as their transport showed up. Squall returned the smile but he still felt a little sick inside.

"Don't worry," Quistis said as she walked over. "You could trust us to handle ourselves when a war was going on, you can trust that we can visit a museum without incident." She smiled knowingly, squeezing his shoulder.

Squall frowned faintly and started to say something but she cut him off.

"You need to learn to relax. Demobilize a little, it'll do wonders for your anxiety level," Quistis smiled knowingly. "Trust me, I understand." Squall didn't dare argue with her. He'd seen the struggles Seifer had gone through when he first came back to Garden, and everyone knew Quistis had had a front row seat to his meltdowns and panic attacks. All he could do was humor her and offer her a nod. He was in Esthar, he'd relax when he was home in Balamb.

As he watched them climb aboard, Laguna slapped a hand down on his shoulder. He spun quickly, startled. He glared at the older man, words failing him. Laguna held up his hands. It was a submissive gesture but the big grin on his face screamed that it wasn't that sincere. With all of his friends and teammates already gone, Squall was certain Laguna had no idea how lucky he was that Squall had recognized him before he'd reacted.

"I scared you, you scared me, now we're even," Laguna teased.

Squall ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah," he mumbled as he looked away.

"Come on, I've got a lift waiting."

Deciding not to let Laguna focus on how jumpy he was for more than a block or two, Squall changed the subject of conversation to the varying modes of transportation in the country. Much as he'd expected, the conversation very quickly turned to Laguna sharing all of his traveling mishaps while trying to learn how to navigate the city. While it wasn't exactly the most stimulating topic of conversation, it was a topic that kept Laguna distracted and rambling. By the time their lift had descended upon a very expansive high rise mall that glistened in the sunlight, Laguna had finally stopped talking about the dozens of ways he'd gotten lost and created chaos in the shuttle lines with the other commuters.

Squall stood up after he did. Keeping a hand on the hilt of his gunblade, he stepped out onto the textured platform waiting just beyond the lift's door. Laguna spared a glance down at his weapon as he followed him.

"You know, that isn't really necessary," he offered. "I've got guards all over. They keep far enough back that they don't smother, but they're always in the background, watching. …You know, just in case."

"Just in case someone two feet away from you wants you dead," Squall muttered as he stepped past him. "Professional of them."

Laguna gave him a curious look. "The people here love me."

Squall watched as a few of the locals smiled and waved in their direction. "…So it would seem," he said under his breath. It was evident, for a society of such intelligent people, they were all insane for keeping the village idiot as their leader.

"Come on inside, I've got a friend you've got to meet."

"A friend?" Squall asked. "I thought we were going to buy Rinoa a ring."

"We are," Laguna smiled broadly. "Ivan has one of the most renowned jewelry shops in all of Esthar City."

"Ivan?" Squall questioned as he followed him inside skeptically.

"He also happens to be Ward's unofficial brother-in-law."

"Interesting," Squall said, dispassionately.

Laguna smiled, missing the tone in his voice. "His shop is this way," he said, navigating the throngs of shoppers. Squall followed closely, a bit surprised to see so many people. He'd been to the mall in Balamb and he'd been to the illustrious shopping district in Deling. However, he'd never seen so many shoppers converge in one shopping center without it being a holiday or super sale of some sort. He took a step closer to the rail and looked down at the levels below them. He silently started counting the levels he could make out. Clearly no one in Esthar was afraid of heights—or falling to their deaths. "Squall! Come on!" Laguna waved him over.

Squall looked over. Letting go of the rail, he closed the distance between them. He watched the nearest shoppers cautiously. They were all smiling at him. A few of them patted him on the shoulder as he walked past, a few others offered bows. It was disturbing to say the least. He understood why the people of Timber loved him. But the people in Esthar? He was going to fall back on his belief that they were all just crazy. Squall hastened his walk a bit, feeling more comfortable in Laguna's immediate presence.

"Come on," Laguna told him, sliding an arm around Squall's shoulders as he led him onto the showroom floor.

"Iz this who I think it iz!?" an excited voice echoed across the room. Squall looked over to his left, watching as a tall, blonde man approached them in a very fancy robe. He was no expert on the customs of the region, but the man's attire definitely suggested he was doing very well for himself.

"Sure is," Laguna smiled, withdrawing his arm from Squall's shoulders as Ivan bowed and then reached out to shake his hand. "This is my son Squall," Laguna beamed. Squall watched him. Laguna sure looked pleased to announce their relationship to the world. Squall however, was still planning on getting that secondary paternity test before he was going to publically announce their shared genetics. "Get's his good looks from his mother," Laguna continued, slapping Squall playfully on the back as Ivan bowed his head before him. "Squall, this is my good friend Ivan. Ivan, Squall needs you to hook him up with a beautiful engagement ring for his beautiful fiancée."

Squall looked over at Laguna. The man was practically beaming.

"Oh it vould be an honor!" Ivan gushed. "Squall Leonhard iz in my showroom!" he exclaimed. "Zis iz a glorious day!"

Squall made a face before casting a glance over at Laguna.

Laguna just snickered. "It's a cultural mispronunciation thing."

"Actually it's Leonhart," Squall corrected.

"My apologies!" Ivan continued to gush. "Ven ze news first broke zey vere calling you Leonhard and Leonhart and nobody seemed to know vich name vas correct! And even now vith zo many different dialects on ze continent, it iz still easy to get zem mixed up. My zincerest apologies!"

Squall managed a small nod. Leonhard… He was glad only Laguna and a handful of other Estharians were in the showroom to hear that. "I need an engagement ring," Squall tried to change the subject as he walked over to the nearest case and placed his palms on the edge of it to gaze inside.

"Oh yes! Over here are our finest rings," Ivan told him. Squall started over, noticing immediately that the rings in this case lacked price tags. That was comforting.

"How much are these?" he asked.

"Depends on vich one you want," Ivan stated. "Zis one iz a lovely delicate little piece. Zis one iz for a girl who likes people to take notice. Zis one is nine-zousand gil. Zat one over there is zeventy-five hundred."

Squall looked over his options quietly, seeing Laguna watching him out of the corner of his eye. "These are too boring," he told Ivan. "The ring needs to have more color."

Ivan looked around. "I have yellow gold," he offered.

Squall made a face. "No. No yellow gold. The stone, it needs to be blue," he told him. "She loves blue."

"Blue I can do!" Ivan assured him, going over to another display case.

Squall made another face, shaking his head. "No. A lighter blue. She loves light blue."

Ivan paused, clearly contemplating his options. "There are a few options. I have tinted diamonds in zat case," he told him. "But, I also happen to have blue topaz," he smiled. "Truly, naturally, vonderfully beautiful blue topaz," he said in a happy whisper. "It iz quite rare," he informed him. "Rare of course means expensive," he warned him.

Laguna smiled, listening intently to the conversation.

Squall noticed his interest and glanced around the showroom. "…And where would your blue topaz rings be?" he asked. He was onto Laguna. The old man was trying to intimidate him out of getting married with the ring.

"I only actually have one," Ivan admitted. "It iz not an engagement ring at all. But I do have some loose stones. I make custom jewelry. If you zee a ring style you like, I can zet a topaz stone in it for you."

"Can you do it before I leave?" Squall asked.

Ivan paused. "..I suppose. Usually my clients give me a few days notice."

"Well I really need the ring today," Squall told him. "It's important. I won't be in town long."

Ivan nodded. "Let me get you ze stones so you can see zem."

Squall nodded, watching as the taller man hurried back into a room behind the main counter.

"A custom ring? That's going to be expensive," Laguna informed him as he loosely crossed his arms.

"I can afford it," Squall said dismissively.

Laguna spared him a glance. "Oh? Is that so?"

Squall smiled just slightly. "It is," he assured him, walking over to meet Ivan at the counter when he came back out with a case in his hands.

"Alright," Ivan smiled, carefully opening the case between them. "I have a few different cuts here. I don't normally get requests for zis stone," he apologized.

"Do you have a princess cut?" Squall asked. His eyes scanned over the little stones on display. Their shapes and sizes all differed but to him it meant nothing. All he saw were little blue rocks.

"Zis one iz princess cut," Ivan informed him, carefully lifting one up. "It iz a very fine specimen, but it is very pricey," he warned him. "I don't believe you've told me vat your limit was."

"I didn't," Squall told him, eyeing the little stone under the bright lights in the showroom.

"Well if you want, zis iz a slightly cheaper stone," Ivan said, gesturing to a smaller topaz.

"It has to be princess cut," Squall said, pointing out the rock he wanted. "She'll understand the significance." Ivan nodded, keeping the one stone out while putting the others away. Squall looked through his showcases, not bothering to wait for him or Laguna. "Can you put it in this ring?" he asked. "Or one like it, with the accent diamonds on each side?"

Laguna was left in the background, watching as Ivan pulled out the ring and conversed with Squall over the details. He offered a small wave at another shopper who was watching them. When Squall finally came back to him, Laguna uncrossed his arms. "So what's the damage?"

"He'll set the stone in that ring and sell it for four grand," Squall smiled a bit triumphantly.

"Only four grand?" Laguna asked. "How I wish I had that kind of gil just lying around when I was your age."

Squall didn't reply to his comment. "He said it'll take him an hour and a half. We can watch if we want."

Laguna smiled. "That sounds fun," he nudged him. "While we watch, I can get Kiros on the phone and work out some of the fine details of your ceremony. He has the power to officiate the wedding," he informed him.

"..What?" Squall asked, looking over at him.

"Well you were in such a hurry, I was just thinking you wanted this to happen fast," Laguna said as innocently as he could.

Squall watched him as he started toward the office door Ivan was holding open for them. He grinned a bit mischievously. Laguna was trying to intimidate him. "Well Rinoa and I haven't worked out a specific date yet, but I do know she'd like it to be in the garden," he told him as he followed him inside. Ivan motioned for one of his employees to watch the store. Shutting the door, Ivan went back to a work station and sat down. "She thinks the garden looks perfect just the way it is right now. I don't know how long some of those flowers stay in bloom, but if any of them start dropping petals, it won't be the same," Squall continued behind closed doors as he sat and watched Laguna. Who was intimidating who now?

Laguna watched Ivan work in silence. Squall watched him watch Ivan. This wasn't the reaction he had been expecting at all. "I wish I could've given Raine the perfect wedding," Laguna said after a long few minutes. Squall watched him but didn't speak. "The people in Winhill hated me," he frowned. "They couldn't understand what on earth she saw in me. Anymore, especially after this morning, I don't even know what she saw in me. But she was crazy about me. I could see it in her eyes. They danced when she looked at me. I didn't deserve her," he said quietly. "The townsfolk knew it all along. She never had her perfect wedding because no one in town would ever marry us."

Squall started to speak but Laguna didn't give him the opportunity.

"That's why you're a Leonhart and not a Loire. That's why when she died, they shipped the two of you off as quickly as they could. With the aging population in the area, there weren't many people looking to adopt and if I came back soon enough they knew I'd take you both."

Squall scowled. "Why in the world do you spend the gil to help protect that place?"

"Because Raine loved it," Laguna answered simply. "She loved the countryside and the fields of flowers in the spring. I think she would've left if I'd pressured her to, but to be honest, I don't know if I could've lived with myself if I'd taken her away from her home. I think she always had faith that the hearts of the locals would change. Guess I thought that eventually they would too."

Squall's scowl only deepened into a frown. He didn't press the issue, dwelling on this new bit of information. Clearly Raine's tombstone must've been something Laguna had done after the fact. Not that he was going to bring that up here. Glancing up, he was surprised to see Ivan staring at them, looking as if he were on the verge of tears.

"Ze ring iz ready," he offered quietly.

Meanwhile, stepping out of Ivan's showroom and slipping into the throngs of shoppers, a Galbadian spy wore his robes in heavy layers to blend in with most of the Esthar City population. He passed right beside Laguna's posted guards while admiring a bracelet he'd purchased in Ivan's jewelry shop. Once he was in the clear, he tucked it away in his pocket and slipped out the nearest exit. Coming out onto a rooftop parking lot, he pulled out a small radio, and adjusted the antenna on it. "The Carbuncle has purchased a ring for the Princess," he said quietly as he stepped between two larger vehicles. "The party's at Garden."