Author's Note: Ok, so it's been a while… But I am now writing to you from Sydney Australia, sitting in the sunshine instead of freezing to death in the UK. Unfortunately while I've been moving my life down-under, I've been without wifi for quite a while :( But seeing as I am somewhat settled now, I'm attempting to get back to this fic. So… here goes…

Thank you so much to everyone who left reviews for chapter one :D

Chapter Two – Fisherman's Horizon

Quistis had found Rinoa in her room, looking pale and terrified, her bag packed and dark circles ghosting under her eyes. Quistis hadn't been surprised that Rinoa hadn't slept, she'd been restless herself, and unable to image this working out well. They'd said nothing to each other as they'd walked nervously out of the accommodation building and through the main gates. Rinoa had chanced a look upwards, towards the snipers poised at the top of the towers, and at the guards stationed all around them. Their armed presence that had never been a threat before, were now objects of terror. But thankfully, a flash of their ID badges was all it had taken to see them on their way, and Rinoa and Quistis hadn't lingered.

"This can't possibly work," Quistis said as they stood together at the train station platform. "We look like we're running away. I don't know what the Commander was thinking of, he must have gone insane. I must be insane for following these instructions."

Rinoa watched Quistis search in her bag for something. A frustrated look quickly appeared on her face, since whatever it was she was looking for, evaded her. Eventually she took out her lipstick and a compact mirror, just in time for a guard to walk past her. Armed with her feminine tools, she gave him a brief smile before ignoring him and refreshing her makeup. Rinoa had no idea if that had been intentional, but it seemed to send the guard on his way again.

"Yes, but you have to follow Squall's orders… right? Being your Commander and all. If anyone is insane here, it's me," Rinoa replied quietly, making sure that she couldn't be overheard.

"I know," Quistis replied, checking her watch again. "I just… these orders make me nervous. Besides, just because the Commander says to do something, doesn't mean I have to like it."

Rinoa kept her thoughts to herself. Really it felt like some sort of play they were all acting in. So far, nothing had felt real. Turning her back on everything that made sense, had left her with very little to tether her to reality. Quistis was obviously suffering with her nerves right now, and when Rinoa thought about it, that seemed to make perfect sense. Quistis liked to plan her actions out to the letter, she liked details and numbers, orders that were clear and that left little room for interpretation. Squall had revealed his plans to Rinoa, but she knew he was keeping his reasons a secret from Quistis.

For whatever reason that might be, Squall had asked Qusitis to abandon her post and return to Garden. She had no idea why. Or for how long. Or whether their actions were sanctioned by the Galbadians, or whether they were on the run. No wonder she was nervous, and having to keep a secret from her friend was testing Rinoa to the limit. However to be honest, Rinoa didn't really know the answer to those questions either. Would they really be apprehended if they were questioned?

Of course this line of thought was only ever going to end up taking her back to one place, and that was to Squall. And as the train pulled up in front of them, and they stepped inside, all that Rinoa could think of was, what would her future would bring? What was in store now that she was entangling her life with this man, who she was hopelessly falling for? The sensible part of her mind told her that she was most likely to be dreadfully hurt, when she finally woke up and realised that this was not a romantic dream, but a warzone. But still, her heart kept pumping its hope around her body, leaving her in suspense, and anxious. She was a fool, and deeply out of her depth.

"It's been a long time since I was at Fisherman's Horizon," Rinoa said, in hope of starting a conversation, which would ease the tension between herself and Quistis. "I flew in direct when the… when the virus started. I didn't take the train."

Quistis said nothing, not even a smile, and Rinoa wondered if she was now seeing the SeeD side of Quistis, that had for a long time, been hidden from their friendship. It was unnerving, and Rinoa felt herself to be even more inadequate beside her cold friend, since Rinoa didn't have another persona she could retreat into. She was simply Rinoa, no military training, no SeeD number to her name, just a quick mind, a fast learner, and willing to sacrifice her life to a cause… metaphorically speaking. But would it be enough? She was not a soldier.

"The Garden will meet us as FH," Quistis said once the train had picked up speed. "Then we will be debriefed."

Rinoa looked at Quistis as if she was seeing her for the first time. If nothing else, her friend's changed demeanour told Rinoa that maybe she had accepted this challenge without enough consideration. She felt more nervous than ever. What if everyone at Balamb was as cold as Quistis was being now? How would she survive it? What if Squall changed too? The idea was terrifying, and she found herself unable to stop the fear that was spreading through her.

Rinoa refused to say anything further unless it was vitally necessary, and they spent the rest of the journey in uncomfortable silence. When the train pulled into the small station of FH, Rinoa couldn't wait to get away. Again she waited for someone to stop them, but nothing happened, and they walked off the train and into the small town seemingly without a care in the world.

Sure enough the Garden was waiting for them, and Rinoa could see the revolving golden disks floating around the base of the ship as it hovered just inches above the sea. There was a precarious looking gangway connecting it to the FH dock, and couple of young people in SeeD uniforms standing at the entrance of it. For a moment Rinoa lost her breath just looking at it, having only ever seen the Garden on TV and in the papers, in real life, it was truly amazing. A marvel of technology, but also beautiful, like a giant shimmering dragonfly, with those glowing lattice discs below being its wings. Still, Rinoa felt like the poor relation following behind Quistis, and it only became worse as they stepped on the gangway and into Garden.

Quistis knew everyone, apparently, and they all saluted her. It made Rinoa increasingly uncomfortable as she followed her down the walkway. Quistis seemed keen on abandoning Rinoa to her own devices as soon as the welcome committee was in sight, and left her standing alone in order to speak to some fellow SeeDs. Suddenly someone was shouting her name, and Rinoa spotted Selphie running full pelt towards her.

"Get out of the way!" Selphie yelled at the gathered people, earning herself some disgruntled muttering. Apparently Selphie wasn't as much a celebrity as Quistis, and the group of onlookers melted away as Quistis left.

Rinoa blushed as Selphie gave her the most awkward, but enthusiastic hug she'd ever had. Selphie seemed to be treating their friendship as if it had been a given from the start, whereas Rinoa felt very tentative. She was out of sorts with the surroundings, and completely unsure of what was expected of her. Thankfully, Selphie didn't seem to notice anything amiss.

"Sorry, I got held up… the Garden Festival's gone to hell since I've been gone. It was just total chaos this morning, I've been recruiting, but since it was such a disaster last year no one wants to help. But I make them change their mind, maybe you could help me?" Selphie said as she grabbed Rinoa's bag and hooked her arm interlaced with Rinoa's. "Did you have a nice journey? I love the train, but unfortunately Squall was grumpy the whole way over, but it was no matter, I still sang at him anyway."

Rinoa realised that they had covered a remarkable amount of distance while she had been bombarded by Selphie's onslaught of conversation. She spotted a sign that read, Dormitories, and guessed that was where they were headed.

"Sang at him?" Rinoa questioned. It had seemed like an odd choice of words.

"Oh sure. Train train, take us away… he hates it. In fact, I'm pretty sure Squall hates everything, but what can you do! Oh, I forgot to say, we're sharing a dorm, I asked Squall, and he said it was OK," Selphie said with a smile.

Rinoa wasn't sure if this was an alarming prospect or a comforting one. To be sure, she wasn't going to get much peace if Selphie was as hyperactive as this all the time. Rinoa halted her thoughts. This was unfair. Selphie had gone out of her way to meet her, guide her around this maze of a Garden, and had even ensured that she wouldn't have to share rooms with a stranger.

"I'm sorry," Selphie said suddenly. "Am I being a pain? I talk too much, I know, I'll be quiet."

"No," Rinoa assured her. "It's just, I'm a little overwhelmed by this place. I didn't image it would be like this…"

"Like what?"

"Well, it's beautiful for a start. And all the students, they look so professional and unfriendly…" Rinoa elaborated as she looked around. Most of the people she passed were in uniform, even the children, and all seemed to have surly looks on their faces. "I'm not going to fit in here at all, am I?"

Selphie just shrugged.

"I'll get you an uniform, then you can be a miserable bastard just like them… if you like?" Selphie asked, clearly of the same opinion as Rinoa.

"No thanks…" Rinoa replied. Just then a group of people their own again walked by, giving them both disapproving looks. "But on second thought, yes to the uniform, no to being miserable."

Rinoa gave up trying to make sense of anything Selphie was telling her after that. She apparently ought to know all about Headmaster Cid from the way Selphie was speaking, and maybe she would have, if she had read the damn files on Squall and Selphie like she should have. Again, through her own laziness Rinoa had managed to make herself feel like a fool.

"You know," Selphie continued as she swiped a card down a reader outside door number 332, then handed the card to Rinoa. "You keep that, it's your key now. No… what was I saying? Oh yeah, you know what? I never expected you to be like you are."

Rinoa frowned. What was Selphie going to tell her now? This statement had done nothing to put her at ease.

"What do you mean?" Rinoa asked, but Selphie was waiting for her appraisal and opinion on their rooms now, and didn't look like she was about to answer. Rinoa decided to oblige her, even though she would much rather had continued the conversation.

The dorm room was small, but seemed perfectly adequate for the two of them. There was a little kitchen area on their left, with two stools at a breakfast bar, fitted cupboards including a fridge, a kettle and microwave. To the right, was a two-seater sofa and a shelf containing a few academic books. Straight ahead were three doors, Selphie stepped forward and opened one.

"Bathroom," she said letting Rinoa look inside. There was a shower, a toilet and a sink, hardly any room to move without bumping into something, but again, it was adequate. "Thank your lucky stars I'm a qualified SeeD, the students have communal facilities… and they're gross."

"The facilities, or the students?" Rinoa asked, closing the bathroom door. Selphie laughed.

"You're funny," she decided, before showing Rinoa her bedroom. "OK, so the room is titchy, but, you get used to it after a while… apparently. I can't really remember anything different to be honest. And after spending a year bunking with Squall in a tent, I'd sleep in a bin just to get away from him."

"A bin would be better than sharing with Squall?" Rinoa asked, she knew her face was heating up just at the thought of him. She hoped Selphie hadn't noticed.

"Alright, maybe that's a bit harsh… I just like my own space sometimes, you know? I'm sure the feeling is mutual, so I don't feel bad about it," Selphie shrugged, moving into the kitchen, flicking on the kettle and perching on a stool. "As far as sharing with a boy goes, I suppose the Commander is one of the best. You know, when he sleeps, he like super still. Just sleeps, you know? Kind of creepy actually..."

Rinoa took the opportunity to sit on the sofa, it was more comfortable than she expected, and she leant into the cushions. Maybe she ought to make use of the shower soon too, change into something more comfortable and try to relax. Only now she had Selphie's tent sharing story running through her mind, which was making her somewhat uncomfortable. She wasn't sure Squall would like Selphie gossiping about him. On the other hand she was desperate to keep talking about him, but didn't dare pursue the conversation for fear of betraying too much.

"You don't look like I imaged you would," Selphie said offhandedly as she dropped a teabag into a mug. "Tea or coffee?"

"Coffee, milk please, no sugar," Rinoa answered automatically, her mind still on other things. "What do you mean?"

Selphie looked as if she was thinking really hard about what she was going to say next, but remained silent until she'd finished stirring the coffee.

"Guess I never really thought about it. Or, maybe I thought you'd be older… … nah, I don't know," Selphie said with a dismissive shrug of her shoulders. "I bet Squall was surprised, he probably looked like this..." she paused to make an over the top expression of comic shock.

Rinoa felt herself blush, and tried to cover her embarrassment with an awkward laugh. It was close to the mark, maybe more so than Selphie realised. Only it hadn't been Squall who'd been surprised, at least he'd shown no sign that he'd been so. Rinoa could still feel that strange magnetic pull towards the young man on the hospital bed, it was off balancing now as it had been then. She was glad when Selphie handed her the mug, just to have something to do with her hands.

"You know he didn't look like that," Rinoa replied before quickly taking a sip of her drink. Selphie grinned at her, but it was hard for Rinoa to tell what she was smiling at. Could she know the truth? Was Rinoa's nervousness about Squall written all over her? No, they were just talking, Selphie couldn't possibly know anything.

"If you like him, you can tell me you know. Most girls do," Selphie replied rather slyly, her grin turning conspiratorial.

Rinoa froze, mug hovering an inch from her lips. She couldn't remember if she was lifting it for a sip, or putting it down. Her heart suddenly was beating a hundred miles a hour. She didn't want to be an object of fun. Her admiration for Squall wasn't something she was comfortable talking about, especially not something she could joke about. She'd barely understood herself yet, and certainly didn't want Selphie to tease her. Feeling on the defense, Rinoa forced herself to reply.

"But not you?" she said, deflecting the question. Selphie made another face, as if this was a highly distasteful thought. Rinoa smiled, but knew her face had to be burning right now, it certainly felt as if it was on fire.

"Come on, me and Squall? It would be like, the worst hook up ever. Just no. Besides, I'd have to fight Quistis off first, and she'd most likely kill me. Have you seen those nails? Ouch."

Rinoa felt her heart sink, sobering her up instantly. Squall and Quistis were together? How had she missed that? She really was a first class idiot. Clearly Selphie had been making fun of her after all. It would certainly explain why Quistis was miffed at not being given the full reason for leaving Esthar. Maybe she was annoyed that it had been Rinoa who he'd requested at his hospital bedside? It would explain her sudden cold behaviour.

"Well, I don't like him like that, so, Quistis is safe," Rinoa replied knowing that she was being childish. But what else could she have said? She could hardly confess to being completely infatuated with him, not now Selphie had made it abundantly clear that he was with Quistis. It was time to shake the stupid feelings about him away, and behave like the professional Squall thought she was. he hadn't brought her here for a date.

Selphie fixed her with a sceptical look, as if she didn't believe that for a second, but was too polite to say anything to the contrary. She'd been slightly disappointed that Rinoa hadn't burst into girlish giggles at the thought of dating the Commander, since setting them up would have been amusing. She couldn't remember Squall ever going on a date, not that he was the sharing and caring type. Getting any kind of personal information out of Squall was like the cliche getting blood from a stone. But not everyone was an open book, and even Rinoa was proving hard to read.

"Oh well. You should go see him I suppose, he'll be in his office. Knowing Squall he's already planned your schedule down to the last second."

This made Rinoa smile for real, because she knew Selphie was right. There was one thing that Squall was better at than anyone she knew, and that was making sure that everyone around him was working hard. The thought of having some direction to work to made Rinoa feel a whole lot safer in this unfamiliar place. But there was no way Rinoa was going up to Squall's office looking travel weary and crumpled. Not if Quistis might be there looking as fabulous as always.

"You know, I think i'll shower first," Rinoa decided, knowing that Selphie was giving her that smile again.