Chapter 3.

The midday air over Galbadia was warm and moist as the doors from the parking garage drew open and a cluster of SeeD vehicles sped out to the grassy fields with the all familiar sound of roaring gasoline-driven engines, within minutes they were dots in the distance, their paintjobs glinting as the sun reflected off them.

He stood, leaning against the side of the open metal doors, letting the sun pour over his muscular form, the parking garage was graced with light, a rare occurrence in itself as the Garden rarely landed and the doors were rarely opened, he look over his should, back at the Garden Van and his GT500-his baby, his pride and joy other than his Gunblade and Griver, he wouldn't have minded if he had to leave on his own in his own vehicle, but he had to take the crew along. Zell was standing sparring with air, Selphie was checking over the two hampers she had prepared for their time out, often punching a fist into the air and shouting 'WOOHOO' nearly at the top of her lungs. Irvine was unsurprisingly standing close to her, smiling as she hurriedly checked the hampers and let out her joyful screams.

Then there was Quistis who sat in one of the metal holes built into the wall with her legs hanging out over the rim with her nose in a book, which she was reading quite contently. It was as Squall looked at her that she chose to look up and scan the room with her eyes for anything that might be amiss, her first point of reference was Squall, they made perfect eye contact and she smiled at him and looked away, he also looked away and returned his gaze to the grassy fields.

He drew Gunblade once more and let the sun pour over it before again holding it up so that he could see his reflection, he saw that he was again smiling. 'Dammit' he thought to himself, then killed the smile. He re-sheathed Gunblade and turned around and walked away from the metal doors, that was when Cid and Edea (Matron) waked in, still arm in arm with each other. Everybody stood hard-up at attention on the spot and waited for one of them to speak.

Cid stepped forward to speak, gently releasing his arm hold on Edea

"Well, I see that you're all here, I'm not going to say much, one thing I am going to say is, at ease" With that everybody in the room stood at ease. "I only came here to see you off, but I'd like to remind you that this vacation is for you, and you only, no official business, just a break from duty, do whatever you want, within reason, keep the conduct of a representative of SeeD, but take it easy"

"Headmaster, I…" Squall was cut off mid-sentence

"I know Squall, you would rather it you left by yourself, however, myself and Edea have decided that this would be a good opportunity for you to bond with your friends, since Rinoa left for Deling City you've rarely bothered with them, I think its time that changed, don't you?"

"Whatever…" came Squalls response as he turned and started heading towards the vehicle.

"Who knows, maybe you can schedule a drop into Deling City to go see her, it's your vacation, and I'm sure everybody else would enjoy the opportunity" Edea stepped forward.

"Squall, I strongly advise you listen, in your current state of mind, you aren't a very outgoing person, I'm hoping that this vacation will stimulate your sense of companionship, I can sense it in you already."

Squall glared at her with eyes that told her to speak no more.

"But that is besides the point, I'm not here to discuss it, I came to wish you the very best of luck, and bestow you with safety, be safe my children" Edea took a step back and Cid spoke again.

"Garden will be heading over to the Eastern coast of Esthar to help with the…herm…construction work that is going on over there. Should you need us, you have the number. We'll likely be in touch, until then, you may disembark, see you in a while"

With that, Cid and Edea left in exactly the same way they arrived, arm-in-arm.

"Alright people, load up and let's go" came Irvines call after they had left.

"Woo-hoo" came Selphies reply

"Alright, Selphie, you need a hand with those hampers?" came a call from where Quistis was sitting.

"Nah I'm fine, I got the cowboy helping me" Zell bounded over to the Van,

"Hey Squall, who's driving?" he asked.

"You get one guess there"

"Thought so," and he bounded off and dived in the back. Quistis was about to crawl into the rear when,

"Quistis, you get the passenger seat" A call from Squall in the drivers seat.

"You sure?"

"Would I have just asked if I wasn't?" The passenger seat opened up and Quistis got in, book still in hand.

"Selphie, you done back there?

"We're loaded up and ready to go"

"Fine, get in"

With that Selphie and Irvine jumped in the back and closed the doors.

Squall pushed the ignition and the engine whirred into life, noisily. After the engine had been given a few test revs, the connecting door between the driver section and the passenger section was opened, the van was placed into gear and headed out of the parking garage. With that, Squall had an idea.

He wasn't exactly going to leave his GT500 sitting in the garage while Garden was the other side of the world.

"Zell, can you drive this thing to Deling City?"

"Sure, why?" Came his reply.

"I'm heading back for my car, meet me at the entrance to Deling City"

Squall applied the brakes, turned the van around and drove it back to the Parking garage, where he promptly got out, banged the side of the van.

"Zell, your show" then ran back into the garage, keys to his GT500 in hand.

He ran his hand along the side of the car before putting the keys in the door and opening it then getting in.

"You thought I was leaving you that easy?" He said, apparently speaking to the car.

He placed the keys in the ignition and the engine literally roared to life, a smile graced his features before quickly removing itself again, Squall placed it into gear and pushed the accelerator, the car did a vicious wheelspin before speeding towards the exit at high speed. The car sped past the Van and Squall signaled the indicators from left to right in a friendly gesture as the car sped off towards Deling city, windows open with Squalls arm resting on the frame and music playing respectively loudly through its custom sound system.

Back in the Van, Zell and everybody else couldn't help but stop and stare for a second as Squalls car slowly turned into a glinting dot in the distance.

"And there he goes, typical…" Quistis tapped Zell on the shoulder,

"Yes, he has his ways to impress, but can we get moving now"

Zell placed the Van into gear and it started traveling towards Deling City, not nearly as hastily as the GT500 but hastily enough to refrain Selphie from whining about speed…or lack thereof.