I hope you all enjoy this one - this is currently planned as a two-parter. This was a difficult one to write. I recently lost my own father. He was far too young when he went. I have battled with many of the emotions presented here - including guilt for not grieving in the same manner as others, and the idea of what becomes of the essence of a person - ie the soul.

Eighteen years had melted away. The grave marker was smaller than Laguna had imagined in his head. He thought that when faced with the somber stone that he'd feel an overpowering sense of guilt or shame. Guilt for not having personally been the one who laid Raine to rest. Shame for never having visited her grave until now. But Laguna did not believe that a person's soul was static or immobile. He believed that a soul was not locked to one place. Raine's soul was not here waiting for him. Raine had been with him every single day of the last eighteen years. She had been beside him in his darkest moments. She had consoled him in his grief, and celebrated his victories. Together they had created an immense bond beyond the logic, or human understanding of space and time. He didn't need a gravestone, or a grave to feel close to her. He did have one regret, a regret that had festered inside of his soul for nearly two decades. He deeply regretted not personally travelling back to Winhill with Ellone. He didn't believe that his return would have saved Raine's life. Ultimately the hand of fate would have dealt the same cards; his love would still have died in childbirth. You can't change the past; Ellone had proved that. Raine would still have died giving birth to the child that they had conceived together. The child that she'd never had the chance to tell him about. Ellone had told Laguna everything; of how overjoyed Raine had been when she learned of the pregnancy. How she longed to tell Laguna. How when Ellone returned, and Raine scooped her into her arms, tears of joy streaming from both of their eyes – how Raine's eyes darted to the horizon, expecting to see Laguna. Ultimately, in her last moments, as the doctors frantically worked on Raine; her life ebbing away, how her last word had been Laguna's name.

The lush valley swayed, a deep shadow fell across the undulating fields. Laguna, now spirited back to reality gazed up and watched as Balamb Garden floated gracefully overhead. It wouldn't be long now before Squall arrived in Winhill. Laguna recalled clasping the young man tightly by the arm, recalled telling him how the two needed to have a serious conversation. As little as he knew them, Laguna knew enough to know that relying on Squall was not enough. He had also petitioned Rinoa, knowing that she had a large sway over Squall. A smirk spread across his face as Rinoa's visage came clearly into his mind's eye. He recalled Ellone, a similar smile on her own face as she informed him that Rinoa was Julia's daughter. Fate really could play some surprising tricks. The irony of it all would be crushing if Laguna couldn't brush it away with his characteristic humour. Here he was, in Winhill, the place where he had both found and lost the love of his life. He was about to have a conversation with the son he never knew he had, who was accompanied by the daughter of a woman that he had been infatuated with for. To say nothing of how Squall, essentially a stranger to Laguna in every way, would react to the revelation.

As he knelt there, lost in thought, Laguna heard a faint whisper on the wind. At first his mind told him that it was Raine's voice, but pivoting on his heals he glanced Ellone hovering cautiously to his rear. Beyond her Kiros and Ward stood silhouetted against the setting sun. The wind tossed Ellone's hair and shawl as she threw a toothy smile and gentle wave in his direction, her eyes spoke to him in a way that only kindred souls can appreciate. Laguna reciprocated with a smile and wave of his own, and Ellone took this as an invitation to approach. For a moment Laguna could see Raine, he could imagine that moonlit night. How Raine plodded so confidently toward him, half bemused and half annoyed; asking why he had left a note for him to meet her here so late. He could still feel the warmth of her supple fingers as he took her hand in his, and slipped the platinum band onto her ring finger. The wellspring of joy welling up in her eyes as she whisper 'yes' as she grasped him in a forceful hug. A golden petal landed in Laguna's upturned hand, spiriting him back to the present time. He couldn't help but smile.

"Raine... When Squall comes, please let this not be the first time in my life that I'm stuck for words..." Laguna muttered as he planted both of his hands deep into the pockets of his chinos.

Squall lingered in his dorm. Zell paced impatiently outside; he had strict orders from Rinoa to not let anyone district Squall, or pull him away on any time-consuming tasks. There was much to be done, many tough decisions to be made. The world outside was collapsing. The Galbadian military was in disarray, Trabia Garden was still a shattered ruin and Timber and Dollet were engulfed in a political power vacuum. A new power dynamic was emerging in the world – a balanced axis split between a now directionless Garden and Esthar. Those were all problems for another day. Rinoa had made a solemn promise to both Laguna and Ellone. Zell flashed Rinoa a reassuring smile as she rounded the corner into the connecting hallway.

"He hasn't come out," Zell whispered, throwing a cheeky smile. "And NO ONE got in!" He continued as Rinoa came to a stop by the door to Squall's room. Her hand lingered over the door handle. "Do you... want me to come along? I mean, go down there with you guys?" Zell said, his voice now returned to a gentle whisper.

"No." Rinoa replied, clasping the door handle firmly. "I think this is one that Squall and I have to do alone."

Squall was laying on his bed. He was fully dressed, his arms clasped across his chest. His head rose slightly, and Rinoa reassured him with a closed-mouth smile. Their own lives were as troubled and in need of tough decisions and firm action as the world outside. They hadn't raised the topic of officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend yet. That is to say that Rinoa had not raised the topic. Squall had changed – he'd mellowed, softened. But Rinoa knew that it was still too early to expect him to initiate that discourse on his own. She was happy as they were for the moment – they were bonded through fire and suffering. Their feelings for each other were beyond question. That was more than many young loves could say.

"Are you ready to go?" Rinoa questioned. Squall bolted upright in his bed, pivoting while swinging his feet to the floor. He awkwardly lingered for a moment, his facial expression contorting and his brow furrowing. Rinoa knew him well enough to know that a lively discourse was being played out in Squall's head.

"Use your big boy words," Rinoa jibed. The words sounded less patronising in her head. She knew that there was something more to this planned meeting. Something much deeper. Squall seemed to believe that they were meeting Laguna to discuss politics; Laguna speaking as a representative of Esthar and Squall on behalf of Garden. But there was something more in Laguna's words, a magnetic energy that was earnest and heartfelt.

"I'll go," Squall finally broke his silence. "But I'm going because you asked. Not because that fool asked me to meet him!"