S to R

Squall to Ryme

Squall Leonheart, headmaster at Balamb Garden, sat in a waiting room silently, though impatiently. A nurse came out and whispered to him, her face full of regret. He stood his face impassive, though inside shock, anger, depression and even confusion were warring.

He wasn't allowed in the room, that didn't stop him from trying, the nurse called for help, two males had to drag him out. They wouldn't let him see them. Five weeks later he got a call while in his office working, slowly he picked it up.

"yes." he demanded softly. "Squall Leonheart?" "Yes, what is it." "It is time to come and take him home sir." The nurse on the phone says "I see thank you." he said coldly before hanging up.

The funeral had been three days after the birth, he had stood in his normal clothes, it had been raining, cold and sleet had started, and it was winter so of course it started to snow at the same time. He had stayed until after the ceremony, after the lights came on and the stars come out. He had left at midnight.

"This is your headmaster speaking. Quistis, come to my office please, I repeat Quistis come to my office." he shut off the intercom and waited trying to do work.

Quistis came in standing in front of his desk and saluted. "Yes Squall what is it?" she asked interestedly. "Go to the hospital, pick him up and bring him here. They say he has to come now." Squall said after saluting back, his face was impassive and his voice had held a cold tone.

Quistis saluted. “yes sir..." she said and left. Later the same day she came in carrying a bundle of blankets, the blankets were green not the customary blue. "I have him sir..." she said walking behind the desk.

Squall looked up at her for a minute or so. The infant in the blankets stretched and yawned looking up at Squall, his father. Squall looked down into the child's eyes.

Quistis pushed Squall back into his chair gently and pushed the infant into his arms. "She wanted a girl... she had this... five weeks early... but she picked out a name if it wasn't a girl..." Squall had said his throat had tightened while he had said this; he brushed the infants’ hair out of its eyes, and had tenderly stroked the child's cheeks.

"What’s his name Squall?" Quistis asked softly. “Ryme Ivan Leonheart." Squall said closing his eyes as tears had threatened to fall down his face again. "It's a good name Squall..." Quistis had said softly and slightly sadly.

“take him, to the old dormitory's and the old infirmary/children's rooms." Squall said pushing the child at Quistis hurriedly, he dismissed her quickly. Quistis had all but ran out of the room. After the door closed she could hear him get up and walk somewhere inside. After that she had gone into the elevator.

"I'm sorry little Ryme... we know it’s not your fault. But your father might blame you for your mothers’ death. It will be hard for you Ryme, because you were early, have no mother, and an ice cold father, but you'll have all of us to help you so you don't become like him, don’t worry Ryme we'll love you enough for two parents."

Quistis said, Ryme on the other hand merely yawned again and closed his eyes sleepily, oblivious to what he had been told. Quistis tucked the blanket around him a little more securely so he would stay warm.