Unconditional Love

~*Part 2*~


I rolled over and yawned, unwilling to get up and face the day, but I knew that I had a lot of ahead of me. I had to unpack, see the gang and introduce Dew to them. Luckily I had no work till next week, giving me time to get myself re-instated into my home.

Last night, Quistis showed me to my old Commander rooms. When we had returned to Balamb, I was given proper quarters which were much bigger then the SeeD rooms. I had entered the room to see that the room that I had made into an office of sorts was made into a small bedroom for Dew.

Quistis had told me that Selphie had decorated it and I knew that Dew would love it when she awoke.

The room was painted in waves along that walls with pastels blues and greens with pictures of mermaids, fish and other under the sea creatures. Her bed was a little darker than the colours of the wall, but also blue and green with a large peach-coloured octopus on it. All her toys had been unpacked - along with new ones that had been added - and put in various shelves around the room and all her clothes were nicely folded and hung on the closet.

There was also a nightlight in the shape of the Guardian Force Siren sitting on her rock with her harp and her wings outstretched as far as they would go on the bedside table.

I knew Dew would be past please. She loved the sea and Siren was her favourite GF.

I had distinctly told Quistis that they were already spoiling her.

Quistis just shrugged, not at all deterred.

After tucking her in, Quistis left leaving me to my sleep, where I found that no of my stuff was unpacked! Though I knew it was just because they respected me and I greatly disliked my stuff going through. I was just pleased that Dew was already being taken care of.

I finally got up with a groan and yawned as I made to Dew’s room to see if she had awakened yet. The TV was on with the morning cartoons and it was past 10 a.m..

I went to her room to find it empty which had me concerned till I saw the note on the kitchen table.


Squall,

Took Dubadeasa this morning. I wanted to see her and she was wide
awake, so I took her down for breakfast so you could sleep. Whenever you’re
up, come down to caf and you’ll find us.

Quistis


I sighed and shook my head. It seemed that Dew already had Quistis wrapped around her little finger and she barely looked at Quistis yet. They’ve talked before, but never really seen each other.

Ah well. It was cute.

I quickly showered, dressed and made my way down to the caf to see how my daughter was fairing with the gang. I barely walked into the caf and I could hear Dew’s laughter as some low baritone voice talked to her.

I walked in to see Seifer tickling Dew, who was hitting his arms to make him stop as she laughed. I couldn’t help, but smile.

“Look who’s here.” Selphie cheered clapping her hands and Seifer stopped to look at me. I found myself getting temporarily lost in the deep jade eyes that studied me.

I didn’t have a chance to say a word because Dew had jumped from her seat and jumped me. I caught her deftly because she weighed little and lifted her up to my face where she kissed my cheek.

“Good morning, pa! They are so nice! Why didn’t you bring me earlier?” She demanded and I smiled, relieved that she liked them.

Not that I really had to worry.

But I’ve found that I tend to worry about smalnsignsignificant things.

“You’re here now, that’s what matters.” I said,ply ply and she hugged me close as I went over to the table. Seifer pulled out a chair for me and I sat down with Dew on my lap, ignoring the effect Seifer’s presence was having on me. I would have thought it would have dulled over time.

Apparently not.

He was still impeccable as ever. Thick, firm and well-defined muscles from training and being a SeeD. His blond hair had been grown out and was now tied back into a slick ponytail with that unruly lock that now curled around his face, refusing to be tied back with the rest. Jade eyes and the scar that ran between them the opposite of my own.

He had changed, but I liked the changes.

Very much so.

“Pa, this is Seifer and he has the same scar that you do! Was he the one that gave it to you? Your . . . rival?” Dew asked, innocently as she cocked her head at me. I had told her many stories of Seifer and I. None that were of our bad times, of course. Just ones of days when we worked well together.

She had become very curious of Seifer after I told her he was the one that gave me the scar. I then showed her a picture of him - the only one I had was a class one before the SeeD test - and she began asking about him continually.

I was more than happy to oblige.

Even if it hurt to think about what I was missing back at Balamb.

“Was my rival - Seifer and I are friends now.” I shook my head and tossed a look at Seifer, who simply smirked.

“Ya, little Dewdrop! Your old pa has gotten too old for such things now. Better to be friends then get his ass - I mean - butt kicked!” Seifer joked, careful not to swear around the child. I simply glared at him for the comment.

“My pa is not weak!” Dew proclaimed, placing her hands on her hips, glaring. I felt the corner of my mouth start to curve into a smirk.

“She glares just like you, Leonhart.” Seifer muttered, quietly and I swung my head around to look at him. There was an odd sense of warmth in his gaze that caused me to blink.

“Don’t pay any attention to Seifer, Dubadeasa. Seifer makes fun of everyone.” Zell grinned as he came over and picked up Dew. She squealed lau laughter as he hefted her up onto his shoulders. “Glad to see ya back, dude.” Zell said, punching my shoulder.

Zell hadn’t changed much other than streaks of bright royal blue were coloured into his hair and he had an eyebrow piercing. He was still the punk everyone knew. Six years had done squat to him.

“Glad to be back.” I replied as Dew gripped Zell’s spikes, which caused him to shriek in mock horror, teasingly till she moved her hands down to his cheeks and jaw for balance.

“Hungry there, sweet cheeks? I think they have fresh chocolate chip cookies with your name on it.” Zell proclaimed to Dew’s delight and off they went.

“I’ll go with them to make sure they don’t eat too much.” Quistis said grimly with a smile as she walked steady, following the pair.

“She is such a little sweetie! Hard to imagine Rinoa gave birth to her!” Selphie cooed, smiling at Zell and Dew, who were drawing more attention to themselves as Quistis continued to follow. Many of the other cadets were greeting Dew and talking to Zell, who both bathed in the spotlight.

“Selphie!” Irvine admonished, lightly scowling at her, but tossing my glances to see my reaction.

Ah yes. No one knew exactly how I felt about her yet.

“Relax.” I muttered, waving my hand at them to forget it as I rolled my eyes.

“I take it, you are not at all hurt by Rinoa’s sudden disappearance?” Seifer asked, sounding drool. He knew I didn’t give two shits what she did with herself, as long as it had nothing to do with me.

“Ha ha, Seifer. No, I’m not.” I replied, dryly.

“Oh? You don’t want to find her?” Selphie asked, her green eyes sparkling in mischief. She herself hadn’t changed much physically. Her hair was maybe a little longer as it was tied back into two neat French braids and yellow still obviously her favourite colour by the bright sunshine shirt she wore.

“I never said that.”

“But I thought you said - ” Selphie started to ask, confused.

“I want to find her so she can sign the damned divorce papers. Laguna offered to hire people to find her for me, but I declined. I’ll wait for her to come back and hopefully that will be never.” I continued, interrupting Selphie, who began to laugh. The rest soon joined her.

“I have no idea what you guys were thinking when you paired those two up!” Seifer growled, in mockery as the laughter calmed down.

“Either do I, man. And I do apologise wholeheartedly on the matter.” Irvine said, tipping his hat causing his chin-length chestnut hair to swing - the only change visible on him. I shook my head.

“As I said to Quistis earlier, I don’t fully regret it because Dew wouldn’t have been born without making that mistake.” I smiled as I turned to see Dew currently charming the lunch lady, who was handing her another cookie.

She was cute and kne knew it.

“Some mistakes cannot be avoided. There is always a reason why we make mis mistake in the first place. To learn from it, or simply achieve something from it. With every wrong, there is always a right.” Seifer commented, sipping his coffee. I arched an eyebrow at him.

“Since when were you a philosopher?” I questioned, completely thrown off by t Sei Seifer was calmer when he first returned, but now he really seemed maturer and relaxed instead of the hot-headed bully he used to be.

Seifer just kinda looked at me.

“So~o . . . you return to your duties on Monday, right?” Selphie asked, innocently.

I didn’t buy it for a minute.

“Yes.”

“And Dubadeasa will need a babysitter, no?” Selphie continued, not at all disturbed by my squinty.

“ . . . maybe.” I answered, knowing exactly where this was going.

“Quisty and I were talking. Well, actually, all of us were talking and we are willing to take turns taking care Dubadeasa while you work. We haven’t gotten to see much of Dubadeasa and you need someone to take care of her, so~o . . . .” Selphie said, smiling at me in a beseeching way.

“You guys want to take turns babysitting Dew while I work and spoil her completely rotten.” I sighed, shaking my head.

Dew was good.

“Pretty much.” Irvine grinned and I looked at him, seeing that he was perfectly serious. They all were.

“I don’t see why not.” I shrugged. I knew it would be good for them, me and Dew. Dew needed to get to know them and I needed to work. They also had to get over their regret about what happened and help me give Dew the childhood I never had.

“Worried that we will warp her, Leonhart?” Seifer asked, teasingly as he put an arm around my shoulders. I felt my heart skip a beat.

Nope. I was still completely taken by him.

“You aren’t helping your case, Seifer.” I grumbled as I looked up at the laughing jade eyes. He just smirked and ruffled my hair while slapped his hands away with curses till I saw the trio returning.

“Here you are, pa! We got you some coffee! The lady was so nice! She gave me three cookies!” Dew proclaimed, holding out three fingers as she jumped onto my lap after putting my coffee down.

“Three?”

“Yep!” Dew said, completely unfazed by the glare I was shooting both Zell and Quistis. Quistis shrugged while Zell waved a hand at me to calm down and forget it.

“You know, you have everyone completely tied around your baby finger. Let us hope you never learn to manipulate your power.” I muttered, shaking my head as Dew looked at me completely perplexed, looking completely innocent.

I knew better.

“Guess what, sugar?” Selphie said, walking over and picking Dew into her arms. Dew giggled as she wrapped her arms around Selphie’s neck to hold on.

“What?”

“On Monday, when your pa goes to work, I’m going to take you to the zoo!” Selphie said, bouncing as Dew started to giggle some more.

“Really?” Dew asked, completely surprised as her eyes were wide open with such innocence. It made me feel guilty that I never had to time to do such things with her and that Rinoa never did. Laguna took her shopping at times, but neither of us really had the time.

“Yep! We’ll see lions, tigers and bears - ”

“OH MY!!!” Everyone including myself said mimicking the Wizard of OZ. everyone chuckled as Dew clapped her hands, smiling. It was one of her favourite movies. Actually the only one outside the world of Disneynoa noa would let her see.

“May I come? I’m free that day.” Quistis asked, aiming her question at Dew, who smiled and reached her arms out for Quistis to take her and hug her.

“Would you?” Dew asked, sounding breathless. Dew never really had so much attention like this. Maybe the hatred from her mother affected her more than I knew.

“With great pleasure.”

Dew erupted into smiles and giggles of complete and utter happiness.

She was happy to be here.

So was I. So was I.


~*TBC*~