Time off.

Chapter 1

Squall carried Rinoa on his back from the quad to their room in the dorms. As he strolled the halls, other smiling couples surrounded him. They waved at him and some of them giggled quietly. Noticing this he turned and stopped a small crowd of girls. He asked, "What is so funny?" A leggy blonde put a finger to her lips in a "shhh" motion, and pointed to their reflection in the water. Squall went "hmm?" and looked. Rinoa was sleeping soundly on his shoulder, and a small trail of drool dribbled from a corner of her mouth.

Rinoa looked like a baby. Her eyes were closed and was breathing softly. Suddenly her mouth opened slightly and she mumbled something unintelligible. Then she turned her head the other way. Squall and the girls laughed quietly. The blonde came closer and wiped it away. Rinoa mumbled again, this time the words "judo chop" and "funky chocolate lobster" were heard. The blonde covered her mouth to muffle her laughter and poked Rinoa's nose.

The blonde stepped back from Rinoa, and she put her mouth to Squall's ear.


(She's so cute!) The blonde whispered. She motioned to her friends to come closer, and she introduced them. 'My name is Kumie, this is Reif (a short blue haired girl with glasses), Luzuli (a tall tan Amazon girl with long black hair braided down to her feet.), and Sansa (a mousy, elegantly dressed brunette who timidly hid behind the amazon Luzuli)'
They all waved and walked away.

Before Selfie remodeled the garden every time he carried her or walked through the garden alone he was reminded of the great trip across the Esthar Bridge long ago. The difference being that then he had been mad with self-loathing over his own weakness. Lost in his desperation to find a cure for his only love.

But since Selfie redid the garden there were always plants and flowers in full bloom all over the garden. The fountains that ran the perimeter of the garden would change color, as did the lights at night. It always seemed more festive, more cheerful. Also, the students seemed to be more relaxed and happier.

Whenever Squall carried Rinoa around the garden he could only surround himself with others who understood him. And who made him feel at home. And for that he was grateful. The space where the elevator used to be now served as a private area for SEEDS. It was a multi-level cylindrical room with a small spiral staircase running through the middle of it. The SEEDS used it as a lounge and command center. There were 2 elevators now, since the original was taken down. And each was relocated to either side of the front door.

And as he passed by the entrance to the lounge, he stopped and thought, 'Wow, Selfie really outdid herself'. He was referring to a large stone sculpture of Squall and the others striking their dynamic poses. Everyone debated what the poses should’ve been. Saluting, peace signs, the disco pose. He personally opted for the one from Star Wars, but it got shot down. And in the end their victory poses were chosen. He always stared at this statue when he needed a pick me up. He was emo no more, and planned to keep it that way.

A glimmer of light revealed that someone had placed a plaque on the statue. Probably Cid. It read, "Here stand the roots of our garden. May they always hold firm and support our growth"

as he read it, a proud smile appeared on his face.

As he entered his shared room in the dorms, he saw he had some messages on his machine. Deciding it was too late for that, he just set Rinoa on the bed and went to take a shower. He dropped his clothes in the corner by his closet. It drove Rinoa nuts when he left his clothes in a heap on the floor. And every guy knows, its so much fun to make your woman angry. They’re so cute when they’re angry.

He turned on the shower and waited for it to heat up before entering. The warm water felt good against his tired body. As his muscles relaxed, he became very sleepy. So he decided to make it quick before he passed out in the shower. He lathered and rinsed blissfully unaware of the presence drawing ever closer. He didn’t hear the door creak open or click shut. Nor did he hear the soft rustle of clothes hitting the floor. Then as he lathered his hair a cold draft blew in causing him to shiver and get soap in his eyes.

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