They had just finished the rehearsal dinner, when Tala came up to Squall. "I need to talk to you, alone. Come with me?"
He frowned, wondering what could be wrong. Was this about last night? Or maybe someone had said something to her earlier today... Instead, he just let her take his hand, and lead him away from the others. They walked silently through the palace, into another section. There was a plain sitting room, rather like the one Squall had been in the first time he had ever been to Esthar. Tala chose the overstuffed black chair, so he decided to sit on the matching couch.
"What's the matter?"
Squall always preferred to get the heart of the problem. It didn't matter what caused it. Or who... Just let him know what *it* was so it could be fixed.
"I have to tell you something. About you and Seifer."
Squall stiffened. Was she about to tell him they were related? That rumor had floated around him and Rinoa, since Laguna had once been in love with Julia. However, they knew it wasn't possible. Rinoa had a rare blood type, same as her father. Tala sighed, wondering what... and how... to tell him.
"It's about why you're with me, and not with him."
Ah... Squall's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward. He had asked Seifer about this last night while they had talked. Seifer hadn't been able to give him an answer. Instead he had told him to ask Tala about it. Squall felt that he knew something, he just didn't want to say it.
"This is rather hard to explain. But I'll try my best. Remember how you came here for the opening of the Garden?"
Squall nodded. "You came with Seifer. Remember?" Squall nodded once again, wondering what this all had to do with it. "Seifer had been thinking about leaving you... but not because he didn't love you. He loved you too much. He was afraid..."
"Afraid that I'd loose myself, if we continued."
Seifer suddenly spoke, causing them both to glance over at the door. Seifer was leaning against the doorframe, watching them. But his gaze was mostly focused on Tala. She was the first to look away. Seifer then strode into the room, and plopped down on the other couch. He rested his feet on the table, ankles crossed. "Don't mind me." He said, smirking. "Go ahead and continue, Tala."
She ignored him, instead focusing on Squall. "I had seen you around a couple of times before. And since I knew Laguna so well, I felt as though I knew you too. I knew how much you loved him, so when I felt him wanting to leave... I was going to make him stay. But it backfired. Instead, he left you. That very night."
"So, you made him leave me?"
Squall just looked at her oddly. She knew he wouldn't understand, unless she made him remember. "I'm sorry..." She whispered, reaching for Squall as Seifer tried to keep her from touching him. Squall's eyes went wide as memories started to bust open in his mind. He saw himself flying through images till it came to a more recent one.
---

He was standing on the balcony, talking to Seifer.
"Squall, remember that I couldn't make you any promises. I couldn't promise how long we'd be together. I'm actually surprised we've made it this long."
"So.. You're telling me..."
"I need. To be alone for a while. I need to find myself, I think. First I hated you, then I joined forces with Edea... then I loved you."
At this, pain flashed through him twice. First because of the memory, and second because of the choice of words. Squall wished there was a way to reach out to his past self, and tell him it would be all right.
It proceeded through the conversation, but Squall was hearing someone else's thoughts. Someone inside the building. Tala. As she came out, he heard what she thought and then felt her guilt and pain over what she had done. But that wasn't all, she wanted him not to forget. But a part of her did. It all came crashing down on him, her thoughts-his thoughts... He needed to get away from here! As if his wish were someone's command, he faded away.
---

When he came back, Seifer had just jerked Tala out of her chair. Their contact had been broken. "What the hell did you do to him? Tell me!"
"Seifer..."
They both looked over at Squall. He had his elbows on his knees, forehead in his palms. His voice sounded like a mere ghost of it's self. Broken, hallow. He looked up at them, eyes glassy. "Put her down."
"Sq... Squall... ?" Tala murmured, as Seifer released her. She leaned over to touch him again, but he jerked away. "Don't."
"Squall... I'm... I'm so sorry..."
"Funny, Seifer said the said thing, that night. You're sorry. He's sorry. Everyone's sorry." His voice had changed again, soft yet strong. An explosion was brewing beneath the surface, Tala could feel it. Seifer it seemed, sensed it as well, and took a step away from her.
"Seifer, leave."
"Squall..." He glared at Seifer. "I said, Leave. Now." The blonde did as told, and Tala sat down again, but she stared at the floor.
"Look at me." She raised her eyes slowly, forcing herself to meet his own. Lightning rumbled in those eyes, and Tala felt a smidgen of fear.
"I'll leave tonight...."
"No, you'll stay. Even though you lied to me."
"Wh... What?"
"Before. When said you tried to make him stay. You lied. You made him leave. He was probably going to discuss his wanting to leave, instead of leaving that night. But you *made* him go. All because you wanted me, for one night. If that was all you wanted, why did you wait so long?"
She started to answer, then paused. She tried again, then shook her head. "I don't know..."
"Did you truly love me, Tala? Or was it another mind game? Was last night a ploy of yours?"
"No! No. I do love you. What I said last night was the truth! Everything I said was the truth."
"You wanted to tell me this last night, didn't you?"
She nodded. "I wanted to tell you so many times, but something held me back. Fear... mostly. I had finally made friends who had accepted me, had someone who loved me as much as I loved him."
"I won't tell them about this. Seifer won't either, I'll make sure of that."
She breathed a slight sigh of relief. "But you'll have to tell Laguna, that the wedding is off. I don't care what reason you give him."
"Squall, I'm..."
"Sorry. I know."
And with that, he rose and walked away. Tala watched him go, before curling up into a ball and allowing herself to cry.

--
"Touch me now, I close my eyes and dream away.
It must have been love but it's over now.
It must have been good but I lost it somehow.
It must have been love but it's over now.
From the moment we touched 'til the time had run out."
--

A/N- Jeez, this thing was the hardest chapter to write. I redid it three times, and I'm still not pleased with it. (sigh) But, I'll go with this one for now. And so, what will happen? Will there be a happy ending? Please review, and tell me if I should continue, or stop. -_-
Disclaimers: Square owns them all, 'cept for two. Lyrics - Roxette, "It must have been love."