Disclaimer. Squaresoft owns all these guys and places. I don't mean to infringe you guys so........ just chill, eh??? Just sound out those little kiddy words between Squall and Zell. I wanted it to be like the flashback between Laguna and Ellone but I couldn't remember the spelling.

BTW This is set five days after the small 'war'. The date is August 13th.

The Longest Road.

"Your touch healed me…"




Chapter seventeen; healed wounds.





"Be careful." Selphie urged involuntarily as Dr Kadowaki began to unwind the bandage from Squall's eyes in the dim room.

"I do this for a living Miss Tilmitt, please do not state the obvious.... Unless you wish to do this?" The doctor asked in a rather annoyed voice.

"If she's even touched anything with caffeine in today I don't want her within twenty feet of me." Squall whispered and Zell, who had been sitting next to him, laughed loudly, gaining a dirty look from the small brunette for all the wrong reasons.

"Pratt. I got in twouble." He hissed back in a singsong child like voice.

"Sar-we." Squall replied and smiled.

Doctor Kadowaki hushed them both. "I'm almost done here Squall, when I remove the pads we should know whether you will regain your sight. Blink a few times to clear it, I have the lights dimmed so it will not hurt you too much."

Her approach was so cold and sterile that it made Zell shiver and left an acidicly bitter taste in his mouth.

It took a few more minutes to unwind the bandages completely. The doctor stepped backwards as Squall blinked at the cold marble tiled floor. He took a few deep breaths and let his gave travel upwards. He turned to look at Zell first, hope burning brighter than the sun in those Mediterranean blue eyes. Squall had almost forgotten how beautiful they were.

Although the lights were dim, it seemed as bright as day to Squall's new seeing eyes. He glanced the others and his eyes fell upon Selphie, wearing a pair of blue jeans and tan leather chaps. He blinked again, unsure of what he had seen, then turned back to look at Zell.

"Please tell me she isn't wearing what I think she's wearing."

"She's been wearing them since she got back together with Irvine, we're all waiting for him to wear her dress.... YOU CAN SEE!!!!!!"

"State the obvious Zell." Squall rolled his eyes and let his head drop forward a little. "But it still hurts a little."

"Then maybe...," Quistis stepped forward with a small silver box in her hand. "Maybe these would be of some assistance."

Squall took the package into his hand and asked; "what is it?"

"It's an early birthday present. I thought you might end up needing these now rather than in ten days time." She grinned.

Pulling the silver wrapping paper off, he was presented with a black case containing a pair of sunglasses with a familiar engraving on the arm. A roaring lion.

"A custom job."

"Thanks..... I don't know what to say."

"After that present you got me, I just had to find something appropriate." She said. He remembered her present as though he'd bought it yesterday, a twenty-four carat gold pendant, in the shape of a coiled whip. "As long as you like 'em it's okay?"

"I love them Quisty."

She nodded and smiled at the mention of her childhood name.

"Now everyone out! I want some time to myself to work on these reports. The commander is a real slave driver..." The doctor grinned.

"I'm not that bad." The others left but Squall hung back. "Have you discovered anything more about this virus?"

"Not as yet commander. It's taking longer to research than we had first thought it would... I will notify you as soon as I discover anything."

He nodded and left. In the corridor leading back to the main hub of the garden complex, Zell put a hand on Squall's chest to stop him. "Glad you're alright babe...," He whispered and delivered a quick, fierce kiss, like a deathblow, swift and deadly. "This time stay that way."

"Whatever." He said and returned it, with true passion. Zell wrapped his arms around Squall and hugged him so tight that Squall couldn't breathe.

They parted ways and Zell dashed off to lead a martial arts class in the quad while Squall returned to his office.

When he entered the stuffy room, he was faced with Kyra Raven. "I need to talk to you commander." She stated in a no-nonsense voice. "About Ayden."

"Yes? What about him?" He asked as he moved to take a seat.

"There's something strange about him." She paused. "He's your son, isn't he?"

Squall remembered that she hadn't been there when he'd told some of the people that would be in direct contact with the child. She had, however, taken him under her wing and spent more time babysitting him than any of the other SeeDs. "How did you...."

"Come on Commander. You two have the same spirit hidden behind those smoky grey eyes." She tossed her hair away from her eyes. "Look Mr. Leonhart,"

"My name is Squall. Please use it."

"Fine Squall.... Babies of Ayden's age always grow rather quickly, but his growth is completely unbelievable."

"What are you saying?" Squall enquired.

"That he's growing at three times the rate he should be." She pointed to the cot in the corner. "There has been a case before like this...."

Squall crossed to the cot where Ayden was sitting up and watching them with wide eyes. "What kind of case Kyra?"

"It was well documented, it took place about a hundred and forty years ago. Usually a male cannot accept the powers of a sorceress.... But, if the child is from the relationship between a sorceress and her knight then the boy will already have a sorceress's touch." She joined Squall to look down at the boy. "If they have this, then during childhood, they can accept a sorceress' powers."

"So... You think when Rinoa died she passed her powers onto him?" Squall was left wide eyed by this revelation and it's implications.

Kyra nodded. "It's more than likely. However, in the case, the child began to grow beyond the normal rate. During a period of two years, he aged ten...." Squall spun to look at her. "Don't look so worried. Although he grew so quickly for a few years it levelled off when he reached a physical age of sixteen although he was actually only six. In fact, the boy lived for over a hundred and ten years..."

The lion sighed thankfully as Ayden wrapped his hand around Squall's gloved index finger and gave a gentle, understanding squeeze. "You had me worried there."

"I was wondering how you are going to approach this Squall.... You can't keep it from him, can you?"

"No. Not at all." He thought for a moment. "But I know someone who'll be able to help... As soon as he's old enough..... Edea."

The baby gurgled in delight.





Author's notes.

So, Squall can see, but the virus is still in his system in it's inactive form. They now know that Ayden has Rinoa's powers and he is growing too quickly. Zell is as much in love as ever and there's still quite a way to go for this author. Any way, seeing as I almost blacked out at work tonight, I'm gonna get some sleep and write the next chapter in the morning. If you find this fic too serious why not go and read the collaberation between myself and Nakiko entitled "The Wager." It's on my favourite stories and it's so much more humourous than this. Ah well, that's what I get for teaming up with a great author like Naki. (This fic was dedicated to her way back when I started..., I'm such a suck up ain't I?)

C ya laters!!!!!!!!!

luv from

Darksquall ^_\^