Disclaimer. Squaresoft owns all these guys and places. I don't mean to infringe you guys so........ just chill, eh???
(Dateline; August 23rd.) I didn't think a man like Squall would have any major religious convictions so I sort of pushed some of my ideas upon him. "We will live again."



The Longest Road.


"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake."
-Marie Binon Ray.




Chapter nineteen; Birthdays and Beaches.





The party downstairs was still as loud it had been three hours ago, when it had started. They hadn't even noticed that Squall had left.

He didn't blame them really. He rarely let go long enough to truly enjoy a party.

"I saw you leave baby." He half turned his head to see who he already knew would be there. Zell smiled as he stood in the doorway.

"Sorry."

"Hey, you lasted in there longer than I thought you would. I thought that if one more person shook your hand, you were going to rip their arm off." He giggled, a little worse the wear for alcohol.

"It was growing a little tedious." Squall slumped down upon the sofa.

The blonde walked towards him, a little uneasily and knelt down beside the leather chair. Staring into the storm cloud grey eyes of the lion Zell whispered, "happy birthday baby." Leaning forward he met Squall's lips, reaching behind the brunette's head to deepen the kiss.

Zell's lips were a treasure of sweet warmth, still tasting of pineapple juice and white rum from Selphie's preferred beverage that he had doubtless stolen while still downstairs. Squall moaned softly, sounding like a purr.

The blonde man moved instinctively to press his lips harder against Squall's. Then he pulled away and sighed contentedly.

With half closed eyes, Squall pushed his fingers gently through Zell's hair. "Thanks."

"What for?" Zell was confused.

Squall leant forward, as though about to imbue Zell with the most valuable of secrets ever kept. His lips brushed the blonde's earlobe and whispered "You figure it out." Then he stood and went to check on Ayden.

"Hey! You're supposed to tell me!"

Ayden was asleep.

Squall still found his presence at garden hard to believe.

As hard to believe that the cycle was starting over again, and another orphan with Leonhart blood was at the garden.

"D....D..." The child mumbled in half sleep, near waking. He opened his eyes. "Da da. Da da Skall"

Squall stared open mouthed at him. "Ayden?"

"Nigh nigh Da." Ayden turned over and went back to sleep.

The first time that the child had ever spoken. A small smile alighted on his lips. "What a birthday present."

When he went back to the living room of their SeeD apartment, Zell was standing on the balcony. The cool wind ruffled the blonde feathers of hair as he stared out across the lights of Balamb to the silent black ocean. The low crescent moon cast a silver light that danced, sparkling it's way across the waves.

"Do you think we could go down to the harbour? Just for a little while?"

"Why?" Squall asked.

"Because when I was little, I used to go down to the quay side on nights like this. I mean..., after I left the orphanage. Do you remember when I was there when Matron used to tell us a story about..... a man.... The story went like this... 'Once, long ago there was a man who dreamt of being a captain of a ship. In his efforts, he found himself working on the ship of a great king, known for his benevolence amongst his people and a well loved man. The king's younger brother wanted their fathers throne and sent a man to make sure that the king did not return.

"The ship was wrecked upon rocks off the Centra continent, and the man who dreamed of captaining his own ship saved the king's life, taking him to shore before diving back into the surf to find the others. Every other hand was lost at sea. The man returned to shore and set about returning the king to his land. He lead the king over mountains and through forests, across rivers, knowing where the shallow waters were as a second nature until finally the king's castle was in sight.

"They stopped to rest at the house of the king's magician so that the king could make himself presentable. He turned to his guide and asked what reward he wanted. "I cannot accept your offer my lord. I would have no use for material possessions."

" "What do you mean?" The king asked. The magician re-entered the room with a bowl of mead for the king to drink and enquired who he was talking to. "Why, this sailor of course!" He exclaimed in response.

" "I am sorry sire but I see no one." The magician said. The sailor shrugged and told the king that he had given his life to the ocean after swearing to himself that he would return the king to his homeland. And with that, the sailor became a bright light and rose to the heavens. Hyne granted him his greatest wish and he became the north star, the captain of the heavens and the guide for all ships and lost souls. Sometimes, he finds his way back to earth when the clouds cover the tapestry of stars to ride the ocean in a ship made of moonbeams, stardust and cotton white clouds, Finding lost souls and taking them home. once again...."

Squall put an arm around Zell's shoulders and whispered: "I remember that story. It was the last one she told us before you went away."

Zell nodded. "I loved my Ma and Dad, but I felt like I was lost, I used to look for the north star and pray for him to take me to the orphanage even if it was just for a little while."

"Let's go down there." Squall tugged Zell's arm a little then walked to the door. He called to Quistis in the hall and asked her to keep an eye on Ayden and as she accepted, they began the forty minute drive to Balamb.




The moonlight bleached everything, turning blonde hair to silver in it's glow. At the end of the pier, two figures sat dangling their legs over, staring down at the black water. Zell shivered in the cold air and Squall pulled him a little closer, feeling the blonde rest his head on the fur of the leather jacket's collar.

"Sometimes, I wish that I was someone else. That I didn't have to wonder if I'd see you in the morning or wonder if I'd be dead by sunset on a mission....."

"Don't talk like that, please." Squall asked quietly. "I've done it enough times myself."

"I know. But I'd go through it all again, if it meant I'd be with you."

"Zell?" Squall tipped the Zell's face up so he could gaze into his eyes. "We were always meant to be together. We will always find each other no matter which life we live." Squall sighed. "Next time no alcohol. It makes us both too damn philosophical."

Zell laughed, quiet and short. Then kissed him quickly before they both turned to watch the moon's path.

An hour later Squall felt Zell lie a little heavier upon him signifying his submission to sleep. He turned his head just enough to be able to kiss the blonde's forehead.

In silence, he watched the stars traverse the vast expanse of space as always more in love with the shadows of the night than the harsh light of day. He was a night person to the core.

Squall kept his eyes facing eastward, watching the first rays of light brush the clouds to a pale pink. As always, dawn gave him a little hope that the next day might be a little better than the one before.








Authors notes. sweeeeeeeeeet!

Sorry. I'm trying to finish the whole fic quickly while staying true to my ideas as my net access over the summer is going to be very limited. I am trying my hardest and I will still be able to send and receive emails over the next six weeks it's just I have my car to insure (It's only a little 1ú3 fiesta for gods sake but the insurance is still over two grand, I'm beginning to wish it was older so it'd be cheaper!) And if I want to keep it running, that has to come first and my purchase of an internet ready computer second.

And so, to work on the next chapter.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cya