Disclaimer. Squaresoft owns all these guys and places. I don't mean to infringe you guys so........ just chill, eh???

You have no idea how friggin hard it is to write each word of these last few chapters, so forgive me if my style slips only I'm dreading finishing this story...



The Longest Road.



"When you say that you fear death, you are really saing that you fear you have not lived your life."
David Viscott.



Chapter thirty one; Wills and parting ways.




"Hi. I know this has been done to death, but I had to make this video so I could make sure that you guys can finish what Cid started and I continued...." The dead voice said.

Squall Leonhart's image wavered for a second on the TV screen before steadying. His cheeks were pale, his eyes a little sunken and he had lost so much weight from the image that they'd retained of him. The man on the TV pushed a stray strand of hair out of the way only for it to return. He allowed it to stay there.

Ten people watched the dead man speak. Old friends, old enemies, and those that had been on the sidelines all along. Xu, Nida, Quistis, Irvine, Selphie, Seifer, Fuujin, Rajin and of course, Ayden and Zell.

"Xu, Nida... I honestly couldn't have achieved all that I have without the two of you helping me. I was hoping that you two would go down to Centra to help with the new project. Incase the rest of you are wondering what I mean, there's going to be a new Garden, one for the youngest kids. For the ones in Matrons orphanage. Xu and Nida will probably fill you in later. Thanks you two."

Xu and Nida nodded and stood as they'd been instructed to at the very start of the video. They took their envelopes and contracts.

"Now, Fuujin, Rajin... I seem to remember that you guys only signed temporary contracts...." The man held up two pieces of paper. "These are those contracts." And he promptly tore them in two. "Or at least, they were. In the envelopes that I left for you there are two new contracts. Permanent positions. There's also a little package for Seifer, waiting for a position to be assigned by Fuujin." Squall' Leonhart's image smiled. "May I recommend your slave? Only Kidding Seifer." Squall let his head drop forward. "Look after all those kids for me you three. Make our SeeD's better than ever before for me while I'm not there."

"Okay pu..., Squall." Seifer murmured as he and his posse stood and left.

"Quisty, Selphie, Irvine and of course Ayden and Zell. Thank you so much for all you've done for me, I doubt I could have come this far without you. When Cid gave me the commander position, I wasn't aware that after the Garden masters I was in charge of all Gardens. That is why after MRAG, Galbadia's garden master was destroyed when Seifer took over, I was able to appoint Fuujin and Raijin to their positions.

"About a week before I made this video, I received a letter saying that MOFN, of Trabia was retiring." Squall rubbed his shoulder as though a pain had shot through his shoulder. "I know you wanted to go back to Galbadia Irvine but, I thought it might be better this way. After all, Trabia is a very good place to raise a kid. Selphie, I hoped you would accept the contract in the envelope I left for you.... I'd like you to become the headmistress of Trabia. And Irvine to become the head SeeD."

"Oh... my..." Selphie murmured.

"You told me once that you loved Trabia almost as much as the orphanage, so I thought you'd like to raise Lexia there, rather than at Balamb. Quistis, you were simply born to teach so I wanted you to become Balamb's headmistress, and Zell head SeeD. Please take care of them all. I don't know when it happened but I started thinking of them as my kids a while ago. Take care of them for me."

Quistis, Selphie and Irvine stood and left.

"Zell, Ayden. I love you both and I always will, so please don't forget me. I'm sorry I had to leave you but I guess it couldn't be helped. Ayden, remember I'll always be with you, I've left you a present. I know I can't be there to tell you about your family or the 'adventures' that the others and I experienced so I thought I'd write it down for you. It's yours, and it's in my room, do whatever you see fit with it. Go and see how Selphie's doing for me."

He waited for a few minutes. "Zell. Whatever I have left is yours. Do what you want with the lot of it." Squall's head dropped forward. "And, my ashes? Scatter them over that beach where we..., you know. I don't care about a stone or memorial, do what you see fit..., but if you do commission something, put it in that clearing near matron's orphanage. It's peaceful there.... And Zell?" Squall whispered softly "I love you very much."

The screen went black and then there was nothing but static.

Zell leant back a little harder on the desk, suddenly burdened by the weight of the world on his shoulders.


********



Crimson clouds rushed across the horizon.


The sky was on fire as the sun sank slowly below the horizon. The air was warm, for the winter months as Zell strode towards the highest point of the cliffs surrounding the beach that he loved so much.

The last light caught the sea spray that rose into the air turning the droplets into pearls of unimaginable iridescence. The sea was a lake of churning molten lava stretching beyond eternity. The shadows were long and dancing as Zell sat down and let his legs dangle over the side.

He uncapped both bottles that he had bought with him. He rose the first bottle to his lips tasting the bittersweet liquid that reminded him so much of his love. As the tears welled up in his eyes, he threw the second bottle to the winds.

"To you and me, baby. To what we had and what we will have again one day."

Once he had finished his drink, he took the small urn and opened it. A great gust of wind rose from behind him, almost as though on cue and as he tipped the neck of the urn and allowed the ashes to fall.

As the ashes were taken far out to sea, Zell turned to leave.

As he did so, he felt a hand with cold fingertips touch his cheek.

As he felt that, he heard a voice on the wind. "Love you whatever babe....."

And it didn't matter how much he fought it, he had to cry that night.




Authors Notes.

All will be explained at the end of the next chapter. I am so sorry it's taken this long to complete and I am sorry for all I've done to Squall and Zell.