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The Longest Road.


"Secrets that were kept from me
made me blind, I could not see."
"Secrets" poem by Nicola J. Wilcox




Chapter Four; Discovery and Loss.



Squall was rudely awoken by an insistent buzzing from the call box next to the entrance. He stood slowly so as not to aggravate the pounding in his head. "Yes?" He asked as he pushed the reply button.

The answer was overly loud. "Commander Leonhart. There's a call for you on the vid-screen in your office."

He winced. "I'll be up there in a moment." Pulling on a pair of jeans and his favourite fur lined leather jacket, zipping it up to hide his bare chest and stepping into his boots, he strode to the door and stepped into the hall.

It was still rather early, the sun still rising in the sky and very few students out and about. He managed to get to the office within four minutes of the buzzer going off. He stood in front of his desk and took the call off hold. He was presented with an image of a fat balding middle aged man.

"Mr. Leonhart. I'm glad I was able to get through to you."

Squall ran a hand through his hair and smiled. "Is there such need for a charade Ms. Heartilly?"

"Very well." The image of the man wavered and disappeared to reveal the young sorceress. "You're looking well Squall."

He shrugged. "I do my best... You look as beautiful as ever. Now what makes you call me?"

"I want to hire SeeD."

"Why?" Squall asked.

"I thought a SeeD never asked questions."

"So did I once Rinoa. But as a commander I must always work towards the best interests of my SeeDs. What are the mission parameters?"

Rinoa sighed loudly. "When did you become so focused on these sort of matters Squall? You've really changed over the last year." She shook her head. "Anyway, I want you to find a child for me."

"You're starting to sound like Adel." Squall smiled again, a brief reprieve from the threatening stare of wonder and anger.

"Squall..." She cautioned. "The child in question was kidnapped. He is being held to ransom..., the price is my stepping down as a military power in Galbadia and cease all further attempts to take power myself."

The faint line between Squall's eyebrows was all that signified a change in his expression to one of puzzlement. "Why is the child so important to you Rinoa?" He asked quietly, with that flat tone they knew him for.

"Because he is my son." She said as he stared at something to her left, anything to take her eyes of Squall's reaction.

"How old is he?"

"Squall...." She protested.

Squall's face changed in the rage that followed; "HOW FUCKING OLD IS HE RINOA?"

Tears shimmered in her eyes. "Two months and three weeks."

Squall closed his eyes and leant back against the desk, the hardness of the mahogany providing an anchor for him at that moment, a base for his unfamiliar emotions. With gritted teeth he spoke. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She made a pathetic attempt at laughter. "I thought your first words would be is it mine. You're rather sure of yourself aren't you?"

"Answer my question."

"...................Okay. I thought you'd be too busy with your SeeD duties and your..... friends to be bothered with a baby......"

Squall's eyes narrowed. "You thought I'd be like that?!?!?!" He asked indignantly. "You really think that after what I went through that I'd let my child take the same path? You think I'd want to end up being like Laguna?" He paused as something dawned on him. "Oh, how could I be so utterly dense? It's not that at all is it? You just don't want our son to know that his father is bisexual, and that he is currently in a relationship with a truly beautiful blonde who just happens to be a man....."

"No Squall it's not like that!"

"That's fucking bullshit Rinoa and you know it!" He shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose with forefinger and thumb. "You can have the best fifteen SeeDs, for as long as you need. The price is this. From now on, I get to see him. I am as equal a part of his life as you."

"But what about your SeeD's?"

"If the boy ever sets foot in a garden I want it to be mine and mine alone! Those are the only terms available, you can take them or leave them."

"I'll take them."

"We will be with you this evening, as long as it takes to fuel the Ragnarok." Rinoa moved to turn the screen off. "Rinoa, what's my son's name?"

She looked startled. "Ayden Leon Heartily. It means 'little fire'. Leon was inspired by you...."

"Thank you."

He switched the vid screen off.

He stood and walked out of the office, slamming his fist against the door so hard that four inches of solid oak split like plywood.

He kept on walking to he reached his room, whereupon he sat down on the bed. Zell had departed for somewhere only he knew.

And on his own with the door locked Squall put his head in his hands.........

...... and he wept for the son he didn't even know.
















Authors notes.

I'm shaking!!!!! I'm writing this in between receiving phone calls from two of my best friends and you wanna know the exact time???? 1:51 am.....[ I need sleep. ] What do you think of this chapter? It's not too far out is it people? Thanx for the 'views, much appreciated.Demon Gate you make me smile! Please forgive the addition of the character of Squall's son, I know how much you guys hate 'invented characters'. (so I thought I'd apologise ahead of time.) And the name Ayden was/is the one I wanted to use if I had a son. (He was supposed to be Ayden Joseph Wilcox after the grandfather I never knew.) Anyway the fone is ringing so I'd better see which one it is now. The things I do for these two! *Swallows 2 paracetemol and answers only to hear CB at the other end. --Hey, wazzzzzzzzup?-- winces and reaches for the bottle again.*

Peace out!