Tonight [Squall x Reader](1)

/I remember the times we spent together/
/All those drives, we had a million questions/
/All about our lives/
/And when we got to New York everything felt right/
/I wish you were here with me,/
/Tonight/

Growing up is full of sacrifices, from the innocence to the shelter from the cruelties that the world has to offer. Children say that they can't wait to grow up, provided that they harbor under the delusion that adulthood brings just as much joy - with a lot more freedom in story. Quite a bit of the time, this is indeed the case, though not all the time. Rather, adulthood brings loss, sadness; trials that can either strengthen the heart or tighten the rope around the neck.

And the two children felt it - a hundred fold.

Trailing over the road, the pair of siblings keep their heads down, as if looking forward would only bring more misery. Surely, it would, and they do not dare to find out. Rather, they keep their hands tightly linked, voices silent but thoughts raging. Within their souls is an emptiness, left not only by the pain of growth, but the loss that they have had to endure, even if so young. Born from the same fertilized cell, their minds are linked, one feeling the pain of the other and vice versa.

"Esper," The boy regards his sister, clutching the blade tight into himself as he glances at her. "You remember what we promised grandpa: no tears."

"I don't remember saying that I promised him anything, Caleb," Esper responds, though softly to reflect her lachrymose demeanor as she clutches the letter and bouquet close to her heart. "We're visiting; I'll cry if I want to. I need to."

"Crying won't bring them back," Caleb informs her, but says nothing more.

The two of them, though barely halfway into their first year at the academy, have already been through far too much; had more tremors than their souls should know. Time and time again, the world had thrown them about, put their family through many trials and tribulations until some were forced to bite the dust. Even then, they refused to give up on their family, even if despite their size and age. Everything weighed upon their shoulders and still does, but with a few encouraging words - and some lessons in fighting on Caleb's part -, they made it through thus far.

Esper, along with her brother, hasn't yet seen the tender age of nineteen, but her wisdom is beyond her years, having known the true definition of agony since she was far too young to. Her heart did not allow her physical strength of any sort, provided she has inherited much of her mother's magic and thus isn't meant to fight, but she makes up for this in heartful delicacy. Her temper is almost nonexistent, but irritation and frustration are not foreign to her; her heart won't allow her true anger. Love... that's something she could never hope to discover and hang on to, no matter what she does or says. Never will she know true love's kiss, a loving embrace from a tender lover; a happy ending.

Caleb sacrifices more than he is aware on a daily basis, from the time he could spend being a regular boy in the lands to physical health - though temporarily - as means of protecting his sister. A very much regular yet fascinating pair of siblings, one feels the pain of the other; one gets stung by a bee, the other is the one that breaks out in rashes. One can tell what the other is thinking with a mere touch of the hand or glance at the face. All of these things make them special, and yet Caleb is sure that Esper agrees that they deserve at least one day as normal kids - a chance to go to sleep without worry of assassination.

"...What if they didn't have to die?" Esper's question tugs him from his musings. "What if all of this didn't have to happen?"

"It's meaningless to dwell on dreams," Caleb responds. "Don't let them get the better of your head, Essie. There's no point in torturing yourself."

"...Yeah..." Esper sighs, putting her head down. clasping her white gloved hands close together. "...Caleb?" She picks her head up again, looking at her brother with her hair eclipsing her [e/c] eye. "Are you... How do you feel?"

He doesn't answer. Instead, he clutches the blade to himself tightly, looking upon the grave before them - a sight they're all too familiar with - with apparent anguish. His also gloved hands clutch into fists, and he raises a fist to pound into the dirt - only for his wrist to be caught in Esper's grip, soft and gentle.

"There's no point," She softly echoes.

He knows, but he can't help it.

Their papa - the great Squall Leonhart - was a good man, to be sure. He raised them with loving hands and protective arms, like a pride leading lion with his cubs. Upon looking at them upon their birth, he surely thought they looked like angels, with their soft, small, delicate bodies and coos reflective of the words 'I love you'.  So, what lead them to this cruel life, being so sweet in infancy but having their lives be lived in constant fear as they grew up and matured? Were they just doomed to be hunted for their entire lives? Neither of them would ever understand, but at the same time, they carry full comprehension of the situation at hand.

"I'm sorry," Esper wanted to say at some point. "I'm sorry that I was made."

She never did, though, instead pretending everything was completely safe and okay for their papa's sake, even if it was clear that it wasn't. Still, she kept a smile upon her bright pink lips, dashing around and playing with Caleb and the others as if she had no cares in the world. All that time, she could be a kid, as could Caleb - even if despite the sacrifices and circumstances.

Laguna, their benevolent, goofy grandpa, kept the smiles upon their faces whenever Squall couldn't be there for the two. His 'koochie-koochie treatment', as he called it, had them laughing until their sides would surely split. Although Squall didn't find it that great, surely, when Laguna had to take care of the twins, the end result - a sleeping Caleb and a dozing Esper - brought the softest of smiles to his face.

Glancing upward toward the sky, Esper remembers all of this, smiling despite the tears streaming down her cheeks. Clasping her hands over the caterpillar brooch in her tie, she closes her eyes, taking in deep breaths as Caleb glances around, gripping his own blade's handle tightly. The two are here for a number of reasons, all of which unpleasant in the eyes of many children their age. Despite coming with strength, it is here, standing among the wildflowers that they begin to falter.

"Sense somethin'?" Caleb asks, to which Esper opens her eyes, looking towards him.

"All the time."

/I remember the days we spent together,/
/Were not enough, it used to feel like dreaming/
/Except we always woke up,/
/Never thought not having you here now/
/Would hurt so much/

Admittedly, falling in love after Rinoa was never on his list of priorities, thus why he didn't even try to look for opportunities after the bitterness of the breakup. It was good while it lasted, which contributed to the hurt all the more, and yet he ached to feel a lover's gentle touch again. He yearned to taste the sweetness of a kiss, wake up in a warm bed with his significant other. It was so weird, the head of SeeD longing for love after setting it so low on his priorities before that he saw to it that girls avoided him. But, nobody questioned him - Irvine especially, given that he's a love expert despite being the idiot gunslinger of the group.

Squall himself would have described himself as being a perfectly unchangeable man, thank you very much, even though he'd abandoned solitude and let people in. Oddly enough, he found himself enjoying being part of a group - despite it being comparable to caring for toddlers in an ill-equipped daycare center. Even then, he kept at it and made sure nobody lost their heads; his patience - or lack thereof - cruelly betrayed this fact. Each moment he spent with his group of friends in their little base camp, he either forced them to be quiet or just pretended that he didn't know them.

Honestly, it was kind of funny. Upon observing his group and others, he eventually came to realize that there was always that one person in each group of friends that nobody liked; the entire reason that that person was there was so that the others could hate their guts. For him, in his little Mariachi band, it had to be Zell. Energetic as he was, Zell had his moments to be a complete imbecile - and nearly choking on bread was just one of many. (Sometimes, Squall had no idea what sort of ill wind blew the blonde his way, but there he was.)

Ever since he'd made the decision to open up his heart to make new friends, the pharmacies and general shops pretty much everywhere they stopped had a skyrocket in sales. Though mainly in painkillers and other medicines, provided that nobody but him could do anything right, the owners always looked beyond thrilled when their favorite people - the Mariachi band that Squall always pretended he didn't know - came in. As much as the group was pleased to know that they gave smiles to someone in those trying times, they all agreed that they wished it wasn't just shopkeepers. Then again, one smile was enough.

Even if it was at the cost of headache medicine being handed to an extremely angry lion man that was about to commit homicide if he didn't get what he needed in the next five seconds.

"Nevermind the guy with the scar," Selphie would say. "He's just mad because Zell screws everything up each time we turn our backs."

The one member of the Mariachi band that Squall could tolerate at least a little bit was Irvine. At best, Irvine was competent and skilled in his work as the group's sharpshooter. At worst, he was a ladykiller that just did not know how to set a good name for himself with some people. But, that wasn't to say that he was the worst person that the lion ever had to deal with. That title went to Seifer, despite the fact that the hostilities between them were pretty much stemming from nothing more than childish squabbling and general antics.

But, Squall did admit - quite a few times, actually - that he wouldn't be in the best of places without his friends, without Rinoa interrupting his solitude and dragging him onto the dance floor, where she was luckier than Lady Luck herself when he did not step all over her feet.

Through it all, however, there was nothing that could compare to when he met you, despite the circumstances in which he did.

When he met your eyes, the last thing on his mind was to open up to you in spite of you needing him to survive. Naturally, his basic instincts guarded him from you to an extent, so to pretend to be your lover in the public's eyes wasn't necessarily something that sat well with him at first. But, that's not to say he didn't grow to enjoy having someone to protect after the bitterness of parting with Rinoa.

You seemed to enjoy it, too, from how you would smile from ear to ear each time he came into view - even when you were exhausted from not being near him each time you went in for a checkup. Almost the entire time, the two of you held hands, as if breaking apart for even a second would cause the world to blow apart despite it being an absolutely ridiculous notion. At first, the handholding was more for your comfort than anything else, but eventually it became for his, as well; something he was never able to explain.

Slowly, the two of you grew closer than thought possible, him wanting to know you were alright each second of the day, and you wanting to know that he wasn't growing irritated at his duties as your Knight. Eventually, it came to where he took you along - with permission - on his travels with the Mariachi band. Unexpectedly, you took to enjoying being part of the group, especially given that Selphie was always beyond happy to tell stories of when they were off to kick some Ultimecia - Edea then - butt.

Irvine, meanwhile, was happy to make Squall and Selphie both angrier than usual with his clever but terrible pick-ups. Though, you handled it with amusement as opposed to irritation - something you definitely showed with Zell, but not that much.

/Tonight I've fallen and I can't get up/
/I need your loving hands to come and pick me up/
/And every night I miss you/
/I can just look up/
/And know the stars are/
/Holding you, holding you, holding you/
/Tonight/

Being a girl that specialized in healing powers as opposed to attack magic, Squall prioritized you as the group's healer - though not necessarily by choice. After each and every battle, you would fuss over everybody, looking them over and poking at them to make sure they weren't hurt too much. The poking hurt more than the actual attacks, but surely nothing would have hurt more than a cranky [y/n] after they kept telling you not to act like their mother. Squall's gunblade at their noses usually shut them up, though.

After quite a while of being with the group - or the Mariachi band, as Squall called it -, you became well acquainted with the emotional and physical patterns of the lot. When Zell started getting agitated, you put two hands up, ready to acupuncture the living daylights out of him the minute he was vulnerable. When Irvine was troubled about something, you simply sat near him and let him talk to you. Though you didn't understand what the heck the cowboy playboy was talking about let alone what was going through his head, you sat, nodding your head as if you did. Irvine must've known, though he visibly appreciated the company.

Selphie and Rinoa - Squall was admittedly joyful to know that he could remain her friend despite their breakup -, on the other hand, had a more... simple pattern. Though, that must have been because you were a girl like them. Their every feeling was quickly detected, and you were fussing over them in split seconds, as if their mother.

Squall himself was the easiest, though - no surprise there. The simplest crease of his forehead had you to his side, and you fussed over him for hours on end each time. Not like he minded, though; it was actually pretty cute how you continuously asked how many times he swung or threw his weapon at fiends. At the end of the day, he got you to shut up - mainly by stuffing food in your mouth or simply covering it with a polite "That's enough." Though, that one was to your disappointment for whatever reason.

Generally speaking, you became more like a mom to the Mariachi band as time went on, outdoing Rinoa in that regard. On the other hand, though, even Zell noticed that you and Squall just kept getting closer with every minute of every day. Each time he defeated a beast, he looked towards you and looked you over, asking if you were hurt as he poked and prodded. Though, that really should not have been a concern, given that if you were, you had to just heal yourself - simple as that. Naturally, he extended to you his care and concern - his proud, irrevocable duty as your Knight - and saw to it that you were not about to get your head chopped off.

At first, almost everyone found it annoying how you continuously fussed over them after a fight despite fully understanding your intentions. They were in their early twenties, for goodness sake; they were fending for themselves just fine. But, upon seeing how it made you feel - seeing how you felt needed each time you saw even a scrape -, they held back their irritation until it was eventually nonexistent. With a good attitude towards the entire thing, the negative feelings faded like mist, leaving only smiles and appreciation towards your tolerance. (Irvine liked to "check you over" a bit, too, but on a more invasive level up until Squall threatened to end his reproductive cycle.)

Happy as you were that the Mariachi band was more compliant than irritable, you never helped feeling like you were doing a bit too much to ensure that they really were healthy. They never said anything as you looked them over, casting your magic wherever you needed to. More, they stood there, watching you, as if waiting to react to something at the right time. Upon the time Selphie jolted when your knuckles brushed the bottom of her dress - impractical for the battlefield, if anyone asked you or Squall -, you figured out pretty quickly what they were waiting for: recoil from the sessions getting a little too personal.

You quickly understood, despite the fact that Squall found it just a little redundant. (Must've had those school days as a boy.)

Admittedly, despite the irritation at first, the Mariachi band found it awesome that they had someone that cared for them like their mother, hugged them and let them a shoulder to cry on when the going got tough. Rinoa was close, but you were up for the job, ready to lecture or simply heal after something dumb happened. Zell was constant, provided he did stupid, reckless things even if in just one place. (You laughed to remember him telling you about Irvine shooting his grandfather's guns inside his house.)

Sometimes, though, you and Squall would stay up by the bonfire while on a small adventure, talking like tender lovers underneath the moonlight. His hand would be on your knee, yours over it, eye contact never breaking. Nobody could ever figure out what you were talking about, only how invested the pair of you were in each other. At first glance, it was like an old married couple reflecting on what little memories had been left there by the cruel hands of time upon their brains. Thoughts of a potential relationship surely flourished in Selphie's mind, though it took quite a bit to calm her each time your bodies even brushed together.

But, that's not to say that everyone else wasn't overly invested in your soon-to-exist love life.

"You thinkin' of slippin' a ring on that finger yet?" Irvine would ask.

"If I'm not allowed to see your future children, I don't want to be in your life anymore," Rinoa hummed.

"Please marry one day! I'll teach the babies all the things!" Selphie squealed.

Zell just spat a bit at the thought of love, pouting the entire time.

"Take your time," Quistis told the both of you one time. "You might not marry each other, though it would be nice to see you have families of your own as we grow."

Of course, for Squall, the talk of love and relationships was bothersome to a degree. Though, he always admitted to himself before he went to sleep at night that he was starting to get attached to you, felt for you in ways he never thought possible for himself. Love was set far down his list of priorities, as stated before, but somehow it found him as if disregarding his wishes completely. Though... he didn't mind at all - matter of fact, he found himself completely willing to submit, even if at the risk of his heart breaking again. He was strong, but not nearly strong enough to handle losing someone he'd bothered to open up his heart to. He wasn't his "father," Laguna; he couldn't brush things off with a laugh and wait for another chance.

Nothing about him was marginally as bright and optimistic.

Love, a word he never thought he would ever think positively of ever again, continuously flooded his thoughts, clouded his senses. His lips felt cold, so he picked up the habit of giving you a peck on the cheek - with permission - so as to soothe them. His being felt insecure, so he gave you a hug for no real reason every now and again. All of these things you surely appreciated - especially from a guy who avoided physical contact like the plague. Handholding stopped being enough, though it was always nice to be doing it.

Eventually, the talk came. Irvine - mainly out of the goodness of his heart as well as the fact that he was considering the proper moment to pop the question on Selphie - went out of his way to sit Squall down while you were asleep to ask him what he wanted. Though he had been with a considerable amount of women, he definitely was no heartbreaker; he knew how and how not to treat a lady. The two shared a thorough discussion about relationships and marriage life and what all else, though Squall more out of curiosity that the cowboy was actually serious about settling down and underlining commitment.

After what felt like an eternity of words, Squall figured it out. With Irvine's advice - modified a bit so as to not look like a complete imbecile -, he would confess his love to you tomorrow as soon as you lot returned to Balamb. If it didn't work, he would strangle the casanova and throw him off a cliff. That was, on the off chance Selphie wouldn't be on his arm then. Then again, Selphie would probably dive after him after failing to avenge him - or just erupt in screams that would deafen an on-duty astronaut.

Lovely.

Provided that you were absolutely terrible with picking out something special for certain occasions, Rinoa found it in her heart to find you a dress for this occasion. Squall invited you someplace nice, seeing to it that you wouldn't be hunted or anything of the sort. Out of character? Perhaps, though you did appreciate that he'd go out of his way to do something special immensely.

He never got over how beautiful you looked in [f/c], how your dress danced about your ankles in the breeze and gifted you the graceful stride of an angel. Had his heart even loved before then? There was the true question he had in his mind. Before him was a woman that surely had walked from the heavens to bring his heart the warmth that it had been lacking, to breathe light into his life again; to make him whole. From that point forward, he'd promised himself not to look at another woman the way he did you - he would be stuck on you forever if you would have him as yours, this time for real.

Each passing moment, each pounding within his chest, strained him as he sat there, watching as you admired your surroundings with the sweetest of smiles. Never before did he see something so beautiful, and he most likely never would ever again in his entire life. Eventually, he cleared his throat to get your attention, but before he could say anything, you beat him to it.

"You brought me here for a reason," You said with a smile like a police officer catching a criminal red-handed.

"How'd you figure that out?" He asked, though it was clear in your faces that the both of you knew how.

"You're not that hard to figure out, you know, Squally." A pet name you had come up with over the past few months. To say it annoyed him at first was a painful understatement. "You have something to tell me - something important." After a bit of silence, you tilted your head, your face falling into concern. "Is something wrong?"

"No," He immediately responded. "It's just... you look so beautiful."

"Squall." You crossed your arms. "Talk to me."

After staring into your eyes, he fully understood your mood. Not only were you doing a one eighty from a few minutes ago, but your expression told him that you were genuinely concerned for his safety and wouldn't let him alone until he told you what's up. With a soft sigh, he complied, gesturing for you to lean close to him, as if to tell you a big secret. Earnestly, you leaned in, head still tilted, only for him to gently cup your cheek, putting his lips to yours in a silent gesture of the affection he wished to give you that night. Though the both of you were surprised - you because it was the first time he made the first move, him because Irvine's advice might have actually done him well -, that didn't make the situation any less sweeter.

"With this kinda stuff, you gotta be inviting; give her the option to turn away," He remembered the cowboy said. "Take no for an answer; they like that."

Nooo, really? Squall was lucky that that didn't make it past his lips. Irvine wasn't good with pressure, so he couldn't imagine him with anger.

Upon pulling away, he was met with a blushing sorceress, a large smile, and comfortable silence. The both of you took a few moments to register the affectionate contact, distracting yourselves for the time being by straightening out your clothes and checking your hair. But, you eventually made eye contact again, sharing shy smiles before one broke the silence.

"Did you catch that?" Squall asked.

All you did was nod, standing up to saunter to him, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

No words had to be said that fateful evening to share what the purpose was of that date: to say to each other the words, "I love you."

/I remember the time you told me/
/About when you were eight/
/And all those things you said that night/
/That just couldn't wait/
/I remember the car you were last seen in/
/And the games we would play/
/All the times we spilled our coffees/
/And stayed out way too late/

Each time the two of you fell asleep together, the final remnants of your thoughts brought forth many questions. Most of such questions stemmed from SHO's relentless purging making yours a very complicated relationship. The other questions were if either of you were ready to truly be together, if you were willing to risk heartbreak and emotional detachment for the sake of something as fragile as love. The future haunted the both of you in the form of fairytales and nightmares, yet you promised to stay together through it all.

Upon hearing of the two of you becoming an item, Rinoa was indeed visibly hurt. It could have been that she was just sad that she wasn't the one that Squall would call his anymore, but it could've been many things as well. No conversation was needed, though, for the two of them to fully grip the fact that they were officially over no matter how much it hurt. She was quick to get over it, but surely would be very slow in healing from it - as most people were.

Selphie on the other hand was beyond euphoric to see that your love had finally blossomed. Be it her just knowing something was going on or just it having been plainly obvious that the two of you felt for each other, something kept her screaming, "I KNEW IT!!!" Probably deafened Zell from the many times she did - another reason that Irvine loved her so much; she took out the one person in the Mariachi band that nobody liked.

To be fair, everyone in the entire world would have been absolutely shaken by this: the very thought of a sorceress being in mutual love. Since Ultimecia, sorceresses weren't allowed such guilty pleasures, let alone any particular involvement in "normal" everyday things. Outcasts, rejects... You were society's worst nightmare, yet there you were, held in loving arms and cared for by an unimaginable group of people. Outstretched arms welcomed you when you had no one to go to for solace after your mother's passing, words from complete strangers calming your mind and allowing you a moment's peace; a luxury robbed of you for so long.

Not even thinking twice, Rinoa and Selphie got together, intending on planning a wedding despite the relationship being only recent. In their minds, they saw crowds cheering, doves flying... Everything that a girl would ever want on her big day. Though, if you and Squall absolutely had to do a little bit of planning for the wedding, a smaller ceremony would be ideal so as not to attract a lot of attention. SHO doesn't old back, even on a wedding day. Matter of fact, they're even more aggressive. Maybe...

Nope.

Irvine looked excited for a potential wedding as well, no surprise there. Given he was a groom-to-be, having proposed during your date, he had to be excited towards weddings. Though, who's to say there would be a wedding? Squall had so much to focus on, and there was so much on your shoulders as well... Though, it didn't do either of you harm to think of what you wanted for a ceremony although a proposal had yet to come. It surprised you to think that he even cared about such things, but he had a heart that would beat only for your sake. Nothing else mattered.

Within the two of you was a picture of a blissful ceremony. It was inside, so as to shield the bride and groom from the weather, and it didn't have the largest audience in the world. But, it was full of joy and smiles, for the bride, after years of condemnation by society, had finally found the one, just as he had found her. Upon union, there would be applause and cheering, though not much else; just what the both of you wanted. Safe, but pretty.

Time never really mattered when it came to memories, so fasting forward was harmless. After some negotiations with his conscience - and a request for you to hang out somewhere close -, he got some time to look through jewelry. Many people grow with the misconception that men don't find jewelry all that pleasing, and it is true - to an extent. Once tying the knot starts becoming a consideration, gravitational pulls aren't unusual when it comes to such trinkets; got to find the right one for that special someone in their lives.

Upon noticing that his options were limited, he did ask the lovely woman at the counter if he could get a custom ring as opposed to what's out now. She nodded, not saying too much but giving him an explanation of how he could get a customized engagement ring - delivered, if he wanted. Agreeing, he laid down what he was thinking for it, only feeling bad when she started seeming to find it hard to follow. Though, upon a summary and a repeat, she fully understood.

"She'll love it for sure." Something he was certain that she said many times before but meant every time.

It honestly was odd, how an unmarried woman could stand seeing would-have-been potential suitors walking away with gifts for their sweethearts. Though, he didn't bother her about it, knowing that it was beyond rude to do so despite the fact that she probably got some comments once or twice. Keeping his mouth shut, he thanked her, signing a few things before departing to reunite with you. The rest of the day, your mouth was open, lips flapping with questions and your face a bit clammy. But, he didn't yield to your curiosity, didn't bat an eye when you pouted at not knowing this "big surprise" that he had.

He wouldn't be his age forever, and he had to act fast, as his friends agreed, on the off chance that someone else would steal you away - unlikely, but who knew - or SHO would locate the pair of you and send you right to wherever Ultimecia was. So when the night fell, he enlisted their help in properly proposing marriage to you, though he quickly regretted it upon Irvine doing mock proposals in poses one would see an ice skater in. Zell was crouched down, one leg out, both hands up in an opening ringbox gesture.

What a long night that was gonna be...


...


Fasting forward once again, he'd invited you to a special place. Not a restaurant or anything nearly as cliche, but something... better. He remembered that you once mentioned only ever living and seeing mountains and forests in your days, not once being able to find a loophole in SHO's patrolling to see what was beyond. Each day you lived in fear, never being able to find where you could go that was safer than where you were. For that reason, you were forever grateful to Squall, and he to you, for you'd retaught him the meaning of the word 'love'.

Chuckles bounced his shoulders as you ran about, feeling the damp sand squishing between your toes and hearing the waves slap at your ankles every now and again. Laughter wouldn't stop coming from your lips, your heart racing and matching your speed. Squall of course had to stay close, provided that separation would sap your energy and give you a world of trouble. But, he didn't mind; you were worth every risk, every sacrifice. Nobody would ever mean as much as you did, especially after all the time spent loving, protecting, caring, sharing... Everything.

"The tides aren't going anywhere, you know," He chuckled, catching up to you as you kicked some of the beach water around after going ankle deep in it. Bringing a hand up to shield his eyes, he couldn't help smiling, reaching down to splash you.

"You're gonna get it, Squally!" You giggled,  splashing him back - and initiating the war of saltwater. The two of you proceeded to splash each other, quickly drenching each other in a matter of minutes, all while laughing so hard that your lungs were about to explode.

All too soon, time came when the both of you had to wind down. So, you plopped down on the sand, holding hands so tightly that they would surely fuse together. The two of you felt so safe there, in the shelter of love, under the cloak of the night sky. Neither of you truly expected to change in such a way just because of another person. But, it was a surprise that would remain sweeter than any of life's many delicacies; more precious than even light and life.

Turning on his side a little, he couldn't help taking you in, how your [e/c] eyes captured the beauty of the stars, [h/c] locks splayed out beneath you, caught in sand and seawater. Your [s/c] skin, soft and delicate, was drenched, yet it and the rest of you never looked more intoxicating. A work of art, an angel, laid beside him, allowing him to touch and caress, every care in the world void from the both of you. Truly, it was like SHO didn't exist, that Ultimecia's reign of terror struck fear into the denizens of the world; that there was nothing wrong with anything. Everything was as it should be, and there was no pain to be experienced, no heartbreak or tears.

Eventually, you looked over at him, jolting a little upon realizing that he had been staring at you. "What?" You asked, your tone dripping with innocent curiosity. "What are you thinking of there?"

"How lucky I am," He confessed. "You're my second chance. Never thought I'd get one... It's almost ironic."

"You're so self-critical, Squally," You smiled. "Always thinking about where your life is instead of where it could go. Glad I could get that out of you before you got worse."

"Same here." He nodded, standing and extending a hand. "Know how to dance?"

"Kind of," You nod, grabbing his hand and getting up. "I don't understand what this is about, though... Aw, Squally, your clothes got all-"

" - Nothing to worry about," He cut in. "Come on now." He tugged you close, putting your hand on his shoulder and his own on your waist, leading you in a soundless waltz. At first, you stumbled a bit, though it was understood that you hadn't done so a lot. (It felt kind of like back when he was dancing for the first time - except he was Rinoa and you were him.)

Eventually, you got the hang of it, your movements guided and graceful, eyes locked with his. Your only music was the waves upon the beach, your only company the occasional calls of the seagulls. At that peaceful, serene, beautiful moment, it was just you and Squall, two hearts united as one through touch and caress. Two souls, that were irrevocably in love for ever and ever, through eternity and beyond.

"You're doing good," He assured you. "Better than I thought."

"Hey now," You laughed. Though, you stopped in your tracks upon seeing little lights in the distance, eventually followed by growling - definitely not your stomach. "Squally..."

"Fiends..." He quickly identifies from even a glance. "Ready to bash some heads in?"

"Woohoo! Head bashing!"

It's never really ideal to be chopping off the limbs of fiends when spending time with your significant other, but the two of you did it with unparalleled finesse despite one being way better at fighting than the other - especially when the other only has sand and sticks as defense. But that wasn't to say you didn't kick some butt yourself, even with Squall keeping you from getting launched into the ocean.

After getting up and washing some stray sand off of your bodies, the two of you shared a high five and a quick victory kiss, looking over your handiwork with pride. Ripping the heads off of fiends was a hard job, but someone had to do it. Might as well have been the pair of you despite the fact that you were a couple with barely enough capacity to worry a lot about fiends. After some healing magic fixing the two of you up, that was when you started talking.

"Feeling okay?" He asked, gently brushing your hair behind your ear.

"Good," You nodded. "All this fighting kind of warmed me up from the air."

"It is kinda cold, isn't it?" He hummed, soon shedding his sandy jacket. Brushing it off, he draped it over your shoulders, leaving you to loop your arms through the sleeves. Though, once you blinked in surprise at your hand making contact with something hard in the pocket, he couldn't help smirking - especially when you tugged out the small black box within.

"Squally..." You glanced up at him. "What is this?"

Gently taking the box from you, Squall took your hand in his, gripping it tightly. His smile only grew brighter, his eyes showing so much love and softness; so much vulnerability to you. He stood there, facing one of the biggest moments in his life unafraid, his Griever necklace feeling cold against his warming skin. But, he kept his focus on you, his trinkets being forced to wait until he wasn't so occupied on the beauty standing before him.

"[y/n] [l/n]," He started, noticing how you cleared your throat slightly as if to calm your racing heart. He could understand that. "Before we met, I was at the lowest point I could have ever been in. My heart was growing cold, my emotions slowly being erased. In one final attempt to save myself, I went out to find you, even if under the orders of my superiors. When I did, I could feel that there was something waiting. I wasn't ready to fall for you like this, but here I am."

You opened your mouth to respond, but you swooned at the sight of him lowering himself onto one knee. Your cheeks ignited, your eyes twinkling like the millions of stars in the sky, and all the words you were about to say ground to a halt as he opened the small box, revealing a ring - designed to look like his Knight rune - inside.

"[y/n], I've prided myself in being your Knight for a while now, but it would do me the greatest pleasure to have you call me your man as well," He smiled. "[y/n], would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Tears cascaded down your cheeks, yet you found yourself grinning from ear to ear. Your hands trembled, yet your shoulders were tensed with joy. Eventually regaining yourself, you nodded, barely managing anything from your lips.

"Yes..." You eventually said, lowering to him and hugging him tightly. "Yes, Squally, of course I will!" In response, he only laughed profusely, tugging your left hand into his to slide the ring on. The metal held a welcoming chill.

Pulling back, he smiled brightly at you, cupping your face and pulling you into a kiss - and he swore he heard painfully familiar voices in the distance before he got caught up in your love.

/I remember the time you sat and told me/
/About your Jesus, and how not to look back/
/Even if no one believes us/
/When it hurts so bad, sometimes/
/Not having you here/

Time never mattered, again, and it all became a blur, but before he knew it, there he was, dressed in a breathable tuxedo and standing at the altar, watching you come up. Through your veil, he could tell that you were a bit stressed. Though, Rinoa had let him in on the fact that it was normal to see a flurry of emotions upon the bride's face as she came up to stand by his side. It no longer hurt to look at her, though, provided that she'd moved on just as he had, and both are healed from the bitterness of never being able to fix their relationship.

Once you stood there before him, he gave you the biggest smile that he could give you, and you mirrored his expression. He didn't want to say that he'd been waiting his entire life to see this moment, but he did indeed wait for it the moment that he realized that he loved you. Surely you shared his feelings, being the sorceress that held him when you could have very easily cursed him - though you were fully incapable of doing so, more out of moral setbacks than others.

Glancing into the audience, he smiled even more at the sight of Zell, Irvine, Laguna, and the others in the front peus alongside Selphie, Quistis, Rinoa, Ellone, and more. All of them were dressed to be groomsmen and bridesmaids, some even crying at the sight of the lion finally securing a wife.  Everyone at the ceremony was happy for him and you both - him for finally having a chance to be happy again, and you for being accepted into the "pride," so to speak.

"Dearly beloved," The priest began, and all fell to silence. "We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, and to cherish the words which shall unite Squall Leonhart and [y/n] [l/n] in marriage."

A soft breeze carried nothing more than welcoming air alongside the soft coo of an infant in the audience, signifying there is nothing there to stop this wedding - not now, not ever. Realizing this, the both of you smiled, having full knowledge that the two of you will join in matrimony in the very face of the world, that crime and punishment do not exist in the new chapter in this life. Sacrificing sadness, condemning anger, it all began at the altar, and did everyone know it then.

"Marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, and who trust in that love, who honor each other as individuals, and who choose to spend the rest of their lives together," The priest looked up from his book, glancing around at the audience. "Those who have just cause for why these two may not be joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace."

And just in that moment, as if on cue, a sharp bang! broke the peaceful silence. Jolting in response, you felt something quickly brush the top of your head, dislodging your veil and barely missing the priest's ear. Emitting a shriek, you dove to your knees, whereas Squall bared his teeth, looking towards where the noise came from.

"SHO!" Laguna barked, quickly standing up, machine gun at ready - Squall never questioned his father's mind, why would he start now - and shooting towards the Organization's troops.

Looking around in panic, you noticed Irvine standing as well to defend you and Squall so that you could carry on with the ceremony. Hearing a sound like metal bouncing off of more metal, you quickly turned, seeing the table with the cake - why it was even there, you'd never figure out, but you were happy it was before nearly getting sniped - taking some of the blows from stray bullets.

"Oh HECK NO!" You let out, departing from Squall's side, much to his confusion, and rushing to protect the cake. You could handle a few bullets in your arm, but if that dessert took one bullet, you would've been absolutely pissed.

Does this count as a runaway bride situation? Squall wondered, but dismissed the thought as he quickly grabbed his gunblade, shooting at and making quick work of the remaining cronies.

After many minutes of chaos and people hiding under their seats as means to protect themselves, the two of you returned to your positions in front of the priest, making soft apologies for everything. Putting up his hand, he stopped the both of you, finding his place in his book before continuing. When he cleared his throat, the both of you did what you could in order to relax.

"This ceremony will not create a relationship that does not already exist between you. It is a symbol of how far you have come these past few years. It is a symbol of the promises you will make to each other to continue growing stronger as individuals and as partners. No matter what challenges you face, you now face them together, and no matter how much you succeed, you now succeed together. The love between the two of you joins you now as one." He turned to the next page in the book; Squall felt your grip on his hand tighten. "Now, the bride and groom shall exchange their vows. Squall, if you would please."

Clearing his throat, Squall took both of your hands into his, looking you dead in the eye. "These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love, that hold yours on your wedding day," He began. "These are the hands that will work alongside yours as we build our future together. These are the hands that will passionately love you and care for you throughout the years. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief touches your mind - and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other."

He paused, reaching up to catch a stray tear you had no idea was falling. "These are the hands that will give you strength when you struggle, and support and encouragement to follow your dreams. These are the hands that will tenderly hold our children, and keep our family together as one. These are the hands that will, countless times, wipe the tears from your eyes - tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled with age, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch - a touch with these hands." He didn't have to even glance to know that some of the women and even men in the audience were beginning to shed tears; he could feel it in the air.

"[y/n], now t'is your vows," The priest said softly. "If you would."

You nodded. "...I make this solemn promise to you: to be your lover when you need to be loved, your doctor when you are ill, your army when you go to war, your umbrella when life rains down upon you, your rock when you get weary; your shield when you need defense." You gripped his hands tightly. "Your spirit when you are drained, your pillow when you need to rest, your voice when no one can hear you, your ear when no one will listen, your comfort when you feel pain; your hero when you are under duress." You bite your lip, blinking back joyous tears. "Your sunshine when darkness falls, your answer when questions arise, your inspiration to overcome obstacles, your kiss that wakes you every day..."

You gathered the courage to look him square in the eye as opposed to keeping your gaze upon his necklace. "And your "I love you" each and every night," You finished.

The priest nodded. "May I have the rings, please," He requested, and within moments, Laguna was scrambling to get them to him. "No rush, Mr. Loire."

"Sorry," Laguna spoke up, rushing back to his seat once the rings were in his hand.

"Squall, you will place this ring upon [y/n]'s finger and repeat after me," The priest instructed as Squall slid the ring upon your finger, smiling softly at how it seemed to bring new life to the other. "This ring is my sacred gift..."

"This ring is my sacred gift," Squall echoed.

"With my promise that I will always love you."

"With my promise that I will always love you."

"Cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life."

"Cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life."

"And with this ring, I thee wed."

"And with this ring, I thee wed."

The priest turned to you, though he had to hold back a soft chuckle at how you ready you were to cry. Your bottom lip trembled, your hands struggled to grip his, and tears were dripping from your cheeks. Though, the feeling of the priest gently patting your wrist and setting the other ring in your palm quickly sobered you.

"[y/n], you will place this ring upon Squall's finger and repeat after me," He instructed, and you nodded, sliding the ring on with a smile. "This ring is my sacred gift."

"This ring is my sacred gift," You tearfully repeat.

"With my promise that I will always love you."

"With my promise that I will always love you."

"Cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life."

"Cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life."

"And with this ring, I thee wed."

"And with this ring, I thee wed."

The priest gave off a big smile, holding his book close to his heart. "And so, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Squall and [y/n] Leonhart." He turned to Squall, his grin growing from ear to ear. "Kiss your bride, Squall."

With a large smile, Squall obeyed, wrapping you in his arms and tugging you into a deep kiss. Clutching him tight, you kissed him as if his body was the only air you were allowed to have in this life. Fearing releasing him, you kept him close as he did you, your bodies seeming to melt into one at the intimate contact. Around you, the audience erupted in cheers and clapping, and you both could barely make out praising words from your loved ones.