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It's evening and on a hill, there is a young man and woman.
*Oh man, I'm so nervous...*
But for once, his leg does not cramp up.
*What if she just laughs in my face? Then, I'll really be the fool.*
With his back turned to her, he does not see Raine approach. Touching his arm in a soft caressing manner, she asks:
"Laguna? What's wrong?"
Jumping up slightly, he turns. Laughing nervously, he runs his hand through his hair. But then, as quickly as he faces her, he turns his back to her again.
Smiling, she continues further.
"Laguna?"
*It's now or never, man.*
Turning around once more, he grabs her hand and slides his ring onto her finger. Stunned, she stares, and then she smiles, the meaning finally coming to her. Tears come to her eyes, and she looks up at him. Seeing her tears and smile, he smiles, knowing that his mission has been completed successfully. Raising his hand, he shows off his ring, and she does the same. Laughing, the two embrace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It's been so long since that day..." Sighing, he bows his head and pays his respects to his late wife. *Raine...dearest...I never even got to say good-bye. That you would be taken away so soon after I had found you...What will I do with Squall, our son? I have a son. The idea that I am a father strikes me as weird. I'm not fit to be father. That was clearly proven when I sent Ellone back to Winhill by herself. I didn't accompany her. I didn't. And if I had, I would've seen you again, wouldn't've I?"
Crouching down, he runs his fingers along the engravement.
"Raine Loire." Smiling, he continues. "Life is not as I made it out to be. Always an optimist, never thinking of the things that I dreaded most, I never thought of your dying. Living in my fantasy world, I never realized that all happiness eventually comes to an end. That is inevitable..."
"The two of the most important people to me died. Julia Heartilly. I see her in Rinoa; she looks like Julia's younger self: so full of life. And then there is you. You, who brought sunshine into my already exciting life. You made it perfect. Everyone says there isn't such thing as perfection, but there is, once you've found love. I realized that when I met you."
"But now, I have Squall, and Ellone, who is like a daughter to me. Sometimes I feel guilty that I've never been there for my son. I'm a terrible father. I know Ellone better than I do him, of course. That doesn't mean I love her anymore than I do Squall, but I wonder if he sees that? Does he think that just because I'm close to Ellone, I can't be much of a father to him? Then there's the fact that he doesn't open up. He's a silent fellow, he is, yet, there is something about him that only Rinoa has seen. Will he ever open up to me and accept me as his father?"
"I often wonder why you named him Leonhart instead of Loire. Squall Loire. It does sound weird. I guess it would be better off to name him after you; better off that people think he has no father rather than an irresponsible one. It's strange where destiny leads us, isn't it? Are you okay? Are you up there in heaven watching over us? Have you met Julia, and has she told you about my stupid antics?"
*Why do I even bother? I'm talking to stone, and being the terrible husband, not to mention father, that I am, why would her spirit even come down to listen to me?*
Standing up, he wishes his love to his deceased wife.
*Even if she doesn't hear me, I'll continue to come until my death. That I know for sure. It may be the other thing I'm sure of anymore.*
Turning around, he stands still, seeing Squall. But instead of the usually cold facade, Laguna feels something different. Unsure of what to do or say, he keeps quiet for one of the few times in his life.
Seeing that Laguna, his father, isn't making it any easier for him, he decides to take the first move.
"I thought about what you said earlier. I thought about it, and Rinoa helped me..."
Silence.
"...and I accept your offer. I do want to know more about you then what I've learnt from the dreams."
Laguna is still silent.
"All my life, I have never known anyone as family, and I have always regretted that I lived alone without anyone to love, or to love me back. The emptiness in me reflected my attitude, you could say. In fact, Rinoa told me that once." He pauses. "What I mean to say is, I want a father, and I want to know my mother."
"Giving me a taste of my own medicine? I see what it's like now, to have someone not to reply. It feels terrible. Please say something...dad?"
Smiling, and with tears in his eyes, he walks forward and embraces his son.
And as if the angels have heard his plea, the winds shape the clouds to that resembling that face of the wife and mother, looking down at her family.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What do you think? Pretty serious for Laguna, don't you think?