Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Someday ❯ Chapter 1

Someday

I didn't really expect him to come. But then again, I seriously didn't know what to expect from this kid. Sometimes I wonder where the hell he got that scowl from, but I guess it was from you, because I'm pretty sure I don't do that. Ha, I saw that look a lot when I'd make dirty jokes in front of Ellone or did something you thought was reckless. You scowled because you were worried, but from him it's…I dunno. It makes me think he doesn't care, but I know he does.

If he didn't care, he wouldn't be standing here in this old abandoned house now. He's leaning against the staircase and Elle is sitting at the rotting table, and I'm just kinda watching them. They're not related by blood but they could probably pass as brother and sister. It's really dark in here, and I wish I could stop being president of Esthar and just come back here to Winhill, if not just to make this old house brighter. It's changed so much since Elle was a little girl.

"Squall, why don't you sit down?" Elle motions to the empty chair beside her. He stares at it for a moment, but shakes his head. He's obviously uncomfortable, and Elle and I know that. She smiles at me briefly, and she looks just like you, `cept you have sapphire blue eyes instead of honey brown. But she can't really look like you, because she's not really related to you, though sometimes I forget. She can resemble you. In the silence and darkness I look at Squall, his arms folded over his chest as he stares at a spot on the wall. He has your eyes I think, and my hair, and your face. Kiros said he looks like you more than me, so I guess that's good, haha. He's got a scar between his eyes, and I think it's kind of cool, but I know if I ask about it he'll dodge it somehow.

He realizes I'm looking at him and rolls those blue eyes of his. "…Well? Are we going to get started?" There's a hint of something in that smooth voice. It could be annoyance or maybe fear. I guess I'm scared too. There's so much I didn't know, and so many things I couldn't hear until I was ready, and I'm not sure how to talk to him. But I've always been like that, haven't I? Always kinda clueless, confused and lost. Elle laughs at Squall a little.

"If Raine heard that attitude she would have slapped you," she says at last with a giggle. Squall raises an eyebrow and that causes me to chuckle. Ellone composed herself back into the calm woman she now is. Man, you should see her. Remember when you'd say I was turning her into a tomboy? Well I dunno what happened but that's not the case now. She's like a princess, with a smile that could melt anyone's heart and she's a real thinker too, and when she moves she has the grace of a flamingo. Or swan or something like that, I dunno.

"Sometimes that woman acted like she must've had a stick up `er ass," I grin and both of Squall's eyebrows seem to be looking for refuge under that messy mop of hair. Elle is the first one who stops, because she sees how confused Squall is.

"She didn't like any lip, that's all," Elle says smiling at Squall, but it kind of makes me sad because I know how much Elle misses you, because I miss you a million times more than that. "She was a strong woman. She hated being told what to do, and of you didn't do what she wanted she'd-"

"-kick your ass," I inserted. Sorry, I just couldn't hold it in. Elle rolls her eyes and Squall just stands there, that blank expression on his face again.

"As you would know, Uncle Laguna."

I grin sheepishly.

"But she was really loving too. She took me in when my parents died, and treated me like her own daughter. When Uncle Laguna appeared near death on her doorstep, she took him in and nursed him back to health. When Esthar soldiers came to take me she tried with all of her might to fight them off, but there was only so much she could do." Elle stopped and looked down at her hands, a curtain of hair hiding her eyes from Squall and I but I'm sure her eyes were watering as she continued because there was a wave in her tone… "And she loved you so much Squall. She made sure to live long enough so that you would have a chance."

Squall looked to me, and for a fleeting second there was a little boy, unsure and lost, only wanting to be in the arms of his mother. God, if only I had known you were sick, I would have gotten you help, I dunno how but somehow I would have. I bet you knew. I guess if you told me I wouldn't have gone to look for Elle and you didn't want that. But sometimes I wish you were here so bad. So much I wanna break down and cry for hours, and you know what? When I first came back to Winhill that's what I did. I sat and cried for Squall, and Elle, and me. But most of all I cried for you, because you'd never see our son grow into the great man he is now, or Elle into such a fine woman.

"When I came back to Winhill and told her that you'd become the president of Esthar she laughed so hard I thought she'd never stop," Elle said looking at me. There were tears in her eyes as she laughed. " `They made THAT buffoon president? What's happening to the world?' she had been crying and hugging me. By that time she was bed ridden, and I think she knew…she knew she'd never see you again. But I kept assuring her you'd come back…because I thought you would, and then that would have made her better…"

My heart nearly broke. I wanted to come back but they wouldn't let me! I didn't want to become president, really. Raine, all the time I was there I only thought of you and the baby and Elle. I bet you were cursing me out and damning me to hell, and all I can say is that I'm sorry. When I came back to Winhill people called me a coward, and it stung so much. Did you think that?

"Do you think that…?"

"What?" Squall looks at me and I mentally slap myself. I laugh nervously as he gets annoyed. "Do I think what?"

"Do ya think that…" I pause for a moment, searching for the right words. You'd think since I'd wanted to become a journalist and all I'd be good with words, but with things like this I kinda freeze. "Do you think…that I abandoned you?"

"…" He folds his arms and looks down at the ground. Elle gives me sort of a pained look, like I shouldn't have asked.

"If I never went to the orphanage I wouldn't be who I am today." Came the soft reply. It stings, but he's right.

"Oh," I mumble scratching the back of my head. Squall tensed up and looked at his watch.

"I've got to go." But that's not true, `cuz I know he had cleared today. He was just trying to escape.

"Squall," Elle rises from her seat and grabs his elbow as he passes her, and then I realize that she'd one of the few people that could probably do that to him and not get thrown through a wall. "You know that she'd be proud of you, right?" Elle sends me a look that asked me to reassure him, but I dunno, I just couldn't open my mouth. I don't know about you, but I was so proud of him. I couldn't ask for more of a son, even if he didn't really like me.

"…I guess," Squall replies to Elle, and gently removes her hand. "Later."

He walks past me, and for a moment we lock eyes and I can totally see myself as a kid way over his head and not really sure of himself. He brakes away and leaves through the creaky door.

"That didn't go as I had planned," I cough once he's gone. Elle shakes her head, face a bit flush.

"Uncle Laguna, don't you want to get to know him? He's practically a stranger to you. This was what we were supposed to do today - get both of you closer."

"I don't think he really wants to get to know me, Elle."

"He has no family. No mother. And currently, no father." She says the last part with a frown. "He's going to go back to Garden, back to a life full of missions and fighting. And then you'll go to Esthar. And then he'll hate you for abandoning him again."

The words are like poison. "I…I never abandoned him, you know that."

"Yes, I know. But HE doesn't."

A stone fell to the bottom of my stomach and Elle grinned as my face went blank. It was one of those times when you'd punch me in the shoulder for being so stupid. The next thing I know I'm runnin' out of the house and across the square, yelling at his retreating form.

"Squall!! Wait up!"

He's right about to leave the town, but he stops and turns right as I get to him.

"I just want to you know," I pant, "That you can come to me any time."

"…"

"And," I kicked a loose pebble and watched it skip away before continuing, "That I love you son, and I hope that one day we could kinda…you know, get along or something. Maybe we can meet again."

He looks at me for a moment with those eyes of yours. I can tell he's angry at me, but then again he lets a small smile form on his lips - something that made him look just like you.

"That would be…alright with me. Some day." And with that he turns and starts walking toward the large ship parked outside the town. And for a while I stood there smiling to myself, because I know that I'll be able to handle him, brooding personality and all.

After all, if I won your heart, I can surely win his.