Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Propsal ❯ The Propsal 6 ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Six

"Stupid train!" Selphie shouted, jumping up and down. Zell, for once
controlled his temper and emotions, though the strain of this showed
clearly on his face. The strain of controlling his growing temper,
fuelled with upset and fury, was turning Zell's face bright red. The
train had broken down half way to Delling and it had been stationary
for the past few hours.

Selphie kicked the train. She had never felt this angry in her life.
Two years ago she would of told herself that everything would be fine.
As long as people stay happy, don't think bad thoughts and hope for
the best, nothing will go wrong. After two years though, she had
changed. Everybody had changed, even Zell. They had all grown up.
Quistis was twenty and everyone else was nineteen, apart from Ellone,
but she wasn't a SeeD or someone with military knowledge. Frowning
slightly, Selphie began to think happy thoughts. This time next month,
I'll be bridesmaid for Rinoa and Squall and they'll be married.
Everything'll be happy and....no one will be this sad. I hate being so
sad! It was different two years ago we were; now we're so close, we
love each other, some more then others! That is what makes it harder
for me. I can't bear to think of Squall dying, I don't love him like
Rinoa...What if it was Irvine? That isn't worth thinking about. Stop
thinking! You're only making it worse for yourself! Love and
friendship are both so close together, I love Irvine, yes, I know
that. It had taken me a long time to realise that, but I'm older now,
I can see. I love Squall too, but I love him the same as I love Zell,
Rinoa, Quistis and Ellone.

"Selphie, cheer up," Irvine said, touching her elbow. The young woman
nodded and a smile came upon her lips. Irvine put his arm around her,
pressing his lips to her cheek, his warm breath flowing down her neck.
"I promise you, Selphie," he whispered to her, his mouth so close, his
voice so low, only Selphie could hear. "I promise that when we return
to Garden, when Rinoa has married Squall, that," he stopped to kiss
her neck, rubbing his nose gently on her face, his lips closed upon
Selphie's', until they indulged on a kiss. Not a long kiss, only
short, a short one, lasting long enough to let Selphie savour on
Irvine's taste, his clean smell. Selphie's hands reached up, until
they touched his face, stroking past his ears, she rested them on his
shoulders and around his neck as she responded to his touch.

"You promise me what?" she asked softly, forgetting that they were not
alone, but with Zell, who had thankfully decided to disappear to
complain. Irvine lifted Selphie's chin, so they looked into each
other's eyes.

"Oh, I promise you, everything, but most of all I promise that you
will never regret another day of your life, that you will no longer
feel insecure as I know you do. Never again will you yearn for love.
Seffie, I love you and you only. I will devout my life to one person,
you. I am yours. I promise you bliss, perfect happiness and I know
that we can have that. Together we can be as one. We can be happy and
we will. Like Squall is with Rinoa. I won't lose you, I can't lose
you, I have surrendered my soul to you already. I promise everything
will be all right. Don't be frightened of losing anybody, I promise
you this. Squall will be alive, he will marry Rinoa. And Selphie,
"Irvine's eyes looked deep into Selphie's. Love blossomed between
them.

"Yes...."Selphie asked calmly, stroking Irvine's hair as she looked
into him. Never had she felt so close so someone like she did to him.
Yet, this didn't feel so new. It was as if she had felt this way for
years.

"My love for you is so great it hurts. So, if you wouldn't mind,"
Irvine suddenly reached into his pocket and drew out a box, to big to
hold rings. Engagement wasn't on his mind yet. Selphie wondered why
she felt so disappointed. I'm not ready for marriage yet! I've only
just realised how much I love him!

Irvine opened the lid and took out a silver necklace that held a
droplet of an emerald, a small emerald, five millimetres in width and
not even a centimetre in length. It was beautiful. Irvine gently
clipped it around Selphie's neck. It glistened in the light sunlight
that was shining through the window. The light refracted off from the
emerald necklace, making it seem almost magical in a way.

"Irvine, it's...beautiful," Selphie said, awe struck, with the
necklaces beauty and her love for Irvine. Irvine looked lovingly into
her eyes and they kissed, for longer this time. It was a soft kiss,
gentle and slow. Selphie and Irvine's bodies pressed close together as
they kissed. Closer and closer.

The train started moving again; it continued its journey slowly after
a heavy jerk. Zell rejoined Selphie and Irvine when he saw that they
were no longer so closely entwined.

"So...you're finally a couple," Zell said. Selphie nodded, despite her
sadness, she laughed. Yes, I am finally with Irvine and we are a
couple.

Zell nodded, now it looked like only Quistis remained single. Zell
smiled secretly to himself, his emotions calmed, his anger subdued. It
had taken him a while to pluck up enough courage to talk to that girl
in the library it had come to a surprise to find that she had fancied
him since, well ages. They hadn't done anything, not even kissed or
anything intimate. They had just talked. She had done most of the
talking, Zell, for once hadn't been able to open his big mouth, the
shock had glued his lips together.
**********
Rinoa ate her breakfast alone this morning. Alone to think about
Squall, to dream about him and their wedding night. She remembered
that night, when they had kissed, the very first time on the balcony.
He had smiled at her...six weeks later he told her he loved her...in a
very inconspicuous manner. Rinoa laughed softly to herself. When he
had told her, he had been just about to leave, to visit Winhill,
alone, something Quistis had suggested he should do, he hadn't been
that happy about it. Squall had just kissed her on the cheek, which
she had responded with a deep kiss on is lips. Squall had walked out
of the door and then stopped.

'I'll be back on Sunday, Rinoa, love you,' he had said and walked out,
leaving her red faced and feeling hot all over. She had had to wait
three whole days before she could throw herself upon him, and kiss
those lips she had missed and wanted.

Rinoa finished her breakfast, of cornflakes, no sugar. After drinking
the last of the orange juice, she slipped off her silky night gown,
Squall had bought for her on the spur of the moment. He had left it on
her bed, too shy to present it to her face. Wondering what to wear,
she browsed through her wardrobe and drawers, of all the clothes she
had brought with her and left behind in her fathers house. Finally,
she found a long orange skirt with a split going up one side and a
small tight fitting tee-shirt to match, a change from what she usually
wore.

"Good morning, Rinoa," Laguna said as Rinoa came out of her room,
still playing with the ends of her hair with her brush.

"Morning, Laguna," she smiled, throwing her brush back into her
bedroom. Laguna studied his daughter-in-law, or who was soon to be
that anyway.

"Squall...he's very lucky to be with you Rinoa. I'm lucky to have a
son with such excellent taste in women. Sometimes you remind me of my
Raine. I think my wife would of loved you," he said, his eyes suddenly
sparkerling with wet tears.

Rinoa hugged Laguna; she hated to see this man cry. She hated to see
him upset. Laguna had coped well with his wife's death, from the
outside anyway. Being re-united with his son and seeing him become
engaged...well, sought of, had been all to much for Laguna. Laguna
wrapped his arms around Rinoa; he missed Raine so much now. The
feeling of her loss was still bitterly raw in his heart.

"And I'm very lucky to have a father-in-law like you Laguna," Rinoa
said as they pulled away from each others embrace. "Let's go down,
before they start thinking something's happening to us," Rinoa said
softly. With their arms linked, Laguna and Rinoa descended down
stairs.

They were greeted with grim faces as they entered the lounge. Rinoa's
face fell suddenly with worry as she saw her three friends from Garden
standing with her father and Ellone.

"It's Squall, isn't it," she guessed. Irvine nodded blankly. Rinoa
crouched down, hugging her knees. Laguna knelt down beside her,
looking up at Irvine, pleading that the news did not look as bad as
his face. "He's dead, isn't he...I know it..!" Rinoa started to cry.
Irvine shook his head and tried to find his tongue. Zell was trying to
say something, but it wouldn't come out and Selphie was the only one
who had the voice to explain.

"No, no, Rinoa! Nothing like that, well Squall's alive, we know that.
The enemy Dollet force, which is only holding up because of Galbadian
aid. They've kidnapped Squall...and we don't know where he is,"
Selphie explained. "Nida sent us the message," she added.

Rinoa looked up from leaning on Laguna's shoulder as he comforted her.
She nodded absently, trying to hold back more tears. This was the
worst news she had received in her life. "He will be OK though, won't
he?" she asked. Irvine nodded and found his tongue.

"We're going over to Dollet. We are Squalls friends, it's out duty,
but it isn't just duty. It's what we as friends want to do," Irvine
said.

"I want to come with you!" Rinoa said abruptly. Laguna hugged her
tighter.

"No, Rinoa, you will stay here with Ellone and Selphie, I know you
probably want to go, but Rinoa needs you here," Laguna said, taking
charge.

"No, I'll stay, I knew one of us had to, it's better this way. I may
not go to fight for Squall, but I'll help keep his fiancé happy. That
is just as important," Selphie said. Laguna smiled.

"Irvine, Zell and I will go to Dollet. I need to buy a new machine
gun...but later. Ellone, Selphie look after Rinoa. I want everything
to carry on as planned. Go and get the dress today and pick up the
rings, as before. Nothing will change. Squall will return, I promise,"
Laguna said, looking deeply into Rinoa's eyes.

"Then everything is settled, yes?" Irvine asked, holding his silver
gun close to his chest.(I'm gonna blow those Galbadians all the way to
the moon) Zell nodded, tightened his red gloves and punched the air
with determination.

I'm gonna kick some ass Laguna nodded and flexed his fingers, he was
going to need a new machine gun.

I'm going to kill those bastards...nobody takes my son from me! "Let's
go," he said, "now. Rinoa, Squall will return to you, he'll return
safely, you have my word!" Laguna told Rinoa firmly and bowed his head
to her with firm sincerity, he meant it.

"You have our word, Rinoa," Irvine said and Zell nodded. Rinoa smiled,
she meant this smile. She felt honoured to have such close friends,
honoured that her future husband had such close friends. Friends that
would die for him and a father who would do the same.

"I believe in you," Rinoa said, close to tears, but they were tears of
happiness, tears of honour. "Thank you...I wish you the best of luck,
though I know you won't need that. I will believe in all of you, all
the way. I believe in Squall too. That he will not leave me, ever,"
Rinoa said, still quietly.

"With you believing in us...then we can fear nothing," Laguna said,
with that he, Irvine and Zell left the room, determination to reclaim
Laguna's son, their friend, set clearly and firmly in each of their
eyes.
***************

Rinoa looked at her father, Selphie and Ellone. She forced a smile
upon her lips, she was determined herself, to stay as happy as she
could be, with the knowledge of Squalls terrible situation, she wanted
to stay happy, for Squalls sake as much as her own.

"Rinoa...."Ellone said and then stopped as Rinoa held up her hand.

"No. Laguna is right. I have to carry on as normal. Squall wouldn't
want me to throw everything away just because of this...I know he
wouldn't and nor would Laguna. I don't want people comforting me for
there is no need. I need to stay strong. Strong for Squall. Strong for
Laguna. Zell. Irvine. I have to be strong for everyone and everyone at
Dollet. Strong for Quistis too. Strong for me. So, please, help me be
strong and be strong with me. I need you to be strong for me too,"
Rinoa said, her heart felt ten times bigger then it was before, her
chest was tight.

"Rinoa we're behind you all the way!" Selphie said. I have to be
strong for Irvine don't I? I have to be strong for Rinoa too? Can I do
that? Yes, of course I can! I can be strong, if I believe in my
friends, the people I love and the person I love, I can be strong for
everyone. Like Rinoa, strong.<>

Ellone felt what Rinoa and Selphie reflect on to her. Have to be
strong too not just for Rinoa and Squall, but for Uncle Laguna...I may
not love him in the way that Rinoa loves Squall...and I know Selphie
loves Irvine, it's been in their eyes ever since they entered. I love
Laguna as much as they love their men, only in a different way. I can
be strong, I know I can. I must be strong, for Laguna!

General Caraway didn't really know Squall, or any of Rinoa's friends.
So how could he be strong, he didn't know. Being Rinoa's father
though, that was enough. He didn't like to see her hurt Squall had
made her happy, it was his friends, Rinoa's friends that made her come
back to him and make up. Squall too.

"We better go and find my dress, then," Rinoa said calmly.

"Whaa-hoo...let's go shopping!" Selphie said excitedly. It was
amazing, she should be crying, they should be crying, upset over
Squall, his death after all was looming over them, but none of them
were thinking that. Squall was alive and he was going to come back and
marry Rinoa. What they believed, what they felt, was so strong, bad
thoughts had never even entered their heads. All together, they were
strong, very strong. It was a wonderful feeling. They still worried
about Squall of course, but the pure belief that he would return, kept
them satisfied. Love and friendship always won.

Rinoa sighed at herself as she looked at herself in the white dress in
the long mirror. This was the second shop and hundredth dress she had
tried on. None of them she liked, they were too big, to scratchy, or
too bulky.

"It's awful," she sighed, "I'm tired of this," she moaned and returned
to the changing room to return to her own clothes. The shop assistant
looked sympathetic.

"There must be one you like," Ellone said. Truthfully, she had hated
every dress in this shop as well as the other shops. They had all been
the ugliest and worst fitting things she had ever seen.

"There must bee another shop around," Selphie said, only hoping there
was.

"No, there isn't I'm sorry," the shop assistant said, annoyed that the
pretty young lady had tried on ever dress in the shop and moaned about
all of them. They would get no customer from this one and the
assistant was bitter. Rinoa saw this bitterness.

"Well, I doubt anyone would want to buy a dress here with a person
like you helping them. If that standing around looking like a
scarecrow was called help. I suppose you think that this shop is
better then any other shop? Well, it isn't. I would look better in a
bin liner then any of these frocks!" Rinoa said bad temperedly.

"Well then miss! Trash is all you're worth. I'm surprised that your
even getting married, ugly tart like you," the assistant retorted.
Rinoa's mouth gaped at this insult.

"Are you married? Has anyone actually asked you to marry you?!" Rinoa
almost shouted.

"Well for a matter or fact, yes! He is a real gentleman...the best you
can get. Better then what trash you managed to bribe into marring you!
I bet he's a beggar!" she said back trying not to look afraid, for
Rinoa looked as if she was about to hit the assistant..

"Liar!" Rinoa spat, "and for your information," Rinoa said, fire
glowing in her eyes, her anger even made Selphie and Ellone cringe. "I
am Rinoa Heartilly! General Caraways daughter...." she stopped,
suddenly realising how useless that was. Caraway was no longer head of
Delling, some new chap was. However Rinoa saw by the look on the
woman's face that this threat had been enough to scare her, maybe
after two years, her father had regained back a little bit more
authority. "And the man I am marring is Squall Leonhart!" the latter
frightened the assistant even more. Everybody had heard of Squall, he
had saved the world from the evil sorceress after all. Rinoa
remembered that she too was a sorceress and smiled. She had never
really thought herself as one before.

Selphie and Ellone eyed the assistant with hatred as they dragged
Rinoa out of the shop.

"Sorry, I lost it, but...that woman...she just couldn't bare to think
that I wasn't going to buy a dress from that shop, one of her stupid
dress's! I was just so angry I mean, she stood there like a lemon!"
Rinoa didn't know whether she was being weak instead of strong, or she
was just genuinely angry. Maybe it was both.

"It's alright Rinoa. We were angry as well, it wasn't as if it was the
end of the world that she hadn't managed to sell a dress to someone.
She didn't have to be so rude," Ellone soothed the seething Rinoa.

"But where are we going to get a dress now?" Selphie asked.

"I know there's another shop around, I remembered it when I saw that
woman's face. I knew she had lied to me, it was in her voice and her
eyes. It reminded me of the little shop down a little road. My mother
got her wedding dress from there. I remember, when I was four years
old that she took me there to show me all those dresses. It was a
wonderful shop, run by an old woman and I think it's still there.
Come, let's go," Rinoa said.

Rinoa remembered her mother; she had died in a car crash when she had
been five years old. She had just come back from infant school, full
of giggles over something she and her friend had just seen. Her father
and a couple of other people had been standing in the room. Rinoa had
entered the room, with the man who always picked her up from school.
Rinoa had stopped laughing, even at that age she had been able to
sense something was wrong. Her father had asked the two men to leave
and had sat Rinoa on his knee and told her that her mother, Julia, had
died in a crash. Rinoa had cried on her father, she had never cried so
much in her life as she had done then.

After a long walk and many wrong turns, they found the shop, quite
alone and empty. Ellone and Selphie were in awe as they entered. It
was like a fairytale palace for there were so many beautiful dresses.
The walls were a creamy colour and were decorated with ivy, like the
ballroom back in Garden. In the corner was a black spiral staircase
which led up to another floor, which probably contained the office and
where the dresses were sewn...as they were all hand made by the woman
who owned it.

"I wonder if that old woman still runs the shop," Rinoa said
thoughtfully.

"Won't she be dead now, if she was old back then?" Selphie asked.
Rinoa shrugged. The old woman she had seen here all those ears ago had
looked over one hundred years old; then again, Rinoa had been so
young. Anybody over sixteen was old to her.

"I'm not dead yet, children!" came a croaky old voice, though nice.
Coming out from another door was an old woman who looked ancient. Her
aged lips, cracked into a smile, her wrinkled face beamed and her
eyes, the only part of her that hadn't really aged at all, twinkled.
"Ahhh, I remember your mother. Julia, yes?" Rinoa nodded, "hmm,
thought so. She bought a beautiful dress you know, beautiful. I
remember you too; it must have been fourteen years ago now when she
brought you into my little shop here. You were a beautiful child. I
told your mother that you were going to grow up into a beautiful young
lady and I was right," the old woman smiled.

"You remember me?" Rinoa said, her voice quiet with surprise. The old
woman nodded.

"I remember every customer," she replied. "I should let you look
around though, shouldn't I? I can tell that you have tried every other
shop in Dollet and you are tired, well, I hope you find what you are
looking for here. I am sure that Mr. Leonhart will be awestruck when
he see's you in the dress you are about to choose," the old woman said
and quickly scampered back into her room, leaving Rinoa and her
friends gaping. How did she know that?

"Oh my God!" Rinoa suddenly said as she peered around the place, her
eyes set on a dress right at the back, almost hidden away. She walked,
almost in a dream over to it. Ellone and Selphie followed, both
overcome with the beautiful dress that stood before them, modelled on
one of those headless dummies. "It's perfect.." Rinoa muttered.

The wedding dress was long and flowing, it had many silk petty-coats
under it, but it was not bulky, but slender. From the skirts it
progressed into a bodice that ended low down and was rimmed with
perfect lace. The sleeves were long, and ended with a point, shaped
like a leaf. The petty-coats were made out of satin and were soft.
Rinoa touched the dress, running her fingers down it, along the
perfect neck line, The veil, which was modelled on a head which sat on
a pillar was long, beautiful and flowing. Neither dress or veil was
over decorated with lace; in fact, there was very little lace.

"Yes, that dress is beautiful is it not? You mother chose one just
like it. I am afraid though, Rinoa, my dear, that I have none in your
size," the old lady said with sympathy. Rinoa looked crest fallen, she
looked lovingly back at the dress, she was close to tears at the
moment, she had so wanted that dress. Selphie and Ellone looked just
as unhappy and comforted their friend.

"Oh but...it's perfect...there is no other for me.." she said sadly.
Although all the other dresses in this shop were very good, beautiful,
in fact, none of them were as beautiful as that one.

"Yes, my dear, it is. It would suit you so well, you beauty would be
magnified in it, it is, a pity," the old woman looked almost as sad,
"but cheer up Rinoa! I made all these dresses myself, I will take your
measurements and make one especially for you and for your bridesmaids
too," the old woman said. She smiled up at Rinoa, she felt that she
couldn't let the girl down; she had to have the dress.

Rinoa smiled and tears came down her eyes out of pure happiness, she
threw her arms around the woman and hugged her gently. "Thank you!"
she smiled and kissed her wrinkled cheek.

"No, my dear, do not thank me, it is my pleasure, my honour to do this
for you. Your mother would be so proud of you if she could see you now
so would Squall. It is good that you are being strong for him, he
needs you to be," she said.

"How...how do you know all this?" Rinoa asked.

"When you are as old as I, Rinoa, you will know these things, you
don't have to be told, I can feel it Rinoa. I know because i know, it
is as simple as that," she replied. Rinoa nodded silently, somehow
understanding what she had told her, though it was obvious that
neither Ellone nor Selphie did.

"When will they be ready?" Rinoa asked.

"In two weeks time, my dear. Do not worry. Squall will not return for
another three weeks at least, or maybe that is not much of a
consolation," the old woman said softly. Rinoa held her heart, she had
to be strong, she had to be strong.

"But he will come back though..." she said in hope.

"That is yet to be seen, my child," with that the old woman walked
slowly up the spiral staircase.