Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Fairytale ❯ Rinoa Heartilly ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Fairytale

Disclaimer: All characters below are owned by Squaresoft. (Sigh!!!) I always say this...well, love their work so I have no qualms whatsoever against them...

Chapter Four: Rinoa Heartilly
Rinoa had finished wiping dry the last porcelain white dining plate when her eyes started to get heavy. Selphie entered the kitchen, bringing in with her a small pink purse and a roll of "Teen Beat" Magazine. Her brown-haired cousin smiled at her, noticing her looking.

"Hey..." Selphie whispered, and then looking at all directions, making sure that no one was around, "How was it?"

Her green eyes twinkled with curiosity, Rinoa saw. She couldn't help but giggle, "Sefie? Why must you act so strange???" and then she cleared her throat, although some residue were left, "What do you mean, 'how was it'?"

Selphie looked at her in a way mothers do when they first hear their children swear. "Helloooo?!"

Rinoa turned to Quistis for help. She doesn't really know what Sefie's talking about. Quistis cocked a brow, scanning her face, when she didn't find anything, she shook her head in disbelief, "Rin, It's about Squall."

"Ooh." Rinoa said, but still, she didn't get it as a whole, "What about him?"

Now, it was Quistis and Selphie who looked at her in a way mothers do when they first hear their children swear, "RINOA?!!!"

"What?!"

The blonde and brunette looked at each other, exchanging uneasy glances. After a second, Quistis sighed and turned back to washing the glasses, "Oh Hyne...why do this?"

Rinoa pouted. Something is up and she doesn't know it! "Hey! Cut the crap out!!! What's wrong? What about Squall???"

"Shh!!!! Hey! This was supposed to be confidential, Rinny!" Selphie waved a hand, looking at her with alarm, "With that voice of yours, we'll be found!!!"

Rinoa shut her mouth, realizing her mistake. She mouthed a "Sorry".

Selphie whisked it away, bringing the subject back when the coast was once again clear, "Rinny! What I'm talking about is, how's your day with Squall? I mean, he's cute, right?"

"Ye-ah..." Rinoa suddenly felt herself blush, remembering how Squall looked when he caught her before completely making a cake out of herself that early afternoon.

"Ooooh...pinky cheeks..."Selphie giggled, exaggerating her babytalk, "Sooo...sum-ting hapwend!!!!"

Rinoa grinned, looking at her hands, then she smiled at her. Selphie shook in excitement, but still careful enough not to scream. "POOPIE!!!!"

"Poopie?" Quistis tossed her apron, wrinkling her nose "Where did you get that?"

"Just thought of it, and Irvy likes it. Haha." Selphie replied, and then clasping her hands, she continued her interrogation, "Details, 'cuz!!! Details!!! Your 'ol 'lil Sefie would like the details!!!!"

Rinoa smiled, feeling a little tingling inside her. As she started relaying the story, her heart felt singing and skipping at the same time...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Closing the door of her room, Rinoa danced her way to the bathroom, her spirits so high she almost couldn't get hold of them. She definitely had a crush on Squall...and a huge one...since this was her first time to feel this way: more profound compared to anything she had before.

Tying the ribbon of her baby blue nightgown, she went to bed, collapsing on top of it with the thoughts of Squall still fresh. If only he'd smile...she'd melt, right in front of him!!! She'd said that, and Quistis and Selphie gave her laughing stares.

But it was true. Her gut feeling was the one talking, and once it did, it was surely true. From the moment Rinoa laid her eyes on him-or maybe-from the moment they laid their eyes on each other, a connection was undoubtedly made. As if Hyne, herself, permitted it...willed it. She never felt that way before...the profound touch by only visual contact...the sudden rush of security and hope swelling up in her...

No...Rinoa thought...its not a crush at all...I think its more than that...

Now, finally, her knight-in-shining-armor came...just like how Julia Heartilly-Caraway had predicted fourteen years ago...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Now, deary...hush...baby..." Julia Caraway, Rinoa's beautiful mother, cooed, her loving voice soothing three year old Rinoa.

"Mommy...?" little Rinoa's voice cracked, her teary chocolate brown eyes full of question,"Why was Daddy screaming? I was so afraid, Mommy... and I heard you cry that's why I entered the room!!!"

Julia bit her lip, hearing her small daughter reason out for her actions. She looked down to those eyes, eyes that mirrored hers. They were her eyes...but something, something not hers were clearly seen. She had her father's strength and spirit. She was no coward...her daughter, her little Rinoa...she knows how to fight.

"I know sweetie...I know..."Julia embraced her, trying to absorb the pain, and the hurt that her daughter was having, "You came for Mommy. You didn't want her to cry more..."

Julia found herself sobbing. She knew, from the start, that her marriage with Rinoa's father was a farce. She tried to believe, that his love for her was strong enough to keep them both. And now, three years after, still she failed. Her heart belongs to another...to another...to a lowly knight of the realm...

"Laguna..." Julia found herself thinking in between sobs. She was so in love with him...but it was forbidden...and the fool she was, she let it be, suspended...Laguna fighting for it alone. She was a coward...now, she's suffering the consequences...but that didn't actually matter...she could take it...but Rinoa...

Julia noticed that her sweet little daughter gave back her embrace. She had her arms fastened around her, promising security, trust and love. Julia's eyes were immediately stung with tears. Her daughter, her little Rinny...somehow tries to understand something beyond her comprehension. Julia let the tears go, they fell by drops, like crystals breaking as it reached the floor.

"Mommy..." Rinoa said, "I hate Daddy now."

Julia's eyes widened, breaking the embrace. She looked at her daughter, whose eyes reflected the prelude of hate growing. Julia shook her head, sniffing, she tried to sound reprimanding, "Sweetie, no. Please don't say that."

"But Mommy-"

Julia shook her head firmly. Her husband; he has done nothing wrong. The failure of this "so-called" marriage was her doing...and being a father to Rinoa, her husband never failed. Caraway loved their daughter as much as he loved Julia-or maybe even more. Julia cannot deny him Rinoa's love...something he's just worth of!!!

"Rinny...there are some things that are quite hard to understand...but please, do not hate your Father." Julia spoke calmly, her eyes on Rinoa's, "Please don't. Mommy was bad...it was my fault."

She broke down again, her tears falling, but she still continued, "One day Sweetie...you'll understand...and when that day comes, when your knight-in-shining-armor comes knocking...don't let him go...fight for him...I know you will..."

Rinoa looked on. Her mother's tears dropping on her small face. She started sniffing, her eyes filling up with tears...

But she didn't cry. She tried not to cry although a small stubborn drop fell. Rinoa heaved a quick sigh and bit her lip. No more. That's it. No more tears...

Rinoa was already fast asleep. Julia forced a smile, brushing away a fallen bang that stayed across her daughter's small face. When she grows up, she'd be so beautiful...she'd be able to warm the heart of Fate...and let Laguna's and her bloodline join at last. Julia thought, caressing Rinoa's cheek. The little girl snuggled closer to the pillows.

Julia quietly stood from her daughter's bed, careful not to wake her up. Hugging herself, Julia opened the glassdoor to the balcony, the wind suddenly sweeping on her face.

Looking up, Julia saw the velvety sky. It carried millions of sparkling dust, twinkling melodiously along the silent night. She exhaled, painfully reminiscing.

The same kind of night...when I first sang our song...you heard my soul...I saw your all...

Laguna...our fairytale ended...not in the way it should have...but I guess now...I know why...

Julia gazed into the stars, her eyes seeing Laguna in them...

We were only the prequel...

Author's Notes: *Soul Nightingale jumps up and down, rocking her room....*

Hyne!!! (Translation: OHMIGOD!!!!) Three CHAPTERS IN ONE SITTING!!! Woo-hoooooo!!!! Well, that's it for now...I have no intention of making myself blind. Hehe. Well, thanks guys for the support!!! My ideas are flowing continuously!!! Don't 'ya dare miss a chapter!!! YOU'LL REGRET IT!!!!!!!! More R&R!!!! Love 'ya all!!!!!!