She had done what was in her nature. Honestly he couldn't blame her, she had always been helpless, it wasn't fair to put his hopes and dreams on her and expect her not to buckle from the pressure of actually having a responsibility to repay him with the same love and adoration. He shook his head and smiled, how had he been so stupid? He toyed with the ring in his hand, her ring, the one she had made to match his. It was small...unimpressive, just like her. He had known who she was with before him, but the thought never crossed his mind that she would go back to him. He who had put her in so much danger, practically tossed her in harms way every chance he got. Running his thumb over the small impression of Griever on her ring, he sighed.

The air from the sea blew through his hair, it was chilly, leaning on the railing of the side balcony of the garden he could see gulls flying next to his ship. So much had happened after the war. So much had changed. With that he stood up straight and without giving it another though, he flung her ring into the sea and turned to go back to his quarters. He stopped before reaching the door, spotting a figure in the shadows, her head in her knees quietly sobbing.

She hadn't heard him walk onto the deck and she didn't see him standing before her now. She just stared into the darkness behind her eyelids, tears silently fell from her eyes. She hated crying, the tight feeling in her chest, the lump in her throat, the utter sense of hopelessness that came from letting her walls down. She had always told herself that it was a sign of weakness, and if she must do it, she would do it alone. She jolted as she felt his heavy leather coat being dropped onto her shoulders. Looking up she saw him starting down at her, quickly she turned her face from him and wiped away her tears.

It was Quistis to his surprise. She was shivering and rightly so, she was only wearing a black tank top against the ocean wind, he removed his jacket and placed it over her, He could see the pain in her eyes when she looked up at him, it was jarring, he had never seen her cry. She tried to hide her face from him. He couldn't blame her, he would have done the same.

"Quistis..." he said softly, "Quistis what's the matter?"

It hurt so much she wanted to rip her heart out and throw it at him. He wanted Rinoa, his frail beauty, his china doll. She had always had a problem competing with girls like that. Damsels in distress. She had always been perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and even if she desperately wanted someone like Squall do save her, she knew she didn't need it. But he didn't want her. Even after his china doll left him for that abusive wretch he still pined over her, and she then knew her place on his list, she had none.

He felt a pang of guilt. So caught up in his own drama he was, that he hadn't even noticed her when he came out on the deck to sulk.

"I...it's nothing really, just, silly girl things." she lied, a fake smile graced her face and he winced.

"Wow...that was the worst lie I ever heard..." he called her out.

Even in her sadness she laughed. "I'm that transparent huh?"

"Just a little." he said crouching down next to her.

"To what do I owe your, chivalrous actions?" She asked him, trying not to sound rude.

He glanced at the ground, and then back at her tear stained face.

"I'm not a monster, I recognize someone who is hurt." He replied.

She looked at the ground, "well forgive me, I'm not use to it is all."

She was angry and she wanted to hit him, but she wanted to sing praise that he even knew she was in this corner.

"I understand that I haven't been the best person when it comes to you Quistis, but I'm not going to come out here and leave you like this, its not right."

She sighed.

"So honestly, what's the matter?" He asked hesitantly.

She laughed inside, and wanted to shout in his face, "YOU!", But she held her tongue.

"It's something that can't be helped, and never will be. There is no reason to cry over it, it won't do any good." She said looking up at him again, his cool gray gaze locked on her.

He wanted to listen to what she had to say, partly because he honestly wanted to know what was wrong, plus he wanted to get his mind off his "problem". He stood from his kneeling position and offered her his hand, half expecting her to take it, which she didn't. He should have known better.

She stood on her own and shrugged off his coat and handed it to him nodding with a thank you. His deep stimulating smell was on her and she took a deep breath playing it off as if she was trying to gain composure, his scent was intoxicating.

"Would you like to walk with me to the dorms, I'll take you to your room."

He was looking at her for an answer and she didn't know what to say, she was happy that he even noticed her out on the deck, let alone wanted to walk her to her room.

"Yes I would like that a lot, I don't really want to be alone right now." she said, and he nodded and went to the deck door holding it open for her.

She gracefully went through the door and glanced behind her to make sure he was really going to follow her. He shut the door and took his place at her side and they walked quietly to the elevator, and then down the stairs and to the rooms.

They were stealing glances at each other. She was still trying to make sure he wasn't a dream and he was finding it pleasant to look at her while she was wearing the tank top. He scorned himself for acting in such a manner, but he couldn't help it, Quistis wasn't one to not be wearing at least two layers of clothing. She had an amazing body, a fighters body, but it was all woman in her chest and hips. Her strides matched his; she walked tall and proud and never glanced at the ground for a second. Typical Quistis, he thought, even though she had just been crying her eyes out she still had her pride.

She knew he was looking at her and she didn't know why. No guy she had ever met had ever commented on her body, even though she had hourglass curves, they all said she had a pretty face, and a face wasn't enough. But still he was stealing glances, and it didn't make her uncomfortable per say, she just didn't know how to react to it. They rounded the corner and then entered the female Seed dorms. There weren't very many, and her room was the biggest. At the end of the hall they stopped at the door and she looked at him. He stared back.

"What now?" she asked.

"You wanna talk?" He asked back.

Yes she did, she wanted to tell him everything and then she wanted him to grab her and never let go.

"If you want to, it's up to you, I'm not going to push your hospitality further that it will go." she stated bluntly.

He smirked, "I really am an asshole, I know, but you don't have to worry, I don't offer more than I want to," he said. She nodded and opened her door.

As she stepped in she looked back at him and he looked around to make sure no one saw them and got the wrong idea. He then followed her in and shut the door behind them.