Note: Okay, at the end of the game, we have Rinoa/Squall, Selphie/Irvine, Zell/Library Girl. But what about poor, lonely Quistis? There are a lot of Seifer/Quistis stories out there, so I wanted to try something a little different. But honestly, how about some closure for Quistis, huh Square? Is that too much to ask? GRRR!

She was arguably the most mature out of the group, so I can see a relationship with an older man working out perfectly. I considered doing this with Laguna, but a story like that would only last for about two hundred words before Quistis would strangle him. Then, I thought, 'Holy shit, what about General Caraway?' And for both of my protagonists, this could lead to some nice, awkward moments with Rinoa. Mwahahaaa! Take that, Rinoa! Yeah, I'm not a big Rinoa fan, but I did always wonder why exactly she and her father didn't get along.

So, leave a review and let me know what you think. Like it, hate it, whatever. I love reading them. And the first chapter will probably be kind of short. Once I get the story straight in my head, subsequent chapters will be longer. Also, as far as ages go, I'm putting Quistis as early twenties, maybe 22 or 23. Caraway in his mid forties. If his age was ever given in the game, I don't remember it. I'm just guessing.

"Quit squirming Selphie! I could get this stain out if you'd hold still!" Quistis grabbed Selphie's arm, trying once again to dab at the large pink stain on the younger girl's dress. Thankfully Rinoa had decided to throw her glass of sweet rose blush into her father's face instead of the merlot, so the garment was still salvageable. Or it would be if Selphie would ever quit mimicking Rinoa's recent tantrum.

"Holy cow, Quisty! I've never seen Rinoa so mad! I thought she'd punch him for sure! She was all...'I don't need your damned money, General.' and then POW!" Selphie watched the stain fade as Quistis' towel finally absorbed the wine. "I just wish her aim was better. I mean, I was just sitting there and SPLASH! I thought his assistant helper guy was going to totally freak out, but that General is one smooth operator. He didn't even blink! That's style, ain't it Quisty?"

Quistis shook her head. "Well, I don't understand Rinoa sometimes. Her father is obviously trying to make amends, but she seems to do something like this ever time he visits. Even Squall and Laguna are acting civil towards each other. You'd think that Rinoa could... "

"I know! He offered to pay for the whole damn wedding! I mean, the whole thing! Like flowers and dresses and..."

A single eyebrow arched at this interruption. "Yes, Selphie. I did understand what was implied by 'the whole damn wedding'. I was there too, remember?"

"Oh yeah! I forgot!" Selphie pouted briefly, then brightened when Quistis freed her dress. "Anyway, is that it?"

Quistis eyed her work. The stain wasn't completely gone, but it was enough for them to at least finish dinner. "Yes, it's the best I can do with just soda water. You'll have to send it to the cleaner as soon as possible."

"Great! Thanks Quisty!" Selphie jumped off the counter and tore out of the bathroom, eager to see Rinoa flip out again. She was so glad that Rinoa and Squall invited their little group to the engagement dinner. Garden could be so damn boring and it was nice to get out and enjoy a nice, pleasant meal.

Yes, a nice, pleasant meal-and one hell of a show. To be such a sweet girl, Rinoa sure could go crazy sometimes.

The wide mirror vibrated when the door slammed, making her reflection bounce. She reapplied her lipstick, sighing loudly when it didn't seem to help her appearance. She was upset and the harsh line between her disapproving eyebrows would let everyone know about it. Quistis considered Rinoa one of her best friends, but she lost all patience with her when it came to the way the slim brunette treated her father. His position as a high-ranking general in the Galbadian army was obviously not something former freedom fighter Rinoa could forgive.

Quistis thought Rinoa was spoiled. Plain and simple. She seemed determined to sever all ties with her military father, but at Squall's insistence, she still invited him to functions like her engagement dinner. Since the announcement of their upcoming nuptials, Squall was making an earnest effort to bring their families together. Quistis knew that Squall was eager to prove to his own wayward father that he could be the loyal family man that Laguna never was, even if it meant meeting the hated father of his fiancee on a personal basis.

At least Rinoa hadn't banished General Caraway from dinner this time. The wine thrown in his face was almost tame compared to the last dinner, where Rinoa knocked hot soup into his lap. She even mumbled a half-hearted apology when Quistis and Selphie yelled at her. Though whether it was because she mostly missed her father and soaked Selphie, Quistis wasn't sure.

Another part of Quistis was jealous. For the past few years, she had grown very close to the bubbly brunette, but she was still madly jealous about Rinoa and Squall, Rinoa and the general, Rinoa and her whole blessed existence. Having no memory of either of her parents, she would have been overjoyed to have someone be so concerned with her welfare or to offer thousands of gil to pay for her wedding. Quistis snorted at that thought. Her wedding. Humph. One actually had to have more than a one-sided, hopeless crush before contemplating marriage.

Yes, General Caraway was controlling, strict and very overbearing, yet Quistis would have loved for a parent to be so worried about her. True, he had once tried to lock Rinoa in his mansion to keep her from harm, but those were special circumstances. Instead of trapping his daughter, he had trapped Quistis and her friends. The corner of Quistis' mouth quirked in an amused grin. Perhaps she would ask the general if he knew that there was a way to break out of his mansion through the Deling sewer system. It might make for an interesting dinner conversation.

Surrendering to the fact that she couldn't fake a happy expression, she decided to just suck it up and finish dinner. After all, she wasn't invited to such swanky restaurants often, and dinner at Balamb by the Bay was certainly not a meal she wanted to miss. Entering the small hallway that separated the lavish dining room from the lavatories, Quistis found the general and his assistant in a heated conversation outside of the men's room. Even though their voices were hushed and low, she could still hear muttered curses and the occasional 'ungrateful whelp' and 'should have shipped her to military school'. Caraway sliced his hand at his sergeant, furious that he had the audacity to insult his little girl like that.

Too late to pretend she hadn't heard the argument, Quistis winced when the assistant glanced at her and threw his hands in the air. The general watched him leave, then turned to her and shook his head. His dark eyes were far from amused, but his deep voice was surprisingly light.

"Funny thing about Anthony, isn't it? He acts like he was the one who got a faceful of wine."

Quistis smiled, stunned by his attempt at humor. Rinoa always painted the general as an unpleasant, sarcastic, humorless jerk. The man standing in front of her seemed a bit gruff, yes, but far from hateful. "You doseem to be taking this very well, sir. Maybe he's upset that you aren't as angry as most people would be in the same circumstances."

Caraway smiled sadly and began walking back to the table, gesturing for her to walk with him. "Those happened to be the most words Rin has spoken to me since she left for Timber. She's not even... Well, I'm just glad that she decided to waste that horrible Winhill blush instead of the merlot."

Quistis laughed. "Oh yes, an insult is one thing, but wasting such a marvelous vintage is unforgivable." She was pleased to hear him chuckle at her pitiful joke. Laughter seemed to take several years off his worried countenance.

"Yes, I would be forced to disown her for that, Miss...I'm sorry. Squall told me when he made the introductions, and I remember your face from the Sorceress mission, but I've forgotten. What was your name again?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry sir!" Blushing, Quistis extended her hand to the general. She knew that their engagement was to be announced that night, but it was harder than she anticipated to actually hear Rinoa's clear voice say the words. And then to see Squall's soft smile... damn it. Every time she convinced herself that she was no longer interested in Squall, Rinoa had to give him a kiss or take his hand...or announce their bloody wedding. It was difficult for Quistis to remember manners and etiquette when her heart was breaking. Damn, damn, damn. "Quistis Trepe, sir."

"Trepe? Trepe... Oh yes, you're the instructor that taught Rinoa's boyfriend, aren't you?" Caraway warmly returned the handshake, his rough hands nearly enveloping Quistis' slim fingers. "You're also the youngest to ever make SeeD, if I'm correct."

Her blush deepened. At least someone noticed her hard work. "Yes sir." Pointing to the sullen girl sitting at the large table, Quistis said, "I'm sure she'll get over whatever is bothering her one of these days, sir. After all, she is getting married to Squ...to the love of her life in a few weeks, so she's bound to be much happier. She can't stay angry forever."

The slender blonde bobbed her head and left him to rejoin her friends, sitting down next to the tall Galbadian and his hyperactive, chattering girlfriend. Rinoa saw him look at the group, but she turned her head back to her fiancee, pointedly ignoring his gaze.

Caraway regarded the young instructor carefully. Her hesitation at using the name of Rinoa's boyfriend was subtle, but to a man trained to recognize cues and hints in order to identify allies from enemies, the slight pause was enough to make him wonder about her. Maybe he wasn't the only one miserable at this engagement party.