Original characters, world and backstory belong to Squaresoft, lucky folks.

This version has been censored to R-rating in line with ffnet policy; the full version is at my website, http:www.scribblemoose.co.uk

Feedback very welcome, here or by e-mail ([email protected])

Thank you to all my reviewers, here and elsewhere. Without your support this story probably would never have been finished, and certainly not as quickly.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

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Memories ~ Epilogue

Frila and Sanke emerged hand in hand through the main gates of Balamb Garden, and Frila's heart sank.

She hated goodbyes. When she and Squall had agreed that it would be best to take Sanke somewhere safe, where they knew a lot about magic and Guardians, she'd thought seriously of sneaking off in the middle of the night without telling anyone else. She didn't want a lot of fuss. And she distinctly remembered saying that to Selphie, more than once, when she kept offering to organise a farewell party for the two of them. At least she'd managed to escape that. But there was no denying that this was a Send Off.

Squall and Rinoa, Zell, Kellon, Xian, Xu and Selphie were waiting to say goodbye. And Irvine, she noticed, with a pang.

And there was bunting.

Sanke squealed delightedly, and threw herself into Irvine's waiting arms. Frila felt suddenly and horribly selfish.

"You came to say goodbye!" Sanke shrieked, kissing Irvine soundly on the nose.

"Of course, sweetheart," he said. "I need to know exactly when to start counting the days 'til you come back for your first visit. And besides, you might forget me if I don't say goodbye."

"You won't forget me," she scolded him. "If you do Hotshot'll smack your bottom!"

Irvine appeared suddenly to choke on something, and Frila carefully avoided his gaze.

"We couldn't just go our separate ways without a goodbye," said Selphie apologetically.

"You're lucky we talked her out of the party," added Xu. "If she hadn't already organised the Victory Party and the Going-Home-of-the-Other-Gardens Party in the last fortnight, I don't think we could have stopped her."

"It's really nice of you to see us off," admitted Frila, graciously. "Thank you."

"I'll miss you," blurted Kellon, and immediately blushed pink, clearly a little over-awed by such auspicious company.

"Me too," said Frila, dropping her bag to give her friend a hug.

"Where's Quistis?" Rinoa hissed to Selphie. "She said she'd be here, she was going to get the thing." She waggled her eyebrows meaningfully.

"She was having trouble with Seifer," said Selphie. "I swear I'll crack that boy across the head one day soon. Can I, Squall, please?"

Squall grunted. "Fine by me." He was sitting on the wall, as stunningly gorgeous as ever, kicking his heels against the brick.

"Oh, there's Quisty," said Zell. "With Laguna. She must have had a scrap with Seifer, she looks all… mussed."

"Looks like she won, though," said Irvine, regarding the approaching Quistis with a searching look. "One way or the other," he added, with a smirk.

Quistis smiled at Frila, and pulled Squall off the wall, whispering frantically into his ear.

"What? Oh," he said. "Right. Um, Hotshot. Um."

Quistis kicked him swiftly in the shins.

"We've got something for you," said Squall, with a brief glare at Quistis.

He reached behind the wall, and pulled out a long, narrow case.

A gunblade case.

"Oh no," she whispered, "I couldn't."

Squall offered her the gift, his eyes capturing hers with his usual, steady gaze. He blew a stray bit of hair out of his eyes. "You can't practice if you don't have a weapon," he said. "And if you don't practise, by the time I get to Esthar to coach you I'll really kick your ass."

She took the case with trembling fingers.

"Oooh!" yelled Sanke, rushing to Frila's side. "Open it, open it! They gave me a bracelet, and Irvy got me special chocolate and pencils, and I hoped they'd give you something… go on, open it!"

Frila slowly popped the latches on the case, and opened the lid.

"If Odine gives you or Sanke any trouble, just a quick crack round the ruff with that should sort him out," suggested Selphie, hopping from foot to foot.

"It's got a bit of something from all of us," said Rinoa. "So don't worry if it gets a bit glowy."

She could see the slight glimmer of colours in the blade, and felt the magic. A lot of magic. Almost as much as Lionheart. Well, not quite. But almost.

It was engraved, a water dragon twining round a tree.

"It's beautiful," she said, a single tear splashing on the polished metal before she closed the lid. "Thank you. Oh, gods, thank you. I…" She struggled, determined not to cry.

Thankfully, Laguna came out of nowhere and gave her a little hug. "Time to go," he said. "Goodbyes suck, eh?"

She nodded, too choked to speak.

There was a frenzy of hugging, and she caught the scent of Irvine's hair, a strong squeeze around her shoulders that just had to be him. Then she was in the car, brushing tears from her cheeks as she pulled the seat-belt on, and Laguna was starting the ignition, and they drove away, Sanke waving frantically out of the window, blowing kisses to her favourite cowboy.

Frila set her eyes on the horizon, and didn't look back.

* * * * * * *

"You notice no-one came to tell us goodbye," grumbled Zell.

"Well, that could be because we're only going for a fortnight," said Irvine.

Zell sighed. "All the same, it would be nice."

"Forget it," said Irvine, slinging his pack over his shoulder. "Goodbyes are terrible. You always think of all this stuff to say, and then there's the hugging and the awkwardness, and you forget it all. Besides, we're not leaving or anything. We're only going on vacation."

"Vacation," said Zell, with a grin. "That's a word you don't hear around these parts too often, eh? Hyne, I'm looking forward to a rest."

Irvine laughed, and clapped him on the back.

"If things go according to plan, we won't be getting much rest, Zelly-boy."

He wasn't sure, but he thought Zell might have blushed a little.

Irvine looked along the road to Balamb station, dust blowing on the early-summer breeze.

"Well, man," he said, taking a deep breath. "We're young, free and single. That means one thing."

"Huh?"

Irvine clapped him on the back, hard enough that he almost fell over.

"Galbadia, here we come."

Their exit was interrupted by the pounding of boots on gravel as Squall ran to catch up with them.

"Hey," he panted, "were you going to slink off without saying goodbye?"

Irvine shrugged. "That was kind of the idea. You'll be alright without us, won't you? For a whole two weeks? Now the sand rash has died down and all…"

Squall glared at him. "You promised, Kinneas," he growled. "No more with the sand rash."

Irvine grinned. "Sorry, man. Just slipped out. Must be rough."

Zell snorted laughter, and Squall extended the range of his glare to include them both.

"Be good," he ordered.

"Always," smirked Irvine, setting Zell off giggling all over again.

"Go," said Squall, with an exasperated grin. "Goodbye."

Irvine tipped his hat, and they headed off down the road.

"Be back before you know it," he called back.

Squall watched them go, resisting a terrible urge to wave.

"You'd better be," he muttered.

~FIN~

~?~