Avarìa

By: Rosiel and Kira

Disclaimer: The only thing I own is a Seifer bobble head doll, don't sue!

(Thoughts)

"Spoken words"

Author's Notes: Hey guys! We're finally back. Sorry this one has taken so long. Our professors decided to gang up on us by loading us down with stuff to do! I'm beginning to hate school. Not that I was ever that fond of it to start with! LOL! Anyways, I hope everyone is doing okay. Other than being loaded down with work, we're doing great, can't wait for the holidays though. So hopefully everything will go well and we can have a good time and relax a little. Kira and I are really working hard to get this one done and the rest of our plot charts for the next story in this series. On to the fic!

Chapter 11: Whose side are you really on?

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

Seifer looked up, narrowing his eyes at his sister who stood a few feet away from them. She cocked her head, raising the small handgun and aiming for Squall.

"One wrong move brother and your pretty whore gets it. So don't try anything stupid." She snapped, her cold eyes glinting in the light.

Seifer stood up, raising his hands slowly. /Something isn't right. It's true Quistis and I never got along, but she wouldn't be reduced to this would she?/

"You may be my sister Quistis, but if you hurt him, I can't promise that I won't kill you." Seifer growled, as he slowly edged towards her.

"You kill me?"

She laughed. Her laughter held the note of the insane. It was a harsh cold sound that even Seifer didn't recognize. They hadn't ever gotten along, but Quistis was his sister and he hated to see her in this condition. Suddenly Quistis turned the gun towards him.

"Not one more step. I won't hesitate to shoot you and him both."

"I don't care what happens to me. But I swear by everything holy that if you shoot..."

But he didn't get the words out, as suddenly she shot. Seifer jumped, trying to protect Squall's body with his own. He knew logically that the bullet was aimed for him, but it just seemed right to protect the one he loved. The shot hit Seifer in the shoulder and he fell to his knees, gasping as he clutched the wound.

"Seifer!" Squall screamed as he tried to force his aching body to cooperate.

He barely managed to make it to Seifer's side before collapsing near him. He winced once as he took a deep breath but otherwise remained silent.

"Aw, how sweet. The two lovers reunited at last. But Seifer, my next shot won't miss."

She took aim again, and Seifer shoved Squall off to the side. He rose to his feet, fully ready to attack his sister to defend his mate. Before the shot went off though, something unexpected happened. Quistis' eyes bugged out of her head, as she slumped forward on the hard floor.

"Chicken Wuss?!?" Seifer croaked, his tone one of disbelief.

The little blond shifted slightly as he formed and unformed a fist. He looked at Seifer's shoulder for a moment, a look of concern flashing across his face. He took a step forward ready to help.

"ZELL LOOK OUT!" Seifer screamed as he dove, but it was too late.

Quistis had sat up and grabbed the gun, taking aim and shooting the little blond. He hit the ground with a look of resignation. Seifer grabbed his rifle and shot, Quistis hit the ground with a hollow thud. He dropped the rifle, clutching his shoulder once more as he too fell to the ground and darkness surrounded him.

Seifer blinked open his eyes and forced himself to sit up. The room wasn't one he was familiar with and he immediately tried to get his mind to focus on how he had gotten there. His body wasn't awash in a mind-numbing pain, but it felt more like a dull ache. He looked around for a moment, trying to remember his last thoughts before he passed out.

"Please lay back down Mr. Almasy." A woman's soft voice spoke from the doorway.

Ignoring her request, he turned to look at her and smiled as he immediately recognized her.

"Dr. Kadowaki, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Seifer asked as she rolled her eyes and muttered something about stubborn idiot patients.

"What do you think got you the pleasure of seeing me? You got shot in the shoulder. Luckily for you it was a clean shot and only needed stitches. Although you did lose a lot of blood."

"Where's Squall and Zell?" He asked, his eyes widening slightly.

"Squall is doing just fine. He wasn't nearly as badly injured as you and only had to have a few stitches and a cast put on his wrist. It was fractured during his time with Zell."

Seifer studied the woman a moment, trying to decide how much she knew before nodding his head and asking about Zell once more.

"I won't lie to you, Zell is in bad shape. He was shot in the side and it nicked his stomach. The shot filled the abdominal cavity with blood, which we pumped out. Luckily none of the hydrochloric acid in his stomach leaked out or else he would've died. As it is, he's got a long road to recovery." She said, looking very grave.

"What about my family?" Seifer asked as he finally lay back down after knowing that both Squall and Zell were safe.

"My we're just full of questions aren't we? Your family almost killed Zell but Squall told them what happened and they brought him here with the two of you. Your stepmother was crying her eyes out and I had to force her to leave. Your sister-in-law took her home, but I couldn't convince your brother to leave you." Dr. Kadowaki smiled slightly, trying ease some of the strain off the young man in the hospital bed.

"How long was I out?" He asked as he began to relax more and more. /Damn morphine really does work I suppose./

"A day. Your brother is sitting with Zell right now. Do you want me to go get him?" She asked, as she began to check his vitals.

"No, let him stay there. Just can you bring Squall in here?" He asked, giving her a look that was a cross between pleading and sadness.

"I suppose so. Even though he's really in no condition to walk."

"Well then you can have his bed moved in here with me. Besides he might be able to keep me in bed for more than an hour."

"Good point. All right, I'll see what I can do."

Squall sighed as he snuggled into Seifer's uninjured shoulder. The orderlies had brought his bed in an hour earlier and immediately after they left, he had forced himself to his feet and got into bed with Seifer. He needed the reassurance that after all that had happened his owner still wanted him. He smiled as the gentle hand continued to caress his shaggy locks.

"Squall?" Seifer's deep voice broke the soft silence they had been enveloped in.

"What's wrong?"

"I've been thinking. Maybe it would be best if I sent you back home. You'd be safer and I wouldn't be in your way. You could get a degree, a good job and settle down. You wouldn't be mixed up in all this..." Before he could finish his sentence, Squall surged up kissing him firmly on the mouth.

Squall pulled back cupping his cheek in his good hand. "Seifer, I love you. I don't want to go home and go to college and all that. I want to be with you. Here with you, that's where I belong. Unless, this is your way of telling me you don't want me with you anymore?"

"No. Squall you are the best thing that ever happened to me and I don't want you to ever forget that. I don't want you to leave, dammit, if I thought you were safe here with me I would never let you go. But I can't protect you I proved that with this whole incident that happened. I just want you to be safe, baby, safe and happy, like you deserve."

"Seifer, you couldn't help what happened, those men were armed, there was nothing you could've done, and I know that. I've never felt safer than I do when I'm in your arms. I feel complete. Like this is where I was always meant to be and I don't want to lose that."

He laid his head back down on Seifer's shoulder, closing his eyes and relaxing as Seifer's hand resumed the gentle caressing. A soft kiss was placed on his forehead as they both drifted in the relaxing atmosphere.

"Better get ready, the kiddies and Matron will be here soon." Seifer spoke suddenly slowly as he slid his arm around Squall's tiny waist.

"We'd better rest while we can." Squall said smiling into the shoulder. "You're family can be quite fun when they're worried."

Seifer laughed, "I think this is the most I've ever heard you talk since I met you."

Squall shrugged. "Never had a reason to speak before."

"Well I suppose I'll have to find ways to make you talk like this again."

"You do that." Squall said smiling.

2 MONTHS LATER

Squall leaned over the toilet throwing up the contents of last night's breakfast in two heaves of his sensitive stomach. He sat back on the cold tile floor trying to relax and calm down his fluttering insides. Suddenly he felt the caress of something cool and wet on the back of his neck and sighed in pleasure as the wet washcloth caressed his over heated skin.

"This has been happening far to often, I'm getting worried." His master's deep voice spoke close to his ear.

"I know. It's all right. I'm fine, I'm sure it's just my nerves over what happened that all." Squall said softly as he leaned back against Seifer's chest.

"Still Squall, I think we should take you to Dr. Kadowaki. She'll be able to figure out what's going on. All right?"

"I suppose. Just help me up."

Seifer smiled, he had been noticed Squall's attitude of the late. His moods swung and he threw up a lot. He wondered if it was only just because of the incident at the Dincht estate or if it was more. Thinking of the Dincht estate made him think of the small blond head of that family. Shortly after Zell had been released from the hospital, he had moved in with the Almasy family and he, Selphie and Irvine, had turned into quite a threesome.

Irvine now went around the house, acting like a king, with both his wife and lover on each arm. /Never seen the cowboy as happy as when he is with those two. Although they're really hyper, must be a bonus in bed. Although I've seen those two gang up on him to get they're way./ He laughed softly at the thought.

"What are you so damn happy about?" Squall asked as he looked back at Seifer.

His blue gray eyes held a note of misery in their depths, but Squall didn't complain. He never did.

"Nothing. Come on, up love, I want you to come with me we're taking you to Dr. Kadowaki."

"I'm coming all ready." Squall grumbled as Seifer slowly lifted him up and set him on his feet.

Squall walked out of the examining room with a look of glazed surprise plastered across his pretty features. Seifer immediately rose to his feet, looking at him as he held out his arm. The brunette walked into it, not saying anything, as he was pulled close.

"What did she say?" Seifer, asked as he led his slave out to his Ferrari.

"Jus that it was my nerves acting up."

Seifer nodded, but knew there was more to the story than just nerves. /Oh well, I'll get it out of him when we get home./

Squall meanwhile hated to lie to his owner, but what could he say? It wasn't really his nerves and he didn't want to tell Seifer in this public place, especially not behind the wheel, he didn't know if Seifer might drive into a telephone pole or something. /I'll tell him when we get home, yes perfect, I'll tell him the surprise when we get home./

THE END: CONTINUED IN THE SEQUEL Gràvida

ENDING NOTES: WOW! It's finally done it feels kind of odd. This fic has definitely been an eye opener for Kira and I, we've had some problems over the course of time and yet you our reviewers have been so patient and understanding. We just wanted to thank you and say that if it hadn't have been for all your words of encouragement this fic wouldn't have been possible. So thank you for everything. Sequel will be done soon, so try to bear with us and we'll get it up. You'll finally know what the "surprise" Squall is going to tell Seifer about. So check with us often, no telling when it will be up though. Again, thanks for the support. And we would like to dedicate this fic to all of you, our reviewers, Iskander, Zaelone, Honey Nut Loop, hopemia and everyone else that we can't name cause it would take up to much space. Thank you so much!