The amazing Xander B beta read this chapter for me. Thank you so much!

Update 2/18/13: This story is not abandoned. Chapter 49 is in the works, just very slow going. It has an outline. I also have an epilogue planned, to end things on an even 50 chapters.

Defining Love

Chapter Forty-eight

Breakfast was a tense affair. When the much talked about couple finally emerged from hibernation, they were met with stiff smiles and hushed glances. No one had fully adjusted to the budding romance between the once sworn enemies. It would take time, patience, and a lot of tequila.

Table conversation wasn't helped by the fact that no one wanted to mention the reason they were gathered in the first place. There was an unspoken fear that they might jinx Squall simply by asking how he felt.

"Eat something," Seifer said in a low voice.

Despite the large spread of gourmet dishes, Squall hadn't taken a plate for himself. He just worked on his coffee, stomach anxious and likely to turn on him at any moment. He'd rather gag his coffee back up in the nearest bathroom than bacon and eggs. Reading concern in Seifer's eyes, he plucked a grape from the man's fruit salad.

"Happy?" Squall asked, taking the grape into his mouth.

"Not in the least." Seifer pushed his plate between them and gestured with his fork to the rest of the fruit. He tracked the movement as Leonhart selected a cube of honeydew.

Leonhart's fingers weren't tapered or delicate, but blunt and calloused from a lifetime of wielding weapons. Those fingers traced patterns into his body and clutched at his back with need; they brushed through his hair as he drifted off to sleep. He found himself undone by the sight of his rival's hands. Enraptured, he continued to watch as Leonhart darted his tongue out to lick at the juices that threatened to drip from the melon.

Ellone leaned in toward Seifer and said, "You have to teach me how to do that."

Scandalized for a moment, Seifer thought the woman was asking to learn how to be seductive. Then he realized she meant how to cajole Leonhart into eating. He could have explained that screwing Leonhart senseless on a nightly basis gave him leverage, but he wasn't crass enough to say this to the man's sister. He settled for innuendo and said, "It takes a specific kind of persuasion."

Ellone's mind wasn't immediately drawn to the underlying meaning, but she got there eventually and looked away with a blush. Her brother had chosen a cheeky man.

"Don't," Squall said under his breath.

"I'm being good." Being good was more than Seifer could say for Leonhart who had another bit of melon pressed against those soft as sin lips. He didn't know if Leonhart was doing it on purpose, but his cock was interested all the same.

Squall arched a brow that told the ex-knight he'd better keep it that way. The power of persuasion worked both ways. He slid the melon into his mouth and sucked juice from the tip of his finger. Black overtook the jade of Seifer's eyes.

A small cough from Irvine interrupted the building need between rivals.

Squall remembered himself and pushed the plate of fruit away.

If the mood had been awkward at the table before, it was more so when everyone realized that Seifer and Squall were in a world of their own.

Lore stared out the window and valiantly thought of molecular structures for his upcoming exam. He needed a distraction from his father's impending physical and the nauseating display between the two across the table.

/-|-\

When Squall received another call from Balamb Garden, Lore waited outside the office door. He stared out the window, registering nothing, but his own thoughts.

Seifer joined Lore as he studied the manicured lawns outside. He'd never been keen on correcting anyone's misunderstandings, but he felt duty bound to explain that he'd never meant Leonhart any harm. "I didn't know how bad it was."

Not entirely sure what the ex-knight meant, Lore said, "You mean that he died?"

Seifer made a sound of agreement, but it came out slightly strangled.

Eyes fixed on the stylized shrubbery outside, Lore found an outlet for his stress by blaming Seifer. It was easier to be pissed at someone who'd already screwed with his life, easier to hate the man beside him than a dead sorceress. "I'll hate you, you know. If it happens again because of you," he knew it wasn't Seifer's fault; none of them had asked for this. In a quieter, less certain voice, he added, "I'll really hate you."

Seifer struggled to understand why his stomach dropped, why the thought of Lore truly hating him struck a painful chord inside of him. "I'll hate me too," he said. The statement earned a sharp look from the boy, but the anger in those blue-green eyes quickly melted into understanding and sympathy.

"I remember you."

Seifer gave the boy a questioning look.

"I always thought it was some kind of weird dream. But then you moved here and Dad told me who you were; I realized it wasn't."

When Seifer finally understood, he nodded. "I saw you twice. You were sick the first time." He laughed at the memory of that night. "There were lions all over your room."

Lore glanced away, embarrassed.

Seifer didn't regret that he'd left Leonhart and his son. As far as he'd known, there hadn't been any reason for him to stay. He'd never had the itch for fatherhood. "I didn't know at first, that you were my kid," he admitted.

The question Lore wanted to ask wouldn't form on his lips. When his mind finally caught up with him, he took a moment to consider how he'd feel depending on how Seifer responded once he'd asked. His feelings weren't particularly strong in either direction, but he couldn't just let the moment go without asking, "Would knowing have changed anything?"

"No," Seifer said, not needing to think on it, "I wouldn't have been much good to you if I'd stuck around." Then, more honestly, he added, "It's not something I wanted. You were already six. I'd lost seven years of my life. I didn't want to be anything for anyone but myself."

Quietly, as if hoping his confession would go unheard, Lore said, "I'm glad you're here now."

Before Seifer could say anything in reply, Leonhart's father swept into the room and announced that it was time to leave. The president's timing was unfortunate, but Seifer doubted he could have formed an appropriate response to Lore's admission.

With a final curious glance at Lore, Seifer said, "I'll get Leonhart."

Once inside the office, Seifer had the pleasure of interrupting yet another conference call. A screen mounted on the wall across from the desk showed a redheaded young man who broke off mid-sentence when Leonhart raised a hand for silence.

"Seifer, wait outside."

"I'd rather wait here," Seifer said, moving to stand beside his rueful bedmate.

Squall crossed his arms and glared in warning.

On screen, the redhead eyed Seifer with evident confusion. "Commander?"

"I have your report, Dannis," Squall said by way of dismissal.

"Do you want an update on Diablos?"

Squall's immediate response would have been an affirmative; he felt indebted to Diablos for their time on the island and hoped to see the Guardian Force situated safe and free in the world. With Seifer's preening presence at his side, he simply shook his head. "Another time."

"Sir," Dannis said in protest, his eyes cutting away to Seifer, "is everything alright?"

Seifer slung a possessive arm around Leonhart's shoulders. "I haven't got a gun to his head, but who knows what'll happen once the cameras are off."

"Commander," Dannis said, halting and uncertain. He stepped closer to the screen as if to reach through it.

"I'm fine."

"But if you're-"

With all the tact of an alpha male whose territory has been threatened, Seifer reacted to the soldier's expression of concern. "Who the fuck is this guy?"

The raised hackles and bared teeth of jealousy reminded Squall of Cale and the reason the man was dead. "Enough," he said in a tone that would have made saner men quiver.

Seifer continued to eye the redhead suspiciously. "Lieutenant, huh? Barely graduated then."

"And you'd know? How's it your business?"

Squall moved to the desk to cut the video feed. Dannis's eyes followed after him before cutting back to the loudmouthed blond.

"Everything to do with Leonhart is my business."

"Do you know who you're messing with?"

"I can hazard a guess," Seifer said, manic grin in place as he removed the filter between his mouth and brain. "You're an ankle biter who stumbled into his rank and seems to think he can let his hero worship for his superiors get out of hand without their husbands kicking your ass." He took a menacing step towards the screen. "If your eyes drop to his ass again, I'll cut you open to prove you're a gutless little shit."

Before a wild-eyed Dannis could retort, the screen went blank. Squall gripped the edge of the desk with white knuckles.

Seifer turned around and crossed his arms. "What?" he asked, probing for a reaction from Leonhart.

With a sigh, Squall sank into the plush chair. He carded a hand through his hair and arched his eyebrows in question. "Husband?"

Dismissing his slip of tongue, Seifer said, "It might've been suggested." When he saw Leonhart's lips quiver in amusement, he grimaced. "'Boyfriend' would've sounded gay."

Squall couldn't keep from laughing. He tipped his head back and let the feeling pour out of him. Most of that morning's anxiety drained away. He suspected Seifer's overreaction to Dannis had more to do with stress than actual jealousy, which was comforting in its own way.

When his amusement tapered, Squall said, "You realize the irony."

Seifer didn't care about irony or his poor word choice. He was too busy replaying the sound of Leonhart's laugh. Hyne, when had he become a sap?

"It could've been worse," Seifer said, "He could've recognized me."

"There's that," Squall agreed.

"It's about time we left."

Any shred of amusement vanished. Squall rose to his feet, expression closed off and face paler than seconds before. As he approached, Seifer lifted an arm and he slid into the warmth of the embrace.

"He wasn't looking at me," Squall said as an afterthought. Further irony, he supposed, that someone he'd likened to Seifer stood accused of checking him out.

Letting his arm drop, Seifer smoothed a hand over the curve of Leonhart's ass. He pressed his middle finger along the cleft and rubbed. "Princess, everyone wants to fuck this ass with their eyes."

Squall never knew it was possible to feel simultaneously aroused and disgusted. He expressed neither emotion nor did he respond verbally.

/-|-\

If Squall weren't torn between anxiety over the para-magic and giddy affection for the looks Seifer kept giving him, he would have coordinated their departure for the laboratory to avoid all detection. As it was, they packed into three black SUVs and traveled the city streets in broad daylight. Squall sat low in his seat even though the tinted windows ensured no one would be able to see inside.

When the broad expanse of desert filled the horizon, Squall straightened and kept a look out for the laboratory. Behind him, he could feel the vibrations from Lore drumming on the door's armrest.

"It's going to be okay," Squall said.

Lore stopped his drum solo. "You can't know that."

Seifer cut a quick glance from the dusty road to Leonhart. "Worse comes to worst, at least we know Heartily can bring him back." He met the kid's horrified expression in the rearview mirror.

"That makes me feel so much better," Lore deadpanned.

"It should," Seifer said. If he were being completely honest, he was just as terrified as the kid. The fact that Heartily had raised Leonhart from the dead once did nothing to assuage his fears.

Taking pains to keep his tone as sincere and void of accusation as possible, Lore asked, "What if it's because of you and it can't be stopped?"

Tensing, Squall had the sudden urge to cover his ears.

Seifer squinted against the sun as he steered the car west. "Then I'll leave." The statement left him gutted and he couldn't bring himself to look at Leonhart.

"Just like that," Lore said, accusation giving his tone an edge. How could Seifer leave his dad?

"It's not like I'd have a choice."

"Stop," Squall said. He sounded quiet, voice small, his arms folded across his chest as he pressed back against the seat. All morning his thoughts had been wrapped up in Seifer, replaying their conversation from the night before. He'd become so distracted by the heady feeling between them that he'd ignored the possible consequences. If the spell were somehow linked to Seifer and Rinoa couldn't permanently eradicate it, then he wouldn't be able to continue his relationship with the man. He wasn't sure which filled him with more dread; not being able to stay with Seifer or discovering that his desire to be with the man was merely the spell's manipulation.

Seifer reached out and squeezed Leonhart's knee. "Hey," he said, urging the man to look at him, "this is nothing."

Squall turned his attention out the window, chest heavy as if compressed by a cinderblock. When Seifer's hand began to retreat, he snatched it back. He didn't take his eyes off the desert as he folded his hand over Seifer's and squeezed.

The need to kill something rose up in Seifer. He needed to get his hands dirty and exhaust himself. "Almost there," he said, taxed of reassurances.

/-|-\

The number of cars crammed into the small parking lot outside the laboratory unnerved Squall. The lot was usually vacant. As he stepped into the white glare of sunlight, he shaded his eyes and scanned the windshields for Press stickers. He didn't want reporters anywhere near him or his family.

"I take it that it's not always this crowded," Seifer said, observing Leonhart's glare around the packed parking lot.

Brow furrowed in concern, Squall didn't bother answering. Irvine and Laguna ended up blocking two other cars in because there were no more spots available.

"Darlin'," Irvine called as he jogged over, "what's going on?"

Selphie, Rinoa, and Ellone hurried to catch up to the quickly forming group. Laguna and his escort of guards soon joined them. Everyone gathered around Squall, waiting for his input.

Squall shifted his weight. "It's not the press, but word will have already gotten out."

"There was always that risk," Irvine said, sympathy apparent. "It'll always be news."

Selphie pressed against her husband's side. "It's not anyone's business."

"I know, darlin'," Irvine said, arm slipping around his wife's tiny frame. "But that argument didn't get us anywhere last time either."

Seifer resented the cryptic references. It wasn't difficult to put two and two together, but his absence from past events made him an outsider. "Not that I don't enjoy standing around debating hypotheticals, but I'd rather not have the damn spell sitting in Leonhart any longer than necessary."

/-|-\

The front desk was unmanned. Recent visitors had tracked in sand and grit. Squall's feet scuffled on the polished stone floor.

"Where is everyone?" Ellone wondered aloud, spinning around as if expecting a crowd hidden in the corners.

"Underground," Rinoa said. "Most of the facility is underground." She suppressed a shiver, remembering her forced internment in stasis.

The distant echo of footsteps reached the group. Behind the desk, a corridor led to the lifts and stairwells. A man appeared in full Estharian garb, robes sweeping along the floor as he walked. He held a datapad and scribbled notes until he came within reach of the desk.

"You're early," the man said, barely sparing a glance at Squall. He tapped his pad as if to confirm his statement. "No matter, Dr. Odine can begin right away. I'm afraid there isn't room for everyone you've brought with you."

In a mock whisper to his bodyguards, Laguna said, "To think I was only going to cut Pandora's budget by ten percent."

Their escort, who had yet to introduce himself, lifted his eyes from his pad and zeroed in on Laguna. It took a moment for recognition to penetrate Laguna's paisley print shirt. "President Loire!"

Seifer grinned, willing to forgive Loire's horrible fashion sense for his ruthless sense of diplomacy.

Eyes sharp, Laguna studied Odine's assistant and arched a brow in a way that suggested he found the man lacking. "Why don't you lead the way and then we'll decide what happens from there?"

"Dr. Odine is highly particular of who's allowed access to the lower labs."

"Be that as it may," Laguna said, "this procedure is being done at my son's discretion. If Dr. Odine has any disputes, he'll have the opportunity to raise them in person."

Seifer revised his opinion of Leonhart's father and decided to be cautious in future interactions with the man. He had the distinct impression that the only reason he hadn't been arrested and deported from Esthar was because Loire had allowed him to stay.

Odine's assistant introduced himself as Mr. Perry and led the ten of them down the hall and to the lift. They loaded on in two groups, drawn through a series of underground tunnels until they docked on a platform deep beneath the desert. On the wall, a painted arrow and block lettering indicated that Lab VIII was through a wide archway. Directions were pointless since the archway was the only exit from the platform. The air was stale despite the hum of circulation vents, and it smelled of metal and the acid secreted by Malboro tentacles.

"How are you feeling?" Seifer asked, his hand a steady presence on the small of Leonhart's back.

"I'm fine." Squall had repeated the same phrase so often that his lips formed the response before he fully registered the question.

"Liar."

Squall pressed into Seifer's touch. The hand on his back felt large and strong. It was reassuring in a way that words couldn't have managed.

Beyond the arch, a narrow corridor stretched until it vanished in a pinprick of darkness. The lights were bundles of tubes that ran the length of the ceiling, reminding Seifer of glowsticks. They had an odd phosphorescent tinge that lit the dark metal walls an unclean color. His hand crept from Leonhart's back to his hip, drawing the man inches closer to his side.

"I'm not liking this." Despite speaking in a whisper, Seifer's words still echoed and drew Mr. Perry's attention.

"The Pandora Laboratory is renowned for its integrity and unparalleled standards of-"

"Speak up, I'm not sure President Loire can hear your promotional pandering." Interrupting Perry wasn't nearly as satisfying as breaking the man's nose would have been, but Seifer was supposed to be on his best behavior.

After an outraged stutter, Perry seemed to decide that shutting up was the only argument anyone would accept. He continued walking, steps stiff and self-conscious.

Lore edged closer to his father. The various doors they passed had no windows except narrow peep slots. The flaps over the slots opened from the outside. Lore imagined the doors were also only accessible from one side. No sounds came from the rooms beyond, but that didn't mean they weren't occupied.

Perry led them past a series of identical hallways that branched left and right. Some of them were unlit and fell away into darkness. Lore doubted he'd be able to navigate his way back to the lift if they moved in anything, but a straight path.

Eventually they did turn, and turned again. Lore glanced over his shoulder and mumbled, "Left, then right, then right, then left," under his breath.

The majority of the group had trained for the very instance of navigating mazes and memorizing layouts. There was no real danger that they'd find themselves trapped, but the metallic air, dirty lighting, and labyrinth of underground corridors bred an instinctive need to locate all exits.

There were no waiting rooms. Most of what went on in Odine's subterranean kingdom had nothing to do with practical medicine. His patients consisted of rats and monsters collected from the city's borders.

"Nearly there," Perry said, eyes on his pad. "Next corner."

Around that next corner a wide set of doors barred the way. Perry approached the side panel and tapped in the access code. The doors gave a pressurized sigh before slowly sliding apart.

Raised voices reached the hall from inside the room.

"I've been Squall's primary physician for twenty years," Kadowaki said with a note of self-importance.

"And I'm the foremost expert on para-magic in the world. What can you possibly hope to contribute here?"

"My oversight is non-negotiable."

Perry considered this an opportune moment to interrupt. He led the group into the cavernous room, effectively interrupting the argument taking place. "Dr. Odine, Commander Leonhart has arrived."

With a clap of his hands, Odine whirled around and exclaimed, "Wonderful!"

Dr. Kadowaki appeared less enthused. "Mr. Leonhart, I'd like a word."

"Somebody's in trouble," Seifer said. He gave Leonhart a small shove forward.

Squall glared at the ex-knight. "Is this your doing?"

"Yours, actually. Kadowaki wasn't thrilled that I was the one calling her instead of you."

With the resigned defeat of a man who would never be more than a scrawny cadet in the eyes of his doctor, Squall approached Kadowaki.

"Would you care to explain why I had to hear about your condition from Mr. Almasy?"

"…" Squall liked to assume that all questions were rhetorical, which saved him from having to answer.

Kadowaki crossed her arms and stared the commander down. "When it comes to your health, I've never given you any reason to avoid me."

"I decided against the risk of exposure," Squall said. "I didn't want to bring this to Balamb Garden."

In an instant Kadowaki's stern expression morphed into contrite sympathy. "My dear boy," she said, moving forward to envelope the man in a hug. "I'm so sorry. You know I would have flown out here, or anywhere you needed."

Squall remained stiff and awkward in the doctor's embrace, but he nodded his understanding against the softness of her hair.

Unable to watch how easily Leonhart transformed Kadowaki's wrath, Seifer studied his surroundings. The laboratory appeared to be modeled after a horror film. Screens mounted along the curved wall displayed figures of various monsters native to Esthar, most of them cut open and their innards catalogued. A large water tank stood in the center of the room, tubes and wires splayed out of it like strings on a marionette. The water inside was a murky green and every so often there was movement.

The last time Lore had seen Dr. Odine had been six years ago when his father finally agreed to stop his yearly physicals. Since then he'd gone to the school's doctor like every other kid in his class. Odine had a way of making his skin crawl. Every time the doctor looked at him, he swore the man was imagining what his insides looked like. Odine always sighed in disappointment when the tests revealed he didn't have para-magic.

There was a second story balcony that ran the circumference of the lab, closed off by a tinted window. It took a moment for Seifer to determine what the shadowy shapes behind the glass were. There was an audience, spectators who sat above, hidden and anonymous.

When Irvine spotted the audience he drew his gun, which in turn made Laguna's bodyguards draw theirs. "You have ten seconds to clear out!" he took aim while Laguna frantically ordered his guards to holster their guns.

"Better hope the glass isn't bullet proof," Seifer said. He grinned and waved as the indistinct shadows behind the glass shifted about.

"Ten!" Irvine began the countdown.

"That's quite unnecessary," Dr. Odine said. "They're here to learn. I handpicked these students to join us today."

"Nine!"

It wasn't until the gunman reached "Five!" that Odine realized negotiating with him was pointless. "Commander Leonhart, please order your man to stand down."

Squall set a hand on Irvine's raised forearm and urged him to lower the gun. "Irvine, they're civilians."

Teeth gritted, Irvine dropped his arm, but didn't holster the gun. "They have no right to be here."

"Agreed," said Selphie.

Odine made a calming gesture toward the crowd. "I'm not sure any of you understand the importance this development holds to the science community. There's a bigger picture to consider."

"I'm not here out of necessity," Squall said. "There are other experts."

"Surely you don't mean that."

Having her own reasons to avoid witnesses, it was Rinoa who issued the ultimatum. "Clear the room or we walk. Squall doesn't need you. I'm the one performing the actual spell."

From what little Seifer knew of Dr. Odine, he figured he was the type of man who didn't appreciate being inconsequential. The doctor had an inflated sense of self-worth and up until that moment, he had considered himself irreplaceable.

"You came to me," Odine said. He'd made countless concessions to the president's son over the years. "I'm a man of science. Observing the effects of Ultimecia's spell is a once in a life time opportunity for the men and women here today."

Squall stepped closer to the shorter man and said quietly, "You've breached patient confidentiality."

"It's already public knowledge," Odine argued.

Squall stepped back before he gave into the urge to lash out. On the issue of his pregnancy going public he had a very short fuse.

Seifer set a hand on Leonhart's shoulder. "Let's do this somewhere else, another room, someplace without gawkers."

"The room I had for my last exam," Squall said.

Odine shook his head. "That room isn't properly equipped."

Seifer envisioned inventive new ways to kill a man with his own lab coat. "Then make it equipped."

/-|-\

Back in the sterile room of white tile and aluminum countertops, Squall stood beside the exam table. The room couldn't accommodate the entire group. Only Seifer, Rinoa, Odine, and Kadowaki would remain.

"We'll be right outside," Laguna said, gesturing to the door.

Lore lingered by his father's side after the others left. "Why can't I stay?"

"I'll be fine," Squall said.

"Seifer gets to stay."

If the occasion had been less tense, Seifer would have gloated. "Because I need to get checked out too, half-pint."

Lore still didn't think that was any reason for him to wait in the hallway.

Ruffling his son's dark hair, Squall smiled gently. "Be with your grandfather."

Lore ducked his head and mumbled, "I love you."

With a kiss to Lore's temple, Squall said, "You too, cub."

As soon as the door closed behind Lore, Dr. Odine tossed a set of patient scrubs to the exam table. "Undress, please."

"Careful now," Seifer warned, "no one gets to make that request except me."

Rinoa spun around and faced the nearest corner. She covered her eyes for good measure. "I can't see anything."

Seifer laughed and stepped back to enjoy his unobstructed view of Leonhart's striptease.

Odine produced a second set of scrubs and held them out for the ex-knight. "You'll need to change as well, Mr. Almasy."

A quiet laugh escaped Squall before he could force a neutral reaction.

"These better fit," Seifer said as he began to unbutton his shirt. The scrubs did fit, but they were an unflattering sea foam green color that did nothing to bring out his eyes. Even Leonhart couldn't pull off the v-neck collar, but nothing could hide the appeal of his peach shaped ass.

Heat crept along Squall's neck. Seifer's eyes were like a physical force caressing his body.

"Are you guys decent yet?" Rinoa asked.

Seifer would have joked that Heartily had already seen both of them naked, but he didn't appreciate this fact when it came to Leonhart.

"You can turn around," Squall said.

Odine gestured to the table and pulled the monitoring equipment over. "We'll start with an ultrasound to see if there's been any progression."

Rinoa and Seifer positioned two folding chairs near the table.

Squall remained upright while Odine took his vitals and drew blood. Kadowaki worked on Seifer, charting his blood pressure and reflexes. Once standard procedure was finished, Odine directed Squall to lie down.

Shirt rucked up and stomach exposed, Squall took a fortifying breath. His muscles tensed at the smear of cold gel.

"This'll show the spell?" Seifer asked. He didn't think the spell had any physical presence.

"No," Odine said, voice tight with annoyance, "this is just to make sure fertilization hasn't occurred."

"We've been careful," Seifer said. He'd kept things intercrural since finding out and Leonhart had been strict with condoms before that.

Odine made a disgruntled noise. He tamped down on the urge to lecture the commander. Had he been given free rein to study the effects of the spell, there would be less unknown factors to deal with at the present moment. "This is para-magic, try to understand. Impregnation doesn't necessarily occur via intercourse."

Rinoa stared resolutely at the ground, suddenly finding immense interest in the plain white stone.

"It could be something as harmless as a handshake. Of course, that's assuming you've served some function in activating the spell."

Seifer appeared stricken. If he'd known touching Leonhart could do damage, he would have stayed on the other side of the city.

"A few days apart wouldn't have made any difference," Squall said, reading the look on Seifer's face. Not questioning whether he'd be met halfway, he lifted a hand for Seifer to take.

Seifer hastily snatched Leonhart's hand into his own. "What's the verdict, doc?" he asked Kadowaki.

Kadowaki studied the monitor intently. "Nothing out of the ordinary. There's older damage from the previous pregnancy, minor muscle distortion, widened pelvic bone, but no signs of a fetus or womb."

"I'll be the judge of that," Odine said. He pushed his glasses higher on his nose and leaned closer to the screen. He shifted the wand around, prolonging the procedure out of spite. Finally, he stood back and wiped the device free of lubricant. "A first semester med student can interpret ultrasounds," was the most agreement he'd give.

Next Odine used a handheld scanner that crackled with static as it passed over Squall's body. The spell seemed to inhabit his entire body, not just his stomach. Odine offered comparative readings by passing the device over himself and Dr. Kadowaki. The static went dead and so did the small needle that measured the strength of para-magic. Unsurprisingly, the readings were off the chart for Rinoa.

Seifer held his breath as Odine finally scanned him. For a shortly lived moment there was nothing. Then the needle jumped with a shrill crackle, followed by white noise.

The air turned solid and heavy in Seifer's lungs. He paced away and back again, fighting the violent need to hit something. "Dammit!" he cursed.

"Low readings, but present nonetheless," Odine declared, eyes warily following the blond man.

Seifer reclaimed Leonhart's hand and squeezed tight in apology.

"It's not your fault," Squall said.

"Keep telling yourself that."

Odine fussed over the dials on the scanner. "In all likelihood, this is the doing of Mr. Almasy."

Squall glared at the doctor.

"It doesn't matter, since I'm getting rid of it from both of you," Rinoa said. She gave Seifer a reassuring smile.

Odine rolled the sonogram away and rummaged through the supply cart. "I still have tests to run."

"What tests?" Kadowaki asked. "You've already taken readings of the magic."

"And now I need tissue samples."

Squall knew what came next. He squeezed Seifer's hand and watched Odine set out the necessary instruments.

Seifer followed Leonhart's line of sight. His stomach dropped when he saw the needles. "You're not getting near him with any of those." He blocked Odine's return to the exam table.

Shifting on the table, Squall tried to relax. "Seifer, it's okay."

"Is that really necessary?" Kadowaki asked.

Odine's patience snapped. "Do you know how limited samples of para-magic are? I'm still working off what I took from Mr. Leonhart sixteen years ago."

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "I gave you blood samples last month."

"You all seem to be under the mistaken impression that I'm the only one who benefits from my research." Odine set the tray on the supply cart with a clang. "Those blood samples, Miss Heartily, allow me to monitor the saturation of para-magic in your system. It could serve as an early warning if the levels become dangerous. I'm sure I don't need to explain to anyone what it would mean if the magic became too strong for you to control."

Unwavering in her disapproval, Rinoa said, "We're not lab rats for your experiments."

"And I have never treated you as such. I'll admit my bedside manner leaves a great deal to be desired. I rarely practice on humans. That doesn't mean I don't try to preserve life first and foremost."

"Your work ethics are questionable at best," Kadowaki said.

Odine gave the older women a rueful look as he snapped on a new set of gloves. He selected a long syringe. "Then it is fortunate we'll be done here soon."

"Would you like a sleeping draught?" Kadowaki asked, looking at the commander.

Squall shook his head. He'd done this before and his instincts refused sedation.

Seifer struggled to keep from knocking the syringe away as Odine aimed to stab it into Leonhart's stomach. His gut roiled in response as the sharp tip disappeared into tender flesh. Though Leonhart's expression remained impassive, the man's grip on his hand was painful.

"Relax," Odine said, "don't tense your muscles."

Rinoa pushed her chair back and turned around. "I can't watch."

Squall swallowed and buckled down. He relaxed as best he could, but the intense pinch couldn't be ignored. The pain wasn't bad, not compared to injuries he'd suffered in the past. It was the visual of the needle sinking into his body, the willful submission that allowed someone like Odine to dig around and extract pieces of him.

Kadowaki monitored Squall's vitals. Stress from the procedure caused a spike in his heart rate, but nothing unexpected appeared on the monitors.

Odine depressed a lever on the handle, which made a loud click. He slowly withdrew the needle. He took a couple more samples, grumbling when he secured each syringe in a container without the help of his assistant. He returned the tray to the counter and disposed of his gloves.

Over his shoulder, Odine asked, "Miss Heartily, are you ready to begin?"

Standing from her seat, Rinoa responded with a firm, "Yes."

Rinoa had no reason to practice spells and every reason to conceal that she was a sorceress. Her power had slept for many years, but the cool sensation flowed beneath her skin when she whispered to it. Sorcery was never far from her fingertips.

"You can sit up," Rinoa said as she brushed her fingers over the back of Squall's hand.

Squall sat upright with some difficulty. When Kadowaki produced a potion from her lab coat he took the vial without a word.

"I'll need your hands," Rinoa said.

Squall hadn't been conscious the last time she'd broken the spell. Legs draped over the edge of the exam table, he shared a brief look with Seifer before he held his hands out.

Seifer saw the nerves in Heartily's dark eyes. He'd never known her to lie about what she was capable of handling, even if she had a tendency to bite off more than she could chew. "Don't break him."

Rinoa smiled at Seifer, appreciating his levity. "I don't plan on it."

Coldness set in as soon as Rinoa had Squall's hands in her own. There was resistance, a magnetic push between them. She tested it, drew her magic closer to the surface and felt the push increase. "You have to let me in," she said. "You're fighting."

Squall wasn't aware of any resistance on his part. He gripped Rinoa's hands more firmly.

"It's in his nature," Seifer said, placing a hand on Leonhart's shoulder.

When the resistance lessened, Rinoa studied Squall's guarded expression. His barriers never seemed to come down, which was why they'd never worked as a couple. Letting people in was against Squall's basic instinct and there was no changing that. She suspected it had been easier last time because Squall had been dead, and dead men couldn't exactly put up a fight.

Squall noted that Rinoa's hands lacked the weight and coarseness of Seifer's. Preoccupied with this comparison, a suspicion formed in the back of his mind. When Seifer's hand dropped from his shoulder, he realized a moment too late what would happen.

A sudden force propelled Rinoa back. She was quick to regain her balance and hunched defensively until her mind convinced her body she wasn't under attack.

"I'm sorry," Squall said. He made no move to help her. Touching Rinoa didn't seem like a good idea.

"What the hell was that?" Seifer asked.

Kadowaki approached Rinoa. "Dear, are you alright?"

"I'm okay," Rinoa said. She moved back into place, cautious this time. Her expression became wistful. "Is it that hard to let me in?"

"I'm sorry," Squall repeated.

"I can't do this if you don't let me in."

"..." Squall was only aware of his resistance because of how unnatural Rinoa's presence felt compared to Seifer's.

"You had it for a moment."

Squall shook his head. "That was Seifer."

Confused, Rinoa glanced at Seifer. "What do you mean?"

Brushing his bangs from his eyes, Squall fixed his attention on the floor. In attempt to avoid explanation he instead provided a solution. "If Seifer keeps his hand on my shoulder, it should be okay."

Arms crossed as if to deny compliance without a proper explanation, Seifer asked, "How do you figure?"

Realization was bittersweet for Rinoa. "Because when you touched him a moment ago, he stopped fighting."

"You've done this before though," Seifer said.

Odine was scribbling madly on a paper notepad. "Fascinating," he said, his expression gleeful. "Mr. Leonhart was deceased when Miss Heartily last performed her craft on him. I never anticipated the spell would link with his subconscious."

"And my touching you helps how?" Seifer inquired.

Slowly, Squall lifted his eyes from the floor and met Seifer's worried gaze. Reluctant to admit the truth, which he knew Seifer would lord over his head at every opportunity, he said, "I don't mind when it's you."

Before anyone had the time to blink, Seifer's mouth was on Squall's.

Taken by surprise, Squall retreated, but never made it far. Seifer chased him and braced a hand behind his head to keep him in place. Relenting to the kiss, he tilted his head for a better angle. The desire for contact was constant and unyielding, appropriate venue or not.

The gurgle of static managed to grab Seifer's attention. The heated moment died a swift death at the sight of Odine's wrinkled face inches away, scanner sweeping over them and giving off a loud reading. He tore away from Leonhart and stalked to the other side of the room.

Careless of his intrusion on the lovers' moment, Odine continued to scan Squall. "Remarkable," he said. "The readings jumped a considerable degree."

"So it's definitely me then," Seifer said, pacing the length of the counter and keeping his distance.

"Nothing is without a margin of error, but all evidence points to that conclusion."

"It doesn't matter," Rinoa said, trying to rush things along and ignore what she'd just seen.

"There are a number of questions this raises," Odine said, lost in thought. He turned to Seifer and asked, "Could Ultimecia have predicted your union?"

"Who I'd end up with wasn't one of her greater concerns."

"But she desired it, yes?"

Seifer shared a look with Leonhart. "I was told she wanted our gene pools."

"That's just one theory," Odine said. "Perhaps she desired an alliance between you and the commander."

"It's difficult to have an alliance when one half of it is dead. The spell kills him, remember?"

"Only without a sorceress is the spell deadly. What better incentive for the commander's cooperation than his life?"

"Why knock him up then? Why not enchant him and be done with it?" Seifer countered, eager to dispute any notion that his relationship with Leonhart had been Ultimecia's doing. He'd known Ultimecia better than anyone. Her need for control had been absolute. His resistance to her mind games made him unsuitable as a knight. She'd never have risked instating two knights, both stubborn to a fault and too willful to be fully controlled. She'd wanted Lore, to raise and brainwash into the perfect little soldier.

"I cannot say with complete certainty."

"Then don't."

"Seifer," Squall said, his tone bidding the man to come to him.

With some hesitance, Seifer returned just out of reach. "Let's get on with it."

Doubt surfaced in Squall. He frowned at Seifer, blaming the man for keeping his distance and making him doubt what was between them. They'd agreed that their feelings for each other weren't forged by magic.

In response to Leonhart's accusing stare, Seifer's tension loosened. He moved closer and set his hand on the man's knee. "Every touch makes it worse."

"Not for much longer, if you two are finished," Rinoa said, arms crossed with impatience.

Seifer took up a position at Leonhart's side, hand upon his neck. He stroked the knob of bone at the nape, calling as much attention to his touch as possible.

"Let's try this again, shall we?" Rinoa held her hands out for Squall's.

There was no resistance when Rinoa joined hands with Squall. Her power floated to the surface, sliding over her skin like a chill fog. She sensed the spell in Squall. It was a shadow cut off from its source. With a single thought, it fell under her control.

The spell felt whole this time, more solid and formed. She'd always assumed the fragmented feeling from before had been due to Lore, that the absence of the baby from Squall's body had fractured the spell itself. Now, she knew different. The spell had never been complete without Seifer. She'd never truly broken it.

"Seifer, give me your hand," she said, "and take one of Squall's. Form a circle."

Once they'd joined hands, she began to draw the power to a focused point. Because her mind already associated the spell with Squall's stomach, she made that the focus. The spell gathered slowly, bits drawn from Seifer into Squall. Its tendrils retracted, gathering into itself until it was a solid ball of red light. The gathered magic pulsed with a slow and steady beat, a heart that didn't belong.

She broke the circle and placed a hand over Squall's stomach. When the light was within her reach, she closed her fist around it. The burst of heat took her by surprise, but she didn't let go. A burned hand could heal, but she couldn't allow herself to falter.

With a final crushing squeeze, the light vanished and the coolness of her magic took its place, healing her hand.

"It's gone," Rinoa said, smiling in relief.

"Are you sure?" Seifer asked.

Before Rinoa could reply, her knees collapsed. She would have landed in a heap if Squall weren't quick to snatch her. A flurry of concerned words washed over her. She felt the world tip as strong arms picked her up.

"Set her on the table," Kadowaki instructed.

"Just tired," Rinoa mumbled, her eyes too heavy to remain open. She tried to wave them off, but her arm wouldn't lift.

While Kadowaki examined Rinoa, Odine directed Squall and Seifer away from the table. He had them stand apart and turned the scanner on.

The scanner remained silent as Odine passed it over Squall. "Not even a blip," he said, sounding disappointed.

Seifer eyed the scanner as he would an enemy, vowing dismemberment if the overqualified TV remote gave him bad news. He balled his fists as Odine scanned him. He wasn't sure of the scanner remained silent or if the sound of his frantic thoughts had drowned the noise out. Odine scanned again for good measure and the softened line of Leonhart's mouth told him all he needed to know.

"That's it, then," Odine said, lowering the scanner. "You'll need to return every week as a precaution"

The moment of truth was anti-climactic. Seifer had expected something more, a spectacle of sparks and wind, maybe even streamers and confetti. Heartily had closed her eyes for a few minutes and then declared the spell gone. He wasn't entirely sure the whole thing hadn't been some elaborate trick. Leonhart seemed to think the same, glancing between him and Heartily in search of confirmation. In their experience, a battle won too easily was usually a trap.

Rinoa sat up and handed the used phoenix down feather back to Kadowaki. "Thanks, that helped."

"You should rest." Kadowaki checked the younger woman's vitals, satisfied but cautious.

"I'm fine, really. I'm not used to using my powers. Even simple spells take a lot out of me."

Squall joined Rinoa and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."

Rinoa hadn't felt like crying until Squall's arms were around her. The tears came without warning, either from relief or the shock of having Squall hug her, she wasn't sure. "It's really gone this time. I'm sure of it."

"I believe you."

"I'm sorry it came back."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I can't stop thinking about last time." Rinoa's chest heaved, struggling for air between sobs. "You were just lying there. I wasn't sure I could bring you back."

"You did."

"But what if I hadn't? Hyne, Squall, what if I'd failed?" Rinoa clung to Squall, hating him a little for making her love him so much.

"It doesn't matter now."

"No," Rinoa agreed, forehead tucked under Squall's chin.

Seifer took pity on Heartily, knowing how haunted he'd feel if Leonhart were killed. He ruffled her hair, making a mess of it until she jerked back and swatted his hand away.

"Seifer!" Rinoa carded her hands through her hair, combing it back into order. She glared at the blond brute, though it lacked conviction.

"You're still the same," Seifer said. "You cry at the drop of a hat."

Rinoa couldn't help but laugh. Seifer reached for her hair again and she ducked away. "And you're still a bully," she said, laughing again.

Seifer shrugged. "Some things never change."

Rinoa cast a pointed look between the two rivals. "Some things do."

Licking his lips nervously, Squall studied Seifer for some indication that his feelings had changed. He asked himself if he still wanted to kiss the man in front of him, have him in his bed, sip coffee and steal glances at him over the breakfast table. The thought of losing Seifer from his life left him struggling to breathe.

"Do you feel different?" Seifer asked, his expression guarded against potential heartbreak.

Squall shook his head.

Seifer released a shaky breath. "Thank Hyne."

Before Squall and Seifer could do more than share a brief kiss, Odine opened the door and let the others swarm into the room.

"You're okay, right?" Lore nearly lifted his father off the ground as he hugged him. Eventually, he let go and turned to Seifer. "What about you?" He tried to make it sound like an afterthought.

Seifer wrapped an arm around Leonhart's shoulders. "Worried about me, were you?" he asked, his grin daring the boy to try covering it up.

"No," Lore lied. When Seifer laughed at him, he rolled his eyes. "I hoped being an asshole was a side effect of the spell."

Seifer laughed harder.

"Let's get aboveground," Laguna suggested, already missing sunlight.

The walk to the lift seemed shorter. Selphie could hardly keep from skipping.

When the lift was in sight, Selphie turned around and kept pace while walking backwards. "We should do something to celebrate."

A celebration piqued Lore's interest. "Like what?"

"A night out on the town. I heard of a new restaurant in District Eight that's supposed to be crazy good. Or we could keep it casual and go for pizza."

"Not tonight," Squall said. He gave Selphie an apologetic smile.

"Come on, you never want to go out."

Irvine was reluctant to disagree with his wife, but he knew that Squall wasn't feeling the same relief as the rest of them. "Darlin', I think a quiet night in is for the best. We can have the palace chefs cook up whatever your little heart desires."

"Is this about people finding out you were here?" Selphie asked.

Squall boarded the lift without answering. He didn't need to.

On the platform beside Leonhart, Seifer leaned in and said, "Am I the only one missing something here?"

"We'll talk topside," Squall said as lift began its ascent, the movement felt in the pit of his stomach. The futility of trying to hide his condition struck Squall in that moment. D-District prison had also been underground, but everything surfaced eventually.

"You okay?" Lore searched his father's face for signs of distress, but he appeared as calm as ever.

"I'm fine." Squall gently cuffed Lore's ear. The gesture told the boy to stop asking the same question and assured him he'd been truthful in his answer.

Outside the laboratory, the heat made the air ripple and heavy in Squall's lungs. The sun hung low, but it wasn't quite dusk. Beneath the outcropping of the roof over the entrance, the group took a moment to digest the good news. They also reflected on the inevitable fallout from Squall's appointment.

Unbuttoning the collar of his dress shirt, Seifer drank in the sun. Unless Leonhart included him in the fold of understanding, he wanted the cryptic bullshit to stop. "I don't like being the odd man out."

"You're not," Lore said. "I'm lost, too."

It was hardly a secret, so Squall explained, "My being here will reach the press."

Seifer still felt like he was missing something. "Why is it newsworthy?"

"Because of you," Irvine said. "The para-magic is old news. A few hackney writers will do mockups about whether he's pregnant again, or just rehash what happened after the war, but the real story will be you."

Seifer cursed when he realized the potential backlash that his name in the headlines would have. Most of the world thought he was dead. Over the years there were only a handful of people who'd connected him to Ultimecia. For most of them the war was over with and there was no sense in reopening old wounds, but he anticipated the wildfire that could spread if grudge holding veterans caught wind of his name. It would be bad for business and his training center had just gotten off the ground.

Irvine continued, "They'll dig into how you came back, if you're up to no good. You were lucky no one really took notice before now." Tipping his hat back, he smiled. "I can't say how newsworthy your return will be, but your relationship with Squall will definitely make the front pages."

Squall brushed his fingers over Seifer's arm to draw his attention. "Are you okay with that?"

"You mean, am I gonna be on the next train to FH because I don't want to be called gay?" He wasn't exactly thrilled with the prospect of having the public eye catch him in bed with another man, but being gay wasn't what was bad for business, not in Esthar where the latest trend was androgyny and chicks with dicks. His track record of partners was a long line of women hotter than most men could dream of and he doubted the most devout heterosexual could keep from checking out Leonhart's ass twice. The bigger issue for him would be his history as a defected soldier and sorceress's knight.

"It doesn't matter in Esthar," Squall said. Homosexuality was a sensitive issue for some people, negligible for others. It reminded him of the unprecedented shift in Seifer's orientation. He was never sure if he should feel flattered that Seifer found him desirable enough as a person to disregard his gender or worried that it was a fluke.

Irvine was more than happy to test Seifer's resolve. "Esthar is the minority. Not everyone takes kindly to a man not being with a woman." In a more sedate tone, he added, "They were vicious before."

"The first dickwad to say a word against me and mine is getting a fist shoved so far down his throat-"

"Seifer," Squall interrupted.

"I'm with Seifer," Lore said, raising his hand as if in class. "I couldn't exactly defend you last time, being a fetus and all."

Head bowed, Squall pinched the bridge of his nose and prayed for patience.

The sun drew their shadows long and thin. Squall studied his own gawky limbed shape, flat and still against the dusty ground. Seifer edged closer until their shaded forms joined and he felt the press of an arm against his. The heat sweltered, but he leaned into the contact anyway.

As a general rule of thumb, Squall avoided the media. He wasn't good with public speaking and held no love for sensational headlines. Seifer had enough charisma to charm a rock, but he also had a temper that would ignite suspicion as to whether he could be trusted. He could already see the headlines accusing Seifer of treason and demanding trial. There was no statute of limitations when it made for good readership.

Ever the optimist, Selphie insisted, "It won't be the same as before." She made a waving gesture toward Squall's stomach. "You're not, you know, in the family way."

"Galbadia will be an issue," Irvine said. "They were the worst last time, and Balamb didn't exactly show loyalty."

Seifer studied Leonhart's solemn profile and recalled Kadowaki once telling him that Leonhart had fallen from grace after the war. He'd never asked for the details.

Laguna set a supportive hand on Squall's shoulder. "Lay low at the palace. No one can bother you there."

Squall was inclined to agree with his father, but this wasn't a decision he could make alone. There were Seifer and Lore to consider. He looked to Seifer, nudging his arm to draw his attention.

"I'm not hiding," Seifer said, adopting his take no prisoners smile, "and I don't play nice."

Irvine rolled his eyes. "You can't assault everyone who has something bad to say about you. If that were the case, you'd have people right in front of you to contend with."

"Don't start that up again, Kinneas. We both know how it ended last time."

"How what ended?" Selphie asked.

"Nothing important, darlin'." Irvine knew his little lady wouldn't let it go so easily. He'd have to answer later.

It was Seifer's turn to roll his eyes. "Keeping low is fine," he said, taking into consideration that Leonhart might want to hunker down and wait out the storm, "but no one's put anything to print yet. If we make the first move, it sends a message."

Selphie beamed at the ex-knight. "I like the way you think."

"I'm more than a pair of pretty eyes," Seifer said, returning the tiny woman's smile. "I have a few PR connections after promoting my training center, but Leonhart's Daddy Moneybags will have the names of the major league players." He spared the president a quick glance and found the man eyeing him in sharp calculation. "Tactically speaking, I always prefer to play offense. We can answer questions on our terms."

Selphie rocked on her feet, barely controlling the urge to hop. "If the first stories to break have a positive tone, it could set the trend."

Compelled to point out that the situation would have some fallout no matter how they played it, Seifer said, "The most an initial interview would do is get the truth out there. The dirt will come after, but at least we won't have to play defense all the time."

With the options laid out, all eyes turned to Squall.

There was only one response Squall could think to give. "I'm with Seifer."

"Of course you are," Seifer said, throwing Kinneas a look of triumph.

Irvine would have argued out of spite, but he wasn't that petty. Seifer's proposal could work in their favor. Sixteen years ago, Squall had waited too long to go public with the pregnancy. Timing had been everything back then. Too soon after the war meant the world's fear of one sorceress hadn't even settled before rumors spread that Squall would sire the next one.

The desert's heat settled in and the air refused to muster even a small breeze. Laguna suggested they return to the palace before they all passed out from sunstroke.

While walking to the parking lot, Seifer dropped back and motioned for Lore to follow.

"What's up?" Lore asked, easily matching Seifer's pace.

Seifer waved Leonhart on ahead. "Give us a second."

Lore suddenly remembered the conversation they'd had on the way to the lab. "You're not leaving, are you?"

"I'm not that easy to shake," Seifer assured. "I wanted to ask you to ride with Loire or squeeze in with Kinneas. I need to talk with your dad."

"Talk about what?"

"That doesn't concern you."

"If it has to do with my dad, then it's my business."

"I'm starting to believe that. Leonhart really should have come with a warning label."

Lore couldn't help but laugh. "I'll do it on one condition."

"This should be good." Seifer made a gesture for the boy to speak.

Lore stopped walking. "Don't ever hurt him." His aunts and uncles, and most especially his father, tried to keep him from knowing too much about his birth. He'd done his own research and found his own answers. Enough people had been cruel to his father already. That was why Uncle Irvine always overreacted. Lore made it his business to stick his nose where it didn't belong because when it came down to percentages, ninety-eight percent of the world had been against his father and it was difficult to believe anyone had the man's best interest at heart.

Several paces ahead, Seifer turned around and considered the kid for a long moment. "I won't."

Somewhere along the way Lore had started to trust Seifer's intentions for his father. Obtaining a promise from the man wasn't a relief when he already believed him to be a safe bet.

Lore jogged ahead to join his grandfather. He wouldn't be able to talk with his uncle without feeling guilty, like he'd betrayed the cause to oust Seifer from their lives.

Seifer smiled after the boy, wondering at the tentative relationship they'd established.

TBC…

Author's note:

Please review. I've said it before and I'll say it again, every time you read story and fail to review, a faerie dies. True facts, people. Save the faeries!