Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII, no money has or will exchange hands. This story has been written purely for entertainment value. All original characters and storylines do belong to me.

Authors Note: Thanks go to all those who have reviewed, favourited and followed this. I have enjoyed writing it so, so much and so thanks must also go to Ashbear and those organising the 'Where I belong Challenge'. It has been really, really awesome and I have loved being a apart of it and getting to read other peoples stories/see the fan art and other contributions.

So what started out as a rough plan in a note book years ago now comes to an end. I think I'll miss this AU but i'm also glad it finally exists.

Chapter 4 - Waltz for the Moon

The mid summer festival was fast approaching Winhill and already people were dressing the main square. Shop owners were decorating their shop fronts and preparing whatever offering of food or entertainment they would be bringing with them. There was exactly one week until everything began and Squall and Rinoa had taken the opportunity to practice their dancing for the main event whenever they were free.

Raine had allowed them to clear away most of the furniture from the main sitting area so now most of the tables were against the walls and the chairs were stacked high.

They had the CD set up on loop but the tracks were long enough that Raine considered it peaceful rather than a distraction and the sight of her son willingly dancing was about the best entertainment she'd had all year.

Rinoa was dancing in her socks and a blue summer dress and Squall - for once - was in jeans and a T-shirt. So far they had spent the majority of the morning laughing and falling around the space but there had been a few times when (from the doorway) she had seen them dance - really dance, steps in time and beautifully performed. She almost couldn't wait for the festival.

"He gets that from you, you know." Laguna said quietly behind her and she jumped a little at his unexpected appearance.

"Oh I know." She affirmed and Laguna frowned as he came to stand besides her. "What? It's nothing you haven't said - or proved - yourself." She added, her toes curling in her shoes at the memory.

"But still…"

Raine laughed, keeping her voice as quiet as possible so that Rinoa and Squall wouldn't realise they were watching.

"What you lack in dancing ability you readily make up for in almost everything else."

"Almost everything?" He asked with a smile this time as he put his arm around her and leant his head against hers.

"You've always got to have something to improve on." She told him with a smile. "So things don't get boring."

Laguna understood her means and grinned into her hair and slid is hand down lower. Raine elbowed him in the ribs, not hard enough to do any harm but certainly enough for him to get the message.

"Later?"

"Exactly."

"Your parents are watching us." Rinoa whispered before spinning and twirling back into Squall's arms. It was easier in heels but she hadn't wanted to wear them for practice, they would have been too uncomfortable and it felt too much like they were taking this very seriously if she had worn them.

"I know." Squall told her, dipping her slightly them he moved them into the normal part of the dance. It wasn't his favourite, Waltz for the moon was but this was a traditional Galbadian piece and more importantly it meant more dancing with Rinoa and that - at least to him - was the point of all the rehearsing.

Rinoa's eyes widened. "And you're okay with this?" She was surprised, even with the little while they'd been together so far he hadn't been comfortable enough to be close to her when his dad was around. With his mom, sister and Rinoa's family he was fine but his dad's enthusiasm seemed to embarrass him more than encourage.

"I'm going to have to get used to it." He told her and she nodded, it told her all she needed to know, in fact Rinoa was starting to realise he was very good at that. She in turn rarely had to worry she'd given him the wrong impression. Her mom said it was because they actually talked to each other honestly - a lesson Selphie and Irvine had never mastered in Deiling or Dollet. Either way it made Rinoa unspeakably happy.

"Your mom just elbowed him." She whispered again.

"What ever it was for he deserved it." His tone was a shade away from deadpan and Rinoa laughed as he spun her again.

Selphie was sat in her back garden on the carved wooden chairs she'd chosen before they moved in. Laguna had given her a pre release copy of his latest novel and she's spent the past few mornings reading through it.

"Mind if I join you?" Her mother asked from the back door and Selphie shook her head, slipped the bookmark between the pages she was reading and set it down on the table next to her.

"What's up?" She asked her mom, knowing she wouldn't have come out there without good reason - or a book of her own. Her mom sat down and seemed to ready herself before saying something.

"Raine gave me the final details on something this morning. Laguna has been looking into Irvine, trying to find out if what he told you and Squall was true and it is. He's left General Caraway's employment and Deiling City altogether."

Selphie nodded, hopeful but wanting to see what her mother said next.

"You should post that letter you wrote to him, the address he gave you is as good as everything else he told you. I won't pretend to understand him Selphie but he's trustworthy and a decent young man." She seemed to be gearing up to something. "You should probably write him a note inviting him to stay in Winhill for a few days, Raine has said they'll keep a room aside for him whenever he needs it, so ask him to come to the festival."

Selphie nodded, knowing her mom was still wary in the way any mother would be of her daughter if she was this involved with someone at such a young age. Selphie wanted to reassure her that she was right to trust him, that despite his way of going about things he was honourable and careful but she realised that might just worry her mother more.

"Thank you." She really, really meant it but couldn't find any other words to instead she reached over and pulled her mom into a tight hug.

If she could have him back in her life she knew they would do it properly thins time, no more messing around, no more games. Irvine had shown his hand and now it was time to show her's.

The day of the festival arrived and Julia had volunteered to help in the morning and perform during the evening. Now though she'd done all she could and was taking a moment to relax and breathe.

"Here." Raine handed her a cup of tea and sat down beside her.

"Thanks. Rinoa's been teaching Selphie the dances for the past couple of days you know, she leads almost as well as she follows." Raine chuckled. "It's only just occurred to me sat here that Irvine probably doesn't know them at all." Julia laughed at her own comment and her friend joined in.

"Having met Selphie - I'm sure they'll be fine." Raine reassured her then added. "I'm really glad you're here, I know I've said it before but it's so nice to have someone to talk to and to spend time with. As happy as I am here it's been years since I've had a best friend." She turned to look at Julia who was staring back at her in something like mild shock. "If I over stepped the mark -"

"No, not at all…. I just… as strange as it sounds I hadn't realised. You are the closest friend I think I've ever had - you and Laguna both."

Raine smiled. "Good." She placed the now empty mug down next to her and stretched out. "What are you going to next then?"

"Singing again maybe but mostly song writing. I don't need to do anything financially but I need to do something with my time."

"You can always do a couple of shifts at my place." She was only half serious in her offer and Julia picked up on it.

"I'll bear it in mind but for now I'm comfortable enough to just see how things go. It's been such a long time since I've been able to do so that I want to enjoy it whilst it lasts."

Rinoa hadn't shown Squall the dress she'd decide to wear for the dance and the look on his face had been priceless when she stepped out of the house that evening. It wasn't that she was over dressed - the dancing was supposed to be a formal event despite the rural atmosphere - it was just it wasn't something Squall had been expecting.

The cream dress had been a graduation present from her mom and although short it wasn't too revealing and matched her shoes and grandmothers earrings well.

"You should see what Selphie's wearing." She told him with a cheeky smile as she slipped her arm through his.

"No, no I'm perfectly fine seeing what you're wearing." He sounded a little choked and breathless but she had hoped for that when she put on the dress.

"This is also the first time I've seen you in a suit." She commented. He looked older in it - dare she say refined - and whatever trouble he was having not staring at her constantly she would certainly mirror the longer he wore the suit.

"My dad pretended he picked it out but really it was Ellone." Squall admitted.

"I'll have to thank her later." She figured taking her out for a milkshake or afternoon tea would probably do the trick.

They reached the square before Squall could reply, the musicians were turning up and Rinoa saw her mother amongst them.

"We should get something to drink before the music and everything else starts."

Rinoa nodded and let hi lead her down to the outside bar where Raine and Laguna were waiting for them.

Selphie took a deep breath and made the first steps towards the fountain where Irvine was sitting. She was glad she'd chosen to wear a long knee length cardigan over her dress because it hid how much she was shaking.

Irvine hadn't seen her yet, or if he had he was courteous enough not to say anything and give her time to get there on her own.

She kept re reading his letter on her head as she walked, it was the most serious she had ever heard him and the most honest. He had said if she chose to he would leave her alone to move on but if she wanted him, if she loved him like he'd come to realise he loved her then he would take the job in Timber and take them seriously. For Selphie it was the fact that he'd left Caraways employment either way and taking an extended holiday until he heard from her that convinced her.

He did look up once she was stood in front of him and he tipped her head towards her in the same way he would when he wore his hat. His favourite (but certainly not his only) was currently hung on the back of her bedroom door and she had no intention of returning it, but then he'd never asked for it back either.

"I took the job in Timber, start in a couple of weeks." He told her and just hearing his voice again after such a long time made her smile. "Same as before just a different location and clientele, I'll be close enough to visit pretty often and the Loire's have said I'm always welcome in their inn."

Selphie nodded. "Mom approves, she just wants to know where I'm going, where I am - just the important details." Selphie explained, hands locked together in front of her to stop her from fiddling with her nails or hair which she had a habit of doing when she was nervous.

He stood and closed his arms around her, holding her close and she did the same. Selphie could feel his nose pressed into her hair and the rise and fall of his chest.

"I missed you." She spoke into his shirt but she knew he could hear her, his hearing was as sharp as his shooting.

"I missed you too love." He didn't release his hold when she tried to look at him. "I mean it, told you I do."

"Me too." She confirmed. "But I was going to take off this cardigan and take you dancing." He let her go and Selphie pulled off the cardigan and stood before him with it over her arm.

"Don't think I can say no to that." Irvine announced, not knowing where to look and Selphie's smile beamed - that had been the point.

"Your sister's dress isn't so much short as it is gravity defying." Squall whispered against Rinoa's ear as they waltzed closer together than was strictly needed.

"Corset Squall. That's what's holding it up. Mom wouldn't let her wear that without one, I think there's some coated wire in the sleeves to make them stand up like that and to hold out the front part of the skirt."

Squall shrugged in response which looked funny during the dancing but Rinoa only bit her lip a bit to hide her laugh. They turned around in a slow circle and she looked over to where her mother sat playing piano.

For a moment Rinoa was 5 again, sitting with Selphie on either side of their mother as she taught them to play.

"My dad keeps waving at us." Squall told her, bringing her back to the present.

"He's bound to get less enthusiastic over time." Rinoa told him, trying to sound reassuring even though she wasn't convinced herself.

"That might take years." His eyes met hers and the implication of what he'd said dawned on him.

Rinoa smiled before he could say anything else. "Still gives us plenty of time." She said softly and he bent and kissed her gently for a moment savouring the warmth between them. "If not I'm sure we'd just have to ask Irvine and Selphie to step it up a bit and we'd have all the privacy we need."

Squall looked as though he was going to reply but the first few notes of Waltz for the Moon started and instead he leaned closer and moved them into position.

"Come on, this is our song."

Rinoa laughed and warm and happy she took her place with Squall and waited for the music to start.

Fin