“I’ve missed you too… “<br/><br/><br/>Came the lion’s reply as he took a step forward towards her instinctively and closed the distance between them. He lingered close enough to her now that when the wind howled and whipped by he felt the need to slip his arms around her waist protectively. Both his gloved hands encircled her waist as he fell into a moment, the lion clutching his angel like so many years ago.<br/><br/><br/>It took Squall several moments of holding her, his arms about her, before his eyes finally widened and he looked deeply into her own soft, chocolate brown orbs. He looked sheepish for a second but he didn't move to let her go, instead continuing to hold her until his lips finally parted and he spoke in that gruff, deep tone of his.<br/><br/><br/>“Sorry. Old habits and all. This whole trip, everyone being together again, my father, Caraway. It's so much like five years ago. I suppose I just said that though. I'm glad to hear you were able to go to college. I'm… surprised it was Laguna. I guess I shouldn't be though. He has a habit of showing up in people's lives unexpectedly.”<br/><br/><br/>His words perhaps holding a double meaning at the end, likely still not completely accepting of Laguna though he didn't seem as outright hostile as he did years ago. It wouldn't be a stretch to say while he hadn't yet forgiven his father for perceived abandonment of him and Ellone as a child, maybe there was a mellowing with time.<br/><br/><br/>“Rinoa of course I wanted to see you again. The way you left I… just figured this is what you wanted. SeeD, work, the long hours and working well into the night only to rise and have more to do I realized I hadn't been fair to you. You never asked for this life. But while maybe I didn't either… it is the one I have chosen to lead. It is my duty and I can't run from it anymore than you can stop being a Sorceress. I said I would always protect you, even from yourself. You remember what you made me promise that day in the flower field. It still gives me terrible dreams at night to think of that, but I can't run from this. I have to lead SeeD.”<br/><br/><br/>He turned suddenly, releasing her from his arms as he turned a cold and taciturn Squall like stare out into the ocean. It had come to this. It always, in the end, came to this. Were they fated or were they tragic? Sometimes the Lion didn't know anymore.