Okay, here is chapter two. I hope you liked chapter one. If not tell me how I can improve it, I’m open to any suggestion.

Once again, this is a YAOI fan fic starring Seifer Almasy and Squall Lionheart. This will be a Lemon, you just have to bear with me.

Some language, and some disturbing comments are made by Rinoa. I think I agree with most of you when I say that I really don’t like Rinoa. I don’t think Squall could have ever loved her, and I’m glad all the wonderful fan fiction writers out there decided to take over and get at the truth.

Squaresoft owns everything but the events of the story.

Life Begins at Thirty

Chapter 2

By Miss Dincht

Squall sat in his bathtub later that evening soaking and thinking of Seifer. He’d replayed the evening’s events a million times in his head. He wanted to kick himself for being so nervous around the blonde, but he’d been so shocked to see his former rival he hadn’t been sure about how he should act. He’d also been shocked to discover that his feelings for Seifer seemed stronger then they had ever been, stronger even than he remembered them being when he was a teenager. He’d actually considered throwing himself at Seifer’s feet and begging the blonde to come home with him. Squall sighed happily and leaned back in the tub. It felt so good to be able to think about Seifer and not feel ashamed or embarrassed about it.

Squall lingered in the tub a few minutes more, then got out of the water and grabbed a towel. As he dried his body, he wondered if Seifer could be interested in him. He’d heard a few years ago that Seifer was involved in a relationship with a man, but he hadn’t believed it. The rumor had provided fuel to flame his fantasies, however, and now Squall wondered if that rumor had in some subconscious way helped him come to terms with his own sexuality. Squall supposed it was possible, but he really didn’t care about the why or how. All he could think about was the fact that having some type of romantic relationship with Seifer, his ideal companion, was possible. Perhaps after all these years they could finally be lovers. He’d settle for a friendship, but the idea of a deep, romantic relationship with the blonde thrilled Squall.

Squall slipped into a pair of light, cotton pajama pants and padded into his bedroom, drying his hair with the towel as he went. He gazed at his large, empty bed and sighed. He wondered if he wasn’t being too hasty. Just because he and Seifer had the same sexual and emotional needs didn’t mean they would get along any better now then they had back then. As Squall climbed beneath the sheets, he thought about how cocky Seifer had been behaving. The blonde was still as conceited and cocksure as ever, but Squall supposed that Seifer had a right to be stuck on himself. It seemed that Seifer had turned his life around and done something positive with it despite the mud that he’d been dragged through. Moreover, Squall found that he rather liked Seifer’s cocky nature. He’d seen it as a threat in his youth, but now he found it highly attractive. Squall yawned and rolled over onto his stomach. He wondered what it would be like to feel Seifer lying next to him, sharing his bed. Squall smiled and snuggled against the pillow.

The telephone rang just as Squall was about to slip away into dreamland. He sighed heavily and scrambled out of bed. He rushed into the living room, and one look at the Caller ID told him who was calling.

"Hello, Rinoa." He said as he picked up the receiver.

The woman on the other end of the line uttered a sound of disgust. "Why are you still awake at this hour? Having a little late night get together with your new gay friends?" she said.

"Whatever." Squall said. "What is it, Rinoa? How is Riley?"

"Fine, considering what his father has done to him. I need you to take care of him for a few days, that is if you have the time." She said.

Squall’s mood brightened at the idea of seeing his son. "Sure. Of course." He said.

"It’s just until I unload the house. I’ll drop him off Saturday and be by to get him Tuesday or Wednesday." Rinoa said.

"Great." Squall said.

"Now, remember Squall, I don’t want any of your queer gay friends hanging around my son. I don’t want you filling his head with any homosexual beliefs either." Rinoa said.

"Rinoa – " Squall began.

Rinoa cut him off. "I don’t want to hear any of it. You’re lucky I’m even considering letting you have visitation rights. People like you shouldn’t even have children, but I don’t want to put poor Riley through anymore traumas. It’s bad enough that he knows his father is a disgusting Homo who has relations with other men. Hyne help me, whoever can the poor child look up too now?" Rinoa said.

Squall’s good mood evaporated. He tried to keep his rising anger out of his voice. "He can look up to me, just like he’s always done." He said.

Rinoa laughed. "Oh, really? Sure he can if he wants to grow up to be a freak who dupes poor, helpless women and breaks their hearts." She said.

"Nothing has changed between Riley and me. He is still my son, and I love him." Squall said.

"I once thought so, but now I’m not so convinced." Rinoa said.

Squall sighed and rubbed at his eyes. "Rinoa, please. Let’s not get into this tonight. Is that all?" he said.

"For now." She said.

"Then I will see you both Saturday?" Squall asked.

"If I haven’t changed my mind by then." She said.

"What does that mean?" Squall said.

"Are you sure you’re living there alone, Squall?" Rinoa said. "I don’t want any of your…homosexual male lovers cavorting and frolicking around my child. He doesn’t need those types of negative influences. I want him to grow up and be a man."

Squall rubbed his forehead. "Rinoa, I will talk to you later." he said.

Rinoa uttered a very unladylike grunt.

"Tell Riley I love him." Squall said.

The line clicked and the angry, disgruntled woman on the other end of the telephone was gone. Squall hung up the telephone and went back into his bedroom. He climbed into bed feeling even more exhausted than he had been previously. Squall was trying not to despise his ex – wife, but Rinoa was making it more difficult to want to remain friendly with her with each passing day. If it turned out that she wanted nothing more to do with him Squall honestly didn’t care. He only hoped they could remain civil for Riley’s sake.

Riley Christopher Lionheart was the joy of Squall’s life. He was a beautiful boy and had a very friendly personality. He was often quiet and reflective, like his father, but like his father, he had a lot of heart and a very strong character. Rinoa tended to baby and underestimate their son, but Squall could already see signs of the courageous and intelligent man that his son would eventually become. Riley was also very honest, something Squall loved dearly about the child, and so Squall had felt the need to be honest with Riley as much as he felt that he needed to be honest with himself. Squall wanted more than anything to share his life with his son and have his son come to know more about who his father was.

Squall was determined to make the split as easy on his son as possible, and he was also determined to remain a large part of his son’s life. Squall still nursed the hurt that came with not having a father for most of his young life, and then suddenly having that father thrust upon him. Squall swore that he would die first before he let that happen to him and Riley. Squall and Laguna had grown closer over the years, but there were still wounds that hadn’t healed.

Riley had taken the news about the divorce rather well, but Squall knew that he would have to be extra careful with the boy and his feelings. Since Riley sometimes adopted Squall’s habit of keeping his feelings inside, Squall wanted to make sure that he and his son could always be open with each other. Squall thought of all the neat things he could plan for Riley to do during the visit. He hoped that Rinoa wouldn't change her mind. He wanted to see his son so badly. With these thoughts on his mind, Squall drifted off to sleep.

When Squall woke the next morning he was still reeling from his encounter with Rinoa, but he managed to drag himself out of bed and face a new day. Squall threw back the covers, climbed out of bed and moved into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, took a quick shower, dressed in baggy jeans and a T – shirt, then went into the kitchen to fix himself some breakfast. While he was boiling some eggs, the telephone rang. Squall dragged the telephone into the kitchen, so he could watch his food while he chatted with Quistis Trepe.

"Zell gave you my number?" Squall said.

"You’re not angry are you?" Quistis said.

"No, of course not. I was going to give it to you next time I was in Balamb, but I wasn’t really sure when that would be." Squall said. "How is everything at the Garden?"

Quistis sighed. "The same. I’m supposed to be planning a party for some Dollet dignitaries, and I think I’m losing my mind. Then Zell calls me demanding that I come and fix up your place." She said.

Squall laughed. "Well I don’t need you right away. They haven’t even delivered all of the furniture yet." He said.

"Zell can be such a pain in the ass." Quistis said. "I heard about your little adventure last night. Zell called me at five in the morning to give me all of the sordid little details. He told me you guys saw Seifer." Quistis said.

"We did. I was so surprised to see him." Squall said.

"I can imagine. So how was the big pervert?" She said.

"Fine I guess. He seems to be doing well." Squall said. He got up and went over to the stove to check on his eggs.

"Yeah, old Seifer finally found a way to put his perverted mind to some use. I’m so pissed at him though. I haven’t seen or heard from him in almost three years. I thought the big bastard was dead and buried." Quistis said.

"Seifer never did go down without a fight." Squall said.

"Believe me, I know." She said. "Squall, I’m coming up to Galbadia today because I need to purchase some things for this Garden party. Let’s hook up and go shopping."

"I’d love to." Squall said. "My son is coming over Saturday, and I’ll need to get some furniture for his room. I want to buy him some toys too."

"Oh, how sweet. How is Riley? He holding up okay?" Quistis said.

Squall sighed. "I think so. I’ll get a chance to talk to him more about how he’s doing when he comes over." He said.

"That’s great. He’s probably adjusting better than you think. So, I’ll be there around eleven or eleven – thirty." Quistis said.

"Whatever. Any time is good." Squall said.

"Great, it’s a date then. I’m coming in on the train."

"I’ll pick you up from there." Squall said.

"Perfect. See you then." Quistis said.

"Bye." Squall said. He hung up the telephone and then settled down to eat his breakfast.

After breakfast, Squall read the newspaper and watched some television to pass the time. When 10 AM rolled around Squall decided he better get dressed. He went into the bedroom and looked through his closet for something to wear. He changed from the jeans and T- shirt into a pair of gray silk slacks, a dark – blue button down silk shirt, and a pair of shiny black shoes. He grabbed his wallet and car keys from the desk, and after stopping in the bathroom for a few minutes to comb his unruly locks; Squall headed for the door.

Squall rode the elevator down to the garage where he’d parked his SUV. He’d had to purchase a new vehicle after parting with Rinoa since he’d left her the three cars they had owned together. Squall thought about Riley as he climbed into the brand new, dark – blue Lexus Landcruiser. Riley loved cars, especially trucks, and Squall was looking forward to taking his son for a spin in the new vehicle. Rinoa had never allowed Squall to buy an SUV because she felt they were too dangerous. As Squall pulled out of the garage, he wondered what toys he could buy for his son today. Although he’d seen Riley recently, he wasn’t exactly sure what fad the school kids were into now. Just a few months ago, Pokemon had been all the rage at school, but now Riley seemed to be into Dragonball Z and Invader Zim. Squall personally liked Angela Anaconda, but Riley had never been too fond of that show. As far as cartoons went all Riley and Squall seemed to ever agree on was how much they hated Spongebob Squarepants.  

It took Squall about ten minutes to reach Galbadia Station. Quistis was waiting in front of the station, and Squall smiled and waved as he pulled up beside her. He opened the door and Quistis climbed inside.

Quistis looked gorgeous. She’d held up well over the years, but then Quistis had always taken very good care of herself. It also helped that her husband, Nida, pampered her as though she were a queen. She looked absolutely stunning in a pink, floral slip dress and pink high – heeled sandals. Her blonde locks were done up in a messy bun, and the hairdo only enhanced her classic looks. Quistis leaned over and kissed Squall, and he hugged her tightly. She rubbed his cheek and grinned.

"How’s my favorite SeeD?" she said.

"Fine." Squall said.

Quistis smiled. "Good." She said.

"So where are we headed?" Squall asked as he guided the car into the street.

"Let’s go to Galbadia Plaza. They have the best stores." Quistis said. She put on her sunglasses and leaned back in the seat.

Galbadia was one of the newer malls that had popped up in the last ten years. It had been built a few years after the defeat of Ultimecia, and was now a world renowned shopping center.

The mall was crowded, but then it was a beautiful, summer day, and the tourists and locals were taking full advantage of it. There had been a time when Squall had hated being surrounded by a multitude of people, but over the years he’d learned to tolerate large crowds. Sometimes he even enjoyed being around people.

Squall had also come to know the joys of shopping, and once they got into high gear, he and Quistis behaved like two kids in a candy store. There seemed to be no end to buying frenzy that overcame them. After they shopped for the Dollet Garden party that Quistis was hosting, they did some shopping for Squall’s house warming party. When they’d finished with that, they spent the rest of the day splurging on themselves, their friends, and their family. Squall purchased a new bedroom set and several toys for his son. He purchased some new clothing and shoes for the boy as well. He also got several things for his apartment. Quistis helped him with all of the household items because she already had some idea about what she wanted to do as far as decorating the place. Quistis bought a few things for Nida, but she spent most of her Gil on herself. They went into one particular department store and Quistis came out with no less than seven pairs of shoes. When evening rolled around, Squall and Quistis decided they’d had enough. They sent their bags to the car and went to dinner at a popular restaurant.

"What are you eating?" Quistis asked as she looked up from the menu.

"I think I’ll have the fried chicken salad." Squall said.

"Sounds good. I think I’ll have that too." Quistis said.

Quistis called for the waiter. They placed their food orders and waited for their drinks to arrive.

"Squall, this little get together that we’re having is going to be great. I’m looking forward to it." Quistis said. "I’m especially eager to see Seifer."

Squall nodded. "I’m glad that he decided to come. It felt so strange to see him after so many years. So many things were the same, yet so many things have changed. Quistis, I’ve never told anyone this, but I was in love with Seifer at one time." He said.

Quistis grinned. Her calm reaction was not what Squall had expected.

"Aren’t you surprised to hear me say that?" Squall asked.

"Not really. I knew one of you had to have the hots for the other. There was entirely too much tension between the two of you, even before the whole Ultimecia thing." Quistis said.

Squall sighed. "You have a point." He said. "I was so confused back then."

Quistis nodded. "I don’t know why I thought I could get anywhere with you. It was obvious where your heart lie, but I chose to ignore it. That’s why I was so shocked when you wound up with Rinoa." She said.

"I have to admit that I was shocked too. I’ve had a lot of time to think about why I made the decision to be with Rinoa. I did love her, I still care for her, but it wasn’t the type of love that two people in that kind of relationship should have." Squall said.

"Sometimes it takes your entire life to understand who you really are, and there is nothing wrong with that. That’s just the way things are. You shouldn’t agonize over the past. You’ve had a great life so far, and you still have a whole lot of living to do. Things will fall into place eventually." Quistis said.

Squall nodded.

"So, ah, how do you feel about Seifer now?" Quistis asked. There was a mischievous gleam in her sparkling blue eyes.

Squall smiled. "I think I’d definitely like to see more of him." He said.

"Is it still love?" she asked.

"I think so. I hadn’t felt like that in years." Squall said.

Quistis grinned. "So go for it then. Zell told me that Seifer was coming on to you. He said Seifer couldn’t keep his eyes off you." She said.

"Zell said that?" Squall said. "No, it wasn’t like that at all."

"You’re blushing." Quistis said. She smiled smugly.

"Whatever. I am not." Squall said.

"Yes you are. You’re whole face is red." She said.

"Whatever." Squall said.

Quistis laughed. "I’m serious. I mean what are the odds that both you and Seifer would be gay? What are the odds that you two would run into each other after all these years and you’d both be single? I think it’s destiny calling. You two were meant to be." She said.

Squall shook his head. "We don’t know that he’s single." he said.

"Oh, believe me. He’s single. Seifer can never stay in a relationship for too long. He’s waiting for you, I’d bet my life on it." She said. "Wow, you know, I think I may be on to something here. I saw Seifer last about two years ago. Nida and I had taken a trip to that new Ski Resort over in Trabia, and we saw Seifer there. He was leaving, so I didn’t get a chance to talk with him for very long, but he did manage to introduce me to his companion at the time. The guy’s name was Patrick or Paul or something like that, and I swear to Hyne that he looked just like you. Well, maybe not exactly like you, but he had the same build, the same type of messy hair. It was so odd, but I didn’t think anything of it at the time. I didn’t think about it again until last night when Zell told me about the little cat fight you had with one of Seifer’s other ex – boyfriends."

"Quistis, everyone has particular traits that they look for in a partner. Seifer just likes brunettes I guess." Squall said.

Quistis smirked. "Sure, you probably like brunettes too, but I’m willing to bet your heart stops whenever you come across a big, strapping blonde with short hair." She said.

Squall laughed. "Well, that still doesn’t mean that Seifer would be interested. We hated each other for so long. It just seems impossible to think that we could have something together." He said.

"You never know until you give it a try, Squall." Quistis said.

"I wouldn’t even know how to approach him." Squall said.

Quistis grinned. "Maybe, you won’t have too." She said.

Squall blushed, then shook his head. "What could I be thinking anyway? It’s too soon for me to get involved in a serious relationship." he said.

"I think it would be good for you." Quistis said. "You can’t just mope around forever, Squall. Look, here is our food."

The topic of the conversation quickly turned to food with the arrival of their meals. Quistis soon began making suggestions for the party, and she told Squall about a caterer she used for Garden functions. The conversation touched on several topics as the evening wore on, but for some reason Seifer was a topic the two old friends came back to time and time again. Quistis seemed quite taken with the idea of Squall and Seifer getting together, and she just wouldn’t let the idea rest. Squall didn’t mind, however, because it felt good to be able to talk about his feelings with someone. The two friends talked well into the night and long after the waiter had taken their empty plates. The mall was closing by the time Squall and Quistis returned to the car.

Squall took Quistis to the station, and helped her carry her bags onto the train. He waited until the train arrived and she was safely on her way before returning to his car and heading home. His thoughts were filled with visions of Seifer Almasy during the drive back to his apartment. Squall again wondered if it was possible for he and Seifer to have a relationship, and after so many years had passed. He wondered if there was room for him in whatever life Seifer had made.

Squall had been so lost in his thoughts that he had barely been paying attention to where he was going. He’d pulled into the garage of his apartment building, and so he hadn’t expected anyone to be standing in the road. Squall slammed on the breaks, and the truck came to an abrupt stop. There was a couple standing in front of the truck, and he’d almost hit them, but the near miss wasn’t what made Squall gasp. One of the two people standing in front of his SUV was none other than Seifer Almasy. For the briefest moment Squall thought that Seifer had come to see him, and his heart soared, but then Squall caught sight of the angry brunette, the other half of the couple, and his heart plummeted in his chest.

Seifer had been glaring at him, but when the blonde recognized the driver who had almost struck him down he grinned. He went over to the driver’s side of the vehicle and motioned for Squall to roll down the window.

"You drunk, Lionheart?" Seifer said as he leaned casually into the window. He was wearing a white T – shirt, black bondage pants, and the same black combat boots. Squall tried not to ogle him.

"No. I didn’t see you." Squall said.

"Maybe you need glasses." Seifer replied. He grinned, and Squall blushed slightly. He cursed himself for feeling like a teenage schoolboy.

The slim brunette who had still been standing in front of the car marched up to the window. He examined Squall and sneered.

"Who the fuck is this?!" he demanded of Seifer.

"This is Squall." Seifer said, not taking his eyes from Squall. "Squall this is Nikki."

Nikki sneered once more then pulled on Seifer’s arm. "We haven’t finished our little talk, Seifer! You’re going to hear what the fuck I have to say if it takes all fucking night!" he said.

Seifer snatched his arm from the man’s grasp. "I’m not finished here. Go wait over there." He said.

Nikki cursed and stomped off.

"Who is he?" Squall asked as he watched Nikki storm away. Nikki looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, Squall wasn’t sure.

Seifer looked at Nikki, then looked back at Squall. "Oh, he’s just a friend. He lives in your building." He said.

"Oh." Squall said.

"I just came here to pick up some shit that I’d left in his apartment, and he’s being an asshole about it." Seifer said.

Squall nodded. "Oh. I see. Well, um, when you’re done would you want to come up and see my apartment?" He said. He held his breath and waited for Seifer’s answer.

Seifer grinned. "I can’t Lionheart, not tonight. I have to take care of this little ‘problem’, but I’ll see you Saturday." Seifer said.

Squall said nothing. He hoped Seifer didn’t see the utter disappointment in his eyes. "Right." He mumbled.

"What time?" Seifer asked.

"Quistis and Nida are coming over at around 8:00 to help me set up. I guess anytime after then would be fine." Squall said. He looked across the lot at Nikki, who was standing beside a black Mercedes, glaring at Squall with intense hatred.

"I’ll be there." Seifer said. He stood back from the car.

"Are you sure you don’t want to come up? Just for a minute?" Squall said.

Seifer smirked. "I’m sure." He said.

"All right. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night then." Squall said.

Seifer nodded. He turned from Squall and walked back toward his "friend". Squall did his best to ignore the two as he pulled off, but he couldn’t resist looking in the rearview mirror. The last thing he saw as he rounded the corner was Seifer holding Nikki in his arms.

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