Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII and all of its characters are property of Square Enix. I do not profit from it, apart from getting entertainment from doing my fanfiction and improving on my language and writing skills. Also, all events and characters are purely fictitious and any similarities to people or events in real life are purely coincidental.

Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII

Author: Azarethian Titan

Beta-Readers: Emerald-Latias

Listening to: Surrender (Joy Williams), First Love (Utada Hikaru), Now We Are Free (Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard)

Warnings: none

Author's Note: The final chapter to this little Christmas story of mine. I don't expect it to be really long... but whatever. To all who are reading this, merry Christmas and have a blessed new year!

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.:Chapter 6:.

---:The Eastern Star:---

...the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9, NIV Version

...Perhaps, it's time for you to forgive yourself... -Quistis

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Seifer stretched out languidly upon the sheets, yawning openly. Smirking slightly in satisfaction, he placed both hands back to cushion his head and leaned back. He was in a good mood... a really good mood. Something that hadn't occurred in quite a long while. Six months, one week and three days, to be exact.

Yeah, he knew he had sworn to kill Quistis in the most painful way possible when he found out she had plotted with Selphie to bring the children over, while he was blissfully unaware, to hear him apologize. Sure, it was embarrassing and all at first. But he could deal with that. He could probably postpone that arrangement... for now. Right now, all he wanted to do was to imitate Selphie and give Quistis a huge hug. Happiness could do strange things to people...

Chuckling to himself, Seifer recalled the events that had transpired after his apology. The junior classmen that had heard him had broken away from Selphie and questioned him on what had happened during the Sorceress War. Sure, they were a bit apprehensive and all... but they didn't exactly fear him anymore. Hopefully. How children could so easily forgive, that concept escaped him. Selphie seemed to like him a whole lot better too... at least from what he gathered from her expression.

That's a huge step from someone outright hating you to having a remotely positive impression of you, Seifer thought as he jumped off the bed, ...especially when you blew up her home...

Seifer's smile faltered and died away as he recalled the thunderstruck and despairing expression on Selphie's face. It's my fault that so many of her friends died...

Seifer no longer smiled as he recalled the various events where he had tormented and dealt great cruelty upon the ones he had grown up with in Balamb Garden. Squall's anguished face as he was being tortured... Rinoa's fear... Selphie's despair...

Thoughts rushed through his mind, whirling around in a confusing maelstrom as Seifer paced around agitatedly.

A knock on the door alerted him of someone's presence. Unconsciously punching in the code, he was not prepared from what he saw.

A bright flash of violent yellow and hot pink nearly blinded him. Seifer was struck by an extremely distinct sense of déjà vu. He could have sworn he had seen something like that today. However, that feeling quickly faded, only to be replaced by panic as it overrode all senses.

Rearing back, Seifer goggled at Selphie. Staring back, Selphie asked, "Uh... Seifer? Are you okay? You look kind of pale."

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Seifer attempted to still his rapidly beating heart and replied, "Yeah... I'm fine. What're you here for?"

"I'm just here to invite you to a little Christmas party," hopping from one foot to the other and back again excitedly, Selphie continued, "It's just a little get together among the six of us... no one else will be around."

Now ceasing with her hopping, Selphie nervously scuffed one foot on the ground, "And... Rinoa, Quistis and I (I think Squall too. Even if he won't admit it.) wanted you to come along... since you're... well... one of us."

Coughing and giggling nervously, Selphie awaited Seifer's reply, her eyes constantly darting around. I've got nothing to lose, Seifer pondered quietly as he nodded his head slightly.

Face brightening; Selphie rushed out of the open door, yelling at the top of her high-pitched voice, "Whoo! Party!"

Seifer raised an eyebrow at the sight. He'd have to tell that cowboy or someone to get Selphie to stop chugging down on so much sugar and coffee.

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Seifer looked at the door before him in apprehension. What was he doing here? Sure, Rinoa, Quistis, Selphie... and maybe Squall wanted him here... but that didn't mean the other two would feel the same way. Then again, he had agreed to come to this little get-together of theirs. Giving a light tap on Squall's door, Seifer waited.

The door slid open with a hollow click. Within it, the entire room was painted black. Blood slowly oozed down the walls out of cracks as bats flew, screeching menacingly. Apart from that, there was silence. Eerie silence. Then, a low growl. "We've been waiting for you..."

"..."

"Seifer? Are you coming in on not?"

Seifer was swiftly jolted back to reality as he saw a large, grey apartment filled with bright party decorations. It looked horrible. Probably Rinoa's attempt at trying to brighten up Puberty Boy's room and failing to do so. Bless her poor heart. Nodding numbly, Seifer stepped in. Quistis merely frowned at Seifer's odd look.

Five pairs of eyes followed Seifer's movements as he walked towards the group. Coughing and squirming uncomfortably, Seifer sidled next to Quistis who had just sit down. Looking towards Squall, he said, "Uhh... nice decorations..."

Squall's lips gave a slight twitch of amusement at Seifer's disposition and looked pointedly at Rinoa. Yep... she was the one who had been attempting to brighten up Squall's room.

Awkward silence stretched on as everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

"Squall," Quistis started, "Do you know any place here that's secluded and gives privacy?"

Nodding towards the direction of his room and kitchen, he glared pointedly at Quistis. She took the hint and guided Seifer into the kitchen. Seifer turned back for a moment to look at the rest of the group, and found that they had resumed whatever they had been doing before his arrival, with the exception of Squall, who was sitting silently and watching.

Seifer found himself being pushed into a chair as Quistis seated herself opposite of him. Smiling serenely, she nodded at him, "Seems like everyone's getting used to you..."

"...Yeah."

Cocking her head to the side, Quistis frowned in concern, "What's wrong? You don't seem too happy about it."

"...It's nothing."

Sighing, Quistis stared at Seifer intensely, "Look. You've been my student for many years before I got booted off. I know when you're not alright. So spill."

Seifer merely sat in silence.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Quistis assured Seifer, "Look, there's a reason why I asked for a private place. Treat this as a professional trip to the local psychiatrist or something."

"...I don't need some shrink analyzing me."

Rolling her eyes, Quistis replied, "Fine. Fine. Just treat it as if you're talking to one of your posse, just with the benefits of professionalism." Adding a challenging tone to her voice, she continued, "Think you can do that?"

For the first time since he first stepped into Squall's apartment, insecurity showed within his eyes. "Trepe... I know all of you say you're willing to give me a chance... but how would I know that this isn't just an obligation and pity fest?"

Shaking her head in disbelief, Quistis admitted, "Well, it was Rinoa who convinced us that we should give you a chance..."

Bless that girl's heart.

Seifer made to speak but Quistis intercepted him. "Look. I'll just make this short and to the point. Rinoa understands and relates to possession by Ultimecia. Squall's probably going whatever at everything, thinking that you're just a soldier on the other side of the war. The only thing he'd resent about you is the fact you sacrificed Rinoa. But since she's willing to forgive you for that, he wouldn't have any actual issues with you... apart from the usual."

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "The only reason why Zell doesn't like you is because you keep calling him Chicken Wuss. It's been going on since time immemorial, no big reason behind it. Irvine... doesn't really care. He's only angry that you hurt Selphie. Selphie's still a bit wary of you, I'll admit, but she's willing to give you a chance." Pausing for a moment, Quistis smiled at Seifer, "Nice job on that apology by the way... I think you won over a lot of supporters."

"What about you?"

"Oh? Apart from you having been my worst and most annoying student with attitude problems, I have no actual issues with you."

Allowing a chuckle to be released from him, Seifer retorted in good humour, "Right..."

For a moment, a faint smile lingered on his lips. However, as he stared out of the clear night sky, his smile died away.

Following his gaze, Quistis found a single star in the eastern night sky, winking brightly. Warm and smaller hands gently placed themselves over a larger and more calloused hand.

"We're all willing to give you a chance... no matter what you believe. Perhaps, it's time for you to forgive yourself..."

"Maybe..."

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Well, there's the end of this little Christmas story of mine. to all those who have followed me through to the end, I'd like to thank you all. I'd also like to thank all my lovely Beta readers. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to wait for all your replies before posting the respective chapter. But I really appreciate your comments nonetheless! To everyone, merry Christmas and have a blessed and joyful new year!

Azarethian Titan, signing out.