As it turned out, they didn't have to wait very long for a mission. Esthar was still having monster problems in the city, even after several sweeps performed by the army. Laguna wanted the city cleaned out and safe once and for all, and he wanted SeeD assistance. A lot of SeeD assistance. Quistis didn't know where he had gotten the funds to cover so many soldiers, but after wondering about it for a while, she realized she didn't really care and stopped thinking about it.

She wouldn't be accompanying her candidates on the mission. Her presence had been requested at an engagement party Laguna wanted to throw at the Presidential Palace for Squall and Rinoa. They had decided to get married quickly, just two weeks from now, and Laguna had hastily set up this party as soon as Squall had broken the news. She had made sure that command of her students had been turned over to Nida, not Xu. She knew that Xu would fail Seifer no matter how he performed. But Nida was completely objective on the matter, nodding and assuring her that he would give everyone unbiased reports. She trusted him, and left her students in his hands with satisfaction.

Just three days after the field trial, she lifted the hem of her dress to climb into the Ragnorak. The ship was crammed full of people, all in formal attire for the party. The men looked sharp in dress uniforms, but the women, though most of them were SeeDs as well, glowed in formal evening attire. She took a seat next to the Headmaster and Edea, smoothing the green silk of her dress under her fingers. She had left her hair down and her glasses in their case for today.

It was a short trip. Selphie was driving, as usual, her tiny frame even more animate than was normal. She had planned the ball that Garden was throwing for the new SeeDs that night, and could be heard telling Irvine that she was looking forward to a party that she didn't have to plan, however much she loved doing so.

The Presidential Palace's ballroom was just as splendid as Balamb Garden's, Quistis decided. All shining marble and graceful statues. Miniature fountains ringed the octagonal walls, adding a pleasant undercurrent of trickling water to the sound of the hired musicians.

Laguna motioned everyone over to a hastily built podium to hear his speech, and she drifted over to it in the company of Zell and Ezaine, who was also for once not wearing her hair in the usual fashion. The pigtail had been replaced with a twisted confection of curls and glittering jeweled pins, pinned to the top of her head. Zell had stared so much that Quistis had been hard put not to descend to the floor in a fit of hysterical giggles.

Laguna's speech was remarkably similar to those given by the Headmaster. Long rambling sentences were punctuated with frequent pauses to think. The happy audience couldn't have cared less though, and frequently cheered Laguna on with their champagne glasses. She noticed Squall and Rinoa, standing nearly in the middle of the huge crowd, and smiled. Rin whispered mischievously into Squall's ear, nodding at Laguna. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he pulled the girl close to him and shook his head at her. 

Finally, Laguna had talked himself out, and released the audience to dancing and conversation. The crowd gave a great cheer, and Quistis found herself whisked to the center of the ballroom by a grinning Irvine. She looked around and saw that Selphie was deep in conversation with the President, applying herself happily to the white Esthar champagne. She gave in and danced, wondering how her students were faring in the city. They had been transported to Esthar by skimmer early that morning. It was now just after lunch, the fighting either winding down or ended completely. They would be back hours before she would.

It was indeed after dinner when she finally returned to her room, head buzzing gently from drinking too much champagne. She had missed dinner, all of them had, but was none the worse for wear since waiters had stalked the partygoers relentlessly with trays of delicacies. She had just taken off her dancing slippers, the ones no one had even seen due to the length of her dress,  when her phone buzzed. She picked it up breathlessly, sure it was Cid with the results of the mission.

It was. "Well?" she asked, heart suddenly beating fast.

Cid paused, and she took the moment to curse him soundly in the privacy of her head.

"Congratulations, my dear. They all passed." She let out a breath.

"All of them?" Usually only a few from each class passed.

"They were devastating. Totally professional; made the rest of the SeeDs look like children. Wonderful job, my dear. Be sure to attend the ball tonight, or you'll disappoint all the people who want to congratulate you. 2000 hours."

"I will," she said, and softly put down the phone.

She couldn't resist. She jumped high into the air and yelled, "Yes!" at the top of her lungs.

She woke up at 2103. She had stretched out on her bed happily after hearing the news, and had apparently fallen asleep. She sat up sleepily and blinked at her slippers. Forget it. I'm going barefoot, no one will notice anyhow. She brushed her teeth and her hair, then headed down to the ballroom.

The festive air reminded her distinctly of the party that afternoon. Two parties in one day, too much. I'm not staying long. She wanted to congratulate her students and crawl back into her bed and sleep.

She found her students, one by one, and gave each of them some words of praise. They in turn thanked her profusely, and Jax and Sim even made her dance with them. She found herself waking up, and accepted another glass of champagne from a dark haired waiter. She didn't see Seifer, so she went out to the balcony and looked at the stars. It was a little cold, but she didn't mind. The alcohol had completely relaxed her muscles, rendering her oblivious to the chill in the air. Iridescent blue light showed up clearly on the smooth balcony railing, and she admired it. The floor was pleasantly cool against her bare toes.

"I thought you weren't going to come. I have something for you." Seifer. She turned her head to look at him as he joined her at the railing. She almost didn't recognize him without his coat. Starlight turned his profile into that of a dark god, gleaming silver on his hair and skin.

"You're looking quite handsome tonight, Seifer. The uniform suits you." She smiled.

"Thank you," he said, and held out a pair of kidskin gloves. He added, "For everything. You were looking at my gloves at the field trial. I thought you might like a pair of your own."

"You didn't have to-" she began, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"I know. Try them on."

So she did. They were a perfect fit, though longer than his. They reached nearly to her elbows, gripping her forearms firmly.

"Perfect. Thank you. Did you ever get the blood out of your clothes?"

He nodded. "Yes, Instructor."

"I'm not your instructor any more. Just Quistis."

He shrugged, and looked out over the grass beyond the Garden. "I want to keep in shape. Are you going to be really busy? Because I'd like to keep practicing with you, and Raijin and Fujin aren't a challenge. The others..." He trailed off, but she could guess. The others at his level were either on the Team, and didn't really want anything to do with him, or in the class she had just finished, and sort of young and silly. She felt obscurely pleased at his request.

"Certainly. Any time. Practice is important, and I'm going to go on a few missions and take some leave time before I teach again, so I won't be getting much."

He acknowledged this with a dip of his chin, and Marya chose that moment to join them on the balcony. "Seifer! There you are. Come on, let's dance." The girl touched his arm and smiled up at him. He looked down at her and flashed her a charming grin, covering her hand with his. Quistis saw the devastating smile on his face and felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She waved them back to the ballroom, and they went, arm in arm.

What's wrong with you? It's just Seifer, she scolded herself. Tch, too much alcohol. Makes you nuts.

She couldn't sleep. That nap earlier and the brisk night air on the balcony had woken her up completely. She sat up and glanced at her clock. One hour before midnight. Still early. She swung out of bed and put on her combat uniform. She had realized that she didn't really like pink very much, and had decided to wear the combat uniform while she thought up a new outfit. I'll go smash up some monsters. Blow off some steam.

She was halfway to the Training Center when she stopped, and returned to the dorms. She would see if Seifer was up; maybe he would like to go with her. She approached the door to his new quarters and prepared to knock on it.

Her hand was inches from the door when she was startled by a loud thud. She put her hand flat on the door and listened. Was he drunk, stumbling around in there? She frowned. He could hurt himself. Before she could knock and ask if he was all right, something slammed into the door from the other side, and she jumped, barely stopping a squeak from escaping her throat. What was going on in there? She listened, but heard nothing for a few moments.

Then she heard a soft cry from very close range and stepped back. Marya Delee. She flushed, and Seifer's face swam before her vision momentarily, eyes closed, sweat darkening his hair, crease between his eyebrows. Her face burned and she retreated down the hall a ways before stopping.

I did it again. At least I didn't bother him this time. She leaned back against the wall and rubbed her arm absently. She felt a little strange. No, a lot strange. What was wrong with her tonight? The answer seeped into her mind and her hand on her arm abruptly halted its absent stroke.

Oh, no. Don't. No, no, no. Don't you dare. Don't you dare, Quistis. She felt tears stinging her eyes and she knew it was too late. Weeks too late. You are so stupid, girl. You always pick the wrong one. Always. How could you? And Quistis Trepe bowed her head and wept humbly into her hand.

"Instructor?" She looked up wildly. It was Fujin, looking at her with one scarlet eye, confused. She stood up straight.

"Hi, Fuj," she said thoughtlessly, and froze. Fujin's gaze sharpened for a moment, and Quistis groaned to herself. Stupid. No one calls her Fuj except for Seifer and Raijin. Stupid, stupid. Can't keep a secret for five seconds. Have to spill it as soon as you know. What's she supposed to think, when she finds me weeping in his hall and I start calling her by Seifer's pet name?

"I was just looking for Seifer. I can't sleep and I thought he might want to go to the Training Center. But he's..." And her mind froze. She couldn't imagine what she intended to say. Busy? She looked at Fujin helplessly, miserably. Fujin looked down the hall toward his room, a strange look on her face. It was pity, Quistis realized suddenly.

"Celebrating," she said softly, turning that pitying gaze full force on Quistis.

"Don't tell him," she whispered. "Please."

Fujin touched her lips with one finger. "Practice," she continued. She closed the distance between them, then took her hand gently and led her toward the Training Center.