This is one of those stories that captures an important moment from canon (for it's likely to have happened sooner or later) and catches the characters so well that it seems to meld itself onto canon -- ah, yes, that is how it would've been. Squall's stiffness, Laguna's ever-present awkwardness and regrets, and the way Laguna stops listening because he's wrapped up in Raine -- all fit. I love the brief poignant fantasy of Raine still alive, Laguna with his family, in contrast to Squall's rather sullen disposition. There's so much good in this piece, and it all revolves around the difficulty behind that last word.