Author's Notes:Dang, it's been awhile since I've seen this thing. I had some serious family issues and I completely forgot about this story. Now, four years later, I happened to stumble upon it while cleaning out my hard drive. I'm so sorry to anybody who was waiting for another chapter. I hope you can forgive me. Good news is that I plan on finishing it now that this story and I are reacquainted. Bad news is that there are many things about this story I don't like anymore. I'm going to make some serious edits to the chapters I've done first.

Pairings: Sephiroth/OC, minor Zack/Cloud

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy or any of its characters. I do, however, own Annya.

Chapter 1

Sephiroth let out an exasperated sigh. It was half past nine and his office was still short one Zachary Fair. Not once since being chosen as his aide had that boy actually showed up on time for a meeting. Sephiroth sighed again and rose from his desk, feeling he'd best go find the Second Class. He'd probably gotten stuck in the vending machine or something equally stupid. He reluctantly left his office and headed towards Zack's in hope that he wouldn't have to actually searchfor him.

As he neared the elevator, he spotted a girl standing near the end of the hall, looking a little lost. Her dark curls bounced as she turned her head towards him. He stopped next to her and on seeing her up close, he couldn't help but think there was something familiar in the shape of her forest green eyes.

"Do you need something?" he asked coldly, preparing himself for the imminent attack of the fangirl kind.

Seemingly as though she didn't even hear the ice in his tone she just smiled up at him. "I was supposed to meet someone. He told me he was on this floor but I don't really think I'm even allowed to be up here."

A slender, silver brow arched slightly. "You are notallowed to be up here. This floor is off limits to non-Shinra personnel." He wondered how she even got up here in the first place; elevator access was restricted via keycard.

A more pressing matter was her disturbing behavior. She had not lived up to his expectations, as she wasn't trying to rip his pants off and screaming wild proclamations of love. And if she wasn't an admirer she should have been cowering in fear as per usual. However, she was just treating him as if he were any other person she could have happened across, behavior he had only really associated with one other person. One other person who he happened to be looking for.

He was brought out of his thoughts by the girl asking where the Second Class offices were. He frowned. "Who are you looking for? Who are you?"

"I'm looking for Zachary Fair. I'm Annya Fair, his sister."

Sephiroth blinked, not remembering Zack having ever mentioned a sister. At least that explained why she reminded him of his tardy aide.

He must have been spacing out for quite a while because the next thing he noticed, she was smiling warily at him as if he was not all there.

The silver haired man shook his head as if to clear it. "I apologize. I was actually on my way to see him myself. I shall accompany you."

"Thank you, Sephiroth."

"How did— " he cut himself off feeling a bit stupid for even beginning to ask.

She just smiled at him again. "Even if it were not for all of the media attention you get, Zack talks about you all the time."

Warmth began to swell in his chest, part embarrassment about what Zack might have told her and part being touched that Zack thought him worthy enough to discuss with his family.

He jabbed the down button on the elevator and they waited in silence for it to arrive. The elevator arrived with a ding and they entered in equal silence. As he pushed the button for the thirty-seventh floor, he wondered if he should break the lull. He, of course, was perfectly fine with it but Zack had always been uncomfortable with silence. She was sure to be the same way and he didn't think it'd be good looking out for his friend by making his sister uncomfortable.

"Zack never told me he had a sister," he ventured.

She turned to him, looking a little startled at being spoken to, face falling quickly back into a peaceful smile. "I'm sure he has. But I can't blame you for not remembering having heard it. Being able to tune him out is a gift with the way he talks. Perfectly understandable." She paused. "And if you'd rather not speak, don't feel obliged to. Unlike my brother, I am perfectly content with a companionable silence." She smiled at him again.

The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. Her smiling was starting to be infectious, she did it so often. "Are you the older or the younger?" he asked before he could stop himself.

"He's several years older."

"I never would have guessed. I thought younger girls were all more," he paused, groping for the least offensive world as possible, "excitable."

She gave a little snort of laughter. "You mean your fangirls? I hope I don't come across quite that crazy. But don't let me deceive you. I can be quite excitable, as you say, with people I know well."

He looked down at her, aquamarine locking with forest green, making the first direct eye contact they'd had. They both stood there a little stunned, as the elevator stopped, unable to look away till the elevator dinged and opened to release them onto the thirty-seventh floor. Sephiroth snapped his head forward quickly and stepped out of the elevator. Annya followed and fell into stride next to him.

"Zack is at the end of this hall," he informed her.

"Quite a long way from where he originally sent me. I know Zack can do some dumb things but..." She trailed off as if in thought. "I can't even begin to think of what he meant by it."

Sephiroth frowned. She was right. Even Zack wasn't that dumb. He had sent her up to his floor on purpose. But why?

They traveled the rest of the hall in silence, reaching Zack's office. Unlike the other dark wooded doors of the other offices, Zack's was vibrantly colored, every inch of it having been covered in posters and photographs. He realized now that several of the photographs depicted a younger version of the girl standing behind him. Sephiroth opened the door without knocking.

Inside, Zack nearly fell out of his chair from the sudden intrusion. "Seph! What are you doing here?" he asked, nonplussed albeit happy.

The silver haired man just glared at him. Annya stepped a little to the right so she was no longer hidden behind the General's tall frame.

"Ay!" he cried, even happier, before vaulting over his desk and hugging her tightly. "It's been ages!"

"I know, I know. But I can't feel my lungs." She laughed as she tried to pry him off. Sephiroth noticed something small and suspiciously keycard shaped pass from Annya's to Zack's hands in the process.

Zack smiled broadly and let her go. "I see you've met the General."

Sephiroth interrupted the two siblings with a sharp "you are late" directed at Zack.

Zack looked downright bewildered for a moment before realization flooded his face. "I was supposed to meet with you! I totally forgot."

"Obviously," Sephiroth said venomously.

"Look, I'm coming now. Annya can just stay here till we're done," Zack suggested.

"Oh, yes, leave me here by all means. I won't be bored to death or anything," she muttered.

Zack's mako-enhanced hearing however, had picked it up and he turned to her to apologize.

She cut him off with a laugh, "I didn't really mean it. Don't worry about me, I can entertain myself."

The two SOLDIERs turned to leave. Sephiroth looked back questioningly one last time and she assured him she'd be fine and waved him off.