Ok, so, there was a mystery left from the last chapter! It is revealed in this one! It's short, but I wanted to separate the chapters difinitively. Reno..a father? How strange to think! Oh, I'd have Reno's kid...(fangirl squeeeeeeeee) Ahem.

I don't own FFVII, or the characters. I just own the story. MINE ALL MINE! NO TOUCHIE!

"Rude, do you really think Reno doesn't know about that kid?"

"He doesn't. Reno might be a coward, but there's no way he'd leave his own kid like that." Rufus was surprised. Rude usually used that many words in a day, not in one sentence.

"So, he WAS avoiding a girl then."

"...yeah..."

"Why?"

"He was in love, and it scared the piss out of him. Still is, actually."

"In love with who?" Rude opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Elena and Tseng returning. Neither of them wished to continue the discussion in front of the other two. They would only complicate matters. "How was your swim? And if you continue to get sand on me, you're fired." Where Reno would have made it a point to kick sand at him, the other two did the exact opposite. The settled down on their towels quietly, both smiling like idiots.

"Who was that kid you were talking to, Rufus?" Elena asked, flipping wet hair out of her face. "I thought you didn't like kids."

"He happens to be the son of a friend of mine. And what gave you the idea that I don't like kids?"

"Well, there was that time when you threatened to shut down an orphanage..."

"Because it was under an unstable sector plate."

"Or when you hauled a kid away to the police..."

"For trying to steal my wallet, which happened to have part of your bonus in it, if I remember correctly."

"Ok, FINE, you like kids. I've never seen you talk to one before."

"There's a first time for everything, isn't there, Elena?" The woman blushed and looked away. Tseng remained silent, not wanting to get involved in any kind of argument. "Are you ready to go back, or do you want to stay here and get sunburn?"

"I'll get some sunburn, thanks."

"Fine, I'm headed back. No, Rude, you don't have to go with me."

"I'd rather, sir." Rufus shrugged and got up, making sure to brush sand onto Elena 'accidently'. She gave him a dirty glare before returning her attention to Tseng. They both waited until on the white path to speak again.

"So, Reno's in love...now that I think about it, it explains a lot of his behavior. But he still goes out with a different woman every night. That doesn't seem a very romantic thing to do."

"He doesn't sleep with them."

"What!"

"He doesn't sleep with them. Just goes out and escorts them home after dinner."

"Ok...so who's the lucky girl?"

"I'll find out regardless."

"He's gunna kill me." Rude swiped his bald head with a hand, sighing. "An Avalanche member."

"What? The one with the too-large breasts?"

"No. The ninja girl, Yuffie."

"You're kidding, right?"

"No. Stole his heart and his materia in the same night."

"Which materia?"

"Mastered Heal."

"I'd wondered where that went...but the ninja girl? You're sure?"

"Yes."

"And he's got a kid now. With her, I'm assuming. Don't tell those two." Rufus jerked his head back, indicating Elena and Tseng. "I know they'll rub it in his face,and that's the last thing that needs to happen."

"He won't come here, no matter what you do."

"He will if I blackmail him."

"Good point."

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo, it was really really short, I know. It fits nicely though. I wonder how Rufus will try to blackmail Reno into coming to Wutai...:)

R&R please! Thanks!

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