A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post the chapter. The new college semester started up and I've just been swamped. I'm almost done with the next chapter so it should be up soon! Please review, I would really appreciate it!
It was a calm summer morning in the month of July.
The town of Kalm was now waking from its deep slumber. The soft blanket of fog from the previous night creeping away, revealing a little hamlet in the country side filled with a few small shops, a pub, and an inn. The streets were quiet, not a soul to be seen. It was unheard of for people to be out in the wee hours of the morning, unless they were heading out to work in the Mythril Mine. But if one were to venture out they would be greeted by a glorious sight. The dawning sun poked its head out from the clouds; just enough to pass a warm dim light over Kalm. Birds flew overhead singing sweet songs with Gaia as the flowers nestled in the ground danced with the wind.
It was unlike the industrialized Midgar, it was beautiful, homey, and very like its name in every way. There was rarely an incident here, it was true peace untainted by the horrors of the world. It was a place that everyone wanted to be, a place where you could raise your children without fear. Every day was filled with joyful cries of children and people smiling in pure happiness; it was like a party all the time. There was always a celebration it seemed.
Though today was a special occasion, there was one event that this little village had no idea was happening at this moment. In one of the little homes snuggled in between the shops and the inn there was a woman expecting another life she could call her pride and joy.
She huffed and panted in her bed, her immediate family surrounding her. Some faces were smiling, others filled with anticipation, and the rest with worry. Her lengthy crimson hair, wet with perspiration plastered itself to her forehead and cheeks, as tired stunning aquamarine hues pulsated in pain and expectancy. She had waited nine months for this moment, and she found herself not being able to wait a second longer. She didn't care about gender, hadn't let it hit her mind once. She just wanted to hold her little angel in her arms and cherish the first few seconds of their new life. She was excited, so much so that the pain itself faded. She still groaned and grunted from the pressure and lack of anesthesia but she was alright. The people by her side wouldn't let her get hurt or the little one she was so concerned about. Her family cheered her on, mother and father, brother and sister.
"Push! You can do it!"
"It's going to be all right!
"Just breathe! Deep breaths…"
And last of all her husband, whose sweaty palm held hers tightly, his chest filled with nervous anticipation. "You're almost there sweetheart. Just a little more."
He was right, she was there. No more waiting.
It wasn't long before she heard the cries; they were so small and precious to the point where it evoked tears of joy from the woman. The small newborn was picked up by her mother, and instantly wiped clean by a blanket. The baby's cries grew louder as they were scrubbed and the tether of life between them and mother snipped. Every one pitched in, making sure that the infant was breathing, washed up, and pretty much taken care of. The mother surprisingly waited patiently, she had been in labor all night and it was indeed taking its toll on her. But she pushed herself,
"Just a little longer..." She thought with a sigh. Her head was spinning, her vision on the verge of fading but she stayed in there the best she could.
She leaned back against the headboard of the bed her heavy lids about to fall, "Hey, honey look."
Her husband nudged her, their little bundle of joy wrapped in his arms, their face shielded by a new blanket. She could hear the little cries but they seemed so far away. Her husband gently nudged her once again this time jolting her awake. She locked eyes with her love just in time to hear him say,
"It's a boy."
She reached out to him with a smile, taking her new baby in her arms. Her husband guided him to her, making sure she was strong enough. He kept his hand under his son, nestling right beside his wife.
She smiled with a sweet laugh as she peeled back the blanket and was greeted by startling viridian hues similar to hers and a shock of fiery hair. Joy lit up in her eyes as tears escaped them. Plush cheeks, full lips, a face truly meant for an angel. He was her little cherub, always would be.
"He looks just like you…" Her husband gasped with a small chuckle, his hand comfortingly rubbing her shoulder.
She couldn't control her sobs of happiness; they consumed her as she held him close, just like the laughter that escaped her chest. She could finally hold her baby! She pulled him away from her just so she could get one more look, and with a smile she leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead.
"I've been waiting for you… Reno."
My first memory that I remember from my childhood is that of my parents.
I can remember steppin' out of my room early in the mornin', my small feet lightly tappin' against the wood floor as I followed their voices. In the following years it would be somethin' I would always do when I wake up. Crawl out of bed, rub the sleep from my tired eyes, and sneak right into my ma's bed cuddlin' right next to her until she awoke… well it's what I would always do until it happened.
I tiptoed through the kitchen, my palms crumpling into my small white t-shirt as I adjusted my navy shorts. The voices led me out towards the back of our small house, my tiny hands tiredly rubbin' the night's sleep from my aqua hues. The sunlight crept down the hall, signifying that the oak double French doors were wide open, leading out to the expanse of the backyard. I could hear the chuckles over the sound of my bare feet against the wood floor, the almost hushed voices as I stepped closer and closer. It wasn't as quiet as they thought they could be, but who could blame them… It was obvious they were happy.
As I poked my head around the corner, I could see what all the commotion was about. They were sittin' on the wooden porch at the back of the house hand in hand, cuddled up in each other's arms. A happy chuckle stemmed from my mother's chest as her small slender hands flattened her crimson fringe cut bangs back to their original position, her lengthy scarlet tresses dancing in the gentle wind. Her frilly ivory day dress clung to her like its life depended on it, the puffed up skirt fluttering in the gale as stunning beryl hues locked onto my father.
He smiled back, his grin dazzlin' like a man laying his eyes on the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with for the first time. His short dirty blonde hair ruffled against the wind as well, his black short sleeve tee and faded denim jeans rustling with it. His amber hues intertwined with my mother's, they were no longer laughin'; just starin' like this was the first encounter that they ever shared together.
And then the chuckles started again. They giggled at each other like two school children, for no reason at all. I never figured out why they were laughin' that day, I would never find out. They were just so happy, always in a good mood. Before it happened they were always like this, actin' like they never had a care in the world but us. Their children came first and then them, we were always their first priority.
Though, as I poked my head around that corner before the hall down to the porch, I can remember wanting to sit in between them like I always do, my little fingers wrapped around the corner of the beige wall for support. But, there was somethin' that stopped me this time. No, this little moment they shared was way different from all the other times, I could feel it. I just couldn't stop this moment that belonged to them only, it just wouldn't be right. So I stood there, watchin' them, knowin' that I couldn't interrupt their peace.
"Shh! You'll wake the kids silly..." My mother teased my father, a luminous beam spreading across her face, her aqua hues sparkling with happiness.
"Oh, you're the one who's talkin' the loudest… are you at least excited about the job offer?"
My mother's face wrinkled a bit at his response, her face showing slight revulsion. My father waited for her words, almost anxiously it seemed, his arms relaxing enough to let her escape them as she turned her head away from his face.
"Yes but… no…" She replied softly, the wind flowin' around them and through her lengthy red curls.
"What do you mean…?" By now I could hear the concern in my father's voice, as well as see it.
"I don't want to leave my parents and siblings behind, but at the same time I want to live a life of my own." She sighed heavily as she fell back into his arms, her back to his chest as her own found their way to his neck. They slipped around him quietly, comfortingly, as he melted into her.
"Then let's live a life of our own…"
"What? But what about our life here?" My mother dove back her eyes falling on my father, a hidden emotion evident in her bright blue hues.
"I can't work in the Mythril mines forever sweetie… ShinRA is offering me a job… We'll be able to live in the city. We'll have enough money to take care of the kids. We'll finally be able to live the life we always wanted to. No more asking your parents for money or scrounging for food until our next paycheck. We'll finally be free."
"Kalm is a beautiful place but Midgar is way better than this. Besides we're both not originally from this town, technically we have no place here. I'm a Gongaga boy and you're a Junon girl. You know it. We can't live here forever it's just impossible."
She relaxed at his words, his hand reaching out in an attempt to comfort her. It seemed his words were true, and that realization hit her hard. He was right; the frog that stuck itself in her throat told her so. They couldn't make it here any longer that much was evident. They weren't even livin' on their own. Unbeknownst to me they were living off her parents expenses, taking whatever money they could get to support their five kids, including me. It had stressed my father out to no end, he had wanted to live on his own from the beginning but he knew it was impossible with the kids, with the small house that cost so much gil a month. They had been scroungin' for every penny they could. My mother however was comfortable with it; she knew her parents would always be there for her no matter what. She never felt her sense of pride was in question, and she knew that they needed the help. There would be a day in her mind where she would pay them back for all the help they gave. She just never knew when it would be.
Her eyes fell to the ground, the overwhelming debt she owed her parents floatin' in her mind. She wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. But if there was anythin' that bothered her about leaving her sanctuary for the industrialized Midgar, it was one thing…
"Junon was beautiful until ShinRA came… Kalm is heaven; it's so peaceful that I just can't leave…" She whispered as what appeared to be tears fell from her eyes. I wanted to run over towards her but before I could move I was held back by a hand on my shoulder. I turned to look up at my captor, my viridian orbs wide.
"Shh spy..." Ranine chuckled at me quietly, her fiery hair disheveled from her night's sleep. Her icy blues glowed in the light of the sun, its bright strip fallin' on her eyes only. She pulled me close, her attention focused on our parents. "How long have you been watching? Show me fingers…." She whispered again, as her free hand rubbed through my short spikes.
I shrugged my shoulders and raised three fingers, not all sure exactly what she was talking about. I was too young to understand the concept of time at this point, and in all honesty coulda cared less.
"I don't know…" I rasped back quietly, still confused.
Ma continued to cry in the background, her small sobs echoing throughout the house. Pa attempted to comfort her, his hands pullin' her close, one on her back and the other caressing her head. He rested his chin upon her skull, with closed eyes, his face bearing an almost apologetic quality. He hadn't meant to put her in tears, that much was obvious. He just needed her to know that he couldn't take it anymore. They were grown enough to fight for themselves.
"I'm so sorry... Just think about it honey… It's your decision."
Before I could run in their direction Ranine scooped me up and whisked me away. The last thing I can remember is the image of my mother sobbin' in my father's arms, the wind dancing around them. I reached for them, but never grasped and in my mind I'm glad I didn't. I never really understood that event until I grew older. Why my Ma cried that day was all too evident later. If I were in her shoes I wouldn't wanna leave either. Kalm was heaven. It was a place where you could raise your kids without fear, a place free from ShinRA's rule, a place where you never had to fight to stay alive.
Midgar was hell on earth.
