Okay, everyone! Here is chapter four of "The Beginning of Nowhere"! I am sorry for the late update--I'll make it up to you all by ending this story with alternate endings (when the time comes)!

Enjoy!

(Disclaimer aka: Cover my butt--I do not own these characters or the origional lands and names and main story of FFVII. That's Squee-nix's doing.)

The Beginning of Nowhere--Chapter IV

"Alright everyone! Now is the time to announce our king and queen of the traditional Midgar Academy Black and White ball! Settle down!" Every one stood by their dates and friends, some excited about the outcome, some not really caring. They had all noticed the way Vincent Valentine and Aerith Gainsborough were always together, and the kind of cute relationship they had together. They had all voted for Vincent and Aerith to become the king and queen.

But it was not so…

Aerith and Vincent had slipped out of the ballroom into the brisk night air of the deck, unbeknownst to everyone else.

"You look beautiful tonight," Vincent remarked with a dashing smile and letting Aerith spin with her hand hanging onto his one pointer finger above her head. "My Goddess." She smiled and laughed while continuing their slow waltz in the clear moonlit night.

"And you look so handsome," Was her reply. "Wearing a tux suits you, Mr. Valentino!" He leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as they danced. She followed his lead and treasured the moment.

"Aerith…" He murmured, his eyes still closed.

"Hmm?" She asked almost looking up. Her eyes opened.

"Can you feel the same things I do when I'm around you?" He asked in a whisper. She smiled.

"What kinds of things?"

"Remember when we kissed last night, Aerith?" She almost nodded, but looked down at her hands laced with Vincent's, instead.

"Yes. How could I forget?"

"I…felt a connection with you, Aerith. Somehow I felt bound to you…" She then looked up, and Vincent did as well. His eyes seemed to spark, letting Aerith fall into their trance.

"I could hear your heart call to mine when you were waiting for me…" She whispered back. He smiled and sunk to his knees in front of her, never letting go of her slender hands. He kissed her hands deeply, and looked up into her eyes.

"Aerith Gainsborough…" He began. She smiled down at him through her tears. "I now know why I was compelled to set foot on this ship. I now know…" He kissed her right hand. "You are the reason. You're the one that pulled me to come on this excursion. You are the one that makes my heart take flight…" He kissed her left hand, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Aerith Gainsborough, you are the one I am meant to spend eternity with! Would you please, please give me the honor to be the one to hold you forever? To love and cherish you without end, to always be there for you? To—"

"YES!" She dropped to her knees and flung her arms around his neck, crying hysterically. Silent tears then assaulted his own cheeks while he hugged her tightly to his own body. They broke away to look at each other, then at the group clapping near them. Their smiles fell upon seeing Scarlet and her posse.

"Very well done proposition, Valentino." Scarlet remarked. She, of course, wore a revealing black dress. "Now…let's test the eternity deal." She flicked her hand and Zack and the others came on the deck. Zack stepped forward, as did Rude and Reno. They grabbed a hold of Aerith and held a knife to her throat. She was restrained from screaming with a gag. Rude and Rufus restrained Vincent by a blow to the head.

"Now, boys…throw her off!"

"What? You said I could…" Zack questioned, but was knocked out cold.

"Do as I said! Now!" Vincent awoke in time to see Rufus stick a needle into her thigh, and Aerith being thrown overboard, half unconscious. He ran to the edge of the ship and climbed atop the mast to dive in after her.

The rest…was unknown to this point.

Aerith knew one thing, and one thing only.

She was going to die.

She woke up from the sleeping drug she was given under the salty water she once admired, and she tried not to panic. Her sense of direction was messed up, and she couldn't tell which way was the surface. She looked all around her, but saw the monster too late. She was caught in a spiral wave, shoving her against the walls of the coast of Costa del Sol. Her vision inked out in a blink.

So? What do you all think? Yes, I'm evil...but it DOES (believe it or not) get better! This IS about to take some very unexpected turns, though. So brace yourselves! (Bwahahahahahaaaa...)

Tell me what you think so far by leaving a review! Suggestions and questions are also welcome!

K. Valentine