Chapter Six - The Night After

Far beyond the hazy borders of my heart
I could see a place that's something like this
Every now and then I don't know what to do
Still I know that I can never go back
But the things I've seen in those hazy dreams
Can't compare to what I'm seeing now
Everything's so different that it brings me to my knees

-'Real Emotion' by Noubu

I figured that after what had occurred between us just moments ago would make sleeping beside Reno awkward, but it wasn't. He didn't do anything at all. He just lay on top of the covers like the night before with his hands behind his head and hummed. He was so much more respectful that I had originally thought him to be. It made me wonder if I was the only one that thought of him as a womanizer, but then I remembered Yuffie calling him a heartbreaker, Tifa being paranoid about me staying with him, and Cloud threatening him before our date.

"Reno?" I asked quietly in case he had fallen asleep.

"Hm?"

"Why does everyone think you're such a ladies' man?"

He sighed. "Guess it's because that's I was. If I saw a pretty face I'd use whatever charm I had to get 'em in bed, yo. Did that with you too, remember? After your first rejection, any advances I made towards you were just to try and get you to notice me. Didn't really like that I had to stoop so low to get it." He even sounded slightly disgusted with himself. It made me feel better knowing that he hadn't done it just to mess with me.

I rolled over to face him. "Speaking of which…"

"It's in your bags," he replied. "The real reason I decided on a date instead of asking you to sleep with me or something was 'cause I wanted to show you that you meant more to me than that, yo."

"Why me, Reno?" I asked quietly.

He shrugged. "Dunno. Ya just got that spark, I guess."

I felt myself smile. "Well, you definitely got my attention. The question is now, will you be faithful?"

He laughed. "I've worked too hard to get to this point to screw up now."

I mock scoffed. "So if it had been easier to get me then you'd sleep around?" I teased.

"No," he replied. "I was just saying how hard it was to get you."

We lay there in silence for a moment. Then, the urge I had been repressing for some time became too much, and I gave in. "Reno? Let me see your arm."

"Why?" The suspicion was clear in his voice.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I laughed. He hesitantly lowered his arm and I wrapped my arms around it, clinging tightly. "Good night."

He looked at me oddly and I just smiled at him. Then his eyes softened and he chuckled, "Yeah, good night."

* * *

I woke up early the next morning empty handed. I could have sworn I was glued to an arm… While my sleepy brain was trying to comprehend this, I rolled onto my back, falling off the bed with a small scream. I groaned and sat up on the floor, glaring at the bed above me.

"You alright?" I looked up to see Reno, who was fully dressed for work, standing there with a hand extended towards me.

"Yeah." I yawned and let him pull me up off the floor. I fell against him, throwing him off balance temporarily. Our closeness might have been slightly awkward any other time, but considering I was on the verge of falling back asleep, I didn't really care. He held me up as I started to drift off.

He picked me up and set me back on the bed. "Not a morning person at all, are you?" I was fairly certain that he was shaking his head, but I couldn't be sure. He started walking away when I grabbed his sleeve. He turned back to me and sat on the edge of the bed. "Something wrong, yo?"

"Don't die, okay?" I was only half aware of what I was saying, and even less sure of how he was reacting to it, but I could still see the confusion on his face. So I attempted to clarify by saying, "You work for ShinRa. Don't die."

He grinned, laughing as he replied, "I won't. Go back to sleep." I nodded and buried myself under the covers.

When I woke up again, it sounded- and looked, once I got around to opening my eyes- like my cell phone was having a seizure. I flipped it open and snapped, "What?"

"How was your date??!" Yuffie squealed.

I groaned. "Where are you?"

"Home. Well, not home-home. Because that's in Wutai. But my home here in Edge."

"Rendezvous at Seventh Heaven," I told her. "I'm sure Tifa wants to know too."

"Sure thing!!" she replied, and then the line went dead.

After spending an hour explaining everything that had happened, both women were grinning and giggling like schoolgirls. "I can't believe you're dating Reno!" Yuffie squealed.

"I can't believe you're sharing a bed with him," Tifa said in a hushed tone.

"I can't believe I'm in this position either," I mumbled.

"In what position?" I froze, and so did the two brunettes. I turned around and found my other- and identical- half standing there.

"So, uh…" I scratched the back of my head, looking for the right words.

"Rayne and Reno are dating!" Yuffie practically shouted in joy, saving me the trouble of having to awkwardly tell him.

Cloud's eyes grew cold and hard. That's not a good sign… He flipped his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number, walking back up the stairs.

"Shit," I cursed, realizing what he was doing as I chased after him. "Cloud-"

He was already talking to someone and held a finger up to me, silently telling me to hold on. He was speaking too low for me to really catch what was being said. Then he snapped his phone shut. "Rayne, before you say anything, you're my sister. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to look out for you."

I crossed my arms and demanded, "So what did you threaten him with this time?"

He avoided the question. "I'm not going to let you get hurt," was all he said.

I was about to start cussing again when I heard the pitter patter of little feet followed by a cry of, "Aunny Wayne!" I groaned. Control, Rayne, control.

"Hey, Zacky." I picked the tike up and set him on my hip. Cloud smirked in victory. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Rayne," he began, quieter and a bit more awkward than before. "I…" His cheeks gained just the slightest hint of color as he spoke. "I need a favor."

"Hm?"

"Could you watch Zack tonight?" he mumbled and looked away.

"Oh! Of course! You and Tifa have a nice night." I grinned. He gave me a shocked look, so I explained, "I was the one that planed it so you two could go out. Yuffie is taking care of Denzel and Marlene, right?" He nodded. "See? Don't worry about anything; just relax and enjoy yourselves."

He nodded again. "Thank you."

"Hey, we're family," I replied. I smiled, then I addressed the kid digging through my hair. "Right, squirt?" He giggled and hid behind his hands. "Just make sure I'll have everything I need to take care of him."

"Tifa already took care of that." He nodded to the two bags in the corner.

"Right-o." I carried the little-tike off to entertain him while Cloud helped Tifa.

After a while I got a call. I flipped the phone open and Zack made a grab for it. "Hi!" he called into the phone. "Who this?" Another pause. "Uh huh." Yet another pause, then, "Kay." Then he handed the phone to me.

I took the phone. "Hello?"

"Who was that?" a very confused Reno asked.

I laughed. "Zack," I explained. "He grabbed the phone, sorry."

"So it's safe to assume you're up?"

"Is that why you called?"

"Got bored." I could almost hear the shrug.

I laughed again. "So what are you suppose to be doing?"

He sighed. "Paper work. Not that fun."

"Tell Rude I said hi."

"Why do you think we share an office?"

"You do, don't you?"

"Yeah, but why do you just assume that?"

"Partner's usually do." I switched topics before he could reply. "Oh, I hope you don't mind, but I've volunteered to take care of Zack tonight."

He was quiet for a moment. "Why?"

"Because Cloud and Tifa deserve some time to themselves," I replied. Then a more pressing thought came to mind. "Cloud called you, didn't he?"

He sighed. "Yeah; told me if I hurt you he wouldn't hesitate to kill me."

I groaned. "He's so overprotective."

"He cares," he replied.

I shrugged. "Doesn't mean he's not over protective."

I heard him mumble something to someone else, then, "Rude said hey."

"And he told you to get back to work, didn't he?"

He groaned. "Yeah."

"Then get to work!" I snapped the phone shut and laughed. "He's so funny, isn't he Zacky?"

"Funny head," he giggled.

* * *

Tifa had closed the bar and I was just about to leave with Zack. "Now, don't even worry about Zack. He's in good hands. Denzel and Marlene should be old enough to not be corrupted by Yuffie so you don't need to worry about a thing. Just have fun and enjoy your night together."

"Thank you so much, Rayne," Tifa said, hugging me then hugging Zack. "Be good for Aunt Rayne, okay Zack?"

"If anything happens-"

I cut Cloud off. "Nothing will happen," I said firmly. "But just in case, I have both of your numbers." He nodded. I hoisted the tike onto my back and called, "We're off. See you two tomorrow." I carried Zack back to Reno's house, him practically choking me the entire time.

When Reno got home he stared at the child and me sitting on the floor playing in front of the TV. "Welcome home," I chimed.

"Who that?" Zack asked.

"That's Reno," I offered.

"Funny head?"

"Yep, that's funny head." I laughed and turned to Reno. "This is Zack," I offered. He just stared at him. "Reno?"

"What?" He snapped out of it and looked at me.

"You okay?"

"Too much paperwork," he groaned.

I grinned at his expression. "Oh, hey."

"Huh?"

"Are you going to take a shower?" I asked off handedly.

"Yeah…why?"

I grinned sheepishly. "Um…well, I was going to make something to eat so…do you think maybe you could give him a bath before you shower?" He gave me a disbelieving stare. "Please?" I gave him the puppy dog face.

He groaned again. "Fine," he gave in.

I jumped up with a cry of, "Thank you!" I grabbed Zack's clothes and handed them to the small child. "Follow Reno, okay Zack?"

"Kay!" He picked himself off the floor and waddled over to the red head.

I gave Reno a peck on the cheek. "Thank you." I repeated then skipped off to the kitchen. "Now…" I mumbled to myself, "What do I remember how to make?" I dug through the cabinets, finding everything I needed for my favorite dish that Zack could eat on too. I was setting everything on the table when Zack came running into the kitchen, Reno following after with a look of discomfort on his face. "Something wrong?"

"He likes to pull things," he explained.

"What, did he pull on your hair?" I laughed.

"At first. Then he decided the goggles were a more interesting target." I covered my mouth as not to laugh. "It's not funny!" he cried.

"I know," I mumbled, a few giggled escaping. "I know; I'm sorry." I picked Zack up and sat him in my lap. "Don't pull on things that aren't yours," I tried to scold him, but I couldn't keep from smiling.

Reno glared at me and sat across from me, his demeanor changing at the sight of food. "What is this?" he asked curiously.

"Chicken, dumplings, potatoes, and rolls," I explained, smiling. "I'm surprised I got it all done before you finished up."

"Smells good."

"Let's hope it tastes good," I said warily. I was happy to learn that I hadn't lost my touch when it came to cooking. I was even happier to see how much Reno liked it and surprised to see how neatly Zack ate. He hardly made any mess at all.

I let Zack play by himself while I cleaned the kitchen. I returned to the living room to see Reno playing with him. At first I thought Zack was forcing Reno into it, but after a moment of observation, I could tell this wasn't the case. Reno actually looked like he was having fun. Then he got embarrassed when he saw me watching them, and stopped.

Then it was my turn to entertain Zack while Reno watched. We played until Zack looked like he was going to keel over. I set him in his fold up playpen; he fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow.

I smiled and sat beside Reno on the couch. I turned to the red-head. "I thought you didn't like little kids," I said, half teasing, half serious.

He shrugged, watching the little tuff of brown hair roll over. "I make exceptions," he finally said.

"I think you'd be a good father, Reno." The comment came out of nowhere, but I honestly meant it.

"What? Why?" That seemed to disturb him.

"You just seem like you would," I said, shrugging it off. "You can certainly make him happy." I scooted closer to him and leaded against him. "Why? You don't think you would?"

"I dunno." He moved his arm, letting it rest on the back of the couch. It was quiet as we watched the boring movie on the TV screen. "You don't seem so nervous anymore," he commented.

I shrugged. "I'm getting used to being around you, I guess."

"Good," he replied, grinning.

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I like being this close to you." He smiled.

"Uh huh." I rolled my eyes and turned back to the TV.

"What?"

"Nothing; I was just thinking how easy it is to please you."

He laughed. "At this point no one else could."

"Why?"

"You're all I want," he replied seriously. He smiled softly, his green eyes glowing.

"Aw, you're so sweet." I laughed, more to myself. "Never thought I'd say that about you, Reno. But you are."

"So you regret moving in with me yet?" he teased.

"Maybe," I joked back. Then I smiled, and added more seriously, "I'm actually really glad I did."

"So am I."

"I know you are, Reno."

"So? Doesn't mean I can't say it," he retorted.

"Hey, Reno?" I called.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up." I sat up and kissed him. He didn't hesitate to kiss me back. His hand slid to the back of my neck, but he still didn't push it farther. I felt my respect for him grow even more. I probably wouldn't have stopped him from deepening the kiss, but he was still taking it slow. For me. I pulled away with a smile.

"What happened to wanting to take it slow?" he asked, humor coloring his tone.

I shrugged then got up and flitted to the bedroom. "I'm going to bed."

"I'm coming," he called. He heaved himself off the couch and followed me shaking his head with a smile.

Reno POV

She fell asleep quickly that night, probably because that kid tired her out. Last night she had wrapped herself around my arm, but she didn't do that tonight. Instead- much to my pleasure- she curled up right beside me, resting her head on my chest before drifting off. I was a bit worried she'd try to bite my head off when I had to get up in the morning, but I didn't think about that too much. She looked perfectly at peace, and I found myself staring.

I'm an idiot if I screw this up, I thought. Watching her sleep, stroking her hair out of her face, I knew that I didn't want to lose that. I've waited too long for this. And it had been well worth the wait. I wasn't going to jeopardize this- the chance to just lay beside her while she slept- for anything. I was not about to fuck up now.

I saw the clouds forming tornadoes in the sky
The winter winds blew on lake Michigan that night
I carved your name into my arm
So I would remember you
Sometimes it hurts so bad I don't want to know what to say
Enacting Sybil vane in some tragic way
So afraid that I can't ever explain

-'Scream' by Kill Hannah