I know yeah, I skipped ANOTHER Thursday, but it was thanksgiving! That sort of gives me an excuse… lol

Wake Me Up

The Definition of a Monster

I didn't move from the living room couch the entire day. Ayden insisted he could make it home on his own. So not only did I have what the man had said to me to worry about, I was worried to death if he'd return home ok.

After three o'clock, I stood by the window waiting to see that little red head popping up over the hill. There was less daylight in Nibelhiem so by four o'clock it was already growing dark.

"You should go looking for him…" I jumped slightly at hearing that deep voice. I spun around to see him standing there, eyes fixed on the sky outside.

"Any minute he'll…" Show up. I finished the sentence in my head. The dark man behind me sighed heavily.

"Close the window. Should the moonlight bathe over me, you'll see why it is not safe for you to be here." It was funny how loud his footsteps appeared to be as he walked away, yet I hadn't heard a sound when he first approached me.

"Why do you always do that?" I asked. I was always late responding to him. Maybe it was just easier talking to his back.

"Hm?" He turned his head to the side, but didn't face me.

"Drop hints here and there, leaving me confused." I said softly walking towards him. He turned slowly. I regretted meeting eyes with him as my knees threatened to give out. It wasn't the kind of 'head over heels' weakness, but almost a fear. His eyes were so intense.

"What's there to be confused about, Marcella? I'm a monster. Monsters are capable of horrible things, therefore you should not stay within the presence of one." I flinched at the use of my name. He said it so naturally as if he'd known me so well. Perhaps he did, all that time he spent 'sleeping' while his alter ego invaded my brain.

"I see…" My voice was nothing but a whisper. The man's eyes darted from mine to the door. A second after, my son came walking through it. He stopped short looking up the tall man behind me. His blue green eyes then met mine.

"Hi mom." He said faintly passing by me. "Hi Vincent." He didn't look at the man as he passed by him and walked up the stairs to his bedroom.

"Vincent?" I asked, clarifying that that was indeed his name. He nodded and spoke again. "Valentine."

"Oh." I said awkwardly. It wasn't like I had to introduce myself. I moved passed him following my son into his room.

"How was school?" I asked him taking a seat on his blue bedspread. He shrugged opening his backpack and sitting all his school books on his desk. "How did you know that man's name?" I whispered to him.

"He can hear you. He hears everything." Ayden said quickly turning to me.

"Honey, what's wrong? You're not acting like my little Aid." I smiled and tried to manage a laugh. He sighed loudly and sat down at his desk not saying a word to me. I walked over to him and tried to pat his hair, but at an unnatural speed, he grabbed my wrist and pushed me away.

"Don't touch me."

"Sweetie…" I backed up against the wall looking down at my bruised wrist. There was no way that strength was his. I left his room so he wouldn't see me crying.

I sat down on my bed, trying to stop the tears. I couldn't believe what was happening to my perfect life. Eventually I composed myself again and went downstairs to fix dinner. I wondered should I bother to fix enough for Vincent. I didn't want to be rude, but I wasn't sure if he deserved to be treated kindly… He…or the demon, someone had done something to Ayden.

"Aid, hun… dinner's ready." He was still seated at his desk.

"I'm not hungry."

I sighed loudly and tried to be strong. "Ayden Marshal!"

He turned to me. "What mom?" he stared at me blankly.

"I spent the last hour cooking dinner and you will eat." I put my hand on my hip as I glared at him. He stood up and walked past me slowly.

"Fine." That monotone voice wasn't like him… I followed him into the kitchen watching him closely. Vincent stood in the hallway leaned up against the door of the guest bedroom.

I stopped near him. "There's dinner…"

At first he looked as if he were about to decline, then he nodded and followed me down the stairs and into the kitchen. Dinner was disturbingly quiet. Vincent and I both kept watching Ayden and after he left the room I turned to him.

"You know what's wrong with him, don't you?"

Vincent nodded. "Chaos has corrupted him." He spoke as if that were the most normal thing in the world.

"Well how do I stop it?!" I exclaimed. Vincent sighed heavily.

"Your son has to stop it himself." He stood carrying his plate to the kitchen sink. He then did something unexpected. He unbuckled his cloak and swept it over the back of the chair before picking up mine and Ayden's empty plates and taking them to the sink. I caught a glimpse of his face as he leaned over me to grab my plate. He couldn't be a monster… His features were too flawless. I sat at the table trying to take in all that was happening. "There's nothing I can do?"

"If you keep trying to interfere…he'll keep rejecting you. He has to want control of his own mind." Vincent spoke calmly as he scrubbed away at the dishes.

I wiped away a stray tear. "Why is this happening…" It was a question to myself that didn't need a reply. Vincent finished the dishes in silence and dried his hand, putting his glove back on. He wiped his metal arm dry and put his cloak back on.

"Thank you for the dinner." He said making his exit. I sat at the dinner table trying not to cry.

The next day while Ayden was at school, I hung out at Tifa's new bar. I chose not to tell her what was going on. I needed a place where I could go and pretend like everything was ok, and that's what I did. I even had a few drinks and that's not something I'd done for years. However, that moment ended and I had to return home again. I greeted Ayden when he came home, but didn't ask him any questions or follow him to his room. Vincent advised me it was best to leave him alone and not speak to him.

Tonight for the first time I felt ready to look back at old photos, so I sat in the library flipping through Ayden's baby pictures and really old photos of Reno and I when we were back in high school. I felt a presence and looked up to see Vincent browsing the books in the library. He picked an old album that was literally covered in dust. He sat down at the same table as me and began flipping through it. I looked over and gasped when I saw the Turk.

"How long ago was that?" I asked breaking the harsh silence in the room.

"Thirty years ago."

"Oh." I looked back down at my own photos. I couldn't help but smile looking at all of Reno's goofy faces. I felt eyes on me, but didn't dare look up.

Never lose that smile.

I finally looked up at Vincent. "Did you say something?"

He shook his head no, but there was a glint in his eyes. Perhaps if I could see under that cloak, I would have been able to read his expression better. He closed his book of memories and stood, leaving the room.

I'll try not to. I thought knowing he could probably hear it. I didn't know how much I liked my thoughts being read, but I couldn't worry too much about caring.