Hi everyone! I'm finally back with the next chapter! It's been a while and my life has just been hectic so (like in all my other chapters ^^") I'm sorry it's so late. Finals have been driving me nuts! All I hope is that everyone enjoys this chapter because I sure know I enjoyed writing it!
Reviews:
Captain Arbitary:. . .oh. My. God. Really? From Cloti to Clerith? Wow. Thank you for your kind words and I hope you like this chapter too.
One Sky-One Dream-One Destiny: Confused? Ok I guess, hope you like this one.
Imashitowareto: Glad I cleared it up ^^
myloveispurity8: You really do make me blush, thank you so much. It's a shame though, I really love this story but the combination of not knowing how to continue it and life can clash and get the best of me sometimes.
Dea Lux: Don't we all around Cloud? XD
Animefan111: I really wish I could continue but that's still up for debate. Thank you so much, you don't know how relieved I feel after reading your review, it's always a struggle for me to write Cloud in character because of his stoic and somber demeanor and often times I worry that I write him OOC. I just don't like stories where he's OOC so you don't know how glad I am someone thinks I did a good job with him.
Disclaimer: FFVII and all its characters do not belong to me; they belong to the good people at SQUARE-ENIX.
Enjoy!
EDIT: 7/20/11
Reeve softly blew the steam away from his coffee as his eyes scanned the monstrous stack of papers on his desk.
No wonder there weren't others competing for his job.
Setting the mug down on the wooden surface, he looked away, and let his hand wander, "Ennie, Mennie, Mynnie, Mo. . ."
Grasping the last paper he touched, he looked left, then right, searching for anyone who might have seen such a childish act. The halls were empty, with no one to be seen. Satisfied with his surroundings, he raised the paper off the stack and stared at it blankly, it was an envelope. Raising an eyebrow, he slowly tore it open, nobody sent letters anymore. With all their world's technological advances, handwritten letters were something hardly ever seen, dropping his eyes to the paper inside he unfolded it and began to read, raising his mug to his lips. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the words, the third degree burn on his tongue ignored as the message registered in his mind. His cheeks started to fill with the steaming liquid, like a chipmunk storing its food, the action of swallowing being completely forgotten.
His eyes widened, the pain finally hitting him full force, and he spit the burning coffee, turning it into a misty tan spray, his senses flooding back to him all at once. Placing the mug back down on the table he reread the letter. Shaking his head, he folded the paper back up and placed it in his breast pocket.
His hand made its way to the phone on the edge of his desk and dialed a number, the dial tone rang for a few short seconds before someone picked up, Reeve stood up straight before he spoke, "I'll be leaving for a short while, inform Vincent and Shelke we'll have to meet up at a later date." He listened to the other end as his assistant typed quickly on her computer and confirmed the meeting move, assuring him she would contact Mr. Valentine. Placing the phone back on the receiver, he walked out of his office and closed the door softly behind him.
Cloud crossed his arms over his chest at what he saw, but he wasn't annoyed or upset, merely intrigued.
As the days went by, Aerith was beginning to grow weaker bit by bit, spending half the day in bed even after waking, and wincing every now and then from abdominal pains. He was starting to become worried. He was an only child, he didn't know what a woman was supposed to go through in a normal pregnancy and even growing up in Nibelheim didn't help much. When he was small, all the children in his hometown were exactly the same age or at least in the same age group, no one could remember so and so going through . . . or that couple experiencing . . . except for the adults. Even when they had returned to the small village, there were no kids in sight, time had done its work. Everyone had grown up.
Right now, when he wished for nothing more than to understand how things were supposed to go, he watched her chest rise and fall evenly as she slept. Seemingly boundless chocolate hair fanned out, and draped over her shapely curves, and her lips, a color so beautiful he couldn't find the words to describe them, parted. She was beautiful. Oh so beautiful. Even with the size of their baby becoming more . . .conspicuous.
Their baby.
Their baby?
He tilted his head, but never stopped observing her. His eyes unconsciously fell to the ample swell of her tummy, and again, the thought crossed his mind. Their baby.
How long had he waited for this?
Pushing himself quietly off the doorframe, so not to disturb her, he walked forward. The mattress dipped just the slightest when he sat beside her, but not so much to wake her, her lips parted like she was going to speak, but instead, a soft moan escaped. A small smile crept its way to the corners of his mouth, but disappeared as soon as it had appeared, his attention was caught by the frame she clutched close to her heart. Brows furrowing, he slowly reached for it, sliding it out of her hands with ease and into his own gloved ones. The picture inside made his heart drop and his fingers clench the wood and glass that protected it.
It was Aerith, when she was younger, but, Zack was there too, pressing his forehead to her cheek as they both laughed . . . before she ever met him. Unease sent a cold, bitter chill through his body, reminding him all too much of the days when Geostigma had been a worldwide epidemic. Reminding him, of the time they had spent together, locked in Marlene's room in the Seventh Heaven, screaming at each other. Yelling, bickering, shouting, him grabbing her by the shoulders, forcing her up against the wall and demanding she get over Zack before it killed her. Her, with angry tears in her eyes, telling him it was her fault he died, carrying the blame on her shoulders and running from him every chance she got. . . him. . .truly believing she. . .was still in love with Zack.
Cloud set the frame down on the nightstand, face expressionless. He thought he'd gotten over his jealousy of the love she still had for her departed ex-boyfriend . . . his departed best friend. Apparently he was wrong, though it wasn't as potent as before. 'A part of her', she said, 'would still always care for him'. Back then the very thought of her, traveling the world alone, seeking a chance at forgiveness from a dead man she once loved, while searching for a cure to the cruel disease that had taken so many lives, angered him more than anything.
Now though, things were different.
He loved her. Fully, completely, utterly, he wasn't ashamed to admit it. Looking over his shoulder at her now, sleeping peacefully with a hand resting protectively above her midsection and her wedding necklace lying against the curve of her breast, he knew. Ever since that day in the church, when they cured her Geostigma and Denzel's, her restrictions were gone, she was free. Free to smile, free to laugh, and free to live her life without the guilt. She had never given him a reason once, to doubt her love ever since that day.
Reaching over, he grasped the picture once more and stared at it, finally understanding what it was that had held her back for so long.
A small smile crossed his face.
". . .She just wishes you could be here with us," he whispered.
She cared for Zack. There was nothing he could do to change that.
But, turning he gazed at her once more, she loved him. She was as much in love with him as he was with her, and he knew, no matter how many years went by, there was nothing he could do to change that, even if he wanted too. Leaning down he pressed his lips softly to her cheek as his hand rested beside her own on top of her middle, she loved him, and he loved her, there was nothing anyone could do to change that.
Something thumped against his palm.
Barret smacked himself in the face.
Not literally, but mentally.
He couldn't believe he'd never noticed before!
"''Ey!"
Everyone looked up at him, and he looked left and right, crossing his arms over his chest, he continued, "Am I the only one who's noticed Spiky and Aerith haven't shown up for the past coup'la weeks?"
The room fell quiet, the only sound being Cid's tea cup hitting the table. Said blond cursed loudly at the mess and wiped at his shirt, grumbling, "Fucking tea!" Tifa froze in her spot, hand suspended in midair to reach for a glass, mouth falling open at his statement. Yuffie scratched the back of her head nervously, everyone else seeming to follow suit in uncomfortable shifting. Barret's eyes narrowed and he sighed, "I'll take that as a yes."
"Now that you mention it . . ." everyone said at once, with the exception of Vincent, who wasn't there.
Yuffie spun around on her bar stool, stopping it to face Barret, "The last time I saw Aerith was before she went out with Cloud on his birthday." Tifa's hand came to fall at her side and she gasped.
"That was already so long ago!"
Nanaki sat up from his spot on the floor, "Their week off is well over ended."
Everyone looked down at once, well, everyone besides for Cid, who was leaning back in his chair, drinking the remnants of his tea. With a sigh, Barret turned to Tifa, "Teef, can I use your phone?" Her dark eyes snapped up to his, and she nodded hurriedly, going back to her work.
"Over there," she said pointing to the far end of the counter, Barret nodded, stepping towards it, and removing it from the receiver. She wiped down one of the glasses as he punched in the numbers, watching him from the corner of her eyes a little worriedly. 'He's not going to call them is he?' She thought to herself. Bringing the phone to his ear he leaned against the wall, and tapped his boot to what she could only guess was the dial tone, before he stood up straight.
"Elmyra?" He said into the phone and she almost dropped the glass, "Hey, it's me, Barret." He was silent as he listened to Aerith's mother on the other end of the line. He smiled, "How you been doing?". Pause. "That's great," He chuckled as Tifa watched him cautiously, "hey, you wouldn't happen to know if Aerith has the kids would you?" Everyone turned around and waited, wondering if that was the reason they hadn't seen or heard from the brooding blond and the cheery flower girl. Barret's expression never changed as he listened to the older woman, "Oh, okay," he tilted his head as she continued and he nodded, "right." Tifa set the glass down, trying to piece together his end of the conversation, when he smiled, "Aw'right, I'll let you go now. Tell the kids I said hi. Bye." Yuffie turned to Barret immediately, curiosity piqued.
"So? What happened?"
Barret scratched the back of his head, "The kids are with Elmyra. Says she hasn't heard from Aerith in a while."
"What about Cloud?"
Barret laughed, "You really think she'd care where Cloud is?"
"You got a point," Yuffie said leaning back against the counter, "Wonder where they could be." Barret sat down in front of Tifa silently as the young ninja went on and on about all the possibilities. Tifa smiled at her and went back to cleaning the glasses, letting her mind wander. Of course when it did, she instantly wished it hadn't. She thought about that night on the SHERA, when she found Aerith's box of. . .tests. Had she been wrong to doubt her assumption? What other reason would the woman who was almost always with her friends have for vanishing into thin air?
Elmyra set the phone down on the charger, and frowned. She'd been so busy taking care of the children, she hadn't even realized her own daughter hadn't called her in a while. The door burst open, and Marlene and Denzel came rushing in, laughing happily as they chased each other around the room, Elmyra smiled at them and went back to preparing lunch, "Alright you two settle down, the food's almost done." They both stopped in their tracks but the happiness never left their faces, calming down a bit, they walked toward the kitchen table and sat down, Elmyra looked over her shoulder at Marlene, then back to her work, "You know, your father called." Marlene looked up at Denzel and he stared back, equally surprised.
The little girl turned around in her chair and stared at the older woman, "Does that mean we can go back to Edge?" They both loved Elmyra, they really did, but they missed everybody back in Edge. They missed Barret, Tifa, Cloud, and Aerith, Marlene unconsciously watched Denzel as he waited for Elmyra's reply. He especially missed Cloud and Aerith. She could only imagine what he was feeling after being apart from them for so long, the three had gone through so much together, they were like a family.
Elmyra didn't turn around, too focused on her work, "He didn't say." Denzel sighed and leaned on the table, while Marlene slumped back in her chair. It hurt Elmyra to see them like this but she had no other choice, her daughter and Marlene's father were involved in a dangerous clean-up job after the whole DeepGround attack, so she had no choice but to keep them in a safe environment. Opening the cupboards, she withdrew three plates and set them down on the counter, before she could even think, words were spilling out of her mouth, "But he never said you couldn't." Both their eyes widened at the same time, and instantly the air in the room became lighter.
"Really?" Denzel asked, a little skeptically. Elmyra stopped what she was doing and met the young boy's eyes, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she slowly nodded.
"Yes!" Marlene shouted, and the two children high fived each other from across the table.
Elmyra smiled as an idea came to her, walking to the table with their plates in hand she spoke, "We'll go right after you're done." Setting the plates down in front of them the children's large smiles fell, they had sandwiches, sure, BUT, right on the side of both their sandwiches was a large heaping mass of a different assortment of vegetables. At the same time they looked up at her and she smiled at both of them, "And I do mean everything."
Oh, Aerith used to hate when she did that.
