What If

Disclaimer: You should know well enough by now

Authors note: I feel like a right idiot for not uploading sooner but it's been a hell of a long ride with my life at the moment and I've only just found some quality time to write and sort out stuff. Ignore my previous author notes, they were written before today (Nov 1st) which shows just how much hassle I've had in getting sorted out. Anyway hope you read and please review cause my muse is starting to wain a little and I need a good old prod occasionally.

Planning

Making his way back home from the long grind that was now his working life, Vincent let out a sigh and stared up at the clouds with an unnaturally worried expression. Today was the day he had been dreading and for half-a second he had desperately wanted something to happen at work to keep him there but his luck was never that good and after the last time he had worked night shift on the reactor there was virtually no chance that he would ever do so again. He sighed, shaking his head before dragging his feet along the ground. All of their carefully laid plans, all the time spent moving and getting lost, the changes in appearance and accent soon it would all amount to nothing. He didn't want this to be the end of such a long journey, one that had seen all three of them through many different paths. He wanted life to remain like this, quiet, sensible and organised…actually now that he really thought about it, his life was nothing like that at all.

Especially since Sephiroth had started having his gang of mates around, not that Vincent minded in the slightest of course but it was a tad on the worrying side when you walked in to your house, heard screams and races upstairs expecting to find the worse thing imaginable, only to discover that it was a pile of kids fighting over something or rigging a trap to either trip you up, cover you in flower or dump a bucket of water over your head. All three had happened consecutively the other night and Vincent had not been best pleased with the results at first. But after a firm wack of a wooden ruler across his knuckles from his wife, Vincent had begun to wish that he could wear the gauntlet again.

Blinking at the smile he found on his face for such thoughts, the ex-gunslinger shook his head and headed home. There was no point in worrying over what was going to happen; they had put it off as long as could be done and now there was no other choice. Going back to Midgar was an option that neither wanted but if they wished to see their second child born without complications then they would have to go. Letting out another sigh, he paused again for no discernable reason and stared around the square.

There wasn't much going on at the moment, there never was at this time of night but he had heard rumours that strange people traded at times like this. Some of the elders said that if troubles were brewing in your mind then head to the square at the fall of darkness and they'll be answered. It was a load of poppycock, Vincent knew that but tonight he would have been willing to believe in anything. Still looking around the traders that were there, it was clear that no one was going to be able to help the pair of them hide in the big city.

Turning to go, he walked into someone and stumbled through an apology before he got half a look at the figure. It was a small woman, dressed in fine silks and her head was covered with a veil that only betrayed the glow of her light brown eyes. The smell of incense gave her away clearly and Vincent wasn't entirely sure what to do. He had expressively forbidden Sephiroth to trade with any Wutainese in the market, not because he didn't trust them or their goods but more for the fact that he was terrified that the boy would be snatched away. There were rumours of travellers who dressed as Wutan's to lure children into a false sense of security and then snatched them to be slaves all around the world. "I am sorry" he said, stepping back to allow the woman to step past him.

Instead her eyes smiled at him, "You are lost traveller, on a road of stars that you cannot see the true meaning of yet" she said mystically.

Vincent glared, he was not the type to bother with the mythic or stars or anything of that sort and dually was not impressed at all. "Sure lady…whatever" he said as politely as could be managed before turning to get home.

"You want to go to the big city but are afraid of being caught right?" she said with a giggle which caused Vincent to hurriedly turn around with a threatening stare but she only continued to smile, "Do not worry, I read it in your eyes more than anything. Here, take this…it shall bring you good fortune"

She passed Vincent a glowing lime coloured materia and the next thing the gunslinger knew he was alone in the square. Blinking his red eyes, he looked around carefully before heading off home without a thought as to what had just happened. As it transpired later, the materia was so rare that its effect wasn't easy to pin-point until they happened to try it randomly.

Its name was disguise and it did exactly that.

It was the perfect thing for getting them to Midgar and back safely.