It's been a long time but chapter 14 is finally here!
Lots of factors have contributed to the delay of this chapter including a long hesitation to continue it. I started this story as an admittedly cliché (would that be the word for it?) writer, now that I am no longer the little grammatically incorrect, plot flawed, and romance obsessed little 9th grader I was when I first wrote this story, and have come to realize just how much my writing and understanding of the game and its characters has developed, I have been faced with the question of what to do next. Since I am replaying the game with a more analytical perspective of not only the love triangle, but the characters and plot, I started to see the major flaws in my AU of the original game, which of course leads to Advent Children: Undivided, and then lastly to A Change of Pace. Also, with the addition of my recent learning of the post Advent Children novella On The Way to A Smile-TURKS-The Kids Are Alright (yeah, I'm not as dedicated a fan as I thought), and my reading of a brief summary of the book since I cannot find a reliably translated version of the story, it seems that SQUARE had decided to change the plot of Advent Children once more with the addition of two new characters, that would ultimately change the plot of Advent Children: Undivided as well since Aerith's role in the story is more behind the scenes, giving her many opportunities to have interacted with these two new characters during the time frame the novella takes place during. During a quick read through of the story, I'd also come to realize just how much of the content I have included in A Change of Pace would never really happen in game, the way I have finally concluded, it could really be considered a novella to the AU.
A lot of important elements to the plot I had squished in there just so the readers would know what was going on would never happen "on screen" in a technical sense. For example, the flashback to Rufus' capture and rape of Aerith would never be included in the novella if it were real, because the novella would rely on the reader to have already known that it had happened. Another big point—that also proved to be a popular little tidbit—was the flashback to the wedding. Thinking about it as if it had happened in game, it never would have happened on screen either, since the protagonist of DoC was Vincent and not Cloud; the most we probably would have gotten out of it would have been a sentence alluding to the engagement in both Cloud and Aerith's descriptions in the DoC manual and possibly a description of the mid-battle wedding in an ultimania. There is also the problem of the wedding itself, since it was very obvious that the scene had been inspired by Pirates of The Caribbean: At World's End I have a feeling it wouldn't have gone down that way either since it almost exactly mirrors the wedding of Elizabeth and Will.
All of these factors and more have led me to the question I have still not found an answer to: What now? Do I simply scrap my AU altogether? Leave it incomplete? Start over? I don't know, and I'm still unsure as to whether or not I should soldier on much like SQUARE has and continue even with all the changes in plot from the original source, and my own revisions to the AU.
I would really like to start over again, but life is a bit hectic right now and to truly get the story as close to canon as I'd like it to be, I'd have to spend a lot more time doing research on these novellas and replaying all the games that are within reach (I've almost entirely forgotten what happened in Dirge of Cerberus and the minor plot points in Crisis Core). I know, it seems like a lot of work over an AU that won't even be read by that many people, and I admit it is, but I love these characters and this world I've built with them of a life together, something the small majority of us Clerith shippers could read and enjoy with a bittersweet smile. The life they could have had, the struggles but also the triumphs, and the addition of a tiny Cetra to call their own. I love this story and I want to do it over again, the right way, but am unsure as to whether I'd have the time or patience. I'm almost certain that you readers wouldn't be very happy having to read it all over from the beginning again either, so I also have to take you guys into consideration as well. Any thoughts? Opinions? Would you guys be willing to read it from the beginning once more? I'd really like to know what you all think. And hey, maybe we could call it A Change of Pace: Complete :) Just kidding, just kidding! But really, I would really love to hear what your guys' thoughts would be on a revision of the story. Some of these chapters were a little embarrassing to read, and now that I'm older and have a better sense of what is written well and what is just plain overdone I'd like to give all of you guys a better story, one that truly deserves to tell the story of the next Cetra.
So thoughts, comments, opinions, let me know! I'd really like to start this story again right for all the wonderful readers and friends I've made in this little fandom of ours. For now though, the old story shall continue, just until I get enough input about the new story.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. This is purely a fan made work. SQUARE-ENIX owns the characters and locations; I only take credit for Aerith and Cloud's baby.
The light tapping of rain against the window was the only thing keeping her awake by this point.
Aerith sat by the window silently, head resting against the cool glass that was slowly but surely warming from the heat of her cheek. She watched as she took even breaths in and out, fogging up the window in opaque clouds that faded out once they had traveled too far. Rain in November, it wasn't unheard of but it still made her sleepy. Reaching out she drew a circle in the fog, dotting it with two fingers and then dragging her nail underneath the two dots, making a smile. Staring at the little face smiling back at her from the window, she reached a finger out again and rubbed in some bangs, similar to her own, moving once the job was done to stare at her creation once more. She frowned at it. Blowing in the direction of the doodle it fogged over, leaving behind no trace of the little smiling Aerith that felt nothing like the big frowning Aerith she really was.
Big, ha! Moving her head off the window she rested it in the palm of her hand, eyes never leaving the spot where poor little doodle Aerith had been blown away. Big felt like an understatement. She was pregnant, she obviously knew she was going to get bigger, she knew her body would change, she knew she was going to have to say goodbye to her healthy frame and say hello to her baby belly, she knew! But she didn't think it was going to be so damn hard!
Sighing she tapped her fingers against her chin in a wave like rhythm, thinking. Her life had changed so drastically in the last five months; for starters her mother was now living with her, giving herself the room that the children would usually occupy during visits. It wasn't bad, and she had no intention whatsoever of kicking her out, but she hadn't quite expected her to stay. Then there was the matter of the Turks, the team of Reno, Rude, and sometimes Tseng that would sometimes make base in her household, "following orders". After a long conversation in Cloud's office that she had been forced to keep out of, the other occupants of the house had all agreed that it'd be best for them all to pretend like nothing had happened, to go on with their normal routines like usual . . . with the exception of the patrols done by the Turks and her mother's ever warming presence downstairs, either cleaning up or cooking in the kitchen.
Cloud had gone back to work, the one person she really needed to be with her and he had gone, leaving her every day depending on whatever time the deliveries had been scheduled for. After they had finished their little no-Aeriths-allowed meeting, Cloud had led her to the bedroom afterwards, sitting her down and giving her only scant detail of what had been discussed. Everyone had agreed it would be best for him to continue his deliveries, to not draw even the slightest bit of suspicion towards them. Of course she had protested, seeing that he was needed at home more than on the road, needed by her, but he could only shake his head, trying to explain to her just what their situation looked like from the outside. Strife Delivery Service had been down for nearly three and a half-months, that was already a red flag, and she had to admit, she had completely forgotten about the small home business they had run together for the past two years, but still she tried. She fished for something, anything that would keep him home but her words had failed her.
They were right, the business had been down too long for merely their clients alone to ignore, and she was certain she would have received many calls about their whereabouts had it not been for her mother and Cloud taking the calls, leaving her phone-less and without another connection to the outside world.
It was amazing! She was a grown woman, perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and yet here she was, being trapped! Caged in! Suffocated! All because people wanted to protect her, keep her safe. She thought back to that night, remembering Cloud's hands taking both of hers gently, rubbing soothing motions into her skin with rough ebony gloves, "We're only doing this because we care . . ."
She watched dazedly as the cars passed by, splashing water in rippling waves. Tilting her head, her eyes fell upon a pair leaving a store on the opposite side of the street, a mother shrugging her purse back into a comfortable position on her shoulder and a small girl hopping about in the puddles with bright yellow rain boots and a wide smile. The mother waited patiently for the girl to return, lips moving, and Aerith found herself wondering if she was calling the girl's name. Hopping back to her mother's side, the woman opened up a white umbrella, tilting it enough when she reached for the girl's hand for Aerith to see its moogle face print before walking off hand in hand with the girl down the opposite side of the street. She watched the mother and child's retreating backs until they were only small specks in the distance.
She sat there silently, warm breath fogging up the glass in time to her breathing, ". . . because you care," she repeated to herself.
'Mom . . . is this what you went through? Is this what you felt?'
Things were easier for her now than they had to have been for her mother, Shin-Ra claimed to be on her side. Shin-Ra had hunted down her mother, killed her even in the process. What must it have been like? To live each moment knowing that at any moment your life could be taken away from you? To not only be strong for yourself, but to be strong for your child? Aerith's arms circled her belly and she shielded it protectively, for all she knew, she could very well be answering those questions in the near future. They could only keep her locked up in her house for so long, they couldn't hide her forever. Pushing herself up from her place on the window seat, she shook her head. She couldn't stop contradicting herself. One moment she would just want to run, be free, be outdoors! . . . And then another she'd want to hide, bury herself in Cloud's arms until it was all over . . . both were appealing but neither felt right to her. With a sigh she made her way to the kitchen, somber musings trailing behind her like shadows. In the end it wouldn't matter what she wanted, she'd have to do whatever is best for her baby, even if it meant this was how to best protect it.
Taking a seat at the table her eyes flickered up to her mother, smiling happily as she hummed a merry tune. Walking towards her, Elmyra placed a steaming plate down in front of her and Aerith was greeted with the sight of pasta and meatballs, no sauce because she couldn't even stand the thought of tomatoes right now. Smiling up at the older woman, she took the fork from its place on the side of the plate and pushed the food around, spearing a few of the bow tie shaped noodles and popping them into her mouth. The doorbell rang and Elmyra rushed to go get it, waving a hand at her and telling her to sit back down, Aerith sighed halting her motion to stand and putting it into reverse, seating herself once more.
Returning to her food, she listened as the front door opened, and her mother spoke, "Oh, you again. How long are you going to keep doing this?"
Heavy footsteps entered the house and soon a familiar voice echoed about the room, "As long as we're needed, Babe!"
Aerith turned and saw her mother's hands clench at her sides bristling at being called such a word. Reno continued to let himself in, Rude following closely behind, closing an umbrella and placing it with the others. As the redhead made his way towards the kitchen she saw Rude place his umbrella by the door, a small box in his other hand.
Aerith's senses immediately heightened. The package was pink, which could only suggest the existence of something sweet inside, she felt her cheeks flush and she turned away. It was another little thing she hated about being pregnant, she wanted something sweet every minute of every day and it was pure agonizing torture to desperately crave something and not be allowed to go out and get it yourself. Groaning she placed a hand on her forehead when a hand placed itself on the table beside her plate. Looking up from the corner of her eye she was met with the sight or Reno leaning against the table, all his weight balanced on one leg as he smiled down at her, it would have been oh so charming if she had been a total stranger. With a grin to match his reputation, he leaned forward playfully, "Always nice to see your sexy self," he drawled, the words flowing like molasses right off his tongue.
She grinned back, shooing him away. Feeling her smile grow bigger as he held up his hands defensively and turned, "Yo, Rude! Bring the stuff o'er here!"
Aerith sighed and smiled bitterly.
"Right, 'cause I just feel so sexy right now," she muttered under her breath, alluding to all the unwanted but necessary changes to her body, and the disheveled and tired look she had passed one too many times in the mirror that morning.
The redhead's gaze fell back to her and the corner of his mouth twitched up, eyes sparkling mischievously, "Aw come on!" Taking a seat at the other end of the table he leaned towards her, "Well spill it out! Tell Papa Reno all about it!" He spread his legs and patted his knee to which she replied to with a raised eyebrow and a none too amused look thrown his way. "Fine! I find that girls have an easier time talking to me when they sit on my lap but have it your way," he shrugged nonchalantly, like it was her loss.
"Why? Does it remind them of Santa Claus?"
A stunned look crossed his face and she couldn't help but laugh at the way it scrunched up, appalled by her joke. Moving to lean on one elbow, his deflated look was soon replaced with one of determination as he fought to defend himself, "yeah, yeah, yeah, well girls happen to enjoy my company, but enough about me." A hand went to his chest in a gesture to himself, his pale blue eyes then became focused and he pointed a finger at her, "Let's talk about you, now tell me, Kitten, why don'cha feel sexy?"
She couldn't believe they were actually talking about this.
"This is the perfect conversation to be having with my mother in the same room."
Rude walked up with the pink box, placing it on the table before her. She was so tempted to look inside but didn't want to seem too eager. Assessing the situation for a couple seconds, he took a seat beside Reno, ready to silence the younger Turk if and when he ever crossed a line. Folding his hands together he silently observed. Reno pointed in the direction of the next room, "Yer mom ain't here! Now just answer the question!"
"No."
"Come on, answer it!"
"There's nothing to answer," she argued, popping another forkful of pasta into her mouth to avoid speaking further.
"Spike ain't putting out?"
Aerith's eyes widened and she nearly choked on her food, sputtering violently. Rude stood from his chair quick as lightning, moving to help her when she raised a hand squeaking out that it was okay over a particularly large chunk of meatball. Pounding on her chest, she cleared her throat, face hot, and glared at the smirking redhead. Under usual circumstances she would have found it funny, maybe even laugh, but her unstable over sensitized self had failed her and the truth was out and as clear as the nose on her face. Oh yes, the one check on her list of pregnancy annoyances that she had tried to pretend wasn't there since it was just so . . . strange.
Cloud wouldn't touch her.
He was freaked out, and she was too, just a little bit, but the desire wouldn't go away. It only returned with a vengeance, festering within her core, un-dealt with and as much as she was prepared for it, she had still honestly been surprised by the intensity in which she felt so-so—needy. Trying to hide all the emotions and thoughts going through her mind she turned her head trying and failing to seem unfazed.
"So that's what it is," Reno smiled smugly, having way too much fun with this revelation. "And I was just kiddin! Blondie won't take ya to pound tow—" Reno's face connected with the table, hard, and she just sat there beyond red, eyes wide, and watched as Rude dug the redhead's face into the table a few more times, for good measure, before releasing him.
"That's enough," the bald Turk said, arms crossing over his chest. He returned to sitting back in his chair, observing. Reno slowly sat back up, rubbing his nose and chin and everything else that ached.
"Fuck me," he cursed, hand still rubbing his jaw, he reached out and picked up his sunglasses placing them back on his forehead after their brief flight across the table, touching his lips to feel for blood, he glared at the older man, "did it have to be that hard?"
"Yes."
"Christ."
Aerith stood with her plate in hand, shaking her head.
"Hey-ey-ey!" Reno grabbed her by the elbow, dragging her back towards the table, "We're not done yet, si'down." Pulling her down into her chair he rubbed his nose a few more times before inhaling sharply though the nose, satisfied, he turned to her again, "So Strife's the reason you feel like you don't got it?"
She bit her lip, finding no way, to escape Reno's iron lock on her elbow and sighed, there was no use trying to get him to drop it either, the two Turks were here almost every day, he'd just keep asking until she cracked. "Look at me, Reno. Really look at me." She turned to him, and continued, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible, "It's not Cloud, it's just me." Reno released her arm but she continued, "I look exhausted! I'm huge! I'm uncomfortable all the time! What guy would possibly find this attractive?"
Reno continued to rub his chin, but she didn't know whether it still hurt or he was thinking really hard, "Some guys like that," he offered. The glare she gave him was just as understandable as a spoken response. Shrugging it off, he made a noise of finality, like no one could argue with his logic, "Kitten, relax. Trust me, plenty of guys see you in their dreams, you don't have to worry about a thing!"
"I still don't feel attractive."
"Oh, but you are!"
"Really?" she shot back unconvinced. She only wanted one man to find her attractive, to want her and need her as much as she needed him right now and he was unresponsive. Always finding an excuse to do something else instead of be with her. Her mother was beginning to question the many shopping trips she had sent her out on just to get a little time alone with him.
"Sure you are! A face like yours isn't something a lot of people see very often, you know," he reached into the pink box pulling out a ribbed doughnut coated in pink strawberry icing, her favorite, handing her the doughnut, he reached back in and pulled out a long maple bar handing it to Rude, who took it wordlessly. Aerith guessed he would have never gotten it himself if Reno hadn't have handed it to him. Reaching in once more, he pulled out a chocolate doughnut covered in sprinkles and munched thoughtfully, it was only after all the pastries had been passed out that she felt her face cross with confusion.
"How did you know—?"
"Not important."
She frowned, but let him continue anyway.
"Anyway, you're a pretty girl Aerith, even I'll admit, but then again I was completely convinced once you changed your outfit to that short little midriff thing you had going a while back," he grinned smugly. She rolled her eyes. Oh yes she remembered that outfit, she hadn't been able to wear it for months. After Geostigma she had really come to like it though, felt comfortable enough to show a little skin, confident even. Then she had gotten pregnant.
So much for that outfit.
"No matter how you look at it you can't deny it! Even if you're gonna have a kid, big deal, you should still know it's true," Taking a couple more bites, he chewed, swallowed, then pointed his doughnut at her, "Go ahead, say it!"
"Say it?"
"Come on say it!"
"Say what?"
Pounding his free hand on the table, he raised his doughnut high above his head, ""I'm a sexy bitch!""
Reno ducked, narrowly avoiding Rude's fist, "Not the bad kind! The 'I know I'm hot don't mess with me' kind! Come on say it! Assert your authority!" he roared, like he was leading an unstoppable army.
"Nah."
Reno slumped back into his chair, sending a bored glance her way, "you know you're really hard to talk to."
"So I've been told."
"You need more proof?" He asked, nearly at his wits end. And this was Reno, he didn't have a wits end. Shrugging her shoulders at him, she thought what the heck, and went with it.
"Sure, why not?"
"I'd do you," He smirked. This time he was too slow and Rude smacked him upside the head, making him drop his sprinkled treat. Holding the offended spot he glared at the older man again, rubbing angrily. "Always with the hitting! No 'Reno that's rude' or 'Reno shut up', no, always the hitting!"
Rude's arms went back to being crossed over his chest as he spoke, "That's the only way you'll learn."
"She wanted proof so I gave 'er proof!"
"This whole conversation is highly inappropriate," the bald Turk said. By way of explanation? She'd probably never know.
Reno picked his doughnut back up and took an angry bite, crumbs falling from his mouth as he talked, "You coulda said that at the beginning of the conversation!" Shoving the rest of the pastry into his mouth he chewed a few more times before swallowing, the lump of what was once chocolate, sprinkles, and bread traveling down his throat. Giving himself a couple seconds to clear his throat, he continued, "Where was I? Oh yeah, if you weren't so married to Cloud stick-up-his-ass Strife, I'd be all over you!" He shrugged wiping his hands off and putting his arms behind his head like what he said wasn't weird at all.
She stared at him skeptically; pretty certain he was only saying so to cheer her up and pushed matters further, "Even with my big fat baby belly?"
Grinning wickedly, he cocked his head at her, "I'm up for new things!" Before she could even register it happened Reno had backed away from Rude, his face the most serious she had ever seen and a finger pointed in Rude's direction, "Don't you even think of hitting me, man!" Sure enough Rude's left fist was poised to strike, the right innocently holding a half-eaten maple bar. Rude chewed once, then twice, and then slowly lowered his fist. The redhead wasn't too convinced though, static even as his eyes tracked the older man's every move, giving it a little more time, he moved back into his seat, satisfied. Turning back to her, he gave her another apathetic shrug, "But seeing as your man's killed the world's strongest SOLDIER twice, I'd say that puts you in a no-touchy zone, wouldn't it?"
She smiled glad that this awkward banter was beginning to come to an end, "I'd say it does, you know, just a little."
"So you finally believe me?"
Looking towards the table, she couldn't help the little smile that tugged at her lips, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. Nodding slowly, she finally conceded, letting Reno talk her into believing something she truly didn't feel at the moment. "Yes. I believe you."
"Good!"
Elmyra walked into the kitchen just as Aerith put her doughnut on a napkin off to the side. Sensing the awkward silence at her arrival, she raised an eyebrow questioningly and moved to the counter to turn on the coffee machine, "Did I miss something?"
Reno opened his mouth to speak but Aerith cut him off quickly, "Nope, nothing!"
Elmyra remained unconvinced but let it slide. "Whatever you say . . ."
Aerith returned to her pasta, eyes moving down to the fork in her hand when she caught something move in the corner of the room. The shifting image faded into the background but for a moment it had been clear as day.
Her eyes widened.
"Hey, when did we make the transition from beating each other up on the road to talking about your sex life in your crib?"
Aerith's eyes widened further as she flushed bright red and she faintly registered the sound of Elmyra dropping something on the counter behind her.
Turning the doorknob, Cloud let himself into the house, pocketing his keys once he closed the door behind him.
It had been a long day, not easy either, the first client had decided to hold up the rest of the orders with false accusations that took about an hour of explaining himself out of, even with the paperwork to prove his case in front of him, that man just couldn't get it through his thick skull. Then on top of that it had rained on him in the middle of nowhere. He absentmindedly rubbed his behind groaning at the ache, 'damn.' His ass hurt. He'd have to look into getting a plusher seat for Fenrir, soon. Not even bothering to wait til he got upstairs, he began to unbuckle his pauldron, working the belt loose so he could have room to properly rotate his shoulder. Content, he folded the belt up and tossed it on the couch, opting to pick it up tomorrow instead of putting it away then.
"Aerith, I'm home!" he called out, starting to work at the buckle around his other shoulder. It was quiet, too quiet.
"Hey look whose back!"
Cloud's eyes narrowed and he cursed under his breath at the overly chipper voice coming from the kitchen. Reno made his way towards the living room and sent a small salute the delivery man's way.
"Why are you still here?" He asked removing the long fabric that draped over his left leg and tossing it onto the couch. This was just what Cloud needed, it truly was.
Reno smiled, placing his hands behind his back innocently, "oh you know, just watching out for your girl, eating doughnuts, talking about how you can't satisfy her needs, discussing the—"
"What did you say?" Cloud was confused; he didn't know whether he wanted to chop Reno's dick off or just reach out and rip it off. He hoped for Reno's sake he had heard wrong.
Reno continued to smile, just asking for it, "watching out for your girl?"
"No."
"Eating donuts?"
"No."
"Talking about how you can't satisfy her—"
Reno never got to finish the sentence before Cloud's fist connected with open air. The blond stared in shock as the bent backwards form of Reno met his eyes, face twisted into a look of complete and utter pain as Rude stood behind him, hand on the redhead's ponytail, a few strands hanging loosely from his grip, suggesting they had been torn out. Cloud pulled back, watching with slight pleasure as Reno fell the rest of the way down to the floor, screaming a long string of curses.
"MY MOTHER FUCKING BACK OH MY GOD, RUDE WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING? GODDAMMIT SHIT FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!"
"Saving your skull," the older man supplied coolly, releasing the other man's ponytail and sending a shower of errant red hairs sailing to the floor.
Cloud placed his hands on his hips, watching as the Turk screamed bloody murder as he writhed on the floor, looking up he gave a small nod the bald Turk's way, "It's better than what I would have done with him."
The other Turk nodded back an acknowledgement. Cloud fixed his glove and walked around Reno to the other side of the room just as his wife walked out of the kitchen. Smiling softly at her he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her gently into a loving kiss, cutting off any question she would have asked about the crimson haired Turk convulsing on their living room floor. Her eyes went from their large state at seeing Reno on the floor, to fluttering shut as her own arms snaked around his neck, holding him closer. Her hand made its way into his spiky hair as she abandoned herself entirely, reassuring herself Reno would be okay in a couple days. Pulling away, Cloud smiled at her once more, resting his forehead against her own, and in a breathy voice he spoke, "hi."
She laughed pressing herself close to him again, stopping when she could no longer move any further, looking down, she realized it was her tummy that had prevented her from achieving the closeness she had wanted and with a giggle she met his sapphire eyes with her emerald ones, "Hi, yourself."
Pressing their lips together in a quick kiss he pulled her to his side and watched Reno stand up shakily, rubbing his throbbing back while muttering faint curses under his breath.
With that smile still on his face he nodded towards the door, "Get out."
She slapped him gently on the chest and he looked down at her confused, "What?"
Disentangling herself from him she moved to the door, opening it up for the pouting Turk and smiling all the while, "Please get out."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're going," Reno huffed, hands still rubbing the back that had previously been bent at the most ungodly angle. Stepping up to the door he was about to exit when he stopped, glancing at Cloud over his shoulder. Rude was already out the door sharing goodbyes with Aerith as Reno stepped up to Cloud looking anywhere but him. Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"Look, if you're not gonna fuck at least tell her she's pretty or something," the redhead whispered.
Cloud's mouth fell into a frown and he took a threatening step closer. Reno took a step forward, hands leaving his back to point at himself, "hey I'm just trying to help you!" he hissed at the blond. "She feels all ugly right now because you won't pay attention to her! Tell her she's pretty, write her a poem, bring her flowers I don't give a shit! Just make sure she knows you still want to do the dirty with her."
Cloud's glare never fell and his hands remained firmly planted at his sides. Reno sighed, returning to rubbing his back as he turned around and walked out the door, tossing a quick bye over his shoulder at the woman holding the door open. Aerith closed it, giving him an odd look as he ran his hand through his hair stiffly.
"I'm going upstairs," he ground out, Reno's words playing over and over again in his head, chasing away his every other thought. Aerith looked down, wringing her hands together.
"Oh, okay. I'll just . . . cleanup a bit," she made to move past him when an arm wrapped around her waist, sweeping her up and off the floor. Her arms flew to his neck to get a good grip on him in her shock as the ground disappeared from under her. She pulled back to stare at the blond man who carried her as if she were no lighter than a feather. She was far past the age of daydreams about knights and fairy tales and princesses riding off into the sunset on a white horse (reality having slapped her many a time in the face for the fantasy to stand a chance in her adulthood) but for a moment her breath was taken away. Looking at Cloud now she felt the hand on his shoulder unconsciously tighten its grip on his sweater, briefly reminded of the endings to those impracticably perfect stories.
"It can wait," he spoke gently and oh so meaningfully. Turning, he walked her to the base of the steps.
"Okay," she squeaked.
He carried her up the stairs and nudged open the door to the bedroom with his shoulder. He was exhausted and not exactly comfortable enough for what she really wanted from him but he figured she wouldn't mind waiting just a little longer.
She'd probably be disappointed, but if she at least saw that she was absolutely wrong, that she really was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on, he believed she'd forgive him.
She always does.