Chapters 31 and 32 are on AO3.

Rude: When Reno took his hand a warm smile crossed Rude's face and stayed there as they walked to the elevators and up to Cissnei's door. He would think about that hot little promise while he was on his mission as a reason to hurry it along as well as a reason to be thorough. He wanted to catch this asshole so he couldn't hurt /his/ Reno ever again. Reaching the door he smiled down at Reno and gave him a quick kiss before knocking on the door.

Reno: Reno smiled when Rude kissed him and opened the door when Cessnei called from the other side. The redhead froze where he was, finally seeing Elsa drinking from a bottle in her mother's arms. It put all of his worries to rest. She was wrapped up snuggly, had a small wool hat to keep her warm, and Cessnei's comfort. The redhead swallowed the lump in his throat but didn't move, just watching as Elsa happily drank her formula. 'Not hungry, not cold, not lonely, nothin'.' Reno thought, still trying to wrap his head around it. Finally regaining the use of his limbs, he made his way over, never letting go of Rude's hand and stopped beside his sister's bed. Elsa looked just like their mother. She had ginger hair and freckles all over her face. Reno squeezed Rude's hand in an attempt to keep it together.

Cissnei: Cissnei heard the knock and told whoever it was to come on in. Genesis was currently curled up in a chair beside the bed sleeping away, the poor guy had had a long night - taking the baby so she could sleep, he was rather good with her. It made Cissnei smile that her little family worked so well. However she didn't feel complete until Reno and Rude walked through the door. Her eyes softened as she watched Reno's reaction to her feeding Elsa and she smiled at them. "Well if it isn't my little brother."

Rude: Rude squeezed his hand back and stayed quiet, nodding his head in greeting to Cissnei. He knew a lot of Reno's fears had been unfounded, but the man had had them anyway. So it was good that he could finally lay them to rest, since it was obvious that Cissnei and Elsa were perfectly fine.

Reno: 'What do I say? Where the hell do I start? I haven't seen her since the blast. There's so much to talk about but what?!' Reno was arguing with his own mind. He should probably just explain that the blast was no big deal and he's fine. No, he should say hi to Elsa, or maybe announce the proposal? Reno shook his head and said the first thing that came to mind. "Congrats." His voice was low, not wanting to disturb his niece. "I've uh...I've really been trying to see ya, sis. How's she feelin'?"

Cissnei: Cissnei giggled as the emotions played over Reno's face. "Both of us are doing great." She answered him, "You seem like you have a lot on your mind though."

Rude: Rude grinned at the two of them then looked at the time on the clock on the wall. 9:45 "Shoot. Hey Ciss, can you do me a favor?"

Cissnei: Cissnei looked up at him and nodded.

Rude: "Can you watch out for my fiancé? And make sure he goes to see Dr. Crescent about his leg?" He knew it wasn't the best way to put these things forward, but he had to leave or he'd miss his boat. "I've got a mission to do and I need to leave right now. But I really wanted to see how the two of you were doing." Rude smiled at her and the baby.

Cissnei: Cissnei smiled and nodded, "Sure thing Rude." She took it in stride that Reno and Rude were engaged but she'd get the deal with Reno's leg out of him once Rude was gone.

Rude: Rude turned and smiled down at Reno before gathering him up in a steamy kiss, "I'll see you when I get back Love."

Reno: Reno's face was every possible shade of red. He did NOT just do that. Not knowing how to react, Reno simply nodded wide eyed. "Kay." he peeped.

Rude: Rude nodded in parting to Cissnei and Elsa, kissed Reno again quickly and then left the room. He hurried down to his car and sped off to his first mission objective.

Cissnei: Cissnei grinned, she liked that happy look on her brother's face, even if it was currently a bit dumbfounded. "So what's the deal with your leg space cadet?"

Reno: "I uh, well...The um...the mission I-" Reno face-palmed himself and cleared his throat, trying to get his brain function back. "That mission I went on went belly up fast. The intel we got was all for a set up and I..." The Turk pulled his pant leg up to show his sister, rather that explain the troubling ordeal all over again. "Long story, short: Bombs and limbs don't mix unless it's in a puddle o' blood." He shrugged, trying to act as though it wasn't a big deal. He didn't want this meeting to be about his leg. He wanted it to be about happier news and to talk about how much he was looking forward to spending time with Elsa. The redhead blushed again, not sure how to feel that everything was now out in the open. The proposal, his leg, everything. "So, uh...yeah. Pretty crazy day?"

Cissnei: Cissnei giggled, "Well as long as you're okay. What's this about seeing Lucrecia? And you can pull over another chair you know."

Reno: Reno did just that and sat down. "I gotta see Lu so she can give me my permanent leg. This one's just a temp." The redhead figured since thinking of his injuries only upset him, he'd change the subject. "So, how have ya been holdin' up? Tired no doubt but ya seem pretty bright today." he said with a smile. "Also..." Reno looked at Elsa and wished Rude could have stayed a while longer to hold her. "May I?" he asked, looking back to his sister for permission to /finally/ hold his niece and confirm once and for all that she was happy and content.

Cissnei: Cissnei grinned wide, "Been fine. Can't wait to get out of the hospital though. But I guess we'll be out in a couple of days." She put the now empty bottle on the table beside the bed and reached Elsa out toward Reno.

Reno: Reno hesitated, feeling as though he might break his niece like she was made of glass, not to be handled without care. He ever so carefully pulled her to his chest and felt his heart swell when she reached up, touching his face with her soft little hands. The Turk smiled and swallowed the lump that kept building in his throat. "She's...heh. She's perfect, Cess." Reno felt a small tear well up and roll down his cheek. He smiled and laughed, wiping it away. "Sorry. *sniffle* Just can't believe that I finally get to hold her. She looks just like m-" The redhead pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He didn't bother holding his tears back now. He simply held her tightly, rocking her in his, and hummed the only song he could remember his mother sang to he and Cessnei before bed.

Cissnei: Cissnei smiled a little as Reno seemed to fall apart, she'd seen it to, how Elsa looked so much like their mother. She blamed Genesis for that. As the tune from her childhood filtered through the room her lip quivered and she reached for Genesis's hand. The contact woke the man from his sleep and he came too with a sleepy smile. He looked up at Cissnei and then over to the sound he heard and saw Reno holding his daughter.

Genesis: He gripped Cissnei's hand and asked the question he'd been waiting for for a couple of years now. "Hey Reno? Can I marry your sister?"

Reno: Reno's gaze went from calm to one of shock. He stared at Genesis, his emerald eyes as wide as ever. "Wha-I-bu-you-" He tried to filter the question through his head but it just wasn't computing. He was pretty surprised Genesis was respectful enough to actually ask /him/ for her hand. Then again, he couldn't exactly ask their father. A feeling of sadness, happiness, and pride mixed in his heart all at once. He was saddened by the memory of his father's death but knowing he was now trusted with the care of Cessnei's wellbeing was in all honesty a major honor to him. Reno looked Genesis in the eye and spoke softly, not wanting to disturb Elsa. "Ya promise to put her before everything else in yer life, promise yer gonna keep her safe, even if it means putting yer life on the line, and keep her happy, then yes. I'd be more than happy to have ya in the family." It was actually much harder to accept than he thought but maybe that's how every FATHER felt when they had to answer that question. He felt like he had to share Cessnei and entrusting her wellbeing to ANYONE, no matter how good they were, was difficult.

Genesis: Genesis smiled, "Oh trust me, I promise." He looked into Cissnei's tearful face and leaned over to kiss her softly. "She's the mother of my child and the holder of my heart." Cissnei grinned at him and ran her fingers through his auburn hair. Genesis just grinned and turned back to Reno, "I've actually wanted to ask you that for a couple of years now. But Cissnei was scared you wouldn't believe her. I'm glad you can finally be a family again."

Reno: Reno smiled meekly but bit his lip and carefully placed Elsa back in her mother's loving arms. "S'cuse me fer a sec." The Turk strode into a separate room, leaned against the wall, covered his mouth, and began sobbing. He wasn't sad in the least. He just didn't want to ruin their moment with tears. Hearing Genesis' confession and words about being a family once again brought up so many feelings and he just had to get away for a moment to collect himself. Rude was actually the only person he'd openly cry in front of and even that was only when he couldn't handle it.

Cissnei: Cissnei took Elsa back and she and Genesis shared a look as Reno left the room. She figured he was just as emotional about it all as she was, but she knew Reno never let anyone see that side of himself. "I'm glad he has Rude."

Genesis: Genesis smiled at her, "Me too. Those Turkey's will be just fine." Cissnei giggled at the name and settled back to wait for Reno to come back.

Rude: Elsewhere! Rude had sped through the streets of Midgar and out across the plains, cutting it close on making it to Junon on time for his ship to leave Two Gun took his car back to HQ for him. But make it he did, once his car was out of sight he purposefully forgot Reno and everything connected to him as a person. He had a mission to do, and only a Turk could do it.

Reno: Once Reno had gotten himself together, he wiped his eyes and walked back out to speak with Cessnei and Genesis a bit before he left for some personal business. He knew his eyes were still a bit watery but rubbing them would only make it worse so he just tried to ignore it. "Sorry 'bout that." he said and took his seat, speaking with the two about recent events and clearing everything up. "So, yeah. To recap, everything should be fine with my leg, me an' Rude are engaged, I'm singin' again, and I got a new kitten. Yeah, I think that's it." he said with a laugh but quickly took on a more serious air. "I'll come visit again soon but till I do-" Reno glanced at Genesis, giving him a stone cold glare. "Ya better watch over her." He kept his serious tone for a few seconds before playfully punching the ginger's shoulder. "Chill out, yo. I know ya got it covered." With that, Reno made his way out, nodding to the doctor on his way.

Genesis: Genesis shook his head playfully as Reno exited the room and turned to his fiancé, "So, that was a lot."

Cissnei: Cissnei nodded her head, her curls bouncing as she held her little girl to her chest. "It is, but it's all over now and we can just get past it and move on now."

Genesis: He nodded his head tiredly, "I've got a mission tomorrow, by the way and Sassafras, Donut and/or Puppy should be in to check on you periodically while I'm gone." Cessnei nodded her head.