Chapter Twenty Four: Conflict

((Author's Notes: Just a brief note before we begin. I am aware that Vincent's past as mentioned below completely differs from what is told in Dirge of Cerebus. I began my AU and first mentioned my version way back in Irony of Fate, long before DoC or any of the other games/movie/etc. As such, it's based on the limited information of the original game, and I was not about to go back and alter everything I'd done once more 'canon' was created. Also, DoC totally massacred Vincent's past and story anyway and added a lot of really lame stuff in my opinion, so I pretend it never happened. Thanks! ~ JenesisX ))

The moment Aeris had said goodbye to her mother and closed the door behind her, Sephiroth exploded.

"That rude old woman is not welcome here any more!" he exclaimed, so loudly that she was certain Elmyra could hear him while still inside the building.

Aeris' jaw dropped open, and she cringed away from him as if she'd been slapped. "Shh! How can you say that? She's my mother!"

"She has no manners, and treated my parents terribly right in front of us! I will not stand for it any longer!"

"Seph, please," Aeris said, taking a step toward him with her hand outstretched. She relied on touch to communicate and feel connected, and it often helped her to calm him. He quickly yanked his shoulder away and turned his back, however, and she bit her lip with concern. That was a very bad sign. "Let's talk about this. I'm really sorry that-"

"There is nothing to talk about!" he nearly shouted, sending his dog running for the safety of the bedroom. "She had best stay away from me if she has any sense. I have taken her stares and abuse since the day she met me, and done everything possible to be kind to her, and she cannot even be respectful in my home for one evening."

"I'm sure she didn't mean it," Aeris said, her voice trembling as her husband's intense anger washed over her through their mental connection. It made her shudder, her stomach twisting in knots. She quickly grew tense and unsteady, her hands involuntarily clenching into fists at her sides. Was this how Sephiroth felt? "Sometimes she just says things without realizing…"

"Next time, she can say them somewhere else!"

Sephiroth began to pace across the living room, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes directed, unseeing, toward the floor. They burned with pent up energy as he stormed back and forth, and she could hear his ragged breathing each time he passed by. His tension was rising quickly and Aeris feared he was not going to be able to get a hold of himself before something terrible happened. He was so angry, but also very upset and hurt, and he still had not learned how to deal with such strong emotions. She fought not to be overwhelmed by what she could not help but share with him, so that she could remain calm and hopefully diffuse the situation.

"Seph, can we sit down and talk about this, love?" Aeris tried again, ignoring her rising fear and how wild he looked. She briefly closed her eyes against the continuing assault of negative emotions coming from his direction, her head pounding just behind her eyes. She was briefly encouraged when Sephiroth paused and turned to face her, but the icy expression on his face chilled her to the bone.

"I wish to be left alone."

"That isn't going to make you feel better. You'll just stew over it and get more upset until you can't control it. Talk to me…" Aeris cautiously approached him, stopping a few feet away and bravely looking up into his eyes. "I'm listening, love."

Sephiroth frowned and chewed on his bottom lip, a habit Aeris had noticed in his mother during the evening. How strange that he had picked up both it and the hand wringing without ever having met her. Just when Aeris was certain he was about to bolt from the room to avoid the discussion, he finally sighed and shook his head.

"Why did you feel the need to invite her?" he demanded, his voice a low growl that had become increasingly unfamiliar as their relationship grew. "You knew how she felt about Vincent. It was a foolish, selfish thing to do."

"I…" Aeris' eyes filled with tears, and she briefly looked down before continuing. "I'm so sorry, Seph. I know now that it was a mistake, but… I just felt so bad for her! We were shopping together and talking about your assignment, and it came up that your parents were coming over in the evening… She looked so sad and left out, and I felt so guilty and horrible for not asking her to come. She has no one else but me, and now you, too. We're her family. I just… wanted her to be a part of this so badly, and for all of us to be together." A few tears trailed down her cheeks, and she hastily lifted a hand to wipe them away. "I made her promise that she'd behave herself and not say anything embarrassing, and that she'd try not to stare at Vincent or treat him any differently. She did okay to a degree, and I think she would have gotten along with your mom all right, but…"

"Yes, my mother who had the horrid affair…"

Aeris sighed heavily but couldn't help but wince at the biting remark. "I know, I know… I about died in my seat when she said that. She's just… very old fashioned about her morals and the way the world is supposed to work, and she has a hard time breaking from those high ideals."

"What are you implying?" Sephiroth's eyes narrowed dangerously, and his entire posture went rigid again.

"Nothing! I understand why your parents did what they did! I'm just saying that she doesn't. She's from their generation… I know that's hard to remember… but she just seems so much older most of the time. I don't know why, but she always has. I just… I'm really sorry I thought this could work out, love. I just wanted it so badly, and I didn't think…"

"Fine. But she is still not welcome here any more."

Sephiroth folded his arms defensively across his chest, and the anger and tension that had begun to recede quickly started to rise again. Goosebumps rose on Aeris' bare limbs as an angry sneer crossed his face, twisting it into something she barely recognized. She backed up several paces despite herself, unsure of what exactly she feared. He had certainly never lifted a hand to her no matter how upset he got, so she knew the danger wasn't physical. But his words hurt her deeply, and she was unable to help but react instinctively.

"What? No! You can't do that, Seph. This is my home, too, and she'll always be my mother even when she makes a mistake. I would never tell you your mom couldn't come over any more!"

"My mother is not a backwards old hag who thinks she is superior to everyone else," Sephiroth growled back.

Aeris' eyes widened with shock, and she bristled with an anger of her own. How dare he insult her mother! Yes, she had behaved badly that evening and embarrassed them, but he still had no right. She loved Elmyra unconditionally, and he needed to understand and accept that. He was not going to come between mother and daughter, and Aeris was not going to stand there and let him insult her any longer. Her next words were out of her mouth before she even had a chance to think about them.

"Oh really? Your mother is hardly perfect, either, Sephiroth! Do I need to remind you of some of the things she's done to you and Vincent?!"

The room fell deathly silent as her voice faded away, the two of them left staring at each other as if they were two strangers. Aeris stood frozen, the silence ringing in her ears, and for a moment she feared she might faint. Very slowly, Sephiroth turned and exited the room, walking down the hallway with deadly calm. A moment later, she heard the door to the master bedroom click shut behind him.

Gods, what have I done…

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Vincent had lost track of time, crouched on the rooftop of the old building he called home and staring off into the night. He was perched at the very edge as if daring the aged shingles to give way, the tips of his boots hanging over into the abyss. His mind and body were at war with Chaos, the demon using his pain and tension to feed its desires and fuel its attempt to break free. He remained trapped in the early stages of transformation, yet despite the endless suffering and the powerful urge to give in, something inside him continued to resist.

He was filled with shame by what had happened that evening, so heavy and consuming that it was hard to breathe. He had brought so much embarrassment upon his son and his lover, simply by being what he was. The weak individual he'd been in the past, and now the foul creature he'd become… unfit to interact with normal people no matter how hard he tried to kid himself and blend in. He never should have bothered. All he had done was remind himself, and Lucrecia, of why she had rejected him in the first place… and it had all been on display in front of his son's family. How could he justify his continued existence?

Each time a buzzing insect or nocturnal creature caught his rapt attention, Chaos grew more and more frustrated and desperate to win his freedom, roaring with fury and assaulting Vincent with fresh waves of pain as it fought to tear free from the confines of its human host's body. It would have been so much easier to just give in… to drop his guard, grit his teeth, and endure the few moments of unbearable agony until he completely lost his senses. Then his mind would be obliterated by that of the demon for a while. He would not have to think or hurt any more, at least not until he came to again. Ignorance was bliss, and to allow himself to be swallowed up by Chaos would have almost been a relief after the evening he'd just endured. Yet as tempting as the prospect was, Vincent continued to fight just hard enough to prevent it. Giving in and escaping would be too easy, too good for him. He deserved to suffer. Sometimes, he wondered if he actually enjoyed the misery.

The thought was as sudden as it was disturbing, and for a moment it drew his mind away from a strange yet oddly pleasant memory of the wind beneath his wings that didn't entirely belong to him. Had he really been unhappy for so long that it had become a central part of him that he didn't know how to exist without? Vincent frowned, tearing his predatory eyes away from a passing moth and staring down at the vacant road below. He should have been so happy now that Lucrecia was alive and a part of his life. Things weren't perfect, but they were better than they'd ever been despite his altered body. Yet he could never seem to relax and enjoy it, as if he expected it all to be snatched away at any moment. And it was the expectation of loss itself that seemed to cause so many of his problems…

When he really thought about it and was honest with himself, Vincent had a difficult time conjuring up pleasant memories of his life. An unwanted bastard child born to a young mother who was shamed by his birth, Vincent had been a loathsome burden since the moment she first felt him stir within her womb. All he was told of his father was that he had wanted no part of him and left the country before he was born. His mother had always been cold and distant toward him, making it no secret that she had never wanted him and had little interest in his upbringing. He largely raised himself, even after she married and had a second child, a daughter, with her husband. Vincent had perfected the art of making himself silent and invisible to avoid the man, and the only one who showed him any kindness was his half sister. She risked punishment to spend time with him and share the special treats she received, and those stolen moments were among the only fond memories he had of his boyhood in Wutai. He sighed and briefly lifted his eyes to the heavens, wondering if she was still alive. Certainly she thought him long dead by now if she was, which was for the best…

Once he had left home in his teens, life had been difficult but much improved. He was lonely and self loathing, but once he found his way to Midgar he mostly enjoyed being a Turk and excelled at it despite the darker side he never completely grew comfortable with. And once he'd laid eyes on Lucrecia that day in the laboratory… he finally knew what it was to be happy. But for Vincent, nothing was ever simple or without pain, as Elmyra had reminded him that evening. Even after over thirty years, and knowing that Lucrecia was in the basement below and likely waiting in their bed, it still hurt beyond words that she had once decided to stay with an abusive man instead of running away with him. He swallowed hard as Chaos fed on his pain, his heart rate increasing and his fingers curling into claws that dug into the palm of his normal hand and made it bleed. Would it ever stop hurting? He had long ago forgiven Lucrecia, but he had not been able to do the same for himself. He hadn't been good enough, strong enough, to convince her to leave with him… It had gotten her killed, and their son twisted and tormented until he'd lost his mind. Each breath Vincent drew was a struggle with so much on his conscience, and the demon eagerly standing by to feed on his anguish only made it harder to survive.

Even as he crouched there cursing himself and trembling with the strain of containing Chaos, another part of Vincent realized he was being foolish. He had done it again, the very thing he was supposed to be working on in his relationship… the thing he had promised her he would do his best to stop. He had been hurt and frightened, and instead of trying to deal with his feelings and communicate with Lucrecia, he'd shut her out and tried to chase her away again. When that had failed, he'd fled. He knew she'd stood outside staring up at the rooftop for a long time before she finally went into the house, and he tried to convince himself that he didn't care. He had no right to care, no right to miss her and want to be at her side. What right did he have to ask her to hold him and help him try to restrain the foul demon inside of him? How could he explain that a simple question had stirred up such self hatred and pain without hurting her or making himself seem pathetic? He knew she would listen and want to help him, but he was so unused to being able to lean on someone when he was weak that it terrified him. Though they had a long history together, they had never had a stable, normal relationship until recently, and he was still learning how to trust her. He'd never had anyone in his life he could be honest with before, and the idea of completely baring his soul remained disturbing. Vincent had no difficulty telling her how he felt about her… He had never had an issue with that, and words of love flowed easily between them. His feelings for her were so intense and overwhelming that it was natural to share them, and he couldn't have held back if he tried. But when it came to his fears, how he felt about himself, and Chaos… he remained awkward and embarrassed no matter how much she reassured him. How could anyone listen to all of that and still accept him, even if they truly wanted to?

Lucrecia was probably so disappointed… She'd been trying so hard, and he'd let her down and shown her how weak he was yet again. No matter how much she supported him, he collapsed under the pressure. How much more could she be expected to stand? Vincent's greatest fear was losing her, and his actions were slowly making it a reality. The actions of others didn't help matters, but he could control the way he behaved, at least. It didn't have to be this way! He growled deep in his chest, his own frustrations mixed with those of Chaos, the cold midnight breeze blowing his hair across his face and nearly blinding him. What the hell was he doing? He belonged inside with Lucrecia, not perched up on the roof like some kind of crazed gargoyle.

Vincent got to his feet, stretching his aching body against Chaos' wishes and slowly working to reverse the transformation one bit at a time. The demon cried out in a rage, filling his mind with violent thoughts and an intense hatred that made him shudder. He closed his eyes and ignored it, fighting back and thinking of his warm, soft bed and the beautiful woman in it. Chaos' reaction was instant and strange, and Vincent paused, tilting his head in puzzlement. Instead of being repulsed and retreating from the powerful feelings he had for Lucrecia, this time there was an odd curiosity, and for just a moment an image of his lover seen through the demon's eyes filled his mind. Vincent froze, his own eyes suddenly wide open. What was going on? Why was Chaos suddenly interested in Lucrecia, and why did he seem to remember…? Vincent shook his head and grit his teeth, convinced it was another of the demon's foul tricks meant to unnerve him so it could gain control. It was not going to work. He may not have been able to change the past, or the way others chose to view him, but he could at least attempt to make things right with his beloved.

Vincent knew he had made a mistake that night. He'd failed the same test yet again, but finally the lesson hit him like a well-placed bullet. He did not need to suffer alone when something hurt him any more, because he was only one half of a whole. He would never have to be alone again, and it was time he began to act that way. While all his life he had needed to be strong enough to stand on his own, there was a different kind of strength in unity, one that was even stronger between two people who cared for each other as deeply as he and Lucrecia. Instead of running away like a wounded animal and allowing Chaos to torment him while his lover sat alone and worried, he could have simply gone inside with her and told her how he felt. She would have soothed his injured feelings and reassured him of her love for him, and everything would have been all right. She may have even made a few jokes at Elmyra's expense with her sharp wit, just one of the many things he loved about her. Lucrecia had managed to give him a sense of humor about himself and some of his more interesting quirks, and it felt good to be able to share private jokes and take himself less seriously. She even made him feel sexy, and the effect on their relationship and his confidence was dramatic. What would he ever do without her? It suddenly made so little sense to be out there on the rooftop that he almost could have laughed.

A ghost of a smile graced Vincent's lips as he walked toward the edge of the roof, feeling much closer to normal though he remained sore and shaken. All he wanted at that moment was to curl up beneath the blankets with Lucrecia, everyone else be damned. But as he prepared to leap down onto the banister, a large owl flew by and caught his attention, its wings beating the air as it launched itself into a tree. His head snapped up and he began to salivate, the fangs reforming in his mouth and the beginnings of wings instantly taking shape on his back. He heard himself growl as his vision became tinted with red, and his bones ached as his mass began to expand again. Chaos had been quietly lurking just beneath the surface, awaiting just such an opportunity, and when faced with the perfect prey its desperate attempt to break free was almost overwhelming. Vincent dropped to his knees, the pain claiming him as he doubled over and gripped his stomach. It hurt so badly, and he could barely remain conscious for long enough to react. But then he thought of Lucrecia and how he owed it to her to make it back inside, grit his teeth, and fought back with everything he had.

He closed his eyes tightly, focusing every bit of energy and every ounce of conviction on stopping the transformation and banishing the demon. Another strong jolt of pain assaulted him as he struggled to breathe, but he struggled back to his feet. A wave of nausea washed over him and he swallowed hard, clenching his hands into fists and fighting to calm himself and clear his mind. After several endless moments of tension and agony, he was able to breathe more easily, the pain slowly receding along with the demon's furious cries inside his mind. He cautiously opened his eyes, relaxing a bit and taking a deep breath. He exhaled sharply, both relieved and frightened by how close he had come to losing control yet again. As he finally jumped down from the roof and reached the door to the building, Chaos roared one last time in protest.

"Go to hell," Vincent said as he opened the door and stepped inside. It may not have been pretty, but it felt like a victory nonetheless.

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Aeris sat with her legs folded beneath her in the middle of the living room carpet, eyes closed, hands lightly clasped in her lap. After Sephiroth had retreated to the bedroom, she was so upset and shaken that she decided to meditate before attempting to resolve the situation she'd just made much worse. She tried to forgive herself for lashing out and saying something so hurtful, realizing she was as prone to anger and frustration as anyone else, but she still felt horribly guilty and ashamed. Sephiroth adored and nearly worshipped Lucrecia, much as Vincent did, and while Aeris may not have understood it she did know that a word against her was akin to blasphemy. Speaking against her husband's mother in any way was probably the worst thing she could have done.

She had finally managed to quiet much of the fear and anger raging inside her mind, establishing a calm center from which to rebuild her stability. Once she felt stronger, she would go to Sephiroth, apologize, and try to talk to him more calmly. She knew he was wrong to speak of her mother as he had, but she also understood why he was so furious and needed to vent his frustration. Sephiroth was angry and hurt that his parents had been disrespected, which was actually a good thing in many ways, but his method of coping with those feelings was less than healthy. Elmyra had indeed behaved poorly that evening, and Aeris had every intention of speaking with her about it the following day. She was angry and embarrassed, and her mother needed to be aware of that. She regretted inviting her over but still felt it was the right thing to do, and that she had been stuck in a difficult position. Aeris wished she had been strong enough to maintain control and handle the situation better, but instead her emotions had controlled her, and mixed with those of her husband the combination had been explosive.

As she allowed her thoughts to drift and settle into an inner peace, a sudden image flashed before her mind's eye. A little boy with silver hair trailing into his eyes, no more than three years old, sitting in an oversized blue armchair. He watched as a woman approached, fear in his wide green eyes. A small toy soldier was clutched in his hand, and suddenly it fell to the ground… the sharp sound of flesh meeting flesh, and then there was silence. A brief flash of light, and the image was gone.

Fear, pain, longing… A powerful current of emotion jolted through Aeris' consciousness as another image flashed before her. The same small boy curled up in the chair, his face black and blue, staring out the window into the night. There were tears in his eyes but they did not fall, and when his lips moved they uttered a single word. Mother.

Where is my mother?

Aeris' eyes flew open and she gasped, raising one hand to grip her chest and nearly losing her balance. The apartment was still and quiet, and she had no idea how long she had been meditating. She blinked rapidly to clear the haze from her thoughts, looking around the room and finding herself alone. She shakily rose to her feet, instantly turning to face the hallway that led to the master bedroom. The images, the emotions… so strong and clear… They had been coming from her husband.

Aeris was amazed as she took a few tentative steps forward, still struggling to slow her breathing and digest what had just happened. When they meditated together, or were otherwise involved in close, intimate moments, the strange mental connection that often allowed their emotions to touch often became something more… Bits of shared thoughts and memories would pass between them, seen through each other's eyes as if they had been there and shared the experience. It was as amazing as it was frightening, yet it had become a deep part of their relationship they'd come to cherish. Sephiroth had struggled with the idea of Aeris seeing so much of what was in his mind, and indeed still did, but had for the most part grown to accept it and learned to trust her. They still did not know if it was his magical powers and Jenova cells, her Cetra abilities, or a combination of both that caused the mysterious connection, but it had only grown stronger with time. When either of them was upset, the bond seemed to go into overdrive, reaching out across the distance for its partner. Even had she wanted to, Aeris could not have resisted the strong urge to go to him that seemed to physically move her in his direction.

As she approached the bedroom door, she could feel that Sephiroth's anger had lessened, replaced by an aching hurt and loneliness he was fighting hard to repress. She could almost see him standing at the window with the moonlight on his face, longing for comfort but unsure of how to ask for it. Aeris knew they had both acted badly, which was usually the case in an argument, but also realized she was better equipped to take the first step toward a resolution. His mind had reached out to hers for help whether he'd meant to or not, and she was not going to abandon him.

Aeris opened the door and stepped inside the darkened room, finding him exactly as she'd pictured. Blade lifted his head from the center of their bed and regarded her warily, his warm brown eyes full of concern. She favored him with a smile and he seemed to relax, dropping his head and stretching out to enjoy having the bed to himself while his humans were distracted. He was not supposed to be up there, but Aeris didn't say anything. She definitely had more important things to worry about at the moment. Sephiroth didn't move from his position, though she knew he was aware of her presence. His posture stiffened ever so slightly, but she sensed a slight hint of… relief?

"Seph… can we talk?" she asked softly, stopping a few feet behind him. She wanted badly to reach out and hold him, but knew better than to force him.

There was no reaction for long moments, but finally his shoulders heaved with a great sigh and he slowly turned to face her. His features were pinched with tension, and he struggled to meet her eyes much as he had when they'd first met. When he did, there was such sorrow in them that she couldn't help but step forward and throw her arms around him. She buried her face in his chest and held him tightly, relieved when his arms found their way around her slender form a moment later.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered against him, unwilling to let go of him. "I shouldn't have said what I did… Things just got out of hand. It was a really long night, and we're both already a bit on edge because you'll be away for a few days soon… I just want to fix this, any way we have to."

There was silence, but after a moment she sighed with relief when she felt the tension between them break. Suddenly, their connection was flooded with love and need, and their embrace grew more desperate. Sephiroth rested his chin atop her head, and Aeris melted against him and closed her eyes.

"I was wrong, too. I… hate what your mother did, but you are right. She is still your mother, and I would not take her from you. As much as I… love mine, I should have known better than that."

"I promise I'll talk to her. That will never happen again… She hurt me by acting that way, too, not just you and your parents. Maybe once she realizes how much, she'll try harder."

"I am certain she is just worried for your safety… But I wish she would trust my judgment by now. Vincent is harmless. He is likely more afraid of her than she is of him."

Aeris giggled against him. "Yeah… Although he looked pretty upset tonight. I hope everything's okay…"

"I am sure my mother will take care of him," Sephiroth said confidently, and Aeris finally lifted her head to smile up at him. It was so good to hear him accept his parents as a couple, and to almost sound proud of how happy they were together.

"Are we okay, then?" Aeris asked him hopefully, reaching up to caress his cheek. As she gazed into his eyes, their love for each other again washed over her, and the anger and tension of the evening was quickly forgotten. "I really am sorry…"

"Of course." Sephiroth leaned down and kissed her softly, and she was unable to help but yawn as she settled back against him. "Shall we try to get some rest? Then we can spend all of tomorrow together before I leave on my mission Friday."

"That sounds like a great idea," Aeris agreed. Though she knew the issue with her mother was far from resolved, and also planned to visit Vincent and Lucrecia soon to apologize in person, at least things between she and her husband were back to normal. It was good to love someone so much that it was next to impossible to remain angry for very long. She was also proud of how far they had come, and how well they were able to communicate and resolve their differences.

Sephiroth finally released her from his arms and began to shrug out of his shirt as he turned to face the bed, but stopped mid motion as he stared at the large, snoring lump sprawled across the center of it. Aeris laughed at his indignant expression as she removed her nightgown from the closet.

"Blade! Why are you on our bed? Off!"

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Lucrecia had laid in bed tossing and turning for an unknown amount of time when she finally heard the door to the basement apartment open. She sighed with relief, lying on her side facing the wall and finally allowing herself to get comfortable. She was frustrated and a bit angry at Vincent for running off and refusing to talk to her about what had happened at dinner, but at least he had come back within a reasonable amount of time. She'd been worried he'd transformed after how he'd looked and acted on their way home… something she'd never seen before. His ears were pointed, his complexion was purplish, he had grown fangs, and he was taller and more muscular. His eyes, too, were different, and there was an expression behind them that was foreign and chilling. Even still, she had wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but he simply wouldn't let her. She'd been willing to look past his appearance and her fear to try to help him, but he continued to push her away. She had no idea what else she could do to convince him that he could trust her.

She listened as the bedroom door opened a short time later and soft footsteps crossed the room. She could feel his presence beside the bed, sensing that he was standing there but not moving. She remained still and pretended to be asleep, unsure of what kind of mood he was in and still a bit upset with him. A moment later, she heard him sigh softly, and he gently moved aside the comforter. Then he quietly climbed into bed beside her, keeping a polite distance between them.

Lucrecia frowned, disappointed but not surprised. Every time something bothered Vincent, he shut down as if he had no idea how to reach out for support. Even when she came to him and offered it, he didn't know how to accept. She knew about his difficult childhood and understood why it was hard for him, but it didn't make it any less frustrating and heartbreaking. When he rejected her, it still hurt just as much. She resolved to speak with him about it in the morning, even though previous conversations seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. They'd been doing so well and making so much progress, though, and she didn't want him to start reverting to the way he'd been before. She only wanted him to be happy, and to take care of him for the rest of his life. All he needed to do was relax and let her. Why could he not see that?

Vincent didn't move again, and Lucrecia assumed he was either going to try to sleep or lay there and think for the night. She had just about fallen asleep when a tentative arm found its way around her waist. She managed to stay still, allowing herself a slight smile of satisfaction. Maybe there was some hope for him after all. Slowly, Vincent's arm tightened around her and he eased her back until she fit neatly against his lean body. She felt so safe, tucked in against him as if she'd been made to fit there, that it was easy to forget she'd ever been upset with him. She allowed herself a contented sigh as he settled onto her pillow, nuzzling against her affectionately. She knew he believed she was asleep and sensed that he wasn't ready to speak with her about what had happened yet, keeping up the illusion and allowing him to hold her and comfort himself. When he was ready to talk, he would let her know. For now, she was relieved to have him back at her side. She had just about drifted off again when she heard him whisper quietly against the back of her neck.

"I'm so sorry… Please forgive me…"

"There's nothing to forgive, my love," she said sleepily, rolling over in his arms so that she was facing him. He tightened his embrace almost painfully as she draped one leg across him, gazing up into his eyes. He looked so sad that it made her want to cry, and she quickly lifted her hand to caress his pale cheek. "Do you want to talk about it?"

His gaze was so intense that she shivered, the close contact between them making it tempting to forget all about their problems as they so often did and communicate their emotions without words. But that had solved little in the past, and the burdened look in Vincent's eyes hinted that he knew it, too. He finally sighed and frowned, briefly closing his eyes before regarding her cautiously.

"Maybe… a little…" he said, his deep voice so quiet she barely heard him. Lucrecia smiled softly, settling in against him and watching him closely.

"Whenever you're ready, baby. I'm listening."

((Author's Notes: - Holy long chapter of drama, kids. That Seph/Aeris argument was so much fun to write, and I owe my beta CykeclopsFF7 for the line where Aeris insults Lucrecia. Oops. Anyway, I struggled some with Vincent's part in this, largely because I've been very depressed (My brother's beloved cat escaped the house as I was coming in and we've yet to find him, so please keep him in your thoughts. His name is Bruno.) and just down on myself and feeling incapable of doing anything right. It needed a lot of reworking because there was a lot of raw emotion I needed to get out, but I think it ended up decent. I hope you like my version of Vincent's past better than the lame stuff they tried to feed us in DoC (DoC? What's that? ;). I'll probably elaborate on it in my next fic. So yeah, lots going on in there. I hope it was dramatic, exciting and a bit warm and fuzzy.

- My birthday is this Sunday, October 21st. We'll just not mention how old I'm gonna be. My gift to all of you was this here giant drama chapter. Aren't you so glad I was born? Haha. I would love some extra birthday reviews/favs/follows on any of my fics if you'd be so kind! Yeah, I know, that's lame of me, but geez, those are hard to come by!

- In upcoming news, I'm starting to brainstorm regularly with my beta and outline my next multi-chapter fic, which is more or less the sequel to this one and the next step forward in my AU. The title is "Internal Warfare." It's looking like it will be a very long story involving multiple plotlines and a number of characters/pairings (Vincent is still number one, of course, never fear), so I hope you guys intend to follow me there. I'd miss you! I expect Transformations to have maybe another 3 or 4 chapters, but I am not 100% sure how soon after I will begin the next fic. It won't be long, though, as I'm excited about it and wouldn't know what to do with myself. In the meantime, I am also still working hard on my Tseng/Elena fic, Closing the Distance. An update on that should be incoming over the next few days.

- Okay, sorry, I'm done now! Big chapters need big notes. Thanks again, as always, for being the most kick-ass readers in the fandom! ~ JenesisX ))