A/N: Ahem! This chapter can prove to be very interesting... I hope *squeaks* And before I shall get on to the story, I'd like to say that I DO NOT own the song Heart by Heart whose lyrics have been used in this chapter as well as the title. Heart by Heart is written and sung by Demi Lovato, and is in the soundtrack of the movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones... I don't make money out of this, by the way. I was listening to the song when I wrote this bit down. ;) Anyways, hope you'll enjoy reading this as always, and again, I ask for a review, please? *puppy dog eyes* Thank you so much. :)

Chapter 25: Heart by Heart

When your soul finds the soul it was waiting for

When someone walks into your heart through an open door

When your hand finds the hand it was meant to hold

Don't let go...~

He didn't want to hear her words. He only wanted her touch, the feel of his arms circling her waist, the touch of his lips against hers. Without much thought, Kadaj had crashed his lips to hers with such force, but Natalie didn't care. She gasped between kisses and parted her lips to meet the urgency of his mouth. His tongue slid past her teeth, coursing around to meet hers. Slender and delicate arms lifted and wrapped around his shoulders, hands reaching for that soft and silky silver hair, the strands spilling through the spaces between her fingers. Kadaj's mouth worked against her lips with so much desperation, filled with wanton need. Breathless and shocked, both pulled away, foreheads touching, heavy breathing from both sides. He opened his eyes to stare into hers, the sight of those green orbs held a whirlpool of emotions. She could see everything she wanted to see through them. He didn't need to speak the words.

Someone comes into your world,

Suddenly your world has changed forever...~

"I love you." His voice was a broken, ragged whisper, his hot breath rushing across her face.

It was all the words she needed to hear. Even if she wasn't hoping to hear it from him, but she did. He said it. He truly meant it. His hands tightened on her waist and caught her lips again, gentler this time, his passion leaking out in this kiss as he stroked her back, his hand coming around to the front to unbutton her trench coat. She should have felt afraid, or lost, but no. She felt whole, and she knew it without a doubt. She wanted this. She needed him so much she felt like she was going to burst.

When you're one with the one you were meant to find

Everything falls in place, all the stars align

When you're touched by the life that has touched your soul,

Don't let go...~

His lips softly sucked on hers, his tongue tracing a path against the roof of her mouth, sending warm shivers down her spine. She welcomed him; let the touch of his lips slide over her heart, like warm honey. He was being slow with it, biding his time, letting her get used to this side of him that begged mutual affection and visible need. Her coat was unbuttoned all the way through, revealing her sleeveless tee underneath. His hands drifted over her shoulder blades to her shoulders, slowly peeling the coat off her, letting it drop to the floor with the soft thud. His hands skimmed her bare arms, letting the feel of her soft skin thrill him.

"Tell me to stop now," he murmured through parted lips, breath beating against her pink ones, but Natalie shook her head.

"No." It was all she could say as she pulled him closer.

Kadaj sighed and nudged her jugular with the tip of his nose, hands sliding underneath the fabric of her tee as he allowed his hands to explore her stomach. Natalie let out a breath, sighing contentedly as Kadaj's lips wandered further, his teeth now nipped at her earlobe, and then his lips were moving to graze her jaw line, down to the side of her neck, and to her collarbone.

Someone comes into your life,

It's like they've been in your life forever...~

No there's no one else's eyes that could see into me

No one else's arms can lift; lift me up so high

Your love lifts me out of time,

And you know my heart by heart...~

Another step back and she found herself falling and landed with a soft sink in the duvet and the mattress with him sprawled on top of her after he'd given her a slight push. Kadaj carelessly shoved his laptop aside. His shirt was on the floor, and her top was still on, but not for long. Slowly, her hands traced over those arms and onto the muscular planes of his chest. His lips were back against hers once more, insistent but gentle. This kiss becoming heated, more passionate, unquenchable fire blazing across her skin in scorching trails as his hands roamed over her cream-colored flesh. Their lips collided in unbridled emotion, a kiss full of consolation, assurance, deep aches; hearts slamming simultaneously against each other's chests, longing, and searching. Words were hardly needed or wanted for that matter. Tonight, she had him.

So now we found our way to find each other

So now I found my way to you...

No, there's no one else's eyes that can see into me...~

Flames of different colors burst before her eyes at the sensation; fingernails dug into the skin at his shoulder blades. The room was a blur, colors exploding out of the gloom; her own voice mingled with his, ringing through her ears. His hand caressed her inner thigh slowly as he opened his eyes and stared into hers.

"Tell me what you want..." He rasped in a husky voice.

"Now. Please," she begged...

No there's no one else's eyes that can see into me

No one else's arms can lift; lift me up so high

Your love lifts me out of time,

And you know my heart by heart...~

And you know my heart by heart...

vVvVv

Natalie had her back to Kadaj as she laid on her side of the bed, at the very edge. Their interaction tonight had left her exhausted and confused. As the moment had transpired between them tonight, she had lost all rational thought, thrown caution to the wind all over again as she often did whenever she was with him, but now that it was over, sense returned, and voices from shadows that quivered in the corners of her mind ate away at her thoughts. She had been impulsive. She had given herself up so easily and to what cost? There was always a price to pay for everything. Perhaps tonight was a mistake? Mistake or not, it was a lie to say she didn't enjoy herself. He had been so gentle and careful with her, and she trusted him more than anything though the most part of her nether regions were extremely sore. No one had to know of this encounter. If this managed to leak into her parents' hearing. she didn't know what they would do to her and her lover.

What made it worse was that she was afraid now that it was over. She was afraid of the outcome, afraid of what she thought of herself, and afraid of what Kadaj would say to her when he woke in the morrow—which was only an hour away. As far as she knew, they had both breached the boundaries intended and crossed over to the realm of extreme intimacy that had been a stranger to her—until now.

Unwelcome thoughts and images flooded her mind and she remembered what her mother and her wet nurse had told her when she was nearing puberty. She remembered the stories about ordinary school girls who gave themselves up so easily to the people they thought they loved and ended up feeling dirty, worthless, cheap, and had their self-confidence degraded out of inner shame. It didn't matter what negative thoughts other people might have about you. It doesn't weigh much compared to the shame and frustration you felt for yourself. There was no cure. You had to live the rest of your days knowing you were desecrated before your marriage to the proper man meant for you. But... Kadaj... They were meant for each other, weren't they? The thought sent pleasant shivers up her spine as she remembered the feel of those hands on her bare skin, and how every part of her seemed to fit perfectly into the shape of his body—like puzzle pieces.

She risked a glance over her shoulder at his sleeping figure lying across the bed quite far from her. Had it really been worth it? Unaware, her hands slid over her bare shoulders, knowing that a man had already touched her there, felt her bare skin underneath his fingertips. It hurt to think she didn't belong to herself anymore, and the fact that her innocence was now lost. She couldn't believe she would miss something so sorely after having them for fourteen years. Was she even worthy of being a princess anymore?

Meanwhile, Kadaj hadn't been asleep as his bedmate had thought. He was wide awake and was aware of Natalie's exasperated sighs every now and then. After their encounter he had pretended to feel tired because he couldn't quite believe what they did even after the deed had been done, and he knew she wanted to think. It was the least he could do. And that was how they found themselves in awkward positions on the bed tonight. A wide gap was between them, Natalie on the far left, and him to the far right after that exhausting 'activity.' How could he leave now that he had claimed her as his? Sephiroth marked her, but he had her now. It was frustrating but he still had to. It was still the only solution to keep her life from being utterly destructed. She would hate him for sure. After they made love, she would think he would stay, but he couldn't even if he wanted to. He was still leaving. He had set his mind to it. There was no place for him here, what's more because every single person in the palace of Ceres thought him to be a scum ball.

It was then that he heard a quiet restricted sob from Natalie's direction. He whirled around and stared at her, golden strands of hair splayed out on the pillows. Not even thinking, he scooted closer to her and wrapped his arms around her, noting her uneasy flinch in surprise. She really hadn't heard him move. She felt the bed shift when he did, but she dismissed it as some random movement her feet had made that she wasn't aware of.

"What's wrong?" He whispered, startling her slightly, but her tears continued to roll down her cheeks, finally dripping onto the sheets.

She shook her head. "Nothing." She sniffled, and made no move to brush her tears away, but Kadaj did when she looked at him over her shoulder. He dropped a kiss on each of her eyelids and dried her tears with the back of his hand.

He laid his cheek against hers, fingers intertwined as they rested over her abdomen. She was surprised to actually find herself disgusted and thrilled with the feel of his bare skin against hers. She dearly hoped that he would take her with him when he would leave. She shifted around—freeing her hand from his grip—so she was facing him and finally buried her face into the crook of his neck, her lips tracing small kisses on his collar bone, where her mouth could reach. Kadaj smiled unbeknownst to her and stroked her golden tresses. Her mouth released his skin and she slowly traced a bare finger across the taut muscles of his chest.

"I love you," she whispered against his skin, closing her eyes at the warmth of his body.

He languorously curled a lock of hair between his fingers and kissed the top of her head. "And I you, princess."

She looked up at him and smiled just as he spoke.

"You should be asleep..." He muttered in a nonchalant voice.

"So should you." She replied and they both fell silent under the bed sheets before she spoke again. "I want to come with you. Please?" She pleaded with wet blue eyes.

He shook her head. "You can't."

She turned her back to him again, disappointed with Kadaj and mostly with herself for letting a man touch her. But then again, it was mostly her fault. Kadaj had offered to stop, but she refused. She was the one who wanted him to go on which led to her first encounter with anybody. She was disgusting. Moreover, she shouldn't have brought that up. Now the atmosphere just became gloomier. Huffing, she pulled away from his embrace—not even thinking—sitting up and planting her bare feet firmly on the tiled floor. Kadaj stared at her with confusion but he didn't stop her. When Natalie began gathering what was left of her clothing—scraps of them, but her coat and pants were intact—Kadaj found his voice.

"Where are you going?" He asked softly, sitting up as well.

"Back to my room. I'm hoping the guards stationed outside my room are still knocked out." She deadpanned, putting on her pants and trench coat.

"Is this because I can't take you with me?" He asked in a cold voice, the warmth of their previous love-making had left.

Natalie paused. "It's because of everything," she said sadly, worried and let down.

Kadaj wasn't looking at her now; he was staring at the far side of the room, almost blank in his thoughts. She couldn't say anymore so she just left his room quietly without another word. It really hurt; to leave like that after you just gave yourself to someone so willingly, knowing that the other person held half of your soul now. And as she silently padded down the hallways in her bare feet, she couldn't help crying all over again as his words echoed in her memory.

"I love you..."

vVvVv

The sun was shining through her windows cheerily as Natalie forced herself to open her eyes. She stared up at the high ceilings and sighed as her fingers brushed the stuffed monkey lying on her bed. Last night was almost a dream—an exceedingly good dream and a bad one for that matter. Come to think of it, a lot had happened yesterday, and yes, it had left her exhausted. Memories of last night's encounter with Kadaj made her flush as she remembered how it had felt; how they were both driven over the edge... and then what happened after. She had left him alone and returned to her room, sneaking past the men who were fast asleep after she had drugged them. If her estimation was right, they'd still be knocked out by the time her mother came. And they were sure to be reprimanded. Well, she asked Josie to dissolve sleeping pills on the men's water. She trusted her personal attendant enough.

He was leaving tomorrow. He had refused to take her with him. He didn't want her with him. It had confused her of course, even though he'd given her his reasons, she still didn't think it was enough. Was she going to see him today? If she did, what was she going to say to him? Goodbye just seemed so passive. She couldn't really mean it if she was going to say it at all. He hurt her, and after they'd... they'd... Gods, she couldn't even say it. She sat up, refusing to get frustrated. The good side, maybe she wasn't going to see him after all. Her parents would never let her out unless he was going to leave. She hugged herself, trying not to shiver in the nightgown she had changed into last night.

It was then that one of the double doors that marked the entrance to her room opened with a noisy creak. One of the uniformed men stepped in, bowed courteously, and addressed her. Now she was just annoyed at having to enter so blatantly. Even now, she was being stripped of her rights and honor. What would happen if she were married to Sephiroth and become queen of two nations? She didn't even want to think about that. Instead, she let her gaze flick towards the man waiting for her to speak.

"Say whatever it is you need to say, henchman." She prompted him, getting to her feet and shrugging on her silk robe.

The man cleared his throat rather noisily and spoke in a gruff voice. "The queen requests that you make yourself ready. She is to arrive exactly ten minutes after you wake to break your fast. That is all, your highness."

Natalie huffed impatiently and stared at the sheets that were slightly rumpled on her bed. By then, the man had already shut the door to her room and left her alone to consume her privacy. So her mother wanted to see her this morning. She just wondered what the queen would say. Natalie rarely saw her father since he was a very busy men, and she occasionally got to speak to him. It wasn't like the palace in Ceres was a small one. She rarely saw her father at all. If she did see him, what would he say?

vVvVv

Kadaj was still frustrated and still feeling a little lost. He had woken up facing the empty side of the bed where she had lain last night. He felt groggy, and a tired but he forced himself to get up and take a cold shower to loosen up some tension and clear his thoughts. Once that was done, and once he felt clean, he got dressed and started packing his things, not having much to do anyway. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to see Natalie at all, or if she would want to see him for that matter. But then again, she was under security. It was close to impossible to approach her without the queen's leave. And he wasn't in the mood for breakfast either. Perhaps he should visit the city today, to clear his head before he finally went home.

vVvVv

"Loz, I wish for a battalion to be deployed in the north shores of Banora at the sea port in the capital city in twenty-four hours or so." Sephiroth explained sternly, picturing his heir to the throne blubbering like a child already. He wasn't one to take stern comments, and oh how Sephiroth wished he could smack the back of that brother's head.

"T-That fast?" The person on the other line stuttered.

Sephiroth's anger flared like wildfire. "You mean to tell me that our military is not ready just as I expected them to be?!" He demanded harshly, knowing Loz was clutching the phone tightly by now.

"It is, brother... I just wasn't expecting an impromptu message just like this," Loz reasoned, but Sephiroth wouldn't hear. How much more stupid could this boy get? They were all the same—his brothers. One was stupid; the second one was too careful; the last one was a skirt-chaser and a huge flaw in his plans.

Sephiroth growled low in his throat. Screw his own army. He could single-handedly bring down an entire nation if need be, but where was the fun in that? Besides, him, Genesis, and Rufus had already planned it out. They would divide the spoils of war after they had overrun every nation they breached. The first attack would be launched near the Northern Borders of Athenae and Aerys country. And he had deadlines to meet. Right now, Sephiroth was seated on leather padded seats in his private jet on his way to Midgar country to converse with Rufus for a few days (since some things were better spoken of in personal), and his brother was complaining about deploying a battalion to Banora?! He promised Genesis Rhapsodos help while the red lord of Banora country besieged the outskirts of Nibelheim domain.

"Well, you should be." Sephiroth snapped calmly, his deep voice almost a hum.

"Of course, my lord." Loz replied, sounding more composed now. "They will be informed shortly, your majesty."

"See that you do," the silver-haired man droned and then hung up, dialing up another number on his phone.

He had a surprise for a certain someone, and he planned to assure everything was in order beforehand. Sephiroth was already smiling broadly. A little more finishing touch and the plan already had its cherry on top. Why was revenge so sweet?

A/N: If you're frustrated about the fact that I didn't detail the love scene, I am sorry. But I'm never one for the details of such private moments. (No offense intended to those who like it laid out before them in detail) And besides, I've never experienced it. I'm just writing it based on the novels I've read and the fanfiction stories that include Kadaj doing it to the female OC. Laugh at me if you will. :D I won't mind. ;) I just hope I got the point-of why Kadaj and Natalie did it-across...