A/N: I know this chapter is short, nut it had to be this way. The story is slowly but surely getting wrapped up, so stay tuned!

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Last chapter ...

"So, no accusations can be held against Sephiroth, he will be freed this afternoon. Adoria will be released as well. As for Marilou and Williem, they will be imprisoned until their sentence has been decided"

On that note, happy shouts and joyful words emerged from the crowd, warming Aerith's soul as she thought that, maybe, Sephiroth would now be accepted by everyone in the town.

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A week later…

Sitting in the backyards of his house, Sephiroth silently admired Aerith as she took care of her garden, a hand placed on top of her slightly rounded belly. Giving her a genuine smile, the silver haired man felt a comfortable warmth flowing through his chest as she smiled back, her beautiful emeralds shining with untainted happiness.

With each day that passed by, she felt more connected to the tiny life evolving inside her, and had a strong feeling that their child would be a girl. Also, just as Sephiroth had guessed, she was almost glowing with pure joy since the day he told her about his decision to keep the baby and accept it as a part of him instead of just another troubling child.

But, there was a line between accepting and learning to deal with an energetic bundle of annoyance. So, he was happy to know it would be a girl, because he thought boys were more difficult to deal with, and Luna was there to give him a little practice. In only a few days, she would be gone with her aunt, and Sephiroth reluctantly admitted to himself that he had gotten used to her.

As for Williem, he was sentenced to be hanged until death for treason and having disturbed the world's peace, while Marilou would be imprisoned for ten years. Obviously, the Cetra really stood their ground when it came to deal with people who looked for trouble. Soon enough, an election would be scheduled to give Radiant Garden a new governor.

After all that happened, his ennemis' own plan had turned against them. Even if Sephiroth really was responsible for the waterway's infection, the case was closed as if he never had anything to do with it. But, in a sense, he wasn't really responsible…at least, that's what he told himself.

Before he was released, the authorities clearly made him understand that if anything like that ever happened again, they would not be so forgiving. So, even if he was cleared of any accusation, Sephiroth knew that the governors were not completely fooled. Another mistake, and he was dead. Period.

"Well, I'm not going to give them an opportunity to get rid of me" he decided in the back of his mind, knowing his life would never be the same from now on.

For once, he needed to let go of his past, and move on. He now lived in a peaceful world with a kind, ivory angel, who would give him a chance to prove to himself that he could be more than an instrument of destruction.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Adoria entered Kitakaze's room, holding a syringe filled with a transparent liquid. For lack of space, the room was now shared by Tenzen, who slept on a bed next to the girl's. Looking at her friends, Adoria sighed sadly, her heart breaking in front of such a troubling sight. While Kitakaze looked like a corpse, Tenzen was no better, his eyes closed and his limbs as still as a dead man's. Both of their bodies were covered with nasty, bloody bruises, and even Adoria had to use all of her strength not to look away.

Taking a few steps towards them, she held her breath as her heels made a small, resonating sound that alerted Tenzen, who opened his eyes in painfully slow motion.

"…Adoria?" he asked in a cracked voice.

Each time she heard him speak like this, the raven haired woman felt a hundred knives stabbing through her chest. Only god knew how high of a price she was ready to pay, only to have her old friend back, exactly like he was before. Tightening her fingers around the syringe, she comforted herself by thinking that, maybe, she held the key to their salvation.

"Yes, it's me. I … I think I did it, Tenzen" she said hesitantly.

"..Did what?" Tenzen asked, blinking as his dulled blue eyes tried to focus on her.

Taking a deep breath to gather her courage, she forced a small smile.

"I developed a new remedy. I have to test it first, though…" she began, her voice faltering. "So I came to ask of your approval…"

"Alright, try it on her. She's no better than dead already, so why hesitate…" he groaned, momentarily lighting the flame of Adoria's wrath.

But, just as she was about to show her indignation, the scientist swallowed her anger, taking another breath to calm herself as she realized he did not really mean it. His mind was a total mess, and he couldn't be blamed for his actions. There was a high chance he did not even realise what he was saying.

"Don't say that" she whispered sadly, lowering her eyes to the ground.

"…Sorry" Tenzen apologized, suddenly realising his own words and feeling like the biggest jerk alive, but unable to help it.

Nodding her understanding, Adoria sat beside Kitakaze's bed, preparing the syringe as Tenzen observed her intently.

"If this tentative proves to be a mistake, I want you to forgive me" she pleaded, ready to pierce the girl's skin and inject her with the newly developed cure.

"…Alright"

Feeling his own heartbeat increasing slightly, Tenzen watched as the needle pierced Kitakaze's skin. Lost somewhere in limbo, the girl did not even flinch, paralysed by the stillness of death. The machines and tubes connected to her were the only thing that kept her alive, like a single thread ready to snap any time.

"But even if this works, will she survive?" Tenzen dared to ask.

"…I don't know. But I'm a hundred percent certain that I won't ever be able to develop a better vaccine" Adoria answered truthfully as she removed the needle from the girl's vein.

"So, failure would be our race's death sentence" Tenzen remarked in a calm voice, strangely contrasting with the gravity of his words.

Not wanting to respond anything bad, nor good, Adoria decided to stay silent as she discarded the used needle.

"Did she show any sign of awareness? I mean, reflexes, or anything?" the scientist asked after a moment.

"Well, two or three days ago, I heard her mutter another man's name in her sleep" the man said bitterly.

"Really?" Adoria beamed. This was an answer she never expected to hear. "You should be happy, then…It means she's not so far gone…What was his name?"

"…Zack, I think"

As she never heard of anyone by that name, Adoria simply laughed it off, amused by how perturbed Tenzen was.

"I guess it must be her guardian angel. Don't worry, I don't think she found another lover where she is" the scientist joked, a feeling of warmth enveloping her whole being as Tenzen smiled softly.

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When nightfall came, Luna fell asleep early, giving Aerith some time alone with Sephiroth. So, they went to their own room and closed the door, wishing to make the most out of their little private time.

"Come closer" the silver haired man demanded in a soft whisper as she laid by his side.

Giving him a delighted smile, she did as she was told, snuggling against him and placing her head comfortably on his muscled shoulder.

"Good" Sephiroth breathed as he took her hand and placed a teasing kiss on top of it, looking at her with mischievous, glowing Mako eyes.

Letting out a sigh filled with pure satisfaction, Aerith smiled back as he gently placed her hand on top of his chest, inciting her feathery fingers to trace fine lines along each of his perfectly sculpted abs. Knowing he particularly liked this kind of attention, the flower girl gladly did so, a chill of delightful amusement flowing through her body as he let his guard down completely, becoming more relaxed than a purring feline.

Oh, how she loved him! And now that their problems were resolved, she could not help but to fall for him even more. But still, there was something they had not discussed yet…

"Do you have an idea for our baby's name?" the brunette asked, chuckling as Sephiroth let out a heavy sigh for being drawn out of his trance.

"…Well…I want her to have a name that will make people think about something…bright. Like the sun." he declared, sliding his fingers through Aerith's chestnut mane. "And I want her to remind me of you, at the same time"

"Hm…it's going to be difficult" Aerith pondered, curling an arm around Sephiroth's chest.

"In fact I've already decided" Sephiroth smirked.

Getting interested, Aerith looked him straight in the eye, impatiently waiting for his next words.

"Our daughter should be called…Solarith. She'll be white, and pure, just like her mother. She'll be strong and unfaltering, just like an orb of blazing fire…and just like her father"

As he spoke, Aerith's lips curled in a tentative smile, haunted by the unearthly light of his eyes, which grew stronger with each word. Obviously, he had thought this through, and would never change his mind. But, even if she would have liked to have a word in this, Aerith could only smile in acceptance, knowing it was Sephiroth's way. Just like he said, he never faltered when his decision was made, and she had no intention of changing him.

"Alright, then. It's a great idea. Solarith…" A pause. "Wait, what will be her family name?"

Rolling his eyes, Sephiroth let out an exasperated sigh. That, too, was just like him, and it made her smile.

"Does she really need one? …I've never had any and I never needed it"

"Come on!" Aerith giggled, giving him a friendly tap on the shoulder.

"Crescent…was my mother's family name" the silver haired man finally gave in. "But why don't we just give her yours"

"Crescent Gainsborough, then. It's a deal" the brunette giggled, amused as she had her little vengeance for not having the chance to choose the first name.

"Alright, you win. Now, come here" Sephiroth demanded, getting bored of those silly, parental talks.

Then, before Aerith even had the time to react, her lips were captured in a slightly possessive kiss. Smiling under his assault, she grabbed a handful of silver hair and hoped Luna's sleep was a very deep one.

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A/N: Reviews are fuel:P