Broken Wings - Chapter Fifty

Aralyn tried to move to shake the sleep from her limbs, but something was holding her firmly. She panicked and tried to fight back as she felt the familiar prick of a needle sinking into her arm, but the embrace tightened, and familiar fingers were gently stroking her hand.

"That should do it," a voice she recognized as one of the nurse's sounded fuzzy in her ears. "She's set."

"Thank you." Sephiroth sounded as calm as always, but his grip that nearly cut off her circulation told her that he was anything but all right. "Aralyn," he asked gently. "Can you hear me?"

His grip on her loosened as she nodded in consent, and she thought she heard him quietly sigh in relief.

"Does anything hurt, sweetie?" the nurse asked.

She shook her head, daring to open her eyes a little. She hurt everywhere, but she didn't want the painkillers dulling the feeling of his hand on hers. His bright green eyes were the first thing she saw, and he smiled softly in greeting.

"All right," the nurse said, pursing her lips in disapproval. "Do take it easy." She eased the IV needles out of her arm, gently rubbing some of the soreness away. Nodding curtly, she began to walk away purposefully.

"Aralyn," Sephiroth said after the nurse had gone. "Will you walk with me?"

"I can't walk. Remember what happened when I tried yesterday?"

Sephiroth put his arms around her and hoisted her from the bed. "Then I will carry you." He held her bridal style. "Does this hurt?" he asked, concerned.

Aralyn knew she should probably protest, but she knew that he wouldn't take excuses, and she was quite comfortable…perhaps too comfortable, considering how close she was to him. She shook her head, he nodded his approval, and he began the walk.

Sephiroth stopped at her apartment, setting her on the couch while he went and retrieved her thick winter cloak and far more spare blankets than she deemed necessary. Gently, he eased her weak arms into the sleeves, even though she was sure she had enough stamina to accomplish that at least. He didn't look at her face, and so he wasn't aware of how dark her cheeks were turning.

She tried to stand on her own, and Sephiroth was there to catch her before she'd fallen a foot. He shook his head and repositioned her in his arms, tightening his grip to assure her that she wasn't getting out. He smiled slyly at her as she gave a mock scowl.

They went outdoors in a comfortable, contented silence, the night serene, hushed with a blanket of new snow. She didn't know where he was taking her; only that it was far from the prison they had grown up in.

She thought she could handle the fatigue that hadn't abated since her ordeal, but it wasn't long before the warmth and the gentle rocking of Sephiroth's strides lulled her into a daze. He noticed this and laughed softly.

When she awakened, she was in a clearing in the Forgotten City, the trademark white trees surrounding this small haven with a soft, pure light. Sephiroth was sitting against the trunk of one of these trees that was growing in the center of the clearing, Aralyn still cradled against him, her head resting on his chest.

She flushed crimson, embarrassed both for falling asleep and by the nearness to him. He replied with a small, contented smile. She turned away, feeling her heart beat fast, and climbed reluctantly out of his embrace. She sat beside him instead.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Hm?" He brushed her unruly bangs out of her eyes with the tips of his fingers. She shivered at his touch and, mistaking it for the cold, he wrapped her in yet another blanket from his supply. "I didn't count," he finally admitted.

"You could have woken me."

"But you looked so peaceful," he argued. He paused, then continued, solemnly, "You were calling my name in your sleep." She tried to turn away but he put a hand on the side of her face to stop her. "What was it you saw?"

"Ah…" she sighed. "It's not…not important." She smiled nervously and fingered the rainbow pendant around her neck. "Why did you bring me here? I mean…it's beautiful but…why?"

"To," he hesitated a moment, seeming to consider his next words carefully, "ask you something."

"Why not back at Shinra, Sephiroth? I still don't understand!"

He hesitated, gazing at her intently, then took both her hands in his, intertwining their fingers. Then, slowly, he lowered himself until he was kneeling on one knee in the snow. He met her eyes, his gaze gentle.

"Because it wasn't the right place for a proposal."

Aralyn's hand flew to her mouth as Sephiroth slid a gold band, inlaid with four tiny diamonds, on her left ring finger. Slowly, Sephiroth rose. He cupped her face in his hands, his lips brushing hers.

"I love you," he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear, before he let himself kiss her.


A/N: We have a proposal and a kiss (FINALLY!)!!!You may thank Tehn for the last 3 paragraphs! She's going to get her own account soon, and you really should check out some of her stuff. It's fantastic.

So, in the flashbacks we have a wedding planned and then (-sobs loudly-) well...the bane of every Sephiroth lover... (-sniff-)