I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol

I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.

Chapter 62 – The Admission

Dr. Wynan wouldn't let Jalyne leave the building. Not without a thorough workup. She found herself in her old apartment with the Turks around her, chatting idly and waiting patiently. Rufus dismissed them shortly afterwards, but he and Reno stayed behind to keep Jalyne company while Dr. Wynan retrieved a few other instruments from her office. They conversed among themselves as Jalyne stood at the window.

Jalyne remained impassive, gazing outward from the window in her old apartment in the Shinra building. Every so often she would focus upon the reflection at her eyes as she waited for the doctor to return. Yet another evolution her body acquired and she wondered if there was a limit to her changes or her magic.

Jalyne focused once more at her eyes as she heard the door open and Dr. Wynan entered, dragging a machine behind her. She could see the irises in the reflection and tried to not let the shape or color bother her. Each eye bore dark and emerald green, which split the color almost perfectly as they swirled around the pupil.

It was the shape of the pupils that she wasn't fond of, as she tried to calm the illumination within. The center was hour-glassed shaped, with barely noticeable indentations at the sides, and reminded her too much of Sephiroth's cat like pupils. To everyone else, unless you looked closely, it wouldn't be apparent, but Jalyne knew it was there. Why Time, and what was so special about her power to affect it?

She tried her best to quell the light radiating from her eyes which looked like a nebulous minefield of star formation and destruction. This would also take time to get used to and she wondered how many more changes would take place before all was done. She concentrated to calm the light within as it wouldn't really be nice to walk around with glowing eyes.

Jalyne reflected upon the events in the Northern Cave with Sephiroth and fear crept into her thoughts. Though she showed everyone what occurred, the missing piece she didn't have time to instill into the coms orb came to her mind. It was what happened within Time that bothered her. She was contemplating the events when the doctor interrupted her thoughts.

"Jalyne?" she asked quietly as the boys became silent.

Jalyne nodded curtly and started to remove the Turk jacket and shirt as Dr. Wynan brought the heart monitor around the side of the bed. Pulling her stethiscope around, she started to listen to Jalyne's heart, assessing the now healed wound and organ to assure that there no unseen damage.

Reno and Rufus watched her as she stripped from the waist up with no worries that they were present. A light moan escaped both of them and Jalyne raised her eyes to watch them in the window. Reno was sitting upon the bed and she could see him adjusting slightly. Luckily, Rufus's attire was draping as he stood on the other side in a relaxed position. The thoughts however, screamed at her and Jalyne turned slightly to look over her shoulder at the President. They each eyed her reflection with interest.

"Sir!" she chided lightly as Dr. Wynan continued her assessment.

"What?" he challenged, raising an eyebrow and looking at her dangerously.

"Now is not the time!" she chuckled. "Keep those thoughts to yourself." She playfully humphed, resisting the crossing her arms.

"No." he stated in mock seriousness. "I'm allowed to think them. Quit prying."

Jalyne opened her mouth to retort only to snap it shut, chuckled and responded. "Quit screaming."

Reno looked at both of them and grinned. "I take it you feel a little better, yo?" he paused. "You sound like your old self."

"A little." Jalyne conceded. "Though my mind is going nuts. I keep thinking of all that happened."

"Such as, yo?"

"Why is Azarian so intend on swaying me to the Night?" she spit out and turned to Rufus. "Your impression, Sir?"

"Power." He answered looking at her as she turned fully around. "You once said, power begets power. You are one, if not the most, powerful being in the universe."

"Hmm." She nodded in acceptance. "I think it is more than that." She paused placing her arms under her bosom of which the boys each groaned lightly while studying her. She quirked a brow at them and grinned devilishly. "What?"

"You know exactly what, beloved." Reno shot back. "Don't play innocent, yo."

She laughed heartily and looked at the doctor.

"Don't look at me for help, missy." She retorted lightly with a chuckle. "You're on your own."

"Heh." Jalyne exaggerated. "No one backs the Empress." she stated shrugging her shoulders. Reno raised, stepping behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, snuggling the crook of her neck.

"I'll back you, yo." He whispered seductively, pulling her hips to his as she squirmed in his grasp. "Up against a wall, yo."

"Will you two stop?" Dr. Wynan chided.

"What's the verdict?" Rufus asked coming to stand with all of them, trying to ignore the half-naked woman and his Second.

"She's perfectly healed." She commented with an incredulous look. "How – I have no idea." Dr. Wynan paused as Jalyne slid her corset back on. "I want her to stay here for the night though, for observation."

Reno grinned deviously at the comment.

He awoke to her whimpering and moving in bed. She was crying and muttering softly. Reno pulled Jalyne to him and tried to wake her to no avail. He stroked her hair lightly trying to bring her out of sleep when a glint from her staff in the corner caught his attention. The red-haired Turk narrowed his eyes at it as it glowed with white light.

"Plaro." She whispered, clutching the sheets. "Plaro, Reno! Forigea meia! Plaro!"

His eyes snapped to her and watched as her chest started glowing lightly in response to her staff. His eyes narrowed. Why was she begging him?

"Mei na meina!" Jalyne cried outward, twisting within the covers in distress. "Soryla! Soryla! Soryla mai! Na eta tiema spotei!"

Reno didn't know what to do. Jalyne was in pain – something else occurred. The flash took him aback when her staff whizzed to the center of the room and spun, causing the light to grow outward. He glanced at Jalyne and then back at the staff and inhaled a breath as the room lit up with the scene of her and Sephiroth. He waited patiently recognizing it.

Sephiroth had ensnared her, his lips upon hers. Her left hand flared and barely twisted as a flash occurred…and rewound the events that they witnessed in the simulation room.

Jalyne gently disengaged from Sephiroth and studied him, eyes alight and in question. She calmly walked around him, lightly brushing his arms and trailing a gentle hand down the bangs of his hair. She moved a hand down his chest and curiously studied it as the spark glimmered in the surreal light of the cavern. Jalyne raised on her toes and leaned into his neck, slightly turning her head to his ear.

"You are blind." She whispered to the Man in Black who was still as a statue within Time. "A pawn in a greater game that I will win. When you close your eyes…" she began quietly. "and picked your side…you willingly walked blindly into the Night, thinking you are on the right path. When will you truly be the SOLDIER and a knight within the field of play?"

Jalyne walked behind him again and stopped, pulling a strand of hair behind his shoulder and quietly spoke. "What causes you to hate so much? Does the circumstance of your birth unnerve you that much? Do you truly believe that Mother was completely enshrouded in the Night?" she hesitated a moment, erotically running her fingers through his strands. "Did you ever think that it was her will that led to all of these events?" She continued, reaching for his other side and repeated the motion, lightly grazing his hair behind his shoulders. "I will let you in on a little secret."

Jalyne walked to be in front of him and again raised on her toes, bringing her lips close to his, bracing her balance with her right hand on his chest but never dropping her gaze. "God and goddess are just words to describe those that are different from the majority. You were once the best there was. Now…become more."

Jalyne paused, looking intently into blank eyes. "Mother was both Light and Dark. Gaia only ever got to see her as the Night. Now, you will see what she really was." Jalyne paused, staring at him intently. "I found love…I found what was taken from me and I will guard it as Empress of the Heaven's. I am it's greatest weapon…and I am it's greatest protector." She studied him for a moment, assessing her next words carefully.

"Will you fight for the Light and find what you are truly to become?" Her power sprang forth, feeding the spark that was already present and of which she knew placed and hiding the different perspective she offered with in. She raised her lashes at him again smiling and paused in thought. "Seven seconds until the end…One can last an eternity." She raised her hand enshrouded in her ability, studying it, the Time warping around her fingers. "Three have already passed." Her eyes flashed. "The battle for Gaia begins."

She backed away from the First SOLDIER, extending her wings and bolted into the sky above the cavern. She hovered before flickering her right wrist, continuing time.

Reno studied the white light coming from the staff and his eyes opened further when the Rune of Soul appeared and settled in the center. He watched the three orbs circle between the blades and the pieces fell into place. Reno sharply looked at Jalyne, who was still crying in sleep and glowed with her light.

The flame-haired Turk rose to stand in front of the staff, outreaching a hand to the Rune. It became bathed in flames and pulsed with his heartbeat. He looked at the dark orb between the blades, knowing it was the black materia that Sephiroth pushed into her. It swirled with power but remained contained.

He studied the blue one that she had extracted from her abdomen, noting that the purplish color was more pronounced and he reached to it, only to be block by the shield. His eyes narrowed and glanced back at Jalyne, who still wrestled within the sheets.

The white orb pulsed and Reno brought both her and the orb into his line of sight. They pulsed at the same beat and he inhaled sharply at understanding. The Light wasn't her ability or power…it was her soul – the counterbalance to the Night. Why would she hide them? Why would she hide her own soul?

Reno glanced at his mag rod, laying in chair in the corner. It flickered lightly though it could have been a reflection. Jalyne gave him her power…but was it really her power or something else? He picked it up, feeling the throb in his hands. The weapon felt hot.

"PLARO!" she screamed suddenly, drawing his attention to her. Reno climbed into bed, leaving the weapons and moved to comfort her.

"It's okay, beloved." He whispered trying to calm her. "There's nothing wrong, yo."

"Soryla." She calmed a little with his touch. "batryl tai."

Reno pulled her hands near her head, settling lightly between her legs but not to startle her. His eyes flickered to the staff, which settled back into the corner, orbs no where to be seen. When he pulled his eyes to hers, Jalyne opened them, staring blankly at the ceiling. He watched the light swirl within them, studying the ever changing green gems pulsing. Jalyne held the light of heavens within her.

She was like no other. Why the fates gave her to him, he will never know, but like the President stated a few weeks ago – he would protect her like no other. Reno loved her and could no longer imagine her not here.

A tear dropped from her eye and he moved to dry it, lightly grazing her diamond mark in awe. Jalyne breathed deeply, closing her eyes and reopening them, focusing on Reno.

"Soryla, Reno." She closed her eyes. "Mei forigea."

"For what, Jalyne?" he whispered. "Stop beating yourself up over nothing, yo."

"Mai tiema spotei." Jalyne whispered in Trerran. "Mai afferanae."

"Learn then, yo."

Her eyes widened as he kissed her. "But I be—"

"No, you didn't, yo." Reno cut her off, placing a finger over her lips. "When you realize that I love you just the way you are, you'll stop feeling that way."

"Reno," she started as he rolled off her, pulling her to him to get comfortable. "I offered Sephiroth another chance. Not only that, I offered it seductively."

"And?" he stated. "That is part of your charm, yo. You are the Empress of the Heaven's, yo." He chuckled. "You act like I'm not the same way." He gazed at her opened wide eyes. "Or that I haven't been put in the same situations to obtain the objective."

Jalyne furrowed her brows in concentration. "It is the game we play." She spoke after a few minutes. "We're trained to use sex, eroticism, seduction as manipulation, and elevate it to the highest level we can to achieve our directive." She shook her head. "Father trained me to be the best."

"What are you saying, yo?"

"Azarian tainted him." Jalyne stated with realization. "Father exiled me for no other reason than to hide me from Azarian. Father was biding time and understood that Azarian caused some of the thoughts and actions in a moment of clarity. I wasn't ready." She raised her hand, calling the power to it, watching it swirl around her fingers.

Reno reached up and threaded his fingers between them, watching the color change from blue to purple. "Yeah, you might want to explain this, yo."

"It's the Forge." She stated calmly.

"And why did you lock it away, yo?"

"Because Azarian wishes to have it." She paused. "I'm not sure why, though." Jalyne gazed at Baelo softly, calming the light within her eyes. "I will protect it, always, complete or not." She whispered.

His brows raised. "It's not complete?"

Jalyne shook her head. "Not yet, Baelo."

"Why not, yo?"

"It takes time and a…special moment for it to be complete." Jalyne replied mysteriously. "I'm not rushing it, either. It is your choice also. There is so much going on and it will come with time."

"Hmm." He responded in thought. They laid there in silence. "Why did you take out your light, yo?"

"To keep it safe." Jalyne answered, cuddling closer to him. "I seem to have a target somewhere on me." She joked lightly. Reno chuckled at her and fell silent – she didn't answer on if it was her Soul or her power.

"Where are the orbs, yo?"

Jalyne peered at him warily before answering. "They are at another plane." She answered slowly. "They are here but not here. Only I can access them."

Reno looked at her incredulously. "They're where?"

Jalyne sighed maintaining eye contact with him. "Easiest way to explain. They're at another place, one of my making."

They fell silent again and Jalyne adjusted to get more comfortable within Reno's grasp. Finally she spoke.

"I'm sorry, Reno." Jalyne broke through his thoughts. "For disagreeing with you. I need to learn that I don't need to be privy to all things here and to learn to trust more."

He clutched her tightly, running a hand through her hair. "You are Empress, Jalyne."

"That's no excuse."

"I was wrong too, yo. I should have told you. I just didn't think of it, yo." They stayed silent for a few minutes. "Why are you afraid, yo?" he finally asked.

"I moved time, Baelo." Jalyne whispered. "I shouldn't do that."

"You did it to get out of a sticky situation, yo." He shrugged. "You corrected a mistake."

"Still," she said sleepily. "It is dangerous. Just because one can do something…doesn't mean one should."

Dr. Wynan released Jalyne the following morning as Reno left to check in with the President. He returned in a sour mood though Jalyne didn't say much about it. He was driving her home when he spoke up.

"Will you be alright, yo?" he asked quietly. "I have a mission to attend to."

"Is that why you are grumpy?" she hazarded slowly looking at him.

"Yeah." He conceded, shaking his reds strands. "I was hoping to just hang with you, yo."

"It's okay." She quietly stated, pulling a coms orb out of her pocket. "I'll just start looking at this."

Reno pulled to the front of her building, placing a hand on her knee of which she smiled and moved to kiss him fiercely.

"I'll return later, yo." Reno whispered as she nodded and got out of the car.

Jalyne glanced upward to her apartment, narrowing her eyes before leaning back into the car to say goodbye to Reno. She stayed outside in the chilly late winter breeze and squinted, glancing upward.

Jalyne entered her penthouse and glanced around. It was dark, with the only light coming from the patio as the sun made it's way onward. Placing her keys on table, she watched the light and clouds before turning down the hallway, alert. Jalyne paused in the doorway to her bedroom, knowing he was there, somewhere.

"I know you are here." She quietly stated.

It was swift but not harsh as he pushed her up against the back wall, securing her wrists and bracing her lightly. He pulled back to look at her.

"What do you need, Rufus?" she asked calmly.

"Need?" he whispered. "Or want?"

"Either." Jalyne challenged, watching him move just a little closer to her lips. Slowly, the corner of his lip inched upward at her. Rufus released her wrists, sliding an arm around her waist, pulling her tighter.

"And if I said you?" he questioned, closing the gap.

"Naio!" Jalyne realized with wide eyes. She pushed him away and reversed positions, then backed away from him, standing straight. "I am not a plaything." She asserted.

"Never said you were." The blonde President stated, jabbing outward.

Jalyne blocked easily and went on the offensive, striking low and to the side to catch him off guard. Rufus caught her hand, twisting it to cause her to turn but she pulled it away forcefully. She struck out with an elbow of which he leaned to the side to dodge and spun her into her bedroom.

She back-stepped lightly but held her ground. Jalyne wasn't mad, nor angry, but she still wasn't going to let Rufus win. Not this time. She darted forward in a quick leg sweep and as she straightened, the president grabbed her shoulders.

Flashing a quick grin, Jalyne encircled his wrists…and flipped Rufus over. He fluidly rolled, using the momentum and straightened up, backing up slowly, brushing out the wrinkles in his leather and eyeing her appraisingly. They traded jabs and punches, before Rufus pinned her again and dipped his head to her neck, inhaling deeply.

"You are getting stronger in resisting." He quietly stated. "Keep growing."

Jalyne opened her eyes wide as he placed a kiss on her neck and broke from her. She looked and him questionably as he adjusted his clothing from the spar. "Sir?"

"You're resisting the advances." The President elaborated. "Learning to not succumb to your own power."

Jalyne thought a moment before speaking. "Only I'm the seductress."

Rufus shrugged. "You've always been alluring." He commented

"I suppose I've been trained that way." She said quietly. "To be the unsuspecting weapon."

Rufus stared at her. "Not quite." He paused. "You have an air about you that's natural. People instantly want to be with you. You're erotic. Use it to your advantage."

"I always have." Jalyne murmured and contemplated his words before asking her question. "Why are you here?"

Rufus chuckled before flipping on the lights and leading her toward the livingroom. He turned abruptly, pulling her to him, laying his lips upon hers gently. "I wanted to speak with you." He said quietly continuing down the hall.

"About?"

"What you did."

"Which part?" Jalyne questioned wryly. "I did a lot lately."

"You didn't deflect the bullet."

Jalyne bowed her head. "I couldn't." she elaborated.

"I know that." Rufus stood in front of her and raised her chin to meet her eyes. Jalyne returned his gaze, trying to figure out the emotion behind his eyes and ended up raising one of her brows. Rufus sighed and side-stepped into the kitchen. "Why?"

Jalyne answered instantly. "Azarian pulled me at the correct exact moment. Blanketed and suffocated my light." She gazed at Rufus, who was intent on finding a drink in her kitchen. Jalyne walked to the cabinet, pulling out the Dragon's Fire. Making two glasses, she handed one to him, leaning on the counter, studying him. "What aren't you admitting?"

"Absolutely nothing, Dearest." Rufus replied, taking a drink and standing in front of her, a calculating grin on his features.

"Why do you call me that?" she inquired, pulling herself to sit on the counter.

"Because you," The President smiled lightly and took a drink, cornering her on the counter as he set his glass down. "Jalynemidenovia e Nehaviendria, are the most furiating, disrespecting, gut-wrenching, alluring, and sexy woman I have ever met." He finished, closing the gap considerably. "You are dearest."

Jalyne lolled her head back to rest on the top cabinets, closing her eyes. He called her by name and in doing so, outreached his thoughts to her. She breathed softly, intaking his projected feelings and thoughts, trying to sort them out. Respect. Infatuation. Honor. Marvel. Fear. All of these emotions Jalyne felt from him.

Rufus pulled her to him once more, sliding a hand to her neck and kissed her softly. He ended the kiss but whispered to her. "And I love you for all of them."

The Admission. Rufus loved her. It was not the forge that she held with Reno but a different, respectful love the president held. He wasn't in love with her and she was grateful, for it would be a choice she didn't want to make and nor did she want to be the one to break his heart in that way. That didn't mean the president wouldn't want other interactions.

In Jalyne's defense, she was wrapped up in the emotion, being an empath and missed Rufus's other hand making it's way to her side when he spoke again. "But don't ever scare me like that again." He admonished, sliding his fingers underneath her corset.

Jalyne let out a blissful shriek at the contact and nearly smacked her head off of the cabinet. Reflexively, she wrapped her legs around him and grabbed the offending hand. "I hate you!" she laughed at him trying to stop him from tickling her. "I hate it!"

Rufus stopped, placing a kiss on her forehead and lifting her off the counter. "I haven't given up quite yet. I wanted to tell you, I shouldn't have placed you in the simulation setting." Rufus commented leading her to the livingroom to sit. Jalyne sensed his guilt and remorse. "And business still goes on." The President sighed.

Jalyne looked at him shrewdly before speaking. "You sent him specifically to separate us." She glanced around her place. "You're most comfortable here."

Rufus nodded. "Yes." He paused. "I wanted to tell you that alone before anything else happens."

Again she nodded. "I understand, Sir." Jalyne paused and narrowed her eyes at him. "What is Reno doing?"

Rufus sighed and took another drink before continuing. "At the moment, I would gather that he is checking to enter a place I didn't know existed until recently. He's running surveillance for the moment. Depending on what he finds, I'll send the three of you in to investigate."

"What's is it?" Jalyne inquired, looking at her glass. This was a particularly strong batch of Dragon's Fire. The white-haired Empress raised her eyes to him. "What is there?"

"The Lab."