Sephiroth grinned down at the frightened young woman on the ground, bound and gagged, before him. "Now, what was your name again? Oh yes, Shera." He kicked the woman fiercely, who responded with a pained squeal. "Oh shut up!" He kicked her once more, then turned away to comtemplate his lair. A table...yes, he would need the operating table a time from now. An aqui-chamber, in which mother was resting and charging up her strength. A cell, with a single thin blanket, and a small slit in wich to slid a food tray. Also in the lab was a supply cabinet full of sedatives, another filled with materia and other items, and in one cabinet...his sword.
"Yes...Everything is coming along quite nicely. Just perfectly. I know where I'll catch them in my trap...The Lost City of the Ancients. Just where she'll die!" He threw his head back an laughed evily. The woman on the floor shivered as the cold laugh echoed throughout the cave.


"Wow! This place is just beatutiful!" Tifa looked around on the beach where the air ship.
"Sure, sure..." Cid grumbled as hw lit a new cigarret. "I'm gonna go the hotel and get some sleep."
"Me too." Barret picked up his stuff and followed Cid to the hotel.
"I think we should all go to the hotel and get some sleep." Tifa glanced at the two men retreating. "Right Cloud?"
"Uh, yeah, sure. Right." Cloud was watching the waves along the beach.
"No, thanks. I'll pass." Aeris picked up her stuff and glanced at her watch. "I was gonna go out for a little bit."
"Me too." Reno looked at the clock tower, seeing it was about a quarter after 7. "I need to shop for supplies anyways."
"Yeah, sure, I bet he's gonna call Shinra and tell them where we are." Cloud mumbled as Reno walked away with his stuff.
"Don't be silly Cloud! You know just as well as I do that he's wanted by Shinra, just like us!" Tifa poked Cloud on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go."


Aeris glanced at the mirror, combing out her long, brown hair. Everything was perfect. She was wearing a long blue skirt, with a matching tanktop. Her hair, which she was just combing out, was going to be left wavy, and lose.
After a few minutes, there came a knock on the door. "Aeris? I'm here!" Reno knocked once more on the door.
"I'm coming!" Aeris glanced one more time in the mirror and rushed to open the door.
Reno was wearing a mostly formal suit, just slightly casual. He handed Aeris a boquet of flowers. "I don't know where the merchant got the flowers at this torpical beach, but they were very pretty." He turned slightly pink. "Just like you."
"Why, thank you!" She blushed, and hugged Reno.
"Well, let's hurry. I made reservations at the restaurant that we saw near the hotel. Then I thought we'd go for a walk on the moonlit beach." Reno offered his arm to Aeris and she took it. His head was buzzing with all his doubts. Why had he first helped her out in the headquarters? Why had he risked, no, why WAS he risking his life for this woman?
"Sounds good!" Aeris took his arm. "Let's go!"



Aeris laughed as Reno opened her hotel door for her. "Thanks Reno!"
"You're welcome!" He laughed as well, helping her sit down on the bed and take off her shoes. He glanced up at her as she suddenly went silent. "Aeris...you're beautiful." He stood up and sat down on the bed beside her.
She smiled at him, speechless.
"No, really..." He grinned, running his hands through her hair. "I love you."
"I...I love you too..." Aeris found herself moving forward, then embracing Reno in a passionate kiss.
"You're a great kisser..." Reno said when they finally pulled back. "But it could be improved. I'll give you a free lesson."
"You're mistaken," Aeris said as she moved closed again. "You're the one who needs lessons."
They kissed again, and slowly sank into bed as they slowly undressed eachother.


"Aeris....Aeris..." the voice seemed to come from far away. It sounded strangely familiar.
"Yes?" Aeris sat up, and opened her eyes. She was sitting on a bed in a white room, and a woman clothed in green stood before her.
"You don't remember me, do you?" The woman looked sad.
"Well, yes and no.." Aeris found it odd how the woman...talked...I was like she wasn't talking at all.
"I'm you're mother. I have some news for you...Something you may find either good or not." Aeris's mother smiled.
Aeris nodded, indicating that her mother should continue.
"I've gotten permission from the elders of the Lifestream to come to you in your sub-consciousness. I have been sent to tell you that you will not have to die to save the planet, as originally planed. Actually, I'm quite glad to hear who has changed this. Who was that handsom young man....Reno was his name? Anyways, he, in more ways than one, have saved you and the Ancient race." Her mother smiled more broadly.
"So....what are you saying?" Aeris looked at her mother in awe.
Her mother stepped forward towards Aeris a little more."What I'm saying, my daughter, is that you will be pregnant with Reno's child."