Part 5- A Zephyr of Joy


Chapter 19- Into the Eye of the Storm

Days had passed since then, time in which they spent talking not just about themselves, but about life. They shared a lot of the same views and opinions and had been through some of the same feelings during their lives. Sephirah felt perfectly comfortable in all ways with her new friend, except that she still never felt it right to share with him the story of her recent adventures and about Sephiroth. She spent the night dozing against his broad chest, feeling the brawny muscles loosen as the night continued, becoming more comfortable for her to rest against. And so they lay peacefully together as the storm raged on outside, contented in each other's presence.

Jordan laid awake most of the night, stroking her thick silky hair with gentle caresses as she lay asleep, thinking nothing but thoughts of her. She slept as peacefully as an angel with a tiny smile perched divinely upon her lips. Jordan wanted so badly to lean down and kiss those lips, to rub his cheek against hers and brush his lips across her neck...

It was then that it occurred to him that he had done what he had never even dreamed of doing during his life at sea...

He had fallen in love.

When they woke the next morning, Jordan seemed more distant than normal. After several hours of trying to revive their former intimacy, Sephirah asked him if he was feeling well, oblivious to the fact that she was the cause of his 'illness,' also more commonly known as heartache. It was then that he turned to her, his face a twisted mask of tragedy as the light of passion shone through his eyes.

"Sephirah... I've... never known a woman," he said softly.

"What? Well, you most certainly know me..." she laughed lightly, thinking he was joking.

"N-No! That's not what I mean... I mean... that I- that you..." he wasn't able to say it, covered by the mask of shyness that hid his feelings, even from himself.

"W-What?" she whispered, meeting his gaze with the beautiful eyes that were characteristic of the Ancients.

"You... you are my 'missing link,' Sephirah... You are what has never been in my life.... I-I love you!" he blurted out, tears beginning to stream from his gentle eyes. Sephirah was stunned by the outburst, taken aback by the passion in his voice. Her heart leaped and stirred in her breast... perhaps with pity? Or with something else...

"A-All I want is to hold you, to kiss you, to be with you..." he continued through the silence. "P-Please! I can never love a woman the way I love you..."

"B-But... Jordan... I-I-" Sephirah shook her head nervously, not fully comprehending his plea as she turned away, completely unsettled by the situation. Her mind began to race as she felt him advance slowly upon her, the cool darkness of his shadow looming over her body. He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly from behind, his hands locking below her bosom as he placed his lips gently against the nape of her neck. Sephirah began to smile rapturously, though her mind was flooded with thoughts of pure horror at her feelings of content that were caused by his touch. She had pledged her heart and even her soul to Sephiroth... Yet she could not resist, his forceful passion too great for her to decline even had she wished to.

He paused for a moment to look at her, to study the beautiful features of her face, to gaze into the wonderful aqua-flooded realm of her eyes. It was then, in the silence that followed, that he leaned down towards her, placing his quivering lips against hers in his first kiss. She felt the thrill of passion dance madly through her spine as his tender flesh pressed firmly against hers. There was something new... something different in his touch that she had never felt present in Sephiroth's arms. And so she kissed him in return, slowly at first, then quicker, the wick of passion's candle lit viciously afire by love's ever-burning flame. Her gentle fingers caressed his face and neck, massaging the short hair back from where it drooped over his forehead.

He rose wearily to his feet and stumbled weakly, but he quickly regained his balance. He slid his arms under her knees and back, lifting her easily into his strong embrace. She smiled and giggled drunkenly as he carried her across the room, laying her gently on the mattress that had seemed so forlorn the entire night before. Pinning her easily with his weight, his soft lips hungrily sought her body, covering her in a seemingly tangible blanket of kisses.

The storm continued to rage blindly on outside, oblivious to the two lovers that lay within the decks of the tiny ship that was being brutally tossed by the fury of its winds.

***

"I'm sorry Mr. Strife... we can't find her anywhere!!!" said an exasperated nurse with an angry sigh as she slumped wearily into the soft plush embrace of a nearby armchair. "We've sent search parties to scour the hospital grounds, as well as the entire city and it's lower level. The only thing we can do is wait and hope she'll come back... there's no trace of her!!"

"'Come back'? I think not! If Sephiroth's really inside of her, he probably forced her to evade me... she wouldn't just 'come back'! We can just sit here and do nothing!!" Cloud angrily slammed his fist onto the top of the nurse's desk, causing charts to clatter loudly on a nearby rack.

"Calm down, sir! If you have any ideas about where to look, we'll keep a watch around this area while you try them. We'll notify you immediately if she turns up," suggested the nurse as she sprang to her feet in surprise.

Cloud nodded ponderously as he reflected over the idea. "Where could she have gone...?" he thought aloud. His cerulean eyes snapped clear and bright as he thought of an answer. "I know! I'll have Cid fly us back to Cosmo Canyon. If anyone would be able to locate her, Nanaki would!" he laughed psychotically in triumph.

The nurse sighed heavily in annoyance. "They're right... he really is off his rocker..." she muttered inaudibly to any ears but her own as she continued to monitor Cloud's feverish rant.

***

Sephirah awoke the next morning to the rhythmic creaking of ship's timbers and the rude ruckus of seagulls outside. The peaceful rise and fall of Jordan's chest beside her as well as the warmth of his arms, which lay encircling her still, gave her a feeling of pure comfort and contentment, which seeped deep into her soul like a soothing wave. She smiled and sighed at his peaceful expression as he slept, studying the gentle curves of his face. Sephiroth's face flashed within her mind... yet she felt completely impassive.

Sephirah giggled and kissed his lips lightly, watching him stir with a tired groan as his eyes opened tentatively. They lit up joyously as he perceived the grin plastered on her face and he drew her to him without warning, as if to tease her. She gave a little squeal of delight as he kissed her in return, then sighed in pure ecstasy.

"The long night is finally over... oh darling, listen to sounds of dawn, and of the birth of the world... and a new love," he whispered in her ear blissfully. She giggled and nodded in agreement, absorbing the sounds of life with sensitive ears. Suddenly, the world seemed to call out to her... the screech of the Planet rang in her ears as she winced.

"Yeah... but in a way, I wish it wasn't..." she whispered absently in reply sitting up as she gathered her knees to her chest for security.

He nodded in agreement and wrapped his arms around her, soothing her back with his gentle palms. "... I only know too well what you mean..." he leaned his cheek against hers for a moment, and then reached for his messy pile of clothing that lay strewn around the bed. He shifted through it and dressed himself lazily, wishing time would stand still and that work would not divert his eyes from hers as time would pass that day. As he rose to his feet, Sephirah gazed up at him with silently pleading eyes, begging him to remain with her in the safety of their cabin.

"I'm sorry ... but I can't stay. I have to help Derek with any immediate repairs we can manage on the ship until we reach shore," he sighed reluctantly. She nodded dejectedly, but understood the need of him on deck. He grinned and tossed her dress to her playfully, watching as it landed in a neat heap in her lap. She could hear his footsteps as she stared absently at the pile of blue cloth... She was bathed in blinding sunlight for a moment, blocked partially by Jordan's shadow... then after a second, darkness reigned again with the click of the door against its jamb.

Her mind seemed to snap to and become as clear as the morning light as the darkness closed over her again, and after a moment of listening to the gentle creak of the ship's timbers, she finally rose to her tired feet with a stretch and a yawn. She slipped the garments on over her head, shaking out the long silken locks down her back luxuriously. She fixed her bangs casually with her fingers in the tiny mirror that hugged the corner of the cabin, then satisfied in her appearance, she turned to leave the cabin and join Jordan in the glory of the morning sun. A dizzy spelled washed over her as she strode unsteadily towards the door, but she shook it away and pressed down onto the stiff door handle with her all of her weight.

The sunlight seemed to greet her in excitement like a faithful dog to its returning master and it flooded over her entire being with pure warmth and security. It seemed to excite ever part of her mind and soul with its undying energy as a wave of joy washed over her with the presence of a cool ocean zephyr. She skipped joyfully out onto deck, her dizziness dispelled and forgotten in her mad rush of happiness. She stopped and listened curiously as she heard the imposing sounds of voices float to her ears on the fresh breeze.

"You did WHAT?!" she recognized Derek's angry yell instantly.

"I-It was the greatest experience in my life! I-I mean, that we-" Jordan found his tongue tied as he tried to explain.

"I thought I knew you better than that! Are you insane?! We barely even know her!" Derek raged in reply, cutting the submissive Jordan off.

"No, Derek, I'm not insane! I know her better than I've ever known another person in my entire life! I love her!!!" Jordan screamed in reply. What seemed like an eternal silence to Sephirah followed those words as feelings flooded through her heart and mind...

"...I see," was Derek's reply finally, "I only understand too well..." a passionate sigh followed, then came the return of his former anger. "But what if you got her-"

"-Pregnant?" Jordan finished his sentence with an amused smile. "I know you too well, Derek!" He laughed heartily, to Sephirah's relief. "If she's pregnant, then... I'll marry her!" he finished calmly, but the words were laced with joy and passion. "But she doesn't even need to be... I'll marry her either way, with her consent!"

Hearing those decisive words, Sephirah could no longer contain her budding joy and she burst onto the deck and flung herself into Jordan's surprised arms. Her radiant eyes were brimming with tears, flooding her entire field of vision with the colorful spectrum of sparkling crystals reflected by the illuminating sunlight. Jordan laughed rapturously and clutched her to him, never wanting to let go... The instant of time seemed to last an eternity to the lovers as they stood in the warmth of each other's arms, bathed by the soothing rays of the sun. Jordan's head bowed over the breezy locks and with a tearful smile, he reached a gentle hand towards them in a sweet caress. She gazed up into the sincerity of his hazel eyes... Jordan brushed a lone strand of hair back from her face and tucked it securely behind her ear as he stooped over slightly to whisper to her.

"Oh, my Sephirah... Will you marry me?"

A flood of dizziness and passion washed through the girl as her eyes lit up in ecstasy. "Oh, of course I will!" she breathed as his arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her to him in a kiss. An uneasy Derek just stood shyly by, blushing as he observed the actions of the passionate lovers. His eyes misted slightly, but he turned away before his emotions became obvious to the couple. He coughed politely, interrupting them and causing Jordan to blush in embarrassment.

"Sorry about that..." he said sheepishly to Derek. The older man laughed heartily and shook his head in apology.

"Oh, no, it's fine... I just wanted to update you two on our current situation..." he grinned at them, and they nodded simultaneously in response.

"...Yes...?" asked Jordan tentatively.

"Well, it's both good and bad," he began, rubbing his thinning hair in between his fingers in frustration. "You see, the bad news is that the ship took on quite a bit of damage in the storm... It's rather severe, but she'll keep afloat. But the rations are beginning to run out... We didn't originally plan on having an extra passenger..." he glanced over at Sephirah with a smile. "...But we have a few days worth left," he finished.

"... And the good news?" inquired Jordan with a hesitant tone.

"Well, we're almost to shore. I saw city lights before dawn just as the storm ended and checked with the map and compass, and we've been blown due west by that gale. We're nearing Costa Del Sol, and we should be able to dock there by nightfall if the wind's in our favor..." Derek said with a shrug. Sephirah's eyes lit up with a relieved smile at the news.

"Finally... land! As beautiful as the sea is, it'll be nice to get these feet back of firm ground for a little while!" She sighed rapturously in anticipation.

"...But if you still want to go North, Sephirah...?" Before Derek even finished his sentence, Sephirah shook her head firmly and declined.

"No thank you! I go where the two of you go now!" she sneaked her hand into Jordan's warm palm and squeezed for comfort.

"Great! It'll be just like a family then! Maybe we'll even have one onboard someday...." he winked mischievously at the couple as they glanced at each other, blushing uncomfortably. Derek continued to tease the lovers and continued his ramble as they washed closer to shore with each heaving groan of the waves...

The sun blazed proudly in the clear and cloudless sky, welcoming the dawn of a new love... and a new life.


Chapter 20- Reach for my Hand

For another night, Sephirah and Jordan slept in each other's arms, savoring each moment together with intense passion. He had always loved her, from the moment he set eyes upon her slender form racing across the rickety planks of the docks to the night they spent together at the mercy of the savage fury of the storm. Since that fateful night, her simple love for him had grown to an much deeper level, even more so than she ever could have believed. Her love bloomed like a flower blessed with eternal life... never fading, always growing like a gentle flame set in the calm night air.

They couple were deeply immersed in each other, in their thoughts and dreams as well as plans for their future. He was eager at marry; he proposed matrimony as soon as he could carry her off the tiny ship and to a small private church. To his surprise she declined the idea, thinking of her distressed father who she presumed was still searching for her lifeless body on the other end of the vast Junon oceans. Until he came with consent, she would never even consider taking such a large step.

"I've hurt him so much already... I'm his only daughter, and I would be dealing him and Aunty a great ingratitude by not having them there to see their little girl off..." she explained to him, and he understood fully.

"If my parents were still alive, I think I'd feel the same way too..." said Jordan solemnly, wrapping his protective arms tighter around her slender waist. She leaned her velvety cheek against his as they watched the gradual approach of the civilized land ahead from the hull of the craft as the sun delicately streaked the distant horizon with flecks of gold and crimson.

***

"Damn, what a storm..." Cid grumbled grouchily as he plopped himself wearily into the main cabin of the Highwind, "Well, it's up to Vincent to take us the rest of the way... I'm beat!" His usually tidy pilot's clothing, as well as his short blonde hair, was hopelessly rumpled by the stressful conditions of the previous night. The dark rings under her eyes seemed to sag with age, and wrinkles seemed to course over his aging face, Tifa noticed as she sat opposite from him, comfortably seated on a large plush couch. "Perhaps age is finally catching up with the old AVALANCHE crew," she thought with a desolate sigh.

Cid groaned stiffly and produced a fresh pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, flipping one into his mouth with amazing skill. Reaching for his lighter, which was carelessly thrown on the table in front of him, he met the eyes of his wife as he bent to retrieve it. Before his palm even made contact with its metallic surface, he squeezed his eyes shut with great exertion and leaned back into the chair. The cigarette fell weakly from his mouth, to the delight of the observant Shera. She said nothing, but as she returned to reading her novel, she couldn't prevent the smug smile that crossed her face. He was stubborn, but she had finally conquered him!

Cloud lay on the couch beside Tifa, staring blankly into the plain ceiling, the vacant blue-eyed gaze making Tifa shiver deep within her soul. "Honey... are you sure you're okay...?" she asked him anxiously. He only nodded once slowly in response to her question, only half-hearing her voice through the haze of his own troubled mind. He had been acting like this for weeks, ever since Sephirah's mysterious disappearance. An anger began to rise in Tifa, a fury that she neither understood or was able to control. As she turned to the absent form of her lover, she saw nothing but crimson rage, flooding her senses and vision.

"Listen up, Cloud! I know how you feel right now, but just--just sitting there like a zombie won't help us find Sephirah! Do you think that you're the only one who cares what's happened to her?! I know it hurts, but there are other people here who rely on you to help us as our leader," Tifa leapt to her feet furiously, her cheeks flushed scarlet and her fists trembling with anger. All eyes present turned to her in shock... Embarrassed suddenly, she turned away, studying the wall like a guilty child. The crimson haze seemed to fade after a few moments, to her relief. A soft whisper called her name, and she whirled to find Cloud standing sheepishly behind her.

"Tifa... I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been such a fool..." Cloud shook his golden head sadly.

"No, Cloud... I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have blown up on you... she is your only daughter, and for me, she seems close enough to be mine, but-," she sighed, "-Somehow I think she's safe... for now." His bright eyes seemed to search hers for a moment, then his arms encircled her waist and he leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Thank you... I really mean it!"

***

By nightfall, the lovers and their friend had reached the extravagant tourists' city of Costa Del Sol, docking their boat where the sparkling beaches met crystalline waters. As Sephirah took her first uneasy step off the craft she stumbled and fell, but Jordan was there to catch her and set her upright. They were like one being, yet they never tired of each other's presence. She was already off the boat and waiting patiently on the pier when she realized that she forgot to take the Masamune off the boat with her. She shuddered and sighed, but decided to retrieve it with a reluctant heart.

"Why do you carry that thing around anyway?" Jordan chuckled as she told him, "Oh well, if you insist, my darling... your wish is my command!" he teased her and then disappeared into the darkness of the forward cabin, but she did nothing but giggle in response. After a moment, he reappeared with the blade held in both hands, and knelt to her, bowing his head in mock respect.

"My Queen, please take this meager offering from this lowly peasant..." he jested, and with a grin she took the sheathed blade in her hand. Her hand burned savagely like living fire as soon as it made contact with the blade, sending bolts of agony racing madly through her arm. She dropped the weapon and it clattered harmlessly to the pier, surprising Jordan.

"What's wrong?" he asked her as he saw the horrified look cross the usually pristine features of her face.

"N-Nothing!" she replied hastily, gathering the discarded sword to her and attaching it to her belt, relieved to find that the sensation had disappeared. She set off down the docks at a furious pace, Jordan scrambling behind.

When he finally caught up with her brisk walk, his auburn eyes were flooded with pure concern. Positioning himself ahead of her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and stared deep into her eyes. "No, really... please tell me what's wrong!" he persisted, but she just slipped her slender arms around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder, without a word in response.

"Just... hold me," she whispered after a moment, and he obeyed her without further interrogation. There they stood together, taking comfort in the security of each other's arms.

"My love... what-" Jordan sighed, the first to break the silence, stroking the long breezy locks with a bewildered sigh perched upon his lips. She gazed up into his eyes with a tearful gaze, pleading silently with him in a realm of love's creation where words could not impede their speech.

"Please, not now! Maybe... someday..." shaking her head dazedly, burying her face into his chest just as a single crystalline tear beaded in her eyes, splashing over her rosy cheek and soaking into the cloth. And so he comforted her, offering her a haven of shelter in his arms, gently kissing away the tears as they sprung fresh from their aquamarine fountain. After a few moments her violent sobs began to quiet and recede and finally ceased, though she remained clutching her lover for security. At that time Derek entered the pier, accidentally interrupting the tender scene with a wistful reflection.

"Well, the repairs could take a very long time..." Derek began ponderously. "Hmm... Money isn't something we have an excess of either, so renting an inn on land won't be very feasible for such a long period of time," he commented decisively after working a few quick mathematical equations in his head, a distraught expression worn over his weary features.

"Why don't we just stay on board...?" Jordan suggested simply, but Derek shook his head in reply.

"No, it's rather risky. We shouldn't put too much weight or strain on her yet..." Derek sighed in distress. Sephirah remained deep in thought, trying to recall the last time she was in the area, years ago for vacation with her father.

"Well, I have a few hundred gil... Daddy always made me carry it around wherever I went just in case I needed it... but I don't think that's enough for more than a few nights," she murmured more to herself than to her companions. An image played into her thoughts, unleashing a flood of buried memories, which cascaded back into her conscious mind. Her eyes lit up with a triumphant smile as she bolted off suddenly at a run, having recovered her previous good spirits.

"I know! I have just the place..." she shouted back as she sprang over misplaced fishing rods in her path as deftly as any Olympic champion. Surprised at the outburst of enthusiasm and energy, Jordan took a few moments to shake himself out of his confused daze and begin his dash after the fleet form far in the lead.

"Hey, wait up!" Jordan called after her, sprinting to catch up with her, Derek panting tiredly at his wake. She paid no heed in her haste to fully grasp the slipping memory, weaving her way through the crowds and past tall buildings that impeded her path. She finally came to sudden halt at a rather large villa whose tall shadow cast welcome shade over her panting form. The shutters of the windows were closed and latched, the open doorway empty and lonely, but very well kept and meticulous. She approached it as if in a dream, remembering her last vacation to Costa Del Sol with Cloud, the excited voice of the eight year-old child echoing across the well-furnished halls of their villa. It seemed like so long ago... and perhaps it was. Ten long years had past since then, each filled with their separate joys and sorrows, but none ever like the last two that had past since that sixteenth birthday. For two whole years her life had crumbled before her eyes, yet with the wild grasp of adventure aflame in her heart, she had almost forgotten who she was, or at least who she had been. A tomboy she was, perhaps, but for her entire life she had toiled to earn love... from her father as well as from her friends. She had plenty of dates amongst the other schoolchildren because of her sweetly tempered personality and flashy beauty, but never had she really felt the passion between two people as strong as that between Jordan and her now. Only at that moment did she truly begin to realize how lucky she really was... Perhaps her painful quest was finally at an end? "Oh, if only it was," she thought bitterly, knowing secretly in her heart that it was not. Her rush of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of a voice calling her name through the distance:

"Sephirah!!!"

Jordan's voice floated through the wall of densely humid air, reaching her ears like the deep knell of a distant bell chime... Now it seemed even sweeter to her ears, not just a melody, but also a harmony of pure passion. It was the song of love that they shared together... for eternity.

"Sephirah, what just happened?!" Jordan demanded as he panted heavily, leaning over his legs for support.

"I-I'm really sorry, dear.... I felt like it was on the tip of my mind... I couldn't let it slip away!" she murmured absently, still partially caught up in the tangle of her own mind.

"What do you mean...?" asked Jordan softly, staring around at his surroundings. "Hmm... looks like someone's private residence. Are you sure we're allowed to be in here, Seph?" he whispered incredulously, amazed by the size and beauty of the villa.

"Don't worry about it... it belongs to my father. They know me here," she turned and nodded to him reassuringly as they waited for Derek to catch up.

"...Get-ting too old for this-," he wheezed when he finally arrived. Jordan rushed to his friend's side in concern, supporting him with his broad shoulders.

"Next time, take it easy!" Jordan advised him wisely, but Derek just rolled his eyes angrily.

"Next time don't take off like some damn spooked devil!" he muttered in saucy reply.

"I'm really sorry about that..." Sephirah began to apologize, but Derek cut her off with a nod of his head.

"It's not your fault. I was foolish... thought I could keep up with you youngsters!" he muttered with a hidden smile, shaking Jordan's arm off gently. "Don't worry, I'll be okay," he said confidently, supporting himself with his own two sea-strong legs. "Anyway... where are we?" Derek said, surveying the small but lush flower garden that dominated the front yard of the building.

"It's my father's villa... he bought it a long time ago, before I was even born... about the time he met my mother," she whispered, her hands tracing the rough bricks in awe. "To think that she once stood here, slept in these halls..." she knelt and delicately touched one of the vibrant flowers with slender fingers, caressing the tightly closed petals until they seemed to yawn luxuriously and awaken, blossoming into a crimson sunburst before their shocked gaze.

"They say I've inherited my mother's touch..."she whispered as they looked on in pure awe and nodded in amazement.

"And pray tell, who was this mother of yours?" whispered Derek to her, afraid to rise his voice lest the strange yet awesome power come alive and smite them. She did not answer him, but rose to her feet and proceeded to the door, slowly turning the bronze plated door handle and nudging it open with her slender shoulder.

A blast of relieving coolness washed over them as they passed under the threshold, emerging into a richly decorated front room where another door remained on the other side, closed and locked. They almost felt it a shame to tread upon the luxurious rugs as Sephirah approached the front desk, where a small bell lay solemnly on the polished surface for assistance. She reached for it tentatively, and as her fingers closed around it's smooth handle, she shook it boldly, the high pitched ring echoing throughout the hallway. The hollow clunk of footsteps against polished wood could be heard, faint at first, then louder as it approached until finally a middle-aged man, bald of head, emerged through the doorway on the other side of the desk. He studied the weary trio carefully, a wiry brown eyebrow rising in incredulity. A smile finally lit his face like the sudden flare of a match when his eyes studied the delicate features of Sephirah's face and the radiant smile that lay on her lips... he had only known two people with the power to smile like that.

"Sephie...?" he whispered in amazement, shaking his smooth head as he studied her. "My dear, you've grown so much since you were last here! I presume that these are your guests, Miss Strife. Where is your father?" the strong aristocratic accent was present as his voice raised to its normal tone of speech.

"I'm supposing that he's still back in Nibelhiem..." she shrugged. "But it's really nice to see you again, Mr. Jeremy!" she added, stifling a childish giggle.

"Really, Miss?" a grin spread over his wrinkled features. "Well, as you see, not much has changed around here... even in the space of ten years. Mistress Aerith's flowers still bloom in front, as you probably noticed on entry..." he suggested, scratching his head and searching for something to report.

"Mistress.... Aerith...?" Derek muttered, "Your mother, I'm guessing, Sephirah? But where have I heard that name...?"

Jordan shrugged and dismissed it casually, "It sounds a little familiar to me too... but it's probably not big deal."

Derek's face then shone with a mixture of horror and delight. "Now I remember..." he said in quiet awe, "you mean you're the daughter of... the daughter of..." Derek couldn't finish his sentence, and instead fell to his knees. "I'm standing next to their daughter... It's an honor I had never even dreamed of!"

Jordan looked completely confused as he knelt by his friend. "Are you okay? What do you mean..."

"I'm just fine," Derek snapped in annoyance, "But don't you know who she is? She's the daughter of Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough... two of the saviors of our planet. They're the only reason why we're standing here today, 18 years after the calamity. And if I remember well enough... Miss Gainsborough was an Ancient..."

Silence reigned through the room until Jeremy spoke up on her behalf. "You mean you did not know?" he said with a touch of mockery to his tone. "Such beauty could only be from the line of the Ancients..." he added coyly, causing Sephirah to blush.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before... I wasn't sure what you'd think... and then it totally slipped my mind!" she sighed, embarrassed.

A silence fell over the room once against like a thick blanket, from which Jordan was the first to throw it off, rushing to Sephirah and catching her in his arms. "It doesn't matter to me if you're an Ancient or just one of us. You'll always be my Sephirah..." he whispered in her ear, and a smile spread across her face and she threw her arms passionately around his waist.

"Thank you..." she whispered through her tears as Derek's heart began to melt with apologetic sorrow.

"I'm really sorry, dear. It came as such a shock... Your father used to be a hero to us back then, and even the thought that I could ever set eyes on his kin was beyond my belief," Derek shook his head. "I used to be a Navy soldier for the Shinra before the war started. Your father's name first appeared on our list of targets to seek and kill, but being in the Navy, I never had to go into combat with him. After the final president, Rufus, if I remember correctly, was killed by one of those huge beasts they nicknamed "WEAPONS," rumors began to circulate through the ranks. The targets that we were hunting so savagely were aiming to save the world from some crazy madman..." he shrugged, unable to remember his name. "But that's not important. We idolized your father's fighting style, his every move, his cool attitude... and he was a good role model. He led a dying planet to peace..." he finished, remembering a time so long ago.

Sephirah was awe-stricken... she had heard all about the wars and the saving of the Planet, but not from this admiring perspective, the view of the commoner bringing light to so many realms of her mind. "I-I never knew the war was so large... Daddy told me all about his adventures, but he didn't tell me much about the Shinra or Midgar... It was almost as if he didn't want me to know..." she murmured, partly to herself, partly to her friends, "He said that the war was small, rather minor and unimportant."

"Unimportant?!" Jordan muttered, "That was greatest, most... important war in the history of the human race since the Cetra were wiped out. The entire planet was almost destroyed in one blow!"

Sephirah sighed, only realizing how much more she was sent adrift from her fellow man. Not only the final Ancient, but also the daughter of history's two greatest heroes.... She buried her face in Jordan's chest miserably, just wishing things could be normal and boring, hating her naturally adventurous life.

Jeremy then spoke up, trying to break the mood that was depressing his pretty little lady by grabbing a jangling set of silver keys and beckoning them, maneuvering around the desk and unlocking the mahogany door on the other side of the room. "Come with me... would you like to see your villa?" he suggested, and the three nodded, uncomfortably trying to get their minds off the uneasiness of the previous subject.


Chapter 21- A Rose by Any Other Name

Another blast of even cooler air washed over their bodies like a soothing tidal wave as Jeremy opened the tightly locked door with a few swift flicks of his bony wrist. Sephirah breathed a rapturous sigh as she bounded past the doorway and through the halls, smiling at the cozy rooms of the cheery apartment just as she had when she was so much younger. A strange aura of spring flowers hovered in the air; for not even twenty years passing could drown the luscious scent. She giggled like a child as she ventured through the enormity of the villa, but instead of stopping to explore each room once again, she kept her brisk pace until she reached the end of the hallway and the final room in the villa. It was closed and silent, causing Sephirah to hesitate for just a moment before swallowing bravely and turning the doorknob. To her relief and delight, it opened easily, almost as if it was just newly installed with great care. She swung past the doorway silently, emerging into a decently sized bedroom. The life-giving aura seemed greatest here... she could almost feel it, as tangible and soothing as a light blanket of summer silk against her bare skin. The room was richly decorated, strewn lazily with fine rugs and obviously valuable art, mostly of flowers and visions of life. The walls were of a pure angelic white swirled gently with the palest shades of cream, causing the gentle sunlight to give it a delicate golden glow. The very room seemed so holy in its serenity that the three men hesitated to enter, feeling as if they had just stumbled upon the gateway to heaven.

"Miss Sephirah...?" Jeremy whispered frightfully, "I was ordered never to have another person enter these chambers again... But it's so strange. It's been almost twenty years since I've even opened this door, yet... look!" he gestured with an awestruck face. On all the available surfaces lay vases of flowers, bouquets of the most delicate spring mixes, more vivid in their glorious shades than any other blossoms in existence. "She told me that no matter what happened to her, to pick from her garden and make sure that the vases are full... It's been almost two decades since those flowers were cut and the tears shed the day that she... passed." She nodded slowly in reply, but paid no more heed to him as she absorbed the glory of the chamber, filling the empty void of her very soul with memories...

They followed her closely behind, staring in slight confusion, but each not daring to interrupt as she approached the king sized bed and plopped down upon it with a tiny bounce. She rolled against the soft white satin quilt with a luxurious sigh until she reached the other end of the mattress where a large nightstand sat, its flat surface dominated by many rows of picture frames. She gazed over them in interest, her bright eyes scanning each quickly in turn. A few were of her father when he was much younger, his leans muscles bulging freely as he swung his massive blade over his head in victory. She flushed with joy to think that he was such a hero, but her grin turned to a sorrowful frown as she remembered his face as he held her hand in the hospital, the bitter tears of helplessness wetting her dying flesh...

She grimaced and put the porcelain frame down with great care, picking up another in one fluid movement. "Aunty Tifa..." she muttered to herself, studying the delicate dimples and youthful blush of her creamy cheeks as she smiled, leaning over Cloud's brawny shoulders. She hadn't changed much since then; last Sephirah remembered she was still a beautiful woman, though slightly more mature in face and figure, and the desire of men around the globe. She had never married though, and Sephirah always puzzled over why... but she understood now. There was only one man she ever could be truly happy with... and she knew so. So as Sephirah laid that photo back in its place, another frame caught her eye.

It was slightly larger than the rest and constructed of pale blue crystal, which glimmered in the faint stream of golden light that bathed her hands as she reached for it. She noticed that the frame was embedded with the radiant spectrum of pressed flowers, striking a memory deep inside of her soul... She began to remember a time so long ago, when she had dared to venture into the recesses of a forbidden room, her curiosity overwhelming her fear of her father. She had paid no heed to his threats or his wheedling, and one night tried to sneak into the forbidden room without him noticing. It had been a sleepless night for her father, as they all had been for him in the villa, and he heard the gentle creak of footsteps creep by his door and a tiny shadow was cast from outside. He took his time in rising from his bed, thinking that she may have just gotten up to get a drink of water or use the bathroom, but after a few moments without the footsteps returning, he became nervous and rose to check on her. As he had feared, the final door in the hallway was open and the light sound of a little girl's cheerful humming was evident from within. His wrath had been terrible in his fury, and she had done no more than pick up a rather large crystal picture frame than she heard his screams of rage from the hallway. Genuinely afraid, she startled and dropped the precious artifact with a heart-shattering clatter against the nightstand. Her father's face was instantaneously crossed with a look of pure horror and terrible anger as he saw the thin cracks form a spider web across the glass, and he began to scream with uncontrollable rage and grief. She had never seen him so angry in her life... She had burst into tears at his painful words and dashed from the room, never daring even to look at the lonely shadow cast by the closed door again. But as she had fled, she could still remember hearing a faint sound... the sound of her father sobbing brokenly back in the room as he stared at the face in the picture, which would haunt him forever.

The crack still remained as it always had, a sparkling mess of fine lines over the faces that lay so peacefully within. It was a photograph from their wedding day, of her father and a woman locked in a passionate kiss, the delicate white lace of a wedding veil seeming to frame their faces with light. She had never seen such passion in his masculine features, even though his radiant eyes were shut tight, as were the lady's. Sephirah knew her not, but yet she seemed so... familiar. A lone tear dripped onto the glass and hid the woman's face with a blur, and instinctively, her hand rose to brush off the imposing drop. A tiny bolt of pain lanced up her arm as she drew her finger back, staring at the tiny stream of crimson that cascaded past her opened skin with a blank look. She sucked on the cut automatically, the blood flow ceasing after just a short moment. As she strained to place the frame back on its shelf, she noticed a tiny note tucked into the back of the frame on wrinkled and time worn paper. With great curiosity she retrieved it, unfolding and smoothing the delicate sheet in order to read the perfectly scripted cursive:

"My Dearest Cloud,

"I fear that I may not survive through the birth of our child. I am an Ancient, born to feel these things... and I am truly sorry. There are so many things I have to tell you still... but I sense that there is little time remaining. I just pray you find this note because I want you to know a few things before I leave this world a second time. I know you love me... but please don't blame my death on the child! It was a choice fate had already made for me, and as she had been gracious enough to grant me another chance at life, she has the right to take it from me too. Oh, my love, how I wish our time together would last as long as the river of life, but some things are not to be. Know that this last year was greater than any heaven could ever be for me. I treasured every moment with you, mind, body, and spirit! I will always love you... never forget that! I just wish that I could be there to watch our daughter grow up, to hold our grandchildren in my arms... How many things do I wish, yet it is not to be! But maybe someday we'll be reunited... if I can escape the wrath of the bird of Darkness. He has finally come to claim my soul... within hours I will be no more. Please don't grieve... someday we will meet again.

"Love forever,
Aerith"

Sephirah sat completely stunned for many more moments before the letter fluttered from her trembling grasp, falling to rest delicately on the edge of the nightstand just as she began to sway and collapse, to Jordan's dismay. He bounded deftly forward, catching her as she crumpled with a quiet sigh to the floor.

"Seph.... Seph! Are you okay?" he shook her lightly, but received no response.

Jeremy cupped his hand over her mouth for a moment before he said quietly, "It's okay. She's breathing, but she's out cold. It was probably too much for her to handle... especially in such a short period of time. Get her to the other room and lay her on the couch, quickly!" Derek rushed forward and grabbed her legs sturdily, and with their combined effort, they hoisted the girl easily, taking her to the main living room where they laid her gently on the soft plush of the sofa, waiting for her to wake up. Jeremy grabbed a towel from the sink and wet it hurriedly, placing it on her forehead as she lay.

***

A lonely Cloud Strife leaned casually over the deck of the slowly gliding Highwind, watching the swirling foamy crest of the yawning waters far below with a moody air. A strange silence reigned over the land with the absence of light... Yet the lake had always been that way, ever since he could remember. He recalled the day so many years ago whereupon they had ventured under those rushing torrents of water, disturbing the uneasy peace of a restless soul. He recalled the pearly glint of the smooth cave walls reflecting in their eyes, the sound of the waterfall beating rhythmically down around their ears with a smooth drumming effect. The night wind sighed in its loneliness, as if in reply to his sorrow.

The gentle creak of approaching footsteps on the meticulously polished deck caused Cloud to turn suddenly. He was rather surprised to see the face that stared so coldly back at him, but shrugged and returned to watching the serene view. Vincent continued to approach the deck railing slowly, hailing Cloud in a pain-roughened voice.

"Mind if I join you...?"

Cloud shrugged again, a bout of his old younger attitude of closed selfishness returning with this intrusion upon his privacy, "Sure..." Vincent stared with great intensity at him for a moment, then nodded, leaning his entire weight with a tired sigh upon the Highwind's study railing. Neither word nor glance passed between the pair of aging allies for several moments as they watched the waters crash upon themselves so far below. Vincent was the first to speak, not even bothering to glance up at the messily spiked hair or the bright blue eyes as he whispered his sorrows.

"It was so long ago..."

Cloud nodded dumbly, hardly paying any attention as his troubled mind wandered from subject to subject. Vincent finally looked up when he received no response, then sighed in frustration. After a minute, Vincent shrugged it off, figuring that talking to anything living would be better than nothing, even if he was as indifferent as any inanimate object could be.

"I really loved her... Lucrecia I mean. It took me so long to realize it... It's been nearly 50 years since then. Since that time, I've been doing nothing but thinking. I made some awful mistakes back then... how could I have gone along with something so stupid?! Why didn't I see through Hojo's dirty schemes? An innocent life could've been spared... and so many others too!" the moon glinted devilishly off of the brass claw as he swiped into the night air as if at some invisible demon. With a pained groan he collapsed his knees on the deck, burying his ghostly face into his darkly swathed arms.

"It's her birthday, you know..." he started again, a tiny sob evident in his voice. Cloud began to snap to, sensing the rare emotion in his friend's voice. Vincent... crying? Cloud was bewildered, but he lent his full attention, knowing that the matter at hand wasn't just some ordinary cynical matter like it always had been before. Vincent continued brokenly, not even noticing the change in Cloud's consciousness.

"You know... she would've turned 75 today... She would've had normal children and grandchildren, and led a happy life... but I let that bastard take it from her!" The claw clenched into a tight metal fist, slamming with a solid thud into the wood of the deck. "She was so beautiful... too beautiful. Perhaps she was too good for the likes of me... Me, who would slit the throat of a sleeping infant if so ordered by the Shinra. Perhaps that's why she never returned my feelings..." Vincent hunched guiltily over his knees, drawing them to his chest for security like a punished schoolboy. The blood-filled crimson pupils wandered silently up to Cloud's intently watching face as the breath hissed passionately from between his lips, interrupted only by the occasional spasm of his lungs. The smooth surface of the claw flashed suddenly as it rose to point at Cloud's surprised face and Vincent continued his rant.

"I have the rest of my LIFE to pay for my mistake..." he spat, "but you... you! You had your Aerith... you say you loved her. But did you really? If you truly loved her, you would've let her go so many years after. Regrets would be nonexistent... you should've cherished the time you had together. You know she wouldn't have wanted you to be like this. Death comes to claim a soul so suddenly... Within the passing of a casual breath you may find yourself unable to draw another, choking until those Mako poisoned eyes of yours finally dull in death. It's a part of life... without death there is no life. And without life there is no death. Thus the Phoenix cannot live without one another... the black magic can't exist without the white, just as good can't exist without evil... She may have been taken from you, but then you still had Tifa..." his voice shook with passionate anger as he spat and hissed like a live rattlesnake at his friend, his eyes burning feverishly. "You are making as grave of a mistake as I did a long time ago. She loves you... don't you see that?! She always has! You're killing her slowly, letting her pine away from neglect."

Cloud was stunned as well as speechless, his mind and mouth barely able to form words to reply. "I-I do care about Tifa, but I still love Aerith... I always will!" he regained his composure quickly as he spoke, but Vincent shook his head.

"You're lucky you got a second chance... another chance to live a happy life, instead of being trapped in a cage of misery for the rest of eternity," he commented darkly, "I understand that you still care for your Aerith, but isn't it time that you let go? She wants you to be happy... no matter what. You know why? Because she loves you!"

"H-How do you know...?" Cloud's eyes widened in surprise at the outburst and as he gazed at the floor he found his hands shaking slightly.

"Can't you hear her...?" Vincent whispered incredulously. Cloud shook his head dazedly in response, the tears beginning to bead painfully in his eyes. "It figures... your pain shut her out. You didn't want to remember, so you didn't let her into your mind..." a contemptuous chuckle rose from Vincent's lips, causing Cloud to shudder slightly. He sprang coolly to his feet, using his remaining hand to sweep the light streak of dust from his scarlet cape. As he headed back into the cabins of the airship, he whirled a final time to make a piercing eye contact with Cloud, adding a comment before he closed the door quietly behind him.

"Think about it, Cloud..."

Cloud remained out on the deck, letting the cool evening air caress his spikes playfully, watching as the waterfall disappeared into the fog of the horizon. "Aerith..." he breathed a pained sigh as he slumped dejectedly over the railing. The sun was just beginning to creep from its shadowy bed at that moment, radiating thin streaks of morning light, which penetrated through the thick cumulus clouds, smiling upon the waking land.

***

Chapter 22- A Drop of Blood

Hours later, Sephirah stirred with a painful groan, the presence of early morning sunlight casting a blinding blur over the entire room. As her eyes began to focus, a piercing pain became evident in her head, seeming to drill a hole deep into a skull. Her breath drew sharply with the intense ache, her senses swimming as she weakly tried to prop herself up on her elbows, but she sank back into the cushions' enveloping embrace with a pained grimace. Thoughts began to swim through her brain, adding even more confusion to the emptied recesses of her mind. The blackness swallowed her again, swarming her from every side, wrapping her in a tangible blanket of darkness...A wild scream of triumph screeched through her sensitive ears, sending panic racing through her mind... he had finally arrived! Sephirah's mind burned fiercely with determination... he would not take her from this life; not without a fight! She beat at the invisible wings, feeling the bony solidity of the beak making impact with her forehead, causing her to fall back. She swiped furiously with the back of her hand, feeling it connect with a soft spot under the bird's unprotected wings. With a squawk of pain and pure dismay, she sensed the demon's pain, feeling the wind generated by the powerful beating of its wings as it fled. With a short-lived sigh of relief and triumph, she realized that she was still trapped... when the Phoenix regained its senses, it would assault her again! She had not much time... her mind raced furiously, desperately... That was when she heard the faint echo enter her mind...

A gentle voice whispered her name through the impenetrable haze, calling her lost soul back...

"Sephirah..."

The distant chime of her name was soothing as it washed over her ears, calming her bewildered senses and smiling upon her as the glory of sun does on a warm spring morn. It continued, slowly at first, then quickening its pace, it mixed with the wild jumble of other sounds, echoing around her mind as if trapped by stony walls, growing ever larger with each individual ricochet of a syllable. She tried to shield her bursting ears, but her mind had neither arms nor hands, so she was helpless to do anything but endure the torturous trap of the confines of her own body. And suddenly, she began to scream...

She screamed with all the pain, anguish, confusion in her heart...

The haze seemed to shatter around her, hurling her breathless form from the darkness and into the pale clear light of the early morning. The voices seemed clearer now, closer. She saw the distant pinpoint of light, and with a frenzied leap she flew towards the growing sphere...

...And back into consciousness.

The darkly shadowed eyelids fluttered gently as the voice continued, but in softer, more concerned tones. "Are you okay...?" Her vision cleared to find Jordan leaning over her, the serene auburn of his eyes gently radiating his anxiety. Her glorious eyes glowed momentarily with relief and overwhelming joy as she smiled wryly at him, followed by a shuddering sigh.

"I'm fine, I think..." she replied to him as she held her head firmly between her hands. Jordan beamed a silent grin in response, laying a careful hand on the sun-warmed locks and brushing them away from her face. His hands ran over them, stroking the silken length until it finally rested lightly upon her sloping shoulders. He slid from his chair, which was positioned directly at the side of the sofa, and sat down next to her. He drew her gently back towards his chest, allowing her to lean against the full warmth of his muscular body.

"Are you sure...? You were screaming like a banshee just a moment ago..." he commented incredulously, shaking his head. "...Bad dream?" he added with a shrug.

"...Yeah..." she responded after a moment, drawing herself to a sitting position and hugging her knees to her chest for security. "More like a nightmare..."

"Well, now you're awake, so... I'll defend you from those evil monsters!" with that valiant comment he struck a noble pose, to her pure amusement. She broke into helpless giggles as she studied the stony expression of bravery that he wore upon his face.

"Thanks..." she said with a helpless sigh, adding as a quiet afterthought to herself, "Thanks... but I think that this is one monster I'll have to vanquish myself for a change..."

"Mmm? Did you say something?" Jordan inquired lightly. She shook her head slowly without verbal reply as she gazed out the window and off into the thick morning fog that hung drearily over the town.

At that moment, Jeremy poked his head in past the doorjamb with a smile. "I figured you'd be awake, Miss! I just came back from the market with some things to eat and I heard your voices from the door. Derek's out at the boat, but Jordan wouldn't go with him this morning," he beamed at the couple as he continued, "Geez... you're a lucky girl, Mistress! Jordan here wouldn't leave your side all night. He even slept in that cramped old chair! Couldn't pry him from his seat with a crowbar, that boy..." he chuckled as he shook his lustrous balding head. Jordan blushed profusely, averting his eyes from Sephirah's appreciative gaze as he ran his long fingers through short fawn-colored hair.

"It was nothing... I just wanted to be the first to greet you when you woke up. I didn't want you to be alone all night..." he stumbled slightly over his excuses.

"Thank you..." she whispered, squeezing his roughened hand with a grateful smile.

Jeremy winked at them from the doorway, extending a finger in a signal to wait. "I'll have lunch ready in a jiffy... so I'll leave you two lovers alone for now!" They could hear his footsteps recede through the halls and the slam of a distant door through the silence.

"Did you really...?" she asked him softly, her eyes shining with pure gratitude and love.

"Well, yeah..." he smiled at her, "I love you... so I stay with you, no matter what happens! Besides, if I left your side and you woke, I'd feel so guilty about not being there for you..." he winked as he added the comment with a tiny shrug of his shoulders. He was surprised to feel her arms close tightly around his chest and to feel the overbalancing force of the girl against his chest. He fell backwards onto the soft cushions of the sofa with her on top of him.

"It means so much to me!" she whispered, burying her head into his heaving chest. His arms encircled her waist and soothed her back with their loving rub.

"You mean so much to me, Sephirah..." his light breath whispered genuinely into her ear.

She blushed even deeper as the heartfelt comment met her ears, tears beginning to bead in her eyes. They sat in silence for what seemed like a long while, taking comfort just in each other's presence, no longer needing petty words to continue the conversation. Neither really noticed the gentle creak of the distant door, nor took heed of the wonderful scent that wafted delightfully through the hallways. Jeremy emerged into the room with a freshly steaming tray with a sly smile at seeing the pair together.

"Mmm... shall I come back later, Mistress?" he called attention, startling Sephirah.

"Oh, no! It's okay..." hastily, she leapt off the couch and cleared the lustrous glass table, allowing for Jeremy to gently lay it on the dazzling surface.

"There! Thank you, Miss. It's been a while since I've cooked for more than one..." he chuckled happily, "It was great prepare for guests for a change." The delicious scent began to dominate each of their nostrils, causing Sephirah's eyes to light up in pure delight.

"Smells great! I remember what a good cook you were... even better than Aunty Tifa. Of course you were far better than Daddy, of course..." she giggled, remembering her father's obvious relief whenever Tifa came over for dinner.

Jeremy blushed modestly, shaking his head in disagreement. "It's nothing, Miss! I was certainly most happy to get my hands off of the Shinra guns and into oven mitts again..." he chuckled, pulling up a chair to the table and sitting with them in a circle.

"So you used to work for the Shinra too, I take it?" Jordan asked in between mouthfuls. "So did Derek... Navy division."

Jeremy nodded and smiled, "Yeah, we spoke about it last night. Miss Sephirah, let me tell you a story about the past... it may answer some of the questions you have about me as well as your parents." He suggested. She agreed with an interested nod, studying his face as she sipped from the steaming bowl of soup. With her consent, Jeremy took a deep breath and began.

"I, too, was positioned at Junon, but at the military base instead of the naval units. Never could stay off good old land too long..." he groaned with a seasick expression. "Anyway, it sickened me to see how corrupt those officers were! I joined the army so I could protect my hometown... and there I was, just an errand boy for some greedy Shinra swine! It was an outrage for me, but there was no way to leave the forces once you joined... You knew too many of Shinra's secrets for them just to let you just walk off without... penalty," he winced painfully in memory of an old friend who had tried to leave the force during the wars. "After the wars were at an end, and your father was declared the world's hero, I decided to settle down here in Costa Del Sol after I saw a job application in the papers. Someone important was looking for a butler, but they wold not say who... Well, one of the requirements was being a good cook. Since I was in serious need of money and the wages were remarkably high, I decided to try out for the job.

"By the time I got there, I realized just how many applicants were there to try for the job. I felt myself surely to be turned down, until they day I went in for my interview and recognized the two faces that were on ever Shinra wanted poster during the wars... I was honored to meet your parents, especially while Cloud's sword wasn't drawn in hostility. He was a good man, rather reserved and bashful at times, but a very experienced swordsman who loved his wife dearly. But she... she was another tale altogether.

"I had never seen such beauty as that which shone so softly through those emeralds... The velvety flesh of her cheeks was as delicate as the most beautiful spring posy, which bloomed into full rosy blush as she smiled, tiny dimples forming in smooth skin. Her face was as pale as a pristine snowfall, and as smooth and silken as the petals of the blossoms she so cherished. Yet the thin lips were as crimson as rubies and seemed to light up the room when they curled into even the faintest hint of a smile..." he began to trail off in memory of her, then he shook himself out of the trance. "She was truly beautiful, your mother was..." he shook his head sadly. "It's too bad that her life was cut so short... you would've loved her, my dear. Everyone loved her..." A tear sparkled in his affectionate gray eyes before he caught it and turned away, hoping Sephirah hadn't noticed its presence. "Everyone... especially your father." he whispered sadly, averting his eyes again from her gaze to the bright strips of sunlight cast upon the polished wooden floor, which streamed cheerily in from the windows.

He continued after just a slight moment of respectful silence for the deceased. "You could see it in his eyes as he looked at her, the desperate and somehow... ravenous glisten being given its fill by the beauty of her face. His expression was always peaceful and joyous in her presence and his lips were always twisted into a shy sort of smile as he held her, almost seeming afraid to let go. And even when she left his sight for moment... fear began to radiate from his very aura... a fear that she wouldn't return to him, and he'd never be able to hold her again... They were newlyweds of only a few weeks, seeing help around their new vacation home. They were married here, you know... After recognizing them, I was truly able to give an enthusiastic review, full of eagerness and unused energy. You father seemed to take a shine to me, I noticed, after I told him of my hatred of the Shinra and how they used their men in such a way...

"Anyway, I returned to my rented apartment, waiting an entire week so anxiously for a call... some word of whether I had made the job! On the morning a full week after my interview, I received a phone call from Cloud himself, welcoming me into his service. I was overjoyed; ecstatic is a better word for it, I think. It was such an honor to be living with the couple, even if only to wait on them and clean the home. They were gracious masters of the household, treating me more like a treasured friend than a servant, and I was extremely grateful. Then a few weeks later... I began to wish I had never even applied for the job..." the tears began to sparkle visibly in his eyes now, and he buried his face into his hands.

"I-I came back from the market one day in the early morning, after buying the supplies for lunch and dinner. Just after I had begun to put the food away in its proper places... I heard Cloud scream. Desperation filled my mind... I had no idea what was going on, so I raced towards the scene, which happened to be the master bedroom, the room where you saw all of the pictures yesterday, Sephirah.

"A horrible sight greeted my eyes... they were swathed only in the white linens of the bed sheets, Aerith lying limp in Cloud's trembling arms. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth... she was unconscious. At first... at first I thought he had hurt her... that he had beaten her over the head... but why would he have screamed like that? There was no way that scenario could've occurred... he loved her, and he would never lay a hand in such a way upon her!

"Thoroughly frightened, I rushed into the hall and grabbed the phone from the desk and dialed the emergency number. I could barely spit out the words to send an ambulance down here right away... I could hear the sound of Cloud's voice screaming Cure to no avail... The sobbing increased as I rushed back into the room trying to comfort the traumatized man... but he heard me not. After just a few minutes, the wailing of sirens filled our ears and the paramedics began to knock on our doors. Hurriedly, I took charge and commanded Cloud to slip a dress on her, which he meekly obeyed. The doctors rushed in, laid her body on a stretcher and decided that she was alive, though she might not be for long... Cloud's face as he heard that.... It was etched with pure terror and agony..." his head fell to the table, buried in his arms. "He grabbed at the bier, tried to bring her back to consciousness with his touch... but the paramedics tried to restrain him. He wasn't the world's fighting champion for nothing... and in such madness, he was stronger than any wild beast... In the end, they had to sedate him so they could move her to the hospital.

"In the end, they were able to save her... they got her there just in time. Any longer of a delay, and you wouldn't have been born, Sephie. The doctor told us that there was some strange hemorrhaging in her aorta... the break in the artery wasn't too large though, but it was enough to cause her to lose blood and pass out. They couldn't find the cause though... they said that they found no lacerations in her skin or anywhere else! It was almost as if something was attacking her from the inside out. For that reason, Cloud wasn't charged with anything... at first, he was taken into police custody for domestic abuse, but they had to release him, of course. But there was a little bit of extra information that worried us even more... on closer inspection, the doctors found that she was pregnant.

"This wasn't totally a shock to us, but the problem was that if she was pregnant, she would have to be handled very carefully. Her body was becoming weak... any large shock to her body could possibly cause her blood vessels to rupture, and she'd either have a stroke or bleed to death. And birthing a child... the doctors said that it was only a 5% chance, unless she recovered, that she'd survive the labor. He left it up to Cloud to try and decide whether they should abort the baby or not, and then when Aerith woke up, he'd have to explain to her their options. Well, they didn't have to wait long for her to wake... and so they began to discuss the serious matter at hand. Aerith refused to abort the baby... her exact words were, 'I haven't long in this world anyway... I might as well go bringing another in to take my place.' And then they discharged her from the hospital, warning her to take good care of herself. She was given some medications, which allowed her to wander through the house and its yards without any fear of collapsing. But they couldn't leave Costa Del Sol... she was too fragile to take any type of ride from the house.

"She seemed perfectly content with that... almost as if she either didn't care or she didn't know. She went about her business every day, straightening the picture frames at the bedside, caring for her flowers... Her flowers were the most beautiful I've ever seen! As soon as she neared, they even seemed to smile at her... But who didn't? But one day, she beckoned me to one side and asked me very seriously to promise her that if anything ever happened to her, that I'd fill all the vases in the house and take care of her garden hence forth. That was the least I could do for the poor mistress...

"As the days passed, she seemed to grow weaker. Her stomach swelled as the months went on, but the blood seemed to be draining from her face, leaving her an almost paper like white. Her hands almost became transparent in their unhealthiness... Yet the bright eyes still shone with all the beauty they ever had, if not even more as her health deteriorated. After seven months, she was forced to lie in bed, for the child's sake as well as her own weakness. Cloud was by her side as much as he could be, but there were constant uprisings to be quelled; the world wasn't quite settled into its newly found peaceful state. And finally the ninth month was about to arrive... and then she went into labor.

"The labor was rather long, but it was not painful for her. Unfortunately, we couldn't move her into the hospital because the jostling of the road would be too much stress on her. So we just carried her to the most comfortable place in the house... the master bedroom. We laid her on the bed carefully and called a doctor to rush over. She had already begun to lose feeling in her lower body, which thankfully provided mercy for her. But a few minutes after you were born... she went into cardiac arrest. Her heart just... stopped beating. Cloud's screams filled the hallways, seemed to shake the very world itself... coupled with the wail of a newborn child; you, Sephirah! Her wedding bed became her deathbed... and it is where you were brought into this world. As I promised her, I filled every vase in the house... The flowers were still as beautiful as they ever had been, though she had passed. A few days after she was buried, Cloud forbid the entry of anyone into that room again. He didn't want to remember... yet he knew he'd never forget. And how could he possibly forget here, within the walls where she was his bride? Her scent still lingers in the air... her spirit still alive in every blossom. He couldn't bear the sight of these walls... He saw her with every step he took. He wanted to leave as soon as he could, but he feared that you wouldn't be able to travel, so he waited until you were old enough.

"You were such a beautiful baby, Sephirah... we were all so surprised to see how healthy you were, even though your mother was so sick. And after a year had passed and you were able to travel by air, Cloud left for Nibelheim, never looking back at this old villa as they drove away. He asked me to take care of it for him and to continue living here, so I did. Seven years passed before he ever returned... he thought he might be able to come to terms with his sorrow, but found it even more oppressing, his mind blaming him for every single thing that happened here. And then when you broke into the room, he had to follow you back in to chase you out, and it was too much for his soul to handle... she was everywhere and in everything. He wouldn't forgive himself for her sufferings... and the next day he decided to leave, never to return until the day that he found he was truly ready. And I haven't seen him since.

"I was surprised to see your face when you appeared... at first I thought I was either dreaming or imagining things... but you and your mother have such a unique beauty... there is no other in this world like it! And here we sit now... and that's the end of my story. I just felt you ought to know a little about my history and that of this villa," Jeremy finally finished with a shrug and a sigh.

There was silence for several moments as the thoughts began to register in Sephirah's mind. She remembered the vision in the Lifestream, the beauty of the woman who beckoned her with such a familiar smile. It was almost like seeing a mirror image, but one of an older self, with calm auburn hair instead of her raucous silver. "...Mother..." she whispered with pure remorse for the way she had treated her father. She had no idea it had been this way... that her life had been a trade-off for the one woman he ever loved. "Oh, Daddy!! I'm so sorry!" she sobbed, burying her tearful face into her arms. "But why did you never tell me...?"

"Think about it..." Jeremy sighed as he pressed a comforting palm on her shoulder. "Would you have been able to handle the truth? You were just a girl back then... You knew nothing of your mother or your heritage..." At these comments, Sephirah's eyes averted and focused intently on the carpeted floor, knowing that what Jeremy had said was the truth.

"But why... why? Why did she just collapse like that? You said yourself that she was in good health until that one day... What happened to her?" her eyes blazed with a mix of curiosity and budding anger at her helplessness. Jeremy shook his head, unsure of what to say.

"No one knows to this date, my child. Not the doctors, not me, not your father..." he sighed simply, with an exasperated shrug of his shoulders. Sephirah groaned in foul temper, her hands massaging her scalp as if she were victim to a major migraine headache. Finally, she stormed to her feet, racing off into the hallway with her tears streaming behind her in a sparkling arc. Jordan made a motion as if to rise and follow her, but Jeremy shook his head slowly, extending his arm to bar his way if he so wished to follow her.

"Let her be alone for a while... she'll need to think things over. I did give her an awfully big pill to swallow, you know..." Jeremy spoke quietly to Jordan, who rested back into his chair with a sigh of exasperation.