Aeris opened the door of her small home and let the wave of warmth rush over her cold and tired body. Familiar smells drifted towards and she sighed. Like always her mother was cooking away and the radio was blaring near the sink. Home.

 " Hi Mom!" Aeris put her flower basket on the table and looked at. Like always her eyes were full of love and affection, happy to see her daughter back safely.

 " Oh…hello." She continued cooking as if nothing had happened, diligently ignoring the awkward silence between them. Aeris tried to look at her. Something was wrong, underneath the motherly kindness she was…. was…scared? Worried? Angry? But why? Unless…

  No, she couldn't have. Aeris shook her head as if to disperse of her thoughts. She'd made sure it was safe, she'd made sure, and it was….

 " You didn't sell many flowers today." Elmyra looked at her with her eyes narrowed.

 " Not many people wanted flowers I guess." Aeris gave a little giggle but the accusing look in Elmyra's eyes made her blush.

 "  Aeris, don't lie to me." Her voice softened and she smiled sadly. " I've already found it." Neither of them had to ask what 'it' was. The letter she received from Shinra a few weeks ago.

  Miss Gainsborough,

 I am sure that you are aware of the war with Wutai. What you are not aware is that how serious the implications of this war are. You have been asked to assist in one of the factions of our attacking force and will serve Midgar. This is, of course, a great honour and you'll be paid and taken care of. Although this is not compulsory you know that not participating will have serious consequences on you and your mother's well being. You have been warned.

 Aeris held her breath and thought long and hard. It had been so easy to simply hide the letter and pretend it didn't exist, deny I like her heritage and special powers but now the time had come when she had to face reality.

 " I hope you realise that I'll never let you go to war." Elmyra put her hand on her shoulder and tried not to sound worried.

  " I don't think I have a choice." Aeris' head swam as she closed her eyes. This was all happening much too fast; the meeting, her mother's realisation and now this. Before it had felt like she was simply drifting through the world, aware of these events but out of reach. Now she'd fallen and the landing hadn't been soft.

  Elmyra sucked in her breath fast walked back to the food, stirring violently. " We will simply move somewhere else then, let this all blow over and then come back here." She paused and added as an after thought. " Somewhere the Shinra wont find us, just you and me." She turned to Aeris. " Wont that be nice?"

  Aeris looked at her sadly. Oh mom, you just don't understand. Yet again she felt alienated from her, she knew that there was no chance they could outrun the Shinra. And what about their debts? They had no money and soon no home.

  The choice was clear. Aeris would have to go. She couldn't endanger her mother like this, after all she could've thrown out Aeris a long time ago and save herself a lot of trouble but she didn't even though Aeris wasn't hers and she was defending her again. But now she was older, she understood that Elmyra couldn't save her all the time and maybe doing this would be a way of re-paying her for all these years.

 Aeris gave one last sigh and walked up the stairs to her bedroom with a heavy heart. Elmyra didn't call after her, perhaps all these years together made her understand what Aeris was feeling. Either that or she didn't care.