Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII so don't sue me. I'm just some poor girl who lives in the middle of nowhere and has nothing better to do with her time. All original characters-the people you don't recognize-do belong to me so don't steal!
A/N: I'm so sorry that I've taken so long with this! I hope no one's mad but I've been working to get another one of my stories done and I am writing another story with Aloria. It will only be posted when it is finished so don't expect it out any time soon, but I will tell you…it is totally AU, but I think it will be pretty good…
Chapter 6
Growing Up
Naqada clutched Magnus's shirt with a vice like grip as they made slow progress up the old creaky stairs. She made a small noise in the back of her throat and he stopped to look back at her.
"Quit being a baby," he whispered then proceeded after the red caped man leaving his sister.
Naqada swallowed hard…she looked around then quickly scurried up the stairs as to not be left alone in the haunted house.
"You two can have your own rooms or you can share one, it's up to you," Vincent spoke softly at the top of the stairs; he turned left and lead the way down a short hall. "There're two rooms here. This third room is an old green house area. You may want to get the rooms cleaned up a bit; I have not kept them clean, as I should have. Take the spreads and sheets off the beds and throw them down stairs. I'll have them cleaned for you by bedtime."
Both of the children nodded.
"There are a few simple rules I'd like to lay down now though. Don't wonder around the house alone right now…I seem to have a pest problem but I'll have that taken care of quickly. Don't leave town without an adult, I want you in the house before dark, and to bed by 10. Is that acceptable?" Vincent asked; he'd never raised kids so he really didn't know much about parenting.
"Is that all?" Naqada asked disbelievingly.
Vincent nodded giving the slightest of smiles. "I do not ask of much. It would not be fair of me to restrict you as of now. I do not know either of you and I want you to feel this is your home, I'll make amendments to those rules if I see a need."
Both children nodded then watched the raven-haired man walk silently from the room. It was only when he was gone that the two looked at each other and shrugged.
** -3 years later- **
"Magnus!" a shrill voice rang through the empty mansion; Vincent inwardly bristled as he was quietly reading a book in the den. He looked up from his page just in time to see Naqada come stalking into the room. "Vincent, did you see where Magnus and Eppy went to? They were being mean to me again," she whined.
Vincent shook his head; never had he thought twins could be so energetic and noisy. He hadn't had a single moment of solitary peace since he brought the two of them home. "No I haven't," he answered softly; he had also learned that silence with kids was not a good thing. Ignoring them only caused them to get into trouble. "Why don't you go play with one of your own friends?"
The silver-haired girl looked down at her feet and mumbled something incoherently.
Vincent sighed closing his book, he knew what the problem was…and he really couldn't do anything about it. Naqada had never made friends because she always had her brother, but now since he met Eppy she was being left out. "Well my silver-haired friend, what would you like me to do for you?"
"Tell Magnus to quit being mean and to play with me! It's not fair that he only plays with Eppy!" Naqada stamped her small foot on the wooden planks of the floor.
"You're brother is only making friends, you can't expect him to always play with his little sister…now can you? Hey, tell you what…" Vincent stood up and stretched out a bit then peered around the den. "You've never shot a gun before have you?" His eyes were trained on the locked trunk in the corner that held all the guns he had collect during his journey with Cloud to stop…he shook his head. No, now was not a time to think about him.
Naqada's bright green-blue eyes glowed with excitement as she shook her head. She had know for some time that Vincent was a crack shot with a gun and had always hoped he'd teach her and Magnus how to shoot.
"Would you like to go shoot some targets with me?" Vincent arched one eyebrow. He was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea…she was only nine after all…
"Yes!" Naqada chimed, wrapping her arms around Vincent's waist before bouncing away looking very excited.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Magnus walked silently behind his slightly older friend Eppy. He felt bad about ditching Naqada again but…he really wanted to continue the game with Eppy from the day before.
"Yo, what's wrong Magnus?" Eppy dropped back so that they walked side by side and he elbowed his younger friend.
"Well…" Magnus swiped at his ashy hair and scuffed his feet in the dirt path. "I feel bad for leaving Naqada behind again. She really wanted to come with us today."
Eppy laughed tauntingly. "Dude, no one plays with their little sisters and had a life! Come on, she'll get over it!" The blonde prompted though his blue eyes were slightly angry looking.
"Yeah…I guess she will…but I still feel bad for leaving her behind all the time. She'll only talk to me and Vincent…she's never tried to make friends with anyone else in the town," Magnus muttered.
"That's so not cool man, you're going to have to quit worrying about her if you're going to make friends with the guy," Eppy scoffed.
The rest of their selected destination was held in an uneasy silence.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Like this?" Naqada asked as she tried to aim the gun Vincent had given to her to use.
The man clad in dark clothes beside and slightly behind her nodded and took aim with his own gun, Death Penalty. " Try to shoot the can on the right side of the log," he instructed and aimed for the can furthest from hers.
Naqada nervously squeezed the trigger, it went off before she was ready for it and the kick from the gun sent her to the ground. Vincent was instantly there taking the gun from her and asking if she was ok.
"Ouch," she responded rubbing her head as she sat up.
"Well…" Vincent looked back to the can she was supposed to be shooting at; it was nowhere in sight. "You need to learn how to hold the gun more firmly but your aim is right on. I'm impressed; I admit I didn't think you could hit that can."
Naqada smiled at him. So it was, Naqada was neglected by her only friend but became closer to the one who had saved the both of them. Over the course of six years Vincent taught the girl all he knew about fighting, from a crack-shot, to materia, to agility, to even some swordplay. He even went as far as to invite a certain Wutain girl to the mansion to teach Naqada more about close range combat…but never was a certain blonde and his wife told of the two children living with him…
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
'Oh Magnus,' her voice was full of sorrow and a deep wound to the heart that could never be healed by any other… 'Why have we become so distant? I thought you said you'd never let anything happen to me? Now…I'm not so sure…'
****
-End Chapter 6-