Standard Disclaimers Apply

Ch2
By: Joy


Yuffie, along with several other parents waited outside the foyer for their children to come out. She stood alone, preferring to be by herself than the company of others. A huge smile formed on her lips as she saw her son running towards her.

"Mommy!"

"Hi, honeybear!"

Aidan giggled as he received a hug from his mother. "School was fun today!"

"Really?" Yuffie asked in surprise. She thought kids were supposed to say that school was boring. "What did you do today?"

"Nothing much!" Aidan replied happily as they walked home. "How was your work, mommy?"

Yuffie beamed. Being called mommy always made her so happy. "It was okay, but I bet your day was better."

Aidan gave a smirk that was so Reno. "Well, you don't have to work. Daddy said so."

"Ah, well, mommy says she wants to work."

Aidan just shrugged and reached for Yuffie's hand. She looked down at him, and realized that he was growing so tall for a five years old. She and Reno chose the best school in the district, luckily, it was only a five-minute walk from their apartment, so they didn't have to walk far.

Yuffie hummed as they walked in the lobby, and waved at the concierge. Her son quickly rushed to the elevator and pressed the up button, eager to get to his computer games.
"Remember, you have to finish your homework, first."

Aidan pouted as they stepped inside. "Awww, do I have to?"

"Yes, you have to."

"Did your mommy ever make you do homework?"

"No... she died when I was born." Yuffie replied softly as the elevator reached their floor. Aidan bit his lip. His mommy never talked about his grandparents, come to think of it, neither has his father.

"What about your daddy?"

Yuffie smiled faintly as she reached for her keys. "No... he was too busy with stuff...

Aidan frowned. "Daddy's never too busy for me."

"I know, honeybear."

Both Yuffie and Aidan looked in surprise as they saw Reno walking out of his bedroom.

"Daddy! You're back!"

Reno grinned as his son ran towards him. "Of course I'm back. Will I ever spend too much time away from my favorite boy?"

"No!" Aidan replied enthusiastically. "Is mommy your favorite girl?"

Yuffie pretended not to hear as she placed Aidan's schoolbag besides the sofa.

"Yes," Reno replied as he looked at Yuffie, who looked away as she tucked stray locks of dark hair behind her ears.

"How was your trip?" Yuffie asked as she walked closer to the two of them.

"Can't complain." Reno replied with Aidan still in his arms. "How was your day?"

"Good." Yuffie replied, feeling a bit awkward.

"Daddy, guess what we did at school today?" Aidan suddenly asked, remembering something interesting. "I gotta show you what I got in school today!"

Both parents watched in amusement as Aidan ran to his bag and quickly fished something out of the bottom. "Our new teacher just talked and talked about the place that he came from, Wutai!"

Reno immediately noticed Yuffie going a bit pale as his son flicked through the book. "Look, the princess looks a bit like mommy!"

"Does she?" He asked, his eyes at the page before turning to Yuffie. "You want to sit down?"

Yuffie shook his head and smiled at her son instead. "What did your teacher tell you about Wutai?"

Aidan replied as he talked about what he learned about Wutai. Somehow, Reno understood why Yuffie never told Aidan about Wutai. What was she supposed to say? That she was the princess, and her father kicked her out because she didn't want to have an abortion after he screwed her up?

"You learned a lot today, huh?" Reno said as his son paused for a breath. "Listen, why don't we order pizza so mommy can rest, huh? Then we can play that game you like."

"Okay!" His son replied happily as he ran towards his room. When he was gone, Yuffie let out a breath and closed her eyes.

"You okay?"

Yuffie just nodded, but the color has not yet returned to her face. "Yeah, I just... I just need to lie down for a while." She said softly as she walked towards her room.

"Yuffie."

The former Lady of Wutai turned around to look at Reno. He opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind. "I'll call you when the pizza arrives."

She nodded again before turning away.

Reno walked out to the balcony and took out a cigarette. Sooner or later, Aidan had to be told the truth about the past. The first time they lived together, one of her favorite topics was how to restore Wutai to its former glory, to end its 'tourist trap' tag. That hasn't changed, although now, Wutai was more successful. What will they tell Aidan when the time comes?

*-*-

Later that night, Reno tucked Aidan in, even after the child protested that he wasn't sleepy. He walked out of Aidan's room, chuckling at his complaining son. The smile on his face disappeared as he saw Yuffie out in the balcony looking at the sky. He approached her and heard her singing softly, recognizing the tune as the lullaby she sang Aidan to sleep.

"You miss Wutai." It was a statement, not a question.

"Of course," Yuffie replied, still looking at the sky. "It's my home."

/Was your home,/ Reno wanted to correct, but chose to keep that particular thought silent. "Can't you go back for a visit?"

"Godo banished me out of Wutai. I can't just waltz in there..."

"Aidan would have to be told."

Yuffie closed her eyes. "I know."

Reno leaned against the glass pane. "What will you tell him?"

Yuffie didn't reply as she turned around, although her gaze was on the floor. "I'd prefer that he never knows."

"He's gonna discover that himself, it's probably better that it comes from you."

"Wutai will never accept him," She said softly. "I don't want to hurt him."

"Ignorance isn't going to save him from pain, Yuffie."

"He's too young, Reno." She replied as she turned around to look at the city below. "How am I supposed to tell him that my own father threw me out, that he could have been the next Lord of Wutai?"

"He needs to know the truth."

Yuffie didn't reply, and the two spent a few minutes of silence on the balcony before Reno spoke. "What time do you start work tomorrow?"

"Eight. I have to open up the store." Yuffie answered him, eyes still on the night sky. "I finish at five."

"Aidan and I will pick you up. Remember we promised to watch that new Pokeshit movie..."

"Pokemon." Yuffie corrected Reno.

Reno shrugged. "Whatever."

"I'd better go... I have a long day tomorrow."

"You don't have to work, you know that."

Yuffie looked at him as she walked inside. "I know, but I want to."

Reno didn't say anything else as he watched Yuffie walk away.

*-*-

It was already quarter to five, and Reno had to hold Aidan tighter to keep the boy from sprinting away from him. Tonight was the special premier of the movie that Aidan wanted to watch, and the boy was eager to get to the cinema. The Bookshelf, being the most popular bookstore in Midgar was full, and was also the most expensively decorated. They looked through the window and saw Yuffie talking with a taller brown haired man. He said something that made Yuffie laugh, and Reno clenched his fists as they continued to talk.

"Daddy."

"Yeah, kiddo?"

"You're holding my hand tight." The boy complained and Reno immediately relaxed his hold. They continued to watch as the man kissed Yuffie on the cheek, and she smiled once more at the man before walking away.

"Mommy, let's go!" Aidan cried out, already getting impatient as Yuffie walked out to meet them.

"Hello to you, too."

She looked in wonder at Reno's expression, his blue eyes colder than usual. "What?"

"Nothing. Let's go."

/What the hell is wrong with him?/ Yuffie wondered as they started to walk towards the cinema.