Chapter 34: The Right Time
This is the right time
Once in a lifetime
So I've finally gone to sleep
Don't you know
The sun is shining in my window
Life's in the flow
Making music in the morning
Laughter's light
Creativity touches
In full flight
This is the right time
Once in a lifetime
The Right Time – The Corrs
Aeris sat opposite Vincent on the train, travelling towards Kalm. She stared out of the window at the surrounding countryside. Vincent was watching her in much amusement. She was chewing her lip, her forehead creased into a frown. Her hands were twisting around each other and she was tapping her foot. Either she was very nervous or she really needed to go to the bathroom.
"Aeris." She looked up, startled. He leant across the small table and took her hands.
"Relax. It's going to be fine."
"Is it? Well, I'm glad you're so confident!" Aeris said. Vincent sat back in his chair.
"Worrying isn't going to help. They're your parents, they will understand."
Aeris shrugged, looking back out of the window.
They walked across the main square of Kalm. There were several people sitting outside a café. One of them recognised Aeris and waved.
"Hey Aeris! Home to see the folks?"
"Yes, Mrs Malcolm. How's Jack?" Aeris enquired after her son.
"Well enough."
She looked up at Vincent.
"Everybody knows everybody in Kalm. There's not a whole lot of town."
"I can see that. Come on."
Aeris opened the front door.
"Mom? Dad?"
"We're in the garden." Matthew called. They went through to the garden and greetings were exchanged. Dinner was laid out invitingly on the table. Chicken, vegetables, bread, cheese… Aeris felt her mouth watering. She'd been too nervous to eat breakfast. Infalna said,
"Well, why don't we eat straight away? Otherwise the chicken will get cold." They sat down and Infalna loaded up a plate for Aeris.
"You look live you've lost weight, honey."
"I weight the same as the last time you asked." Aeris said. Infalna passed a plate to Vincent.
"And how are you Vincent?"
"I'm excellent, thanks Mrs Gast."
"Infalna, dear. And how are the others?"
"They're great." Aeris said through a mouthful of chicken. Infalna frowned and she swallowed quickly. Matthew smiled.
"And how is the song doing?"
"Oh, it's amazing! We've sold around 250 thousand already!" Aeris said excitedly. Vincent smiled at her.
"It's doing really well."
"I remember when Aeris got her first guitar. Remember Matthew?"
"Her fifth birthday." Matthew agreed. Vincent stared at Aeris.
"You were five when you started to play?"
"Yeah… one of our neighbours had had one and I'd loved to listen to him play. So I begged Mom and Dad for ages until they finally gave in."
"Then followed the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. She taught herself Guitar and Piano." Infalna boasted.
"Mom, stop it." Aeris warned her. Matthew smiled at Vincent.
"She always does this when we have company. She loves to show off about Aeris. You should hear her with the neighbours, since the song came out."
"Mom, tell me you haven't been talking to the neighbours about it!" Aeris said in horror. Infalna refused to be shamed.
"I am just proud! I reserve the right to be a bossy, overbearing mother."
"And she gets it just right every time." Matthew muttered.
After dinner, Aeris and Infalna washed up, leaving Matthew and Vincent to talk. Then they sat down in the garden and Aeris decided it was time.
"Mom, Dad, you know I wanted to talk to you about something?" they both sat forward. Aeris took a deep breath.
"OK… this is really hard, and I've been trying to wait for the right time to tell you…"
"Aeris." Matthew said, taking her hand, "There isn't anything you can't tell us. Just spit it out."
"OK. I…" Aeris struggled with the words, "after you went home, when we were in Wutai… I…"
She took another deep breath.
"I found my father." The impact of the words took a few seconds to sink in. Matthew fell back in his chair and Infalna's mouth fell open. Aeris continued slowly, not looking at either of them.
"We've been in contact since then. Talking on the phone and writing. And he's coming to Midgar for my birthday. I wanted to tell you before you found out then."
"Aeris… you found Eric?" Infalna said in disbelief. Aeris nodded, looking at her.
"I just… I mean, I knew he lived there and I just had to know. Why he left and everything."
"It's quite unbelievable really." Infalna said slowly. Aeris looked at Matthew. He met her gaze. She said,
"Dad, please say something."
"Could we have a moment please?" He asked Infalna and Vincent. They nodded and went indoors. Matthew got up and started to walk around the garden without speaking. After a few moments of unbearable silence Aeris said,
"Dad?"
"I… I don't know what to say." Matthew said, back turned to her. Aeris stood up, but didn't go to stand next to him.
"Dad, I-"
"I understand, Aeris." He turned to look at her. She was surprised to see tears in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" she whispered.
"No one can substitute a father. And I'm not yours. It's only natural that you would want your own father around… I tried to be a real father, but no one can play that role." Matthew told her, his voice constricted and unnaturally even, as though he was trying very hard not to cry. Aeris felt her own eyes start to water.
"Dad, no…"
"It's OK, Aeris." Matthew said, hands behind his back, in a diplomatic stance. Aeris shook her head, a lump constricting her throat, desperate to get the words out.
"Will you just listen to me?" She cried. Matthew looked shocked.
"Aeris, what-"
"No! You've got it all wrong! I didn't go to find Eric Gainsborough because I wanted him to be my father! I wanted to find him to find out why he left me… just to see if he cared at all. And he does, so I want to stay in contact. But he's just a man who walked out of my life before it even started and came back in by accident."
She wiped her face, realising she was crying. She shook her head and said,
"You're my daddy. When I was little, even before you and Mom married, I can remember that I always wanted my very own daddy. And then I did, and it was all I ever wanted. No one's going to take your place and no one ever could! So don't ever, ever think that I don't need you, because I do and I always will! He's my father… but you're my dad."
Matthew stared at her. Then, before she could speak again, he had covered the ground between them and put his arms around her. She hugged him tightly, feeling the wool of his sweater against her cheek and breathing in the smell she associated with him. Mint, from the sweets he always carried in his pockets, the cologne he always wore and something that was just… him. She looked up at him, at the face she knew so well. Each line, the brown eyes creased and watering right now, the brown beard which was never quite tidy, and thick brown hair that stuck out all over the place. Matthew smiled.
"I'm sorry Aeris… I really got the wrong end of the stick here didn't I?"
"I'll say." Aeris choked, smiling weakly. Matthew hugged her even tighter.
"Dad, if you don't want to see Eric, it's OK. You're way more important to me than he is."
"No. I can't ask you to do that, and I don't want to. We'll come to your birthday and perfectly civil."
"OK…" She sniffed hard and they went inside. Infalna and Vincent were talking amiably. They looked up as the pair entered.
"Is everything alright?" Infalna asked concernedly, eyeing the tearful pair. Aeris nodded.
"Yeah… everything's great."
"So, what do you want for your birthday Aeris?" Matthew asked as they sat down. Aeris shrugged.
"I hadn't really thought about it, to be honest."
"I'm sure we'll think of something." Infalna said.
On the train home, Aeris smiled at Vincent. He smiled back.
"Didn't I tell you it would be alright?"
"Yeah, yeah. Don't rub it in that you're always right!"
Vincent smile widened. Aeris stuck her tongue out and then laughed. Vincent looked out of the window at the steadily darkening sky.
"We'll be in Midgar in about three quarters of an hour." He judged. Aeris stretched, yawning.
"I've got music tomorrow morning. What about you?"
"Art in the afternoon. I'm going to sketch tomorrow morning." Sketch was his way of saying he'd wander around Midgar until something caught his eye. Aeris smiled.
"OK. I'd better go back to my room. All my stuff is there for tomorrow and I don't want to be dashing about."
"Alright."
They got of the train and walked the half hour to the Avalanche Dormitory. Outside her door, Aeris turned to Vincent.
"So… what are you getting me for my birthday?" She teased. Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"As if I'd tell you."
"Meanie. I'll see you tomorrow. Lunch?"
"Barret's. See you then." He kissed her goodnight and walked down the corridor. Aeris slipped into her bedroom. Tifa was already sleeping peacefully. Aeris went to the bathroom and washed before changing into her pyjamas. Tifa muttered something and rolled over with a groan. Aeris smiled at her friend's sleeping form before slipping into bed and turning off the lamp.
(A/N: Just a chance to try and uncover a bit more about Matthew. I'm trying to develop all of the characters properly. Next chapter: Aeris' birthday. Tune in for another exciting chapter of I'll Be There For You! And please remember to review before turning off your computer screen!)