Chapter 48: Words We Couldn't Say

We couldn't say them

So now we just pray them

Words that we couldn't say

Funny, ain't it?

Games people play

Scratch it, paint it

One and the same

We couldn't find them

So we tried to hide them

Words that we couldn't say

Sometimes, baby

We make mistakes

Dark and hazy

Prices we pay

I sit here on my shelf

Just talking to my self

Words that we couldn't say

Words We Couldn't Say – Cowboy Bebop

Two days later, Aeris and Vincent could be found playing chess. Aeris was perched on the end of Vincent's bed, contemplating the chessboard. She wasn't very good at this. Hesitantly she reached out and moved her queen.

"Check." She said triumphantly. Vincent moved a knight.

"Checkmate." He said. Aeris screwed her face up in frustration.

"I am never going to win a game am I?"

"Eventually you will. To be fair, I've been playing a lot longer than you have."

He started to set the board up again. His left arm was in a cast so he was using his right hand. Aeris, who also had a cast on her left arm set up her side. As they started to play again, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Aeris called as Vincent moved a pawn. Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie and Reeve came in.

"Hey guys." Aeris said.

"Hey, look who's out of bed!" Yuffie grinned. Aeris laughed.

"Not really. The nurse had to get me over here. And we're both going to have to use wheelchairs for a while. We can't use crutches if we've both got broken arms."

"Well, at least you'll match." Cloud smiled. Tifa frowned, sitting down.

"What are you going to do once you're out of hospital? I mean, are you both going back to the flat?"

"We've been talking about that. And I'm going back to my room for a while. That way you and Yuffie can help me. And we're still trying to decide what Vincent's going to do."

"No problem. Reeve's going away on a mechanics retreat for two weeks. I can stay with Vincent and help him out." Cloud said. Vincent looked surprised but pleased.

"Cloud… thanks."

"No problem. Hey, is Aeris losing at chess again?"

"Yeah. Let's put it away." Aeris said. They put it back into the box and Vincent asked,

"Have there been anymore letters?"

"Nope. Nothing. And the papers haven't gotten hold of it, thankfully. They're all desperate for a picture of you though, Aeris."

"Well they can want. I'm not going to parade myself about in front of them. I mean, I can't even get to the bathroom by myself." Aeris pointed out. Cloud pulled a face and Aeris stuck her tongue out.

"Grow up!"

"No, you grow up!" she retorted. After a brief giggle Yuffie said,

"So, does this mean that you're going to be coming back when you leave hospital?"

"I guess so. I mean, my main priority is to finish University. That becomes before everything, including my music."

"I've only got a few weeks left. I want to finish my course." Vincent said. He looked at his broken arm. "I'm lucky this isn't my drawing arm."

After an hour the nurse came in to give them a check-up. Whilst this was going on Cloud busied himself by examining the food they had been given for lunch.

"This is food, right?"

"Apparently." Aeris said. Cloud poked it suspiciously.

"Is it supposed to be that colour?"

"That is anybody's guess." Vincent said. The nurse rolled her eyes. She had clearly had many complaints about the food. Although it did make you wonder why nothing had been done about it. Yuffie seized the bowl.

"It can't be that bad!" She pushed a spoonful into her mouth and froze. A look of intense disgust crossed her face. Aeris handed her a glass of water and as she spluttered she asked,

"What's been going on at uni?"

"Nothing much. Everyone has told me to tell you to get better soon." Tifa told her. Yuffie, who was wiping her mouth, said,

"James said to say hi, by the way."

"He did?" Aeris said, frowning. They looked at her curiously. She shrugged.

"He came to the hospital. Just before Vincent woke up. Nothing happened. He brought a card from the music class and he just said that he was glad that we were OK."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Tifa asked.

"It didn't seem important. Vincent started to wake up right after he left. That seemed far more important; it just kinda pushed it out of my head."

"Well, he says hi." Yuffie said again, sitting down.

That afternoon Aeris woke from a nap to hear someone in the room. She opened an eye blearily and looked up.

"Shera!" Her music teacher looked down at her. She and Vincent had clearly been chatting.

"Hello Aeris. I came to find out why you've been skipping class." She said, looking deadly serious but with a sparkle in her eye. Aeris smiled and sat up.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. We're here for a check-up. The baby's due in a couple of weeks and Cid's getting nervous. So he's made us about fifty appointments." Aeris laughed and looked at her Music Teacher's enormous stomach. Shera ran a hand over it.

"Got any names planned?" Aeris asked.

"If it's a boy, Liam. If it's a girl, Faith."

"Aw, those are lovely names." Aeris said, smiling. She looked across at Vincent. Shera asked,

"So, when are they letting you go?"

"The day after tomorrow. That's Thursday, so I'll be in class on Friday."

"Looking forward to it." There was a knock at the door and Elena and Reno came in.

"Hey Shera! Whoa, you're huge!" Reno said, staring at her belly in shock. Elena elbowed him.

"That's what happens when people get pregnant!"

Shera laughed and stood up.

"I'd better get going. I've got an appointment to make. I'll see you on Friday, Aeris. Goodbye Vincent."

Elena and Reno both sat down. Reno looked at Aeris,

"You're looking… purple."

"That's the bruises coming through." Aeris said. Reno scratched his head.

"Oh. Right. Looks painful."

"It is."

"Geez, Reno, you're quite the conversationalist aren't you?" Elena said sarcastically. She pushed him.

"Go talk to Vincent. I need to speak with Aeris."

"What is it?" Aeris asked once they had gotten rid of Reno.

"It's Rufus… you know how we went out on that one date?"

"Yeah."

"He hasn't called me since. That was like two weeks ago." She looked irritated.

"You're kidding? He seemed so nice."

"He's a jerk. I saw him briefly the other day and he just ignored me. And I read in a magazine this morning that he's going out with his co-star. What's her name… Kelly something."

"Kelly West."

"Yeah. He said in an interview that they've grown extremely close." Elena said, glaring at Aeris' bedside table.

"I didn't think either of them were particularly good looking." Aeris said, trying to cheer her up.

"Urgh. And on top of that we've been invited to the premiere and we can't not show up. It's at the end of August. So I'm going to have to find a date who is ten times better than Rufus."

"Well…" Aeris said, thoughtfully. Elena perked up.

"Well what?"

"There is this guy who I always thought you'd go with. He's good looking, fun, nice."

"Does he actually exist or is this some imaginary guy you've made up?" Elena asked suspiciously. Aeris laughed and whispered,

"Don't hurt me OK?"

"OK. Now who is it?"

"…Reno."

"WHAT?!"

Aeris pressed a finger to her lips.

"Shh!"

"Are you insane?" Elena ranted.

"No! I think you'd make a really good couple! Yeah, you fight a lot but you've known each other for ages, you know everything about each other and Reno is everything I just said he was."

"Reno has been my friend for nearly ten years!"

"So? It just means you know him better."

"We work together!"

"You've got plenty in common."

"You're nuts. You have actually lost your marbles." Elena said plaintively. Aeris pulled a face.

"Fine, but I still think it'd work."

Reno looked over.

"El, we've got to go. Mike wants a meeting."

"OK. We'll catch you later. And tell the nurse you're being given too many drugs." Elena told Aeris. Aeris laughed and waved goodbye. Vincent looked over at her.

"What was all that about?"

"Nothing. Girl stuff."

(A/n: I cannot apologize enough for the wait you guys have had. I've been so busy lately… not a good excuse, I know, but it's true. I'll try and get the next one up quicker. In other news... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!)