--Paige's Secret—

Paige stood outside Rufus Shinra's office. These past few months had been extreamly hard on him…and her. He was still extreamly mad about loosing Reno and Elena, but did he have to always take it out on her? It had been four months since they died and Rufus was still locked in his office…pouting.

Paige slowly opened the office door and walked in. "Sir…" She could still feel the awkwardness from the night of the funeral. A night she swore to forget…but everytime she saw his face it haunted her. She turned away quiclkly preparing to leave.

"Wait…Paige…you seem tense…are things ok?" Rufus said softly.

Paige stopped, "He was kind suddenly? What was up with this? No yelling today…no throwing books or having me wash his floor?" She said quietly to herself.

Rufus stood up and walked over to her. "I know…I hurt you…and I am sorry Paige." He said as Paige shook her head and ran from the office.

She couldn't bare it any longer. She had to leave, she could no longer stay working at Shin-Ra after what happened between her and Rufus….

It was the night of Elena and Reno's funeral. Paige sat quietly in the back of Rufus's car while the bodies were put into the ground. She watched Rufus Shinra kick a little dirt into the holes then proceed to the car.

"Come on lets go home…damn good for nothing Turks.." He said pounding his fist against the window.

Paige knew better than to speak a word. She knew better than to come between him and his anger. So she sat quietly the whole ride back to the mansion. Once they had gotten back she escorted Rufus to his office and sat down on a sofa across the room.

"Paige, I and…doughnots, hmm…and a book. Find me a good book to read…" Rufus said sitting down behind his desk.

Paige nodded and did just as she was asked. Returning with coffee and doughnuts, and a small hardback book. She lay them across the desk in front of him. "Will there be anything else?" She said leaning over the desk to light a candle.

Rufus stared at her intently a moment then stood up grabbing Paige around the back, as if he were trying to hug her. She gasped suddenly but allowed him to hug her as she looked around confused. He proceeded after hugging her, slowly kissing her neck. Paige took a deep breath, no knowing what to do she slightly pushed him away.

Rufus stood up straight and Paige could see the tears streaming down his young face. Although the president acted tough and grown up, he was still only an 18 year old boy.

Paige looked into Rufus's eyes and quickly hugged him back. She knew all he needed was a friend, someone to just sit and be with. Slowly Rufus hugged her back, then began kissing her neck again, then her face…and finally her lips. Paige being the young imature girl that she was gave into Rufus Shinra and allowed him to have sex with her that night…right there, on the sofa in his office.

The same sofa where only a few days later he would have a sit down talk with Cloud Stife, making a deal with him to aide in the capture of Yazoo Jenova…

Rufus watched as Paige ran from his office. He turned around looking around his office. With a sudden grunt he kicked over a chair and watched as it busted against the wall. He never meant to hurt her like that…she had warmed the coldness in his heart. She had changed something about him and he didn't know what to do about it. Everyday he kept pushing her to do more and more work because he didn't know how to handle the way he felt about her. He had never had feelings like this about anyone in his life. He had spent the past four months since the funeral trying to change his life, trying to change the way Shin-Ra was viewed…because of her. Because she had made him feel so different about his life and about everything. He spent everyday trying to learn more about Paige's life and who she was inside…but she wouldn't let him close. How could she? He was Rufus Shinra, noble president of Shin-Ra Corperation…but he wasn't feeling all that mighty right now, actually he was feeling pretty lonely. He sat back down at his desk and stared at the ground. How could he make Paige talk to him…with out force?

Paige sat on the floor of the lobby bathroom crying. She didn't know what to do…she had let Rufus take the only thing sacred in her life…she had given up to him. But that wasn't why she was crying. Tears fell from her eyes because…she knew she had fallen in love with Rufus Shinra... noble president of Shin-Ra Corperation…but was he really as noble as she looked at him to be?

And…could she tell him the truth…not only that she was in love with him…but that…she had a secrect about her life that could destroy Shin-Ra for good?

Rufus was really worried when Paige didn't show up for work two days in a row. His office was a mess, as well as himself. He didn't even bother showering that morning.

"What the hell happened here?" Tseng said walking into Rufus's office looking around.

"Looks like Sephiroth came through here…" Rude replied.

Rufus spun around in his chair. "Paige is missing…"

Tseng looked at Rude then over to Rufus. "Paige isn't missing, she's sick. You didn't hear? Man I thought you'd be the first to know. Paige was found passed out in the girls bathroom yesterday."

Rufus jumped up quickly. "Is she alright?"

Rude's mouth suddenly dropped as he sat back on the sofa. "She's fine Rufus…since when do you care?" He said rubbing his head.

Rufus sat down quickly. "Uhh, I don't care, I just thought she needed to find a replacment to clean my office…" He said shyly.

Tseng laughed a little. "Rufus…admit it. For the past few months you have changed. You like her don't you?"

Rufus only made a small grunting sound.

"Fine, don't tell us, we will just go send her flowers from her secret admirer…" Rude said laughing a bit.

"Make sure they are perfect…yellow…she likes Yellow…" Rufus said staring down at his feet.

Tseng nodded. "Sure thing…" He said before accompaning Rude out the door.

Even though most of the time it was a tense enviroment, Rude and Tseng knew when to be soft around Rufus, and this was one of those times.

Paige sat quietly in her office facing the wall. She was practacly asleep. A sudden knock on the door scared her awake. "Huh? Yeah come in?" She said softly.

A tall man entered the room holding a vase with two yellow roses.

"Miss Noire? These came for you…" The man said sitting the flowers down on her desk then walked out.

"Flowers for me?" Paige lifted a note from a small envelope attached to the flower vase.

"I just knew you needed a cheerful gift. Love always...Someone who thinks you are Special."

Paige stared at the note and the flowers. Who would have sent her such a gift? A few moments later she looked up to see Rufus Shinra standing at her door. Quickly she jumped up. "Oh…sir…I am sorry I missed work. Oh..my…"

Rufus shook his head, stepped into the office then closed the door behind him. "Paige, it's ok. I see you got the flowers?"

Paige looked at him then to the flowers. "You sent me this?"

He nodded. "Look, I don't want you running away from me this time. I know you are upset with me…that you probably hate me for what I have done to you…but truthfully…Paige I can't live my life without you. And I don't mean as just my secretary. You're all I think about anymore, I even talked to some of your friends to find out that yellow was your favorite color…"

Paige sat back down and stared at him, not believing one word that she was hearing. She closed her eyes and turned her back to him. "No…Rufus. I cannot stay here, I have to leave…I am turning in my resignation today…I cannot be here any longer." She said.

"No…Why Paige? Please…if I have done something to make you fear your job I am sorry…please forgive me." Rufus said trying to keep her here.

"Rufus…I cannot. You just…don't understand. Something has happened, something that I cannot stay working here any longer…"

Rufus just stared at Paige, not understanding what she meant. He was there trying to do everything he could to get her to stay, but he wasn't going to stand in her way if she wanted to leave. Rufus closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Ok…Paige…I wont bug you anymore. If you want to leave, you may go…"

Paige was caught off guard by the sudden changes in the way that she was being treated by Rufus. She quickly walked over to him and placed her hand on his head, feeling for a fever. "Perhaps you are also getting sick sir…you should rest."

Rufus stood up and turned to her. "Paige, I don't want you to leave here…and not because I need someone to clean my office…or file my papers. I need you here because…I love you."

Paige fainted at the statement that Rufus had just made. Love? What did Rufus know about Love? Slowly she began to awaken. Rufus had picked her up and carried her to a chair, he gently placed a warm cloth on her head and sat on his knees watching her.

"Rufus?" Paige said as she opened her eyes.

He smiled a genuine sweet smile to her. "You kind of fainted on me there…" He said removing the cloth from her head.

Paige blinked a moment and stared at him. Had it been a dream did he really say that he loved her? Her mind was racing a million thoughts then it hit her like a ton of bricks. A small kiss planted gently on her lips by Rufus Shinra. She looked at him, he smiled back at her.

"Rufus…there is something…I have to tell you…" Paige said staring deep into his eyes.

He nodded. "Yeah?"

"Umm, well…about…four months ago…when…we…" She coughed a little. "When…ummm"

"When we made love?" Rufus said interupting her.

Her mouth dropped. "Uh…yeah…that…"

"What about it? Did I hurt you? Is everything ok? You hated it didn't you?" Rufus said quickly.

"No…it's not that…it's just…well…" Paige said trying to explain. "Rufus…what do you want…for your future?"

He looked at her oddly, what did this have to do with anything? "Umm, I don't know. I want to be a great leader, not a dictator. I want to have a family…and caring staff…I don't want to be hated by everyone…and I really…want to be with you."

Paige quickly hugged Rufus around the neck and placed her head on his shoulder. "…..and your children?" She wispered into his ear.

"Of course! I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our…….." He stopped and pulled away from her. "What?"

Paige looked away a moment, a single tear fell down her cheek. "Rufus…I have to leave the company…because I am…pregnant…with your child."

"Oh…man.." Rufus said as he placed his head in his hands. "I….am...sorry?" He said unsure of what he could say at the moment.

"Rufus…I am the one who should be sorry. This one little thing…could tear down Shin-Ra. Everyone would look down on you…and…" Paige said as tears ran down her face.

He reached up and took her hand. "No…no one would think anything funny about…a man…and his…Fiancee having a child." Rufus said as he looked up into Paige's eyes.

She gasped a little. "Are you asking me…"

"To be my wife….Paige…I want you to marry me, not just because of this child but because I want to change and I want to start by showing you how much I love you…" Rufus said down on his knees.

Paige smiled a little as even more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Yes, Rufus…yes…I will marry you.."