Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or Moulin Rouge's story line or songs.

Song: No Song

Chapter 9.

It had been only a few days later when the group was heading towards Nibelhiem. They all rode in the same vehicle. Vincent's blue eyes were gazing outside with his stoic mask on. He didn't look at Lucrecia once during the ride. He knew that Hojo was watching him through annoyed angry eyes. He was so annoyed with Vincent having to be there. But Professor Gast told him to shut it and leave Vincent alone. He was tired of listening to Hojo whine about Vincent's presence. The cruel scientist believed it was Vincent who talked his boss into letting him go. Lucrecia was reading her book. A small smile on her face. Her hand resting on her stomach. She kept herself occupied so she wouldn't look at Vincent. She knew if she did, she would start blushing and smiling like a love struck youth. It was very quiet on the ride towards Junon. They took a ship to Costal Del Sol where they rented a car. They were now all sitting in silence doing nothing but finding their own entertainment. Professor Gast seemed be very bored. He was drawing something on a notepad. Finally he looked around holding it up. "Who would like to play dots?" he asked. Hojo slapped his hand over his forehead while Lucrecia burst into a fit of giggles. Vincent smirked and shook his head.

Hours later, they finally arrived in Nibelhiem. Vincent was the first one out. His hand on his gun ready to pull it. His eyes searched the area first. There were a few people watching them but they didn't seem to be any trouble. Vincent turned and helped Lucrecia out first and then the two professors. Professor Gast looked around. "My, my. What a charming little town." He said. Hojo sneered looking around. "Yes. What charming town." He said sarcastically. Lucrecia shot him a annoyed look that he didn't see.

Vincent was annoyed with the unpleasant man as well as his other two companions. He carefully looked around and made sure that there was no threat before starting to lead them towards a large mansion called, ShinRa Manor. It was the oldest and largest building in the town. The three scientists followed behind. Vincent was keeping his eyes peeled for any trouble.

Finally they reached the gates. Vincent stopped and let the scientists first. He saw the smile Lucrecia gave him and he tried very hard not to smile back. It was hard enough not to. He met eyes with Hojo who gave him a dirty look. Vincent returned the look. He turned around and looked up at the sky. Then he went in to make sure that the scientists were comfortable. He looked around the house with interest.

He found the house a very interesting one. It was dark and a little dusty though Lucrecia just said all it need was a few curtains and it would be a perfect place to live in, other wise it was great. Vincent decided to look around the house. He did so on his own while the others were getting unpacked in their own rooms. There was something sort of un-nerving about the house though. Something Vincent didn't quite like. He had a feeling about this house. It had secrets that he didn't know if he wanted to know. He figured since he was there, he would find out them.

Several weeks passed. Vincent was never allowed to go in the basement where the scientists were working. He hardly got to see Lucrecia because she was so busy. Hojo had her so busy that she never had the time to talk to Vincent, ever. Vincent was being kept busy too. There had been a few suspicious characters around. And he was always outside glaring towards them, daring them to try anything. The people would hurry away from the house and not return.

There was also something wrong with Lucrecia. Something she wouldn't tell anyone. She was always rubbing her stomach and smiling as she read her books. Which was definitely catching some attention by Professor Gast. He was starting to wonder something. He knew that Lucrecia or Hojo hadn't tried anything together yet so why was she acting like...

He paused from his work as he continued to stare at Lucrecia. His mouth fell open and a look of realization came across his eyes. He slowly looked over at Vincent who was staring out the window looking just as peaceful as ever. He was thinking about several things. He glanced over at Hojo who was scowling at some work he was looking through.

Gast shook his head as he looked back at Lucrecia. "Lucrecia?" He asked. Everyone looked up. The lovely woman smiled as she tilted her head. "Yes, Professor?" She asked sweetly. Gast swore he saw Hojo roll his eyes with a disgusted look on his face. He just stood and motioned to Lucrecia to do the same. "I need to speak to you in private. Please take a walk with me." he said. Lucrecia nodded and stood. She put her book aside. Vincent stepped forward opening his mouth but Gast shook his head.

"I need to speak to her alone, Vincent. But if you wish, you may stand by the door, since we are only stepping outside." He told him. Vincent nodded and all three stepped outside with a glaring Hojo watching them.

Gast and Lucrecia walked away from Vincent, only standing in his eyesight. They walked until they were out of earshot from him. Gast looked Lucrecia over then scratched his head trying to think of how he was going to ask her this. He sighed and decided to just plunge into it. "Lucrecia, there is something very important I must ask you and you need to be very honest with me."

Lucrecia nodded pushing her bangs back. "Yes, Professor. I will." She told him. Gast sighed running his hand through his hair and looked down at her stomach which she followed his eyes. She looked back at him with wide eyes knowing exactly where this was going. "Lucrecia, you haven't...um, bred with Hojo yet, have you?" Gast whispered for only her to hear. Lucrecia felt her face growing pale. She glanced over Gast's shoulder at Vincent, who was looking away at the moment towards the village.

Gast understood it right away. He sighed shaking his head. "Professor..." Lucrecia began but Gast held up a hand. "No. Don't say it. I know. I have just barely caught on." He cut her off in a whisper. Although his voice was very soft and didn't sound angry at all.

Lucrecia lowered her head feeling herself blushing and tears filling her eyes. "Yes, Professor. I'm pregnant. With Vincent's child. I just didn't want to..." She couldn't finish it. Gast nodded slowly. "I understand. I must say, I'm relieved." He said softly a small smile on his face. Lucrecia looked surprised. "What?" She asked. Gast smiled at her. "I know you do not like Hojo. At all. I know how much you love Vincent. I would not blame you one bit."

The young woman smiled with tears filling her eyes. She couldn't help it but cry. She was so afraid that Gast would have been angry but he wasn't. He understood like a human being would. She threw her arms around Gast and hugged him. "Thank you, Professor." She whimpered. Gast hugged her softly then pulled away. "However, I know Hojo will not be happy at all about this. You must not tell him. But you must do something about it. If you develope this child before..." He cut off shuddering.

Lucrecia understood and she even shuddered. "I have to sleep with Hojo soon. Before I show signs." She whispered. Gast looked so devastated. He did not want to throw this on Lucrecia. "You don't exactly have to. We could just tell..." His assisstant quickly cut him off. "No. I have to do this. If Hojo ever found out that the baby was Vincent's, he'll complain to President Shinra and then they'll kill him. I don't want Vincent to be hurt. That's why I did it. That's why I went to Vincent's room before this thing happened. I didn't want to ever bear Hojo's child. That monster's." She cried softly.

Gast sighed then lifted his hand to wipe Lucrecia's tears away. He didn't say anything about the monster comment. He then wiped his own tears away. "You better do it tonight. I will have Vincent take the night off. We have been here half the month already. So the embro inside your womb should be atleast a month old already and starting to develope. So whatever you and Hojo do, it will do nothing to hurt the child." he whispered. Lucrecia nodded. "Thank you, Professor." She sighed and turned away.

"Wait!" Tifa quickly said. She looked shocked and had the look of realization. The old man stopped looking at her with curiousity. He tilted his head folding his hands together. "Yes, Miss Lockhart?" He asked softly.

Tifa stared at him, her heart pounding hard against her chest. She was adding things together and looking for the answer. Then she knew it. She knew the whole answer. Her jaw fell and her eyes were wide. "Lucrecia...she was carrying Vincent's child, right?" The man nodded. Tifa's jaw fell lower. "That means...oh! Oh no! Please you must be kidding! Please say that I'm thinking the wrong answer!" She begged.

The man tilted his head again. "What is your answer?" He asked already knowing where she was going with this. "Lucrecia's child...Vincent's child...it's...it was...wasn't it?" She asked. The man nodded. "Yes. It was. Lucrecia bore Vincent's child and it was a boy. It was Sephiroth."