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

Song: No song

Chapter 11.

She returned to the city like she had promised. It took a half an hour to convince Cloud to let her go on her own. He wanted to go with her to wherever she was going. But she told him that she wanted to go by herself. It had made him a little angry but Barret told him that he needed his help any ways. So Tifa went back on her own. With only a pair of red eyes watching from the hotel room.

Tifa walked through the market looking for the old man's stand. She had been looking for ten minutes and still couldn't find where he was. She must have been through the market place a twenty times now. But she couldn't see him. She sighed with frustration and stopped. She looked at the stand next to her. It was definitely the clothing stand she had been at before she even talked to the old man. But the old man's stand was gone. He couldn't have possibly left. She wanted to hear the rest of the story. Maybe he didn't want to finish the story. Maybe he wanted Tifa to stay in the shroud of confusion of how Vincent's story ended. That made Tifa want to cry.

She lowered her head and looked back at the cloth she had looked at the day before. She was thinking why not just make Vincent the new cloak but she wasn't really interested anymore. She wanted the story. She felt depressed now. She would have just went to the old man's house but she couldn't remember where it was. She had forgotten its location.

Just then someone placed his or her hand on her shoulder and she jumped. Out of reaction she turned to swing her fist. But a firm hand seized it rather quickly and she earned a laugh from who ever it was. Blinking a few times she realized that she almost punched the old man. "OH! I am so sorry!" She gasped. The old man just laughed still holding her fist. He shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Miss Lockhart. The fault was mine. I should have just walked up and said hi. But instead I had to surprise you. Please forgive me for startling you." He said. Tifa smiled with relief. "I thought you left. When I couldn't find your stand, I thought..."

"That I wouldn't finish the story? No. I decided to take it down. No one would hear a story from me so I gave up. But I will be finishing the one I was telling you. I was walking around when I seen you. You look rather upset. Are you alright?" He asked. Tifa smiled shaking her head.

"I'm fine. Really. I was just afraid that you weren't going to be here." She said fingering her purse. The man just smiled and nodded. "I would not abandon one of my customers, not for anything. Especially when it's you. Please follow me. We'll return to my home and we'll finish the story." He said. Tifa smiled and nodded. She followed him right back to his place. The man served her some tea and sat down across from her. He looked at her with a smile again. "Now, where did I leave off?" He asked. Tifa looked up at the ceiling trying to think then she nodded. "You left off at the part where Gast and Lucrecia was talking about the baby and who the father was. And when I cut into the story asking about it being Sephiroth." She said.

"Oh, yes! That's right. I remember now. Well, let's see. After that, nothing really happened. Nothing interesting. The only thing that happened Vincent was in town with Gast when Lucrecia went to Hojo. He never knew about what Lucrecia was going to do and even if he did, he would have gotten into a fit of jealousy and done something that would have been terrible for them all." He shrugged. "Anyway, all that happened was something Vincent never seen. And it was a good thing too. Because all it was that was happening, was the experiments. The Jenova Project."

Vincent was again staring out the window, guarding the room where the secret passage to the basement. He sighed a deep sigh as he waited. He really wanted to know what was going on. They had been there in Nibelhiem for five months now and something had been happening to Lucrecia. He could feel it. But he never had the chance to ask. He was also noticing the physical changes in his beloved. She seemed very tired and looked sore. As if something was happening to her. And she looked like she was gaining a little weight. He didn't understand that. Shouldn't working this hard and much be taking off weight? He wasn't understanding one bit of this.

His job was getting a little frustrating as well. There had been a few times that someone tried to break in the mansion and Vincent had to kill a few men who was trying to something. He didn't like doing it but if it was for the protection of the his loved one and the scientists, he had to. He would get very depressed and lonely when nothing was happening. So he took it the chance to explore the mansion a little more. He had been in the basement a few times but would always get yelled at by Hojo. Gast and Lucrecia just softly told him to not go down there anymore. So he didn't. Just out of respect for Professor Gast and the love of Lucrecia. He was feeling a little lonely when someone arrived that could keep him occupied. Dariel.

Vincent was doing his shift around the mansion making sure it was staying secure, when suddenly someone grabbed his arms and pinned them behind his back. He jumped and tried to struggle out of the attacker's grip which was a little hard. He gritted his teeth and threw his head back to head butt the attacker. The attacker moved his head in time only to laugh as he loosened his grip on Vincent. Vincent jerked away and grabbed his gun aiming at who it was but stopped.

Dariel was just laughing his head off as he held his sides. He was bent over trying to supress himself. Vincent growled with annoyance but relief as he lowered his gun. "God dammit, Dariel! Why did you do that! I could have shot you!" he exclaimed. Dariel just laughed and slapped his knee as he stood straight. "I'm….gasp…..sorry, V-Vincent! I couldn't help it." He said. Vincent smiled as he took a deep breath and shook his head. He joined his best friend in laughing and slid his gun away. "Damn, Dariel. You scared the hell out of me." He said moving over to him. He threw his arm around Dariel's neck and put him in a head lock. Dariel struggled to get loose. They wrestled a little when there was a scream.

Both jumped and went for their weapons but noticed that it was Lucrecia running towards them. She was smiling brightly as she ran over and threw her arms around her brother's neck hugging him tightly. Dariel smiled as he hugged her back. "Dariel! What are you doing here!" She asked pulling away. Dariel shrugged as she let her go. "I'm just visiting. I got the week off so I decided to come to Nibelhiem to see how things were going." He said. Lucrecia smiled. "They're going very well." She told him.

They turned when they noticed someone approaching. It was Professor Gast. He was smiling as he walked over. He greeting Dariel with a hearty handshake. "Hello, Mr. Toulouse. How are you?" He asked. Dariel nodded as he pulled his hand away. "I'm doing fine. I'm just checking in." He said. Gast nodded motioning for them to go to the house. "That's good. Please why don't we go inside to visit." He said. The three nodded and followed him.

They talked for a while. Hojo was extremely annoyed with Dariel 'interrupting' the research. But Gast told him to just shut up and let them talk. There was nothing wrong in having some company. Everyone laughed as Hojo stormed out of the room. That was then Dariel noticed something about Lucrecia. "You know, Luci. There is something new about you." He said. Lucrecia looked at him with surprise. "What do you mean?" She asked. Dariel shook his head as he looked her over. "I'm not sure. But I know that there's something about you that's new." He rubbed his chin then his eyes lit up. "Ah, you've gained weight, haven't you?" He asked.

Lucrecia was holding her breath. She looked at Gast then at Vincent who was looking down at her stomach. She was feeling very uncomfortable right about now. "Um, I think….I'll go do the dishes." She said getting up. Dariel's jaw fell. "Wait! I know what it is now!" He said. Lucrecia froze but didn't look at him. Vincent was staring with confusion. Why was Lucrecia acting like this? And why was Gast looking like that? He was looking nervous too. What was wrong? Vincent wondered. Lucrecia slowly turned around looking at Dariel with wide eyes.

Dariel studied her a little longer then his eyes went wide. "Lucrecia…..your….." He looked at Vincent with awe and surprise. Lucrecia flinched. She knew that he caught on. Dariel looked back at her with a smile growing. "Your…your…" He paused. He tilted his head. "Are you?" he asked. Vincent looked at him. "Lucrecia's what?" He asked. Lucrecia gave Dariel a pleading look and shook her head. Dariel knew. His jaw fell lower. "Your pregnant?" He asked. And it was Vincent's turn to look shocked.

Gast closed his eyes knowing this was going to turn a very horrible turn. Lucrecia lowered her head looking embarrassed. "Lucy, tell me. Are you?" Dariel asked. Lucrecia swallowed hard and looked like she was going to be sick. She sighed and nodded. "Yes." She said softly. Vincent's eyes grew wider.

Dariel grinned. "Oh my god! My sister is going to have a baby!" He said happily. Lucrecia didn't smile. She just looked at Vincent wondering what he was going to say. He just looked stunned. Dariel looked at Vincent and grinned. "Ah, Vincent! You sly dog! I knew you had it in you." He said. Vincent didn't look at him. He just looked at Lucrecia. Gast and Lucrecia looked at each other though. The poor young woman looked like she was going start crying. She quickly looked at Dariel. "Dariel, shut up. Vincent's not the father." She said rather quickly. That had definitely shut Dariel up. He went quiet faster than he could blink. And Vincent looked even more shocked. There was a very long silence. No one dared to say anything.

Hojo was sneering from his spot in the door way. He was enjoying every minute of this. He folded his arms and waited for the outburst. But it didn't come just yet. Dariel just sat there looking at Lucrecia. "What? What do you mean, Vincent's not the father? Who's the father then?" He asked calmly.

The evil scientist walked in. "I am." He said. There was a cold silence now. The air around them just went below zero. Vincent stared at Lucrecia. There was a hurt look in his eyes. "Lucrecia?" He whispered. Lucrecia looked at him with sympathy. She couldn't tell him the truth. She knew what would have happened if she did. She just nodded. "Vincent, come walk with me." She shot Hojo a look as he opened his mouth to say something. "And only Vincent." She said coldly.

Vincent slowly stood and nodded. Dariel was eyeing Hojo with great distaste. He looked a little green and there was hatred in his eyes. Gast nodded as he looked at Lucrecia and Vincent. "You may tell him." He told her. Lucrecia nodded understanding what he meant.

The two of them turned and walked out of the mansion. They could hear Hojo and Dariel starting a row. Vincent and Lucrecia walked away from the mansion until they were at the entrance of the town. They were just standing there looking at each other not saying a word. Vincent just looked at her with a pleading look. His eyes were begging Lucrecia to tell him that it wasn't true. That she didn't do what he thought she did and was now carrying a baby that didn't belong to him. Lucrecia sighed as she lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Vincent. I am just so sorry. But I had no choice. It's for the Jenova Project." She said softly. Vincent squinted his eyes still looking like he was in pain. "Please, Lucrecia. Tell me the truth. When did this happen and what is this project? Why did you..." He couldn't ask her the question. Lucrecia had tears falling down her cheeks now.

"It happened right after we got here. When we started this whole thing. The Jenova Project is a special project, Vincent. For a few years, Professor Gast and Hojo were trying to use special cells of a Cetra and large amounts of Mako energy to create a race of superhumans so the Shinra army could have incredible new Soldiers. They've tried so many times to making them but it all failed." She sighed and shook her head.

"Then Hojo came up with an idea of fixing the problem. He wanted to use a baby still in a woman's womb to inject it with Jenova cells and expose both of them with Mako energy. We're going to try and create a super soldier from birth, Vincent. Trying to create something that is more than a human." She said. Vincent was looking at her like she was crazy. He shook his head putting his hands on her shoulders. "Lucrecia, this is insanity! This is destroying a life before it's even alive! Any amount of Mako energy could kill an infant. And you have never used Mako before! It will kill you! This has to stop, Lucrecia! You can't do this!" He said.

Lucrecia looked at him with surprise that he let out an outburst like that. "Vincent, I want to do this! I wanted to be a scientist and this is the only way! I can do this! The baby will be fine!" She said. Vincent shook his head. "No! It won't! Please, quit this project! Gast won't mind! I don't want to lose you, Lucrecia. This will kill you. I can't let it happen." He said weakly. Tears were his eyes. "Vincent, please. I know what I'm doing. If I quit this now, I won't have a life to live. I'm being paid a lot to do this. And if it works, I will be in books for the future to come. I will be famous. I will be the mother of a god." Lucrecia said softly. Vincent shook his head slowly. He took her hand. "That is no future for anyone, Lucrecia. Please...we can leave Shinra. Marry me, Lucrecia. I will love you forever and I will take care of you. I don't care if that is Hojo's baby. I will be the proper father for it. Please, don't this to you or the child." He begged.

Lucrecia's face had gone pale and she had tears in her eyes. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to leave the project and live with Vincent. She loved him so much but there was one thing that was holding her back. It was the fact that Shinra would kill Vincent if he tried to ruin the plan. She couldn't bear the thought of Vincent being killed because of her. "Please, Lucrecia. Marry me." Vincent said stepping closer to her. His eyes looking into her's. Lucrecia smiled at him. "I wish I could but I can't. I love you, Vincent but I won't marry you. I..." She burst into tears right there. She couldn't help it. She jerked away from Vincent and ran back towards the mansion. Leaving Vincent standing there in shock. He took a few steps after her but stopped. He lowered his head and turned around. He decided to let her go for now. He had to think of what was going on.

He was out by the entrance for a half an hour before he needed to go back. He turned around and started walking towards the mansion. Only to halt right in the town square. His eyes were wide on what he was seeing. And it did break his heart. Lucrecia was kissing Hojo. Vincent lowered his head before turning away. He shook his head and walked away. Whispering, "As long as she's happy."