Chapter VI

Daddy?

Disclaimer—I am not, nor ever will, claim ownership of final fantasy 7. I do, however, "own" the O.C. Harper and the idea for this story.

Author's note: Sorry everybody! Purple Parquet told me more people were reading this than I thought…..please review to at least tell me you're reading it….there might be cookies for you if you do….

I could scarcely draw breath and my heart beat harder and harder by the second. "This is your father" still rang in my ears. "Guys?" I addressed everyone, but looked at Cloud.

He seemed to understand and said, all cockiness set aside, "Yeah, sure. Let's all go….out there." He pointed to the front yard. (It really isn't much of a yard, it's all concrete."

They all headed outside with Yuffie bringing up the rear. The door slammed shut behind her as I pushed re-wind and then play.

(Vincent's p.o.v.)

With the glass of the window as a barrier for sound, Cloud Cid and I watched as Harper sat in a chair and set the tape player on a coffee table.

"I guess she wasn't joking when she said she didn't know her parents," Cid said after a few moments.

"Why would she joke about that?" Cloud asked.

"Shuddup – I dunno."

"What do you think, Vince?" Cloud asked me. "Would Harper lie about her parents?"

"I don't think so." I almost went on, but Cloud and Cid began their conversation again. This time though, I couldn't hold myself back; so I interrupted them, "Cloud, the voice on the recording…you recognized it too."

"Yeah…it was someone we knew; I'm not sure who though. You really think she's telling the truth?"

"Yes, she's telling the truth Cloud," I gave him a sidelong glance, "Why else would she look like she does now?" I looked back to the window; Cloud and Cid did also.

Her face was deadly pale, she shook all over. Her eyes were red and watery and she was nervously braiding her long hair over her shoulder. It was the look of a person who was discovering something. But her expression changed suddenly. She went from being pale in expectation, to what I think was shock. The tears that had been welling up now poured forth as she quit fussing with her hair and clapped her hand loosely over her mouth.

She stayed like this for quite a while, until, I suppose the recording ended. Barely grabbing the machine, she flew from the chair and down the hall, her braided hair coming undone behind her.

Cloud was as silent as I, but Cid on the other hand said in an exasperated tone, "Great. Another stressed out woman to deal with."

I was the first of us to stand. "Be quiet Cid. You've no idea what was contained in that message."

"Oh, and you do?" Cid retorted as he and Cloud stood.

I looked at the others faces. Apparently they hadn't seen what had just happened. "None of us do," I said flatly, turning my gaze back to Cid. It sounded foreboding…even for me.

Cloud crossed his arm and lowered his head. "We'll take whatever it is, one step at a time," He raised his head and smiled, "It can't be that bad, huh?"

I shrugged and Tifa walked up. "So," she began, "can we go in now?"

I answered instead of Cloud. "Yes. Only—give Harper some space."

"Sure whatever!" she chimed and brushed past me.

Harper rarely came out of her room, and when she did, she wouldn't talk to anyone, much less answer any questions having to do with Reno's message. To the question "how are you?" which was asked by the three of us who had seen her through the window, she only said "fine" and walked off again. To quote Cid—she's become a lot like a zombie.

Finally, when no one had seen her for a week straight, Cloud came to me.

"Vince, I'm worried about Harper." He said. "I think Cid is too."

"We all are, Cloud."

He bit his lip and sat down. "I need to ask you a favor."

"Yes?"

"You're…you're the most gentle person here, so I thought I'd ask you. Could you go…talk to her?"

I thought it over for a moment, a moment was all I needed, and decided. "Yes, Cloud. I'll try to talk to her. But, you should know that should she ask me not to tell anyone what she tells me, I intend to abide by her wishes," I warned.

He gave a slight smile at that. "I wouldn't expect anything less," he said, "That's why I asked you."

It felt good to be complimented by him for a change. "It's good to know you trust me more now."

"Hm? Why wouldn't I?"

"My being a former Turk—"

"Shut up," he said, pointing to himself, "former member of Soldier."

I nodded to say I agreed. "Cloud," I said, stopping him from leaving.

"What?"

"…How do you know if you love someone?"

He sat down again. "Wow, Vince. I thought I'd be the one askin' you that, since you're older and all…'truth is, aside from family, I don't know how to describe it. I guess…with Aeris…" he choked on his words, but recovered fast. "It was just easy."

"Thank you." I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Well, is there anyone we don't know about?" he coaxed.

"No. Now, I'll go check on Harper," I said and got up and left.

I knocked lightly on Harper's door, got no reply and knocked louder. This time I heard a faint "Come in."

"Harper?" I asked as I opened the door.

"What?" a lump under the bed sheets asked dryly.

"It's Vincent," I explained, "I just wanted to check on you—you've been acting a bit… like me."

"Oh, hey Vincent," she said and pulled the covers from her head. "Sorry I snapped."

"I don't mind." I walked in and sat on the foot of her bed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin', I'm fine," she sat up, revealing a blue t-shirt and faded black jeans. "I'm just not feeling that great these days."

"Hmmm, it might help if you would eat more than you have been."

"I don't think I can keep much down."

"Ah," silently I scrambled for the words to ask what Cloud had asked me to. I drew in a sharp breath and began, "Harper, I'm sorry to ask this—and more so to say that I saw your reaction to the recording through the window—but, what did it say?"

"Oh. Well, it's my fault you saw me: I sat in front of the window. But, well, it was from my father…I'm sure you heard that part. Both of my parents are dead." She stopped and stared at me with a sadness growing in her eyes.

"That's not all, is it?" I prodded very uncomfortably.

"No," her voice broke and in the blink of an eye, tears came and fell, then came again, clouding her eyes.

"Hey," I moved to her side and turned her to face me. "What is it?"

She threw her arms around my neck suddenly and buried her face in my shoulder, saying, "Vincent, I trust you, but you gotta promise me you won't tell anyone…ok?"

I recovered from the shock of her embrace, gave her a light hug, lingered, and said, "I promise. What you tell me stays with me."

She drew in a few breaths, then backed off, wiping tears from her eyes and cheeks. With a trembling voice, she began, "Cloud's an EX-Soldier, you're an EX-Turk…now…you have ME."

"What?"

She bowed her head briefly, and when she lifted her eyes to meet mine, her face was contorted into a cruel smile, mocking eyes, and the embodiment of coldness and evil.

Before I could stop myself, I gasped, my eyes flying wide open. I was at a loss for words.

She gave a low laugh, her face returning to the fear and sadness of before. "I am Sephiroth's daughter."