A/N: This chapter has been revised taking in the constructive comments given to me in some of my reviews. Please enjoy the revision.

Disclaimer I do not own Vincent or any of the Final Fantasy Characters in this story. Valayris Valk is my own creation thought.

Coming to Valayris finds herself on her back in the middle of a thick forest. The trees fill up the sky blocking any sign of the true time. Sitting up she rubs her eyes.

"How long have I been out?" Valayris asks herself.

The forest's vibrant green and lush surrounds are a harsh change on her Valayris's eyes from the dull gray cave.

"Where am I?" Valayris asks squinting, "What happened?"

Vincent could fill her in she thinks. Where is Vincent? Looking around she fails to find any sign of him.

"Vincent," Valayris says.

No answer.

"Vincent," Valayris calls.

No answer. She was starting to worry. What if Deep Ground killed him while she was unconscious? She would be alone. Valayris did not want to be alone, not again.

"VINCENT!" Valayris cries.

"Shh..." Vincent hushes.

Looking up she sees Vincent sitting on a branch high above her. He hunches forward gripping his shoulder.

"You're hurt," Valayris states.

"I'm fine. It's just a flesh wound," Vincent assures her.

"Vincent, get down here," Valayris says.

Vincent looks at her with a look Valayris couldn't quite describe. Looking at Vincent Valayris senses an independent spirit living in him, one that takes orders from no one.

"Please," Valayris adds trying sound polite.

Hesitating for a moment before jumping down he lands gracefully in front of Valayris. Blood trickles out of the wound exposed by his singed cape, staining his red cape a deeper red. Valayris heart sinks, guilt creeps over her. It was her fault he's hurt.

"Oh, Vincent, I'm sorry" Valayris says her tone morphing into a soft motherly tone, "This is all my fault."

"No it's not, it comes with the territory of protector," Vincent says.

Looking at his gloved hand Valayris notices the hand, which had been holding his shoulder, is soaked in blood.

"How long ago since you were shot?" she asks.

"About an hour or so," Vincent answers.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"You were heavily sedated. I couldn't have woken you even if I had wanted to," Vincent explains to her.

"I'll take care of that wound now," Valayris tells him in hopes to right her wrong against him.

Vincent looks at her with intrigue. "Time to see the white mage at work," Vincent thinks.

"First to remove the bullet," Valayris explains to him.

Holding her hands out she cups them slightly as if awaiting something. Closing her eyes she begins to glow in a soft silver light. Vincent shivers at the warm sensation inside his shoulder. Vincent feels the bullet break into tiny pieces then travel through his body. Looking at Valayris's hand he watches while the bullet reassembles.

"That is amazing," Vincent states as Valayris drops the bullet into his hand.

Admiring the bullet Vincent is impressed with Valayris's healing skill. Vincent had used restore materia before but he never truly got the hang of it and this woman heals people without any materia at all It was an amazing sight.

"Now lets heal that wound," Valayris tells him.

Placing her hand on the wound she brings her lips, shimmering in silver light, to her hand and kisses it. Upon contact a silver light sieges through Vincent's shoulder. Vincent winces for a brief moment with the unusual feeling. Leaning back Valayris removes her hand. Looking at his shoulder, the pain had gone and even his clothes and cape were fixed.

"Amazing," Vincent sighs rotating his shoulder.

"Glad I could help," Valayris smiles.

Vincent's positive responses to her healing powers makes Valayris wonder if she kept impressing him with magic maybe he would open up to her.

Valayris smiles, "Vincent...Thank you."

"For what?" Vincent asks looking at her questioningly.

"I owe you my life. Without you I'd be on my way back with those scumbags to be poked and prodded at and then probably killed."

"Cloud asked me to protect you. I have accepted that duty. Like I said before I will protect you at all costs," Vincent tells her his voice turning cold.

"Oh," Valayris sighs her heart sinks hearing his frozen voice.

Vincent is a wandering soul crying out to Valayris to be saved from its walk of solitude. Valayris could feel his torment, living breathing inside her like a lonely animal. She knew loneliness all to well. If he just opened up to her she might be able to free him of his solitude and lighten his heart, just like Cloud and the gang had done for her.

"Where are we headed to next?" Valayris asks breaking the silence that had fallen over the two.

"I want to take you some place safe. I want to see if I can figure out what Deep Ground would want with you alive," Vincent explains.

"Why do you want to know that?"

"I want to aide my friends and...,"

"And?" Valayris continues.

"Get Midgar safe from the disease," Vincent replies emotionlessly.

Vincent starts to wonder what she was getting at with these questions.

"Oh," Valayris sighs.

Vincent was becoming good at smashing her dreams of romance that started living in her since she began feeling Vincent was her Red Knight.

"Guess time will tell if he truly is my Red Knight," Valayris tells herself.

"So where is safe?" Valayris asks looking at Vincent.

"Junon Harbor,"

"Oh, Ok,"

"We will stay here till morning,"

Nodding Valayris lies down on the forest floor. The wind blows carrying on it a biting chill. Curling up Valayris tries to fight off the shivers.

"I could be in my warm bed right now," Valayris thinks to herself, "Damn Deep Ground."

Hearing her ragged breathing Vincent walks over to her. Unbuckling his cape from around his shoulders he lays it over her.

"Thank you, Vincent," Valayris sighs wrapping the cape around her.

"You're welcome Valayris," Vincent sighs.

The relaxing smell washes over Valayris sending her peacefully into a sleep state.

In a few short moments Vincent hears Valayris's breathing change. Watching her slumber Vincent admits to himself that Valayris was beautiful, especially in the fire's caressing glow. Looking upon her his vision begins to blur and for a brief second Valayris morphs into Lucrecia.

"Lucrecia?" Vincent asks quietly leaning closer to the sleeping figure.

Blinking once Vincent looks, the figure was Valayris this time, not Lucrecia.

"Lucrecia why can't I let you go?" Vincent asks