The two reach the harbor just to be welcomed by two familiar faces.

"Hello you two. Its a pleasure to see you again," a voice says.

The two look to see Reno and Rude standing in front of them.

"Reno," Valayris states in shock, "Rude."

"How do you do my dear?" Reno asks kissing her hand.

"Fine," Valayris replies feeling Vincent's fingers curl over her shoulders.

"What brings you guys to Junon Harbor?" Rude asks.

"We are..." Valayris starts to say before she is interrupted.

"We could ask the same of you," Vincent interrupts.

"Turk business, you know how that is Valentine," Reno replies pointing in Turk cane at Vincent.

"I do," Vincent says pushing the cane away from him, "That doesn't answer my question. What do Turks want with their closed naval base?"

"Deep Ground has taken quite an interest in tracking down our beautiful white mage," Reno says kissing her hand again.

Valayris feels Vincent's grip tighten on her shoulders.

"Where have you been? That is been the whole reason she's under my protection," Vincent snaps.

Valayris sighs she had a bad feeling about this conversation.

"True but the last time I saw her under your protection she had been shot," Reno rudely replies.

"You aggravated her wounds,"

"I wouldn't have aggravated her wounds if she didn't have any to begin with,"

The voices began to become harsher.

"You..."

"Stop it," Valayris interrupts breaking free from Vincent's grip.

"Stop what?" the two ask.

"Honestly, you two are impossible," Valayris replies.

She walks off toward the beach.

"See what you did Reno," Vincent says pointing to Valayris.

"What I did? Look at what you did?"

Valayris reaches the beach.

"Pissing matches, damn pissing matches," Valayris sighs, "Like they can hide the fact they're fighting for my attention. I'm a white mage emotions are my specialty. Well at least everyone's except Vincent's."

Valayris plops down onto the sand and stares out into the beautiful water.

"I'll I want is Vincent to look at me the same way he looks at that damn crystal!" Valayris cries.

Realizing that was a bit loud looks around to see if anyone heard her. Lucky for her no one did. The ocean's breeze wraps itself around her as if trying to comfort her yet the wind carries a chill upon it. Valayris wraps her arms around herself and shivers.

"Why me?" Valayris asks, "Why does it have to be cold when I have no one to keep me warm?"

"Maybe Reno is the one suppose to keep her warm?"

As soon as she says that the scar from her bullet wound flares up. Touching it with her fingers the pain flashes sending an image of Vincent to her eyes.

"Ok," Valayris says, "Don't lie to yourself. Your heart doesn't want Reno."

Valayris sighs flopping down on the sand. There she lies staring up at the cloudy blue sky. Her mind begins to wander thinking about Vincent, Reno, Midgar, all the innocent people, Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Cid, Yuffie, Red, Reeve, the disease...Marlene.

"Are you ok lady?" a little girl's voice says interrupting her chain of thought.

"Marlene?" Valayris asks.

"No silly lady. My name is June," the voice says.

Valayris sits up and she sees the true form of the girl. Her blonde pigtails bounce as she skips around Valayris. She was a beautiful little girl plagued by only one thing. The disease ravaging Midgar laid its scars upon her arm.

"Ms. June, are you sick?" Valayris asks gesturing to her arm.

June stops skipping and looking at Valayris then at her arm.

"Yes, I got this in Midgar, we use to live there you know,"

"Really, I'm from Midgar too,"
"Really, did you get sick too?"

"No, I was lucky,"

"You are lucky then, it took my mommy away from me,"

Valayris eyes tear up a, she could feel the pain of lose in June.

"Really I lost my mommy to when I was young too,"

"Really? We have a lot in common lady,"

"That we do June,"

"June!" a male voice calls, "Do not harass the lady."

The man walks over to the two.

"I'm sorry is my daughter bothering you?"

"Oh no, June and I were just noticing all the things we had in common. Weren't we June?" Valayris explains.

June nods before she continues to skip

"Oh," the man says.

June skips away leaving Valayris and her father alone.

"Is anyone else sick with the disease?" Valayris asks.

"Lots, we all seemed to have the good idea to flee Midgar to escape and maybe cure the disease but that no good has come of it," the man explains.

"How far along is the disease in June?" Valayris asks looking at the little girl.

"Why do you care?"

"Cause I can save her Sir. I doubt you want to lose your daughter after losing your wife,"

"Don't play with me. No one, and I mean no one can cure it. The only person who can is a lie, a rumor," the man says looking away, "The white mage..."

"Valayris Valk," Valayris says.

The man turns back to see her shimmering in silver light. The light dims as Valayris extends her hand.

"Valayris Valk, its nice to meet you," the man says.

"You are real?"

"Yes, I am the only hope for your daughter,"

The man begins to kneel but Valayris stops him

"No, no, I am nothing holy I'm just a humble healer," Valayris says picking up the man, "So how far along is she?"

"She has the scarring, the dizzy spells, the weakness but its only 50 of the days she has the dizziness and weakness,"

"I can cure her," Valayris states, "I will cure this town."

June's father turn toward his daughter who had continued to merrily skip on the beach while the adults were talking.

"June, honey, come here please," her father says.

June skips over to them. Kneeling down Valayris looks June in the eye.

"I'm going to make you all better June," Valayris tells her.

"Really?"

"Really," Valayris says, "Are you ready?"

June nods as Valayris takes June's hands in hers. June's father watches as translucent silver wings unfold out of Valayris's shoulder blades wrapping around Valayris and June. Hiding them behind a thin silver curtain of feathers. The wings begin slowly fade allowing June's father to see his daughter dusted in silver light. The sight was so beautiful it brings tears to his eyes.

While this was happening Vincent, Reno and Rude walk to a hill over looking the beach.

"She has wings?" Rude asks looking at Vincent.

"I guess so," Vincent answers.

"So she is an angel," Reno breathes.

The silver light dies away as everyone holds their breath. June looks down at her arm to see the scarring had disappeared.

"Am I all better lady?" June asks.

"All better," Valayris smiles at June.

"Thank you lady," June says hugging Valayris.

Valayris returns the embrace.

"I'm glad I could help June," Valayris says releasing the embrace.

June then looks over Valayris's shoulders.

"Where did your wings go lady?" June asks.

"They went back into where I keep them, but before they did they gave you little wings of your own to protect you from the disease just like mine protect me. Just remember little June these wings are to protect your from the disease. So no flying," Valayris tells her gently tapping her on the nose.

June smiles at Valayris then says, "Ok."

"Daddy," June calls trying to look over her shoulders for her wings, "I have wings."

"I can see them," June's father says wiping away tears.

June skips over to her dad and gives him a huge hug.

"I love you Daddy,"

"I love you to my little angel,"

Valayris looks upon the scene. The love of a father and his daughter fills her. This love also made her feel lonely. She did not have a love this strong and her friends she loved where far away fighting for Midgar and the man she 'loved' was unsure of how he feels. Valayris feels a hand placed on her shoulder. In that hand an intense sense of warmth and caring spreads throughout her body. Placing her hand on top of the hand. The hand was not a hand of flesh and blood but a cold metal gauntlet.

"Vincent?" Valayris asks herself mentally.

Valayris turns to see Vincent standing there. Looking down she sees Vincent take her hand in his.

"Vincent what are you doing here?"

Vincent grip on her hand tightens.

"You are an angel,"

"No, just a healer,"

Vincent takes Valayris's other hand.

"That was amazing to watch you cure that little girl," Vincent say drawing Valayris closers to him. Confused by the entire situation mentally shrugs it off and continues to go along for the ride. Valayris looks into Vincent's eyes. Her heart begins to skip beats The look in his eyes had changed. It was a softer look one closer to the one she had seen when he gazed upon Lucrecia in the crystal.

"You are so beautiful," Vincent says.

"You're just saying that because of that spell. That is a common side effect. Everyone around the spell either falls in love with someone or begins to find me angelic and spew all this romantic stuff. Don't worry it will wear off in a minute," Valayris blushes.

"No, its not the spell," Vincent says dropping her right hand.

Vincent reaches out to caress her face. Valayris's heart began to beat faster along with it skipping beats.

"Valayris," a voice says behind them.

Vincent's hand recoils and Valayris internally drops her head.

"Damnit! Again," Valayris thinks.

Valayris turns to see June's father.

"Valayris," June's father says his eyes glistening with tears, "Thank you. I owe you everything. I feared losing my daughter everyday since her mother was taken from us."

"It was my pleasure. I just wish I could have been around to save your wife. I know how it feels to not have a mother growing up."

"So it is true. Your mother sacrificed herself in child birth to give us our salvation,"

Valayris tenses every muscle in her body. She wanted to punch him and scream. Like he had any clue what had happened to her mother. Murdered by her daughter without even knowing it. She then feels a leather glove wrap around her wrist. The sensation calms her down and she then drops her head.

"I'm sorry Sir," Vincent says, "Its a very difficult subject for her to discuss."

"I am very sorry, my most humblest apologizes. I never wanted to upset you," June's father states.

"Its ok," Valayris sighs feeling Vincent's hand leave her wrist.

"I hope my stupidity hasn't made you change your mind about cleansing the town,"

"Oh heaven's no," Valayris coos.

Valayris takes June's father's shoulders' in her hands. June's father drops in head in response.

"I could never do that to the people whose spirits live inside me," Valayris tells him lowering her head in an attempt to look him in the eye. June's father lifts his eye to meet Valayris's.

"Thank you,"

"Now please gathering everyone. I will cleanse the town,"

June's father nods then turns to June who was skipping the entire time.

"Come on June lets go gather the towns people,"

"Ok Daddy,"

June rushes over to her father and takes his hand. Walking off June turns around and waves good-bye to Valayris. Valayris in return smiles and waves back. The two disappear into the distance. Sighing Valayris turns to the ocean.

"Did the side effects wear off yet Vincent?" Valayris asks her tone was melancholy.

"What are you talking about?"

"'Your so beautiful Valayris.' It's a side effect the wings have on bystanders. Everyone loves you and thinks you're this 'angel' then moments after the wings are gone it's back to being the plan old white mage and no one gives you a second look. Well a look like the one they had given you before," Valayris explains.

"Valayris, look at me,"

"I'm scared to Vincent," Valayris tells him, "I'm scared to see the looks from the past."

"Valayris!" Reno calls from the hill, "They're ready for you."

"I have to go," Valayris says heading toward the hill.

She stops standing next to Vincent.

"Don't worry Vincent. I'll be ok when I get back,"

Valayris continues to head off toward Reno leaving Vincent standing alone on the beach.

"She's confusing," Vincent states walking closer to the water.

"Maybe I shouldn't open my heart to her," Vincent says, "Maybe we're just meant to be friends. Just friends."

Suddenly a stabbing pain overcomes him in his shoulder. Gripping his shoulder he remembers that's where he had been shot. The scene plays over again in his mind, coming to the part where she had healed him his body fills with a loving warmth. As the feeling dies away he looks around to see if Valayris was casting some sort of spell on him, yet the beach was empty. That warmth feeling, it was the same thing he had felt when Lucrecia had smiled at him. This feeling was something he had long forgotten about. He wondered if it was the same feeling Cloud felt when he had accepted Arieth's death.

"Valayris," Vincent says touching his wound.

Loud vociferous cheers echo over the beach. Vincent looks over to see a crowd rushing off somewhere. As the crowd thins Vincent sees a familiar female silhouette stand atop the hill.

"Valayris!" Vincent calls.

The silhouette waves as it comes closer.

"Vincent," Valayris says standing in front of him, "I'm sorry about earlier."

"I understand there is a lot about white mages and especially you that I do not understand but I hope to one day,"

Valayris's eyes light up as they begin to shimmer with tears.

"Valayris are you crying?"

"No, its just that is the sweetest thing anyone has every said to me. No one wants to get involved with white mages and usually the ones who do want you for the fame or what every they can use you for. So I tend to assume if anyone cares about me its just because of the spell or what they can use me for."

"It can't be the only sweet thing. What about smooth talking Reno?"

Valayris gives Vincent an "oh please" look.

"Never mind,"

Valayris takes Vincent's hand.

"Come on," Valayris says.

The warmth spreads through Vincent's body once more.

"Where are we going?"

"The town is having a celebration in honor of the town being cleansed,"

"How are you feeling after all that work?"

"Pretty good a little worn but no stumbling and such,"

"Well that's good to hear,"

"So lets go. The people are waiting for us,"

Vincent and Valayris join the party. The music was loud a the food was delicious.

While Valayris enjoys the celebration Reno walks up behind her. Tapping her on the shoulder. She turns to look to face Reno.

"Reno, are you enjoying the festivities?"

"Yea, hey you know if you need anything I'm your man."

"You're sweet, Reno,"

Reno smiles weakly, "I also came to wish you and Vincent the best."

"Huh?"

"I have withdrawn in the battle for your feelings but I wish to remain your friend."

"Of course, Reno," Valayris smiles then kissing him on the cheek.

"I don't normally give up so easy but I figure if I withdraw now I have a chance later. You know if things don't go well."

"Clever,"

"I'm a Turk, what can I say?"

Valayris smiles as Reno waves disappearing into the crowd.

The evening continues on when a motorcycle pulls up.

"Valayris!" the man driving the motorcycle calls.

Valayris makes her way through the crowd.

"Yes,"

"Message for you,"

"Thanks,"

Valayris takes the message from him. Vincent emerges from the crowd.

"I don't like this Valayris," Vincent says, "How would Cloud know where we are?"

"I followed the directions given to me by a man from Nielblhem to the small mine town to here," the delivery boy says.

"That's how I found you Vincent,"

The delivery boy nods then drives off.

"Don't worry," Valayris opening the message

"Valayris,

The mission is a complete success. Meet the group and I on the outskirt of Midgar. Please hurry the people need you. Have Vincent keep watch on the border and come to us alone. You should have no Deep Ground incursions.

-Cloud"

"That's Cloud's handwriting," Valayris says pointing at the note.

"Yes," Vincent agrees, "But I don't like the feel of this."

"He needs you to keep look out while I perform the cleansing it makes perfect sense. You're just being paranoid."

"Maybe,"

"Have a little faith in Cloud, he knows what he's doing."

Vincent answers her with silence.

"We should leave tonight. It's a long way back to Midgar."

"But Valayris," a man says.

"We will celebrate together after I cleanse the Midgar and destroy the disease. Please celebrate in my absent, enjoy it you are all free," Valayris tells them.

"Yes," the man says, "Of course."

Reno stand behind Vincent, "Take care of her. Good care of her, Valentine. This smells fishy."

"I will,"

"Good,"

"Vincent lets go,"

The town says good-bye as the two head off.