Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and PlayStation are owned by Square Enix and Sony, respectively, meaning they do not belong to me. I am in no way, shape, and/or form claiming to be the owner/creator of these concepts, though I do claim any characters not apart of the original Final Fantasy VII or Advent Children storylines (such as Rayne, Marcus, and Kale) mine. As such, I would appreciate fellow authors and readers to give credit where credit is due and not steal any of my characters and/or concepts. Thank you, and have a pleasant day.

(Scarlet)

"We're to just sit here, then?" Astrid asked, flopping down onto the sofa and watching the two Turks.

Tseng had rented them a hotel room directly across from the house Scarlet was supposedly living in, the window of their room parallel to hers. Currently, both Tseng and Elena were poised in front of the window, watching the former Shin-Ra executive's window intently.

When neither of the Turks responded, Astrid sighed and lay her head back, closing her eyes and dozing off slightly.

"Astrid."

She jumped and opened her eyes, looking blearily at Elena, who was standing in front of her and bent slightly.

"I'm going out to get something to eat." Elena said, tilting her head slightly, "You want anything?"

"I'll get it." Astrid said abruptly, jumping to her feet, "There's a good burger place near here that's relatively cheap." At this point, though, she was looking for any reason to get out of the boring job of sit-and-watch.

"Alright, thanks." Elena said, smiling.

Astrid nodded back, "Anything in particular you want? Or can I order whatever?"

Elena waved her off, walking back to the window, "I'll just get whatever you get."

"I'll have the same, Miss Cray." Tseng said, still looking out the window intently.

Astrid nodded, snapping her fingers, "You got it." On her way out, she shot Elena a suggestive grin and looked towards Tseng, making the female Turk blush slightly and turn away.

The streets were full of people hustling and bustling from one place to another, all of the citizens apparently over what had happened just a day before.

'Oh, how fools rush to accept normalcy.'

Children who had once hidden were now running about happily, playing games in the streets and openly enjoying themselves.

Astrid smiled as a girl bumped into her accidentally, then giggled and ran off shouting an apology over her shoulder. 'Eventually, Healin will shelter a lot of these kids. They'll all have a home and we'll get them off of the streets.'

She kept an eye out for Kale, hoping to see his mop of hair bouncing through the crowd.

In no time, she was walking into the restaurant and her search ended temporarily, attention directed to ordering food. She was lounging in a booth, waiting for her order, when she saw a sight that shocked her beyond all belief.

'It can't be…'

The red dress was too dark and earthy.

'Those heels… too small…'

There was no revealing slit up to the hip.

'She's actually wearing a jacket.'

The face was too… muted. Calm.

'And she's wearing her hair down!'

It couldn't be… but it was. The person she was looking at, standing in line and ordering food, was clearly Scarlet.

'Holy materia…'

As if hearing her thoughts, Scarlet turned to Astrid and locked eyes with her, both of them blinking.

Astrid could feel herself going green. 'Shit.'

Scarlet stared at her a moment longer, then turned back and took her cup, filling it at the soft drink dispenser before heading over to Astrid's booth.

Astrid's eyes grew progressively wider as the woman approached. 'Don't sit, don't sit, don't sit, don't sit, don't sit, don't si—' Scarlet sat across from her. 'Double shit.'

"Hello, Astrid." Scarlet said calmly, taking a sip of her drink, "How have you been?"

"Well enough." Astrid squeaked, clearing her throat before she went on, "How about you? You're looking… well." Well, actually the former head of Weapons Development looked strikingly well, having gained a few healthy pounds and a little color to her skin.

"I am doing quite well, actually." Scarlet smiled, something that would have looked scary if she had looked like what she once had but actually looked charming on the new Scarlet. "It's good to see you again… Brings back fond memories."

"Yeah…" Astrid laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head, "Sorry about that whole… grabbing you in a chokehold and dragging you into the ocean thing."

Scarlet's smile widened slightly, "Think nothing of it. I understand completely why you did it and I don't blame you."

They sat in silence for a few moments, Astrid sweating bullets.

'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit… SHITE! This is not good! We weren't supposed to make contact with her until we had properly assessed her situation! DAMN! I am so screwed!'

"Are you alright, Astrid?" Scarlet asked, frowning, "You're looking pale… and green."

"Fine!" Astrid answered immediately, her eye twitching, "Just hungry!"

"Call for order number forty-eight."

"That's you, I think." Scarlet said, looking at the tab in front of Astrid, "I was just after you, and I'm forty-nine…"

"Call for order number forty-nine."

"Guess that's both of us, then!" Scarlet said brightly, smiling and standing, "Come on." She held out her hand.

Astrid nervously took the outstretched hand and let the woman drag her to the counter, both of them grabbing their bags and walking out of the restaurant together.

"I know this is sudden, but would you like to pop by my apartment for a moment?" Scarlet asked with a disarming smile, "I'd like to catch up."

Astrid blanched. 'Should I? Shouldn't I? Will I royally screw things over?' "Sure!" 'Damn it… did I just say that?!'

Scarlet's smile widened, "Wonderful! Follow me, then!"

'I am so fucked.' Astrid thought as she followed the older woman through the crowd. 'Rufus is going to find out about this and he's going to slit my throat. I am going to die.'

When the hotel she was rooming at with Tseng and Elena came into view, Astrid's panic increased.

'Can't focus on it too much… I'll give them away… Must… Not… LOOK!'

She could almost feel the Turk's eyes boring into the back of her skull as she followed Scarlet through the entrance door, and even still as they ascended the stairs.

'Can the Turks see through walls?!'

The thought was ludicrous, but at that moment Murphy's Law seemed to be in full swing and enjoying its time.

'CURSE YOU, MURPHY!!'

"Here we are!"

Astrid looked up, blinking as Scarlet unlocked the green door in front of them and swinging it open, gesturing for Astrid to walk in with a smile.

Nodding and smiling, Astrid walked past the woman and into the apartment, looking around herself.

"Sit wherever!" Scarlet called as she slipped past her and walked into the next room. "I'll be with you in a moment!"

"Nice place."

The walls were whitewashed and there were a few pieces of light red furniture splayed about in a fashionable manner. There was a window right across from her with simple red drapes, a feature Astrid quickly overlook when she caught a glimpse of blonde hair flashing out of sight from the window across the way.

'Get ready for a show, you two.' Astrid sat down on the nearest piece of furniture, a well-worn plump armchair.

Scarlet flounced into the room a moment later, carrying two glasses of wine. "Do you drink? It's really quite good."

"Thank you." Astrid took the offered glass with a smile, sipping at it tentatively as the woman reclined on an overstuffed sofa. "You've been doing well for yourself…"

"Ah, well enough." Scarlet shrugged her shoulders, "As well as one would expect after the fall of Shin-Ra and the loss of my job." She took a casual drink, throwing Astrid an airy glance, "How is Rufus, by the way?"

Astrid blinked, taking another hurried sip of wine before answering, "Haven't seen much of him since the incident, actually. Been here and there and never rea—"

"Astrid," Scarlet sighed, letting her head fall back against the arm of the sofa, "I'll ask you what you once asked of the late President Shinra; don't play me for a fool. I've been up and down this town a thousand times over since the incident, and I know that you aren't native enough to Edge to just be casually be eating at a restaurant, and I know you wouldn't be able to stomach those three hamburgers on your own." She nodded to the greasy back on Astrid's lap.

Astrid was silent.

Scarlet shook her head and sat up, "I know you're here for him, and I know you're here to watch me, and I'll ask that you don't drag me back into this business." The woman looked at the younger woman wearily, "Is it too much to ask for a rest?"

"For one who was what you once where, yes." Astrid said, taking a mouthful of wine and staring at Scarlet seriously.

"I know what I've done in the past," Scarlet said, closing her eyes, "But I'd like to move on. I'm not the person I once was and I never will be again." She paused, then looked at Astrid pleadingly, "I've met someone… He's got three kids, and I'm really starting to love them. Please, Astrid… don't ask me to go back."

Astrid stared at Scarlet for a moment, searching the woman's eyes. In them, she saw nothing but truth and desperation.

"Fine." Astrid said after a moment, "We're done with you. I promise."

Scarlet smiled happily, standing as Astrid stood and crossing the room to pull the younger woman into a hug.

"Thank you, Astrid… Thank you so much."

Astrid hugged her back, "Good luck."

………

Outside of the apartment building, Astrid wearily crossed the street, blinking when a small form ran out of the shadows and latched onto her waist.

When Kale looked up at her and began chatting animatedly with her, Astrid just started smiling and nodding, dragging the boy into her hotel and up the steps. Inside of the room, she dropped the bag of hamburgers onto the table and dug one out, giving it to the boy and watching him as he tore the paper open and began eating ravenously.

Tseng and Elena joined them at the dinner table, the three adults sitting in silence for a moment before Tseng asked, "What happened?"

Astrid looked up at the two Turks slowly, blinking, "We're going to leave her alone. She's not the person she used to be, and she's starting to adapt to a normal life. She's no longer Shin-Ra's."

Tseng nodded, then reached into the takeout bag and pulled out his hamburger, Elena following suit.

Astrid turned back to Kale and continued to watch him silently, speaking up after a moment. "Hey, Tseng, you got an extra shirt I can borrow? He needs a bath."

"Of course."

She nodded, smiling to the boy when he looked up at her, "You're going to stay with me, now. Is that alright?"

Kale thought about it, then nodded and smiled widely, "Okay!"

………

Tseng walked into the living room and watched Astrid silently as she lay the boy down on the sofa and tucked him in.

"Rufus isn't going to be happy about this."

"Rufus can bite me."

He looked at her, blinking, "You do know that children are a big responsibility, right?"

Astrid smirked, shaking her head as she dropped into the chair across from the sofa. "Tseng? Giving me advice in raising children? How… out of character. You never struck me as the 'child guru' kind."

"I'm serious, Astrid." Tseng said, frowning, "Children require constant care. He may be a bit lower maintenance because he's older—"

"He's seven, actually."

"Age regardless, he is still a child." The Turk narrowed his eyes at her, "He will require time, energy, attention… are you prepared to give up more than half of your life for this?"

Astrid sighed and closed her eyes, smirking wearily, "Tseng, my biological clock has been ticking for two years. I have been dying for something to care for, don't worry about that. On top of that, I was there to watch my mother raise my brother… I have a pretty good idea about what to do."

Tseng blinked, then nodded, "If you say so." He then turned and walked back to his room.

………

The next day, Astrid woke early and ordered breakfast, pulling out her Shin-Ra PHS when everyone was at the table and dialing Rufus's number.

RingRi—

"How's it going?"

"Scarlet is a no-go." Astrid said, leaning back and munching on a piece of bacon, "She's too settled in and doesn't want to come back. We're done pursuing her."

"Based on whose decision?"

"Mine." Astrid said harshly, glaring at the bacon and tearing another hunk out of it. "We're going to leave her alone, Rufus."

"Fine, fine. We'll leave her alone." He paused, "Was that it?"

"No. How are things going over there?"

Rufus sighed heavily. "Things are a real mess in Junon. You were right; mob rule is rampant. We're going to need serious help organizing this again…"

"Call Reeve." Astrid suggested, taking a drink of milk, "I'm sure he'd be happy to help. Or even Cloud and the others. And, if all else fails, I know the names of a few good mercenaries who owe me some favors…"

"We may have to look into that… Anyway, Palmer has apparently been waiting for me to come back so he can formally resign. The old Shin-Ra is officially gone."

"Then we'll just have to make a new one."

They were silent for a moment, then Rufus asked again, "Was that it?"

"No." Astrid looked at Kale, biting her lip as he dug into his pancakes, "Rufus… I have a son."

"…What?"