Days, or perhaps even weeks went by...sleepless nights, and thoughts of Elena constantly filling my mind. I found it difficult to tell just how much time had passed since I had last heard from Elena. In truth, I couldn't help but worry about her...I just hoped that she was safe. However, deep down I still found it difficult to forgive her for what she had done. To walk away without a word...was she unable to face me? Or was it that she did not wish to? Rather than brooding over it, I continued my life as normal. Perhaps I was trying to forget her...or maybe pretend that nothing had ever happened...but it was just too hard. No matter where I went or what I did, my thoughts always strayed back to her. Yes, I still missed her...and yes, even after she had chosen Tseng rather than I, I still loved her.

A faint knocking came on the door of the room, immediately drawing my attention to it. It had been so quiet...had I imagined it? However, just as I was about to cast it aside as my mind playing tricks on me, the knocking came again, but only a fraction louder, and perhaps even somewhat pannicked or frantic. Getting up, I headed over to the door. Part of me was rather hesitant to answer, as there was a chance that the person on the other side could be an enemy, but there was only one way to find out for certain. Taking the key, I slid it into the lock and turned it, unlocking the door and opening it, gazing down at the person standing there.

Before I had a chance to react, she had rushed in, slamming the door behind and sliding down into a sitting position on the ground, her arms hugging her knees to her chest. Catching her breath and tucking a stray strand of white-blond hair behind her ears, she glanced up at me, a pair of honey-coloured eyes gazing at me, full of fear and worry. She had come back.

"I...I really need to talk to you. About several things."

"Oh...?" I heard myself mutter bitterly, my eyes narrowing as I looked away. I wanted to ask about Tseng, but I had a feeling that asking such questions would lead to an argument between myself and Elena. In truth, I had not realised just how much jealousy (and perhaps anger or even hatred) I harboured towards Tseng until Elena had appeared before me again. I just wanted her to be mine, and mine alone. Was that too much to ask...? Yes...yes, I suppose it was. I was being selfish again. Her happiness was what mattered...even if that happiness was with another man. I was glad to see her again, though...truly I was...but how could I express it? Part of me didn't wish to express it at all, yet another part of me wanted to take her in my arms again and never release her...

Seemingly oblivious to the bitter tones in my voice, she simply continued on with what she wanted to say:

"Um...well...I've been back to Midgar. We've run a search on a certain Mr. Bernard Dylan and his faction. It turns out that they're the ones responsible for everything that's been going on lately. We found out some information about him that's pretty interesting, though. Apparently, he was a faithful employee of ShinRa...a SOLDIER, according to his file in the database, but he quit for unknown reasons. Whatever that reason is, though...it's caused him to bear a pretty big grudge against ShinRa. That's why he'd been trying to wipe out all the employees, starting near the top. The Turks. Anyway, since then, he'd been building his own little empire, and now it's almost as powerful as ShinRa, but Dylan's faction has nowhere near as much notoriety as ShinRa does. We then found out the location of this thriving company of his, only to find that it's deep within Mt.Nibel...so he's a damned clever guy. Not only in his battle strategy and physical ability, but he's sought out a place that's secluded and out of the way. Someplace no-one would ever find it. Although it's big, his company's not something someone might stumble upon unless they were looking for it."

Well, congratulations to them. So...the only reason she had returned was to carry out a mission, was it?

"I see." I apologise for the lack of enthusiasm, but hearing the life story of this Bernard Dylan was not exactly what I'd wanted from Elena. As if reading my expression, Elena cleared her throat rather uneasily as she kept her eyes on me.

"There was uh...one more thing I wanted to tell you. I thought you ought to know.." This statement immediately grabbed my attention, and my gaze was once again fixed on her.

"Go on..."

"Well...um...I got a medical scan thing when I was at headquarters...um...I've had a few of those scans since I've been back in Midgar. I needed to come and tell you the result because it's...kinda important."

"Important...?" I had a bad feeling about this. The serious expression that dominated her face worried me somewhat. The news had to be bad if she was as serious as this. "What's going on...?" My mind was begging her not to say that she was going to die...I wanted her to be safe. More than anything, I wished for her to be safe...

"I...well..." She turned away, her eyes closing as she nervously bit down on her bottom lip. I could no longer stand it. I needed to know what was happening. I was too worried to think clearly...so worried that I failed to realise that I was shouting at her until I had finished.

"Tell me!" I found that I had grasped her shoulders tightly...tightly enough to make her wince and tremble in what could have been fear.

"I...I'm pregnant!" she replied in a fearful tone, her voice just as loud as mine had been. Her eyes closed, she kept her head turned away even after I had released her. Even after I had backed away towards the opposite wall in shock. I watched her from the shadows, my eyes wide, my breathing fast. She was trembling still, tears racing faster and faster down her cheeks.

"...Who...?" I began, trying to ask who the father was, but I found myself unable to. "It's Tseng's, isn't it...?" Suddenly, all of the sadness and jealousy I had been feeling earlier all welled up inside of me to create anger...and plenty of it. I truly regretted the fact that this anger was unleashed on Elena... "It's Tseng's, isn't it? That's why you came here to tell me...isn't it?! So...I suppose what you said about loving me...that was a lie!" Inside, I felt cruel...but yet the anger overpowered any guilt that came from shouting at her. Although I had admitted that I had given Elena to Tseng...the very thought of him touching her like I had made me feel nauseous...I was brought back to reality by a hand colliding with my cheek, the very force behind the slap causing my cheek to burn with pain as my head was turned, my eyes widening in shock. She had hit me...? I suppose I had deserved it after everything I had said. My gaze returned to her as I slowly turned my head to face her once again.

"Don't shout at me, you cold-hearted bastard! What the hell is wrong with you?!" she yelled, her fists clenched and those honey coloured eyes narrowed, filled with tears and burning into me. "Sure, you've got a right to be angry about me walking out, but don't you dare assume that I've done anything with Tseng! Who the hell do you think I am, Vincent?! Some kind of whore who jumps into bed with any guy she meets?! If you think that, then...then...then you're the liar, Valentine! You're the one who's been lying about being in love!"

My right hand covering my sore cheek, my eyes shut tightly. Once again, I felt my entire body trembling, but I managed to hold in my tears this time. I truly was a fool...here she was, standing before me just as I had wanted, and yet I had upset her through anger and jealousy...Elena wasn't who I was angry with...I was angry with myself. "I...I don't...think that at all...Elena, I'm...I'm sorry. This wasn't how I wanted this to be..."

"Vince...?" she asked unsurely, glancing at me in questioning and approaching me somewhat uneasily. After a little hesitation, she had taken hold of both of my arms, wrapping them around herself and embracing me...I just tightened my grip on her, planting soft kisses amongst her hair and whispering constant apologies.

"I do love you...I do...when I woke up to find you gone, and then looked outside and saw you walk away with him...it hurt me so much...it hurt because I love you...and I thought you loved me..." Listening to myself, I sounded so foolish, but I just wanted her to understand. "I couldn't sleep...I...I didn't know what to do-..."

"Shhh..." she murmured softly, gently running her fingers through my hair and just holding me tighter. We remained silently in that firm embrace for some time, until Elena spoke once more: "Vince, I'm going to try and comfort you a bit by telling you the truth. The father of this baby...um...well...it's...it's you. You're the father."

Upon hearing that, my heart was racing...I was going to be a father...? Holding her closer and tighter, I felt that familiar feeling of comfort and peace. I never wanted to let her go... never. Not for anything, or anyone. I was lost for words, and so remained silent, but yet I could no longer repel the guilt that came as a result of my earlier actions...I felt so cruel now for saying what I did. She had been right to call me a cold-hearted bastard...because that was what I was. Gently lifting her up into my arms, (much to her surprise) I placed her carefully down on the bed, sitting down next to her. Gently moving her so that she was lying across my lap, I just cradled her in my arms, securely, firmly and tightly, never wanting to loosen my hold for fear that she would disappear again...I didn't want her to run away from me. Being apart from her was far too painful... I needed to be near her, now...and I would do all in my power to support her throughout her pregnancy, as long as she stayed close to me. She rested peacefully in my arms, staring fondly up at me. It felt odd to think that one day, I would be holding our child in this way... Thinking that thought caused me to hold Elena closer, and murmur: "Please...stay with me, alright? Let me protect you, care for you, and keep you safe...you don't have to love me, just...stay close."