Yay, the next chapter's finally up! The Reeve thing may seem a bit random, but I just wanted an excuse to use him somewhere.
I felt bad about leaving Vincent for so long without contacting him, but I just never had time. That, and I guess I was a little scared. A Turk's life leaves no time for slacking, (despite what Reno used to think) especially when that Turk is pregnant. When I wasn't working, I was getting some sort of medical check-up to make sure the kid was healthy. Sure, it seems like a bit much, but...well..I guess you can never be too careful. While I was getting those check-ups, I guess I got to thinking: what was going to happen once this baby was born? Would I still be able to be a Turk? Would I still want to? It would be a little scary if I had to leave the Turks...it was all I knew, really.
The information about a suspicious Mr. Bernard Dylan flickered on the screen in front of me as I sat in my chair in the dark office. It was getting pretty late...the only light left in the room was that which came from the monitor, and the room was completely silent save for the consistent buzzing of the computer. To be honest, I hadn't been paying attention to any of this information, and I'd just been reading the first sentence over and over again... I guess my heart wasn't really in it right now. It was out there in the world, still with that wonderful man that I'd left alone. Why had I left him, again? To come back here. I was so stupid...I used to adore my work here, because I really tried. I was pretty damn good at it, too! Okay, so that's a lie...but...but I really did try. But now...now I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to try anymore.
"What in the name of hell am I doing here...?" I groaned softly, placing arms up on the desk and leaning forwards, slouching in my seat. As soon as I had done so, I felt a gently weight against my back. Snarling, I glanced over my shoulder with a look in my eyes that obviously showed that I really didn't want to be disturbed.
"Now, there's a question that I never thought I would hear youask, my dear." A familiar voice stated with a little amusement. I was a little surprised to hear someone had walked into the room without me realising, but I was probably just daydreaming too much to realise that the door had opened."You haven't seemed yourself at all lately."
"Guess not..." I muttered in response, shaking my head and giving a soft smile. As soon as I'd recognised Reeve in the dim light, I figured that I couldn't stay angry. I don't know what it was about him, but he always seemed to know exactly the right thing to say to make me feel better. "Lately I've just been really feeling that I don't belong here at all. You know I was in Nibel recently, right? Well, since I've been back here, I just feel that I want to go back. I really miss Vi-...um..someone I met there."
"Nibelheim, you say...?" he murmured thoughtfully, gazing over at the screen in front of me. After he'd read what was on the screen, I could've sworn I heard him faintly chuckling as he glanced at me. "You said that you want to go back?"
In response to that, I just nodded and raised one eyebrow as though to ask: 'why's that funny?!' It turns out that he wasn't laughing at me, at all. He placed his left hand gently under my chin and turned my head to face the screen. Leaning closer, he watched from over my shoulder, using his right hand to move the computer mouse and highlight a sentence that read: '...located somewhere in the heart of Mt.Nibel.' "Perhaps I'm mistaken, but...this seems like a perfect excuse to return, don't you think?" he asked in a low tone, barely above a whisper.
My eyes widened as I read that sentence again and again. "Why didn't I see that?!" I gasped, a smile returning to my lips as I turned and hugged him without warning. "Thank you!"
He seemed surprised, but just returned the hug, gently patting my back once before he let go.
"It's not a problem. In case I don't see you again before you leave on your new mission, be careful won't you?" With that, he turned and made his way out of the room. However, he stopped at the doorway for a few seconds, glancing over his shoulder with a small smile on his lips and adding: "And say hello to Vincent for me."
That request caused my cheeks to feel a little warmer as a faint blush appeared over them. Hastily printing off the information, I left the room and went to discuss this new mission with Tseng, my heart pounding wildly at the very thought of seeing Vincent again.
I couldn't wait any longer. Upon breathing in that familiar clear air and seeing Nibelheim again for the first time in what felt like years, I felt too eager to be by his side again. Making some excuse about having to go and check something out, I raced off towards the small dark-brick building that I recognised as the inn, my mind begging him to still be there. Please...you've gotta be here, Valentine! You have to be!
My heart pounded faster and faster as I approached the door to his room. I was getting more anxious to see him, but I was also really nervous. Was he angry with me for walking out? How was he gonna react? I waited outside for several minutes, just trying to calm myself down. This would probably be one of my only chances to see him, so I just had to do this right. Nervously, with a trembling hand, I knocked on the door lightly. No response. My fist knocked again. Louder this time, and more frantic. I could hear movement coming from inside, and I waited with baited breath. Would it be him? And if it was...what would I say? What would I do if he was angry? The lock clicked, and the door creaked open...
There he was, gazing down at me. Before he had the chance to shut the door, (if he'd wanted to) I quickly raced in and slammed the door behind me, sitting down on the ground and nervously hugging my knees to my chest. "I...I really need to talk to you. About several things."
"Oh...?" He didn't really sound all that happy...but I couldn't blame him. After all, I'd walked out on him and broken his heart, after all. If it were me, I wouldn't exactly be welcoming me with open arms, either. I had to say something to break this awkward silence...so I spoke about the first thing that came to mind.
I must've sounded so stupid, acting all professional and explaining about Bernard Dylan's faction. Surely I could've told him something else that he actually cared about like why I'd walked out, or about the baby, or something! But no...no I could never be that smart. I wasn't too surprised when I heard his unimpressed reaction of: "I see." I had to say something. I couldn't exactly put off telling him about the baby for much longer, either. I'd have to tell him at some point, so that 'point' may as well be now:
"There was uh...one more thing I wanted to tell you. I thought you ought to know..."
"Go on..." he muttered quietly, his attention completely on me once again. He looked a little worried, though.
"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...?" Now he really sounded worried, and was staring at me with such concern that I felt a little uneasy. "What's going on...?"
"I...well..." Feeling a little unsure, I looked away, biting my lip gently as I thought of how I was gonna tell him this. However, before I had the chance to think, he was in front of me, gripping my shoulders so tightly that it hurt.
"Tell me!" he yelled, his eyes flashing with what looked like anger. It was pretty terrifying, as much as I hate to admit it. I hadn't trembled like that because of fear for some time. Valentine truly scared me when he was angry, and it was because of this that I accidentally let it slip:
"I...I'm pregnant!" I couldn't believe it...I'd just told him. And as I'd told him, he'd let go of me like he'd been burnt, backing away towards the opposite wall and hiding amongst the shadows. He stared at me from there, and I trembled under his gaze, tears of terror racing down my cheeks and silently dripping to the ground as we stood in silence. Then he spoke...and as he did so, that terror built up inside of me and became anger. I became angry because he was still shouting at me. Sure, I took the blame for walking out, but not for wha he accused me of next:
"...Who...?...It's Tseng's, isn't it...? 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!"
How could he just stand there and shout at me like that? Was he honestly stupid enough not to realise that this kid was his?! Now I was even beginning to wish that I'd never come back here to him. Was there anywhere that I felt I belonged anymore? I thought I belonged with Valentine, but...I guess I was wrong. Well, whatever...I wasn't about to let him stand there and speak to me like that! I wasn't that weak! BEsfe I even realised what I'd done, I'd slapped him and snapped: "Don't shout at me, you cold-hearted bastard! What the hell is wrong with you?! 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!" Maybe I'd taken it too far and done a bit much...I felt awful after all of that, especially after hitting him and calling him what I had, but I didn't let it show. I just watched, trying to figure out what he'd do next.
At first he just stood there, frozen, his hand covering the cheek I'd slapped with his eyes shut. He was a pretty difficult guy to read, so I had to watch him pretty carefully. Eventually, he spoke, his voice so much softer and gentler than it had been previously: "I...I don't...think that at all...Elena, I'm...I'm sorry. This wasn't how I wanted this to be..." He was a little bit like a child who'd just been punished in the way he was acting...he just seemed so timid and helpless. Had I really hit him that hard?
"Vince...?" I was a bit uncertain of what to do. I wanted to apologise, but I'd done too much to him now. An apology would seem so pathetic. Instead, I just carefully approached him, and took hold of his arms, wrapping them around me. He immediately held me close, making me feel safe...yeah, this was where I belonged. Definitely. He kissed the top of my head, apologising again and again, murmuring things like: "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...I couldn't sleep...I...I didn't know what to do-..."
"Shhh..." I felt awful now. That misery he'd been feeling...it was all because of me! I wasn't a good person...really, I wasn't, and yet he still loved me after all of this. He really was so trusting. Knowing that just made me feel so much worse. I began running my fingers through his hair carefully to calm myself and to try and soothe him. I still hadn't told him the truth...maybe telling him that he was the father of this baby would make him feel at least a little better, I thought...so I gave it a try: "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." There. I'd said it. Now, I just awaited the reaction.
It was a surprising reaction to say the least. At first, he just pulled me in closer while he waited for the information to properly sink in and register. After a little while, he suddenly lifted me up into his arms, and carried me to the bed. I found myself lying across his lap, with him cradling me close to his chest. I felt so at peace here, and he looked so happy. I'd missed that smile so much that I was really glad to see it again. He held me tighter and closer, leaning down and muttering:
"Please...stay with me, alright? Let me protect you, care for you, and keep you safe...you dont have to love me, just...stay close."
I felt another soft blush work its way across my cheeks as he said that, and I gazed up at him fondly. "Listen: I told you before, didn't I? I..I do. I...I love you, ok? So stop doubting that." I wasn't angry anymore...all that anger had faded away. I just wanted him to see that I felt the way he did, even if he didn't realise that. He looked down at me in that loving way of his...so kind and so trusting...
"I know its getting late, but...but could you come with me?" he questioned, releasing me and getting off the bed. He waited until I was ready, and then took my hand, leading me out of the inn and into the night. Nibel looked so pretty that night...the full moon was high in the sky, surrounded by small stars that looked like chalk against a black sheet. It really was pretty beautiful. I was beginning to wonder where he was taking me. We walked a little way away from town, coming to a completely empty field. It was peaceful, but...it seemed suspiciously quiet. Even so, I trusted him. We stood there in that field, the gently breeze blowing around us and the grass swaying happily. It really was the perfect image...
"Would you close your eyes for a few moments? I'll tell you when to open them again." Something seemed wrong with the way he had asked that. He seemed worried about something...he seemed really nervous, and he definitely wasn't acting himself. Even so, I did as he commanded, feeling him take one of my hands in his. He was trembling...why was he trembling? He really was acting kinda weird...however, it didn't take long to find out why. "Open." he muttered once, and as I did so, I gasped rather loudly, my hands shooting up to cover my mouth. He was on one knee, gazing up at me lovingly, but also rather fearfully. Usually this meant-...no...but he couldn't possibly want to... but before I could finish that thought, he had spoken: "Elena...I wasn't planning on asking this so soon, yet...it just seems appropriate now, given the situation you are currently in...will you...erm...will you...please...marry me...?"