They say I have to be aware

that one day you won't let me go

I'll drown, you'll take me down

"I have some things I want to make clear."

Genesis' voice echoed in the hollow spaces of the cave. Aerith turned to him but did not meet his eyes. They had just partaken their first meal; a combination of fish he caught from the lake and some leftover trail food they brought from Nibelheim. "I am most likely considered a rogue SOLDIER now, so we will both hunted and unwelcome in most civilized places."

She nodded and waited for him to continue. She had not uttered a word since that morning and avoided his eyes. But whenever her fingers came into contact with his skin, it lingered. Like when he draped a jacket over her form, when she took the plate he offered… He sighed. "I made a vow. I will protect you. But if you wish to find Sephiroth—"

"I've told you, I don't love him!" Her sudden declaration rang out clearly in the cavern. Her eyes were bright and desperate now that it finally met with his. She bit her lip and shook her head, lowering her eyes once more. The curls that framed her face bounced at the movement and he briefly wondered why he's never seen her in that way before; her hair was down and her were feelings raw, intense, passionate.

She wore her heart out on her sleeve. For him, she said. Only for him.

"What would it take…?" she continued in a voice that floated like a bubble in the air, so delicate, so easy to break. "It's you, it will always be you…"

He was silent as he considered her words and felt humbled by them. She would not dare to lie, not here, not in the sanctity of this place. He closed his eyes and took a steady breath, then he continued his speech. "I made a vow. I will protect you. But if you wish to find Sephiroth, then we will go. If you do not want to, that's fine too. Either way I will stay—" her head snapped up, eyes bright with wild hope, "…with you." He bent his head and averted his eyes. He mustn't look at her, he knows he mustn't look at her if he wanted to finish what he wanted to say. "You deserve the truth Aerith. You profess love for me but I'm not sure about what I feel. I'm sorry if I've hurt you, if I've acted irrationally," he paused and shook his head. "Maybe I don't deserve your feelings. But I promise that I'll stay, I promise to protect you with my life. I can't promise you love but... I hope that's enough." He's had enough of his eyes roaming across cold unfeeling walls so he takes a deep breath and meets the iridescent green of hers. A disbelieving smile was on her face and even as her cheeks glittered with her tears. Suddenly she jumped the scant distance between them and hugged him tightly, not caring of the uncomfortable angle of their contact.

A small smile curved on his lips as he angled his body to receive her embrace fully. He inhaled deeply as his arms came around her as well.

"It is..." She murmured against his skin. "You're here with me. That's more than enough…"

Stay with me? She asked it with the way her hands gripped his shoulder, the way she looked at him as she lowered herself upon him.

Hold me? She asked it in the way her tongue danced with his, the way she sighed and exhaled as he touched her in places that made her squirm.

She gasps and tilts her head upward as her hair fell all around her in a rush much like the one running through her skin now, but he holds back, he always holds back and waits until she takes her pleasure. He instead focuses his eyes on the sweat that runs down the side of her temple, down the side of her cheek, toward her jaw, down her neck… He leans in and tastes the errant drop and she sighs and clutches him more tightly.

Love me? She starts to move again and his hands wrap around her hips as he steadies her, pulls her closer as his tongue seeks more of her skin.

"Genesis…!" she whispers against his ear before she gently nibbles on it.

He shudders and let silence be his answer.

She was not well.

It had been months since they settled in the Crystal Cave and the strain was showing. She was thinner, had frequent bouts of indigestion and was tired most of the time. He had to act. So he made a decision to separate from her for a short while and found it harder than he originally thought. It was necessary, however; he needed to restock on food items, things that she could actually consume without throwing up, some medicinal items and perhaps hear a bit of news. He pored through the map of the region with her repeatedly before he left, making sure she knew the path to Gongaga and from there book passage to Wutai to disappear amongst the natives. He gave her his extra gil and made her promise to leave him behind if he is not back after a day, saying that he'll find her eventually, wherever she ends up in.

After much protests and tears, she finally relented and promised to do as he asked.

He left before the sun rose the following day. He travelled at a fast pace and arrived at noontime in the gates of Cosmo Canyon. Genesis, with his long red hair tied back by a knot and securely placed under a dark knitted hat spoke to the sentinel with a thick northern accent that he was a backpacker and has been camping on the road for days. He shook his boots from the mud that wouldn't come off for emphasis, bemoaning how much he missed a nice, warm bed and not being feasted upon by insects. The sentinel laughed at his discomfort and mentioned that such is the fate of those who trod too closely to nature. They exchanged some more pleasantries and he caught wind that Shin-Ra has been more active in the region lately and the elders were worried about how this would affect their town. Genesis shrugged and feigned disinterest but made a mental note to make an appearance at the inn and gather more information from the other guests who were staying there.

After being allowed entrance, he went straight to the rows of cave that held the stores. Having bought the things he intended, he made a quick stop to the weapons store and bought a small, concealable dagger for Aerith. It could help her, though he prayed she would never find use for it. Through discreetly placed inquiries he was able to find out that they had put out a search for him, but not a bounty. He was declared Missing in Action, but there was no mention of Aerith. He toyed about the idea of getting in touch with Lazard but remembered Sephiroth's words and decided against it. The sun was already setting down when he passed through a chocobo stall and, wary of not making in time back to their cave, bought a sturdy one. He exited the village through another way and made several confusing trails before releasing the chocobo halfway hiking back to the cave on foot, setting a brisk pace.

The moon was already high in the sky when he made it back to the cavern. Even before he neared the entrance, he could sense that something was amiss. He could see an outline of an animal tied to a tree near the entrance. He frowned as he slowly advanced toward the chocobo. He held his walking stick tightly and regretted leaving his sword with Aerith, for fear it might be recognized in the settlement. He crept along the inside of the cave and was about to turn to the main cavern when a foot lashed out, aiming for his knees. He pivoted in time and caught the leg before it could retreat, hauling a small body and throwing it against the cavern wall. There was a feminine "oomph" as the body collided with stone but in a split second the figure was back on her feet again, taking a defensive stance with her fists raised to the level of her eyes.

He raised an eyebrow. It was just a girl with brown hair and a curious reddish brown eyes that flashed angrily at him. She launched into an attack sequence which he was easily able to dodge. The girl was no match for him, but if she had a death wish, he would gladly oblige. He gripped his staff and prepared to go on offensive when the girl suddenly screamed "run!", presumably to her companions.

"Tifa, no!" said another, more familiar voice. Suddenly a familiar brown head was out and Aerith placed her body before him, her arms spread out. "It's Genesis!"

The girl in front of her immediately lowered her fists and straightened out. "Oh." She blew her bangs out of her face. "I thought you said he was cute. This one looks like he's in sore need of a bath."

Genesis loosened his hold on his weapon and removed the knitted hat that covered most of his features. He turned to Aerith who now looked up to him while suppressing her smile and narrowed his eyes. He looked back to the other brunette.

"Start talking."

Tifa Lockheart stayed with them for a couple of days and was a tremendous help when it came to caring for Aerith. She was born and bred in the mountainous region and was quick to remind Genesis of this every time they went to forage or hunt, displaying familiarity with both the flora and fauna of the area. Most of the time, she kept to herself, though it was apparent that she shared a deep bond with Aerith, who often sang praises for her friend.

Now that he knew her full name, he did remember reading of the Lockheart family in the file sent with him on his mission. She was the mayor's daughter, around the same age as Aerith. Their family was one of the oldest and most prestigious in the little mountain town. "How come I never saw her back in Nibelheim?" Genesis asked Aerith one time when Tifa was outside the cavern to tend to her chocobo.

A sad look crossed Aerith's features. "She went away a few days before you arrived to look for a boy that left her behind."

"A… boy?" He raised an eyebrow at her words. Tifa often tied her hair up, acted in a tomboyish manner, and paid more time grooming her green chocobo than herself. She had even insisted on sparring with him everyday; it was only through the close quarters afforded him during those moments that made him appreciate her subtle beauty and the curves she hid underneath loose clothing that hinted at so much more.

"He went away about a year ago to become a SOLDIER." Her eyes glittered and came closer to him. "Maybe you've heard of him? His name is Cloud Strife. He's got spiky blond hair that sticks out in all directions and baby blue eyes as clear as the sky."

Genesis shook his head. "I don't recall ever seeing anyone like that. What is it with you young girls and SOLDIER?" He threw an annoyed look at Aerith when her arms came around him. She giggled and buried her face against him. "SOLDIER has nothing to do with it. It has always been clear to me who I love. But it's been hard for Tifa. She loved Cloud since they were children, but then he left before she could even tell him. Immediatey after that, she decided herself to she'd find him and ask him to come back with her or to take her with him. But… she couldn't find him anymore."

Genesis watched the light reflected in the crystals around the cave, and waited for her to continue.

"She's been to Midgar, Junon, and most places in the Southern Continent but there wasn't any clue that Cloud arrived there at all. She said they've been to this cave once before, something they discovered one summer when they went exploring together. She was pretty surprised to see me here, I guess she was expecting to see someone else here." Aerith sighed. "She said she's not giving up, that she's merely taking a break before she goes to look for him again; she's going back to Nibelheim after this, and see if maybe he's sent her a letter or something in the meantime. But Genesis… I don't feel Cloud anymore, I fear that he may no longer be among the living."

"I honesty don't see what the problem is." His voice was smooth when it came out. "You're young. This is for you specifically Tifa," he said this without turning to where she stood in the shadows, eavesdropping on their conversation. "You're what, 16? Men will come and go in your life, you haven't even started. To waste your affection on someone who isn't even there doesn't make sense. His dream was obviously more important to him, and you're just a consolation prize. Are you content to hang on to a false hope, when you know deep down that had he wanted, he could have chosen you to begin with? Why don't you go find someone else who will love you more than some pipe dream?"

Aerith turned to see tears running down Tifa's cheeks. She stood up to go to her side. "Oh Tifa… I'm sorry, you don't have to listen to anything he says. He's—"

Tifa sniffled and wiped her eyes. "No. He's right. The worst thing you can do to someone is make them wait. And Cloud… he always made me wait. I can't spend my life waiting for him, I won't."

"Oh Tifa…"

"I've been stupid Aerith. And I'm not too proud to admit it." She cried and all her pent-up frustrations came rushing out. Genesis took that as his cue to leave the two alone and decided to take a walk around the lake, circling it twice and taking a swim before he ventured inside once again.

The two girls had both fallen asleep by the dying fire. Tifa's arms were curled around Aerith's midsection and held onto her as a mother would a child. He smirked at the picture they made and laid down behind Aerith, draping over a blanket over their forms. He was reminded yet again of just how young both were, and that there was something wrong with him, surely, to want to stay with someone who wouldn't be legal for another 3 years.

Tifa decided to go back to Nibelheim the next day. They said their goodbyes even before the sun was high in the sky. Aerith's tears were streaming down her face again as she hugged her friend tightly, as if they may not see each other again. Tifa assured her that she will find a way to visit and to help them during winter which, judging from the falling leaves was only a few weeks away. Aerith nodded and after one last hug, she turned and went back inside the cave, saying that she was unable to bear the sight of anyone leaving.

"Genesis…" Tifa turned to him after Aerith went out of earshot. He looked at her and noticed that her face was free from mud stains for the first time since he saw her. Her short brown hair was brushed neatly and allowed to flow freely behind her, Aerith's handiwork most probably. He looked at her curiously, as if seeing her for the first time. She was going to be a stunning woman in a few more years; the type that men would never want to leave. He smiled and something in his heart swelled, knowing that he was probably the first man to see this new side of her, and he couldn't wait to see how she would turn out in the future.

She smiled shyly at him. "T-Thank you for setting me straight Genesis. I guess you're not so bad after all." She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ears and turned her wandering eyes at him. She took a deep breath as if to gather her strength. "I want to return the favour and set you straight, too. Consider it my gift to you, even if it was not mine to give…" She leaned forward and embraced him. Then she turned her mouth to his ear, to whisper something that made his blood run cold.

She pulled back after a while and smiled at him sweetly. Then she turned to her chocobo, adjusted her seat and mounted. "Take care of them," she said before she started to trot through the path in the forest. In a few minutes, she could no longer be seen behind the foliage of falling brown leaves.

Genesis stood rooted to the spot, then his knees gave out, unable to support his body anymore. Tifa's words rang clearly in his head:

"She carries your child."

Thank you to everyone who reviewed and favorited! We're almost done but I don't know when the next chapter will come out. Reviews will help motivate the muse, certainly. :)