Chapter 2

Riley Connors had been replaced with Sophie Shinra. Unceremoniously and unwillingly. Once I realized I could suddenly understand what they were saying my old life was stripped away. Reality set in. I was reborn. Riley, which was the old me, had died. All my hopes of a coma dwindled and I found myself full of pain.

What about my parents? My boyfriend, my friends. What about all the plans to move in with said boyfriend, the first apartment we'd have. The first fledgling step to a life together.

Was he okay? God I missed him. Missed everyone. You always hear about the people left behind versus the people who did the death. I didn't think the ones who died remembered Jack. That they were, in the most twisted sense, the lucky ones who got to escape that pain. I was morbidly wrong. Were all babies reborn people? Maybe that's why we cried.

I was scared too. Because I had heard the name Shinra and knew as soon as I heard the boys name… I was screwed. I was somehow a part of a video game world where the family I spawned in Were lesser villains. Oh, joy.

If I was remembering it correctly basically every bad thing in this world twisted back to my new family. Being reborn sucked. Being reborn into a family destined to be hated was icing on a burnt cake.

Plus, I'd never heard of a Shinra daughter. Granted I hadn't played the original game in years and between all my other… let's call them extracurricular activities… I hadn't played the remake more than snatches and quick moments.

Maybe the Shinra daughter Sophie would die before the game events. Any of the game's events. I realized with a jolt at least I'd maybe get to meet my fav character. Reno was a classic kinda horrible that I adored. He was playful but oh so dangerous. Just my type, before my current partner had swept me off my feet. Really, I'd always wanted to swipe at the marks under his eyes to see if they were real.

My new life wasn't all bad. The woman I now registered as Mom came to see me once or twice a day, always warm and perfumed to perfection. She would dismiss the nanny with an impervious wave of her hand and cuddle me for a while. She never tried breastfeeding as it became obvious I would refuse to eat. I don't know now if I was getting artificial milk or just pumped from the source. I prayed it was artificial. "Dad" never came by and I was fine with that. I hated the guy after all.

Rufus came the most, oddly enough. He wouldn't wave the nanny out of the room, but he did ignore her. Already showing signs of the ruthless Shinra patterns. Only caring when it was a benefit. I couldn't hate him. I remembered vaguely he'd tried to kill our "Dad" in the game, and failed to do so. Maybe that was why I didn't regard him as such a bad guy. Just led astray. I didn't think the Turks would be so loyal to a guy who was all bad.

He was in my room now, studying me as I rolled onto my stomach then onto my back again. I was determined to master walking again, feeling a distinct humiliation for the fact I had to crawl. I was trying to build arm strength so I could hold myself up. I wasn't sure how old I was now, just that time had passed.

The moment I was set on the ground, on a beautiful blanket surrounded by toys and other things I found boring my goal solidified. Number one master walking and talking. Number two hoard some money. And then finally Number three; ditch this life and go live in a random place Shinra couldn't find me. I was so not getting mixed up with mako and reactors and super Soldiers that could kill me with a flick of a pinky. I wasn't a fan girl that wanted to save any of them from their fates. The game ended on a good note. That future could happen for all I cared.

"What is she doing?" Rufus hadn't mastered that Shinra way of making heads turn yet when he spoke. Too young. I ignored him as I finally tucked my legs under myself and pushed.

"Oh, she's just playing," the nanny said it dismissively.

"That's playing," he muttered. His brows arched as I fell over like a blob of blubber, only to try again.

Finally, after watching me repeat the same actions over and over for a few minutes he came to kneel beside me. Of course, he didn't sit. Might ruin his perfectly clean pants. I tried ignoring him but he grasped my waist.

Um, excuse you I'm busy here! What the hell did he think he was doing. As a baby I realized my biggest weapon was crying so I opened my mouth only to stop. He shifted me so my feet touched the ground and I blinked as he held me carefully in that position.

"Is this what you wanted?" His voice was low enough only I could hear and if I could have blushed, I would have. Do babies blush? For a moment we eyed each other, me seeing the man he would become and he… I don't know what he was seeing. What I knew was he wasn't quite the monster yet. Still just a boy being poisoned by our Dad.

I wriggle until he put some of my weight back onto the ground. I let more of my weight settle against my chubby legs until I trembled, grabbing onto his silken shirt to try and steady myself more. My face must have been red with exertion.

Finally I had enough, slipping. Rufus grabbed me before I could tumble over and he settled me softly against the blanket. I rolled onto my back and kicked my legs. I needed more muscle, not the blubber that coated my infant body. Rufus observed me carefully before I had enough and rolled to face him. He did help me, so I guess I could play nice. I wasn't able to form words yet so all my noises were garbled.

When I reached a hand out to slap at his leg, trying to act babyish, he grabbed it gently. His hand was still soft, not calloused yet by anything. Then again, he was a rich boy. Would he ever have calloused?

Babies did these things right? I tugged his hand closer and debated maybe drooling on it. I decided against it. Instead I tugged it closer, swinging it up and down.

Time passed again. My room was decorated lavishly and I supposed tastefully. The ceilings were high and the walls were a rich Creamy white. My crib was even polished daily. Toys accumulated that I only touched when someone made comments about how I didn't play like a normal baby.

I was determined not to draw much attention to myself and to master my new body quickly. Both things required I maintain a baby personality for a while longer. Rufus must have guessed I wanted to stand because suddenly everyone tried to help with that.

I preferred him honestly. He didn't seem amused by my act so I didn't bother. He actually seemed off put by it. It was odd to realize he was trying to help me, considering I thought he was a huge dick in the games. Although… Maybe I fan girled a little bit at that iconic lime he delivered in the remake. Which would mean, I own you… I mean come on!

A lot better than his original speech about ruling people with fear rather than money.

Anyway with his help I was soon able to pull my body up into standing by myself. I ignored the way everyone oozed praise like I was special for it. Again, I had no clue how old I was and I wasn't familiar with babies. Behind or ahead, it didn't matter with this.

Rufus had come to visit again. He'd had a chair brought in to suit him, that absolutely swallowed his child frame. It was heavy and regal looking, made of some kind of rich dark wood. It looked out of place in my room of whites and pinks.

I dropped the stuffed pink stuffed chocobo I'd been trying to talk at and immediately started standing. Rufus hadn't seen me do it without his guiding hand yet and part of me wanted to show off.

He'd been on his way to me, but he paused when I stood. Then I saw what I thought was a rare sight indeed, even for a child Rufus. A smile.

Not a smirk or something fake, which I realized he utilized way too much for a child. A real smile that floored me. Literally. I felt the too soft carpet as I sat back quickly, staring at him with wonder. I remembered startlingly he really was just a kid here. Not the adult he would become trying to kill our dad and failing. Not the adult who would one day become a minor villain to the game's heroes. Didn't he try to execute them?

"Well, well Sophie. Good job!" His soft voice was so young I almost cried. He was just a boy proud of his sister.

And I was a monster who took his sister's place. No matter the fact I had no earthly clue how. I had my own things but… my heart tugged in a familiar way and I recognized guilt. It was enough I grasped the chocobo stuffy and crawled to him. Grasping his soft trousers, I tugged myself up and gave what I hoped was an adorable smile.

His eyes softened as he lifted me into his arms. Don't get me wrong, my plans weren't changing. But I couldn't freeze myself from the person who wasn't getting a paycheck to visit me. Sure, our mom visited but she rarely deigned to try and help me. She assumed I was being a baby and wasn't actively pushing myself. Somehow, I found myself developing… familial feelings towards Rufus. It couldn't hurt, indulging his interest in me. Still had no intention of changing any fate.

One drawback to baby body though. Exhaustion. I'd tired myself out doing my usual pushes to stand. I didn't intend to push myself to walk quickly yet. I knew enough about babies to know they probably didn't excel in every area within a few months. I had to be smart.

So, for now I didn't mind gripping into my brothers hair and falling asleep.

End chapter