Chapter 10—Seeking Forgiveness
Somehow, Yuffie and Anessa had managed to sleep through Chaos' most recent attack. Vincent had to smile at them despite his sadness—they always joked that Yuffie would sleep through the next apocalypse and it seemed that their daughter had inherited that trait. Asleep on the bed, they presented a comforting picture of normalcy.
"Vincent?" asked a female voice from the doorway.
The gunslinger turned to look at Shera Highwind. "I didn't know you were here."
"When Cid told me what happened, I thought Yuffie might need some help with the baby." Shera walked inside and stopped next to him. "I thought you would probably be busy trying to figure out what was happening. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. I'm glad you're willing to help. Yuffie will need it."
An uncomfortable silence stretched out between them for several moments, then the pilot's wife blurted out, "I'm sorry for the way I've acted."
"What?" Shera's statement added to Vincent's considerable confusion.
"I never approved of the relationship that you and Yuffie had with Chaos. Or Cid's for that matter. I've been petty towards the three of you about it, even if I never said anything. It was immature and I shouldn't have judged when you were all so happy." Shera looked at her feet. "I'm sorry."
Vincent didn't know what to say. In all the time that he had know Shera—both before and after she had married cid—she had never been anything less than gracious, polite and friendly. It was hard to believe she had done, or thought, anything to slight them.
"I'll go, if you want." She turned to leave.
The gunslinger's had shout out and he grabbed Shera's wrist before she could take more than a single step. The mechanic looked up at him in surprise.
"Shera, never once did I think that you were being petty or immature around us. If you feel like your disapproval led you to actions that require an apology, then I accept it; but you never did anything that I feel needs forgiveness."
Shera's eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled brilliantly. "Thank you, Vincent!"
"Vincent?" Yuffie's voice was groggy as it drifted from the bed.
"Oh!" The pilot's wife clapped one hand over her mouth. "Yuffie, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you!"
"Um…Shera?" The ninja's voice was confused as her sleepy eyes opened to take in the room.
As Shera moved over to the bed to fuss over Yuffie, Vincent relaxed a bit. Knowing his wife wouldn't be alone if anything else went wrong went a long way towards easing his worries about her.
Unfortunately, it won't save her the pain of the news I have to give her.
When the gunslinger joined the women on the bed, Yuffie's gaze immediately shot towards him. "Something else happened, didn't it?"
Vincent nodded. "Yes."
"What?" The ninja's violet eyes were full of worry.
He swallowed loudly before he managed to reply. "Chaos managed to break free of his containment cell a little while ago. Several people were killed."
Shera's hands flew to her mouth as Yuffie's reached out to grab Vincent's. "Is everyone…Are our friends all right?"
The gunslinger could only shake his head in reply.
"Who?" A world of emotions and concerns were contained in that single question.
"Beast." His voice cracked on the single syllable.
Vincent almost welcomed Yuffie's sobbing collapse into his arms. It gave him the opening he needed to grieve as well.
Shera Highwind watched silently as husband and wife tried to comfort each other.
Chaos knew the visitor to his cell was Yuffie immediately. None of Reeve's people would come near him now, and Vincent's presence quieted the voice raging in his head. He discovered, as she walked in, that her presence did not—and she would be the only other person who would manage to get to his cell unhindered or unescorted.
"You shouldn't be here, beloved."
"Vincent told me what happened," she replied, stepping closer to his turned back.
"Then you really shouldn't be here. It isn't safe for you."
"I wanted to know how you were doing." The ninja ran hesitant fingers over the shackles binding his arms from wrist to elbow. "I thought you might need someone who cared."
The demon turned sorrowful eyes on his mate. "I would rather be alone in my grief than risk endangering you or Vincent."
Yuffie threw her arms round his neck and shoulders, completely disregarding his words or his desires. "I love you. And I don't blame you for what happened to the Galian Beast."
Chaos opened his mouth to protest, but Yuffie laid a finger across it. "Vincent doesn't really want me here either. I can't say." She kissed his cheek and stood up. "Be strong. I'll come back when I can."
He turned towards the door to watch her as she left, surprised at the lightening he felt in his heart. Yuffie had left him with forgiveness he hadn't even known he was looking for.
"I love you," he said as she walked out the door.
She turned and smiled at him. "Love you too. See you soon."