It had been months now since Vincent vanished. Three to be exact. Shelke seemed to have the hardest with his disappearance and all saw this. Some even feared she wouldn't be able to take care of herself living so far away from Midgar in that cottage.
She did though. She even went to Midgar often. Some thought she wouldn't but she did. No matter what condition she was in or what the weather was like.
Sometimes it was storming outside and still Shelke was there in Edge. She seemed confused most of the time. Confused as to where she should be. All knew that the part of Lucrecia probably missed Vincent and was making her this was.
Poor Shelke, she was still waiting for Vincent to return but still he hadn't. If he would have been okay then he would have come by now. This Shelke, and the rest knew. This wasn't like the Omega crisis anymore—this was far different.
Shelke visited Tifa often. Just staying at the bar and thinking to herself. Often she didn't talk to people unless they had something to say about Vincent—but usually it wasn't good news and so they refrained to saying anything at all.
Many wished she wouldn't isolate herself like so but that was Shelke. She soon became almost emotionless like she used to be and no one understood why. They knew Vincent was her caretaker, but Husband and lover?—that was a different story.
Shelke just walked around thinking to herself. She did this on many occasions. No one would bother her as she did this, but something happened as she walked around the bar one day.
Many had thought it because of her sadness for Vincent, but they've never seen anything having to do with sadness get out of hand like this. Shelke seemed fine that day—but in side she was all messed up. It was a normal and simple walk down the hall until she suddenly fell down to her knees and felt sharp pains surge through her body. Shelke gripped her stomach and cried out in pain.
She shut her eyes tightly and leaned over just wanting to die from the immense pain. Something else happened to her as well. Flashes of images ran through her mind and across her closed eyes. She saw them and they frightened her.
She saw Chaos, She saw Omega, she saw Vincent, she saw Hojo, and she saw Lucrecia. She didn't know what all the meaning of these images was and this frightened her. Anything she couldn't explain scared her.
She was soon found by Tifa, hearing her cries of pain. Tifa called for help and immediately Denzel and Marlene ran off to get it. Once the images were done and the pain vanished Shelke could no longer hold onto herself. She passed into darkness and was waiting to come back into the light.
When she awoke she found herself in bed, but she was in the hospital. She found she was not alone. Tifa was there by her side smiling when she awoke.
"Hey, you're awake," she said kindly.
Shelke didn't say anything at the moment. She just looked around to find others in her room as well. Cloud, Yuffie, and Reeve were there as well. They were at the end of the room speaking to one another though.
Also, Denzel and Marlene were there wondering if Shelke was alright. They were at Tifa's side just watching her. Both happy to see her wake up again and in no more pain.
"Guys, she's awake," said Tifa getting their attention.
All three turned to see Shelke's awake eyes. She just blankly starred at them though. None really looked too happy and Yuffie—well Shelke wasn't exactly sure what she looked like. She always changed moods in a flash. It was so hard to tell with her.
"It's good to see you awake Shelke," said Cloud with a slight nod of the head.
Shelke just let her eyes fall down as her hand rose to her temple. She let out an inward sigh as she closed her eyes just for a second and then raises them to the ceiling.
"My . . . neural network has been acting up lately," she said slowly looking back at them all. "I've been seeing . . . images of things I do not understand . . . though I doubt they are Dr. Lucrecia's thoughts. I have yet to come to a conclusion of what they mean . . . perhaps . . . you can be of assistance."
"Shelke, can you tell us what you saw?" asked Reeve taking a step forward to her.
Shelke cast her eyes down and just scanned her sheets she was wrapped in. She opened her mouth and spoke saying—
"I saw many things—many images—I saw Chaos, and Omega. I saw Vincent and Dr. Hojo. I saw Dr. Lucrecia as well, but I do not know what they mean."
"I see," said Reeve thinking to himself.
"That's it?!" asked Yuffie coming closer to her. "You didn't see anything else?"
"Easy there Yuffie," said Tifa making her not get so close to Shelke. "She's already been through enough as it is."
"Shelke," said Reeve looking at her softly. "What was your relationship with Vincent?"
Shelke looked at him with slightly confused eyes. She knew he knew, but then glanced quickly at everyone else in the room and saw what Reeve wanted. He wanted her to tell the truth now seeing how he saw it fit at the moment. Shelke cast her gaze down and didn't speak.
"Shelke you're pregnant with someone's child, now don't give us the silent treatment!" said Yuffie throwing her arms up and down.
Shelke's mouth opened slightly as she took a quick glance at Yuffie, but soon her eyes fell back down. All waited for her response, but knew more words had to be said until she spoke herself.
"Shelke," started Tifa trying to be as caring as possible. "Is Vincent the father?"
Shelke still didn't say anything. She didn't even look at anyone. No one could actually tell what was going through her mind at the moment. Many guessed it was questions as to how, but they weren't sure.
They would wait until she spoke though. Reeve knew of their relationship, but didn't want to be the one to tell everyone. He wanted Shelke to be straightforward and be honest. It was the least she could do on the abstinence of Vincent.
"Vincent Valentine," spoke Shelke with her eyes still cast down. "Was my husband."
To those who didn't know, which was most of them in that room, widened their eyes. They didn't think Vincent would actually marry Shelke at this young age—well—form.
"As well as lover. He was . . . so kind to me," said Shelke fiddling with her fingers now. "I didn't want to marry him at first seeing how all married couples . . . well he said there was more to marriage than just that, but . . . three months ago we . . ."
"I see," said Reeve seeing her pause but knowing her suggestion.
Shelke's eyes then turned to everyone as she opened her mouth and said—
"It was just once. It was the night before Vincent . . . disappeared."
At that Shelke cast her eyes down and just wished to be left alone.
"Nuh! What was Vincent thinking?!" asked Yuffie tossing her arms up in the air.
"Hhh, I had a feeling something like this was going to happen," sighed Reeve shaking his head and crossing his arms. "Shelke do you understand what kind of danger you're in?"
"Well a lot!" said Yuffie almost shouting.
"Yuffie, please," said Tifa signaling her to keep it down.
"Oops, sorry," said Yuffie backing up and clasping her hands together tightly so not to let them fly off anymore.
"So what do you want to do Shelke?" asked Cloud.
Shelke cast her eyes down again and just scanned her thoughts. How was she to know? She had never thought something like this could happen. It was just one night.
"I'm not—I'm not sure," she said casting her blue eyes up at everyone.
"Shelke you could have more spells like you had a while ago," said Tifa. "That's neither good for you or the baby."
"What else am I to do?" asked Shelke. "I will not get rid of it."
"No, that'd be too dangerous either way," said Reeve shaking his head. "But I must suggest you not live by yourself anymore. Or out in the country. If anything were to happen to you out there I doubt any of us would be able to help you or at least get you to a hospital."
"Then what do you propose?" asked Shelke.
"That you stay with us," said Tifa giving a smile to her.
"I'd be best," said Reeve. "That way we can keep an eye on you just in case anything happened."
"And you'll be close to help," said Cloud with his arms crossed.
"I have no say in the matter do I?" asked Shelke casting her eyes off to the right.
"It's for your own good, and the child's," said Reeve trying to make her understand the dangers.
"What would Vincent want Shelke?" asked Tifa.
Shelke's eyes scanned her thoughts wondering what'd he'd say. Her thoughts soon took her to an image of Vincent. He was smiling as the sun beamed down on him in the valley. His hair was being blown by the warm wind.
"Do it Shelke," he said to her with that smile of his.
Sadness soon crept over Shelke as the image of him vanished. Last to be seen was his smile. She cast her eyes downward in sadness and dropped her shoulders. She stopped fiddling with her fingers and now they lay limp in her lap.
She lightly inhaled as she said—
"Vincent Valentine . . . if I know him as well as I think . . . he'd want what's best for me."
"Good," said Reeve with a nod of his head.
At that Reeve turned to leave, but stopped to look at Shelke one last time. He sighed and said—
"I'll be back to check up on you. Take care."
At that he left and all was quiet. Even though there was a lot to comprehend Shelke didn't seem so scared. Yes she was a little too underdeveloped, body-wise, to be having a child but she was mentally strong and would pull through. At least . . . that's what everyone thought and hoped.