The gang let Shelke rest another day just to be on the safe side. Though she didn't want to be parted with her son she had no choice but to seeing how he needed cared for as well and that she was in no mood to do such a thing. Shelke understood completely once she got her stats on her physical state and mental. She found that her mental was at its strongest but her physical was still a little weak.
"Don't worry Rufus Shinra," said Shelke as all watched her hold her son and bounce him happily in her arms just to make sure there was no sound uttered from him. "I shall start working on the physical capacity of my body as soon as I am able to leave bed."
"That is good Shelke," said Rufus. "I'm glad to see you are putting devotion to take care of yourself after . . . everything."
"Yes," said Shelke looking down at her sleeping son in her arms. "But being a mother has its priorities over everything else."
"Shelke, surely you're not saying you will let this child destroy you in both body and mind again," said Reeve extending his hand a bit.
"If it be so," said Shelke letting her blank eyes drift down to her child again. "I do not care for my own life anymore. I hadn't ever since Vincent . . . vanished. I only lived for 'him' . . . but . . . if life wishes me to return to the lifestream then I gladly will."
"Who would take care of your son?" asked Reeve.
Shelke just cast her eyes on Reeve and scanned him a bit. She then glanced at each person there. She tightened her embrace on her little Vincent and wondered who would be fit to raise him.
"I do not know," she said poking her chin out. "But you should find yourselves ever-so-lucky that I am well capable of raising this child."
"Alone Shelke?" asked Rufus.
"Hhh, perhaps," she said casting her eyes down. "We can still live in our cottage out in the country."
"Shelke you may need help so why don't you—" started Reeve.
"I've had enough!" she said bringing out a little anger, which silenced everyone by this sudden show of emotion.
Reeve looked at her wide-eyed, as did most. There were a couple of moments in silence as Shelke looked at them all in the eyes. After she was done she sat back in relaxation and then sighed again, shaking her head.
"He is my son," she said. "Mine and Vincent's . . . where were you to help Vincent when he was taken by Deepground."
"Shelke," started Reeve wanting her to know they did the best they could to try and help Vincent.
Shelke just cast her face away and held up her hand signaling for him to stop. Once he had she turned her eyes back to them and said—
"Yes you helped me through my pregnancy but what if I hadn't gotten pregnant and still wallowed in sadness? . . . would you help me?"
"Of course," said Tifa taking a step forward.
"Somehow . . . I don't believe so," she said slowly blinking.
"Eh! What has turned you so much against us?!" asked Yuffie hitting the sides of Shelke's bed.
"Yeah, is it that da-- child?!" asked Cid. "'Cause if it is then we can gladly take it away from ya! He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for our 'help'. You would have died Shelke!"
"We're all in this together Shelke," said Tifa softly. "We all care about each other just the same . . . when Vincent vanished Shelke it was like . . . a brother had been taken away from our happy family."
"Well that 'brother' was my husband. I was more broken than you could ever be Tifa," she said turning her gaze away from her and to her son.
"Uh, Shelke," said Tifa backing up a little.
"OH! You little BRAT!" roared Yuffie ready to strangle her but Barret stopped her.
"Hold up Yuffie," said Barret. "Now's not the time to be fighting among friends."
"Friends?!" screeched Yuffie looking at him with wide eyes. "That little—BRAT! Doesn't appreciate us! She probably didn't even appreciate Vincent!"
"Don't you dare say that Yuffie Kisaragi," said Shelke narrowing her eyes to her a little.
"What are you going to do little girl?!" threatened Yuffie ready to take her on any day. "I say the way you treat us is how you treat Vincent's memory!"
"Vincent's . . . memory?" said Shelke scanning her thoughts at that.
"Yeah . . . you're not the only one who lost someone they loved," said Yuffie lighting up a bit. "He was a part of our family long before he was a part of yours!"
Yuffie's eyes then widened and she gasped seeing a single tear fall down Shelke's cold eye. She didn't think she'd actually cry or could really. Yuffie had never been around to see this happening, but now . . . seeing it . . . it changed her whole outlook on Shelke.
"Shelke I—" she started not meaning to stab her this deep.
Shelke cast her saddened eyes down and just let another tear fall. She could hear Yuffie trying to find the right words to say, but not being able to.
"Vincent's memory," said Shelke as she slowly turned her gaze back to everyone. "I didn't mean to . . . disrespect his memory . . . I just . . . didn't want him to be a . . . memory."
"No Shelke I'm sorry I—" she started taking a step forward.
"No," said Shelke shaking her head unattached the tears from her face to the air around her. "You are right. I have been mistreated all of you . . . all of your kindness. I've taken it for granite just like I've taken Vincent for granite."
All watched as more tears fell down her face and her hands went limp around her child. She sniffed and then looked at everyone. How could she have been so ungrateful towards everyone? With all they've done for her they were truly the reason she and her son were alive and well right her right now.
"I'm so sorry," she said with the voice of Lucrecia. "I'm so sorry."
The Turks heard about this, but never actually saw it happen like this. Shelke closed her eyes and hugged her child close saying it again, but this time with her own voice—
"I'm so sorry."
They let Shelke cry for a little until Reeve decided it was time to cease all tears. He inhaled and sighed out softly. He took a step forward to get a better look at the child. Even though Shelke held him close his small black patches of hair was seen—taking after his father it seemed.
He then looked at the weeping mother. Her small hands gently wrapped around him as her fingers tightened and loosened. He gave off a soft smile as he had just remembered to ask her something.
"What are you to name him Shelke?" he asked.
Shelke lifted her eyes to him just realizing she had not named her child yet. Her mouth stayed agape until she began to speak—
"I . . . almost forgot."
"What would it be Shelke Valentine?" asked Rufus.
"Vincent's . . . father's name was . . . Gilmore," said Shelke looking down at him.
"Gilmore?" asked Tifa.
"Yes . . . Gilmore," said Shelke with a smile.
"Gilmore Valentine," said Rufus. "It seems to have a nice ring to it—just like his grandfather. I am not the one to complain of course."
"Hm, I'm sure Vincent would have loved the name," said Tifa touching Shelke on the shoulder.
"He . . . would have?" asked Shelke looking at Tifa with soft eyes.
"Mhm," said Tifa with a kind smile and a nod her head.
"Good then," said Shelke letting her gaze fall once again to the bundle in her arms.
"Shelke may I ask you something?" asked Rufus.
Shelke's eyes fell from Gilmore to the president sitting in his wheelchair. He was mostly cloaked by that white blanket, but still Shelke felt as if she was looking deep into his eyes.
"Yes," she said with a nod of her eyes.
"May I suggest Gilmore be raised in Shinra?" he asked sounding ever so in control of things.
"What?!" asked Tifa turning to him quickly. "Is this why you took her? Just to take her child?!"
"Tifa," warned Cloud glancing at her.
"Cloud don't you see?!" gasped Tifa. "They want her child for their own use!"
"Wait until he's finished," said Cloud knowing Rufus a little better than that.
"Why?" asked Shelke.
"Because of his 'unique' deformation," said Rufus. "Either way you need help raising him. He would be as if a younger sibling to you in physical form. Tell me . . . are you in any shape or form to raise him properly?"
Shelke paused for a moment in thought. She soon cast her eyes upon him again and said—
"No, but that is not your whole intention."
"Hm, you're good Shelke," said Rufus with a smile. "You are right. Another thing being so that we can watch him so just in case he doesn't 'disfigure' any more as he grows. Now I'm not saying he'll turn into Chaos like that of his father, but if his cells are similar then he can harbor the creature and his body could transform into something like it. We just want to make sure it was only a birth defect."
"I see," said Shelke hopping Gilmore on her shoulder. "I will consent if you let us live in our home."
"I don't know about that," said Rufus. "It'd be easier to keep him in this facility. That way. That way we'll be able to keep a close eye on him if anything 'unnatural' happened."
Shelke cast her eyes down in thought. She was unsure of what to do. She didn't want to live in Shinra but she didn't want to not be near help with her child. She didn't know what to do and Rufus saw her confusion.
"The child will only be needed here during his early years," he said catching Shelke out of thought. "Once he is older and easier to handle then you may return with him to your country cottage with us still surveying of course—just not as much as before."
"Hm," Shelke pondered in thought. "May I at least be able to take him out there ever . . . now and then?"
"Well I don't see no harm in that," said Rufus.
Shelke took another look at her child and then at everyone around her. She inhaled and shook her head saying—
"Alright then. I'll do it for him."
"Thank-you Shelke," said Rufus. "You've made the right choice."
"Make sure you come and visit us though," said Tifa.
"Oh, by all means you may come and see her and the child," said Rufus. "I don't think she'd like to blot her friends out of the picture just yet."
Shelke gave off a smile. She was glad to have friends such as them. Especially when they got their way.
"Yes!" jumped Yuffie. "You bet I'll visit!"
"I'll be checkin' up as well to see how the little Vincent jr. is turnin' out. I'll be putting it on your head Shinra if he doesn't turn out right!" threatened Barret.
"Hey—we're not like that anymore Barret," said Rufus. "The child will be raised to walk in his father's footsteps. I'll just . . . change a few pathways, oh but don't worry. It'll be for the good of Gilmore Valentine."
"Yeah, Shelke's just as accountable raisin' him upright," said Reno.
"Are you up to it Shelke?" asked Cid.
"Hhh," she sighed looking at him again who opened his blue eyes and just starred at her. "Do I have a choice?"
"No . . . I suppose you don't," said Tifa with a smile seeing Shelke now realizing the duties . . . of a mother.
"Wake up Vincent Valentine because we need you, because your friends need you, because your son needs you, because . . . because he has your eyes."
Shinra was now raising two children, or so it seemed. The eldest was just the young mother of the youngest. Both growing in good stature.
Shinra kept their word and let Shelke visit the country cottage she used to call her home with Vincent. The first time she got to see it again she was holding her young son in her arms just remembering the time she spent there Vincent . . . and . . . how it seemed like a distant memory now. Shelke inhaled as she was engulfed by the shadow of the door she stood before.
Reno and Rude were a couple yards behind her just keeping an eye on things from a distance. They waited until she actually entered the house to move closer and peak through the windows to watch her inside.
"Hm, Mr. Valentine here knew what he was doing when he picked this place out," said Reno looking around and liking the place.
"It is nice," added Rude as the sun glinted off his glasses.
Their eyes soon turned back to Shelke inside as they saw her peaking in the rooms. The doors still lay open from how she left them. They watched as she came to a particular room and halted just pondering her thoughts.
Shelke had stopped in front of Vincent's room. She scanned her eyes around the place and found it was still kept the way it was when she had last left it. The sheets were all tossed around and still not made. Shelke hadn't bothered to fix it just wanting to remember it for the last time it was used.
She could still see Vincent laying there just smiling at her, just welcoming her, just . . . being Vincent. This was the room where she gave herself away to Vincent and she didn't regret it a single bit. It was the room where she was made complete and . . . where Gilmore was conceived.
She still remembered the feeling of that first time . . . and only time. It was exhilarating yet—completely satisfying. She just hoped Vincent was satisfied as well.
Shelke then saw the two of them on that night . . . she saw herself gasp in quick pain as Vincent became one with her for the first time. Shelke gave off a small smile seeing Vincent calm her and let her know everything was going to be okay as he held her close in his arms until the pressure subsided.
"There . . . you see?" said Vincent loosing his grip on her after a minute or so.
Shelke saw herself open her eyes at him and just smile. Vincent placed his tender hand on the side of her face as he hugged her again and kissed her, continuing the process. Shelke inhaled and let out a soft sigh. Her eyes soon went away from his room and back around the home . . . she wondered what it would have been like being able to raise their son together in this place.
Shelke cast her eyes down as she turned to leave the place. She guessed . . . she'd never know now. Reno and Rude straightened as she came walking out. She looked at the two and said—
"I am ready to leave now."
"Yes ma'am," they said preparing the chopper for take off.
Shelke took one last glimpse of it. She cast her eyes down and left back with the Turks. She'd see it again, but ever wondered if she'd see Vincent again.
That question was soon answered as Gilmore grew. Soon his newborn blue eyes had changed to ruby like that of his father's. Shelke saw so much of Vincent in him and knew he'd look just like him when he grew of right age. Even the others said he was the spinning image of Vincent Valentine . . . hm, who would have thought that Vincent was with them all along?
Gilmore had grown so much and learned so much as well. Even though he had yet to take his first steps he could still sit up right and crawl way before he was supposed to. All knew that was Shelke's part in him—that he mature beyond his years.
She loved her young son and he loved his mother. Shinra was glad to see they were progressing well. Reeve was also happy to see Shelke smiling again. It was something she hadn't done since she lost Vincent.
It soon came to a year since Vincent went missing. His son Gilmore had grown quite a bit. Shelke had taken him to the place under the tree where Vincent and she used to go for picnics or to talk, or to just be together. It was the place Vincent had proposed marriage—and where he almost got turned down.
Shelke placed Gilmore down next to the tree just to let him look around. As she took her eyes off him she glanced up at the sunbeams peering through the tree's leaves and branches. She took a deep breath in and sighed. She slowly blinked as she said—
"Where are you Vincent Valentine? Why have you not come back to us yet? What keeps you from us Vincent? Why can't we hear your cries for help or . . . why can't you hear ours?"
Shelke cast her eyes down and looked at little Gilmore who just picked up a leave that fell by his side and only played with it. He smiled as his wings twitched. He looked back to see them and only fell back trying to look back to far only letting out small giggles.
Shelke bent down and sat him back up. She gave him a kiss on his dark head and stood up shaking her head a bit just thinking to herself.
Come back to us Vincent because we need you . . . wake up so you can see that, Shelke's thoughts muttered.