"Do I know what I'm doing?" came a familiar voice through the darkness. "Of course I know what I'm doing! Once he's gone he'll search and search until he finds them. I know at least one of them will do. It's been 18 years. I'm sure there are plenty of young ones for—"

"Wake up Vincent Valentine."

At that all was silenced. There was only darkness, but he could feel the light. Vincent Valentine could feel again he could feel himself starting to wake up. He felt his limps outstretched on the floor—or—grass.

His ruby eyes opened to find beams of sunlight shinning down on him and he heard the gentle bristling of the green tree leaves. The wind was so warm on him and he often wondered if this was another dream—but it didn't hurt him. As a matter of fact it felt so real. This had to be reality.

His eyes soon found the strength to move. They moved to the left and then to the right. Once they moved down he groaned slightly as he remembered how to sit up. His stomach muscles were still the same as they clenched and pulled him upright though they were stiffer than normal as if he had been sleeping for a long time.

This time he turned his shoulders to look around. He gasped slightly realizing so many things. He looked down at his hands wondering what had happened to him. Nothing seemed to change seeing how he looked the same as he last remembered before the darkness consumed him.

He then looked forward and found a flaw. Before his eyes lay a single strand of hair, but it was silver. He took a hold of it and plucked it out of his head. He scanned it for a minute until he realized that he had aged. He took a handful of his hair with his right hand and pulled it before his shoulder to get a better look at it.

His eyes widened as he saw the silver streaks in his midnight hair. The hair so easily signifies your age, but then again it could lie to you. His gloved hand soon came to touch his face. Nothing seemed to be wrong with it but it did seem a little rougher than last he remembered.

He then knew it had been a long wile since he had been awake in reality. Wherever he was he knew he had been missing, but where was he now? And how long has it been?

It's been 18 years, rung in his mind. With two fingers still tracing his face his eyes focused forward trying to put things together.

"18 years," he whispered as he stood up and took a step forward.

He then leaned on the tree beside him with his metal claw. He bowed his head trying to comprehend everything. To remember everything.

"Deepground," he said remembering them knocking him out. "The dreams."

He remembered the dreams he had in the darkness that seemed to last forever. They were more like nightmares, but by remembering those dreams he remembered his friends. He gasped having everything come to him so clearly. He then looked at the tree he leaned against for balance.

"Uh—this tree," he said recognizing it as the tree he and Shelke always came to any chance they could get to talk or have picnics . . . it was also the same tree he proposed to her by. "Shelke!"

At that he took off running. To the cottage he ran and once he opened the door and called out her name his heart sunk finding it empty and she not there. As a matter of fact this place hasn't been occupied in a long time as he saw the dust collected everywhere. Vincent's eyes cast down in sadness fearing his dream about her being gone was true.

His arms fell to his sides limp as he walked in and looked around. It seemed so dark in there. He remembered when it used to be full of bright light—he mostly said the cause was Lucrecia's personality. But now . . . it seemed so lonely.

He then walked in Shelke's old room. Everything was neat and placed just like Shelke had it before he last saw her. He then went to his room and found hat even his room laid as it was last he saw it. The sheets to his bed were still unfurled from them two as they slept in each other's arms for the first time . . . and last.

Vincent swallowed slightly as he turned and left the cottage. Where else could she be if not here? Why hadn't she waited for him? He looked up into the blue skies full with clouds and the light of the big sun.

His questions lay unanswered. As he turned to the direction the city of Edge lay he knew that there she should be . . . hopefully. He looked down at his hands only thinking of how long it had been. 18 years? How can that be so without him knowing it?

Once he looked back up he inhaled and straightened. He needed to know the truth as to what was going on and if it's true of how long it had been. He walked quickly to the city and found that it had shaped up quite a bit in the 18 years he's been abstinent. Once he entered the city he quickly tried to find Tifa's bar.

At least that was still there. He was about to enter but restrained from doing so. Through the window he could see Tifa taking some orders. She looked mostly the same, but her hips were a bit bigger as if she had some children and she wasn't as young looking as before—her skin was a little rougher like his.

So it was true. It had been 18 years or so. He bowed his head not knowing what to do. They probably thought he abandoned them and hated him for it.

How could he just walk in and say he's been in the darkness for so long away from them and for them to forgive for being so long away? No . . . it wasn't that easy. He then looked up and noticed Tifa was leaving. If she were going home then she'd certainly lead him to Cloud.

Who else would Tifa be with? He could probably talk to Cloud. He always could and he'd understand about his predicament—or help him figure out what happened in those long years.

He carefully stalked Tifa on her way home, which seemed to be some ways off. Just where did she live? Where exactly was she going? Soon though she realized she was being followed. She turned around and readied to attack.

"Who's there?!" she demanded to know with her fists clenched ready to fight.

Hm, same ole Tifa. Though he would not reveal himself yet. Soon Tifa sighed and shook her head saying to herself—

"You're losing your mind Tifa. Hhh, Sun's been tiring me too much."

At that she walked off. Vincent continued to follow until he found himself at some Shin-Ra facility. This couldn't be where she lived could it? No matter he'd still follow.

He kept hidden as he watched Tifa closely. She met with Yuffie who was still as enthusiastic as ever. Just bubbling with energy she was that it made him snicker inwardly. He then noticed a young girl very similar to Yuffie come and nearly tackle Tifa off her feet.

"Oh, hey Mimi," she said with a smile as she embraced the young teen.

"Hey mom, can I go with Tifa and watch Sun, can I?" asked Mimi with a bright smile.

So . . . that was Yuffie's daughter, thought Vincent. Well she's just like her, in mostly every way.

"I don't see why not," said Yuffie winking and holding up her index finger.

"Thanks mom!" said Mimi running off before Tifa as they left.

Yuffie just sighed and shook her head. She then noticed something in the bushel of trees beside her. She raised her weapon and shouted—

"Come out fiend!"

But nothing came out. She lowered her weapon and shrugged her shoulders. She sighed and said—

"Oh well—guess no one's there. But if there is . . . IF YOU GO AFTER MY DAUGHTER YOU'RE DEAD!!"

At that she smiled and hopped away. Vincent stood up and watched as she left. He then looked around and again made his way through the place that seemed to be a training area. He was about to walk elsewhere when he had to retreat back to his hiding place as a dark-haired and fair-skinned boy of about 15 or so came running near with a young child on his shoulders whose hair was golden—much like Cloud's.

Vincent wondered why the boy was being chased but the answer soon came as Yuffie's daughter Mimi came running behind him trying to get the child.

"Hey no fair!" she whined. "You already got to hold him!"

The teen boy just laughed as he ran in circles saying with a large smile—

"So—he's my brother!"

Vincent just shook his head and decided to move. No one noticed him still and this was a good thing. As he made his way through the place he had noticed come Turks around just watching the children. Some he hadn't seen before and realized they had recruited new ones.

It appears Shin-Ra's been growing again, but is it a good thing? There was so much on his mind he didn't know what to think of. He wanted to see Shelke and his friends, but then again he wanted to know why they were with Shinra when they hadn't really gotten along too well with them before. A lot has changed in 18 years . . . Very much.

Every now and then Vincent would glance at the Turks as they watched over everything. Hm, they still couldn't notice him—that was one thing that hadn't changed. Also as he walked he tried to figure out how to present himself and explain everything. How could he explain everything when he didn't exactly know what's happened to him in the first place?

Vincent halted his walk and just clenched his fists. He felt ashamed for abandoning his friends and especially Shelke. It wasn't his fault this he knew but deep in his heart he felt like it was. Oh why had Deepground done this to him? Why? What could they possibly hope to accomplish by keeping him for 18 years?

There was another time to ask questions. Right now he just wanted to see Shelke. He wondered if she had grown any. Of course she had, but he wondered how beautiful she got. If it had been 18 years then she'd look like a 28-year-old.

This made Vincent smile lightly just thinking of her. He wondered if she'd take after her sister Shalua or, if so, after Lucrecia. He'd never know unless he saw her and ever his heart ached until he caught just a glimpse of her. He knew he was close, he could feel it, but he found himself in yet another predicament.

He found himself engulfed by a shadow that came from above. He quickly glanced upward and saw it was someone about to land. He flipped out of the way and put his back up against the trunk of a tree not too far from where he jumped. He grunted as he held his chest lightly . . . he was aging . . . something he hadn't felt in a long time.

He saw the person land lightly on the ground with a grace that was almost inhuman. His eyes widened a bit seeing this young boy. He had the wings of a devil—much like Chaos' wings. He looked at the boy and saw he wasn't wearing a shirt—probably because it irritated his wings.

On his arms he wore metal braces that bore blades on them for blocking or hitting. He was quite tall as well. Tall and lengthy, much like himself. His hair was black as night and mangled and unkempt, probably because of flying all the time.

He was fixing his arm blades when he turned slightly towards where Vincent was hiding. Soon he turned completely with his wings outstretched as if in attack mode.

"Who's there?!" he asked almost with a snarl.

His fists were clenched ready to beat up anyone who intruded in his home if he had to. Vincent could easily outmatch him, but he needed to stay hidden. His thoughts were soon frozen as he looked into the boy's eyes. They were ruby . . . just like his . . . he'd never seen anyone like that before, but those eyes . . . they were his.

"I know you're there so come out!" he shouted ready to go into the bushel.

Vincent made no sound though. He couldn't even move because those eyes mesmerized him. He wondered if that's what his eyes did to everyone. They were so much alike—him and the boy.

His thoughts were soon cut short as the shadow came again. The boy took a leap in the air with a great flap of his wings. He jumped right near Vincent's standing spot. Vincent backed up as the boy landed a couple feet in front of him.

"Intruder!!" he hissed his eyes narrowed and his stance low as if ready for a fight.

Vincent was in no fighting stance. He just stood his ground and waited for anything. His thoughts confused him though as he saw this boy. He wanted many answers about him but didn't know how to ask.

"Why are you here?!" he asked demanding to know.

Vincent still kept quiet though.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" he asked with a small smirk.

It wasn't a moment too soon until the boy noticed some things about him. Like his ruby eyes that matched his own. He let out an almost unnoticeable gasp as his eyes widened for a second. He had never met anyone with those eyes before and so this made him a bit uncomfortable.

"Who are you?" he asked with his defenses slowly dropping.

"Would you be kind enough to tell me first?" asked Vincent with a slight smirk.

"Hm, so you have some manners after all—no," he said in his fighting stance again. "I am prepared to die fighting for those I love."

"Hm, I've heard that one before," said Vincent loosing his tense body. "I mean you no harm I'm just looking for—"

"Gilmore!!" came a familiar voice to both.

As the two turned they saw Shelke standing there looking at the two with wide eyes. Her chest heaving up and down quickly. She seemed in shock and Gilmore couldn't understand why. Gilmore gave her a confused look as Vincent looked at her with slightly wide eyes and slightly open lips where you could see the top ends of his front teeth.

After Vincent was able to take in Shelke's older look he inhaled and almost shakily said—

"You look good Shelke."

"Vincent!" she gasped feeling a little lightheaded.