Summary: Laura was just your average woman, until a freak accident involving her television set, the Advent Children dvd, and lightning strike transported her to Gaia. And that's only the beginning of the story!

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own FFVII or Advent Children. Just a single copy of the movie. Now put the pitchforks and torches away.

Queen's Quornor: Has anybody ever wondered what Kadaj's reaction might be if he ever saw Advent Children? Well, here's your answer, as I see it. And obviously, I don't pay attention to the credits in the movie. So let's just say whoever played Kadaj is Kadaj's ghost-acting name, the name he goes by in movies. Also, it seems that e-mail system is down again. So if any of you were expecting update alerts or sent me private messages or something, that is why. Doncha just hate it when this happens? I know I do!

Seeing Yourself As Others See You

"So what's new with Jim and Sarah?" Laura asked, sipping at her cocoa. "How's my goddaughter?"

Denise smiled and dug out a wallet-sized picture of her daughter, passing it to the couple on the sofa with an air of maternal pride. "Sarah's teething, as I mentioned on the phone. She's started walking too. And her grandparents are spoiling her rotten."

"She's adorable," Laura said, looking at the chubby little dark-haired baby in the picture, her seated position suggesting that she was nothing but knees and a slightly-oversized head. "Look, Ken. Isn't she cute?"

"Yeah." Kadaj drank his coffee, barely glancing at the picture. She frowned at him, concerned at his uncharacteristic silence, then handed the photograph back to its owner.

"Anyway, how's Jim? Is his new job at that magazine working out?"

"His job is great. There's all these perks for working at the magazine and, even better, he recently got some new games for us to play with." Denise sipped her coffee with a feral grin. "There are definite perks when your husband works at a video-gaming magazine for a living."

"You got lucky with that. I finally told off Harris, and I'm starting my job at Punk Advertising next week. You know, the advertising company that targets teens and young adults?"

"Yeah, I know what you're talking about. Man, I wish I could have been there when you told him off. He was a real bastard when I met him."

The doorbell rang, and Laura got up to answer it. Brian was standing just outside the door, looking a bit sullen. She searched his features for a moment before letting him in. "Denise, you remember Brian. Brian, this is my fiancé, Ken."

Kadaj waved lazily, causing Brian to narrow his eyes angrily. Laura didn't notice; she was preoccupied with pouring a third cup of coffee. She gave this to Brian and sat back down beside Kadaj, entwining one hand with his and picking her cocoa back up. Denise went on about the latest children's books she was illustrating and Laura answered all of Brian's questions, dreading the moment when attention would turn to Kadaj.

After what seemed like an eternity, Brian cast the first stone. "So, Ken. What do you do for a living?"

...shit.

"Well, I'm currently between jobs, but I guess you could say that I was a trick rider, an actor, and a fencer." Laura exhaled, thankful that he had answered so smoothly.

Denise refilled her mug. "What movies were you in?"

"He was one of the motion-capture and voice-acting guys for Advent Children. And guess which character he played?" Laura filled in, thinking fast.

The other woman's eyes widened. "You were the motion-and-voice actor for Kadaj?! Jeez, and here I thought you were just some normal cosplayer! Damn, Laura! You really can pick 'em!"

"Advent Children? Never heard of it," Brian interjected.

"Man, you have no idea what you're missing!" Denise got up and marched over to Laura's movie-case, pulling out the appropriate DVD and looking at her friend. "What's say we show him, girl?"

Laura glanced at Kadaj, who took a deep breath and gave a slight nod. "Sure. Brian, you're in for a real treat."

Don't let it get to you, Kadaj. It's over, it's done. She can't ever hurt you again.

From the first mention of Sephiroth, Laura knew Kadaj was having problems. His grip on her hand nearly made her cry out, it was so strong, but she didn't pry it off. If he needed her to keep grounded, then she would let him do whatever he had to do.

So she suffered in silence as his nails dug into her skin, feeling her bones grind against each other. He stayed stiff and silent throughout most of the movie, but there were a few times when Laura had to comfort him. The first was when the kids were drinking the black water; she heard a soft noise and, upon glancing over at him, realized that there were tears running down his cheeks. Upon seeing this, Laura had transferred his grip to her other hand, with some difficulty, and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, pulling him close and whispering soothing sounds in his ear, soft enough that neither of her friends could hear them. He eventually calmed and resumed his stiff posture, death-grip on her hand still intact.

The second had been when his on-screen self had merged with Jenova's cells to become Sephiroth. Kadaj actually got up off the couch and went for the bedroom, slow enough to look casual but faster than he normally walked. Laura told Denise and Brian to keep watching the film and special features, and followed him.

Should've known this was going to happen… Why did I let Denise put that movie in? We could have just told Brian what the movie's about!

She found him lying curled up on the bed, knees to his chest and head resting on one folded arm, the other fisted tightly against his mouth. His back was to the door. Laura knew from the characteristic shaking of his body that he was crying.

I'm never going to let him see that movie ever again.

She went to him, curled against his back and held him, her forehead resting against the base of his neck. It's just a movie, Kadaj. Just a stupid movie. You're not like that anymore. That wasn't you.

He wept silently for a long time, and Laura simply held him, quietly humming the same song that had soothed him before, "You'll Be in My Heart." At last, he quieted and his hand crept down to rest on hers.

"You missed the movie."

"I don't need to see the movie. You needed me."

His fingers slid around hers tightly. Almost as if they were a lifeline. "Why do you care so much? I'm not worth your love. Not after all the terrible things I've done."

She lifted her head and kissed his jaw, resting her head back in the hollow between his neck and shoulder. "I've done terrible things, too. Does that make you not love me?"

"No. You know I love you. So much that it hurts."

"So it is with me. I love you regardless of what you've done or what has been done to you. To me, at least, you are worth something."

He rolled over to face her, yellow-green eyes so sad and full of conflict. "Will I ever be able to believe you when you say that?"

"You hate liars. And I don't want you to hate me, Kadaj. I couldn't live with that, knowing that I somehow hurt you."

"I don't deserve you," he whispered miserably.

"And I don't deserve you." Her free hand slid up to cover his heart, the steady rhythm beating a familiar tempo beneath her palm. "But you can't choose who you fall in love with. Nobody can."

"That guy out there deserves you more. He can take better care of you than I ever could."

"Kadaj, I chose you. Not Brian. And nothing's going to change that." She kissed him softly. "And don't even think that I'm only doing this for the baby. If I was thinking only for Alex or Livia, I would have accepted Brian's proposal the first time he asked."

Kadaj sat up, eyes suddenly flashing dangerously. "He asked you to marry him?"

"More than once. But I never said yes. I don't love him, not like I love you."

He growled softly, sending a shiver of desire and fear down her spine. "If he touched you, I swear I will kill him."

"There hasn't been anyone since you, Kadaj. There has only ever been you." She sat up and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly with her head under his chin. "You were my first, you are my only. I would never betray you with another man. You know that." That time with Yazoo doesn't count.

Why doesn't it? You fucked him, didn't you?

Circumstances. Both of us would have been killed if we hadn't done the dirty.

But you both died anyway.

Shut up, conscience.

His arms encircled her possessively, lovingly. "I know you won't. So there's no turning back now, is there?"

"Into the Abyss. But if you're with me, I'll fall willingly."

He tipped her chin up, eyes suddenly dark and enticing, a smile teasing about his lips. "Wanna fall?"

I know that look. "Fuck yeah." She shifted to a more comfortable position on his lap, and started kissing him. Kadaj reached up and undid the plastic clasp behind her neck, causing the front of her halter-top to fall forward, uncovering her breasts.

He had just lowered one hand to tease her erect nipple when someone banged on the door. "Laura? Ken? Is everything all right in there?" Denise called.

The couple jumped apart guiltily, both flushed a deep red. "Everything's fine, Denise! Ken just…" She looked at Kadaj, who shrugged helplessly. "Uh…" Think, Laura, THINK! "Dinner didn't agree with him. I'm just getting some Pepto-Bismol for him. We'll be out in a minute."

"Is he all right?"

"He will be, once I get this medicine into him. Just watch the movie until we're back, ok?"

"Sure!"

Laura waited until Denise's footsteps had receded, then looked at Kadaj, who was unsuccessfully attempting to hide his hard-on. "Want some help with that?"

"Would you mind?" he inquired naughtily, cocking one eyebrow at her.

She knelt on the floor at the edge of the bed, smiling wickedly at him as she unzipped his fly. "You know I love how you taste, baby."