Vincent slipped quietly into the darkened foyer of the Shinra mansion, shutting the door against the icy wind howling through the streets of Nibelheim. At least it was warm here. Warmer than it had been up at Icicle Inn at least. Wearily he unbuckled the holster around his waist that held his handgun and tossed it in the general direction of the coatroom. He winced as it landed with a muffled thud that seemed to echo throughout the drafty mansion. The house was far larger than was necessary for just him and Lyria, but Reeve had insisted on cleaning out and renovating the Shinra Mansion and giving it to them as a very large wedding present. It didn’t seem like they’d even been married for long and already they were celebrating their first Christmas together. With a reflective sigh, he mounted the grand staircase in the front hall, cursing the evil architect who would make a staircase this long without considering that some of the people who came up it might have been tired, cold and in desperate need of sleep in a proper bed. Pushing open the door slowly and avoiding the creaky floorboard in the bedroom, Vincent pulled off his jacket and dropped it on the floor. Carefully stepping over another sensitive floorboard he sat down on the bed and pulled off his shoes. Vincent began to unbutton his shirt, but stopped, deciding it wasn’t worth the effort. He glanced over his shoulder at Lyria, who was curled up, fast asleep under the blankets. She was beautiful, especially when she was asleep. Vincent had long since stopped wondering what she saw in him. How this exquisite, perfect angel could have shyly handed over her heart, without a moment’s hesitation, to him, a literal half-demon. He shook his head. Thinking about it was dangerous, it made him almost believe she deserved better. Besides, he was too tired to think. Carefully pulling back the covers, he sank down into the warmth of the mattress. Almost unconsciously, his metallic left hand slipped sideways and touched Lyria’s bare skin. Lyria responded with a little squeal at the sudden cold and rolled over to face him, suddenly awake. “Oh, damn it…”

“Sorry, Lyria…” he whispered as Lyria’s sleepy green eyes focused.

“You’re home!” Despite the fact she’d just been jolted out of a sound sleep; the young doctor’s happiness was sincere. “I’ve missed you so much…” Lyria slipped her arms around his neck.

“I missed you too.”

“Are you tired?” There was a strange note about Lyria’s voice.

“Yeah…”

“Really tired?” Her tone was a little more persistent, but Vincent still couldn’t place her meaning. He closed his eyes and started to slide into a welcoming sleep.

“Uh huh…”

“Really, really, really, tired?”

“I told you, yes!”

There was a slight pause. “You’re rather dense, aren’t you?”

“Lyria, my brain’s frozen…what is it you want?”

Lyria pulled closer and pressed her lips against his cheek. “Guess. I’ll give you a hint; I’ve really missed you…”

“Oh…”

Lyria’s hand ran down his chest and felt one of the buttons of his shirt. “Vincent, are you still dressed? That’s going to make things awfully…Vincent?” Too late, he was asleep. Lyria smiled and laid her head against her husband’s chest and he coughed slightly, breathing a little shallower and less rhythmic than normal. So he was really tired. Oh well, there would be times later when he wasn’t tired…

*

“Good morning…” Lyria greeted Vincent as he rolled over to face her. The young doctor was sitting on the bed, watching her husband sleep and wearing pair of extremely short pajama bottoms, a tank top and one of her husband’s white dress shirts for work.

“Morning…what are you doing wearing one of my shirts?”

“I always wear these when you’re gone; they help me feel less alone in this big empty bed.” Lyria lay down on her stomach and kicked her feet in the air. “Speaking of which…”

“I didn’t really greet you properly last night,” Vincent finished.

“Right. Let’s get down to some serious greeting, ‘k?”

Lyria had slowly started to break away from her constant need to be held or cuddled, mostly because her husband had started to have to leave on trips where he would be gone for a week or more. Now it seemed like her addiction was back in full force (it always returned around the same times Vincent did) and her emerald eyes sparkled in the bright morning sun that came through the bedroom window. Outside the fresh fallen snow glimmered on the slopes of Mt. Nibel reflecting the sun that blazed in the sky. “So why were you so tired last night?”

“There was a lot of work we had to do in Icicle…”

“Like what?” Lyria was always curious when it came to Vincent’s job.

“Well…it’s the headquarters of a resistance movement that Reeve wanted us to try and reason with…but…”

“Oh…” Lyria noticed the hint of guilt in her husband’s voice. “So you were shooting people?”

“We tried not to; we did everything we could to negotiate with them…”

“I know…it’s all right, I would have been very upset if you’d gotten hurt…” Lyria snuggled closer to her husband. “Very upset…”

“I wouldn’t have been thrilled either.”

“I’m just glad you’re home…”

“Me too.”

*

“Why is this house always so cold!?” Lyria exclaimed, attempting to strike a match so she could light a fire in the living room fireplace.

“Old heating system.”

“That’s no excuse. I’m freezing.” Lyria shivered and abandoned the hearth, deciding it would be easier to let Vincent warm her up. “I like my new heating system.”

“Is there a reason you always need to be held?”

“Does it bother you?”

“No, I was just wondering…”

“I don’t know, I guess because I need some reassurance that you’re here, and you aren’t going to leave me, and that we’ll stay together…you’re awfully tense, you know that?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault; just relax a bit, ok?”

“I’ll try…”

“Come on, I want to make breakfast and it’s cold in the kitchen…”

Lyria slipped out of Vincent’s arms and headed for the kitchen, but came back in a few seconds and snuggled under his arm. “Too cold to go by myself,” she explained.

“Ah.”

“Are you on holidays now? Christmas is coming…”

“Yeah, at least until Reeve calls us up again…”

“I hope he doesn’t…I hope he leaves you alone so we can spend Christmas together…”

“I’m sure he will.”

“Speaking of Christmas…I miss everybody…” Lyria sighed. The only person she could really keep in touch with was Tifa, but because of her new baby, Tifa was extraordinarily busy. “Do you think…do you think we could maybe have them over for a weekend? For Christmas maybe?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“ Reno and Rude and Elena too.”

“Of course.”

“Really? I have to phone Cid! Christmas is…good lord, only three days from now! I better hurry…” Lyria rushed out of the kitchen, heading for the office.

“What about breakfast?”

“Make it yourself. Surely you’re capable of that?”

“Well...I could try…but then the house would really warm up because I torched the kitchen.”

“Lazy.”

“I like the term ‘tired’ better.”

“Oh fine…but not until after I phone Cid,” Lyria decided.

“I do get fed though, right?”

“Yes, yes…” Lyria sighed and pulled her housecoat around her body tighter, her only defense against cold hallways of the mansion leading to the study.

“Why don’t you get dressed?”

“Are you saying you don’t like me showing a little skin?”

“Not if it’s going to give you frostbite.”

“Your concern is touching, but I have to call Cid. If you wanted, you could go get me a sweater and my jeans…”

“All right.” Leaving Lyria to get in touch with the pilot, Vincent headed upstairs to the master bedroom. Rummaging through Lyria’s bottom drawer, he pulled out a pair of neatly folded jeans and a red sweater. When he reentered the study, Lyria was perched on a chair, legs hugged tightly to her chest and laughing joyously into the phone.

“Did he really Shera? Oh lord…that’s hilarious…hang on dear, put Cid on so he can talk to Vincent, I’ve got to get dressed…”

Lyria took her clothes from Vincent and handed him the phone. “Talk to Cid. Tell him what I want.”

“Hello? Hi, Shera…I’m fine…yes…I suppose it’s going well…sure…Nice talking to you too…Cid? Hi.” Vincent glanced up as Lyria tripped trying to pull on her jeans and fell on the floor. “Don’t hurt yourself, dear.”

“Shut up, Vincent…”

“No, I wasn’t talking to you Cid…yes; I guess it is good advice…Lyria wants everyone to get together at our house for Christmas…you think you could…Yeah, everybody. Do you think they’ll mind if we have Reno, Rude, and Elena over too?...Come on Cid, they aren’t that bad…they have been very helpful, and they’re working for Reeve now…you don’t need to pick them up, they can probably take the chopper…Hang on, Lyria wants something…” Lyria tugged on her husband’s arm, she was sprawled on the floor next to the chair he was sitting in. “What is it Lyr?”

“I wanna talk.”

“Cid? Lyria wants to talk to you…”

Lyria grabbed the phone and held it against her ear with her shoulder while pulling on a pair of socks. “Cid, honey? Are you gonna phone everyone before going to pick them up, or should I do it?...what? Well…I’d like to…yeah…oh shut up…Cid! Watch your mouth!...yeah, of course I’m cooking Christmas dinner...well, beer isn’t the most traditional thing to baste a turkey with…tell you what, I’ll have Reno bring some liquor for you. How’s that sound?...Great. Love you too. Buh-bye.”

“Cid said ‘I love you’?”

“No. I just do that to bug him…”

“Nice of you.”

“Really? I didn’t think so…what would you like for breakfast?”

*

“So you’ll be here? Oh excellent, Cid should be there to pick you up within a couple days. Thanks so much, Yuffie…I’m looking forward to seeing you too…yeah, so far Tifa, Cloud, their daughter, Barret, Marlene, Cid, Shera, and Red are coming. I’ve yet to call the Turks and try and get in touch with Reeve…yeah he’s impossible to talk to nowadays…yes, I’m planning to invite the them…Oh stop it, Yuffie…my husband is a Turk, you know…c’mon…Turks are people too! All right, all right…I’ll see you soon. Love ya’. Bye.”

Lyria hung up the phone and crossed Yuffie’s name off her list. Since morning she’d made breakfast, phoned Barret with whom she talked for an hour, made lunch, phoned Red talking with him for even longer, then read a book for half an hour between calls, tried to call Reeve and failed, and had just completed her call to Yuffie. “Vincent! Yuffie’s coming!”

There was no answer from the rest of the house. Lyria got up from her chair reluctantly and went to the door of the library. “Vincent?” She yelled into the hallway. Lyria headed upstairs to her bedroom. The chamber was dark and Vincent was lying on the bed. “Are you sleeping?”

“Sort of…someone’s yelling is keeping me awake.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just tired…”

“Still?” Lyria sat down on the bed and lightly pressed a hand against his forehead.

“You’ve got very cold hands.”

“I think you have a fever…how are you feeling?”

“I’ve been worse.”

“Did you dress warmly when you were up north? It’s possible you’ve got a bit of a cold…” Lyria moved her hand and laid it gently against her husband’s chest. “Your heart beat is awfully rapid…breathe deeply, ‘k?” Vincent obliged and winced slightly. “Did that hurt?”

“A bit.”

“Are you cold?”

“I guess…”

“I’d appreciate some more definite answers.”

“In all honesty, I’m not feeling very well…”

“Have you been coughing a lot lately?”

“I suppose.”

“Oh…poor darling. Sounds like pneumonia…”

“How’d I manage that?”

“Did you feel the same way when you were up at Icicle?”

“Yeah, it started almost as soon as we got there…Is it serious?”

“This is probably the tail end of it. Don’t worry, it’s a very mild case and you’ll be better by Christmas.” Lyria pulled a quilt from the end of the bed and tucked it around her husband. “Go to sleep, ok?”

“I’ll try.”

“Ok…” Lyria gently kissed his forehead. “I’m going back downstairs to finish calling people. I’ve talked to everyone, but I haven’t been able to get in touch with Reeve or the Turks…”

“Use my PHS if you want to talk to Rude or Reno. You won’t be able to get either on their office phones…I can’t help you with Elena, but Rude probably can. I don’t know whether you’ll be able to get in touch with Reeve though.” Vincent coughed slightly when he finished speaking and shivered a bit.

“Stop helping me. Go to sleep.”

“Sorry.”

Lyria glanced around, looking for her husband’s cell phone. “Vincent where…”

“It’s in the same holster as my gun. I threw that somewhere downstairs last night.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t feel like putting it away.”

“All right. I’m going now…you sleep, ok? You’ll get better sooner if you sleep…”

“I know.”

Lyria left the room, closing the door behind her quietly. Down the stairs and in the large foyer, she found Vincent’s PHS tucked in his holster beside his gun. Gingerly picking up the weapon, she pulled out the small cell phone and, for lack of wanting to disturb her husband and not knowing where to put the firearm, laid it back down on the ground where she’d found it. Happily she returned to the study and sat back down on her chair. Flipping open the small phone, she quickly dialed the number that appeared on the small screen next to Rude’s name.

“Hello, Rude?...Hi!...no…well, he’s got a bit of pneumonia, but it’s nothing serious. I’m just using his phone to call you…Well; we’re having a bit of a get together for Christmas and…hey! Is Elena there?...Can I talk to her?...Hi Elena! D’you and Rude wanna come down and visit us and the old gang for Christmas? Uh huh…yeah…sure. We’ve got lots of spare rooms so everyone can stay overnight for a couple days…that’s a great idea! I’ve never been skiing…so all Turks can?...I guess that makes sense…I don’t know if Vincent will be up to going though…pneumonia, actually. He’ll probably be sleepy and lethargic for the next couple days, but it’s a very mild case he should start getting better soon…no, it wasn’t Rude’s fault…or Reno’s…I think it’s just he doesn’t dress properly when it’s cold out. You might want to keep an eye on Rude too…speaking of which…what are you doing in such close proximity to…oh…what?…Elena!…too much information…ok; I gotta let you go for now, Elena. I’ll see you soon…buh-bye…”

Lyria ended the call and dialed Reno’s number.

“Hiya Reno!...no…nothing’s wrong…I’m just using his phone because I didn’t know what number I could reach you at…I was wondering…do you maybe want to come over for Christmas? I know it’s a little sudden…if you want to spend Christmas with your family I totally understand…oh…that’s sad…my family are all dead too…well, everyone else is coming…and Rude and Elena I think…Elena thinks we should all go skiing…I’ve actually never been…he’s sick, he can’t teach me…you’re sick minded, you can’t teach me either…So are you coming or not?...great…oh…would you mind bringing some liquor? I promised Cid, but I’ve got nothing in the house besides some wine in the basement and I’m too scared to go down and get it…one more thing…umm…do you know if I can get in touch with Reeve?...I tried that…no?...well…I’ll try again, maybe on this phone…thanks Reno…Love ya’…bye…”

Lyria hung up the phone and stared into the fire she’d started in the fireplace. The flames danced and flickered, casting odd shadows on the wall. It wasn’t late, not nearly, but sunset had already fallen and the stars were sparkling like diamonds flung at random against black velvet. Lyria sighed and got out of her chair to pace before the fireplace. Idly she picked up the wedding picture on the mantle. There was such a contrast between her and Vincent. Even in the picture, clad in black, dark hair, red eyes, and only the slightest hint of a smile on his features, Vincent almost seemed to radiate an air of regret and sadness. And, Lyria, held in his arms, gown of purest white and green eyes sparkling with the utmost joy and happiness was almost the exact opposite. He took lives; she tried to give them back. Such a contrast and yet she loved him more than anything. His past was dark and fragmented hers bright and sunny with a sense of warmth and belonging. So different they should have been incompatible, but for some strange reason, some loophole in the depths of human psychology, they fit together with near perfect accuracy. She smiled as she remembered when he had asked her to marry her. It was unorthodox, but if he had done it any other way it would have been too far out of character.

*

Lyria opened the door of her apartment in a daze. She entered, dropped her backpack on the floor and threw herself onto the couch, crying almost hysterically.

“Lyria? What’s wrong?” Lyria heard Vincent ask as he entered the room and felt and hand gently rubbing her back. “Hey, come here…” Lyria didn’t stop crying as she sat up and let Vincent hold her tightly. She was trembling and once in a while, even as her weeping slowed down, a stray sob would rack her body and she’d start crying again. Eventually she calmed down to the point where she was still crying, but had worn herself out too much to keep up her hysterics. “Are you all right? What happened?”

“I…th-there was a little girl in the hospital…” Lyria whispered. “She’s been there for a while now…”

“Yes?” Vincent still held Lyria closely, letting her lay her head on his shoulder.

“Sh-she had cancer and…oh, god…I thought she would get better…she was doing so well…but…” Lyria burst into tears again, unable to continue.

“Hey…calm down, it’s ok…”

“No…no, it isn’t…I tried so hard…I did everything right, but she…she just died…I…”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“But what if I could have…”

“Lyria, you can’t live your life suffering the deaths of others.”

“She was seven years old! Seven!” Lyria seemed almost angry now. “Why? Why take a little girl with her whole life ahead of her?”

“You know I can’t answer that. If you want a philosophical response, go talk to Red. The only thing I do know is that no one can stand against death forever.”

“Oh…but…”

“Do you always let the mortality of human beings cut you so deeply? Don’t let it linger, for god’s sake. It’s a terrible world where a child of seven can die, but you can’t dwell on it. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been surrounded by death for as long as I can remember. I was all but dead for thirty years. I let it change me. Too much. I sincerely wish I hadn’t because now I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again. I held on to the hatred, even watching Hojo die wasn’t enough. I still hate him and I’ll never stop. Hatred is a very strange feeling. It was probably one of the few things that kept me alive, but it killed something inside. Compassion, I think and maybe humanity.”

“No…they’re still there, they’re just buried deep.” Lyria had stopped crying but was still nestled close to Vincent.

“Maybe. Are you still upset?”

“Yes…”

“Oh. Really? After all that I still couldn’t make you happy again?”

“I’m happier, but not as much as I could be, it’s still very depressing.”

“I’ll try again. I think we should get married.”

“What!?” Lyria exclaimed, sadness vanishing to be replaced by shock.

“I think we should get married.”

“I heard you! Are you serious?” Lyria asked, looking in Vincent’s eyes.

“If you want me to be, I am. I’ve been meaning to ask for a while now.”

“Of course! Do you mean it? We can really get married?”

“Sure. Here, I bought a ring a while back.” Vincent pulled out a small box and handed it to Lyria.

“My god! How much did this cost?” Lyria gasped, looking wide-eyed at the large diamond on the ring he’d slipped on her finger.

“A fair bit I guess, I’m making money far faster than I can spend it so it felt sort of good to walk into a jewelers and pay cash for his most expensive piece.”

“Why are you being so nonchalant? Aren’t you happy?”

“Of course.”

“This is so sudden…”

“Why? We’ve been living together for almost a year and a half now, right?”

“Ok, so it isn’t sudden…” Lyria giggled. “Where should we get married?”

“I don’t know, it’s up to you.”

“All of it?” Lyria exclaimed. “I can’t plan a whole wedding on my own!”

“Call Tifa.”

“Are you crazy? We have to get a church, decide where it will be, make a guest list, we need a florist, a caterer, a photographer, somewhere to hold the reception…not to mention my dress, bridesmaids…who’s going to be my maid of honor? Do you want Reno, or Rude, or Cloud, or Cid, or Barret for best man? Would Red be able to? I don’t know what we’d find for him to wear…it might offend a couple people to have a dog for best man…I guess Marlene could be the flower girl, but do we know anybody with a little boy to be the ring bearer? Good god, we haven’t even set a date yet!”

“Maybe you should call Shera too. I actually have to go pretty soon, we’re starting a mission in Junon today.”

“What am I going to do while you’re gone?”

Vincent pulled out his bankcard and handed it to Lyria. “Here. Have fun.”

Lyria looked at the small rectangle of plastic in her hand and then at Vincent who stood waiting expectantly. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I thought we had already established my sincerity. I thought the ring was rather serious.”

Lyria laughed and embraced Vincent. “I love you…”

“I love you too.”

Lyria brightened slightly, happy for the affirmation that Vincent loved her. She decided to run upstairs and see if Vincent was hungry. Knocking lightly on the door but receiving no response, she slipped into the dark room and shook her husband’s shoulder. “Vincent? Hey, wake up…”

“I wasn’t asleep.”

“No? I thought you were tired…”

“I am…” he was interrupted by a sudden bout of coughing. “If possible, I’m more worn-out than before, but I can’t sleep…”

“Coughing too much?”

“I guess…”

“I could make you some tea or something warm. It might help…”

“Would you?”

“Of course…any particular preference? I think tea would be good, something herbal maybe?”

“Whatever you want to make.”

“All right…I’ll make just plain Earl Gray tea, ok?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll come sit with you when it’s done and we can talk…unless you’re too tired.”

“I’ll probably be all right if you just want to talk.”

“Ok…don’t go anywhere.” Lyria skipped out of the room and hurried to the kitchen. Humming idly she put a kettle of water on the old cast iron stove and turned the burner to its highest setting. Abandoning the kettle for a moment, she stepped into the pantry and reached for the canister of tea on the top shelf. It was just above her reach as she didn’t like tea and if Vincent ever wanted any, he made it himself. Stretching to her full height of five feet eight and a half inches, she grasped the edge of the container and tilted it into her other hand. Lyria smiled slightly at her triumph. She wasn’t nearly as tall as her husband, but she was still capable of being independent around the house, however lonely she got. The kettle whistled and Lyria reentered the kitchen, teabag in one hand. Grabbing the kettle off the stove she poured the steaming water into a waiting mug and dropped in the teabag. She was slightly unsure of how long to wait, but decided that two minutes would be enough. Lyria frowned, attempting to remember how her husband liked his tea. Cream and sugar? Just cream? Just sugar? Neither? She’d heard somewhere that it was only proper to have cream or sugar, but never both. That might have eliminated one option except for the fact that in all probability Vincent didn’t care whether it was proper or not. Lyria decided she would run upstairs and check, just to make sure. She sighed and dashed up the stairs again and stepped into the bedroom.

“Vincent, what…” she began.

“Nothing. No cream, no sugar.”

Lyria stamped her foot. “How can you always tell what I’m going to ask?”

“You always forget little details. Usually they’re minor bits and pieces of information that don’t seem important at the time, but when you get a little farther along in whatever it is you’re doing you realize what you forgot.”

“Oh. I didn’t know I did it that often. I’ll try to stop…”

“I don’t mind, it’s rather endearing.”

Lyria smiled. “You’re so sweet. Making my shortness of memory sound cute…”

“You’re welcome.”

“I have to go back down and…” Lyria looked blank for a second.

“Finish making tea,” Vincent finished for her, sitting up in bed and leaning against the pillows.

“Right. Where would I be without you?”

“Lost somewhere. And I wouldn’t get any tea.”

Lyria laughed. “Yeah. Ok, I’ll be right back.” Lyria slipped out of the room and returned minutes later with a mug in one hand.

“Thank you.” Vincent took a small taste of the tea. “Awfully strong, isn’t it?”

“Sorry. I let it steep when I came up to ask what you wanted. I could make some more, if you…”

“No. You’ll get distracted on your way down and I’ll never get anything to drink…”

“Now you’re making me sound like an airhead. A minute ago I was ‘endearing’ now I’m an airhead.”

“But a very endearing airhead.”

“Not funny.” Lyria sat down on the bed next to her husband and nestled comfortably beside him. “You’re warm…”

“Careful. I don’t want to burn you…”

“Don’t worry. Are you starting to feel better?”

“I think so.”

“That’s good…I’m so excited to see everyone…”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t wait to see them all…do you think they’ve changed?”

“Cid might have, being married to Shera now…other than that…”

“I don’t think he has…I’m excited to see Marlene though…” Lyria snuggled closer and fell silent for a while. “Vincent, do you ever think about…about having kids?”

Lyria hadn’t exactly expected the response she’d gotten from her husband. Vincent sighed and set his tea to the side. “I knew you’d ask this someday…”

“And?”

“I…I can’t…”

“What do you mean ‘can’t’?”

“It’s not so much I can’t as I’m not willing to.”

“Why not?” Lyria asked, looking up into Vincent’s eyes. It was obvious what he felt was painful and he looked weary.

“You know what I am. It’s genetic. The very thought that I could curse a helpless child with such an evil power…”

“But…”

“Lyria, I just…you have no idea what Chaos is like…” Vincent shuddered, physically terrified at the mere thought. “Changing…is absolute agony, a few seconds in my own little corner of hell. You’d think after years of the same transformation the pain would lose some of its edge, but it’s still as bad as when I first tried. Fighting as Chaos is even worse…it’s like seeing something through another person’s eyes. Except killing everything that stands in its way drives this person…if nothing else, Chaos is single-minded. It doesn’t let anything stop it, not even injuries that would be deadly to humans…even if it’s Chaos’s body that takes the blows, I can always feel the pain. Chaos can take far more than I can and sometimes it’s too much and I have to let go…lose control of Chaos…but the irony is when I do let Chaos have free rein, it unleashes power devastating enough that it levels anything in it’s path. Then the battle is over and I can change back…but I always know that it’s going to happen again and one of these times I might wake to see the corpses of my friends scattered about, because I couldn’t control the demon I am.”

Lyria was in tears by the end of his description and she let him hold her close as she cried. “Why? Why you? It’s…it’s just not fair…”

“I know it isn’t. I used to tell myself that it was my punishment for letting Hojo, Gast, and Lucrecia unleash the evil that they did. Now I know differently…I could have done nothing in the face of Jenova, but I did try…and look what it earned me…” Vincent held up his artificial left hand and examined it with revulsion. “I can’t hold a child with this…this has been stained with too much blood…”

Lyria gently took his left hand in hers and kissed it softly. “I don’t care. I don’t care about blood. I see blood every day; my hands have been stained too.”

“Not with the blood of people you’ve killed, the blood of people you’ve saved. Even if we did have a child he’d live with a murderer for a father. What will you tell him when I have to go? ‘Daddy can’t tuck you in tonight because he’s down in Midgar shooting people. Your father isn’t even really human…he just looks like it. Inside he’s really an evil beast…by the way, there’s a chance that if you get to angry or if you hurt yourself you’ll turn into a demon and start killing things…’ How could a child live a normal life with a father like me?”

“I wish there was something I could do…” Lyria whispered, tears still streaming from her eyes and she tried to get even closer, laying her head against Vincent’s shoulder.

“So do I.”

*

“Lyria, be careful!” Tifa called from the ground where she was sorting through a box of Christmas decorations. The young doctor stretched to place a star atop the Christmas tree Cloud had dragged in. It was the morning of Christmas Eve and Cloud and Tifa were helping Lyria and Vincent decorate their house for when their friends would come in the evening. Cloud and Vincent were hanging Christmas lights outside and Tifa and Lyria were decorating while little Aeris was playing in a playpen in the corner of whichever room Lyria and Tifa happened to be in.

“I’m fine, Tifa.” Lyria answered, finally securing the star and leaping down from the ladder she’d been using. “Doesn’t it look gorgeous?”

“Absolutely,” Tifa agreed. “We’re pretty much finished in here, right?”

“Yeah. Let’s head to the kitchen and we can start on lunch for Cloud and Vincent…” Lyria scooped Aeris out of the playpen and held the little girl up. “How are you doing angel? You’re getting pretty big, about two years old now aren’t you?”

Aeris then giggled and cooed as Lyria hugged her tightly. The little girl truly looked like a tiny seraph that had strayed from heaven and decided to stay with Cloud and Tifa. Big brown eyes with a hint of laughter always just beneath the surface, a little button nose and soft lips the color of fresh picked pink roses were the features that Aeris greeted everyone with. It was impossible not to love the little girl, even just by looking at her.

“She’s just perfect, isn’t she?” Tifa smiled and took her daughter from Lyria’s arms.

“Yeah…” Lyria sighed, watching Aeris nuzzle her cheek against her mother’s shoulder and closing her eyes.

“What’s wrong Lyr?” Tifa asked, swaying from side to side and running her hand up and down Aeris’s back, lulling the little girl into sleep.

“I just…the holidays always depress me a little…” Lyria lied. “Come on, let’s get to work. I guess they’ll want something warm to eat, huh?”

“Yeah…have any soup?”

“We could whip some up quickly. Let’s get to work, I’ll bring Aeris’s playpen.”

“Speaking of which we should make sure there are rooms for everyone…with the proper beds and such…”

“Yeah.”

*

“Talkative, aren’t you?” Cloud asked Vincent sarcastically, stapling another section of wire to the edge of the roof. Vincent was perched on the roof handing Cloud wire while the ex-mercenary stood on a ladder, attaching the lights to the eaves of the house. It had gotten dark already and the light shining through the windows of the house was warm and ruddy, opposite the icy cold darkness outside.

“Not really,” Vincent answered dryly.

“Why not?”

“No reason.”

“Liar,” Cloud accused.

“So what if I am? Would you really want to know why?”

“Are you back into that old habit? You’re a goddamn idiot, you know that?”

“You? Calling me an idiot? How ironic, ‘Mr. Give-the Black-Materia-to-Sephiroth’ is calling me an idiot.”

“Shut the hell up…” Cloud answered angrily.

“Sorry…I’m a bit…I don’t know…confused, I guess…”

“About what?” Cloud asked, regaining a civil tone. “Lyria causing problems?”

“No…I don’t really want to talk about it…”

“Whatever.”

The pair worked in silence for a while until Vincent asked. “Cloud, what exactly happened when you fell in the Lifestream? I wasn’t really paying attention when you told everyone what happened…mostly because I didn’t care…”

“You didn’t really care about anything for a long time, huh?”

“Yeah. I just remember you were different afterward.”

“It was strange. Tifa was there and we were together, in my mind, sort of. It was like we were going through my life and sorting out where things had gone wrong…”

“Did anything change?”

“Huh? Well…I did, but not any of the events…”

“Could you explain it any more?”

“Well…I felt like the lie I’d been living for the past few years was washing away and I was myself again…”

Vincent fell silent and Cloud looked like he was about to ask a question when the faint whirring of helicopter blades caught his attention. Cloud glanced up at the helicopter approaching from the direction of Midgar.

“That’ll be the Turks,” Vincent commented, bracing himself against the wall and hanging on to the edge tightly.

“Yeah, probably…where do you think they plan to…” Cloud was cut off by the roar of the helicopter as it landed on the roof. There was a sudden tempest of swirling snow and wind as the chopper landed, a muffled shouting, and the helicopter took off again. When the snow cleared Reno, Elena, and Rude were standing on the roof, grinning.

“Howdy, Valentine,” Reno said cheerfully as Vincent shook snow from his hair. “Whatever happened to Cloud?”

“I think you blew him off the roof…” Vincent answered, striding to the edge and looking down at the mercenary, who was attempting to remove himself from a snow bank.

“Oops.” Elena grinned; the blonde Turk was wearing a Santa hat, the only thing offsetting her navy suit. Reno was dressed as usual in a wrinkled blue suit with a bottle of brandy in one hand. Rude didn’t look any different and still wore sunglasses.

“Are you all right, Cloud?” Reno called congenially.

“Go to hell!” Cloud responded, equally jovial. “Get your ass down here, Turk!”

“Shall we?” Rude asked, gesturing to the ladder.

“Why not?” Reno turned to give Elena a hand lowering herself onto the ladder, just as Vincent jumped off the edge and landed nimbly on the ground next to Cloud.

“I’ve never been able to figure out how he does that without breaking his neck…” Elena muttered.

“One thing’s for sure…he’s a goddamn freaky ass bastard, ain’t he?” Reno agreed.

Rude only nodded and followed the other Turks down the steps. Elena had already reached the ground and was hugging Vincent and scolding him for being outside while he was sick.

“Could someone please help me get out of this snow bank?” Cloud demanded.

Reno laughed and gave him a hand up. “Interesting to be on the same turf and not trying to kill each other, isn’t it?”

“Meh. I’ve been in odder situations…” Cloud grinned. “Get your Turkish asses inside the house.”

“Sure. It’s damn cold out here.” Elena shivered and hugged Rude.

“Are you two…together?” Cloud asked.

Vincent pulled Cloud out of range of Rude’s fist and scolded his subordinate. “Rude. No hitting.”

“Isn’t it goddamn obvious we’re together?”

“Oh, lay off Rude. It’s Christmas. Let’s go get drunk,” Reno said, running ahead to the house.

*

“Elena!” Lyria shrieked, running down the stairs and embracing her friend. “How are you doing? Vincent never talks about you, even though I’m always asking…”

“It’s not his fault. We don’t see each other much; I’m actually the head of another squad…” Elena returned the hug and held her friend at arms length. “You look incredible; the cold weather is always so hard on my skin…”

“Mine too, but I have a good moisturizer. It’s called Lily Petals. I guess you haven’t met Tifa’s daughter Aeris? She’s just adorable…hey, Tifa! Bring little Aeris over here!”

“Ooooh! She’s so cute! How are you doing Tifa? It’s hard to believe you were even pregnant…”

“Thanks Elena…d’you wanna hold her?”

“I’d love to!”

“Let’s go into the den and sit down so we can talk some more…”

In the midst of the chatter between the three ladies the doorbell rang and as Vincent opened the door Shera, Marlene and Yuffie burst in, adding to the clamor.

“Hi! Ooh, I’ve missed you all sooooo much! Hiya Elena! How’re you doin’?”

“Auntie Tifa! Auntie Lyri! And…who’re you?”

“Yuffie! Are you actually getting taller? And you’re properly dressed too…it’s a different look for you.”

“I’m sorry we just burst in like that…Cid was so slow getting here, and I was so anxious to see all of you…can I hold Aeris?”

“My name’s Elena, I take it you’re Marlene?”

“Yup! I’m seven!”

“Sure Shera. Why don’t all of you get your wet things off and put them in your rooms? C’mon, me and Tifa will show you, let’s go upstairs.”

“What exactly do we do with our coats?”

“Just throw them over there, we’ll deal with them later…”

In a sudden agreement several, heavy, wet coats were thrown in the general direction of the group of guys standing by the door, one hitting Barret, the other Cid, and one draping over Red.

“Anyone want a drink?” Reno asked tentatively as the girls disappeared up the stairway, laughing and giggling.

“Sure.”

“I guess…”

“What’d ya’ bring Reno?” Cid asked, removing the coat from his head

“Tifa doesn’t like me drinking at holidays…”

“Jes’ cuz Tifa don’ wan’ ya to you ain’t gonna drink nothin’?” Barret snorted, dropping the jacket that had been thrown at him on top of Cloud.

“I don’t drink.”

*

Lyria skipped into the bedroom, giggling like a little girl. “I had such an amazing time!” It was well after two in the morning and the guests had just decided to break up their little get together with the hope of resuming in the morning. Rude and Elena were sharing a bedroom, as were Tifa and Cloud with Aeris tucked in her crib, Shera and Cid, and Yuffie and Marlene. Barret was in his own room, snoring loudly and Reno had long since passed out on the couch downstairs.

“That’s good.”

“We talked about everything…what did you guys talk about?” Lyria got undressed quickly and rummaged in her drawer for a moment.

“Nothing much really.”

“For six hours, you talk about nothing?” Lyria asked incredulously, pulling her nightgown on.

“I didn’t say ‘nothing’…we just didn’t talk about much…”

“Whatever. You guys are weird…” Lyria snuggled into the bed beside Vincent, curling up tightly under the blanket. “I’m cold…”

“You could come closer, if you wanted…”

Lyria happily complied and nestled closer. “Merry Christmas…”

“You too.”

*

“Good morning,” Lyria greeted everyone, entering the living room where her guests had gathered. Shera, Tifa, and Cloud each had mugs of coffee and Cid and Barret were showing signs of wear from the previous night’s drinking. Neither looked worse than Reno, who was still passed out on the couch. There were multitudes of presents underneath the tree and there was a fire crackling on the hearth.

“Hiya, Lyr!” Yuffie grinned. “We’re gonna play a game, it’s called “Scare-the-hangover-out-of-Reno, wanna play?”

“Sure, sounds like fun…I’ll go first.” Lyria gestured to the window and Vincent smiled and walked over, pulling open the curtains.

“Augh…” Reno moaned weakly, covering his face with his hands. “Oh god…I’m in hell…”

“Merry Christmas Reno!” Lyria yelled.

“Lyria? What’re you doing in hell? And why are we celebrating Christmas?”

“You aren’t in hell…”

“Sure feels like it…”

Yuffie’s grin was pure evil. “Hell, Reno? Even after last night? I would have to say last night was fairly close to heaven…”

“ Reno!” Shera exclaimed, catching on quickly. “How could you? You’re lucky she isn’t a minor or you could be arrested!”

“W-what?” Reno jerked his head up, color draining from his skin. “Y-Yuffie? What are you talking about?”

“We all know what she’s talking about,” Tifa put in. “Honestly, we heard you all the way down the hall…are you two animals or something?”

“If you got me pregnant, my father’ll make you marry me…” Yuffie put a hand on her tummy.

“Oh god…oh dear god…no…you’re lying to me…you must be…” Reno looked up at the others, all of whom had managed to keep straight faces. “You aren’t lying…oh god…kill me now…” Rude grabbed Reno by one of his arms and hauled him to the window. Vincent threw open the casement and helped Rude hurl Reno out into a pile of snow lying several feet below the window.

“Are you good and sober yet?” Elena called conversationally.

“Sober is not a good state of being. If any one cares I’m also cold, wet, hung over, and a potential father. None of those are good,” came the muffled response from the snow bank.

“Well, actually you’re only sober, cold, wet, and hung over. Not a potential father,” Lyria confessed. “We made that part up…”

“I hate all of you.”

“Oh come on Reno. Get in the house; we’re going to open presents!” Yuffie called.

“Would anyone mind if I just stayed out here and froze to death?”

“ Reno, get your ass in the house and open your goddamnit presents!” Cid yelled.

*

“Well…I guess I’ll go make breakfast…” Lyria said, detangling herself from the pile of wrapping paper and ribbons and straightening the necklace Vincent had gotten her, a delicate gold chain with a small ruby pendant in the shape of a perfect rose just opening with tiny diamonds gracing the petals like dew. She’d gotten her husband a heavy gold signet ring with an eagle carved on it, wings spread and soaring to the sky. Yuffie had gotten lots of materia and was attempting to find places for them all. Shera had received a flight jacket just like Cid’s with the word ‘Lieutenant’ stitched across the back. Cid had received several bottles of cognac and was currently attempting to open one to share with Reno. Elena had gotten Rude a new pair of sunglasses and Rude had gotten Elena a tiny little silk negligee. Cloud’s present from Tifa was a new armlet with linked spaces for his materia. Tifa had gotten a chenille sweater with long flared sleeves and a hood. Vincent and Lyria had decided that Reno would be better served by the wine they had in their basement and had presented him with the keys to the wine cellar, to be opened when he could figure out a way to transport all the bottles, he and Cid were currently congratulating each other with a toast from Cid’s new stock of liquor. Barret had gotten a cross stitched plaque reading ‘Home sweet home’ for placement in his new house, the mayor’s residence in Corel. Red received a delicate crystal feather, iridescent and seeming to glow with every color of the rainbow. Marlene and Aeris had each been swamped with a large number of presents from everyone and were playing together on the floor.

“You want some help, Lyr?” Tifa asked.

“Sure…” Lyria was interrupted by a sharp ringing tone. All the Turks, (except for Reno, who was toasting Cid’s victory over the bottle of cognac), immediately reached for their cell phones. Vincent’s was the one that was actually ringing.

“Hello?...Merry Christmas, Reeve…thank you, sir…what?...oh…but…sir, it’s Christmas…are you sure it’s urgent?...can’t it wait, at least until…”

Lyria snatched the phone from her husband. “Reeve? You leave us alone; we’re having Christmas…why don’t you come down here?” Lyria clicked the phone off and stood up. Looking around the room and spotting the still open window, Lyria smiled slightly and tossed the phone outside. She then pulled the shutters closed and drew the curtains.

“You’re going to get me in trouble, you know that?” Vincent commented mildly.

“If you’re that worried go get your phone.” Lyria gestured out the window over her shoulder. “Now what does everyone want for breakfast?”

*

“All right, let’s run through this once more.” Lyria looked around at her friends who were standing in the front entrance to the Shinra Mansion dressed warmly and carrying either skis or snowboards. “We go up to Mount Nibel, strap flimsy looking boards to our feet, and fly down the mountain at four billion miles an hour then climb back up again and repeat the sequence? For what purpose? Fun? Exhilaration?”

“It’s an adrenaline high,” Cloud explained, shifting his snowboard.

“I heard a story once about a guy who walks into a bar and orders a drink. He starts talking to the man next to him about how he lives his life to the fullest as though every day was his last. He lords on for a while about the rush of adrenaline and how pretty soon he’s going to catch a bus to get to a skydiving school. The man who’s sitting next to him is the quieter, conservative type. He listens politely until the man finally finishes and leaves. Moments later there’s a monumental crash and when the man looks outside he sees this guy lying in the middle of the road, hit by a bus.”

“What’s this story supposed to mean?” Cloud asked.

“I dunno. I didn’t hear the whole thing. Look both ways before crossing the street maybe?” Lyria shrugged.

Everyone laughed and there was a sudden knock at the door. Lyria smiled and turned to answer the door. Standing with his hands in the pockets of his ten thousand Gil, perfectly tailored, blue suit with a cat on a stuffed Moogle behind him was Reeve.

“Hey!” Lyria exclaimed, embracing the Shinra president. “Mr. Reeve took time off from work to rub shoulders with the common people! Get in the house; we’re just heading out to go skiing!”

“Sounds like fun. Can Cait come too?” Reeve gestured at the cat who jumped up and waved happily then lost his footing and fell backward into the sack the Moogle was carrying on his back. “Oh, Cait…” Reeve pulled the small animal from the sack and straightened the Santa hat he wore on his little head.

“Who’s this?” Lyria asked, looking curiously at Cait Sith and ushering Reeve into the house where he was greeted with warm embraces and handshakes.

“I’m Cait Sith, pretty lady! I take it you’re the lovely and charming Lyria Valentine? Pleased to meet you, although I believe you may be lost. You see, angel, heaven is up that way…” Cait Sith pointed upwards to the sky and leapt off the Moogle’s back and onto Lyria’s shoulders.

“That’s Cait Sith…” Cloud muttered. “He’s almost as irritating as Yuffie.”

“Hey!” Yuffie yelled.

“I like him…he’s cute.” Lyria said, stroking the cat on the head.

“The lady has taste,” Cait commented.

“He’s actually a genetically modified robot,” Reeve put in. “A cat with a couple microchips inserted in various places that give him human characteristics. But he doesn’t act like it. He’s very well programmed.”

“You dare call me a robot?” Cait said defiantly. “I’m as human as you are boyo!”

“Whatever you say, Cait,” Reeve shrugged. “Bring my stuff inside…if you guys have room for me…”

“Always, Reeve,” Lyria laughed. “Come on, I’ll take you upstairs…”

Cait Sith leapt back over to his Moogle and struck a dramatic pose. “Hi ho, Moogly! Away!” The cat kicked the stuffed animal in the head and it surged forward, knocking Cait off his feet and into the sack again. Lyria giggled and followed the animal partway up the stairs.

“You all go on ahead, I’ll help Reeve get settled and we’ll be there soon.”

“Are you sure, Lyr? We don’t mind waiting…” Vincent offered. Lyria thought her husband looked rather handsome in a black turtleneck and jeans, hiking boots, and a warm red scarf.

“It’s all right; we’ll only be a minute.” Lyria pulled off her mittens and headband and tucked them into the pocket of her jeans. There were varying degrees in the amount of clothing everyone wore. Yuffie being most covered in a ski jacket and snow pants and earmuffs, Red not wearing anything and Cloud wearing only his old SOLDIER uniform. Cid was dressed as he usually did, minus his flight goggles, which Shera had confiscated and was wearing to go with her new jacket. Reno and Rude had both abandoned their suits for the first time and while Reno looked quite charming in a red sweater and baggy pants, Rude just looked out of place and rather uncomfortable. Elena wore fluffy pink earmuffs and a matching pullover and Tifa looked motherly in a white ski jacket, matching Aeris’s light blue one. Barret wore a plain black jacket and Marlene was excited in a bright red snowsuit.

“O’ course she’s sure! Some of us do mind waiting. Get your ass outside Valentine!” Cid called from the doorway.

“Cid, be nice! At least Vincent has the civility to ask,” Shera scolded and took the opportunity to club her husband in the back of the head with one of her skis.

“Ouch! Dammit!” Cid rubbed the back of his head.

“Let’s just go already!” Cloud exclaimed.

“Cloud wants to run over more Moogles,” Tifa added, by way of explanation. Cait Sith looked horrified and pressed his small hands against his chariot’s ears.

“I do not! Just because I accidentally hit a couple virtual reality Moogles on a video game at the Gold Saucer, Tifa goes all animal rights activist on me…”

“Monster!” Elena accused.

“Ahem…” Red cleared his throat and glanced at Vincent and Cait Sith, who was spluttering indignantly.

“Oh…sorry guys…you all act very human, I forget sometimes…” Elena apologized.

“Not at all Elena,” Red said urbanely. “Shall we go? By my estimation, Reeve and Lyria could have been finished by now…”

“Yeah, let’s get outta here,” Barret agreed, boosting his daughter onto his shoulders. “See you on the slopes, Mr. President.”

“We won’t be long,” Reeve assured everyone. “I’ll just change into a sweater and some more comfortable leg wear.”

“Whatever.” Those who hadn’t already gotten bored and left headed out the door and towards the slopes of Mt. Nibel. Lyria led Reeve up the stairs to a room near the end of the hallway, Cait Sith in tow, commanding his mount to carry his master’s baggage.

“This’ll be your room, Reeve. I know it’s not quite as luxurious as what you’re probably used to, but…”

“It’s fine Lyria. Far better than what I’m used to.” Cait Sith entered the room, perched astride his Moogle who was dragging Reeve’s bags. “Just put it there, Cait and go wait downstairs with Lyria…leave the Moogle here, though.”

“Certainly, sir!” Cait through out his chest and gave a crisp military salute. “With pleasure, sir! I live but to serve, sir! Do you want your shoes shined, sir?”

“That’s enough Cait.”

“Of course, sir! Come along, civilian.” Cait Sith leapt onto Lyria’s shoulders again. “Onward!”

“Oh, you’re so cute!” Lyria giggled, exiting the room and heading downstairs.

“So…how’re you doing, gorgeous?” the cat asked, lounging comfortably on Lyria’s shoulder, small body stretched out and tail twitching slightly.

“I’m fine…”

“That’s nice. I hear you’re quite the physician.”

“Who’s been telling you all this?”

“Reeve, mostly. Sometimes other people talk to me, but not too often…”

“Poor kitty…” Lyria stroked Cait’s head sympathetically.

“Is he giving you that old sob story again?” Reeve asked, coming down the stairs. “Ignore him; he just does it to get attention from women. He spends his days lounging around eating fish and living the high life.”

“See? Even Reeve is mean to me sometimes…” Cait buried his face in his paws in mock despair. “What’s a poor kitty to do?”

“Oh, cheer up, Cait. Tell you what; you can help me ski…” Lyria suggested. “I’ve never been before, so you can help Vincent teach me…”

“Okey dokey,” Cait agreed and his expression brightened.

“Speaking of Vincent, how’s my best Turk holding up?”

“Best? And what do you mean by ‘holding up’?”

“Yes ‘best’. What I meant by ‘holding up’ is how’s his health? Reno said he seemed a bit under the weather when they were at Icicle…”

“He had a bit of pneumonia…but it’s clearing up now…you mean he was still working even though he was sick?”

“It seems so…he’s very devoted…”

“I’ll yell at him for it later…” Lyria decided. “Let’s hit the slopes Reeve!”

*

After a hard day of skiing the company retired to the den of the mansion for hot chocolate, popcorn, and a general triage to let Lyria have a look at all manner of injuries they’d picked up. Yuffie had frostbite, Cloud sprained his ankle landing one more jump of the ski ramp, Reno had crashed into a tree and was complaining because Lyria said that under no circumstances should he be drinking hard liquor with a head injury, and Cid was just plain tired and stiff and was not helping Reno at all by proposing that they open a bottle of his newly acquired wine.

“That was fun…” Tifa ventured and was greeted by murmurs of assent from the uninjured parties or groans and whining from those who hadn’t been as lucky.

“My skin’s so chapped! I’ll never get it back to its beautiful angel softness!” Yuffie whined, brushing her fingers against her cheeks.

“How’s your ankle Cloud?” Red asked politely.

“Not too bad…” Cloud was stretched out on the couch with his foot propped on a pillow on Tifa’s lap next to Aeris who, on occasion, poked her father’s foot and giggled as he jokingly made faces at her.

“C’mon Reno, just one bottle…” Cid pleaded. “I need somethin’ to loosen me up…”

“Hell no, Cid. If I’m not drinking, nobody’s drinking,” Reno answered firmly.

“Please Reno? I wouldn’t mind a glass of wine…” Shera added. “Besides, don’t you remember how extremely hung over you were this morning?”

“No, I don’t remember. I want to relive the magic…but I can’t, ‘cuz Lyria,” Reno shot a glare at the young doctor who was curled up on her husband’s lap in an armchair, “won’t let me…”

“I’m as goddamnit stubborn as you are Turk! I’m gonna keep buggin’ ya’ ‘til you give up…”

“Don’t be so greedy, Reno!” Elena scolded. “It’s Christmas…”

“Yeah,” Reeve agreed. “Share the wealth or I’ll give you a pay cut…”

“Aw…hell…” Reno grumbled. “All right…where is this wine cellar?”

“I’ll show you, it’s in the basement. Grab your nightstick…Lyria, where did you put my gun?” Vincent gave Lyria a slight shove, but she refused to move. “Come on, Lyr, get off…”

“Don’t wanna move…”

“Fine.” Vincent stood up and Lyria tumbled to the floor. “Where’s my gun?”

“Not gonna tell you…meanie,” Lyria assumed a pouting expression and stuck her tongue out at Vincent.

“I’m sorry.”

“No you aren’t.”

“Lyria, just tell him already…” Reno complained.

“Nuh uh.” Lyria shook her head.

Vincent sighed and scooped Lyria off the floor. “I’m sorry. Please tell me?”

“Oh…all right…it’s in the foyer…”

“Where, exactly?”

“In the same place you threw it after you got back from Icicle.”

“You didn’t put it away?”

“Nope.”

“All right. Thank you, we won’t be long.” Vincent dropped Lyria less than gracefully into the chair. “Come on, Reno.”

“Right behind you.”

Vincent led the way to the entrance hall and grabbed his handgun from the holster in the corner of the room. He half considered putting it away where it belonged, but decided against it and tossed it back where it had been. Leading the way back up the stairs and into the spare room Reeve was using, he pressed a spot on the wall and stood back as the door swung open.

“Sinister,” Reno remarked, peering down the spiraling staircase.

“Worse than that.” Vincent started down the staircase. “Watch where you…”

Reno didn’t hear the rest of the warning and skidded down several steps and past Vincent, catching a protruding stone that jutted out of the wall to stop himself. “Damn it! Thanks a lot!”

“I did say watch where you step…” Vincent answered indifferently.

“Yeah, well…” Reno made his way carefully down the rest of the stairs, still holding the wall for support. “Where’s the wine cellar?”

“This way.” Reno followed Vincent down the hallway to a small room near the end.

“What’s in there?” Reno asked curiously, looking at the door of the lab.

“Don’t go in.”

“Why not?”

“Because…it’s a laboratory…just stay out, ok?”

“Oh…I get it…sorry.”

“It’s no big deal…get ready, there’re probably a bunch of bats in here…” Vincent flicked the safety off his handgun and opened the door slowly.

“Hoo boy…there’re a lot of the little bastards aren’t there?” Reno whispered.

“Do you want to get rid of them or try to sneak past?”

“Get rid of ‘em. I hate bats.” Reno pulled out his nightstick and swung it experimentally.

“What are the odds of you hitting a bat with that thing?”

“I can do it.”

“Are you sure? They’re very hard to hit, even with a handgun.”

“Just trust me.”

“Not if I can help it. Ready?”

“Always. Just don’t hit any of my wine.”

“Don’t worry about it. Here goes…” Vincent jerked open the door and fired rapidly at the ceiling. There were several startled squeaks as Reno clubbed the few that tried to get through the door and into the hallway. After silence fell, Vincent fired a couple more times for good measure, then re-holstered his gun.

“That’s all?” Reno poked a couple of the dead bats in the middle of the floor. “Funny, I thought there were more…”

“You weren’t wasting ammo shooting them.”

“Yeah right, like you hit all the little buggers. There’s no way in hell you’re that good a shot…”

Vincent arched an eyebrow at Reno and casually fired at one of the bottles on the wine racks, shattering it and spraying red wine everywhere. “Oops. I guess you’re right. How clumsy of me.”

“Hey! Cut it out!” Reno protested and started examining labels on various different bottles.

“Just grab one and let’s get out of here, bats are probably the least of our worries down here…and I’m running out of bullets.”

“Give me a moment…there are some really excellent vintages here…”

“I didn’t know you were a connoisseur of wine…I’d always gotten the impression you’d drink anything, regardless of vintage, vineyard of origin, or alcoholic toxicity…” Vincent commented, keeping a close eye on the door for any of the monsters that lurked in the basement.

“Shut up. Wow…some of this stuff is really rare…” Reno picked up one bottle and examined the label closely. “This one’s older than me…”

“Older than you in terms of your date of birth or in terms of your looks?”

“Date of birth.” Reno carefully replaced the bottle and selected one with a slightly newer label.

“Why are you taking that one and not one of the older vintages?”

“Because I have no wish to waste something as precious as a ’49 bottle of Bordeaux on Cid and Barret. For all I care, they can knock back a couple glasses of antifreeze. Are you two sure you wanna give all this to me?”

“It’s of no value to either of us. I don’t like wine and Lyria says it makes her sleepy and it’s not worth risking her neck going down in the basement for.”

“Oh. Ok, thanks.” Reno rubbed some of the dust off the bottle with his sleeve and cradled it carefully. “Let’s head back up.”

“Yeah…”

*

“Yay! Reno’s back!” Elena shouted as Reno and Vincent reentered the room.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Who wants a glass?” Reno asked.

“No, thank you,” Lyria declined, stretching out comfortably in her chair with Cait Sith in her lap.

“I’ll pass too,” Red agreed.

“I’m good with just hot chocolate,” Tifa added.

“So we need…” Reno counted quickly. “Eight glasses?”

“Seven, Reno. No wine for you…” Lyria answered, still cuddling Cait Sith who was purring ecstatically.

“Aww…come on, just a little…”

“No. It’s dangerous.”

“Fine. I’ll be right back,” Reno said, exiting the room and heading for the kitchen.

“Why is the cat in my chair?” Vincent asked.

“Because he’s cute and he’s cuddly and he didn’t throw me out of my spot.”

“I’m bigger than he is…”

“No dice. You lose, Turk,” Cait Sith announced.

Vincent sighed and sat down on the couch beside Red, looking slightly dejected.

“Oh…” Lyria shifted guiltily. “Get off Cait, Vincent you come here…”

“What?! Hey! That’s not fair!” Cait Sith whined as Lyria lowered him to the floor and stood up so Vincent could have his spot back.

“Sorry, Cait,” Lyria apologized, settling back down on her husband’s lap.

“Hmph.” The small cat folded his arms across his chest and stalked over to sit in the corner and stare at the wall.

“What’s he doing?” Lyria asked curiously.

“He’s throwing one of his little fits. He does this from time to time if he thinks he’s not getting enough attention,” Reeve answered, pelting the cat in the back of the head with a couple pieces of popcorn. “He’ll get over it.”

“Could someone give me a hand with these glasses?” Reno called from the doorway and Shera got up to assist him. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Shera handed out glasses and Reno poured for everyone who asked.

“Now…I did have a bit of an ulterior motive coming down here…” Reeve announced.

“What?” Tifa asked, bouncing her daughter in her lap.

“Well…I needed to discuss something with the Turks and since they were all so conveniently gathered here, I figured I might as well come down and…”

“Oh, Reeve…must everything be business?” Elena sighed.

“Sorry, Elena…but this is urgent…there’s a terrorist group that’s been acting up lately. They’re called Neo-Hurricane, a parody of Avalanche and the Neo-Midgar project. Anyway, they’ve been planting bombs throughout Midgar. We suspect their headquarters is in the ruins of Mideel…”

“And you want us to investigate?” Vincent finished.

“Yeah…please guys? It’s really important…”

“It’s our job, Reeve, you don’t need to plead every time,” Reno said, dismissing Reeve’s argument with a wave of his hand. “The Turks follow an order, that’s why we get paid the big bucks.”

“I’m still not used to ordering you people around like that…any one of you could kill me here and now, as easily as flicking on a light switch…”

“That’s the thing, Reeve. We could, but we won’t. That’s why the Turks are the best.”

“I know…but still…I feel bad…like I’m taking advantage of your loyalty…”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ve all got salaries above a quarter of a million, Vincent lives in a mansion that you gave him and Lyria for a wedding present, me and Rude share the penthouse of the most expensive apartment building in Midgar, Elena’s got more jewelry than she’ll wear in a lifetime and we’ve all been around the world at least six times over. To me, it seems like we’re the ones taking advantage of Shinra…” Reno continued. “When should we leave?”

“Probably in about a week…I’m sorry to be calling you guys off so soon after Christmas, but…”

“Reeve, what did Reno just say?” Rude asked. “We’ll go, no questions asked.”

“If it’s urgent, we could probably leave even sooner…” Vincent added.

“Well…it would help…but I…”

“It’s our job, Reeve. We’ve got to neutralize this group before they can do any more harm.”

“So…when would you leave?”

“Day after tomorrow sounds good to me…What about you and Rude, Vincent?”

“I don’t think it’s an issue…” Vincent answered.

“I’m fine with it,” Rude added.

“Thanks so much you guys…” Reeve said sincerely. “I don’t want another threat to my city…”

“It’s our job, Reeve! For Christ’s sake, stop thanking us, already!” Reno yelled.

“I hate to have to cut this gathering short though…” Reeve said.

“It’s no big deal, Reeve. Me and Shera have to get back soon anyway, so anyone who wants a ride back with us would have to leave soon too,” Cid added.

“I’ve got work to get back to in Cosmo Canyon…” Red spoke up.

“I was gonna go materia hunting…”

“Corel won’ govern isself…”

“I have to get back to my own squad…

“Aeris is starting to get a bit of an earache…”

“I left a lovely tabby back in Midgar and she’s probably gettin’ lonely…”

“So you’re all just…leaving?” Lyria asked, sounding a little disappointed. “But you just got here a couple days ago…we have all this catching up to do…”

“Don’t worry about it Lyria, we’ll get together again soon…” Tifa promised.

“Yeah, we’ll have a reunion in February, how’s that sound?” Shera added.

“I guess…I still wish you guys didn’t have to go…”

*

“Bye!” Lyria shouted, waving as the Highwind took off into the skies. When the ship had vanished from range of view she sighed and walked back into the house. Vincent, Reeve, and the other Turks were exchanging information on the terrorist group in Mideel as Elena, Rude, Reno, Reeve and Cait Sith prepared to leave.

“So we’ll pick you up around midnight, on Tuesday?” Reno asked Vincent.

“I think so. Probably best to get started as soon as possible…” Vincent agreed.

“Well…I guess we’ll be seeing you soon then. We’ll be on the roof waiting for the chopper. Watch yourself, Valentine,” Reno waved slightly and headed out the door with Rude following.

“Take care…” Elena hugged Vincent, then Lyria. “I’ll try and take time off soon, and we’ll have coffee or something, ‘k?”

“Sure, Elena,” Lyria answered.

“Good-bye, Lyria, it was wonderful seeing you again…” Reeve smiled as Lyria embraced him and lightly kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry I just burst in on you like I did…”

“It was no problem Reeve…we were glad to have had you…”

Cait Sith shoved his owner aside and bent to kiss Lyria’s hand. “Farewell, dear maiden. Your perfect countenance and gentle manner shall grace my dreams forever more…”

“So poetic, Cait…” Lyria laughed and stroked the cat’s head. “I’ll miss you…”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, darlin’! We’ll all be together again soon!” Cait took a firm grip on his Moogle’s head and drove his heels into the side of its temple. “Bye-bye!”

“We’ll see you soon!” Reeve called, closing the door behind Cait.

As soon as they’d left, Lyria smacked her husband in the back of the head with her hand. “I can’t believe you! How can you be so insensitive?”

“Huh? What did I do?” Vincent’s tone was mildly confused and slightly defensive.

“Honestly, we finally all get together in one place and I’m looking forward to spending some time with my friends and all of a sudden you propose that they all leave!”

“I never said that!”

“Well, when you agreed to go on that assignment for Reeve that got everyone started…it might not have been so bad if you had let it wait a week but, nooooo, you had to suggest leaving early!” Lyria’s eyes were blazing with anger.

“Lyria, it’s my job! There are innocent people getting killed by this terrorist group and it’s up to us to stop them!”

“So? It still could wait, you’re supposed to be on holidays!”

“This is important! If there was someone dying in the hospital and you were needed, you’d go, wouldn’t you?” Vincent countered.

“Of course I would!”

“Well, how is this different? There are people who could die if we don’t do something about this!”

“There are people who will die if you go! All that’s going to happen is you ‘ll go to Mideel, make some minor attempts at negotiations with these people and then blast them to smithereens!”

“If that’s what we have to do, then we’ll do it,” Vincent answered coldly.

“I don’t get you. Sometimes you seem almost willing to go out and shoot people!”

“How can you say that? I’ve told you it’s hard for me…”

“But you still do it! It’s like you’ve been totally desensitized! You shoot a person and it’s just another drop in a bucket, one more enemy of Shinra, down the drain!” Lyria was shouting now, anger getting the better of her.

“It’s not like that!”

“Oh really? What is it like? Mr. Reeve takes a dislike to someone and you go out and put a bullet in his brain?”

“Lyria, I’ve been shot before! I know it’s no picnic! That was probably one of the scariest things that ever happened to me. A few seconds with the full realization that I was going to die…I go through that every time I fire a gun!”

“Then how is it you aren’t a complete wreck?”

“Well…I can’t let something psychological like that bring me down when the lives of my coworkers and of others are at stake!”

“It’s starting to seem like your job means more to you than I do!” Lyria turned from her husband and folded her arms across her chest.

“No, Lyria, that’s not it at all…I just…it’s different…”

“Too different. Sometimes I wonder if maybe we’re too different to be together.”

“I’m starting to think the same thing…I think maybe I’ll leave earlier than I planned. The chopper hasn’t come yet, I’ll catch a ride to Midgar and we can start our assignment early.”

“Fine. You do that.” Lyria’s voice had a bit of an icy edge to it.

“I will. Bye.”

Lyria didn’t turn as she heard the door slam behind her. Instead she ran upstairs to her room and threw herself on the bed, sobbing. After a few moments she heard the whir of helicopter blades grow and then fade to nothing. Lyria kept crying for a couple more minutes before finally letting her tears slow and sitting up. She picked up the phone and dialed Tifa’s number. “Hello, Tifa? I know it’s soon after the party and all, but could you come over and talk to me? I think I’ve done something really stupid and I feel terrible…I just really need someone to…oh thank you Tifa…I’ll see you soon…bye…”

*

“Cloud? Watch Aeris for a while. I’m going over to Lyria’s,” Tifa announced, handing the little girl over to her husband.

“Why? We just got back.”

“It’s important. Just trust me, ok?”

“All right…if you say so…c’mon Aeris, you can watch the Chocobo races with Daddy, ‘k?”

“Chobo!” Aeris giggled and clapped her hands together.

“Yes, sweetheart,” Cloud patted Aeris on the head and kissed Tifa goodbye. “Don’t be too long.”

“I won’t, don’t worry,” Tifa promised, returning her husband’s kiss. She pulled on her coat and stepped out the door into the chilly winter morning. She walked briskly over to the Shinra mansion and knocked on the door.

“Hi, Tifa…” Lyria sniffed, opening the door.

“What’s wrong Lyr?” Tifa exclaimed, slipping an arm around her friend’s shoulders.

“Oh, Tifa…I…I’ve done something horrible…” Lyria rubbed her eyes and blinked back tears.

“Calm down, honey, it can’t be that bad…come on, you go sit in the den and I’ll make you some coffee and we’ll talk, ok?”

Lyria nodded unhappily and headed for the living room. Tifa hung up her coat and hurried to the kitchen to make coffee. When she finished and brought two steaming mugs to the sitting room she sat down beside Lyria and patted her knee comfortingly.

“What’s the matter Lyr?”

“W-well…you know how I was so upset about everyone leaving?” Lyria sipped her coffee and sniffed again. “After the Turks had gone I threw an absolute fit and me and Vincent got in a big fight…it was irrational and petty and stupid, but I was upset and I…”

“Oh…” Tifa started to sense the direction the conversation was taking.

“I was absolutely terrible to him…I can’t believe I said some of the things I did…so now he’s left early for Mideel and he’s mad at me and…and I feel so awful for the things I said to him…”

“What did you say, exactly?”

“I told him I was mad that he had brought up the subject of everyone leaving and that I was starting to think that his job was more important to him than I was and…” Lyria didn’t finish and instead laid her forehead on her knees and started crying again.

“Lyria, don’t cry…come on, it’s not that bad…” Tifa rubbed a hand up and down her friend’s back gently. “He’ll come back and you’ll both have had time to cool off and you won’t be mad anymore. You can apologize and then you’ll make up and things will be back to normal again…”

“You think so?”

“Of course. Me and Cloud used to fight all the time, but we always sorted it out later on…”

“I hope you’re right…”

*

“Hey! What are you doing, Vincent?” Reno yelled as the dark haired Turk climbed into the chopper. “You’re coming along?”

“Lyria and I decided there’s no sense in having you come back two days later if you can just pick me up now…if that’s all right…”

“Yeah, of course…you can stay with me and Rude until Tuesday, unless you wanna leave early…”

“The sooner the better.”

“I didn’t anticipate you coming back, Vincent…we still have to stop at Midgar to drop of Elena and myself…” Reeve added.

“Fine with me. We can leave after we finish in Midgar.”

“Why the sudden rush to get away from home?” Elena asked as Vincent sat down beside her.

“No reason. The sooner I leave, the sooner I get back…”

“Oh…” Elena fell silent, but didn’t voice her suspicions that there was something more to Vincent’s abrupt desire to leave Nibelheim.

*

“We’ll probably be busy for a couple hours, Dale!” Reno yelled to the chopper pilot who had landed his helicopter just outside the ruins of Mideel to drop off the three Turks. “You know the drill. If we need sudden evacuation we’ll call you!”

The pilot nodded and took off again, leaving Reno, Rude, and Vincent standing in the open field. It was close to midnight and a sliver of the moon shone high in the sky, outlined against the stars.

“All right, let’s go… Reno, did you call ahead and make arrangements for us to meet with the leader of this group?”

“Of course I did. You told me to, didn’t you?”

“Just checking.”

“What’s with you? You seem sorta off tonight…”

“I’m just…it’s nothing. Don’t worry about me.”

“Hey, you’re our boss. We’ve run through too many leaders not to worry when one starts looking off color.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you say so…” Reno shrugged. “Let’s get going, we don’t wanna be late…”

“Yeah…” Vincent led the way down a weed choked path to the burnt out and tumbledown buildings of what was once Mideel. The trio wandered carefully down the silent streets, weapons drawn and eyes scanning the area.

“Halt!” A sharp voice broke the nighttime stillness and the three whirled to face a rough looking man with a bandana around his forehead stood in an alley with a shotgun leveled at Vincent’s chest. “Who’re you?”

“Turks. Don’t point that at me.”

“I ain’t got no reason not to shoot you right here…”

“We’ve got an appointment. You’ll make us late if you shoot our boss and we have to gut you like a fish…” Reno growled ominously.

“You talk big. Skinny bastard like you hidin’ in a stupid suit…”

“Ok, skip the shooting; I’ll gut you like a fish anyway…”

“ Reno, cut it out.” Rude firmly laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’re here to negotiate, not pick fights with local hicks.”

“Local hick, am I? You goddamn city folks ain’t got no respect for us…we’ll show ya’…Midgar ain’t gonna last with us bombin’ it like we are…”

“Congratulations, you’ve succeeded in making us late,” Vincent said, sounding only slightly irritated. “As is always said, no good deed goes unpunished…” Without a second of warning Vincent’s handgun was out of its holster and he fired a single round at the man, striking him dead between the eyes.

“Nice shot,” Reno commented. “Good thing you had the foresight to bring a silencer…”

“Of course. Shall we continue?”

“Certainly.” As Reno passed the body he paused for a moment to give it a vicious kick. “I am not skinny!” he muttered under his breath.

“You are rather juvenile though. He’s dead, Reno, let it go,” Vincent said, not turning around.

“How the hell can you always hear me?”

“You’re not very quiet.”

“Yeah, well…” Reno trailed off as they approached a doorway at the end of the alley.

“Now, you shut up.”

Reno bit back the remark that danced on the tip of his tongue as Vincent rapped on the door.

“Who’s there?” a muffled voice from the other side of the door asked.

“Turks. We’ve got an appointment.”

“One minute.” The grating of a deadbolt lock followed the familiar sound of a shotgun being loaded. “Ok, come in…”

Vincent calmly tucked his gun back in its holster and opened the door into a dingy room lit with a single light bulb. Sitting at the table was a rather polished looking man in a dark suit with long blonde hair and several rings decorating his fingers. Around the edges of the room were several harsh looking men, armed with either guns or long blades.

“Turks, eh?” the man asked, examining the three men.

“Yes.”

“May I have your names?”

“That’s Reno.” Vincent pointed to the red haired man who gave a kind of half salute with his nightstick. “That’s Rude.” Rude, as usual, did nothing. “I’m Valentine.”

“I see…you were sent by President Reeve?”

“Yes.”

“For what purpose?”

“He wishes to know your demands and what it will take to stop your organization from terrorizing our city.”

“Hmm…interesting…”

“What shall I tell him in response?”

“I’m not entirely certain…I’ll tell you tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you and your men can stay in one of the old buildings.”

“Sir, we do not have authorization to…”

“Take it or leave it, Valentine.”

Vincent looked slightly annoyed. “My superiors will not be pleased.”

“I don’t give a damn about your superiors. You aren’t leaving.”

“Am I to understand that you are ordering us to stay?”

“It’s certainly shaping up that way, isn’t it?”

“Fine. We’ll discuss your terms in the morning. If you don’t let us go then, we can have a battalion of Shinra soldiers here in an hour.”

“Heartless aren’t you?”

“I’ve killed one of your men tonight. Let’s not allow for an instance where I shall be forced to make it three.”

“Three?”

“If even a single person attacks us, I’ll shoot you myself.”

The man laughed. “Cold blooded killer. I like that.”

“We’ll retire for the evening then.” Vincent turned and left the room with Reno and Rude close behind.

As soon as the Turks had left, the man chuckled to himself and beckoned to one of the mercenaries along the wall. “I want those three dead.”

*

“Damn…” Reno muttered. “Reeve’s gonna love this one…”

“It’s not our fault. We’re rather outnumbered,” Vincent answered. “Let’s try to find a building that’s at least slightly defensible. I don’t trust a single person in this camp.”

“Me either…” Reno answered, casting a glance over his shoulder at a mercenary with one eye who was sharpening a blade and staring at them evilly. “Where do you think we should go?”

“How about the old clinic?” Rude suggested quietly.

“Good idea. If it’s in good enough condition, at least…”

“First bit of luck we’ll have all evening if it is…” Reno grumbled. “This is not the best situation we’ve ever been in…”

“ Reno, shut up.” Vincent pulled out his gun and slowly pushed open the door of the clinic. “All clear…I’ll take first watch. You two sleep.”

“You sure? I could go first if…” Rude began.

“I’m fine. I’ll wake you at around four, how’s that sound?”

“I suppose…” Rude sat down on one of the beds that hadn’t been too badly damaged.

“Rude, just let him do what he wants. Now, shut up and let me sleep,” Reno whined.

“All right…make sure you wake me.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Vincent left the building and leaned against the wall, gun in hand. “Cold blooded killer…I guess I am…maybe Lyria was right …”

Vincent sighed and glanced towards the crater in the center of Mideel, where an eerie green glow radiated into the night. The Lifestream. Somewhere, below the sea water that gushed and ebbed against the rocky cliffs was the life force of the planet. Cloud said it had changed him, but how? Did it change Aeris, Hojo, Lucrecia, and Sephiroth, four very different people, all united by death? Vincent sharply glanced up as he heard a small noise. His blood red eyes swiftly scanned the area, seeing more clearly in the dark that in daylight and spotting several armed mercenaries advancing slowly towards the clinic. “Oh damn it…” Vincent slipped into the building and shook Rude’s shoulder. “Get up, we’re in trouble.”

“Huh?” Rude sat up and kicked the bed Reno was lying on. “Get up lazy ass, we got problems.”

“The hell? What’s going on?” Reno asked, sleepily fumbling for his nightstick.

“I think we may have been set up. There are about six mercenaries coming for the clinic. In all probability wanting to slaughter us in our sleep,” Vincent said grimly, loading his gun.

“Not happening. No one catches us off guard.” Reno swung his nightstick several times and flicked the power level on the shock generator to high.

Rude smacked a fist against his palm and crouched by the doorway. Reno and Vincent waited on opposite sides, ready to attack whoever entered the building. They didn’t have long to wait, as soon there was the sound of muffled whispering through the door. Reno snorted quietly in disapproval and was about to make a remark when Vincent silenced him with a glare.

The men outside suddenly burst in and yelled in surprise as Reno electrocuted the first; Vincent shot the second and Rude delivered a powerful punch to the neck of the third.

“Here we go!” Reno dashed out the door into the fray with Rude close behind and Vincent firing cover from the window. By now the yelling and shooting had alerted the others and they were beginning to attack in more numbers than the three Turks could handle.

“ Reno! Rude! Come on, we’re getting out of here!” Vincent yelled, firing a few more rounds as the other two ducked back into the building. “Try and get the back door open.”

Rude sized the door up with a quick glance and then kicked it dead center, splitting it down the middle. “Let’s go.”

Reno dashed through the door and waited behind the building, Rude followed and, after picking off a couple more mercenaries, so did Vincent.

“Now what?” Reno asked, panting heavily.

“Call the chopper and we’ll make a break for the edge of town.”

“Ok…” Reno flipped open his PHS and quickly dialed the number. “Dale? Hey, man, we’re in a bit of a sticky situation here…well, we’re sorta caught in a bit of a fire fight so we can’t have you landing anywhere too near the shooting…we’re gonna try to get to the edge of town, so maybe you can pick us up then?..uh huh….great…see you soon, hopefully…bye.”

“Can’t you make your phone calls a little more professional?” Vincent asked, peering around the corner and firing several rounds. “We are Turks…”

“We are also in major trouble. It helps keep things light if you blow it off…” Reno shrugged.

“Whatever…are you two ready to run?”

“Whenever you are.”

“Ok…go!” Vincent broke into a sprint, still loosing bullets from time to time as the three dashed around the corner of the clinic and towards the edge of town. There were a couple angered shouts as the Turks ran past, stopping only to shoot, club, or punch anyone in their way. The majority of the mercenaries were beginning to realize they were outclassed and began to back off, leaving Vincent, Reno, and Rude with a free path the edge of town, until the man in the suit stepped forward.

“Hold it right there,” he commanded sternly, drawing a machete from its sheath at his belt. “Back up, kids.”

Vincent arched an eyebrow and fired at the man. With a movement so fast none caught it; the man lifted his machete and stopped the bullet, sending it ricocheting off.

“Nice try. Stand down, Valentine.”

“You do not give me orders.” Vincent nonetheless backed a couple steps away from the man, only to find the edge of the crater behind him.

“I do now. What’s the expression used in your situation? Caught between a rock and a hard place, correct?”

“Something like that,” Vincent answered, eyes narrowed in hatred. “Let us go.”

The man laughed. “Not likely. I hope President Reeve will take this warning seriously. Turks are quite difficult to replace, are they not?”

“They’re also very difficult to get to the point where they need replacing.”

“You talk fast. More entertaining than the riff raff I hire.”

“More expensive too,” Reno growled.

“And harder to kill,” Rude agreed. “Bring it on, blondie.”

“Thank you, I believe I shall.” Without warning the man leapt forward, blade lowered, and charged at Vincent. The Turk dodged the attack easily as Reno and Rude ran forward to engage several of the mercenaries who had mustered up the courage to attack. Reno lashed about with his nightstick, delivering quick, painful jolts of electricity to whomever he managed to contact with the weapon, while Rude slammed his fists into the bodies of his opponents, often rewarded with a sickening crunch as he broke bone. Reno had a spare moment and turned, just in time to so see Vincent fall to his knees and the man in the suit pull his bloodied machete from the Turk’s midsection.

“Oops. So sorry,” the man apologized mockingly, raising his weapon to finish Vincent off. “Hey!” The man yelled, as his target suddenly flickered and vanished. “What in the hell…?”

“Oh damn…” Reno muttered, flashing back to the Shinra headquarters and replaying the scene that had unfolded in Lewis’s laboratory again in his mind, remembering Vincent’s transformation. He’d only seen it once before, but the mere thought scared the hell out of him. Reno closed his eyes as he heard a dreadful roar behind him. The mercenary he had been facing paled and took off at a blind run, screaming. Reno whirled to face the demon, who had grasped the blonde man and lifted him above his head as a man might lift a child. Chaos ignored the terrified screams from the man and launched himself into the air, powerful wings beating and carrying him out over the glowing green water of the Lifestream. With another bellow, Chaos hurled the man downward, towards the water.

Reno winced as the man plummeted down into the deep water at the center of the crater. He shuddered as the demon howled his triumph and out of the corner of his eye, caught a movement. It seemed almost in slow motion that Reno watched one of the mercenaries raised his rifle and take careful aim at Vincent. Time seemed to stop as the bullet erupted from the barrel of the gun, then sped up again as Reno heard Chaos howl in anger and pain as the bullet entered his body. He was dimly aware of Rude attacking the mercenary who had fired as he looked up to see Chaos seem to almost falter then flicker and fade. “Shit…” Reno breathed. “Rude!”

“Oh god…” Rude kicked aside the mercenary with the gun and joined Reno by the edge of the cliff. Though only a few seconds had passed, they seemed to have dragged for hours as Reno saw Vincent reappear and fall, hitting the water hard before going under. “Well that’s the end of it…”

“What?!?” Reno exclaimed. “You’re just giving up on him like that?”

“You saw how he hit the water. If he wasn’t already dead from that gunshot, he was out cold and he’s more than likely going to drown.”

“But…maybe he woke up when he hit the water…” Reno felt sick, looking out over the water with desperate hope. “C’mon Vincent…”

“Forget it Reno,” Rude said sadly, taking off his sunglasses and rubbing his eyes. “He’s gone…”

“Wait!” Reno exclaimed as Vincent suddenly broke the surface and began swimming towards the side of the crater where the slope was gentler and created a small cove. A faint red stain trailed behind him and Reno assumed it was from wherever he’d been shot. The dark haired Turk stood up as he entered the shallow water, stumbling forward several feet before crumpling to the ground.

Rude started climbing down the side of the embankment, easily lowering himself from one boulder to another. Reno glanced about for an easier route, but, finding none, sighed and tentatively followed Rude. Only a few feet down, he lost his footing and fell, landing on a rocky outcropping, several feet below the top of the cliff.

“Owww…” Reno grumbled, getting to his feet and surveying the drop from the brink of the ledge. It was about seven feet. Reno sighed again and decided to save himself the pain of falling. Taking a deep breath, he leapt off the edge, managing to keep his balance a few moments after landing, then falling over backward and sitting down hard.

“ Reno, quit joking around, he might be hurt…” Rude scolded his partner, landing gracefully next to him. “Come on.” Rude walked forward and crouched down by the still form, slumped face down on the rocky beach, water still lapping around his waist.

“Well?” Reno asked, getting up and joining Rude. “Is he ok?”

Rude carefully turned Vincent onto his side and felt for a pulse. “I’m not sure…I don’t think he’s breathing…”

“What?” Reno pressed a gloved hand against his leader’s chest. “Oh no…what do we do?”

“This like what happened to Tseng all over again…” Rude muttered.

“Shut up! We can’t just…we have to do something…” Reno trailed off. With a sudden inspiration he spun the dial on his nightstick to its lowest setting and touched it to Vincent’s chest. A quick press of one of the buttons on the handle sent a mild electric current through the still form.

“ Reno! What the hell are you doing?” Rude exclaimed as Vincent’s body jerked and he suddenly coughed up a small amount of blood and water.

“Is he breathing again?”

Rude held the tips of his fingers in front of Vincent’s nose and mouth. “Yeah…just barely though…”

“Thank god…now what?”

“I dunno. Why don’t you try shocking him again? After all, he’s just been shot, dropped fifty feet, and nearly drowned, it’ll do him good,” Rude answered scornfully.

“Hey, at least he’s not dead. I’m calling Dale; we should get him to a hospital…”

“So they can electrocute him professionally?”

“Just drop it!” Reno fished his PHS from his back pocket, only to find it dented and its usually brightly glowing screen dead.

“Oh damn it…Rude, gimme your…”

Rude didn’t wait for him to finish as he pulled out his small cell phone. “Don’t break it.”

“For god’s sake, I’m not gonna break your stupid…” Reno trailed off as he finished dialing the number and held the phone to his ear. “Dale? Yeah, sorry about that…hope we didn’t worry you too much…we’re in a bit of a situation here…how close can you safely land to the northern edge of the crater?…I think there’s a flat space along there somewhere…yeah, Vincent is…pretty badly, I think. He wasn’t breathing for a couple minutes…we just don’t want to have to move him too far, in case he’s broken bones or something…I don’t think there are any enemies left, but you might wanna be careful, just in case…uh huh…ok, hurry. Bye, Dale.” Reno clicked off the phone and handed it back to Rude. “He’s gonna try and find a landing space on the northern edge. If he can’t he’ll come down and give us a hand bringing Vincent up.”

“I might be able to manage. He’s rather slender, sorta like you, except you seem more on the scrawny side…”

“What the hell do you mean?”

“Emaciated. Skinny. Gangly. Skeletal. How else should I put it?”

“I dunno. Whatever. You think you can lift him?” Reno bent and lifted one of Vincent’s arms around his shoulder and pulled him to a half kneeling position. “Ugh. I sure can’t…”

“That’s because you’re scrawny.” Rude easily lifted Vincent to his feet and helped Reno carry him to the base of the cliff. “How do you think we’ll get him up?”

“I dunno…is there a gentler slope anywhere?” Reno scanned the face of the cliff for an area that wasn’t as steep. “Doesn’t seem like it…”

“Well…I didn’t get this job because of my looks…” Rude sighed. “I just don’t wanna hurt him any worse…Look at his shoulder, that bullet went clean through…”

Reno was about to say something when the steady thud of the helicopter blades cut him off. Glancing up, he waved at the pilot and was surprised to see him begin to lower the chopper down, onto the beach.

“Is he crazy?” Rude muttered.

“He’s a good pilot. And you just said you don’t want to risk injuring Vincent more than he already has been,” Reno answered, not taking his eyes off the helicopter as it slowly landed on the beach, pelting Reno and Rude with small pieces of gravel. “Way to go, Dale!” Reno yelled, jogging forward as the pilot hopped out of the helicopter.

“No problem, Reno. After all, I am the best of the best,” the pilot announced, sliding his sunglasses up his nose. “Get your friend in the chopper; we’ll head back to Midgar.”

“Yeah…is there a hospital with a helipad that you could land at?” Reno asked, running forward to help Rude, who had lifted Vincent again and half dragged, half carried him over to the helicopter.

“Sure is. Midgar General. Shouldn’t be a problem if we phone ahead…” Dale helped Rude secure a seat belt around Vincent’s waist. “Hoo boy, he’s not looking too well, is he?”

“No, he certainly isn’t…” Reno agreed, climbing into the passenger seat. “Hurry up, Rude.”

“I’m in, take off already.”

The helicopter slowly rose into the air and then sped off into the starry night in the direction of Midgar.

*

“Where…am I? What’s going on?” Vincent sat up and gazed around. It was black, nothing more. Just darkness, extending forever in all directions or at least as far as he could see. He rubbed his eyes and stood up, reaching for his gun, but finding his holster empty. Glancing around his surroundings, he looked for some sort of sign of where to go. Finding nothing but more blackness, he sighed and headed forward, deciding it was better than just standing around, unarmed, and waiting for something to happen.

“Hello, Vincent.” The voice was familiar, but it wasn’t possible for him to be hearing it. Well, it was possible, but far from healthy.

“Aeris?” Vincent turned to face the young girl who was standing behind him, though moments ago there had been nothing but shadows. For being dead, she didn’t look all that different, still in the same pink dress and boots, long brown hair swept back in a ponytail and still wearing a warm, hopeful smile. “What’s going on?”

“Calm down. There’s no need for you to be worried.” Aeris walked forward and laid a hand on his arm.

“I’m not worried…” Vincent felt a little strange lying to someone he knew was dead.

“Yes you are. I can tell. Don’t worry; you aren’t dead, if that’s what you’re thinking…”

4“I hadn’t even considered that…but…I’m not, right?”

“No, you were pretty close for a little while, though…you aren’t exactly out of the woods yet. You’ve changed, back when I knew you, you wouldn’t have cared either way…” Aeris sat down on the ground and held on to the tips of her boots, rocking back and forth slightly.

“Yeah…a lot’s happened…what do you mean ‘not out of the woods’? All I remember is… Reno…and Rude…and Chaos….”

“Do you know what happened?”

“Sort of…the blonde guy stabbed me, pretty badly because everything started to go dark and then Chaos came. Everything is sort of hazy after that, but I remember watching the blonde guy fall, then a gunshot, and I guess I blacked out after that…

“That’s what I thought. That’s about where the Lifestream took over. You might as well sit down.”

“What?” Vincent sat down next to Aeris.

“The Lifestream takes over the minds and bodies of people who get to close to it. It’s a potential threat to have people who are alive come in too close contact.”

“What does that mean?”

“Basically, anyone who gets to close to the source of the Lifestream is ‘possessed’ and brought to a safe distance.”

“I don’t understand…”

“You blacked out and you would have drowned if the Lifestream hadn’t taken control.”

“All you’ve told me is three variations of the same thing. And I still don’t get it.”

“Well, then shut up and stop asking questions. Tell me what’s been going on, I missed a lot…”

*

Reno held out his hand for Rude’s cell phone and quickly dialed the number Dale told him. “Hello, Midgar General Hospital?…Listen, this is an emergency. I’m a Turk flying in from Mideel and one of my coworkers is injured…I don’t know, I think it’s serious. I’m not sure what’s wrong with him…no…I don’t think so…umm…stop asking me questions lady, I put bullets in people, I don’t take them out…listen, we’ll be on the helipad in about five minutes, I want people ready to take care of…I don’t know the details! He’s pretty bad, ok? He took a bullet in the shoulder and it went straight through and he stopped breathing for a little while…he fell of a cliff…ok, do you want me to tell you what happened or not?…just get some goddamn people on your %^&#*&’ roof!” Reno slammed Rude’s cell phone shut and handed it back to him. “I hate doctors.”

Rude was about to answer when Vincent suddenly choked and gasped for air. “Hey!” Rude quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and knelt down, in front of Vincent, bracing a hand against his uninjured right shoulder and forcing him to sit up straight instead of slumping forward. For a second his eyes blinked open, but they were blank and glassy, having opened more out of reflex than consciousness.

“Rude? What’s wrong?” Reno asked, twisting around in his seat.

“I dunno…” Rude answered, studying Vincent closely. He suddenly coughed again, but this time failed to draw breath afterward. Rude swore and drove his fist into Vincent’s chest, forcing him to choke again and cough up more blood..

“What the hell are you doing?” Reno shouted. “Jesus Christ, Rude!”

“Sorry.”

“You yell at me for shocking him then haul off and break his ribs?”

“My reasons were the same as yours so we’ll call it even.”

The pilot eased the helicopter down on the roof of a large building with a red cross blazoned on the top. As the chopper landed, Reno leapt out and beckoned to a team of paramedics who were waiting by a door near the edge of the roof.

“Are you a doctor?” Reno asked a man in a white lab coat.

“Yes. Dr. James Everette.”

“Get over here,” Reno commanded, leading the doctor to the helicopter. He pulled open the door and pointed to Vincent, who was slumped in one of the helicopter seats, eyes closed and a small trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. “Deal with him.”

“What happened?” the doctor asked, climbing into the helicopter and carefully taking Vincent’s pulse.

“We were in Mideel on…business…and things got a little out of hand…”

“Let me rephrase this, what happened to him?” The doctor opened one of Vincent’s eyelids and shone a small flashlight directly into the blood red iris.

“Umm…it’s sorta complicated, but he fell about fifty feet after this guy shot him in the shoulder,” Reno answered helpfully.

“Why is he all wet?”

“There was water in the crater. He hit pretty hard.”

“Was it deep? Did he go under long?”

“A couple minutes…is he all right? He stopped breathing…and he’s been choking on blood ever since we got him outta the water…”

“It’s too early to tell,” the doctor replied evasively. “We’ll move him to a room and examine him a bit more thoroughly.” The physician waved at two paramedics who stood waiting with a stretcher. “Johnson! Clark! Take him down to the IC ward and have the nurse start him on blood and oxygen.”

“What? Intensive Care? Why? Is he in bad shape?” Reno asked worriedly as the two paramedics carefully shifted the lifeless form of his boss onto a stretcher.

“I told you, we can’t tell yet…”

“Listen, can we at least come in?”

“Through the main entrance, not through here,” the doctor gestured at the door near the edge of the roof. “This entrance is for emergency personnel only.”

“Ok…I guess we’ll go by the Shinra building and tell Reeve…take care of him, ok?” Reno asked, suddenly worried.

“Don’t worry, this is one of the best hospitals in the world, if he’s going to get better, it’ll be here.”

“What the hell does he mean ‘if’? He’s not going to…die…is he?” Reno brushed aside his thoughts and climbed into the helicopter. “Go fast, Dale. Rude call Reeve so he can be ready to go…”

Rude nodded and dialed Reeve’s number. “Reeve? Vincent’s been injured. Badly…”

“Rude! Don’t be so goddamn blunt!” Reno grabbed the phone from his partner. “Reeve? Calm down, he’s at Midgar General, we’re just coming by to pick you up, so we won’t have as much of a problem getting past security…someone’s gotta tell Lyria…I sure as hell ain’t going to…be careful how you break it to her…send a chopper for tomorrow…ok, we’ll be there momentarily…see you Reeve.” Reno sighed. “What a night…”

“I’ve definitely had better…” Rude agreed as the chopper landed on the roof of the Shinra building. Reno and Rude jumped out and ran to the door to the staircase leading down to the main part of the building.

“ Reno! Rude!” Reeve yelled, beckoning to the pair from the elevator. “Come on, I’ve got a car waiting…”

“Thanks Reeve. Have you called Lyria?” Rude asked.

“No…what happened?”

Reno quickly recounted the events of the evening. “And now they won’t tell us what’s wrong with him…”

“We’ll fix that…” Reeve said grimly. “Intensive care?”

“Yeah…you don’t think it’s…you don’t think he’ll die, do you?”

“I’m not a doctor…I’m not looking forward to having to tell Lyria…”

“We thought maybe Elena could do it…” Reno suggested.

“Good idea…” Reeve fell silent as the three reached the parkade and stepped into a waiting car. Rude slipped behind the wheel and for once Reno didn’t argue. The tires screeched as he backed the car out of its parking space and sped up the ramp. The trip to the hospital seemed longer than before, partially because they were forced to take the roads rather than the skies and the silence in the car seemed to stretch the time. Finally arriving at the hospital Rude dropped Reeve and Reno off at the front entrance.

“I’m gonna go get Elena, we need her to tell Lyria and she’ll be worried out of her mind if we just phone her.”

“Good idea. I’ll call if we find out anything…” Reeve answered, waving to Rude and entering the hospital to find Reno arguing heatedly with the man at the front desk.

“You shut up and goddamnit listen to me! About ten minutes ago we dropped off a man with a rather serious injury; we need to know where they put him! He’s tall, about six feet I guess, dark hair, red eyes…and his left hand is a metal claw…”

“I’m sorry sir, the computer doesn’t list patients by physical description…did he give a name?” the man answered coldly.

“He wasn’t $&%#&@ conscious! How the hell’s he supposed to give a name if he’s half dead?”

“Back off, Reno,” Reeve commanded, stepping up to the counter. “Excuse me sir, I’m President Alexander Reeve of the Shinra Corporation. One of my men was injured earlier this evening and I’d like to check on him, talk to his doctor and such. Could you possibly check if there was a patient admitted in the past ten minutes? He would be in the Intensive Care ward; under the name Vincent Valentine if your paramedics checked his wallet…he’s a Turk, like Reno here.”

The man nodded nervously, finally recognizing Reno as one of Shinra’s elite. “Twentieth floor, room four eighteen…”

“Thank you,” Reeve answered simply, curtly gesturing to Reno and heading towards the elevator. Reno took a moment to stick his tongue out at the clerk at the desk, before hurrying into the elevator after Reeve.

“Damn jackass. Why the hell do they put people like that in hospitals?” Reno grumbled jabbing the button for the twentieth floor with his nightstick.

“ Reno, not everyone who disagrees with you is a jackass. You just aren’t very tactful,” Reeve said disdainfully, tapping his foot as the elevator climbed higher.

“Tact isn’t the biggest issue for me right now. All of the Turks are going to be a bit high-strung for a while. There’s a bit of a feeling of invincibility that comes from putting on this suit. We do what we want, we mouth of to authority figures, and we shoot people who get in Shinra’s way. All the bravado and nonchalance we build up is torn down when a Turk gets hurt or killed. You can’t notice it in Rude yet. If he gets a chance later on he’ll