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Children of Heroes	By : CalicoDivine Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 954 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or anything associated with it. I make no money for this just laughs

Chapter List
- 1-Children of Heroes
- 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or anything associated with it I do however own the OCs and some of the plot pieces. Please read and review as this is a work in progress and is not anywhere near being finished yet.
Children of Heroes
Genesis stared down into the face of the 3 weeks old daughter in his arms, her mother refused to keep her so he had taken her. He was bringing her to Banora to stay with his mother because it was unsafe and unwise to keep his daughter with him while he worked. He knew that she would be safe and loved with his mother watching over her so he left for Banora not telling anyone his real reason for leaving like he was.
“It’ll be okay my little girl I’m going to take you to a safe place. Let’s go Lauren,” Genesis said stepping off the train at the Banora stop. He looked down at her with pride she was his first child and he was going to make damned sure that he did right by her.
“There you are Genesis I’ve been waiting for you,” Genesis’ mother called running over to him. She was smiling but when she saw what he had in his arms she scowled at him. “And what have you done now Genesis Rhapsodos?” She hissed glaring at him.
“I had a one night stand with a woman and 3 weeks ago Lauren was born and yesterday her mother dropped her off saying that she couldn’t handle a little one and that she refused to keep her. I am not going to lose my daughter just because her mother wants to walk out of her life; I was hoping that she could stay here with you while I am at work. Of course I’ll come to visit her as much as I can I’m not going to be a deadbeat.” Genesis said rocking a now crying Lauren gently making cooing noises at her.
His mother watched him in awe at how gentle he was with his daughter and how good he was, Lauren was giggling at him already. It was clear to see that she adored her father as she snuggled in closer to his chest her little eyes a bright green and her hair a reddish-brown just like her father had.
“Oh alright let’s get her to her new home so that she can get settled in and so your father can have his heart attack and fall in love with his granddaughter’s smile.” Tammy Rhapsodos said turning on her heel and walking away towards her home Genesis following behind her.
“Hopefully father won’t refuse to allow her into his home, but if not then I will perhaps see if Gillian would be willing to watch over her for me. Either way I just want her to have a safe place to stay because with my job it is not a good idea to keep her with me much as I want to.” Genesis said as they walked up the steps and inside the front door.
“Oh don’t you worry he’ll be putty in our hands as soon as he sees her little smile. Just remember to be respectful as you always have been and everything should be fine. “Ralph!!!! We have visitors,” Tammy called walking into her house and quickly removing her shoes holding Lauren while Genesis removed his footwear.
“I’ll take her mom,” Genesis said taking his daughter back into his arms just as his father walked into the living room off the entrance way. Genesis turned to face his father’s questioning eyes his face calm and serene.
“What is that you have there in your arms Genesis? Do not tell me that you have made a mistake with your life.” Ralph Rhapsodos asked his eyes turning angry. He stalked over towards Genesis who was rocking and bouncing Lauren lightly in his arms.
“This is my daughter Lauren Elizabeth Rhapsodos, and father she is not a mistake. She is a gift that I want to have a safe upbringing, I would like for her to stay here. I would of course come home to visit her at every opportunity but with my job it is not a wise decision to keep her with me much as I’d like to.” Genesis explained watching his father’s face soften greatly as Lauren turned her bright little green eyes looked up at him.
Lauren looked from Ralph to Genesis and back again a smile brightening her face further as she held her little arms up to Ralph. Smiling himself Ralph took the little girl from Genesis’ arms and held her close to him rocking her gently. “She sure has beautiful eyes Genesis I take it that they are her mother’s correct?” Ralph says finally looking up at Genesis.
“Yes she has her mother’s eyes and mouth; I wonder which personality she will take to although to be honest it doesn’t matter.” Genesis said his eyes proudly staying on his daughter. He was so very proud of her even though she was only a few weeks old and had yet to do anything.
“Well she’ll be good and safe here Genesis don’t you worry we won’t let any harm come to her.” Ralph Rhapsodos said sighing as Lauren cuddled into him closing her eyes and falling asleep. “Precious little thing she is a very well behaved child it appears from what I’ve seen so far.” He added smiling like the ever proud grandfather.
“Of course she is dad it’s not like any child of mine would misbehave at least not until they are far older. Heaven help us if she is anything like her mother, she was apparently quite the wild child.” Genesis said taking his daughter back from his father. Genesis smiled sadly down at her his thoughts turning to what she might think of him when she grew older as he would be the only parent in her life.
He sighed going to tuck her into bed for the night beside him a bottle ready on the nightstand in case she woke up and needed to be feed. She seemed quite comfortable laying on his chest her head nuzzling lightly against his neck her little hands tightly holding onto his shirt. She was the most adorable little thing he had ever seen and it made him proud to know that she was his.
“Don’t you worry my little princess I’m going to give you all the things that I can in this world and teach you the proper way to behave. I’ll give you everything that you need love and safety someone you can call or run to no matter what happens and I will always be understanding.” Genesis whispered to his sleeping child. She squirmed before her eyes opened and she began to cry softly.
“Hey Lauren it’s okay daddy’s got you,” He checked her diaper which was clean so he grabbed the bottle. Changing her position in his arms so that he could feed her more easily smiling when she took the nipple of the bottle into her mouth. She drank about half the bottle before pushing it away from her mouth turning her head away from it making Genesis laugh quietly. He threw an old blanket over his shoulder and placed Lauren there gently tapping her back until she belched and then began to coo at him.
Smiling Genesis slipped the blanket off his shoulder and began to gently rock her back to sleep. She closed her eyes several times but didn’t go to sleep instead she kept looking up at Genesis and giggling making baby coo sounds. “Hey you it’s time to go to sleep otherwise Gramma and Grampa are going to be very upset with me.” Genesis said watching as Lauren closed her eyes and snuggled into him going to sleep.
A few days later Genesis stood waiting for the train his daughter in his arms and his mother standing beside him. He had tears in his eyes as he looked down at Lauren, he had no idea how long he was going to be away and it hurt him to have to leave her here. “Take good care of her okay Mom? I want to hear from you at least once a week just call my cell please.” Genesis said turning to hand Lauren to his mother the tears sliding down his face.
“Of course dear I’ll call at the beginning of each week and in the middle that way you will have a schedule to follow for phone calls when she is old enough to talk.” Tammy said wiping away Genesis’ tears as Lauren looked like she was going to cry. “Don’t worry I’ll be waiting for you to call as soon as you get in, I’ll keep her safe for you Genesis.” She added kissing his cheek before he kissed Lauren’s forehead and boarded the train.
Genesis returned every month at least once for the first 6 months of her life. “Hey baby how are you? Are you behaving for everyone?” Genesis asked his daughter who was already talking a little.
“Dadda good girl…..Dadda” Lauren said into the phone giggling as Tammy held it for her. On his last visit home she had crawled over to him screaming ‘Dadda’ at the top of her lungs and smiling at him. It had made his heart feel like it was going to burst from pride.
“You gonna be waiting for me when I get there in a couple weeks?” Genesis asked her knowing what she would say but loving to hear her little voice anyways.
“Yes Dadda, yes,” Lauren said giggling again as apparently she found him to be funny.
“Alright well I’ve got to get back to work but I’ll see you as soon as I can. I love you,” Genesis said hanging up the phone just as Angeal walked in.
“Talking to your girlfriend on work time again Genesis?” Angeal teased grinning at his childhood best friend. He had walked in more than once in the past few months to hear Genesis saying goodbye I’ll see you soon and or I love you to somebody on his cell phone.
“Nope just my mother again you know how she is she worries far too much. So what’s up Angeal?” Genesis asked leaning back in his chair. He knew that something was wrong with Angeal who was now pacing the office.
“Remember that girl I had been seeing?” Angeal asked looking over at Genesis as he continued to pace the room.
Genesis nodded his head watching Angeal closely. “Well she just gave birth to my daughter but the thing is she doesn’t want to keep her, so I plan to take her to Banora so that my mother can watch her for me.” Angeal said his eyes pained and ashamed.
“I’ll come with you it’s been a while since I’ve been home to see my mother anyways. Where is the little one anyways?” Genesis asked standing up and moving to stand beside Angeal. Genesis figured that once they got to Banora that he would tell Angeal about his own daughter.
“Her mother is waiting in my office I told her I needed a minute and I came to see you because I trust you Genesis.” Angeal said leading the way back to his own office where a tall woman with long black hair stood holding a little pink bundle in her arms.
“Good you’re back here take her I don’t want anything to do with her,” The woman said thrusting the child into Angeal’s arms and leaving quickly. The baby began to cry and squirm in Angeal’s arms and he looked at a loss as to what to do.
“Here let me hold her,” Genesis said taking the little girl from Angeal and bouncing her lightly in his arms making cooing noises at her. “What’s her name?” He asked looking up at Angeal as his daughter calmed down and began to laugh.
“Samantha Elizabeth Hewley, I have no idea how I’m going to be able to do this. Raise a child and all with my line of work.” Angeal said smiling as he watched Genesis tending to his daughter. “You sure seem to know what you’re doing Genesis,” Angeal added.
“Well I should be I mean she’s almost 7 months now.” Genesis said with a laugh. His eyes were bright and happy as he remembered holding his own daughter when she was this little.
“Uhh…. Genesis Samantha is only a month old.” Angeal said his face becoming confused as he watched Genesis laughing.
“I’m not talking about Samantha Angeal; I am talking about my daughter. She’s almost 7 months old now and she’s the one you usually walk in when I’m on the phone.” Genesis said laughing at the look of shock on Angeal’s face.
“And how long were you planning to keep her a secret?” Angeal asked his face disbelieving. Though he had to admit Genesis sure did seem at home with a child in his arms and Genesis’ voice was full of pride when he spoke of having a daughter.
“How long were you planning on keeping Samantha a secret?” Genesis countered giving Angeal an I caught you look. He had never meant to treat Lauren as a secret but in hindsight he had been keeping her hidden from everyone including Angeal.
Angeal blushed knowing that Genesis had a point before he grabbed his bags and went to take Samantha from Genesis who evaded him. “Its fine I’ve got her let’s go, I’ve got a little princess to go see.” Genesis said walking out of the building carrying Samantha in his arms playing with her.
Angeal followed smiling as he watched how attentive Genesis was being with Samantha and she wasn’t even his child. He could only imagine how spoiled his daughter was hoping that their children would be best friends just as they had been growing up. They sat on the train both impatient to get to Banora but for different reasons, Genesis was itching to see Lauren who had begun to start attempting to walk the last time he had been back to see her.
“Alright so I’ll take Samantha to my mother’s while you go grab…… what did you say her name was?” Angeal asked looking at Genesis who was just getting up.
“Lauren her name is Lauren Elizabeth Rhapsodos. Here you go Angeal I’ll be at your mother’s house in a few minutes.” Genesis said handing Angeal back Samantha and running off towards his parents house.
“Hello?!” Genesis called running into the house. He smiled when he saw Lauren playing on the floor in the living room. “Lauren daddy’s home,” Genesis called opening his arms.
Lauren used one of the couches to get to her feet, she looked over at him smiling as she shakily walked over to him. “Daddy home……” Lauren yelled stumbling on her way over.
“Ralph come quick she’s taking her first steps!!!” Tammy called standing in the dining room doorway.
Ralph appeared beside her moments later grinning as Lauren walked the last few steps to Genesis. “Hey baby girl I got a friend for you to come and meet,” Genesis said picking her up and hugging her close.
“Oh really now and what friend might this be Genesis?” Ralph asked moving to stand in front of his son.
“Angeal’s little girl he’s bringing her here for the same reasons I brought Lauren, he and I are hoping that they will be friends like we were growing up.” Genesis said smiling brightly and cuddling his daughter.
“Just make sure that she is home in time for dinner,” Tammy called as Genesis walked outside with Lauren held in his arms.
“I know mother it’s not like I planned on this happening but at least I’m not a deadbeat I plan to do right by my daughter. I’m not going to just walk out of her life and leave her with nothing that way that her mother did!” Angeal said his voice becoming a little angry as he stared down his mother.
“Angeal don’t yell you’ll scare the kids and Lauren has an amazing set of lungs trust me.” Genesis said walking into the house with his daughter giggling in his arms.
“Daddy fwend?” Lauren asked looking from Genesis to Angeal and back again. Her green eyes were bright and curious as she turned in Genesis’ arms to look at Gillian. “Gillin,” Lauren called struggling to get out of her father’s arms.
“Hello little lady how are you, you being trouble for your father?” Gillian asked watching Lauren wiggle in Genesis’ arms.
“Yes Lauren this is Angeal he has been my best friend since I was a little boy; and this is his daughter Samantha. Maybe you two will grow up to be good friends too just like Daddy and Uncle Angeal.” Genesis said setting Lauren down. She stood clinging to his pant leg as Angeal squatted down so she could see his face.
“Hello Lauren my name is Angeal, this is my daughter Samantha.” Angeal said holding Samantha out to her. Lauren wobbled over to him and looked down at Samantha smiling and lightly touching her cheek.
“Sammy…….. Wight?” Lauren asked looking up at Angeal with her bright little green eyes.
“Sure if you want to call her that I’m sure it’ll stick as a nickname when she’s older. And where did you get such pretty green eyes?” Angeal asked giving Lauren a small smile. She was a bright and curious child but she seemed to be shy as well, it was a good mixture.
“Unno,” Lauren said looking up at Genesis curiously wanting to know the answer herself.
“They are her mother’s eyes, one of the few good things that the deadbeat left her.” Genesis said his voice a little cold as he spoke of the woman who gave him the little girl he now held so dear.
“Wuhere Momma?” Lauren asked looking up at Genesis with questioning eyes. She had never before asked about her mother and he had silently thanked the goddess that she hadn’t thought to ask.
“I don’t know where your mother is Lauren, I’m sorry,” Genesis said looking down at her with sad pained eyes. It hurt him that her mother had not even bothered to call once to see how her daughter was doing. Never wrote anything she just up and left when the little girl was 3 weeks old and had never looked back not even once.
Lauren wobbled back over to him and wrapped her little arms around his neck trying to comfort him because he looked like he was going to cry. “No cries Daddy no cries,” Lauren soothed cuddling into his arms which now wrapped around him.
“I know baby Daddy’s done crying come on let’s get you home before Gramma gives me hell because you’re late for dinner.” Genesis said standing up and turning to leave.
“Make sure that you tell your parents that Lauren will be spending lots of time here with Samantha when they both turn of age to do so.” Gillian called after him turning to smile with open arms at Angeal.
Angeal walked over and handed his mother Samantha smiling his thanks at Genesis’ back and Lauren’s smiling face as she waved goodbye. “I hope that they are as good to each other as Genesis and I have tried to be ourselves.” Angeal muttered turning around to smile at his mother and daughter.
“My oh my she is a noisy one, does she ever stop crying? When was the last time that she was fed?” Gillian asked glaring up at her son. Her eyes were angry even as her mouth curved in a smile at his clueless expression.
“I uhh… Dunno when she was fed last her mother just dropped her off saying she wanted nothing to do with her and then left. Genesis had her quiet at one point earlier today just before we came here but other than that from what I’ve seen she is just a noisy baby.” Angeal said sighing as Samantha squirmed in his mother’s arms.
“Here hold her while I go and warm up some milk for her thank god I still have some bottles that I’ve kept clean since you were little.” Gillian gets up and hands Samantha back over to Angeal before going into the kitchen.
Angeal held her close and rocked her gently singing softly, “Hush little baby don’t you cry you are the apple of daddy’s eye. He will hold you safe and near in his heart you’re always dear. When you need me I’ll be there with lots of love I’ll always care.” He smiled when Samantha stopped crying and looked up at him curiously a small smile on her face.
“Yeah yeah I know daddy can’t sing worth crap,” Angeal said laughing to which Samantha began to giggle up at him. Gillian stood in the doorway just out of Angeal’s sight watching him with Samantha and her heart began to ache. She had never seen him look so grown up and at peace in all his life. That little girl in his arms was his world and even though she was just a month old she already had him wrapped around her little fingers.
“Here dear don’t let her drink it all at once make her take breaks so that she doesn’t get a tummy ache, and make sure that you burp her after she finishes.” Gillian instructed as Angeal nodded taking the receiving blanket and the bottle. She smiled as he carefully moved Samantha into a proper position for feeding and brought the bottle to her lips.
“Sorry it’s not the real thing Samantha but it’ll have to do for now.” Angeal said smiling as she drank greedily. “Hey now not so fast or you’ll make yourself sick,” Angeal said laughing as he pulled the bottle back from her lips to which Samantha responded by crying loudly.
“Oh just listen to those lungs she is most definitely your child Angeal, you use to do the same thing when you were that little.” Gillian said smiling as Angeal fought it out and waited a few minutes before bringing the bottle back to Sam’s lips. She began to drink again but slowly this time as if she were filling up and knew not to drink like a pig.
“She is so perfect mother, I can’t wait till she is older and I can listen to her little voice leave me messages and talk to me on the phone.” Angeal said his face lighting up with joy and pride. He was so amazed by the little girl in his arms, she was so tiny but when he held her she seemed to be all that he could see.
“Yes that will have to do for her unless you decide to visit like Genesis does, he comes at least once a month for no less than 3 days at a time and spends all of his time with her. He even reads her Loveless,” Gillian said laughing at the end. Genesis had an addiction to that book of poetry and the poem Loveless in particular and at this rate Lauren would be just like him.
“Oh boy not another Loveless addict in this world,” Angeal laughed as Samantha pushed the bottle away from her mouth. Angeal set the bottle down and put her over his shoulder gently patting her back a few times before she burped loudly. “Oh boy you are so my child,” Angeal said remembering the burping contests he used to have with Genesis. Genesis he wondered why he had kept Lauren hidden for as long as he had without ever saying a word about her.
~6 Years Later~
“Come on Sammy Daddy said that he and uncle Angeal would be coming to visit today and stay for a whole week!!!” Lauren Rhapsodos yelled running down towards the train station without even waiting for one of her grandparents to take her hand.
“Lauren you be careful someone might try to grab you and run away with you!” Ralph Rhapsodos called after her walking at a quick pace down to the train station his hand wrapped around Samantha’s.
“She doesn’t like to listen she gets all excited when uncle Gen comes home and common sense flies out the window.” Samantha said as they reached the train station several minutes behind Lauren who now stood waiting impatiently her foot tapping away.
“You are so much like your father sometimes that it scares me Lauren, now behave or no ice cream when you get home.” Ralph said taking hold of her hand and waiting with both girls.
A few minutes later the train pulled into the station and both girls began to jump up and down in excitement. They waited until the train stopped then their little eyes scanned from tip to tail waiting for their father’s to get off the train.
“Daddy!!!” Lauren called running over to Genesis and jumping straight into his arms laughing as he tickled her.
“Dadda!!” Samantha called running to her father but more slowly than Lauren. Of the two girls Samantha was the shyer one while Lauren was out spoken and protective.
“Hey princess, have you been a good girl?” Angeal asked Samantha as he swung her around in a circle.
“Uh-huh I’m always good for Grandma,” Samantha said smiling brightly at her father.
“Lauren I hear that you’ve started reading already,” Genesis said staring into his daughter’s bright green eyes. He loved how you could see the blue and hazel swirled within them if you looked closely.
“Yeah I like to read Gramma helps me sometimes but Grampa likes to get me to try new words,” Lauren said her face proud as she cuddled into Genesis’ arms.
“Well then I guess it is alright for me to give you this,” Genesis said sliding a small white book out of his pocket and into Lauren’s hands.
“No way my own copy of Loveless?!” Lauren screamed her eyes wide as dinner plates. She smiled up at Genesis who grinned down at her.
“Yep your very own copy now you will always be able to enjoy it once you learn to read good enough,” Genesis said watching as Lauren nodded her head.
“Well boys let’s get going the women will be upset if they have to wait to see their sons. By the way dinner is at our place tonight,” Ralph said turning around and heading away from the platform.
“Still cold as ever I see,” Angeal muttered setting Samantha down and grabbing his bags.
“Oh uncle Angeal can you tell Sammy to stop being such an honour nut like you?” Lauren asked clutching Loveless to her chest.
“Why what is she being an honour nut about now Lulu?” Angeal asked using her nickname which made her giggle.
“She won’t accept any of the dumbapples I try to give her and she nearly got in trouble the one day from some of the farmers because she stole from them instead of taking the ones I offered her.” Lauren said glaring at Samantha who giggled and hid behind Angeal’s legs.
“Honour can be quite a burden…. At times,” Angeal said laughing as Lauren’s face became annoyed. “You are just like your father was when he was your age,” Angeal said laughing as Lauren grinned up at him.
“Yeah and Sammy is just like you,” Lauren huffed grabbing one of Genesis’ bags and storming off towards her grandparents house. She was so headstrong and stubborn just like her father but she was also a very sweet and caring child. When it came to Samantha she was also highly over-protective something that Angeal was thankful for as Samantha was somewhat of a klutz like her mother had been.
“I must say that I don’t think her temper is from you alone Genesis,” Angeal said watching Lauren walking ahead of them talking animatedly with Samantha her gestures quick and angry.
“No it’s not I’m afraid she got temper double barrel although she seems to have much better control of hers then I’ve ever had of mine.” Genesis said laughing when Samantha smacked Lauren up the back of the head to which Lauren nudged her knocking her off balance.
“Hey that’s not nice I almost fell,” Samantha called out at the now laughing Lauren. Lauren paused and took hold of Samantha’s hand and the pair walked along happily swinging their hands between them singing some song that neither of the men knew.
“Well at least they’ve got each other if anything should ever happen like you were there for me when my father died.” Angeal said smiling as the girls began to babble back and forth at each other. They were blind to the fact that most of the town was watching them as they walked by swinging their hands.
It was true that both girls even though still very young were quite beautiful, Lauren’s hair had changed from the same reddish-brown as Genesis to a deep and shining black her eyes had a golden ring around the iris and her skin was a pale snowy white. Samantha had the same startling blue eyes as her father and she had inherited her mother’s brilliant red hair her skin had a sun kissed glow to it no matter what time of the year it was.
They would be heartbreakers when they were older both father’s knew and they both dreaded the day that any boy tried to date one of their daughters. Though Genesis and Angeal agreed that Lauren would be the one most likely to kick the ass of any guy that was dumb enough to go after Samantha and hurt her. She really was over protective of Samantha but it was in a good way so no one ever seemed to mind.
Lauren was protective of Samantha and Samantha kept Lauren in line when she needed to be kept in it. They were like two halves of a whole they matched each other perfectly and got along so well that many people assumed them to be sisters or cousins. They spent almost all of their time together and they helped each other whenever it was needed.
“It is good to see that Lauren has not taken just to my personality but is a perfect mixture of her mother and myself. I would have feared for the world if she had taken only to my personality I know my faults and with women and their mood swings I fear the world would be shown no mercy at times.” Genesis said watching as Lauren stopped to talk to one of the poorer children in Banora. For Lauren it didn’t matter how much money you had or who your parents were she could and often times would befriend the rich and the poor.
“Yes I tend to agree with you there Genesis the world would not be safe from her. But it is nice to see that like you she cares nothing for the boundaries of wealth, rich or poor it doesn’t matter to her. She befriends all based on personality and kindness within, which I must say she as an affinity for.” Angeal said watching as Lauren and Samantha talked to a little girl who might have been a year younger or older than them though it was hard to tell by height alone nowadays.
“It is nice to see the honourableness within Samantha, there are few and far between lately it seems that have honour and hold it in such a high respect as she does. Although one day that might not be such a good thing, we laying odds now as to whether your mother threatens her with a turkey baster?” Genesis laughed watching as Angeal shuddered at the idea.
“No thank you but I bet your mother will be after Lauren before my mother tries to go after Sam. Your mother is more obsessed with family lines continuing then my mother ever has been. Though with a daughter as adorable as Lauren can be I can see why your mother would want the line to continue. Samantha is going to be the bashful doe that everyone wants but no one gets whether that be Lauren’s doing or Samantha’s own shy nature.” Angeal said smiling when Samantha hid behind Lauren as a couple of boys ran over to them.
Genesis growled as he watched the boys looking at Lauren and blushing as they asked her something and she said no. The boys nodded and ran back off laughing at each other one boy kept looking back at Lauren. Genesis growled louder which only made Angeal laugh because Lauren was still too young to care about any man other than her father, grandfather and uncles.
“Hey I wonder if Zack’s been by to visit the girls or anything.” Angeal said looking over at Genesis to see his reaction. Lauren had taken a liking to Zack the last time that he had come to visit them in Banora and it annoyed Genesis that she had taken that liking.
“Not sure let’s see, Lauren has Zack been by?” Genesis called ahead to his daughter who turned around to face him. Her eyes glowed with excitement as she nodded her head yes.
“Yeah Zackie came by about a week ago and stayed for 3 whole days it was so much fun. We played tag a lot and he never caught me only Sammy.” Lauren said bouncing where she stood. Apparently she still had her attachment to Zack which Angeal noticed Genesis still got annoyed with.
“Relax Genesis he’s not interested in her like that to him she is more like a kid sister he treats Samantha the same way. You really are going to be hell when she comes of age to start dating I can see it now you sitting with your rapier in hand waiting for him to bring her home. Dear god I pity any guy that tries to get near Lauren,” Angeal said laughing as Genesis growled at the thought of anyone going near his baby girl. She was his little princess and there was no way anyone was going to hurt her or else they would pay dearly.
“Still I know Zack is okay it’s just I don’t like how excited she gets when he’s around or when we talk about him. As for any other guy trying to get near her they’ll have to get through not only me but my father as well and that is about as easy as getting you and your daughter to accept more than a single dumbapple from us. Besides innocence is something I hope she has into adulthood so that she retains the purity in her demeanor. She is fine just as she is also she is strong willed and doesn’t have to rely on a man to support her. Have you heard what she wants to be when she grows up, what her dream job is?” Genesis asked his eyes alight with laughter as he looked over at Angeal.
“No can’t say that I have, why what is it Genesis?” Angeal asked actually curious as to what the little tomboy wanted to do with her life.
“When Lauren grows up she said she wants to be a hero like her Dad and uncles and that she wants to be the best and strongest not to mention probably only female SOLDIER 1^st class. I damned near fell out of my chair when she told me that one of the phone the other day.” Genesis said laughing as Angeal’s face became a mask of shock.
“To dance, to dance upon the moon, singing songs with the sad loon. We seek the hope and love around, so we’re not sad when in the ground. But when on earth seek thy love, you’ll find it when you look above.” Lauren sang her voice sounding amazing even to some of the older townsfolk that were outside listening to her singing.
“I bet I know what her nickname is going to be come school time, bet you it’ll be Siren.” Angeal laughed teasing Genesis about the boys liking Lauren. Genesis decided not to rise to the bait that Angeal had set especially seeing as they were walking up the steps of his parents’ house.
“It’s about bloody time you boys got here, we’ve been waiting for you to get here so that we could start making dinner.” Tammy Rhapsodos exclaimed seeing the men and the girls walking in. “Lauren, Samantha go and wash your hands I bet they’re filthy,” She added glaring at the girls who ran to go wash their hands.
“Hello mother how’ve you been?” Genesis asked going over and giving his mother a hug. She gave him a tight smile and he noticed that she was favouring her right side greatly. He knew that his father was back to being abusive again which made him fear for Lauren’s safety.
“So when do we eat I’m starving,” Angeal said setting his bags down inside the door. He hadn’t noticed what Genesis had but then again Genesis and his mother had never told anyone about Ralph being abusive. It had been at the time because Genesis was just getting ready to go off and join SOLDIER which is what they had thought was the cause of it. Apparently they had been very wrong as Genesis now noticed watching his mother hobble away.
“Soon enough Angeal why don’t you go spend some time with your daughter she’s only been bugging me all week as to when her Daddy would be here so she could spend some time with him.” Gillian said going off into the kitchen to help Tammy prepare the meal.
Angeal nodded and followed Sam up to the play room where he sat and talked with her instead of playing with the toys. Lauren was telling Genesis all about what had happened to Gramma and the more he heard the angrier her got. His daughter should not have to be subjected to that kind of thing and yet she was and the worst thing was she was trying to stop Ralph from hurting Tammy.
“Lauren it’s not your job to try and stop him from doing that, he shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. Besides what if he decided to try and hit you, then what would you do?” Genesis asked her his face serious. The answer she gave him left him speechless.
“He already did the last time when I tried to stop him from hurting Gramma, my face got all sore and puffy. But I did good Daddy he stopped trying to hurt Gramma he left her alone,” Lauren said smiling hugely to reveal a missing tooth that was not due to fall out yet.
“Lauren did your tooth fall out after Grampa hit you that last time,” Genesis asked watching Lauren’s face carefully.
Lauren ducked her head but nodded. “Yeah it did Daddy but that’s okay I’ll get a big girl tooth there so it’s not all bad. Daddy don’t get Grampa mad at you then you won’t be able to come back and visit me anymore and I wanna see you Daddy.” Lauren cried throwing her arms around his neck burying her face in his chest. She was shaking in fright even when he wrapped his arms around her rubbing her back soothingly.
“Grampa cannot keep me away from seeing you Lauren, I am allowed to see my daughter whenever I so choose to come and visit.” Genesis said trying to calm his now very upset little girl. She was clinging to him shaking and crying into his chest as he continued to rub her back soothingly.
“Daddy I don’t want Grampa to hurt you too, I’m a big girl I can take whatever he gives to me so that Gramma doesn’t get hurt anymore. But I don’t want him to start hurting you as well, I mean he was really nice to us when Zack was here but once he was gone he went right back to being mean and cruel again.” Lauren said trying to get her father to understand what she was saying.
“Lauren you should not have to suffer like that your grandfather should not be being abusive to you the way that he is. It isn’t right and it is not fair to you Lauren,” Genesis said trying to get her to see sense.
“Daddy I said its fine I can handle it, I’m a big girl and I can also take care of myself. I’m not a baby anymore it’s my turn to protect Gramma like she has protected me.” Lauren said her eyes fierce with anger and determination. Both things that she had inherited from her parents not just Genesis himself both things that had destroyed her mother as Genesis had learned recently.
Her mother had ended up a drug addict and her fierce anger beforehand had pushed away all of the people who may have helped her beat the addiction. As her addiction became worse the determination that she was not an addict had in the end been the second half of what killed her. She had died of a drug overdose two weeks ago and because Lauren hadn’t asked about her mother in so many years Genesis had not bothered to tell her about her mother’s passing.
“Baby girl this is not something that you should have to handle or take care of, it is something that should not even be happening.” Genesis said his own anger shining in his eyes. A fact that Lauren noticed as she pinched his cheeks.
“No starting fights Daddy we are to go about things with dignity honour and respect, and that cannot be obtained if we go about stirring up trouble.” Lauren said her little face serious and calm her eyes burning with the strength of her emotions.
“When did you get so wise and Angeal-like Lauren?” Genesis asked smiling at her like the proud father that he was. She really was quite an amazing child bright caring and very loving, so much so that she willingly put herself in harm’s way to protect her grandmother from her grandfather.
“Dunno just did somehow maybe its cause I’m different from everyone else.” Lauren said her eyes serious and grave. She perhaps knew more than she was letting on because the way she spoke about being different made Genesis wonder if she knew that her mother had not been entirely human. It was true that her mother was half human but she was also half vampiric demon which had helped lead to her madness.
“What do you mean by that Lauren?” Genesis asked watching her closely. He was now worried that she had been told something that she should not have been told.
“I’m not a normal 6 year old Daddy, I can do things that other people can’t. I can make cuts stop bleeding just by licking it with my tongue. I can see really well at night and I sleep better early in the morning till about 11:30, I have a really hard time sleeping at night Daddy.” Lauren explained to Genesis hoping that he wouldn’t be mad at her.
“I see that you’ve taken to your mother’s blood in that respect, she had the same problems along with a few others. Just be careful alright sweetheart?” Genesis asked trying to make sure that his daughter was safe and sound.
Lauren nodded her head before cuddling into Genesis’ arms and closing her eyes. She always felt safest in her Daddy’s arms and she loved to cuddle with him and listen to him tell her stories. She was in all honesty a Daddy’s suck something which Genesis loved because she was now the most important thing in the world to him. Sephiroth had laughed when Genesis had said that she was far more important than Loveless.
“Dinner!!” Tammy called upstairs. The girls jumped up excitably and ran downstairs Angeal and Genesis following behind them. Genesis’ face was an unreadable mask the moment he saw his father sitting at the table though his eyes flashed with white hot anger for a moment.
Lauren sat beside Ralph her face plastered with a smile as she accepted his help in cutting the steak into pieces so that she could eat it easily. She was such an amazing actress and she was only 6 years old. No one knew other than Genesis and his parents and that was it she had kept everything so well under wraps.
Genesis was impressed that his daughter had managed to protect everyone so easily from the truth of what her life had become though Genesis had brought her to his parents to keep her safe. His biggest fear was her ever getting hurt by anyone in anyway shape or form and it angered him that his own father was the cause of her pain and suffering now.
“Daddy is gonna read me Loveless tonight before I go to bed, and imma try to help him read it.” Lauren proclaimed loudly to everyone at the table smiling hugely. She was trying to make polite conversation so that no one would notice Genesis glaring at Ralph. Genesis suddenly broke out into a smile, “That’s right baby girl I’ll be testing your reading skills every night until I have to go back to work.”
Lauren laughed and bounced excitably in her seat her face alight with joy she adored Loveless. Anytime Genesis was home she would practically beg for him to read Loveless to her it was like an addiction for her. Though Genesis was glad that she enjoyed it he had often wondered if it was such a good idea to get her into the poem. Though watching her quote other poems now it made it clear to him that she had a love of poetry in general not just Loveless.
“How did you get to be so smart?” Ralph asked ruffling her hair which earned him a glare from her. She hated it when people touched her hair it annoyed and angered her to no end but she held her tongue.
“My Daddy taught me how to be a good learner so I’m smart cause of my Daddy,” Lauren said beaming at her father pride evident in her glowing green eyes. Genesis noticed the glow and gave her a quick look which she caught and her eyes returned to a normal excited green.
Genesis was going to have to watch her he now realized as he watched her struggling to keep her eyes in control but after a couple minutes he noticed that she was completely under control again. He now knew that when she said she could handle what Ralph was doing she meant that he would not be doing it for much longer. Though she was still inexperienced in how to use her abilities she was aware that she had magic at her disposal.
Genesis could not have been more proud of his daughter if she had proclaimed to the world that she was his child. She was taking to both sides of her blood with perfect evenness she was exactly half her mother and half her father. He was so pleased with the young lady she was beginning to grow to be, she was a good child.
A few days later Genesis and Angeal left Banora heading back to work promising to come back and visit soon. Both girls cried as their father’s left clinging to each other on the platform as they watched the train disappearing into the distance.
~4 Years Later~
“Come one Sammy I saw my father heading for my place!” Lauren yelled running towards her home. If her father was here then her uncle had to be here as well. “Dad…..dy,” Lauren trailed off as she saw her father kill her grandparents.
Clapping a hand over her mouth and grabbing Samantha she ran at top speed for Gillian’s place hiding under the basement stairs with Gillian. Lauren says nothing and responds to nothing words nor touches from Samantha and Gillian. She sat with her eyes wide and unseeing her body felt cold like her blood had turned to ice she felt like everything was happening to somebody else instead of actually happening to her.
A few days later Zack walked into Banora heading for Gillian’s and finding her hiding under the stairs again with the girls Lauren was still in the same state that she had been a few days before. Samantha was getting worried Lauren hadn’t eaten or slept in almost a week.
“Puppy what’s going on? Uncle Genesis was here and he attacked the people… Lauren saw something and hasn’t ate or slept in almost a week.” Samantha said her arm tight around Lauren’s shoulders. She was so worried about Lauren and the reason as to why she wasn’t responding to anything.
“Hey Lulu, it’s me Zackie.” Zack said kneeling down in front of Lauren who suddenly launched herself into his arms burying her face in his chest. He was stunned for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and holding her close rubbing her back as she cried into his chest.
Samantha watched Lauren closely glad to see that Lauren was responding somewhat to someone finally. After a few minutes Lauren pulled back to look up at Zack with tears brimming again in her eyes. “Zackie you have to stop my father, he’s gone mad he won’t see reason….. Gramma… Grampa…… They’re both gone now Zack.” Lauren said the tears falling again.
“What do you mean they’re gone did they go away for a few days?” Zack asked his face confused and curious.
“No Zackie father killed them I saw him kill them with his sword.” Lauren explained. Samantha gasped no wonder Lauren had shut down like she had watching her father kill the only family she knew. It was no wonder Lauren hadn’t opened up to anyone until Zack arrived she didn’t want anybody else to get hurt. She knew that Zack would be able to fight against Genesis and hopefully not get hurt.
“I’ll go see what I can do about that you girls stay under here, Gillian can I see you for a few minutes?” Zack stated moving out from the hiding place under the stairs. Gillian nodded and followed him out talking with him for a few minutes before he left to try and find Angeal.
Zack returned a couple of hours later to find Gillian on the floor and Angeal standing over by the door his eyes heartbroken. Zack went over to Angeal and began to give him shit for what he had done or at least what Zack had thought Angeal had done. Genesis arrived and called forth a summon having it attack Zack.
“Zack behind you!!!!!!!” Lauren called out standing within the safety of the doorway. The summon was going to attack him from behind but thanks to Lauren’s warning Zack managed to avoid it. Her green eyes literally glowed as she glared at Genesis the very person she had once adored and respected above all else. She tossed a spell at him stunning him for a moment before she departed.
“Lauren you shouldn’t have done that what if he had attacked you?” Zack said running over to the girls. Though Lauren was only 10 she acted far older then her years. She was angry and though her eyes were slowly returning to normal Zack had a feeling that things weren’t done yet.
Sighing Zack picked up both girls and left Banora putting them on a helicopter. The girls cried as they watched Banora being set fire to, everything they had ever known had been taken from them. Lauren had shut down again the tears the only sign that she was aware of what was happening around her. When they got back to SOLDIER Sephiroth declared that he would take over guardianship of the two girls who seemed happy enough to be with him.
“You will both behave for me and stay out of trouble won’t you?” Sephiroth asked when he told them that they would be staying with him. He could see their father’s in them and it made his heart ache knowing that they would probably never see their father’s again.
“Sure uncle Sephiroth,” Samantha said smiling up at him. Lauren on the other hand said nothing she just stared out the window watching the rain fall. She hadn’t said a word since Zack had left and even then she had only said goodbye.
“Lauren are you alright sweetheart?” Sephiroth asked trying to be a kind uncle to her. She had been in an odd state since he had seen her today.
“I’ll live,” Lauren said turning dead eyes on him. She looked like she had been through or seen something horrific at her young age.
“What happened if you don’t mind me asking,” Sephiroth questioned softly. He could see that whatever had happened it had affected her deeply.
“I saw my father murder my Gramma and Grampa, I saw it with my own eyes.” Lauren said softly looking up at Sephiroth with tears brimming in her eyes again. It hurt to say it but she knew that talking about it would help her to feel better about herself now.
“You poor child,” Sephiroth said taking her into his arms as she cried again. Samantha walked over and the three of the sat in a group as Sephiroth held both of them in his arms. These poor children had been made to suffer by their fathers’ madness and Sephiroth would see to it that they didn’t have to suffer any further.
~1 Year Later~
“Why do we have to come with you again uncle Sephy?” Lauren asked as they stood outside of his house waiting for Zack. In the last year Lauren had begun to open up though she had had a massive setback when she found out that her father had been killed.
“Because no one is willing to babysit you and Samantha within a 100 miles of Midgar and no day care center will have you either. Because of that you both have to accompany us on this mission.” Sephiroth said giving the now 11 year old girls a glare.
“Hey sorry it took so long had to wait for Cloud to grab the others but we’re ready to go now,” Zack said running up to them. They all got on the train and arrived in Nibelheim shortly afterwards, the girls were excited and running all over the town. Sephiroth finally got them settled inside of the inn while the rest of the group went to Shinra Manor to investigate some things.
A few hours later the girls heard a loud explosion and saw tons of smoke coming from Shinra Manor. “I think we should go check things out are you coming Sammy?” Lauren asked her eyes were wide and worried.
“Yeah I’m definitely coming let’s go,” Samantha said taking Lauren’s offered hand both of them running towards Shinra Manor.
Once inside Lauren and Samantha saw Zack and Cloud lying face down on the stairs and they ran to their sides. Lauren was trying to get Zack to wake up while Samantha tried to awaken Cloud but they weren’t having any luck.
Some Shinra scientists came in then and the head of them told them to grab the men they would be very useful in his next experiments. “Grab the girls also I have plans for them,” He said following out the people carrying Zack and Cloud.
The last sound the girls heard before darkness claimed them was the evil man’s laughter echoing off of the walls around them and ringing in their ears.
~4 Years Later~
Hojo enjoyed experimenting on the 4 specimens that he had collected though the one young lady was the most fun he had had in ages. Her body had grown to that of age 20 in the 4 years that he had been testing things out on her and she awoke often before returning to a sleep like state. The other young woman had grown to be 20 in appearance and mentality as well but she never woke from the comatose state.
Zack awoke the one day and burst from his tank looking around to see Cloud and two very familiar looking women in Mako tanks as well. Walking over to the tank of the deep brunette or possibly black haired woman whose hair was waist length he saw the name on the report and his mind freaked out. This woman was Lauren Rhapsodos the little girl he use to go and visit all the time in Banora. Looking at the other tank he realized that the woman within had to be Samantha his mentor Angeal Hewley’s daughter.
Releasing them all from the tanks Zack looked at the three bodies wondering how he was going to get them all out of here when suddenly Lauren began to move. He watched as she opened her eyes which were now a glowing golden colour. “Where the fuck am I now,” She mumbled her voice holding a musical quality.
“We’re inside Shinra Manor, do you think you can walk?” Zack asked carefully kneeling beside Lauren afraid to frighten her.
“Zackie….. Is that you?” Lauren asked looking confusedly at him. Her eyes assessed him carefully before she moved to sit up and face him directly.
“Yeah it’s me, how are you feeling Lulu?” Zack asked noticing that she was now sitting in a more relaxed position. She tilted her head to side eyeing him up and down closely her eyes lingering in places.
“Considering I went to sleep 11 and woke up 4 years later at 20 I guess I can’t complain.” Lauren said throwing her arms around Zack and hugging him. “I can carry Sammy if you’ve got Cloudy,” She added releasing him.
Zack nodded blushing slightly, she definitely wasn’t 11 anymore her body was 20. Zack picked up Cloud while Lauren grabbed Samantha, they had to run as people were coming so they ran into the basement. They were hiding behind one of the coffins when the voices started to get louder.
“Damnit Zack their gonna catch us and I don’t want to be an experiment again,” Lauren said her voice saddened and fearful.
“Experiment?” A male voice asked from inside the coffin they were hiding behind.
“Yes Vincent Valentine my friends and I were experiments, we are trying to escape,” Lauren said causing Zack to look at her oddly. “Telepath remember, I knew who he was soon as he spoke because his mind kicked into a readable level.” She added smiling as Zack gave her an awed look.
“Come then this way,” Vincent said opening the coffin and pulling Sam into his arms and carrying her down a long tunnel to an airship with Lauren hot on his heels and Zack right on hers.
“Thank you for helping us Vincent,” Lauren said smiling as she took Samantha from him and helped Zack load Cloud into the airship. “Wait where are you going why don’t you come with us?” She added noticing Vincent turning to head back to the basement and the coffins.
“I must stay because I have not paid for my sins and this…..this is my punishment,” Vincent said turning to face her once again caught by the golden colour of her eyes.
“Sometimes the greatest sin we make is not trying to move ahead in life and allowing past sins to hold us back from helping others,” Lauren said simply her eyes glowing slightly but her face soft and motherly. She was still the same protective person she had always been growing up and now she had that motherly edge to her.
Vincent stared at her for several minutes seeming to weigh her words carefully before nodding and getting on the airship taking the empty seat beside her. Lauren gave him a brief smile before turning her attention to Samantha checking her over to make sure that she was not harmed in any way.
“Your sister?” Vincent asked softly watching the way Lauren was with her, like an overprotective mother.
“Nope we’ve just been friends since I was 6 months old and she was 1 month old….. Our fathers had been best friends growing up as kids and we followed suit. But our fathers are dead now all we really have is each other our only family is gone. Zack and Cloud are the closest things to family that we have, I look to them as brothers.” Lauren said smiling softly down at Sam her eyes soft and sad.
Zack heard what Lauren said about thinking of him as a brother and although it made him happy he was also internally sad that she only thought of him as that. He had been in love with the little girl she had been and now that she was a woman he had fallen for her like normal people do and yet she thought of him as a brother. He saw the way she talked to Vincent and the way that Vincent looked at her and it made him a little angry but he also knew that they would be good together.
A few hours later they were at a camp site and Zack had gone to hunt them down some food, when he came back he noticed that Samantha wasn’t there and he began to panic. “Relax Zack the puppy,” Lauren began watching him closely. “She’s just up on the cliff give her some time,” She finished closing her eyes and leaning back against the tree trunk that she sat on a thick branch of.
Zack snuck up to where Samantha stood singing softly, “Would you tell me I was wrong, would you help me understand. Are you looking down upon me, are you proud of who I am?” She had her head lifted so that her face was staring up at the stars as she sang softly in memory of her father.
“Hey how are you feeling?” Zack asked softly moving to stand beside her. He looked over at her chuckling when she wrapped her arms around him excitably.
“Yay the puppy is alive and well,” She teased releasing him and smiling softly her orange eyes shining brightly.
“Yeah I’m doing alright Cloud is the one who is having the hard time, he’s suffering from a severe case of Mako-addiction.” Zack said as they headed back down to the rest of the group.
They both smiled as they watched Lauren skinning the rabbits that Zack had managed to catch. She was talking a little with Vincent as she prepared the meat and started a fire, she really was like the mother of the group. She kept checking on Cloud making sure that he was doing okay considering the Mako-addiction. Vincent sat on a fallen tree watching her as she worked and he had to admit that she was very appealing and her personality was pleasing.
“Will you two stop gawking and get your asses over here to watch Cloud while I cook unless you want it to burn,” Lauren called her eyes and hands never leaving her tasks. She truly was following after her father’s personality at the moment but she held all of her mother’s softness and kindness. She was the best of her mother and in some cases the best of Genesis as well.
Samantha laughed and walked over sitting beside Cloud resting his head in her lap and brushing the hair from his face gently stroking his cheek. Zack sighed remembering Aerith he was going to have to get to Midgar somehow to see her again, he knew that she was the one he should be focusing on. Lauren turned her full attention to cooking the meat and when it was done she handed it out to everyone ending with Vincent.
“Here ya go Vinnie I hope it’s not too dry.” Lauren said softly handing him the cooked rabbit meat. She had a small smile on her face as she sat beside him with her own portion of meat.
“I’m sure that it is fine thank you,” Vincent said deciding to try and ignore the nickname she had used in addressing him. He noticed that her long black hair had streaks of red in it but that they appeared to be natural. Her fingers were long and slender but also looked strong like her arms.
“Who experimented on you?” He asked after a few minutes of silence. He saw her stiffen for a moment before relaxing and taking another bite of her meal before she answered him.
“Lucrecia Cresent was that one who ended my experimentation but a man named Hojo began it all. I have no idea what all was done to me but either way it matters little to me now.” Lauren said taking another bite of her meat. She was oddly apathetic about everything that had happened to her Vincent noticed and he wondered what had happened to her or what she had seen that had made her so distant and cold.
“I had the same thing happen it started out with Hojo and ended with Lucrecia, I am infused with the Chaos gene.” Vincent said softly his eyes looking at the ground before him instead of at her.
“Yeah I hate Chaos thing is a bitch to control when I’m angry……. But I don’t exactly mind it I mean it could be worse,” Lauren said looking at her hands sadly. She hated Chaos it was the one thing that had annoyed her most from her time as a test subject.
“You harbour the Chaos gene as well, now that is unusual but not impossible I’ll admit.” Vincent whispered looking over at her finally. She had her head hanging down looking embarrassed and ashamed of what she was. Vincent sighed softly and placed one of his hands atop hers giving it a gentle squeeze to let her know that she was not alone.
“Yes Hojo was quite pleased when I transformed in front of him the one time but since then I have managed to get a bit better control on Chaos. Now I never have to worry about him taking control of me which means that those I care about don’t have to fear for their lives.” Lauren said turning her hand to hold his. She had a small smile on her face as she sat talking with Vincent for a while.
Samantha looked over at Lauren to see her holding hands with Vincent the pair talking about who knew what. Sam smiled to see Lauren looking so at peace and to see her putting out the effort to be social. Since they were young and Lauren had witnessed her father murdering her grandparents Lauren had been a very closed off person. She didn’t tend to let people in or to talk very much which often worried Samantha although Lauren would talk to her with ease.
“Looks like she’s finally found someone that she feels at ease enough with to open up a little eh?” Zack said softly his eyes also on Lauren and Vincent. He watched her with a mixture of happiness and disappointment, he wanted her but he didn’t it was hard to explain.
“Yes it seems to be the case, I’m just glad to see her at peace and talkative again. Ever since she saw her grandparents die she has been so shut down and closed off from everybody. I was beginning to worry that she would never have any other friends aside from you Cloud and I. I’m glad to see that I was so wrong, and he seems to be good for her from what I can tell,” Samantha said her blue eyes bright and shining as she shook her red hair from her eyes.
“It would seem, though it could just be a short term thing I mean you’ve seen the way she is with people. Sometimes at first things look like they’re gonna go great and then all of a sudden she’s back to her old self and the other person gives up. But here’s hoping that doesn’t happen this time,” Zack said looking down at Cloud whose head was still resting in Samantha’s lap. He could tell that she cared about Cloud greatly and he hoped that once the Mako-addiction wore off they would be a happy couple.
Samantha nodded in agreement with what Zack had just said about how Lauren had always been, it hurt them both to remember how broken she had been. Although she now seemed to be fine she had suffered so much Zack sometimes wondered if things could have been made better if Genesis had somehow managed to survive and stay sane. If maybe somehow the degradation process had been curable that then maybe both Samantha and Lauren would have been given a chance at a better life than the one they were now living.
“I’ll take first watch seeing as I’m not even tired in the least then Vincent can take watch. Tomorrow it’ll be you and Samantha sound good Zack?” Lauren asked as she cleaned up the mess from earlier and put the scraps into the fire which she began to add some wood to.
“Alright we’ll be over under the trees there so that we stay dry if it starts to rain or anything.” Zack said helping Sam move Cloud to rest under the tree. The three then settled in for a night of restful sleep.
“You can go sleep wherever you want to Vincent, I should be fine.” Lauren said as she wiped her hands off on her pants.
“I’ll stay with you I do not really require much sleep and I would like to get to know you more,” Vincent said his face colouring a little bit. He had found that he was enjoying her company and getting to know all about her, he wanted to get to know her better.
“It’s up to you I don’t mind either way though it would be nice to have someone to talk to and all that,” Lauren said sitting down and looking at the fire her eyes warming up. She was not as cold as she had been being at the beginning of their meeting each other.
Vincent sat beside her his thigh accidently brushing hers but he didn’t move it nor did she move hers. Vincent took her hand again and held it as they both stared into the flames lost in thought until Lauren broke the silence. “So Vinnie do you have yourself a girlfriend?” She asked softly her eyes now looking into his the firelight reflecting brightly in them.
“No, I had been in love with a woman once but she did not return my feelings. How about you do you have a boyfriend?” Vincent asked looking into her eyes feeling like he was drowning in them.
“Nope no one had struck my fancy and I doubt any guy would want to be with a woman like me. Hell I’ve never even been kissed before,” Lauren said shaking her head and giving a sad little laugh. She had wanted to be loved by someone for years and she had longed for her first kiss but she never got one.
“Neither have I but perhaps,” Vincent began lowering his head and lightly brushing his lips against hers. He didn’t know why but he felt oddly compelled and drawn to this woman, he wanted to protect her and hold her close.
Lauren stiffened for a moment before she began to shyly kiss him back her arms sliding up around his neck as she turned so that she was facing him directly. Vincent’s arms slid around her waist as he leaned back pulling her with him as he lay down. His hands rested at her lower back drawing little circles while he kissed her a little deeper.
Lauren pulled back then and looked down at him with shocked and slightly frightened eyes. “Vincent I’m not a woman who rushes into things without collecting all the information I can first to make sure it will work out,” Lauren said her eyes staring into his.
“I wouldn’t force you Lauren, I am not that type of man.” Vincent said releasing her and expecting her to get off of him. Much to his surprise she stayed where she was laying down and resting her head on his shoulder. She cuddled into him her arms around his neck as she talked to him about things she remembered from her childhood and he spoke of his own memories.
After a couple of hours Lauren got up and tended to the fire then sat with her legs crossed staring at Vincent. He moved to sit also facing her with crossed legs a soft smile on his face that reached his eyes.
“Hey Vinnie?” Lauren said after a few minutes of silence. She had a devilish glint in her eyes and her lips curved upwards seductively.
“Yes Lauren,” Vincent replied his expression guarded and curious as he watched her. She gave him a smile that was not innocent at all before she sighed and shook her head.
Leaning forward slightly she grabbed the front of his cloak and pulled him toward her by it crashing her lips to his. She began to lean back pulling him with her as she kissed him deeply and with passion her hands sliding under his cloak to roam his back. Vincent held his hands at her hips as he allowed her to do whatever she wanted not doing anything.
“Vinnie you can explore a little if you want,” Lauren said pulling back for air her eyes shining brightly into his. She had managed to get them back to the green colour she had had growing up but they didn’t stay that way for long.
Slowly Vincent began to slide his hands up her sides allowing his fingers to brush the side of her breast gently while she ran her fingers down his chest her lips sliding shyly along his neck. She jumped a little when he groaned but then blushing she began to lightly nip at the spot delighting in his reaction. Vincent’s fingers tunneled into her hair his gauntlet lightly scratching the back of her head.
“Take that thing off before one of us gets hurt by it,” Lauren growled moving so that Vincent could remove his gauntlet. “The gloves can go too Vinnie then you can really feel the heat on my skin.” She added smiling up at him softly. He did as she asked placing the gloves and gauntlet in a pile off to the side before kissing her again.
This time she rested her hands at his hips for a few moments before sliding them around to grab his ass which made his groan softly. Smiling while blushing she did it again this time lifting herself up to him a little which brought a small quiet growl from him. She slowly slid her hands back along his hips before shyly sliding her right hand in between them and touching him lightly. He couldn’t hold back the moan that made its way up his throat and off his lips.
“That feels good I take it that or I’m bad at this,” Lauren commented her face blushing madly as she continued to pet him gently.
“It feels very good,” Vincent muttered against her neck as he laid a trail of kisses there. He pressed himself more firmly into her hand as his lips slid sensually along her collar bones and into the crevice between her breasts. He could feel himself growing harder as she continued to touch him biting her lips against her own feelings.
“Vincent do you want to…… uhhhh…….” Lauren began blushing madly as she turned her head to the side. She was embarrassed to ask him if he wanted to have sex even though she desperately wanted to herself.
“I won’t force you to do anything but if you want to make love I have no objections,” Vincent said lifting his face to look into her eyes. He had said make love not have sex, he knew that he would never be letting her go not now and not ever.
“I want to Vinnie, I’m just really shy,” Lauren said beginning to undo his belts that held his pants on. Nodding his head Vincent began to slide her pants down over her hips slowly so that she could push him away and make him stop at anytime.
Lauren didn’t though and soon they were both naked from the waist down, Vincent held himself above her. Her eyes glanced down at him and widened as a blush crept across her face again, she had no idea how THAT was supposed to go inside of her. Vincent noticed her gaze and her reaction to seeing him and lowered his head whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry I’ll be gentle unless you want me to stop now in which case I will.”
Lauren gasped softly and looked up into his eyes, she leaned up kissing him as she shyly rolled her hips into his. She moaned softly at the feeling that movement produced as she slowly slid her hands to rest on his hips. Slowly she pulled on them guiding him to her core where she felt him gently touch. She looked into his eyes silently telling him to begin to try and enter her.
Vincent nodded and slowly began to press himself inside of her stretching her to fit around him trying his best to be gentle with her. Lauren’s head tossed from side to side which made Vincent pause thinking he was hurting her. “No don’t stop Vinnie go in all the way, it just feels so good and yet so bad all at the same time.” Lauren whispered trying to keep her voice down so that the others didn’t awake to see them.
Vincent nodded his head and began to press further into her groaning at the feeling of her surrounding him. He stopped when he reached her barrier and looked down into her eyes as he slammed through it taking away her innocence and making her his. She gasped closing her eyes tightly as the pain hit her, her nails digging into his back as she lay panting under him. Vincent nuzzled her neck leaving light gentle kisses behind as he waited for her to adjust to his size and her own pain.
“Vinnie move,” She finally said after a few minutes of silence. Vincent nodded and slowly, gently pulled out of her before sliding back in. He created a slow easy pace so that she could get used to how he moved within her and after a few gentle thrusts she began to meet him thrust for thrust. “Faster Vinnie,” Lauren begged her voice and eyes pleading with him.
“As you wish,” He whispered in her ear beginning to move faster and a little harder. She closed her eyes her head tossing backwards her back arching bringing her closer to him. She bucked her hips up to meet him each time and slowly she began to trail kisses along his chest and up his neck before sinking her teeth into his neck as she shuddered with her climax.
Vincent followed shortly after her shuddering with the force of his own climax and just as she had moaned his name her name fell from his lips. They lay together like that for a while him on top of her still buried deep within her both of them calming their breathing.
“Wow is it always that good?” Lauren whispered kissing him gently no longer shy about that. Her eyes shone brightly with all the feelings that ran through her body but most of all they shone with acceptance for Vincent and what they had just done.
“I wouldn’t know this was my first time as well,” Vincent admitted blushing which made Lauren giggle as she kissed him.

“We should get dressed in case one of the others wakes up and we get busted,” Lauren said groaning as he slid from her. She suddenly got an idea and quickly slid back on her pants but she didn’t allow Vincent to do his pants up. “Do you mind if I?” She asked placing her hand on his penis which she had just taken out of his pants.
“Go ahead,” Vincent said curious to see what she wanted to do. Slowly she leaned down and began to take him into her mouth. Oh god she was going to take him into her throat, he didn’t know if he would be able to keep control if she did that but he was unwilling to stop her.
Lauren took him first just into her mouth and then slowly began to take him into her throat moaning softly as he slid further down. The sound vibrated around him and he bit back a groan as she took him in as far as he would go. She slipped a hand inside his pants to gently massage his balls as she began to bob her head. She sucked and nipped lightly grinning around him when he began to moan and whisper her name time and time again.
Getting braver she sucked really hard biting him on top while sliding her teeth along his underside. It was more than he could take and he thrust into her mouth his fingers tunneling into her hair pressing her more firmly onto him. Her name kept falling from his lips on moans of pleasure before he came shuddering. Lauren swallowed all of it before sliding him out of her mouth.
“You taste very good Vincent Valentine, almost as good as you feel.” Lauren whispered kissing him roughly throwing her leg over his hip sitting in his lap her hips pressing down against him. Vincent’s hands were on her hips before he slid her pants back off and laid her out on her back grinning evilly.
Two could play the teasing game and he planned to see just how good she tasted on his tongue. Leaning down Vincent pressed a kiss to her slick folds before taking a cautious lick, grinning when she moaned and drove her fingers into his hair. Deciding that he wasn’t going to waste any time he thrust his tongue into her moist cavern swirling it around tasting her. Her fingers pressed into his skull as her hips pressed him more firmly into her his fingers massaging her clitoris while his tongue assaulted her. Curious as to her reaction he took a light nip at her to which she responded by pulling on his hair moaning his name softly over and over again.
He kept up his sweet torture for a few more minutes before she came shuddering and gasping his name. Smiling he cleaned up all that she had offered to him before he crawled on top of her and slammed back inside roughly. “I can’t help myself you’re too desirable and too damned delicious for your own good.” Vincent groaned taking her more roughly this time.
Lauren moaned biting at her lower lip as she met him thrust for thrust her nails scratching along his back. She kissed him deeply slipping her tongue into his mouth shuddering as she came again and he followed seconds afterwards. “I think that it is always going to feel this good with you Vinnie,” Lauren sighed nuzzling him before curling up against him.
“I would have to agree with you there, but perhaps we should put our pants back on just in case.” Vincent whispered sliding out of her and pulling his pants back up over his hips. He watched as Lauren slid her pants back on and smiled when she curled up beside him her head in his lap as she slipped off to sleep.
She truly was amazing she managed to make him feel things that he had never felt before and they did things he had only dreamed of. But the most amazing thing was that he could see himself spending forever by her side loving her every day. She made him think about the future in a bright side way instead of always looking at the bad, she made him feel alive again.
Zack turned over and closed his eyes he had seen the entire thing that had happened between Vincent and Lauren and it upset him. He had wanted to be her first but Vincent had taken that before he got the chance to and now he was angry. But as he watched Lauren take charge of things and give Vincent oral sex he realized that she was happy with him so he calmed down. His thoughts turned instead to Aerith who he was hoping to be able to see again sometime soon.
He would not tell anyone about what he had seen but he wasn’t going to just leave it be either, he was going to make sure that Lauren was happy. Although it seemed like he didn’t have to do much to make sure of that as he watched Lauren curl up in Vincent’s lap and drift off to sleep. Sighing Zack closed his eyes again and drifted off into a peaceful sleep dreaming of Aerith and remembering their first date when he had bought her a hair ribbon.
Sam lay sleeping peacefully her head resting on Cloud’s chest. She was desperately hoping that he would beat this Mako-addiction quickly so that she could tell him how she felt about him. She loved him deeply and could only hope that he would return her feelings but even if he didn’t at least she could say she tried.
What Samantha didn’t know was that Cloud himself was aware of what was going on he was just unable to react. He could feel her head on his chest and her arm over his waist could hear her soft breaths while she slept. Trying to move his arm took a lot of effort but he managed to wrap his arm around her waist. He was glad that she was alright but he was even happier that she was curled up beside him her arm lying over him.
Vincent sat stroking Lauren’s face all night through until she awoke. “Why hello there Mr. Valentine,” Lauren whispered opening her eyes and looking up at him with calm golden eyes. She had a small smile on her face as she eyes him closely.
“Hello Miss Rhapsodos, did you sleep well?” Vincent asked brushing a few strands of hair from her face. She nodded her head sitting up straight and rubbing her eyes stretching.
“Yeah I had a great sleep though I kept dreaming that someone was rubbing my face all night whispering stuff to me,” Lauren said eyeing him knowingly. Vincent chuckled nodding his head that she was correct he had been stroking her face all night and whispering things to her.
“Well I’m going to go and hunt up something for us to eat just as soon as I tend to the fire. Damnit it went out oh well,” Lauren sighed and set up a starter teepee with some of the wood. She then snapped her fingers and the wood caught fire instantly making Vincent lift an eyebrow.
“Care to explain how you can do that?” Vincent asked moving to stand behind her his lips on her neck as his arms slid around her waist.
“From some of the experiments that were done to me I can control or embody the elements though I have not yet tried to manipulate them. You know such as making water burn and what not, anyways I’ll go hunt for us,” Lauren said turning and giving him a soft kiss which he returned.
Vincent watched her walk away his eyes on the gentle sway of her hips underneath the long red leather coat that she wore. She also wore black boots and black underclothing which he didn’t really mind seeing on her. She also had a large red bladed sword which she had inherited from her father the Rapier is what she called it.
Lauren walked through the woods looking for something to get for them to eat but also thinking of her father and his fall from grace. He had deserted Shinra and at first he was thought to just be arrogant and childish though later on it was easy to see his reasoning for doing what he did. After he was injured during a training fight with Sephiroth he learned of the secrets of his birth that he discovered when being healed. He was adopted and had come to feel betrayed by both his real parents who Lauren had never met and his adoptive parents that she had always thought her blood family. It had been the wound that had triggered Genesis’s flawed genetic structure to begin to degrade, allowing Hollander to claim to be able to cure it.
Lauren held a deep seated resentment and hatred of Dr. Hollander for what he had done and made her father into. But now she had more important things than the anger that had driven her ever since she had found the reports that detailed everything. She had shut off from everyone but for Zack and Samantha.
Vincent sat looking at the flames of the fire thinking of Lucrecia and the events on the path that had led him to where he was now. Because of Hojo’s experiments Vincent could shapeshift into various demonic forms and he was immortal. He had thought that was supposed to be some kind of punishment but now with Lauren he saw it as a gift of sorts.
True he thought himself a monster but she didn’t see that all she saw was the man he had once been and the man he had become. She saw the good and the bad but accepted that that was the way he was and he couldn’t change it. She loved him or at least he thought that she did judging from the way things were going between them. She seemed like such a tightly wrapped woman and yet he was able to see the insecure woman beneath. She feared being rejected and she was insecure about her looks. She seemed to want to be the exact opposite of her father and more like the mother that from what she had said had been non-existent in her life.
Looking up as he heard a noise Vincent pulled out his gun aiming it in the direction of the sound. “Will you put that thing away jesus you’re gonna hurt someone with it,” Lauren said walking out of the woods with a few rabbits in hand. She had a grin on her face as she set to work skinning the rabbits and getting the fire ready to cook them.
“My apologies I thought it was someone I needed to have a defense for not someone I want to let in,” Vincent said sitting down beside her. He watched the way she worked noting how precise and economic her movements were. She didn’t lose energy for strength she got the most strength for the shortest amount of distance.
“Someone you want to let in eh? And just what is that supposed to mean Vinnie?” Lauren asked turning curious golden eyes to him. He felt that he could drown in those liquid honey eyes; they shone like the sun and burned just as easily into him.
“Yes somebody to allow in past my defenses to let see the real me hidden underneath this exterior that tends to repel. Someone that maybe I can love if they don’t mind,” Vincent said staring into her eyes the entire time. He couldn’t keep the hope out of his voice as much as he wanted to but when her eyes brightened a little he was not as worried.
“I wouldn’t mind that so long as you are willing to accept everything that is me not just the good but also the bad that goes along with it. To accept me on my best days and my worst through everything the good the bad and the downright ugly,” Lauren said watching closely for his reaction.
“I can do that Lauren,” Vincent said smiling softly for the first time feeling whole again. Feeling like he had meaning and reason in his life. He felt like he had been given the most precious gift in the world.
Growling softly Lauren whispered, “Put that damned sexy smile away Vincent or I don’t care who hears or sees I’ll rape you where you stand.” Her eyes were burning with desire and want and Vincent could feel himself responding instantly to just her look.
“You can’t rape the willing and I’d be more than willing Lauren,” Vincent replied watching as her shoulders raised and her mouth pinched into a thin line.
“True enough but I will take you where you stand without a second of hesitation,” Lauren said glaring at him with hungry eyes. She was not joking but he didn’t care he wanted her badly now as he gave her a small smile. “I warned you Vincent,” She said launching at him.
Vincent easily caught her kissing her deeply his hands on her hips already. He rolled her under him so that his cloak would cover them just in case. He quickly pulled off her pants while she undid his sliding them down over his hips. “I won’t hold back this time Lauren,” Vincent whispered watching her closely.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way Vinnie,” Lauren replied smirking up at him.
Vincent didn’t waste any time slamming into her roughly as he kissed her. Lauren’s back arched up to him a moan leaving her lips into their kiss. Vincent lifted her top up over her breasts sliding her bra down his lips trailing kisses along the exposed skin before his teeth began to nip at her right breast taking the tip into his mouth. Lauren moaned loudly not caring who heard her only concerned with the feelings charging through her body.
“Shhh, you’ll wake the others,” Vincent whispered kissing her deeply. He really didn’t care about whether they woke anyone or not but he had to say it for her sake.
“I don’t care Vincent….. mmmm…..” Lauren moaned as Vincent returned to assaulting her chest. She was so lost in her passion that she never noticed Samantha get up nor her arrival by the fire.
“Let go of her this instant before I decide to blow your brains out Valentine,” Samantha growled her gun aimed at his head. Her eyes were glowing purple with the Omega gene power that had been given to her.
“Sammy!!! It’s not what you think, I wanted this” Lauren says her eyes a bright red colour as she stared up at Sam.
“You asked for him to rape you?” Samantha hissed her finger tightening around the trigger.
“Samantha you can’t rape the fucking willing,” Lauren snapped grabbing Vincent making him stay within her. “You pull out and I’ll fry your ass myself, Sammy go back to Cloud so we can finish.” Lauren added glaring up at Sam who was now smiling.
“Alright I’m gonna see if I can get any responses outta him,” Samantha said turning around and leaving them.
Vincent sighed resting his forehead against Lauren’s as she giggled under him. “Guess I was a little bit too loud there huh?” she asked smiling up at him.
“I told you so, but that’s alright shall we finish up or do you want to end it here?” Vincent countered returning her smile.
“I wanna fucking finish mister so let’s get in gear here alright?” Lauren replied smiling wider as she rolled against him.
Samantha walked back over to where Zack and Cloud lay sleeping. She had been pleasantly surprised when she woke up to find Cloud’s arm wrapped around her waist. Looking down at him now she noticed that he had his eyes open and was staring up at her curiously. “I just had to go deal or thought I had to go deal with Vincent being a rapist but I was wrong. Lauren finally decided to let someone in, so I’m back.” Samantha whispered as she curled back up with him.
She rested her head on his chest and tossed her arm over his waist nuzzling her face against him a little. Cloud fought again to wrap his arm around her waist and was pleased to note that he was able to do so more easily this time. “Hey now you don’t have to do that for my sake Cloud. I mean yeah I love you but it’s ok if you don’t return my feelings I really don’t mind.” Samantha said looking up into his eyes.
Cloud stared at her for a moment before slowly leaning down and kissing her. It took effort but he would pay any price to be able to let Samantha know how he felt about her. He pulled with his arm that was around her waist and rolled her on top of him so he could wrap his other arm around her. Samantha moaned softly kissing him back eagerly her hands rubbing circles onto his chest.
“Love you too,” Cloud mumbled out not able to get much better than that at the moment. He wanted her to know that he loved her too, he always had but he could barely keep his head clear.
“I know I get it Cloud now rest Mako-addiction especially a case as severe as yours is going to take some time to recover from.” Samantha said rolling back down to lay beside him. She gave him a serious and somewhat angry look but he knew she was happy.
“Hey breakfast is ready if ya’ll wanna get up. Here I’ll you with Spikes,” Lauren said bending down and literally picking Cloud up as if he were a doll. She carried him over to the fire Samantha hot on her heels before turning back to get Zack. “Hey Puppy, time to eat come on before its cold.” Lauren said leaning over Zack.
Zack slowly opened his eyes to reveal Lauren leaning over him her face serene. “I’m coming give me a minute. Have fun last night?” He muttered sitting up.
He regretted his words within seconds as Lauren’s face closed right down her eyes flashing hurt before becoming carefully void. A few tears slipped down her face as she went to run away from him but he grabbed her wrist stopping her. “I’m not saying it to be mean I just want to make sure that you’re happy. I’ve got Aerith now but I still want to take care of you, you were always like a little sister to me.” Zack said hoping she believed him.
“I’ve heard of Aerith she’s an ancient the last one actually. And yes I did enjoy myself last night, I am happy and I forgive you.” Lauren said offering him a small smile before pulling him up and dragging him over to the fire to have something to eat.
Once everyone had ate their fill they began to head off towards Midgar hitching a ride in the back of a truck. They talked quietly to each other Lauren making observations about their surroundings and where she guessed them to be. She seemed out of it for most of the ride her eyes distant as she thought back to events from her past and during her experimentation.
They got off the truck and Zack made everyone stay where they were as he went off to fight alone against Shinra Troops. He stands facing the army and he shakes his head, “Boy oh boy. The price of freedom is steep.” He then holds Angeal’s buster sword to his forward remembering the words Angeal had spoken to him. About always embracing his dreams and to never forget his honour as SOLDIER.
Running forward Zack fights against the Shinra Troops taking down a great deal of them before being taken down himself. As he lay there once the troop had left Zack noticed that it was raining and he found himself thinking of Aerith. The next thing Zack knew Lauren was beside him crying because there was no way she could heal all of the damage to his body.
“Ya’ll be my……living legacy. My dreams my memories……they’re yours now.” Zack whispered handing the buster sword to Samantha. She took it tears streaming down her face as she helped hold Cloud up. Cloud stared down at Zack his eyes pained even as Zack tells him to take good care of Samantha.
“No I won’t let you die Zack!!! You can’t do this to me you can’t leave me!!!!” Lauren cried. She was distraught she didn’t know what to do she couldn’t save him she didn’t have enough time to use the proper spell to heal him. Unable to do anything she leaned down and kissed Zack whispering, “I love you Zackie,” just before he died.
Both Lauren and Cloud threw their heads back releasing twin screams of agony. Samantha buried her face in Cloud’s chest trying to hide her tears while Lauren collapsed onto the ground. Even as her agony poured through her Lauren began to sing softly the words floating around the group as a calming act.
“Days go on forever but I have not left your side. We can chase the dark together, if you go then so will I. There is nothing left of you, I can see it in your eyes. Sing the anthem of the angels, and say the last goodbye. I keep holding onto you, but I can’t bring you back to life. Sing the anthem of the angels, and say the last goodbye.” Lauren sang her voice breaking on the last couple of words as she closed her eyes. She felt like she was never going to be able to breathe properly again it felt like her chest was being squeezed.
That was when she realized that Samantha now had her in a death grip. “That was really nice I bet he loved it,” Samantha said rubbing Lauren’s back. Lauren broke then and buried her face in Samantha’s chest as hard broken sobs wracked her body. She stayed in Samantha’s arms for several minutes before she pulled back to look at everyone.
“We should…..get going.” Cloud whispered looking very much like he didn’t want to. Lauren knew she was no different in fact she wanted to go join Zack now instead of living on.
“Yeah Cloud’s right we need to get to safety and Midgar really isn’t that far away so we can walk there.” Samantha said trying to get Lauren to her feet. She struggled and found that she was having no luck in getting her friend off the ground.
“Here I’ll get her you and Cloud lead the way,” Vincent said leaning down and scooping Lauren up into his arms. He held her carefully afraid to hurt her or upset her further his eyes kept flicking from in front of him to Lauren who lay in his arms as if she had no strength whatsoever.
Lauren had her face buried in Vincent’s chest after about a half hour of walking her hands fisted in his shirt. He kept whispering things to her but she couldn’t make out the words or the meanings behind them. He held her close to him as if to protect her from the dangers of the world though it was comforting in a way.
She felt empty right now like everything within her had just suddenly ceased to be able to feel anything. She felt as if her entire body had turned to ice almost as if her blood were itself frozen but able to move through her body. Her head ached from crying her eyes burned with more tears and her throat was sore from her sobs. Her heart though it felt as if it was being stabbed into by thousands of razor sharp pins she wished it would just all go away and stop.
“We’re here Lauren, we made it to Midgar.” Vincent said carefully setting her on the bed in their room in the inn. Samantha had booked two rooms seeing as it was just the two pairs left now that Zack had passed. Lauren forced her eyes open to look around her and she found that she still felt nothing and began to wonder how long it would be like this.
Vincent watched her closely almost afraid to move for fear that he might somehow hurt her further than she already was. “Vinnie……” Lauren mumbled her voice barely above a whisper. Her voice was basically gone she had used it up crying over Zack but Vincent still easily heard it.
“Yes Lauren?” Vincent replied moving to kneel in front of her. He carefully placed his hands on her knees looking up into her broken golden eyes.
“Hold me?” Lauren asked fighting back tears again. Vincent nodded his head quickly removing his gauntlet, gloves and boots pulling her boots off as well. He then lay down behind her wrapping her in his arms and she turned so that she was facing him and she buried her face in his chest again. As silent sobs shook her body Vincent rubbed her back soothingly trying to be as supportive as he could.
“I promise you now Lauren that I will always be here for you no matter what and whatever you need of me I will give for and to you. I love you Lauren and I’ll always be here,” Vincent whispered continuing to rub her back. He didn’t know what else to do but to tell her how he felt and to try and offer her whatever comfort he could.
Lauren gasped and pulled back to look into his eyes. “You…..love me…….” Lauren asked her voice a little stronger than before.
“Yes Lauren I love you and I want to help you right now but I don’t know what I can do!” Vincent said tears stinging at his eyes. He felt helpless and angry at his tears but it was killing him to see her like this looking so dead and broken.
“Vinnie…….you’re already doing so much just by being here with me instead of running away from me right now.” Lauren whispered cuddling into him. Slowly her lips found his neck while her hands began to undo his cloak and remove it from his body.
“Lauren are you sure about this?” Vincent asked biting back a groan as she found the sensitive spot on his neck.
“Vincent I need to know that you are really here and safe…….. Unless you don’t want to then I can stop.” Lauren replied starting to pull away and out of his arms her lips leaving his neck.
Vincent growled and pulled her tightly to him. “I don’t want you to stop Lauren I just wanted to make sure that you wanted this.” Vincent whispered pulling her top off over her head baring her to him except for what was hidden behind her bra.
“Vinnie I love you too,” Lauren whispered her teeth on his neck. Vincent groaned his hips rocking into hers at the feeling her action caused. Her hands swiftly removed his top before undoing his belts and pushing his pants down his hips. Vincent pulled at her pants sliding them down over her hips letting her kick them off.
Vincent pushed Lauren onto her back slamming into her smiling when she moaned loudly breaking the skin with her teeth. “Damnit woman….. You’ll be the death of me.” Vincent groaned before closing his eyes as he realized what he had said.
“Oh I most certainly will Vincent Valentine but after I’m done I’ll bring you right back to that height of passion again and again.” Lauren purred rolling up into him. Vincent groaned before starting a hard fast pace his own lips seeking Lauren’s throat.
Lauren gasped her hips bucking up into his so roughly that she knocked his rhythm off. Smirking he bit into her neck breaking the skin to which Lauren responded by half moaning half screaming his name as her hips began a faster and far harder pace. Vincent enjoyed this response so much that he began to drink from her delighting in the taste of her blood. Lauren’s nails ran down Vincent’s back leaving bleeding trails in their wake as she continued to buck into him fast and hard.
“Like that huh?” Vincent whispered his voice husky as he ran kisses down the side of her neck as he lifted her legs over his shoulders allowing him a different angle.
“Uhhh….. VINCENT!!!!!!!!!” Lauren cried as he hit a spot within her that had her seeing stars. Grinning Vincent kept hitting that spot over and over again delighting in the sounds that she made. “Oh god…….. You’re killing me baby…..” Lauren moaned out her eyes rolling back in her head slightly as she came screaming his name.
Samantha and Cloud heard Lauren’s scream but they stayed in their room figuring that the other couple was indisposed at that moment. “Sounds like he managed to get her out of her shellshock which is good I think. She had me worried there for a while,” Cloud said holding Samantha in his arms.
“Yeah but I’m still worried about her in the long run I mean Zack was a big part of our lives growing up it’s gonna be hard. But I am glad that she has Vincent otherwise I doubt she’d be breaking out of it even a little.” Samantha admitted cuddling closer to Cloud.
Running a hand along her thigh Cloud ran his nose along her neck, “May I Samantha?” he asked softly. He wanted her HAD wanted her badly for a long time and he prayed that she would return that desire. He had feared losing her when they had all been captured but now here she was in front of him and in his arms and he just couldn’t help himself.
“You actually want to? Do you think you’re up for it?” Samantha asked rolling around to face him. Her eyes held concern and want, Cloud felt himself harden at the desire he saw lurking in those brilliant orange eyes.
“Yes I actually want to Samantha and I know I’m UP for it,” Cloud whispered as he pressed himself against her showing her just how up for it he was.
“Then by all means go ahead Cloud, I’d love to see how you feel.” Samantha purred kissing him roughly. Her fingers slid to begin removing his top as she rolled her hips lightly into his eliciting a moan from the blonde.
Cloud wasted no time in pulling off her top and bra before sliding her pants down over her hips and tossing them to the floor. Once they were both naked Cloud gently pushed Samantha onto her back staring into her eyes as he slid inside of her. He paused when he reached her barrier and leaned down kissing her as he tore away her innocence. He felt guilty when she winced and whimpered for a minute before lapsing into silence.
“Cloud…..move,” Samantha whispered after a few minutes her eyes burning up into his. Nodding Cloud began a slow steady pace moving gently to make sure that she was completely adjusted to him being within her. He smiled when her moans began to grow louder and louder as he gradually began to pick up his pace.
“I love you Samantha Elizabeth Hewley,” Cloud murmured to her as he started going harder into her. He couldn’t believe that he was actually making love to Samantha, he had dreamed of the day when she would be old enough for him to ask out ever since he had first met her. And now here he was with her in his arms and in his bed, he had never felt so complete and whole in his life.
“I love you too Cloud Strife,” Samantha replied leaning up to kiss him. After a few minutes Samantha’s nails were digging into the skin of Cloud’s shoulders as she neared her orgasm. Driving into her harder Cloud pushed her over the edge with a few more thrusts. “CLOUD!!!!!!” She cried as she came with him following seconds after her name falling from his lips.
“That was amazing Samantha,” Cloud muttered breathing heavily while looking down into her eyes.
“I have to agree that was just absolutely amazing,” She said cuddling into him wrapping her arms around his waist.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and they both froze for a moment before Vincent’s voice came from the other side. “You two alright in there?” he asked. Obviously Lauren had sent him to make sure everything was ok after hearing Samantha’s scream.
“Yeah we’re fine Vincent don’t worry, sorry we were so loud.” Cloud said while Samantha giggled under him.
“Alright,” Vincent replied leaving and returning to the room he was in with Lauren.
“They okay?!” Lauren asked jumping up to run over to him.
Grinning Vincent nodded his head and locked the door. “They were having some personal time that’s all,” he said taking Lauren into his arms and holding her closely. Lauren nodded her head smiling softly although it didn’t reach her eyes.
She turned out of his arms and went to lie down and hopefully get some sleep but she doubted that she would. And if she did manage to fall asleep it would most likely be a rough and tormented sleep. Sighing softly Vincent went and lay behind her wrapping her in his arms before closing his own eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Lauren lay there all night drifting through memories of Zack and her childhood. She had never felt so cruel in all her life nor had she felt so alone. Even after her father disappeared and she was deemed an orphan she had not felt this alone. She felt like that only person in the world who had suffered this kind of painful loss, who felt like it would be easier to die than to live. But she had made a promise to Zack and she’d be damned if she would let him down again.
“I’ll make you proud of me Zackie…… Someday somehow I’ll make you proud,” Lauren whispered as a fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks for who knew what number of times that night. She just lay there crying and remembering her time with Zack and how happy she had been as a child with him around.
Vincent awoke early in the morning to the sound of Lauren crying and he instantly felt his heart give a painful squeeze. “Do you want to talk about it?” He asked softly carefully turning her to face him. She just shook her head before burying her face in his chest and crying hard heavy tears. It felt like his heart was being torn from his chest as he held her rubbing her back soothingly and whispering that it would be okay and he would always be there for her.
Vincent held her until her sobs died out and she had pulled back a little. “Thanks Vincent, I just need a few more good cries and I should be fine. You know that you don’t have to stay here Vincent you are more than free to leave at any time.” Lauren said moving to sit up her feet dangling over the edge of the bed.
“I am not going anywhere Lauren; I am quite comfortable where I am. But if what you are trying to do is get me to leave and give you some time alone I will do so.” Vincent said watching her closely.
“No I don’t want to be left alone I just thought that you would want to be free now. And I do not want to continue to be a burden to you or the others.” Lauren explained turning to look at him. Her heart still felt mostly empty but there was still love and happiness in it she would just have to find it now.
“You are not a burden to anyone Lauren least of all me, I do not mind holding you while you cry. Or listening to you talk about whatever might be bothering you. I want to be here to help you through everything that I can even if all I do is hold you safe in my arms and remind you that at least one person cares about what you’re going through.” Vincent said taking her hand carefully into his own.
“I’d like that Vincent, I’d like that a lot.” Lauren said smiling softly even though it barely touched her eyes.
“Don’t feel that you have to pretend to be happy around me I can understand that you feel miserable right now. I went through the same thing myself many years ago and I was miserable for quite a while actually. All until one day a bright and caring woman gave me what I needed to finally begin to move on with my life. To never forget the past but to always remember it and to use it to help me move ahead and make me stronger.” Vincent said staring into her golden eyes his own accepting and understanding.
“I just hide things that upset me it’s what I’ve always done Vincent, it is how I have managed to survive for as long as I have even before I became an experiment.” Lauren said trying to help him better understand her.
“You’ve helped me to become more open why not let me try to help you with your problems?” Vincent asked watching her closely. He truly loved her and he worried for her happiness and safety. All he wanted was to help her smile again and have it reach her eyes.
“Alright I’ll let you try but I make no promises on it actually working Vincent,” Lauren said moving to stand in his arms. He held her close to him smiling softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist holding him dearly to her.
“That is all that I can ask for right now is that you allow me to try and help you.” Vincent said hiding his face in her hair. It wasn’t fair that she should feel and smell this good but at the moment he didn’t care he was just glad to have her in his arms. To be able to feel something again when for so long he had felt nothing.
“Cloud you awake?” Samantha asked quietly still curled on her side. She had actually slept very peacefully but now she was awake and feeling lonely and in need of comfort.
“Yeah I’m awake Samantha what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Cloud asked pressing his body up against hers. He wrapped his arms around her kissing her neck gently sighing when she reached behind her and grabbed him.
“Don’t start something that you are not willing to finish Cloud,” Samantha said turning to face him her hand still in his crotch.
“Oh I am very willing to finish this Samantha, but only if you want to.” Cloud whispered looking down into her eyes.
Samantha didn’t say anything she just pressed her lips to his sliding her body until it rested against him. She rocked her hips into him lightly at first going harder as she began to feel herself warming up in her core. Cloud began to pull her sleep wear down over her hips sliding it off onto the floor before standing and shedding his own clothes. He slipped back under the covers and on top of Samantha slowly sliding inside of her as she moaned loudly.
“I love you Samantha and I’ll always be here for you if you need anything just remember that okay?” Cloud whispered as he picked up his pace a little bit.
“I know Cloud but right now this is what I want, you filling me and helping me to get use to the void his death is leaving behind.” Samantha moaned under him her fingers digging into his back the nails breaking the skin.
“Mmmm…….. Samantha I’ll do whatever I can to help you but damnit woman you’re driving me insane right now.” Cloud growled driving harder into her.
“Well trust me Cloud Strife the feeling is mutual. I feel like I’m going to come undone at the seams and yet I also feel whole in a way I haven’t in a very long time.” Samantha moaned rocking up to meet him thrust for thrust.
Cloud groaned and went harder into her the bed frame banging into the wall as he also picked up speed. He couldn’t take it slow no he had to have her fast and hard to feel her surround him tightly and to taste her on his lips. He leaned down and kissed her deeply before cumming hard with her following seconds afterward.
“Oh my god Cloud, that was fucking amazing.” Samantha said trying to catch her breath again. She smiled up at Cloud nuzzling his chest with her nose before wrapping her arms around him and sliding back to sleep for a little while.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Lauren poked her head in. “We need to get a move on we’re heading for AVALANCHE unless you two don’t want to come then that’s fine.” Lauren said her voice just barely holding any emotion.
“We’ll be ready in about 15 minutes if that’s okay?” Samantha asked watching Lauren’s face closely searching for any sign of life in it but barely finding any. She was still pretty much the same as she had been since Zack’s death.
“Sure that works for me, when you’re ready come down to my room and we’ll depart.” Lauren said closing the door and heading back down to her room.
“I was really hoping that she would show at least a little change for the positive but it’s almost as if she is shutting down and shutting out even more. I’m worried about her Cloud,” Samantha said getting dressed. Her face was tight with concern and fear for her best friend, she had never seen Lauren looking as down as she did at that moment.
“Give her time Samantha; remember she had been really close with Zack since she was little. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it takes several weeks or even a couple of months for her to recover from this. In the meantime we will all just have to be supportive and try to be available for if she does want to open up and talk about stuff.” Cloud said throwing back on his SOLDIER uniform.
“Sometimes I really have to wonder if you are even a natural blonde because some of the stuff you say is really meaningful and intelligent.” Samantha teased kissing him softly now that she was ready.
“Yes I’m a natural blonde but I am not stupid Samantha and I remember how Lauren use to cling and hang all over Zack when he and I would come to visit the two of you. She would always give him the biggest smile and she spent almost the entire visit in his arms.” Cloud said smiling at the memories that now flooded his mind.
“Yeah that’s true she was always really close to him, I guess I’m just worried because she has always been such a bright person without even trying. It hurts to see her looking so down and out of it, to see her looking so gloomy and sad,” Samantha said sighing as they headed for Lauren’s room.
“Good you both are ready to go, let’s head out.” Lauren said going to leave the inn.
Samantha grabbed her hand and pulled Lauren to the back of the group, “I know that you’re really hurting right now and I get that. Just know that I’m here for you when you feel like talking about anything.”
Lauren nodded and gave Samantha a thankful smile that reached her eyes though it didn’t last long. “Thanks Sammy, I’m just trying to make sense of things right now but when I’m ready to talk I’ll come and find you.” Lauren said her voice holding just a little emotion.
She may be trying but it was clear to see that she was still badly broken inside. It was going to take a long time for her to heal but at least she was trying. Vincent took her hand smiling softly when she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. They headed out for the AVALANCHE headquarters arriving just after nightfall.
“What you want?” A big black man asked eyeing Lauren closely as she stepped forward.
“Barrett Wallace you really need to find a better way to say hello to people,” Lauren said her eyes hard.
“You’re the lady I talked to on the phone?” Barrett asked.
Lauren nodded her eyes taking him in looking for a threat and finding none. “We are here to help you to save this planet and to fight Shinra.” Lauren growled out the last word her eyes flashing red for a moment.
Barrett sighed, “You’ve been through hell at their hands I understand your anger at them. Let’s get you 4 rooms and something to eat shall we?” He led them down some halls into the center of the building.
Samantha watched Lauren she had seen the utter hatred in her eyes when she said Shinra, so there was still life within her it was just buried under her agony right now. Samantha sighed feeling much more at ease then she had since Zack’s death and Lauren’s breakdown.
“Alright so Lauren you and your sister can take this room boys you’re in the room beside this one. If ya’ll want to you can make changes to the lodgings I don’t care, we’ll see ya’ll in the morning.” Barrett said turning and leaving.
“Sam you and Cloud can take this room Vincent and I will take the other one.” Lauren said turning to walk down the hall.
“Alright if you say so, see you in the morning,” Samantha said watching sadly as Lauren walked into the other room. Though she smiled after when she saw Lauren lean out and grab the front of Vincent’s shirt pulling him into the room her eyes alight with desire. Maybe she wasn’t as dead inside as everyone thought.
Vincent sighed as Lauren locked the door and began to undress him. “Vincent I’m sorry but I can’t wait any longer I want and need you now,” Lauren stated as she now began to remove her own clothing.
“I don’t mind in the least Lauren, in fact I am looking quite forward to this.” Vincent said hardening further at the sight of her totally naked body. He found that he couldn’t help himself she was just so beautiful and the fact that she accepted him even though he was a monster just made him want her even more.
“I can see that Vincent, you look extremely happy to see me.” Lauren purred rubbing her hand against him before grabbing him and leading him over to the bed by his penis.
Vincent groaned and the second she hit the mattress Vincent fell on top of her and slammed into her. He smiled when she moaned loudly arching up to meet him her nails digging into his back. God how he loved this woman beneath him, he had never felt so complete so whole in all his life.
“Mmmmm Vincent that feels so good,” Lauren moaned as he began to nibble on her neck while going harder and faster. She moaned again this time bucking up to meet him thrust for thrust her own lips finding his neck.
“Really now that is good to know my lovely,” Vincent whispered groaning when she bit him. She grinned and bit into his neck harder actually breaking the skin which brought a loud groan from deep in his chest.
Lauren loved being able to make him respond like that the way it made her feel powerful. She was slowly beginning to see that yes she could be happy again even after all that had happened in her life. Losing Zack had shown her just how strong she really was inside and how precious life truly was.
“I love you Lauren Elizabeth Rhapsodos and don’t you ever forget it.” Vincent said pounding into her a few more times before cumming.
“I love you too Vincent Valentine,” Lauren said following him. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him holding him close. “I’m gonna try to start moving forward remembering my past but not letting it hold me back anymore.” Lauren said looking into his eyes.
Vincent nodded smiling softly as he kissed her and they curled up falling asleep in each other’s arms. They both had found reasons to live again and with each other by their side they would be able to face any obstacle.
Cloud sighed as he sat down on the bed in the room he and Samantha would be sharing. His head was killing him apparently the Mako-Addiction wasn’t totally gone yet. However he was just glad to be alive right now and to have Samantha in his heart. She made him feel like things would be alright in the end.
“Hey Cloud, do you think that he’s watching over us now?” Samantha asked looking out of the window.
“Yeah I think he is and he’s probably giving us all hell for letting Lauren slip as far away as she has.” Cloud said smiling softly. He could almost hear Zack giving them all shit over it.
“Oh probably would right after he teased all of us. He really was a great guy,” Samantha said turning to face Cloud a soft smile on her face.
“Yeah he was but you know what he died to protect two great women.” Cloud said smiling when she sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. He knew that Samantha was reaching out to him in her own way right now and he was responding to that.
“You are able to see past my walls and tell exactly how I’m really feeling. It makes me feel safe and happy Cloud.” Samantha said closing her eyes against a fresh wave of tears.
Cloud took her into his arms and rocked her gently as he rubbed her back. “You’ve always been someone that I wanted to help and protect, now I’m just finally being able to do something.” Cloud whispered his throat dry as he fought back his own tears.
Samantha buried her face in his chest her arms wrapping around his neck as she sobbed feeling all the sadness pouring out of her one drop at a time. She was worried over Lauren she missed Zack and she was afraid because she didn’t know what was going to happen in her life now. She felt so insecure and alone but then she remembered that she had Cloud so she wasn’t all that alone.
“Shhh…… Let it all out Samantha, let all your hurt and sadness pour out of you,” Cloud said rubbing her back still. He held her letting his own pain wash over him letting his own tears fall, he wasn’t ashamed to cry in front of Samantha.
“Cloud, why are you crying?” Samantha asked having felt a tear hit her cheek from his face.
“I’m letting my own pain and sadness go. I just lost my best friend I’m worried as hell about Lauren and I have no idea what I’m going to do with my life or how I can help you to be happy again.” Cloud answered honestly. Samantha turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck again.
“I’ll be happy again one day because I know that I am loved by you and because I know that somehow we will figure out what we are going to do with our lives together. We’ll do it all one step at a time,” Samantha said her voice strong even as she cried.
Cloud held her tightly to him and the pair cried together until they fell lightly onto their backs asleep and drained of tears for the moment. They lay together their arms around one another all night awaking early in the morning. “Hey you okay Cloud?” Samantha asked sitting up slowly.
Cloud nodded as he stood looking out of the window his hands in his pockets. Samantha walked over to stand beside him wrapping her arms around him. He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her lowering his head and kissing her softly. Samantha smiled into the kiss and pressed herself against him groaning when he grabbed her ass and pulled her tighter to him.
They fell to the floor Samantha on top of Cloud as she began to remove his pants as he was topless already. Cloud tore at her top removing it before she stood and slipped her pants down over her hips. She lay back down on top of Cloud kissing him deeply as she slowly slid him inside of her. Cloud groaned at the feeling of her taking him inside as she began to run her fingers down his chest.
Once he was completely inside of her Samantha placed her hand on his chest and lifted herself off of him allowing him to slip almost completely from her before slamming back down on him. She started a hard fast pace Cloud meeting her each time she came down on him his hands on her hips helping her move. He couldn’t hold in the moans of her name that were now freely falling from his lips as he bucked up into her roughly.
“Oh god Cloud,” Samantha moaned as she came milking him for all that he was worth. Cloud growled following her seconds after rolling her under him as he rode out his orgasm. He couldn’t believe the way that she made him feel.
“Samantha…. Damn you woman I feel like I’m dying in the most pleasurable way possible. It’s all your fault that I feel like locking that damned door for a week and keeping you in bed the entire time.” Cloud growled kissing her roughly.
“Well I have no problem admitting that I make you feel like that, because I plan to make you feel like that for a long time to come.” Samantha purred rocking up into him.
Cloud growled and began to pound into her his lips sliding along her neck. He lifted her legs up over his shoulders getting a different angle which had her screaming his name. Samantha’s eyes burned up into his full of passion and love. Cloud smiled kissing her deeply as he drove them both to the heights of passion.
“Oh god Cloud……..” Samantha moaned cumming with him following seconds afterwards.
They lay on the floor together both breathing heavily with their arms around each other. The both let everything wash over them realizing that their lives would be lived out together what happened during that time mattered little so long as they were together. They would be by each other’s side helping the other through whatever they needed help getting through.
Lauren lay in her bed smiling as Vincent slowly slid along her body settling his face between her legs. “This is going to be most enjoyable, you taste like heaven.” Vincent said taking a little lick.
Lauren moaned pressing herself more firmly against his mouth. “Vincent……” Lauren gasped out as he slid his tongue inside of her. He smiled nibbling lightly on her as she moaned loudly in pleasure. He loved hearing those sounds tear from her throat and tumble off her lips.
“You taste so good my lovely one,” He muttered against her sliding his tongue back inside of her. He groaned when she came a few seconds later but he swallowed all of it licking her clean.
“Vinnie come here,” Lauren purred swaying her hips a little. Vincent groaned and crawled back up her body kissing her softly. Lauren grinned and rolled them over so that she was on top before impaling herself on Vincent. “My turn to be in control my darling,” Lauren purred rocking against him.
“Damnit woman you never play fair do you?” Vincent groaned his crimson eyes burning into her golden ones with lustful desire.
“Not when it comes to you Vincent, I mean if I played fair then this would never have happened now would it?” Lauren countered grinning as she rolled her hips in a circle against him.
Vincent growled in pleasure as she continued to roll around on him before she began to ride him again. He felt himself grow harder at the sight of her riding up and down upon him. Her long black hair whipping about them both falling like a silky curtain around them her golden eyes burning brightly and her pale white as freshly fallen snow skin seemed almost to glow. She looked like a goddess that he had been given the gift of having as his that was the only way he could describe her.
“I’ve no idea what I did to deserve a woman as beautiful and perfect as you but I am eternally grateful for being given you.” Vincent said his eyes shining brightly with many emotions the greatest of which was love.
“Oh Vincent…..” Lauren sighed leaning down capturing his lips in a soft yet passionate kiss her movements on him becoming gentle. Like it was their first time all over again she gently made love to him delighting in the sounds he made as she did so. Tomorrow could wait for as long as it wanted because for them right now this very moment was all that existed.
When Vincent came a few minutes later Lauren followed him her teeth sinking into his neck and drawing blood. She whispered a string of apologies which Vincent blew away quickly when he returned the favour and broke the skin of her neck. Moaning she rocked into him again and he took charge rolling her under him and making love to her while tasting her blood.
True soon they would all have to get ready to go and fight against Shinra and the evils they unleashed upon the planet. Lauren knew firsthand how horrible some of those terrors could be, for she had been made to be one. Thankfully her pure and innocent heart had allowed for her to deny the nature that she should have had after her experimentation.
She knew that the first mission they were running with AVALANCHE was to plant a bomb and explode the mako reactor in Sector 3. Lauren was ready for it she was great with technology and she was eager to repay Shinra for the hell they had bestowed upon her. They all got dressed and met with the group before getting onto the Shinra Express train heading on their way down towards Sector 3.
Barrett kept questioning Lauren trying to understand them and their reasons for helping AVALANCHE. Lauren answered his questions with short and simple answers her demeanor appeared to be cold and disinterested but Samantha knew that Lauren just couldn’t shake the fact that Zack should be with them right now. Lauren was so lost in her pain still but at least it appeared that the life was starting to return to her eyes.
“Alright everybody off let’s get this show on the road!” Barrett called to the group as they all ran off the train and in the direction of the mako reactor.
Lauren, Samantha, Cloud and Vincent all followed being careful to avoid detection though they fought when they had to. Lauren led the way for them easily killing the enemies around her letting Jessie get them through the gates and doors. Barrett wanted Cloud to place the bomb on the reactor which he did with Lauren’s help. They turned and ran then because they only had 10 minutes to get away before the bomb would blow them all up.
They got out just in time for the reactor to explode and Lauren smiled, one down some many more to go. She was finally able to feel pleased that she was avenging Zack’s death and her experimentation. It was almost as if everyone could feel the change in attitude and mood, she seemed less withdrawn and a small smile played at her lips.
“Hey Spiky she always like this?” Barrett asked nodding towards Lauren.
“Dunno this is the first time I’ve seen her like this since we lost one of our comrades, he died. No he didn’t die he was murdered and none of us could save him.” Cloud replied his tone serious.
“Well she seems like a person that you don’t want to piss off, glad she’s on our side in all this. So what happened to ya’ll?” Barrett asked curious about his new team members.
“Long story buddy and not a pleasant one either, we went from being the size of our age to having our ages sped up and our bodies grown. Well at least Lauren and I had that happen to us and Cloud was forced into the Mako-tanks too. As for Vincent I don’t know his story he’s pretty quiet and reserved.” Sam replied her voice slightly sad.

“Well I tell ya she seems like a real good egg, strong; dependable; loyal. Sure she may be quiet and kind of standoffish seeming but she so far has proven to be a trustworthy comrade.” Barrett said getting back onto the train to head back to the base for the night.
Lauren got on and sat down not saying a thing to anyone not even Vincent or Samantha. Instead she sat thinking about everything and worrying about the future, she had a feeling that she was pregnant or going to be soon if she wasn’t already. She wondered what Vincent would think about her being pregnant and she worried that he would leave her if she was. She had been feeling weird all day so far and she had a massive headache which she never got ever.
Vincent watched her from the corner of his eye, he had noticed that she seemed somehow distant in a way that she hadn’t been to him yet. He prayed that she was okay and that this wasn’t a sign that she was slipping into a psychotic breakdown. She looked like she had something on her mind that was bugging her greatly, he just prayed that it wasn’t too hard for her to deal with whatever it was.
Samantha was also eyeing Lauren something was gnawing at her gut, but she had a feeling that it was more than just her worry over Lauren. Samantha was a couple days late for her period and she was never late. At least according to the reports she had never been late since her body had become that of a mature adult woman.
Lauren and Samantha had both grown pale by the time they got off the train and they both ran for garbage cans to be sick. That solidified it in their minds they were pregnant neither of them had been ones to get sick like this without having the flu or another illness. Cloud was at Sam’s side holding her hair back for her and Vincent was doing the same thing for Lauren.
“Samantha, are you okay? What’s wrong?” Cloud asked clearly worried about her. He feared that maybe her body was shutting down that maybe the experiments had failed somehow and that she was going to die on him and the thought terrified him.
“Yeah I’m fine Cloud don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere on you I promise it.” Samantha said turning and kissing him softly. He kissed her back just as sweetly before picking her up bridal style and heading for the AVALANCHE building where they were staying.
Vincent helped Lauren to the building watching her closely worried about her being sick but he saw something lighting up in her eyes, something like hope. Samantha sighed and lay back into the pillows on the bed as Cloud lay her out gently.
“What’s going on Samantha, are you going to be okay?” Cloud asked, he was really worried about Samantha.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or anything associated with it I do however own the OCs and some of the plot pieces. Please read and review as this is a work in progress and is not anywhere near being finished yet.
Children of Heroes
Genesis stared down into the face of the 3 weeks old daughter in his arms, her mother refused to keep her so he had taken her. He was bringing her to Banora to stay with his mother because it was unsafe and unwise to keep his daughter with him while he worked. He knew that she would be safe and loved with his mother watching over her so he left for Banora not telling anyone his real reason for leaving like he was.
“It’ll be okay my little girl I’m going to take you to a safe place. Let’s go Lauren,” Genesis said stepping off the train at the Banora stop. He looked down at her with pride she was his first child and he was going to make damned sure that he did right by her.
“There you are Genesis I’ve been waiting for you,” Genesis’ mother called running over to him. She was smiling but when she saw what he had in his arms she scowled at him. “And what have you done now Genesis Rhapsodos?” She hissed glaring at him.
“I had a one night stand with a woman and 3 weeks ago Lauren was born and yesterday her mother dropped her off saying that she couldn’t handle a little one and that she refused to keep her. I am not going to lose my daughter just because her mother wants to walk out of her life; I was hoping that she could stay here with you while I am at work. Of course I’ll come to visit her as much as I can I’m not going to be a deadbeat.” Genesis said rocking a now crying Lauren gently making cooing noises at her.
His mother watched him in awe at how gentle he was with his daughter and how good he was, Lauren was giggling at him already. It was clear to see that she adored her father as she snuggled in closer to his chest her little eyes a bright green and her hair a reddish-brown just like her father had.
“Oh alright let’s get her to her new home so that she can get settled in and so your father can have his heart attack and fall in love with his granddaughter’s smile.” Tammy Rhapsodos said turning on her heel and walking away towards her home Genesis following behind her.
“Hopefully father won’t refuse to allow her into his home, but if not then I will perhaps see if Gillian would be willing to watch over her for me. Either way I just want her to have a safe place to stay because with my job it is not a good idea to keep her with me much as I want to.” Genesis said as they walked up the steps and inside the front door.
“Oh don’t you worry he’ll be putty in our hands as soon as he sees her little smile. Just remember to be respectful as you always have been and everything should be fine. “Ralph!!!! We have visitors,” Tammy called walking into her house and quickly removing her shoes holding Lauren while Genesis removed his footwear.
“I’ll take her mom,” Genesis said taking his daughter back into his arms just as his father walked into the living room off the entrance way. Genesis turned to face his father’s questioning eyes his face calm and serene.
“What is that you have there in your arms Genesis? Do not tell me that you have made a mistake with your life.” Ralph Rhapsodos asked his eyes turning angry. He stalked over towards Genesis who was rocking and bouncing Lauren lightly in his arms.
“This is my daughter Lauren Elizabeth Rhapsodos, and father she is not a mistake. She is a gift that I want to have a safe upbringing, I would like for her to stay here. I would of course come home to visit her at every opportunity but with my job it is not a wise decision to keep her with me much as I’d like to.” Genesis explained watching his father’s face soften greatly as Lauren turned her bright little green eyes looked up at him.
Lauren looked from Ralph to Genesis and back again a smile brightening her face further as she held her little arms up to Ralph. Smiling himself Ralph took the little girl from Genesis’ arms and held her close to him rocking her gently. “She sure has beautiful eyes Genesis I take it that they are her mother’s correct?” Ralph says finally looking up at Genesis.
“Yes she has her mother’s eyes and mouth; I wonder which personality she will take to although to be honest it doesn’t matter.” Genesis said his eyes proudly staying on his daughter. He was so very proud of her even though she was only a few weeks old and had yet to do anything.
“Well she’ll be good and safe here Genesis don’t you worry we won’t let any harm come to her.” Ralph Rhapsodos said sighing as Lauren cuddled into him closing her eyes and falling asleep. “Precious little thing she is a very well behaved child it appears from what I’ve seen so far.” He added smiling like the ever proud grandfather.
“Of course she is dad it’s not like any child of mine would misbehave at least not until they are far older. Heaven help us if she is anything like her mother, she was apparently quite the wild child.” Genesis said taking his daughter back from his father. Genesis smiled sadly down at her his thoughts turning to what she might think of him when she grew older as he would be the only parent in her life.
He sighed going to tuck her into bed for the night beside him a bottle ready on the nightstand in case she woke up and needed to be feed. She seemed quite comfortable laying on his chest her head nuzzling lightly against his neck her little hands tightly holding onto his shirt. She was the most adorable little thing he had ever seen and it made him proud to know that she was his.
“Don’t you worry my little princess I’m going to give you all the things that I can in this world and teach you the proper way to behave. I’ll give you everything that you need love and safety someone you can call or run to no matter what happens and I will always be understanding.” Genesis whispered to his sleeping child. She squirmed before her eyes opened and she began to cry softly.
“Hey Lauren it’s okay daddy’s got you,” He checked her diaper which was clean so he grabbed the bottle. Changing her position in his arms so that he could feed her more easily smiling when she took the nipple of the bottle into her mouth. She drank about half the bottle before pushing it away from her mouth turning her head away from it making Genesis laugh quietly. He threw an old blanket over his shoulder and placed Lauren there gently tapping her back until she belched and then began to coo at him.
Smiling Genesis slipped the blanket off his shoulder and began to gently rock her back to sleep. She closed her eyes several times but didn’t go to sleep instead she kept looking up at Genesis and giggling making baby coo sounds. “Hey you it’s time to go to sleep otherwise Gramma and Grampa are going to be very upset with me.” Genesis said watching as Lauren closed her eyes and snuggled into him going to sleep.
A few days later Genesis stood waiting for the train his daughter in his arms and his mother standing beside him. He had tears in his eyes as he looked down at Lauren, he had no idea how long he was going to be away and it hurt him to have to leave her here. “Take good care of her okay Mom? I want to hear from you at least once a week just call my cell please.” Genesis said turning to hand Lauren to his mother the tears sliding down his face.
“Of course dear I’ll call at the beginning of each week and in the middle that way you will have a schedule to follow for phone calls when she is old enough to talk.” Tammy said wiping away Genesis’ tears as Lauren looked like she was going to cry. “Don’t worry I’ll be waiting for you to call as soon as you get in, I’ll keep her safe for you Genesis.” She added kissing his cheek before he kissed Lauren’s forehead and boarded the train.
Genesis returned every month at least once for the first 6 months of her life. “Hey baby how are you? Are you behaving for everyone?” Genesis asked his daughter who was already talking a little.
“Dadda good girl…..Dadda” Lauren said into the phone giggling as Tammy held it for her. On his last visit home she had crawled over to him screaming ‘Dadda’ at the top of her lungs and smiling at him. It had made his heart feel like it was going to burst from pride.
“You gonna be waiting for me when I get there in a couple weeks?” Genesis asked her knowing what she would say but loving to hear her little voice anyways.
“Yes Dadda, yes,” Lauren said giggling again as apparently she found him to be funny.
“Alright well I’ve got to get back to work but I’ll see you as soon as I can. I love you,” Genesis said hanging up the phone just as Angeal walked in.
“Talking to your girlfriend on work time again Genesis?” Angeal teased grinning at his childhood best friend. He had walked in more than once in the past few months to hear Genesis saying goodbye I’ll see you soon and or I love you to somebody on his cell phone.
“Nope just my mother again you know how she is she worries far too much. So what’s up Angeal?” Genesis asked leaning back in his chair. He knew that something was wrong with Angeal who was now pacing the office.
“Remember that girl I had been seeing?” Angeal asked looking over at Genesis as he continued to pace the room.
Genesis nodded his head watching Angeal closely. “Well she just gave birth to my daughter but the thing is she doesn’t want to keep her, so I plan to take her to Banora so that my mother can watch her for me.” Angeal said his eyes pained and ashamed.
“I’ll come with you it’s been a while since I’ve been home to see my mother anyways. Where is the little one anyways?” Genesis asked standing up and moving to stand beside Angeal. Genesis figured that once they got to Banora that he would tell Angeal about his own daughter.
“Her mother is waiting in my office I told her I needed a minute and I came to see you because I trust you Genesis.” Angeal said leading the way back to his own office where a tall woman with long black hair stood holding a little pink bundle in her arms.
“Good you’re back here take her I don’t want anything to do with her,” The woman said thrusting the child into Angeal’s arms and leaving quickly. The baby began to cry and squirm in Angeal’s arms and he looked at a loss as to what to do.
“Here let me hold her,” Genesis said taking the little girl from Angeal and bouncing her lightly in his arms making cooing noises at her. “What’s her name?” He asked looking up at Angeal as his daughter calmed down and began to laugh.
“Samantha Elizabeth Hewley, I have no idea how I’m going to be able to do this. Raise a child and all with my line of work.” Angeal said smiling as he watched Genesis tending to his daughter. “You sure seem to know what you’re doing Genesis,” Angeal added.
“Well I should be I mean she’s almost 7 months now.” Genesis said with a laugh. His eyes were bright and happy as he remembered holding his own daughter when she was this little.
“Uhh…. Genesis Samantha is only a month old.” Angeal said his face becoming confused as he watched Genesis laughing.
“I’m not talking about Samantha Angeal; I am talking about my daughter. She’s almost 7 months old now and she’s the one you usually walk in when I’m on the phone.” Genesis said laughing at the look of shock on Angeal’s face.
“And how long were you planning to keep her a secret?” Angeal asked his face disbelieving. Though he had to admit Genesis sure did seem at home with a child in his arms and Genesis’ voice was full of pride when he spoke of having a daughter.
“How long were you planning on keeping Samantha a secret?” Genesis countered giving Angeal an I caught you look. He had never meant to treat Lauren as a secret but in hindsight he had been keeping her hidden from everyone including Angeal.
Angeal blushed knowing that Genesis had a point before he grabbed his bags and went to take Samantha from Genesis who evaded him. “Its fine I’ve got her let’s go, I’ve got a little princess to go see.” Genesis said walking out of the building carrying Samantha in his arms playing with her.
Angeal followed smiling as he watched how attentive Genesis was being with Samantha and she wasn’t even his child. He could only imagine how spoiled his daughter was hoping that their children would be best friends just as they had been growing up. They sat on the train both impatient to get to Banora but for different reasons, Genesis was itching to see Lauren who had begun to start attempting to walk the last time he had been back to see her.
“Alright so I’ll take Samantha to my mother’s while you go grab…… what did you say her name was?” Angeal asked looking at Genesis who was just getting up.
“Lauren her name is Lauren Elizabeth Rhapsodos. Here you go Angeal I’ll be at your mother’s house in a few minutes.” Genesis said handing Angeal back Samantha and running off towards his parents house.
“Hello?!” Genesis called running into the house. He smiled when he saw Lauren playing on the floor in the living room. “Lauren daddy’s home,” Genesis called opening his arms.
Lauren used one of the couches to get to her feet, she looked over at him smiling as she shakily walked over to him. “Daddy home……” Lauren yelled stumbling on her way over.
“Ralph come quick she’s taking her first steps!!!” Tammy called standing in the dining room doorway.
Ralph appeared beside her moments later grinning as Lauren walked the last few steps to Genesis. “Hey baby girl I got a friend for you to come and meet,” Genesis said picking her up and hugging her close.
“Oh really now and what friend might this be Genesis?” Ralph asked moving to stand in front of his son.
“Angeal’s little girl he’s bringing her here for the same reasons I brought Lauren, he and I are hoping that they will be friends like we were growing up.” Genesis said smiling brightly and cuddling his daughter.
“Just make sure that she is home in time for dinner,” Tammy called as Genesis walked outside with Lauren held in his arms.
“I know mother it’s not like I planned on this happening but at least I’m not a deadbeat I plan to do right by my daughter. I’m not going to just walk out of her life and leave her with nothing that way that her mother did!” Angeal said his voice becoming a little angry as he stared down his mother.
“Angeal don’t yell you’ll scare the kids and Lauren has an amazing set of lungs trust me.” Genesis said walking into the house with his daughter giggling in his arms.
“Daddy fwend?” Lauren asked looking from Genesis to Angeal and back again. Her green eyes were bright and curious as she turned in Genesis’ arms to look at Gillian. “Gillin,” Lauren called struggling to get out of her father’s arms.
“Hello little lady how are you, you being trouble for your father?” Gillian asked watching Lauren wiggle in Genesis’ arms.
“Yes Lauren this is Angeal he has been my best friend since I was a little boy; and this is his daughter Samantha. Maybe you two will grow up to be good friends too just like Daddy and Uncle Angeal.” Genesis said setting Lauren down. She stood clinging to his pant leg as Angeal squatted down so she could see his face.
“Hello Lauren my name is Angeal, this is my daughter Samantha.” Angeal said holding Samantha out to her. Lauren wobbled over to him and looked down at Samantha smiling and lightly touching her cheek.
“Sammy…….. Wight?” Lauren asked looking up at Angeal with her bright little green eyes.
“Sure if you want to call her that I’m sure it’ll stick as a nickname when she’s older. And where did you get such pretty green eyes?” Angeal asked giving Lauren a small smile. She was a bright and curious child but she seemed to be shy as well, it was a good mixture.
“Unno,” Lauren said looking up at Genesis curiously wanting to know the answer herself.
“They are her mother’s eyes, one of the few good things that the deadbeat left her.” Genesis said his voice a little cold as he spoke of the woman who gave him the little girl he now held so dear.
“Wuhere Momma?” Lauren asked looking up at Genesis with questioning eyes. She had never before asked about her mother and he had silently thanked the goddess that she hadn’t thought to ask.
“I don’t know where your mother is Lauren, I’m sorry,” Genesis said looking down at her with sad pained eyes. It hurt him that her mother had not even bothered to call once to see how her daughter was doing. Never wrote anything she just up and left when the little girl was 3 weeks old and had never looked back not even once.
Lauren wobbled back over to him and wrapped her little arms around his neck trying to comfort him because he looked like he was going to cry. “No cries Daddy no cries,” Lauren soothed cuddling into his arms which now wrapped around him.
“I know baby Daddy’s done crying come on let’s get you home before Gramma gives me hell because you’re late for dinner.” Genesis said standing up and turning to leave.
“Make sure that you tell your parents that Lauren will be spending lots of time here with Samantha when they both turn of age to do so.” Gillian called after him turning to smile with open arms at Angeal.
Angeal walked over and handed his mother Samantha smiling his thanks at Genesis’ back and Lauren’s smiling face as she waved goodbye. “I hope that they are as good to each other as Genesis and I have tried to be ourselves.” Angeal muttered turning around to smile at his mother and daughter.
“My oh my she is a noisy one, does she ever stop crying? When was the last time that she was fed?” Gillian asked glaring up at her son. Her eyes were angry even as her mouth curved in a smile at his clueless expression.
“I uhh… Dunno when she was fed last her mother just dropped her off saying she wanted nothing to do with her and then left. Genesis had her quiet at one point earlier today just before we came here but other than that from what I’ve seen she is just a noisy baby.” Angeal said sighing as Samantha squirmed in his mother’s arms.
“Here hold her while I go and warm up some milk for her thank god I still have some bottles that I’ve kept clean since you were little.” Gillian gets up and hands Samantha back over to Angeal before going into the kitchen.
Angeal held her close and rocked her gently singing softly, “Hush little baby don’t you cry you are the apple of daddy’s eye. He will hold you safe and near in his heart you’re always dear. When you need me I’ll be there with lots of love I’ll always care.” He smiled when Samantha stopped crying and looked up at him curiously a small smile on her face.
“Yeah yeah I know daddy can’t sing worth crap,” Angeal said laughing to which Samantha began to giggle up at him. Gillian stood in the doorway just out of Angeal’s sight watching him with Samantha and her heart began to ache. She had never seen him look so grown up and at peace in all his life. That little girl in his arms was his world and even though she was just a month old she already had him wrapped around her little fingers.
“Here dear don’t let her drink it all at once make her take breaks so that she doesn’t get a tummy ache, and make sure that you burp her after she finishes.” Gillian instructed as Angeal nodded taking the receiving blanket and the bottle. She smiled as he carefully moved Samantha into a proper position for feeding and brought the bottle to her lips.
“Sorry it’s not the real thing Samantha but it’ll have to do for now.” Angeal said smiling as she drank greedily. “Hey now not so fast or you’ll make yourself sick,” Angeal said laughing as he pulled the bottle back from her lips to which Samantha responded by crying loudly.
“Oh just listen to those lungs she is most definitely your child Angeal, you use to do the same thing when you were that little.” Gillian said smiling as Angeal fought it out and waited a few minutes before bringing the bottle back to Sam’s lips. She began to drink again but slowly this time as if she were filling up and knew not to drink like a pig.
“She is so perfect mother, I can’t wait till she is older and I can listen to her little voice leave me messages and talk to me on the phone.” Angeal said his face lighting up with joy and pride. He was so amazed by the little girl in his arms, she was so tiny but when he held her she seemed to be all that he could see.
“Yes that will have to do for her unless you decide to visit like Genesis does, he comes at least once a month for no less than 3 days at a time and spends all of his time with her. He even reads her Loveless,” Gillian said laughing at the end. Genesis had an addiction to that book of poetry and the poem Loveless in particular and at this rate Lauren would be just like him.
“Oh boy not another Loveless addict in this world,” Angeal laughed as Samantha pushed the bottle away from her mouth. Angeal set the bottle down and put her over his shoulder gently patting her back a few times before she burped loudly. “Oh boy you are so my child,” Angeal said remembering the burping contests he used to have with Genesis. Genesis he wondered why he had kept Lauren hidden for as long as he had without ever saying a word about her.
~6 Years Later~
“Come on Sammy Daddy said that he and uncle Angeal would be coming to visit today and stay for a whole week!!!” Lauren Rhapsodos yelled running down towards the train station without even waiting for one of her grandparents to take her hand.
“Lauren you be careful someone might try to grab you and run away with you!” Ralph Rhapsodos called after her walking at a quick pace down to the train station his hand wrapped around Samantha’s.
“She doesn’t like to listen she gets all excited when uncle Gen comes home and common sense flies out the window.” Samantha said as they reached the train station several minutes behind Lauren who now stood waiting impatiently her foot tapping away.
“You are so much like your father sometimes that it scares me Lauren, now behave or no ice cream when you get home.” Ralph said taking hold of her hand and waiting with both girls.
A few minutes later the train pulled into the station and both girls began to jump up and down in excitement. They waited until the train stopped then their little eyes scanned from tip to tail waiting for their father’s to get off the train.
“Daddy!!!” Lauren called running over to Genesis and jumping straight into his arms laughing as he tickled her.
“Dadda!!” Samantha called running to her father but more slowly than Lauren. Of the two girls Samantha was the shyer one while Lauren was out spoken and protective.
“Hey princess, have you been a good girl?” Angeal asked Samantha as he swung her around in a circle.
“Uh-huh I’m always good for Grandma,” Samantha said smiling brightly at her father.
“Lauren I hear that you’ve started reading already,” Genesis said staring into his daughter’s bright green eyes. He loved how you could see the blue and hazel swirled within them if you looked closely.
“Yeah I like to read Gramma helps me sometimes but Grampa likes to get me to try new words,” Lauren said her face proud as she cuddled into Genesis’ arms.
“Well then I guess it is alright for me to give you this,” Genesis said sliding a small white book out of his pocket and into Lauren’s hands.
“No way my own copy of Loveless?!” Lauren screamed her eyes wide as dinner plates. She smiled up at Genesis who grinned down at her.
“Yep your very own copy now you will always be able to enjoy it once you learn to read good enough,” Genesis said watching as Lauren nodded her head.
“Well boys let’s get going the women will be upset if they have to wait to see their sons. By the way dinner is at our place tonight,” Ralph said turning around and heading away from the platform.
“Still cold as ever I see,” Angeal muttered setting Samantha down and grabbing his bags.
“Oh uncle Angeal can you tell Sammy to stop being such an honour nut like you?” Lauren asked clutching Loveless to her chest.
“Why what is she being an honour nut about now Lulu?” Angeal asked using her nickname which made her giggle.
“She won’t accept any of the dumbapples I try to give her and she nearly got in trouble the one day from some of the farmers because she stole from them instead of taking the ones I offered her.” Lauren said glaring at Samantha who giggled and hid behind Angeal’s legs.
“Honour can be quite a burden…. At times,” Angeal said laughing as Lauren’s face became annoyed. “You are just like your father was when he was your age,” Angeal said laughing as Lauren grinned up at him.
“Yeah and Sammy is just like you,” Lauren huffed grabbing one of Genesis’ bags and storming off towards her grandparents house. She was so headstrong and stubborn just like her father but she was also a very sweet and caring child. When it came to Samantha she was also highly over-protective something that Angeal was thankful for as Samantha was somewhat of a klutz like her mother had been.
“I must say that I don’t think her temper is from you alone Genesis,” Angeal said watching Lauren walking ahead of them talking animatedly with Samantha her gestures quick and angry.
“No it’s not I’m afraid she got temper double barrel although she seems to have much better control of hers then I’ve ever had of mine.” Genesis said laughing when Samantha smacked Lauren up the back of the head to which Lauren nudged her knocking her off balance.
“Hey that’s not nice I almost fell,” Samantha called out at the now laughing Lauren. Lauren paused and took hold of Samantha’s hand and the pair walked along happily swinging their hands between them singing some song that neither of the men knew.
“Well at least they’ve got each other if anything should ever happen like you were there for me when my father died.” Angeal said smiling as the girls began to babble back and forth at each other. They were blind to the fact that most of the town was watching them as they walked by swinging their hands.
It was true that both girls even though still very young were quite beautiful, Lauren’s hair had changed from the same reddish-brown as Genesis to a deep and shining black her eyes had a golden ring around the iris and her skin was a pale snowy white. Samantha had the same startling blue eyes as her father and she had inherited her mother’s brilliant red hair her skin had a sun kissed glow to it no matter what time of the year it was.
They would be heartbreakers when they were older both father’s knew and they both dreaded the day that any boy tried to date one of their daughters. Though Genesis and Angeal agreed that Lauren would be the one most likely to kick the ass of any guy that was dumb enough to go after Samantha and hurt her. She really was over protective of Samantha but it was in a good way so no one ever seemed to mind.
Lauren was protective of Samantha and Samantha kept Lauren in line when she needed to be kept in it. They were like two halves of a whole they matched each other perfectly and got along so well that many people assumed them to be sisters or cousins. They spent almost all of their time together and they helped each other whenever it was needed.
“It is good to see that Lauren has not taken just to my personality but is a perfect mixture of her mother and myself. I would have feared for the world if she had taken only to my personality I know my faults and with women and their mood swings I fear the world would be shown no mercy at times.” Genesis said watching as Lauren stopped to talk to one of the poorer children in Banora. For Lauren it didn’t matter how much money you had or who your parents were she could and often times would befriend the rich and the poor.
“Yes I tend to agree with you there Genesis the world would not be safe from her. But it is nice to see that like you she cares nothing for the boundaries of wealth, rich or poor it doesn’t matter to her. She befriends all based on personality and kindness within, which I must say she as an affinity for.” Angeal said watching as Lauren and Samantha talked to a little girl who might have been a year younger or older than them though it was hard to tell by height alone nowadays.
“It is nice to see the honourableness within Samantha, there are few and far between lately it seems that have honour and hold it in such a high respect as she does. Although one day that might not be such a good thing, we laying odds now as to whether your mother threatens her with a turkey baster?” Genesis laughed watching as Angeal shuddered at the idea.
“No thank you but I bet your mother will be after Lauren before my mother tries to go after Sam. Your mother is more obsessed with family lines continuing then my mother ever has been. Though with a daughter as adorable as Lauren can be I can see why your mother would want the line to continue. Samantha is going to be the bashful doe that everyone wants but no one gets whether that be Lauren’s doing or Samantha’s own shy nature.” Angeal said smiling when Samantha hid behind Lauren as a couple of boys ran over to them.
Genesis growled as he watched the boys looking at Lauren and blushing as they asked her something and she said no. The boys nodded and ran back off laughing at each other one boy kept looking back at Lauren. Genesis growled louder which only made Angeal laugh because Lauren was still too young to care about any man other than her father, grandfather and uncles.
“Hey I wonder if Zack’s been by to visit the girls or anything.” Angeal said looking over at Genesis to see his reaction. Lauren had taken a liking to Zack the last time that he had come to visit them in Banora and it annoyed Genesis that she had taken that liking.
“Not sure let’s see, Lauren has Zack been by?” Genesis called ahead to his daughter who turned around to face him. Her eyes glowed with excitement as she nodded her head yes.
“Yeah Zackie came by about a week ago and stayed for 3 whole days it was so much fun. We played tag a lot and he never caught me only Sammy.” Lauren said bouncing where she stood. Apparently she still had her attachment to Zack which Angeal noticed Genesis still got annoyed with.
“Relax Genesis he’s not interested in her like that to him she is more like a kid sister he treats Samantha the same way. You really are going to be hell when she comes of age to start dating I can see it now you sitting with your rapier in hand waiting for him to bring her home. Dear god I pity any guy that tries to get near Lauren,” Angeal said laughing as Genesis growled at the thought of anyone going near his baby girl. She was his little princess and there was no way anyone was going to hurt her or else they would pay dearly.
“Still I know Zack is okay it’s just I don’t like how excited she gets when he’s around or when we talk about him. As for any other guy trying to get near her they’ll have to get through not only me but my father as well and that is about as easy as getting you and your daughter to accept more than a single dumbapple from us. Besides innocence is something I hope she has into adulthood so that she retains the purity in her demeanor. She is fine just as she is also she is strong willed and doesn’t have to rely on a man to support her. Have you heard what she wants to be when she grows up, what her dream job is?” Genesis asked his eyes alight with laughter as he looked over at Angeal.
“No can’t say that I have, why what is it Genesis?” Angeal asked actually curious as to what the little tomboy wanted to do with her life.
“When Lauren grows up she said she wants to be a hero like her Dad and uncles and that she wants to be the best and strongest not to mention probably only female SOLDIER 1^st class. I damned near fell out of my chair when she told me that one of the phone the other day.” Genesis said laughing as Angeal’s face became a mask of shock.
“To dance, to dance upon the moon, singing songs with the sad loon. We seek the hope and love around, so we’re not sad when in the ground. But when on earth seek thy love, you’ll find it when you look above.” Lauren sang her voice sounding amazing even to some of the older townsfolk that were outside listening to her singing.
“I bet I know what her nickname is going to be come school time, bet you it’ll be Siren.” Angeal laughed teasing Genesis about the boys liking Lauren. Genesis decided not to rise to the bait that Angeal had set especially seeing as they were walking up the steps of his parents’ house.
“It’s about bloody time you boys got here, we’ve been waiting for you to get here so that we could start making dinner.” Tammy Rhapsodos exclaimed seeing the men and the girls walking in. “Lauren, Samantha go and wash your hands I bet they’re filthy,” She added glaring at the girls who ran to go wash their hands.
“Hello mother how’ve you been?” Genesis asked going over and giving his mother a hug. She gave him a tight smile and he noticed that she was favouring her right side greatly. He knew that his father was back to being abusive again which made him fear for Lauren’s safety.
“So when do we eat I’m starving,” Angeal said setting his bags down inside the door. He hadn’t noticed what Genesis had but then again Genesis and his mother had never told anyone about Ralph being abusive. It had been at the time because Genesis was just getting ready to go off and join SOLDIER which is what they had thought was the cause of it. Apparently they had been very wrong as Genesis now noticed watching his mother hobble away.
“Soon enough Angeal why don’t you go spend some time with your daughter she’s only been bugging me all week as to when her Daddy would be here so she could spend some time with him.” Gillian said going off into the kitchen to help Tammy prepare the meal.
Angeal nodded and followed Sam up to the play room where he sat and talked with her instead of playing with the toys. Lauren was telling Genesis all about what had happened to Gramma and the more he heard the angrier her got. His daughter should not have to be subjected to that kind of thing and yet she was and the worst thing was she was trying to stop Ralph from hurting Tammy.
“Lauren it’s not your job to try and stop him from doing that, he shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. Besides what if he decided to try and hit you, then what would you do?” Genesis asked her his face serious. The answer she gave him left him speechless.
“He already did the last time when I tried to stop him from hurting Gramma, my face got all sore and puffy. But I did good Daddy he stopped trying to hurt Gramma he left her alone,” Lauren said smiling hugely to reveal a missing tooth that was not due to fall out yet.
“Lauren did your tooth fall out after Grampa hit you that last time,” Genesis asked watching Lauren’s face carefully.
Lauren ducked her head but nodded. “Yeah it did Daddy but that’s okay I’ll get a big girl tooth there so it’s not all bad. Daddy don’t get Grampa mad at you then you won’t be able to come back and visit me anymore and I wanna see you Daddy.” Lauren cried throwing her arms around his neck burying her face in his chest. She was shaking in fright even when he wrapped his arms around her rubbing her back soothingly.
“Grampa cannot keep me away from seeing you Lauren, I am allowed to see my daughter whenever I so choose to come and visit.” Genesis said trying to calm his now very upset little girl. She was clinging to him shaking and crying into his chest as he continued to rub her back soothingly.
“Daddy I don’t want Grampa to hurt you too, I’m a big girl I can take whatever he gives to me so that Gramma doesn’t get hurt anymore. But I don’t want him to start hurting you as well, I mean he was really nice to us when Zack was here but once he was gone he went right back to being mean and cruel again.” Lauren said trying to get her father to understand what she was saying.
“Lauren you should not have to suffer like that your grandfather should not be being abusive to you the way that he is. It isn’t right and it is not fair to you Lauren,” Genesis said trying to get her to see sense.
“Daddy I said its fine I can handle it, I’m a big girl and I can also take care of myself. I’m not a baby anymore it’s my turn to protect Gramma like she has protected me.” Lauren said her eyes fierce with anger and determination. Both things that she had inherited from her parents not just Genesis himself both things that had destroyed her mother as Genesis had learned recently.
Her mother had ended up a drug addict and her fierce anger beforehand had pushed away all of the people who may have helped her beat the addiction. As her addiction became worse the determination that she was not an addict had in the end been the second half of what killed her. She had died of a drug overdose two weeks ago and because Lauren hadn’t asked about her mother in so many years Genesis had not bothered to tell her about her mother’s passing.
“Baby girl this is not something that you should have to handle or take care of, it is something that should not even be happening.” Genesis said his own anger shining in his eyes. A fact that Lauren noticed as she pinched his cheeks.
“No starting fights Daddy we are to go about things with dignity honour and respect, and that cannot be obtained if we go about stirring up trouble.” Lauren said her little face serious and calm her eyes burning with the strength of her emotions.
“When did you get so wise and Angeal-like Lauren?” Genesis asked smiling at her like the proud father that he was. She really was quite an amazing child bright caring and very loving, so much so that she willingly put herself in harm’s way to protect her grandmother from her grandfather.
“Dunno just did somehow maybe its cause I’m different from everyone else.” Lauren said her eyes serious and grave. She perhaps knew more than she was letting on because the way she spoke about being different made Genesis wonder if she knew that her mother had not been entirely human. It was true that her mother was half human but she was also half vampiric demon which had helped lead to her madness.
“What do you mean by that Lauren?” Genesis asked watching her closely. He was now worried that she had been told something that she should not have been told.
“I’m not a normal 6 year old Daddy, I can do things that other people can’t. I can make cuts stop bleeding just by licking it with my tongue. I can see really well at night and I sleep better early in the morning till about 11:30, I have a really hard time sleeping at night Daddy.” Lauren explained to Genesis hoping that he wouldn’t be mad at her.
“I see that you’ve taken to your mother’s blood in that respect, she had the same problems along with a few others. Just be careful alright sweetheart?” Genesis asked trying to make sure that his daughter was safe and sound.
Lauren nodded her head before cuddling into Genesis’ arms and closing her eyes. She always felt safest in her Daddy’s arms and she loved to cuddle with him and listen to him tell her stories. She was in all honesty a Daddy’s suck something which Genesis loved because she was now the most important thing in the world to him. Sephiroth had laughed when Genesis had said that she was far more important than Loveless.
“Dinner!!” Tammy called upstairs. The girls jumped up excitably and ran downstairs Angeal and Genesis following behind them. Genesis’ face was an unreadable mask the moment he saw his father sitting at the table though his eyes flashed with white hot anger for a moment.
Lauren sat beside Ralph her face plastered with a smile as she accepted his help in cutting the steak into pieces so that she could eat it easily. She was such an amazing actress and she was only 6 years old. No one knew other than Genesis and his parents and that was it she had kept everything so well under wraps.
Genesis was impressed that his daughter had managed to protect everyone so easily from the truth of what her life had become though Genesis had brought her to his parents to keep her safe. His biggest fear was her ever getting hurt by anyone in anyway shape or form and it angered him that his own father was the cause of her pain and suffering now.
“Daddy is gonna read me Loveless tonight before I go to bed, and imma try to help him read it.” Lauren proclaimed loudly to everyone at the table smiling hugely. She was trying to make polite conversation so that no one would notice Genesis glaring at Ralph. Genesis suddenly broke out into a smile, “That’s right baby girl I’ll be testing your reading skills every night until I have to go back to work.”
Lauren laughed and bounced excitably in her seat her face alight with joy she adored Loveless. Anytime Genesis was home she would practically beg for him to read Loveless to her it was like an addiction for her. Though Genesis was glad that she enjoyed it he had often wondered if it was such a good idea to get her into the poem. Though watching her quote other poems now it made it clear to him that she had a love of poetry in general not just Loveless.
“How did you get to be so smart?” Ralph asked ruffling her hair which earned him a glare from her. She hated it when people touched her hair it annoyed and angered her to no end but she held her tongue.
“My Daddy taught me how to be a good learner so I’m smart cause of my Daddy,” Lauren said beaming at her father pride evident in her glowing green eyes. Genesis noticed the glow and gave her a quick look which she caught and her eyes returned to a normal excited green.
Genesis was going to have to watch her he now realized as he watched her struggling to keep her eyes in control but after a couple minutes he noticed that she was completely under control again. He now knew that when she said she could handle what Ralph was doing she meant that he would not be doing it for much longer. Though she was still inexperienced in how to use her abilities she was aware that she had magic at her disposal.
Genesis could not have been more proud of his daughter if she had proclaimed to the world that she was his child. She was taking to both sides of her blood with perfect evenness she was exactly half her mother and half her father. He was so pleased with the young lady she was beginning to grow to be, she was a good child.
A few days later Genesis and Angeal left Banora heading back to work promising to come back and visit soon. Both girls cried as their father’s left clinging to each other on the platform as they watched the train disappearing into the distance.
~4 Years Later~
“Come one Sammy I saw my father heading for my place!” Lauren yelled running towards her home. If her father was here then her uncle had to be here as well. “Dad…..dy,” Lauren trailed off as she saw her father kill her grandparents.
Clapping a hand over her mouth and grabbing Samantha she ran at top speed for Gillian’s place hiding under the basement stairs with Gillian. Lauren says nothing and responds to nothing words nor touches from Samantha and Gillian. She sat with her eyes wide and unseeing her body felt cold like her blood had turned to ice she felt like everything was happening to somebody else instead of actually happening to her.
A few days later Zack walked into Banora heading for Gillian’s and finding her hiding under the stairs again with the girls Lauren was still in the same state that she had been a few days before. Samantha was getting worried Lauren hadn’t eaten or slept in almost a week.
“Puppy what’s going on? Uncle Genesis was here and he attacked the people… Lauren saw something and hasn’t ate or slept in almost a week.” Samantha said her arm tight around Lauren’s shoulders. She was so worried about Lauren and the reason as to why she wasn’t responding to anything.
“Hey Lulu, it’s me Zackie.” Zack said kneeling down in front of Lauren who suddenly launched herself into his arms burying her face in his chest. He was stunned for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and holding her close rubbing her back as she cried into his chest.
Samantha watched Lauren closely glad to see that Lauren was responding somewhat to someone finally. After a few minutes Lauren pulled back to look up at Zack with tears brimming again in her eyes. “Zackie you have to stop my father, he’s gone mad he won’t see reason….. Gramma… Grampa…… They’re both gone now Zack.” Lauren said the tears falling again.
“What do you mean they’re gone did they go away for a few days?” Zack asked his face confused and curious.
“No Zackie father killed them I saw him kill them with his sword.” Lauren explained. Samantha gasped no wonder Lauren had shut down like she had watching her father kill the only family she knew. It was no wonder Lauren hadn’t opened up to anyone until Zack arrived she didn’t want anybody else to get hurt. She knew that Zack would be able to fight against Genesis and hopefully not get hurt.
“I’ll go see what I can do about that you girls stay under here, Gillian can I see you for a few minutes?” Zack stated moving out from the hiding place under the stairs. Gillian nodded and followed him out talking with him for a few minutes before he left to try and find Angeal.
Zack returned a couple of hours later to find Gillian on the floor and Angeal standing over by the door his eyes heartbroken. Zack went over to Angeal and began to give him shit for what he had done or at least what Zack had thought Angeal had done. Genesis arrived and called forth a summon having it attack Zack.
“Zack behind you!!!!!!!” Lauren called out standing within the safety of the doorway. The summon was going to attack him from behind but thanks to Lauren’s warning Zack managed to avoid it. Her green eyes literally glowed as she glared at Genesis the very person she had once adored and respected above all else. She tossed a spell at him stunning him for a moment before she departed.
“Lauren you shouldn’t have done that what if he had attacked you?” Zack said running over to the girls. Though Lauren was only 10 she acted far older then her years. She was angry and though her eyes were slowly returning to normal Zack had a feeling that things weren’t done yet.
Sighing Zack picked up both girls and left Banora putting them on a helicopter. The girls cried as they watched Banora being set fire to, everything they had ever known had been taken from them. Lauren had shut down again the tears the only sign that she was aware of what was happening around her. When they got back to SOLDIER Sephiroth declared that he would take over guardianship of the two girls who seemed happy enough to be with him.
“You will both behave for me and stay out of trouble won’t you?” Sephiroth asked when he told them that they would be staying with him. He could see their father’s in them and it made his heart ache knowing that they would probably never see their father’s again.
“Sure uncle Sephiroth,” Samantha said smiling up at him. Lauren on the other hand said nothing she just stared out the window watching the rain fall. She hadn’t said a word since Zack had left and even then she had only said goodbye.
“Lauren are you alright sweetheart?” Sephiroth asked trying to be a kind uncle to her. She had been in an odd state since he had seen her today.
“I’ll live,” Lauren said turning dead eyes on him. She looked like she had been through or seen something horrific at her young age.
“What happened if you don’t mind me asking,” Sephiroth questioned softly. He could see that whatever had happened it had affected her deeply.
“I saw my father murder my Gramma and Grampa, I saw it with my own eyes.” Lauren said softly looking up at Sephiroth with tears brimming in her eyes again. It hurt to say it but she knew that talking about it would help her to feel better about herself now.
“You poor child,” Sephiroth said taking her into his arms as she cried again. Samantha walked over and the three of the sat in a group as Sephiroth held both of them in his arms. These poor children had been made to suffer by their fathers’ madness and Sephiroth would see to it that they didn’t have to suffer any further.
~1 Year Later~
“Why do we have to come with you again uncle Sephy?” Lauren asked as they stood outside of his house waiting for Zack. In the last year Lauren had begun to open up though she had had a massive setback when she found out that her father had been killed.
“Because no one is willing to babysit you and Samantha within a 100 miles of Midgar and no day care center will have you either. Because of that you both have to accompany us on this mission.” Sephiroth said giving the now 11 year old girls a glare.
“Hey sorry it took so long had to wait for Cloud to grab the others but we’re ready to go now,” Zack said running up to them. They all got on the train and arrived in Nibelheim shortly afterwards, the girls were excited and running all over the town. Sephiroth finally got them settled inside of the inn while the rest of the group went to Shinra Manor to investigate some things.
A few hours later the girls heard a loud explosion and saw tons of smoke coming from Shinra Manor. “I think we should go check things out are you coming Sammy?” Lauren asked her eyes were wide and worried.
“Yeah I’m definitely coming let’s go,” Samantha said taking Lauren’s offered hand both of them running towards Shinra Manor.
Once inside Lauren and Samantha saw Zack and Cloud lying face down on the stairs and they ran to their sides. Lauren was trying to get Zack to wake up while Samantha tried to awaken Cloud but they weren’t having any luck.
Some Shinra scientists came in then and the head of them told them to grab the men they would be very useful in his next experiments. “Grab the girls also I have plans for them,” He said following out the people carrying Zack and Cloud.
The last sound the girls heard before darkness claimed them was the evil man’s laughter echoing off of the walls around them and ringing in their ears.
~4 Years Later~
Hojo enjoyed experimenting on the 4 specimens that he had collected though the one young lady was the most fun he had had in ages. Her body had grown to that of age 20 in the 4 years that he had been testing things out on her and she awoke often before returning to a sleep like state. The other young woman had grown to be 20 in appearance and mentality as well but she never woke from the comatose state.
Zack awoke the one day and burst from his tank looking around to see Cloud and two very familiar looking women in Mako tanks as well. Walking over to the tank of the deep brunette or possibly black haired woman whose hair was waist length he saw the name on the report and his mind freaked out. This woman was Lauren Rhapsodos the little girl he use to go and visit all the time in Banora. Looking at the other tank he realized that the woman within had to be Samantha his mentor Angeal Hewley’s daughter.
Releasing them all from the tanks Zack looked at the three bodies wondering how he was going to get them all out of here when suddenly Lauren began to move. He watched as she opened her eyes which were now a glowing golden colour. “Where the fuck am I now,” She mumbled her voice holding a musical quality.
“We’re inside Shinra Manor, do you think you can walk?” Zack asked carefully kneeling beside Lauren afraid to frighten her.
“Zackie….. Is that you?” Lauren asked looking confusedly at him. Her eyes assessed him carefully before she moved to sit up and face him directly.
“Yeah it’s me, how are you feeling Lulu?” Zack asked noticing that she was now sitting in a more relaxed position. She tilted her head to side eyeing him up and down closely her eyes lingering in places.
“Considering I went to sleep 11 and woke up 4 years later at 20 I guess I can’t complain.” Lauren said throwing her arms around Zack and hugging him. “I can carry Sammy if you’ve got Cloudy,” She added releasing him.
Zack nodded blushing slightly, she definitely wasn’t 11 anymore her body was 20. Zack picked up Cloud while Lauren grabbed Samantha, they had to run as people were coming so they ran into the basement. They were hiding behind one of the coffins when the voices started to get louder.
“Damnit Zack their gonna catch us and I don’t want to be an experiment again,” Lauren said her voice saddened and fearful.
“Experiment?” A male voice asked from inside the coffin they were hiding behind.
“Yes Vincent Valentine my friends and I were experiments, we are trying to escape,” Lauren said causing Zack to look at her oddly. “Telepath remember, I knew who he was soon as he spoke because his mind kicked into a readable level.” She added smiling as Zack gave her an awed look.
“Come then this way,” Vincent said opening the coffin and pulling Sam into his arms and carrying her down a long tunnel to an airship with Lauren hot on his heels and Zack right on hers.
“Thank you for helping us Vincent,” Lauren said smiling as she took Samantha from him and helped Zack load Cloud into the airship. “Wait where are you going why don’t you come with us?” She added noticing Vincent turning to head back to the basement and the coffins.
“I must stay because I have not paid for my sins and this…..this is my punishment,” Vincent said turning to face her once again caught by the golden colour of her eyes.
“Sometimes the greatest sin we make is not trying to move ahead in life and allowing past sins to hold us back from helping others,” Lauren said simply her eyes glowing slightly but her face soft and motherly. She was still the same protective person she had always been growing up and now she had that motherly edge to her.
Vincent stared at her for several minutes seeming to weigh her words carefully before nodding and getting on the airship taking the empty seat beside her. Lauren gave him a brief smile before turning her attention to Samantha checking her over to make sure that she was not harmed in any way.
“Your sister?” Vincent asked softly watching the way Lauren was with her, like an overprotective mother.
“Nope we’ve just been friends since I was 6 months old and she was 1 month old….. Our fathers had been best friends growing up as kids and we followed suit. But our fathers are dead now all we really have is each other our only family is gone. Zack and Cloud are the closest things to family that we have, I look to them as brothers.” Lauren said smiling softly down at Sam her eyes soft and sad.
Zack heard what Lauren said about thinking of him as a brother and although it made him happy he was also internally sad that she only thought of him as that. He had been in love with the little girl she had been and now that she was a woman he had fallen for her like normal people do and yet she thought of him as a brother. He saw the way she talked to Vincent and the way that Vincent looked at her and it made him a little angry but he also knew that they would be good together.
A few hours later they were at a camp site and Zack had gone to hunt them down some food, when he came back he noticed that Samantha wasn’t there and he began to panic. “Relax Zack the puppy,” Lauren began watching him closely. “She’s just up on the cliff give her some time,” She finished closing her eyes and leaning back against the tree trunk that she sat on a thick branch of.
Zack snuck up to where Samantha stood singing softly, “Would you tell me I was wrong, would you help me understand. Are you looking down upon me, are you proud of who I am?” She had her head lifted so that her face was staring up at the stars as she sang softly in memory of her father.
“Hey how are you feeling?” Zack asked softly moving to stand beside her. He looked over at her chuckling when she wrapped her arms around him excitably.
“Yay the puppy is alive and well,” She teased releasing him and smiling softly her orange eyes shining brightly.
“Yeah I’m doing alright Cloud is the one who is having the hard time, he’s suffering from a severe case of Mako-addiction.” Zack said as they headed back down to the rest of the group.
They both smiled as they watched Lauren skinning the rabbits that Zack had managed to catch. She was talking a little with Vincent as she prepared the meat and started a fire, she really was like the mother of the group. She kept checking on Cloud making sure that he was doing okay considering the Mako-addiction. Vincent sat on a fallen tree watching her as she worked and he had to admit that she was very appealing and her personality was pleasing.
“Will you two stop gawking and get your asses over here to watch Cloud while I cook unless you want it to burn,” Lauren called her eyes and hands never leaving her tasks. She truly was following after her father’s personality at the moment but she held all of her mother’s softness and kindness. She was the best of her mother and in some cases the best of Genesis as well.
Samantha laughed and walked over sitting beside Cloud resting his head in her lap and brushing the hair from his face gently stroking his cheek. Zack sighed remembering Aerith he was going to have to get to Midgar somehow to see her again, he knew that she was the one he should be focusing on. Lauren turned her full attention to cooking the meat and when it was done she handed it out to everyone ending with Vincent.
“Here ya go Vinnie I hope it’s not too dry.” Lauren said softly handing him the cooked rabbit meat. She had a small smile on her face as she sat beside him with her own portion of meat.
“I’m sure that it is fine thank you,” Vincent said deciding to try and ignore the nickname she had used in addressing him. He noticed that her long black hair had streaks of red in it but that they appeared to be natural. Her fingers were long and slender but also looked strong like her arms.
“Who experimented on you?” He asked after a few minutes of silence. He saw her stiffen for a moment before relaxing and taking another bite of her meal before she answered him.
“Lucrecia Cresent was that one who ended my experimentation but a man named Hojo began it all. I have no idea what all was done to me but either way it matters little to me now.” Lauren said taking another bite of her meat. She was oddly apathetic about everything that had happened to her Vincent noticed and he wondered what had happened to her or what she had seen that had made her so distant and cold.
“I had the same thing happen it started out with Hojo and ended with Lucrecia, I am infused with the Chaos gene.” Vincent said softly his eyes looking at the ground before him instead of at her.
“Yeah I hate Chaos thing is a bitch to control when I’m angry……. But I don’t exactly mind it I mean it could be worse,” Lauren said looking at her hands sadly. She hated Chaos it was the one thing that had annoyed her most from her time as a test subject.
“You harbour the Chaos gene as well, now that is unusual but not impossible I’ll admit.” Vincent whispered looking over at her finally. She had her head hanging down looking embarrassed and ashamed of what she was. Vincent sighed softly and placed one of his hands atop hers giving it a gentle squeeze to let her know that she was not alone.
“Yes Hojo was quite pleased when I transformed in front of him the one time but since then I have managed to get a bit better control on Chaos. Now I never have to worry about him taking control of me which means that those I care about don’t have to fear for their lives.” Lauren said turning her hand to hold his. She had a small smile on her face as she sat talking with Vincent for a while.
Samantha looked over at Lauren to see her holding hands with Vincent the pair talking about who knew what. Sam smiled to see Lauren looking so at peace and to see her putting out the effort to be social. Since they were young and Lauren had witnessed her father murdering her grandparents Lauren had been a very closed off person. She didn’t tend to let people in or to talk very much which often worried Samantha although Lauren would talk to her with ease.
“Looks like she’s finally found someone that she feels at ease enough with to open up a little eh?” Zack said softly his eyes also on Lauren and Vincent. He watched her with a mixture of happiness and disappointment, he wanted her but he didn’t it was hard to explain.
“Yes it seems to be the case, I’m just glad to see her at peace and talkative again. Ever since she saw her grandparents die she has been so shut down and closed off from everybody. I was beginning to worry that she would never have any other friends aside from you Cloud and I. I’m glad to see that I was so wrong, and he seems to be good for her from what I can tell,” Samantha said her blue eyes bright and shining as she shook her red hair from her eyes.
“It would seem, though it could just be a short term thing I mean you’ve seen the way she is with people. Sometimes at first things look like they’re gonna go great and then all of a sudden she’s back to her old self and the other person gives up. But here’s hoping that doesn’t happen this time,” Zack said looking down at Cloud whose head was still resting in Samantha’s lap. He could tell that she cared about Cloud greatly and he hoped that once the Mako-addiction wore off they would be a happy couple.
Samantha nodded in agreement with what Zack had just said about how Lauren had always been, it hurt them both to remember how broken she had been. Although she now seemed to be fine she had suffered so much Zack sometimes wondered if things could have been made better if Genesis had somehow managed to survive and stay sane. If maybe somehow the degradation process had been curable that then maybe both Samantha and Lauren would have been given a chance at a better life than the one they were now living.
“I’ll take first watch seeing as I’m not even tired in the least then Vincent can take watch. Tomorrow it’ll be you and Samantha sound good Zack?” Lauren asked as she cleaned up the mess from earlier and put the scraps into the fire which she began to add some wood to.
“Alright we’ll be over under the trees there so that we stay dry if it starts to rain or anything.” Zack said helping Sam move Cloud to rest under the tree. The three then settled in for a night of restful sleep.
“You can go sleep wherever you want to Vincent, I should be fine.” Lauren said as she wiped her hands off on her pants.
“I’ll stay with you I do not really require much sleep and I would like to get to know you more,” Vincent said his face colouring a little bit. He had found that he was enjoying her company and getting to know all about her, he wanted to get to know her better.
“It’s up to you I don’t mind either way though it would be nice to have someone to talk to and all that,” Lauren said sitting down and looking at the fire her eyes warming up. She was not as cold as she had been being at the beginning of their meeting each other.
Vincent sat beside her his thigh accidently brushing hers but he didn’t move it nor did she move hers. Vincent took her hand again and held it as they both stared into the flames lost in thought until Lauren broke the silence. “So Vinnie do you have yourself a girlfriend?” She asked softly her eyes now looking into his the firelight reflecting brightly in them.
“No, I had been in love with a woman once but she did not return my feelings. How about you do you have a boyfriend?” Vincent asked looking into her eyes feeling like he was drowning in them.
“Nope no one had struck my fancy and I doubt any guy would want to be with a woman like me. Hell I’ve never even been kissed before,” Lauren said shaking her head and giving a sad little laugh. She had wanted to be loved by someone for years and she had longed for her first kiss but she never got one.
“Neither have I but perhaps,” Vincent began lowering his head and lightly brushing his lips against hers. He didn’t know why but he felt oddly compelled and drawn to this woman, he wanted to protect her and hold her close.
Lauren stiffened for a moment before she began to shyly kiss him back her arms sliding up around his neck as she turned so that she was facing him directly. Vincent’s arms slid around her waist as he leaned back pulling her with him as he lay down. His hands rested at her lower back drawing little circles while he kissed her a little deeper.
Lauren pulled back then and looked down at him with shocked and slightly frightened eyes. “Vincent I’m not a woman who rushes into things without collecting all the information I can first to make sure it will work out,” Lauren said her eyes staring into his.
“I wouldn’t force you Lauren, I am not that type of man.” Vincent said releasing her and expecting her to get off of him. Much to his surprise she stayed where she was laying down and resting her head on his shoulder. She cuddled into him her arms around his neck as she talked to him about things she remembered from her childhood and he spoke of his own memories.
After a couple of hours Lauren got up and tended to the fire then sat with her legs crossed staring at Vincent. He moved to sit also facing her with crossed legs a soft smile on his face that reached his eyes.
“Hey Vinnie?” Lauren said after a few minutes of silence. She had a devilish glint in her eyes and her lips curved upwards seductively.
“Yes Lauren,” Vincent replied his expression guarded and curious as he watched her. She gave him a smile that was not innocent at all before she sighed and shook her head.
Leaning forward slightly she grabbed the front of his cloak and pulled him toward her by it crashing her lips to his. She began to lean back pulling him with her as she kissed him deeply and with passion her hands sliding under his cloak to roam his back. Vincent held his hands at her hips as he allowed her to do whatever she wanted not doing anything.
“Vinnie you can explore a little if you want,” Lauren said pulling back for air her eyes shining brightly into his. She had managed to get them back to the green colour she had had growing up but they didn’t stay that way for long.
Slowly Vincent began to slide his hands up her sides allowing his fingers to brush the side of her breast gently while she ran her fingers down his chest her lips sliding shyly along his neck. She jumped a little when he groaned but then blushing she began to lightly nip at the spot delighting in his reaction. Vincent’s fingers tunneled into her hair his gauntlet lightly scratching the back of her head.
“Take that thing off before one of us gets hurt by it,” Lauren growled moving so that Vincent could remove his gauntlet. “The gloves can go too Vinnie then you can really feel the heat on my skin.” She added smiling up at him softly. He did as she asked placing the gloves and gauntlet in a pile off to the side before kissing her again.
This time she rested her hands at his hips for a few moments before sliding them around to grab his ass which made his groan softly. Smiling while blushing she did it again this time lifting herself up to him a little which brought a small quiet growl from him. She slowly slid her hands back along his hips before shyly sliding her right hand in between them and touching him lightly. He couldn’t hold back the moan that made its way up his throat and off his lips.
“That feels good I take it that or I’m bad at this,” Lauren commented her face blushing madly as she continued to pet him gently.
“It feels very good,” Vincent muttered against her neck as he laid a trail of kisses there. He pressed himself more firmly into her hand as his lips slid sensually along her collar bones and into the crevice between her breasts. He could feel himself growing harder as she continued to touch him biting her lips against her own feelings.
“Vincent do you want to…… uhhhh…….” Lauren began blushing madly as she turned her head to the side. She was embarrassed to ask him if he wanted to have sex even though she desperately wanted to herself.
“I won’t force you to do anything but if you want to make love I have no objections,” Vincent said lifting his face to look into her eyes. He had said make love not have sex, he knew that he would never be letting her go not now and not ever.
“I want to Vinnie, I’m just really shy,” Lauren said beginning to undo his belts that held his pants on. Nodding his head Vincent began to slide her pants down over her hips slowly so that she could push him away and make him stop at anytime.
Lauren didn’t though and soon they were both naked from the waist down, Vincent held himself above her. Her eyes glanced down at him and widened as a blush crept across her face again, she had no idea how THAT was supposed to go inside of her. Vincent noticed her gaze and her reaction to seeing him and lowered his head whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry I’ll be gentle unless you want me to stop now in which case I will.”
Lauren gasped softly and looked up into his eyes, she leaned up kissing him as she shyly rolled her hips into his. She moaned softly at the feeling that movement produced as she slowly slid her hands to rest on his hips. Slowly she pulled on them guiding him to her core where she felt him gently touch. She looked into his eyes silently telling him to begin to try and enter her.
Vincent nodded and slowly began to press himself inside of her stretching her to fit around him trying his best to be gentle with her. Lauren’s head tossed from side to side which made Vincent pause thinking he was hurting her. “No don’t stop Vinnie go in all the way, it just feels so good and yet so bad all at the same time.” Lauren whispered trying to keep her voice down so that the others didn’t awake to see them.
Vincent nodded his head and began to press further into her groaning at the feeling of her surrounding him. He stopped when he reached her barrier and looked down into her eyes as he slammed through it taking away her innocence and making her his. She gasped closing her eyes tightly as the pain hit her, her nails digging into his back as she lay panting under him. Vincent nuzzled her neck leaving light gentle kisses behind as he waited for her to adjust to his size and her own pain.
“Vinnie move,” She finally said after a few minutes of silence. Vincent nodded and slowly, gently pulled out of her before sliding back in. He created a slow easy pace so that she could get used to how he moved within her and after a few gentle thrusts she began to meet him thrust for thrust. “Faster Vinnie,” Lauren begged her voice and eyes pleading with him.
“As you wish,” He whispered in her ear beginning to move faster and a little harder. She closed her eyes her head tossing backwards her back arching bringing her closer to him. She bucked her hips up to meet him each time and slowly she began to trail kisses along his chest and up his neck before sinking her teeth into his neck as she shuddered with her climax.
Vincent followed shortly after her shuddering with the force of his own climax and just as she had moaned his name her name fell from his lips. They lay together like that for a while him on top of her still buried deep within her both of them calming their breathing.
“Wow is it always that good?” Lauren whispered kissing him gently no longer shy about that. Her eyes shone brightly with all the feelings that ran through her body but most of all they shone with acceptance for Vincent and what they had just done.
“I wouldn’t know this was my first time as well,” Vincent admitted blushing which made Lauren giggle as she kissed him.

“We should get dressed in case one of the others wakes up and we get busted,” Lauren said groaning as he slid from her. She suddenly got an idea and quickly slid back on her pants but she didn’t allow Vincent to do his pants up. “Do you mind if I?” She asked placing her hand on his penis which she had just taken out of his pants.
“Go ahead,” Vincent said curious to see what she wanted to do. Slowly she leaned down and began to take him into her mouth. Oh god she was going to take him into her throat, he didn’t know if he would be able to keep control if she did that but he was unwilling to stop her.
Lauren took him first just into her mouth and then slowly began to take him into her throat moaning softly as he slid further down. The sound vibrated around him and he bit back a groan as she took him in as far as he would go. She slipped a hand inside his pants to gently massage his balls as she began to bob her head. She sucked and nipped lightly grinning around him when he began to moan and whisper her name time and time again.
Getting braver she sucked really hard biting him on top while sliding her teeth along his underside. It was more than he could take and he thrust into her mouth his fingers tunneling into her hair pressing her more firmly onto him. Her name kept falling from his lips on moans of pleasure before he came shuddering. Lauren swallowed all of it before sliding him out of her mouth.
“You taste very good Vincent Valentine, almost as good as you feel.” Lauren whispered kissing him roughly throwing her leg over his hip sitting in his lap her hips pressing down against him. Vincent’s hands were on her hips before he slid her pants back off and laid her out on her back grinning evilly.
Two could play the teasing game and he planned to see just how good she tasted on his tongue. Leaning down Vincent pressed a kiss to her slick folds before taking a cautious lick, grinning when she moaned and drove her fingers into his hair. Deciding that he wasn’t going to waste any time he thrust his tongue into her moist cavern swirling it around tasting her. Her fingers pressed into his skull as her hips pressed him more firmly into her his fingers massaging her clitoris while his tongue assaulted her. Curious as to her reaction he took a light nip at her to which she responded by pulling on his hair moaning his name softly over and over again.
He kept up his sweet torture for a few more minutes before she came shuddering and gasping his name. Smiling he cleaned up all that she had offered to him before he crawled on top of her and slammed back inside roughly. “I can’t help myself you’re too desirable and too damned delicious for your own good.” Vincent groaned taking her more roughly this time.
Lauren moaned biting at her lower lip as she met him thrust for thrust her nails scratching along his back. She kissed him deeply slipping her tongue into his mouth shuddering as she came again and he followed seconds afterwards. “I think that it is always going to feel this good with you Vinnie,” Lauren sighed nuzzling him before curling up against him.
“I would have to agree with you there, but perhaps we should put our pants back on just in case.” Vincent whispered sliding out of her and pulling his pants back up over his hips. He watched as Lauren slid her pants back on and smiled when she curled up beside him her head in his lap as she slipped off to sleep.
She truly was amazing she managed to make him feel things that he had never felt before and they did things he had only dreamed of. But the most amazing thing was that he could see himself spending forever by her side loving her every day. She made him think about the future in a bright side way instead of always looking at the bad, she made him feel alive again.
Zack turned over and closed his eyes he had seen the entire thing that had happened between Vincent and Lauren and it upset him. He had wanted to be her first but Vincent had taken that before he got the chance to and now he was angry. But as he watched Lauren take charge of things and give Vincent oral sex he realized that she was happy with him so he calmed down. His thoughts turned instead to Aerith who he was hoping to be able to see again sometime soon.
He would not tell anyone about what he had seen but he wasn’t going to just leave it be either, he was going to make sure that Lauren was happy. Although it seemed like he didn’t have to do much to make sure of that as he watched Lauren curl up in Vincent’s lap and drift off to sleep. Sighing Zack closed his eyes again and drifted off into a peaceful sleep dreaming of Aerith and remembering their first date when he had bought her a hair ribbon.
Sam lay sleeping peacefully her head resting on Cloud’s chest. She was desperately hoping that he would beat this Mako-addiction quickly so that she could tell him how she felt about him. She loved him deeply and could only hope that he would return her feelings but even if he didn’t at least she could say she tried.
What Samantha didn’t know was that Cloud himself was aware of what was going on he was just unable to react. He could feel her head on his chest and her arm over his waist could hear her soft breaths while she slept. Trying to move his arm took a lot of effort but he managed to wrap his arm around her waist. He was glad that she was alright but he was even happier that she was curled up beside him her arm lying over him.
Vincent sat stroking Lauren’s face all night through until she awoke. “Why hello there Mr. Valentine,” Lauren whispered opening her eyes and looking up at him with calm golden eyes. She had a small smile on her face as she eyes him closely.
“Hello Miss Rhapsodos, did you sleep well?” Vincent asked brushing a few strands of hair from her face. She nodded her head sitting up straight and rubbing her eyes stretching.
“Yeah I had a great sleep though I kept dreaming that someone was rubbing my face all night whispering stuff to me,” Lauren said eyeing him knowingly. Vincent chuckled nodding his head that she was correct he had been stroking her face all night and whispering things to her.
“Well I’m going to go and hunt up something for us to eat just as soon as I tend to the fire. Damnit it went out oh well,” Lauren sighed and set up a starter teepee with some of the wood. She then snapped her fingers and the wood caught fire instantly making Vincent lift an eyebrow.
“Care to explain how you can do that?” Vincent asked moving to stand behind her his lips on her neck as his arms slid around her waist.
“From some of the experiments that were done to me I can control or embody the elements though I have not yet tried to manipulate them. You know such as making water burn and what not, anyways I’ll go hunt for us,” Lauren said turning and giving him a soft kiss which he returned.
Vincent watched her walk away his eyes on the gentle sway of her hips underneath the long red leather coat that she wore. She also wore black boots and black underclothing which he didn’t really mind seeing on her. She also had a large red bladed sword which she had inherited from her father the Rapier is what she called it.
Lauren walked through the woods looking for something to get for them to eat but also thinking of her father and his fall from grace. He had deserted Shinra and at first he was thought to just be arrogant and childish though later on it was easy to see his reasoning for doing what he did. After he was injured during a training fight with Sephiroth he learned of the secrets of his birth that he discovered when being healed. He was adopted and had come to feel betrayed by both his real parents who Lauren had never met and his adoptive parents that she had always thought her blood family. It had been the wound that had triggered Genesis’s flawed genetic structure to begin to degrade, allowing Hollander to claim to be able to cure it.
Lauren held a deep seated resentment and hatred of Dr. Hollander for what he had done and made her father into. But now she had more important things than the anger that had driven her ever since she had found the reports that detailed everything. She had shut off from everyone but for Zack and Samantha.
Vincent sat looking at the flames of the fire thinking of Lucrecia and the events on the path that had led him to where he was now. Because of Hojo’s experiments Vincent could shapeshift into various demonic forms and he was immortal. He had thought that was supposed to be some kind of punishment but now with Lauren he saw it as a gift of sorts.
True he thought himself a monster but she didn’t see that all she saw was the man he had once been and the man he had become. She saw the good and the bad but accepted that that was the way he was and he couldn’t change it. She loved him or at least he thought that she did judging from the way things were going between them. She seemed like such a tightly wrapped woman and yet he was able to see the insecure woman beneath. She feared being rejected and she was insecure about her looks. She seemed to want to be the exact opposite of her father and more like the mother that from what she had said had been non-existent in her life.
Looking up as he heard a noise Vincent pulled out his gun aiming it in the direction of the sound. “Will you put that thing away jesus you’re gonna hurt someone with it,” Lauren said walking out of the woods with a few rabbits in hand. She had a grin on her face as she set to work skinning the rabbits and getting the fire ready to cook them.
“My apologies I thought it was someone I needed to have a defense for not someone I want to let in,” Vincent said sitting down beside her. He watched the way she worked noting how precise and economic her movements were. She didn’t lose energy for strength she got the most strength for the shortest amount of distance.
“Someone you want to let in eh? And just what is that supposed to mean Vinnie?” Lauren asked turning curious golden eyes to him. He felt that he could drown in those liquid honey eyes; they shone like the sun and burned just as easily into him.
“Yes somebody to allow in past my defenses to let see the real me hidden underneath this exterior that tends to repel. Someone that maybe I can love if they don’t mind,” Vincent said staring into her eyes the entire time. He couldn’t keep the hope out of his voice as much as he wanted to but when her eyes brightened a little he was not as worried.
“I wouldn’t mind that so long as you are willing to accept everything that is me not just the good but also the bad that goes along with it. To accept me on my best days and my worst through everything the good the bad and the downright ugly,” Lauren said watching closely for his reaction.
“I can do that Lauren,” Vincent said smiling softly for the first time feeling whole again. Feeling like he had meaning and reason in his life. He felt like he had been given the most precious gift in the world.
Growling softly Lauren whispered, “Put that damned sexy smile away Vincent or I don’t care who hears or sees I’ll rape you where you stand.” Her eyes were burning with desire and want and Vincent could feel himself responding instantly to just her look.
“You can’t rape the willing and I’d be more than willing Lauren,” Vincent replied watching as her shoulders raised and her mouth pinched into a thin line.
“True enough but I will take you where you stand without a second of hesitation,” Lauren said glaring at him with hungry eyes. She was not joking but he didn’t care he wanted her badly now as he gave her a small smile. “I warned you Vincent,” She said launching at him.
Vincent easily caught her kissing her deeply his hands on her hips already. He rolled her under him so that his cloak would cover them just in case. He quickly pulled off her pants while she undid his sliding them down over his hips. “I won’t hold back this time Lauren,” Vincent whispered watching her closely.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way Vinnie,” Lauren replied smirking up at him.
Vincent didn’t waste any time slamming into her roughly as he kissed her. Lauren’s back arched up to him a moan leaving her lips into their kiss. Vincent lifted her top up over her breasts sliding her bra down his lips trailing kisses along the exposed skin before his teeth began to nip at her right breast taking the tip into his mouth. Lauren moaned loudly not caring who heard her only concerned with the feelings charging through her body.
“Shhh, you’ll wake the others,” Vincent whispered kissing her deeply. He really didn’t care about whether they woke anyone or not but he had to say it for her sake.
“I don’t care Vincent….. mmmm…..” Lauren moaned as Vincent returned to assaulting her chest. She was so lost in her passion that she never noticed Samantha get up nor her arrival by the fire.
“Let go of her this instant before I decide to blow your brains out Valentine,” Samantha growled her gun aimed at his head. Her eyes were glowing purple with the Omega gene power that had been given to her.
“Sammy!!! It’s not what you think, I wanted this” Lauren says her eyes a bright red colour as she stared up at Sam.
“You asked for him to rape you?” Samantha hissed her finger tightening around the trigger.
“Samantha you can’t rape the fucking willing,” Lauren snapped grabbing Vincent making him stay within her. “You pull out and I’ll fry your ass myself, Sammy go back to Cloud so we can finish.” Lauren added glaring up at Sam who was now smiling.
“Alright I’m gonna see if I can get any responses outta him,” Samantha said turning around and leaving them.
Vincent sighed resting his forehead against Lauren’s as she giggled under him. “Guess I was a little bit too loud there huh?” she asked smiling up at him.
“I told you so, but that’s alright shall we finish up or do you want to end it here?” Vincent countered returning her smile.
“I wanna fucking finish mister so let’s get in gear here alright?” Lauren replied smiling wider as she rolled against him.
Samantha walked back over to where Zack and Cloud lay sleeping. She had been pleasantly surprised when she woke up to find Cloud’s arm wrapped around her waist. Looking down at him now she noticed that he had his eyes open and was staring up at her curiously. “I just had to go deal or thought I had to go deal with Vincent being a rapist but I was wrong. Lauren finally decided to let someone in, so I’m back.” Samantha whispered as she curled back up with him.
She rested her head on his chest and tossed her arm over his waist nuzzling her face against him a little. Cloud fought again to wrap his arm around her waist and was pleased to note that he was able to do so more easily this time. “Hey now you don’t have to do that for my sake Cloud. I mean yeah I love you but it’s ok if you don’t return my feelings I really don’t mind.” Samantha said looking up into his eyes.
Cloud stared at her for a moment before slowly leaning down and kissing her. It took effort but he would pay any price to be able to let Samantha know how he felt about her. He pulled with his arm that was around her waist and rolled her on top of him so he could wrap his other arm around her. Samantha moaned softly kissing him back eagerly her hands rubbing circles onto his chest.
“Love you too,” Cloud mumbled out not able to get much better than that at the moment. He wanted her to know that he loved her too, he always had but he could barely keep his head clear.
“I know I get it Cloud now rest Mako-addiction especially a case as severe as yours is going to take some time to recover from.” Samantha said rolling back down to lay beside him. She gave him a serious and somewhat angry look but he knew she was happy.
“Hey breakfast is ready if ya’ll wanna get up. Here I’ll you with Spikes,” Lauren said bending down and literally picking Cloud up as if he were a doll. She carried him over to the fire Samantha hot on her heels before turning back to get Zack. “Hey Puppy, time to eat come on before its cold.” Lauren said leaning over Zack.
Zack slowly opened his eyes to reveal Lauren leaning over him her face serene. “I’m coming give me a minute. Have fun last night?” He muttered sitting up.
He regretted his words within seconds as Lauren’s face closed right down her eyes flashing hurt before becoming carefully void. A few tears slipped down her face as she went to run away from him but he grabbed her wrist stopping her. “I’m not saying it to be mean I just want to make sure that you’re happy. I’ve got Aerith now but I still want to take care of you, you were always like a little sister to me.” Zack said hoping she believed him.
“I’ve heard of Aerith she’s an ancient the last one actually. And yes I did enjoy myself last night, I am happy and I forgive you.” Lauren said offering him a small smile before pulling him up and dragging him over to the fire to have something to eat.
Once everyone had ate their fill they began to head off towards Midgar hitching a ride in the back of a truck. They talked quietly to each other Lauren making observations about their surroundings and where she guessed them to be. She seemed out of it for most of the ride her eyes distant as she thought back to events from her past and during her experimentation.
They got off the truck and Zack made everyone stay where they were as he went off to fight alone against Shinra Troops. He stands facing the army and he shakes his head, “Boy oh boy. The price of freedom is steep.” He then holds Angeal’s buster sword to his forward remembering the words Angeal had spoken to him. About always embracing his dreams and to never forget his honour as SOLDIER.
Running forward Zack fights against the Shinra Troops taking down a great deal of them before being taken down himself. As he lay there once the troop had left Zack noticed that it was raining and he found himself thinking of Aerith. The next thing Zack knew Lauren was beside him crying because there was no way she could heal all of the damage to his body.
“Ya’ll be my……living legacy. My dreams my memories……they’re yours now.” Zack whispered handing the buster sword to Samantha. She took it tears streaming down her face as she helped hold Cloud up. Cloud stared down at Zack his eyes pained even as Zack tells him to take good care of Samantha.
“No I won’t let you die Zack!!! You can’t do this to me you can’t leave me!!!!” Lauren cried. She was distraught she didn’t know what to do she couldn’t save him she didn’t have enough time to use the proper spell to heal him. Unable to do anything she leaned down and kissed Zack whispering, “I love you Zackie,” just before he died.
Both Lauren and Cloud threw their heads back releasing twin screams of agony. Samantha buried her face in Cloud’s chest trying to hide her tears while Lauren collapsed onto the ground. Even as her agony poured through her Lauren began to sing softly the words floating around the group as a calming act.
“Days go on forever but I have not left your side. We can chase the dark together, if you go then so will I. There is nothing left of you, I can see it in your eyes. Sing the anthem of the angels, and say the last goodbye. I keep holding onto you, but I can’t bring you back to life. Sing the anthem of the angels, and say the last goodbye.” Lauren sang her voice breaking on the last couple of words as she closed her eyes. She felt like she was never going to be able to breathe properly again it felt like her chest was being squeezed.
That was when she realized that Samantha now had her in a death grip. “That was really nice I bet he loved it,” Samantha said rubbing Lauren’s back. Lauren broke then and buried her face in Samantha’s chest as hard broken sobs wracked her body. She stayed in Samantha’s arms for several minutes before she pulled back to look at everyone.
“We should…..get going.” Cloud whispered looking very much like he didn’t want to. Lauren knew she was no different in fact she wanted to go join Zack now instead of living on.
“Yeah Cloud’s right we need to get to safety and Midgar really isn’t that far away so we can walk there.” Samantha said trying to get Lauren to her feet. She struggled and found that she was having no luck in getting her friend off the ground.
“Here I’ll get her you and Cloud lead the way,” Vincent said leaning down and scooping Lauren up into his arms. He held her carefully afraid to hurt her or upset her further his eyes kept flicking from in front of him to Lauren who lay in his arms as if she had no strength whatsoever.
Lauren had her face buried in Vincent’s chest after about a half hour of walking her hands fisted in his shirt. He kept whispering things to her but she couldn’t make out the words or the meanings behind them. He held her close to him as if to protect her from the dangers of the world though it was comforting in a way.
She felt empty right now like everything within her had just suddenly ceased to be able to feel anything. She felt as if her entire body had turned to ice almost as if her blood were itself frozen but able to move through her body. Her head ached from crying her eyes burned with more tears and her throat was sore from her sobs. Her heart though it felt as if it was being stabbed into by thousands of razor sharp pins she wished it would just all go away and stop.
“We’re here Lauren, we made it to Midgar.” Vincent said carefully setting her on the bed in their room in the inn. Samantha had booked two rooms seeing as it was just the two pairs left now that Zack had passed. Lauren forced her eyes open to look around her and she found that she still felt nothing and began to wonder how long it would be like this.
Vincent watched her closely almost afraid to move for fear that he might somehow hurt her further than she already was. “Vinnie……” Lauren mumbled her voice barely above a whisper. Her voice was basically gone she had used it up crying over Zack but Vincent still easily heard it.
“Yes Lauren?” Vincent replied moving to kneel in front of her. He carefully placed his hands on her knees looking up into her broken golden eyes.
“Hold me?” Lauren asked fighting back tears again. Vincent nodded his head quickly removing his gauntlet, gloves and boots pulling her boots off as well. He then lay down behind her wrapping her in his arms and she turned so that she was facing him and she buried her face in his chest again. As silent sobs shook her body Vincent rubbed her back soothingly trying to be as supportive as he could.
“I promise you now Lauren that I will always be here for you no matter what and whatever you need of me I will give for and to you. I love you Lauren and I’ll always be here,” Vincent whispered continuing to rub her back. He didn’t know what else to do but to tell her how he felt and to try and offer her whatever comfort he could.
Lauren gasped and pulled back to look into his eyes. “You…..love me…….” Lauren asked her voice a little stronger than before.
“Yes Lauren I love you and I want to help you right now but I don’t know what I can do!” Vincent said tears stinging at his eyes. He felt helpless and angry at his tears but it was killing him to see her like this looking so dead and broken.
“Vinnie…….you’re already doing so much just by being here with me instead of running away from me right now.” Lauren whispered cuddling into him. Slowly her lips found his neck while her hands began to undo his cloak and remove it from his body.
“Lauren are you sure about this?” Vincent asked biting back a groan as she found the sensitive spot on his neck.
“Vincent I need to know that you are really here and safe…….. Unless you don’t want to then I can stop.” Lauren replied starting to pull away and out of his arms her lips leaving his neck.
Vincent growled and pulled her tightly to him. “I don’t want you to stop Lauren I just wanted to make sure that you wanted this.” Vincent whispered pulling her top off over her head baring her to him except for what was hidden behind her bra.
“Vinnie I love you too,” Lauren whispered her teeth on his neck. Vincent groaned his hips rocking into hers at the feeling her action caused. Her hands swiftly removed his top before undoing his belts and pushing his pants down his hips. Vincent pulled at her pants sliding them down over her hips letting her kick them off.
Vincent pushed Lauren onto her back slamming into her smiling when she moaned loudly breaking the skin with her teeth. “Damnit woman….. You’ll be the death of me.” Vincent groaned before closing his eyes as he realized what he had said.
“Oh I most certainly will Vincent Valentine but after I’m done I’ll bring you right back to that height of passion again and again.” Lauren purred rolling up into him. Vincent groaned before starting a hard fast pace his own lips seeking Lauren’s throat.
Lauren gasped her hips bucking up into his so roughly that she knocked his rhythm off. Smirking he bit into her neck breaking the skin to which Lauren responded by half moaning half screaming his name as her hips began a faster and far harder pace. Vincent enjoyed this response so much that he began to drink from her delighting in the taste of her blood. Lauren’s nails ran down Vincent’s back leaving bleeding trails in their wake as she continued to buck into him fast and hard.
“Like that huh?” Vincent whispered his voice husky as he ran kisses down the side of her neck as he lifted her legs over his shoulders allowing him a different angle.
“Uhhh….. VINCENT!!!!!!!!!” Lauren cried as he hit a spot within her that had her seeing stars. Grinning Vincent kept hitting that spot over and over again delighting in the sounds that she made. “Oh god…….. You’re killing me baby…..” Lauren moaned out her eyes rolling back in her head slightly as she came screaming his name.
Samantha and Cloud heard Lauren’s scream but they stayed in their room figuring that the other couple was indisposed at that moment. “Sounds like he managed to get her out of her shellshock which is good I think. She had me worried there for a while,” Cloud said holding Samantha in his arms.
“Yeah but I’m still worried about her in the long run I mean Zack was a big part of our lives growing up it’s gonna be hard. But I am glad that she has Vincent otherwise I doubt she’d be breaking out of it even a little.” Samantha admitted cuddling closer to Cloud.
Running a hand along her thigh Cloud ran his nose along her neck, “May I Samantha?” he asked softly. He wanted her HAD wanted her badly for a long time and he prayed that she would return that desire. He had feared losing her when they had all been captured but now here she was in front of him and in his arms and he just couldn’t help himself.
“You actually want to? Do you think you’re up for it?” Samantha asked rolling around to face him. Her eyes held concern and want, Cloud felt himself harden at the desire he saw lurking in those brilliant orange eyes.
“Yes I actually want to Samantha and I know I’m UP for it,” Cloud whispered as he pressed himself against her showing her just how up for it he was.
“Then by all means go ahead Cloud, I’d love to see how you feel.” Samantha purred kissing him roughly. Her fingers slid to begin removing his top as she rolled her hips lightly into his eliciting a moan from the blonde.
Cloud wasted no time in pulling off her top and bra before sliding her pants down over her hips and tossing them to the floor. Once they were both naked Cloud gently pushed Samantha onto her back staring into her eyes as he slid inside of her. He paused when he reached her barrier and leaned down kissing her as he tore away her innocence. He felt guilty when she winced and whimpered for a minute before lapsing into silence.
“Cloud…..move,” Samantha whispered after a few minutes her eyes burning up into his. Nodding Cloud began a slow steady pace moving gently to make sure that she was completely adjusted to him being within her. He smiled when her moans began to grow louder and louder as he gradually began to pick up his pace.
“I love you Samantha Elizabeth Hewley,” Cloud murmured to her as he started going harder into her. He couldn’t believe that he was actually making love to Samantha, he had dreamed of the day when she would be old enough for him to ask out ever since he had first met her. And now here he was with her in his arms and in his bed, he had never felt so complete and whole in his life.
“I love you too Cloud Strife,” Samantha replied leaning up to kiss him. After a few minutes Samantha’s nails were digging into the skin of Cloud’s shoulders as she neared her orgasm. Driving into her harder Cloud pushed her over the edge with a few more thrusts. “CLOUD!!!!!!” She cried as she came with him following seconds after her name falling from his lips.
“That was amazing Samantha,” Cloud muttered breathing heavily while looking down into her eyes.
“I have to agree that was just absolutely amazing,” She said cuddling into him wrapping her arms around his waist.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and they both froze for a moment before Vincent’s voice came from the other side. “You two alright in there?” he asked. Obviously Lauren had sent him to make sure everything was ok after hearing Samantha’s scream.
“Yeah we’re fine Vincent don’t worry, sorry we were so loud.” Cloud said while Samantha giggled under him.
“Alright,” Vincent replied leaving and returning to the room he was in with Lauren.
“They okay?!” Lauren asked jumping up to run over to him.
Grinning Vincent nodded his head and locked the door. “They were having some personal time that’s all,” he said taking Lauren into his arms and holding her closely. Lauren nodded her head smiling softly although it didn’t reach her eyes.
She turned out of his arms and went to lie down and hopefully get some sleep but she doubted that she would. And if she did manage to fall asleep it would most likely be a rough and tormented sleep. Sighing softly Vincent went and lay behind her wrapping her in his arms before closing his own eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Lauren lay there all night drifting through memories of Zack and her childhood. She had never felt so cruel in all her life nor had she felt so alone. Even after her father disappeared and she was deemed an orphan she had not felt this alone. She felt like that only person in the world who had suffered this kind of painful loss, who felt like it would be easier to die than to live. But she had made a promise to Zack and she’d be damned if she would let him down again.
“I’ll make you proud of me Zackie…… Someday somehow I’ll make you proud,” Lauren whispered as a fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks for who knew what number of times that night. She just lay there crying and remembering her time with Zack and how happy she had been as a child with him around.
Vincent awoke early in the morning to the sound of Lauren crying and he instantly felt his heart give a painful squeeze. “Do you want to talk about it?” He asked softly carefully turning her to face him. She just shook her head before burying her face in his chest and crying hard heavy tears. It felt like his heart was being torn from his chest as he held her rubbing her back soothingly and whispering that it would be okay and he would always be there for her.
Vincent held her until her sobs died out and she had pulled back a little. “Thanks Vincent, I just need a few more good cries and I should be fine. You know that you don’t have to stay here Vincent you are more than free to leave at any time.” Lauren said moving to sit up her feet dangling over the edge of the bed.
“I am not going anywhere Lauren; I am quite comfortable where I am. But if what you are trying to do is get me to leave and give you some time alone I will do so.” Vincent said watching her closely.
“No I don’t want to be left alone I just thought that you would want to be free now. And I do not want to continue to be a burden to you or the others.” Lauren explained turning to look at him. Her heart still felt mostly empty but there was still love and happiness in it she would just have to find it now.
“You are not a burden to anyone Lauren least of all me, I do not mind holding you while you cry. Or listening to you talk about whatever might be bothering you. I want to be here to help you through everything that I can even if all I do is hold you safe in my arms and remind you that at least one person cares about what you’re going through.” Vincent said taking her hand carefully into his own.
“I’d like that Vincent, I’d like that a lot.” Lauren said smiling softly even though it barely touched her eyes.
“Don’t feel that you have to pretend to be happy around me I can understand that you feel miserable right now. I went through the same thing myself many years ago and I was miserable for quite a while actually. All until one day a bright and caring woman gave me what I needed to finally begin to move on with my life. To never forget the past but to always remember it and to use it to help me move ahead and make me stronger.” Vincent said staring into her golden eyes his own accepting and understanding.
“I just hide things that upset me it’s what I’ve always done Vincent, it is how I have managed to survive for as long as I have even before I became an experiment.” Lauren said trying to help him better understand her.
“You’ve helped me to become more open why not let me try to help you with your problems?” Vincent asked watching her closely. He truly loved her and he worried for her happiness and safety. All he wanted was to help her smile again and have it reach her eyes.
“Alright I’ll let you try but I make no promises on it actually working Vincent,” Lauren said moving to stand in his arms. He held her close to him smiling softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist holding him dearly to her.
“That is all that I can ask for right now is that you allow me to try and help you.” Vincent said hiding his face in her hair. It wasn’t fair that she should feel and smell this good but at the moment he didn’t care he was just glad to have her in his arms. To be able to feel something again when for so long he had felt nothing.
“Cloud you awake?” Samantha asked quietly still curled on her side. She had actually slept very peacefully but now she was awake and feeling lonely and in need of comfort.
“Yeah I’m awake Samantha what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Cloud asked pressing his body up against hers. He wrapped his arms around her kissing her neck gently sighing when she reached behind her and grabbed him.
“Don’t start something that you are not willing to finish Cloud,” Samantha said turning to face him her hand still in his crotch.
“Oh I am very willing to finish this Samantha, but only if you want to.” Cloud whispered looking down into her eyes.
Samantha didn’t say anything she just pressed her lips to his sliding her body until it rested against him. She rocked her hips into him lightly at first going harder as she began to feel herself warming up in her core. Cloud began to pull her sleep wear down over her hips sliding it off onto the floor before standing and shedding his own clothes. He slipped back under the covers and on top of Samantha slowly sliding inside of her as she moaned loudly.
“I love you Samantha and I’ll always be here for you if you need anything just remember that okay?” Cloud whispered as he picked up his pace a little bit.
“I know Cloud but right now this is what I want, you filling me and helping me to get use to the void his death is leaving behind.” Samantha moaned under him her fingers digging into his back the nails breaking the skin.
“Mmmm…….. Samantha I’ll do whatever I can to help you but damnit woman you’re driving me insane right now.” Cloud growled driving harder into her.
“Well trust me Cloud Strife the feeling is mutual. I feel like I’m going to come undone at the seams and yet I also feel whole in a way I haven’t in a very long time.” Samantha moaned rocking up to meet him thrust for thrust.
Cloud groaned and went harder into her the bed frame banging into the wall as he also picked up speed. He couldn’t take it slow no he had to have her fast and hard to feel her surround him tightly and to taste her on his lips. He leaned down and kissed her deeply before cumming hard with her following seconds afterward.
“Oh my god Cloud, that was fucking amazing.” Samantha said trying to catch her breath again. She smiled up at Cloud nuzzling his chest with her nose before wrapping her arms around him and sliding back to sleep for a little while.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Lauren poked her head in. “We need to get a move on we’re heading for AVALANCHE unless you two don’t want to come then that’s fine.” Lauren said her voice just barely holding any emotion.
“We’ll be ready in about 15 minutes if that’s okay?” Samantha asked watching Lauren’s face closely searching for any sign of life in it but barely finding any. She was still pretty much the same as she had been since Zack’s death.
“Sure that works for me, when you’re ready come down to my room and we’ll depart.” Lauren said closing the door and heading back down to her room.
“I was really hoping that she would show at least a little change for the positive but it’s almost as if she is shutting down and shutting out even more. I’m worried about her Cloud,” Samantha said getting dressed. Her face was tight with concern and fear for her best friend, she had never seen Lauren looking as down as she did at that moment.
“Give her time Samantha; remember she had been really close with Zack since she was little. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it takes several weeks or even a couple of months for her to recover from this. In the meantime we will all just have to be supportive and try to be available for if she does want to open up and talk about stuff.” Cloud said throwing back on his SOLDIER uniform.
“Sometimes I really have to wonder if you are even a natural blonde because some of the stuff you say is really meaningful and intelligent.” Samantha teased kissing him softly now that she was ready.
“Yes I’m a natural blonde but I am not stupid Samantha and I remember how Lauren use to cling and hang all over Zack when he and I would come to visit the two of you. She would always give him the biggest smile and she spent almost the entire visit in his arms.” Cloud said smiling at the memories that now flooded his mind.
“Yeah that’s true she was always really close to him, I guess I’m just worried because she has always been such a bright person without even trying. It hurts to see her looking so down and out of it, to see her looking so gloomy and sad,” Samantha said sighing as they headed for Lauren’s room.
“Good you both are ready to go, let’s head out.” Lauren said going to leave the inn.
Samantha grabbed her hand and pulled Lauren to the back of the group, “I know that you’re really hurting right now and I get that. Just know that I’m here for you when you feel like talking about anything.”
Lauren nodded and gave Samantha a thankful smile that reached her eyes though it didn’t last long. “Thanks Sammy, I’m just trying to make sense of things right now but when I’m ready to talk I’ll come and find you.” Lauren said her voice holding just a little emotion.
She may be trying but it was clear to see that she was still badly broken inside. It was going to take a long time for her to heal but at least she was trying. Vincent took her hand smiling softly when she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. They headed out for the AVALANCHE headquarters arriving just after nightfall.
“What you want?” A big black man asked eyeing Lauren closely as she stepped forward.
“Barrett Wallace you really need to find a better way to say hello to people,” Lauren said her eyes hard.
“You’re the lady I talked to on the phone?” Barrett asked.
Lauren nodded her eyes taking him in looking for a threat and finding none. “We are here to help you to save this planet and to fight Shinra.” Lauren growled out the last word her eyes flashing red for a moment.
Barrett sighed, “You’ve been through hell at their hands I understand your anger at them. Let’s get you 4 rooms and something to eat shall we?” He led them down some halls into the center of the building.
Samantha watched Lauren she had seen the utter hatred in her eyes when she said Shinra, so there was still life within her it was just buried under her agony right now. Samantha sighed feeling much more at ease then she had since Zack’s death and Lauren’s breakdown.
“Alright so Lauren you and your sister can take this room boys you’re in the room beside this one. If ya’ll want to you can make changes to the lodgings I don’t care, we’ll see ya’ll in the morning.” Barrett said turning and leaving.
“Sam you and Cloud can take this room Vincent and I will take the other one.” Lauren said turning to walk down the hall.
“Alright if you say so, see you in the morning,” Samantha said watching sadly as Lauren walked into the other room. Though she smiled after when she saw Lauren lean out and grab the front of Vincent’s shirt pulling him into the room her eyes alight with desire. Maybe she wasn’t as dead inside as everyone thought.
Vincent sighed as Lauren locked the door and began to undress him. “Vincent I’m sorry but I can’t wait any longer I want and need you now,” Lauren stated as she now began to remove her own clothing.
“I don’t mind in the least Lauren, in fact I am looking quite forward to this.” Vincent said hardening further at the sight of her totally naked body. He found that he couldn’t help himself she was just so beautiful and the fact that she accepted him even though he was a monster just made him want her even more.
“I can see that Vincent, you look extremely happy to see me.” Lauren purred rubbing her hand against him before grabbing him and leading him over to the bed by his penis.
Vincent groaned and the second she hit the mattress Vincent fell on top of her and slammed into her. He smiled when she moaned loudly arching up to meet him her nails digging into his back. God how he loved this woman beneath him, he had never felt so complete so whole in all his life.
“Mmmmm Vincent that feels so good,” Lauren moaned as he began to nibble on her neck while going harder and faster. She moaned again this time bucking up to meet him thrust for thrust her own lips finding his neck.
“Really now that is good to know my lovely,” Vincent whispered groaning when she bit him. She grinned and bit into his neck harder actually breaking the skin which brought a loud groan from deep in his chest.
Lauren loved being able to make him respond like that the way it made her feel powerful. She was slowly beginning to see that yes she could be happy again even after all that had happened in her life. Losing Zack had shown her just how strong she really was inside and how precious life truly was.
“I love you Lauren Elizabeth Rhapsodos and don’t you ever forget it.” Vincent said pounding into her a few more times before cumming.
“I love you too Vincent Valentine,” Lauren said following him. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him holding him close. “I’m gonna try to start moving forward remembering my past but not letting it hold me back anymore.” Lauren said looking into his eyes.
Vincent nodded smiling softly as he kissed her and they curled up falling asleep in each other’s arms. They both had found reasons to live again and with each other by their side they would be able to face any obstacle.
Cloud sighed as he sat down on the bed in the room he and Samantha would be sharing. His head was killing him apparently the Mako-Addiction wasn’t totally gone yet. However he was just glad to be alive right now and to have Samantha in his heart. She made him feel like things would be alright in the end.
“Hey Cloud, do you think that he’s watching over us now?” Samantha asked looking out of the window.
“Yeah I think he is and he’s probably giving us all hell for letting Lauren slip as far away as she has.” Cloud said smiling softly. He could almost hear Zack giving them all shit over it.
“Oh probably would right after he teased all of us. He really was a great guy,” Samantha said turning to face Cloud a soft smile on her face.
“Yeah he was but you know what he died to protect two great women.” Cloud said smiling when she sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. He knew that Samantha was reaching out to him in her own way right now and he was responding to that.
“You are able to see past my walls and tell exactly how I’m really feeling. It makes me feel safe and happy Cloud.” Samantha said closing her eyes against a fresh wave of tears.
Cloud took her into his arms and rocked her gently as he rubbed her back. “You’ve always been someone that I wanted to help and protect, now I’m just finally being able to do something.” Cloud whispered his throat dry as he fought back his own tears.
Samantha buried her face in his chest her arms wrapping around his neck as she sobbed feeling all the sadness pouring out of her one drop at a time. She was worried over Lauren she missed Zack and she was afraid because she didn’t know what was going to happen in her life now. She felt so insecure and alone but then she remembered that she had Cloud so she wasn’t all that alone.
“Shhh…… Let it all out Samantha, let all your hurt and sadness pour out of you,” Cloud said rubbing her back still. He held her letting his own pain wash over him letting his own tears fall, he wasn’t ashamed to cry in front of Samantha.
“Cloud, why are you crying?” Samantha asked having felt a tear hit her cheek from his face.
“I’m letting my own pain and sadness go. I just lost my best friend I’m worried as hell about Lauren and I have no idea what I’m going to do with my life or how I can help you to be happy again.” Cloud answered honestly. Samantha turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck again.
“I’ll be happy again one day because I know that I am loved by you and because I know that somehow we will figure out what we are going to do with our lives together. We’ll do it all one step at a time,” Samantha said her voice strong even as she cried.
Cloud held her tightly to him and the pair cried together until they fell lightly onto their backs asleep and drained of tears for the moment. They lay together their arms around one another all night awaking early in the morning. “Hey you okay Cloud?” Samantha asked sitting up slowly.
Cloud nodded as he stood looking out of the window his hands in his pockets. Samantha walked over to stand beside him wrapping her arms around him. He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her lowering his head and kissing her softly. Samantha smiled into the kiss and pressed herself against him groaning when he grabbed her ass and pulled her tighter to him.
They fell to the floor Samantha on top of Cloud as she began to remove his pants as he was topless already. Cloud tore at her top removing it before she stood and slipped her pants down over her hips. She lay back down on top of Cloud kissing him deeply as she slowly slid him inside of her. Cloud groaned at the feeling of her taking him inside as she began to run her fingers down his chest.
Once he was completely inside of her Samantha placed her hand on his chest and lifted herself off of him allowing him to slip almost completely from her before slamming back down on him. She started a hard fast pace Cloud meeting her each time she came down on him his hands on her hips helping her move. He couldn’t hold in the moans of her name that were now freely falling from his lips as he bucked up into her roughly.
“Oh god Cloud,” Samantha moaned as she came milking him for all that he was worth. Cloud growled following her seconds after rolling her under him as he rode out his orgasm. He couldn’t believe the way that she made him feel.
“Samantha…. Damn you woman I feel like I’m dying in the most pleasurable way possible. It’s all your fault that I feel like locking that damned door for a week and keeping you in bed the entire time.” Cloud growled kissing her roughly.
“Well I have no problem admitting that I make you feel like that, because I plan to make you feel like that for a long time to come.” Samantha purred rocking up into him.
Cloud growled and began to pound into her his lips sliding along her neck. He lifted her legs up over his shoulders getting a different angle which had her screaming his name. Samantha’s eyes burned up into his full of passion and love. Cloud smiled kissing her deeply as he drove them both to the heights of passion.
“Oh god Cloud……..” Samantha moaned cumming with him following seconds afterwards.
They lay on the floor together both breathing heavily with their arms around each other. The both let everything wash over them realizing that their lives would be lived out together what happened during that time mattered little so long as they were together. They would be by each other’s side helping the other through whatever they needed help getting through.
Lauren lay in her bed smiling as Vincent slowly slid along her body settling his face between her legs. “This is going to be most enjoyable, you taste like heaven.” Vincent said taking a little lick.
Lauren moaned pressing herself more firmly against his mouth. “Vincent……” Lauren gasped out as he slid his tongue inside of her. He smiled nibbling lightly on her as she moaned loudly in pleasure. He loved hearing those sounds tear from her throat and tumble off her lips.
“You taste so good my lovely one,” He muttered against her sliding his tongue back inside of her. He groaned when she came a few seconds later but he swallowed all of it licking her clean.
“Vinnie come here,” Lauren purred swaying her hips a little. Vincent groaned and crawled back up her body kissing her softly. Lauren grinned and rolled them over so that she was on top before impaling herself on Vincent. “My turn to be in control my darling,” Lauren purred rocking against him.
“Damnit woman you never play fair do you?” Vincent groaned his crimson eyes burning into her golden ones with lustful desire.
“Not when it comes to you Vincent, I mean if I played fair then this would never have happened now would it?” Lauren countered grinning as she rolled her hips in a circle against him.
Vincent growled in pleasure as she continued to roll around on him before she began to ride him again. He felt himself grow harder at the sight of her riding up and down upon him. Her long black hair whipping about them both falling like a silky curtain around them her golden eyes burning brightly and her pale white as freshly fallen snow skin seemed almost to glow. She looked like a goddess that he had been given the gift of having as his that was the only way he could describe her.
“I’ve no idea what I did to deserve a woman as beautiful and perfect as you but I am eternally grateful for being given you.” Vincent said his eyes shining brightly with many emotions the greatest of which was love.
“Oh Vincent…..” Lauren sighed leaning down capturing his lips in a soft yet passionate kiss her movements on him becoming gentle. Like it was their first time all over again she gently made love to him delighting in the sounds he made as she did so. Tomorrow could wait for as long as it wanted because for them right now this very moment was all that existed.
When Vincent came a few minutes later Lauren followed him her teeth sinking into his neck and drawing blood. She whispered a string of apologies which Vincent blew away quickly when he returned the favour and broke the skin of her neck. Moaning she rocked into him again and he took charge rolling her under him and making love to her while tasting her blood.
True soon they would all have to get ready to go and fight against Shinra and the evils they unleashed upon the planet. Lauren knew firsthand how horrible some of those terrors could be, for she had been made to be one. Thankfully her pure and innocent heart had allowed for her to deny the nature that she should have had after her experimentation.
She knew that the first mission they were running with AVALANCHE was to plant a bomb and explode the mako reactor in Sector 3. Lauren was ready for it she was great with technology and she was eager to repay Shinra for the hell they had bestowed upon her. They all got dressed and met with the group before getting onto the Shinra Express train heading on their way down towards Sector 3.
Barrett kept questioning Lauren trying to understand them and their reasons for helping AVALANCHE. Lauren answered his questions with short and simple answers her demeanor appeared to be cold and disinterested but Samantha knew that Lauren just couldn’t shake the fact that Zack should be with them right now. Lauren was so lost in her pain still but at least it appeared that the life was starting to return to her eyes.
“Alright everybody off let’s get this show on the road!” Barrett called to the group as they all ran off the train and in the direction of the mako reactor.
Lauren, Samantha, Cloud and Vincent all followed being careful to avoid detection though they fought when they had to. Lauren led the way for them easily killing the enemies around her letting Jessie get them through the gates and doors. Barrett wanted Cloud to place the bomb on the reactor which he did with Lauren’s help. They turned and ran then because they only had 10 minutes to get away before the bomb would blow them all up.
They got out just in time for the reactor to explode and Lauren smiled, one down some many more to go. She was finally able to feel pleased that she was avenging Zack’s death and her experimentation. It was almost as if everyone could feel the change in attitude and mood, she seemed less withdrawn and a small smile played at her lips.
“Hey Spiky she always like this?” Barrett asked nodding towards Lauren.
“Dunno this is the first time I’ve seen her like this since we lost one of our comrades, he died. No he didn’t die he was murdered and none of us could save him.” Cloud replied his tone serious.
“Well she seems like a person that you don’t want to piss off, glad she’s on our side in all this. So what happened to ya’ll?” Barrett asked curious about his new team members.
“Long story buddy and not a pleasant one either, we went from being the size of our age to having our ages sped up and our bodies grown. Well at least Lauren and I had that happen to us and Cloud was forced into the Mako-tanks too. As for Vincent I don’t know his story he’s pretty quiet and reserved.” Sam replied her voice slightly sad.

“Well I tell ya she seems like a real good egg, strong; dependable; loyal. Sure she may be quiet and kind of standoffish seeming but she so far has proven to be a trustworthy comrade.” Barrett said getting back onto the train to head back to the base for the night.
Lauren got on and sat down not saying a thing to anyone not even Vincent or Samantha. Instead she sat thinking about everything and worrying about the future, she had a feeling that she was pregnant or going to be soon if she wasn’t already. She wondered what Vincent would think about her being pregnant and she worried that he would leave her if she was. She had been feeling weird all day so far and she had a massive headache which she never got ever.
Vincent watched her from the corner of his eye, he had noticed that she seemed somehow distant in a way that she hadn’t been to him yet. He prayed that she was okay and that this wasn’t a sign that she was slipping into a psychotic breakdown. She looked like she had something on her mind that was bugging her greatly, he just prayed that it wasn’t too hard for her to deal with whatever it was.
Samantha was also eyeing Lauren something was gnawing at her gut, but she had a feeling that it was more than just her worry over Lauren. Samantha was a couple days late for her period and she was never late. At least according to the reports she had never been late since her body had become that of a mature adult woman.
Lauren and Samantha had both grown pale by the time they got off the train and they both ran for garbage cans to be sick. That solidified it in their minds they were pregnant neither of them had been ones to get sick like this without having the flu or another illness. Cloud was at Sam’s side holding her hair back for her and Vincent was doing the same thing for Lauren.
“Samantha, are you okay? What’s wrong?” Cloud asked clearly worried about her. He feared that maybe her body was shutting down that maybe the experiments had failed somehow and that she was going to die on him and the thought terrified him.
“Yeah I’m fine Cloud don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere on you I promise it.” Samantha said turning and kissing him softly. He kissed her back just as sweetly before picking her up bridal style and heading for the AVALANCHE building where they were staying.
Vincent helped Lauren to the building watching her closely worried about her being sick but he saw something lighting up in her eyes, something like hope. Samantha sighed and lay back into the pillows on the bed as Cloud lay her out gently.
“What’s going on Samantha, are you going to be okay?” Cloud asked, he was really worried about Samantha.
- 1
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Children of Heroes