One Year later…….

    I had found a nice place to stay. The man’s name was Barret. His wife had just past away not long ago. He was friends with a man named Dyne. He was a nice guy. His wife died while giving birth to their daughter Marlean. I stayed at home while they worked in the coal mines. They found me not long after I excaped from Neiblhem. I picked an area where I was needed, no one knew who I was and the last place I’d think Shinra would go to try to look for me. Or Sephiroth for that matter. He still haunted my dreams almost every night. Every waking minute was me looking behind me to see if he was there. I would hear reports about what was going on. Cloud had made first class helping out around Midgar. Tifa was now with Cloud and she helped build and run a bar I saw on the news a few days ago. Zack was always with Sephiroth and so was Cloud. They always looked to be doing their missions while looking around making sure they left no rock un turned.
    One day, however Barret came home pissed as ever, with Dyne who always was able to keep his temper. I looked up from the couch still giving Marlean her bottle. Barret punched the wall like he always did. He came around the corner as Dyne came over to take the baby from me.
    “Thank you, dear.” I chuckled at him. He always called me something different during the day. I knew it was just playful teasing.
    “Whats wrong, Barret?”
    “We just got news that Shinra is sending the Turks out to investgate for a possible reactor here.”
    “Are you seriuse?” I asked trying not to sounds scard at the sound of them trying to come here. If it was just the Turks I had nothing to worry about… right? He slimped down next to me causing the couch to shift under his masive weight. “Its just the Turks?” He nodded then looked down at me.
    “What do you have to worry about?”
    “Don’t be so mean, Barret. She might not have lived here her whole life but she is part of our family.”
    “That’s not what I meant.” He turned and looked at me his brown eyes curiuse now. “Every night you have to watch the news. Every time Sephiroth come on the screen you seem to tense up? Whats that all about? Got a love interest in the guy?” I blushed as Dyne nodged Barret, his face turned red. “You know, maybe you should marry Dyne here.” I looked up at the blue eyes that looked back down at me. We both laughed at the same time. He laughed a little nervously as I laughed jokingly.
    “Barret come on. I’m not intersted in marrying anyone.”
    “Then why do you act that way when you watch the news?” I shrugged.
    “I guess a lot of girls think hes the most attractive being on earth. So, when are the Turks coming and wont that effect your mining?”
    “Yeah but they are willing to pay us double for working the reactor.” Dyne said laying Marlean in a basenet.
    “We don’t need no double pay!” Barret said really not looking as if he wanted that kind of a change. “We are strong capable men. We don’t need Shinra.”
    “Lets just hear them out, ehh.”
    “Alright.” Barret sighed. “I’m showering first this time, Dyne.”  He laughed as Barret disappeared in the bathroom closing the door behind him. Dyne sat next to me turning on the tv.
    “So… for real… why do you want to watch the news all the time?”
    “I just like to know where they are going at the moment.”
    “Are you hiding?” As he said that the news went to a scean where the Turks were getting on a helocopter. I watched as the black haired guy, red head and boldy got on. My guess was Sephiroth was somewhere else at the moment doing whatever. That was good for me. I didn’t want him coming here. I didn’t want to have to leave these guys with a baby. Even though Dyne and Barret could handle it themselves. They’ve told me so so many times.
    “Remember the burning of Neiblhem?” He nodded. “I was there. I met Sephiroth. I’ve met Cloud and Zack but… I had a secret I didn’t want them to know so I didn’t really push to meet them. But it happened. My secret was found out and I excaped.”
    “What is it?”
    “If I tell you… please don’t tell anyone else.” He nodded looking around for  anyone else.
    “I am a Cetra, pure blood.” It took him a moment. Then he nodded his head.
    “I can see why you ran away. Sephiroth is a loyal Shinra there since birth so yeah.. I can see why.” He swung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me to him. “Its ok, sweet heart. Your secret is safe with me.” I nodded lightly.
    “I am going to go for a walk. If Shinra shows up tonight where are they going to stay?”
    “At the Inn. Gladis knows they are on their way.” I nodded and stood. I didn’t want to look at the tv screen anymore as I walked out the house to take a short walk around town. I was wearing a simple dress. Nothing revealing like I was a year ago. It was just above knee long, brown and short sleeved. Very simple in deed. I heard the helocopter over head but it had to have landed somewhere else. I stopped at a corner of a house and leaned against the building there. I saw the Turks… and Cloud. I hid a little more behind the building but still watched. He was wearing the same outfit Zack had worn. His blue eyes sparkle with the mako energy of Soldier. He looked around as the Turks disappeared in the Inn. He waited for a moment then went in after them. I hurried home so he wouldn’t see me. I went in as calm as I could. Barret was on the couch watching a comedy on TV as Dyne was in the shower. I stood behind Barret.
    “Dinners in the oven already made.” He nodded. “Turks arrived.” He swore. I went into my bedroom and closed the door. I looked out. Just like home my window over looked the Inn. I watched it for a moment as the lights in the bedrooms went out. I went to my bed and laid down hoping that nothing was going to happen tomorro.

    I woke like always before dawn. I got up smelling breakfast already and people in the kitchen. Not thinking anything of it, I put another same dezine dress on expect for the color was red and went to the kitchen. The rurks were at the table, coffee made, drinking. Dyne was there feeding Marlean already. My eyes met the mako ones of Cloud as he was standing by the window his hands behind his back. He went to come to me but then thought better of it in mid move.
    “Airyanna, come sit down.” Feeling all nerves I sat next to Dyne and took the baby. I held her in my arms feeding the baby. “This is Tseng, Reno, and Rude. The 1st class soldier is Cloud Strife. This is Airyanna, we found her in the mines one day. She’s been staying with us taking care of Dynes girl and the house.” Tseng knodded looking me over.
    “Its nice to have someone at home isnt it?” The guys nodded. “Well, with everything said, lets go look at these mako springs.” The Turks stood as I could feel Cloud’s eyes on me as they left. Dyne rubbed my shoulders as they left the room. Cloud lingered for a moment but then followed. I got up and went into the baby room. I cleaned and dressed her. She always went back to sleep after eating breakfast so that gave me atleast three hours to clean up and figure out what I was going to do.

    Four hours have gone by and the guys hadnt made it back yet. I was rocking Marlean in my arms back and forth after her lunch. Her brown eyes looking at me as she mimiced my actions. I giggled at her, laid the blanket on the floor with the pillow barryers around the blanket as she turned on her belly and tried to crawl. There was a knock on the door. I figured it might have been one of the neibers asking how the meeting between the guys and  the turks went. I opened the door as the clear blue eyes looked down at me, black trench reaching his anckles, platinum hair just as straight as ever getting into his eyes like always. My heart leapt to my throat as he stood there. Eyes becoming cloudy as he saw me.
    “Sephiroth?” I breathed out not beleiveing it was him.
    “Yes, its me. May I come in. We need to talk.” I swollowed and moved from the door letting him in. He stood in the hallway watching me close the door. I walked past him and went to the livingroom where Marlean was. He followed but did not sit down when I sat on the couch. “Made yourelf a home?”
    “I-I guess you can call it that. Dyne’s wife died when Marlean was born about the same time they found me so… I agreed to care for the baby.” He nodded looking down at the on all fours baby trying to crawl.
    “That’s very like you.” I looked up at him as all he was doing was watching me.
    “You wouldn’t know anything about me.” I said low.
    “Only that your too sweet to let an infant go un cared for. Two guys need a house maid, you need a place to hide, good circumstances. Do they know who you are?”
    “Only Dyne.”
    “That’s dangerous.”
    “Not as dangerous as you knowing.” He was about to say something when there was a hudge explotion outside. It knocked Sephiroth against the wall, me against the couch more. I gasped and looked down for Marlean. She seemed to be safe where she was.
    “What the hell was that?” Sephiroth said surprised about the explosion. He went over and opened the door as I picked up Marlean. “Damn it!” He exclaimed. He came over and grasped my wrist. “Apparently Genisis didn’t know until now where you were either. Lets go!” He dragged me from the house. I gasped at the sight in front of me. Flames burst from everywhere. The town was now engolfed in fire balls, monsters and Genisis copies. “Run up to the mako spring. Cloud’s there. He’ll protect you.” I nodded holding the baby to me as I ran that way as Sephiroth delt with the mosnters. I climbed up and stopped at the platform to over look the town. It wasn’t good. Everything was getting burnt to the ground.
    “Airyanna!” I turned to see Barret, Dyne, the turks and Cloud come over. “What happened?” Dyne asked coming over. “Are you hurt? Is Marlean ok?”
    “Yes we are fine. Genisis…”
    “Finally found what he wanted.” Dyne turned around too late. He was pushed over the edge of the cliff by one of the copies.
    “Dyne!” Both me and Barret called. Cloud stepped in front of me as the Turks surounded Genisis from behind. Barret looked over the edge of the cliff. My guess was he was no where in site cause Barret stood, took a deep breath and and turned to the group. I turned to Barret as the tears started on his face.
    “Take Marlean. Genesis wants me. Go with Cloud to Midgar. Stay with Tifa she can help you.”
    “That girl that owns the bar?”
    “Yeah, shes an old friend of mine and Cloud’s. I’m sure Cloud will explain when you get on the helocopter.” He knodded and wrapped his arm around me huggning me, then taking Marlean as Cloud was egging Genesis. I noticed Sephiroth come running up the path from the burning villiage. “We’ll see eachother again. I promise.” Cloud was now in a sword fight with Genesis as I turned. Tseng looked from my empty arm to Barrets bundled one.
    “Rude, Reno. Take Barret and the baby to the chopper. Where are you going!?” He exclaimed as I climbed down the cliff path away from them and towards the mako fountains.
    “Away!” I exclaimed and went to run. Genesis didn’t skip a beat as he saw me run in that direction. He acted fast knocking Cloud to the ground but Sephiroth was faster and sliced at him with his sword. Genesis backed up against a rock. I watched for a moment as words were exchanged between them. Sephiroth’s blue eyes met mine before I disapeared down the path.