The woman with the long red curls smiled down at her swollen abdomen, caressing it with her hands just as there was a vicious kick. "Vincent. One of them is kicking again. Hurry."

Vincent Valentine, husband and soon-to-be father of twins, hurried to his wife and knelt down to spread his hands wide across her belly. There was another kick, and he smiled up at her. "This one will be strong."

"Or just stubborn," Natalie Valentine laughed down at him as he kissed her belly. "I can't wait to find out."

"You promised not to deliver until after the reactor was activated. Remember?"

Natalie's eyes twinkled with a mischievous smile as she once again began stirring the stew that bubbled a contented rhythm on the stove. "I know, but when they want out there'll be little I can say about it." Vincent massaged her shoulders. Natalie moaned as she closed her eyes. "I'll give you about a hundred years to stop that," she told him.

Vincent chuckled and pulled her closer against him, his hands lightly caressing her bulging middle. "Have you ever been to Midgar?"

"Not since high school. I didn't like it. Not enough history." Natalie sighed and pulled away to turn off the heat of the stove. "It'll be interesting to see what Barret and the others have accomplished. Cid said that the geothermal reactors are his latest feat of genius."

"Genius that he wouldn't have thought of without your help on the design."

Natalie chuckled. "I don't mind." She turned to hand him the bowls and silverware. Then she caressed his cheek. "I have all I need right here."

Vincent's eyes twinkled with his smile as he brought her palm to his lips. Then, he turned toward the table and set out the bowls and silverware before turning to the cupboard for the glasses. "Can you believe it's been nearly two years?"

"No. No, I can't. It seems like just yesterday. Yet here I am, married, owner and dean of the Valentine School for Gifted Children - formerly known as Shinra Mansion - doing research on the further rehabilitation of the planet in the basement laboratory that housed so many evil research projects before, and about to give birth to twins." Natalie released a deep breath as she handed Vincent the hot pads to move the stew from the stove to the hot plate on the table. "Life couldn't get better."

"It will if they're both boys."

Natalie laughed as she sat in the chair he'd pulled out for her. "You and your fetish for an all boy family."

Vincent nibbled on her neck once he pulled her hair back from her face. "I don't wish you to be jealous of a daughter quite yet."

Natalie reached behind to caress his cheek. "Come on, Vincent. Eat your stew. We've got to leave early in the morning if we're going to make Midgar before dark."

"Vincent! Natalie! You made it!"

The couple turned toward the voice to see Red bounding toward them.

Natalie smiled with a wave. "Hello, Red. It's been a while." Red rubbed himself against her legs with a very loud purr. Then he sat, wrapping his tail around his forepaws as usual. "Thank you so much for speaking last month," Natalie told him. "The children had so much fun listening to your stories. And the pictures were a spectacular touch."

Red's expression showed embarrassment. "It was my pleasure. I hope you ask me to speak again."

"Oh, I will. Most definitely."

Red looked to Vincent and smiled. "Marriage has agreed with you, Vincent. Fatherhood will too, I suspect."

Vincent squeezed Natalie's hand. "I have no doubt."

"How are the twins?"

"Exuberant," Natalie laughed.

"Eager to be out, more than likely." Red stood and gestured for them to follow. "I'll give you a tour."

Natalie's grip on Vincent's hand tightened, and she sent him a radiant smile. "I can hardly wait to see the geothermal reactor! To see how Cid finally decided to set it up. He had a lot of great ideas, but the conversion rate on a couple of them wouldn't maximize the energy output. I really hope he chose the one that did the best all the way around. Imagine how many settlements can utilize the power that's under this huge city if it's converted to its maximum capacity!"

Vincent's lips were tickled with a smile as he watched her animated expressions and the light that danced in her eyes. "I doubt that was to be Red's first stop, Professor."

"On the contrary," Red put in with a smile toward the couple. "I knew Professor Long would be the most interested in Cid's project, especially since she had a great hand in its final design."

Natalie looked at Red in surprise. "Pardon?"

"Cid was very clear on the matter of who should receive the credit for the reactor."

Natalie flushed as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "My goodness. I don't know what to say."

"I'm sure something will come to you when we meet Cid and the others at the reactor. They're planning the possibility of synchronizing a second and third."

"My goodness gracious!"

"They're hoping you will be convinced to stay and help," Red added.

"Of course I'll stay. It's a good thing I brought my bag..." Natalie's voice drifted as her mind began to process and envision the answers to the challenge posed.

Vincent smiled over at her. Her bright green eyes took in each aspect of the scenery as they made their way through Midgar: its importance to the city's smooth operation, its role in the city's history, and the indeterminate amount of possibilities into making it run better. That was how her mind worked. It planned. It organized. It envisioned. It created. It never ceased to amaze him. A slight flush rose to her cheeks, sparkling in her eyes and clearly telling of her excitement at discovering the feasibility of the possibilities she'd already envisioned. It also told of her eagerness at the opportunity of discussing her ideas with Cid.

Natalie's brilliance enraptured Vincent.

"As you can see," Red was telling her, "Barret and I decided the best way to encourage growth was to tear down the walls. We didn't like the idea of 'sectors' making the people feel as if they were separated from one another. We wanted to encourage a feeling of community."

"Of course!" Natalie exclaimed. "It makes perfect sense. What did you do about the original names of the initial settlements? Are you going to give the people the opportunity of reinstating those?"

"Undoubtedly," Red said with a nod. "The name 'Midgar' has so many bad memories of oppression that Barret and I are almost positive the people will choose the original names. It will be an opportunity to invite back the previous times of peace. An opportunity to come full circle and embrace simpler times."

Natalie enthusiastically nodded, and then she turned to Vincent with bright eyes. Her cheeks were still flushed in her excitement. "Vincent, I think I should look into the possibility of starting an Academy here as well. Don't you think?"

Vincent gazed down at her in adoration and nodded. "I do."

She smiled up at him before refocusing her attention on Red as they continued to discuss the rebirth of Midgar and the possibilities said rebirth meant for not only the people, but also the children not yet born. Vincent watched the life expressed in her eyes as well as in her expression and felt the warmth in his soul blossom yet again.

The days after his rebirth had been quick and painless. Natalie had never left his side. She'd been determined to monitor his every bodily function until she'd been certain the danger had passed. Then, exactly two weeks after her initial 'experimental cure' had first begun, they had been married.

Vincent still remembered the night before the ceremony. Remembered it as clearly as if it had happened the previous night. He and Natalie had decided to stay apart that day. Many reasons had led up to the decision, the most prominent being their common desire to experience anticipation at the sight of one another at the wedding ceremony. Natalie had used the day to contact her family and repair bridges long since thought forever lost. Vincent, however, had used the time to instigate a closure he had never before felt.

With Lucrecia.

Quite early in the morning of their voluntary separation, Vincent had made his way from Cloud's house to the basement crypt. He'd seemed to stare at the black sarcophagus for hours, wondering at the sanity of his decision to be there in order to remember and relive his memories of a past love. Thoughts of Lucrecia wouldn't leave him in peace, though. He knew that in order to have the life he wanted with Natalie, he had to put them to rest. He had to bury them with the creation of Hojo.

Regret had passed with their release, and his mind had finally been free of its last torment. His heart had been released of its final doubt. And his soul had been free to love the woman that had sacrificed everything for his freedom.

Vincent caressed a wispy curl from her temple now, placing a kiss there. "I love you," he whispered.

Natalie turned toward him with a smile to fondly stroke his cheek. Red moved on ahead. "I know."

Vincent's eyes twinkled with a smile, tenderly twirling the wedding band on her finger. "Will you marry me?"

Natalie moved closer, taking hold of both his hands and bringing his arms around her. "Yes."

He pulled her closer, pressing her swollen belly a little tighter against him as he tickled her cheek with his lips. One of the twins kicked and he chuckled. "When?"

Natalie moved to press her cheek against his chest. "Today. Tomorrow. It doesn't matter. Next week. Next year... I've waited this long for you, and I can wait a little longer."

Vincent sighed deeply as he pressed his lips against the crown of her head. "Dearest Natalie. My professor."

Natalie's arms tightened around him, and then she was pulling back. She lifted her hands to hold his face. Her green eyes glimmered as she held his gaze. "Vincent," she said in a caressing tone, "I love you so much. I loved your red eyes and I adore your brown ones, reminding me of the deepest chocolate that's sweet and rich."

Her lips danced with a smile as she stroked his cheeks with her thumbs. "I loved the golden metal and solid coolness of your claw and I'm mad about the warmth of your hand covering mine, almost like it's protecting me from something I don't see." She released a deep breath and pressed her lips tenderly against his. "My darling, sweet, intense Vincent. Whether you fly or have both feet firmly planted on the ground, I will always love you. Please, please never forget that."

Vincent smiled against her mouth as he drew her closer, his lips responding to the inviting taste of her kiss. Just as they had two years ago. Just as they had each day since he'd first experienced her. As himself. As Vincent Valentine. A man. A lover. A husband. And now, soon to be a father.

After another long drink of her intensity and passion, he lifted his head to lightly stroke her lips with a finger. Her green eyes shone. "I won't, Professor. How can I forget what's become a part of me?"

Natalie entwined her hands behind his neck and caressed his soul with her smile.

The End

*

the Final Farewell / Chapter Index

The Final Fantasy VII Story Line-Up / email