Safe and Sound

[Rikugurl]

The snow fell on the man's black hair. The cold climate wasn't his specialty...but he had to do this.
A slight coughing came from the large bump on his back.

"Are we there yet?"
The man looked back and frowned as he saw a young boys face looking back at him from his hiding place.
"It's really cold."

The man smiled slightly and he continued to walk through the snow. "Yes...we'll be there shortly. Just about 20 more minutes."

His buggie had died in the snow about 2 hours ago. He had been carrying the child ever since.
"where are we going grandpa?"

"I'm taking you some place safe..."
"Are you going to stay?"
"No...I have business to do..."
"But grandpa...you need to stay with me! what happens if a dragon comes again!?"
"keep your voice down...I promise you that you will be safe. Eve and Rina will take good care of you."
The boy clutched onto his grandfather's hair tightly and sighed.

[Reno]

Rattling and plastic hitting plastic was the only douns being made in the room and an occasional "awee goo!" and a slight chuckle.

"Oh Elly..." The woman said, her eyes shining with pride watching her daughter. It had been a surprise when Elecia had been born and yet she knew somewhere in her heart this would happen all along. The whole 'rape' thing was past her now. What Red had done was unforgiveable yes but... he gave her something she could always cerish. Elecia 'Elly' Rina Hojo. Nice ring neh?

Yeah but she wasn;t human. Sure she had most features of one, the face, legs, arms, erm... girl parts of course. No the real surprise was her hands and feet were shaped differently, well more or less the same but her nails were shaped in such a way that when they were prepared to grow they would be like cat claws. Dangerous. That wasn;t the only thing. two leathery large wings were sprouting from her back, reddish-black in color and connected into her spine so they couldn;t be removed (not like Rina would allow it) Courtesy of her now dead father Red.

Eve smiled as she watched her sister from the doorway. Her sister, always the teaser, was holding plastic keys out of her daughter's reach and jingling them. The baby held her puny arms up in hopes of reaching them and gooing but didn;t look upset. No Rina was good with kids. Now that was a surprise.

She laid a hand on her on bloated stomach. It was only a matter of time before it came and Alexcil was no where in sight. She glanced at the ring on her finger with abadon. He promised her he;d come back and marry her... and see tyhe child... and everything. he just needed to get something. she could live with that... but only for so long.

[Rikugurl]

The man walked till he saw the large building and stopped. He sighed and he reached back and pulled the child off his back. "alright kiddo...here we are."

The boy was dressed in heavy rags, underneath were his nice clothes. He looked at the building and blinked. He then ran behind his grandfather.

"Hey now...don't be afraid. I promise you that these people are very nice." He turned and picked the child up, carrying him in his arms.

He walked to the door and knocked on it.He could hear a sound of a baby come from within and smiled slightly. "looks like you won't be alone...."

[Reno]

Rina looked up frowning with curiousity. now who could that be? it wasn;t Diana, she didn;t need to knock and she couldn;t be back already.

"I'll get-"

"No you won;t. stay put. i;d hate for you to strain yourself!" Rina said with determination as she let Elly take the keys then walked out and down the stairs to the front door.

Eve pouted and sighed. sometimes she wondered who was the older sister here! two years younger and Rina still acted like she was in charge. If Seph was here... but he's not.

She frowned then slowly walked after her sister at a slower pace.

Rina unlocked the door, praying it wasn;t someone who wanted to shoot her again (poor guy didn;t even have a chance) and opened the door.

[Rikugurl]

A familiar face looked at Rina as she opened the door. "Hello Rina..." he looked passed her at Eve. "Hello Eve...I hate to both you...you sould like you have your own problems." He blinked as he heard the baby screaming in the background. "maybe...this wasn't a good idea...may I come in?"

The boy held onto his grandfather's neck tightly as he looked at the women. When he saw their eyes, his grip loosened and he smiled slightly.

[Reno]

"yeah um come in!" Rina said then turned heading for the stairs, "excuse me. Eve entertain um..." she glanced back frowned at the man. she knew she knew him... but from where? Another scream stopped her thoughts and she raced up the stairs, skillfully jumping over her descending sister and running into the room to quiet her daughter.

Eve rolled her eyes leaning against the rail to look down at the two. It only took her a look at the eyes and she remebered. "Vincent Valentine. Ex-turk and one of the 'great' savoirs of the world. what brings you here?"

[Rikugurl]

Vincent smiled slightly as he walked in and closed the door. "You didn't have to tell the word Eve."

He pulled the boy infron of him. "This is my grandson Aya. His parents died from a freak accident about a week ago. I hate to say it but...i have no time to take care of a child."

He stopped and sighed. "You know that there is more to the story...but I don't wish to talk about it infront of him. He has had a hard week...and I don't want to make him more worried than he already is."

Aya looked up and frowned. "more worried?"

Vincent looked down at Aya then shrugged and looked back at eve. "I was wondering...if you could take care of him for awhile. I know that he's safe here with you."

[Reno]

Eve blinked in surprise and she stood there for a few moments not sure of what to say.

"Oh and exactly why would we do this? you haven;t exactly done anything for us Valentine." Rina said from atop the stairs holding her daughter closely. Elly was being quiet, observing the newcomers.

[Rikugurl]

"Oh I know you're busy...but...there's something going on in Midgar...all i know is that children around 5 to 12 won't be safe soon and I...I can't ...I can't protect Aya from it...I need to help stop it...before it happens...and...I know Aya will be safe with you."

He looked down at Aya and sighed. "if you do this for me...i owe you my life."

[Reno]

Silence then, "Fine." Rina scoffed a bit.

Eve was curious. "Why did you turn to us Vincent? you don;t have any reason to trust us considering who we are."

[Rikugurl]

"I...I know no one who can take care of him right now. They are all very busy with this thing going on at midgar. It took Barret forever to get Tifa to watch marlene...even she seems to busy for it now. whatever Shinra is plaining...it's going to be big....I'm sure it has to do something with Hojo..." He looked up the stars at Rina. "even the Turks are upset you know? It has to be something bad!"

Aya looked up at Vincent again and blinked. It wasn't like him to raise his voice. He seemed very upset.

[Reno]

"...yeah... i see..." Eve looked away.

"Hojo's dead damnit end of story!" Rina walked off angrily.

[Rikugurl]

"Well he could have left something! If the Turks are upset out it...you know damn right that it's something really bad!" He growled than looked at Eve.
"Eve please...take care of Aya...he means the world to me....I need to do this...and i can't bring him with me. Please...I beg you eve. I trust you."

[Reno]

"I don;t know WHY you would. No one else does." she sighed but nodded, "He can stay though."

[Rikugurl]

He took a sigh and smiled slightly. "Thank you...I will come back for him when i'm finished. please...if anyone ask...he's your son...don't tell anyone that he's a valentine..." He knelt down and pulled Aya close and hugged him. "You be good for rina and Eve ok? I'm going to come back for you...I promise."
He then stood and pulled his cloake around him. He looked at Eve and nodded. "Thanks again."

Aya blinked as he watched his grandpa.

Vincent walked to the door and opened it. "i don't know when i'll be back...but please take good care of him."