A Project Called Angel

Chapter 24

Understanding Love

A/N: song for this story Why from Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core Soundtrack.

Please listen to it while reading? You can find it on youtube.

Angel smiled as she held Vincent's hand, their fingers intertwined. It was such a simple thing that she found happiness in.

As they walked together, she couldn't help, but to keep that smile on her face. Even despite the current pain that she still held in her wings, she was happy. Not to mention, the previous night had been free of Sephiroth's dark presence. Vincent had kept her safe in his arms all night long in the cave, protecting her from her nightmares.

"Vin Vin," she called, tugging on his sleeve.

"Hm?" Vincent questioned as he looked down at her. He found a playful look upon her face that seemed to reach her intricate eyes. He slowly rose an eyebrow at this, but it didn't take long before she ran ahead of him, turning around and smiling at him. "You want me to chase you?"

Vincent let loose a chuckle from his throat as he shook his head slightly, before stepping forward, his pace slowly building speed. There was a slight smile on his face forming as he kept his crimson eyes on his little angel. Her smile and laughter lit his cold heart, warming it from the inside out. How he loved his little angel. He wished to keep her with him forever. He would forever be at her side, for however long fate would allow him. He would never leave her no matter what the cost.

"Vincent!" Angel cried out in laughter as he caught hold of her, wrapping his arms around her tiny form. She smiled as he pulled her against his chest, whispering in her ear.

"Got you," he said, the velvet sound of his voice becoming music to her ears.

"Vincent," she smiled, turning her head upward to look at him, finding those crimson orbs of his staring down at her. It made her happy to see the color of his eyes, the soul of his being. To most people, Vincent's eyes would seem cold, but to Angel they were warm and welcoming. They held love within their deep depths that surrounded and enveloped her with their presence. She felt as though she belonged.

"I love you…," he whispered into her awaiting ear.

She turned her head slightly in curiosity, making him smile warmly at her.

"What is…love?" she asked, staring up at him with curiosity.

Vincent wasn't sure what to tell her to make her understand, until a thought came into his mind. He lifted her hand and placed it over his heart, pressing it there against his chest. She stared at him for a moment before closing her eyes, concentrating on what she felt. Beneath her hand she felt the faint beat of his heart thumping against his chest, the felling meeting her hand. Angel then placed her ear to his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. After a moment or two she pulled away, placing her hand over her own heart, a faint beating thumping against her hand. This made her smile as she grasped Vincent's hand in hers, placing it over her heart.

"It's inside you," Vincent told her. She then looked up at him, trying to put pieces together. To help her along, he slowly drew her forward, pressing his lips against hers. He felt her lips part slightly as she closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. It was something that set her soul on fire, but put her at ease at the same time. "I don't do this with anyone else," he explained as he pulled away slightly, gazing down into her eyes.

It was then that it clicked, realization hitting her. She didn't do that with anyone else either. It was something special that was just between her and Vincent. The feeling that it gave her on the inside was warm and wonderful, she didn't feel that way with anyone else, just Vincent. It was only for Vincent, her Vincent, her love.

He watched as her eyes widened slightly with that realization, her eyes becoming slightly teary. A smile formed though as she turned her gaze toward him.

"Angel…love Vincent," she whispered, a soft look in her eyes. She then shook her head for a moment before correcting herself. "No…I love Vincent," she said more firmly. "I love you."

This was all that it took to make Vincent's heart race. He now knew that she loved him, truly loved him, and knew what it was that she felt. She now understood what it meant to love, not like, but love.

"I love you too," he whispered, pulling her against his body and kissing her softly, but with a passion to match that of his heart. "I love you so much…," he whispered, brushing a bit of hair out of her face. How he loved his little angel, how he loved her dearly.

"Vincent?" she called, a faint hint of mischief in her eyes.

"Hm?" he was then answered by her pulling his bandana down over his eyes, a sweet and heavenly laugh escaping her angelic lips. At this, he let out a sound that was somewhere between a snort and a laugh. "I'll give you to the count of 3 to run," he announced, listening to the quick sounds of her running feet.

One…

Two…

Three…

He pulled his bandana down around his neck, before setting off after her, running after the source of his affection. He ran after his little angel, her laughs echoing in the air as her feet padded forward. They were so happy together as they played around, chasing one another, and rolling around on the ground.

After a couple hours of this, Angel was finally on the ground, Vincent hovering over top of her with his hands on either side of her. She giggled as his long raven locks brushed her skin, tickling it.

"Say you love me one more time," he whispered softly, his nose touching the tip of her own.

"I love you," she smiled, staring up into his eyes with her mismatched orbs as she watched a smile break loose over his lips. It was then that he bent down and kissed her on the mouth, his eyes closing as he savored the feel of her lips on his, his hand running through her hair.

She just laid there in sweet bliss as she kissed him back with equal passion, her hands making their own way into his long black mane, her fingers combing through it. She was so happy as she laid there kissing him back, her heart pounding wildly as a show of her love. A milky white crystal tear escaping her eye even from her happiness.

"I love you," she breathed, nuzzling her cheek against his as she laid there, the sweetness of the moment like honey on her tongue. She honestly had no clue just how happy she had made the man before her, a man whom had been deprived of such love and affection for so long, a man whom had longed for ages to feel such things, a man who's heart had been broken and in need of healing. She was giving him the love the he craved for, the love that he had longed for, the affection that he needed, and the love to mend his broken and bleeding heart. She soothed his soul and calmed the devil within him, she gave him a second chance in life, she gave him love.

Okay everyone, that was chapter 24. I REALLY hope that everyone enjoyed this one. Please REVIEW and MESSAGE me on how you liked it and what your view was on it. I hope to get quite a few reviews on this one. :) Special thanks to Amy122 for the advice. Remember people, I'm always open to help and advice to make this story better. And if anyone has any good song ideas to help me write at times, you're more than welcome to message me with them. THANKS EVERYONE!