Some Surprises Are In Order

By: Sephiroth

Author's notes: Ok this is a revised version of Chapter 1. I didn't like how Megan was written. She seemed so weak when compared to Sephiroth, and how I originally intended to write her. Of well. This doesn't change the story plot in anyway , and it might explain something's that I might have left out. Happy reading.

With that final swing of his white sword, the danger to the world ended with a splash of red. The deed was done, the threat was over and the world was finally saved. These young warriors had come from afar and had done what no one else could do; now, they earned their rest.

Home, it was the first thought that stuck out in each of their minds, but in Cloud's, it was more pressing. What about Vincent? he asked himself. After all, they had met him lying in a coffin in the crypt room of the ShinRa Mansion; where was he to go now?

As conversations struck up with each other, they approached Nibelheim. Cloud looked over at the ever so quiet Vincent and asked,

"Where are you gonna go?"

Everyone turned and listened in as Vincent raised a brow as if to ask what do you mean?

"I mean…do you…ya know," Cloud swallowed hard feeling Vincent's eyes on him, "have a…home? You could stay with Tif and me in Midgar."
Vincent rolled his eyes and look over at Cloud, "I do have a home."
"Really?" Tifa slapped Cloud and the remark.

"Yes. I do live in the Mansion. I own it; I live there, and that's where I intend to stay."

Cloud pulled back in surprise at his quiet friend's very simple remark.

Cid smiled and said, "I think that's the most Vampy's ever said," as they advanced the mansion door.

As Vincent opened the door he very subtly added, "watch it, Cid, or I may have to bite your neck."

Cid's eyes got large as he almost dropped his cigarette, "did he just crack a joke?"

Tifa and Red giggled as they followed Vincent and the others shrugged unsure.

Music filtered out of the open windows of the Nibelhiem Mansion. As Vincent approached he found himself unable to keep from smiling "God it was good to be home" he thought. Vincent paused at his front door in thought, but the sounds of Avalanche approaching broke him from his thoughts and back to reality. "I wonder how they're going to handle this ?" he wondered as he opened the door and entered.

Standing still within the threshold Vincent looked around. the once dark and empty mansion was now a brightly lit and beautiful place. the once hardwood flooring was now a beautiful black marble, shining and new. the stairs had a runner going up them to protect the same black marble as the floor from scratches. The walls had been painted and were not a pearly white and decorated with well placed paintings and tapestries. In the middle of the room stood a large redwood table with a huge vase of blood red roses. From the ceiling hung a huge crystal chandelier. Vincent was impressed.

The music in question which from inside the house was a Dave Matthews Band cd and could be heard blaring in a room to the left. Movement could be heard from the room, either someone dancing around or cleaning the room, or both. Vincent looked towards the room and shook his head knowing what he would find. Knowing that the others would most likely follow him in Vincent didn't bother to close the front door but instead headed towards the music.

Avalanche stood open mouthed just within the front door gasping at the splendor of the mansion. "It looks like a palace" Yuffie said while she wondered where the owners of such a place would story their materia.

Seeing the look in Yuffie's eyes Red XIII gave a soft warning growl "don't even thing of it Ms. Yuffie."

Yuffie sighed and nodded "yeah whatever."

"I wonder who lives here now?" Tifa asked.

Cloud shook his head to clear his thoughts "I thought Vinnie said he owned the place, but I doubt it anymore."

Red watched Vincent open a door and leave "I don't know who owns it but whoever that might be seems to be in that room" he said pointing with a paw. All of Avalanche nodded and decided to follow.

Megan jumped onto the sofa while singing alone with the some, sending her long sliver hair flying in all directions. "She says nothing of what she thinks she just goes stumbling through her memories staring out onto Grey Street..." She laughed and look a flying leap over the back of the sofa and grabbed a bottle of Windex and started to clean a mirror.

Vincent entered the room, grinned, and killed the music. He then leaned against the wall wondering how long it would take for the young lady to realize that the music was gone.

Hearing the music die Megan turned and looked at the cd player "what happened..." Upon seeing Vincent she grinned, dropped the dusting cloth and tackled Vincent. "Dad your home!"

Vincent smiled and hugged his daughter back "I'm glad to see you too Luv."

Glad to see her father was in fact ok and not dead as she had feared Megan stepped back and glared, which caused her crystal blue eyes to glow. "Don't you ever do that again!" She yelled.

Vincent winced at his daughters tone.

"I was so worried about you."

Avalanche crowded the door to watch and see what would happen.

"Who the F*$K is she!" Cid yelled having missed the whole father daughter bonding.

Barret stared at the girl wondering why she looked so familiar.

Vincent looked his daughter up and down then reached up and removed a navy blue leather head wrap "I have been looking for this, I should have known that you should have it." he said as he rolled the leather wrap up and put it in his pocket.

Megan rolled her eyes and shook out her hair causing it to fall down her back and stop at her knees. her bangs returned to their normal possession somewhat in front of her eyes, to stop at her chin.

Cid, Barret, Cloud and the rest of the group gasped at who they saw standing next to Vincent. She looks like that f#@king bastard Sephiroth, but with tits!"

For the first time Megan actually noticed that they had a crowd. "Uhm ... hi" she said wondering why they all had their weapons out.

Vincent knew what Avalanche was thinking and decided that he didn't like it, this was his daughter after all. So he decided to put an end to it once and for all. "This is my daughter Megan." he said pointing the claw at her. "Megan this is Avalanche."

Megan smiled "I know dad, you guys were on tv 24 hours a day."

Avalanche not being fully convinced by Vincent's claim slowing started to advance on the girl.

One thing that Both Vincent and Chaos would not stand for was when someone challenged him or someone under his protection, i.e. his daughter. "If just one of you takes one more step I should not hesitate to let chaos have his way with you. Do I make myself clear?" he stated in a voice that was not entirely his own.

Cloud raised an eyebrow 'out of respect for Vincent we won't hurt you, but if you slip up...just once... I shall kill you. Understand?"

Megan glared, she like her father did not like to be threatened. "Crystal. But know this I can protect myself, and you won't stand a chance against me because unlike Sephiroth... I hold my sanity!"

Vincent glared at Cloud then at his daughter "Megan! Watch your mouth. Don't give them a reason to try."

Megan just smiled and nodded "Yes Father" she said in a sweet voice.

"Oh how sweet, I think I am getting sick" a deep feminine voice said.

Vincent turned and looked at the owner of the voice. "Ah Midnight. I was wondering where you were hiding."

Alex Midnight was one of Megan's best friends, you rarely saw one without the other. She was about 5ft 7in in height with wavy brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and bandana. Body wise bigger and about half an inch taller than Megan. She looked and acted quite the opposite, too. She had a deeper voice and a certain way of standing that was just…Lex. Her deep brown eyes were constantly hidden behind a comforting pair of sunglasses. She stood in the doorway leading to the music room dressed in a blood red tank top and shorts with her trademark Doc Martin boots.

"alive I see…"

"Of course. I have a favor to ask," Vinnie said leaning into her ear and whispering something. "Is that ok?"

"No, but I can do it." Lex slapped his chest with the back of her hand. "Tell me ahead of time next time."

"Who's that," Tifa asked.

Lex stepped forward, "name's Alex Midnight, but, ah, y'all can call me, Midnight."

"Now she looks like your daughter," Cid said noticing the gun that hung loosely in an armpit holster on her right side.

"Figures," Meg said as she shook her head and headed to her room.

Vincent rolled his eyes and Lex grabbed his claw when he moved after her, "I'll handle it," she said heading up the stairs.

Lex then ran up the stairs and entered Megan's room, to find her reading. "You know, just how stubborn you are Nutmeg. I sometimes do not know what to do with you. Why can't you take a joke! Ugh!!" She walked over to the girl on her bed and went on, "relax, or people will start to think that you are your father." Megan never even looked up to acknowledge the attempt. "Well fine be that way, but just remember, I tried."

"You know Lex, sometimes your jokes are the worst things that I have ever heard. Try something original for once," Meg said never looking up from her book. "So what is for dinner, or is Chaos cooking, with hopes of ridding the house of the guest it has received?"

Lex looked up at Meg, "well, I really don't know. I thought that you were in charge of dinner tonight," Lex said with a sly grin and hopes of seeing the shock on her friends face. "So… what's for dinner there Nutmeg, huh?"

"Your joking, right... me... cook? Nobody is would survive," Megan said with the most stupid look on her face.

Lex smiled and replied, "nope, sorry there Meg." Lex's smile widened and then began to laugh, though it was at her friends shock. She enjoyed her friends expression, it was worth the food she would be forced to endure—mouth dropped, eyes large and glowing, book dropped and forgotten.

"You are really joking right? You don't expect me to believe that you, are going to eat my cooking, do you? You never eat anything that I cook, never," Meg exclaimed in a matter of fact tone. Megan looked down at her book discarded on the floor, "thanks Lex. Now I am going to have to find my place again."

"Your welcome Nutmeg…now come on. I will even help you cook, so that I can eat some of it." Lex mumbled the last part of it, but smiled as she grabbed Megan's arm and pulled.

"Fine, fine... Have it your way, but you are helping me not just supervising, do you understand me there Lexie," Megan smiled at the last part and laughed at her joke, "heh…Lexie."

"Laugh it up Cooking Spice," Lex said as she laughed.

Both of the two friends then left the room and headed to the kitchen to see what there is to cook.

In the living room Cloud and Cid were watching T.V., namely, the live telecast of the Battle Arena. "Come on! What was that?!? Kill the bastard," yelled Cid as he swung his Venus Gospel in his right hand, and held a beer in his left.

"Watch it Cid, you're getting beer on the sofa," Cloud said ducking as Cid's Venus Gospel swung at his head. "And on me too."

"Well sorry there Spike, didn't mean to bother you there." Cid then jumped up to yell at the T.V. which ended up spilling the contents of his beer all over the sofa and Cloud. "Oops... sorry there Vampy, think that I ruined your sofa. Oh well, nothing you can do about that," Cid said with a half ass grin.

Vincent turned and glared at Cid with a sort of "watch me..." look in his eyes. Suddenly, from the kitchen, someone yelled the word "shit." All heads turned to the kitchen to figure out that was going on.

"Just leave! Get out of the kitchen!! Scram!!!" yelled Lex.

"Why," asked Megan trying to help.

"Just...go tell embarrassing stories about Vinnie," yelled Lex trying to

rid the kitchen of the handicapped girl.

"Oh, come on, the turkey is not that burned," Megan said staring at the somewhat black mass.

Lex turned to Meg and said caustically, "sure it's not...

leave now!" Lex was pointing to the kitchen door with an angry glare.

Megan continued to look at the turkey intently, "but people like dark meat."

Lex just shook her head and spoke through her teeth "LEAVE!!!!"

Megan just looked from the blackened turkey to Lex and back. "Fine, but I plan to tell so tell some stories about you too." With that said, Megan turned and left the kitchen. Upon entering the living room she looked around the room for her father. "Uhm Dad, we have a slight problem with dinner."

Vincent raised an eyebrow and asked, "what is the matter, Luv?"

Lex could be heard from the kitchen yelling, "god damn, sonova..."

Megan quickly looked towards the kitchen and started to laugh really

nervously. She blushed and started to fiddle with her hair. "Uhm, well..." she mumbled into Vinnie's ear what had happened.

Vincent laughed when she was done. "That would explain the problem with Midnight."

Megan looked at Cloud and company and shared, "don't worry. Lex is really good at cooking. I just really suck at it."

Vincent smiled and said, "don't worry, Luv you are good at it," then he whispered, "it could be worse dear, Chaos could be cooking."

Megan smiled and laughed, "your right, it could be a lot worse! Just don't tell Chaos that."

Megan thought for a moment and got a real sly smile on her face. "Has my father ever told you about the time that I disconnected his claw and tried to flush it down the toilet."

Vincent's snapped his head up towards his daughter, "Luv ...NO stories."

Megan just continued to smile, "oh… come on Dad," she pleaded though she was planning to continue with or without his consent. "They have the right to know.

They are you friends after all." Her smile only widened, "anyway, Lex told me to do this; it is her fault."

Cid smiled as he watched Vincent, "yeah vampy, it'd be good to

know that you're human." He took another drag from his cigarette. " Go on kid, continue."

Vincent began to blush and placed his hand over his face to cover it up, "Luv, please..."

Cloud smiled and poked Vincent's arm. "What Vinnie? Beggin' for mercy? That is really funny." Tifa smiled and hit Cloud's.

Megan smiled at Cloud and Tifa and turned to look at her father, "so when I was 6, I disconnected Dad's claw and tried to flush it down the toilet." She smiled yet again, "but it would not fit."

Vincent looked as if he were about to scream but said in his normal voice, "okay, story time over."

Megan just smiled at her father's discomfort, "so, I just left it there, clogged in the toilet. By that time the toilet had started to overflow. Water was running all over the place. Dad then came in and screamed. He looked really humorous without his claw." Megan was trying not to laugh, even though Cid and Cloud were already rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter, while Tifa and Red were giggling like little children.

Cid, though still laughing, said "I'm surprised that he didn't maul

you!!! Ahahah!!!"

Megan stopped laughing, cocked an eyebrow and asked Cid, "why would he maul me?"

By that time, Lex had entered to discover the cause of laughter. She saw Vincent and smiled while adding, "if Vinnie could blush, I think he would be doing that right now!"

She then exchanged a look with Meg as the two said together, "Only mommies have long hair!" They began to bust up as Vincent said,

"NO!"

"She also cut off Vinnie's long hair one time and said 'only mommies have long

hair,'" Lex said nodding to Meg..

Megan nodded in agreement and started another story without really thinking, "then there was the time that I went outside and played out in the fields when dad told me not to..." She paused to think, " uhm...never mind." The girl began to blush in hopes that nobody would notice.

Of course someone noticed, and that person was Lex, who of course started to laugh and point "Nutmeg..."

Megan looked over at Lex, "what?" Though she already knew that Lex saw the fact that she was blushing. Lex started to smiles really evilly, "your blushin' there Nutmeg."

Megan glared at Lex and whispered, "I am not." Lex only pointed out that she still was.

Since she had won, Lex returned to the kitchen with a smile on her face " heh, thought so."

Megan glared at the retreating form of her best friend and narrowed her piercing blue eyes, "shut up Midnight. So I was a little embarrassed, I don't need you pointing it out."

Tifa raised an eyebrow and asked "Megan, why are you embarrassed?"

Megan hesitated a little. "The reason is because...well that was the first time I had ever met Chaos, and I did not take it in the best of moods." She giggled, "hee hee. I would rather not get into that story," she said, then mumbled, "if I can help it."

"Oh come now Luv," whispered Vincent, with a really evil smile, "you told them about me… Tell them something about yourself."

Megan glared at her father, which caused her eyes to flash a bright blue. They tended to do that when her emotions changed. "Thanks dad, but I would rather not tell that particular story. That is as long as I can help it."

Vincent knew that she would not give in, so he smiled, which scared both Cid and Barret, and caused them to lean as far back in there seats as they could.

"Fine Luv, I will tell the story then. It is only fair, that is after all, you so kindly told them stories about me."

Megan paled. "Dad don't, please. They don't have to hear that story," she pleaded, "any other! Just not that one."

Cid and Cloud both smiled and thought about what could be so bad that she would be scared that much. Both of their smiles widened. "Come on Vincent tell us, it couldn't be that bad… even for her."

Vincent looked at Megan who was still pleading to him with her eyes, "hmm, I don't know," he looked at his daughter again, then smiled. "Oh, sure… why not."

"Dad please, no" Megan tried once again to plead with her father, but knew that it would not work. She just glared at him, and though, "fine if he wants to then let him."

"Well, it all started when Megan here was 5. I told her not to go down and play in the fields that day; there had reports of a dragon there, and I didn't want her to meet it. Megan has a real nasty habit of befriend all types of dangerous things," Vincent said while shaking his head. "Anyway, Megan never did as she was told, and I am sure that she still doesn't. So of course, as soon as my back was turned she went down to the field, and not only found and met the dragon, but got it angry." Vincent only sighed, "I ran to save her but knew that I was too far away, so before I could move faster I felt Chaos take control. Chaos flew over, defeated the bloody thing and saved Megan. Now, the classic is, when the dragon was dead, Chaos turned to introduce himself to her. In any case, she turned and ran from him, thinking that he was going to eat her. This really angered Chaos, and he went after her, to set things clear with her, right? Well… Megan, not only did not take things well, she also would not sleep for the rest of the week. She would say through the entire night, 'can't sleep Chaos'll eat me' over and over again and Chaos did not take that well either.

So one night he went in to talk with her, and told her that he would never hurt."

Megan had been glaring at her father through the entire story, "Dad, if I remember correctly, as I know that I do, Chaos came in and told me that if he were going to eat me don't I think that he already would have. And I told him that I thought that he was saving me for a midnight snack sometime. Chaos just laughed at me and said that he though that I was too small to be very much of a snack and that he would rather have me alive, and that it would make you sad, if he were to kill me."

Tifa looked at Vincent and glared, "Vincent how could you!?! That was so mean." She then hit Vincent on the arm.

Vincent pulled back a little. " As I said, I have no control over Chaos, he is his own… Demon (for lack of a better word). Anyway, he said it in the best of heart. He really cares for her, enough to consider himself her stepfather."

Vincent stood to go check on Lex in the kitchen, "does anyone want anything while I'm up?" They all shook their heads as he left.

"Oh! Speaking of which, dad, I haven't seen Chaos in about a year…"

Everyone looked at the girl like she was nuts! "NO!"

"What," Meg asked quizzically as she noticed the now transformed Chaos walk in. "Chaos," she exclaimed as she ran over to him and hopped up into his arms in a hug.

"That…is the officially most MESSED UP thing, I have ever seen," Cid said gawking.

Chaos gave a slight growl as a "hello."

"Chaos, I hate it when you do that," Meg said as he put her down. He raised a brow. "Don't play dumb," the girl said.

Cloud laughed, "he can't talk, Meg."

She just turned and looked at him like he was fool. "Uhm, Mr. Strife, last time I checked, I have lived with Chaos for over twelve years and I think that I know."

"Trust me, he can't," Cloud continued.

"Yes, he can," Meg said walking away from Chaos.

"Cannot."

"Can too."

"Cannot."

"Can too."

"Cannot."

"Can too."

"Cannot."

"Can too."

"CHILDREN! Please," everyone turned and looked at the source of the dry British accent; Chaos.

The demon stood with his left hand up at his brow and chin as the group looked on in awe once again.

"You CAN talk," Cloud asked amazed.

"Yes…I can talk. I never talked to you because I never liked you," Chaos said subtly walking over to where Vincent had been sitting and sat down. Everyone kept staring. "What? Did you think that I was some unintelligent ninny?"

"Well, I guess so," Megan said sitting on his lap and hugging him again. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too. So Luv, how have things been?"

"Okay…"

The two kept talking as everyone still watched. There was so much about Vincent they didn't know; how really light-hearted he could be, his personality and wit, the fact he had a daughter…what next?

"Dinner," Lex said walking out.

"Food! Finally," Meg said jumping off Vincent's lap; he had reverted by this time.

"In the dining room, please," Lex said as Megan lead the way for everyone.

They all walked in and looked around the beautifully decorated room. There was chandelier hanging above the cherry wood dining table, candles all around and the food was set up like a five star restaurant.

"Well done on the room, kids," Vinnie said in approval. "Any problems with the remodel?"

"Nope, but you do have to sign a few checks," Meg said.

"Remodel," Cloud asked as he sat down next to Tifa.

"Was that why the place was in shambles when we found you Vincent," Red asked.

"Yes. And the reason I was in the coffin; my room was in the process of getting

redone."

"Speaking of which Vinnie," Lex said as she brought out a bowl of salad, "it's now being used as storage. So, you still stuck in the coffin in the now new and improved entertainment center."

"Now that, I have to see," Vincent said with a slight grin.

"We got a pool table" Megan exclaimed.

"Tell me about it after dinner guys. By the way Lex, the food looks wonderful.

Did you make enough for a small army or what" Vincent commented putting some turkey on his plate.

"And saved," Megan whispered to Lex as she sat next to Megan on the other side of Vincent.

"You love me," Lex whispered back to Meg as the two laughed. "Thank you Uncle Valentine and you guys are a small army."

"What is your relation to Vincent, Ms. Midnight," Red asked.

"Midnight is fine. But Vincent is considered to be my quote Legal Guardian." She did the little finger quotes. "But in reality I'm just their neighbor across the street."

"We sorta adopted Lex when her uncle died," Megan said filling her plate with mashed potatoes.

Vincent rolled his eyes, "some things never change…I want some salad and meat on that plate, too."

"So I'm a mashed potato fanatic."

"That's an understatement," Lex said under her breath.

"Hey!"

"Kids, please, its dinner. Behave," Vincent said looking at them.

"Us! Never," Lex said spinning her steak knife in her hand.

"That's a new one," Meg said watching Lex.

"Oops. Sorry. My friend taught that to me."

The evening went on with the group recapping their adventure for the two girls as they in return told Vincent about their Senior year in high school. Avalanche finally left late in the evening as everyone gave their good byes and went there separate ways.

They all cleaned the table as they went out to the newly redone "ballroom" as they called. The piano had been moved into the large room that now had marble floors and candles everywhere; they were now lit. Lex sat at the piano and began to play some classical Beethoven as Vincent leaned on the it with a cup of coffee and Meg sat on top.

"I am so sorry I missed you graduation girls…I truly am," Vincent said woefully.

"It's ok, you were kinda saving the world, dad. But you still owe us," Meg said.

"I wasn't expecting anyone to come to mine anyway, Vinnie," Lex said shrugging.

Megan suddenly looked over at Lex with a side grin and asked, "what about your

boyfriend?"

Vincent practically choked on his cup of coffee. "Come again?"

"He isn't my boyfriend," Lex yelled at Megan messing up the bridge. "And last time I checked Nutmeg," Lex continued, "you thought he was pretty cute."

Megan blushed. "Did not!" It's just he looked so hot in those tight jeans of his...Heeheehee Kail she thought. The best of all is that Lex had no idea that the young man as one of her best and oldest friends, plus Megan had a little bit of a crush on him. Big understatement there.

Lex laughed, "oh yes you did. You checked out his ass every time he bent over to hammer a nail…"

"DID NOT!!"

"And…who is this," Vincent asked raising a brow even thought he could guess by his daughters expression. Only one person could make her eyes shine like that. Kail King. "So" he asked Lex who had now stopped playing the piano.

"When we were fixing the staircase…"

"It looks magnificent, too," Vincent interjected.

"Thanks," Lex said and continued, "I asked him to come and help. He's a friend of mine from Midgar U. He's helping me move-" she stopped.

"MOVE!" Megan yelled as it echoed through the room.

"Uhm…heh, heh…yeah," Lex laughed nervously. "I thought I told you."

"Apparently not!"

"Why, Lex," Vincent asked.

"I was accepted to Midgar University plus I got a job. So, I'm moving back to my old apartment."

"When are you leaving?"

"A few months."

"A few months!! When were you going to tell me," Meg said in a very low almost deadly voice.

"I thought I had!"

"First my father, now my best friend…" Megan said storming off to her room.

"Let her go, Midnight," Vincent said. The girl nodded and picked up the song where she had left off.

Author Notes: Yes more notes, sorry. I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed my story so far, also a special thanks for Crystalis Blade for helping with the original version of this chapter, without you I wouldn't have such great characters.