My Adventures on Gaia

Chapter 26

8 years later….

8 years…..

8 years have passed since we defeated Jenova.

I gotta tell you…it felt like we just defeated her.

I sighed and looked at the picture on the end-table.

A picture of me, Seph and our daughter Sephie.

Yes, of course I decided to name our daughter after Seph's cute nickname. I giggled and leaned back on the couch. I was alone right now in our two story home. We live in Nibelheim, which was a very friendly town.

RING…RING…..

I picked up the phone and answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Shell!" Tifa's voice greeted on the other end.

Midnight's head rose up from her position on the couch and her tail began to wag.

I smiled. "Hey Tifa. What's up?"

"I'm bored. Can Cloud and I come over?"

I rolled my eyes, but laughed. "Sure. Seph should be home anytime, so feel free to stop by."

"Great! See you in a bit!"

"Later." I hung up.

I heard the front door open and Sephie came running in. "Mommy, mommy, guess who daddy and I saw today?"

I picked her up. "Oh really, who did you see?"

"Uncle Vincent! He said he was gonna stop by later!"

I was silent for a moment as Seph walked in and closed the door behind him. I smiled. "Great, we never get to see Vincent as much as your other uncles."

Let me explain. About a year after Jenova's defeat, we found a coffin in the basement of the Shinra Mansion and opened it, reveling Vincent Valentine. I explained everything to him.

Now he's one of our good, but hardly ever visits, friends.

Seph made a small scoffing noise. "Uncles my ass."

"Hey, watch your language. I don't want Sephie learning any of that until she's 16." I warned.

He only threw a small grin at me and disappeared into the kitchen.

Sephie had her dad's hair, but my eyes, which made her, look very pretty. "Hey Seph!" I said.

"Hmm?" he said as he walked out of the kitchen.

"Tifa and Cloud are stopping by in a little bit."

KNOCK

"Oh, that must be them." I set Sephie down on the couch by Midnight and answered the door. I smiled. "Hey you two."

Tifa smiled. "Hey yourself."

"Well, don't just stand out there. Get yer butts in here."

Cloud and Tifa walked in, along with their 4 year old son Jakob. Bright blue eyes just like his father and black spiky hair.

Tifa gave me a hug. "I haven't seen you in a while Shell."

I laughed and returned the hug.

Soon enough, Aerith and Zack came along with their 6 year old daughter Angel, and then came Elena and Reno (who were now engaged) and Genesis and his girlfriend Bellatrix and Barret and his daughter Marlene came along.

"Whew, good thing I have a big house." I cracked my knuckles and grinned.

"Hey Shell, when is Vincent stopping by?" Aerith asks.

Before I could answer, the door swung open and Cid, with his wife Shera walked in. "Look who I found walking on the side of the road!" he grinned.

"Uncle Vincent!" Sephie exclaimed happily and ran into the tall man's legs.

Vincent patted Sephie's head and walked in, shutting the door behind him. "Hello Shelby." He greeted.

"It's SHELL." I said with a playful glare.

"Do you have time to talk?" he asks.

I glanced at Seph for a moment, but he was busy talking to Cloud. I nodded. "Sure."

Vincent and I left the house and walked until we came till the ocean. "How are you Vincent?" I ask, glancing over at him.

He gave a small shrug. "Better I believe. Have you….heard anything from Lucrecia?"

I shook my head. "No. I haven't heard from her since Sephiroth and I married."

He looked back out to the ocean.

"I'm sorry Vincent."

"It's not your fault. I go to the waterfall nearly every day…..I just want to see her one last time."

I sighed sadly. "I know. Sephiroth wants to see her again."

"How is he by the way?"

I grinned. "Same as always. Although we are thinking about another kid."

"Congratulations." I actually saw him give a very faint smile. "We should head back before they found out we're missing."

"I think I'll stay for a while."

He gave a simple nod and walked back to the house.

I sighed and breathed deeply. Suddenly, I felt a cool breeze brush past me and I followed the wind until I came near the mountain. The wind finally formed into not just one….but two figures.

My eyes widened. "A….Angeal?"

He smiled. "Hey kiddo."

Lucrecia smiled too. "It's nice to actually talk to you in person Shell."

"How come you didn't speak to us after we got married?" I ask.

"I thought we should leave you two alone for a while. I guess a while turned into 8 years." Lucrecia answered. "I was busy helping Angeal in the Lifestream."

I gave a simple nod. "How are things like in the Lifestream Angeal?"

He gave a shrug. "It's a beautiful place. People die nearly every day and they come to the Lifestream. Gets kinda boring though."

I laughed. "I guess I'll find out when I die."

Lucrecia approached me and suddenly hugged me. "Shell….this is the last time I am going to see you."

I returned the hug. "Wha…what?"

"I am going on a mission with Angeal and Minerva and I don't know how long I will be gone." She pulled back and smiled, brushing some hair away from my face. "But maybe someday we'll meet again." I felt her slide something into my hand. "Goodbye."

And with that…..both of them disappeared.

Still stunned, I collapsed onto my knees and began to cry.

…

"Has anybody seen Shell?" Tifa asks.

"She wanted to stay by the ocean a little longer." Vincent replied.

"I'll go get her." Sephiroth said and left the house with a second word.

Shell wasn't by the shore, but he found her near the mountain.

Everyone was surprised to see that the silver-haired man had carried back a crying Shell.

"What's the matter? Why are you crying?" Tifa asks.

Shell took a couple deep breaths and spoke. "Lucrecia…she's…"

"What about Lucrecia?" Vincent asks.

"She said today was the last day she was going to see me. She said she was going on a mission with Angeal and Minerva and didn't know how long it would take." She answered and was set down on the couch. She clutched something in her hand.

"What's in your hand?" he asks.

"She gave it to me." She opened her palm.

In her hand was a charm-like object. It was black and red and had a single gem in the middle. "I don't know what it's for though."

"Maybe you'll find out in the future." Zack says.

Shell smiled and held the charm close to her. "Yeah."

….

Me: WHOOOT! This story is finished! Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been busy lately. There will NOT be a sequel to this. Again, sorry. Thanks to everyone for the reviews and reading this story!