Secrets of a Roughwood (Vincent ValentineXOC) Romance

Chapter 1

Reece POV

I beeped the horn to my green pickup truck loudly before flooring it through the red light. It was 3 am and I would be damned if I wasted anymore time by sitting at an empty red light waiting when there wasn't a car in sight. I looked over at my toddler asleep in the passenger seat and realized that I should probably be more careful. Even after a year, this whole "Mom" thing was still kicking my as...butt. I was also still working on the 'not cussing on front of a kid' thing...

I had no idea what I was doing.

Rain began to trickle down as I passed a huge billboard reading "Welcome to Edge" along with city limits and population numbers. I slowed down as I peered up at the sign. I was finally here. After all this time of searching and trying to connect the pieces to this long drawn out puzzle, I had finally arrived to the final location. Lucy began to stir and I quickly sped up to avoid waking her. The drone of my engine lured her back to sleep and she was once again motionless.

I couldn't help but smile at my baby. She was beautiful. Yet, unique. I had never seen a child like her in my entire life and I doubted I ever would. Her blonde hair fell into her eyes and I brushed the strands back to reveal her long, closed lashes that curled up to her eyebrows. She didn't look a thing like me. Her hair color matched my own but I was sure it would probably change once again to a different shade. That is what usually happened in one-year old's much to a mother's dismay, although I prayed that it wouldn't.

I searched for a building that we could rest in for the night but found nothing. The inn was closed. I drove past a park with homeless people staring at me. I stepped on the gas harder. Finally, I saw some lights in the distance and slowed down to read the sign. "Seventh Heaven". I paused and squinted to see inside the building. It looks like a bar...It was a bar. I sighed deeply and continued to drive. I sure as heck wasn't dragging my sleeping baby inside a bar. I might not be mother of the year but I sure was no heathen.

Feeling defeated, I pulled into an abandoned parking lot and parked. The doors clicked as I pressed the lock button and slowly, quietly lowered my seat to recline beside Lucy. Slowly, I reached over and puled her into my arms. I silently prayed that this trip had been for nothing and that I would finally get the answers I sought so desperately. I had been told that I would find him here and I wasn't leaving until I did.

Story Mode

"Welcome to Seventh Heaven, how can I...oh she isn't allowed in here", Tifa said as she turned to see a woman walking hand in hand with a baby girl barely old enough to walk. The woman ignored Tifa and instead walked faster into the bar, sweeping the infant up into her arms in one fluid motion but careful not to drop her manila folder.

"Excuse me, she can't..." Tifa started, but was quickly interrupted. "Please, I am not here to drink or anything I just need some help." The young woman looked at Tifa desperately and Tifa placed the glass she was cleaning onto the bar counter. "What can I do for you? If it is about a delivery, Cloud isn't here at the moment..." "No, I... I am looking for someone and some of the people here in Edge told me you might know them." Tifa could feel her inward struggle but continued to wait for the girl to speak. After a long pause, the girl finally spoke. "Do you know Vincent Valentine?"

Tifa's eyes narrowed and she looked a bit confused. "Who is asking?" The girl reached out her hand to Tifa with a smirk. "My name is Reece Roughwood. This is Lucy." Reece put the child down as Tifa slowly dried her hands on her pants legs. Reluctantly, she took the girl's hand. "Tifa..." The smirk turned into a smile now and Reece shook her hand diligently. "We come in peace, I promise you...Meaning I ain't gonna kill ya" "Sorry, it's just that no one really comes around looking for Vincent...it is a bit of a shock to be frank."