Secrets of a Roughwood (Vincent ValentineXOC) Romance

Chapter 16

STORY MODE

Shelke was becoming panicked. The baby was wailing. Marlene had not had any supper and the bar was in complete disarray. Nothing was working and she knew she would need a miracle to put this out-of-hand situation together again. The television switched to another show as Shelke once again, bounced the baby and tried a bottle. The baby flailed and refused the milk as if it scorched her skin. "It isn't bad Lucy, it is sufficient for your growth. Please rest." The 16 month old only repeated one thing, over and over again as if it was the song of her people. "ma ma ma ma ma!"

"I know, I know she will be here shortly. Marlene, don't do that! I will call something in for you to eat. Put down the knife. Good Gaia." Shelke hardly ever lost ever temper, but that hold on her emotions was beginning to thin and she opened her mouth to scream, "I can't do this!" when the door to the bar opened.

Like a beacon from heaven, a savior amongst the terror, six feet hesitantly continued entering the bar. Four of those footsteps stopped, but the two childish shuffles continued until they were in front of Marlene.

"What's going on?"

The miniature cloud was scowling at the mess of the bar as Marlene threw her tiny arms around Denzel's neck.

"My dearest friend, you have come to save me."

At that, the young boy smirked and rolled his eyes. "You've been reading too many fairytales again. There is no danger to be saved from Marlene, just…." He looked around and finally settled his growing eyes on the state of Shelke and the flailing child. "….chaos."

Shelke didn't see his reaction. She didn't even here the conversation as she stalked wearily over to the other visitor. His tail danced in reluctance and she paused only for a second before reaching the child out to him. "Please…help me, Nanaki."

Nanaki sighed and looked at the child before his face fell in shock. He hadn't been informed of the happenings with the rest of the group since he and Denzel had been away. Bugenhagen had been generous enough to agree to answer some of Denzel's questions about the past. With his and Red XIII's help, Denzel was on his way to finding missing information about his family and how they had come to work for Shinra in the first place. As Bugenhagen had reminded him several times, and even again in parting, "Nothing is coincidence, and Fate has a funny way of behaving." Whatever that meant.

Now, with eyes trained on the small human in front of him, especially her eyes, he found he had many other questions that needed answering to shed some light on the situation.

"Who is this?"

Shelke seemed to read his thoughts between the lines. "Lucy Valentine, but her parentage isn't important right now. What is important is getting the baby calmed and slumbering."

Nanaki looked once again at the child and only hesitated to glance up at the desperate female once before kneeling for the baby to be laid gently on his back. His soft purring and warm fur completely threw Lucy off guard and she blinked through tears to glance at her surroundings. Nanaki rocked back and forth for several seconds. The tiny tot was distracted enough from loathing sleep for her brain to slowly fade, and in only a few moments, she was peacefully snoring.

Nanaki looked on Shelke in pride for himself and Shelke felt a mixture of wanting to hug him for his help and kick him for being triumphant. Shelke never behaved childishly. She was always stoic and physically portrayed someone well beyond her years. Her next thought completely destroyed that persona because it was at this moment that Shelke mentally claimed RedXIII as her newest, bestest friend.

"I'm going for another drink, you want anything?"

Vincent shook his head no at his date, as she nodded and walked towards the bar. Vincent watched her for a few minutes before turning back to his friends. He was going to continue the conversation the men of the group had been having when he caught his breath and held it. Everyone in the group was staring at him…