Even Demons Can Be Saved

Long Awaited and Well Deserved (Vacation That Is)

The day after Eve finally woke, saw the Shinra headquarters in an uproar, or at least several floors of it. the Turk floor especially. Sephiroth had to help her walk, as her muscles were still a little shaky from being down so long, but almost as soon as they made it into the hallway, they were swarmed by her coworkers.

Eve didn't even object when Reno grabbed her in a hug that nearly knocked her over. That didn't mean Sephiroth didn't. He quickly had them separated and glared at the rest of them, so they at least gave her room to breathe.

The rest of the day went about the same. Eve wasn't allowed to leave the Turk floor until her doctors had been able to check her, so that meant that she ended up with many visitors. Including Shalua, Shelke, and Elmyra.

They all three gave her a hug, in turn, even Shalua. Eve raised a brow at it but didn't have to wait long for an explanation. The woman was crying when she pulled back. "I heard what you did for Shelke. I can never thank you enough, but I'm glad that I finally get the chance to try. Shelke has told me so much about you!"

Eve was a little overwhelmed. She was guilty that she had worried so may people, but she hadn't even known Shalua was one of them. Shelke was crying too, and Eve gave her another hug. "It'll be alright. I'm fine now."

Shelke tried to wipe her eyes as she nodded. "I know, but I was scared. They all said nothing was wrong with you, but you couldn't wake up."

Eve smiled and pushed her hair back. "It just took me a little time to find my way back. It's all good now."

Shelke was smiling at least. She didn't get a chance to say anything else as Elmyra squeezed her other hand. "I'm glad you kept your word about protecting Aerith, but I told you to come back safe too."

Eve shook her head with a wry smile. "Well, I am back. It just took me a little longer to make it."

Aerith had come with them as well and had allowed her friends and mother to get it all out of their system. She didn't give them long before she stepped in and hugged Eve as well. Her voice trembled as she whispered. "Thank you."

Eve returned the hug and kept her voice just as low. "There is nothing for you to thank me for."

Aerith sat back and wiped at her eyes before she shook her head. "That's not true. You saved me and made it so Jenova would be destroyed. You deserve thanks from a lot more than me."

Eve gave Aerith a reproving look. "That last part was all you."

Aerith gave her a sad smile. "No, I don't think it was."

Elmyra had noticed all the women, including the youngest, were starting to get depressed at the turn in the conversation. None of them wanted to talk about the fact that the doctor had died. With that in mind, she stood and smiled at them all. "Since Eve can't go out yet, I thought it would be nice if I brought something for her. I have extra too. Who wants some stew?" That was all it took to lift their mood, and the conversation turned to lighter things.

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Over the next couple of weeks, the only time Sephiroth was away from Eve's side was during the day. He still had work to do, especially as clean up efforts were already underway in the city slums. Eve was going back through training with Rude to try and rebuild the muscle mass she had lost while she was in a coma. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but she needed the work. At least she could walk unaided.

It was during that second week that the issue of the Tsviets came up again. Most of the people around Eve had not mentioned them on purpose. They didn't want to remind her of the people that had nearly killed her. Sephiroth swore bodily harm to anyone that thought about it. That didn't mean they could keep it from her forever. She had asked Emma if there were any reports on the people that had been at the reactor, and that was when it all came out.