"Aeris!" She exclaimed, hugging her daughter as tight as ever. "Oh I'm so glad you're ok! I thought Shinra had you and-"
"I'm alright, mom," The young girl replied, just as happy to see her mother. After a few more moments the mother and daughter let each other go, and Aeris' mother looked at the little girl and older woman behind her.
"So who are your friends?"
"Mom, this is Mrs Samins," She said, pointing to the other woman. "She helped me and little Marlene over here escape from Shinra, and she saved us from a shinra soldier."
Aeris' mom smiled at Mrs Samins who seemed to be right behind Aeris so she couldn't see her. She stepped to the side and looked at her. Mrs Samins was staring at the floor and didn't return Aeris' mother's gaze. "Thanks," was all she said. Then she smiled at Marlene.
Mrs Samins just gave a slight nod.
"Well I'm sure you two girls must be so exhausted," Elmyra said, looking at Aeris and Marlene. "I'm sure you'd like to thank Mrs... Samins before she goes.."
"Oh mom, I said Mrs Sammins could spend the night here," Aeris said.
Elmyra hesitated. Aeris noticed this, and frowned, quite surprised at her mother.
"Mother, she did save me and Marlene. It's the least I could repay her," Aeris said.
Elmyra signed, then put on a smile. "Well... of course. Come in, all of you." Elmyra led them inside into the living room where they all collapsed onto the sofas. "There's a spare room upstairs. Tifa! Tifa!"
A few moments later a girl with long dark brown hair which reached her knees came down the stairs in a long blue night gown which Aeris recognised as her own. "Yes?" The young girl walked into the living room with a look of surprise on her face when she saw who was lying on the couch. "Marlene? Is that you?"
The young girl sat up and looked at who had called her name. At first a look of surprise and relief crossed her face, but then her expression turned into an angry frown, and she looked away.
"Marlene! Oh I'm so glad you're ok! Oh I feel so much better now!" She exclaimed.
Aeris looked at this girl and thought she recognised her... from somewhere. The girl turned to look at her too a plain look of recognition on her face. "Aeris?" The girl asked.
"Tifa!" Aeris exclaimed, suddenly remembering the other girl.
"What are you doing here?" Tifa demanded.
"I live here. What are you doing here?" Aeris replied, in the same tone.
"You're the daughter she was taking about?"
"I found Tifa injured on the street," Elmyra said. "She was very bad and had no place else to go so I brought her here."
"What, as a replacement for me?"
"Excuse me?"
"You gave up hope on me so you get a replacement right?" Aeris said, her voice rising slightly.
"Aeris! She was injured what-?" Elmyra shook her head, surprised at Aeris' comment.
"Sorry," Aeris said with an apologetic expression on her face. "I'm just tired." The young ancient looked down at the ground.
"Anyway, Tifa can you go up and make the bed in the spare room for Marlene?" Elmyra asked kindly.
Tifa nodded. "Sure Ms Elmyra," and went upstairs.
The older woman turned back to the others.
"I'm going to take a shower," Aeris said getting up.
"While you're at it, why don't you go and take Marlene upstairs and prepare for bed. You must all be hungry so come downstairs after and I'll all make you some tea," Elmyra said. She walked over to Aeris and hugged her again, quickly. When she released her Aeris nodded and took the little girls hand and took her upstairs. As soon as she was out of sight Elmyra turned back to look at Mrs Samins who was avoiding her gaze.
"Would you like me to help you with the tea Ms Elmyra?" The woman asked sweetly.
"Don't try to fool me Railen, I'd recognise those cold dark eyes anywhere," Elmyra said with clenched teeth.
The woman looked up, and now returned Elmyra's gaze. "It's Samins now, and please, call me by, my first name," the other woman said flatly.
"So, Jinette Samins eh?" Elmyra raised an eye brow.
Jinette nodded.
"Who's the unlucky fellow?" Elmyra shot.
"Look Elmyra, I know what you're thinking-"
"What the hell are you doing here and what do you want?" Elmyra demanded.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to do anything bad -Elmyra, I just need a place to stay-"
"What are you planning to do with Aeris?"
"Elmyra listen! Don't you think I would have done something to her already? Don't you think I wouldn't have saved her ass TWICE if I was planning to do something to her? And anyway, I quit the Turks ages ago."
"So I've heard."
"And I quit Shinra today- well actually yesterday."
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"It's true." Jinette insisted. "I've changed Elmyra, and now I want to repair the damage I caused to you... and the rest of Midgar. I know some of the things I did...are not repairable, but I want to do the best I can. Also, I can now finally see just how wrong the things Shinra's doing are... So can you please let me stay here, just for the night? Please... I've had an awful day and I just really need to sleep."
There was a long moment of silence when Elmyra just stared deeply into her old friend's eyes.
"I don't know what's wrong with me but something inside of me trusts you."
Jinette smiled.
"You can stay here- but just for tonight and I want you outa here tomorrow morning you hear?"
Jinette nodded. "Thank you Elmyra. You were always so good to me... I'm really sorry for everything-"
"I don't want to hear it Jinette. Anyway, you're just lucky Aeris doesn't recognise you. I'll go and make some tea."
--
At three AM she still couldn't sleep despite her fatigue. She sat up on the couch and tip-toed upstairs. She knew it. Her light was on. She couldn't sleep as well. Jinette gently tapped on the wooden door.
"Come in," replied a tired voice. Jinette hesitantly opened the door, and stepped in to see her old friend sitting up in her bed, staring off into space.
"Oh. It's you." Elmyra slowly turned her head to look at her. "What do you want?"
Jinette didn't reply for a long time. She didn't know what to say.
"Well?"
Finally, Jinette gazed at her old friend with pleading eyes which welled up with tears. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry..."
Elmyra looked at her with pure contempt. "Go away."
But she didn't move. "...Elmyra...please..."
"It's bad enough you're in my house. Don't come anywhere near me."
Jinette slowly nodded, her head bowed low and exited the room.
----------
Jinette had just finished getting dressed the next morning, and went downstairs to the kitchen where the rest were having breakfast to say goodbye. Everyone looked up when she walked into the kitchen.
"Well... thanks for letting me stay Elms- I mean, Elmyra. Before I go-"
"You're going?" Aeris said.
"Yes. I really must get going soon-"
"Why don't you stay and have some breakfast with us Mrs Samins?" Marlene asked politely.
"Umm..."
"I'm sure Mrs Samins is in a hurry," Elmyra said.
"Well..."
"It's the least I could do for you Mrs Samins. You did save mine and Marlene's life remember? C'mon, I insist."
Jinette shook her head. "Sorry, I really must go, and anyway, I don't feel like eating. She looked at the long dark hared girl. "Ummm Tina, is it?
"The name's Tifa," The young girl said, with a slight sign of hostility.
"Tifa, yes, that's right- sorry. Can I speak to you quickly before I go?"
Tifa got up and followed Jinette into the living room.
"So what is it?" she asked.
"Umm, well Tifa, I understand you know Marlene right?"
The other woman hesitated a bit before answering. "Yes..."
"Do you know Barret Wallace?"
Again Tifa hesitated. "...Why?"
"Because I need to see him but, I don't know exactly where he lives."
"Sorry, can't tell you that."
"Tifa please."
The young girl shook her head. "I'm gonna go back to the kitchen," Tifa said, turning away, but before she could go anywhere she was caught still by Jinette's surprisingly strong arm. "Hey!"
"Look, I know who Barret Wallace is, ok? So you don't have to hide anything from me."
"Why do you want me to lead you to Barret?" She asked suspiciously.
"It's a long story, but we need to get there - fast."