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Say Goodnight and Go- Chapter 8

Ifalna watched Gast toss and turn fitfully beside her in bed. His head was so heavy with troubles from his past she often wondered how he slept at all. As much as he analyzed and questioned everything she was the night was her turn to watch the ‘Secret Gast’ appear. His brow was furrowed in agony, fists clenching the bed sheets, and mumbling strange numbers and names. She delicately touched his shoulder, which stilled him for a moment and she sighed.

Slipping out of the bed she grabbed her robe and wrapped it tightly around her. The northern winds were still blowing hard even though winter was almost past them. Shuffling into the den she sat down in an old rocking chair and pulled Gast’s paper work towards her from where it lay on the small table nearby. Ifalna flicked through the pages not really looking for anything in particular, but simply trying to pass the time before her eyes grew heavy once again.

She had been living a pretty quiet existence before Gast had shown up in her world. Of course, it was not by choice that she had come to hunker down in the Northern continent. Her parents being two of the last remaining Cetra had constantly kept her on the move. She never felt angry about having to hide who she was from other people; they seemed to think she was rather odd anyways and kept their distance. She never felt alone though, she had the planet and its ever changing chorus of voices, though lately those voices had become sadder and more horrific with each year that passed.

It wasn’t until Gast came crawling through a particularly blustery winter day that anyone had ever known what she was and understood. It didn’t take long for news of a stranger in town to reach her ears and when she had gone to the lodge to see the man, he had confided in her about his research. Ifalna was afraid at first, fearing that she would need to leave the small town, but when he told her of his own escape from ShinRa she felt a special connection to him. Both trying to hide from the world it had driven them together. He soon came to live in her small house and she told him everything about the Cetra.

When the topic came to Jenova though, Gast had spent many days in a quiet sadness. He wouldn’t say what troubled him, but she didn’t push him. Gast seemed to move past it though and continue his research with her, but with the utmost care. As their time grew together, so did their feelings.

It wasn’t really his looks that ever drew her to him, he was much older and the years of stress from work left their marks along his face. It was the way in which he cared for her and made sure that she was safe and comfortable. Even when they weren’t discussing research he would escort her around the town or try and invent things to do to pass the time. He even made a comical attempt at skiing which left them both with more bruises than they would care to admit.

This friendship-turned-love was not all laughs and smiles though. Ifalna watched Gast fight the urge to flee the town each day. He was sure that ShinRa would find them sooner or later and the sooner he was away from her, the better her life would be. Yet she couldn’t bear to have him go, no matter how much danger he assumed they were facing. He was one of the first persons who she had truly grown close to. Sure the people in the village were kind, but she spent such little time in getting to know anyone that it was as if she lived in the world all by her lonesome. She couldn’t help but think that Gast was exaggerating in his warnings of hordes of Turks on the way to destroy their peaceful existence. Surely ShinRa had other things more important than two innocent people?

The other thing which kept Gast firmly tied to the cabin in the north, was the fact that Ifalna had recently come to the realization she was with child. When she first told him it was not greeted with a tearful smile and a warm embrace, but a look of total terror. He had never wanted this to occur and as much as he loved Ifalna he did not want to risk an innocent child’s life.

Ifalna ran a hand over the beginning swell of her belly. The gentle warmth she felt soothed her and seemed to say that there was no danger she couldn’t face. Placing the research papers down on the table once more she stood and went to the window. The bright moonlight off the snow gave enough light for her to see for miles over the hilly landscape. She could not see the frightening shadows in the forest that Gast told of, nor the shapes of looming helicopters in the brilliant night sky. She could detect no boogieman and certainly if she and Gast had lived this peacefully so far, then perhaps there were many more calm years to come.

“Ifalna,” a croaking voice came from the doorway to the bedroom. Gast stood, running a hand through his messy hair. He stepped closer to her and turned his head to gaze out the window.

She turned to look up at him and then smiled warmly. “I don’t see anyone out there.”

“Turks can hide right under your nose and you’d simply think it was the hair above your lip,” he grumbled and pulled her away from the window. “Don’t stand so close, if you can see clearly out there, they can see inside just as well.”

She stamped her foot and gripped his arm. “Stop it! No one could be looking for us up here. The world is a large place Gast, ShinRa has other things on its mind.”

“You don’t understand. Hojo…” he stopped for a moment shaking his head. “They will never let me live in peace. I know far too much for them to simply let me go.”

“Then go to someone and tell them what you know. We could fight back somehow. I’ve heard of underground resistance groups in the south.” She watched him with a pleading look.

“Who would I go to? Everyone is under ShinRa’s thumb. Even if I could find one of these resistance groups, what good would it do? We would only be burdening another set of people. I would also be worried that they would use you to their own advantages. They’d most likely see us as just a pair of bargaining chips.” He pulled away from her and went to the kitchen area, putting the kettle on for a late night cup of coffee.

“Have you forgotten? This whole town has been keeping us hidden all this time. No one has said a word about who we are or gone to anyone outside of town.”

“Oh just wait, when times get hard enough someone will speak up. That’s why after the child is born we will leave here. Maybe we’ll go to one of the smaller, less inhabited islands.” He began looking through the cupboards for a mug and saucer, trying to avoid Ifalna’s glare. “I could take up fishing even.” He gave a soft laugh, trying to break the tension.

“Do you honestly think we could move the child after she’s born? Babies are delicate things Gast,” Ifalna’s voice rose as she shuffled over to the stove, warming her hands.

“I know they are, but it is for the best. We’ve stayed here too long and we’ve grown soft.” He sighed and removed the kettle from the stove, pouring the dark coffee into an earthenware mug. He took a slow sip and closed his eyes, savoring the rich taste.

“Well what about the child? She won’t have any friends. What about her education?”

“I can teach the child everything I know. You don’t think I’m smart enough?” Gast smiled at her once more trying to warm her up to the idea. “And she can make friends when she is older and learned about the dangers that she faces.”

“This town really has grown on me Gast, can’t you give it a chance?” She reached over and touched his arm. He looked down at her and as their eyes met she could see the fear within his own features that was breaking him down inside. She understood his reasons, but she didn’t want to have to put her child through the same loneliness that she had faced.

Gast gave a great sigh and leaned close to his wife, kissing her softly on her forehead. “Alright, I’ll give it a second thought. But promise me that you will think about what I am asking for as well Ifalna.” He lightly reached up and caressed her cheek.

“I will darling,” brightness returning to her voice. Maybe with time she could convince him to stay here. It was their private winter wonderland after all and she wanted it to stay that way for as long as she could keep it so.

* * *

Gast stared down at the squirming infant in his arms. It had only been two days since she was born and it already felt like a lifetime of memories had been made. She gazed up at him in such a way that made him weak with every breath he took. Though each time he stroked her cheek or brushed his hand over her bald head, he couldn’t help but think of the young boy he left behind in Midgar.
Sephiroth’s birth was far more dramatic and frightening. Aeris had come into the world on a bright, sunny day with smiling people all around her and the feelings of love and care. Gast’s thoughts on moving away were quite changed by now. Maybe it would be alright to stay for another couple of years. Just till she built her first snowman, made her first snow angel, or learned a few words.

She had suddenly become a boost of hope in Gast’s life and seeing her with her mother was all the more a true comfort to his heart. Aeris was so much like Ifalna and he certainly wasn’t jealous of that. He had pride in that she would certainly have his smarts; he had no doubts of this.

Setting her back down in her crib he watched her lay back and reach up at the mobile that passed over her head. Gast brought it closer to her and her delicate fingers wrapped around the cut-out of a shooting star. He smiled as he watched her bring it close to her face and begin to chew on the cloth. Yes, she was his little fallen star, bright and beautiful. He would do everything within his power to protect her from this point on.

Description
Say Goodnight and Go- Chapter 8

Ifalna watched Gast toss and turn fitfully beside her in bed. His head was so heavy with troubles from his past she often wondered how he slept at all. As much as he analyzed and questioned everything she was the night was her turn to watch the ‘Secret Gast’ appear. His brow was furrowed in agony, fists clenching the bed sheets, and mumbling strange numbers and names. She delicately touched his shoulder, which stilled him for a moment and she sighed.

Slipping out of the bed she grabbed her robe and wrapped it tightly around her. The northern winds were still blowing hard even though winter was almost past them. Shuffling into the den she sat down in an old rocking chair and pulled Gast’s paper work towards her from where it lay on the small table nearby. Ifalna flicked through the pages not really looking for anything in particular, but simply trying to pass the time before her eyes grew heavy once again.

She had been living a pretty quiet existence before Gast had shown up in her world. Of course, it was not by choice that she had come to hunker down in the Northern continent. Her parents being two of the last remaining Cetra had constantly kept her on the move. She never felt angry about having to hide who she was from other people; they seemed to think she was rather odd anyways and kept their distance. She never felt alone though, she had the planet and its ever changing chorus of voices, though lately those voices had become sadder and more horrific with each year that passed.

It wasn’t until Gast came crawling through a particularly blustery winter day that anyone had ever known what she was and understood. It didn’t take long for news of a stranger in town to reach her ears and when she had gone to the lodge to see the man, he had confided in her about his research. Ifalna was afraid at first, fearing that she would need to leave the small town, but when he told her of his own escape from ShinRa she felt a special connection to him. Both trying to hide from the world it had driven them together. He soon came to live in her small house and she told him everything about the Cetra.

When the topic came to Jenova though, Gast had spent many days in a quiet sadness. He wouldn’t say what troubled him, but she didn’t push him. Gast seemed to move past it though and continue his research with her, but with the utmost care. As their time grew together, so did their feelings.

It wasn’t really his looks that ever drew her to him, he was much older and the years of stress from work left their marks along his face. It was the way in which he cared for her and made sure that she was safe and comfortable. Even when they weren’t discussing research he would escort her around the town or try and invent things to do to pass the time. He even made a comical attempt at skiing which left them both with more bruises than they would care to admit.

This friendship-turned-love was not all laughs and smiles though. Ifalna watched Gast fight the urge to flee the town each day. He was sure that ShinRa would find them sooner or later and the sooner he was away from her, the better her life would be. Yet she couldn’t bear to have him go, no matter how much danger he assumed they were facing. He was one of the first persons who she had truly grown close to. Sure the people in the village were kind, but she spent such little time in getting to know anyone that it was as if she lived in the world all by her lonesome. She couldn’t help but think that Gast was exaggerating in his warnings of hordes of Turks on the way to destroy their peaceful existence. Surely ShinRa had other things more important than two innocent people?

The other thing which kept Gast firmly tied to the cabin in the north, was the fact that Ifalna had recently come to the realization she was with child. When she first told him it was not greeted with a tearful smile and a warm embrace, but a look of total terror. He had never wanted this to occur and as much as he loved Ifalna he did not want to risk an innocent child’s life.

Ifalna ran a hand over the beginning swell of her belly. The gentle warmth she felt soothed her and seemed to say that there was no danger she couldn’t face. Placing the research papers down on the table once more she stood and went to the window. The bright moonlight off the snow gave enough light for her to see for miles over the hilly landscape. She could not see the frightening shadows in the forest that Gast told of, nor the shapes of looming helicopters in the brilliant night sky. She could detect no boogieman and certainly if she and Gast had lived this peacefully so far, then perhaps there were many more calm years to come.

“Ifalna,” a croaking voice came from the doorway to the bedroom. Gast stood, running a hand through his messy hair. He stepped closer to her and turned his head to gaze out the window.

She turned to look up at him and then smiled warmly. “I don’t see anyone out there.”

“Turks can hide right under your nose and you’d simply think it was the hair above your lip,” he grumbled and pulled her away from the window. “Don’t stand so close, if you can see clearly out there, they can see inside just as well.”

She stamped her foot and gripped his arm. “Stop it! No one could be looking for us up here. The world is a large place Gast, ShinRa has other things on its mind.”

“You don’t understand. Hojo…” he stopped for a moment shaking his head. “They will never let me live in peace. I know far too much for them to simply let me go.”

“Then go to someone and tell them what you know. We could fight back somehow. I’ve heard of underground resistance groups in the south.” She watched him with a pleading look.

“Who would I go to? Everyone is under ShinRa’s thumb. Even if I could find one of these resistance groups, what good would it do? We would only be burdening another set of people. I would also be worried that they would use you to their own advantages. They’d most likely see us as just a pair of bargaining chips.” He pulled away from her and went to the kitchen area, putting the kettle on for a late night cup of coffee.

“Have you forgotten? This whole town has been keeping us hidden all this time. No one has said a word about who we are or gone to anyone outside of town.”

“Oh just wait, when times get hard enough someone will speak up. That’s why after the child is born we will leave here. Maybe we’ll go to one of the smaller, less inhabited islands.” He began looking through the cupboards for a mug and saucer, trying to avoid Ifalna’s glare. “I could take up fishing even.” He gave a soft laugh, trying to break the tension.

“Do you honestly think we could move the child after she’s born? Babies are delicate things Gast,” Ifalna’s voice rose as she shuffled over to the stove, warming her hands.

“I know they are, but it is for the best. We’ve stayed here too long and we’ve grown soft.” He sighed and removed the kettle from the stove, pouring the dark coffee into an earthenware mug. He took a slow sip and closed his eyes, savoring the rich taste.

“Well what about the child? She won’t have any friends. What about her education?”

“I can teach the child everything I know. You don’t think I’m smart enough?” Gast smiled at her once more trying to warm her up to the idea. “And she can make friends when she is older and learned about the dangers that she faces.”

“This town really has grown on me Gast, can’t you give it a chance?” She reached over and touched his arm. He looked down at her and as their eyes met she could see the fear within his own features that was breaking him down inside. She understood his reasons, but she didn’t want to have to put her child through the same loneliness that she had faced.

Gast gave a great sigh and leaned close to his wife, kissing her softly on her forehead. “Alright, I’ll give it a second thought. But promise me that you will think about what I am asking for as well Ifalna.” He lightly reached up and caressed her cheek.

“I will darling,” brightness returning to her voice. Maybe with time she could convince him to stay here. It was their private winter wonderland after all and she wanted it to stay that way for as long as she could keep it so.

* * *

Gast stared down at the squirming infant in his arms. It had only been two days since she was born and it already felt like a lifetime of memories had been made. She gazed up at him in such a way that made him weak with every breath he took. Though each time he stroked her cheek or brushed his hand over her bald head, he couldn’t help but think of the young boy he left behind in Midgar.
Sephiroth’s birth was far more dramatic and frightening. Aeris had come into the world on a bright, sunny day with smiling people all around her and the feelings of love and care. Gast’s thoughts on moving away were quite changed by now. Maybe it would be alright to stay for another couple of years. Just till she built her first snowman, made her first snow angel, or learned a few words.

She had suddenly become a boost of hope in Gast’s life and seeing her with her mother was all the more a true comfort to his heart. Aeris was so much like Ifalna and he certainly wasn’t jealous of that. He had pride in that she would certainly have his smarts; he had no doubts of this.

Setting her back down in her crib he watched her lay back and reach up at the mobile that passed over her head. Gast brought it closer to her and her delicate fingers wrapped around the cut-out of a shooting star. He smiled as he watched her bring it close to her face and begin to chew on the cloth. Yes, she was his little fallen star, bright and beautiful. He would do everything within his power to protect her from this point on.