Ohh, I never thought it'd be so hard to let you go. Oh it's deafening,
(I just want you to know)
Tell me how I'm gonna make it, you're the one I can't forget.
It's like I'm running in slow motion in a nightmare that never ends.
When I try to face it when I wake up, I hate the way reality sets in.
God, I wish you could hold me through the seven days of lonely.
(The seven days of lonely, yeah)
the bitter truth.
I'm doing everything for the first time again without you.
I pretend I'm okay,
but it aches inside.
There's got to be a way that's better than just getting by.
- "Seven Days of Lonely" by I Nine
---
Yuffie started out at the night sky, the stars shining brightly down on the small town. A few lights shone in the surrounding houses – a few people having come back to Edge; the town growing more populated daily.
"Please, I just want him back," Yuffie whispered.
She sat on the windowsill, resting her head against her knees, her arms wrapped around her legs as she stared out at the dark night. She sat in the darkness, coming to really like the dark, the thick blackness making her feel closer to Vincent. Yuffie sniffed, her shoulder's shaking as she thought of the gunslinger and the way his crimson eyes pierced her very soul.
As the tears spilled from her storm grey eyes, she didn't wipe them away; she felt she needed to cry for the gunslinger.
It was all her fault anyway.
Even if he was alive somewhere – he wouldn't forgive her, she knew it.
But even that lifeline seemed to have slipped out of her grasp. She had searched all over the remains of Midgar and through Edge all the way to Junon. Vincent wasn't on the continent. But at the same time, she felt that leaving the continent, was turning her back on him.She eventually had to give up, Vincent wasn't returning. Aeris was unable to help her, unable to hear her cries and pleas every night.
Yuffie knew Tifa and the others still thought she was searching mindlessly for the gunslinger, when all she did was sit down outside the bar, hiding inside when she saw the others coming down the street. When the feeling of lose overwhelmed her, she'd try to drink her problems away. Being of age did have some perks . . .
But, the drinks didn't help her. Not only did her head pound mercilessly at her the next day, but the hole in her heart just seemed to grow bigger as she tried to drown her problems away. Yuffie lifted her head from her knees as she heard movement downstairs – Shelke, Reeve and Rufus were back.
"Looks like they're back."
Vaguely, she wondered what the three had been up to as she heard the low rumble of their voices downstairs. She shook her head, dropping her head back to her knees.
It didn't matter. She didn't care. It all seemed irrelevant.
She could hear their booming laughter, the loud noise drifting up the stairs. Yuffie let out a groan, her eyebrows coming together, shifting closer to the window frame. She felt the coldness of the window pane press against her skin, the cold calming her. Yuffie inwardly smirked. The cold always had bothered her before, but now that her body felt cold permanently, the coldness seemed one with her. Yuffie flinched as she heard her bedroom door open, the warm light from the hallway falling across her floor. "
Go away!" she yelled, hearing her voice tremble, not having used her voice for most of the week. "Leave me alone!"
She heard the door close, the door encased in the darkness of night once more, Yuffie sighed, she liked it like this . . . light wasn't warm anymore: not without him. Yuffie shook her head, she thought the floorboards creak.
It must have been out in the hallway, she thought.
No one bothered coming into her room much. She had yelled at Tifa, had thrown a well aimed kick at Barret and had bit down on Cloud when he had tried to forcefully remove her from the dark room. Needless to say, after that, no one really paid attention to what the ninja did; giving her the wish she wanted - to be ignored. Except for Shelke, everyone seemed to do her wishes.
"Please, don't cry," Yuffie jumped out of her thoughts, freezing as a hand fell onto her shoulder. "Won't you smile for me?"
It couldn't be true, her mind screamed at her.
Slowly, Yuffie lifted her head from her knees, to look through the darkness. She had to have been imagining this.
Then, her heart froze.
Clad in the same clothes she had ingrained in her memory, his red cloak folded over his arm instead. His crimson eyes still pierced her in the same way it had before, but he looked over her, worry evident in his eyes.
"Vincent . . ."
The gunslinger nodded at her whisper, her voice cracking from not using it. Yuffie ran a hand underneath her eyes before she launched herself from the windowsill, colliding heavily into the gunslingers chest. Her small arms wound themselves around his torso, burying her face into his chest as she cried loudly, her words unintelligible.
"I missed you, Yuffie," he said, his voice low.
He placed his arms around the crying ninja, pulling her closer to him, letting the small girl cry out. He ran his hand idly across her back, trying to calm her down.
"I . . . I . . ." Yuffie shook her head, her storm grey eyes watery as she looked up at him. "I thought . . . hic . . . you died!"
"You know I wouldn't leave you," Vincent whispered, bringing his lips down on hers.
Her crying stopped as he brought his lips to hers, her grip on him growing tighter. Vincent smiled against her, running his spare hand through her short hair. "I would never leave you, I love you."
Yuffie heart picked up; Vincent had never told her that in so many words. She blinked as she felt Vincent's hands leave her, pouting a bit as he broke the kiss, his hands nimbly grasping her wrists, pulling her hands so they were between them. Yuffie looked at him with a raised eyebrow, as he held her small hands in his, his eyes never leaving hers.
Then, Yuffie thought her heart was going to stop.
Vincent let go of one of her hands to pull a small, velvet box from his pants pocket.
Yuffie's heartbeat picked up as Vincent held her gaze, dropping down to one knee.
Yuffie's hands fell to her side as Vincent opened up the small box.
"Yuffie, will you marry me?"
Yuffie's heart stopped at those four words.
She looked at the ring inside the box, the band was small and silver, one lone diamond in the center, a smaller crimson stone on either side of the diamond. She looked back into his crimson eyes, nodding slowly. "Yes, yes, oh god yes."
Yuffie saw a small on Vincent's face at her words, the apprehension on his face disappearing, as he took her hand in his, his crimson eyes never leaving her. A blush came to Yuffie's features as Vincent took the small ring from the velvet box, slipping the delicate ring onto her finger.
"Vincent . . . it's . . . beautiful!"
Her vision blurred as tears sprung to her eyes. Vincent watched Yuffie as she brought her ringed hand up to her face, looking intently as it. Her breath catching at the sight of the ring - it had to have been expensive - she looked up at Vincent, speechless.
"Shh, don't cry," Vincent said, pulling her to him again, running a hand underneath her eyes.
Yuffie laughed, leaning against him. "I'm just happy, that's all."
Yuffie wrapped her arms around Vincent, her small hands gripping his shirt again. She never wanted to let him go. She smiled as she heard his heartbeat in her ear, he was real. She felt Vincent run a hand through her short hair, his other hand crushing her tight against him.
Standing up on her tiptoes, Yuffie brought her lips to his. Feverently, Yuffie kissed him, seeking him, her hands running up and down his back. Vincent complied with her actions, backing the ninja up against the wall, his body flush against hers. Vincent drew away from Yuffie as the girls' fingers slipped underneath his shirt. He grasped her wrists before she could go any higher, Yuffie's eyes wide as she looked at him.
"Yuffie . . ."
Yuffie shook her head. "Vincent . . . I," she smiled. "We're engaged."
Vincent smiled at her response, their eyes locking. "We are."
"After all this time . . . I . . . I want this."
If Vincent was taken aback by Yuffie's words, he didn't show it. Yuffie looked at him, her eyes set as he nodded slowly. "If you want this."
Yuffie grinned, nodding eagerly. She felt her heart beat faster as she felt Vincent's lips against hers, her breath catching as Vincent's lips left hers to trail down her jaw line, stopping at the junction between her neck and shoulder. She shuddered, her back arching as she felt Vincent's tongue touch her ivory skin, before his teeth nipped at her skin.
"V-Vincent," she stuttered.
Her feeling's taking over; Yuffie slipped her hands underneath his shirt, running her hands over his muscular chest. She was vaguely aware of Vincent's lips leaving her neck, crushing against her lips once more after helping the smaller girl get his shirt over his head. Yuffie let her hands wander over his chest, her hands getting lost in his long hair, pulling the bandana out.
"You have no idea how good that feels," Vincent said, taking his lips away from hers.
Yuffie smiled, unsure what to say. "Vincent . . . I . . ."
Vincent nodded, lips touching hers lightly. Yuffie closed her eyes as Vincent's hands wandered to her pajama top's buttons, fumbling with them. Taking courage in this, he wanted it too - she reached her hands down; his shoulders, his muscular arms to the too of his pants, trying to undo his belt buckle. She shivered as Vincent undid her last button, slipping the material from her thin shoulders, before pushing her hands away.
"Yuffie," he breathed. "If we continue –"
Yuffie shook her head. "I want this – it's been three years . . . I don't have much restraint left."
Yuffie shivered as Vincent agreed with her, his voice low in her ear.
Before she could react then, Vincent had grasped her arms tightly, pushing the ninja onto the bed, covering the shivering girl with his own body. His fingers trailed down her body, quickly ridding the girl of her remaining clothes. Yuffie, unsure what to do, tentatively touching his hips to show him she was ready. She heard a growl deep within his chest as he pushed her trembling hands away from him. Yuffie's breath caught as Vincent's lips covered hers, trailing down her body, her back arching as he lowered himself.
---
Vincent leaned against the headboard, his crimson eyes looking down at the dark haired woman beside him. Yuffie lay beside him, her head resting on his scarred chest, her body intertwined with his beneath the covers. Her body raised slowly as she slept, subconsciously moving herself closer to him in her sleep, a sense of warmth. Vincent sighed, running a hand over her short black hair and to her bare shoulders, the rest of her covered by the sheets.
Yuffie gave a slight groan as she came too, pressing her head against his chest, trying to block out the morning light. Vincent gave a chuckle at the girls' actions, the rising of his chest making Yuffie slowly open her storm grey eyes. "Vincent . . .?"
Vincent nodded, Yuffie's voice heavy with sleep. "Good morning."
Yuffie stifled a yawn as she looked up at him, the sheets falling slightly with her movements. "You really are here, it wasn't a dream . . ."
"Is that what you thought?" Vincent sighed, running his hand idly across her back as she put her head back on his chest.
Yuffie blushed at his words, glancing at the curtained window moving in the morning breeze. Vincent let out a low laugh at her silence, crimson eyes staring at her.
"Something smells good . . ." Yuffie eventually said, breaking their silence.
"Tifa and Shera must be in the kitchen," Vincent mused, glancing at the light up clock on the nightstand - nine am. "Would you like to go down, get it over with?"
"Over with?" Yuffie repeated, looking up at him, eyebrows raised. "What're you talking about?"
"No doubt they could hear you last night . . ."
Yuffie could imagine Vincent smirking as he said that as she let out a gasp, her face turning red. Her voice caught in her throat as Vincent drew her close to him, his chin atop her head.
"Oh no . . . that's SO embarrassing!" she mumbled into his chest.
"It'll be alright," Vincent said, toying with the ends of her short hair. "Didn't Tifa always wonder why we didn't . . . ?"
"Vincent!" Yuffie threw him a look before sighing. "I suppose you're right, let's go."
Vincent nodded, raising an eyebrow as Yuffie didn't move. "Yuffie . . .?"
"You're watching," she mumbled, eyes looking anywhere but at him.
Vincent let out a laugh at her words - he wasn't expecting that. "After last night, I didn't think it would matter much," he shook his head. "But, if it means that much to you - I won't look."
Yuffie paused as she took in his words, glancing up at him to make sure he was serious. He seemed to be, his crimson eyes looking away from her and to the window. Slowly, Yuffie disentangled herself from him, slipping out of the bed. She shivered as her feet touched the cool hardwood floor, the sheet slipping away from her tiny frame as she made her way over to the dresser. As she opened the drawer, she looked back at Vincent to check that he wasn't looking. She nodded, seeing he wasn't.
---
Yuffie dreaded going downstairs. As she and Vincent made their way down the stairwell - which looked twice as long to Yuffie - she fought back a blush at what the others would say to her, her hand grabbing Vincent's, her fingers intertwining with his. She smiled up at him as she felt his fingers curl around her hand as they reached the bottom of the stairs, turning the corner to enter the large kitchen.
"Morning Vincent, Yuffie . . . good night I take it?"
Yuffie stuttered, her face turning beat red as Cloud said that. How could he . . .? Yuffie took a deep breath, casting a quick glance at Vincent as she felt him grip her hand tightly. Tifa just rolled her eyes at Cloud, throwing her dish cloth at him from over the bar's counter as she leaned against it. "It's about time, you know?" she shook her head, smiling at Yuffie before throwing a heated glance at Cloud. "Please, ignore Cloud; men aren't sensitive like we are." Tifa winked at Yuffie.
". . . What's for breakfast?" Yuffie said, knowing her face was still bright as she tried to change the subject.
"Pancakes!" Marlene chirped from the booth against the wall.
Yuffie smiled, and still gripping Vincent's hand in hers, wandered over to the booth slipping in beside Shelke. Vincent slipped in beside Yuffie, the ninja leaning against his side, Vincent's arm resting on top of the booth's cushions. Yuffie blinked, seeing Marlene's staring at her from across the table.
"What's up Marlene?"
Marlene frowned, shrugging off whatever was in her mind. "You don't look like you're in pain."
Barret, sitting beside Marlene, dropped his fork in surprise. Shelke let out a cough to cover up her laugh, but failed. Yuffie felt her body temperature rise, fidgeting under Marlene's stare, the young girl waiting for an answer.
How on earth could she explain to Marlene what had happened . . .
"I'm alright, really." Yuffie said awkwardly, shifting in the booth.
She let out a wince as she shifted, glad Marlene didn't notice it, as she felt a sudden wave of pain from between her legs.
"I took care of Yuffie," Vincent said looking at Marlene as Yuffie pushed her back against him, wishing she could disappear.
"I bet you sure did," Shelke muttered under her breath, earning a glare from Vincent.
"Well that's good," Marlene chirped, picking up her cereal spoon. "I could hear you yelling, it sounded like you were in pain."
Yuffie stuttered, her body temperature raising more as Marlene kept speaking. Shelke's shoulder's shook in silence, earning a shove from Vincent, forcing the girl to try and remain straight faced. "Don't worry," she said, leaning in to Yuffie. "I put a sleep spell on her; she missed the majority of it."
"Good thing," Barret grumbled, glaring over at Yuffie. "I don't need you influencing my little girl like that; she doesn't need to know that for a couple more years."
Yuffie glared back at him from her position beside Vincent. "You say it like it's a bad thing – it'll happen eventually."
"Marlene," Barret cut in. "We need to have a grown up chat, go take your cereal into the kitchen and help Tifa and Shera, okay?"
Marlene sighed at her father's words, as she gathered up her cereal bowl and cup up as she slid out of the booth. She stopped as she stood up, looking back at Shelke, who was leaning against the wall. "Aren't you coming?"
Shelke shook her head. "Nah, you go on, I'm old enough to hear this."
Marlene sighed, frowning at Shelke as the brunette shooed her with her hand before turning back with interest to the conversation at hand. Barret watched Marlene go, disappearing into the back room, before turning back to Yuffie.
"For a ten-year-old girl it is bad; I don't want her growing up like you."
Yuffie froze at Barret's words, blinking as her vision swam, hoping to keep her sudden tears from falling. She felt Vincent's hands on her arm, running up and down it in hopes of calming her down, a low growl emanating from him. "That's too far, Barret," Vincent said calmly, his crimson eyes piercing the heavier set man. "I hardly think Yuffie's done anything horrible to make you think that."
Leaning into him, Yuffie could tell Vincent was trying to remain calm as he spoke. Although he might have been freed of Chaos now, she could tell he was trying to stop his anger from rising, his breathing and body feeling different to her.
"My daughter's bedroom was two doors down. If it wasn't for Shelke," - here Shelke held up her hands, not wanting to be drawn into the argument - "She would have heard Yuffie too."
"It's not singly her fault," Vincent said, not breaking eye contact, an arm around the oriental girls' waist. "We were both caught in the moment, it was natural."
Barret rolled his eyes. "Are you even of age yet?"
Yuffie, silent for once, glared at Barret. Slowly, she brought her hand up from its position on Vincent's hand, holding out her hand with a flourish, the ring Vincent gave her sitting on her ring finger. "Vincent proposed to me last night - we let our emotions guide us," Yuffie shifted her body slightly, her lips touching his.
From the other room, came the sound of dishes clattering to the floor, loudly breaking as they collided on the hardwood flooring. The tension was broken at the booth, the four looking over in the direction of the kitchen. Tifa cursed loudly from the room - Barret alarmed with Marlene in there - before the brunette appeared from around the door frame.
"Yuffie, Vincent - congrats!" Tifa squealed, quickly crossing the room to their booth.
Finally, she thought.
She stopped beside the table, her hand grabbing Yuffie's before she could pull away. Her wine coloured eyes widened as she looked at the silver ring, at the diamond perched in the center to the smaller red diamonds surrounding it. Tifa was silent as she admired it, her mouth opening and closing in silence. Finally, she looked up, still holding Yuffie's hand, as she held Vincent and Yuffie's gaze.
"I'm so happy for the two of you! Vincent, the ring's beautiful, you picked out . . . it's just . . . I'm speechless," Tifa grinned again, holding Yuffie's hand tighter in her happiness.
"Tifa, can you let my hand go, please?"T
ifa nodded, dropping Yuffie's hands. "Yuffie - can I see you?"
Yuffie nodded, Vincent slipping out of the booth to allow Yuffie out. Shelke watched the two of them disappear into the kitchen, before sliding out as well.
"Marlene, honey, can you take that to your room? Yuffie and I have to a big girl chat."
Marlene huffed from the table, loudly clinking her plates together as she picked them up. "Why am I the only one that has to leave?" she yelled, moving for the stairwell. "It's not fair!"
Tifa sighed, shaking her head as Marlene left the room before turning to Yuffie, hugging her. "Shera! Yuffie's engaged!"
Shera immediately dropped the plate back into the dish pan, making her way to the table as well. She noticed Shelke slid into the kitchen as well, the two joining Yuffie and Tifa at the table, the brunette wanting to know what happened last night. Yuffie fidgeted under their stares, her blush returning at Tifa's question.
"Well, I was sitting in my room crying, and I heard the door open. I thought it was you guys again, I turned around . . . and there was Vincent."
"And . . .?"
"He, well, he kissed me like there was no tomorrow," Yuffie whispered, smiling at the memory. "He held my hands in his and then he knelt down, opening the velvet box. I think my heart stopped when I saw it, I wasn't expecting it. I think I remembered crying as I accepted and he put the ring on my finger. After that, I kissed him . . . and then, well, it just went from there." Yuffie went bright red as she trailed off, her mind reliving the night before.
"We'll need to plan a wedding! Have you and Vincent thought of anything yet?"
Yuffie shook her head, swallowing as her body temperature remained, making her feel hot. "Tifa, after we got engaged . . . we, well, got engaged." Yuffie was silent for a couple moments. "I - I'm not sure if Vincent meant for it to go that far though."
Tifa raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? He proposed to you - sleeping together comes with the territory."
Shelke shook her head. "It's a simple slip of the tongue, Yuffie. I believe he meant that you couldn't do that on your own . . . I mean, you could, but he," Shelke shook head. "This isn't coming out right . . ."
"What did Vincent say?"
"He said that we got caught up in the moment." Yuffie said, staring at her ring.
"He loves you, Yuffie, you know that. If you don't believe that," Tifa shook her head. "Then you're not ready for marriage."
Yuffie narrowed her storm grey eyes, looking up at Tifa. "I am ready, I love him! We just let our emotions take us, we didn't even think . . ."
"That's how it happens," Tifa smiled, snapping her fingers. "It's unpredictable."
---
Yuffie grinned as she looked at herself in the full length mirror, turning this way and that to see every inch. She loved the dress; it had taken four months for her and Shera to find the right dress. She didn't know what she would have done without Shera, the engineer having already created her own dream wedding.
Her storm grey eyes looked over the dress: it was perfect for her, it fit her every curve - all of them. The dress was strapless and low cut, hanging on her small frame. The top of dress looked like a corset, tied up tightly underneath her shoulder blades. The bodice of the dress made her look less flat chested then the small B cup she wore, or maybe that was just her hormone's acting up - she wasn't really sure yet. The skirt portion of the dress was covered with small sequins, the material tight to her legs, flaring out at her knees, chiffon trailing from the back of her waist. Her arms and hands were bare as she ran her hands across the material of the dress, stopping as her hands reached the rounded bump on her stomach.
She was five months pregnant . . . and she'd been scared stiff when she found out.
Tifa and Yuffie stood in the small bathroom off the master bedroom in Nibelheim, a small stick in the oriental girl's hand. Yuffie blinked as the test started to work, her storm grey eyes looking worriedly at the stick, before holding it out, showing it to Tifa.
W-What does it mean?"
Tifa frowned, looking over the directions that were written on the small box. Finding what she was looking for, she looked up at Yuffie and smiled. "You're pregnant."
Yuffie felt instantly cold. "That can't be right . . . no way."
Tifa shook her head, holding the package out for Yuffie to see. "It's ninety-nine point nine percent accurate Yuffie. You mentioned that you have been late as well - you and Vincent are going to have a child."
"But . . . we couldn't . . ."
"Perhaps the protection broke?"
"We didn't use one," Yuffie shook her head.
"Well then . . . you should have known this could happen; this can't be a surprise."
"I know that, Tifa," Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Hojo experimented on Vincent and because of Vincent's fondness for Lucrecia; we both expected that Hojo would have made his sterile."
Tifa shrugged. "Either Hojo didn't do it right, or he forget in lieu of everything else. Unless . . . did you sleep with anyone else?"
"NO! God no! I had enough of a time letting Vincent see me . . ."
"Well, then you're both going to be parents whether you want to or not. When will you tell Vincent?"
"Tonight, I guess. When he comes home . . ."
Yuffie took a deep breath as she said that. Vincent, he had said that it was alright if he was sterile - he didn't like children that much. Yuffie wanted to cry as she thought that, placing her hand on her flat stomach.
She was going to have a baby with someone who didn't want a child.
---
Yuffie was sitting out on the mansion's porch when Vincent got home. Vincent, the new guns commander for the WRO, made Yuffie want to cry all over again as she saw him. He still had his long black hair, having traded his cloak in for a pair of black pants and shirt - the shirt tight and showing off his muscular chest. Vincent paused on the winding path as he saw Yuffie slowly approaching him; the unshed tears in her eyes evident to his enhanced eyes. He dropped his bag to the ground as Yuffie ran headlong into him, her hands around his waist, holding herself tightly to him. Vincent raised an eyebrow, instinctively placing his arms around his fiancée's back as she cried into his chest.
"Yuffie? Did something happen, are you okay?"
"I'm so sorry," she cried out, repeating it over again.
"What're you sorry about?" Vincent laughed, running his hand across her back.
Yuffie sniffed, casting her storm grey eyes up to his crimson ones. "Vincent . . . I . . . I'm pregnant!"
Vincent felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. "How . . .?"
"I'm three weeks late . . . Tifa bought a pregnancy test . . . was positive!" Yuffie sniffed, leaning her head against his chest.
Vincent was speechless. Yuffie was with child - their child, his child.
"I'm sorry . . ."
Vincent jolted out of his thoughts at her soft words. Grabbing Yuffie's arms, he held her away from him, her eyes avoiding his searching gaze. "Why are you sorry, Yuffie? We - you - you're pregnant."
"But you said you hated kids . . ."
Vincent laughed, pulling the sniffling woman to him. "I said that so you wouldn't have felt bad if I could never grant you a child."
"You mean . . .?"
Vincent nodded, running his hand down her arm to rest it on her flat stomach. Yuffie's heart beat faster at his touch, at his acceptance.
"I don't know how I'm going to leave you here in this deserted town now," Vincent mused, bringing her body flush against his. "I'm only going to worry more about you both now . . ."
Yuffie shuddered, his breath tickling her ear as he reached for her hand, leading her back towards the mansion; his bag forgotten on the grass in their haste to get back into the house.
Yuffie smiled slightly at the memory, jumping slightly as a knock sounded on the small room's door. Turning around, her dress shuffling noisily as the door opened a bit, Shera letting herself in.
Closing the door, Shera grinned at her. "You look beautiful, Yuffie. We're almost ready to get started - are you ready?"
Yuffie took a deep breath, nodding. "I think so . . . I can't believe this is it."
"You'll both be happy, I can't imagine anyone better for you both, you'll have a nice family," Shera added as she brushed Yuffie's hair, who was running her hand over her stomach.
"I hope so . . . I'm sort of scared."
Shera smiled, smoothing out Yuffie's hair. "That's natural, everyone always feels scared - but it's worth it when it's over."
Yuffie smiled, her eyebrow raising as Shera motioned for her to stand up, twirling Yuffie around so her back was to the mirror. "What are you doing Shera?"
"Your veil came in today," Shera chirped, placing a box down on the dressing table, opening it. "I added a little bit to it, I hope you don't mind."
Yuffie felt a shiver go up her spine as Shera placed the veil on her dark hair, moving the chiffon attached to it around. Tutting to herself, Shera moved in front of Yuffie, fixing the oriental girls' hair again; it had to be perfect. "There."
"Yuffie, Shera!" Tifa called, opening the room's door. Tifa, her hair all done elegantly to the top of her head, looking gorgeous in her knee length lilac dress, squealed as she entered the room. "Yuffie - you're gorgeous! I love it all; I take it the veil was your idea, Shera?"
Wanting to see the veil, Yuffie turned around to look at it in the mirror. Her bangs came to her eyebrows, a slight curl on the edges to draw them away from her face, a couple tendrils framing her face, the rest behind the veil. Her heart stopped as she saw what the veil had been attached too: a tiara.
"Do you like it?" Shera asked, her hands on Yuffie's shoulders. "I thought it was fitting, you being the Wutai Princess."
Yuffie smiled, easily slipping into the facade she had mastered. She hadn't told them, she didn't want to remember the harsh, last words her father had for her.
"I like it . . . its pretty."
That it was, a tiny silver tiara that encircled her head, a couple shining jewels embedded in it. "I don't know what to say."
"You look good, Yuffie, don't worry about it," Shelke smiled as she leaned in the doorframe, dressed in the same attire as both Tifa and Shera. "The wedding's just about to start, we're just waiting for you two," Shelke pointed to Tifa and Shera.
Tifa and Shera exchanged a glance, smiling at Yuffie before leaving the room.
"I'm sorry about your father," Shelke said, when the others' were gone. "You can take that tiara off; it wouldn't hurt Shera's feelings."
Yuffie shook her head, holding up the edge of train of her dress as she linked her arm with Shelke's. "Shera got it especially for me, she looked so happy."
"This isn't about Shera," Shelke said, stopping in front of the door, blocking Yuffie. "This is about you, the past is just that, Yuffie, remember that."
Yuffie shook her head, hearing the organ starting to play in the church, hearing Barret's booming voice as he told Marlene, all to happy to be the flower girl, to start down the aisle. "I am happy, come on, you're after Tifa, right? Reeve'll be waiting impatient as ever."
Shelke laughed. "That's men for you, right? I suppose Rufus isn't any better."
Yuffie smiled as she looked up at the group waiting behind the doors, Shera and Cid starting into the aisle. Shelke unlinked her arm from Yuffie's, running to Reeve's side, linking arms with him as they left after Tifa and Cloud. Yuffie sighed, her storm grey eyes falling to the floor, unsure what to say to the blonde haired male across from her.
"Thanks . . . Rufus."
Rufus nodded, his eyes piercing her. "You actually look kind of hot; too bad you're tying the knot."
Yuffie flushed a bright red at the ShinRa president's words as he crossed the hallway to her, intertwining his fingers with hers, leading her to the church doors.
As the wedding march started up in the church, the doors opening up for her; her storm grey eyes located Vincent at the altar. His crimson eyes locked on her alone, making her body temperature rise, all eyes on her. She flickered a glance at Rufus, deep down wishing it was her father . . .
Three months pregnant, her stomach hidden beneath her baggy t-shirt, Yuffie fidgeted, subconsciously leaning against Vincent. She smiled as the gunslinger moved his arm around her body, running a hand over her stomach.
"It'll be okay - we won't stay long."
Yuffie nodded, shivering as he whispered the words in her ears. Wutai's red Pagoda stood before them, Vincent opening the door for her as they ascended the stairs. Yuffie sighed as she entered the Pagoda, her childhood coming back to her, her fingers intertwining with Vincent's.
"Miss. Kisaragi?" Staniv's voice sounded, the man coming down the stairs.
Yuffie nodded, bowing slightly to him, her stomach getting in her way. "I am here to see my father, I bring him good news."
Staniv nodded, moving out of the way. "Lord Godo and Master Chekov will be happy to see you again."
Yuffie nodded to him, starting up the long stairwell. Once out of sight of Staniv, Vincent reached for Yuffie's waist, supporting her weight as he helped her up the stairs. Eventually, they made it to the top floor, Yuffie's breath coming heavy. The doors opened up for them as they approached Godo's room. Entering the room, the only light coming from the candles in the wall's holders, Yuffie let her hand drop from Vincent's as he leaned against the wall, crimson eyes locked on Yuffie as she moved to the center of the room.
He watched the oriental woman struggle to kneel in the middle of the room, wishing he could be there with her. However, knowing enough about Wutai's traditions and Godo's behavior to know she had to go alone.
"My daughter, you've returned," Lord Godo said, approaching her, Chekov a couple feet behind him. "Staniv says you bring good news."
Yuffie nodded, looking up at the two looming figures in the dim light. She hated this room. "Yes father, I wish to tell you that –"
"You're here to accept your position in Wutai's culture," Yuffie raised an eyebrow at her father's words. "Since you have returned and are now of age, Leviathan must believe it is time for you and Chekov to consummate your union."
". . . ?" Yuffie didn't understand.
Godo sighed at Yuffie's blank expression. "You will take your position behind Chekov and bare his children."
"Oh . . ." So that was why her father was happy to see her, he believed she was here to get married. She fought down the urge to look back at Vincent, knowing how much restraint he must have been using not to come forward. "Father . . . I am . . . already with child."
It all happened so fast then. Godo brought her hand back before slapping his daughter roughly. Yuffie, not expecting it, gave out a yelp, her hands stopping her from meeting the cold floor. Chekov past Godo, grabbing her arms roughly, the oriental woman letting out a cry, wincing as his grip tightened, cutting off her circulation before he crushed his lips eagerly, roughly, against hers. Yuffie kicked out, missing him.
However, her heart soared as she heard Vincent's low voice behind her. "Get. Your. Hands. Off. Her."
Chekov looked up from Yuffie, to her hidden stomach before looking at the gunslinger, noticing Vincent's hand on his holster. He let out a smirk, piercing everything together. "So, you're the one who defiled my wife . . ."
Yuffie shook her head, wiggling out of Chekov's lax grasp, moving to the gunslinger's side, her heart racing. She calmed down slightly as Vincent gripped her wrist, moving her behind him. "She was not yours, she wears my ring."
Godo started forward, glaring at the woman behind Vincent. "Pregnant and unmarried - if you refuse to marry Chekov, you are nothing better then a Midgar Whore, I should never have allowed you to leave here."
Tears sprang to Yuffie's eyes at her father's harsh, uncaring words as he spoke about her like that. "We shouldn't have come here," she mumbled, leaning her forehead against Vincent's back, her small fists gripping his shirt.
"If you leave here Yuffie," Godo said, hearing Yuffie's words. "You will be disowned and should you return here without my knowledge . . . you'll wish you were a Midgar Whore."
"She won't be returning if this is how you treat her," Vincent said in a low voice, sending a chill down Yuffie's spine; he sounded so menacing.
Turning around, he placed his hand on Yuffie's back, ushering her out of the room. Vincent stopped at the door, crimson eyes looking back hatefully to the two men in the room. "If this is how you treat her, I see why she left here so young . . ."
Yuffie stopped when they were out of view of the Pagoda, hidden beneath the tree line that linked the Pagoda to the small city. Vincent stopped behind Yuffie, placing a hand on her shoulder as they shook, trying to keep her tears welled up inside.
"Just let it out," he whispered, crushing her to him.
Yuffie just buried her face into his shirt, her small hands gripping it as she let out a cry, her tears falling from her eyes. Vincent just let her cry; running a hand across her back, knowing it was her raging hormones from her pregnancy making her so emotional.
"It'll be alright," he mumbled, rocking her. "It doesn't matter what he says . . . you must have expected something like this . . ."
Yuffie nodded, sniffing. "But, he called me a Whore!"
"Yuffie," Vincent sighed, his lips touching her forehead. "A Whore's someone who sleeps with multiple men for money - and as far as I know, I haven't paid you for anything. We're engaged . . . as I believe Tifa told you; it comes with the territory. You are mine."
Yuffie nodded her emotions raging over her at his simple words. "I am."
As Rufus led her up the aisle to the altar, offering the hand he held to Vincent, Yuffie felt her heartbeat sped up. She saw Vincent's eyes run over her body, making her blush as he wrapped his fingers around her palm. Yuffie's emotions raged over her body as she listened to what the minister said, tears springing to her eyes at different things he said, the tears spilling from her storm grey eyes as Vincent turned to look at her, holding both her hands in his, having prepared his own vows.
"I do," she smiled.
She fought down the urge to jump him as he looked down at her, slipping the expensive ring onto her small hand.
Yuffie sniffed, running her free hand underneath her eyes to see the ring better. It was on a silver band, a large clear diamond in the center of the ring, a tint of a crimson diamond from inside the clear one.
It was . . . beautiful.
The ring she had for Vincent was a lot plainer in comparison. When Vincent said "I do" to her vow to him, the tears came to her eyes again, blurring her vision. She laughed a little bit, running a hand under her eyes, mumbling she didn't know why she was crying so much.The minister concluded his speech soon after that, mentioning that the bride and groom could now kiss. Yuffie, her emotions having put her through the ringer during the long event, felt her heart soar as Vincent's lips touched hers. Yuffie wrapped her arms around his tuxedo jacket, crushing her body as best she could against him, her lips eagerly searching his. His lips crushing against her, her lips parting willingly for him as he ran his hands up her mostly bare back.
They broke apart, Yuffie blushing brightly as Cid stood up, yelling out; "We're not here to see how Yuffie got that way!" ignoring the girls as they glared at him, Shera hitting him, Reno suddenly interested in what was going on.
Vincent grinned, his arm around Yuffie's waist, Yuffie's hands on her stomach. "Now, now Cid," Vincent chided. "If you hadn't stopped us, you might have seen it."
Yuffie blushed brighter, her small hand knocking his chest. "That's so embarrassing!"
Marlene just raised an eyebrow at their actions, was Vincent and Yuffie showing them something? She shrugged as she heard the adults laugh at the two as Yuffie let out a groan, her face bright red as she hid her face in her hands, Vincent pulling her to him.
---
Yuffie let out a scream as she felt her body contract once more, her back arching as pain waved over her. Her body felt hot, her black hair sticking to her her, regardless of Vincent's hand running across her hair, speaking lowly to her.
"You're doing fine, Yuffie," Shelke said from the bottom of the bed. "You'll be okay."
Yuffie shook her head, seeing Shelke over the top of the sheet that blocked her view. "I don't want to - it hurts!"
She let out another yell as her body contracted again. Shelke sighed, pushing her lab coat sleeves back as her cold hands gripped Yuffie's knees, pulling them apart as Yuffie tried to fight her. "No, he's not ready!"
"Yes he is, Yuffie." Shelke said calmly, motioning for the nurse to come help her. "You got yourself into this, so you need to push, it'll be over soon."
Yuffie shook her head again, screwing her eyes up as she tried to push, her mouth opening in a silent scream, pain overtaking her once small frame.
She felt Vincent's gauntlet on her forehead, his voice low in her ear. "You're doing fine, Yuffie . . . we'll go home after this."
Shelke threw a dark glance at Vincent; that was unlikely. She rolled her eyes, men didn't know anything. She glanced back at Yuffie, the oriental woman letting out a scream. Shelke sighed, looking at the two of them; Yuffie's face red and pain-ridden, Vincent right beside her, looking worriedly at her, knowing he couldn't help her.
"I need a couple more pushes Yuffie, you're almost finished."
Yuffie glared at the top of Shelke's head; the rest of the WRO doctor hidden behind the sheet. "I can't," she panted, trying in vain to close her legs. "I'm not ready."
"But he is," Shelke countered, holding Yuffie back, the woman's strength fading. "He's already crowning - a few more pushes and you'll be a mom."
Yuffie's eyes widened, looking wildly up at Vincent. "Vincent," she cried. "I can't be a mom, I don't know how, I can't . . ."
"You'll be okay," Vincent mumbled. "I want you to push okay? Share your pain with me," Vincent winked, gripping her hand to remind her. "I am the one who made you like this"
"I hate to interrupt this," Shelke rolled her eyes. "But, we really should finish this."
Yuffie nodded, closing her eyes. "We're going to be parents . . ."
Yuffie clutched Vincent's hand in hers as she took a deep breath, her face turning red, a stifled moan escaping her lips as she pushed. A couple pushes later, Shelke gave a smile as Yuffie let out one last scream, her scream mixing with the cry of a child.
"Yuffie, Vincent, it's a . . . girl?"
Shelke raised an eyebrow, her mind whirling as she past the newborn to the waiting nurse. She smiled briefly as she turned back to Yuffie and Vincent; the oriental woman crying, exhausted mentally and physically from the long labor she'd been put through.
Something's not right, Shelke though. Yuffie had given birth to a girl, but when they'd done the ultrasound, it had clearly shown she was carrying a boy. Unless . . .
"Shelke!"
She jolted out of her thoughts at Vincent's yell, looking at the two. Yuffie had feebly closed her leg again, a whimper escaping from her.
"Yuffie - what's wrong?" Shelke heard Vincent say, his eyes full of worry. "What's wrong with her?"
Yuffie gave a cry as Shelke pried her legs apart, a gasp escaping from her, but was drowned out by Yuffie. "Yuffie, you need to push for me."
"No," Yuffie moaned, crying. "It hurts!"
"It will continue to grow more painful if -"
"What happened to her?"
"It didn't make sense, Yuffie giving birth to a daughter; her ultrasound showed her with a son! The only thing I can think of it that they were so close together, it looked like one heart - she's having twins Vincent."
Twins, Vincent thought, his body running cold. He had only been preparing for one child.
"Yuffie," Shelke shouted, agitated. "You're not trying."
"I can't," Yuffie cried. "I just had a child; it's not supposed to happen again so fast!"
"Yuffie, we - you, you're having twins," Vincent whispered to her. "We're half way there, just a little more, okay?"
Yuffie let out a whimper as she nodded, screwing her face up as she tried to push again. Yuffie's breath came heavy as she heard a loud, shrill cry from the other side of the sheet, slumping back against the mattress, her body tired and spent.
"We're parents," Yuffie mumbled, smiling at Vincent as Shelke took down the sheet covering the lower half of her body. "I can't believe it."
Vincent nodded, pressing his lips to hers, his hands running up and down her arms. With the help of Vincent, Yuffie managed to get herself up into a sitting position, her back against Vincent, his arm around her waist. Shelke had warned Yuffie not to move her legs too much, finding out why as she used to her legs to scoot closer to Vincent. Having just given birth twice, she was sore, the movement bringing a large wave of pain crashing over her. Shelke grinned at the two - Yuffie's eyes going in and out of focus as she tried to push back the sleep - as she walked towards the new parents, two bundles, one pink, one blue, in her arms. She gingerly placed one in each of Yuffie's arm, her motherly instinct's taking over as Yuffie rocked two bundles, her vision blurring with tears of happiness as she looked down at the bundles.
Yuffie smiled, turning to look at Vincent. "Vincent . . . they're ours . . ."
"They are, they look like their mom," Vincent whispered, kissing her forehead.
Shelke watched the two, Vincent taking the pink bundle from Yuffie as their son started to cry loudly. Yuffie rocked him in her arm, her spare hand running over his small face, eyelids, nose, lips, stopping at his chin. "Mommy loves you, yes I do! Shh, Shh, don't cry, we're all here for you. Awe, look who's curious," she laughed as her son's eyes opened, his tiny fingers curling around hers.
"He has your eyes, Yuffie," Vincent commented, their son looking at them with wide grey eyes.
The pink bundle in Vincent's arm opened her eyes at the loud cries, her eyes a deep brown like Vincent's had been before. The bundle moved, small hands reaching towards the man, her tiny fist closing around his dark bangs. "She's just like you," Vincent laughed, the tiny baby pulling his bangs.
Yuffie let out a laugh, leaning back against him, shifting her bundle around so he could see Vincent. "This is your daddy. He's not as mean and scary as he looks, but he'd do anything for you. No one will ever hurt you."
"Neither them or you, Mrs. Valentine," Vincent said, resting his chin atop Yuffie's head.
Shelke smiled at the two, watching the, from the side of the bed. "They're very beautiful; do you have any names in mind?" She asked, a small camera in hand.
"We only thought of a boy's name," Yuffie said, looking up at Vincent who nodded at her. "Damien."
"I like it," Shelke nodded. "But, what about your daughter?"
Yuffie nudged Vincent playfully in the side. "I want you to choose . . . you were so silent during the naming process, I want to know what you'd like."
Vincent was silent for a couple moments, looking from Yuffie down to the small pink bundle he held in his arms. "Trinity; I think that sounds pretty."
"Trinity . . . I like it too," Yuffie grinned, looking down at the small baby.
"Damien and Trinity, it suits," Shelke laughed, holding up the camera. "You know Reeve's called everyone by now and they're all down in the WRO kitchen waiting impatiently for the news. I'll leave you four alone afterwards."
Vincent nodded as Yuffie yawned, her tiredness washing over her, her eyes hardly staying open. As Shelke got the camera ready, Vincent held Trinity in his left arm, the small child hardly visible in the pink bundle, her tiny fists waving, Vincent's long bangs in her fist. Yuffie held Damien close to her chest, her eyes closed as she leaned tiredly against Vincent's chest, his arm around her waist, the sheets and blankets around Yuffie's legs.
"Perfect," Shelke said, squinting as she pressed the button, the bright light flashing. "I'll get these printed, everyone'll want to see them," Shelke said, storing the camera into her back pocket. "Awe, she's already asleep."
Yuffie's eyes had closed, her breathing deep. "She's had a busy day," Vincent said, shifting Yuffie slightly, bringing the younger woman tight to his chest, drawing the covers up to her shoulders, resting his chin atop her head.
Shelke let out a tiny laugh as she opened the room's door. "That sounded really painful for her, she needs a good nights sleep; more then one, mind you," Shelke shook her head. "I think two's enough for her, Vincent Valentine."
"Perhaps," Vincent shrugged, looking down at the petite girl in his arms, "But, when she was you with those two babies - I could see it in her eyes as she held them for the first time. To see what she and I could create, that they're ours - something no one can take away from her; all the pain was worth it . . ."
Shelke grinned, leaning against the doorframe. "Take care of my best friend and godchildren, Mr. Valentine. You know my strength and what'll happen if you harm them . . . you don't stand a chance!"
Vincent laughed, shaking his head as Shelke smiled, closing the door behind her, hearing her laugh from the other side of the door. "Don't I know it . . ." he mumbled.
He sighed as he looked down at his family, all three of them asleep around him. Tightening his grip on Yuffie's shoulder, pressing her to him, the ninja was completely his now.
Closing his crimson eyes, he was glad they had dragged him out of the Nibelheim basement three years ago . . . especially the erratic, annoying ninja who had took an instant admiration of the dark, mysterious stranger who wished to die . . .
How ironic fate was, intertwining the life he wanted to throw away to the ninja who lived every moment to the fullest.
---
And, it's over...! I dreaded posting this up, ha ha. So, yes, I promised you all fluff, so hopefully this all counts?
(I'm not sure about the Rating now, so let me know what you all think it should be)
I honestly, got to thank you all for sticking around since February 2006.
Originally this was only supposed to be a one shot ... but it was so popular and people begged me to continue it - so you got it, and I am so glad people made me continue!
And, obviously you all liked it, what with 39,000 hits and around 80 faves and another 80 story alerts - honestly, I love you all!
Big Kudos to: Otaku Dreamer, Sorceress Fujun and a.girl.named.jake for sticking around forever and having the most entertaining (and long) reviews.
So, I'll see you next time ya'll.
And... the SOUNDTRACK...
(Final Fantasy VII) (11)
Crash and Burn - Savage Garden (Song that started ALL this)
Absolutely (Story of a Girl) - Nine Days (Yuffie's theme)
Save Me - Fourty Foot Echo (Vincent's Theme)
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol (YuffiexVincent Theme)
I Want It That A Way - Backstreet Boys
You found me - Kelly Clarkson
That's How - Wave
Stolen - Dashboard Confessional
Love me for me - Ashley Tisdale
You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
Listen to your Heart - DHT
(Advent Children) (10)
One Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton (Kudos to Anya Urameshi for pointing this one out!)
Simple and Clean - Utada Hikaru
What hurts the most - Rascal Flatts
Stand - Rascal Flatts
Somewhere - Within Temptation
Nobody's Home - Avril Lavigne
Taking Chances - Celine Dion
How to Save a Life - The Fray
Over and Over - Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
We'll be together - Ashley Tisdale
Wait for You - Elliot Yamin
(Dirge of Cerberus) (11)
Apologize - One Republic featuring Timberland (DoC Theme)
Far Away - Nickelback (VincentxLucrecia)
You Are Loved - Josh Groban
Not Going Home Without You - Maroon 5
All We Are - One Republic
How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20
Here's too the Night - Eve6
Let Love Lead the Way - Spice Girls
As Long as your Mine - Wicked [Broadway Play
Seven Days of Lonely - I Nine
Thanks for the Memories - Fall Out Boy (Ending Theme)