Thank you all for reading and thank you more for reviewing. This is the final chapter. Im glad you all stuck around for the ride. I hope you enjoyed my work.

Days and Nights

Physical healing was the easy part. After three weeks in the cast, and a week of physical therapy, Yuffie's arm was almost back to normal. Two purple scars branded her young supple skin just below the shoulder. She worked hard lifting weights to replenish her arm where muscle atrophy had set in. Starting with a small one pound weight and working her way up to five pounds and then ten. A bum arm was deemed the worst ailment in the world for a ninja of Wutai. Ninja's depended on their physical strength for survival. But to Yuffie it was the pain in her heart that burned the most. Even when the stitches were removed, and she was advised to suffer through pain to replenish her wasted muscle, it was still a pin prick compared to the aching in her chest. She cried every night for the first week. Afterwards when she was sure her body could not produce any more tears, she suppressed her pain enough to only break down once a week. But the pain was still great. Tifa and Cloud were amazed at her supposed immunity to pain. Not knowing that the hurt within was far worse than any tangible wound she might acquire.

Yuffie pushed herself. Sometimes staying up late into the night struggling to do just a few more lifts. Most days she'd push herself to tears and passed out from exhaustion. But everyday her arm would get stronger. And every accomplishment did wonders for her. She became obsessed with her physical therapy. Diving into each new exercise and surprising everyone around her. A week after she started therapy she was able to lift her ten pound weights and began helping Tifa clean up nights after the bar closed. These nights they spent talking. No one, under the threat of Cloud, brought up Vincent. After her confession that he was responsible for her attack, they suddenly understood his need to disappear. She told them little of what actually happened and none of the personal relationship that had developed between them. Only Tifa and Cloud, who were around her most, were observant enough to see that Yuffie was suffering from far worse than a broken arm. But Yuffie wasn't ready to talk, and Tifa wasn't going to push her. So she stayed by Yuffie, offering a friend that surely was needed.

Yuffie had suffered deeply when Vincent had left. Her young heart couldn't fathom why he would do such a thing. She blamed her stupidity. Telling herself that she wasn't good enough, and that she didn't deserve to be happy. That she didn't deserve to have him. The one night of passion had meant the world to her.She thought that she had finally found the happiness that people so often rave about. But after Vincent left she knew she was fooling herself. Yuffie was a smart woman. But her youth was against her where love was concerned. She was blind when it came to her feelings for Vincent. The thought that she might be in love with him had crossed through her mind several times, but she merely shrugged it off and dove into her therapy. Suppressing the hurt and burying her true pain was her way of dealing with it. When ever Vincent's dark red eyes would flash through her mind she would shake her head violently and make herself do as many lifts as it took for the throbbing in her arm to overtake her mind. It was her way. The only way she knew how to deal with the longing in her heart. In the back of her mind she danced around with the thought that she might actually love him. But her personal defense mechanism would quickly jump in, whispering that if she didn't truly love him, that she couldn't get hurt.

Cloud and Tifa had decided that they had earned a morning to sleep in. They had been working so hard at the bar and with the delivery service that they hadn't taken any time to just relax. Out of habit they both woke early but after a session of morning sex they quickly fell back asleep. It was nine thirty when Cloud's phone rang.

"Dammit!" he reached for his phone

"Whose calling this early?" Tifa's voice was still hoarse from sleep

"I don't know, but im gonna kill 'em" he flashed a half smile at her before answering "Hello?"

"Cloud" It was Vincent. His voice was unmistakable. Cloud sat up.

"Hey Vince"

Tifa's eyes grew wide. She still wasn't sure how she felt. She was aware that Vincent was the one who had hurt Yuffie. But he was still a friend. A member of AVALANCHE, as he always would be. Yuffie was adamant that none of them blame Vincent. But Tifa still felt an older sister sort of protection for Yuffie. She couldn't help it.

"What did she tell you?" Vincent tested the waters. It was Turk training that taught him how to deal with people.

"Not everything"

"..."

"Where have you been?"

"Nibelheim, at the mansion..." There was a pause, as if Cloud was asking a question with his silence "...in a bed" Vincent finished

Cloud laughed "That's good to hear"

"I know I shouldn't have taken off, and I don't know how much Yuffie has told you, but I just wanted you to know that...that I have my reasons for leaving and I never wanted any of this to happen"

"I know...She doesn't blame you. She never did."

"Perhaps she should"

"She is a smart girl" Cloud said.

"Hm...Would it be appropriate to come by today? Im in town"

"Vincent, if you stay away forever, it'll never be appropriate"

" Im glad. I miss Yuf...you all" Vincent fumbled with his speech, revealing more with his cover than with his words.

Cloud smiled knowingly "Everyone will be happy to see you"

"Maybe not everyone"

"Well I will at the very least"

"Hm...Goodbye Cloud"

"Oh Vincent?"

"Yeah"

"She misses you too"

"..."

Yuffie was up early, down in the bar. Her daily routine consisted of waking up early, taking a walk before the sun rose and it got too hot, and then returning to the bar before everyone else woke up to do her physical therapy. That way they couldn't lecture her on pushing herself too hard.

The sun was just lighting the inside of the building, filling it with more vibrancy than any artificial light could provide, when Yuffie finished her thirtieth curl. She dropped the weight, sweat dripping from her forehead and shoulders. She flexed her arm, bending and unbending it, and beamed with pride. Her arm no longer looked like a flat string bean. It had tone. Not as much as before, but the improvements were vastly erasing the detest she had for her purple scars. She was still smiling when Reno walked in.

"How's my princess doing this morning?" He was as sly as ever. Yuffie rolled her eyes. Reno had been coming by more often. His excuses for "stopping by" had started to become lamer by the day, so eventually he gave up with them and relented that he just wanted to help her recover. He didn't know that Chaos was her attacker. Only the members of AVALANCHE knew that much.

At first Yuffie wanted nothing to do with him. Still under the intoxicating effects of heartbreak. But as a couple of weeks passed and his annoying persistency became comforting, they had actually become friends. The first few days of her therapy, he had helped her in the mornings before everyone else woke up. Now he was at the bar most of the day. Long conversations turned into gentle flirting and before long he had asked her on a date. She lightly let him down and like a true gentleman, he showed up the very next day with no harsh feelings. She waved off all brash comments he would make, and after a while it became a game between the two.

"Sweaty" she smiled

"I didn't know that princesses sweat"

"You learn something new everyday don't you?"

"What else can they do?" he joked

"They can kick your ass!" She kicked the air next to him.

"Down girl! I believe you" he put his hand up. Yuffie laughed. He stared into her eyes for a long time before speaking again "You know if I was there, I would have protected you right?" It was a total change in direction from their previous joke-filled banter, but Yuffie was not thrown off guard. It was only so long before he started asking questions.

"I know"

"I still can" he walked toward her

"Still can what?"

"Protect you"

"Reno you don't understand. It's much more complicated that you think"

"Why?"

Yuffie sighed "Your never going to believe me"

"Try me"

"Alright... It was Vincent" Yuffie cringed. It still hurt to say his name. Though not as much as before.

"What?! I knew that bastard couldn't be trusted!" Reno backed away and began pacing.

"Sit down you idiot and let me explain!" Yuffie led him over to a seat at the bar.

"Im gonna kill him"

"Shut up. Geez! It wasn't exactly Vincent. It was Chaos. Vincent had no control"

"Im gonna kill him"

"Reno It wasn't his fault!"

"Im gonna kill him" Reno was staring right through her as she spoke. He was wild with rage and didn't hear the words she was saying.

"Reno if you touch him I will kill you!" She blurted out before she could stop herself. Reno snapped out of his mantra and stared at the Wutaian girl with wide eyes.

"You...you like him don't you?" he said

"What? No!"

"I should have known" he stood from the table

"Reno I don't like him"

"I should have known that I could never measure up to the tall, dark, and handsome vampire"

"He's not a vampire!" she defended. Reno looked at her.

"Oh my god you love him"

Yuffie stood from the table. She'd said too much already "Reno I knew someday you'd go crazy, I just never imagined you'd go crazy on me" She tried to play off her worry.

"Im not crazy. Im good at reading people" There was a sadness in his eyes, but an anger also. It confused Yuffie how Reno could care so much about her welfare in the short time they had been spending together. She had never done anything to lead him on. She had told him that she just wanted to be friends. And yet here he was, get defensive over her well being. She found it slightly annoying and decided then and there Reno was out of bounds when he threatened Vincent. But why should she care? Didn't Vincent leave her?

Yuffie headed towards the stairs "Whoever told you that is a liar. I've gotta take a shower. I'll see you tonight" She headed up the steps and didn't look back. Reno found the nearest chair to sit in and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I should have known"

Yuffie shut her bedroom door and leaned against the smooth surface of its sturdy back. She took a second to regain her composure. Why should she care what Reno thinks of Vincent? It's not like Vincent couldn't defend himself against the quirky wannabe Turk. It's not like Vincent is gonna come back and give Reno the chance anyway. False hopes of seeing him again made her heart start to pound and her breath quicken. It irritated her that he was still able to make her feel this way even when he wasn't around. Even when he had broken her heart. She pushed her light body from the door and made a bee-line for the shower. Her morning walk and exercises left her sweaty and her encounter with Reno made her shaky. A nice hot shower would do her some good.

"Busy night ha?" Cloud said, taking a seat at the bar in front of a working Tifa.

"No more than usual" She attempted at a smile, but the sweat on her temples told more of how she felt than anything.

"Has Vincent come yet?" he asked

"No. Have you told Yuffie?"

"No"

"Yeah, I think it's better if you don't"

"Hm"

"You don't think he's dangerous do you? I never thought he was until...well you know"

"Well she say's it's not his fault. She said Chaos hurt her. But that doesn't make much sense. None of the story adds up. I think when Vincent gets here he can explain more"

"Ah, but will he?"

"Who knows" Cloud shrugged "All we can do is wait and see"

When Yuffie came down stairs, she scanned the room for Tifa. In her shower she decided that tonight she was gonna tell her what had happened between her and Vincent. She felt as though she needed to talk to somebody about it. Or else she might explode. She had almost told Reno too much already. When she found Tifa she knew that her plans were foiled. Reno, of all people, was sitting in front of her chocolate haired friend.

"Don't you have some place else to be?" Yuffie said as she approached the two. It was a hectic night but Yuffie was lucky to find an empty seat beside the red head.

"Why would I be anywhere else? All the pretty woman are in here?" he turned to Yuffie and looked pointedly into her eyes "Then again, all the pretty woman are taken" he said. Yuffie rolled her eyes.

"Aw Reno, don't go feeling sorry for yourself. Im partying tonight. I no longer have to take my medications, so I can drink all I want. Serve it up Tif!"

"A drunken Ninja" He said "I came on the right night"

"You come here every night Reno" Tifa stated causing Yuffie to laugh.

"Yeah. Isn't Rude sitting at home waiting for you?"

"You girls are ganging up on me now? I don't know whether to run or take my clothes off"

Yuffie smiled inwardly, she was glad that Reno wasn't angry anymore.

Vincent entered Seventh Heaven with one thought on his mind: To talk to Yuffie. But when he saw her sitting at the bar, talking and laughing with Reno, he recoiled. She looked so happy. Perhaps It was a mistake to come. He felt a hard clap on his shoulder.

"HEY VINCENT!!!" A drunken Cid yelled.

Yuffie turned her head to the sound of Cid's voice. For a fraction of a second she refused to believe them. Until she saw him. Vincent looking befuddled next to Cid. She turned to Tifa looking shocked and saddened.

"What's he doing here?" Reno said "Yuffie stay behind me. I'll protect you"

"Shut up Reno! Your drunk!" Tifa said

"If anyone needs protection it's you from me!" Yuffie cut in, relying on all of her ninja skills to look unaffected by Vincent's presence. When in reality she was screaming inside. In reality she was a strong fighter, a warrior amongst her people. But right now, under the shadow of heartache, she wanted to run and hide.

Vincent knew that Yuffie was aware of his presence. He had also seen Reno tense up at the sight of him. 'She must have told him' He thought 'But why should Reno care?'

Then he saw the way Reno was looking at Yuffie. The familiar feeling of jealousy stabbed at his stomach. Controlling his legs like a marionette as they led him toward her.

Yuffie pretended not to notice as he approached. Keeping her eyes on the drink in front of her. She blinked her eyes tight at the sound of his voice, grateful for the shield of hair that hid her evident pain.

"Whiskey please, Tifa" Vincent's voice was a low baritone, scratchy and romantic from years of not talking.

"Here you go" She handed him his drink "So how have you been Vincent? We've been a little worried about you"

"I was just uh...sorting some things out"

"Pfft!" Yuffie snorted. Everyone looked at her.

"You don't believe me?" Vincent asked turning towards her. It was the first time they had spoken in a month.

"What's there to sort out Vincent?" she said

"..."

"That's what I thought!"

"Yuffie I understand that your angry. Perhaps we could go somewhere and talk"

"Angry? Don't flatter yourself" It was a low blow but Yuffie was beyond caring

"I see" Vincent stood to walk away. He bent close to her ear and whispered into it "Im sorry for everything" Yuffie closed her eyes. The feel of his breath on her neck reminded her of the night they shared. Reno thought he saw her shiver.

"Just leave her alone. Don't you think you've done enough" Reno cut in, no longer able to hold his tongue.

"Stay out of this Reno!" Yuffie put a hand on his chest as he advanced toward Vincent, who didn't even flinch.

"Im sorry Yuffie. I don't care how much you love this fool"

Vincent's head jerked toward Yuffie, with an expression she had never seen before. He looked as though he had just discovered the most wonderful thing in the world. He took a step toward her.

"Yuffie you love..." Before he could finish Reno planted his fist in Vincent's face. Sending his head swinging to the right. He kept his footing but had a busted lip.

"Reno!" Yuffie screamed "What are you doing?"

"Nobody hurts my girl and gets away with it!" he screamed back. Vincent couldn't believe his ears. Yuffie? Reno's girl? Had it happened so fast? Yuffie grabbed a handful of Reno's jacket and jerked him close to her. She gritted her teeth and spoke with such anger that for a second he was afraid of her.

"Im not your girl Reno" She pulled her fist back and punched him square in the nose. He was not as agile as Vincent. He flew to the ground, unconscious. Bystanders in the bar were in a state of shock. Nightly fights were as common as breathing. But a love triangle? A grown man being knocked out by a woman? This crowed got one hell of a show. It was only the members of AVALANCHE who were truly concerned. All but Tifa and Cloud were confused beyond reasoning. They understood that something more than friendship had developed between the young Ninja and the stoic gunman.

Yuffie walked over to Vincent, with a look of worry painted on her face. All previous bad feelings toward him were washed away as her feelings of love bled out through her concern.

"Vincent are you okay?" She undid her Wutain headband and wrapped it around two fingers to dab at his swollen lip.

"Im fine"

"Are you sure?" She continued to doctor him.

"No"

"Really? It doesn't look too bad. It probably doesn't even need stitches" She said standing on tip toes to get a better look at his bloodied mouth. Vincent grabbed her hand which held the now stained headband.

"I know my lip is fine. But I am not" he said gazing her in the eyes. Taking in every feature of her exotic face in hopes that it wouldn't be the last time he saw her "Come with me" he grabbed her hand and led her out of the bar, stepping over Reno in the process.

They made their way out the back where Tifa had a few flowers growing in a small garden, trying to add color to her rather drab city life. They both sat down on a bench.

"It's not true Vincent" Yuffie began rambling in her nervousness. Her blood still pumped ferociously through her veins from the previous confrontation. She never expected Vincent to come back and now that she had him here, she wanted to say everything on her mind before he went away again. "Im not Reno's girl. I don't even know why he said that. The team...they know it was you...but they don't know what happened between us. I know you think it was a mistake and I can accept that with time, but I don't want you to go away again. I'd rather have you as a friend than..."

"A mistake?" he cringed "Who told you that I thought it was mistake?"

"I just figured since you left...and..."

"Yuffie.." he shook his head and laughed. He pulled her to him and placed his arms loosely around her "...I keep forgetting that your so young and haven't had much experience with love"

"Love? What does this have to do with love?"

His face took on a serious expression. He grabbed her head between his hands and looked her in the eyes "Everything" he said, as low as the rumbling under the earth. Faint...but to those who listen, and hear it, are blessed with it's resplendency. Yuffie slowly removed his hands from her face and stood up, only to sit down again a foot or so away.

"But...you left" she put her head down, revealing how much his leaving had really hurt her.

"Yuffie.." he slid closer to her "...I had to...work some things out. I never meant to hurt you..." He looked up to the stars recalling his many years sleeping somberly in a coffin "I haven't had these feelings in a very long time"

"Feelings? What feelings?" she asked

"My feelings for you. Who else?" he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

A wide smile spread across her formerly sullen face "Feelings for me?" Suddenly the old Yuffie was back. She mimicked his previous actions of scooting closer and planted a playful look on her face.

"What kind of feelings?" she played. Vincent was quick to catch on, he scooted an inch closer and played along.

"Well annoyance for one. Irritation, distress...love"

She kissed him then, and he was a little taken back. But soon found his limbs wrapping around her. She pulled back "My feelings are the same..." She stated, then after a moment "You annoy me too" she said, confessing her love in the most Yuffie of ways. Vincent laughed and it was like music to her ears. She had become so accustomed to the sound of her own sobbing that hearing the man she loved in compete and utter happiness surrounded her in an aura of jovial satisfaction. Life couldn't be better.

"I know I can never make you understand how sorry I am for hurting you. It'll be a regret that I will carry with me for the rest of my life" he said. Yuffie placed a hand to his cheek.

"But Vincent, it was my fault, I could never blame you. I was trying to save you. Come to think of it. I never actually did anything. I still owe you" Vincent leaned forward and pecked her on the lips, then placed his forehead to hers.

"You did save me. I owe you so much"

"But I didn't make Chaos go away"

"Well if you really want to do something for me, you can spend the rest of your life with me" he kissed her again. She pulled back in surprise.

"Vincent are you asking me to ma..."

"...Lets go back inside and talk" He grabbed her by the hand and laced his fingers with his. That is how they walked back into the bar. Much to everyone's surprise.

Fin

I hope you all enjoyed. If you did, tell a friend. I LOVE reviews. Also I have a few more Yuffentines in progress, so please take a gander if your in the mood for romance, angst, and fluff. Thank you all for reading! I truly hope you enjoyed!!!! Muah! Muah! Muah!

Jake