A/N: I don't own Final Fantasy or any of its characters. This is a nonprofit fic.

Setting: ~ After DoC~, I took and will take some liberties with naming geographical areas of the world since I am not super –in touch-- with the Final Fantasy world. I have watched Advent Children numerous times and I have played DoC but not FF7.

Rating: M. Most likely will contain some adult themes including but not limited to: Sex, violence, language. Its rated M just in case. This is intended to be an action/romance/drama fic.

Reviews: Please be kind! This is my first online published fic. I am welcome to any and all reviews tho. Thanks!

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Vincent walked into 7th Heaven, the light filtering in through the door as he closed it again. It was considerably darker in the bar compared to the brightness of the day. His red eyes quickly adjusting.

"Vincent!" Tifa exclaimed. She walked over from behind the bar and gave him a big hug. He lightly patted her on the back, somewhat uncomfortable in the embrace.

"Tifa…" he acknowledged.

"Its been a few months, hasn't it?" She stood back regarding him, her hands on her hips, a dirty bar cloth in one hand. She wore her normal black shirt, shorts and skirt.

He nodded. "Indeed." He looked around the bar, noticing only a few patrons.

"Well, come in then. Get settled. I'll let Cloud know you're here. Do you want anything to drink?" She asked as she walked back to the bar.

"That would be nice. Thank you, Tifa. Something cold, preferably…non-alcoholic."

She smiled, "Sure thing."

Tifa busied herself with making him some iced tea, while picking up the phone to contact Cloud. "Hey, there. Yeah, I'm fine. Can you come to the bar for a bit. Someone is here to see you……Alright, Love you…..Bye" She hung up the phone as she walked over to Vincent, iced tea in hand.

"Thank you, Tifa."

She sat the drink down and said, "He'll be here in a few. He was out making a delivery. Let me take care of these customers and then I'll join you."

He nodded and proceeded to squeeze the lemon wedge she provided on the edge of his tea into the drink. She busied herself with her customers, collecting their tabs. Marlene and Denzel walked into the door, outfitted with backpacks and weary faces. Marlene's face brightened as her eyes adjusted.

"Vincent!!!" She squealed. She ran over, dropped her backpack, and jumped up to wrap both her arms around his neck. He hugged her lightly back, though this time he hid a bit of a smile. The little one always seemed to amuse him. Denzel smiled and followed his sister. He sat down across the table from Vincent, setting his backpack down on the floor next to him. He looked weary and perhaps a bit scared.

He seemed to stiffen as Tifa approached, her eyebrows raised. She gave a secret smile and wink to Vincent. "Its report card day today, isn't it?" Denzel paled and Marlene untangled her arms around Vincent hesitantly, looking to his protective cloak for refuge. "…But… I guess we can worry about it later." She smiled. The two younglings heaved great sighs of relief. "You can see your Uncle Vincent a bit later, you two have chores to do. Get them done quickly, okay?" They both jetted upstairs with their backpacks slung around one shoulder. She smiled and sighed, letting her body fall into the chair Denzel once habited. She propped her head on one hand, her elbow on the table. "So, how's it going? We don't see you very often."

He looked down at his drink, "I'm doing well. I was in the neighborhood."

She looked at him. "Dilly Dally. You rarely give yourself a break, Vincent. You're always following up on leads or in the midst of some battle."

His eyes locked with hers, "I guess I can't fool you, then." She smiled. The sound of Cloud's bike rumbled up to the bar. He was putting his goggles back onto his head as he opened the door. "Hey, Vince. " He waved and walked over to the table. He pulled a chair up next to Tifa and turned it around, straddling it and resting his arms on the back of it.

Vincent nodded coolly, "Cloud."

"What do owe the honor of your visit?" Cloud cheekily asked.

Vincent looked grave. "I haven't been able to contact Yuffie for sometime now. She went on a mission with Cid two weeks ago, according to Reeve. Neither one has been heard from since." Tifa's eyebrows shot up in alarm as she looked to Cloud to confirm what she just heard and that she wasn't imagining this. Cloud's blond brows squeezed together, he looked puzzled. "You sure? What about their tracking beacon?" Vincent nodded, "Reeve has been able to locate their tracking beacon irregularly. It seems the sky captain's ship has been damaged or is malfunctioning. Reeve contacted me last night. I'm on my way to the Mauriyn Deserts to investigate." He took a drink of his iced tea as the news settled on his friends in front of him.

"I can't leave, because of Marlene and Denzel. Cloud?" She looked at him for his response.

Cloud's gaze remained on Vincent. "Do you need me to come along?" he asked.

"I may need the help. I'm not sure what exactly is going on and if its big enough to take down an airship, we might have problems…or rather… I'd have problems going at it alone."

Cloud nodded. "I'll contact Reno and Rude to see if they can provide us back up. How soon do -"

Vincent shook his head. "Reeve has contacted all the people necessary for backup. Barrett is already on his way. Reno and Rude are landing at the heliport outside of town in a few hours to pick us up."

Cloud's eyebrows shot up. "Alright, then. Seems this has already been planned out." He pinched the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'll go pack some rations and food for you guys." Tifa got up and made her way to the bar.

"Thanks, Tifa," Cloud said in response.

Vincent took another sip of his tea.

"Granted I can't let my friends down, but I was hoping for a little more down time from the last incident. I really hate leaving Tifa behind like this," the blond admitted. "I guess that's why he had you come talk to me instead of just giving me a call?"

Vincent nodded affirmatively.

"I was afraid so,"Cloud responded. He stood up from the chair and stretched. "I need to say a few farewells and pack a bag." The blonde turned and made his way over to the bar. Tifa stood with back facing the bar as she tried to hide her crying. Cloud walked up behind her and gently wrapped her with his strong arms. He leaned over and spoke softly in her ear, reassuringly. They stayed like that for several minutes until she turned around and hugged him hard.

Vincent sighed inwardly. He hated to put such stress on Cloud and his family. However, if things were as bad as he feared, he knew that Cloud was the only one who could assist him with the job. He swirled the tea around in his glass. His thoughts strayed to Yuffie. Their last encounter was the day before she left.

"Be careful, Yuffie." She smiled brightly and gave him a hug. He stiffened at first but relaxed and pulled her close to him. "Don't worry, you big lug. I know how to take care of myself. I'll be back before ya know it!"

Another inward sigh. I should have gone with her, was all he could say to himself for the last 12 hours. He was, of course, blaming himself. Their relationship had been heading in what some would call a "natural" direction. Over the years of working together, they had been getting closer and to some level he was more comfortable with her than anyone else. Why he would let her go alone, was beyond him. He had some crazy idea these past few months that she didn't always need someone around to protect her. That she was a capable woman who could defend herself. Plus, she didn't need some old man coddling her all the time. He let her go, fearing that she would resent him later if he went. What weird thoughts to have. Several years ago, these things wouldn't have mattered… much less even formed in his mind. These thoughts could have…may have even resulted in her death. How stupid have I been? He sighed outwardly. Chaos, grumbled something about humans and love and being pathetic. Vincent ignored him. A few minutes later, Cloud walked upstairs and Vincent could hear the children react to him relaying his soon departure. Marlene was quiet but he could hear Denzel beg Cloud to take him along.

Marlene walked downstairs slowly, chores forgotten. Her shoulders drooped and her eyes were on the ground when she walked up to Vincent. Vincent reached over to pick her up and set her on his knee. She sniffled but kept her gaze on the ground, "I guess you're going too?"

"Mmhmm," Vincent replied.

She looked up at him, "You promise to come back and see us again?"

He patted her head, "Don't worry. I'll come back with Cloud after we're done."

She brightened immediately. "Okay!" She hugged him and then ran back upstairs. Cloud passed her as he walked back downstairs with a bag slung over his shoulder. He scooped her up with his free arm and gave her a big hug. "Don't forget to do your homework and help Tifa out around the place while I'm gone, okay?" She hugged him back and responded affirmatively with a giggle after he tickled her. He let her down and walked over to Vincent.

"I'm ready," he said.

Vincent finished his tea and stood, stretching. He wondered silently if either of them would truly be ready for the days ahead. Tifa saw them out, handing them a week's worth of rations and unabashedly kissing Cloud long and hard. With the final farewell in place, Cloud climbed onto his motorcycle and Vincent on foot (because he insisted that his way was faster) they both left for the helipad north of the city.