Hey, new story here! This idea just came to me one day while I was watching Law & Order, odd, I know. Sorry if there are any errors, I don't have spell check on this stupid thing. Well, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1 - "Unexpected Visitor"

Two fairly young brunette women sullenly exit a large corporate building. The tallest of the two brushes back her waist length hair, and looks to her slightly shorter companion. She wraps her arm around her shoulder, "It'll be okay." she whispers comfortingly in her ear. "Sure." the shorter girl mumbles, purely not convinced by her friend's words.

She stops in the middle of the sidewalk, "Come on, Yuffie, let me buy you lunch." Walking past her, Yuffie says, "No thanks, I'd owe you more money. And I don't want any of Cloud's money." She spat the name like it were a sin, and it stung her companion.

Running to catch up to the sour woman, "It'll be on me, its my own money, thank you. Come on, Yuff, we hardly spend time together anymore!" she begs. The young girl grins widely, "Alright, alright! Geez, Tifa, you're as bad as the rugrats!"

The "rugrats" refers to Tifa's seven-year-old son, Denzel, and her six-year-old goddaughter, Marlene. The two cause mischief wherever they go. They mainly reek havoc on poor Yuffie when she's been tricked into babysitting.

Tifa smiles at the mention of the children, and grabs Yuffie's hand, dragging her across the street to a small cafe.

The duo have been inseperable friends for five years. Yuffie was meerly twenty-two and Tifa a year older. Tifa works at a bar called "The Seventh Heaven", it has been in business for nine years. She and Yuffie also own their own dojo and weapon shop.

Tifa is married and, of course, they have a son. They're all happy, but young Yuffie Kisaragi and Cloud Strife seem to hate each other. Neither have told Tifa why, she tries to mend it, only succeding in making it worse.

However, Yuffie is single, and refuses to marry because of her needy son. The poor thing was sick from birth. He was put in NICU for several weeks. Now, he has to take so many medications and isn't allowed to go to school. His only friends are Denzel and Marlene. His poor mother spends tons of money on his medicine and medical bills. Mainly, she worries herself sick over him when she's not at his side. And his father refuses to pay for anything. No one knows who he is or where he is, she won't say anything to anyone, not even Tifa

Yuffie boredly stirs her tea while Tifa pokes at topics to discuss. Finally deciding on one, she crosses her arms over the tabletop, "So, did you have a sweetheart in high school?"

She sets aside her stirring stick, sipping at her beverage, "one. We were together for twenty-six months." Her inquirer's eyes widen, "Wow, twenty-six months! Cloud and I were together about that long. What did he look like? What happened?"

The ninja held the cup in her hands, staring at its contents, a dreamy look crosses her face, "He was very tall, really long silky black hair, and the most gorgeous red eyes you will ever see. He was very kind and sweet, like the kinda guys you see in fairy tales." she sets her cup down with a sight of sadness, "Lets let history be history, Tifa."

"Oh!" the bar hostess huffs dejectedly, "Can you at least tell me his name?"

Yuffie stared her companion in the eye, her stormy grey eyes cloudy with pure sadness and pain. "Vincent Valentine." she says, "Tifa, promise me you won't go looking for him."

"But, Yuffie-" Tifa starts with a rude interruption, "Promise me, Tifa!"

She sighs, lowering her wine-colored eyes to the flowery tabletop, mumbling, "I promise."

The two sit in an akward silence, the busy life of the tiny cafe sitting at their ears. Suddenly, a muffled ringing breaks the almost unbearable silence. Yuffie pulls out her shaking cellphone, putting it to her ear, "Hello? Hey, Natia, is everythings... They're next to the calendar in a white and red bottle. You sure? Okay, I'll be there soon, don't give him anything until I get there."

She snaps her phone shut and quickly stands, "That was the nanny, I've got to get home." "Aw," Tifa sighs sypathetically, "the poor little guy sick again?"

She sighs, grabbing her car keys, "Yeah, his blood is thinning and dropping again. Come on, I'll give you a ride home." "Thanks, Yuff, Cloud won't be home until midnight." Yuffie grimaces at the mention of Tifa's husband, quickly grabbing her out of the chair, "Lets go, then!"

Tifa sighs, dropping her purse on a large black sofa as she enters her home. Noticing two pairs of tiny shoes on the floor and two backpacks strewn in the middle of the room, she calls, "Kids, I'm home!"

Overhead, thumping could be heard, coming closer and closer. Two small figures fly off the staircase, barreling themselves into the young woman.

Wrapping their arms around her waist, they stare at her happily, squealing, "You're back, you're back!" A boy with frizzy light brown hair and glowing blue eyes buries his face in her side, "We missed you!" A girl a foot shorter with slightly darker brown hair pulled back into a braid and dark hazel eyes nods, "Yeah!"

Tifa kneels, planting a kiss on both foreheads, "I missed you, too. Do you have any homework?" The girl shakes her head, the boy looks hesitant. The young mother smilies, "Good, Marlene, go play." the little girl smils and runs back upstairs, "Alright, into the kitchen with you, Denzel." He sighs, phlegmatically draggig his bag into the next room.

As the hours draw on, the bar grows fuller and fuller, and louder and louder. The children had just run upstairs to get ready for bed, when a strange man makes his way toward Tifa.

Long ebony hair is pulled out of his face by a red bandana sways gently as he slowly advances through the rows of tables, knee-length black boots clicking lightly, the collar of his black coat partially covers slightly rosy lips. The only visible piece of clothing in the dim lighting is a deep crimson dress shirt. But what stands out the most is his cherry-colored eyes.

Resting her arms on the countertop, Tifa questions with a plastered smile, "Can I help you, sir?" Red eyes! Could he be...?

He points to something behind her, she turns to a white board with bold black writting, "HELP WANTED" "Still available?" he inquires with a deep monotone voice.

A real smile spreads widely across her face, "Why, yes, it is. You interested?" He nods, "Any requirements?" She looks around the bar with a sight, drawling, "Well, you need to have good balance, be quick and patient and fight very well if needed." "I have it all, ma'am." he replies quietly.

Tifa grabs his leather-clad hand, saying with a large grin, "Congratulaations, you've landed yourself a job, sir." she pauses, "I'm Tifa Strife." Unfazed by the news, he introduces himself, "Vincent Valentine."

Time seems to stand still for Tifa as the newly discovered ex-boyfriend of Yuffie's draws his hand back. She bites her lip nervously, running over Yuffie's earlier words. No! I won't ask him! I made a promise, and I intend to keep it! she thinks stubbornly as her new help creeps behind the bar.

The next morning, shortly after sunrise, seemed more chaotic. A while after breakfast, Yuffie's roaming around, cleaing with her sick son on her hip, when there's a loud, hurried knock on the door. She drops her cleaning utensils on the couch, "Hold on, hold on!" she huffs, one-handedly unclasping three locks. The door springs open, and Tifa flies in.

She stops behind Yuffie, a large grin on her face and excitement shines in her large brown eyes. "Geez, Tif, where's the fire?" the ninja questions with a chuckle, closing the door. The martial artist's smile grows wider when she sees the head of frizzy mahogany hair on Yuffie's shoulder. She strokes the small boy's soft hair lovingly. He opens one dark grey eye, whispering, "Hi, Auntie Tifa."

"Hey, sweetheart, feeling better?" she whispers, gingerly brushing his hair out of his eyes. Yuffie taps her foot impatiently, "Tifa..."

Tifa jumps back as if in a daze, her eccentricity oozing omenously. "Oh! You have to come to the bar, I have something to show you!" she demands, tugging on her best friend's hand. "Tifa," Yuffie protests, "I can't. I have cleaning to do. And-"

"Please, its important!" she begs, feigning a puppy pout, "And you can bring the little guy. There'll be maybe one or two customers, that's it." Yufie sighhs, a tiny smile gracing her lips, "Alright, this had better be good. Get his coat, would you, I don't want him getting any sicker."

Tifa helps to put on the heavy black jacket, and takes him from his mother, "I'm driving!" she says, snatching Yuffie's car keys. "You just wanna do everything today, don't you?" she huffs, rushing after the crazy bar hostess.

"Auntie Tifa, I'm cold." the young Kisaragi whimpers as they enter the bar, clinging to his aunt for warmth. She grabs a large blue wool blanket off of a chair, "I know, baby, I brought a blanket."

Yuffie drops his coat on a chair behind the mahogany countertop, "So, where is this important thing you wanted to show me?" Tifa grins, running into the kitchen, "I'll go get it, wait right here."

A few moments later, she returns with something - someone - moving behind her. She passes the bundled child to his mother, and slowly steps aside.

Her eyes widen in shock. Standing before her is her high school boyfriend, only in darker clothing, Vincent Valentine. He stands frozen on the spot, his expression mirroring her own.

I hope that was good enough for you guys. Please leave comments and/or suggestions, I'm always open to new things! And for my fans, sorry I haven't updated "White Rose of the Vampire" yet, I've been kinda busy and I have a bit of writter's block, I'm trying to get to it, though. And I'm not allowed on FFN much anymore, so, I'll do my best.

I love you all!

R & R