Hello! So I decided to take a crack at writing. A few things you should know about this story is that it is completely AU, there are characters that are OOC. So because of that, don't jump me for things that would absolutely never happen in the FF VII world, these are things I know already! Zack and Aerith are alive and the pairings will change and bounce around a bit. Be prepared! Hope that you like it! :)
Indescribable exhaustion was the only feeling Tifa could process within her otherwise numbed body and mind. Whether it was the harsh fluorescent lights that beat down on her for more than twelve hours straight or the fact that during those twelve hours she had been on her feet, dealing with a dose of patients that were more difficult than usual. Midgar Regional Medical Center had a notorious reputation for deflating even the most prestigious medical professionals in the business, and Tifa Lockhart was one of its most lovely victims.
As rare as it was for most to even dream of, Tifa breezed through med school like it was nothing, she had a natural knack for things and was always at the top of her class. Doctoring ran in the family, and her father would be remiss and highly disappointed had Tifa not followed in his footsteps. Of course the the twenty-nine year old hadn't followed exactly, her father, Nagano, had been one of Midgar's highest earning surgeons. Of course now that her father was Chief of Medicine, Tifa was able to land her very own position and office at the hospital working in her own specialty she had chosen. Tifa had steered away from surgery and settled for obstetrics. This meant her days were packed full of a fair share of predictable, and unpredictable events. Whether it was delivering a baby, or delivering the devastating news of a patient not having the ability to even conceive, she wouldn't trade it for the world.
The day had been far too long, and as much as she would like one more glass of wine, she knew she needed to get herself to bed. Tomorrow held a number of things that would keep her on her toes.
"Good morning, Teef!" Shouted a voice from the doorway that was far too chipper for Tifa's liking this early in the day. "Ready for work? I got these new scrubs, they have cute little pandas on them!" She twirled around in the doorway, her shoulder length ebony tresses twirling in sync with her motion.
"Yuffie," Tifa groaned while rubbing her tired maroon colored eyes. "How you manage to continue breaking into my apartment is beyond me."
Yuffie Kisaragi had been a labor and delivery nurse for about two years. Her personality was great for it, she was always bursting with energy and she always knew just what to say. Tifa asked her to become her permanent nurse once she noted the incredible talent the young girl possessed.
"How many times do I have to remind you that you gave me a key?" Chimed the nurse. "Besides, I brought you a coffee."
It didn't take long for Tifa to emerge from her nice warm bed after hearing the word 'coffee'. She took a good look at her friend standing eagerly in the doorway. Tifa had never expected to grow so fond of someone who couldn't be more different than herself, but Yuffie's friendship was something that Tifa truly cherished since the two had been working together. Tifa found herself being quite grateful for the spunky little nurse being in her life, because her life was lonely and a little dull outside the walls of the hospital. Being so busy, she hardly had time for any relationships.
Yuffie watched her older friend get out of bed, her long dark tresses a disaster from the sleep that she probably needed more of. She let out a small giggle before making her way down the stair case of the apartment, circling around to the kitchen where she had thoughtfully placed their coffee. They'd been friends for almost a year now, she and Tifa. Yuffie couldn't help but feel thankful for Tifa's guidance and wisdom. She was like the older sister Yuffie had always dreamed of having, having grown up as an orphan with no real family of her own.
Yuffie worked incredibly hard to get where she was today, and she was proud of it. She has managed to do pay for her schooling by working multiple jobs day and night shift. She was only twenty-three and had a very successful and fulfilling career. Befriending Tifa just made things even more fulfilling.
She looked down at the paper cups of coffee and smiled a little, this had always been their tradition, coffee before work. And Yuffie had a feeling they would really be needing it this morning.
The duo walked into the hospital that morning like usual. Both looking professional, and both emanating their own shades of confidence and beauty. Yuffie always noticed the looks they received, but Tifa didn't. Yuffie noted that Tifa hadn't been on a date since she and her last boyfriend broke up. She failed to mention any details about the man other than the fact that he had some emotional scarring. And the break up was over five years ago. Yuffie longed to get Tifa back on the horse and see her in w real, exciting relationship, but focusing too much on Tifa's love life would have to wait, Yuffie had to worry about her own. She certainly had her eye on someone special.
Various hospital employees typically waved them hello and greeted them warmly upon their arrival, but today the air in the hospital was drastically different. Thick and heavy, like something had just taken a major shift. It was as though everyone they passed on the way to their office was in a daze or whispering among themselves and looking around with shifty eyes.
Both Tifa and Yuffie picked up on this odd behavior, and exchanged quizzical looks with one another before reaching the fifth floor where their office resided. Tifa was quick to get settled in and started looking through her appointments to see what the day would hold, paying no mind to the odd behavior of what seemed to be the entire hospital staff.
Meanwhile, Yuffie went to investigate knowing she had at least fifteen minutes before their first appointment started. "Be back in a Jiff, Tifa! " She chimed before quickly turning on her heel and heading down to the nurses station. She didn't figure the other nurses in the labor and delivery unit would know, since it was a closed off and secure unit, but it was worth a shot.
She approached the desk with a charming smile as several different possibilities ran through her mind. Perhaps they were updating the cafeteria menu? Better coffee machines in the break rooms?
"Hey there, Cindy." Yuffie said as she propped her elbows up on the counter of the desk and rested her chin cutely in her hands. She looked on the older nurse with curiosity swirling rampantly in her dark eyes.
The gray woman looked up at her and shook her head in annoyance. "What is it, Yuffie?" She groaned. "It's shift change and I'm a little busy."
At that moment Yuffie realized she probably shouldn't have approached the oldest nurse in the hospital about a matter that she probably didn't even care about. But Yuffie was already there, so she took the plunge. "What's all the whispering about this morning? I can tell somethings up." She tried to ask in a way that made Cindy feel as though she was important, and close with Yuffie, this way she could extract as much information as possible.
Nurse Cindy wasn't having that. She simply rolled her tired eyes and walked away from Yuffie in a huff.
"Damn." Yuffie muttered to herself before being tapped on the shoulder from behind. She turned around quickly to find another nurse from their unit. Jessie. Her Amber eyes were filled with something exciting and enchanting, and the smirk plastered on her face told Yuffie that she had the information she sad looking for.
"There's a new attending surgeon who started today.." The girl started. She was nearly bouncing up and down with excitement. "He is so handsome!"
Yuffie could tell that Jessie was suppressing the urge to squeal like a school girl at that moment. But this news was indeed exciting. She found herself wondering just how handsome this man was, certainly not as handsome as Dr. Zack Fair. There just couldn't be anyone more gorgeous in the hospital. And most definitely not as handsome as Yuffie's crush, her next door neighbor whom had just returned home from the military. She found herself drifting off in thoughts about the spiky haired blonde before quickly being snapped back to reality by her colleague.
"There he is!" Jessie exclaimed as happily but as quietly as possible as the elevator doors to the ward opened slowly.
Yuffie turned around slowly, her heart thumped just from the anticipation. She then witnessed Tifa's father, Nagano in his dapper suit and tie, standing next to a man who was much taller in stature than he. The first thing that caught Yuffie's eye was the man's long silver tresses that stopped about he middle of his back, followed by his long, defined legs adorned in black dress pants. Her eyes trailed up, revealing a tight fitting white button up shirt, where you didn't have to imagine how physically fit the man was by any means. And then, there were his eyes. They were similar to the ones her crush adorned, but they held more confidence than she could ever dream of imagining. The mans face was slightly harsh in expression, and his features were the epitome of masculine.
"Yuffie, good morning." Came the familiar chief of Medicine's voice.
Yuffie had been so wrapped up in staring the man down, she hadn't realized that he and the Cheif were approaching. She quickly stood up straight and smoothed out the midsection of her scrubs. Jessie was long gone, leaving Yuffie standing there awkwardly.
"This is our newest attending surgeon, Dr. Sephiroth. I was just giving him a tour of the facility and thought I would introduce him to you and Dr. Lockhart." At that, Nagano turned his head to the silver haired surgeon and smiled, Dr. Lockhart is my daughter."
The man had yet to speak or reply, but he gave Yuffie a slight nod, and then a nod to Nagano before the three made their way to Tifa's office.
Yuffie tagged behind them, silently wondering if Mr. Lockhart was beginning it gave an itch for grand babies. Seemed to Yuffie like this was some sort of set up, because the Cheif very rarely called Tifa his daughter, mostly because everyone knew, but also for the sake of professionalism.
Tifa was at her desk in her office across from the examination room, scrutinizing her computer screen. She gritted her teeth and shook her head before pinching the bridge of her nose. She left the hospital yesterday feeling as though she had a full day of patients and a possible delivery should Mrs. Bassinger's baby decide they today was the day. But, though she was the most well-known gynecologist in Midgar, once the single women caught wind of a male gynecologist who happened to be extremely handsome, her patients quickly jumped ship.
"Dammit, Zack!" She exclaimed as she stood from her desk. She whipped around and stride toward the door, preparing to give the man a serious lashing when she noticed her father standing next to a man whom she had never seen before...