When Vincent woke up, he was confused as to why he felt more relaxed than he had in years, and a little sick at the same time. His second surprise was when he realized there was a scantily clad woman in bed with him, and it wasn't his bed.
"It's about time you woke up." Tifa said as he stared at her in shock.
"Tifa? Wha…what's going on?" The loudness of his own voice made his head start throbbing.
"Here you go." Tifa handed him two ibuprofen and a glass of water she had thoughtfully ready on the nightstand. "You don't remember, do you?"
"No." Vincent admitted as he took the pills and gulped them down with the water.
"Tomorrow you dropped by the bar and wouldn't stop drinking. Eventually you confessed that it was Lucrecia and Hojo's anniversary." Tifa quietly explained. "I finally cut you off and got you upstairs."
"But why…why are we in bed together?" Vincent tried to remember, but the headache hadn't subsided yet.
"You needed comforting." Tifa smiled at him, neglecting to mention he had called her Lucrecia the whole time. "Don't worry, I'm not expecting anything more."
"I'll explain to Cloud that it wasn't your fault." Vincent wasn't happy that he was responsible for potentially causing trouble for the happy couple.
"You don't have to explain anything to Cloud. See that?" Tifa pointed to the other twin bed in the room. "We are soul mates, but it's strictly platonic. It was hard for us both to admit, but we finally did. He and I have no claim on each other like you think."
"You're not a couple?" Vincent was stunned…he had been shut away from people for so long, it was hard for him to get used to all the complicated relationships that abounded.
Tifa smiled again as she put her hand on his cheek. "Cloud and I are as much of a couple as you and I are. Now I better get dressed and get ready for the day's work. Would you like to have breakfast with me?" She got out of bed and stretched, and Vincent had to admit she was quite attractive.
"You…you're not mad at me for last night?" Vincent felt he had to apologize for his behavior.
"I'll be mad at you if you keep asking questions like that." Tifa stood in front of him and cupped his face in her hands so he had to look at her. "You're still very human despite the beast inside you. I told you it was just comfort between us last night because I know Lucrecia is the only woman for you. So just remember, if you ever need comforting again, my door is always open. I don't like kicking my friends out of my bar because they turn into drunk idiots." Tifa kissed him gently, then made a face as a little bit of hair got stuck in her mouth momentarily, and giggled when she got it out. "I've never been with a man before when I couldn't tell the difference between our hair."
"I'm sor…" Vincent started to say.
"I don't want you apologizing anymore!" Tifa interrupted. "Now, how do you like your eggs?"
Sitting down at the table with Tifa for breakfast, Vincent felt awkward and relieved at the same time. She refused to talk about last night anymore, instead she made amusing small talk about some of the patrons at the bar. He didn't know what to say, so he just ate and found himself smiling occasionally. When it was done, she put the dirty dishes in the sink, and popped into the bathroom to brush her teeth before taking him by the hand and leading him downstairs.
"I…um…" Vincent didn't know what to say now.
"You're about to promise me that you will come and find me the next time you feel an urge to try and give yourself liver damage?" Tifa inquired. "We don't have to do anything, you can just talk to me about whatever's bothering you. I'm a good listener."
"Thank you." Vincent decided that was the safest thing to say, and disappeared from Tifa's sight with a flash of his red cloak.
Tifa stood there for a moment before heading to the bar to get ready for opening, finding Cloud already there to her surprise.
"I slept in your office last night, I didn't want to interrupt." Cloud told her.
"Thanks. He's tough to reach, but I hope I got through to him. He doesn't need to shut himself off so much from other people." Tifa replied.
"That seems to be your kind of man, doesn't it?" Cloud smiled at his best friend.
"He could never be my kind of man, not with Lucrecia forever in his heart. I offered only friendship." Tifa explained.
"Like I said, your kind of man if he can be with you but is still in love with another woman." Cloud's smile faded a little as they both still felt the twinge of hurt from accepting their love wasn't what they wanted it to be.