UNREQUITED- A feeling, especially love,

not returned or rewarded.

The "String of birthday's" was discovered a year earlier when the retired members of AVALANCHE discovered that during the month of September they were having to make the trip to Tifa's bar four times in one month for Barret's, Cid's, Tifa's and Yuffie's birthday. It became too exhausting for the close knit of friends, who lived rather far apart, to be making the trip so often in just four weeks. So in an agreement of convenience, they decided on a Mass Vacation, in which they would all meet up in Seventh Heaven on September first and stay until the end of the month. Celebrating for the whole thirty days.

This was the first year Mass Vacation was to take effect, and as planned, everyone showed up on the first day of September. Barret's birthday was first, falling on September second, his boisterous attitude belied his age of thirty seven. As always his energetic attitude was invited as he was the first to arrive. He gave Cloud a hearty shake followed by a lung hollowing hug, and kissed Tifa on the cheek. Marlene ran straight to Denzel, ready to follow him in any mischief he had devised since their last visit. Tifa's birthday was next. She was born on the tenth and would be turning twenty six. She had spent a week making the extra rooms livable for her friends' month long stay. Cloud assured her that after spending weeks "Roughing it" in the wilderness during their travels, that any room with a bed in it would be fine for them. But she was adamant on the level of comfort she was to provide for them. Cid's birthday fell on the nineteenth, and as he arrived, his age of thirty eight was clearly evident in the deep lines etched in his face. He kicked open the door to the bar, carrying several bags in each hand as a cigarette hung loosely from his lips. It almost fell out several times as he grunted complaints about Shera bringing too much stuff. He nodded to the others before asking which room he could "Unload this Shit!", as he so eloquently put it. Yuffie's birthday fell on the Autumn Equinox, the first day of fall. This she was very proud of. The twenty second of September in Wutai was an honored day to be born on, and each year she made it known to all her friends. This year she would be turning twenty two. She arrived with an air of enthusiasm and exuberant youth and ran straight to Tifa so they could talk wildly about all the things that have happened since they last saw each other. Reeve arrived next, with Cait Sith balancing leisurely on his shoulder. Reeve would not be staying for the whole month, but would surely pop by more often while the others were in town. Shelke crept in next. She had tried to be social and stopped by the bar every once in a while, but her social skills hadn't changed since her days with Deepground. Still she was welcomed and was given several hugs as she arrived. Vincent and Naniki arrived at the same time. Vincent was holding a large bag as he shouldered the door open for Naniki. Yuffie squealed in delight jumping over the bar counter and almost falling on her face.

"Red!" she fell to her knees in front of him grabbing his large face with her hands and pressed her forehead to his. It was a greeting, a special moment they shared. Yuffie had been in Wutai for the better part of the year, but she visited Naniki often. He was the only, out of the group, who held a small obsession with Materia, as Yuffie did. She gave him a tight hug then stood.

"Oh hey Vincent" she waved to the tall man standing next to Red XIII "What's in the bag?"

Vincent shrugged "Im not sure, it's not mine"

"They're chocobo eggs, Yuffie, and I've brought one for you too" the large red feline said, taking the bag from Vincent with his teeth and gently opened the folds of cloth protecting three large eggs.

"Oh Red, where did you get these?" her eyes opened wide at the size of the large eggs.

"I'll explain later, right now I have to get these things warm" He loped over to a large red couch, gently placed the eggs on it and curled up next to them.

"Well it looks like everyone's here!" Tifa said

"Not everyone" Shelke's monotone voice cut in "I have a friend interested in meeting Barret Wallace, I hope you don't mind, I've invited her for tomorrow"

"A friend? For me?" Barret was suddenly interested in the conversation "Is she cute?"

"She is a well maintained female, age thirty six, approximately five feet-six inches...an..."

"I don't care about all that mumbo jumbo! Is she stacked?!"

Shelke looked puzzled "Im sorry, I do not understand your question"

Everybody laughed. Tifa took Shelke into the corner to explain what Barret was talking about as the catching up continued. Yuffie made her rounds, making it a point not to talk about her own birthday. She approached Cid and Shera first.

"Heeeeyyya Cid! Heeeyy Shera!"

"Hey kid, how ya been?" he eyed her curiously as she bounced in place holding something behind her back. "What'cha got there?"

Yuffie looked stricken "Wha? You don't remember?" She pouted

Cid looked up trying to remember, nothing came "Nah, what it is?" He said gruffly

"You promised me your mastered Fire3 if I brought you Wutai rolling tobacco. Don't you remember?" She stomped a foot.

"Uh...oh yeah. It's uh...on The Shera. I'll get it tomorrow" he snatched the pouch of prized smoking tobacco.

"Heyyy!" she tried reaching for it

"Don't worry, you know im good for it"

When Yuffie finished catching up with Cid and Shera, and hinting more than once that they should have some children, she tried talking to Barret. That didn't go to well. He couldn't stop going on about this new chick that Shelke was supposed to hook him up with. So after repeated attempts she moved on to Vincent. When Yuffie saw that he was the only one who wasn't have a friendly 'Lets catch up' conversation, she headed straight for him. As always he stood on the outskirts of the bar, choosing the company of himself and enjoying observing rather than participating. He didn't even flinch as she approached.

"Hey Vinnie. So what have you been up to these days?" she stood expectantly in front of him. He dragged his gaze from the window to the young girl in front of him. Had he taken the time to observe her when he first arrived he would have noticed that she was not a young girl anymore. She was a woman. He studied her body language, which portrayed the graceful movements of an adult female. One who knows her body. She no longer carried the scrawny limbs he once believed couldn't wield a weapon like the conformer. Her hair was a tad longer, though not the traditional Wutai length of brushing the back, or pulled tightly into a bun. But it no longer had the tom-boyish feel. He took in her womanly figure. Noting how she grew shapely hips and the suggestive curve of her waist. Her breast's were fuller and were accented by the low V-neck shirt she wore. He was torn from his observations by a hand waving in front of his face.

"Vincentttttt. Geez am I that boring?" She smiled. Not only had her body matured, but she too had undergone major changes since he last saw her. Her self conscious annoyance and need to always fill the silence with banter had transformer into well cultured politeness. Though she was the same outgoing, friendly Yuffie they all knew. It was Vincent who hadn't seen her in the longest amount of time and noted the drastic change in her. She had really grown.

"Yuffie" he nodded, as if acknowledging her presence was enough for her. It wasn't.

"Come on Vince. What's been going on in your life? Any ladies?" She batted her eyes suggestively.

"No"

"Men?"

He looked at her strangely "No"

"Fine. If your not gonna talk, im gonna go find to someone else" She turned on her heel.

"Wait Yuffie...how...have you been?"

She smiled before turning around

"Eh, can't complain. I got a boyfriend!" he raised an eyebrow "Well sort of. It's this Prince my dad wants me to hook up with. He's pretty cool, we actually get along. And Vincent he has the most amazing eyes! Greener than gysahl greens!"

"So your getting married...that's" he took a sip of wine "that's good news"

"Ugh, not really. I mean he's a great guy and all but im just not ready to settle down, ya know? He wants the typical Wutaian woman: silent, respectful, never takes her eyes off the floor kinda woman. That's just not me." she looked down as she shuffled her feet "My dad say's I have a lot to learn before im worthy of him. He say's im too fiery, too challenging. Wutai men don't like a woman who talks back" Yuffie didn't know why she was telling all this to Vincent. He seemed genuinely interested, but she hadn't told anybody else about her betrothed 'so-called-perfect' prince.

"Well, he sounds like an ass to me" the worlds slipped out. Yuffie's jaw dropped open "Im sorry. It's not my place to say"

"Vincent that was awesome" she laughed "You couldn't be more right!" They shared a moment of silence, smiling at their newfound revelation. Vincent allowed himself a small smile, but only because the wine made it easier to do so.

"It's really great seeing you Vince"

"You too Yuffie"

She started to walk away but turned "I hope you got me something really nice for my birthday. If not I think im fine with the comment you just gave me. I'll never forget it as long as I live"

"Glad I could give you such a worthwhile memory" he tipped his glass to her. She gave him a two finger salute before heading to someone else.

'Wow he's so different' Yuffie thought, remembering a silent, sulking figure.