"Why don't you all stay here for a time…? At least so you can make a plan as to where you wish to go next." I stated as I looked at the tired and ragged group.
Something was wrong. They looked like they had been through hell and back. Maybe someone died…?
I looked over at Vincent whose eyes hadn't once left me as I wandered back and forth in the room. To see such love from a man who had such a hard past was nothing short of amazing, it always made me smile. I knew that in the beginning it was because I reminded him of her but I knew it was different now and that made me truly happy.
"We need to keep going; Sephiroth doesn't stop and rest when he's tired." Cloud said as he hit the table.
I swung around, my skirts twisting around my legs after I turned. "Now look here Mr. Cloud." I huffed as I place my hands on my hips. "You want to run yourself ragged and tire yourself to the bone be my guest but these other fine people may wish to rest. And if I know a thing or two about Sephiroth is that he thinks he's already so far ahead of everyone else that he indeed does rest."
"Look 'ere missy…" The man with the gun arm started.
"Don't you 'look here missy' me! You may be older than me but don't think you can push me over."
That shut him up.
I huffed and spun around, my skirts twisting around me then billowing out as I marched from the room and into one of the small spare bedrooms.
I could hear them talking as I busied myself with the room. I had lost my temper and I knew it… but sometimes it's just hard when you hear things that aren't coming from their mouths…
There was a soft knock on the door. "Marie…?" It was one of the girls.
"You can come on in darlin' the doors unlocked." I answered as I turned to face the door.
The girl with long brown hair walked in nervously. "Can I talk to you for a moment…?"
I smiled. "Of course." I swept my arm across the room. "Sit where ever you would like."
"Thanks." She smiled as she perched on a chair.
"What was it you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked as I scooted the other chair next to her.
"Well… I guess I should apologize for how Cloud acted out there… You see we've been through a lot and I think he's taken it a lot harder than the rest of us…" She looked utterly depressed and instantly I regretted how I had acted myself.
"I'm sorry as well for how I acted. I knew something horrible had happened to all of you and I shouldn't have snapped like that." I said as I patted her leg lightly. "I know you've all been through hell and I know you all really need to just rest before you continue... but I think it's also a selfish thing on my part." I smiled wirily.
"Well how long has it been since you've seen Vincent...?" she asked.
"Well... a little over four months ago..." I answered as I counted.
"I think you deserve a little time with him before we leave here... You need time with your husband."
I smiled at her. "Thank you err..." I blushed, I hadn't found out her name.
"Tifa" She answered. "Tifa Lockhart."
I nodded. "Thank you Tifa. That is very generous of you."
Tifa smiled, stood and left, leaving me alone in the guest room; I sighed.
Well there you go again Marie… You hurt someone's feelings with that quick temper of yours. You know you're very lucky that Vincent is so calm and grounded, he may have never stayed with you if he wasn't your complete opposite…
The door opened as I scolded myself so I didn't hear the person enter the room until a hand touched my shoulder.
"Ayee!!" I squealed as I jumped and spun around to face the person who touched me.
"Vincent!" I squeaked as I placed my hand over my heart. "You scared my half to death!"
He just smiled at me. "Come…" He beckoned as he turned back to the door.
"Oh Vincent… I don't…" I started. "Maybe I should…" I tried again. "I've done enough damage to your friends already…" I finished.
Vincent turned back to me, cupping my cheek in his hand. "I know you meant well Marie…" He said as I rubbed my cheek against his palm, god I missed his touch. "Come out with me… You can apologize if you wish… but don't hide away in here… I've missed you too much to have you apart from me in our own home…" He had moved closer to me as he spoke.
I opened my eyes, after realizing I had closed them, and gazed up into his face with my cheek still cupped in his hand. "I'm sorry, darling, if I have hurt you by leaving… You know how I am when I let my temper get away from me…" I sighed. "I'll come out with you…"
He smiled at me. "Thank you…" He murmured as he leaned down and brushed his lips softly across mine. "I love you Marie…"
I smiled and rubbed my nose against his as he pulled away. "I love you too Vincent…"
Begrudgingly I lifted my cheek from his hand and straightened out my skirts. "Alright… Let's go out there…"
Vincent smiled at me again and turned back to the door, opening it up and letting me out first.
As I stepped out of the room I saw that they hadn't really moved from where they had originally placed themselves, except maybe Tifa, they all looked sort of like statues.
Once I was fully in the small kitchen/living area I bowed. "I am truly sorry for losing my temper with all of you… I know things have been difficult through your journey and I know that you have all faced something very tough recently…" I stopped and gazed up at Vincent. It was easy to read him, mostly because he actually opened it up to me when he knew that it would help me. I turned back to my guests. "I'm sorry that you have lost a friend… She seems like she was a great person…"
All of them stared at me like I was crazy and I realized my mistake a moment too late.
"Oh dear…" I murmured, tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to repress the memory of what happened the first time I let myself slip.
Vincent placed his hand on my shoulder, he knew what had happened and he knew how much it had damaged me and how hard it was for me to tell him.
"Please… excuse me…" I whispered as I turned quickly and ran up the stairs.
Vincent sighed as he watched Marie run up the stairs. He turned back to the people he had traveled with through this journey of revenge.
"How did she know…?" Tifa whispered as she finally tore her eyes away from the stairwell.
"Because Vincent told her." Barret snapped as he glared at Vincent.
Vincent hardened under Barret's accusing gaze. "Technically I did not tell her with words…" He replied.
"Well what in the hell does that mean?" Cid questioned.
Vincent closed his eyes, he knew he'd have to tell her secret if he wanted them to drop the subject. "Marie is… well… Marie is special…" He started.
"We got that part. You obviously love her and if anyone can get Mr. cold hearted to fall in love has to be special." Yuffie joked.
Vincent shook his head. "It's not just that that makes her special…" He sighed, there was no other way.
"Marie is psychic…."
