Chapter 2
"How is she?" Tifa asked as they entered the room.
"She's asleep now." Vincent replied, sitting down at the counter next to Yuffie.
"Hey Vinnie? What were you so mad about when we brought the soup up?" Yuffie asked and Vincent looked at her in surprise. "Don't look so surprised Vince. I could tell you were angry by looking at your eyes, now what was wrong?"
"Kiara was telling me about her father."
"Oh so you know about her parents?"
He nodded. "Her mother is dead and she isn't sure about her father."
"But that doesn't explain why you wee mad."
Vincent sighed and explained what Kiara had told him. Tifa clenched her fists in anger. "How could he do that! Drunk or not how could he throw a knife at his own daughter!
Cloud placed a hand on her shoulder and she calmed instantly, looking at him.
She sighed. "The question now is where she'll stay. I can keep her here for a while but not permanently, there isn't enough room."
"She can come with me." Vincent said. "I'm living here for now and a have an extra room in my home."
The others (except for Yuffie and Tifa) stared at him in shock. Tifa smiled. "That would be good. She does seem to have taken a shine to you."
The power came back on a few minutes later.
"Good. The power's back." Tifa said as she looked out the window.
"It's still pouring out there. Why don't you all stay here for the night? You'll be a little cramped but it's only for one night."
They all nodded. "Ok. Cid, Barrett and Yuffie can sleep in the kid's room, I don't think they'll mind. Cid, Barrett if I catch any of your foul language around the children you'll get it. Nanaki I guess you can sleep wherever you want, and that leaves the couch for Vincent."
Later that night
Vincent opened his eyes when he heard small footsteps heading in his direction. He lifted his head and saw Kiara standing in the doorway that connected the bar to the living room.
"What is it Kiara?" He asked, sitting up.
She bowed her head, looking at her feet.
"Is it the thunder again?"
She nodded, looking back up at him. "Can I sleep with you?" she asked quietly.
Vincent nodded. "Of course."
She walked over and climbed up next to him as he laid back down. She snuggled close to him and he hesitated before putting an arm around her.
"Good night Kiara."
"Good night." She answered sleepily.
Vincent closed his eyes and drifted back into sleep.
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Yuffie yawned as she walked down the stairs.
She got herself a glass of water then noticed the door to where Vincent slept was open.
Curious, she peeked her head in and smiled.
She walked in silently and picked up the blanket that had been dropped on the floor and draped it over the two. Kiara smiled in her sleep and grabbed the edge of the blanket, pulling it closer to her chin.
Yuffie brushed a strand of hair from Kiara's face and gave one last look at the pair before walking out, closing the door softly behind her.
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"Well I'll be damned. I don't believe it." Cid said as he stared at the pair the next morning. "Never thought I'd ever see Vincent like that."
Tifa smiled, "I think Vincent's getting attached to her. Who knows, maybe she can get him to come out of his shell. Get him to open up."
Cid shrugged. "Yeah. Who knows. Anyway where's the Brat?"
Tifa grinned. "Cloud's getting her up."
Suddenly a high pitched scream filled the bar, causing Vincent to come awake in a flash, Cerberus in hand. He sat up, nearly causing Kiara to fall to the floor. "What is it?"
Tifa laughed and before she could answer Yuffie's yells were heard. "CLOUD STRIFE! YOU GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!"
Cloud ran into the room and hid behind Tifa. "What in the hell did you do?" Cid asked as footfalls were heard pounding down the stairs.
Yuffie ran into the room, wide awake and her green pajamas soaking wet, wielding Conformer menacingly.
"CLOUD I'M GONNA STICK CONFORMER SO FAR UP YOUR ASS IT'LL TAKE A SURGEON TO GET IT OUT!" she yelled.
Kiara giggled and Yuffie looked over at her. "Why are you wet miss Yuffie? And why are you trying to kill mister Chocobo head?"
"Hey! The name's Cloud!" Cloud exclaimed.
Yuffie grinned. "Well Kiara, Chocobo head over there decided he'd pour a bucket of water on me to wake me up. Which I still have to pay him back for." She glared at him.
Kiara turned to Cloud. "Why didn't you shake her awake?"
Cloud rolled his eyes. "Because she sleeps like a rock."
"I DO NOT!" Yuffie shouted.
"I screamed in your ear and you still didn't wake up!"
"Why don't you just say your sorry?" Kiara asked innocently.
Vincent chuckled. "It's pretty bad when a five year old is smarter than you two put together."
Yuffie's jaw dropped. "Vincent. Did you just make a joke?"
"You should know better than anyone that I do not posses a sense of humor." Vincent said seriously.
Yuffie shook her head. "I don't know how you can say that and still keep a straight face."
"Years of practice."
"Ok," Tifa chimed in. "Now that everyone's calmed down who wants breakfast?"
"I DO! I DO!" Yuffie and Kiara shouted together.
Tifa laughed. "I knew she was just like you Yuffie." She looked at Kiara. "Ok Kiara what do you want?"
"French Toast!"
Tifa nodded. "French Toast it is then."
Kiara followed Tifa and the others out of the room. Vincent got Yuffie's attention and she walked over. "What is it Vince?"
"I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
"Sure what do you need?"
"Will you take Kiara out to get her some clothes? She can't really keep using Marlene's"
Yuffie noddd. "Sure but why can't you do that?"
"It is not something I am used to doing." He replied, not meeting her eyes and feeling awkward.
She shrugged. "Ok then. I don't have any other plans so I don't see why not."
"Thank you."
Later that day
Vincent gave a small smile as he watched Kiara chase after Marlene and Denzel in her new jeans and green tee. Her fever had broken that morning and she had been allowed outside with the other two children. His smile turned to a frown as he went back to his thoughts.
Someone leaned against the wall next to him.
"Hey." Yuffie greeted.
He nodded in greeting.
She watched the children chase each other, waiting for him to tell her what was bothering him. Finally she asked him.
"What are you thinking about?"
He said nothing, staring at the ground. Yuffie sighed and started to leave. "I'm rethinking my decision to let her stay with me."
Yuffie looked at him questioningly, going back to her place on the wall. "Why?"
"Because of Chaos. What if I lose control? She'd be in danger because of me."
Yuffie shook her head at his reason. "Have you ever lost control of it before?"
"No"
"Then what are you worried about? If you've never lost control before what are the chances of it happening?" She placed a hand on his shoulder. "She wants to stay with you Vince. You saw how happy she was when we told her she'd be staying with you." She turned her gaze back to the kids. "I guess she sorta sees you as a parent now."
"I've never raised a child. I wouldn't know what to do."
Yuffie grinned. "That's what you've got us for. Teef and I can help you. Now you have no reason to turn her away."
Kiara saw them and stopped, waving at them with a smile on her face.
Vincent smiled and lifted his hand in answer. "No. I guess I don't."
Yuffie smiled knowingly as she saw his eyes soften as he watched the little girl.
Kiara ran up to them. "Come play with us!" she said excitedly, grabbing their hands and pulling them along. Yuffie laughed at er enthusiasm.
Vincent pulled his hand free from Kiara's grasp. "I'll watch. You go ahead."
"Ok!" Kiara said, unfazed, as she dragged Yuffie to Marlene and Denzel.
He sat down and watched as Yuffie dodged the children with her shinobi skills.
He leaned back on his hands and closed his eyes. A few minutes later the sun was blocked and he opened his eyes in time to see the three children lunge at him, tackling him and making him land on his back. He grunted and looked up at the emerald eyes of Kiara who was sitting on his chest.
"She told us to." She said, pointing to Yuffie who was keeled over, holding her stomach in laughter.
Vincent sat up, causing the three children to roll off, and glared at Yuffie.
"I-I'm s-sorry Vince." She said between laughs. "You were j-just to easy a t-target."
Vincent smirked and whispered something in Kiara's ear. She grinned and ran to the hose, turning it on and handing the nozzle to Vincent.
Yuffie's eyes widened and she backed away. "Vincent… Don't. you. Dare." She screamed when he squirted her and she ran. He kept the hose locked on her until she was soaking wet for the second time that day.
He turned to the laughing kids. "What do you think children? Is that enough punishment?"
The children nodded but he shook his head. "I don't think so considering I haven't gotten her accomplices yet." He turned the hose on them and they squealed as the water hit them. They ran and he focused his attention on Kiara, who ran behind Yuffie causing the shinobi to be blasted again.
"VINCENT!" She screamed as he turned the water off and walked into the bar.
"You are about to have three wet children and a soaking ninja walk in." he told Tifa. "If they ask where I am tell them I'm out."
That night
"Marlene. Denzel. Time for bed." Tifa called, walking into the living room. She stopped and smiled.
The three children laid in a tangled heap in front of the tv which was still playing the movie they had been watching.
Cloud and Vincent walked in behind her. "Hey Cloud. Could you give me a hand?" Tifa asked as she picked up Marlene. He nodded, picking up Denzel who was mumbling incoherently.
"Do you want Kiara to spend one more night here Vince or is her room all set at your house?" Tifa asked.
"I'll take her home. Yuffie helped me finish the room earlier this afternoon." Vincent answered, bending down and picking up the sleeping girl.
Tifa nodded. "Ok then. Be careful going home."
Vincent nodded. "I will. Good night Tifa. Cloud." Then he walked out of the bar, careful not to wake Kiara.
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Vincent pushed open the door to Kiara's room and placed her on the little twin bed. She made a small noise and opened her eyes sleepily.
"Go back to sleep." Vincent told her and she shook her head. "But I'm not sleepy." She said as she yawned.
"Sure you aren't." he commented, pulling the covers over her. "Good night Kiara."
She snuggled deeper into the covers, already half asleep. "Good night daddy." She mumbled before drifting into a peaceful sleep.
Vincent's eyes widened in surprise then softened as he watched the now sleeping girl.
He walked silently out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him, a decision made.
A/N: Sorry i haven't updated guys. I'v been trying to for the last two days but the document manager didn't want to cooperate. Hope you like the newest chapter. It's gonna be like this for the next two chapters but then the story will go into Dirge of Cerberus which is why I need help. I don't own the game and I need dialog from a certain scene. Think any of you DoC owners out there can help? If you can just email me and I'll tell you which scene i need.
