"Reeve…"

"No, hear me out, Vincent. A blood test would settle the question, wouldn't it?"

"It would, but…"

"Then it's settled!"

Reeve raised himself from his chair and dashed out of the living room.

"What is he…?"

Vincent barely had time to react and before long, Reeve was gone.

"Where's da'faiar?"

Vincent heard Barret mumble clumsily, almost falling into a deep slumber. Both girls were already gone into a deep sleep. The two blondes, however, were too immersed in their little card game to be affected by the exhaustion. Vincent got up from his seat and walked over to the table. He had to admit that he was intrigued by what caused Reeve to think that the blondes were related, besides the obvious fact that their hair and eye color were alike, but not the same.

"Did I win, or what?"

"No, no, no, yeh doin' it wrong. I'll show yeh one more time, kid, so pay attention."

Vincent leaned against the table casually, watching with amusement as Cid was teaching something without spreading curses all over the place. Still, the black haired man found the idea ridiculous. He had a faint idea of how old both males were, and it would make no sense, whatsoever for Cid to be Cloud's father.

"Huh, what's so funny, Vince?"

Vincent blinked, realizing that he had chuckled audibly at his own thoughts. He looked down at both blondes and shrugged coolly.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"About what?"

Cid mumbled, clearly close to falling into sleep sooner or later.

"Don't worry about it."

Vincent said and moved away from his spot, but his sharp hearing caught a soft yawn sound coming from Cloud and a loud thump. Looking behind, he saw that Cloud was practically rubbing one of his half-closed eyes, while Cid's head had given up on him and landed on the table, snoring out loudly.

"Cloud, go to sleep. Everyone's put out, already."

Vincent instructed, and Cloud agreed, making his way to take one of the blankets they had prepared for that specific time. After Vincent had placed a blanket over Cid's sleeping form, he took a survey at the living room. The usual empty area was gleaming with unexplained life, possibly from the energy radiating from the youths that occupied it.

But there was still the unsettling matter of a certain missing brunette that never returned. Vincent made his way out of the living room and pondered at where he should begin looking for Reeve. He had this dry feeling that the man went downstairs to the basement, so that's where he decided to start looking.

Unknown to Vincent, Reeve had emerged from upstairs, carrying needles in his hand. The excitement of what he was planning to do was sending so much adrenaline through his blood stream that it kept the alcohol from taking Reeve into a slumber.

Grinning upon finding everyone asleep, Reeve took the opportunity to take a few drops of blood from Cid and Cloud. After finishing the task, the brunette made his way to the basement, where he would run the DNA tests. Much to his surprise, he had found Vincent inside the laboratory.

"Reeve. Where were you?"

Reeve blinked at the black haired man, before grinning.

"I've got it!"

"Got….what…?"

Vincent asked cautiously, taking notice of something in Reeve's hands.

"Reeve…you.."

"I got the blood samples, Vincent!"

Vincent sighed tiredly.

"Reeve, just go to sleep. This is stupid."

"Oh, party pooper, it's just one little blood test, Vincent."

Vincent gave Reeve a hard glare.

"I will go to bed after this, I promise."

"You promise?"

"Yes. Now where is the tester?"

Vincent groaned mentally. He had no idea how much demanding Reeve could be when he was drunk.

"That way…"

Vincent pointed as he watched the brunette make his way to the small dusty machine. Reeve's knowledge of fine and delicate machinery were a given even in a drunk state. He wiped the machine clean in just two minutes and had it running the next. Sadly for Reeve, the blood test would only be complete after one hour, or so.

"You got what you wanted, Reeve."

Vincent started, walking over to the brunette, placing his clawed hand over the man's shoulder as a warning that his patient was wearing off. Being inside the lab made Vincent tense and aggressive.

"Do your promise."

"I will…let's go."

Reeve yawned, finally feeling the heavy weight of the need of slumber fall upon his body. Vincent guided Reeve back to the living room. Normally he would have his guests sleep in the beds, but since everyone had fallen asleep downstairs, there was no way that Vincent would carry all of them upstairs. And he would rather keep all of his friends within the same room, in case something happened. The mansion was still haunted, after all. Surprisingly, no monster appeared that night.

'The noise must have frightened the poor bastards.'

With that thought, Vincent took a spot in the living room, claimed a blanket for himself and closed his eyes.

TBC