A Long Time Coming

A Final Fantasy 7 Rufus/Yuffie Fanfic

Disclaimer: All rights to Square-Enix.


Chapter Three:

"Why didn't you stop her?"

"Elena, that's enough."

"But, Tseng, he got a haircut and everything. He's been putting it off for a month. The least she could have done was sit through the rest of the meeting," Elena huffed and straightened her jacket.

"Elena," Rufus stopped the bickering between the Turks with his usual tone. "Did you look up what I asked?"

"Yuffie Kisaragi sustained damage to both forearms during a Behemoth attack in Midgar Ruins in attempts to save a civilian child. The hospital didn't give any information, but I overheard things in Seventh Heaven; sounds like she got a number of stitches and is on antibiotics for infections."

"And knowing that her severe injuries are less than a week old, you wanted me to go after her, making her angry, raising her pulse, and knowing her, she'd punch me without holding back, resulting in?" Rufus stipulated.

"Resulting in opening her wounds, creating further damage, scarring, and other medical complications like fever and new infections," Elena answered. Dropping her head, she said, "Sorry, President."

"As long as you know," Rufus sighed, but not out of irritation at the female Turk. To Tseng, he inquired, "When is the next meeting?'

"They're scheduled for Tuesday. But, you don't honestly think she'll come again, do you?"

"No," Rufus pulled his paperwork closer. "I don't."

"Elena, let's get back to work." Tseng shuffled the worried woman out of the office so Rufus could stop pretending to do work.

"Hey, how's he holding up?" Reno was lounging at his desk, feet up and hands behind his head. "I saw the little Princess storm out earlier. She didn't even spare us an insult, right, Rude?"

The sunglasses glinted as the stoic man nodded. Seeing the ninja rush past without acknowledging the Turks' presence at all was suspicious. Normally, her dark gaze would find them anywhere and she would at least glare tiny daggers into them. But she didn't even look up as they passed in the otherwise empty hallway. Rude said, "She looked pale."

"She's always like that."

Rude wondered how Reno could be relied upon with such poor attention to detail.

"Besides, how can you tell, Rude? You're always wearing shades."

"She was also sweating and looked nauseated." Rude shrugged. "And I can tell, she wasn't looking good."

"Should we tell the President?" Elena looked over to the closed door.

"No," Tseng put a hand on Elena's shoulder to reassure her. "Everyone, back to work." He wandered out to the balcony and dialed a number on his phone.

As the sun dipped down, Yuffie trudged into Seventh Heaven and fell into an empty seat at the bar. She had applied for a few weeks of medical leave and that meant Yuffie spent the rest of the day in an unsettling mood.

"Rough day, Yuffs?"

"You can say that. Hit me with the hardest ya got," Yuffie banged her fists onto the bar, making the other patrons' drinks rattle along the surface.

"Here you go, lemon soda." Tifa dropped an ice chunk into a tumbler and poured the carbonated soft drink over it like it was the finest whiskey she had. "You can't have alcohol while you're on antibiotics. You should still be on your pain medication also."

"Oh, bleeeh to your mothering. You think popping out twins makes you know everything, huh?" Yuffie sneered lightly, then apologized. "Sorry, Teef. I don't mean that."

Tifa Strife leaned over the bar, much to the enjoyment of the intoxicated patrons who leered at her breasts, and ruffled Yuffie's growing hair. It was true enough. With Cloud, Marlene, Denzel, and now her twin children, Rosa and Wolfe, she had a hard time turning off 'Mother Mode'.

"Hey, Yuffie, when you're done with your drink, can you go up and help Marlene and Denzel? The twins should still be asleep, but just in case?" Tifa threw the ninja a smile as she went off to fill another order.

Yuffie chugged her soda and winced as the bubbles burned up her nose, before putting the appropriate gil on the table and going around to the stairs to the upper, residential portion of the bar.

"Auntie Yuffie!" Marlene looked up and exclaimed loudly.

"Shh! You'll wake the babies," Denzel grumbled but smiled as he also greeted their guest. "Hey, Yuffie."

"Everything alright?" Yuffie leaned to hear the twins snoring in a darkened bedroom. With the bar noise downstairs every night, the twins could probably sleep through a Weapon attack and only roll over. Turning back to the older children, Yuffie asked, "Doin' schoolwork?"

"I finished, but Denzel has to write a report." Marlene went and fetched a glass of water for Yuffie as she sat down with Denzel.

Yuffie stayed a few hours, during which she helped Marlene fold some laundry.

"Hey, Auntie Yuffie, don't your arms hurt? Tifa said you got injured pretty badly. You should rest."

"It's alright, Marlene. The baby clothes aren't heavy and I don't have to move my arms much," Yuffie reassured the girl with a smile.

"Maybe you should go visit Aerith's church. The water there is sure to help if it's Auntie Yuffie." Marlene beamed widely. For having only met Aerith briefly, the little girl held a strong connection with the flower loving woman from the slums.

"Maybe you're right, Marlene," Yuffie said and absentmindedly petted the girl's braided hair.

"Auntie Yuffie," Marlene turned, "what's bothering you?"

"Hm? Nothing. Why?"

"You only do this," she pointed to her head where Yuffie's hand still resided, "when something is bothering you."

"Oh. Sorry." Yuffie let go and returned to folding socks. "It's… complicated."

Marlene was used to hearing that. When she was younger it was about Barret becoming her father, or about AVALANCHE work, or violence, or money. Then it was about Cloud and Tifa having children. The girl squinted at Yuffie, studying the exposed skin of the ninja's midriff.

"Is Auntie Yuffie going to have a baby, too?"

"No, Gawd no!"

"Shh!"

"Sorry, Denzel." Yuffie turned back to Marlene. "No, Marlene, it's… a different sort of complicated. I'm sorry, but it isn't something I really feel like sharing with anybody." Yuffie had dealt with many children after returning to Wutai after Meteorfall. She knew that sometimes they did not like being treated as children, even if they were.

"I understand. But, Auntie Yuffie, you can talk to any of us if you need to," Marlene reassured her. "Or maybe you should talk with Aerith?"

Glad that Marlene did not take offense, Yuffie agree to talk with someone when she was ready and bid the children a good night. She had a long walk home and a lot to think about.