Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII! I am only a pathetic fan boy who has nothing better to do with his time at the moment! Please don't sue me!

Warning: Potential OOC moments and possibly more swearing! You have been warned!

Light in the Darkness

By: athrunzala

Instance 4:

Matters of Time

It was around 3 am when Yuffie awoke to a pain that was so intense, she was certain that it was going to rip her body apart. Not wanting to wake anybody, she attempted to stifle the screams, but it didn't work. Vincent was up the stairs and at her side faster than Cloud could kill a Shadow Creeper. Rushing her out of the door, he practically flew to the hospital. Upon arrival, the doctors immediately rushed Yuffie into the ICU. Even though they knew that it wasn't exactly necessary, they did anyways (The crime rate was generally really low around the region anyway, and the worst thing they had had was a broken leg the previous day.).

Vincent, meanwhile, was pacing around the living room, waiting for news of any kind from the surgeons. Obviously he was nervous. I said I'd protect her. Fat lotta good that did her. Just like Lucrecia. He just couldn't shake the images. Lucrecia, the only other woman he had actually cared about, hooked up to machines while he just watched, helpless from his containment tank. Now, it seemed as though it was happening all over again.

When the head surgeon came into the waiting room, the gunman rushed over to him, ready to pummel him unless he got answers. However, upon realizing that this was the same doctor who had helped them the last time, he stopped. "How is she?" the doctor looked back and, in the calmest voice, gave the former Turk the news. Apparently there were some complications with the pregnancy. She would have to remain in the ICU overnight for observation, and from, there, it was all touch and go. Despite his pleading to stay all night, Vincent was sent home.

The next day, Vincent got a phone call telling him that it was alright for Yuffie to come home. But she was to remain on bed rest until she gave birth. While this made the gunman more relaxed, he was certain that it would annoy Yuffie to no end. She was quite hyper, and didn't like to stay in one place for too long. But Vincent was certain that he could keep her still.

Upon their arrival back at the mansion, Vincent carried Yuffie, who was now at the end of the first trimester up to her room. He was about to turn and leave when Yuffie said, "Wait. Stay here with me." "But there are no chairs," he protested. "I know. Stay here in my bed." Not wanting to scare her any further, he tried to refuse, but gave in when she said the she would chase him all over the planet if he even thought about leaving. So he sat on her bed until she fell asleep.

The next day, Yuffie woke up late. She looked at the clock. "OHMIGAWD! Its 11 already! I should have been up hours ago!" Then she looked around the room, and saw Vincent asleep in a chair, which he had apparently dragged into the room. She suppressed the urge to giggle, and went downstairs to make breakfast for the two of them. 'Won't he be surprised…' was her only thought.

When Vincent awoke, he was greeted by the smell of bacon cooking. (A.n./ - Now come on, you all know how that smells! Yummy!) He followed the smell downstairs, and found Yuffie hard at work in the kitchen. "You know what the doctor told you. No leaving the bed until after the birth." Yuffie looked at him, a pouty smirk on her face. "But, Vin… you know me! I can't just lay around." The gunman smiled. "But you have to this time." He then thought about his next words, and deciding that there was no other way to put it, he added, "I'll do whatever you want." 'I'm probably gonna regret that...' upon hearing this, Yuffie nodded and told him that she wanted breakfast in bed, and that he should join her. Naturally, he obliged.

Two more months passed, and Vincent was starting to loose his mind. The more pregnant the ninja got, the more demanding she became. And the mood swings were another thing. Initially, he said that his transformations were just like that, but none of them would complain about dinner not being spicy enough, or the soda not being cold enough, even though there was only so much any man could do. Once month six hit, Vincent called in the reinforcements.

Tifa arrived, as did Cloud and Reno. Reno was a little miffed for having to leave Rude, but he got over it when he was told that they would be helping Vincent to regain his sanity. Tifa arrived, with Marlene and Elmyra in tow, and they ushered the shaking mass of hair, skin, metal, and fabric that was once Vincent Valentine out of the house. Cloud looked at him and shook his head. "Come on. We're getting you to a bar." Reno smirked. "And I've got the perfect place picked out." Cloud glanced over at the Turk, a concerned look at his face. Reno put his hands up. "Don't worry. It isn't any of the places I frequent." Cloud looked back at Vincent. "Just give me a stiff drink," the gunman muttered.

Back in the mansion, Tifa was surprised at the state of things. Where the people under Genesis' control had attacked her, there was new flooring, and the whole place was almost antiseptic. And there was the sound of a television coming from the upper floor. Following it, they found a very pregnant Yuffie, who, being unable to fit into her own clothes, was wearing a medical robe that Vincent had found in the basement storage closets. "Hey, Teef! What's up?" The bartender looked back. "Nothing much. And before you ask, Vincent is with Cloud and Reno. He's perfectly safe. We're here as his replacements."

elsewhere

On their way to the bar, they passed a jewelry store, and Vincent asked then to hold up while he went inside. When he came back out, he had a bag. "What's that?" the red head asked. "A special order. Paid for it three months ago. Finally came in yesterday." Vincent smiled and took the package out of the bag. Upon seeing it, Cloud and Reno's jaws hit the floor. It was a jewel-encrusted bracer with five Materia slots in it. "Whoa, Trigger! Where'd you get the money for this piece of work?" Odd jobs and my salary from the WRO." Cloud nodded. "I know who that's for." Vincent smiled and nodded back. "You got it, Cloud. It's for Yuffie. Mine won't be in until later this year. Different material is being used to make it."

That business finished, the trio headed off to the bar. Upon their arrival, Vincent and Cloud headed straight to the bar, while Reno hit up the bathroom. The bartender turned around to face the two AVALANCHE members. "Good day. My name is Cassandra, but you can call me Cassie. Anything you need, just ask." The two then ordered their drinks. Vincent had ordered a Hennessey and Coke, and Cloud ordered a simple Screwdriver. When Reno arrived, he ordered sake. "Little miss hyper driving you crazy?" Vincent looked at the Turk. "Hell yes." They all laughed, which was surprising considering that Vincent hadn't ever laughed since the other two had met him.

back at the mansion

Yuffie was having the time of her life. Tifa had decided to throw an impromptu baby shower, and had invited all of her girlfriends from when she was a child, as well as some of the new friends that she had. Obviously, Shelke arrived last. There was alcohol, but Yuffie was allowed to go nowhere near it. Despite it being a spur of the moment thing, nearly every possible thing that you could imagine needing for a baby arrived almost at once. 'Won't Vincent be surprised…'

The ninja was enjoying this reprieve from being pregnant so much, that she was shocked when the baby kicked hard. Tifa, seeing her friend's face, ran over to her. "You okay?" Yuffie smiled and looked back at the brunette. "I'm alright. It just kicked me, that's all."

meanwhile, back at the bar

"Hey! Shpiky! What the hell you doin' here, foo?" The trio turned around to see a very drunk and highly unpredictable Barret Wallace swagger over to them. The closer he got the more apparent it became that the Corel man was three sheets to the wind. It was only when Barret got over to them that they realized that he was easier to talk to when sloshed.

Sleep was one of the things that never had come easily for Vincent, but tonight, he was certain that he would want it. Ever since they had arrived, Barret had talked nonstop. Apparently, getting him to talk wasn't the trick; it was getting him to shut up. After several rounds of Jose Cuervo and various other alcoholic beverages, Cloud and Reno were forced to drag an enraged Vincent out of the bar, following a near shooting rampage that almost occurred when the gunman was cut off from the bathroom. "Alright, Trigger! We get the point. Don't get between you and the pisser!" Vincent slumped in their arms and looked up at Reno. "Damn straight."

Back at the mansion, Tifa's phone rang. When she picked up, Cloud told her that they were on their way back, carting an inebriated Turk with them. Assuming that Reno had had too much to drink, Tifa put on her gloves the moment she hung up. "They're on their way here," the brunette told everybody.

Walking up the path that led to the house, Vincent pulled the package out of Cloud's sword holster, which was where he had decided to keep it while they were at the bar. The blonde was dumbfounded. "That's why I thought I had left a sword in there!" Vincent looked back and explained. "I'm sorry about not asking first, but it's the last place that anybody would look for something like this." Reno merely scratched his head and smiled.

Once inside the door, the trio was greeted by silence and darkness. Instinctively, Vincent drew the Cerberus from its holster, Cloud grabbed Tsurugi from its sheath, and Reno pulled out his EMR. The three then proceeded into the living room, where Reno was taken out by a fist covered in black leather. There was a slight thud as he hit the opposite wall and slumped on the floor. And, as we all know, there is nothing like a fight to sober a man up. "Tifa! Calm down! Reno wasn't the one who was waaaay drunk. It was Vincent." The brunette stepped out of the shadows and into full view. "Oh! Sorry, Reno!" The red head stood up and rubbed his lower back. "Damn, Cloud! Don't ever piss her off! She's got a hell of a right hook!" The blonde looked back at his friend. "Trust me, I know."

Two more months passed. Nobody mentioned the "fight" between Reno and Tifa, and nobody hinted as to a re-match. Yuffie finally got over the morning sickness around the seventh month, and month eight went by without any problems. Everybody, even Rufus Shinra, had their fingers crossed. They were all hoping that the last month would come and go, so they could get Yuffie off of the "inactive" list, and back to work. Tifa just wasn't any good at keeping the peace between Wutai and Kalm. Yuffie and Vincent, on the other hand, were apparently the experts on the subject.

As with all things, the expected due date came, and nature decided to pull a fast one. Another two weeks would pass before…

"Vinnie… Hey…. Vinnie…." The Wutaian shook the gunman a little harder. He rolled over on the couch and looked up at the ninja. "Wassgoinon?" He said, still half asleep. "Vinnie, it's time."

To Be Continued…

Next Time: At the hospital, Yuffie is rushed into the delivery room. As everybody waits, memories are revisited, and old friendships are renewed. Next Instance: Welcoming.

A.n. / - Wow. Chapter 4. Finally, after five months of writers block, I get this done. And, ohmigawd! I gave a cliffhanger! Haha! I guess that is one of the perks that comes with being the author.

Tidus runs into room, screaming his head off. Hides behind the author

Tidus: Save me! He's out to kill me!

athrun: Who? Who's out to kill you?

Ichigo bursts through the door, Zangetsu in hand

Ichigo: Get back here! I'm gonna konso you, if it's the last thing I do!

Tidus: o.0'

athrun: --' Oh, good lord. Ichigo, you are not allowed to send people from other series to the other side.

[ahem Where was I? Oh yeah. Please Read and Review. That's the deal with these things. Does anybody even read these things? Oh well! Until next time!