Disclaimer: Still don't own

"Because I didn't tell anyone I was leaving…"

Cloud stared at her in disbelief. Not only did she come out into the wilderness with no weapon, but she didn't tell anyone she was leaving? Cloud felt himself get angry at her lack of forethought.

"Yuffie, what the hell? Why wouldn't you tell anyone you were going? Your husband's probably worried sick and your father, who knows what he'll do!" Cloud yelled at Yuffie, throwing his hands up in the air. "Those soldiers had to die to come rescue someone who doesn't even need to be rescued!" The bodies littered the grounds around them; Yuffie shuttered and shied away from the bloodied mess.

Cloud finally turned around and noticed Yuffie had sunk into the ground, clutching her sides, her body shaking. "Yu… Yuffie, I'm sorry…" He walked over to her, reaching out to pat her arm. She shied away from his touch, shaking even harder. "Hey…" He reached over to touch her arm again.

"don't touch me" she whispered, tears slipping out of her eyes.

"Yuffie, I'm sorry. Talk to me." Cloud admonished, feeling the guilt sweep over him. He put his arm around her, expecting her to fall and cry into his arms.

"…don't hurt me…" She said it so quietly, that Cloud wasn't even sure he heard it correctly.

"Yuffie…" The blond haired boy sat there, knowing that Yuffie just needed to be alone. Her eyes became distant, not focusing on the scenery around them, but on something more sinister going on in her mind.

They sat like that for a while, but Cloud was getting nervous that they hadn't moved away from the battle site. There were more soldiers coming, of that Cloud was certain. He turned towards Yuffie, she was still in the same position, her fingertips had turned white from clutching so hard to her sides. "Yuffie, I'm sorry, but we have to leave. It's not safe here." Cloud wrapped his arm around her waist, attempting to pick her up from the ground. Yuffie screech and struggled to get out of his grasp,

"Get away from me!" She yelled into the trees, Cloud let her go and watched her run into the middle of all the wreckage.

Cloud yelled after the black haired girl, "Yuffie what is going on?" She continued to swat at the air, fighting off invisible demons. Her eyes suddenly got really wide, her mouth twisted as if to yell something, but nothing came out. With that, she fell to ground, unconscious.

"Yuffie!" Cloud ran over to her body, shaking her but got no response.

"Yuffie, wake up!"

Yuffie heard someone's voice first, but couldn't really discern what they were saying. She felt like she was floating around the sound waves, unable to grasp what was going on. It felt like hours before she was able to tell that it was a woman's voice. Then she realized it was a man and a woman's voice. There were two people.

They sounded familiar, the woman was hissing at the man angrily, but she couldn't tell why. 'The man sounds confused, wait, there are two men…' Yuffie concentrated as hard as she could to figure out what was going on, and then suddenly, her mind cleared. Vision opened up to two men, and a woman talking angrily to each other.

"Cid! We are heading back to Edge, and that's final! I will not hear another argument from you Cloud, since you're the reason this happened in the first place… Now get out of here so I can tend to my patient." The woman had flowing black hair and piercing brown eyes. She closed the door after the two men and then turned towards Yuffie. "You're awake?" She walked over to her side and sat in the blue chair next to the bed. "How do you feel?"

"I feel…. tired." Tifa smiled as she put her hand on the younger girl's forehead. Her temperature felt normal but Tifa felt a little nervous, not knowing what caused her to faint in the first place.

"I bet… So what happened out there? Cloud was pretty much useless with details as to why you would have fainted. I found a couple of cuts and stuff on your body but nothing too extensive. Cloud swears you didn't fight anyone though."

Yuffie grabbed the blanket to covered her bruised arms, not sure how to explain them off to Tifa. "I, uh… There was one soldier that got around and attacked me but Cloud didn't really see it. He ran away with the rest of them."

"Hmm. I wonder why they attacked you…"

Yuffie blanched and tried to cover up, "Well, he didn't so much attack me as try to force me to go with them."

Tifa looked at Yuffie with a raised eyebrow but didn't say much more on the topic. "Alright, well I'm going to write off the fainting as stress induced. Cloud said you had a lot of anxiety on the trip through the mountain, and after the battle especially." Her eyes probed the younger girl's, Yuffie tried to stay as neutral as possible.

"That would make sense. It's been awhile since I've left Wutai and all. Or even fought anyone." Yuffie scratched the back of her head, chuckling uneasily, hoping Tifa wouldn't notice her nervousness.

Tifa sighed and grabbed Yuffie's hand to stop her from scratching. "So how are you?"

"I'm good. Just been busy with, you know, running the country and such."

"Well I'm glad you were able to take time off." Yuffie stayed silent, not sure what to say to that. Knowing Tifa was looking for more information but not willing to ask.

"Listen, I don't know what's going on, but maybe you should contact your husband, so they at least don't come attacking our house." Yuffie stared at her hands, afraid to look into her friend's all knowing eyes. "You're welcome to stay with us in Edge as long as you like. That's where Cid is taking us now."

"Thank you, I'll just stay there a day and then I'll get out of your hair." Yuffie let go of Tifa's hand and climbed out of the bed. She grabbed her jacket from the back of Tifa's chair and tugged it out from behind her. She pulled it on and headed for the door. Her mind and body felt weak but she was determined to act and look strong.

Tifa grabbed her wrist and forced Yuffie to turn around and look at her in the eyes. "I'm not telling you to leave. I want you to stay and your going to stay until you get better. If you don't want to talk to your husband, you don't have to." Tifa smiled her very calming smile, and hugged Yuffie tightly. Yuffie blinked back tears, happy to have someone to hug.

"Now c'mon, we're going to land soon. I can't wait for you to see Marlene and Denzel, they have gotten so big!"

Tifa grabbed Yuffie's hand tightly and dragged her out of the room.

When they arrived at the bar, a little girl around ten years old ran out of the house. "They're here Denzel!" Marlene's brown hair was tied in a pony tail with the same pink ribbon she always wore. Denzel sauntered out slowly; he was 12 years old and starting to grow some muscles.

Tifa smiled, "You remember Yuffie right?"

"Of course! Hi Yuffie!" Marlene's cheery self went up to Yuffie and gave her a big hug before glaring at Tifa for treating her "like a child".

"Hey…" Denzel nodded his head towards Yuffie.

"I see you're rubbing off on him Cloud." Yuffie laughed as she went up to hug Denzel, he hugged her back awkwardly.

Tifa laughed at Yuffie's statement and then ushered everyone inside for some good food and beer.

Yuffie sat back, enjoying the calming atmosphere with her long lost friends, Tifa, Cloud, Cid, Marlene and Denzel. The bar hadn't really changed much; it still had its dark wood finishes and low lighting. Tifa had added pictures on the wall of her growing family, they looked really happy. Yuffie looked back at the table, examining her friends. Cid sat back, relaxed, yelling, trying to make a point that most people just ignored. Tifa and Cloud sat next to each other, never touching, but every once in awhile, Cloud would smile quietly at Tifa.

"So tell us Yuffie? What the hell have you been up to? Got some new friends over there in Wutai?" Cid's boisterous voice snapped Yuffie out of her reverie.

Yuffie wrung her hands in nervousness, "Unless you count diplomats…" She laughed nervously, "I've mostly just been working, ya know." She smiled at him, trying to gain back her youthful laughter that would brighten up room. Nothing…

"Sure, I get it. You just got too fancy for the likes of us! Can't be hanging with peasants when the power players call." Cid mocked her, his deafening laugh filling the room.

Yuffie couldn't believe it, She had barely been back an hour and already she was the brunt of Cid's jokes. "Well I got a country to run you 'ole bastard! You're just mad cause you got the ole' ball and chain holding you back." At that, everyone burst into laughter. Marlene spewed milk out her nose as Denzel patted her on the back, chuckling quietly.

Cid clapped Yuffie on the back good-naturedly and said, "Good to have you back Yuffie!"

It was like a giant weight had been lifted off her back, she finally felt like she belonged in that room, even if it was just for a moment. As it got later, Tifa ushered Cid to the door, knowing Shera wouldn't be happy if he stayed out too long, and sent the two kids to bed.

"Yuffie, we have a spare bedroom for you. I put some of my clothes in there so you'd have something else to sleep in. Tomorrow we'll go shopping." Tifa grabbed Yuffie's hand and led her up the stairs.

Yuffie stopped her and looked her in the eyes, "Thank you Tifa. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

Tifa smiled down at the short girl, squeezing her hand a little. "That's what friends are for."

A/N: So this chapter took a longer time to write, partly because it's a longer chapter and partly because I was having problems writing it. I haven't really written anything in a long time and its coming to my attention that after such a long hiatus, it's difficult to just pick up and write a story. I'm doing my best though.

I also feel like I should tell you guys that I've never played Dirge of Cerberus so although I've read the basics of what's happened in the story (in preparation), I might make mistakes when it comes to that just because I haven't played that game. Although I don't plan on referencing it, just thought you should know.

Anyways, lots of good stuff happening next!