As night fell over the villa, the inhabitants of the building fell into their nightly routines. Cid and Barret took over the pool table making ridiculous wagers. Cloud, Tifa and Red XIII had taken up seats on the stairs leading down to the table to watch. Across the room, Aeris sat in an armchair pointedly not looking at Sephiroth who was hovering near the windows doing the same thing.

Yuffie and Vincent sat on the couch, knees almost touching as they talked more quietly than normal. Anyone who did not know them might think they made an adorable, if not a little strange, couple.

Suddenly Yuffie's eyes went wide, "No! They didn't!"

Vincent nodded and sipped from his tea cup. Yuffie's eyes danced with unholy amusement, "And?"

An ebony eyebrow quirked up. For a moment Yuffie wondered if this was his way of getting revenge on her. Finally he said, "And..."

"Well, what did he say about it?" Yuffie whispered, trying to keep her voice from being overheard by the silver-haired man, "Did he enjoy it? What's he thinking about the whole thing now? Did all those idiot authors actually have something?"

Vincent smirked, "He admitted it was not a... wholly distasteful experience."

Yuffie laughed in delight, "Oh Vince! This is rich. God I wish I could tease Aeris about it."

"I fulfilled my end of the bargain." Vincent said, eyeing her meaningfully.

A sigh escaped Yuffie. She turned a hopeful grin on him, "No chance you'd just let it go?"

Vincent just watched Yuffie without replying. He did not have to.Yuffie curled her fingers around her cup, "It was that story the other day. On the hill, after the fight with Sephiroth..."

"I believe I recall it." Vincent replied, "Regret or some such nonsense."

"Well it got me thinking." Yuffie scowled down at her tea, "Not about the crap that the author put in there. I mean love and marriage? If I was sitting on a hill waiting to see if the world was gonna end, marriage would be the last thing on my mind... and there's no power on this planet that could convince me to tell you I was a virgin."

Vincent chuckled quietly at that making a dull blush appear on Yuffie's cheeks, "Anyway it got me to thinking, you know?"

Setting his own cup down, Vincent took the teapot and refilled Yuffie's cup, "What were you thinking about?"

"Thanks." Yuffie said, sipping the tea before continuing, "I got to thinking about immortality. I mean, we're immortal now. All of us. Maybe it doesn't bother you because you were written immortal... but I expected to live out my life, die, and be reborn from the Lifestream as a squirrel or something."

"A squirrel." Vincent murmured, amused.

Even Yuffie had to smile at that, "I don't know why my mind works the way that it does. Either way, I'll be sixteen for the majority of forever. I should be twenty-seven this year. Now I know how Shelke must feel."

Vincent nodded. Shelke Rui and her sister Shalua had been a strange addition to their world. Shalua spent most of her time with the Shinra crowd and the Turks wherever they had taken up residence in the world. Shelke had not taken the change as well as her sister. She was very serious, something everyone hoped she would get over. Reeve and Cait Sith had taken her under their wings to help her adjust. Vincent imagined that was where Shelke and Cait Sith were.

"It bothers me that the only emotions I feel are grossly exaggerated." Yuffie admitted, "I wanted to feel something real."

"And I was there..." Vincent smirked, "and male-"

"Oh shut up!" Yuffie cried, grabbing a nearby pillow and thumping him with it, "I can't help the things I say in that state and you're heartless to mention it."

Tifa approached, an amused look on her face. She was glad that Yuffie had finally found someone she could confide in. She had never done the girl talk thing that well. She paused and rested a fist on her hip, "Sorry to interrupt guys, but have you seen Aeris? I wanted to apologize in advance for punching her tomorrow."

Yuffie glanced around Tifa at the now empty armchair, "She was just sitting there ignoring Sephiroth a minute ago."

A frown crossed Tifa's face, "Huh... odd. I haven't seen him either."

Yuffie and Vincent shared a look, "Yeah, that is weird."

"I am sure she will return eventually." Vincent added.

Tifa nodded, "Guess so. Well if you see her, let her know I'm looking for her, okay?"

Vincent and Yuffie nodded and waited until Tifa walked away again. Yuffie was trying hard to bite back laughter, "Well if that isn't just plain weird."

"And strangely convenient." Vincent said, suppressing laughter as well.

Vincent returned her grin over the top of his tea cup. He let Yuffie drop their conversation. She had given him quite a bit to consider himself. If Yuffie noticed his new silence and thoughtful expression, she did not mention it.

Meanwhile...

Aeris walked up the beach alone. Anyone who might observe her would think she was just out for a walk. When she happened upon Sephiroth, she appeared surprised. To a passerby it would seem that they had accidentally run into each other.

But no one was nearby.

Aeris approached him slowly, "This is wrong."

Sephiroth nodded, agreeing with her, "Completely."

"I don't even like you." Aeris looked up at him through her bangs.

Sephiroth murmured another agreement, scanning the beach behind her. Even with his enhanced senses, he could not see or hear anyone near them.

"I mean, I don't know what we're-"

Sephiroth growled in annoyance and pulled Aeris tight against him, "You talk entirely too much."

A slow smile curled on her lips, "So maybe you should shut me up."

Sephiroth grinned fiercely and made sure Aeris's mouth was well occupied. It was several hours before she could speak sensibly again.

A/N: Bow chicka wow wow!

Also this is a shameless plug for my new story Regret. Just the way it sounds, Yuffie and Vincent waiting to see if Meteor will destroy the world. I promise I won't do that often, but it gave me the inspiration to write this chapter. This one is for tarynwanderer! I'm finding that I like writing Yuffie more and more. Thanks all for the support!