I kinda had a busy weekend, so I didn't get a chance to upload. I'll upload two chapters today instead. More awkwardness ensues! Plus, fight and action scenes. As I re-read this, there is a scene that reminded me or is similar to a recent Marvel movie (Mr. Stark I don't feel so good...), but that was unintentional and is nothing like it afterwards.

As always, none of these characters belong to me.

Yuffie finally pulled away, wiping her nose upon Vincent's cloak. 'Yugh,' He thought as he made a disgusted face. Yuffie looked up at him and stuck out her tongue. She got serious for a second, "Thanks. Vincent, you're a really good friend. Even though you don't like to show it to others, I know you are." She unraveled herself from his cloak and took his hand with both of hers and squeezed. She smiled a genuine Yuffie smile and tugged down at his hand a couple of times, "We will make hell and kick some butt right?"

"R-Right." He nodded.

"Vinnie, you know you can talk to me too, about whatever. Shelke isn't the only person who cares about you, you know?" Yuffie still smiling, bit down on her bottom lip.

Vincent raised his eyebrow, "I'll keep that in mind, thank you."

"Ok." She nodded and shoved him playfully. She let go of his hand and started to walk quickly back to the Bar, the cold nipping at her bare shoulders. She turned on one foot and waved to him. He looked up at her with his deep crimson eyes. "Oh, and aren't you supposed to be checking up on…?" She teased as she pointed at Tifa's balcony. She smiled and ran back in the bar.

"The hell was that supposed to mean?" Had she noticed something?

…

Tifa awoke to a bright room. Was it daytime already? In her dream like stupor, she noticed the light was soft, nothing near as stunning as when the sun actually filtered through the windows. She turned around slightly and saw her bedside lamp on. There was a chair pulled up by it, and in it sat Vincent, skimming through a pocket sized book. He looked up at her with an empty stare. She noticed that he had draped his tattered cape on the back of his seat. She could catch his face freely for now, but it was devoid of any emotion. How did he do it? She held her breath in her cheeks and puffed them out, smiling in the process, her eyelids going heavy. Vincent studied her reaction, he guessed she was content with seeing him there, for she turned back to her position, her eyes fluttered shut and she was pulled into a deep slumber once more. 'She must be really drained..' He concluded. He realized that upon her movement, her left hand had strayed from her body and was facing upward. He hesitated, then reached forward with his right hand and gently brushed her fingers with his. He was rid of the black glove he usually sported, so he could feel her soft fingertips as he grazed them with his. He pushed his lips to the side in a worried manner. 'What the hell..' He let his palm rest upon hers, 'You are not alone TIfa.' Even if she did constantly barrage him with awkward situations.´'This is awkward, if she were awake.' He turned his attention back to his book, seeing that he could easily turn the pages with his clawed thumb.

…

Sometime later in the night, Tifa's arm got increasingly cold. She pulled to put it under her pillow, when she noticed there was a weight on her hand. She opened one eye and her pupils dilated to adjust to the darkness in the room. She recognized Vincent's figure slumped over in his chair, in what seemed a very uncomfortable position. All because he was reaching out to hold her hand! She laughed inwardly and felt embarrassed. Though she didn't mind him going out of his ...Vincent.. ways and making an effort to comfort her. Especially after all that had transpired in only one day.

She knew she really really shouldn't be pushing it, but she felt he must be really uncomfortable in the chair, so she tugged gently at his hand. This almost made him topple over, but he didn't rouse. She pushed back on his extended arm to in turn, push him back up on the chair, and pulled a little bit quicker, so as to shake him, but not make him fall. His eyes opened quickly in response and he looked towards the stirring. He was still in a slumber state of mind, but he could feel the muscles in his back ache with intensity. This time, Tifa pulled with force, knowing he wouldn't fall over, but instead leave him half way on the bed. He would have protested, but he was half asleep and his neck relished the tension that released when he comfortably rolled and stretched out on the bed as he promptly fell back asleep. Tifa smiled drowsily as her own eyes sealed shut.

…

She heard some roosters cry far out and she dared a peek to her surroundings. For a slight second, she was unaware of where she was as she felt her dream slipping from her mind. She nestled her head into something hard and smelled men's cologne….mixed with leather? Her eyes snapped open. What her arm was wrapped around was not a large fluffy pillow, and her bottom leg was also wrapped around another one that was not hers.

'Oh shit..' She thought as she surveyed the predicament she was in. During sleep, she must have thought Vincent was Cloud, for he used to crawl into her bed… on particularly lonely nights. She raised her eyes to catch his face, and his eyelashes grazed his cheeks. She drank in his facial features, for she never had a chance like this, nor did she think she would. His long thin nose, his lips, dark in contrast with his pale skin. She took in how his bottom lip was much fuller than his top one. He still had on his bandana so she couldn't quite catch his eyebrows. His jaw was wide, yet it curved down into a somewhat thin angle at his chin. His chest was falling slowly, and she knew he was very much asleep. His left gauntlet clad hand was on his stomach, his left leg dangling off the bed, and his right hand resting at his side. She noticed his shoes were still on. She slowly gathered the courage to start raising her arm and leg off of him before he took notice as to what was going on. She knew he would be so perturbed with the situation, he would never even look at her again. And Yuffie…! But before she had the chance to untangle their limbs and remove herself off of him, the door to her room burst open.

'Fuucckk…' She couldn't help but cuss in her head once more. She felt the body move like lightning from under her limbs and stand rigidly up by the bed. She held her chest, for she nearly had a heart attack. She looked quickly towards the door and saw raging mako blue eyes fuming in their direction.

"Gods Cloud, y-you scared me." She said as she pushed herself up with her left hand, her right hand still over her chest. Vincent was already pulling on his cloak as Cloud retorted flatly, "I see you can talk now. I'd like to see you two downstairs, now if it isn't much…trouble." He was.. angry, Tifa could tell by the way he held it all in. His knuckles were white as he held tightly onto the doorknob. Tifa felt butterflies in her stomach, in anxiousness, and she felt like a little girl about to be scolded. Before she knew it, Vincent was already out the door and down the hallway. 'I've done it again, way to make an awkward situation even worse…' Tifa said as she bolted out the door after him, not minding to put on slippers, her bare feet padding against the cold hardwood floor. She had been wearing a tight grey tank top, and matching grey sweatpants. She grabbed on to his fluttering cape once more, ready to apologize. She hadn't noticed the glare Cloud had given her as she rushed past him, and the look of surprise when he noticed what she was doing. She felt like snapping at Cloud for barging in like that, but now was not the time. Vincent turned to look at her, and she noticed what was worry deep behind his dark eyes. It only flashed for a second before his walls were put up again. All she could see from this angle were his eyes.

"Vincent I-" She had looked down. He in turn looked at where she was clutching his cape and took her hand in his. He pried her fingers open and set her hand down limply at her side. Her brow furrowed. She looked up in contemplation.

"Tifa, you need to stop. Stop this now. You're a grown woman-" He knew he had probably gone too far with that statement. Calling her immature and prying, possibly annoying along the way. He didn't mean it like that, he just wanted her to back away before they all got themselves tangled in a beautiful mess. He didn't want her to get hurt because of him. As he had said that, he had looked up to where Cloud was standing. His cold angry look softening when he realized what Vincent had just said. He had caught it too, that he had crossed the line.

She felt embarrassed once more, was this about Yuffie? That was still nagging her at the back of her mind, but what made her angriest, besides being called indirectly immature (she hand't asked to be babied), was when Vincent looked to Cloud of all people for reassurance. Her fist flew to the wall next to her. She was glad the kids were asleep, and even though it was a gentle blow, it made a dent. She forgot her own strength sometimes. Both Vincent and Cloud were shocked. And this was NOT what grown women did. But her patience was wearing thin. She didn't know what was right or wrong anymore, they were all confusing her. Why couldn't they be honest with her, why couldn't she be honest with herself?

"Why the hell do you have to look at Cloud? I thought you could care less about what 'people' think. I am my own woman, and since when do you Cloud," She turned to look at him, "care about what I do with my private life? What the hell is wrong with you? You've never been 'here' before, so stop acting like you care." She procured not to yell, so as to not wake anyone else. But the anger in her voice was there. Oh how she relished her voice. Those words had stung him, for he outwardly flinched. "Tifa…" He whispered taking a step toward her.

She turned back to Vincent, "Thank you for all your help Vincent. I really appreciate it. And I am truly very sorry for making things difficult…, I fucked up I admit it. Yet, no one was holding you at gunpoint telling you to be there for me, you know. If it bothered you so much, you shouldn't have come. I am sorry for being a burden, to everyone. Can things go back to 'normal' now?" She felt a tightening in her chest. But there were no more tears to fall. She stormed past Vincent, and out the door. Cloud started for her, but Vincent held out his arm. Oh how Cloud savored to punch him right now, but he knew that would be childish and stupid. Instead he held his tightening fist at his side. He saw Vincent grasp the bridge of his nose and close his eyes in contempt.

"I knew this would all blow up…" Vincent murmured. Cloud's anger diminished quickly. He could remember Vincent hesitating at the Runa's words. He didn't want to be in this situation, he would have rather stayed as far away as possible. But Cloud knew he cared about Tifa just like the rest of them. So he had done it anyway. In reality, he couldn't blame him. He would have been angrier if he would have refused. He let out a sigh.

"She needs time alone, I'm sure she won't go far." Vincent said as he finally looked up. Cloud nodded.

…

Tifa ran and ran until she reached a clearing by the forest. She took note of little rocks sticking to the bottom of her feet, and it was so cold. But she ran into the forest anyway. She took a few steps. She was greeted with a devil ride and a couple of kalm fangs. At least she had something to take her stress out on. She beat them effortlessly, but as she stepped around, more enemies kept veering toward her. She noticed she hadn't even thought of bringing any materia, much less potions or remedies. She shrugged. It'd been a while since she had a bare knuckled, clean fight. The hours seemed to slip by, and she was getting weary. She had just recuperated and she could feel the sorriness in her ribs. She let her mind slip off into that moment, seeing Vincent's clear red eyes in front of her, feeling his mouth retreat from hers… a blow to the back. She had been ambushed and surprised. She continued battling the onslaught of creatures that came her way. Her breath hitched. She could feel blood streaming down her forehead, and she could taste some metallic in her mouth. She had scratches all over, but none deep enough to be threatening. She kicked and punched, her fists raw and bloody. She would have to claim all of these kills eventually, the gil far from her thoughts. Exhausted and needing a good clean up, (there was mud caked in with the open wounds), she stumbled out of the forest. She hardly felt the cold whip at her, or the sting in her raw flesh for her adrenaline was still high. She walked slowly back to the bar, limping on one foot. She caught a figure standing ousted the door, and various vehicles parked outside. As she got closer, she noticed it was Cid having a smoke. He looked her over, his eyes growing wide, but then going back into his thick skull once she saw that she seemed to be fine. He took a drag of his cigarette as he looked forward.

"Eryone else is inside…" He warned her.

She groaned, loudly. She blew upward to get some hair out of her eyes. She knew they all would think she was insane, running off like that with the imminent threat above their heads. And then coming back looking like this, and what's worse, like nothing ever happened.

"Good luck," He said as he patted her on the shoulder roughly, she winced, but she figured that was his intention. 'Better now ..than later.. ' She slid through the door, trying to blend into the wall. Her adrenaline high was coming down. She still felt all eyes on her, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Denzel stood from the chair he was in. Everyone's eyes were popping out of their sockets, worried to see her in that state. She smiled, not meeting anyones eye's and nodded in their general direction as she started to limp up the stairs.

"What happened to her?" Marlene asked in a worried voice to Barret.

"Nothin' darlin, she's fine…" Barret thought 'wtf' as he looked over at Cloud with the same worried intensity the girl had. Cloud was just looking down at the bar, guilt ridden all over his face. Vincent felt his stomach lurch in nausea when he saw the tattered girl at the door. Nothing seemed to phase her today. He took a step in her direction but stopped. She didn't even look at him when she walked past. Was she that angry? But he wanted to show her he genuinely cared for her, and wasn't doing all of those things because he was forced to. Well he was forced a little, but he had agreed because… he just wanted to hold her and brush her hair back and get rid of her wounds and tell her everything would be ok. He wanted to, but knew he couldn't. He bit his tongue and stopped his arm from reaching out to her.

…

She finally got to her door and sprang for some cure materia. She healed the minimal open wounds and went to take a nice, long, warm shower. She took deep breaths as the hot soothing water hit her back. 'I don't want to think about anything at this moment.' She relished in the ripples the water formed on her skin. She savored the steam rising up from the floor. Something obvious hit her like a ton of bricks. She wanted to make Weiss repent, for making her struggle, fear, be helpless in his hands. For making her friends worry about her. For making her seem inexperienced in front of everyone's eyes, in front of the kid's eyes. And she never wanted that. She wanted them to feel safe all the time, and how could they, knowing she was just as fragile as the flower's in Aerith's church? Well actually, she smiled, those flowers had gone through hell and back. She rubbed her neck, reluctantly turning off the water flow and stepping out into the foggy vapors of the small room. She dried, got ready, and dressed quickly. She knew they were all waiting for her downstairs in anticipation. She took the stairs 2 by 2 with lively energy. She was just about as ready for this fight as everyone else, and she wanted to make that clear. She didn't look towards Cloud or Vincent, but she did look at everyone else, nodding. They all seemed relieved, she could easily perceive how their shoulders relaxed, and Marlene ran into her, arms open.

"Tifa, you're ok!" She looked up at her. Tifa smiled wide, "Of course I am. Sorry for scaring you earlier." Yuffie came up to her as well and hugged her tight. Yuffie pulled away and grinned wildly at her. Tifa felt a guilt trip coming on as she almost glanced in Vincent's direction. Instead she said in a loud enough voice, "I'm sorry everyone else too, if I made you worry, that wasn't my intention…" She glanced downward.

"Whater ye saying Tiff?" Barret hollered, and Reeve finished for him, "Don't be sorry for that at all, Tifa. We are all glad you are alright and doing well."

"Yeah!" Cid yelled, and everyone nodded in unison, smiling brightly. She felt relieved.

Reeve then commenced talking about the plan that would unfold in the next few hours.

"I've got the WRO and shinra soldiers all set up throughout Edge, and as far as Midgar. We'll head out to Shinra and WRO Edge headquarters in half an hour. I have a truck outside, so I'd like if the kids, Shera, Shelke, and Barret rode in the back. Cid, Vincent, and Yuffie can keep an aerial lookout. And the rest of you can keep ground surveillance." He knew Cloud had the Fenrir, and Tifa had an extra motorcycle she could use. Nanaki could easily keep up with them while running.

"H-Hells naw, I ain't leaving without my woman!" Cid bit down on an unlit cigarette. "I'll be fine, Shelke, Barret, and Cait will be there!" She was right, Cid was just being stubborn. He knew that she couldn't ride up on the hover crafts with them, and he could't really help down below. So he just mumbled under his breath.

"Ok, everyone have your equipment in check? We'll head out in 10 minutes." Reeve informed the members of Avalanche.

"Hey Vinny! Check out this materia I just st-… found!" Yuffie ran up to a anxious Vincent and waved shiny orbs in front of her.

Tifa looked to her side at Denzel.

"Here." She said as she handed him some white magic materia. He stared at it in curiosity as she showed him how to put it in his limbs, since he didn't carry any weapons. She knew Cloud wouldn't approve but what else was she supposed to do? She explained the different casting spells to him, and to protect Marlene if anything were to happen. She then called Marlene over who was looking up at Barret as he checked his mechanical arm. She ran up to her and she secretly handed her some dark magic materia. "If anyone or anything attacks you, use these, but be careful with them, you can hurt yourself or someone else." She said as she also explained to her what each one was for. She straightened and equipped herself with some as well. These were all getting rather rare since Mako stoped being consumed, but they still had quite a few and the ones they had kept growing. She frowned, she could hear Cloud's voice in the back of her head, 'But you shouldn't use them often, the planet is still healing and bla bla bla…' Though he was the one who had the whole chest full in Aerith's church a few months ago. Who were they kidding, they still needed them more than ever. She checked over her premium hearts, wanting to be well equipped. She still wasn't ready to face or talk to Cloud or Vincent, but as she had been paired up with Cloud…

"Ready?" Reeve said as he opened the main door to the bar. Everyone steadily started heading outside, Tifa lingered so she could properly lock up. She looked around for the keys, and hastily made her way outside. As she turned around from locking the door she noticed something was wrong. Everyone was standing around spread about the general area, but they were all looking towards one spot in particular… nothing. Yuffie was yelling out into the air, "Cid? Shera? Cid!" Before Yuffie too started to disappear into thin air. She was looking around frantically when she was consumed slowly by a white mist. Everyone started looking around in alarm, Barret grabbing the kids and pushing them behind him in a protective stance. Shelke was at their side as well. All four of them were consumed into nothingness. Tifa looked at Red who stood his ground as he and Vincent started disintegrating at the same time. Vincent's cape fluttered as he pulled out Cerberus and looked over at Tifa. She was taking steps toward him with a look that he took as panic. He could guess that her anxiety was setting in at watching him vanish, but what more could he do? She could take care of herself…couldn't she? He felt a pang of regret and remorse as white flooded his vision. She turned her gaze at Cloud who was running toward her, his hand reached out, and she couldn't help but do the same, but they were both vanishing at the same time. Cloud had the most worried, anguished look on his features, all at the same time saying he was sorry. Sorry he couldn't protect her again. Their fingertips touched as she faded into what seemed to be a white abyss. She looked around. It seemed that Cloud had moved with her.

…

"Cid, behind you!" Shera shouted from the floor where she had been knocked down. The wind had been taken from her, but she still forced herself to yell. Weiss… or what seemed to be a copy of him, was attacking them from all sides. Cid was jabbing left and right with his Venus Gospel, but nothing seemed to penetrate the infallible creature. "Damn it to hell!" He yelled in frustration as he charged at Weiss once more, but was pushed back with force onto an unsuspecting Shera. They both landed in a heap. Weiss was about to attack them once more, but Cid cast a Shield spell on Shera and took the full blow of the attack. He could hear Shera's screaming under her protective barrier, behind the ringing in his ears, and as he felt blood drip down his nose. He felt the blows to his face over and over, until he saw a small opening to cast fire from his spear. He shielded his eyes with his arm as the Weiss copy burst into flames. The blow was critical, and it seemed that Cid was now able to attack him using physical means. Weiss' clone took no more than 3 jabs from the Venus Gospel before he was finished and burst into ashes at Cid's feet. He turned to look at the worried Shera behind her protective walls. He smirked and walked toward her as their view was coming into place. "It's alright. I'm fine, we're fine." He calmed her as he pulled her up and she gave him an x-potion. Though he was reluctant to take it, saying he didn't need it, he obliged when she persisted. He knew that nothing would stop her worrying unless he took it. He kicked at the dirt when he noticed everyone else was still missing.

I don't know if Vincent would wear cologne? I just assumed he is very clean and likes to smell nice, and is kinda fancy. I don't think it's something so strong you'd notice right away, just if you were very near him.