Hello readers, thanx for still reading this fic. Hope you enjoy.

Earlier, Day 3.

The sun beamed through the windows of Tifa's bedroom. A ray of light landing softly on her tousled hair as she slept. Cloud rolled over in their queen size bed and absently placed a small kiss on her shoulder, as he had done so many mornings in the past.

"...And so many more in the future" He whispered softly. Tifa roused, mumbling gently until her eyes blinked open.

"Hmm?"

"Morning" he placed a feathery kiss on her lips.

"Morning, I'll make some coffee" She pulled the covers off of her and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Hey, what's the hurry?" Cloud whined as he wrapped a muscular arm around her tiny waist and pulled her back on the bed. She leaned into him, not wanting to move. She had almost fallen back asleep when Cloud spoke again.

"So what's up with Yuffie lately?"

"Mmm im not sure. She does seem different." Tifa opened her eyes

"Yeah, I don't like the idea of her sneaking off at night. What if something follows her back and gets to the kids?" Cloud's gaze subconsciously fell onto a picture of Denzel and Marlene. How he had come to love them. At first when Tifa had begged him to take in Denzel, he was hesitant. They were already looking after Marlene for Barret. But now when the kids were at school, the place seemed empty, and he didn't realize until recently, that one day he would like to have one of his own, with Tifa.

"Im not sure what's up with her. I wish she would tell me" Tifa said. "Maybe I could help her with whatever it is she's doing."

"You know, the other day Reeve told me she had contacted him asking for the Hojo/Lucrecia files for Chaos? That seems like a strange request from Yuffie, don't you think?" Cloud absentmindedly stroked his fingers through Tifa's long chocolate locks as they spoke.

"Hmmm, that is strange" Tifa stood up and started getting dressed "Im gonna go make some coffee and get the bar cleaned up for tonight, you jump in the shower" Cloud nodded and slid off the bed towards the bathroom.

"Oh Cloud!" Tifa called before he shut the door, he peered his head out.

"Yeah"

"Happy Birthday" She smiled

Cloud blushed "Thanks"

Tifa had just started the dishes when Yuffie came down the stairs, offering help. Tifa accepted, glad to see the young ninja in a better mood then the previous night. She could see that Yuffie used a Hi-Potion, as her chest was no longer covered with a grotesque scab. Tifa had made a mental note to talk to Yuffie about her late night forays, but the subject just never came up. That's when Cloud walked out of their room in his boxers asking for the toothpaste. Shortly after that Vincent came in and Yuffie became reserved. The young Wutain made a weak excuse and exited, then Vincent followed her out. Whatever was going on had something to do with Vincent, Tifa was sure. She just couldn't calculate how Vincent fit into the puzzle of Yuffie's outlandish behavior.

Night 4.

The anticipation in the bar was palpable. The whole team and a few others were standing around, drinks in hand, waiting for the spiky haired blonde to return. Barret and Cid stood in one corner talking wildly. People nearby could hardly make out what they were saying, between grunts, curse words and a cloud of smoke, that surely muffled their words. Tifa and Shera were standing behind the bar counter talking to Reeve. While his fuzzy mechanical counterpart sat atop Naniki, who was quickly becoming annoyed at being kicked and prodded into give the Scottish cat a ride.

"Come on Red, were both cat-like! Give us a ride then!" Cait wailed.

The wise old feline merely shook his head and rolled his eyes. He didn't mind giving the kids a ride, but it was late and they were likely asleep. Or pretending to at least. Vincent could predictably be found in the corner, wine glass swirling between his fingers. Yuffie was no where to be seen.

"Yeah she asked for the files" Reeve said, answering Tifa's inquiries about Yuffie.

"Did you ask her why?" Tifa leaned against the counter, keeping her voice low. After all, she was meddling in Yuffie's business.

"No. She helped me out so much with Deepground, I figured she was just tying up some loose ends." Reeve shrugged "Why? What's going on?" a suggested amount of concern painted his tone.

"I don't know, I guess im just being overprotective. I cant help it." Tifa admitted throwing a towel on the counter.

"You just need to have yourself a kid, You've got too much maternal instinct, it's overflowing" Shera added, her own pregnant belly protruding out in front. Tifa blushed glad for the subject change of a shadow passing by the window. She dimmed the lights.

"Shhh, he's coming!" Tifa whispered. Everybody gathered around, ceasing their conversations as the door slowly crept open. Tifa switched the lights on.

"SURPRISE!!!" They all yelled in unison. Yuffie screamed.

"Ahh what the hell?!" She shrieked

"Oh its just Yuffie!" Cid complained "Dammit girl! You ruined it"

"Sorry, geez" Yuffie crossed the room taking her place among her friends, waiting once more for Cloud.

They didn't have to wait long.

"SURPRISE!!!!!" Once again. Though this time Cloud's expression made it worth the wait, he was floored.

"I cant believe everyone's here!" He gave Tifa a look that can only be described as pure love and appreciation. She smiled at him behind Reeve. Barret was the first to approach Cloud. He ran up grabbing him in a tight bear hug, Cloud gasped for breath while laughing.

"So how old are you buddy? Sixteen? Seventeen?" Barret joked.

Cloud laughed "Im twenty-five" Yuffie was next, she gave Cloud a hard squeeze.

"Happy birthday spiky"

Up next was Cid and Shera. Shera hugged Cloud and kissed him on the cheek. Cid's affection was a bit more reserved. Cloud coughed as a puff of smoke was blown in his face, and a gloved hand was thrust out for a hearty man-shake. Cloud gladly accepted. He also shook hands with Reeve, although more professionally, and Vincent. He stroked the fur on Naniki's neck before heading over to Tifa, who waited patiently behind the bar. Her smile grew as headed to her, and was even bigger by the time he reached her, swinging her around in a loving embrace. He let her down and looked into her eyes. They were overflowing with love.

"You did all this for me?" He asked.

"Happy Birthday" She whispered, trying to keep her emotions down. She was sure she swallowed a few tears.

"I will love you until the day I die" He kissed her then, but it didn't last long. Unbeknownst to them, the whole bar was watching. It was the screams and shouts of their comrades that broke their passionate kissing.

"God, wait until we leave!"

"Git' a &$#! Room!"

"Got any popcorn?"

They all laughed, but Cloud's cheeks grew just a tint pinker before they separated. Tifa grabbed his hand and lead him over to a reserved chair amidst a heap of presents. Toilet paper and confetti decorated the chair and piled on top of Cloud as he sat.

"The kids decorated the chair for you" Yuffie laughed "I helped"

Cloud smiled "I'll have to thank them in the morning" he said as he picked rainbow confetti off of his dark pants.

"Open mine first!" Yuffie squealed throwing her gift in Cloud's lap.

"Did...uh...you wrap this?" Cloud asked, lifting it to see which was right side up. It looked like a ball of wadded wrapping paper orbited with duct tape.

"Hey! I did a great job! My gift is the only one with character!" She defended.

Cloud began tearing away at the paper, half smiling to himself at what Yuffie had gotten him. It had to be a gag gift. He peeled back the last layer of paper and was a slightly aghast.

"Uh...Yuffie?"

"What? You don't like it?"

"No its not that. I do like it, that's why I bought it. This is my Phoenix summon"

She sighed "I know that silly. But this Phoenix is a level 5! When I stole it from you, it was only a lever 1. I did that for you Cloud, it took me months"

"Um...well thank you. That's less fighting I have to do" He stood up and gave her a hug.

After the gifts, and Marlene running out in her nightgown, Tifa put on some music and eagerly tried to get everyone to dance. Only Cloud obliged. Yuffie saw Vincent at the bar and went to sit by him.

"Hey Vinnie, what a night ha? Look at those two!" She leaned against the counter.

Vincent turned around on his swiveling bar stool to watch the happy couple dance on an empty floor.

"Sometimes..." he began

"hmm?"

"Sometimes it's hard for me to remember what it felt like. To be so in love"

Yuffie was a little taken back. Vincent usually wasn't so open to things concerning his past, especially Lucrecia. Maybe he's had too much wine.

"Don't feel bad Vinnie, I doubt any one has. They make it look so easy"

"How would you know?" He gave a half hearted smile

"Aww come on, just because im young, doesn't mean I've never been in love!" Yuffie took a long gulp of her drink.

"So who was the lucky Wutaian?" Vinnie asked, mimicking her previous actions of taking a drink.

Yuffie wondered at his question a bit, wondering if there was more to it then what seemed. She never mentioned anything about her first love being from Wutai. But just as well he was right, so she decided not to press any further.

"I was 10. He was 11. His father used to breed Chocobos for our family. We used to play together all the time. One day my father found us holding hands and told me I could never see him again. I told him I wanted to marry the boy. What a mistake. He said that our bloodline would be tainted if I married the son of a chocobo breeder. I cried for weeks" Yuffie never took her eyes off of the dancing figures in front of her. The music echoed gently off the walls of the bar as her eyes twinkled with the memories of her childhood. When Vincent said nothing, she continued "It's just as well, if we would have been allowed to get any more attached, I would have probably gotten my heart broken even worse"

Vincent was a little surprised by the young ninja. The past few days had shown a side of her that he hadn't taken the time to see before. It seemed she was more mature then they all thought. And her utter will to help this "friend" of hers was so strong, he'd never seen her so determined. Discounting her ever going search for materia. He turned to look at her just as she was looking at her watch.

"Well it's getting late, I'd better get to bed"

"Hmm... are you sure that's where your going?" He smiled

"Are you calling me a liar Vincent Valentine?" she leaned against the counter, one hand on her hip, as she challenged him.

"Well that depends..." He looked up at her "...are you lying?" The trick had worked. Lying to someone behind their back was different, but how could she lie to him when he was staring right at her. Her face fell.

"I just have a few things to take care of tonight..." he cut her off

"...and come home with a bleeding chest, a sprained ankle, or dead?"

"Vincent...please...I"

"Yuffie, tell me who is hurting you, tell me where you go at night" he pleaded

"I cant"

"Then I refuse to let you go"

A small arrogant chuckle escaped her throat "And what are you going to do. Follow me around all night? watch me sleep?" she willed a half-amused, half-annoyed expression to her face.

"Maybe"

"Wha...?" Vincent set his glass down, grabbed a surprised Yuffie by the hand and dragged her to the nearly empty dance floor, beside Cloud and Tifa. He pulled her into an embrace and gracefully began swaying to the music.

"Vincent, what are you doing?" Yuffie whispered harshly.

"Im watching you sleep" He pulled her tighter. She glanced around to Tifa who was smiling gratefully for not being the only one on the dance floor. Suddenly Cid stood and raised a hand to Shera who smiled. They shuffled to the center. Next Barret swooped little Marlene into his arms and began to dramatically swing her around. She giggled but was fast asleep on his shoulder within ten minutes.

After Barret put Marlene to bed, and quite humorously, fell asleep next to her bed. The rest decided to follow suit and call it a night. The bar was finally empty, save for Cloud and Tifa who were talking quietly by the counter and Vincent and Yuffie, who sat at a table.

"So are you gonna tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Yuffie played dumb

"Who it is, that your going through so much trouble for"

"I promised I wouldn't tell"

"He must be pretty special to you" Vincent stated, wondering if he'd been too indiscreet.

"How do you know it's a 'him'?

"Her"

"How do you know it's a 'her'?"

"It"

Yuffie laughed "Vincent Valentine are you jealous?"

"No"

"Really? Because I think I see a little green monster on your shoulder" She reached over and wiped the invisible monster of jealousy off his shoulder.

"Hm, another monster? Fancy that" he smiled lightly staring at his glass.

"You know Vince, I think one day your demons will disappear and you'll be free again" Yuffie said in a tone a little too serious for her taste.

"If only it were that simple" Just then Tifa spoke to them.

"We're gonna hit the hay, can you turn off this light when you turn in?"

"Sure thing. Goodnight and happy birthday Cloud" Yuffie said.

"Thanks"

She turned back to Vincent "You know sleep sounds pretty nice, I think I'll go do that"

"Yuffie.."

"Don't worry Vince, Im really tired"

"Promise me you wont sneak out tonight" his voice was deplorable with a hint of desperation.

"Ok...I promise. It's past our meeting time anyway. Serves him right, he stood me up last night"

"Him?" Vincent smiled

"Yeah, it's a 'him'. Your just too smart for me Vincent" She said tapping her forehead. He smiled "Besides I think I know why he didn't show up last night anyway..." she said

He raised an eyebrow "Why is that?"

"...Because you were there" She turned and headed up the stairs to her room.

Day 4.

Yuffie woke earlier than she usually did. Her body was used to the lack of sleep from her recent late nights. But since she was deprived of it last night, she got plenty of rest. She took a shower and got dressed, ready to start her day off early. When she opened her bedroom door Vincent was standing in front of it with an amused look on his face.

"So you did watch me sleep. Man where's the trust?"

"No"

"So what are you doing?"

"Im making sure you don't get into trouble today"

"So your really gonna follow me around all day?"

"Yes"

Don't worry, Ill continue with Day 4 in the next chapter. And if you can guess whose expressions came from who in the part where Tifa and Cloud were kissing, I'll give you something...uh..im not sure what though. How about a long next chapter? This is the guessing game:

Who said what?

"God, wait until we leave!"

"Git' a &$#! Room!"

"Got any popcorn?"

think you know? Thanks for reading, please review!

Jake