It was with reluctance that Yuffie heeded the soft voice above her and the gentle but insistent hand shaking her elbow. "Yuffie . . . it's time to wake up."
Vincent? Yuffie's eyes drifted open and the ninja gingerly stretched, blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from her eyes. Cid was gone had probably been so for hours. "What's going on?"
"We've just landed outside Edge," Vincent said, "We're going to sneak you into Seventh Heaven now. Tifa is waiting for us."
Swallowing nervously, Yuffie nodded and gingerly pushed herself into a sitting position. "Okay. Let's go."
"First," Vincent handed her a glass of water and two pills, "Take these."
Yuffie lifted an eyebrow in question. "Why? They'll probably make me go back to sleep."
"The pills will make the trip less unpleasant," Vincent said, "And if you fall asleep on the way it would probably be for the best."
After a moment, Yuffie nodded and swallowed the pills. Once again, Vincent wrapped her in his cloak and lifted her into his arms. Yuffie sighed contentedly resting her head on his shoulder as the gunman carried her through the halls to the hatch where the others waited.
"Tifa's waiting," Cloud said pressing the button to lower the ramp, "Let's go."
Yuffie found that even with the painkiller racing through her bloodstream the trip was still uncomfortable enough to keep her from falling asleep though the pills also made this trip much more bearable than the first.
"Vincent?" Yuffie whispered as the group crept through the dark streets.
"Hmm?"
"What will I do now?"
"You will rest and get better."
"I mean after that."
Glancing down at the ninja cradled carefully against him Vincent said, "Rest first, Yuffie. There will be time for the rest when you are ready to face it."
Twenty minutes later, a relieved group arrived at the door to the bar and Cloud opened the door with his key.
Tifa was sitting at a table waiting for them. Seeing Yuffie cradled protectively in Vincent's arms the martial artist jump up, and raced over to them.
"Yuffie!"
"I'm okay, Tif," Yuffie assured her tiredly.
"I've got your room ready for you, Yufs," Tifa said with forced brightness, "Come on, Vincent."
Vincent followed Tifa up the stairs to the room Yuffie stayed in while visiting. The bedclothes were turned down already and the ex-Turk carefully slipped Yuffie under the covers. The ninja sighed in relief as the soft mattress enfolded her aching body.
"Thanks, guys," Yuffie murmured sleepily, "I'm sorry to be so much trouble. I know I'll have to face my dad eventually but . . ."
"Not until you're ready," Tifa assured her, "And you're not any trouble. Well . . . at least not about this," the older woman teased.
Yuffie smiled sleepily, eyes having trouble remaining open.
"Sleep, Yuffie," Vincent said softly, "You're safe."
"G'night," the ninja whispered as she fell asleep.
Tifa motioned for Vincent to follow her out into the hallway and then led the way back down the steps.
Cloud was sitting at one of the tables with Nanaki sitting on the floor a few feet away while Cid leaned against the bar, beer bottle in hand. Hearing footsteps on the stairs they looked up.
"How is she?" Cloud asked.
"Sleeping," Tifa answered, "Look, Reeve called a little while ago."
"Why?" Cloud asked.
"Apparently Godo contacted him again," Tifa explained, "Reeve said he was really freaking out. He thinks Godo is worried about more than not being able to find Yuffie so he can make her get married. Reeve said that Godo seemed really afraid that something bad happened to Yuffie."
"A lot of this is his fault," Cloud pointed out.
"He's still her father," Tifa reminded him.
"Godo will just have to deal with it," Vincent spoke up firmly. "If we tell him that we know where Yuffie is he will only show up here and she is not ready."
"Vincent," Tifa said gently, "I'm worried about Yuffie too and I'd never let Godo force her to do something she really didn't want to do but it's not right to let him think his only child might be dead."
"I say it'll be good for the bastard," Cid grunted.
"It's really Yuffie's choice," Nanaki pointed out.
Reluctantly, Vincent nodded in agreement. "We'll tell her in the morning. Get some sleep. I'll take first watch."
Accepting Vincent's offer, Cloud, Cid, and Nanaki headed to bed while Tifa murmured something about sitting with Yuffie for a while.
Hours later, when Cloud came down to relieve him, Vincent went straight to Yuffie's room.
Tifa looked up groggily. "Hey, Vincent. She's been asleep the whole time. I think she's looks better already than she did when you guys showed up."
"Yuffie is healing well," Vincent acknowledged. "Cloud has relieved me but I am not tired. Get some sleep, Tifa. I will sit with Yuffie."
"Are you sure?" Tifa asked, even as she acknowledged how tired she was.
"Yes. Go on."
"Thanks, Vincent." Tifa gave him a sleepy smile and a wave before leaving. Vincent heard her footsteps head downstairs instead of down the hall to her bedroom. Probably wants to talk to Cloud. Vincent sat in the vacated chair and sometime during the night drifted off to sleep himself.
Yuffie awoke feeling much better. Her muscles still ached but she felt stronger and was able to sit up with only a wince. A bright smile lit her features when she saw Vincent asleep in the chair by his bed. Moving carefully, Yuffie swung her feet to the floor trying not to make any noise and wake the sleeping gunman.
The ninja was very pleased that though her legs wobbled they didn't buckle. Creeping unsteadily across the floor Yuffie reached for the doorknob.
"Where are you going?"
Damn. Yuffie froze just before the door turning carefully to meet Vincent's gaze. "Downstairs?"
"Why?"
"I'm hungry, Vinnie," Yuffie said in exasperation, "And before you mother hen me to death I feel a lot better. I need to get out of bed for a while. I won't overdo it I promise!"
Though frowning sternly, inside Vincent was delighted to see Yuffie returning to her hyper, sneaky, ninja ways. "If you get tired you will come back up here and rest."
"I promise. Now can we go downstairs? I can smell Tifa's pancakes from here!" Yuffie gave a soft bounce.
"Very well," Vincent smirked, standing and following the girl from the room.
Vincent insisted on helping her down the stairs though Yuffie protested that it was necessary. Six sets of eyes watched the pair in amusement as they bickered back and forth the whole way down.
Yuffie looked up to find everyone watching her. "Uh . . . hey guys."
"Aunt Yuffie!" Marlene cheered, jumping up from her seat to give the older girl a hug. "Do you feel better? I missed you!"
Chuckling fondly, Yuffie ran her hand over Marlene's hair. "Of course I feel better! You should know that a little thing like a behemoth won't keep a ninja like me down for long."
"Behemoths aren't little," Denzel pointed out though he too was smiling pleased to see Yuffie on her feet.
As Marlene walked with Yuffie and Vincent to the table Tifa said, "Are you sure you should be out of bed, Yuffie?"
"I already promised Vinnie I'd be careful," Yuffie said waving away her concern, "I'll be careful I promise."
"Then you better sit down and eat," Cloud said stabbing some pancake with his fork, "Or with the way Cid eats there won't be any left."
"I've seen ya put away your fair share too, chocobo head," Cid groused.
Yuffie laughed as Cloud and Cid flung good natured insults back and forth. It's so good to be back here again.
After the meal was over and the dishes cleared away, Cloud exchanged a look with Vincent who nodded tersely.
"Yuffie," Cloud began reluctantly, "There's something we need to talk about."
Frowning, Yuffie nodded for him to continue though she thought she could guess. It was obviously something to do with her current situation.
"Reeve called last night," Tifa said, "Your father had contacted him again. Reeve . . . well Reeve thinks that your father is really worried that something bad happened to you. We haven't told him that we know where you are obviously and he's starting to panic."
The ninja said nothing.
"Yuffie," Cloud said, "Godo is afraid that you're dead."
"Maybe you should let him know you're alive at least even if you don't tell him where you are," Tifa urged quietly.
Cid snorted. "The second the kid breaks her silence Godo will find her."
"This is probably true," Nanaki agreed, "Godo is known for his resourcefulness."
"I . . . I . . ." Yuffie shook her head frustrated.
"It's your decision," Vincent told her gently.
"All he cared about what making me marry who he wanted me to," Yuffie whispered, "But . . . he's my old man. I can't let him think I'm dead." Taking a steadying breath the ninja nodded. "I'll talk to him. At least I'll have a day or two before he gets here to prepare myself."
"What are you going to do?" Tifa asked concerned.
"I don't know yet," Yuffie admitted. "Hopefully I'll figure it out before he gets here."
Author's Note: Another chapter! Just one more to go. I decided to break up my usual rotation of stories and finish this one because I'm almost finished with Crisis Core and I have a story idea I want to start just as soon as I finish the game. For those of you who are reading my other stories, I'm also working on the next chapter of Second Chances and hopefully will have it out soon. I hope to have the final chapter of this story out within the next several days. So if you have any requests or things that I missed its time to speak up. And now my wonderful reviewers.
DarklingLinny: Well, there's your update. Let me know what you think!
MakotoJinx: Thanks!