Summary: Chapter seven. In this chapter, Vincent babysits Denzel and Marlene for Tifa and Cloud, and someone joins him.

Chapter Seven:

Vincent opened the door to the Seventh Heaven, and was greeted by darkness. The only thing illuminating the room were the candles on each table. Vincent thought he had been set up; he really didn't want a blind date.

It was then that he saw the couple that would be leaving him alone with two kids. Cloud had cleaned himself up well; he wore a nice dress shirt with black pants. Vincent saw no sign of his big sword. Tifa look more feminine than usual, being rid of her usual tomboyish attire. She wore a sleek black dress, blending well with her partner. Cloud gave Vincent a shy smile from behind the counter. "We'll be heading out soon," was all he said.

Vincent nodded, already feeling tired. He approached the counter. "Where are Denzel and Marlene?" he asked.

Tifa huffed, walking around the counter towards the door. "Well, you're in luck; they fell asleep a while ago. But they might wake up a little later. Don't worry, we shouldn't be out for too long." Cloud followed close behind her like a puppy dog.

"Well...Where exactly are you guys going?" asked Vincent.

"We're just going out to a restaurant in Kalm. We should be back a little later." Tifa started out the door. Cloud turned around to look at Vincent before following after Tifa.

"What do you plan on doing this whole night?" he asked, looking at him in a way that made Vincent slightly angry. He hoped that he wasn't thinking perverted little thoughts. There were kids in the bar.

Vincent shrugged, turning his back to the blonde and walking to the back of the counter. "Maybe I'll have a few drinks," he said.

"Alright, Vincent...Bye." The door closed behind them, leaving Vincent alone in the dark. He smiled to himself, taking a sip of wine that he had just poured himself. His taste for alcohol had grown over the past month; he grew fond of it each time. Of course, he didn't let it get too out of hand, at least not just yet. He took a deep breath in, exhaling sharply as he realized that he was now alone. The night was his. He looked around, surprisingly more aware than his nature intended. Once he was sure no one else was around, he reached underneath his cloak.

He hastily pouring himself another glass of red wine before walking to the seat on the other side of the counter. There, he sat down with his glass on the surface, and he pulled his laptop out from underneath his cloak. Opening it, he logged on, listening to the quiet pings of the mousepad. The whole bar was quiet; he hoped the night would stay in his possession. He clicked onto the internet, feeling a sudden urgency. Of course, he knew if anyone saw him they'd know that he was an obsessed freak. Then again, he knew that he had a new responsibility.

He found out the night before.

He clicked onto his Myspace page, seeing that he had no new comments, but a message. He instantly clicked on it, his first instinct telling him that Jane was having problems. His mouse scrolled over the message as he read each word carefully.

'Hi, Vincent. I'm just messaging you to say that...I'm trying to lay off the pot as of now. I only took one hit today; a little one in the morning. It was really hard in school today; I could hardly concentrate in Geometry today. See what I mean? Doing it helps me focus more...even though my grade in Geometry is bad...I don't know what to do, Vincent. You don't know how badly I want to go and smoke right now...Maybe talking to you, or writing will help. Please, distract me.'

Vincent became pained by this message. Before she made her stunning revelation, she never expressed this feeling of need and obsession. She seemed like any normal girl with an amazing talent for writing. He still couldn't understand how she could hide it so well; beyond her intelligent words, beyond her beautiful photo...He rested his head in his hand, sighing. He wanted to help so badly. But how? She could be lying, and taking a hit right now! Their communication was just between typed words; Vincent knew he couldn't physically make her stop, or tell her to stop through typing. He wasn't there. As of now, he didn't have a lasting effect. But still, he tried his best to muster the adult authority which he knew he had.

He clicked out of her message, looking to reply. His heart was already beginning to feel heavy; he just hoped it didn't stay that way. He had to..cheer her up in some way...But how? He wasn't the kind of guy to cheer others up! He would just do what he normally did; be there for her to talk to. It was obvious that she was in distress. He entered her message section, and began to type.

'I really hope that you can keep your promise. I know that you may be doing it when you're not talking to me. It bothers me, but there isn't much that I can do as of now. However, I do wish to advise you to try harder in Geometry. It is a hard subject, but I want you to try. Tell me Jane, what else would you wish for me to do that could be of assistance?' Vincent really didn't know what else to say. This was a situation in which he couldn't really have a lasting effect. He clicked the button to send his message.

...Deep inside, he was hoping that she was on.

Suddenly, he heard a noise. His first thought was that one of the kids had awoken. He let out a sigh, thinking that now he had to muster as much energy he had to be seen as entertainment. When there was no more noise, he knew it wasn't one of the kids. He twisted around in his bar stool, looking over his shoulder. Outside the window, a streetlight spilled little light into the bar. Other than that, there was darkness, lit only by the faint glow of candlelight. There was no sign that someone was here; he hadn't heard the door open. Pretty much glaring at nothing, he twisted back to face his laptop. By this time, Jane had come online, and instant messaged him.

From her words, Vincent knew that hopelessness was seeping into Jane's heart.

'I really don't know what you can do, Vincent.'

He was frustrated by her message. She was losing hope too quickly. Maybe he needed to buckle down, get a little harder on her. After all, he was an adult. He had the right to! Then again, he didn't have the right to control someone he didn't truly know. Then he wondered...did he truly know her yet? He sighed, and began to type a reply.

'Jane...I really don't know what I should do. I know that you promised me to cut back on the drugs, but you could be hiding something from me...And...its not like I have the ability to come to you and stop you. That would be...the wrong thing to do. However, I can't help but feel that it is my responsibility to look after you and help you. Therefore, thats what I'm going to do. You understand, right?'

'I...I do, Vincent. I wish it was easier to quit, so I couldn't disappoint you.'

'I know, Jane. It must be hard. You just have to focus.'

'I'm trying so hard not to...Hm, and I have to concentrate for a test tomorrow. Pot kind of...helps me get rid of the stress, but I just end up forgetting to study.'

'Try not to give in yet, Jane.' What else could he say?

After he typed his message, he waited a while for her reply. After two minutes, it didn't come. Five more minutes passed with no reply.

'Jane?'

He sighed, laying his forehead on the table. She had given in.

Suddenly..."Hi, VINCENT!!!"

He nearly had a heartattack. He instantly recognized the voice of an allie, but he still pulled Cerberus out of the holster. He found himself pointing it into the face of Yuffie Kisaragi. His heart was pounding erratically, threatening to explode from his chest. He couldn't afford that now. His finger was far from the trigger, but he wanted so badly to pull it. Instead, he put his arm back down in anger.

"Yuffie, you're gonna wake up Denzel and Marlene!" he huffed, angrier than anyone had seen. He didn't want the kids ruining his night alone, being an online mentor.

Yuffie simply smiled, even though she had just had a gun pointed at her face. "Sorry, Vinny! Tifa and Cloud told me you were going to be here, so I figured that I would drop by and say hi!"

"Well, now that you have, why don't you leave?"

"No! We never hang out together, Vincent!" She leaned to the left, peeking behind the gunslinger and to the counter. Her eyes widened and she got a sly smile. "On the internet again?" she asked, starting to head to the laptop. Vincent got there first, and slammed the laptop shut before she could look at it. He gave her a stern look, one that an annoyed parental unit might give to their child.

Yuffie smiled, poking his tight arm. "What? Having chats with girls, Vince?" she asked, bouncing toward another bar stool and sitting down.

Vincent sighed through his nose. "Yuffie, what I do online is none of your business."

Yuffie suddenly got a look of accusation. She looked at one of her fingernails while speaking. "Well, I have seen your myspace page, and I see that you only have two friends...I already know why Cloud would be your friend; you know him. But...that other girl? Jane? What's with her?"

"Its none of your business, Yuffie."

She scoffed. "Yes it is! I just find it...odd that you'd make room for her and not people like Tifa...or Barret...or me..." The young ninja got up, walking towards the gunslinger. She stood in front of her, criticizing him with her eyes. Vincent folded his arms, planning to block out anything she said. Yuffie smiled, seeming to think. "You have a weird taste in girls, Vincent!" At this, she giggled.

"Yuffie, you're not much older than her."

"So? I'm still more mature. I can guarantee it!"

"Okay, Yuffie. Now, are you going to stay her and pester me anymore? You probably woke up the kids, and now they're going to bother me."

"Why'd you accept the offer Cloud and Tifa made if you didn't want to be bothered?"

"Yuffie-"

Suddenly, the door to the bar swung open, and Cloud and Tifa walked in. Both of them looked amused at the sight of Yuffie and Vincent standing head to head. Vincent glared at the pair softly for letting Yuffie know of his whereabouts tonight. Yuffie huffed away, greeting the couple as they came in.

"Well...did you guys have fun?"

What? Is their date already over? Vincent thought to himself. It seemed like only an hour passed by! Was their night over already?"

"You guys weren't gone for long," he said, leaning towards the counter to get his laptop.

Cloud and Tifa giggled; Vincent thought he was missing some inside sex joke. He instantly crossed the thought out of his mind. Once they regained their composure, they replied to him. "Well, we were driving along the road when Cloud's motorcycle broke down. Barret gave us a ride back," Tifa explained, walking farther into the bar from the doorway.

Vincent smiled. "Tough luck," he said, heading for the exit.

"Do you want to stay for a few drinks, Vincent?" Tifa asked.

He shook his head, backing into the door. "I had my drinks tonight," he said. The door closed behind him.

Oh, what a night...