A/N: I don't own anything! This is the last chapter. It's a more somber ending, but I found it fitting. And, if you can tell me where the name of the minor character in this chapter is from, I'll write a oneshot catering to your wishes. That's going to be my trademark, so in the last chapter of every story I write, there will be a minor character with a name that you have to guess the origin of.
Vincent tapped his foot nervously as the chopper hovered near Nibelheim. The young pilot, Niklas, asked, "Is everything all right, sir?"
Vincent said, "Yes, everything is fine."
Niklas turned back to the controls and said, "Good, because you can jump out now." Vincent nodded, and Niklas saluted him. He jumped out the side and landed cleanly on his feet. With inhuman speed he ran through the town and pushed his way into the manor.
He stood in the nostalgic place for a few moments, remembering the two long sleeps in that godforsaken coffin, and everything else that had happened there. He slowly and deliberately walked up the stairs and down another flight to the laboratory. He examined the lab, and he suddenly heard a quiet voice say, "It brings back memories, doesn't it?"
Vincent turned around, and blood stained eyes met chocolate brown ones. Lucrecia smiled shyly and said, "It's been a long time, Vincent."
Vincent reached out, and hesitated. Lucrecia said quietly, "It's alright. I'm real." Vincent reached out again and touched her hair. He ran his fingers through her hair, then began to gently caress her face. When his fingers came away wet, he looked at her in concern.
Lucrecia said, "This can't last for much longer."
Vincent said, "What do you mean, Lucrecia, this can last forever. We can finally be together!"
Lucrecia sobbed, "Vincent, don't you see? We can never be together! I'm dead! I only have enough strength to last for a few more minutes, then my spirit will return to the Lifestream again! The only reason I lasted this long was to see you again."
Vincent wordlessly pulled the mother of his child into an embrace. Every emotion was spilled out in that embrace. Every question that either had was answered. Lucrecia said quietly, "I came to see if you would be alright. I want there to be someone for you to spend the rest of your life with. If not as a lover, then as a friend."
Vincent said into her hair, "There is no one, and there will never be anyone who can take your place."
Lucrecia said, "There is one who loves you. A girl by the name of Yuffie Kisaragi."
Vincent backed away and said in a startled voice, "Yuffie?"
Lucrecia nodded and said, "Be her friend. She needs one now. She tries to hide it, but she's afraid inside. She loves you, and she knows that you will never return that feeling." Suddenly, she separated herself from Vincent and said, "Promise me! You'll love Yuffie after I die."
Vincent said slowly, "I will never be able to love Yuffie the way I love you."
Lucrecia smiled and said, "You already do."
Vincent sighed and said, "I promise, Lucrecia, to love Yuffie after you die."
Suddenly, Lucrecia grabbed at her chest and fell to her knees. Vincent cradled her in his arms, and Lucrecia touched his chest. He felt a quick jab of pain, and then emptiness.
Lucrecia gasped, "I removed the monsters from your body. It's the least I can do, after you gave Asha to me."
Vincent asked, "What are you talking about. You gave my life back when I discovered that Asha was my daughter. And, now she's getting married."
Lucrecia said, "So Jayden proposed to her. That's what he was saying." A funny thought came to her, and she began to laugh harshly.
Vincent looked over himself and asked suspiciously, "What's so funny?"
She giggled and said in a breathy voice, "I suppose you'll have to be the mother of the bride as well as the father. Give my blessings to Asha and her husband when they marry."
Vincent shuddered at that thought, and Lucrecia sighed, "I wish I could see her, all grown up and beautiful."
A tear fell down her cheek, and Vincent kissed the tear. Lucrecia gasped, "Vincent, I ...love you."
She had never said those three words to him. There had been passion, and lust, but there had never been love before. Vincent realized that was where Asha had come in. She had permenantly connected the two of them, creating a bond of love. Vincent said hesitantly, "I love you, too, Lucrecia."
Lucrecia smiled, tears falling down her cheeks, and whispered, "Remember who else you must love."
With that, her spirit permanently returned to the Lifestream. Vincent said nothing; he merely let the tears threaten to fall as her body dissolved into blue energy. After a few minutes, he got up and exited the manor.
As he left the town, it began to rain, the gusts of wind blowing his hair and cape into his face. A dark figure appeared in front of him, and after moving closer, he could see who it was.
They stood, face to face, in the rain for a few minutes. Then the figure said, "Vincent..."
That voice was too much to bear. Vincent began to cry harshly. As he choked on his sobs, and the figure walked forward slowly. They wrapped their arms around Vincent's waist and into that embrace, they poured as much comfort and compassion as they could muster.
Vincent's sobs slowly subsided, and he wrapped his cloak around the small figure, embracing them back. He kissed the top of their head and said, "I know this now, I've always loved you... Yuffie."
Yuffie didn't react like he had expected. He had expected her to scream and drag him into the nearest secluded place. She merely said, "You don't have to say anything right now." She turned around, Vincent's arms still holding the cloak around her.
She said quietly, "No matter how dark the night, morning always comes. It'll get better. I promise." She walked slowly forward, allowing Vincent to hold her to his side. As they boarded the chopper, Niklas saluted the two passengers and flew back to Edge.
Vincent fell asleep across a passenger bench, Yuffie held in his arms. After listening to his breath for a few minutes, she kissed his throat (which was all she could reach) and whispered, "I love you too, Vincent. I'll be there for you, always."
Owari. Thank you for reading.
dark-conjuror
