A/N: Ok everyone, I know it's taking me awhile to update this, and I'm sure I've apologized enough but still, I'm sorry. So for all of you loyal reviewers of mine, I decided to make this chapter a little longer than my last couple of chapters. Anyways, enjoy, and please review. Thanks.

Disclaimer: If I owned Final Fantasy 7 I would be rich and Vincent would have had his own game come out LONG ago. Which his game isn't out yet and won't be out for a while so there you have it, I don't own squat.

Chapter 10

I can't believe I snapped at her like that... Vincent thought to himself as he walked through the doors to the inn.

Yea, way to go smart guy.

I'm not in the mood for your antics demon.

"Vincent."

Vincent turned his head to see who had called his name.

Cloud then spoke again, "I'm about to head off to bed but I just wanted to tell you that I found a plane we might be able to borrow in a backyard around here. Me, Aeris, and Barret are going to ask about it tomorrow."

"Ok," Vincent replied.

"Oh and would you please tell Tifa if you see her again tonight?" Cloud asked Vincent.

"I will."

"Thanks Vincent, goodnight." Vincent just nodded at Cloud as he headed up the stairs to his room.

Vincent was just turning around to head up to his own room when all of a sudden he heard the doors open and felt Tifa's presence behind him.

"Vincent," Tifa started, but stopped when Vincent turned to lock his blood red gaze onto her wine colored one.

"Cloud said for me to tell you that he, Aeris, and Barret are going to go ask about a small plane that they saw today when they awaken tomorrow. I would assume we are to stay here and await their return." With that said Vincent headed up the stairs for his room.

What? No goodnight or anything?

No, I have already troubled her enough with my sins and problems.

Just then Vincent felt two arms encircle him from behind and he immediately stiffened.

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself Vincent, and no matter what you say, I know you're not a monster." After that was said Vincent felt Tifa let go of him then he watched her as she headed up the stairs for her own room with her hair swaying side to side as she ascended the stairs.

I would say that she doesn't seem very 'troubled' by your problems Vinny.

Vincent just sighed as he headed for his room, Tifa's words swimming around in his head as he mentally scoffed at them.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The next morning Tifa awoke feeling more refreshed than she had in days. It's so nice to wake up in nice warm bed for once. She thought to herself. Just then Tifa heard cries from some of the townspeople that sounded an awful like, "Rufus is here!" but she knew that just couldn't be right.

Tifa then looked at the clock near her bed and saw that it was reaching close to one in the afternoon. Oh well, I'll sleep a little longer, she thought, it's only a quarter to one after all.

Tifa then sprang up, A quarter to one! Tifa then glanced at the clock again to make sure she wasn't seeing things and then got up quickly to get a good morning shower before taking on the day she knew would be ahead of her and the rest of Avalanche.

I wonder if Vincent got any sleep last night? Tifa thought as she was stepping into the shower, I'm sure he'd be up by now if he did anyways... and with that Tifa let her thoughts melt away as she cleansed her hair and body before stepping out to get dressed for the day ahead.

I wonder how Cloud, Aeris, and Barret are doing with the business about the plane. Tifa once again felt a little pang in her heart with the mention of her two friends, but it slipped away as she thought of the dark gunslinger who was now approaching her from down the hall. Apparently he had already gotten his clothes back from the clothing store, seeing as his red cloak was once again fastened around the bottom half of his face, so all you could see were his eerily colored eyes.

"Morning Vincent," Tifa stated and she saw him nod in reply. "Any word from Cloud or the others?"

"Yuffie, Red, and Cait Sith went out a little while earlier to find them and I volunteered to wait here for you to awaken."

Aww, Tifa thought, he volunteered to wait for me. Just then a gunshot was heard in the distance and Tifa was jolted from her thoughts. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself being dragged downstairs by Vincent as he headed towards the door of the Inn to see what all the racket was about.

"What is it?" Tifa asked the stoic gunman.

"I do not know, but apparently something has come up." Vincent dead panned looking around for where the sound might be coming from.

Tifa then was able to hear the sound of a running plane in the distance as she saw a little fat guy, who looked suspiciously like the man they had seen in the president's office the day he was killed, fly lifelessly across the ground from a backyard. Then Tifa heard a slight scoff from Vincent, and as she looked in front of the house that all the racket was coming from she saw why.

Standing there in all his glory was Rufus Shinra chatting with a very disgruntled looking pilot. Tifa was about to run up and give him a piece of her mind, when she all of a sudden saw a little pink plane carrying Cloud, Aeris, and Barret come flying in from behind Rufus.

Tifa then watched as the pilot ran and jumped towards the plane to barely catch the tail of it as the Shinra guards, who accompanied the President, opened fire upon the plane as it was making a getaway.

"We must hurry," Tifa heard Vincent say as she now found herself wrapped up in his arms moving faster than any normal human should be able to move.

"What the hell is going on?" she asked Vincent as she now saw Nanaki running towards the plane as well.

"I do not know, but we need to catch up to Cloud and the others, lest we be left behind." Vincent said as he increased his speed, If that's possible, Tifa thought.

As Tifa and Vincent reached the plane Tifa looked up and saw a bullet graze the plane's wing and she knew they had lost any type of steering controls they had of the plane. "We'll never be able to get on the plane," she began, "it's too high up."

"We'll see about that..." Vincent said as Tifa felt him tense up then crouch down for a jump. It's impossible, no one could make thi-, "Eahh..." Tifa said as she was brought out of her thoughts and felt herself and Vincent flying through the air and getting closer to the plane by the second.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Showing off Vinny? Galian asked his host with an amused tone in his mental voice.

What are you talk about demon?

You and I both know you could have reached the plane earlier, and then the jump would have been no problem.

Why must you antagonize me so?

It's my job Vinny, after thirty years you should know that by now.

"Wow..." Vincent heard Tifa exclaim as he sat her down upon the plane after a soft landing and told her quickly to grab onto anything she could while draping his arm around her just to make sure she wouldn't fall off.

"Emergency landing!" Vincent then heard Cloud shout over the roar of the engine, with Aeris wrapped protectively under one of his arms of course.

Just then Vincent heard the pilot he saw earlier add his own little comment in, "This's gonna be a big splash! Hold on to your drawers, an' don't piss in 'em!"

Upon hearing that Vincent looked forward to see just how close they were to hitting the water and tighten his grip on Tifa with his human arm, and his grip on the plane with his claw feeling the golden digits sink slightly into the metal.

Protecting your girlfriend? Hehe... Vincent heard the demon in his mind.

Now is not the time for your childish teasing's, Vincent then scolded the demon.

Yes, Vinny.

Vincent was about to make another retort to the demon when he felt Tifa clutch onto him suddenly instead of holding onto the plane.

"Vincent, I can't swim," he heard Tifa choke out.

"Don't worry," he told her, "I won't drop you. and if worse comes to worse, I am a very adept swimmer."

Just then Vincent felt the plane jerk as it hit the water and when the water hit him he felt Tifa start to slip from his arms. In an instant Vincent had let go of the plane and wrapped Tifa up in his good arm again, just before slamming his claw into the plane to keep them from sliding off into the water.

Vincent then looked down into Tifa's face and saw that her eyes were still clamped shut as she was apparently terrified still of falling into the water. Vincent then decided to try and get her to open her eyes.

"I told you I wouldn't drop you."

Upon hearing Vincent's voice Tifa opened her eyes and Vincent saw a smile creep up on her face as apparent relief flowed all throughout her features.

Well that worked, Vincent thought to himself, or it would've been had he not a pesky demon ever present in his mind.

You think?

Will you ever just shut up and leave me be?

Come on Vinny, really, that should be a no brainer.

I should've guessed as much.

Yea, you should've.

Vincent sighed at the demon's response and then looked up to see Cloud appear above him and Tifa offering a hand to help them up. Vincent then helped Tifa get up on the plane before pulling himself up by his claw. He the noticed that the plane was now sinking slightly, and saw the panicked looked on Tifa's face until the plane stopped just before the wings went underwater.

"Hey, where are Yuffie, Red, and Cait?" Vincent then heard Aeris ask as she walked over to Cloud's side, being careful not to slip off of the plane and into the water.

Vincent then started looking around for the three and pointed towards the land where they had come from when he spotted a flying Cait Sith, with a sick looking Yuffie on top, and a wet and aggravated looking Nanaki held in his moogle's arms.

"Well look at that." Vincent heard Barret say to the pilot.

"I don't give a rat's ass about the damned flying cat, look at my fucking plane, she's wrecked." Vincent decided this was not a man young children should be around right off the bat, but then, who was he to be talking.

"Well Cid, can't we use it as a boat?" Vincent heard Cloud ask the pilot, whom he deemed to be named Cid.

"Fuck, do whatever you want." Cid said, looking fairly peeved.

Cloud spoke up next, "Cid, what are you going to do now?"

"Dunno. I'm history with the Shinra and I've given up on the town."

"How 'bout your wife? How 'bout Shera?"

Cid then had look of disgust wash over his face, "Wife? Don't make me laugh! Just thinkin' 'bout marryin' her gives me the chills." Cid then looked around at everyone, "What're you guys gonna do?"

Cloud responded then for everyone, "We're going after a man named Sephiroth. We'll have to get Rufus of the Shinra someday, too."

And of course... Hojo as well. Vincent thought as Cid was looking thoughtful.

Cid then spoke up again, "I don't know about any of that, but... What the hell? Sign me up!"

Cloud then looked around at the group, "How about it, everyone?"

He got a sure and no problem from everyone else before looking to Vincent, "Well...?"

"...do whatever you like," Vincent replied.

Cid clapped Cloud on the back then, "Glad to be aboard, numbskulls!"

"Numbskulls...?" Cloud repeated.

"Yeah. Anyone stupid enough to go up against Shinra nowadays, has GOTTA be a numbskull! I like it! So, where we headed?" Cid then looked around at everyone before speaking up again, "Rufus was goin' after Sephiroth towards the Temple of the Ancients."

Cloud piked up at this and Aeris looked just as eager to hear what Cid had to say, but it was Cloud who spoke, "Really? ...Where is it? That Temple of the Ancients?"

"Hell, I dunno. That numbskull kid was tellin' me he was headin' 'The wrong direction'... so maybe it's off this way?" Cid finished pointing off away from Rocket Town.

"Well," Cloud started, "let's just head for land and get some information. Temple of the Ancients... that name bothers me."

Vincent then looked towards Aeris and saw her in deep thought. Well... seems like this is getting more and more interesting day by day.

I hear ya, glad to see you're being friendlier with Tifa as well.

What Galian? Vincent asked the demon, confused beyond all reason.

Look down.

When Vincent looked down he didn't know what to say or think, because there was Tifa Lockheart cuddled up against him snoring slightly. Vincent decided he would let her rest and the brushed a stray hair out of her face behind her ear and let a small smile grace his lips before he realized what he was doing a drew his hand back away from her face.

I'll just let her sleep, he thought to himself, but why do I all of a sudden feel so comfortable with her here, I didn't even notice her crawl over here and get into my lap.

I know why... hehehe.

Oh, do you now? Vincent asked the demon, Then do enlighten me please.

Where would the fun in that be? Galian then remarked as Vincent could feel the laughter bubbling inside of the demon.

Vincent then decided he would worry about this all later. Right now, Vincent just looked at the beauty he was holding in his arms as he realized more time must have passed since they left the Inn than he thought. Vincent caught himself entranced by the way the moon lit up Tifa's face and didn't look away from her until he heard Cloud speaking to him above the snores of the rest of the group.

"Hey Vince? You don't mind if I call you Vince do you?"

"It's better than Vinny," Vincent told him, Cloud would have laughed, had Vincent not been deadly serious.

Cloud then continued, "I must thank you for everything you've done since you joined us."

Vincent quirked an eyebrow at this, What's he getting to?

"Especially with saving mine, Aeris, and Tifa's lives."

"Don't mention it," Vincent told the swordsman, whom he now noticed was hold Aeris in his arms similar to the way Vincent held Tifa.

"She's a good woman isn't she?" Vincent then heard Cloud say, guessing he was talking about Tifa, as he was looking straight at her.

Vincent just nodded, not trusting his mouth or words.

"I notice she's taken quite a liking to you Vince, just don't ever hurt her, she's like a sister to me." I wouldn't hurt her half as much as you already have. Vincent found himself thinking. Yet I'm sure I won't be given even the chance, a pure being like her could never find solace in my presence, despite what you may think may friend. Vincent just nodded at Cloud again as he changed the subject.

"Where do you think we should head off to next?"

"I have no clue," Vincent told Cloud truthfully.

Just then Cait Sith speaks up, "I heard somewhere that you have to have something called the 'keystone' to enter the Temple of the Ancient's awhile back from some people in the Gold Saucer."

"Really?" Cloud asked the mechanical cat and moogle.

"Yea, and I believe it was weapon maker near Gongaga who was talking about it, because afterwards he told the man he was talking to, to drop by his shop if he wanted to know more about the keystone." Cait Sith then looked real proud of himself for having this information.

"Well, when Yuffie wakes up we'll ask her if she remembers seeing a weapon maker who lived near Gongaga during her travels." Cloud then turned to Vincent, "I trust you'll be awake all night?"

"Yes," Vincent replied looking Cloud straight in the eyes wondering what he was getting at.

Cloud looked uneasy under Vincent's gaze but refused to look away form the gunman, "I'm going to get some shut-eye, can you wake me at dawn?"

Vincent just nodded at Cloud,

"Thanks," and with that Vincent watched Cloud fall asleep. He then let his attention fall back on the woman in his arms as he thought about everything she had told him, and his miserable past.

This is going to be a long night...

A/N: Hey everyone, I know what you're all probably thinking. Why can't Tifa swim? Well, I reason that sahe lived in Nibelheim her whole life playing in the mountains, seeing as she became a tour guide, and then she went to Midgar, yes there was a river near Nibelheim but like I said, she apparantly spent most of her time in the mountains, and her not being able to swim helps my story move a little faster. Also if you go thinking, 'well she must have been able to swim to get up to the pole in Junon' she could have easily had Yuffie help her out to the dolphin or someone else help her out there. Also I am going to reveal later why Vincent is a good swimmer and I mightalso have him teach Tifa how to swim in a later chapter, so please, bear with me here people. Oh, and please review, comeon, you know you want too.