(Chapter 12)

Goodbye

Vincent stared at the pink piece of paper on his desk. Everyone knew what 'pink' meant in this business. He sighed heavily while tilting his head slightly. Maybe it would be easier if it were on a white piece of paper… He ran the paper through the copier on his printer onto a white sheet. He then folded the paper up and stuck it inside an envelope writing the initials Y.K. on the outside.

"From the president." The manager said tossing the envelope on Yuffie's desk. She only had about three minutes left until she could clock out. And dare she clock out a second earlier. Just yesterday she got an email from one of the managers about clocking out minutes early.

Why would he… she thought as she opened the envelope and pulled out the notice. Her eyes went directly to the words 'Termination of employment' and that was all it took. She ripped off her headset and stormed out of the room shocking the other employees. Luckily the elevator doors were opening as she approached them because at her speed it seemed she would have busted through them. She crossed her arms and let out several deep breaths, biting her lips and telling herself over and over again that she wouldn't run up here crying. The doors opened and Yuffie heard conversation, but she didn't care. Her eyes were on Vincent.

Vincent stood there with a representative from another company also in fashion who was willing to pay MidgarFashions to sell their merchandise. Mid-sentence Vincent collapsed to the floor after a swift foot kicked him roughly in the male parts.

"Mr. Valentine?" The blonde man then looked at the petite little woman who caused his future business partner's agony. "Who are you?"

"The girl he's been fucking for the past three months and has suddenly decided to fire for no mother fucking reason!" The man's eyebrows rose and he began slowly inching towards his desk where he grabbed his briefcase before running out of the room.

Vincent was in so much pain he couldn't even react to what just happened. Bright green painted toenails slowly appeared inches from his face. His cheek was pressed against the cold marble floor. His eyes moved from the toenails, up two short legs and landed on a pair of green panties under the tan skirt that would have covered them at another angle.

"What the fuck is this?!" Yuffie threw the paper down at him. The corner of the envelope stabbed him right in the eye.

"Damnit Yuffie…" he grumbled as he slowly pushed himself off the ground. He wiped his eye a couple of times. Tears flowed out of his hurt eye.

"Well, what the hell is this for!? I fuckin need this job you asshole! I don't care what's going on with you and your wife. I'm about to make your life hell here any second if you don't…"

"Lucrecia's pregnant." Vincent said walking past Yuffie and grabbing a tissue from his desk. He wiped his eye several times while Yuffie just stared at him in shock.

"…How?" Yuffie was both shocked, heartbroken, and not to mention still pretty heated.

"Through intercourse, I'm assuming." He said casually as he turned to her leaning back against the desk and staring at her as if absolutely nothing was wrong.

Yuffie was ready to kick him again, and this time harder! Instead she tossed her head back and smiled. "You fire me and I'll tell her everything. I'll even tell her how you were talking about letting her go and that you didn't even want kids. If she won't believe me I've got the whole conversation saved in my phone!"

Vincent knew she was bluffing. Or at least he thought he knew… He smirked. "Nice try, Miss Kisaragi."

Yuffie pulled her phone out of her pocket Vincent watched, shifting uncomfortably as he watched her punch buttons. Suddenly the audio played very loudly through the office.

"I'm thinking about letting her go…"

"Oh…Vincent, is it really that bad?"

"Yes."

Vincent lunged forward reaching for her phone. Yuffie ducked and slid between his legs before getting up running across the room. "Brat, give me the phone!"

"Fuck you!" she yelled.

Vincent growled and charged at her, he chased her around the room for a good five minutes before giving up. "Keep your fucking job, Yuffie. But let me warn you. You had better stay out of my sight unless you want bad things to start happening."

Yuffie walked right up to him, her phone tight in her hand. She grabbed the collar of his shirt with her free hand and pulled him close to her face. "Oh trust me, bad things are going to happen Mr. president." She spat before spinning around and leaving his office. She did a triumphant little skip as she approached the elevator. Though inside her world had just crumbled…

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Although Lucrecia was barely considered pregnant just yet, she had already started her maternity leave. She was basically her own boss so it didn't really matter. Today she'd been digging through all of her old cook books trying to find a recipe for what used to be Vincent's favorite meal back when she used to do simple house work like cooking and cleaning. Lucrecia was actually a very good cook. She used to bake cookies or brownies and offer them to the poor sad Turk hoping to cheer him up. Of course it did more than that and because of those little chocolate squares of heaven, he fell madly in love with her.

Vincent walked in the house looking as miserable as ever until… he sniffed the air. He had to sniff three or four times to make sure his nose was telling the truth.

"Welcome home honey! Dinner's on the table." Lucrecia giggled. "I always wanted to say that." Vincent smiled at her in her white apron. He walked up to her and placed a small gentle kiss on her lips before walking with her to the kitchen where a plate of amazing looking lasagna sat, steam swirling into the air.

"I miss having time to do things like cooking. I even did laundry today! Vincent did you know more than half of your shirts are missing buttons? I sewed new ones on them of course." She giggled again, truly excited about taking on the house wife role. While it lasted…

Vincent's eyes widened at first when she mentioned laundry. Not only were his shirts broken open and missing buttons, but most probably smelled like Yuffie. He sat down and began eating.

"So how was work today? Did your meeting go well?"she asked him sweetly.

Vincent did his best not to visibly wince. "It went fine, though I don't believe we'll be doing business together."

"Why? This was supposed to be such a great opportunity." Lucrecia was watching Vincent intently, but she still failed to notice his uneasiness.

"There will be others." He said softly before shoveling another fork full of food in his mouth.

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The next Saturday night Yuffie stayed home and lounged on the couch watching TV. Cloud came over and was sitting in the chair next to her.

"Didn't school start for you too? Why are you still in Midgar?" Yuffie asked. They both looked like zombies, watching the TV screen through half lidded eyes.

Nearly a minute passed before Cloud answered. "I quit."

"Damn Cloud…"

"I know…"

Finally Yuffie took her eyes off the TV screen and looked over at him. It was like Tifa had drained all the color out of his life. To Yuffie his skin looked a little paler, even his bright yellow 'chocobo' hair seemed a bit duller.

"Your cell phone's ringing, Cloud."

Cloud fumbled around in his pocket for his phone, not the least bit in a hurry. "Hello?"

"Is it true you quit school for that little tramp!? What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you want a fuckin future?! Hell, all the money your parents saved to get you into that school…! You gonna let all that go to waste! You better tell me what I'm hearin is just a rumor!" Cid…

Cloud sighed. "I…just…"

"Just what!? Boy, you better get your mind right! Meet me at the bar tonight. You're gonna drink this bitch out of your system and get on with your life!" Cid hung up before Cloud could respond.

Cloud slowly closed his phone and put it back in his pocket. Yuffie heard Cid's loud voice all the way from where she sat.

"Care if I go with you? I need to drink someone out of my system too."

Cloud just nodded.

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"Vincent! It's for you! It's Cid." Lucrecia barged into Vincent's study with the cordless phone. Vincent smiled faintly at his wife before taking the phone.

"Yes, Cid?"

"You comin out tonight? My nephew's goin through a hard time and life ain't been too peachy for yours truly either so us men are gonna drink ourselves blind tonight."

Vincent was actually into the idea. A drink is definitely what he needed after a day like today. "Sure, Cid. I'll be there. Will Shera?"

"No! Didn't ya hear me!? I said us men!"

Vincent rolled his eyes. "Ok, Cid."

"Alright bye!"

Vincent shut down his computer and stood up. "It's been awhile since I've attended one of Cid's guy's nights out…"

Lucrecia giggled at Vincent's way of getting her permission to go. "Go have fun, Vincent. You work too hard for me and soon you'll have a child too to look after, so have as much fun as you can now…" Her tone involuntarily saddened at the end of her sentence. Vincent cocked an eyebrow.

"Why so sad? Isn't this what you've always dreamed of?"

Lucrecia nodded eagerly. "Of course! It's just I know you're under enough pressure as it is with the company and all… and then a child."

Vincent smiled and leaned close to her, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "I'll be fine." He walked past her leaving her in the door way.

"I hope so…" Lucrecia mouthed to his retreating form. As soon as he made it around the corner, she dropped to her knees leaning against the doorway.

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The bar was actually pretty busy tonight. Vincent groaned as he rolled into the parking lot full of cars. He liked it better when it empty. Cid was a really good listener when he had a few glasses of wine to calm him down. He was the only one Vincent really talked to about his problems, in detail.

Vincent got out of his car and squeezed into smoke filled bar. Cid wasn't hard to find. He was the loudest person in there at the moment. And he was holding Cloud's arm in the air waving it around. Cloud still looked like a zombie.

Yuffie said hunched down beside Cloud. She didn't really want to socialize with anyone. Especially the middle-aged men that filled this bar. She sighed and took another drag of the cigarette she wasn't supposed to be smoking. Suddenly her eyes landed on a familiar raven head. No way… Yuffie hunched even lower. She knew the last person he wanted to see right now was her.

"Vincent! Here! Drink up!" Cid yelled handing him a tall glass of a surprise drink. He'd always had something new for everyone to try.

Cloud started to move, but Yuffie quickly clung to his shoulder. "Don't move!"

Cloud turned to her looking confused. He wasn't drunk yet so he quickly realized something was up. Yuffie whispered her secret in his ear. Cloud raised his eyebrows and sent a stealthy glance back at the dark man sitting two seats away from him.

After seeing Vincent, Yuffie knew she couldn't drink. She would get piss drunk and do something completely stupid not to mention embarrassing and she couldn't afford to be embarrassed in front of him. Instead she watched secretly as Vincent got himself piss drunk nearly stumbling off the bar stool once it was time to leave.

Yuffie followed him from a distance outside of the bar. Her eyes widened when she saw him attempt to get behind the wheel of his car. Against her bitter insides that wished he would try to drive and get himself killed or arrested, she ran to his car and banged on the window.

Vincent rolled down his window as he looked up at Yuffie.

"What the hell are you doing?" Yuffie asked pointing to his car.

He blinked.

"Get out of the car, idiot, you can't drive like that. Are you stupid?" Why do I care for him so much?! Yuffie looked away while she waited for Vincent to react. She jumped slightly as she felt a hand clumsily grasp her wrist. She looked down and saw Vincent staring up at her with that look in his glassy eyes.

"Stop!" Yuffie jerked her hand away from him. Vincent finally opened his door and got out. He leaned back against his car feeling the ground spinning. Yuffie stepped back half expecting him to get sick.

Vincent took a few steps forward and engulfed Yuffie in a bear hug. Yuffie grunted, barely able to breathe in his tight grasp.

"Vincent?"

"Mmhm" He responded pressing his lips against her neck.

"Give me your car keys. I'll take you home." Yuffie felt him shake his head no. "Then what are you going to do? You can't drive, dummy."

"…your house." He mumbled, the first whole part of his sentence was completely incomprehensible.

"Are you sure?" Yuffie asked him. A smile crept across her lips although she knew this would be a bad idea. Vincent finally let her go and nodded again. So, Yuffie took his keys and drove his car back to her apartment.

"Shh! Shh!!!!" Yuffie knew Aerith and Zack were both asleep and Vincent's loud clumsy footsteps and incoherent moans weren't going to go unnoticed for too much longer. Finally she got him in her bedroom and pushed him onto the bed.

Vincent rolled onto his back and looked up at her. "Come here."

Yuffie shut her bedroom door and locked it before crawling on top of her drunken enemy-slash-lover. Looking down at him she just wanted to bite his face off and then maybe once he was less attractive she wouldn't have this problem. Vincent captured her mouth before she could do so.

"What about your pregnant wife?" Yuffie asked breaking the kiss.

"Ngh…"

Vincent caught her lips again, rolling the two over so that he was on top. Yuffie was still waiting for a better response, but it didn't look like he was going to give one. It was hard to believe that even as a clumsy incoherent drunk, Vincent was still amazing in bed. Yuffie laid next to him stroking his long hair.

"I'm sorry, Yuffie…" he said a little bit clearer than his previous attempts at speaking. Yuffie met eyes with him.

"For what?"

"I just am…" He hugged her close to him and closed his eyes.

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"Zack… what's that noise?" It was around eight o'clock in the morning and Aerith sat in bed watching Zack dress for work.

Zack lifted his head and narrowed his eyes as he listened to what sounded like some sort of animal roaring. Zack walked to the door and Aerith followed suit. The two crept down the hall towards the sound.

"Is that Yuffie!?" Zack asked as they stopped in front of Yuffie's closed door where the sound was the loudest. It was now obvious to them it was someone snoring.

Aerith slowly opened the door and poked her head inside. Vincent was sleeping on the side closest to the door so he was the first thing she saw. His naked body was barely covered by the thin white bed sheet that covered him. Yuffie had stolen the heavier comforter for herself during the night to cover her head in an attempt to block out all the noise Vincent made.

"Vincent Valentine…" Zack muttered as he looked over Aerith's head into the room. "What the hell is he doing with Yuffie?"

Aerith glared at his sleeping form. She knew he was the reason Yuffie had been so depressed. Suddenly the cocoon comforter opened up and Yuffie popped out. She gasped when she saw her roommates staring at her bed buddy.

"Yuffie! Do you realize who this man is?!" Zack asked walking into the room. "He used to be one of the worst Turks in Shinra! Now he's the owner of MidgarFashions, manipulating that woman he's married to by using her designs to make money."

That was one of the stories that were printed in the weekly tabloids.

Vincent woke up at the sound of Zack's voice. He glared down at the nuisance who had disrupted his sleep, then his eyes widened when he realized where he was. He looked back at Yuffie.

"Care to explain yourself?!" Zack asked crossing his muscular arms.

Vincent's head was pounding too hard for him to think straight. "Explain what?" He asked squinting his eyes in the light as Aerith walked into the room flipping on the light switch.

"Why you're screwing around with Yuffie? She's a good girl, and I don't want some creep like you taking advantage of her. Aren't you married?" Aerith clung to Zack, noticing how heated he was getting. Yuffie was the closest thing to a little sister he had and he intended to protect her.

"Good girl…" Vincent scoffed sitting up and pulling the blanket with him. His eyes scanned the floor for his clothes.

"Hey!" Zack started, but Aerith pulled at his arm.

"Stop, Zack." She said softly. Vincent looked up at her, she put him in mind of Lucrecia and not only that she was pregnant too. He slapped his forehead softly dragging his hand down his face. Finally his pants came into view. He stood, blanket covering him, and started collecting his clothes.

"Yuffie, you know better than this." Zack said focusing his attention on her. She looked down in shame. Vincent eyed her closely wondering what her response was going to be.

"I know." She said pulling her comforter closer around her. Vincent smirked. Once he picked up his clothes he left in search of a bathroom. Scared that he was going to leave without speaking to her, Yuffie got up and hurried past her friends.

She barged in on Vincent in the bathroom. He already had his pants on. She looked up at him with her wide curious eyes, desperate that he'd offer some sort of comfort to her.

"Don't look at me like that." Vincent muttered putting his shirt on. "It was a mistake I was drunk." Yuffie started to kick him, but he was expecting it this time and grabbed her leg causing her to fall back and hit her back on the sharp corner of the cabinet. She cried out in pain.

"Asshole! I hate you! I wish I never ever met you! I hope you die!"

"We all will someday…" Vincent said sending her a smug smile as he finished buttoning up his shirt. He then turned on the facet and began splashing his face with water. Yuffie reared back and punched him right in the eye. Caught off guard, she then kicked him hard in the groin again sending him to his knees. She then delivered one final blow to his face with the hair dryer that was sitting on the counter top not far from her.

Vincent wiped his nose a few times and saw the blood on his fingers. I deserved it. He thought. He then heard Yuffie sniff. He looked up at her and saw the tears pouring down her cheeks. Finally she let her emotions go and began fully sobbing.

Vincent wiped his nose a few times before completely forgetting about himself and looking down at the girl in front of him that he'd been so brutally torturing emotionally. She began to sob so uncontrollably, she began hyperventilating. "Yu…Yuffie…" He touched her shoulder gently. "Don't cry."

Yuffie cried harder. Zack and Aerith had now began to knock at the bathroom door to see if everything was ok.

"She's fine!" Vincent yelled back. Yuffie looked up at him and shook her head no.

"Yes you are." He whispered to her pulling her into a hug. "I'm not worth all this, Yuffie. I'm not."

Yuffie squeezed him hard, digging her nails into his back. "I hate you so much." She cried.

"As you should." Vincent said giving a sideways nod and patting her back gently.

"But…at the same time, Vincent I…can't stop myself from…loving you." She looked up into his eyes. His reaction wasn't what she expected. He smiled and even chuckled a little.

"You're only a child, my dear. You don't understand that word love." He ruffled her hair lightly and let his hands rest on her shoulders. "What we have is an intense lust for each other. So strong that we both know that neither one of us is able to resist it. That's why I wanted to fire you. With Lucrecia being pregnant, I can't continue to do this Yuffie, I can't. Don't you understand? I do want you, I crave you every moment of every damned day, but it's not love, its lust. And lust is not something you want to succumb to because it'll ruin your life." He spoke gently to her in a voice he barely even recognized as his own. But it worked as Yuffie calmed down and stopped crying. She looked up at him and gave a half smile.

"Well…good luck with your life, I guess." She said awkwardly as there really wasn't much else to say. Hearing a form of goodbye tore Vincent's heart a little bit, but he didn't let it show. He simply smiled and leaned down giving Yuffie a more innocent kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry I let lust get the best of me. I hope I haven't ruined your life, Yuffie."

She shook her head no although she knew he had. Or at least it seemed so at this point. Her heart ached at the thought of not being able to be close to him anymore.