THIS IS MY SECOND FF 7 ATTEMPT SO NO FLAMES. I LIKE THIS ONE BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S MORE IN CHARACTER.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SAVING GRACE

I DON'T OWN FF 7 SQUARE ENIX DOES. IF I OWNED IT, YUFFENTINE WOULD BE CANON AND LUCRECIA WOULD BE A BAD MEMORY. I DO HOWEVER OWN RICO, AKIRA, HIRO, TAKITO, ANKARA, AND MARTIN.

RATED M FOR LATER CHAPTERS. POSSIBLE OOC-ness FROM VINCENT AND THE OTHERS!

Rico: based off the asshole Inuyasha portrayed in some Sess/Kag fanfics

Warning: FLUFF! SHAMELESS FLUFF!

Vincent took a moment to contemplate his relationship with Yuffie. When he took the time to think about it, the relationship wasn't a new one. In some ways, she was his saving grace. His reason for continuing on after defeating Hojo which had been his only goal. Sure he wouldn't ever admit that to her no matter what, even under the threat of torture and death because to do so would be too much like admitting defeat. And Vincent was nothing if he wasn't a winner. It sounded strange to be having the conversation with himself but it needed to be done so he could let go of the last vestige of reluctance to live again.

"If you think too hard your head might explode." Cloud commented. Vincent snorted. "I'm not Cid." He replied. "Want to talk about it?" Cloud asked. "No. I've got it pretty much figured out." Vincent replied as he finished cleaning his guns and reassembled them methodically. That brought him peace as well. Not like seeing Yuffie happy but this was a close second. He placed the cleaned and reassembled guns in the proper places and put them away for the night. Death Penalty went under his pillow with Cerberus and the other two went into the drawer next to his bed.

"So have you two finally settled things? I mean completely? The way I remember when she left, you two had a lot of unfinished business." Cloud asked. "I believe we are working through our unfinished business. It wasn't as much as you thought it was." Vincent replied. "Good. You two were always reckless about each other so I was a little worried." Cloud said. Vincent snorted softly. "You give us too little credit." He replied. "Perhaps." Cloud allowed with a smile.

"I believe Tifa is waiting for you Cloud." Vincent said as his door opened. "Ah thanks. Good night." Cloud replied as he left to spend time with his barmaid. Vincent chuckled quietly as he opened the book he was in the process of reading. He was halfway through chapter ten when his door opened again. "You're still up?" Yuffie asked softly. "Yes. I wanted to finish a few more chapters of my book before heading to bed." Vincent replied. Yuffie nodded. "Do you think it would be ok if I slept in here tonight? I don't trust Rico to leave me in peace." She asked uncertainly. "Of course. Close the door and come in." Vincent replied. Yuffie smiled and obeyed quietly.

The Yuffie the world saw was a very different Yuffie than the one he saw. The world saw an immature bratty woman with kleptomania and a father complex. What Vincent saw was a mature woman who put on a mask to hide her true self from the world. A woman who sacrificed more than she should have been allowed to sacrifice. Vincent saw a child of Leviathan in his young ninja. A woman with a will of steel and the skills to back her talk up. But he also saw the vulnerability that she kept hidden. Her fears of ending up alone. Her fears that she will never be good enough for Wutai. That she will never restore her precious homeland. Her fear that she will end up like her mother. A pretty face married to a cold-hearted man like her father. Vincent saw those fears and took them as his own. Her fears were his fears. Her worries his. It was a testament to how much he truly loved her that Vincent would turn her fears into strengths. She wouldn't marry a man like her father. She wouldn't be like her mother, killed by a madman. She wouldn't be alone. And Vincent would make sure she was more than good enough for Wutai and help her restore it to what it was. Because he loved her. Because she loved him. And he would stand by her side as she ruled her people like they deserved.

"Vincent? Won't you put your book down and come to bed? It's late." Yuffie asked softly. Vincent marked his place and set his book on the table. "Of course Yuffie. I apologize for keeping you waiting." He replied. Yuffie smiled a smile she only gave to those that were closest to her. "It's alright. You looked like you were deep in thought so I felt it would be rude not to let you finish your musings." She said. Vincent chuckled softly and slid into bed next to the smaller woman. "They were of you. I was thinking just how lucky I am that you stayed with me despite the way I treated you for so long." He replied. Yuffie laughed softly and laid her head on his chest once he was settled. "I have loved you for a long time Vincent. I was willing to wait as long as it took for you to decide it was time to live again." She replied.

"Thank you for waking me from that sleep. If you hadn't, I would have never gotten to know you and our friends. I wouldn't have gained the strength or ability to let go of the past and live for the present and the future. So I owe you my new life." Vincent said. "I would do it again if I needed to. You deserve it." Yuffie replied softly. The bright eyed ninja drifted off to sleep, lulled by the slow, steady thumping of Vincent's heart. "I love you." Vincent said softly as Yuffie's breathing lulled him to sleep as well.

Some Deep Thinking courtesy of Vincent.