DISCLAIMER! : Nope... not yet. -sigh-
"Well, Turks? Surprise me," Rufus ordered. The four Turks exchanged slightly smug expressions.
"I think you'll be happily surprised, sir," Tseng informed him. Elena handed her boss a folder with a smile. Rufus flipped through it before a smirk crossed his face.
"Perfect."
--r-e-e-f-i-e--
His cell phone rang. The man glanced at his caller ID to see that it was Rufus Shinra.
"Hello?" Reeve answered.
"Ah, Reeve. I wish to speak to you. I'll be in your office shortly," Rufus told him. The line went dead. Reeve looked at his phone in slight confusion before shrugging and continuing his work on the new Cait Sith model.
Sure enough, within twenty minutes, a knock rang through his office.
"Come in," he called distractedly.
"Hello, Reeve," Rufus greeted politely.
"Good afternoon, Rufus," came the reply.
"You know I have your company's best interests in mind, correct?"
Reeve looked up curiously. "Well, of course. You've invested a lot of money, and I'm sure you hoped to see the company make something of itself."
Rufus smiled bitterly. "Yes. I hoped you could fix my wrongs," he agreed. "My point is, knowing this, I need you to know that it is in your best interest to break up with Julia," Rufus informed him, sitting down in the visitor's chair across from the head of the WRO.
"What?" Reeve jumped. "How are my personal relationships any of your business?"
"Besides her being my cousin, and you being my... friend." He seemed to shudder at the word. "I have invested deeply in your company, and if you two were to wed..." he trailed off.
"Wait, wait. I don't intend to marry her. It's been, what? Two or three months? I'm not going to ask her to marry me," Reeve assured him.
"Don't you understand?" Rufus asked coolly. "That's all she wants. She wants control of this company through you."
"Look, I know you two don't get along, but really!" Reeve exclaimed angrily.
"Yuffie just happened to say the exact same thing? How strange," Rufus said conversationally. Reeve froze, and the Turks exchanged knowing glances.
"How did you know about that?" Reeve asked slowly.
Rufus nodded to Elena. "They're very close friends," he stated.
"But-but, she doesn't really just want my power, does she?" he asked, now sounding doubtful. Rufus looked at him with pity, and he dropped a CD on Reeve's desk.
"Listen to this. It's several of Julia's conversations over the phone. Enjoy."
With that, Rufus and his Turks left. Reeve stared at the door before shifting his gaze to the CD. With a sigh, he put the CD in his computer and prepared to listen. As he listened to his girlfriend's voice travelling from his computer, his face slowly changed from curious to horrified to angry.
He snatched his phone off his desk and dialed in her number.
"Hello, Sweetie!"
"Julia," he spoke into his phone. "We need to talk."
And he hung up.
--r-e-e-f-i-e--
"Baby, I don't see why you're so angry at me," Julia told him brightly when she showed up at his office. Wordlessly, Reeve pressed play on his computer.
"Hello. This is Emperor Kisaragi Godo speaking. How may I help you, Miss Markov?"
"Ah, please, call me Julia," the woman spoke into the phone, her voice sugar-sweet.
"All right then, Julia, how may I help you?"
"Well, you see, Yuffie is working in the World Regenesis Organization under Mr. Reeve Tuesti..."
He paused it and looked at her again, his brown eyed gaze accusing.
"What? I was concerned for her safety! Honey, she's one of your best friends. I couldn't let her get hurt!" Julia told him, sounding innocent.
"Some how, I don't believe that," he told her coldly.
"Oh, and why's that?" she asked, her voice becoming angry.
"There is more then just that audio clip on here, Julia. Rufus was right about you. Yuffie was right about you. How did I let her get away so that I could keep a hold on you?" he asked scathingly.
"Just hold on one second there," Julia snarled. "You are nothing without me! Without me, you have no support. You have gotten a lot of money from my family..."
"From your cousin," Reeve interrupted. "He would be even more willing to give more if you weren't in the picture. He was right about you. All you want is power."
"Don't be silly," she told him. "I love you!"
"No, Julia. I don't think you do. In fact, I think you should leave. I have no interest in seeing you again. Besides, I have a wedding to go see."
With that, he brushed by her to leave. On his way out, he stopped by his secretary's desk. "Make sure she leaves," he ordered.
"Yes sir," the woman complied.
"Thank you."
--r-e-e-f-i-e--
Marlene bounced around excitedly. "I can't wait to see Yuffie again!" she told Tifa happily. "And she'll get to see me in my pretty new dress!"
Tifa smiled. "She'll be so happy to see you wearing it," Tifa assured her. "Right, Cloud?"
"Yeah," Cloud agreed. "You look so beautiful in it," he told Marlene a fond smile crossing his face.
"Really?" Marlene asked. Cloud smiled and nodded. They all looked up at the sound of muted yelling before Cid stomped onto the passenger deck of the airship.
"Stupid ass… O-oh… Hello, Marlene," he stuttered when he saw the child. "And Denzel, of course." Denzel and Marlene shared an amused look.
"CID! If you're swearing around those kids, you're in trouble!" came Shera's yell.
"I'm not! I promise!" he yelled back hurriedly. "How are you two?" he asked Cloud and Tifa. Tifa shyly just held out her hand. Cid's jaw dropped at the size of the diamond on her ring. "So Cloud finally got around to it, did he?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes. Finally!" Tifa teased as her fiance turned red.
"Congrats you two," came Reeve's voice.
"REEVE!" Marlene squealed, running to him. He picked her up and swung her around. "Where's your girlfriend?" she asked curiously.
"We had a disagreement," Reeve told the child. "We are no longer together." Tifa raised an eyebrow, and Cloud mimicked her. Reeve shook his head. "Later," he murmured.
"Do we have everyone?" Cid asked.
"I believe so," Cloud replied. "Vincent got on with me, and you guys already had Tifa, Barrett, the kids, Nanaki, and Reeve."
Tifa looked at Reeve curiously. "Do you know if Rufus is coming?" she asked.
"Yes," Reeve replied. "He's taking his own helicopter though. That way the Turks won't bother you guys."
"Good," Cid said gruffly. "I don't know if I'd be able to handle that damned Reno making comments about my flying again... shithead," he added for extra measure.
"ARE YOU CUSSING AROUND THE KIDS AGAIN?" Shera yelled.
"No, Honey!" he yelled back. Marlene and Denzel snickered. "Our secret, kids," he told them with a wink.
The adults all exchanged amused looks. Cid had such a soft spot for kids.
"CID! GET UP HERE!"
"Shit," he cussed. "Shera's gotten so damn moody since she got pregnant." The blonde man sighed. "I better get my ass up there. I'll have to talk later."
"Cid's going to be an interesting father," Tifa noted with a laugh.
"I feel bad for his kids," Cloud said honestly. Tifa smacked his arm. "Geez, I was kidding, Teef!" he exclaimed before slipping his fingers through her's.
Reeve glanced at their intertwined hands with slight jealousy before looking out the window of the airship.
--r-e-e-f-i-e--
Gods, dinner had been awkward. Yuffie fell back on her bed and groaned. Her father and Rufus hadn't spoken all evening except for polite greetings. Reno had been an asshole. Cloud and Tifa were being lovey-dovey. Reeve stared at her all evening, and Akio tried to keep Yuffie's attention.
Overall, it was just bad. Period.
"I'm going for a walk, Aina," Yuffie told her maid.
"Please be back in an hour, Miss Yuffie, okay?"
"I can do that," Yuffie assured her, slipping out the door in her dark green silk pajama bottoms and white tank top. She threw her hair, which now slid over her shoulders, in a messy bun. It didn't take long for her to reach the bridge that crossed over a small creek in the gardens.
The bride-to-be leaned her elbows on the wooden railing and stared at the creek thoughtfully. She was going to be married soon. In two days, actually. The young woman stared shaking. She was too young for this. Sudden doubts filled her mind.
She jumped when a suit jacket dropped over her shoulders. Yuffie's gaze flew to the man who gave it to her. Reeve.
"Thanks," she murmured softly. Now she turned around to lean her back and elbows against the railing so she could look up and see the stars.
"No problem," came the reply. They sat in companionable silence for a moment. "Getting cold feet?" Reeve asked, his voice teasing. "Isn't that usually the groom's job?"
"Says the man who didn't even bring his girlfriend. Kinda rude to not invite her, y'think?" Yuffie shot back.
Reeve's face sombered. "I broke up with her," he said softly. "You were right. I'm so sorry I didn't believe you, Yuffie." He stepped closer to her and tilted her head towards him. "Can you forgive me? I want another chance."
"Reeve..." Yuffie murmured, her voice wanting. Their lips brushed slightly before Yuffie pulled away. "No," she said firmly.
"What?" Reeve asked, looking confused.
Yuffie handed him back his jacket. "Reeve, I'm getting married in two days. I can't do this. I'm sorry," she whispered. "Goodnight, Reeve," she added before hurrying back to her room.
Reeve stood there with his coat in one hand as he watched Yuffie retreating, and he closed his eyes. He had missed his chance.
Chocolate brown eyes flew open, a new determination in them. He wasn't going to let her slip away again. She was too important to her.
His phone found it's way from his pocket. "Hello, Rufus? I have a favor to ask..."
A/N: Not very much Yuffie this chapter. It was more about Reeve. I hope you guys liked it. I'm not sure if I'm done with Julia yet, but I think I am. This story's almost over -sniffle- , but atleast you got a chapter that's a little bit longer, right? If you have this on alert, please review. Thanks for reading!