Greener on the other side
by NihilisticAmbition313
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7. I do this only for entertainment purposes, and do not make a dime from it.
--
Chapter #22-"A chance to make good"
One week has passed since the eventful day of Cloud and Tifa's wedding.
Krysten Kier and Andie Chiefstone have learned the identity of their biological father, he being none other than Vincent Valentine. This has, obviously, made a profound impact on all three parties, but none more than Vincent himself. Having been essentially alone in the world with no one to carry on his legacy, Vincent has been given not one, but two carriers of his bloodline. Inside of them were, potentially, children of their own to carry his bloodline into the future as well. This was a great blessing indeed for the man who did not believe himself worthy of such.
But, what to do with this great blessing? There were no detailed instructions for offspring, and even if there were, Vincent Valentine would still have no earthly idea what to do. He in fact had no idea where to even begin. Besides Barret, he did not even know anyone with children, and Marlene was still just that; A child. Andie and Krysten were grown women, with established personalities, ideals, and values. They were both smart, independent, and in no need for a surrogate dad. So, where would Vincent fit into their lives?
This is the dilemma that had taken a back seat in his mind, after the issue of "if" they were his kids. With the "if" issue gone, the "fitting in" issue seemed to be quite broader in scope than he'd anticipated. This was not merely fitting in and coexisting with a rag-tag group of terrorists-cum-heroes. No, this time it was much more personal. It was family. His family. But, no idea how to or not, he was responsible for finding his place among his daughters. Fortunately, his daughters would be more than willing to guide him along, even in spite of their own animosity...
It was late in the morning on the day that the newlyweds were scheduled to come home from their honeymoon. Krysten had volunteered to stay in Egde for a few days so that she and Vincent, or "Pops" as she dubbed him, could get to know one another. Andie had to return to Kalm to tend her flower shop. However, she promised to return today to meet the rest of Vincent's friends, including Mr. & Mrs. Strife.
Having taken it upon herself to make sure her father was eating properly, the braided one made a special trip from her temporary home at the inn to a rather decent delicatessen around the corner from his apartment. With her order already in mind, Krysten took a number from the ticket dispenser at the counter and took a seat in the dining/waiting area.
The deli was fairly busy for lunch, but even amongst the crowd Krysten spotted someone she remembered all too well, and not very fondly. The person spotted her as well, and, much to Krysten's chagrin, went to her table and sat as if invited.
"Yo." Reno greeted, actually sober before noon on this day.
"Hello." Krysten replied with as much ice in her tone as she could muster.
"Brr. Still cold in there, eh?."
"Eww. Go get stranded somewhere."
"'Ey, no need to be cruel yo. Y'know, I was actually hopin' I'd see you again."
"Can't say the same here."
"I'm for real, babe. I wanted to see you again, to say I'm sorry an' stuff."
"I know you're sorry." Krysten sniped.
"Ouch. You got your masters in player hatin', or just the bachelors?"
"Ph.D., actually."
"Figures...Look, I'm serious. I wanna say I'm sorry. I was a jerk to you at the wedding. I didn't have the right to go off on you like I did."
"...You're serious?"
"Yeah, dead serious...You wanna, like, take me back yo?" Reno pleaded, twiddling his thumbs in a goofy manner.
"Take you back? Excuse me, but we weren't even dating. It was just one dance."
"Really? Guess I use that line outta habit."
"Ugh. Go away, you creepy little Tonberry."
"Okay, okay. Serious here. Serious...I'm sorry, Katherine."
"My name's Krysten." Ms. Kier said with a roll of her eyes.
"Sorry...Look, can we just make like we never met?"
"Oh, God yes."
"You didn't let me finish. I meant, can we start over? Can I, y'know, ask you out?"
"You can ask me out. I can't stop you."
"For real? You're on the level?"
"Sure. You can physically ask me to go out with you, if you like. Of course, I'll say 'hell no', but go ahead and humor yourself."
"...Nah, I'm chill on that. I know when buzz off means buzz off. You won't ever have old Reno to bother you again, Krysten. Have a good one yo."
"Bye..."
Krysten watched as Reno walked out of the deli, and noticed that he looked genuinely dejected.
What a toad...Although he is cute, in a pitiable kind of way.
Meanwhile, the redheaded Turk walked alone on the sidewalk, eventually coming upon the front door of a bar called "Eastwind". His first instinct was to walk right through the entrance and belly up to a quick escape from his humiliation at Krysten's hands, but, something unusual (for Reno) happened. He refused the instinct, and briskly walked away from the easy way out.
Yeah, I wanna drink, but...Krysten's never gonna take me serious if I don't start makin' some changes.
Across the street, there was a barber shop. Reno stared at the building for a while, but decided that not even Krysten was worth forsaking his hair.
"Nah, can't do that for ya, babe...Doesn't mean I can't get it done up though." he conceded, going instead to the unisex salon next door...
--
"...Sigh." Tifa said, actually verbalizing the word 'sigh'. "Home again, home again."
Fresh off the Highwind, Cloud & Tifa managed to get into her apartment unnoticed. Their honeymoon was over, and there were bags to be unpacked. Tifa set about the menial task, hoisting the luggage onto her bed with a small grunt.
"Good thing Yuffie has the kids busy. Gives us a couple hours alone."
"We just had a whole week alone, Cloud."
"So?"
Cloud wrapped his arms around his wife from behind and snogged her neck, not being mindful of the necklace she was wearing.
"Stop that. You're slobbering all over my necklace." Tifa protested in giggles.
"Again, so?"
"I don't want it to get all spity, fool."
"Alright, alright. My bad. Here."
"Hey, don't take it off!"
"Whoa. No need to bite my head off."
"...I didn't mean to be so jumpy."
"It's okay. I get that you really like the necklace. I'm glad I got it for you."
"And may I thank you once again?"
"Yeah, it'll only make one-hundred-sixty-four times."
"That all? Well, thanks again."
Tifa held the thin golden rope between her fingers and thumb, proudly admiring the beautiful pale green, almost white materia that hung from the center. It was a very rare stone, according to the man who sold it to her in Costa Del Sol. With him saying that it would bring the newlyweds great fortune, the young bride knew she had to have it. Cloud was only happy to oblige.
"...Teef?"
"...Hmm?"
She'd become mesmerized by the beautiful stone, and only with a snap of his fingers to her face was Cloud able to bring her out of it.
"Tifa, you with me?"
"...Oh. Yeah, sorry."
Still fidgeting with the materia, Tifa sighed...
Half an hour later, there were two piles of dirty laundry on the bedroom floor. One was Tifa's, and the other one was Cloud's.
"I'll take that to the laundromat tomorrow." Tifa volunteered.
"No hurry. It's just our vacation clothes."
"I know, but they don't have to be dirty."
"True."
No sooner did Tifa plop down on the mattress, the sound of the apartment's main door closing snapped her to attention.
"...Yuffie's back."
Sure enough, the young ninja/babysitter bounded into the bedroom, her expression full of surprise and joy at seeing her two friends home.
"You two suck! How dare you not tell anyone you were back?"
"Heh heh. We were trying to steal a few more moments of alone time." Tifa confessed, a hint of tiredness in her voice.
"Eww. T.M.I., Tifa...Say, are you okay? You look sleepy? Don't tell me you kept her that busy, Cloud."
"Wasn't me...I dunno, Teef. You do look kind of pooped."
"Aren't you?" she said, now suddenly defensive.
"Me? Not really."
"Tch. I'm fine...Where are the kids anyway?"
"I sold them to gypsies Wednesday. I ran outta money and couldn't take care of 'em anymore."
"Hardy-har-har. Now, where are they really?"
"At the arcade. I came by hoping to get the place spruced up for you guys before you got back, but you beat me here."
"Oh, that was sweet. You didn't have to."
"I know, but I guess I'm still in 'bridesmaid' mode, doing stuff for you...Tifa? You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah...Why?"
"Your eyes..."
"What about...my eyes?"
"Teef..." Cloud began, but stopped out of disbelief from what he saw in his wife's cognac colored irises.
"Your eyes are kind of...glowy." Yuffie said, doing a fine job of not freaking out.