Running.

Tifa stared down at the ring that glinted back at her from the lamp light on Vincent's desk. Closing her hand she was about to angrily throw the ring at the closed door, but paused and lowered her arm. It wasn't his fault that this ring was bringing back some memories she'd rather forget.

She turned to the bedside table and put the ring on it. Getting off the bed she tentatively walked out to find Vincent. Closing the door behind her, she stopped and tried to adjust to the dark, "Vincent?"

When there was no answer, she tiptoed closer towards the kitchen area before stubbing her toes on the sofa and falling forward in pain. She expected to hit the sofa cushions but instead she fell on top Vincent, suddenly knocking the wind out of him from her sudden impact.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright?" Tifa struggled to get off him but one of her legs was stuck between the seat cushion and the backrest of the sofa

He stopped her struggling by grasping her shoulders and sitting up. After pulling her leg out from the sofa, he caught his breath and nearly yelped when he realized just how close her face was in the dark. He had excellent night vision and she was literally inches from his face staring back at him half apologetic half curious.

She reached out to lightly brush his bangs from eyes, she noticed it before but it was more pronounced now that she was so close to him and the fact that he was momentarily unguarded. The faint red glow from his eyes as he stared back at her mesmerized her. He blinked and the glow disappeared, "Are you alright?"

She started a moment before nodding her head, "I'm fine, sorry about…this"

He saw her head drop to her chest, he could tell she had a lot on her mind, as he let her collect her thoughts he was tempted to brush away the hair that fell into her eyes. Pushing back that desire he tried to move back and realized that she had him trapped, himself sitting between her legs as she sat between his.

"Vincent…about what happened between us, Cloud…he knows..."

"He knows…and has accepted it. About Cloud and I, we're better friends than lovers."

As the sun began rising, she could slowly make out the his silhouette and his features, she gathered her courage and looked at him, forcing her emotions to stay calm, but she saw it as the dawn arrived, he had a mask of calm on his face. The very same mask of indifference she saw on his face, the first time she had met him.

Tifa knew that this was it; this was the line that he had drawn between them. They had crossed it a few times before but now it seemed like this was to be the last time. She made to get up but was stopped when he took hold of her wrist; she turned to face him and blinked back tears that were threatening to fall. She wanted to run away, but she couldn't with him still holding her, anchoring her to this spot.

He reached forward and lightly brushed her hair over her shoulder, clearing the curtain that covered half her face. He paused when he saw the single tear that slid down her face. It was then that he finally looked into her eyes.

"Was it out of pity that you slept with me?"

Tifa stared back at Vincent now openly crying, she saw it then the crack in his indifferent mask he had on. He turned away and she was about to throw a fit when he finally spoke, "No, it wasn't pity."

The birds began chirping as morning came, yet the two of them still sat there. They both were tired yet the atmosphere in the room was tense. They were going into a topic both were highly uncomfortable with yet Tifa knew it was time they talked things out.

"Then what was it?"

He looked her in the eye as he spoke, she could see the truth behind his words, feel his warmth as he wiped away her tears, "I don't know, but we shouldn't continue this."

She frowned in response, as he untangled himself from her and stood. She followed after him planting herself in his path; he had his mask back on his face.

She stepped towards him and tilted her head up to him, "You're running."

He just stared at her in response, he could see her eyes glancing at his lips and before he could respond to her, she grasped the scruff of his shirt and pulled him down, closing the distance between them in an intense and passionate kiss.

He responded in turn, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling away but leaning his forehead against hers, his warm breath tickling her ear as he sighed deeply, catching his breath.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and glanced up at his face when he moved his head away; he covered her hands with his own and began moving away from her.

She quickly pulled her hands from him and cupped his face and looked him in the eyes, she really didn't want to say it but if there was a chance, she was going to take it, "Vincent, I'm not looking for some fairy tale relationship. I want this. What we have here. Now"

"I can't—

"You mean you won't." She dropped her hands from his face and took a step away from him.

Vincent stared back at her with a frown; he shifted his gaze from her eyes to a spot just above her head, "I will outlive you.…"

Tifa stared back at him dumbfounded; Vincent finally said what was truly in his mind. It made sense to her now, the reason why he distanced himself from her and everyone, the reason he pushed her towards Cloud. He didn't want to repeat his past, closing himself off.

"Then why do you keep giving me hope when you never leave any for yourself."

Vincent turned away from her with a frown; he took a seat on his sofa and stared at his hands in thought. She came over and sat next to him, she slipped her hand into his, intertwining her fingers with his holding his hand. A few silent moments later he closed his fingers over her hand mirroring her movement.

Next: Vincent still hasn't recognized the changes happening in his heart.

Perhaps, I went a little bit too dramatic for this chapter. Honestly, I think a small part of Vincent is a drama queen.

Anywho, I'm not too sure how many more chapters there are left but I'm already thinking about the ending...currently undecided if I want it to be happy or bittersweet.

Please review, thank you!