I do not own Final Fantasy VII. Alright everyone, sorry again for the delay...I've gone through getting hired and fired and getting an interview all in one week, so I've been one busy bee lately. But things are starting to look up. One again I apologize for the late update.

Change of Heart

Chapter XXV: More Than Friends

"We're heading back to Edge today; we'll be back tomorrow morning." Vincent whispered through the semidarkness.

"Should we start getting ready to leave?" Lucretia asked softly, not wishing to get up from his side.

They'd been in bed for hours and they were still not ready to get up. The feel of one another's body, the smell of their breath, and the taste of their kisses…Both of them had been dreaming of it for decades, almost forgetting what it was like.

"Not quite yet."

Vincent rolled her onto her back and relaxed comfortably on top of her, pushing his arm behind her head, and brushed her bangs back with his free hand. He gazed into her eyes, drinking in her beauty.

"Vincent," She whispered against his lips, "do you love me?"

"You know I do."

"I want to hear you say it."

"I love you." It was liberating to say it out loud, not having to worry if any one heard him.

"I love you too, Vincent."

"Lucretia…" He breathed, but said nothing more as he took her lips again. He couldn't get enough of her, having been denied her for so long. There just wasn't enough time in the world for him to get all he wanted of her…all he needed. But these few moments were enough, he supposed.

Lucretia arched her body into his, as if trying to become one with him. She'd loved him since they met and even though they'd been together this way before, they still couldn't be together. Sliding her hands into his raven hair, she kept him close, savoring this kiss and deciding at that moment that this would not be last they shared, but one of many still to come.

Parting for only a moment, Vincent was struck with the most wonderful idea he could think of. It was a risk to ask it of her, but given that there was nothing now to stand between them, he felt it was now or never.

"Lucretia, I really do love you. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. Do you want it too?"

"Yes, Vincent." Her heart was suddenly very heavy within her chest, but it was a good sort of weight. "I don't want to be parted from you again."

"Then will you marry me?" His heart was in this throat as he asked, but again, it was liberating to say it.

"Vincent…I…" She was speechless, overwhelmed by so much inexorable elation, "…Yes…yes, let's get married."

Tossing her arms around his neck, she seized his mouth again; he lifted up into a sitting position, taking her with him and holding her tightly against him. Their bodies joined together again, becoming one physically and spiritually. Their love ignited a burning that began in their hearts and slowly ran down to their loins before raging through their veins and engulfing them entirely. Theirs was a love that was unbreakable; so much had stood between them, so much suffering and heart ache, and despite it all, they remained bound and loyal to one another even after decades of separation.

In the next room, Tifa was busy making sure all their stuff was packed up and ready to go. Sephiroth was making sure the children were getting their baths and doing his best to keep sand from getting everywhere. That was the only catch about going to the beach, getting clean of it was a pain. Since neither he nor Tifa had gone into the water, it was easier for them to be rid of it, but the children were another matter. Marlene's hair had gotten tangled and Denzel was covered in dry mud, but after soaking in hot water for almost an hour, both of them were finally rid of the salty sand that coated them.

Marlene's hair was still tangled though, and Tifa was a bit perturbed that she'd not taken care and left it braided. But in the end the girl sat quietly on the bed while Tifa did her best to comb it out.

"What am I going to do with you?" Tifa teased playfully, though there was still a little frustration evident in her voice.

"I'm sorry." Marlene whimpered.

"Next time keep your hair braided."

Sephiroth's mouth turned up in a little smirk as he watched them. He loved to see Tifa mothering her children like this. It was probably his favorite view of her. He adored how she was firm yet still so tender with them.

I wonder if we might ever have a child together. He wondered dreamily as he turned his attention to Denzel, who sat beside him, looking like he was about to fall over to sleep.

"Don't go falling asleep now." He cooed softly as the boy slumped against his shoulder. They'd played hard that morning, so it was not surprise at all that they were sleepy.

"I'm not falling asleep." Denzel slurred his retort, following up with a big yawn.

Sephiroth just put his arm around him, not worrying in the least if he wanted to nap.

"You really shouldn't let him fall asleep." Tifa said as she braided up Marlene's hair. "We'll be leaving in a few minutes."

"He'll be alright." Sephiroth assured her, flashing her a handsome grin.

Tifa blushed as she adjusted Marlene's ribbon. "There you go. And don't let it come down again; if you're going to keep long hair, you need to take care of it."

"Yes ma'am." Marlene replied sullenly.

"Now don't pout." Tifa smiled and pulled her into a hug. "We can come back in the summer." She turned her attention back to Sephiroth. "We should get going."

"Right, I'll go tell Vincent." But as he got up, there was a knock at the door. "Speak of the devil." He muttered as he opened the door to find both Vincent and Lucretia in the hall.

"Are you ready?" Vincent inquired as he as he entered the room.

"Yes, I was just about to come tell you."

"Alright then, we will wait out here for you."

"We'll be out in a moment."

Returning inside, he hastily went to the bed where Denzel lay. The poor thing wasn't waking up any time soon. Sephiroth made an awkward face at Tifa, who only shook her head and grabbed her backpack, leading Marlene out into the hall. Sephiroth lifted Denzel into his arms and carried him out.

The ship ride again was much shorter a trip than had been estimated, as they'd yet again arrived ahead of schedule. They'd spent the entire ride sleeping, so it seemed to go by even quicker. Even with the shuttle ride back to the city, they still made it home by three o'clock in the morning.

The street was silent and black, lit only by a single light that hung below the angel statue. The bar too was still, and everyone felt compelled to be quiet, even though Cloud was gone so there was no one to risk waking. Both children were asleep now, so Tifa and Sephiroth carried them carefully up to bed.

"I can't believe they slept through the entire ride home." Tifa uttered softly as she tucked Marlene under her sheets.

"They're resilient little things. They could sleep through anything." Sephiroth replied, ruffling Denzel's hair. He remembered the first time he tucked him in, how he sensed that the boy had been ill. It pulled at his heart as he thought about it again. He couldn't believe he was nearly the death of this child, whom he'd come to love so dearly.

"Sephiroth?" Tifa approached him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm?" He turned, wrapping his arm around her waist and drawing her closer to him. "I'm just tired, dear." He kissed her cheek delicately before pushing her toward the door. "Come on, let's go get Mother settled."

They returned down to the bar, finding Vincent holding up Lucretia, who slumped tiredly against his chest.

"Listen, the two of you can take my bed. My room is at the end of the hall." Sephiroth offered.

"Where will you sleep?" Lucretia yawned, struggling to stay awake.

"Don't worry; I will manage." Sephiroth looked to Tifa who only grinned.

"I see." Lucretia reached out to give Sephiroth a kiss on the cheek and patted his shoulder. "Good night, sweetheart."

Vincent nodded, "Goodnight." Before taking Lucretia's hand and showing her to the stairs.

Tifa sighed heavily, crossing her arms and shifting her weight to her right leg. "So, I assume you'll be taking my bed with me?"

"Do you mind? If it bothers you I can take the couch." Sephiroth assured her.

"No, I want you to sleep with me." She blushed as she realized how it sounded.

"Is that so?" Sephiroth's eyes shined with mischief.

"N..no…I mean..." She was suddenly flustered, unable to redeem her words.

"Hush." He placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "I know what you meant."

When they retired, Sephiroth and Tifa did not realize until they were already lying down that they were in fact alone together. Alone and in bed…It was almost too perfect. The temptation was almost irresistible. As they lie there in the semidarkness, they were all too aware of how close they were to one another, how awake they were, and how they wouldn't be disturbed for a few hours.

Of course they'd slept in the same bed together at the inn, but being at home and without the children in the same room felt positively sinful…in a good way. Tifa lie against Sephiroth's chest and his arms were tight around her. They were nearly nose to nose, on their sides, and they could almost see each other's faces in the dark. With barely two inches distance between their faces, it was very easy for one of them to seize the other's lips; and considering that all that stood between their bodies was nothing more than a couple of thin layers of fabric, it was so easy to cast it aside.

But both of them were worried about how having sex might destroy their relationship. Of course, they'd made it past "just friends" and are now comfortable enough to at least kiss, but there was still a level of doubt that crept into their minds. Sephiroth remembered what he'd initially thought about how sex can cheapen a relationship. He could not deny that he desired her…in fact, desire was an understatement. He craved her, hungered for her; he wanted her so badly he thought he'd lose his mind all over again, but he couldn't bring himself to take the chance at ruining what they have. At least he couldn't take the risk yet.

Brushing her hair back behind her shoulder, Sephiroth did in fact close the distance between them, but only pulled Tifa in for a delicate kiss on the forehead and let her rest her head beneath his chin. Her cheek pressed softly against his collarbone and she listened to the resonating sound of his beating heart. A part of her was disappointed that he didn't initiate anything further than a tender, loving cuddle, but at the same time she was relieved. Though she'd confessed to Lucretia that she was in love with him, there was still uncertainty in her heart. She still had feelings for Cloud, but after realizing that her heart was left empty even after what she thought was supposed to be a meaningful encounter, her eyes were opened to the affection that Sephiroth had offered. But, Tifa was somewhat afraid that sleeping with Sephiroth would only prove what her night with Cloud did: that she would remain bereft of the fulfillment she sought no matter if she gave herself to him or not. But then there was a tremor of fear and excitement inside of her that wondered if having sex with Sephiroth would in fact have the opposite effect and prove that they were meant to be together after all. She knew not the exact reason why it frightened her to some small degree, but the reality of their history together was a good place to start. Perhaps it wasn't even their history at all; perhaps it had nothing to do with who it was, but the fact that she might actually have the experience of being loved by a man.

But it could wait.

For now, the both of them just held one another, safe in the knowledge that they were friends at the very least, and for the time being were happy with it.