R&R longer note at the end

The three mercenaries followed their blonde haired leader as they continued to search for any trace of the duo they had been searching for, so far they had searched Sector Six even going through the sewers but had found nothing Jessie and the others had pointed out the news report of the Don's death, they had hoped this might calm him down a little as they explained they would be trapped in one area from now on but it hadn't worked the way they had planned.

He had agreed it was a help to keep them in one spot however he had pointed out how pointless it was to celebrate when they were still no closer to finding them, after a final sweep of Sector Six before moving on their next target was the second possible location the Don had mentioned before her death. They headed for the underground freeway making the long journey back to Sector Seven, if they would be anywhere they must be there Jessie thought if not then they would just burn it all to the ground to flush them out.

XXX

Tifa panted as she finished off her training in the virtual reality room at the rebel's base, she had spent every moment she could in here wanting to improve herself for when she eventually ran into that smart mouthed brunette, she didn't plan on loosing again. She left after she had gotten her breath back her towel draped over her shoulders she headed to a vending machine grabbing herself a bottle of water drinking half the contents in one mouthful.

"You must really like that room?" came a calming voice as she turned around seeing the professor's assistant Aerith smiling "I've only seen the director use it and even he hasn't spent every day in there".

"Well he seems strong enough already" Tifa said as she sat down on a nearby bench the brunette sitting with her "It's strange to think how little time it was since me and Vincent agreed to stay yet it feels like we were always here". Aerith smiled as Tifa took another swig of her water, the two girl's had become fast friends after spending the first night after Vincent and Tifa had agreed to stay, they had spent the whole night chatting about their pasts and what they wished for the future.

From what Tifa had been told Vincent had spent time clearing up some misunderstandings and mending bridges with the other members, he had even managed to get the girl called Yuffie to stop calling him beast at every moment she got. Tifa sighed as she sat with Aerith thinking, she never wanted this to end but she knew it would in the end, it had been playing at her mind for a while now how those people had been so close and now they could be even closer.

"Tifa? Hello in there?" Aerith's voice came as if from a distance snapping the barmaid out of her thoughts.

"Oh sorry" Tifa said as Aerith chuckled "Lost in my own world for a moment then, well I think I'll hit the showers then grab some lunch". Aerith nodded as the two stood Tifa finished off the rest of her water as she tossed the bottle in a nearby bin, as she headed off to her room, rounding a corner she nearly collided with the much taller Vincent.

"Sorry" He said as he looked down seeing her she looked away as she smiled "Are you free? I was wondering if we might have a talk?" Tifa looked back as her cheeks turned a little red, what could he want to talk about? She interlocked her fingers a little nervously before she responded.

"I was just going to take a shower" She said as the taller man noticed the towel on her shoulders "I'll be free after lunch if that will ok?"

"That'll be fine, could you meet me in our room?" Vincent asked as she slowly nodded feeling a little more nervous by the second, the man nodded as he headed off leaving her stood there wondering what was so important.

XXX

The residents of Sector Seven all hid in fear as the four people walked through the streets, Jessie smirked as she passed them she had clearly left a lasting impression on this people. Cloud stopped in front of the charred remains of Tifa's bar, he looked at his subordinate's handiwork as he smirked a little, no wonder they were hiding they must have realised how out matched they really were.

"Hey" came a rather loud and annoying voice, Cloud turned to see a man walking towards him, his long red hair stood on end he seemed to have visited a gym once or twice showing a lean build under his unbuttoned, he wore blue denim jeans held up by a worn brown belt. Jessie, Biggs and Wedge went to step in his way but Cloud put an arm out to stop them, this man was nothing but an annoying fly who he would be more than happy to crush.

"What did you do with my Tifa?" He said as he stopped in front of the blonde who merely looked him in the eyes saying nothing "I asked you a question. Are you hiding her in your base or something? Damn rebel's crawling out from other that toy in the park". Cloud looked at the man as a small smirk played at his lips, so there was something at a park he was an idiot but at least he had proved to be useful, Cloud indicated for Jessie and the boys to go on ahead as they walked off the blonde followed ignoring the man in front of him.

"Don't walk away from me" the man called as he pulled Cloud back by the shoulder punching him in the face, the blond stumbled a little as the three subordinates turned making their way back before their leader held up a hand stopping them, the red haired man stood his ground as the blonde looked back to him.

"Big mistake" he said within seconds his hand had shot to the man's throat as he squeezed lifting him off the floor, the man tried to break his grip but to no avail as Cloud twisted his hand a loud crack echoing around as the red head's body went limp. Cloud released him as he fell to the floor in a heap the sounds of screaming echoing in the groups ears as they left the area, they had the location It was game over for them now.

XXX

Tifa walked back to her room after finishing her meal, she had agreed to meet Vincent there and was curious what he had to say, she slowed down as she let her mind wonder. The duo only spoke in private when something was wrong, as she walked she tried to think of anything that had gone wrong recently nothing came to mind so she considered other possibilities, only one stuck out to her and it was something she had been thinking of.

Could it be he wanted to leave? Did he also believe the ones they had been managing to evade this long might be closing in? She stopped as she realised she was outside their room she took a breath letting it out slowly as she nervously entered. Vincent looked up at her as she entered closing the door behind her, he was sat on his bed as she walked over to sit on her own bed looking at him.

"I've been thinking recently" Vincent said as he looked at her, he had known this conversation would have to happen sometime, he had considered his wording in his head numerous times but Tifa sat in front of him, her beautiful features made all of those plans fly out of his mind "After seeing you in the Sector Seven slums after your encounter with the people who are chasing me and then seeing you in the hospital bed after our match with the director of these people I came to realise something".

Tifa sat quietly as she listened, she wasn't sure where this was coming from or where the ending would be but she knew from his tone this was something important he had to say, she couldn't help feeling he was going to tell her he was leaving her behind, there was no way should accept that.

"After much consideration I feel like I am now ready to say it" Vincent said as his eyes locked on the barmaids, she could feel her heartbeat begin to quicken from his intense stare "Tifa. I love you". Tifa felt her face begin to burn from embarrassment as her heartbeat faster against her chest, she felt her mouth go dry as she sat there in shock, calming herself she smiled as she looked at the man in front of her.

"Vincent" She said finally as the two stood "I love you too". The two smiled as they inched towards each other, Vincent's hand slowly snaked behind Tifa's back as he leaned down their breath merging as they moved towards each other's lips. The room shook as a loud explosion rocked the base, the two suddenly separated as they headed for the corridor, as they stepped out of the room they saw Aerith running towards them in a panic.

"We're under attack" she said as she ran off with Vincent and Tifa following behind, they didn't know who was attacking but these people had saved them, it was time to repay the favour.

Don't you just hate it when you confess your love to someone and go to kiss them then someone attacks the underground base your staying in? How rude of them to do something like that...Anyway I just thought everyone would like to know this is the second to last chapter, it feels bad to say it but the plan for the next chapter aka the final chapter works as an ending so I didn't want to drag it out any longer than that