IMPORTANT Stuff: This crazy AU story is mine, but Squaresoft owns Final Fantasy VII. Major warning: OOC-ness... but this IS an AU.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~


Thank Goodness for Reality!

written by K-chan

Episode Two: Their Neighbors, the Valentines!


After her brother left for work and her mother too because she was already late for her manicure appointment, Aeris was nicely dressed for the afternoon with her friend. She locked the apartment door, but before she could actually leave the hallway, someone was screaming her name, "AERIS-NEE-CHAN!!!"

She wanted so bad to just break out in a run, but it would just be rude. Besides that her feet just wouldn't budge from their spot. She looked down the hallway, not too far from her apartment, and saw a teenaged girl running up to her. The girl was in a panic and looked like she had been thrown overboard or something. She was making a puddle around herself.


YUFFIE VALENTINE: A very energetic, 16-year-old girl, who recently moved into the apartment complex with her father. Her mother died when she was young, so she only has her father left, but she also looks up to Sephiroth and Aeris as her older siblings.


"Calm down, Yuffie. Just tell me what's wrong."

"You've gotta help me!" she said and pulled Aeris towards her own apartment. "And please keep quiet. Dad's sleeping." Aeris nodded, following her through the living room and down the hallway towards the bathroom. When they reached the place, Yuffie closed the door and pointed over to the toilet. Aeris walked over there and nearly facefaulted at seeing reddish-orange cat stuck in there.


RED XIII: He had a number attached to his name because he was the youngest of a litter of thirteen. Yuffie's pet friend that her father bought for her when they moved there.


"Yuffie! What happened to poor Red?!" she asked in a low voice.

"Really! It was an accident! I was just washing my hair! I didn't noticed he had walked in! He must've jumped on the toilet seat, and I was just reaching out for a towel, and it just happened!"

"Well... okay. But why didn't you get him out?"

"I WOULD, but he would CLAW me to death if I came near him! Watch." Yuffie demonstrated, coming closer to Red, who saw her and hissed at her. "See. So could you get him, please?!! I don't wanna bother daddy with this eensy problem. Please, nee-chan!"

"Okay okay," she sighed. Her hands slowly reached for Red, who just looked at her. It appeared he wasn't going to bite or scratch her, probably because it wasn't her fault he was stuck there. Aeris got a good hold on him and carefully pulled him out. "Good boy," she cooed and brushed him behind the ears. Yuffie handed her a towel, and she wrapped it around Red.

Every time Yuffie came near him, he would give her the evil eye and hiss at her. "Err, nee-chan," she began nervously, "Do you mind watching Red for a few days? I don't thin he likes my company right now."

"I guess not," she answered, a bit uncertainly.

"GREAT! I'll bring all his things right over!" she chirped, skipping out of the bathroom, like she was HOPING someone would take Red from her hands. Aeris followed her, looking doubtful, but Red was comfortable in her arms, purring. Yuffie was quite amazing as she had a box of Red's belongings and a bag of catfood ready to move into the Hojos' apartment.

It was then a handsome, older man stepped into the main room. He looked at Yuffie and then to a nervous Aeris with Red. "He-hello, Mr. Valentine," Aeris greeted.


VINCENT VALENTINE: Yuffie's daddy, who looks young for his unknown age. After his wife died, he poured all his love and energy in caring for his daughter. Not much of a people perso, but he seems content with his life, working the night shift at an unknown job.


"Aeris," he acknowledged. "What's going on, Yuffie?"

"Umm, uuh... nothing, daddy!" she smiled. "Aeris-nee-chan is just helping me take care of Red... 'cause... 'cause I'll be really busy with school. And I might forget to feed him or something. You know how cranky Red-chan get!" She also added, "And I didn't want to bother you with this little situation, daddy!"

He turned to Aeris and nodded, "Thank you, Aeris."

"Umm, it's okay. I'm glad I can help."

"Okay daddy, you go get your sleep now! I'll just help nee-chan set up Red's little castle!" Yuffie hurried out the doorway.

"Bye, Mr. Valentine," Aeris said before following the girl out. When she was out in the hallway with Yuffie, she was SO relieved, having thought Vincent would've done something unpredictable to her, like kick out the door for interrupting his sleep. "Ya know, Yuffie, your father can be spooky at times. I didn't even hear him coming up on us."

"Well, that's father," she shrugged and waited for Aeris to unlock the door. She giggled, "He's a perfect dracula, don't ja think? I convinced him to dress up as one at my school costume party years ago. He was so cool!"

Aeris smiled as they both entered the apartment, and Yuffie was STILL talking, "Yep, I got the coolest dad in the whole wide world!" She put the box on the counter and sat down on a stool. "But ya know, I wonder what'll happen when I go off to college. I mean, I'm only 16, but I have to move out of the house sooner or later, right? But what'll happen to dad? Would he live alone? How will he take it?" She looked at Aeris for some sort of answer or comfort. "How did your dad take it?"

Aeris put Red down on the coffee table and let him curl up there and sleep. It was one of those sisterly talks again, so she made herself comfortable on the couch, thinking at the back of her mind that Elena would be upset at her for being late, but this was a more important.


~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Haa... sorrie YufVin fans, but I guess a teenager and a fifty-something-year-old man getting together takes some getting used to for me... and I just thought it was probably nicer as a father and daughter... Yes, Vin-chan's wife is Lucrecia... And yes, I know I messed up with the different relations, but this IS an AU. [through a megaphone] I repeat: an AU! =^.^;=