The morning came up, and Vincent remained staring at the top of the tent. Sleep is not easy to come by. He decided it is time to move on. He pushed himself off the ground, and stepped outside of the small tent. The winds played with his clothing, flapping them back and forth. Vincent looked around the area, only to find nothing different. Not even the great Golden Saucer interrupted the morning. Everyone must be asleep, Vincent thought.

He began to pack up his tent. "I wonder what time it may be." Vincent knew it is extremely early. The sun has not even risen yet. All he knew was that it is morning. You learn to tell time without any help after you lived the way Vincent did.

Vincent packed the tent into the small bag, and wore the small bag on his back, behind the red cape. He soon carried on with his journey. Adventuring through the desert, he was on his way to Costa del Sol. Of course, he is going to avoid social interaction.

For some odd reason, Vincent wanted the others around. Perhaps, maybe he took a liking to them Vincent respected each of them individually for their own characteristics. Tifa is always caring. Even if Vincent can't feel it, he can tell. His walking never slowed down from the even pace he had. His eyes looked down to the ground, as he continued to think about Tifa. He wondered if maybe he could feel her caring attitude. Maybe he just couldn't tell, but how would he know if he did. Maybe I should ask Tifa, she might help me on that, Vincent thought. Of course he knew that he would keep to himself instead. He barely spoke to anyone, much less told someone about himself. Mistakenly, a thought of his father crept into his mind. He thought of how uncaring his father was. Without hesitation, Vincent felt like he was pulled in all directions. The world he was once walking in is now different. Vincent felt force toss him into the wall. As if nothing, Vincent is throw into the wall behind him. Falling to the ground, he slowly opened his eyes to take note of where he was. This lapse is different. Not often does Vincent experience a dream, or nightmare, firsthand. Vincent picked himself off the ground only to see who threw him so violently. He already knew though.

"Hello father." Vincent said to the tall man with the receding hair line. Vincent's eyes found a broken beer bottle near his bulky father's foot.

"Don't you hello father me son." The drunk pointed at him angrily. "You were supposed to help with the chores you piece of shit."

Vincent began to walk past his father.

"Are you listening to me boy?" His father yelled questioningly.

Vincent stopped right next to him. Vincent is facing the opposite direction. They were side to side. "Do you expect me to drop out of school?"

"Don't talk back to me boy." The man brought his right arm to his left side and swung backwards furiously, backhanding Vincent on the back of his head, knocking him on his knees, and elbows.

Vincent slowly stood up. "Nice example father. Now I know that in order to live a fruitful life, I must drop out of school and drink excessively until my senses don't know otherwise."

The man turned to face Vincent on the ground. "Shut the fuck up! You think you're a real wise guy eh?" The man's smirk soon turned into an angry face, and he kicked Vincent on the gut.

Vincent did not even make a single sound to the pain. He felt it though. He felt it very well. "You know father." He turned only to see he is not in the same room. Vincent realized he is not on his knees and elbows. He is standing, in a bathroom. Vincent realized he is looking into a mirror cleaning himself. Vincent's facial expression remained in stone. He watched into the mirror, as he is looking at fourteen year old self. Tears were rolling down his eyes. Vincent felt himself moving back a few feet. Even thought his feet were not moving. Suddenly he is behind his younger self.

Sniffling the boy talked to the mirror, "He just doesn't understand. What kind of a father is he?" The boy wiped blood from his lip. In the background his father could be heard yelling.

Vincent gazed at the bloody sink, as the boy turned on the water. Everything went silent, and black. Except the mirror the sink, and the two Vincent's, everything else was dark, and pitch black. Vincent stared into the sink hole, watching the blood spiral its way down the drain. Vincent felt like he is being drawn into the drain. The drain grew bigger and bigger. Suddenly, Vincent saw a giant hand turn the faucet to pour out more water. The water made its way around the walls of the sink. Cautiously, Vincent watched the water get closer to him. His eyes narrowed, and the water collided into him, knocking him off his feet and sending him in a spiral around the drain. Vincent coughed trying to breath, but water kept forcing its entry into his mouth. Franticly, Vincent paddled his arms in all directions in hope to get some kind of control. Vincent began to lose his cool. The spiral came closer and closer to the drain. Vincent realized he is going to be sucked right into it. Vincent took one deep breath, and fell into the sink hole.

With an audible thud, Vincent landed on his stomach and face. He stared at his golden metal claw, which is shining under the light from the sun. Vincent realized it is daylight. He must have been under that lapse for a very long time. Vincent slowly stood up. Wiping the dust, and dirt off his clothing, he looked around. "Seems like I did not get far." Unhappy with the idea of wasting more time, he began to walk towards the direction Costa del Sol is at.
"Cloud? Are you ok?" Tifa walked into the room.

Cloud is lying down on the bed in his new house at Athena. Athena is a city built as a recover city to bring down the population of other villages and cities. Athena is now the capital of the world. Cloud wonders about what he should say in his speech tomorrow.

"Cloud!" She pounces on top of him. "Wake up sweetie." Tifa brushed her hair behind her ear with her right hand. The other side of her hair fell forwards over Cloud.

He stared into her eyes. "Nothing."

She could tell there is hurt in his eyes. How he could live on with death of two people he really cared about, is a mystery beyond Tifa's imagination, but all she knew, is that she is there to comfort him, and remain by his side. "I love you." Her hand caressed his cheek.

He couldn't smile. His eyes seem like they would tear up. He almost died. No! He did die. Does it count to die, when you are brought back? Cloud didn't know. Maybe he was not dead, maybe he was just close to being dead. Cloud did not know what to think anymore. Phoenix brought him back. Cloud could remember the feeling of warmth drawing him closer to his mind. He knew it was his mind because he felt it racing.

Tifa leaned down and kissed him, and embraced him.

Tifa is lying above him, and he kissed back. He rolled her to her side, and remained on his side. His hands caressed her back. Tifa's hands held his face on each side. They shared their kiss, and enjoyed it.

Many hours passed.

Vincent walked into Costa del Sol. Music is being played at a corner. A man playing steel drums, and a man playing keyboard backed up the singer. Vincent walked past a girl inside a booth with her hands on her face. She seemed very bored, until she noticed Vincent.

"Now that's a character." She said a little too loud.

Vincent continued to walk towards the inn. Two boys ran past him playing soccer. Finally, a smaller boy trying to keep up tripped and fell in front of Vincent.

Vincent looked down at the boy, and extended his normal arm to help the little boy up. When the boy finished rubbing his eyes, he saw Vincent extending his hand, and the boy screamed. The boy backward scrambled his way from Vincent.

"He wants to get me. The scary man wants to get me!" the boy ran towards the stairs that takes you to the beach.

Vincent sighed, and decided to walk into the inn. Upon entering the inn, Vincent walked to the counter and dropped gil on the counter. "I need a room."

The man with glasses looked up at Vincent, and attempted to retain his composure. "Y- yes sir. H- here is y- your key. Lassst room to yer left." The man handed Vincent a key. Vincent turned around and walked to his room. He knew he overpaid the clerk, but this might insure more peace and quiet. In case someone tries to bother him that is.

Vincent unlocked the door and walked in. Closing the door, he heard a man yelling about some man scaring his kid. Vincent immediately knew he is not going to rest very well.