Red roses mean love

By kimetara

Multipart

AN: Meh.  I won't bore you all making excuses; I'm sorry everybody that this chapter is so late!  Ah, and for all that asked, Vincent is cold...because he's Vincent, and "that's just the way he is".  lol

Chapter Fifteen

          It was quiet.  It was dark.  And this time it was Tifa that needed a midnight stroll.

          She sighed as she sat on a log near the edge of Gongaga.  Her prediction had unfortunately come true.  *It always has to be the unpleasant ones,* was her rueful thought.

          Vincent and Tifa hadn't spoken to each other the whole day.  Whenever either of them caught the other looking, they had immediately withdrawn their gazes.  Consequently, they hadn't seen each other often either.  Besides, Tifa had volunteered to cook for the workers, which gave her an excuse to avoid Vincent, and she'd heard that he'd gone to help take down the old reactor.  She'd barely seen Reeve either, he'd been so busy checking up on things everywhere.  Nanaki had escorted Reeve to the Highwind and stayed there – Reeve told her he was planning something.  Inwardly Tifa shrugged; in all truth she was glad everybody had left her alone today.  Less people to asked questions she really would rather not answer.

          It wasn't just that she had walked inside before he had – although that did play a sizable amount, ridiculous as it sounded – but the challenge was still going.  And yet, it looked as if Tifa'd give in and let the matter pass before Vincent decided to explain himself.  She was stubborn, but Tifa couldn't stand conflict in her relationships.  And she didn't want to push Vincent so far he'd be wary when talking to her; that would ruin everything!

          She absently rubbed the bark of the log with her fingertips.  Fine...she'd let it pass.  For now.  Satisfied with her resolution, Tifa stretched her arms over her head before standing up and heading towards Tyler's house – over the course of the day she and Mr. Farol had grown to a first name basis, as well as many other volunteers.  Tifa smiled faintly at all the new...acquaintances she had made.  Not friends...one had to be careful with that word.  Too many people used it so lightly, calling every person who knows their first name and they theirs a friend.  But when your friends had a habit of dying on you...well, suffice to say you get wary of having an overly large amount.  Especially as she wasn't the sort to have superficial relationships.

          Tifa walked lightly on the path to Gongaga, treading slowly to avoid tripping over anything in the dark, when a small crackle caught her attention.  She stopped immediately and listened.

          There it was again.  And another.  And at least four more surrounding her. 

          Dang it.  She hated fighting in the dark.

          Vincent Valentine leaned against the doorway of Mr. Farol's house and waited.  And waited.  And waited for another good three hours, steadily becoming more anxious as the time went by.  Since when had Tifa taken to being out until 2 am in the blasted morning?!

          Ah.  There she was.  Only it didn't really help his worry much to see her stumbling and limping back into town, with the definite scent of monster blood painfully obvious around her.

          "Where have you been?" he asked coldly, his voice low as he strode towards her.  No need to wake the neighbors.

          "Out for a walk?" Tifa replied, tossing her head slightly in an attempt to get her hair out of her face without having to move her arms.

          "A walk?  And you come back in this condition?" he muttered.  She huffed slightly.

          "Trust me, I wasn't planning to offer myself as a midnight snack," she replied dryly.  Tifa bit her lip as a twinge of pain shot up her leg.  As soon as she got her hands on some Cure materia...

          "...you are alright...?" the statement seemed awfully uncertain as he gently took hold of her arm.  In seconds, the familiar warmth of magic flowed through her, and Tifa sighed in relief.

          "Thanks," she told him gratefully, a smile in her voice.  "I'm fine.  Just a little sore.  Could use a shower too," she added hopefully.  Vincent nodded and moved out of the way as Tifa walked to the door and pushed it open.  With one hand on the doorframe, she turned to look at Vincent over her shoulder.

          "Well, what're you waiting for?  Go on in."

          Okay.  So maybe she had had a bit more attitude with Vincent than absolutely called for.  But she was one: tired, two: in pain, and three: in emotional turmoil.  Not that either of them were particularly new, but still.  Some things you just never get used to.

          These were the thoughts that were running through Tifa head as she basked in the warmth of the water.  Nothing like a hot, steamy shower to finish off the day – or morning, in her case.

          Let's see...it'd she guessed it had been about two weeks since Cloud had left.  Amazing.  *Time really does fly* although she hadn't exactly been having fun.  Well...not most of the time, except for when she occasionally chatted with Shera, teased Cid, played with Nanaki, and of course, talked to Vincent.  The detour to Gold Saucer had definitely been fun.  Alright, maybe she'd been enjoying herself more than she expected.  Her friends were wonderful in all their support.

          Tifa laughed quietly as she remembered her slight disappointment when Vincent told her he only cared for her as a friend.  She was getting a big head, thinking he might like her in any other way.  Really, Vincent...after all that he'd gone through with Lucrecia...  She sighed.  What had he found in that cave?  Maybe she shouldn't have convinced him to go back...but at any rate, it was too late now.  She was having enough trouble figuring out what was going on with Chaos.

          Which, Tifa reminded herself as she stepped out of the shower, she had decided to let alone for a while.  Now, time to get to bed before her head became any fuzzier.

          "Good morning!" Reeve announced cheerfully, popping his head into Tifa's room.  "Time to get up; it's nearly half past nine!"

          Tifa growled in her throat and cracked an eye open.  "Go away..."

          "But you've got work to do!" he exclaimed.  "...fine, nevermind.  I'll just get somebody else to cover your shift-"

          "I'm getting up," she cut him off, propping herself up on her elbow.  "Just give me ten minutes."

          "Great!"  Reeve grinned and popped out.  Tifa fell back on the bed.

          *Alright, gotta get up.*  She basked in the warmth of the covers for two extra minutes, then forced herself up and dressed.  Off to work she'd go...

          A knock on the door interrupted her flurry of clothes.  "Are you awake?" came Vincent's quiet baritone through the wall.

          "Yeah!" Tifa answered, hurriedly pulling her hair back before she yanked the door open.  "Reeve send you to get me?"

          "Correct."  Amusement played in his eyes, and Tifa blew a strand of hair up in exasperation.

          "I'm not that late, am I?"

          "Your shift doesn't begin until ten."

          "Well then, I'm 20 minutes early.  I guess I'll go eat some breakfast," she decided.  "Have you eaten already?"

          "Yes."

          "Oh.  Okay."  Tifa smiled at Vincent.  "Are you going to work at the reactor again?"

          "...yes."

          "Hmm."  She tilted her head to the side.  "Maybe I'll drop by during my lunch break?  If that's alright, of course."

          Vincent shrugged.  "Do as you like.  Nanaki wishes to speak with you," he added abruptly.

          "Oh, he's back?  Where is he?"

          "In the living room."

          "Okay.  Thanks!"  Tifa started towards the living room.  "Do you know what he wants to talk to me about?" she asked as Vincent fell into step beside her.

          "Yes.  But it will be better explained from him."

          She nodded.  The hallway wasn't that long, and already they were nearly upon the designated room.

          "Hi Nanaki!" Tifa called cheerfully.  The red beast stood and shook his mane out at her voice.

          "Hello Tifa.  It's amazing what Reeve's done so far, isn't it?" Nanaki replied casually.  She nodded.

          "Yeah.  How's Cid doing?"

          "As loud as ever."  He sighed ruefully and scratched behind his ear.  "But, speaking of Cid, do you know what the date it is?"

          "Not exactly," Tifa confessed.  "I'd guess it's about the 18th though.  Oh my gosh!" she gasped suddenly.  "I completely forgot about Cid's birthday!"

          "Today's February 19th," Nanaki corrected.  "But don't worry.  Shera and I have been discussing ideas for a party."

          "Really."  Tifa sat down next to Nanaki.  "A party?"  She glanced up at Vincent.  "Hey, did you know about this?"

          He nodded.  "Yes.  Tell me about it after I return."  And he strode fluidly out the door.

          Tifa turned back to Nanaki.  "Okay.  What've you guys got so far?"

          "Well, not a surprise party, since we don't want to risk Cid accidentally spearing somebody in shock," he replied conversationally.  Tifa grinned.

          "Good call."

          "Thank you.  Instead, we were thinking along the line of AVALANCHE on the Highwind for lunch or dinner."

          "Yuffie'll never be able to eat anything on the Highwind," she pointed out.  Nanaki wrinkled his nose.

          "True.  Guess we'll just have to eat inside on the ground?" he offered doubtfully.

          "Yeah, that should be fine."  None of them really wanted to go anywhere public...at least not for a few more months, until the media pressure was off.  "How are we going to get the invitations out before the 21st though?"

          "Shera's taken care of that," he replied dismissively.  "Now, onto the food..."