Healing

Chapter 7

The next morning a very tired Rei made her way down the stairs. Her eyes were bleary and her hair was standing on end. She had been up most of the night, working on patient files and looking over the hospitals economy. The later had not been very uplifting. The purchase of the mansion itself had not been expensive, but the renovations had really taken a big bite out of Rei's funds. The supplies had taken another. And to make things worse, she wasn't really making any money. She had stayed up trying to find solutions for this problem most of the night, which resulted in her nearly drying with exhaustion when her alarm clock went of at eight in the morning.

//Either I have to raise the price for those patients I have, which I really don't want to do, or I'll have to go back to doing nose-jobs and breast enlargements again… This sucks…//

She had never been a fan of that kind of plastic surgery. That was why she had specialized in purely reconstructive surgery. But she had still done a lot of liposuctions, facelifts and a lot of other cosmetic surgeries, so she knew that she could do it.

//But I can't do it alone. I have to hire another surgeon, but how the hell I can afford that is another question.//

She yawned and pulled her old, worn green and yellow bathrobe tighter around her body, and walked into the kitchen. Here she was surprised to see both Vincent and Yuffie eating breakfast. Seeing Vincent up was nothing odd, he was usually up at the crack of dawn, but Yuffie seemed to like to sleep late. Of course, she did seem rather tired.

"So…" the young ninja started and paused to yawn. " Can you call Cid? I think he likes you better than me."

"As you wish." Vincent agreed.

"Mornin'." Rei greeted and sniffed in the air. The sweet smell of pancakes made her mouth water. "Is there anything left for me?"

"Of course" Vincent answered and started to get up.

"Naw, sit down. I can get it myself."

A few seconds later she to was seated at the table, munching happily at the pancakes.

"It's unusual to see you up at this hour Yuffie."

"It's not by my own choice mind you. I'm goin' home today, so Vampy here decided that I needed a good breakfast before I leave. Basically, he kicked me out of bed an hour ago." Yuffie muttered and glared at said 'Vampy'.

 "I think that is an exaggeration. I never kicked you." He actually looked somewhat embarrassed.

"No, but you did slam the door open and turned on the lights."

"I did knock first."

"Hell no. I never heard anything. And you can't just barge in into a lady's room anyway. What if I'd been naked?"

"Ahem… but you were not."

"No, but that's not the point."

"Well, I am very sorry for… barging in to your room. But you would not wake up."

Yuffie didn't have an answer to this. She just gaped at him for a moment before quickly turning to Rei.

"Oh yeah, there was something we were planning to ask you. Y'see, we´re planning on getting AVALANCHE together for Christmas. And we were wondering if it was alright if some of us stayed here and if we could hold Christmas-dinner here."

Rei looked up from her plate. During Yuffie and Vincent's bickering, she had zoned out, and was now feeling, and looking, like she was half asleep. She shook her head in an attempt to clear her sleep deprived mind.

"Dinner's ok. As fer stayin' here… that depends on how many patients I have an' if I can set aside a room fer ya." She paused as she realised that she still had food in her mouth. She quickly swallowed and cleared her throat. "How many people are we talking about?"

"I dunno. Two or three maybe. What do you think Vinnie?"

"I think that would be accurate. Barret and Marlene could perhaps sleep at the inn. Cid would probably sleep at the Highwind even if we invited him to stay here, and I guess that Shera will to. That leaves Nanaki, Reeve and of course you Yuffie."

"Yeah. And Nanaki always sleeps on the floor anyways."

"I'm not making any promises, but I think we could work something out." Rei said, taking another bite of her pancakes.

"Great! Let's hit the phone before I leave Vinnie.

*************************************************************

A phone rang in Rocket Town. There was a loud 'thump' followed by a yell and a string of profanities.

"Fuckin' hell! Damned phone… Shera! Shera, can you get that?!"

Other than the phone's persistent ringing, there was no sound.

"Shera?! Where the fuck is that broad? Now I have to drag my ass out from this friggin' plane an' bang my head an' it fucking hurts!"

A few second later the phone was answered.

"Yah, this is Cid Highwind. What the fuck do you want?"

"Well I'll be damned. You finally crawled out of your damned coffin, eh Vince? So what can I do for ya?"

"Chirstmas? Naah, I don't think I've got anythin' planned."

"What? Well, hell yeah! Who the fuck came up with that idea? I can't have been you."

"Because you're a fuckin' stiff who live in a box, that's why. The brat? She there?"

"Hey, I fuckin' heard that! Hit her over the head for me will ya?"

"Naah, I won't need a place to sleep. I'll be coming in the Hghwind. What? Who the fuck is Rei?"

"She lives with you? Hehehee… Well fuck, I never knew you had it in you."

"Yeah, right."

"Well, I'll fuckin' see you a few days before Christmas then. Tell the brat I said hi. You still haven't hit her over the head, have you?"

"Well, what the fuck are you waiting for?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later. Gotta go back to the friggin' plane now."

"Yeah, you too. Bye"

The foul-mouthed pilot hung up the phone.

"Shera?! Shera, where t'hell are ya?! Don't invite your fuckin' family here for Christmas! We're goin' to Nibelheim!"

*************************************************************

A phone rang in North Corel.

"Daddy, can I answer the phone?"

"Yeah, sure hun'"

The child answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"I'm Marlene."

"Auntie Yuffie! I miss you!"

"Uhu. Uhu. Yes, he's here."

"Uhu. Sure, hang on."

Marlene but the phone down.

"Daddy, it's for you."

"Alright hun', give it here."

The little girl handed the phone over.

"Yeah, Barret here."

"Yuffie! Long time no see. How ya doin'?"

"I'm doin' great."

"We were plannin' on a quiet Christmas, just the three of us."

"Yeah, didn't ya know? Elmyra's livin' with us."

"Christmas in Nibelheim? Sure, why not."

"Yeah, I'll see all of you then. Yeah. Bye"

"Daddy, are we going to Nibelheim?"

"Yeah, it that's alright with you and Elmyra."

"Yay! Auntie Yuffie's gonna be there right?"

"Yeah, she is. What do you say Elmyra?"

"I'd be delighted."

*************************************************************

An intercom buzzed in Midgar, which was currently being rebuilt.

"What is it Maggie?"

"There is a call for you sir. He wouldn't give me his name, but he said you knew him. Should I patch him through?"

"Please do Maggie. Thank you."

Exactly two seconds later the phone rang.

"Yes, this is President Reeve."

"Vincent? Hey, how are you?"

"I'm… stressed. Sometimes I don't know why I accepted this office. But it's fun in a way as well."

"Christmas? I was planning on working."

"You are? A reunion? And you are asking me to come? But I was never a part of AVALANCHE, Cait was."

"Are you sure. Well, I'm sure I can take some time of. I'm sure they can manage a few days without me."

"Heh yes, Cait is still around. Should I bring him?"

"Okey then, I'll see you later. Take care. Bye.

*************************************************************

A phone rang in Cosmo Canyon.

"Hello, this is Nanaki."

"Well, hello Yuffie. It is good to hear from you. How are things in Wutai?"

"Oh, really? Well then, please give my regards to Tifa and Cloud, and Vincent if you can find him."

"He is? That's good. I was worried that he would go back to that coffin."

"No I don't have anything planned."

"Of course I would. Is everyone coming?"

"That's good. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again."

"You too, Yuffie. I'll see you soon. Good bye."

*************************************************************

Back in Nibelheim Yuffie hung up the phone. She looked up at Vincent who was leaning on the wall and smiled.

"They're all coming."

Vincent nodded and returned her smile.

Without warning she threw herself at him and gave him a hug. He was stunned at her sudden display of affection, but soon found himself hugging her back. But as sudden as she had gotten into his arms, she broke away just as sudden.

"It's getting late and I have a long way to go. I gotta go pack. Vinnie, could you do me a favour?"

"Umm... of course."

"Can you saddle up Yuuhi for me?" She asked, referring to her gold chochobo who were in the town stables.

He just nodded.

"Thanks Vinnie, I'll be right down."

As he watched her run up the stairs, he couldn't help but to feel like something was missing from his arms.

Ten minutes later Vincent led Yuuhi up to the mansion just as Yuffie walked out the door. He helped her to tie her two small bags to the saddle and looked over the reins and the saddle one more time.

"It looks like you are good to go."

"Yeah, I guess I am." She looked down at the ground and shuffled her feet before looking up to him again. "Aww hell, I just gotta give you another hug since I'm not gonna see you for almost three months."

Said and done, she hugged him again. This time Vincent was prepared for it so he quickly wrapped his arms around her small body. For reasons he was just beginning to understand, he leaned his cheek against her hair and breathed in her scent, trying to lock it away in his mind so that he would remember it until she came back.

Once again she drew back, quickly placing a small peck on his cheek and mounting Yuuhi.

"I'll see you in three months." She said kicking the bird in its sides and trotted away.

Vincent remained outside, looking after her long after she was gone. Even though she had only been gone a few hours, he experienced a great sense of loss.

{You are an idiot, you know that Valentine? You should have never let her go, you stupid fool!}

//Yes, I know Chaos. I know.//

Phew, that was a long chapter, at least for me. Wanted to make up for the last chapter, which was short and sorta empty. Hope this was better.

A big thanks to Weiila for the constructive criticism. Some things I was aware of, but have been too lazy to correct. Some things had never even crossed my mind. I have a feeling that I'll rewrite the whole thing later on. Hmmm... kladdkaka… Sticky cake? Hell, I have no idea how to write that in english either. ^_^