Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 7 or any of its characters etc.

Here is the next part of the story. I hope you like it.

Chapter 4: Explanation

It was around eleven at night and Cid was getting ready to go to bed with his wife Shera. He was just climbing into bed when he heard the doorbell ring downstairs.

"Who the &$( would be calling round at this hour!" he yelled.

"I don't know dear, but we better answer the door," Shera replied calmly, used to Cid's temper.

With an annoyed sigh Cid got back up and trudged downstairs, in his boxers and a t-shirt. On reaching the front door he flung it open and stared outside. He was immediately taken by surprise at who was standing there.

"Tifa?"

"Cid, I'm really sorry to disturb you. I know its late, but please can Vincent and I stay here the night?" Tifa asked anxiously even though she knew Cid would willingly agree.

"Sure. Speaking of Vincent, where is he?" Cid asked glancing around outside, but only spotting a small puppy sitting at Tifa's feet. Since when did Tifa have a dog?

"It's a long story. I'll explain inside," Tifa announced as she and the black Labrador entered Cid's house.

Once inside they went into the kitchen. Cid gave Tifa a towel on her request and Tifa started the task of drying the still slightly wet puppy sitting on the kitchen floor, whilst Cid made them both a cup of tea. Once the tea had been made and Tifa had finished drying the puppy she and Cid sat at the kitchen table, whilst the dog lay down on one of the other chairs.

"O.k. Tifa, explain," Cid said leaning on the table and staring at Tifa intently.

"Well as you know I went to visit Vincent four days ago," Tifa began

Cid already knew this. Tifa had wanted to make sure that after AVALANCHE had split up, after Sephiroth had been defeated, that Vincent hadn't gone back into his coffin.

"Well Vincent was doing well and seemed to be getting on with his life and I decided I would stay with him for a few weeks. Everything was alright until last night. Vincent and I were sitting down, talking, when a group of people burst through the Shinra mansion doors. They all had guns and they told us to go with them. There were too many for me and Vincent to fight alone, so we decided the best chance was to get out of the mansion and to somewhere where we might have a better chance of beating them. Unfortunately they knocked us both out.," Tifa explained.

She stopped for a while, whilst Cid digested the information he had just received. After a couple of minutes of silence, Cid looked up at Tifa.

"So, what happened?" he asked.

"We both woke up in a prison cell," Tifa continued, "We were then taken into a lab room of some sorts by some men. In the centre of the room was a massive machine and a bunch of scientists. They put Vincent into this machine."

Cid gasped, horrified at the thought of his friend being used as an experiment again. Hasn't he suffered enough in his life? he thought.

"What did they do to him?" he questioned nervously.

"I couldn't see what had happened to him for a while, but eventually one of the scientists, a Dr. Evorne I think he was called, turned off the machine. He took Vincent out and …," she stuttered, not sure of how to explain the next bit to Cid.

"And?" Cid prompted.

"I don't know how to explain this, so I think it is better if I show you," Tifa replied.

With that Tifa scooped up the black Labrador off the chair next to her and placed it on the table. The dog stretched then turned its gaze to Cid. Cid gasped as he saw its eyes. They were a beautiful, crimson colour.

"Vi…Vincent?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes. Afterwards we escaped and came here," Tifa replied as Vincent gave a short bark in reply.

"Oh &£$. Why would they do this?" Cid exclaimed staring at Vincent.

"I don't know," Tifa replied sadly.

"Hey Tifa, don't worry. We'll find a way to help him," Cid announced.

Tifa just nodded a reply, her eyes still focused on Vincent.

Afterwards Cid went back to bed and Tifa went up to the spare bedroom with Vincent. She got changed into a nightdress that Shera, who had been informed of the situation by Cid, had given her. Once she was ready, she walked over to where Vincent was curled up on the bottom of the bed, supposedly asleep. She reached and gently stroked his fur.

"Don't worry Vincent, I'll find a way to change you back somehow. I…" she began unsure of whether to go on, "I…I love you."

Tifa had always felt something for Vincent, but she had never known what it was. Everyone thought she loved Cloud, including herself, until recently. All of the recent experiences that had occurred had made her realise her true feelings for Vincent. She really did love him.

Tifa turned off the light and slowly crawled into bed.

"I love you, Vincent," she whispered as sleep over took her.

In the silent darkness, Vincent slowly raised his head to look at Tifa's sleeping form. She loves me?

AN - Well there you have it. I have now added a love twist. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will soon have the next chapter up. Please review.