Only Time

By: Hotaru170

Disclaimer: I don' t own Final Fantasy 7 or any of the characters. Oh, and please excuse any grammar and spelling mistakes cause I am not an English teacher! Thank goodness cause I loathed English class! I only loved the Literature part...LOL!

Review Response:

Iflytev.Bluedestiny-- Thanks you so much for your encouragement and your frequent reviews!

Yuffie Kisaragi2-- I can't possibly thank you enough for your support! I am such a huge fan of yours! You are a much better author than I am! I saw the review that The Scarlet Stalker left you and I got mad all over again! Some nerve he/she has! Arrrr, Scarlet Stalker, I hope you write a fic of your own soon! That way I can flame you so bad that you will feel the heat through your damn computer!!!!!!!

Emri-- (Bows) Arigatou, Emri-san! Watashi wa arigatai desu. (Translation for everyone else: Thank you, Emri. I am grateful.)

Kikyos Killer-- I love your penname! Anyways, thanks for reviewing and here is another chapter! Please, enjoy!

Dark Goddess-- Thanks and I'll try to update as often as I can!

Neko-Yuff16-- I hope this will satisfy everyone's Vincent needs...lol. He sure is a hottie!

Cattibrie393-- Thank you. Please enjoy this next chapter!

Ezri-Candy-- (Jumps up and down) OH MY GOSH! YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY READ MY FIC! IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO ANY OF YOUR FICS! I HOPE I CAN WRITE AS WELL AS YOU ONE DAY! Thank you so much!

Vin-the-Mazoku-- (Blushes) I don't know if my story is as great as you say but I am flattered that you like it so much! Thanks and enjoy the rest!

DarkFlame666-- I couldn't possibly kill them! LOL! They are my favorite charcaters! Thanks for reviewing!

Kimou-- (Laughs nervously) Um, I wouldn't leave this fic unfinished! (Falls down on knees and begs) Please don't hunt me down, I swear I'll finish! (Stands back up and brushes off her clothes) -Ahem- Thanks for reviewing!

chaotic pink chocobo-- Hmm, interesting name! It is very original. Anyways, thanks for reviewing. I just couldn't leave without making a sequel to 'Forsaken'.

On a side note: I found a pic of Yuffie from Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children!!! I literally jumped for joy! I got a pic of Vinnie too! If you would like to see them just leave me a review telling me so and I'll send them to ya! Now on to the story!

Recap of Chapter 4: Aeris continued to watch Yuffie's progress in her training. It was nothing short of astounding in both, magical attacks and physical attacks.

It was only a matter of time before Yuffie would realize the inhuman progress of her training. Then the planet would have no choice but to explain to Yuffie the reason for her presence in the lifestream. She would need to know about the changes that have and will take place in her. She would no longer be entirely human but something much more complex and powerful. She would be reborn a guardian of humanity and life in general. She would be the only one of her kind. There was another before her many many years ago. It was one of the young shinobi's very own distant ancestors.

Chapter 5: Forgiveness

It had been a month since Vincent had left Avalanche. He moved from place to place looking for any clue that might lead him to Yuffie.

Vincent reached the outskirts of Kalm a few hours after sunset. He stopped and got off of Hikaru. He was a little hesitant about entering Kalm. (AN: Hikaru is Yuffie's chocobo that Vinnie took before he left. Just letting you guys know incase you forgot.)

'Cloud and Tifa will more than likely be here. Am I really ready to face them yet?' He sighed. 'I know they would have never let any of this happen on purpose. I guess now would be the time to make ammends. Things cannot remain as they are.'

Vincent walked into Kalm with a destination and a purpose. (AN: Yes another one! I gotta let them start getting along sometime. After all, people make mistakes.)

Kalm...

Tifa just got rid of the last customer at her new bar in Kalm. She sighed and sat down on a barstool to rest her feet. She lowered her head and rested it on her arms.

Cloud walked over to her after he finished cleaning up the last table. He sat next to her and asked. "Are you alright, Teef?"

Tifa sniffed and replied. "No, I'm not alright. I'm not sure if it will ever be alright."

Cloud sighed and hung his head. He knew what she was talking about. He clenched his fist and slammed it down on the bar. "Dammit, everything was supposed to be alright after we beat Sephiroth! We are supposed to be the good guys here!" He yelled.

Tifa lifted her head. She looked at Cloud. 'He is holding in so much guilt and blame, just like the rest of us.' She shook her head and said. "We are the good guys Cloud. But even the good guys don't always live happily ever after."

Cloud shook his head and whispered. "I know, Teef. I know."

Tifa and Cloud looked up when the door of the bar opened up. Cloud stood up and said. "I'm sorry but we are closed. We open up tomorrow at 10 a.m."

The stranger cocked his head and asked in a familiar voice. "Shall I come back then or could you spare a few minutes for a comrade."

Tifa gasped and Cloud's mouth fell open in shock.

Tifa asked. "Vincent?!" They were certainly not expecting Vincent Valentine to come waltzing through the door.

Vincent walked forward into the light and said. "Yes Tifa. It is me." He closed the door and asked. "I was wondering if perhaps I could have a word with both of you?"

Cloud shook his surprise off and said. "Sure, Vincent." He walked behind the bar. He motioned for Vincent to sit down.

Vincent sat down on Cloud's now vacant stool.

Cloud asked. "Would you like something to drink? Its on the house?"

Vincent nodded and said. "Yes, a glass of wine would be most appreciated."

Cloud poured a glass of wine and handed it to Vincent, who nodded his thanks.

Tifa fidgeted with the tip of her hair. She asked nervously. "So what would you like to talk with us about?"

Vincent sighed and said quietly. "I wanted to apologize for my actions when we parted ways. I didn't give any of you a chance to explain. I jumped to conclusions without thinking."

An uncomfortable silence fell across the room and its occupants. Vincent shifted slightly in his chair. Even though he was familiar with long silences, he was rather nervous with this particular silence. Which is saying alot because he was not accustomed to feeling nervous except when he was around Yuffie during their travels. She was always full of life and she always tried to cheer him up or get him to smile. Most of the time, he was not sure how to act around the young shinobi and it got worse once he realized that her smile had somehow broken through his stoic nature. (AN: Haha, Vincent got nervous in silence...lmao. I thought it would be kinda cool to make him a little un-Vincenty sometimes. If you don't like, don't read...no offense!)

Finally, Tifa sniffed quietly and said. "Its ok, Vincent. I understand that you were upset. It really should be us apologizing. We never meant to leave you guys behind." Tears filled her eyes and she asked sincerely. "Could you please forgive us Vincent?"

Vincent sighed inwardly, glad that the silence was over and said. "There is nothing to forgive, Tifa. Everyone makes mistakes. Too err is to be human. I am just sorry that I let anger cloud my judgement."

Cloud sighed and said. "We really are sorry Vincent. I should have done my job as leader and this never would have happened."

Vincent shook his head and said. "You did everything that you could as leader, Cloud. Nobody could have asked anymore from you or from any of us."

Tifa wiped her tears and said. "I'm really glad that we cleared this up." "Would you like to stay for the night, Vincent? We have a spare bedroom."

Vincent finished his glass of wine and said. "No thank you Tifa. I have some things to take care of. I just wanted to stop in and speak with you two. I am glad that we understand each other now." He stood up and asked. "Would you send my regards to the others and let them know the situation?"

Cloud nodded and held out a hand to Vincent. "Its good to have you back Vincent."

Vincent shook Cloud's outstretched hand and replied. "Its good to be back, Cloud." He walked to the door and opened it. Before leaving, he turned around and quietly said. "Until we meet again." With those last words, he walked out of the Seventh Heaven Bar and into the night. (AN: I'm sorry if that name belongs to someone. I couldn't think of another name...lol.)

Meanwhile in the Lifestream...

Yuffie was doing a very complex kata with her eyes closed. Her face was peaceful but inside she was struggling. 'I don't know what to do. When I get out of here, will I really be able to forgive Cloud and the others? Will I ever be able to see Vincent again?' All these questions were racing through her head as she tried to concentrate on her kata.

Aeris watched Yuffie sadly. 'She is struggling. I have to get her to understand that Cloud and the others would have never left her or Vincent behind on purpose. I know its hard for her but if she doesn't understand then I'm afraid she will not survive much longer in here.'

The planet spoke softly to Aeris. 'Don't worry my child. If you talk to her about it, she will understand. She will need you to help her see. I have faith in both of you.'

Aeris smiled and called out. "Yuffie, can we talk for a moment. I hate to disturb you but we realy need to talk."

Yuffie opened her eyes and nodded. She crossed her legs and asked. "What do we need to talk about?"

Aeris sighed and replied. "This is going to be a difficult task Yuffie but you must understand. I know how hurt you are that Cloud and the others left you and Vincent behind." "But." She said when Yuffie opened her mouth to interupt. "You need to realize that they would never have done such a thing on purpose. I know its hard for you to see but deep down I think you know its true. Past all the hurt and anger, you can feel it."

Yuffie opened her mouth to say a sarcastic remark but stopped. Her eyes started getting watery but she kept the tears from falling. She closed her eyes and searched deep down. 'Am I letting my anger and hurt cloud my judgement? Is what Aeris said true?'

The more she thought about it, the worse she started to feel. She slowly realized the truth in Aeris' words and that deep down she knew the truth all along.

'Am I really that lousy of a friend that I thought they left me and Vinnie on purpose?' She sighed sadly and let the tears fall. No longer holding them back.

She looked up at Aeris and said. "I really am a crummy friend, aren't I? Here I was, literally cursing their existence, only to realize that my hurt and anger was stopping me from seeing the truth."

Aeris smiled happily and said. "You aren't a bad friend Yuffie. You were just hurt and emotions can be a very powerful thing." She shook her head and asked. "So now that we got that cleared up, how about you and I take a little trip?"

Yuffie looked up confused and said. "Um, incase you forgot Aeris, we are kinda stuck in the lifestream."

Aeris laughed and said. "Of course I didn't forget. Surely you don't think that just floating around in green liquid is all there is to do down here. I think we might be able to find something that might interest you." She motioned for Yuffie to follow her as she floated further down into the lifestream.

Yuffie looked around and shrugged before diving after the flower girl. 'I wonder what she is talking about? Guess I'll just have to wait and see.'

To be continued...

YAY! I actually got another chapter done already! Plus I already updated A War To Remember too. I'm on a roll here or maybe I'm just excited about college football. YAYNESS, Alabama Crimson Tide won again this week!! I'm a huge Alabama fan so I gave you peeps fair warning! I'll end this mindless babble but please leave a review if you enjoyed this chappie! Ja ne!

--Jennifer