A/N: Ok, so this is five years after the previous chapter, if you get confused. I'll alternate between these two times, so if you ever get lost remember: Odd numbered chapters are five years after Sephiroth's demise. Also, the point of view switches every two chapters...so prologue and first chapter are Tifa, and second and third are Vincent...etc. I just like a sense of order...I'll let you know if it changes later on.
Chapter 1 - The Message
Five Years Later
She gazed absent mindedly in front of her, into the swirling mass of patrons, not focusing her eyes on any of them, simply looking. It had been a long day, running the bar, and she was tired.
Tifa's Seventh Heaven, her previous joint, had been smashed when Meteor hit. In New Midgar, she called the place The Flower Girl, a small tribute to her old friend.
She was daydreaming again, thinking on the days when she and a certain team of unlikely heroes saved the world...or something like that. It had been quite a while since she had seen them.
"Earth to Tifa!" a squeaky voice shouted, making her eyes focus.
Yuffie.
She smiled. She liked it when her teammates visited her, even if it was Yuffie.
"Long time no see," she said after a bit, still feeling the grogginess of the day's work.
The girl smiled wickedly. She was a bit taller than Tifa remembered.
"So how old are you now?" Tifa asked.
"21!" she shouted, "And I need a drink!"
Tifa was taken aback. Has it been that long? Suddenly she felt very old.
Yuffie saw the change in her face. "You know, a drink?" she said.
"I know," Tifa replied, smiling a wane smile. She walked over to the tap and slowly filled a cup with some beer.
"You haven't changed that much," she said after getting Yuffie's drink.
"Ya, well..." Yuffie said between sips.
"So what brings you to New Midgar?" Tifa finally asked.
"Business," Yuffie replied with a groan, "It's hard being leader of Wutai."
Tifa giggled. It still struck her funny to see Yuffie with such responsibilities.
"We're doing Materia collections," the girl said, "Giving back to the planet...you know the routine."
Tifa merely nodded. It was near closing time.
"Hey, are you alright?" Yuffie asked her hand on Tifa's shoulder.
"Just...tired," she said. Then her eyes lit up. "Did you hear about the reunion?"
Yuffie grinned, "Of course, there was more then one reason I showed up in town."
She handed Tifa a piece of paper.
"I have a message for you."
Tifa looked anxiously at the yellowed paper in her hand. Somehow, she didn't want to open it.
"See you in two weeks!" Yuffie said, skipping her way out of the bar.
Some things never change...
Tifa decided to read it quickly, she had many things to clean up before she could close the place down.
It read:
Tifa,
Turn around.
She spun around, her eyes scanning the bar frantically. Then she saw him.
"Vincent!" she shouted, leaping over the bar counter.
"Hi Tifa," he said, bracing himself as she launched at him, nearly crushing him with her hug.
"And that's all I've been doing for the past two years: running the bar, visiting Cloud and Barret and Marlene..." she said almost out of breath.
In the past hour, while she mopped and wiped down the counters, she told Vincent about her goings on. He listened attentively, knowing that sometime she would run out of breath.
"So how are you and Cloud?" he asked, with a little bit of a teasing smile. Tifa blushed.
"Fine," she said, "He's still sorting things out with himself."
Vincent nodded. He understood Cloud and Tifa's awkward relationship more than he would let on.
"So exactly where have you been?" she asked, drying a mug in her hand.
"First Wutai, then Rocket Town, then Corel," he said, "I figured visiting Yuffie first would annoy me the least."
Tifa laughed. She understood that Vincent and Yuffie mixed as well as oil and water.
"But you visited her anyway?" Tifa asked.
"Of course," he said, "She's still a friend. You guys are all I have."
Tifa smiled. She was glad that her friend didn't turn reclusive after that final battle. He seemed healthier for it...more alive.
"I really should find somewhere to stay soon..." he interrupted her thoughts.
"You can stay here," she said, "I have a spare room."
"I don't mean to impose..." he cringed slightly.
"Nonsense," she replied, "I'll go get an extra blanket."
With that she bounded off towards the back of her bar.