A/N: Ok, thank you for your reviews. I'll try to follow them, and after this chapter, I'm going to go back and edit stuff. Also, the "description is nice" suggestion will be taken to heart. Thanks again!

C. R. Carter: Hooked? Well, that's good. Hope I don't dissappoint you. Hope you can see some of the Vincent changes...

Chapter 7 – Stealing and Other Larceny

The sun was beginning to peak over the edge of a hill, the spikes of its light slicing through the air suddenly, causing Vincent to shield his eyes for a moment. He was sitting on the roof of Tifa's house, unbeknownst to her, thinking about the events of last night.

She turned him down. Fancy that.

His cape hung lazily from her wind vane, occasionally picking up the slightest of breezes, rustling in a nearly inaudible manner. One knee was bent, and he propped his claw arm on it, in a casual and natural fashion. A passerby would think he had the look of a laborer on a lunch break, enjoying the last possible moments before the strain of the latter half of his day had come.

I should have known...she is so...obvious sometimes.

He had no natural intent on leaving his perch, but he could hear the shuffling of activity in the house below him. He tensed for a minute, and then leaned forward to peer over the edge of the roof. A brown head was bobbing near the eave, oblivious to his presence. He shifted his weight slightly, an idea passing through his mind, causing his face to burn with a hidden mischief.

This is too easy...

He tensed up, pulling his frame into a crouching position, his muscles compressed springs, ready to be released. A wry smile graced his face, and his eyes followed the movements below, waiting for the opportune moment.

"I know you're up there," she said with an all knowing air, her large burgundy eyes staring at him now, "You can come down, too. Breakfast is almost ready."

He shook his head in defeat, pulling himself to a precarious standing position. Tifa was giving him a disciplinarian look, and he pretended to be shocked by it, holding his hands out defensively. Then, with a quick movement, he snatched up his cape and sailed down the ground below, landing with a light thud as steel boots met earth.

I'm losing my touch. Age must be catching up with me...somewhat.

Tifa rolled her eyes, "Showoff," she teased, and turned to go inside. Vincent followed shortly, after taking one last look at the brightening landscape.

I hope Cid's plan works...it would be a shame to ruin such a lovely day for her...

After breakfast

Tifa was washing the remaining dishes, handing the rinsed plates to Vincent to dry. He gingerly handled her china, swiping the cotton towel over them with deft precision. They worked in silent cooperation, as the breakfast had been. Vincent had learned long ago that Tifa didn't always need to talk, and this time was no exception.

Still...I should ask her about what she's going to tell Cloud...she can't keep it hidden forever.

Vincent turned to her, ceasing his drying, and gave her an eyebrow raised quizzical look.

"What?" she asked, not out of real question, though, she knew what he meant. She dried her hands off, and left a few utensils to soak in the sink. With her back to the sink, she leaned against, the counter, as if waiting for Vincent's inevitable questioning.

"When are you going to tell Cloud?" he said, a little too quickly. Tifa seemed a bit taken aback, and shook her head nervously.

"When he decides to stop his infatuation with me," she replied curtly straightening up from the counter so that she seemed taller. Vincent frowned.

I can imagine you'd be a hard person to get over.

Like Lucrecia?

No, not quite like that...

"That could take forever..." he said, waiting for Tifa's reaction. She pursed her lips and knitted her eyebrows. The right corner of his mouth tugged up, letting her know he was kidding. Her face relaxed.

"You're awful...you know that?" she said, smiling at him, clearly tickled by the hidden compliment.

You can even catch that subtlety? Impressive...

Vincent opened his mouth to say something, but before he could blurt it out, there was a knock on the door.

Cid. Perfect timing, as always.

Tifa skipped over to the door, and was greeted by Cid's gruff face.

"Hey Tifa," he said, removing the ever present cigarette from his mouth. He tapped it lightly with his index finger, letting a small trail of ash drift to her doorstep. Her eyes followed it, frowning lightly. Then she saw Nanaki down there and smiled.

"Hello, Tifa," he said, and then peered a little behind her, "...Vincent." Vincent simply nodded back.

I think he understands my hello by now. He's perhaps the most intuitive, next to Tifa.

"Hi, guys," she finally said, grinning widely, "What brings you to these parts?" Cid looked over at Vincent and winked, while Nanaki's face held a bit of mischief. Tifa looked Cid and Nanaki over, a puzzled look on her face.

"We're kidnapping you," Cid finally said, taking a drag from his cigarette. Tifa's eye went wide, while Vincent chuckled behind her.

"You were in on this, too?" she said, a mock look of shock on her face. Vincent nodded, a sly grin creeping onto his face.

"C'mon guys," Cid said, putting his arms on Tifa's shoulders, "We'd better make this robbery damn quick." Her eyes grew wide when she felt Vincent's claw and hand on her ankles. He was blushing slightly, something which only Nanaki could see.

Why the miniskirts? This puts me in a compromising position...why did I get the feet?

With a silent signal from Cid, Vincent lifted her feet out from under her, while Cid steadied her upper half. She screeched a little at them, as Nanaki approached with a piece of cloth between his teeth.

"Ah, the blindfold," Vincent said, shifting a little. Cid changed his hold so that he could accept it from the partner in crime. He dangled it in front of Tifa's face. "Can you put this on?" he said with a smirk. She complied reluctantly, tying it loosely across her eyes.

Later...

They were at their destination. Tifa, in a show of drama, had also been loosely tied up...with her permission of course. They had put her in the back seat of Cid's new Rover, a vehicle that defied the modern engineering world's explanations. Cid and Vincent went to lift her out now, and set her so that she was standing. Cid fumbled with the ropes around her wrists, while Vincent took care of the ankles, deliberately keeping his head down.

Then Vincent stood up and carefully removed the blindfold. Tifa kept her eyes shut for a moment longer, as if afraid of what she might see. She first pried her left eye open ever so slightly...then both eyes popped open, a gasp escaping her lips.

"Happy Birthday!" the three captors exclaimed, each in their own distinct voices, creating an odd euphony. Tifa's eyes were tearing up, glazing her vision.

"You didn't..." she said finally, gazing up at the sign above the entrance of a newly renovated building. It said:

Tifa Lockheart Children's Home

She couldn't hold the tears back any longer, and they streamed from her eyes suddenly, as she sobbed lightly. Cid looked extremely pleased with himself, smiling broadly while he let out a puff of smoke. Vincent and Nanaki exchanged a knowing glance.

It did work. Hope she doesn't mind that it's a little early.

"...Vincent..." she said, still gawking at the building before her, "...you remembered..."

Cid decided that he had enough of standing around and enveloped her in a big hug, nearly throwing her off balance. "Want to go inside?" he said, offering her his hand. She nodded, and he led her through the arched doorway, glancing back at Vincent and Nanaki before disappearing into the shadowed interior.

It's a pity a woman like that can't have children of her own.

He looked over at Nanaki, who was staring back at him questioningly. "'You remembered'?" he asked, his tail flicking away a fly behind him. Vincent shrugged a little before replying.

"An old conversation," he said, "She felt sorry for the children who lost their parents when Meteor hit."

With that, Nanaki nodded and began his prowl towards the building.

I just hope Yuffie hasn't turned the place a shambles yet.

CRASH!! "Dammit!" a distinctly clear and familiar voice faintly echoed from the building's interior.

Too late.

Hope this isn't too fluffy, I just thought that it would be a nice situation to put later things in. I like the idea of Nanaki, Cid and Vincent being in on something together, and this is what it turned into...