Tifa stretched her arms above her head and looked out her window. The ocean was lapping the shore gently and a warm breeze filtered through her window. She could hear Cloud moving around downstairs but was still reluctant to leave her warm bed. Finally, after realizing that it was going on 12, Tifa got up.

She picked a sky blue tank top and a pair of light blue jeans to wear; these had been her father's favorite colors. She felt ten percent happier now that she knew who her father's killer was. She would call the police and give the man's appearance and hopefully they would be able to catch him. The killer's bizarre looks would make him that much easier to find. Tifa felt that if her father's killer was brought to justice she could lay him to rest and move on with her life.

She found Cloud downstairs reading the newspaper in a wife beater and khaki shorts. She noted, rather startled, that his sword was within reach and that he wasn't completely relaxed. Last night must have made him think she was in potential danger and that he, her friend and companion, had to protect her.

On impulse, Tifa grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Cloud. Cloud raised an eyebrow but Tifa smiled innocently back at him. Cloud wasn't about to let her get away with that so he got up and walked over to her calmly. She pretended to ignore him until he began tickling her. Tifa squealed and fell off the couch. Cloud tossed his head back and laughed but was cut short when Tifa swung her leg and made Cloud land flat on his ass.

"Ha! That'll teach you!"

"Really?"

Cloud tackled her and pinned her down while Tifa kept laughing while managing chocked back screams and squeals of happiness. When they had been children, she and Cloud had always wrestled. Cloud, being older and much stronger, usually won and this fight wasn't any different, within moments she cried,

"Alright! You win!"

Cloud stopped immediately and down at her with this serious look in his eyes. Tifa stared back, still a little breathless and definitely more than a little nervous at the sudden change in her friend. Her eyes widened when he began to lower his face to hers. He stopped about an inch from her lips and looked into her eyes. Tifa could feel his breath upon her face and realized how close he was to her. After what seemed an eternity, Cloud brushed his lips against hers and got up. He held his hand out to her and Tifa grasped it using him to pull herself up.

Tifa was slightly breathless and a little pink from mild blushing. Cloud gave her a small smile and was about to say something when a knock came at the door. Worrying it was Aeris Cloud groaned and said quickly,

"Tifa, I'm over at my house feeding Max."

Tifa raised an eyebrow and shook her head but waved him off. Cloud dashed out the back door while Tifa walked to the front. She waited for the back door to swing shut before opening the door. She had expected Aeris or even Cid and Shera, but certainly not Vincent Valentine. Startled she managed a stuttered,

"He-hello Mr. Valentine."

The corners of Vincent's mouth twitched upwards, but she wouldn't have been able to see that. He had changed his shirt to a much more casual black cotton shirt but otherwise looked the same. The collar of his red cape stood up stiffly where it buckled in front of the lower half of his face. In that calm and soothing deep voice he said,

"Hello Miss Lockhart, I've come to see you about a...visitor you may have had last night."

Tifa's eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. Could he be referring to the man who had claimed to be her father's murderer? She continued to stare at him in shock until he said in a slightly amused voice,

"May I come in?"

Tifa immediately snapped out of her trance-like state and blushed. Gesturing with her arm and giving a slight bow Tifa said breathlessly,

"Of course, forgive me, yes you may come in."

Tifa walked to the living room where she sat down on her couch, motioning for Vincent to do the same. He sat on the opposite end and relaxed into a comfortable position before turning his crimson eyes to her and saying gently,

"Miss Lockhart..."

"Tifa, please, call me Tifa."

"Alright...Tifa, did someone break into your home last night around midnight?"

Tifa hesitated briefly before nodding and responding,

"Yes, my friend Cloud and I found a man, at least I think it was a man, in my father's room."

"Can you tell me what he looked like?"

Tifa paused a moment before taking a deep breath and recalling what the bizarre man looked like.

"He was...horrible to look at. It looked like an acidic experiment had exploded on his face and he had large green patches of skin on his cheeks and forehead."

Vincent closed his eyes momentarily and let out a deep and tired sigh. When he opened them, he found Tifa staring at his metal claw on his left hand.

"I had my arm amputated for...personal reasons."

Tifa blushed and looked at her own hands. Vincent let out an amused chuckle before continuing.

"Tifa, it's not safe for you to stay here. That creature killed your father and we have reason to believe he will kill you as well. My bother and I..."

"I'll take it from there."

Startled, Tifa jumped and looked for the source of the voice. She looked up and found herself staring at the lower chin of Sephiroth Valentine. In a shocked voice she asked him,

"How did you get here!?"

Sephiroth's lips curved into a smirk as he moved to the front of the couch. He was dressed exactly the same except that he now had on armor and a sword. That hat still prevented Tifa from seeing any details of his face, which bothered her but she kept silent about it.

"I came in through the front door, how else?"

Tifa had the distinct feeling that he was mocking her. She straightened her back a notch and tossed her hair over her shoulder. This action didn't get by either brother; although Vincent couldn't see the murderous look she was giving Sephiroth. Sephiroth smirked at her defiant actions before continuing,

"You will be staying at our residence. We live in the small town of Neiblhiem, I'm sure you'll love it there."

That last statement was so drenched in sarcasm that Tifa couldn't help but ball her fist. How dare he come into her home uninvited, mock her, and demand that she go with them to their home in some town she had never heard of. Outraged she said in a slightly raised voice,

"How dare you!? Telling me that I have to pack up and follow two complete strangers to live in some town that I've never heard of! I think I'll stay right here."

Sephiroth's mouth had lost its amused grin and Vincent's eyes were like hardened rubies. Tifa's lips paled when she realized her refusal, especially when put like that, might have been taken as an insult. When Vincent spoke his voice had lost all of its warmth and kindness.

"Miss Lockhart, you will be coming with us even if we have to carry you out the door. The Professor, you father, wanted us to watch out for you in the case that he should die and we will abide by that request. Now, you have the choice of saying goodbye to your friend and leaving or Sephiroth picking you up and carrying you out. I would choose the first choice; the second choice might cause your friends to come after you."

Tifa's eyes had widened. These two men were very serious about taking her from her home. If they thought she would give in so easily then they were sadly mistaken. Tifa's back was straight as a lance and her voice was ice cold.

"If you think that threatening me is going to get you anywhere then you are sadly mistaken. Good day."

Tifa got up with every intention of going to her room to call the police when she felt two lean and very strong hands grasp her waist. She found herself being hoisted onto Sephiroth's shoulder and gasped with outrage.

"Put me down!"

"Are you ready Vincent?"

"Whenever you are."

"Good, then shall we?"

"Wait just a god damn minute! Who the hell do you think you are? Put me down!"

Sephiroth let out an agitated sigh and bumped her against his shoulder. That knocked the wind out of her momentarily giving the men just enough time to haul her onto their airship before her screams broke out again.

Cloud looked out his front door and saw Tifa screaming his name as an airship lifted into the air. In a state of panic, he ran after the ship but was too late. Helpless, he watched the ship climb higher and higher until it was nothing more than a speck on the horizon.

"Tifa..."