Chapter 2

By Crystal Snowflakes

Author's Notes: Another chapter, yay! Anyways, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimers: Final Fantasy 7 does not belong to me... Boo!

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"I can't believe it's you Tifa..." Yuffie looked at her friend closely, "You haven't changed a bit."

Tifa cracked a smile, "Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment... So, how have you been doing?"

Yuffie shrugged, "Okay, I guess. As good as it can get." At this time, Tommy had decided to interrupt the conversation.

Elena, knowing we wanted to have some private time alone, turned back to the kitchen, "Well, you two have fun. I'm going to finish up dinner. Tifa, you are staying over for dinner, right?"

Tifa nodded. Rude followed Elena, only he went to the baby room. She looked at me, "Yours... Or theirs?"

"Reno and mine." She replied softly. "So how have you been, and why are you here all of a sudden? I'm guessing Reeve told you where we lived."

"Yeah... it's been all right. Cloud and I decided to take a break from Nibelheim and come to Midgar visit you and Reeve."

Yuffie raised her eyebrow, "You mean Reeve." She said dryly. "Either way... I'm glad you came by. At least now I know that someone hasn't forgotten me..."

"None of us have, really." Tifa argued.

"They just hate me."

"No, we--"

Yuffie shrugged, "It doesn't really concern me anymore. I have Elena, Rude and Reeve... I'm very content. How are the others?"

"Cid... Well, you know that Cid has decided to build another rocket. Barret has been Mayor of Corel, Cloud and I are just working at a bar in Nibelheim, Reeve has become President of Midgar, as you know... Vincent, we really don't have any news on him after last time... And as for Red, you know, he's always after books..." Tifa held Yuffie's hands, "How are you pulling through?"

"I don't know... I guess as well as I can, I guess. It's been a year, yet I still remember him. It's been exactly a year, and I can still remember his winks, his swaggering smirks, his way of calling me... Him. Especially today, the memories have been overwhelming." Yuffie looked at her hands, "I miss him so much... Sometimes I wonder what could've been if he hadn't died. Sometimes I wondered if he had wanted me to keep the child if he had known about it. Sometimes I wonder what our life would be together." She sighed quietly, "But that's all in the past. I have been trying to focus on my future with Tommy, our son... But sometimes, it really gets out of hand, and that is when Elena is so helpful in so many ways... But, that's enough about me. What about you and Cloud?"

Tifa gave a forced smile, "There was no 'Cloud and I' one year ago, there is no 'Cloud and I' right now, and I don't think there will be."

"I see..." Yuffie looked sympathizing, "I'm sure he'll look your way sooner or later. By the way, do you want to stay after dinner? I was thinking of going with Rude, Elena and Tommy to see Reno. Do you want to come?"

"Me?" Tifa gave a chuckle, "All right, but I don't think Reno will be too glad to see me."

Yuffie smiled, "I don't think he ever hated anyone of you... Except maybe Cloud. But I think he was just jealous." She gave a wink.

Tifa chuckled again, and as she saw Rude's figure at the door with a baby in his arms, she looked at Yuffie for permission, "May I?"

"Of course."

Tifa walked towards the baby and when she saw him, her eyes filled with awe, "Wow..." She whispered, "She looks so much like him, it's unbelievable." Tifa looked at Rude, and he then handed the baby to her and joined Elena in the kitchen. "I..."

Yuffie too, looked at her baby, "He does look like his father, doesn't he? Don't you Tommy?" She cooed softly.

At that second, Tifa had immediately fallen for the little babe. "He's so beautiful..."

"Just like his father." Yuffie said gently.

"You really did love him, didn't you?" Tifa asked, "Back then, we all thought you were too young to comprehend what love was. We thought the both of you were having a fling. We had thought that Reno was just playing with you... But now..."

Yuffie nodded, "I know... Everyone thought that... Except the two of us. Somehow... Somehow, in the midst of all the chaos and confusion around us, we found each other, and we created Tommy. Something I wouldn't trade for all the Materia in the world." She gave a small smile, "I was so spoiled back then. Even Reno called me a brat. I wonder why he fell for me... I wonder what he saw in someone so much younger than him."

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It was drizzling by the time they had finished their dinner. The sky was gray, a flash of lightning every once in a while. Yuffie could hear the drops of rain all around her and she tucked Tommy into the blanket as she held onto him. With Tifa and Elena surprisingly civil to each other and Rude in the rear, Yuffie let her mind wander as her legs took her to wherever she wanted to.

And suddenly, she stopped in front of a church.

Tifa gasped, "Aeris..."

Yuffie smiled, "Yeah, it really was Reeve's idea... I think he was going to tell you all to visit once it was done, but you know, he's been quite busy these days... I'm surprised he even had time to see you guys. It's beautiful here... Nothing really has changed. We keep it the way it was, just for the sake of remembering. I mean, I never knew Aeris back when she was in Midgar... But when I go in the church, I can feel her..." She looked over at Tifa, "Anyways, let's go."

Tifa looked in wonder as they entered the church. The flower bed, the benches, windowpanes, everything was what it was suppose to be like. She watched Yuffie in confusion as she led them behind the church.

There, was different. It was filled with flowers and in the middle, a grave.

Yuffie knelt down in front of the grave with Tommy still in her arms, "I know, you must be shocked that we buried Reno at Aeris' church. At first, I didn't think that it was such a good idea... But apparently, they were friends, even if the Turks had to capture her. Rude said they never really tried very hard." She paused, "We would've done one for Aeris, but we thought... When we buried Aeris, it was where it should've been. With Reno..." She didn't continue on.

Tifa was in awe. So much information. Aeris, Reno, the Turks? Friends? How could that be? But... How could it not? She had thought that Reno was ruthless, heartless, yet, look at what he had done to his friend. He had sacrificed his life to save his friend's... And here, her own friend Yuffie... Even if it cost her everything in her life, she had stayed along with his friends because of him. Can a man like that be so ruthless? Could it be that the AVALANCHE had completely mistaken the Turks and everyone? Even Aeris had befriended Reno... He can't be that bad then, can he?

"Hey Reno..." Elena started, "Hope you've been fine. You know, Yuffie been missing you so much... And we all do. We've been a wreck today..." She gave a smile, "I know, I know... I know I'm weak and I'm a horrible Turk. But really, we've become a wreck without you... I mean, I'd tell you to come back, but I really can't exactly... So, please... If you're watching over her... please make Yuffie happier."

Rude, like always, kept quiet, just staring at the grave.

"I miss you Reno..." Yuffie whispered, "Life's been hard without you, but it's been bearable, thanks to Elena and Rude. Tifa came to visit, you know... And we asked Reeve, but he's been quite busy... He promised he'd come one of these days though... He is so thankful of you everyday... Either way, Cloud came to visit and he should be with Reeve right now." She looked down at Tommy tenderly, "Tommy's been great, and he looks just like you... He still hasn't learned how to talk yet, but maybe he will soon. Sometimes, I really wish I could be embraced by your arms one last time. When you left me, it was so unbearably unexpected... I just wish... I just wish we could've had more time together."

I don't know what I'm feeling for you Reno... But I think... No. I know... I know it's something very special...

...We can try.

"I really wonder how you're doing right now... And I wonder how Tommy will do, growing up without a father and all. But I think he'll be fine. Rude has been a lot of help. I just wished that you had the chance to see Tommy... And that he had the chance to see his father, to learn from his father. I hope he grows up as well as you have..."

...I love you.

You're really too young to know what love is.

"I know you'd deny it and say how you grew up horribly and you were a terrible person... But you were all that I wanted and all that I ever wanted. If Tommy grew up as well as you, I'd be the happiest woman on the entire planet, not that I wasn't... I had you."

Am I not good enough for you now?! Or am I just not attractive enough? Is it because I'm so much younger that you don't want me? Is it because I am a child to you?! Well, is it Reno?! I'm asking you a question!

No... It's... It's because you're too special. I can't treat you like a common whore Yuffie. You're too innocent for that.

But I want you Reno...

...I... Yuffie...

Please...

I...

"Please Reno... If you are really watching over us, please bless Tommy so that he will grow up into a good man like his father. Good bye Reno. I love you."

Yuffie... I...

I know, Reno, I know. I love you too.

Thank you.

I just feel like being nice for now... But once you're ready...

I know.

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Tifa had left for the inn already and Rude and Elena went to bed. The both of them had to go to work the next day. Elena was a part time secretary for Reeve when she wasn't doing her Turk work. Rude was a security man until something important happened... Only two Turks left.

And they had never bothered to hire another one.

As Yuffie put the sleeping babe to his crib, she suddenly didn't feel too sleepy at all. Sitting in the chair she did this afternoon, her brain began to pull out memories from over a year ago. They were memories that were not forgotten, but were tragic and heartbreaking.

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Eighteen-year-old Yuffie watched the sunset, feeling another feeling of satisfaction at her own life. For a little more than a year, ever since she's returned to Wutai after saving the planet, she's done her share of work in Wutai. Building, helping the elders, taking care of children...

Her mind drifted towards AVALANCHE, wondering how they have been. She had gone to Rocket Town for a few days for Cid and Shera's wedding, but that was so long ago... It must've been at least half a year ago. As far as she knows, Cid sits on his ass all day doing nothing, or he helps rebuild Midgar at times, Barret is helping rebuild Corel, hoping to become Mayor, Tifa and Cloud have gone to rebuild Midgar as well as Reeve, but the two of them might have moved back to Nibelheim. Reeve also wanted to rebuild Shinra and fix everything Shinra, Inc. had done wrong. Vincent's whereabouts were unknown and Red had gone back to Cosmo Canyon.

How fun it was to go on an adventure to save the world, beat up bad guys, climb mountains, kill Sephiroth... She missed it sometimes, but there was no time for remembrance. She had things to do in Wutai...

Often, when she wasn't thinking about AVALANCHE, a certain redhead always popped up in her mind. It wasn't as if she missed him or anything. It was just a sense of curiosity, knowing whether he lived or not. But she did have to admit, she couldn't get her mind off of him at times. He was sort of...charming. She hid a small smile.

As a wind blew towards her, she shivered slightly. It's getting cold out. She thought. Sighing at her own stupidity for not bringing a jacket of some sort, she decided to get back home before she got sick.

When she got back to her room, she heard a familiar, yet uncommon sound. For a few moment, she stood in the middle of room pondering what it was until she remembered what was so familiar about it. PHS! She jumped at the sudden revelation and decided to follow the sound.

Making a big mess in her room, she was determined to find the PHS, and it was then she remembered that she had stuffed it in a bag in her closet. She flung the closet doors opened and started shuffling everything out of the way. And felt a sense of fulfillment when her hand touched the surface of the PHS.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Damn it Yuffie! What the hell was taking you so long?!" A crude voice was on the other side.

She blinked, "Cid?"

"Who the fuck else damn it!" She heard yelling then Cid mumbling to himself.

"Yuffie?"

"Hi Tifa." She said.

A sigh of relief, "Thank God. We couldn't contact you for so long. Anyways, we'll be in Wutai in around ten minutes. Pack up, bring all the Materia and we'll meet you at the front. You really don't have time to talk now."

"Wha...What?" Yuffied asked, shocked, "Why? What's wrong?"

"Reeve was kidnapped, we got Cid to pick us up. Once we pick you up, we're going to pick Barret up and so on."

"Who's coming?"

A silence, "Everyone."

"Vincent too?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up. You know, last time with Cid and Shera, he just showed up out of nowhere. I'm sure we'll see him there. Anyways, you don't have much time, and we're on a time limit here. Pack all you need and meet us there. Bye."

Before Yuffie could say her farewell, she heard the line cut off. What the hell was that... She wondered, then remembering the time, she hurried up and took the bag that she found her PHS. She stuffed some a pair of shorts and a t-shirt as well as some warm clothing, then bought her Conformer and stuffed her PHS. Lastly, she dug from inside her closet to find a big sac of Materia. Stuffing it all in the bag, she looked around. Her room was a mess.

Finally, she remembered how chilly it was outside and decided to change quickly into a black turtleneck and a pair of jeans. She was ready to go.

On the way out of her house, she saw his father. He, of course, was wondering what the hell she was doing and she only told him that he wouldn't be back in a long time. Without another word, she was out the house and running towards the entrance of the town.

When she reached there, she saw the Highwind about to land and when they tossed her the rope ladder, she grabbed it immediately and started climbing up... And was greeted by Tifa whom she hugged right away, "I missed you!"

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Author's Notes: From now on, it's only flashbacks. Hope you enjoyed it. Oh, and I started playing FF7, but it frigging crashed during Corel... So I don't think I can play anymore Oh, and sorry for the late update. I was going to update every Sunday, but I was just forgetful and completely forgot until today. Either way, I hope you enjoy! Bye!

-Crystal Snowflakes

Tuesday, November 16, 2004