Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 belongs to Square-Enix, not me.


The sunshine was shining brightly through the gaps of the blind when he opened his eyes. He squinted a little before his eyes gradually got used to the bright light. Absently he pushed the strands of his hair that were irritating his eyes away from them and sat up. His crimson-hued eyes fell on the woman sleeping peacefully next to him on the bed.

She was beautiful.

His heart gave a nearly imperceptible jump at the sight of her. He smiled a little to himself at the fact that she still had that effect on him even after being together for so many months. He counted silently in his head; it had been exactly two years. It was their second anniversary that day.

He stroked her cheek lightly with his good hand as he studied her sleeping form.

Long silky brown hair partially covered her face as she lay on her side, hands tucked under her head. Her expressive brown eyes were currently closed in blissful rest, and her impossibly long eyelashes cast a slight shadow on her cheeks. A small smile played on her lips as she slept.

In his eyes, she looked like an angel. His angel, who had believed in him and saw him for the broken man he was, past the demon-red eyes and ferocious claw. Who had offered him a hand and helped him find his way out of the past that haunted him every night in his nightmares. Who had given him her love unconditionally even as he struggled to get past his guilt and his need for atonement. Who had waited for him patiently to return her love.

Her eyelashes slowly fluttered open. Sleepy brown eyes met his red ones as she smiled at him quizzically and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that, Vincent?"

"…No reason. Did I wake you up? Sorry." He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"Nah, it was past time to wake up anyway." She sat up and stretched her arms as she yawned. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she asked, "Do you know what day it is today, Vincent?"

He feigned ignorance. "Tuesday, isn't it?"

A pillow hit him in the chest. He looked at her and saw that she was holding another pillow like a weapon in mock menace.

"Wrong answer! I'll give you another chance to answer! And woe betide you if you get it wrong again!"

He pretended to think about it a long time. He loved teasing her, he realized.

Another pillow hit him, this time on the head. His mouth turned up in a slight grin as he leaned over to kiss her pouting lips.

"Happy anniversary, Tifa."

...
As they walked out of their house hand in hand later that morning, one thing resonated clearly in Vincent's mind.

Tifa was his redemption.


A/N: I have no idea why the image of Vincent waking up next to a sleeping Tifa got stuck in my mind flatly refusing to vacate it, but here's the result of my little attempt to put the image into words. Maybe the image will go away now that I've given it form instead of popping up at the weirdest times, like when I'm trying to concentrate on my work. Sigh.