An Ocean of Roses
By kimetara
Multipart
Sequel to "Waves of Pain" and Red Roses Mean Love. References to "Petals" as a side story.

AN:
To Cendrillo: Aye, I agree that the pace of the last chapter felt a bit rushed, which is something I rather regret...but I know that if I hadn't rushed it, I would have wound up sitting here detailing all three weeks, and then this would no longer be a short little piece but another lengthy multi-part (though on the upside, I would've learned a great deal about marriages). A significant extension in length would have meant it'd likely take months to complete with my current load of schoolwork, which would have defeated the purpose of this fanfic--to wrap RRML up tidily and concisely. (At the moment, school and writing are having a tug-of-war over my soul. I regret to say school is winning.) I'm sure there was probably some wayof moving the story up three weeks without feeling rushed or producing a plethora of chapters, but my writing ability isn't quite up there yet.

As for the symbols, when I first played through FFVII those were what I saw, so it's just what I naturally associate with Cid...and I find them more amusing, while curse words in light-hearted situations seem to stand out jarringly or sail right over. Ah well, matter of opinion, and I do hope it didn't bother you to the extent that it lessened your enjoyment. If so, then I'm very sorry, and with luck this chapter will serve you better!

Chapter Three

He slipped through the crowd as well as to be expected of a skilled mercenary, pausing twice to offer his congratulations to Reeve and say hello to Nanaki. Neither were surprised to see him, but both were pleased, which he appreciated. Barret, Cid, and Yuffie, although much easier to find, were better off being saved until later. Cloud didn't want a big fuss over his entrance until he had finished what he came here to do.

There she was, chatting with...Barret and Elmyra. Shoot. Cloud frowned to himself and wondered how he was supposed to drag her away from them without being seen, but to his astonishment, she turned and looked right at him. He recovered after a moment though, and gave her a brief nod before heading to a more secluded corner.

It took a few moments, but she eventually joined him. "Hello, Cloud," she greeted him evenly.

"Hey." He glanced at her and quickly took her all in--she looked gorgeous, in that dress and her hair styled in an artful bun and waterfall--then looked away. Automatically, his hand rose and he sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Ah...how've you been, Tifa?"

"Okay. What about you?" She eyed him, and Cloud nearly winced again. He'd changed too, though not exactly in the best manner.

"I've been alright."

"That's good." Her tone was neutral, and he didn't know whether she believed him or not. Cloud guessed it didn't really matter.

"...how'd you know I was here?" he finally asked, just to break the silence.

"I saw you talking to Vincent."

"Oh." Silence again. Alright, this wasn't going anywhere. Cloud took a deep breath, straightened, and turned to look his dearest friend in the eye. "Tifa, I'm sorry," he rushed out before he could lose the nerve. "I'm sorry for leaving you without telling you and not visiting the entire time I was gone." There, it was said. He'd done what he needed to do, now just to accept the consequences.

She peered at him for a moment, then turned away to watch the dance floor. "It's okay. I got over it a long time ago, and I'm glad you dropped by to speak to Vincent a few times while you were gone," she replied quietly. Neutrally. "At least then I didn't worry so much."

Cloud waited.

"...but at first it really hurt," she continued, her right hand creeping up across her midsection to grasp her elbow. "It hurt that you would visit Vincent, and Cid, and Yuffie, but not me. It hurt when Nanaki would mention that you dropped by, or Barret told me he chewed you out for leaving. And when Reeve would carefully, gently mention that you visited a week ago...it was painful, to know that you'd see them but you wouldn't see me," she finished with a soft, sad smile.

Verdict: guilty.

"Tifa..." he protested, wrapping his arms around her in a helpless hug, one she didn't return. "It's not that I...I wanted to visit you, but..."

"I know." She tilted her head back to look up at him. "I figured it out when everybody told me that you'd asked them the same thing: how I was doing. At first I thought they were lying, but then everybody started getting angry about it, and I decided it had to be true." Tifa chuckled affectionately, remember the fit Yuffie had pitched. "So, did you find who you were looking for?"

Gods, he loved this woman. He hugged her tightly and rested his chin on her hair, smiling when she finally returned the embrace. "Yeah. I saw her again in the Ancient Forest, and...I'm content now."

"That's good," she repeated, and by mutual consent they let each other go. Cloud suddenly smirked.

"By the way, I saw you dancing with Vincent. You two totally dominated the floor."

Tifa smiled. "Thank you."

"When did you guys hook up?" he inquired casually. Tifa flushed.

"What are you talking about?" she retorted. Cloud chuckled.

"I guess my congratulations are a bit premature. Go and ask the guy to marry you, right now. I'll bet you a million gil he says yes."

"You're an idiot," she scolded, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. "Vincent and I are not-"

"Tifa." He used that tone, the one that always succeeded in grasping attention, especially hers. Sure enough, she reluctantly stopped arguing and met his eyes. "You know I'm on the oblivious side of romance. If I can see it, it's there."

"...then why can't I tell?" she protested gently, her eyes skimming once again over the floor.

"You haven't been away like I have," he stated matter-of-factly. "Trust me, whenever I come back, it hits me like a slap across the face. Besides," Cloud leaned down to whisper in her ear, "do you have any how many rumors I hear about you two? The top catches of the year living together?" he teased. "If I didn't know you better, by now you'd be secretly married, had three illicit affairs, and been pregnant at least once."

"What!" Tifa yelped. Cloud shrugged nonchalantly.

"Sure. You didn't really think you guys would escape the world's notice just because you're holed up here in Nibelheim, did you?"

"But...but..." she sputtered in pure indignation. "That's the most ridiculous nonsense I've ever heard!"

"I agreed, at least until I walked into the room. Then I decided a secret marriage wouldn't be too implausible." He smiled at her and watched the expressions fly across her face, but in the end he knew she'd trust him. She had always trusted him. "I think Vincent ditched the party when I came in, though. Might want to check outside."

"..." Tifa took a deep breath, then nodded and smiled back at him. "Thanks. See you after the reception?"

"If Barret doesn't kill me," he replied wryly. "Good luck."

She half-frowned at him, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before making a beeline through the crowd to the exit. With mixed emotions, Cloud watched her leave. It was funny, how a guy could feel depressed and content at the same time, but he guessed that was just how it goes. He had always known that if he didn't grab her when the opportunity passed by, the chance would go to somebody else. Kind of ironic how he'd watched and watched for that moment all through his childhood, then had it go soaring over his head.

Ah well, she was happy and he was, for the most part, happy. Besides, Cloud didn't feel ready for a new relationship yet. And when he thought back to those leaf-green eyes...well hey, what was wrong with the single life? He'd keep on traveling and helping out with reconstruction, and if the wind blew a new love his way, he'd deal with that when it came. Whatever his personal guardian angel decided.

And now he could go chat with Cid, Yuffie, and Barret. In that order. He'd been kidding when he quipped about Barret killing him, but no need to take unnecessary chances.

-----

Tifa peeked past the door before slipping into the hallway, already feeling nervous. But! She had decided to do this weeks ago, even without Cloud's encouragement, and with it she had absolutely no excuse whatsoever. Besides, she felt so...so...light. It was such a weight lifted off of her, to know that she and Cloud were okay again. If she could smooth things out with Cloud, she could definitely talk to Vincent!

Even if it was about one of the three subjects they'd tactfully avoided for the past two years... Butterflies rose in her stomach again, and she could feel her ankles shaking in her high heels. But she would do this. She promised herself she would.

...if she could find him, that is. The hallway appeared to be completely deserted.

Oh well, she thought to herself. Cloud did say to check outside... Tifa began to walk briskly to the front gardens, all the while admiring the cleanliness and design of the building. The fine carpeting, the paintings on the walls, the vases in their little alcoves... Reeve really went all out- Oh, there was Rude up ahead.

"Hi, Rude!" she called cheerily. He nodded in response.

"Going somewhere?"

"Yeah...actually, do you know where Vincent is?"

Rude considered the question. "...try out in the front."

"Thank you." She smiled and kept walking, inwardly pleased that she'd managed to guess his location correctly. Well, she hadn't found him yet, but if Rude suggested he was there then there was a 99 chance he was there!

-----

Reno, by the way, was watching the entire drama unfold from the video room. Vincent sulking off, Tifa's encounter with Cloud, and now Tifa seeking Vinny-boy out. Pretty soon, he'd be watching their meeting in the gardens, and depending on how it went Reno was seriously considering making a movie. C'mon, a sappy film about the Saviors of the Planet, with the Saviors of the Planet actually in it during the climax? It'd be a box-office legend!

He grinned wickedly. "And they ask me why I love this job."

-----

It was safe in the shadows of the gardens, hidden by the trees and the fountain. The scent of spring flowers was heavy in the air, too fragrant for his liking but there was little to be done about that. Only a quarter moon shone tonight, and Vincent was certain that if allowed, he could stay concealed for the rest of the evening. But she was looking for him, and he knew very well how it felt not to find somebody you were searching for. No matter how much he wished to stay hidden, he would have to reveal himself.

"...be careful. You're going to ruin your hair if you continue to dodge about trees in that manner," he spoke aloud before dropping from his tree branch to the ground beside her.

"There you are, Vincent!" Tifa exclaimed, completely ignoring his warning about her hair. "Why'd you leave the reception?"

"I...needed a little fresh air," he replied carefully. "And you?"

"I came looking for you, of course," she chirped a little too brightly. Vincent lifted an eyebrow, her underlying nervousness not lost on him. She wasn't behaving at all as he expected, but that was nothing new. "Um..."

"...would you care to sit down?" he asked at last, growing steadily more concerned as he watched her struggle to speak.

"Yes, please." Vincent promptly led her to the nearest bench, removed his jacket and placed it over the stone, then motioned for her to sit down on top of it, which she did far too quickly for his liking. He warily joined her. This, he muttered to himself, is going to be either extremely good or extremely bad.

And we know which one you're betting on! Chaos butted in gleefully. Vincent didn't understand why he was cursed to live with something that took pleasure in his pain, but at this moment, he didn't much care. He firmly and forcefully shoved the demon out.

Now that they were both sitting, Vincent waited again as he watched Tifa fidget and play with her hair, then adjust her bracelet, then go very still as if aware she was fidgeting and attempting to stop. It was enough to make him edgy.

"...yes?" he finally prompted when he deemed the silence had gone on long enough.

"I talked to Cloud," she burst out breathlessly. "He seems to be doing fine, although he looks too thin and a bit ragged, but we straightened everything out between us."

"..." Vincent literally felt his throat constrict. What was he supposed to say to that?

"And...um..." Tifa took a deep breath, "he suggested that we talk about...our relationship. Yours and mine, I mean," she hastily clarified. "But I've been meaning to talk to you about our relationship for a month, it's just that he suggested that I do too-"

"For a month?" he interrupted harshly. It was out of character for him to interrupt while somebody else was talking, especially Tifa, but she had been thinking about leaving him for a month? And what was Cloud doing, encouraging her to talk to him about them?

"Yes," she admitted, looking up at him in surprise. "Why does that make you angry? I know it's a long time to wait, but it's hard, talking to you about something we normally avoid discussing..."

"Of course. It's nothing, please continue." Be calm, kind, and understanding.

Unfortunately, Vincent was not a generally calm, kind, or understanding person. He was generally a brooding, cold, and reasonable person, and this was pressing past reason. Certainly, he'd been increasing his receptiveness and warmth over the past two years, but a lifetime was still a lifetime to have a particular personality.

"...okay. Well, you see..." She paused. "I think that I..." Pause again. "I would like it if..."

"If you and I removed ourselves from each other's lives so you would be free to return to Cloud," Vincent finished bitterly for her. Tifa blinked and gaped at him in shock.

"What! No!" She bolted up from the seat and planted her hands on her hips. "Do you really think that after all this time I'd want to just run off with Cloud the moment he returns?" she demanded furiously.

"I have no reason to believe otherwise," Vincent snapped heatedly as he too, rose from the bench. Did he mention he had a bit of an issue with righteous anger?

"Why you-" she stomped her foot in frustration, forgetting she was wearing high heels, and promptly lost her balance. "Whoa!"

Naturally, Vincent caught her as she fell, the reflex long-engrained and well-practiced. He held her arms coolly in front of him, waiting for her to stand on her own feet and let him move away. Tifa did so almost immediately and spun to face him, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment, and...she was crying?

"You!" she declared, shoving a finger in his chest, "are among the stupidest, most self-centered men I know!" With that, she stalked off as quickly as three inch heels would allow, leaving Vincent speechless.

...she's right you know, Chaos commented lazily. I told you you were an idiot.

Shut it. At his ferocity Chaos slinked away, and Vincent gave up trying to understand her behavior and stalked after her. He wasn't sure whether to be wrathful or crushed, but either way, this conversation was not over.

-----

Stupid men, Tifa raged as she stormed through the gardens, tempted to simply kick down the nearest row of hedges. "All idiotic, presumptuous, self-centered-"

"And how, exactly, am I self-centered?" a cool voice cut her off as Vincent smoothly stepped out from behind her and blocked her way. Tifa clenched a fist and resisted the urge to knock him down. She wasn't done venting yet!

"You and your eternal moping! Whenever something happens, you always assume it's bad, and what's more," she accused, "you always have to think that you're either the cause or the victim! I have never met a more arrogant person in my life!"

"And yet, I am the victim," he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Simply because you feel guilty for what you wish to request of me-"

"I feel guilty!" she exploded and nearly stomped her foot again, but she resisted, settling for furiously wiping the tears from her eyes. "How dare you! You don't even know what I was going to say. In fact," she seethed, "you jumped in and put words in my mouth that were the complete opposite of what I wanted to say!"

Vincent paused and gave her a guarded look. "...then what did you wish to say?" he inquired, his voice strangely calm and quiet in the midst of their quarrel.

Tifa huffed in exasperation and narrowed her eyes. "I just told you, the exact opposite of what you assumed," she bit out testily. "I do not want to leave you, and I do not want to 'be free to return to Cloud', as you so kindly put it. Furthermore, you have a godforsaken self-esteem issue and responsibility complex that we're going to have to resolve sooner or later, and-" she faltered when his arms dropped and he stepped towards her, "we need to talk about Cloud and Chaos and us," his arms wrapped around her, "and I still think we should use the shorter grocery line," he pulled her close to him, "and you have the worst sense of timing..." she trailed off, suddenly finding herself sniffling. "I'm not done being angry with you, you jerk," she warned him before burying her face in his dress shirt in an attempt to hide her weeping.

Why was she weeping? Bah! She was supposed to be strong, independent, tough Tifa, she had no reason to be crying...none at all, but he was gently stroking her hair and hell with it, she felt like crying so she would.

There was something about love that always turned her back into a teenager, usually at the most unfortunate moments.

"...I'm sorry, Tifa," he murmured over her. "Sorry..." In a decisive movement, Vincent abruptly gathered her up in his arms and carried her over to the nearest bench, seating her in his lap and continuing to hold her to him. Tifa took a good sniff before turning her face up to look at him.

He looked, without question, absolutely wretched. Looked it, letting those emotions show on his expression, and for that she forgave him. Besides, the situation was like a dream...well, except for her constant sniffing and her make-up being all messed up from her crying, and the fact that quite a bit of the gunk was on his shirt due to her rubbing her face in it--but she was in his lap, in a moonlit garden, dressed in lovely clothes, and he was watching her with the most blatant expression of guilt and worry she had ever seen cross his face.

And she couldn't help wishing his hair was out of that ponytail...so why not finish the fairytale properly?

With deliberate care, Tifa reached up and pulled his hairtie away before running her fingers through his newly-freed tresses. "When we get back to Nibelheim," she began seriously, playing with the silky dark strands, "remind me to give you a red rose, okay?"

Vincent smiled, tenderly, beautifully. "That's a custom chiefly males fulfill," he gently informed her. "But I don't believe I can give you one any longer."

"What?" She froze. "Why not?"

He chuckled and leaned down to her ear, just like Cloud and yet oh-so differently. "You have no idea," he told her quietly, sincerely--he's always so sincere--"how deeply I'm in love with you. I would have to give you an ocean of roses before I could hope to feel satisfied."

"...you're too romantic for your own good," she muttered even as she reveled in his admission, then pulled his mouth down to meet hers. That was as much guidance as Vincent needed before once again, he skillfully took control and swept her away.

-----

"Rude," Reno buzzed in gleefully, "man, are we gonna hit gold with this one!"

AN: Just the epilogue left now!