Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this fic but I DO own this fic .

So, how's everybody doing? Okay, I've officially no idea what's going to happen in this story anymore. This seems to happen to me a lot, I can plan out this WHOLE thing out but I always end up not following it and winging the whole thing. It usually ends up better than what I planned out too =).

So anyways, I still have to know if you guys want this to be a lemon. So far, no one's said they have a problem. So I'm thinking of making it one... maybe XD. It matters on where this leads. So... how many times have a typed 'so' already?! Like... wow... I'm obsessed with this word... well not really but I have major writer's block right now. So (there I go again!!) I'm just going to my best of my ability with this chapter.

BTW. If you think that Tifa being sick is like very important... it's NOT. So (like omfg there's that word again...) if you thought like 'OMG she's going to die but Vincent!!! GO SAVE HER LIFE!!!' then no. Just no. wrong idea haha I just needed her to be sick to get her out of Nibelhiem and for Vincent to ACTUALLY stay. Okie dokie everybody? OKAY! STORY TIME.

My Thanks.

"Tifa, I've gotten you an appointment with Dr. Chong for noon. Try to eat as fast as you can, we're already behind schedule." Nanaki spoke fluently as he finished his breakfast that consisted of equally odd food of the previous nightfall.

"What have you been doing for the last year?" The start of a conversation between Vincent and Nanaki began; Tifa was left to slowly chew and swallow her food as they moved into another room.

"I've been here in Cosmo Canyon. But I must admit I miss the thrill of adventure. What have you been doing?"

"I've… been searching for something."

"Ah. I see. Possibly I could tag along and help you. I have some searching spells that might come in useful." Companionship was so very tempting; everything in Vincent howled for him to accept Nanaki's help. During their journey, Nanaki was probably the one whom he spoke most with, everyone else seem to avoid him… except Tifa and Cid. Aeris never showed it very much but she would stay close to Cloud more often, all the while, Cloud was just distant to everyone. Barret was very judgmental of people, whether they were good or bad, he seemed to have decided that the ex-Turk was indeed 'evil' but trustworthy. Cait never seemed to care of anything, so it didn't matter. Though the young ninja, Yuffie, appeared to have some kind of infatuation with him, she ended up more loathing him for ignoring her very obvious hints. Cid didn't judge, he seemed to like someone to talk to that just listened, which Vincent was amazingly awesome at. Tifa… she didn't care about anything that he used to be, she saw him as a simple human. She had told him that once, she was having a nightmare and he woke her; the insolent girl refused to go back to sleep so they had talked for the remainder of the starry night. It was brazen that unlike the other shinobu, Tifa Lockheart was truly in love with Cloud Strife; the way she spoke of him, they way everything would become quiet and tranquil in her features when she did reminded him of himself and Lucretia. Even though the blond man was completely head over heels for the Cetra, who by the time of the conversation was still living, this red-eyed beauty never hated or even slightly disliked the Ancient.

"She's in love with him, yes, but she doesn't love him. He isn't burned into her soul, I even love the burn. But. I think he really loves her and if he's happy than I'm happy." Was what she had said.

"Vincent?" The red creature's voice prodded him back to the present. "Would you mind if I tagged along your little escapade?"

"… If that is what you wish."

"What about Tifa?" Tifa? She was to go back to Nibelhiem… wasn't she?

"What about her?"

"I think she'd might want to come."

"Did… she say something?"

"No, no, it's just. In her letters… it's obvious she might want to escape the memories."

"… I believe it would be better if she stayed there."

"I don't know if Tifa-" The beast's ears perked at the sound of footsteps. Tifa entered into view soon and pointed at the time.

Dr. Chong's office looked much more… civilized than Dr. Xiao's, it was actually a clinic. Nurses and other people dressed in clean white walked about in the small facility; Tifa gave them a small smile before heading into the room that Dr. Chong would be present in. Vincent slid into the seat next to Nanaki as they waited for the next hour or two.

Worry had long sank its infectious teeth into Nanaki. Dr. Chong was an expert with cures and such, what could be taking so long? His eyes swiveled to the right, watching the little of Vincent's expression he could see above his collar; it remained untouched by any feeling. The sight being of no comfort, the red fighter's eyes crawled back to the floor.

"Mr. Nanaki?" A very wutanian woman stood in a white lab coat; her hair was jet black and just past her shoulders. She was young and her features were defined with high cheekbones. "Yes?" A chill had crept its way into both of the men's bodies seeing her stern face.

"Your friend, Tifa, is going to be fine." The knots within the firey beast's stomach dissipated. "But she needs to take these pills twice a day and she'll need lots of rest. She should be up and going in two weeks."

Unknown to his companion, little balloons and confetti were being thrown around in Vincent's mind. But a simple question crashed the celebration; could he go now? Could he leave Tifa with the kind doctors or the protective citizens of Nibelhiem and be on his way with Nanaki? Or was Nanaki right that Tifa would want to come? She shouldn't. She couldn't. Ironically, she was probably the one who would understand his inner turmoil the most.

"Vincent!" Tifa stood beside Nanaki, both calling him into the real world.

"I… was thinking." Great. Now they're going to think I can only process one simple task at a time.

"You know," Tifa's soft voice was bubbling with giggles as she tried to speak. "for someone who supposedly listens good… you don't"

It was twilight, Tifa had retired for the night, Nanaki had gone off on some business with one of Cosmo Canyon's many members leaving Vincent with his thoughts… and demons. He looked out the small windows and felt the cry to leave. Just leave. But obligation held him by Tifa's side, forcing him to watch her slowly regain strength over the two weeks.

I wonder where to go now. The young flamboyant young woman lay in her bed that she was confined to for the last couple of weeks. She didn't want to burden Nanaki for too long but Nibelhiem didn't seem very inviting anymore. She craved for the rush of battle, the blisters of the deserts, everything that an adventure would have crammed in it. Maybe Vincent would allow her to follow in his journeys to find Lucretia, speaking of the cloaked fiend, she hadn't spoken to him for the entire time she was recovering with the pills that Dr. Chong had given to her.

She'd been lying awake on her bed for two hours, something felt wrong. Shivers were running up and down her spine; yes, something was violent. Tifa stood silently, once out of her room she hear agonizing howls bellowing through the door that stood in front of her. Every scream was filled with such heart-wrenching pain, the young woman could hear the thrashing of the fabric; it was intimidating yet seducing. The voice was muffled through the shielding door; the warrior's heart pounded hard against her chest. Moans of anguish were tearing at her core; they were so pain-stricken. The young woman's hand was trembling as it gingerly touched the doorknob. Come on, Tifa. You can do this. There's nothing to even be afraid of. Only the sounds that were seeping through the entrance to the room made it seem like something was slowly pulling off the skin of a living man.

Open the goddamned door! Her hand grasped the knob with much more confidence and swung it open. There lay Vincent on his bed; he was thrashing and kicking at invisible assailants. Sweat dripped from his furrowed brows, his face was scrunched into horribly distressed features.

"Lucretia! … No…Stop!" His voice escalated then died down once more; it continued this wild then calm pattern. Both hands burrowed into his messy hair but flew out and continued to defend himself from unseen forces.

Tifa bolted to his bed and grabbed his wrists; something warm was on them… something wet. The Sun was peeking over the horizon making it possible to see the blood that leaked from various cuts on Vincent's arm and chest; the weapon used to cause them was his very own golden claw. It slashed his skin in its furry to ban the demons of his nightmare.

"Vince! Wake up!" Simple fear was apparent in her voice as she called to him, through the barriers of his mind. His screaming ceased; his eyes burst open with shock.

"Tifa?" What the…? One of the most puzzled looks walked upon his face. Tifa was gasping for air, when had she started to hold her breath?

"You… were having a nightmares. You cut yourself. I-I'll get you some bandages." Moving to the bathroom, she dropped his wrists; she was still shaking. She came back not too long after, much more relaxed, with swathe in hand.

The time went by slowly and silently, Tifa watched as Vincent covered his wounds. A chuckle formed in his chest and he did nothing to hide it, the nervous girl looked up and saw a ghost of a smile on his lips. Something was in his eyes that was directed to her but she couldn't figure out what, but he let his eyes drop back to his half-white, half-almost-white-which-is-his-skin arms but never forget the gold too. It was almost time to 'get up' and Vincent still couldn't manage to say what he wanted to say, he continued to open his mouth then shutting it.

Snort. "Stop that!" Tifa's giggles refused to stay in and she finally forfeited, letting them to be heard. "Just say it!"

"…" His eyes were upon her again with the same glint that she couldn't decode.

"What did you want to say?" Voices combated each other, fighting over Vincent's judgment. While as Tifa stared into his eyes, her mind trying see what should be so very obvious. It was right there but she couldn't see it! Wait. Was it? Could it be?

"Thank you." He moved quickly out of the room and to where Nanaki would have breakfast ready.

It was gratitude.