Disclaimer: Don't own the rights to FFVII nor any of their characters

Chapter 3

The sea voyage was uneventful without the ever so hyper Yuffie. Even Barret's rowdy and harsh mood seemed to have been engulfed in dread and anticipation. Tifa had been mostly sleeping in her own cabin for the two day cruise, careful to avoid a stressful Cloud and a moody Barret. She gazed dreamily up at the ceiling, and the only thing that swam through her mind was Vincent.

She had given great thought to their previous, and possibly last, conversation. She had wished to learn more about the mysterious and lonely man, but she suspected she would either have to return to Nibelheim, the earth-bound hell that held horrific memories for her, and confront Vincent in his slumbering coffin, or simply forget and live her life.

She doubted she would get through the week.

The quiet, nagging voice in the back of her mind seemed to whisper things into her mind, yet she could not make them out. She wanted to know what to do, what to say, how to live; but it was all in vain. No one would tell her how to live her life.

I can't go back to Nibelheim, after my father and friends, after Sephiroth destroyed it all…But how can I live on so empty like this? Vincent made me feel needed, responsible. Cloud makes me only his toy, his walking stick. What should I do?

'What your heart says.'

Such simple advice, but it bewildered her even more. Her heart was so tangled up in Cloud's rejection and her undiscovered fancy to Vincent that she was in no condition to think.

"I miss you…"

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

A few weeks had passed, and Tifa was on her last frayed nerves. She had reopened a small bar in Kalm, and in tribute to Aeris, christened it 'The Flower Haven'. She had to deal with many drunkards that wandered in late at night, but Barret's occasionally visits had given the bar a pretty solid reputation that showed they had no tolerance for trouble.

Tifa was leaning wearily on the bar counter; it had been a slow day. The dull, gray rain poured outside her window, casting an ominous and depressing shadow upon the pub. She sighed heavily and began to clean shot-glasses that lay unused that day on the display shelf, turning her back upon the entrance.

She had not given Vincent much thought since her return to Junon, the port city where she, Cloud and Barret had gone their separate ways. Cloud now ironically worked for Shinra under Reeve, otherwise known to them as the infamous Cait Sith, as a military leader and one of the top Organization Leaders commanding it. Barret had taken Marlene with him to Midgar as well, and ran into Elmyra, Aeris's foster mother.

Though they repeatedly told her they had no romantic relationship, they lived together in Midgar and Corel, visiting back and forth when the other became dull and bleak. It appears Marlene had taken a liking to this motherly figure when she had been placed in her care long ago, and was happy to have her around, devoid of a mother herself.

The bell above the door rang as it swung open, and Tifa turned around to find a customer walk up to one of the booths and slouch lazily into it. From her view, he was a man wearing all white and black, a large, silver cloak wrapped around his shoulders, and his long, rich, dark hair was held in a ponytail that hung down to the middle of his broad back. She was instantly reminded of an old adversary, but pushed that thought away from her. Besides, Sephiroth never had his silver hair tied into a ponytail.

She walked up to him and saw he was reading a small, black, leather-bound book, and did not look up at her as she approached.

"What'll it be?" she asked in a false cheeriness, a pad in one hand and a pen in the other.

The man continued reading for a moment before turning up to her, his blue eyes looking into her own. She noticed half his lower face was covered by a black scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. Sure feels like winter more now every day, she thought.

"I'll take a cold glass of water and a bowl of your special," he said stiffly.

She wrote down his order and gave a small nod and a smile before turning back to the kitchen, where her chief, Jean, was lightly dozing off, arm propped against the counter as his head lay lazily in it.

"Wake up, Jean, we have an order," she said loudly, ripping off the paper and placing it in front of him. He jumped with a started and a muttered apology that she shrugged off and turned to get a glass. Such a strange man…Why did he order just soup and water on a day like this?

She shrugged and filled the glass with ice-cold water, slowly making her way from the back to discover the man had moved to the bar counter, idly looking at the shot-glasses lined up one next to another. He turned his head slightly as she walked behind the counter, sliding him his drink.

"Interesting collection," he said softly, nodding his head toward the shelves. "I have never seen so many variants." He looked down and continued his read, though Tifa merely gawked at him for a second. He looked so much like Sephiroth, and sounded so familiar, too…

"Miss? Where is my soup?" he asked suddenly, and she became away Jean had rung the order bell several times and was now shouting at her from the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry," she muttered, rushing out with the steaming bowl. Of course, luck twisted against her and she slipped on the wet floor as she ran to the customer, dropping the bowl on the ground and falling on her back. She braced herself for the fall…

…and it never came.

The man had caught her before she fell onto broken shards of porcelain and burning chunks of soup, but when she gasped, it was not in horror at her mistake, it was surprise of the man's arm.

He had caught her back with his left arm, and the metallic claw was gleaming neatly, which had been hidden carefully in his cloak. Seeing no other way to save her, Vincent had lunged at her with his claw, catching her.

"Vincent…!" she gasped in shock. "Bu…but, but why? What are you doing here?" She seemed as though she would faint any moment, as Vincent brought her to her feet. Jean had rushed out of the kitchen when he heard the crash, and shook his head slightly at the ruined dish as he went to fetch a dustpan and mop.

"Hello to you as well. Can I not check up on my friend every now and then?" he asked, raising his eyebrow in question.

She stuttered for a moment, breathed deeply, gathered her composure and replied shakily, "Why did you leave so suddenly? And why did you show up now?" She swayed slightly and she grasped the counter for her support.

She suddenly felt Vincent's guiding arm wrap around her as she led her to a booth, gently allowing her to slide in and watched in mild surprise as he sat across from her, his blue eyes now slowly shifting back to the blood-red. "I am here because I grew…worried about you. I had not hoped my departure would have been as devastating as it went."

"Of course I was devastated, Vincent!" screamed Tifa, and Jean knocked the pail of water on the ground with his mop in surprise and cursed loudly. She ignored him and continued on. "Damnit Vincent, you just up and took off without a single good-bye, or even just a simple note…" She began to feel the tears travel down her flushed cheeks, adverting her eyes to the table. She jumped in fear and astonishment as Vincent wiped the tears from her cheeks.

He got up from his seat, flung off his silver cape to reveal his usual attire, and sat besides her. "I did not want to argue with you about my leaving. I felt that if I allowed myself to talk to you once more, then I would be compelled to see you through to your destination, and I would probably remain there as well." He shook his head sadly. "In the end, I removed myself from my coffin and became a wandering man, doing silent, yet benevolent deeds for those I met along my lone travels. However…" His voice trailed off and she turned toward him, staring into those dead, desolate eyes.

And she could bear her anguish no longer.

She threw herself into his chest, and she could feel him stiffen in surprise. She lightly pounded the bottom of her fists into his chest as she sobbed, gasping, "You bastard, do you realize how much we worried about you? How much I worried about you? Do you even care?" She slowly began to quiet her sobs, and Jean hastily and stealthily crept to the bar door, flipped the 'Open' sign over and left, quietly shutting the door.

She did not move from her position, and suddenly felt Vincent's claw smooth her hair gently. The feeling sent shivers through her spine, and she grasped his black shirt in her fists as she pulled herself closer into him. "I missed you so much, I only had Cloud and Barret with me…"

"What do you think made me return? To check up on everything?" He looked down upon her, his deep eyes waiting for her response, but she smiled slightly into his chest, not looking up.

"You could have just said you missed me, too," she said jokingly.

"I missed you too, Tifa." She looked up in surprise, not realizing Vincent would take her jest seriously. Of course, she had hoped…

She gave him a genuine smile, one that crept up slowly and flashed into a sincere and loving smile, and her face seemed to glow. She rested her weary head into him again, sliding her head against his broad chest until she became comfortable. In a few silent moments, she fell into a dreamless sleep in Vincent's arms.

A/N: Awww, so cuuttee! I recently got hooked on Tifa/Vincent (Ticent, Vifa, whatever) so I really enjoyed writing this one. Vincent does talk a little much but I guess he's just warming up to Tifa. Please leave reviews!