Disclaimer: I don't FF7.

5 days! I'm sorry i updated late again! I went on an impromptu road trip with some friends (no one ever tells me these things!)

Neko-Yuff16 ,Zinkata , and Cattibrie393: thanks for reviewing again =] I hope I didn't lose you after another late update.

Fantasy-dreamz: I always love seeing new readers review =D I'm glad my Tifa/Vin fic is making a good impression on you

cammy: I'm still getting new people! wow =D And the Seph-being-Vin's-son thing- I actually believe Sephiroth is Hojo's son (most of the time anyways) and I just made him Vincent's son in this one cuz I needed something interesting for Tifa and Vincent to talk about in this chapter =] and I agree. I think Vin/Tifa do look better together than Cloud/Tifa do.


She knows. She knows he's my son, Vincent was still trying to get over his shock. How much did they tell her?! When I get back into my body someone is going to die...

"Vincent? Uh, I mean, Tifa? Are you okay? I know know you probably don't want to talk about this... but, I think you'd be better off if you did. It must be hard for you to... to live with something like this and I just want you to know that want to help and-"

"It's... okay," Vincent made sure know one was eavesdropping before continuing, "Let's take this outside." He opened the door to the inn and walked out, making his way past the Cosmo Candle as Tifa ran to catch up.

"Where are we going?"

"Into the canyon."

"But, aren't we out far enough already?"

"I want to make sure no ones going to listen to our conversation."

They found a nice spot quite a bit away from Cosmo and sat down. Both were quiet as they watched the sun set, neither knowing what to say.

"How come you never said anything?"

Vincent looked at Tifa, "You were a terrorist group fighting against Shinra and Sephiroth. You already didn't like me for being an ex-Turk, what would you say if you knew I was Sephiroth's father as well?"

"You're our friend Vincent. I know I would have understood, I'm sure the others would've too. They accepted Cait Sith right?"

"Do you see Cait's son summoning Meteor and trying to destroy the planet?"

"Well...no, but-"

"Then my point has been proven. Cait Sith's little act of treachery is very different from mine."

Tifa stared at him for a while, trying to find a reason to continue. "I'm sure you've wanted to get this off you're chest for a while," actually she was just assuming, but it was worth a try, "So why don't you just tell me everything, I won't tell anyone else."

Vincent turned away to look at the sun. Maybe I should. Dwelling on it hasn't really done me any good... (it rhymes XD) He nodded, "Okay."

Tifa grinned, "Great! I'm so honored you trust me enough to share your secrets with me."

Do I really trust her? I haven't trusted anyone since Lucrecia... No. I'm just telling her this because Chaos and the others are going to tell her anyways, "Where should I start..."

"How about Nibelheim?"

"Sure... About thirty years ago, when I was a Turk, I was sent to Nibelheim to make sure no one tried to steal information from the Jenova Project. Back then Shinra had a lot more enemies, from what I've seen of Shinra today at least, and the Turks did a bit more to prevent attacks. The Turks aren't as messy as they used to be. That's probably because Shinra started to rely on SOLDIER more after Sephiroth became general. Anyways, I was in Nibel watching Gast, Hojo, and Lucrecia at the Shinra mansion for about a year. Lucrecia and I had been together for two years, but in that year at the mansion we got closer than we probably should have.

"She got pregnant and Hojo got mad at me because he claimed it would interfere with her efficiency when working. That, and he liked Lucrecia too. He was always bugging me because he didn't think a Turk with a scientist was right. He eventually found the perfect way to spite me. He talked to Lucrecia about submitting herself and her child to the Jenova project. They had tested Jenova cells on humans and wondered how powerful someone would be if they were born with them. I tried to convince Lucrecia not to do it but she loved science so much she was willing to risk it. They went on with the project and Lucrecia died and the child became an experiment at birth.

"When Gast told me Lucrecia was gone I went straight to Hojo without a gun," Vincent laughed bitterly, "Imagine that, one of the best Turks of all time gets himself killed because he lets his emotions get in the way of common sense. All Hojo did was give me that 'she and I are both scientists' speech Lucrecia gave me when she let herself become an experiment. I think I got so mad I tried to kill him, I can't really remember anymore. He shot me then. He had made that bullet especially for me, he told me himself. It had been a poisoned bullet, made to kill me with one shot. It did. Yes, it worked just as expected. But, he brought me back and made me an experiment too. I accepted it. I let Lucrecia die and I let Sephiroth suffer at the hands Hojo. It was my punishment..." Vincent was depressed, but he had to admit, it DID feel good to tell someone.

"Gods Vincent... that's horrible. You didn't deserve that. Hojo..," she clenched her fists, "That bastard! He deserved to die! If I had known your story earlier Vincent, I would have punched him harder when we fought him!"

"Hey Tifa! Vincent!" They both turned to see Cloud running towards them. Oh great.... just what I need , Vincent thought to himself as Cloud stopped in front of them.

"Man...-pant- why....are you.....-gasp- all... the way out...here...?"

Tifa smirked at Vincent from behind Cloud, "I think I'll leave you two alone," she got up and brushed herself off before walking away with a sweep of Vincent's cloak.

Thanks a lot Tifa..., Vincent barely stopped himself from glaring at her back when Cloud sat down in Tifa's spot.

"You've been hanging out with him a lot lately, Tifa. Is there something going on between you two? Something... I should maybe... know about?"

Vincent arched an eyebrow, Is someone feeling jealous? "No... why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. I was just curious. You've never talked to him before, well, no one really does... he kinda freaks me out, you know? Red can talk to him and he seems to get along with Cid surprisingly well. I just... wanted to know why you two suddenly get along so well."

"So, basically, you want to control who I become friends with and because you don't really have the guts to tell Vincent to stop talking to me you want to stop me from talk him. Correct?"

"Yes... NO! No! I meant no."

"Is that so..."

"Are you feeling okay...?"

"I'm feeling fine Cloud."

"...Alright," he looked at the horizon, the sun had gone but the colors remained. The oranges, pinks, and reds streaked across the sky like paint on a canvas. "Tifa?"

"Hm?"

"I owe you a lot. I probably wouldn't even be here right now if it wasn't for you. I never realized how screwed up I was until you sorted everything out for me when we were in the lifestream."

"Um... yeah..."

"And I just want you to know that I'm sorry for acting stupid when you asked me about the promise we made. You know, when I first joined Avalanche? It seems so long ago... but, I want you to know that I remember. You still remember, right?"

Vincent didn't know WHAT Cloud was talking about and to make things worse it sounded kinda private. Should I try to bluff my way out of this or should I tell him the truth..., "Of course. How could I forget?" Bluff it is.

"Yeah. Don't worry Tifa I'll always be there for you. If you're ever in trouble, you can count on me."

"Thanks Cloud... that means a lot to me," Is their relationship really this sappy?

"No problem Tif," Cloud took Vincent's hand in his.

Vincent tried not to flinch, Human contact. Not good "Yeah... uh.... look Cloud... I just remembered I have to ask... Yuffie something... yeah. So, I gotta go. Bye!" Vincent ran back to Cosmo Canyon as quickly as he could with a skirt on, Stupid skirt... I can't believe Tifa can actually fight in this thing...

---------------

Cloud watched Vincent leave in confusion, "Huh. I wonder why she was acting so weird... and why did she stick up for Vincent?! Maybe she likes him.... No way! She likes me... right?" he thought to himself quietly before jumping up and yelling, "Valentine! He's gonna get it if he thinks he can take Tifa from me!"


Woah. that was... kinda long... XD

I'm probably going to make this a Vin/Tifa so I decided 'What the heck. Let's see what happens if Cloud gets thrown in too.' And I'm almost positive Vincent and Tifa will find out why they've switched in the next chapter (I've been holding it off for so long XD) I just wanted something Vincent centered in this chap.

Please review =]