A/N: I know, I know. Two and three are really short and could prolly be just one chapter. I just felt that they needed to be broken up so that the conversations with Chaos and Tifa had more impact. Hopefully my next post will be up by Wednesday--its going to be the fight with Sephiroth and the whole meteor/holy/lifestream thing, and i want to make sure i get it right, so I'm having issues. But never fear, i shall return!

DISCLAIMER: Still not mine. I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement.
Chaos?

Vincent.

Why are you so adamant about protecting Yuffie?

She taught you to live. Keeping her alive seems a fair trade.

…I don't understand.

Only because you're afraid to. She makes you happy, Vincent. And if I must live inside your head, I would like it to be a more pleasant place than it was before.

Do you like her?



That's not an answer.

…Yes.


Good. Because I think I've fallen in love with her.

I know. I think--


Their conversation was interrupted by the chirping of the alarm that Cloud had set on his PHS.

Cloud and Tifa will be here soon. Tell them good morning.

Vincent heard blankets being flipped back, and cursing at the cold air. The scuffing of shoes on the rocks nearby told him that someone was approaching him. The lightness of the steps told him it was Tifa; Cloud would have made the louder clomping steps of someone wearing heavy combat boots.

"Chaos says good morning, Tifa."

"But not you, I notice." Tifa walked around the rock so that she was facing him. "What's wrong with Yuffie?"

"She had a panic attack last night. I felt it best that she sleep afterward."

"On your lap?" She gave the gunman a half-smile and a raised eyebrow.

"It helped her remain calm after the attack passed." Vincent looked down at Yuffie's dark hair, refusing to meet the knowing look Tifa was giving him.

After a long moment, Tifa relented. "Well, you should try to get some more sleep before we go. I'll help you lay her down." She picked up the ninja's abandoned blanket.

"If you could carry Death Penalty as well, I would appreciate it. I will carry Yuffie." He inclined his head toward the gun's resting place on the rock beside him.

"Sure." Tifa picked it up as Vincent carefully got to his feet.

He carried the young ninja the way he would have a small child--as if she weighed nothing but was the most precious thing in the world. Tifa's face lit with a smile at the care he took with the girl.

She's so light. She must be all bone and muscle.

Indeed. Is that a bad thing, Vincent?

No. I was just surprised.


"Put her down on my bed, Vincent." Tifa was holding up the blankets from her pallet. "It'll be a little warmer than hers is right now."

Vincent nodded and lay Yuffie gently on the pile of blankets. Then he took off his own blanket and tucked it around her still sleeping form. Tifa quickly piled on her own blankets. Then they walked toward the fire that Cloud was coaxing back into roaring life with Cid's lighter fluid.

"You really should get some more rest, Vincent." She handed him Yuffie's blanket.

He took it, and began folding it up. "I could not sleep, even if I wanted to."

"Nerves?" They stopped next to the packs containing their rations and began pulling out food for breakfast.

"Yuffie." Shit. What made me say that?

"I thought so." The martial artist smiled up at him brightly. "I'm glad you're finally finding something to be happy about."

Vincent stood in an uncomfortable silence as Tifa went back to preparing breakfast. Then he sad down and, taking a knife from the pack, began slicing bread. Tifa waited patiently for him to speak as she skewered fruit and vegetables for kabobs.

"Tifa?"

"Hmm?"

"Is it wrong for me to love her? She's so young…" He looked at her with some of his old anguish in his eyes.

She reached over with her right hand and laid it comfortingly over his own. "Love is never wrong, Vincent. If she makes you happy, then hang on for all you're worth."