A/N: My first effort at writing a Fan Fic ( also may be my last)

Loved Advent Children so much just had to go for it..

Character descriptions may seem slightly one demensional thin on background. I am sorry to admit to little game play experience.

The use of story descriptives i.e. places, names and people probably feels stiff but I only have AC , some of the stories on Fan Fic and a little research to go on. Please accept my appologies in advance of your reading.

Please let me know what you think and feel free to correct as neccessary but keep in mind poetic license and my fragile writers ego.

It's a Yuffentine because they say opposites attract but I think they have a lot in common. The pain of loss. The appearance of aloofness and a sneaky sense of humour. Well the last one is more my conjecture.

Special thanks to Katori Tsubasa whose love of these characters is only exceeded by her writing talents.

Enjoy: I hope

All that follows is not owned by me but thanks to Squaresoft's character developers from whom I steal a lot.

FFVII 6 months before Advent Children

Title: You Always Hurt The One You Love

Chapter 1

The incessant voice was back. "He should be awake by now. There is no medical reason that I can find for the apparent coma. It's as if he is willing himself to remain in this limbo."

The figure that Dr. Watabe was discussing lay in quiet repose in an oversized bed in a large bedroom. The gloom was so intense it could be tasted on the lips and was not lessoned by the amber glow of a bedside lamp.

"The wounds are healing aren't they Doc?" The voice was more than a little strained and the slight female figure was noticeably agitated. The small feet, wrapped in soft leather boots, were constantly in motion side to side and heel to toe. They betrayed her desire to grasp at any positive words from the medical man. It did appear that the tall, frail form so gently caressed by the rather feminine bed linen was merely resting quietly but no matter how much the young woman willed his waking...

Trying to keep his reply proffessional the Dr. began... " Yes: this made his transfer from the infirmery to your care possible. All his physical wounds are healing remarkably well considering the damage the..." Dr. Watabe trailed off without finishing his last sentence. Upon seeing the anguish on the pretty young face he quickly tried to change his tone. "I'm sure he will be up and around before we know it. He is a remarkable young man with a strength I cannot begin to understand" The forced lightness in his voice made the words ring hollow and he regretted the attempt at once.

With a tiny bow and brief instructions on changing the dressings, Dr. Watabe left knowing he was at a loss as to what to do or tell her next time he checked on his patient.

"At last peace and quiet again." It seemed to Vincent Valentine that voice would never stop nattering about some stranger and let him get back to the task that took up all his attention: remembering what he was doing in some sick guy's bedroom. Then he heard a small, barely audible sound. It was not a whimper but more like short, sharp breaths. However, it had an effect far beyond what it's volume would indicate. It brought on a deep and overpowering sadness in him which he could not explain.

The tears always came after Dr. Watabe left. Her small frame shook with the tiniest of shudders at every jewel like bead that welled from the large jade eyes. They were still beautiful but the puffiness and redness betrayed the many days and nights of crying.

"Vincent, I am still here. Please come back to me." She managed to whisper though her throat was burning with the tightness that always came when she said his name.

This turned out to be the only time since his release from the coffin where he lay in death's embrace that he was afraid his strength and skills were not going to win the day. His realisation that the voice he was hearing belonged to the little dynamo known as Yuffie Kisaragi caused a massive flood of thoughts, visions and brutal memories to assault his mind.

He was remembering.

"Valentine! Get your GOD DAMMED cape off my chair." Barret Wallace was never one to be accused of beating around the bush. His large size and booming voice was offset by a compassion for the innocent and defenceless that was selfless and unending. "You'd think you would be tired of wearing that sorry assed thing all these years."

Vincent merely looked at him and in a low voice that commanded attention said: "I think that someone who looks like they got their clothes out of the " Budget Big and Tall" store shouldn't be making comments on someone else's fashion choices." This exchange caused the prone figure of a solidly built man on a tattered but comfy couch to chime in with "Yah Barret, I told you that joint had to be too good to be true." Cid Highwind loved to get his two gil in wherever he could, welcome or not.

"You know I'm getting real tired of this need to always snipe at each other." The words seemed to sing like the fresh morning breeze but carried a promise of severe consequences if not taken seriously. She was a presence in any room but in Avalanche headquarters Tifa Lockheart was not to be ignored. She was dressed in a form fitting work out jersey that would cause most men to stare at her lithe but well developed form with undisguised lust. Most men: except the idiots now pissing her off. These had known Tifa many years and had fought side by side in battles which would have turned the most violent street thugs into whimpering puddles of goo. She was using the voice that made drunks in Seventh Heaven take notice. "Alright you've had your fun, now where's Yuffie; we have a request for an Avalanche team to investigate some unusual sickness in Cosmo Canyon.

"Why wasn't I told of this request?" This last from Barret looking more than a little put out.

Tifa turned, smiled and with the most subtle pout of her lips met Barret's withering stare and said with stealy sweetness. "I'm telling you now Mr. Wallace."

You could see the large man literally melt under the spell of that smile. "Fine. As long as I'm kept up to date here." He couldn't keep the upturn at the corners of his mouth hidden. Cid was about to pipe in with his typical smart ass remark when Barret turned and made him swallow the words with an icy stare that would have pierced the strongest battle armour.

CLACK! SMASH! CLANG! All heads turned in unison towards the door into the hallway even though there was no doubt as to the cause of the tumult. "Hee.. hee..hee... We are going to need to move this door about three inches to the left because I keep running into it." Yuffie was holding a tray of upended cups of what was once green tea. "I can make some more in a jiffy so wait right here guys." In an uncannily well coordinated "NO" the gang froze Yuffie's exit to the kitchen. As she turned back into the room she caught Vincent looking straight at her but he looked away so quickly she thought he was going to snap his neck or at the least spin out of his ever present head scarf.

"What the hell was happening?" Vincent didn't sneak glances at women and then turn away like a twelve year old school boy. It wasn't the first time either. It started happening almost without him realising it. He noticed Yuffie was loosing the slightly rounded face of her youth. The fullness of her breasts was obvious even though the instant that thought entered his mind Vincent felt like the worst kind of pervert. She was wearing what could be best described as a pullover linen t-shirt which she called a dress. It was tight fitting as the contours of her athletic body attested to but elastic enough to allow for her rather exaggerated movements. As his mind focused on the last year he came to see the changes in Yuffie more clearly. Her growth from the over-eager young Ninja Princess who seldom cared for others if it didn't further her goals, to someone that he would trust with his life (and had on many deadly encounters).

"Hey! Tall dark and caped. Where the hell are you? We asked you a question." It was Cid's pointed barb at Vincent that brought him back from his inner torment. "Are you having a flashback or what?"

Yuffie was wondering the same thing but for different reasons. Vincent was acting strangely. The last few weeks he seemed even more introverted than usual but oddly off balance in a way she couldn't quite nail down. It was also the way he looked at her. Never quite staring, but with those blood red orbs of his, any glance caught your attention. Yet the pale, flawless face half hidden behind his high collar evoked feelings of warmth and more than a little desire to…….The next thought through her head was so intense she almost lost her grip on the tray again.

'Unlike some people here I think before I open my yap." He tried to sound annoyed but couldn't remove the hint of guilt that seemed to colour everything he said lately. Luckily none of the others seemed to pick it up and asked if he agreed with the team assignments. "Ya… Sure…no problem. I guess." "Smoooooth Valentine," he thought to himself.

'So Tifa and Cid will form team Blue and Vincent and Yuffie team Red." Barret caught the look on Vincent's face even behind the half pulled up collar of his cape. ''You got a problem Valentine?"

" Just with the need to name teams.""Ah...No... just going over...my weapons list in my head." He lamely replied. With Cloud, Aeris and Red XIII on Round Island mopping up after a nasty run-in with a clutch of Acrophies, Barret was a natural (if reluctant) leader and the group just went with it. "I've got to get my head straight and not let this little distraction about Yuffie complicate thngs."

"If that's a little distraction then you were just taking a little nap in the pine box." How is it that Chaos can be such a pain in the ass in his head and so helpful in a fight. His inner Demon laughed with a little bit too much glee at his discomfort. "Next you'll be buying her flowers and candies." " Shut the f#$ up you. If I ever needed advice I'd ask Cait Sith before you." The reply came with undisguised smugness."Suit yourself lover boy."

Once that little internal family squabble was over, Vincent noticed all present were filing out of the (for lack of a better term) recreation room to the 8 by 8 alcove across the hall. Barret always referred to it as the planning/map room. Everyone else called it a pantry. On two walls were maps, in various scales, of all the lands that made up the world. On a third was an array of weapons that all members of Avalanche could use if required. This rarely happened as most preferred their own unique weapons: the bonds to each were forged in the sweat and blood of countless battles.

"Form a circle around the detailed map of the lower valley areas people." While saying this, Barret motioned with his arms as if the room was much larger and someone might get lost.

" I can't see over Cid's big head." Yuffie piped in. " It's not my fault you're a runt." He shot back. "Alright move over to let her up front." Barret sounded like the over worked parent of a brood of spoiled kids. Yuffie squirmed between Cid and Vincent but settled on standing in front of Vincent as opposed to being between them both. It seemed to Vincent she purposely rubbed up against his thigh as she passed but quickly dismissed this as imagined. After she settled into place he swore he sensed the heat from her body but quickly forced the impression out of his mind. This was going to be a long day.

" I've gone over the reports Tifa received this morning and it looks like children from two small hamlets are going to sleep at night normally but when their Mom goes to wake them in the morning they don't respond. They are alive physically but don't seem to be aware of the world or anyone around them." Barret paused and scanned his group and was pleasently surprised to see every one of them by their expression knew what was coming next.

Tifa looked around and decided they were waiting to see who was going to state the obvious." It has to be a nest of Vagrisk Demons. They feed off the life force of the innocent." She couldn't be bothered with the little games of the group.

"Crap. I thought we wiped out the last of those things at Bone Village." Cid spat.

'"Well it appears some got away." Barret allowed that last comment to make its desired affect of silencing the low muttering that had started among the group.

Having assured everyone's attention with that last remark, Barret proceeded to lay out the plan for the operation. It would involve the dropping of one team at the hamlet nearest the mouth of Cosmo Canyon and the other at the hamlet nearest the canyon's box end. In Barret's own unique terminology. "You'll start killing at either end then meet in the middle to clean up any left-over." The Autoflier piloted by himself would land the teams at dusk and return at daybreak for pick-up. The one troubling aspect was because of the high mountain crests above the canyon walls communicaton with Avalanche headquarters would not be possible. The orbital satellites having ceased functioning long ago.

" Is everyone clear on this. I won't be giving refresher courses on route." Barret heard the various yeps, yeses and one "You Betcha" from the assembly. "Good. We leave in one hour. Get your gear together and stowed on board the flier. Let's kick some demon butt tonight."

Cid leaned over and in a loud whisper directed at Tifa said. "Not all demons have butts."

"Cid."

"I'm just saying."

"We'll see if that smart mouth saves your hide one day." Barret couldn't quite conceal the glint in his eyes as he said this.

As everyone dispersed to gather up their weapons and supplies Barret motioned to Vincent to stay behind. "Shit" Vincent muttered under his breath. " What now."

Once the small room was empty Barret approached Vincent and put on that "I'm here to help" face which Vincent knew meant trouble.

"What's going on Vincent." As usual Barret cut right to the point. "Lately I've noticed you seem to be distracted and, I hate to use this word with you, emotional."

Vincent's first impulse was to say it's none of your GODDAMMED business but the thought of spending the next month eating through a straw held his tongue. "Why is it that I have to be singled out if I seem a little bit off? The others are in one emotional disaster after another and they don't get The Talk." He could tell immediately that wasn't going to get him off the hook.

"It's because of that very fact that your problem sets off alarm bells. The others are not you and their mixed up emotions are the sanest thing about them. As an example you'll easily get, let's say Cid starts to become polite and even-tempered, wouldn't that make you notice him?" Barret had a point there.

"I guess I have been a little preoccupied lately. You know I've been looking for my own place this last month and I am a little anxious about that...sorta." "Damn. He'll never buy that."

"Well you know you just have to ask and I could help you out. I have some experiences besides erasing undesirables from this world." Barret trying to look concerned and compassionate almost caused uncontrollable spasms of laughter from Vincent but he bit down on the impulse." Just keep in mind your mission is not the place to be day-dreaming about real estate. Clear?"

"Crystal".

"Okay get your stuff together and I'll see you on the landing pad." With that Vincent turned and a bit too eagerly, left the room.

With everyone going to their own personal storage lockers to retrieve what best suited their particular talents Vincent had a few minutes to try and get back under control. Maybe a mission was just what he needed. He set about mentally checking off items he was going to bring. First on the list was his formidable arsenal of guns. These included several multi barrel shotguns which were very affective for close in combat. This was not to say he couldn't do just as much damage with his mechanical left arm. It still amazed him that the torture that cost him the limb left this marvel of micro engineering. He could crush rock or disembowel a demon and then pick up the petal of a flower between tapered steel fingers and always it responded without a millisecond's delay.

It seemed to Vincent that all the Avalanche members had an uncanny, unspoken bond that even at routine times kept them in sync. This was a perfect example. Tifa, Cid, Barret and himself all ended up in the courtyard they used for take-offs at precisiely the same time and almost had a collision going through the door. This was all the more difficult because of the various forms of battle dress each had donned. Even Barret could not go without his formidable gatling guns. These were customized to wrap around his forearms and provided a virtual wall of projectiles when fired in unison. It appeared as if he expected more than a little trouble as he was just the pilot tonight. Cid carried his trademark spear as if it was merely a walking stick and not the deadly tool it turned into when he confronted a foe. His flying goggles were in their usual spot on the crown of his forehead. The wild shock of golden hair around them looking as if he just stepped out of an open cockpit. Even though this mission didn't need his unmatched piloting skills he always came prepared to take the stick.

"Come on people. We need to get airborne by 6:00PM if we want to make Cosmo Canyon before dusk." All the while Barret's delivering this obvious fact he's stroking the growth on his face he called a beard.

"Did you see that Cid?" Tifa leaned over to quietly stow her rather small bag of hand to hand combat weapons.

"If Barret's beard is itching we may be in for a wild night. That scruff on his chin is never wrong when it comes to predicting trouble."

"You kidding. It's far more likely the various assortment of critters living in there are acting up." He tried to sound unconcerned but Tifa was right: that bird nest was never wrong.

Vincent was just turning to see if Yuffie was near when she burst through the opening and fell onto the hard packed ground with a grunt. Luckily the duffle like bag she carried broke her fall. He was about to dash over and scoop her up when Tifa laughed and proceeded to help gather up a few items that had spilled out.

"It might be better if you left that admittedly georgeous coat behind Yuffie." Tifa was referring to the full-length white sleeveless garment Yuffie was now trying to rearrange. It had a fur lined hood and two slits that ran down either side. Vincent was staring as Yuffie straightened the short skirt she wore underneath and couldn't help but admire the shapely legs exposed by the openings in the overcoat.

"Have I missed something?" Yuffie had noticed Vincent's rather fixed stare toward her legs.

"Are you sure that's what you want to wear to fight a nest of Vagrisk." Vincent tried to sound commanding but it sounded more like a plea.

"First I'll dazzle them with my outfit then..." As she said this, in a silvery flash Yuffie had her deadly shuriken spinning at a dizzying speed directly in front of Vincent. "I'll shred them into more manageable sized chunks." She giggled with obvious pleasure at her little joke.

" This is serious!"

All heads turned toward Vincent.

"No one here thinks otherwise. Yuffie get your gear stowed we are leaving now." Barret had diverted attention away from Vincent's outburst and no one was more releaved than him.

Yuffie looked more puzzled than hurt or angry. "If I didn't know better, I'd say Vincent Valentine just had an emotional outburst. Don't understand why but I think I'm flattered." She gave her head a shake. " Maybe I'm having the emotional breakdown."

This new flier was a marked change form the previous Corvette Class ship. This was more of a Corsair type with longer and more swept back nacells to create stability in low speed manoevers. The fuselage was narrow at the waste but flared out toward the cockpit. No gun ports or hard points just small calibre rockets located in two tubes at the forward edge of the wings. The colour wasn't the brilliant nickel of the larger ships but a dull motled green. Inside, the Avalanche members were trying to move down the narrow space between the single seats on either side of the craft.

"Watch out Cid your ass is in my face!" Tifa had just settled into her seat as Cid bent over in the aisle to retrieve one of his water pouches.

"Count yourself lucky it's not spicey cabbage soup day." Cid casually replied.

"Shut up back there and strap in because I'm starting the turbines." Barret had leaned over and back to deliver this warning as he himself sqeezed his bulk into the pilot's harness.

The twin turbofan motors mounted on either side of the tail assembly, leapt to life. Barret eased the stick back and they rotated down toward the ground and at first everyone thought nothing was happening. Then the little tremble began and that changed to a vibration they felt through the floor and then grew to a shuddering roar. Just as the whine was becoming painfully shrill they seperated from the earth and launched into the orange sky.

Vincent took the opportunity to catch a glimpse at Yuffie who was seated in front of him and to one side. Her hair was lightly swept over to the side he could see and it seemed that the light from the window had painted liquid gold among the silky strands. At that moment Yuffie turned and smiled and Vincent felt the rest of the word melt away and he just swam in that smile for what seemed hours but was mere seconds.

"Man have you got it bad." Chaos' comment snapped him cruelly back to reality."Like a demon, especially one foating around inside my brain, is an expert on love." With that the machine started it's forward motion toward the Cosmo Canyon and what turned out to be a deadly encounter with fate.

End of Chapter One