Let Love Grow Between Us

Gabreilla Moushigo

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Vincent watched her eat her sandwich and chips. She had no appetite but ate anyway for his benefit. "I know you probably don't want to talk about it." Vincent began. "But I was wondering what was said."

That was fair enough, as long as she told him the truth now it would make the story more believable. "He was wondering why we weren't engaged anymore."

Actually, Vincent had wondered that himself for a time. He remembered being miserable when he was that damn glowing rock on her finger before she miraculously took it off again. The moment he saw that it was gone he decided to pursue her more aggressively than he did before… hence why they were now living together.

"I told him, because I never said yes." Tifa smiled a little bit, remembering. This would help change the subject. "I never told you what you said to me a year ago did I?"

He looked at her curiously, not remembering saying anything too significant to her other than the typical goings-on.

"Well, it was the first time I've ever seen you drunk."

He blushed, waiting to hear what she had to say next. As she talked, his brain started fitting in the missing pieces of his memory.

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Vincent had trudged into the bar that night, looking absolutely haggard. Tifa watched as he sulked up and plopped down at the bar. He said nothing tonight, completely engrossed in his thoughts and in her. The last year, while he wouldn't trade it for anything seemed like a nightmare.

It wasn't long before Cloud began staying away longer and longer. Even though he found peace in his heart from Aerith's death, he still could not quench his wander lust. He still didn't pick up the phone. He still didn't answer his messages. Vincent believed that Tifa loved him anyway.

She still wore his ring. She was humming a tune as she worked, happier than ever it seemed. He was happy for her, but absolutely miserable for himself. He wouldn't remember the events that took place after he put back one too many drinks. He could just remember the three beers and the eighth shot of Vodka that left him almost cross-eyed after drinking it. He excused himself to hit the bathroom, not very nauseous but his bladder felt like it might explode on him.

When he returned he basically fell onto his usual stool and plopped his head on the counter before looking up at her tearfully. Tifa laughed at his appearance, never having seen him drunk since she knew him. She wondered if he ever got this smashed before, he didn't seem like the type. "You ok Vincent?" She almost cooed at his unhappy expression. "Not feeling well?"

"No!" He came off sounding like a whiney child, he placed his head against the counter and rolled his forehead against the surface. "I feel like I'm going to die."

She smiled at how dramatic he was being before grabbing a few of the glasses in front of him to clean them. "It cannot be all that bad."

"You have no idea Tifa." Vincent sniffed.

"Try me." Tifa said as she plugged the sink up next to her and turned the hot water on and waited until it filled. "I'm a good listener."

He looked up then, almost looking angry at her for asking. His mind felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls. He could barely understand the thought that went behind his actions, but he decided to tell her everything. "Tifa," He looked sad again before resting his head again.

He certainly was a moody drunk. "Just tell me. You'll feel better."

"Tifa," He slurred. "A year ago, I decided that I wanted to… court you."

She would have laughed at his choice of words, if he she didn't stop to gape at him – realizing that he was being completely serious.

"I wanted to ask you, after the Jenova War…" That's what Reeve called it. "But it didn't seem like the right time." He turned his head to the side; his voice vibrated a little too much off of the wooden surface of the counter for his ears' liking. "You seemed interested in someone else." He didn't want to say who though.

"I had no idea Vincent," Tifa realized that the water was now flowing out of the sink and hitting her boots. She cursed before shutting off the water and draining of it out. "Why didn't you say something?"

"It never seemed like the right time." Vincent repeated miserably, rolling his head side to side drunkenly. "But, I had to see you Tifa. I had to know if… if I could be with you. I left you for a year. I'm sorry, I should have come sooner."

"Vincent," Her voice was quiet as she spoke his name, not sure what else to say.

"When I found out… about Cloud, how he had been acting even a year after our fight with Sephiroth." He closed his eyes. "I thought that I had a chance. I asked him if he would leave you to me. I asked him since he didn't seem interested, if I could have you instead."

Tifa went from being a little touched to being miffed. Why had he asked Cloud? It wasn't like he was her keeper or something.

"I wanted to see if he had any…" He decided to end the flowery words. "I wanted to know if he wanted you first. I knew you loved him, I knew you wanted to be with him."

Tifa felt her hackles lower, how could she be mad at him now, that he was showing her such raw emotion. Sure, he was drunk as hell, but he was still here talking wasn't he?

At her silence he continued. "When he told me he had no interest in you, I decided to visit more often. I didn't want to tell you what I was doing, thinking I might scare you with such a confession."

"Vincent," Tifa admonished gently. "If you had told me you wanted to be with me, I wouldn't have been afraid. I would have been flattered." She decided to add, "I wouldn't have minded either."

"Well," He huffed indignantly at his own miscalculation. "I was a fool then." The feeling of what-could-have-been rearing its ugly head. "I should have told you my true intentions from the start. If I had been more honest then maybe you would have been mine instead."

Tifa was taken back by this. "What do you mean?"

"You are wearing his ring." He sat up and gestured to her hand, he was utterly exasperated now.

"Oh," She looked down at her hand. "Well, I…"

"I confronted Cloud in the forest," He ignored her now, he had gone this far, he just wanted to get it all out now. "He knew, he knows," He growled somewhere deep in his throat. "That I am not going to give up on you."

"Vincent," Tifa began, but once again she was quieted.

"I don't care Tifa," Vincent cried out a little too loudly, some people turned to stare at him. Tifa winched at his lack of volume control. "I won't give up. Even if you marry him, I'll wait. I'll wait until you're old and grey and then he dies. Even if I can only be with you for a year afterwards…" He babbled on drunkenly, not realizing her expression.

Tifa thought of herself as an elderly woman, with a very young Vincent Valentine on her withered arm and couldn't suppress the smile she felt. It was ridiculous and at the same time, endearing. "Vincent," Tifa laughed her old withered image still in her head. "What did you want to happen? Will you tell me?"

"I know that… that sometimes people do not love each other right away." He admitted. "I wanted love to grow between us."

"Why me?" Tifa came around the bar, finding herself embracing him. She felt him grow embarrassed and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. "Why not someone else?"

"Because you're the one I wanted." Vincent rested his head against her chest, his cowl being pushed up further. If his eyes were not closed he would find that his collar would be poking into them.

"Vincent," Tifa began.

"Yes?" He asked, expecting rejection.

"I didn't say yes." Tifa patted his hair.

"What?" He glared up at her, confused.

"Cloud asked me about a month ago, I told him I didn't know." She brushed the hair out of his eyes and straitened his collar with her free hand. "I didn't know if I could depend on him, the way he was… and the way he still is, you know. I told him that I loved him, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to make a commitment to that sort of person. He's the kind of man who leaves without a word, someone who never picks up their phone or answers their messages. Cloud isn't a bad person, he just… wasn't the person for me." Tifa eyed the ring that had made Vincent so distraught. "He asked me to wear it anyway, that I didn't have to answer him right away." She sighed. "I've been wearing this for almost three weeks. I still don't feel excited about it." She pulled it off and put it into one of his vodka glasses. "I didn't know Vincent, you should have told me." She rested her forehead against his and she realized he had fallen asleep by his soft breathing. "I don't suppose you will remember this, but I hope that love grows between us too." She kissed his forehead as he slumped into her arms. "Thank you for telling me."

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"I made a fool of myself." Vincent covered his face. "I cannot believe I was so drunk I couldn't remember that."

"Well you did drink eight shots you big dummy." Tifa felt that for a moment, she could forget. She felt so good just being able to talk about something so normal. "Besides… I thought it was sweet and that's why I said yes to moving in with you in the first place." She poked him. "I had a little fair warning at least." She smile crossed her soft features. "I was waiting for you to say something for a while."

Vincent regretting his actions a little less now… but it was still embarrassing. She had known for a year that he wanted to be with her. It was odd. He thought it had been a complete surprise. To think she might have been waiting for him made his heart twist in his chest. He was happy, but also a bit sad that he had wasted so much time.

"Tifa," He leaned across the table to kiss her. "I cannot wait to get you home."

Tifa just smiled nervously, but he never saw it. He was far too into his dreams of loving her to notice.

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Author's Notes:

Ok – this was the chapter to soften the last one. I just couldn't just leave it off I guess. For once – I do not have the chapter ready to go… so it might take me a while. I write pretty fast though – and I know what I want to happen so it'll happen pretty quickly. I say it'll take a few days – but I wouldn't be surprised if I had another chapter out tomorrow.

I don't know what it is about this fic but I am really pushing ahead and getting it finished.

I know I keep saying this – but the action is just around the corner. I wanted to get into it a little faster but I keep getting ideas about what they should do before hand that it keeps getting put off. I think it will be the first time I've ever written something about missions and stuff – I hope I do alright.

I realized something the other day – I have been making Vincent talk a little strangely. He'll use bigger words sometimes and word his sentences differently than others. I think it makes him sound archaic in a way. I guess on a subconscious level I think he would have picked up some modern dialect from being awake for the last three years – but I think he would still retain something from his past. I know that if someone from thirty years ago just woke up today – he would definitely talk a bit different… so that's why I'm doing it – just so you know. I think his modern dialect and his past dialect clash a lot in this story.

Wow! New Reviews already! I'm glad I took a long lunch with my brother then.

Lady Shiva: Yes, haha. I loved writing about him hitting the doorframe the most. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to have Vincent do to Cloud if he ever finds out. Mwa ha ha ha. Guess we'll see. (winks)

x Sarizar: Oh no, it's fine – as long as you're reviewing now that's all that matters. Its kinda fun writing out how relationships work (not all I guess – but some). This was just one of those chances I guess. Vincent and Tifa will have to work it out. I'm sorry you had something like that happen to you too. It really sucks, and it's one of those things you'd like to forget – even though it'll pop up in the back of your mind at times. Ugh, creepy. I just had an idea of how Vincent will get his revenge… hehe. (Must go and write it down).

Vinny the Vampire: Ha! I completely forgot about that! Guys don't have any imagination I guess? Hehe. If he's more of a visual person you don't have to make him read it if he doesn't want to. I just thought it would be neat if a guy thought I was writing accurately enough. Then again – I think romance is more focused in on girls anyway. As long as you galls are happy I am. Thanks for the promise of a link – I cannot wait to read it.

The bed picture – I really want to color this one in too – I really like it and I don't want it to get messed up until I can work with it (so sad).

They will more than likely have problems in bed after this – but it'll turn out well in the end I'm sure. You'll just have to wait to find out hehe.