Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Final Fantasy 7 franchise. All I own are my Orginal characters, their powers, origin story, and the magical land they come from.

A/N: This story follows the story of Advent Children the video game as well as Dirge of Cerberus. With my own storyline intertwined. Whenever you see text in [...] and Italisided then these are when people are having a telepathic conversation. I'm a little new to Fanfic .net so bear with me. I'm learning how to write and post stories here.


Esmee's P.O.V

I wake up with the light of the sun hitting my eyes. I turn my head and see the clock on the stand ready 9 and freak out how late we slept in. "We're late," I said as I throw the bedsheets off me and jump out of bed. "What?" Lazul said as he jumped to his feet. "We need to help Tifa with the bar, and I forgot to ask her when she opens," I said as quickly put my shirt on. "You're so forgetful Esmee; you know that," Lazul said as he stretched his limbs. "Oh shut up you furball and pass me my shoes," I said as I pulled my hair up. "Yeah, yeah miss scatterbrain." He said as he pushes my shoes to me and I put my feet in. When I'm finished I open the door and go down the stairs. "Sorry Tifa, I didn't mean to wake up so late," I said as I run to the kitchen and bow my head to her. "Oh don't worry Esmee; you made it just in time." She said. "Say what?" I said looking up at her confused. "Yeah, I'm not opening the shop today." She said as she puts her clean dishes away. "Oh, why not?" I ask as I help her put the dishes away. "I'm throwing a small get together for our friends." She said. "Cool, is there anything you need me to do," I said smiling she dries her hands. "Yeah, I need you to go to the market and pick up some things I need." She said as she hands me a piece of paper and a money pouch. "Alright, we'll be back in a few," I said smiling and then left to get my cloak and to strap my rod. Suddenly I stop and I just remembered that I have to know the idea where anything is. "Uh, Tifa," I said stopping halfway up the stairs. "Yes?" she said sticking her head out of the door. "I don't know where the market is," I said sheepishly. "I can show you." Said a voice above me. I look up and see Vincent a few steps away from me. "Great, Vincent will show you while I finish setting up here," Tifa said as she dries her hands and walks to the fridge. "Are you sure it's okay if you had other plans?" I ask. "It's fine, I was going to be staying in my room until the party. This way I can do something while I wait for our friends to come." He said calmly. "Okay, let me go get my cloak and rod and we'll leave," I said then ran upstairs to grab cloak and rod.

Vincent's POV

After Esmee left

When Esmee left for her room, I walk all the way down the stairs and sit in a stool in front of Tifa. "Thank you, Vincent, but are you sure it's okay?" Tifa asks. "It's fine besides, I sense something about her that doesn't seem normal," I said looking down at the table. "What do you mean?" She asks. "I don't know how to describe it, but there's something there," I said looking up at her. She looked worried but sighed and smiled at me. "Alright then." She said. Suddenly we hear footsteps coming from the stairs. We turn and see Esmee and Lazul at the bottom. "Are you ready?" she asks me. I nodded my head and stand up. "Alright, we'll be back Tifa." She said as she waves at her. Tifa waves back as we leave the bar.

Esmee's POV

As we walk to the market; Vincent has stayed quiet as we walk through the busy morning streets. [Not much of a talker.] Lazul said into my mind. [I bet he's still uncomfortable with you being here.] I replied. "Vincent, you really don't have to come with me to the market. If you're uncomfortable being here with me and Lazul I understand." I said to him. "I'm sure I can find it by my-." I said but he cut me off suddenly. "No, it's fine. Besides, I wanted to talk to you." He said looking at me. "Okay." I said as we continued walking to the market. "Where are you from?" he asked. This kind of caught me off guard, but I calmly replied, "I'm from a small town called Enland." I said hoping that he would by that. Out of the corner of my eyes I can see his red eyes studying my reaction to his question. "Alright, why did you leave your home?" he asks as he faces forward again. "It's one of my family's traditions that when I turned thirteen I have to leave home and find my place in the world." I said somewhat of a lie. It's not a total lie, but still a lie. "So you're thirteen?" he asks surprised. I look at his face and see the surprised look in his eyes. I couldn't help but giggle. "No, I'm seventeen." I said smiling at him. "So you've been traveling by yourself for four years." Vincent said. "Yeah, but I wasn't really alone." I said as Lazul jumped on my shoulder. "I had Lazul by my side. So I wasn't really lonely." I said as I scratch him behind his ear. Then look down at my cloak. "But I do miss my mother dearly." I said as I clutch my cloak. "What about your father?" he asks. "I don't know. I've never known him. My mother never told me anything about him; I guess it's too painful for her to remember." I said looking at him with a small smile. "What about you Vincent, where are you from?" I ask him. "Nibelheim." He said. "Cool, so how old are you. If you don't mind me asking." I said slightly nervous. I not sure if he wanted to tell me. "It's fine, I asked you how old you are. I'm fifty-nine." He said. "What?" I said surprised that I didn't see where I was going that I didn't notice the wooden box I trip over. Before I hit the ground I felt a familiar cold metal hand grab my arm and pull me up. I felt a handhold my shoulder. "Are you alright?" Vincent asks as he holds me close to him again like yesterday. "Yeah, I'm alright. Sorry about that." I said as I look up into his eyes. 'Wow,' I thought as I looked into the most beautiful red eyes I've ever seen. "We're here." He said breaking my train of thought. "Oh," I said as I look and see that we're outside a store. I look around and see people staring at us and I'm starting to get embraced. "Okay," I said as I get out of his arms. "Let's get Tifa's stuff." I said as I try to get my nerves together. "I'll wait for you out here." Vincent said as he walks towards some wooden crates and leaned against them with his arms crossed on his chest. "Okay, we'll be quick." I said then walk into the market. When I got inside, I take out Tifa's list and look for the stuff she needs. As I walk down one of the aisles, I caught a glimpse of Vincent from the window at the end of the aisle. I never had the chance to get a good look at him before. I couldn't believe how beautiful he is, and his eyes. 'They're full of sadness and pain and yet deep down.' I thought as I look at him and then look away as I walk through the next aisle. There must have been something that happened in his past. That would also explain why he said he's fifty-nine when he looks much younger than that. [What are you thinking Esmee?] Lazul asks in my thoughts. [What Vincent said about his age? I find it hard to believe that he's fifty-nine.] I replied. [I agree there must have been something that happened that caused him to be that way.] Lazul said as I get the last thing on Tifa's list. [Maybe it has something to do with that woman in the crystal.] I thought as we walk to the checkout line. [You may be right, that would explain why he was there. You should ask him.] Lazul said as we moved up the line. [I don't know, when I looked into his eyes, I see sadness and pain in then. Just like my mother's eyes when I asked her about my father.] I said sadly as I look down at the floor. [You know-] Lazul said but is stopped when I feel a tap on my shoulder. "Miss it's your turn." Said a man, who pointed to a woman waving her hand calling me over. "I'm sorry, thank you." Bowing my head and walked over to the chase register. Lazul jumped off my shoulder and sat on the counter as the woman takes my basket. "Welcome, did you find everything you needed?" the woman asks with a smile as she added up the prices. "Yes, thank you." I said returning the smile. "That will be 125 Gil." The woman said. I take out the money Tifa gave me and also take out my money pouch. I give her half of Tifa's money and I give her the other half with my money. "Thank you, Mrs, here is your change, and here are your bags." She said. I put the change in Tifa's pouch then tuck it under my cloak. I grab half of the bags and place them on the ground. Lazul jumps off the counter and changes into a thin-haired dog and picked up the bags in his mouth. Then I grabbed the rest. "Thank you, have a good day." I said with a smile and left along with Lazul at my side. Before I left I caught the sight of the woman at the cash register and the people after me. They are shocked at how Lazul changed his shape. I couldn't help but smile as we walked to the front entrance to meet up with Vincent.

Vincent's POV

After Esmee left

"I'll wait for you out here," I said as I walk towards some wooden crates and leaned against them with my arms crossed over my chest. "Okay, we'll be quick." She said then walks into the market. 'What's wrong with me?' I thought as I look at my gloved. I can still feel the warmth of her on my hand. [Young love is beginning to blossom Vincent Valentine] said Chaos in my thoughts. 'What do you mean?' I ask slightly annoyed by my sudden comment. [You know what I mean. You like her, just admit you do.] Chaos said, but I ignored his thoughts and look into the window of the store. My eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of Esmee as she walks down an Aisle looking for one of Tifa's stuff she needs. I couldn't help but stare at her, she is beautiful. Her hair is as black as ebony and her eyes. Indigo, I've never seen anyone have that color of eyes before. They almost seem to draw you in. They are full of warmth and kindness but there is something much deeper than that. [What are thinking about Vinnie boy?] Chaos said suddenly breaking gaze. 'Nothing' I said back as I look away from the window and faced forward. [Your thinking about her weren't you?] Chaos said teasingly. 'No, I'm not.' I said annoyed. [Not only were you thinking about her, but you were also spying on her.] He said. 'I wasn't.' I thought getting annoyed. [I can understand I sense something that sets her different your friends. Not only in the face but the power I sense within her.] He said. 'What do you mean?' [I'm not fully sure what it is. You should ask her.] Chaos said. 'No' I said bluntly. [Why?] Chaos asks. 'Because' I said. [Because what?] He said with a whine. I thought about the reason why I said no and what Esmee said last night about her bandages. 'Maybe that has to do with why she has them and why Lazul is so protective of her.' I thought. [That would explain a few things.] Chaos said suddenly butting into my thoughts, but pushed him out and finished my hypotheses. 'That would also explain what she said last night before she went to bed.' I thought as I remembered her words, "I know things will be better for us here. I know it will." Something must have happened for her to have those bandages and for her to say that. Before I could think of anything else I hear the door of the market open. I look and see Esmee and short-haired dog, who I realize is Lazul, carrying a lot of Tifa's bag. "Sorry, we took so long." She said with a small but sweet smile. "No, it's alright. Do you need any help?" I ask her as she tries to hold the bags in her small arms. I noticed that she has more bags than Lazul. "No, I got them." She said as she tries to carry them but some of the bags look like they will fall out her hands. 'I bet she wanted to carry them by herself, but Lazul probably wanted to help. So she gave him some of the bags.' I thought with a slight smirk on my face, but my cap covers most of my face so she couldn't have noticed. Before she takes her first step I reach out and grab a few of the bags and carry them and start leading us back to the bar.

Esmee's POV

"Sorry, we took so long," I said with a small but sweet smile. "No, it's alright. Do you need any help?" He asks. "No, I got them," I said as I try to carry all the bags but I can feel some of them slowly slipping out of my arms. Before I take my first step, a gloved hand reaches out and grabs a few of the bags. I look and see Vincent carrying them and start our journey back to the bar. "Thank you Vincent," I said thankfully and Lazul and I follow him. [Now is a good time to ask him] Lazul said into my thoughts. [No] I replied. [Why] he asks in a whiney voice. [For one thing, I doubt he wants to tell me let alone a complete stranger his past and two he doesn't seem like the type of person to open up to people too quickly.] I said sternly. [Come on. I want to know. Besides, I sense something strange about him.] Lazul said sounding almost concerned. [What do you mean?] I thought but my thought is cut short when Vincent spook. "I know what you're thinking." He said calmly. Lazul and I jump at his comment. 'Does he really know?' I thought worried. "You do?" I said timidly. "You're probably wondering why I'm fifty-nine when I look younger." He said. "Yes, I was actually going to ask you why that is?" I said looking at him as he suddenly stopped. He didn't say anything; all he does is look down at the ground and suddenly walk ahead of us. "I sorry, I didn't mean to pry," I said as Lazul and I run to catch up with him. He suddenly stops and I almost bump into him like yesterday. "No it's just, that's something I'm not ready to talk about." He said as he turned to face me. Even though he tried not to show it, I can tell how painful it is for him to think about it. Even his eyes showed more pain than his voice said. "I understand there are some things that I'm not ready to talk about just yet," I said looking down at my feet. "There's an old saying that goes, "The true path from inner turmoil begins with a friendly ear." If you ever need someone to talk to I'm here." I said I place my hand on his arm and gently stock it. "If you need it," I said smiling gently at him.

Vincent's POV

"I understand; there are some things that I'm not ready to talk about just yet." She said as she looks down at the ground. The look of sadness filled her eyes. I'm surprised; I never thought that her eyes would hold such sadness in them. I don't like that look in her eyes, I never want to see that in her eyes. 'Why did I think that?' I thought looking away from her. "There's an old saying that goes, 'The true path from inner turmoil begins with a friendly ear. If you ever need someone to talk to I'm here." She said as she places a hand on my arm and gently pats it. "If you need it." She said smiling gently at him. 'This feeling, I've felt this before.' I thought. I can feel the warmth of her hand on my arm through my gloves. It feels like I can feel my soul being too warmed up. "And just for the record," She said as she removes her hand. "You look good for your age." She said as she walks to my side with her hands behind her back as she leans to the side slightly and smiles. Suddenly I saw Lucrecia in her face when Esmee smiles at me. Then she runs to the corner of the street me with Lazul at her side. Then she turns around and faces me with a smile again and she speaks. "Come on Vincent, we need to give Tifa her things before your friends come." She said waving her hand that doesn't have a bag. 'Again, you remind me of her Esmee.' I thought with a smirk on my face. I catch up to them and we continue our walk back to the bar. As we walk I caught a glimpse of her fingerless gloved hand. "Thank you," I said then without thinking, I gently hold her hand with my clawed hand. This surprised her for a moment but then she smiles at me. "Anytime," She said then she holds my hand as well.

Esmee's POV

"Come on Vincent, we need to give Tifa her things before your friends come," I said waving at him. 'There is a history behind those ruby eyes of yours, but I'll wait when you're ready to talk.' I thought with a smirk on my face as he catches up with us and then we continue our walk back to the bar. Suddenly, I feel something cold and metal brush against my fingers and takes my hand. "Thank you," Vincent said as he holds my hand in his clawed hand. I'm completely surprised. I never thought that he would hold my hand like this. I can feel the warmth from his hands through his claws; I couldn't help but smile. 'I guess this means we're starting to become friends.' I thought as I smile at me. "Anytime," I said then gently tighten my grip in his hands. Through the rest of our walk back to the bar, he never let go of my hand.


thanks for making it to chapter 3