"That was chaotic, wasn't it?"

Tifa had said those words as she and Cloud walked back towards the resort's main building, intending to get out of the sun and relax for a moment. What she had meant was what had gone down in the clothing store. Chaotic as in when seven women started talking at once about everything from outfits to food and then started to drag the guys into the conversation. It gave the blond a headache he wasn't going to recover from anytime soon.

"Thanks for pulling me out of that," he said to her, remembering how Tifa made up the excuse of having other plans before the day was over. She had made that up on the spot in the heat of the moment, but there was some truth in the lie. The resort had a poolside cafe that she had gotten a glimpse of earlier and she had made a mental note to visit it the next time the chance came around.

Looked like it was now or never.

They were holding hands as they reached the entrance. The cafe was in a large area with a long rectangular pool next to a dozen white metal tables and matching chairs. Each table was big enough to have four chairs and were decorated with fresh red roses.

And as it turned out, more than one were already occupied.

Feeling a bit down Tifa sighed, secretly wishing it had been empty so she could enjoy it with Cloud, but with two dozen other people that was going to be a challenge from the word go.

Then, out of the corner of her eye she thought a dark figure standing in the shadows. Turning fully in that direction her suspicions were proven true. Not only that, but it turned out the dark figure was someone she recognized. "Cloud...look who it is."

The man had seen the figure as well, standing in the shadows with his arms crossed and head down. Disheveled black hair and red clothes, as well as his left arm encased in a golden claw.

"Vincent!"

The mysterious looking man raised his head, red irises pierced the shadows as Tifa made her way to him. "Long time no see."

"I know. It has been."

Cloud joined Tifa, happy to also see a familiar face from his world. "Good to see you."

Vincent nodded once. Typical of the former Turk, less words more actions.

Yet Tifa noticed something was off. "...are you here alone?"

Her question was not unfounded. Since the moment she had been aware Tifa swore that there were only couples on the island. Seeing Vincent alone raised her suspicions. Surely they had allowed exceptions but still...

True to form Vincent got his back off the wall and slowly started walking away.

Tifa still wanted to ask him a few things but Cloud got her attention first. "Let him be."

Those were his parting words before he went into the cafe to wait for Tifa. She had other ideas, one last thing that she wanted to get off her chest.

Vincent was just starting to climb the stairs that led back to the guest rooms when Tifa stopped him.
"Vincent."

He stopped, acknowledging her presence but didn't turn himself around.

If he had he would have noticed the smile on the woman's lips. Like she had made a realization but kept it to herself for the most part. "...when will we meet her?"

He knew who she meant, though to say he wasn't caught off guard by what she suspected would have been a lie. Tifa was an intuitive woman and that fact was something Vincent had obviously forgotten until now. Still he kept his composure.

He didn't lie to her. He couldn't. "When she is ready. Until then, don't tell Cloud."

Tifa stepped back, "Got it. See you later."

Vincent continued his trek up the stairs while Tifa went to meet up with Cloud in the cafe.

Cloud was already sitting at a table off in the farthest corner. It was near the pool overlooking the beach and was a prominently romantic spot. He had a good eye for such a detail apparently.

The next table over seemed to think in a similar fashion. A red headed girl with long pointed ears in an exotic outfit seemed upset that Cloud had sat down where he was.

"That's not fair!"

A young man with short brown hair and wearing a white set of slim armor came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Lily. He got here first, we'll just have to find another spot-"

The girl turned to her friend and drove her small fist into his armored shoulder. It bounced off like a pellet to a wall. The girl's face was as red as her hair. "S-Stop calling me that! It's Lilisette, you dolt!"

The man smirked, "You enjoy me calling you that any other time."

Lilisette crossed her arms over her chest and huffed, "I don't wanna talk to you anymore, Nerus."

The man named Nerus shook his head and turned to Tifa as she came to sit down at the table Cloud was at. "I apologize for my...companion's attitude. I am Nerus Voltan, of Vana'diel. This is Lilisette, a dancer-"

"I can introduce myself, thank you very much," said the red head still upset about earlier.

Nerus ignored her. "She has a temper when she doesn't get her way."

Tifa smiled, "That's all right. If you want, you can join us. We're not gonna be here long as it is."

"Why thank you," said Nerus with gratitude. He took a seat opposite Cloud but Lilisette remained standing. That is until Nerus grabbed the edge of her skirt and pulled her right onto his lap.

She obviously didn't like that. "H-Hey! Hands off-"

She tried to get up but he kept her on him and she gave up immediately. Still she crossed her arms and glared at him.

"She your girlfriend?" asked Tifa, curious about the new comers.

Nerus was happy to answer, "We are intimate, if that is what you are referring to."

"Only when I deem it appropriate, that is," answered Lilisette.

Tifa giggled, "So are Cloud and I, though he tends to be shy."

"Just getting used to it, Tifa, please go easy on me," said the blonde.

"I was, but I think you should try to be more open about us."

His only way to respond was to look away, more to hide the red in his face.

Nerus knew where he was coming from. "It took Lily a long time to get over her fear about us. Being a dancer she didn't want her personal feelings to get in the way of her performances-"

"I wasn't afraid! I just...suck at intimacy."

"We're in the same boat," said Cloud.

This time all four of them chuckled, already growing used to each other's company and enjoying it.

From across the cafe, a girl with long blond hair and in a red mini-dress and white cape watched as Cloud and Tifa were enjoying their time together.

She was happy for them.

"Ready, Ms. Branford?"

Terra turned and saw a young man in exotic white and purple robes and silver hair approach her. His tone was that of high nobility and elegance that was foreign but welcoming.

She smiled, "Yes, Kuja."

The man took Terra's hand softly in his own and led her away from the cafe and down some stone steps that lead onto the beach. During his earlier trek around the island he had picked up a sun umbrella for future purposes. Now he gave it to Terra to protect her from the heat and rays generated by the sun.

She took it with gratitude. "Thank you, Kuja." She opened the umbrella and had it over herself and the two began their walk together along the white sand of the foreign beach, holding hands.

After a couple minutes of walking without a word and feeling the cool water reach her feet, Terra asked aloud. "Why do you think we're here? I figured that after the war we would be sent back home, not to a place like this."

The idea hadn't escaped Kuja's calculating mind. In fact ever since the moment he and Terra woke up in the same room he had been asking himself that very question. Though after being able to check out the island he had a theory. Just one, but it was better than nothing.

Kuja kept his hand in Terra's, "From what I've seen, this place holds a special connection to people who are connected by mutual feelings."

His evidence was obvious. Cloud and Tifa: childhood friends and confessed to be in a relationship. Zidane and his queen, the Leonharts, the royal couple of Insomnia. The list went on and on. This island brought together people whose hearts are strongly connected with another.

Of course, his logical thinking did not overlook the fact that he and Terra were also together on this island. Not that he had a problem with it.

"This is as close to paradise for most of the people here as it could possibly get," he said.
Terra stopped walking, "And what about us?"

Kuja turned to the woman before him, raising a hand to rest on her cheek. "I think that would be obvious by now."

For Terra, she had always suspected the former warrior of discord had feelings for her due to what he had done for her in the past, and he being here with her only seemed to confirm her suspicions.
"I thought as much, but..."

Kuja put a finger to her lips to silence her. "No more words, Terra. Let's enjoy this for now."

The situation had been put to bed for now, and Kuja would have it no other way. Terra decided to go along, knowing he wouldn't keep her in the dark forever.

He already released her from the dark once before, she had no doubt that he would never put her back.

Returning to his room after meeting up with his friends, Vincent quietly entered the fancy but darkened room and closed the door. The blinds were over the windows and the only source of light came from the opened balcony doors, the curtains swayed in the gentle breeze.

Then there was the woman standing in the doorway, looking out onto the tropical scene just outside.
Dressed in a white dress that meshed well with the curtains, her long auburn hair tied up in a tail still reached her lower back.

Having heard Vincent enter the room, the woman turned her body to face him. She smiled, her actions expressing more than anything she could say.

Vincent's heart started to beat rapidly at the sight of Lucrecia. The only thing that moved faster were his feet as he walked up to her and quickly put his arms around her. She did the same, feeling a surprising amount of warmth coming from him.

Yet it was comforting for both of them.

Together at last and they would savor what time they had to be together.