A week had slowly dwindled by since Yuffie's arrival in Nibelheim, and just over two weeks since she left Wutai. She had settled in well, but Vincent had noticed a change in her, a change he hardly saw as beneficial. Her confinement to the manor made her bored and restless, and she had begun to wander aimlessly round the manor in an attempt to find something to do, or else stay in her room for hours on end. She had also become significantly jumpy; a sudden noise such as a door opening would make her squeal in fright, and she often peered through the curtains of the living room, withdrawing quickly whenever anybody came into vision. Vincent had also noticed Yuffie was pale and seemed to be losing more weight, as though hiding out of sight was taxing her to her very limit. She had been very thin when she arrived, but now she looked almost ill.

One bright, mild afternoon Yuffie happened to be stretched out on the sofa, arms dangling limply over the side, eyes half closed. The weather is mocking me, she thought bitterly. It's calling to me-"Come, Yuffie! Come on out! Oh sorry, I forgot, you can't!" What a drag.

"Why can you not just find something to occupy yourself with?" Vincent asked, looking up from the book he was reading as if he read Yuffie's mind.

"Man, Vince, I've tried. If I'd brought some stuff from Wutai with me, I'd be happy all the time! Plus I'm stuck here till dad calls off the hunt for me, and lack of sun is making me look grey. Boredom and ugliness don't mix, Vince. It makes me feel worse."

"You're not ugly," Vincent said, shaking his head. "The marks on your cheek have almost gone now. As for Godo giving up, I am sure he will realise that you are old enough to make your own decisions on who you want to marry soon. You will be free to go anywhere soon enough." Vincent folded down a corner of his book and laid it aside. "Anyway, I have some news you may like."

"Oh yeah?" Yuffie muttered sceptically. "What might that be?"

"Oh, cheer up...apparently, Tifa has been so worried about you lately that she and Cloud are coming to Nibelheim to see you. Tifa called me earlier to tell me she will stop by Cosmo Canyon on the way and see if Nanaki can come along too. She thinks you need some company."

Yuffie's face, which had at first looked bored and uninterested, had brightened up a great deal, and a wide smile was appearing. "Really?" she asked. "Aww, she really is thoughtful, I guess." She sat up, looking eager. "When are they coming?"

Vincent pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking at the screen. "...About two hours," he replied.

"Oh wow, I'm not gonna be bored for once! Plus I see the guys again...damn, it's been a while, don't you think, Vince?" she burbled happily.

Picking his book up again, Vincent raised it higher to hide his smile as he began to read again. She is happy again. At least, for a while.

Later on, around 5 o'clock, there was a light tap at the the door. Instinctively, Yuffie yelled and sped out of the room and up the stairs, thinking Godo was going to get her. Rolling his crimson eyes, Vincent got to his feet and opened the door. Cloud and Tifa stood on the steps, smiling at their old comrade.

"Hey, Vincent!" Tifa said, stepping forward and hugging him, while Cloud laughed at the surprised expression that crossed Vincent's face.

"Tif, I think you're suffocating him!"

Tifa let go, also laughing. "It's great to see you again, it's been ages," she said.

Vincent let a small smile form, partly hidden by his cloak. "Good to see you two as well." Peering behind them, Vincent frowned. "Wasn't Nanaki supposed to be, er, 'tagging along'?"

Cloud grinned. "He had to finish some stuff off. He says he'll be here soon."

"Good." With a slight movement of his head, he beckoned the pair inside, leaving the door open for Nanaki to arrive.

Cloud stared around the front room. Last time he saw Shinra Manor, it had been four years ago, and it was teeming with monsters, falling apart. It looked a lot different now. "Wow, done this place up a little, haven't you?"

"Cloud, you would not believe how stupid I looked fixing this manor. For a start, paint on my face does not add to my appearance at all. Nor does falling off the roof mending the tiles."

Both Tifa and Cloud laughed. "Say, where's Yuffie?" Tifa stopped laughing, looking serious.

"She seems to think that you two are going to capture her and put her to death. However, I will see if I can find her." Vincent swept up the stairs, returning a few minutes later with Yuffie.

At the sight of her old friends, Yuffie gave a cry of delight and bounded down to them. Gleefully, she ran and hugged them both tightly. "Hi guys, it's great to see you again!" she cried breathlessly. She drew away from them and scrutinised them. "You don't look any different than when I saw you a year ago...wait..." Yuffie's eyes trailed over Tifa's leather-clad stomach. A slight bump was clearly visible. "My god...you're not...!"

Tifa smiled widely. "You thought right, Yufs!" She ran a hand over her stomach. "We've wanted a baby for ages, and now we're going to have one!"

Vincent, sat on the stairs, looked up. "How far are you, Tifa?"

"Hmm...must be about 5 months now. I'm skinny, so it shows a lot."

Vincent smiled again. Why am I smiling so much? "Congratulations, both of you, " he said.

"Yeah, congrats!" Yuffie smiled. "You guys are gonna be great parents, I just know it! Ohmygod, Cloud's gonna be a daddy!" She laughed heartily as Cloud blushed a bright red that could rival Vincent's cloak.

"Anyway, enough about us, tell us what's happened recently here," Tifa enquired, sitting down on the sofa, Cloud sitting on the arm. Yuffie settled herself cross legged on the floor, beaming with pure happiness.

Vincent seemed to think for a moment. "Not much, if you must know the truth. I must admit I wasn't expecting Yuffie of all people to turn up here. A pleasant surprise, if you will. You know the story of what happened, I told you last week-"

"Yeah, come to think of it- Yuffie, come here a minute," Tifa beckoned the ninja towards her, who scrambled up.

"Yeah?" she said.

Tifa reached out a hand and touched the marks on Yuffie's cheek. "Oh, you poor soul!" she sympathised. "Does it hurt any?" Yuffie shook her head. "What about the other ones? On your back?"

"A little, but they don't bother me anymore." Yuffie sat on the floor again. Tifa turned back to Vincent. "Sorry, Vincent, you were speaking."

"Well," he continued, "It's been different with Yuffie here, it was lonely before she arrived. But I plan on letting her stay here until her father relents."

"Won't be anytime soon, we know what he's like," Cloud muttered under his breath. Yuffie heard him, and her face went white.

"Yuffie, do not worry. That is only Cloud's opinion, it may not be true," Vincent soothed. Pointing to the door, he said, "Look who's here, Yuffie..."

Nanaki sat in the doorway, looking round at the gathered group. Yuffie jumped up and ran to him, kneeling down and hugging him. "Good to see you again, Red," she said in a voice muffled by his fur.

Nanaki put his paw on her shoulder gently. "My pleasure, little one," he replied in his low, growling voice. Yuffie released him and he padded softly to Cloud, Tifa and Vincent, sitting down beside the fireplace. Yuffie sat next to him, stroking a hand up and down his warm back. "Thanks, guys, "she beamed. "It's really nice that you're thinking of me when you have other concerns."

Tifa giggled, sweeping her hair back. "How can we forget you, Yufs? The stunts you used to pull four years ago are forever etched into our minds!"

"Yeah, like taking our Materia and getting captured by Corneo," Cloud interjected.

"And your constant airsickness..." Nanaki cut in, grooming himself.

Yuffie grinned sheepishly. "Hey, I've grown up now! A little...I don't steal Materia anymore, but my airsickness is still there, which sucks like hell. But being older isn't all wine and roses...dad still thinks I'm his little girl, there for him to push around..." Yuffie bowed her head.

"Cheer up, Yuffie," Cloud said. "We're always here to protect you! Friends are forever, remember!"

"Yeah, you're right!" Yuffie exclaimed. "Forget the old man, he's not worth thinking about right now! I've got my friends with me, that's all that matters!"

Laughing, Cloud slid off the arm of the sofa to sit next to Yuffie, ruffling her hair. "That's the spirit!"

"Vincent, can I talk to you?" Vincent looked up; he had had his eyes closed, and had not noticed Tifa in front of him.

"Of course," he said, standing up. "Privately?"

"Please. I'd rather nobody overhear. " Tifa followed Vincent out of the living room, into the large, empty room containing only the old piano. "What troubles you, Tifa?" Vincent asked, putting his hands in his pockets while Tifa sat on top of the piano.

"The question is, what isn't troubling me, Vincent." Tifa absent-mindedly swung her slender legs while she gazed at Vincent's confused face. "How do you think Yuffie is these days?"

Vincent cupped his chin with his metal hand, trying to figure out where this was going. "She seems fine to me. A little pale, and she has lost some weight, but I believe this is down to stress. I see no reason to worry about her too much." Vincent looked back at Tifa, whose expression had hardened. "What did I say?" Vincent asked.

"Vincent, have you even paid any attention to her at all?!"

"I-I do not understand-"

"Oh, you wouldn't, would you?" All the cheeriness that had previously surrounded Tifa had vanished. She swung herself off the piano and stood, arms folded. The silence was so deathly you could have heard a pin drop. Tifa looked as if she would like nothing better than to slap Vincent.

"Perhaps you would care to explain a little more?" Vincent whispered in a dangerous voice.

Tifa's expression softened a little. "I'm sorry, Vincent, I'm just so worried about Yuffie."

"Why?"

Tifa dropped her gaze. Her voice trembled. "She looks really ill, haven't you realised? She's so thin...has she eaten anything at all?"

Vincent thought back a little. "She has spent increasing amounts of time in her room these days. No, I do not believe I have seen her eat while she has been here, though she is always drinking."

"As I feared..." Tifa's eyes were now sparkling with tears. "I think she is so stressed about this whole Godo thing that she is just wasting away, her appetite gone completely. When I hugged her earlier, I felt just how thin she was. She's not far off being a perfect skeleton, Vincent..."A solitary tear dropped from Tifa's face.

Vincent raised a hand and wiped the tear track away gently. "I will take care of her, Tifa," he murmured.

Tifa managed a watery smile, wiping her eyes. "You've changed..." she said. "You never used to be so caring. What has made you change?"

Twisting a strand of hair, Vincent shrugged. "I have no idea." He opened the door to the living room, and exited, followed by Tifa.

A burst of breathless laughter reached their ears- Cloud had wrestled Yuffie to the floor and was tickling her relentlessly, while she writhed madly, trying to get away, giggling hysterically. Nanaki was watching the playful scene with a small smile on his wolfish face.

Cloud looked up at Vincent and Tifa, and he momentarily stopped tickling Yuffie. "Hey guys! What was all that about?" Yuffie, tears of laughter in her eyes, sat up, chest heaving. "Oh no you don't," Cloud growled, pretending to be angry, his fingers flying over her stomach, making her collapse helplessly.

"Oh, it was nothing important," Tifa said dismissively, sitting down. "Give over, Cloud, before she dies from lack of breath," she added, smirking. Cloud dropped his arms reluctantly, allowing Yuffie to wobble to her feet, still giggling. She made her way over to where Vincent had sat down on the sofa, and dropped down next to him. "Ican'tbreathe," she gasped, hands over her stomach.

Vincent rolled his eyes. "You have cheered up considerably," he observed.

"Yeah..." Yuffie closed her eyes, breathing slowly, trying to get her breath back. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and gazed around at everyone. "Thanks guys," she said, "for being so thoughtful. It's nice to know that someone out there remembers me..."she trailed off, smiling happily.

Nanaki padded over to Yuffie, sitting in front of her. Speaking in his growling voice, he said, "We do not forget, little one, that you fought alongside us four years ago. You have become a close and valuable friend, and while you endure hardships in your life, we will be there for you, no matter what. We do not forget our friends..."

A broad smile brightened Yuffie's face. She rubbed her finger behind Nanaki's ears, while he closed his eyes contentedly. "Thank you, Red," she whispered. Her other hand rose to wipe her eyes.

Tifa spoke sharply, "Yufs, are you okay?" Yuffie nodded, continuing to wipe her grey eyes.

"It's just so strange," she sniffed. "I was always an annoyance to you all, you guys never liked me 'cos I was always in your face and stealing your Materia..."she sniffed again, "and I was never any use in battle 'cos I was too young... but now you guys are all nice to me, like I never pissed you off in your life."

"Yuffie..." Vincent put a hand on Yuffie's face and turned her head so she was looking at him. Yuffie observed his face through her watery eyes- the tender way in which Vincent was looking at her was slightly unnerving; she had never seen such an expression on his face. "Yuffie...we never disliked you. We were all so preoccupied with saving the Earth that we had no ears for your childishness. As for our Materia...our Materia were precious, necessary for our success. We could not have defeated Sephiroth without them. Naturally, we were cross when you took them. But we never disliked you in any way, shape or form. So do not believe that this is not so...for you are as important to us as we are to you..." He gave her hand a brief squeeze, letting go rather quickly, looking highly embarrassed. He looked fiercely at Cloud, who was grinning. "May I ask what is so funny?" he said coldly.

"Geez, Vincent, calm it. I'm just not used to you now. You've changed so much in a short space of time that you don't even seem like the brooding vampire we found having a nightmare in an old coffin four years ago. You show more expression and emotion than you ever did, for a start."

"I know, I have no idea why." Vincent fiddled with a clasp on his cloak, noticing Nanaki's glowing amber eyes fixed on him. He knew what he was thinking. It's Yuffie...she's changing me. I think...I think I possibly could be falling in love with her, though why I do not know. It feels strange.

Around an hour and a half later, Tifa consulted her watch. "It's been great coming down here to see you two again, but I think Cloud and I should head back now." She stood up, followed by Cloud.

"Yeah, I've enjoyed coming back to Nibelheim for a while- makes a change from Kalm," he said.

Vincent nodded. "How will you get back to Kalm?" he asked.

"Well, we're staying at Cosmo for the night, then we'll head off in the morning. Simple," Tifa smiled.

Nanaki sat up from his position on the rug beside the fire, shaking his mane. "I, too, will retire to Cosmo Canyon." He turned his head to Vincent and Yuffie. "It has been an enjoyable day, I am glad I was invited to join you."

"Today's been super, guys, " Yuffie burbled as she and Vincent walked the others to the door. "I hope I see you again soon," she added, hugging Tifa and Cloud, then stroking Nanaki's soft fur.

"See you...and congratulations again on your pregnancy, Tifa," Vincent said.

"Thanks," she replied. "If you need us, you know where we are tonight." She gave Vincent a quick hug, murmuring quietly, "Take care of her, Vincent." She drew away, smiling again. "You take care of yourselves now," she said, raising a hand in farewell as she started walking with the others down the path.

Yuffie and Vincent watched them till they had shut the gate behind them, then they closed the door. Turning to Vincent, Yuffie wrapped her thin arms round him, nestling close. "Thanks, Vince," she said. "Thanks for everything."

Vincent returned the embrace, pulling her closer. "I have lost count of the times you have said 'thank you' today." He gave a dry chuckle, stroking a hand gently up and down her back. She squirmed as his hand reached her shoulders. "Oh, ticklish there, are we?" Vincent's hands flew rapidly over her shoulders, and she leapt back with a cry of mirth.

"I think I've been tickled enough today, Vince!" she protested, though she laughed as she said it.

"At least it cheered you up. You have been like a limp rag recently." Vincent sat himself down, and picked up the book he had previously been reading. "I am glad to see you full of life again," he said quietly.

She is altering me so much. I don't even feel the man I used to be. I will talk to her again soon. I do not want to spoil her happiness right now. Tifa was so worried...and she has reason to- Yuffie does seem a little too thin. Yes, I will talk to her in a few days.