Hello again! That took a while, I know. I will explain why in the second chapter of 'Reqiuem'.

Thanks for the reviews and sorry for the wait!

Cheers!

Kyyrin

Chapter Seven

The following days rushed by, as Lucrecia lovingly nursed Vincent back to health.

He regained his strength quickly. The extra sleep had done him good.

Outside, the wintry weather continued. It snowed more than ever the rest of that week, which lifted the spirits of both Vincent and Lucrecia each longingly staring at the scene outside, wishing they could go out and enjoy it.

Now, besides a rather nasty cough and the lingering cold, Vincent was practically healed. He no longer suffered dizzy spells, his sore throat had vanished, and his fever hadn't returned. Though he was still bed-ridden by orders of Lucrecia, made the most of it by doing paperwork in his room. He longed to get back to work, and was glad when Monday of the following week finally came around.

Vincent awoke that morning, refreshed and almost healthy. Rubbing his still bright red nose with the back of his hand, he decided that today would be good to go to work. He was practically healed, save for the coughing and sneezing. It was a bit bothersome, but not too much. After all, he didn't want to get Lucrecia in any more trouble with Hojo, and she seemed eager to return to her lab.

He got up and stretched. Being an early riser, he decided he would go tell Lucrecia that she could come to work today. He showered, and dressed, making sure to wrap a scarf around his neck and tuck a sufficient amount of handkerchiefs into his backpack.

Hoisting his luggage, he headed in the direction of Lucrecia's quarters holding one of the soft cloths to his nose. It had begun to run again after the shower, and even a sufficient amount of sniffling and rubbing wouldn't stem the flow. Well, there were just some things you had to live with.

He looked around warily as he walked, attempting to make sure that Hojo didn't jump out of nowhere. Vincent had hated Hojo from the moment he had laid eyes on the man, and had then become painfully aware that Hojo returned that loathing with a vicious one of his own. Vincent didn't know why. He hadn't done anything to make Hojo hate him, but when he had first met the scientist, his cruel eyes and sarcastic, merciless nature already moved him to Vincent's list of people he disliked. And after the past week, Hojo had moved from the fervent dislike list to the loathing with a passion list quite speedily.

He would never forgive Hojo for making Lucrecia cry.

Reaching said scientist's door, he paused before knocking. Being a shy man by nature, especially when it came to women, Vincent began to feel as if he were intruding on Lucrecia's privacy. She had done so much for him. Too much for him. But he had to tell her she could go back to work. Working up the courage, he knocked several times.

He heard the sound of a chair being pushed back, a padding of feet, and finally the door opened.

Staring at him was a beautiful, but rather surprised looking Lucrecia, still in her night gown. Looking him up and down, she settled for gazing at his face and frowning slightly at him before speaking.

"Vincent? What on earth are you doing up? I thought I told you to…….", she trailed off when she noticed his Turk uniform and backpack. Quirking an eyebrow, she stated, "Why don't you come in?", before opening the door wider.

"What? Oh there's no need, Dr. Cre------, I mean Lucrecia. I just wanted to tell you that you can go back to work. I'm feeling better, so there's no need for you to stay up here all day and-----", he was cut short as a powerful sneeze nearly knocked him to the ground. Sniffling wetly and wiping his tortured nose, he looked at her expectantly.

Lucrecia's now surprised expression changed to one of amusement, and then to that of concern in quite a short time span. Grabbing Vincent by the arm, she all but pulled him into her room, and guided him to sit down. Hands on her hips, she looked down at the sniffling Turk with an expression of mock irritation written across her face.

"I don't think so, Mr. Valentine", she chided sternly, looking into his beautiful crimson eyes. "My comfort is of no concern at the moment. You will go back to work when all your symptoms including the coughing and sneezing are gone. Have I made myself clear?"

Vincent stared at her.

"B-But, Lucrecia. I'm fine! You want to go back to work, don't you? And so do I. Besides, Hojo said-----"

He broke off his sentence rather quickly when he realized that the mock irritation on Lucrecia's face had changed to suppressed anger.

"Vincent Valentine, I don't give a damn what Hojo said! Fact is that a few days ago, you could barely even walk without assistance. And now you're sitting here, sneezing pathetically and begging me to go to work? Didn't my care mean anything to you?"

Lucrecia bit back a gasp at what she'd just said. She shouldn't have pushed it that far. This was the second time she had let her temper get the better of her. Vincent was just concerned for her well being, as she was for his. She shouldn't have snapped at him like that.

Vincent looked away sadly, and got up, walking towards the door.

"I-I'm sorry, Doctor. My mistake. Your care means the world to me. It wasn't my intention to force anything onto you. It was selfish. Forgive me……..", he trailed off, realizing he had just revealed some of his private feelings to her. Gulping, and blushing furiously, he hurried towards the door.

Lucrecia's eyes went wide. She meant that much to him? But, she had thought he wasn't interested. She had thought………..well, maybe she did have a chance with him after all. Catching up to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, hugging him tightly.

"Vincent, don't go. I'm sorry. That was rude of me. You only care for my well being as I do for yours. I'm only asking you to allow yourself a few more days of rest and relaxation. It would do you good. You were so sick last week I was afraid I might…lose you. You mean too much to me for that to happen. Please, Vincent. Work can wait. You're…….more important to me than that…….", she trailed off, hugging him tighter, as if afraid he would vanish before her eyes.

Vincent stiffened noticeably at her affection. Not that he didn't welcome it, but he wasn't used to it at all. It had been years since someone had hugged him. Should he hug her back?

Relaxing, and turning in her arms, he timidly wrapped his own around her. He found the embrace to be……nice. Maybe there was hope of her returning his affections.

"It's……alright, Lucrecia. I guess I'm just a little…….bored", he murmured, fully aware of how stupid it sounded. But it was true. He was hopelessly bored. Work would have at least given him something to do.

Without breaking the embrace, she looked up at him, eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Bored? You're bored? Well I think I can fix that………"

Feeling his forehead again, and straightening up a bit, she walked over to her closet, opened it up, and pulled something out, hiding it behind her back. Walking back to him, eyes ever twinkling, she voiced her idea.

"So Vincent. If you're….bored, I suggest we go for a walk in the snow!"

Vincent gaped at her. She was not being serious, was she?

Apparently she was.

"I know, I know. Lucrecia logic, I guess", she continued, mischievous smile widening. "I know that it's completely illogical to tell you that you can't go to work, and that you can go outside instead. But……."

She giggled once more at the look on her bodyguards face. It was just so priceless.

"At least you won't be pushing yourself overboard. The fresh mountain air would really do you good. And….", she took on a somber tone. "…..And we'll be far away from Hojo and any other cruel tasks he'll think up for you……If we go to work, there's the chance he'll come in and force you to run yourself to the ground. You're not fully recovered yet, Vincent. I don't think I could bear it if he pushed you into another hike in your condition…….", she looked up at him, eyes pleading with him to understand.

A period of silence followed, Lucrecia staring at Vincent hopefully, and him seemingly deep in thought.

He wanted to go out in the snow so badly but………

Lucrecia cocked an eyebrow. She could she that Vincent was arguing with himself over whether to take up her offer or not. Well, if he couldn't decide, she'd have to help him along.

"Mr. Valentine, I do believe that the job description I received from the Shinra states that you are my bodyguard, not Hojo's, and that you are to protect your charge from any harm, or possibly harmful situations. And if I decide to go out walking in the snow, you had better come with me and protect me from any nasty monsters that might decide that I'd make a good meal. And that's an order!", Lucrecia finished triumphantly, crossing her arms and daring him to protest.

Vincent gulped, and stood staring at her with his mouth hanging slightly open. He processed what she had said. She was right. In fact, she had just ordered him to protect her, and he had to follow orders, so he was forced to oblige. And it wasn't like he didn't want to go. Actually, he did very much.

Sighing, he relented.

"Alright, alright. I'll come", he cracked a smile before he could help himself, and looked his charge up and down. "But I think…….you'd make more of an appetizer for any monster than a real meal….."

Lucrecia's melodious laugh drifted through the room once more, and she walked up to stand in front of him.

"If you come, then I won't be on their menu. But you can only go outside under one condition", from behind her back, she pulled out a warm looking toque, that looked like it had seen several years pass. She had endlessly debated over whether to just buy Vincent a new one, or present him with this. The toque had belonged to a dear friend of hers, Shey that had also perished in the massacre of her hometown. It had been his trademark, his favorite hat. She had been devastated to only find an item of clothing of his, and not his body. Tears came to her eyes just thinking about it. Vincent reminded her so much of her friend that she sometimes wondered if they had been related.

But no. Although Vincent bore similarities to Shey, the where qualities he had that attracted her to him far more than her friend could ever have. Shey hadn't been as quiet and shy as Vincent, and by far not as polite. Not to mention that Vincent was a tad better looking…….

"Lucrecia? Are you alright?", came Vincent's gentle voice. "What's that?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm fine. Just reminiscing, I guess. Here", she pushed the oft object into his hands, watching in amusement as he examined the object thoroughly.

"Well? What do you say? I'm not letting you outside without it, Vincent. It's a precaution, so I want you as bundled up as possible", she looked at him hopefully, praying that he wouldn't change his mind because she was forcing him to wear a toque.

Minutes passed, and finally, a kind smile crossed Vincent's features.

"Hm. I knew there would be a catch", he chuckled softly, looking into her eyes. "Of course I'll wear it."

Lucrecia giggled happily.

"Well Vincent, it just so happens that you will not only wear it every time you step outside, you will also keep it. It's yours. You can view it as an……early Christmas present", looking at his humble expression, she continued.

"Vincent, I'm not taking no for an answer. Understood? Catching another cold isn't an option…….."

Vincent paused, and then slowly nodded his head.

"I understand, Lucrecia. And……thank you", he voiced sincerely. Whoever had owned this item of clothing before Lucrecia, must have meant a lot to her. He had deduced that from watching her face when she had handed it to him. She had been on the verge of tears. But he wouldn't push it. If she wanted to speak to someone about it, she would. He knew her quite well.

"So what are you waiting for? Go change!", came Lucrecia's enthusiastic voice. She gently grabbed his arms and pushed him towards the door. "I'll wait for you in the entrance hall. No go! And remember, Vincent. Warm clothes!"

With that, she pushed him completely out of the room, and leaned with her back against the inside of the door.

A happy smile spread across Lucrecia's features.

Who would have thought?

She had fallen in love with her bodyguard.

And there'll be one last chapter to this one...hope you all enjoyed it!