Ok, thanks for the awesome reviews. Here's the deal: I usually update around once a week. I'm also getting a little writers block, and that combined with college is not a good sign. But fear not! I'm not going to give up on the story and I'm also interested in what you think, so if you have suggestions on where you want the story to go, just let me know

Illiyah

P.S.

Thanks to MimiNeko and Azure Sora for reviewing!

Yuffie sat in the guest room thinking about what just happened. Did Vincent just call me beautiful? Why? I thought he was still stuck on that bitch whore who broke his heart…but then again, since Chaos has returned to the planet, he has been more social…Maybe…wait, what am I thinking? There's no way he'd have ANY feelings for me…

Deciding that she needed to get any thoughts of Vincent and what his words meant out of her head, Yuffie jumped up and turned on the small television in the room.

:: Riots continue in and around Wutai as the manhunt for Yuffie Kisaragi continues :: Yuffie's eyes shot towards the screen. :: If you have any information of the ex-princess's whereabouts, please contact any law enforcement agency…This fugitive is believed armed and dangerous. :: Yuffie's mouth dropped open as the television showed pictures of her. :: Yuffie must be brought back to Wutai where she will be executed for crimes against the throne… ::

"Crimes against the throne? I wonder what Godo made up this time…" Yuffie said to herself and continued to watch the news. What she saw next brought her to tears.

:: In related Wutai news, Chekhov, one of the 5 Mighty Gods in Wutai, has been executed for aiding in Yuffie's escape…:: Yuffie ran to the TV and shut it off, tears streaming down her face.

Oh, Chekhov…I'm so sorry… Yuffie's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. "Come in, the door's unlocked." Yuffie stated softly.

"Thank you…Yuffie…" Vincent said as he walked through the door. He closed it, and then walked up to Yuffie. "May I sit next to you?" He asked in a quiet voice.

Yuffie didn't give him an answer. Instead, she got up and wrapped her arms around him. Vincent looked down at her as she sobbed into his shirt. He took his hand and drew Yuffie closer to him. Yuffie… what's troubling you…? He thought as she continued to cry on his chest.

Yuffie calmed down enough to speak and looked up at Vincent. As their eyes met, she could see compassion and sympathy laced with…something else, something she couldn't put a finger on. It was the same look that Vincent had given her downstairs earlier.

"Oh, Vinnie…it's Chekhov…she's…" Yuffie took a deep breath and continued. "She's been executed…for helping me… and my title as princess has been stripped…" She finished, barely in a whisper, "They want to kill me, don't they…"

Vincent nodded slowly. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Cloud, Cid, Nanaki, Barret, and I are here to protect you. Tifa and Shera are going to assist also. I do not know how to say this but… your life is no longer the same because of this. You will need a whole new identity. Because you were affiliated with AVALANCHE, you are not the only one in danger. That is why everyone is here in Rocket Town." Vincent paused to see if Yuffie understood everything he was saying. He continued, "Cid is in the process of fixing the airship so that we can escape quickly if the need arises.

Yuffie gulped, "…Airship? I'll get sick…" She looked at Vincent.

"Yes, that is possible, but it is a lot better than going back to your home." He told her.

Yuffie noticed that the entire time Vincent was talking, he never let go of her. Seeing the situation they were in, Yuffie blushed and untangled herself from Vincent. Then she sat on the edge of the bed. "Vinnie, I've lost everything… First my mother, then Aerith, now Chekhov and my homeland… I'm all alone Vinnie…all… alone…" Yuffie buried her hands in her face and cried.

Vincent sat down next to Yuffie. He carefully took her hands away from her face and lifted her chin to face him. "You are not alone…Yuffie…" He looked into Yuffie's eyes and barely whispered, "I'm …here…" What Vincent did next completely shocked Yuffie. He brought his lips to hers and gave her a chaste kiss.

"Vincent…I…what about Lucr…" Yuffie was silenced by another kiss, this time a little deeper, but still soft enough to leave her wondering if it was a dream. She then watched as Vincent got up and walked towards the door.

"By the way Yuffie, I know this is a day late but…Happy Birthday…I will call you when dinner is ready…" With that, he walked out of Yuffie's room, leaving her only to her thoughts.

He knew…he remembered my birthday…Vincent…