Summary: Chapter 3, Hospital visits blah blah. Tifa and the others arrive.
Chapter Song: lips of an angel – Hinder
Disclaimer: I do not own anything
I stared at Yuffie's moving figure. For the past week I watched Yuffie. Tifa had arrived though she looked amazing her eyes said otherwise. She had dark circles under them and looked stressed. She arrived with Barret and two kids I hardly recognized.
Marlene and Denzel were grown up and dating. Though they still were the same kids they were they looked like regular teenagers. They sat in the hospital with Tifa and Barret. Who had arrived just after me and the kids.
Reeve, Shelke, and Nanaki had arrived too. Nanaki took his family home a couple days before. But he came back to help Reeve with some work. Cid and Shera arrived and gave big hugs to everyone before sitting down. Cloud arrived and I literally thought I would die laughing. He came in the room and the door swung open and it came back and hit him. The room erupted in laughter.
He sat away from everyone in embarrassment. I saw him and Tifa give small nods and keep away from each other. Though every now and then they would be caught staring at each other.
Barret and Cid tried to keep their swearing at a minimum. Though they needed scolding from Shera or Tifa to hold it down. Tifa nearly fell out of her chair when Yuffie snorted in her sleep. And not a normal snort, this was LOUD.
After about three hours of waiting the kids were asleep from their hyperactivity. Cloud offered to take them home since he really should open the bar anyway. And to most everyone's surprise Tifa asked to go with him. Which he nodded and they left.
" Hell is going to break loose if those two are in a room together." Cid said. So I guessed that they got into some rather nasty fights. But everyone said nothing about it and began chattering again.
Reeve and the others left to go home. Cid and Shera stayed a half hour longer before leaving. I was now alone, except for Yuffie. Or when the doctor or nurse came in to check on her. Yuffie kept constantly making noises.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the wall. I thought of the things everyone would be doing just to celebrate Yuffie waking. I know they would celebrate. Chocolate, probably everything covered in chocolate. Just to let her know she was missed.
I soon found myself asleep, tired from listening to everyone talk just like Yuffie. A lot. " Where am I?" a small whimpering voice said. I frowned before opening my eyes. I gazed at the window and saw nothing. The door nothing. I looked at Yuffie's bed. She was rubbing her eyes and sitting up. I thought I was dreaming so I closed my eyes again. When the voice came again I jerked my eyes open. Yuffie looked really confused.
I got up and went to her side.
" Yuffie?" I said. She frowned.
" Is that me?" she asked. And I thought I was going to have a stroke. I rang the buzzer by her bed. The doctor came in and nearly dropped his things. He went to get the nurse and he came back after ten minutes.
Yuffie still looked confused.
" Who are you?" she asked. She had forgotten her name and me?
" My name is Vincent. You are Yuffie." I said. She glanced at her bed. She frowned even more. The doctor moved me aside and checked Yuffie's eyes, nose, ears, heartbeat, and then hit her on the knees with one of those doctor hammers.
He asked her questions about her personal life. Where she came from or who her father was. But she couldn't answer any of them. Not even her age. She had forgotten, Sephiroth and her family and friends.
" Alright, Mr. Valentine. It appears she has lost her memory." no shit idiot... " Though I think this will just be temporary, just from it being so long. Just practice stuff with her when she goes home tomorrow." he said. I nodded and called Cid. I heard glass fall and Cid swore. He yelled at everyone and caused a whole riot in the house.
" Valentine you better not be yankin my leg or I'll get ya." he said before hanging up. I stared at Yuffie. She had no clue what was going on, and I didn't tell her either. Cid could tell her or something. She continued to stare at me with frightened eyes.
" Is something wrong?" I asked. She shook her head. Yuffie sat in the bed, her legs covered by the sheets.
" Why are you here? Why am I here?" she asked.
" I'm here because you are my friend, and you are here because you were in a coma." I said. Her eyes met mine. Her frown was replaced by a small smile. I heard Cid shouting and he slammed the door opened. He looked at Yuffie and cupped her head in his hands. He squashed her in a hug and she gasped. He apologized and people bustled in.
" Yuffie, your awake!" the kids shouted. They gave her confusing hugs. When the room fell silent she looked at all of them and examined them.
" She doesn't remember anything." I said quietly. Everyone frowned and chattered. Cid sat on the bed with her. His arms around her and he kissed her head. Just like a real father. Everyone told her their names. She nodded at each one of them. But she was still confused. But instead of saying they were friends they were the family status they picked out.
Everyone was told to leave after an hour. And despite Cid's swearing and yelling they wouldn't let anyone stay. They wanted to check and see if she was OK. So when we got home everyone was in high spirits. Cid and Barret had lots of beer and no one could wait until tomorrow.
Neither could I, so I went off to bed. But not before I made a phone call. The person I called gave me an apartment. Which he said had furniture and everything. He would stop by tomorrow to get the money. After that I slipped into my bed and fell asleep. Despite the music and cheering downstairs.
…
When I awoke everyone was awake early. Cid didn't drink any beer but was all ready and set to go. He stood outside and waited for the party of friends to come. Which I took the time to tell him. I went outside and stood near him.
" Cid, I was wondering. Yuffie does not remember, anything. If I could let her stay with me for awhile..." my voice trailed off. He looked at me with an eyebrow raised. He puffed out smoke and coughed.
" What? You live in Nibelheim don't ya? No way, Yuffie gotta be close." he said. I shook my head.
" I bought an apartment. It will not be permanent. And you guys may visit whenever. Just until she is better, and you guys can go on with your lives." I told them. He thought for a minute. Cid really was like her father. He contemplated if he would let me take care of her. If I was fit and willing.
He sighed and nodded.
" I guess, she'll need constant care ya know? And we've all got crap to do. Never thought about that. Thanks Valentine." he said. I nodded before taking his kids and leaving. But the others weren't far behind. Especially Tifa. Who caught up to me. I smiled a bit at her and she smiled back.
" Uhh, has Cloud said anything about... what happened?" she asked. I nodded. Her eyes were sad but it disappeared when she looked at the kids. Her eyes were back to normal. She no longer looked tired but more on edge.
" Yes he seemed, sad." I said quietly. The kids waited for us to catch up. They breathed heavily from all the running. I opened the door and we walked inside.
Tifa asked no more about Cloud, as we made our way to Yuffie's room. But Yuffie wasn't in the room. She was outside the door practicing walking. She limped slowly down the hallways. But when she saw us she smiled confused and hugged us all.
I knew she still couldn't remember anything. So I told her our names again and she nodded. The kids ran inside the room. Yuffie slowly went into the room. Tifa followed her and sat down. Yuffie sat on the bed and sighed. She grinned and stared at the ceiling.
" Ready to go home yet sister Yuffie?" asked the kids. She looked at them and nodded. The kids exploded with happiness. They played for awhile when Cloud came in. Tifa looked away, anywhere but him. Which I think he noticed. He looked sad but grinned when he looked at Yuffie.
" Don't worry Yuffs, you'll be remembering in no time." he said. Cloud sat down with a groan. Yuffie sat in the bed pondering while Tifa played with the little ones. Cid and Barret barged into the room and gave Yuffie a large hug before slumping into the chairs.
I read a magazine as everyone started filing in through the door, though I didn't really read it. It was about some boring super stars and their personal lives some reporters snooped into. So I set aside the magazine and watched as Yuffie made a puzzle with the kids. But I realized she wasn't even as good as them. She struggled fitting pieces in where they didn't belong.
" Yuffie, what is 6 plus 2?" I asked. Everyone looked at me confused. Yuffie turned her head to face me. And she thought and thought.
" How do I do that, Vinnie?" so she made or remembered the nickname. But she didn't know how to add. Maybe Yuffie didn't know how to add before. But I was pretty sure she could. Yuffie wasn't that dumb. Well I didn't think she was dumb I thought she was smart.
Everyone was now frowning and chatting about her condition. It seemed her forgetting was more than just memories. It was everything. When the doctor came in Cid pounded him with questions. Like why is she forgetting or why did she forget everything.
The doctor had his answers but was busy getting Yuffie ready to go home. He checked her out again and then told everyone to get out so Tifa could help her get dressed. Which I noticed Shera had some of her clothes. We all bustled into the large hallway and tried to stay out of the way of the doctors.
Cid pulled me aside and whispered in my ear. " So ya got stuff ready for her? I'll bring her stuff over to yer place later. Just give meh the address." I gave him the address on a piece of paper. He nodded and left to go back inside.
I didn't know what made me do this, why I was helping them after 10 years of absence. I guess I felt obligated to help Yuffie. When I saw her laying there, in the bed she seemed happy. But when she woke up she was confused and somehow I knew that her mind would forget. Something told me I had to help her.
Maybe, I needed to atone for my sins this way. By helping my friends, especially the one who needed it most right now. When I snapped back into reality I walked into the room and saw Yuffie in her regular attire. She had her short shorts on and her mid riff tank top.
After Yuffie was dressed Cid had taken everyone home with the presents. After making them promise that after Yuffie remembered everything they would hold a huge celebration. He didn't tell them where she was staying yet though. So as I sat down waiting for Yuffie to tie her shoes, I watched.
she had trouble on tying them and ended up just stuffing them into the shoes. Which they looked like a V without the laces. So I got up and bent down to help. I showed her how to lace the shoes which she took note of every time I pulled. Afterward she skipped to the door and went outside. She didn't know it at the time but she still had the same energy as the old Yuffie.
I was surprised how fast she got down the stairs and stopped at the counter. They gave me papers to fill out which I had to state if she had allergies and who her family members were. So I did, and grudgingly filled my name in the spouse section. I still had yet to kill Cid for that.
After that I handed the papers back and left. We walked down the street and I went to a store. The doctor said soft foods just in case to get her used to eating again. I picked out some cereal, milk, and all essential eating materials. After paying for it I realized she snuck a candy bar into the bag. I sighed before going back inside to pay for it.
She chewed on the candy bar slowly, marveled at its taste and texture. I put a mental note down that she remembered how to walk, talk, eat, and some other things. Sometimes, when we passed a store she would frown at the letters and try to spell it out. Though it took her awhile she finally got the words down.
I finally rounded a corner on the street to see an apartment complex. Our apartment was on the third floor. I showed Yuffie our apartment and showed her how to open the door with the keys. She tried it and giggled as she opened it the first time. She walked in with a snuff of accomplishment before awing.
The living room was small but good enough. The kitchen was to the right of it and went to the left into an enclosed dining area. The rooms were forward in the hallway and had a bathroom first before three rooms. It was actually a fairly large apartment.
The furniture was made of wood and the couch a tan leather. The TV was in the wall on a shelf with several other things. A DVD player and satellite machine was on the bottom of the TV. I walked into the kitchen. A stove was on the left side of the kitchen and the fridge the right. There was lots of counter space and a dishwasher in between two counters. A sink was near the fridge. Cabinets lined the walls in nearly all the kitchen.
After putting away all the food I looked into the bathroom. It was a standard bathroom. The sink was up against the wall the door was on. When looking into the bathroom through the door the shower was in the corner in front and the toilet horizontally across from it. There were a few open cabinets in there too.
The bedrooms had single beds except for the master one which had a queen size in it. Yuffie claimed that as her bedroom. So I chose the one to the left of hers. Each room had a desk in it and a closet. But that was about it. Walking into the hallway a closet for coats was near the rooms.
After sitting down on the couch I noticed the towels were in a cabinet in it. Yuffie came bobbing from her room smiling. I could tell she had no clue who I was or what she was doing here. She was just glad someone was here.
After Cid told her that he was her father she thought her name was Yuffie Highwind. Which meant she forgot that her last name was Kisaragi. No one told her that though, we wanted her to remember.
" Is this my house?" she asked. I nodded and she grinned.
" I live here too. So I'll be here if you need something." I told her. She nodded before taking the changer and frowning. I noticed and showed her how to turn on the TV and off. After explaining the uses of the changer and its amazing "magical" abilities she watched TV.
Yuffie watched a show called "Family Guy" and would giggle each time a baby would talk. She pointed out the flaws of the family also. Which I noticed she was learning quickly.
" Babies can't talk, but that's what makes it funny. And neither can cats." she said referring to Brian the DOG. I corrected her but she thought nothing of it. She oh'ed and continued watching. Yuffie finally disappeared into the kitchen. I followed and she searched through the cabinets.
" Did you need something?" I asked. She pointed around to the cabinets. I picked out some easy cereal and she just grabbed the box before going to the TV. Yuffie lay on the couch, eating straight from the box. I watched her have giggle fits about the disorganized family. Though I knew she didn't even know what they were talking or doing half the time but she laughed anyways.
" Vincent, if everyone else is my brother or aunt or uncle..." she named off various family members to state her point and continued. " What are you?" she asked me finally. I sat down in a chair and sighed.
" Your husband." I said. She frowned. She looked at the TV and back at me.
" Like Peter is to Lois?" she questioned. I nodded and repeated like Peter is to Lois. She burst into giggles and continued to watch TV. Yuffie thought nothing of it. She viewed me as a good person that helped her and that was it.
Soon after Family Guy was over she was flipping through channels. Searching for the family again. But she couldn't find it. I heard a knock on the door and Yuffie bolted to it. She jumped up and down to see into the peep hole.
I moved her gently out of the way and opened it. The man, I guessed was the one who owned it. He showed me the papers and I signed them. He smiled before taking his glove off and shaking my hand. By the looks of it he had been working on a car or something. I paid him the Gil and he took off again. Without a bye or talking.
" Vinnie, I want more of that Family Guy." she said pointing to the TV with sad eyes. Where to get Family Guy? Maybe a movie store or somewhere...
I called Cid and we talked for about ten minutes. I filled him in on Yuffie's favorite TV show and how she ate a whole box of cereal in five minutes. He laughed and said she'd be better in no time. Denzel was put on the phone and told me where to get movies or TV shows. I thanked him and hung up.
Yuffie had taken the cushions off of the couch and chairs. She stacked them up and sat on it. I wondered what she was doing?
" Yuffie, what are you doing?" she grinned at my voice.
" I wanted a better chair. This is much more better... did you get more Family Guy?" she asked with wide eyes. I nodded. She jumped off her stack of cushions and hugged me hard. I told her that we had to go buy it. Which she frowned but then rushed out the door. I followed her and we went down to the TV store not far from our apartment.
She went inside and started looking for the things she wanted. Yuffie handed the clerk a whole stack of DVD's before stopping and looking at the candy.
" I learned that you must pay for things from Family Guy." she told the clerk. He nodded confused but I paid for them before leaving with Yuffie. But this time to my relief there wasn't a candy bar in hand.
After climbing up the stairs Yuffie inserted the keys and went inside. I got the keys and shut the door. She snatched the DVD's from me and frowned.
" What do I do now?" she asked. I opened the glass casing and turned on the DVD player. I was astonished that I remembered how to do this. Yuffie had shown me before the accident. Though that was a long time ago.
After starting it up she climbed her cushions and waited. The TV went into the theme song I heard earlier about sex, movies, and TV. Yuffie giggled when Peter fell down from the platform then. And went into more laughter when he failed to get off a dying lady.
Then she nearly fell off her cushions when Stewie the baby talked again. Yuffie continued to watch her new DVD's. I had nothing to do so I called Tifa and Shera to ask what soft foods Yuffie could have.
They named off several things like soup, toast, and cream of wheat. I chose cream of wheat because I didn't understand how toast was soft. So when I was finished I gave it to Yuffie. She took the spoon and held it like a child. She took a bite and it slopped everywhere.
So I showed her how to hold it. It took ten minutes before she held it right and continued to eat and watch TV. I sat on the cushion less couch and continued to watch her.
…
I growled as I heard the pounding on the door again. Yuffie latched onto my leg frightened. I sighed and made her let go, she then ran into the bedroom to hide under the bed. I tromped into the living toward the door. He pounded again and a whimper sounded from the bedroom. I swung the door open and Cid walked passed me. He glanced around and frowned.
" Well where is she? Cloud and Denzel have got her stuff coming up." he said in a gruff voice. I pointed to the bedroom and he walked quickly inside of it. I followed after him and saw Yuffie popping her head from under the bed.
When she saw it was Cid she grinned before climbing out from under the bed and throwing her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her too and kissed the top of her head.
" Dad! Vinnie has been teaching me lots of stuff." she said looking up at him. He smiled and he brought her into the living room. Cloud and Denzel started to unpack all the presents into the living room.
Everyone piled into my living room and some went into the kitchen. I was amazed everyone could fit into the apartment but somehow they managed. They watched as Yuffie opened the presents and run into the bedroom and hide it somewhere.
Once everyone left it was dark out. Yuffie was asleep on the floor which was littered with paper I didn't let Tifa clean up. I plucked her small form off the floor and slowly walked into the master bedroom. She climbed into the covers all on her own and started to sleep again. I sat down in a nearby chair and watched her sleep again.