Disclaimer: Same as always!!

A/N: Nope, still not dead yet. Just been kinda busy with school and all kinds of drama drama drama, but here is the next chapter and I thank you all for your patience!

The ride back to the mansion was very quiet. Vincent's former warm demeanor had frozen quite quickly and left Yuffie to shooting Reeve worried glances, no doubt searching for a sign of whether he knew if she had done something to affront the prince already. Reeve looked slightly troubled, but hid it well under a flat mask of being subtly pleased. The Crown Prince himself cast many glances in the rear view mirror at his passengers, Yuffie in particular. He caught many of her apprehensive glances, and his demeanor began to soften as her looks slowly melted down to that of a kicked puppy.

Softly clearing his throat, he spoke the first words to be uttered since the beginning of this terribly awkward ride.

"So, Princess Kisaragi, what is your first impression of Nibelheim?"

Yuffie's expression suddenly brightened, and she looked alive as she eagerly replied.

"I really like it here! It's so big and busy full of excitement! Not at all like boring ol' Wutai!"

At this remark Reeve nudged her sharply in the ribs. Vincent couldn't keep himself from laughing.

"Is that so? What is it that makes Wutai so boring?"

Reeve pulled a handkerchief from his coat and wiped at his brow. This line of interrogation was a dangerous one for the young princess to be footing, especially because she had a tendency to say what she felt and not what she should. He almost wanted to interject on her behalf, but knew it would be rude to do so. He was, however, hoping very much that Yuffie would remember that not only was the goal to make herself desirable to the prince, but her country as well. Most of the important things in these political relationships did not really rely on matters of the heart or questions of attraction to the person in front of them, but rather of the creeds and the country behind them.

"Well...maybe it's not that Wutai is boring I guess...maybe it's more coz I don't feel like I really fit in."

"Hmm?"

"I mean, all the girls there are really pretty and quiet and know how to do a lotta ladylike stuff and me...well, I'm not exactly - entirely like that."

"Well, for what it's worth Princess, I think you're quite beautiful."

He took a glance back in the mirror and watched as her face flushed crimson, but stretched in a giddy, secret smile, that he was sure he was not meant to have known.

"Looks like we've arrived!"

The vehicle pulled up into a winding driveway in front of a magnificent mansion. It was sturdily constructed and had beautiful awnings bearing the nation's colors and seal upon them. There were large, beautiful windows peeking out from all floors of the abode, and it even sported a large and lovely stained-glass crest emblazoned at the topmost reaches of the main arch of the house.

"This is where you'll be staying the weekend with me. I apologize that things may not be as tidy as one might expect from royalty, however, it is a rather large dwelling, and I do not believe in hiring excessive amounts of people to keep my house clean for me. Please excuse whatever unpleasantness you may run into."

Vincent pulled the buggy up to the front of the house and turned off the engine. He then proceeded to step out and open the door for Yuffie, as Reeve was letting himself out. It was then that a few servants slowly began to trickle out in order to help with the carrying of luggage and welcoming back the master. He gave them quick and concise orders on what to do with their things. He then turned back to his two guests.

"Reeve, if you could please afford me a moment alone with the Princess, I would appreciate it greatly. I mean no offense by the gesture, but I would like some un-chaperoned time to speak with her, if you don't mind."

"No offense taken whatsoever Your Highness."

"Janice, please show Mr. Tuesti to the tea room. I will join him shortly, with Princess Kisaragi. Have refreshments and the like ready."

The young maid did not say a word, but bowed in reply and gave Reeve a small curtsy as a sign of respect and that he should follow her.

"Come."

The young prince led Yuffie over to the side of the house where there was a large and quite beautiful rose garden, filled with a plethora of roses, all in different colors. The scent of the blossoms ran thick through the air, as did the light buzzing of the bees that fed on the nectar of the flowers. There were also many butterflies skimming through the air, taking breaks among the blooms. Taking her over to a bench surrounded by neatly trimmed bushes overflowing with crimson roses, the Nibelheim Bloom, he sat down, motioning to her that she should do the same. She sat with him, though she kept a polite distance, and glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He did not look at her for a while, but as she started to fidget, he turned his head and felt his breath catch in his throat.

Her fidgeting had disturbed the butterflies, which loved to feast upon these flowers, and they sprang up all around her. The sunlight caught her features in just the right way and her figure was illuminated in such a way that she looked positively angelic. The sight of her like that made it only easier to feel the guilt that he was for being so hot and cold with her over the course of just a few hours.

"I just wanted to take you aside and apologize for what might be interpreted as strange behavior. As you might know, I am not accustomed to having many guests with...with these particular intentions in mind. Therefore, if I have done anything that might have been misconstrued as harsh or standoffish, please accept my apologies."

"It's really no problem, Crown Prince Valentine..."

"No, please, call me Vincent."

"Prince Vincent. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to--"

'...make you more comfortable"

"--make things less awkward for you."

'...address me so formally... my child!..'

No...no, no, no, no, no!!

His expression had remained blank. He suddenly got up and stormed off in the direction of the front entrance.

Yuffie looked quite crestfallen as she started after him, but stopped and looked more than a little lost and helpless in the middle of the garden.

"It's a good thing I'm a ninja princess...and not some helpless little nance..." she muttered to herself, "Otherwise I'd be totally lost tryin' to make my way back to the front of the house. Jeez...what is up with this guy?!"

As she picked her way through the garden and back to the entrance, she saw him standing there under the arch of ivy and decorative ferns that hailed the opening of the garden. She was about to stalk past him frigidly, when he grabbed her arm and looped it through his. He smoothed her tousled hair and looked at her much warmly than he had all afternoon.

"Smile Princess...we wouldn't want to alarm Reeve."

With a pleasant air about him, and a smile to boot, he escorted the confused young princess back toward the mansion and into the tearoom where Reeve was waiting for them.