Ah, the much awaited continuing of the story between one of the most famous of the few love triangles I have planned for this fan fiction. Hope you enjoy! Took me so long to write this one so if this chapter stinks please tell me!

Disclaimer: None of the characters or anything that revolves around Final Fantasy 7 has ever belonged to me but will always be credited by Square-Enix.

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Chapter Thirteen – The Hidden Smile

He turned away from her direction to see the blue eyed monster enter with a lopsided smile. He soon felt as she left his side and ran to embrace the new arrival in a hug; just the view of it seemingly gave him an up roaring annoyance. He then watched as she happily asking him questions, the person said nothing but look at Vincent. As if knowing what the new person was thinking, he left the room and closed the door behind him.

He was now leaning against the wall next to the door, thinking. Was he being a fool allowing his emoticons to escape as freely as he allowed them to that moment? Maybe he was, he wanted to tell himself not to think or feel towards that topic anymore but he just couldn't.

He heard the shivers of words the creature inside him mentioned away silently for no one expect himself to hear, he closed his eyes and allowed a calm expression fall upon his face as he listened to the comments thrown at him by the creature deep down. It was insulting him, teasing him, and then confiding him. Vincent was no fool, he knew very well that the creature was just burbling away any possible comment at Valentine in hope of getting allowed permission to enter or exit outside the body, how it earned so dearly for that to happen but sadly Vincent was not planning on doing so anytime soon.

Pushing the voices away from his loud thoughts he allowed them to capture him now, what was going on inside there? What was the privacy for, no; Cloud always found privacy to be the best plan for when he wanted to open up it wasn't anything personal to Vincent. But then his thoughts pushed to the new topic; Tifa. What was he doing back there? Why was he acting so…Unusual? He never treated differently or thought of her more then an acquaintance, so why the sudden emoticons?

Maybe it was the scenery, it was so; capturing. It made him yearn to open up, but how could he when he held no feelings inside before harbored from the others? This was new, not an old feeling. Or maybe he wasted a lot of his energy on just coming here. So he was like a drunken fool but sober. He allowed a soft yet tiring and annoyed sigh to escape outside his concealed lips as they voiced out of his cloak and stayed in the room. Why did this indeed always happen to him? No, he was lying now, this was something new; but it hurt his brain ever so dearly.

Behind closed door, stayed another conflict but with two new different figures. One of the figures looked lost and held sharp description but his blue eyes outshining everything. The other person was determined to be happy for her guest but had something troubling her ever so dearly from the fact that she didn't wish to give any sort of eye contact, whatsoever. Finally, she rested her hands on her lap and walked over to the seated person.

"How are you?" She asked gently as she pulled a chair next to him and sat down.

The person just sat there, not saying anything but a mutter of a 'fine' to her.

Feeling like she wasn't getting the attention she deserved she felt a tug of pain but went on. "Marlene and Denzel missed you, but Marlene's out with Barrett now and I think Denzel is still fast asleep" she mentioned trying to get anything from the person; sadly she had to do all the talking.

"It's been two weeks, Cloud" she stated sadly as she finally got contact of the person as he chose to look up and part his lips apart as he tried to think of something to say.

"I'm sorry" he whispered but not saying anything else as his eyes captured her face into his head, yes he was gone for too long; he knew what was coming next. But he honestly deserved it, he broke the promise.

"I-I thought you said you weren't going to do this to me and the kids anymore, Cloud" she stated trying not to seem upset as she bit her lip back at the expression's found on Strife's face. Noticing him say nothing, she spoke once more.

"Where've you been?" She asked finally as she watched him tense upon the question.

"I needed to…" He said but soon changed his mind on what he was going to say and said something else, "Aeris died in this week a few years ago" he mentioned softly as he stood up.

"Cloud, I doubt she'd want you to waste your life mourning over her" she said feeling like a rock compared to the jewel Cloud paid more attention to.

"…." He stood there silently not saying anything while he watched her lips quivered, he wanted to apologize…

"Is she more important to you then this family?" Tifa asked not daring to look him in the eye worried she might fall into the stage of moist eyes.

He said nothing, which was unbelievable. Hearing his boots click against the wooden floor she sat there silently not saying anything.

Allowing a soft sigh to escape her lips she sat there with an expression on her face that easily read her emoticons; she was lost for words.

Vincent awoke from his deep thoughts from the sound of the door hitting the door flame gently, he sensed someone go by him as him leaned against the wall with eyes closed. What happened? He stood there for a moment as he pushed himself off the wall, he wanted to go in and see if Tifa was alright; but he waited for something to happen first. Finally something did;

"Vincent?" A hoarse voice called out for him, he pushed the door open to find her sitting her so calmly on a chair with her face down concealed with the strands fallen upon her hidden face as she quivered gently.

"I-I didn't know what to do" she mentioned softly biting her bottom lip as she finally looked up to fall her eyes upon his crimson one, she needed support. He wanted to ask her what had happened but chose not to as he walked over to her and stood a few feet away from the sitting beauty.

Watching her as she wiped away the small tears as she adjusted herself and spoke on what happened in a small summary to the standing figure.

"I didn't know what to do" she repeated almost finished on what had happened while he was out and spoke one more, "I told him it was over, I had given up faith on him" she said as her eyes scanned the place nervously.

"Was I wrong to do that?" She asked gently as she kept her eyes back on Vincent hoping he would say or indicate something to her.

"I also said if he wanted this to be given another try; he would need to show me. But till then there was nothing" she added quickly much to Vincent's dismay.

Forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to reply to her question, he gave her a nod.

Finally seeing her smile made him forget that she still had feelings for Cloud for the fact that she was willing to give a second chance, But Vincent was caught off guard when she stood up and wrapped her fingers around him and stayed in that position as he froze.

"Thank you" she whispered as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to try and calm down from what just happened a few minutes ago while Vincent felt a hidden smile tug at the side of his lips every second she still held on.

Sensing a quick vibration upon her she looked down from the pulled out object and flipped it open before letting out a smile. Looking back at Vincent she kept smiling. Closing the phone she rested it on the counter and began wiping away the stubborn mark as Vincent watched her silently pour away her confusion on chores before leaving the scenery to have a 'talk' with the gentleman who previously entered the room and left the brown eyed beauty hurt.

-TOBECONTINUED-

Authors Note;

ichi-nana-hachi – You think the Tseng/Elena/ Reno plot was messed up? Hehehehe you've seen nothing yet then for what I have planned for the Turks! As for Cait Sith, I'm not saying anything but you'd best read between the lines of the first chapter Cait Sith and Red XII are introduced to get a better clue on the culprit! XD

Hana – Glad it got to you the story ;)

I hope this chapter isn't so bad, or I'm sending myself to the seat of shame! This was one of the hardest chapter to write but anyways! Next chapter involves a Turk & Avalanche member not liking what they hear from the other.