I don't own these characters... Square Enix does... but I do own Kieran! Enjoy this chapter... something happened a bit sooner then I thought it would, but oh well... it seemed right and lead to some interesting things... it's hard to figure out what to do in the middle of the night!

Yuffie couldn't help but snuggle against the warm chest she was clutched to; it helped to take her mind off the pain in her stomach. She was vaguely aware that she was being carried out to the delivery truck Tifa owned for the bar. She was jostled around as Vincent tried to hurry. Her thoughts drifted to her would be murderer, and she had a small amount of pity for him. His death must have been very painful… The thing is, I can't fault him for wanting revenge for his family… yet Vincent isn't that person anymore. He was wronged just as much as that man Kieran was… it's sad. Gawd I must be getting soft, feeling bad for the man who nearly killed me.

She heard a door open and Cloud was saying something to them, but she wasn't listening anymore… she was tired. Vincent climbed into the back of the truck, and sat down, with the barely conscious girl in his lap. "Stay with me Yuffie," he whispered, now that they were alone in the cargo space of the covered truck, she could really hear the sadness in his voice. He must be going out of his mind… First Lucrecia, then Shelke… every woman he develops a bond with, they get taken away. Yuffie forced her eyes open, looked up into his sad face. "I will Vincent… you said you'd never leave me, remember? I promise… I'll return the favor."

34 hours earlier…

Vincent had been sitting, alone and in silence for little over two hours. Normally if he was up on watch, he'd be thinking of Lucrecia, brooding over her untimely demise and why his conscience could never let him forget his sins. However, this was no ordinary watch, nor was he actually alone. He glanced over to the sleeping form of the ninja, her back not even a foot from touching his crossed legs, and his head was resting in his hand as he watched over her. She really looked angelic sleeping there; one would never think her hyper or annoying… until she woke up.

The silent gunman shook his head, that's unfair to say, she was only annoying because she was young and trying to keep a secret. Now… well she's certainly no Lucrecia, but I'm not entirely convinced that is a bad thing. Vincent was finding her positive outlook and joyfulness becoming less annoying, if that was possible, and he found that he didn't really want to be without that. He never would have guess Yuffie could hold such a fascination for him; it gave him the smallest glimmer of hope. "Maybe I have been wrong all these years…" He shifted his weight and looked down at the young woman, gently brushing her hair away from her face. The ninja stirred a bit in her sleep, murmuring "no mommy, I don't want to learn to pour tea… can't I fight instead…" A tiny smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, though it was completely concealed from the room, and thus never really existed. Vincent was shaken out of his reverie when a small, cool hand wrapped around the wrist that was close to her head. She nuzzled the hand attached to that wrist, her eyes never opening. "I miss you…" she whispered again, her face was sad.

Yuffie was dreaming, though it was more then a dream, she knew that, it was like part of her consciousness woke up, a part she'd kept locked up for along time. "Mom, what are you doing here, I saw you die that day… I can't believe you're sitting here, teaching me to pour tea."

"I never got the chance to teach you, and you know you must take a husband soon… I hope for your sake, you are able to find a husband that is both a wise leader, and loves you."

"It'll never happen and you know it. Someone who loves me is way too foolish to ever rule Wutai. Not to mention, I don't think I can even love anymore. When you died… I don't think I can love." She made the motions that her mother was making in the dream, following with grace and precision. Memories flashed in her mind, running up the Da Chao, holding tight to her mother's hand. There was a flash of silver before them as the General jumped down in front of them, cutting her mother down, and spraying the poor girl with blood. She remembered those haunting green eyes, made worse when she met that man later in life and was one of the ones that helped kill him. She'd done it for her mother, and for Wutai, but it only made her hollow inside… "Momma, all I do is for Wutai, I'll marry for it too."

"What of that Vincent fellow, you seem fond of him."

"Gawd Mom, Vincent is… I don't think he can love me, even if I wanted him too. But, I promised that night, on the Da Chao, that I wouldn't love anyone else, because they all die."

Her mother laughed a bit, "Oh Yuffie, don't close off your heart. You'd be surprised what can happen. I think he might be more receptive to you then you think."

"And just how do you know? You've been dead how many years?"

"I watch from the Lifestream, as everyone who's passed on does… I know you're hurting, and your friend Vincent is hurting, and I think you two can make each other feel better. He's already warming up to you, right?"

Yuffie looked away from her ghost Mom and sniffed, "I'm afraid he'll leave me, like you did. If I'm just thought of as a little brat, or thief, then I don't have to worry about anyone leaving me, no matter how much it might hurt. If Tifa or Cloud just decided to not be around anymore, I'd know why."

"Yuffie, my beautiful daughter… you've never allowed yourself to heal… you chastise Vincent for it, and yet you can't either. You are both the same, you both hurt silently, even if normally you aren't quiet, you get what I mean. Ask him…" Her mother started to fade away and Yuffie lurched for her…

"Don't leave me!" She blinked, realizing that she was awake now, that it had all been a dream, and that she was clutching the arm of a rather confused, blushing, Vincent Valentine. Because of the angle, and the hold she had, his face was very close to hers. So close in fact, she could feel the breath coming from his parted lips on her skin. She looked up into his eyes and a tear slipped down her cheek. "Don't leave me; please… don't ever leave me…" Her voice was barely a whisper, and only because of their closeness was he even able to hear her. Vincent swallowed a bit, and not even knowing why he said it, a soft whisper passed his lips. "I won't…"

Yuffie wrapped her arms around his neck and gently pressed her lips to his, not even thinking this time, just following her heart like her mother had suggested. Vincent was surprised, his eyes widening in shock for a few moments before he, rather clumsily wrapped his arms loosely around her and kissed her back. After a few moments, he pulled back, a bit angry at himself for taking advantage of an upset girl. He released her and sat up, looking away. "Rest Yuffie, you're upset… it was just a dream… that's all." All of this is just a dream; someone as polluted as I am has no right to taint an innocent girl.

Yuffie got up and left the tent, more tears rolling down her cheeks. In her emotional instability and vulnerability, she forgot to even grab her rune armlet, or her Conformer. She ran off into the forest, needing to find someplace to cry, but not wanting to seem weak. She kept running, for minutes, until the sobs and exhaustion made her collapse into a pile of dry leaves.

Vincent frowned and grabbed his gun, knowing that she was in both in danger and crushed… and both were his fault. "Why do I care so much?" He muttered to himself and ran after her… "Yuffie!" He called, trying desperately to find her trail. "What have I done…" In that instant, he came to a realization, and it was almost like being struck by lightening. He loved her…