Normal copyright junk applies... Square Enix and all... This one... I dunno were it came from... I really don't... Marcos is based on a person my sister when to fashion design school with... he was really like that... anyway... I think it's relatively funny... enjoy!

Cloud came in, carrying a bundle of clothes for Vincent, Cid and Nanaki were trailing behind, both with concerned looks on their faces. The gunman was still sitting as still as death, the only evidence he was even alive was the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Tifa was sitting next to him, her hand resting on his upper arm, just above his claw. She was trying to give a small bit of comfort to her friend, though the bartender was glad to see her fiancé come back. She slipped out of the chair and went over to the other three, "where are Barret and Reeve?"

Cid motioned to the door, "Barret's takin' care o' th' kids with 'Myra and Shera, Reeve's got half th' WRO out lookin' those damn terrorists. Th' hospitals are chock full o' hurt people from tha' bomb." Tifa nodded and rubbed the bridge of her nose, "Does he know what these terrorists want?"

Nanaki let out a small growl, "to ruin the wedding, they think they are making a statement against Avalanche. It really makes no sense, it's just meaningless violence." Cloud nodded, "Well we aren't completely absolved of blame in that area. A lot of innocent people were killed when we blew that reactor."

Tifa's frown deepened, "That's not the same though, and that bomb wasn't attached to buses and cars and parked in the middle of crowded areas. Cloud, we should have just had our friends get together…" The swordsman set the clothes down on a chair and went over, wrapping his arms around his bride, nodding a bit. Cid went to light up a cigarette until Nanaki bit him in the leg to make him stop, since it was a hospital, which instigated a long string of curses. Once he was finished, he looked over to Cloud and Tifa. "Shit, I cin marry ya, on the Shera, since I'm the Captain an' all. They won' be able ta git ya up there." The fighter nodded, "I think that might be best Cid, I can't stand the fact they turned a celebration into this… Then what that guy did to Yuffie."

Vincent stirred at that, looking over to his friends, but not moving to join them. What had happened to Yuffie was his fault… he knew the guy was after him and yet he didn't take better care of her. He'd let her get hurt, he could have sent her away, done something… The gunslinger's eyes slipped closed, the bright light was almost painful. "Just make it through Yuffie," he whispered softly to himself.

Tifa frowned a bit and looked to the others, concern etched in her features. They all knew Vincent had suffered, more then all of them put together, which was saying something, and that same fear, was etched into their eyes…

If they lost Yuffie, they would loose Vincent too…

20 hours earlier…

"Well at least the carnival music isn't in this new section," Vincent mused to himself, as he followed Barret down the wide corridor, filled with all sorts of expensive looking shops. The crimson gunman was quite uncomfortable in Gold Saucer normally, but now he was even more so. They were going to try on tuxedos for Cloud and Tifa's wedding, and he was road weary, his hair was even messier then normal… He and Yuffie had only managed to wash up in a cold stream, not exactly conducive to being the height of cleanliness. The big man in front of him was striding around like he owned the place; Elmyra was right next to him, her small hand in his large one. Aerith's mother looked well, she was smiling and attentive, not like the last time he'd seen her, after Meteorfall and she was still grieving her adopted daughter. The woman had gray stripes in her hair, she was a few years older then Barret, but the light in her eyes and quiet grace told them all that she was happy. She was the perfect picture of demure beauty, unlike the spitfire that was holding onto his claw right now and pulling him this way or that, pointing and loudly commenting on the décor. The gunman was barely able to keep the mirthful smile from his lips. Yuffie was Yuffie, and there'd be no changing her… even if he had wanted to try… which he didn't.

The trio had met up with Elmyra and Marlene in Wonder Square, before they'd made there way to the newly constructed Merchant's Square to be fitted in their attire for the wedding. Marlene was skipping along, her hand in Yuffie's free one, making quite a comical line. One lady had stopped and told him he had a beautiful family, assuming Marlene was he and Yuffie's daughter… probably because of the dark hair. He managed a very eloquent sputter, before Yuffie quipped in and grinned, "Thanks, we've got one of the way too." The ninja winked and grinned, the older woman saying her congratulations and moving on. Yuffie waved then turned; four pairs of eyes on her. The dark brown ones were livid, the calm blue ones curious… the soft amber ones held a laugh and the garnet ones… they were the best, they held complete disbelief.

Barret rounded on Vincent, looking down at him (which was quite a feat in itself) and started muttering curses and ultimatums. "Valentine! Did ya do tha' to Yuffie? How dare you, knock her up!"

Vincent actually stepped back, "I've not touched her, well not in a way that would lead to pregnancy."

"So ya have touched her?"

Vincent looked to the ninja, silently pleading with her, and she only started cracking up laughing… "Oh Marshmellow, you're so funny! I can't believe you actually took me seriously! Come on, I was just playing!" She was laughing so hard she was gripping her sides. "Besides, even if he had and even if I was… Vince would do the honorable thing and you know it! Ah look… we're here!" She pointed to the clothing shop, abruptly pushing her way through to go inside. She left a stuttering Barret and wide eyed Vincent behind her. "Tha' girl's gonna kill me one a these days."

The dark gunman looked to him and actually smiled a bit, "You… if she keeps talking like that, it will be me hurting." He turned and walked into the shop, Elmyra laughing a bit behind him. The store was divided in two sections, a men's apparel side, and women's across the way. Yuffie led the girls over to find a seamstress to help them, and the men found the only available tailor. The man stood, wearing an unlikely suit of purple and pink, and gave a flashy smile to Barret and Vincent. "Hello and how can I help you today?" He walked forward to take in the appearances of the two men; obviously not sure he liked what he saw. Barret was a bit uncomfortable under the flamboyant man's scrutiny, and he shifted a bit. "We're here to get fitted for tuxedos," Vincent spoke up when the man got much to close to him, "The Strife wedding?"

"Oh, you two must be saviors of the planet as well! I'm Marcos, and I've already gotten the order, though the measurements were a bit vague. I take it you are the tank" he went over and picked up an order form, then pointed to Barret, "luckily we have a big and tall section, so we might have something that will fit. And you," he looked over to Vincent, "must be the toothpick." He lifted Vincent's cloak a bit to get a better gauge of his body type. "Hm, all leg, and no rump… it will be a challenge to fit you properly." The stylist grabbed a measuring tape and started to wrap his arms around his leg. This movement caused the man's hand to brush against a very sensitive part of Vincent's anatomy, which caused a very uncomfortable Valentine to nearly jump back, his hand going to his gun. "Now, now, I have to be able to fit you, you know!"

"Is touching me so familiarly really necessary?"

"Absolutely! I can't work my magic if you won't let me…"

"I do not even let my lover do such things in public."

"Oh I feel special, but I need to get a measurement of your inseam or the pants will be too short!" Barret blinked and grimaced, "Ya said ya never touched her vamp! Whatta doin' callin' her yer lover?"

"It was a figure of speech," the gunman sighed in a rather irritated tone, and the tailor took this as the perfect time to try for the inseam again. When his hand hit his package again, Cerberus came out of its holster and came to the back of the man's head. "Do it again, and you'll taste lead. I wear a size thirty suit, long… I guarantee it will not be too long." Marcos backed off with wide eyes and went over to a rack, pulling the proper black tux out, and with a shaky hand, gave it to Vincent. "Fitting room is in the back; just grab the black dress shoes from the rack, in whatever size you need."

The gunslinger put his gun away and turned on his heel, grabbing the proper shoes and socks, and then disappearing into one of the changing rooms. Marcos turned a weary eye at Barret, who was still standing there, a rather amused look on his face. "Are you going to pull a gun on me?"

"Are ya gonna grab my fuckin' junk?"

"No…"

Barret gave him a toothy grin, "Then ya have nuthin' to worry 'bout."

The tailor looked a bit abashed, "I couldn't help it, he was just so cute… you said he had a girlfriend?"

The big man frowned a bit, "Yeah, he don't flop that way…" The other man sighed a bit, "Too bad, his girlfriend sure is lucky, he's really packing for a skinny guy." Barret looked at him askance, deciding it would be better to leave it along… he didn't want to know about his friends private parts, nor Yuffie's joy to find him "packed" to begin with.

.:xXx:.

Vincent stood in the dressing room, rather livid about the whole encounter, though on his face it barely registered as mild annoyance. He started to disrobe, pushing his mind away from such thoughts… The man's handling had made his desire rise a bit, much to his chagrin, and he couldn't get his mind off Yuffie… his body was betraying him, something he was not happy about. He got down to his boxers and took the tuxedo pants off the hanger, proceeding to dress in the expensive garment. It was an excellent fit, and the Ex-Turk turned to regard himself in the mirror. If it wasn't for his crazy mane of hair, you would have looked quite dashing, and when he slipped the dress shoes on, he proceeded out into the shop to get Barret's opinion.

The gunslinger was surprised to see the gunner already out there, dressed in an identical suit, though much larger to be sure. He turned to see Vincent, dressed in the black silk pants and jacket, the embroidered wine red vest and matching bowtie put in perfect place. The only thing that seemed remotely like the old Valentine was his messy fall of ebony hair. He raised an eyebrow in question, to see what Barret thought, when he heard a woman's scream that could only be Yuffie. He realized he'd left his gun in the changing room, thinking something was wrong, and he spun to see his beloved, standing in a form fitting, wine red dress, with the same embroidery as his vest, red gloves went up to her elbows and she was wobbly on matching heels. The expression on her face was comical, stuck between lust, surprise and embarrassment. "My gawd Vinny, you look… so…"

"Dashing? Debonair? Sexy? Handsome? Lickable?" Marcos started rattling of more adjectives, but no one was paying much attention. She hurried over to him and smiled, the slits in the side of the dress allowing her shapely legs to escape the garment as she walked. "Amazing… you look amazing…" She lifted her arms up, showing her cleavage off in the halter topped dress, and Vincent found himself looking… When did she get cleavage like that? Yuffie kissed him softly, and the gunman smiled a bit through it… The fact she like it made it at least tolerable.

"Oh so that's the girlfriend… you're man's got one hell of a unit hun…"

"Shuttup foo'!" Barret said, smacking the tailor in the back of the head with his prosthetic arm, but Yuffie didn't seem to care… Much to the relief of all, she was too entranced by Vincent to hear the comment.