It was so quiet and still in the "Seventh Heaven" that for the first time in her life Tifa felt all uneasy. With only her shadow being her companion, she missed the everyday noises that the rest of the house's inhabitants would make on daily basis. With Barret taking the children for a few day trip to Icicle Inn, Zack finally leaving for Gongaga to pay his parents a well earned visit for the first time in something around ten years, and Cloud away on one of his longer deliveries, Tifa found herself very much alone , the two story building too big for her. Aerith did pay her a visit two days ago, yet the Cetra herself was busy for most the time of the day, her flowers selling well and brightening even if for a short while the evening of many. And in the evening Tifa had no time to be the social butterfly…

And now, on the fourth day of having the whole place to herself, Tifa was slowly making her way home from the market, a grocery paper bag neatly tucked under one arm and a bored expression on her face. If she spotted a stray cat of a lone dog, she would take it in, just to have something to look after… But alas, there were no signs on heavens or earth indicating that anything could possibly disturb her long hours of the day, before she opened the bar. Maybe she should open it earlier today?

Then again, Tifa was a lousy fortune teller when it came to her own persona.

Her pretty eyes widened as she stepped from one of the side alleys onto the main road, "Seventh Heaven" not too far away, and she could perfectly see the emblem shining blue and gold in the sun. She could also see clearly the person leaning onto the locked door. All clad in black, with a bloody red, tattered cape flowing like a tragic river from the strong shoulders. A whisper of the same hue beneath the messy black hair.

What in heaven's mercy was he doing here?

Tifa's steps quickened, and her natural curiosity rose with each move she made.

"Vincent" she greeted him with a smile, her hand deep in her pocket looking for the keys to the front door.

"Tifa" a small nod of his head, bright crimson eyes softening just for the tiniest bit.

That had to been one of the most warm greetings Vincent could muster and Tifa always felt proud for being the one on the receiving end of one. Not many received that reaction from the former Turk. Actually she was sure it was only her, Cloud and Marlene. Somehow that girl had her own place in everyone's heart no matter what.

She opened the door and invited him in, fighting the urge to literally flood him with questions that crowded in her mind. Vincent liked his silence and was a man of really few words, and while Tifa usually found that comfortable, now she just wanted someone who would talk with her.

"Is Yuffie here?" he asked suddenly, following the bartender into the kitchen, his heavy shoes loud against the floor.

Tifa stopped dead in her track, halfway to the cabinet where all jars and bottles were kept, the task of unpacking her shopping fleeing her mind like a bird which heard a gunshot. She turned rather rapidly, her hair following her movement with a slight whoosh.

"No, I haven't seen her for a while now…" she blinked with surprise.

He only nodded, tangled black hair dancing around his shoulder. Tifa felt her curiosity reach its peak right now. Yuffie had to be the only person who ,for ninety nine percent of the time, managed to get under Vincent's skin to such an extent that Tifa lost count how many times the ninja gazed into the barrel of Cerberus, its muzzle brushing against the skin between wide eyes.

And now he was looking for her?

"Would you like me to call her and come?" she offered, still not understanding a thing.

"Heavens prevent!"

And her brows went up again.

"I need a room" Vincent then said, obviously not noticing, or rather promptly ignoring, the fact that her surprise was now visible even in the roots of her hair.

Did someone hang a "rooms for free" sign somewhere on the building and she didn't notice it?

Tifa sat down heavily on the nearby chair and blinked.

"Have you been talking to Reno?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how utterly stupid of her was to even assume something as stupid as that. Vincent held an unimaginable grudge towards the Turk formation, despite him being one himself in the past. Or maybe because of it. One black brow wandered up, to hide itself beneath the red hair band.

"Cloud said you were alone right now"

"I am, Vincent… but why??"

He sighed heavily, the golden claw clenching and unclenching a couple of times, as he leaned onto the counter.

"She's at the Mansion…" he finally said flatly.

"She..oh..OH! Wait, what is Yuffie doing in Nibelheim??"

"Said something about hanging out together… I had to … make a run for it"

"Here?? Vincent, she walks in her like she owns the place"

"I know" he snorted lightly "That's why she would never look here"

That made sense, Tifa assumed. She sighed lightly, running one hand through her hair. She always thought Yuffie had a gift for complicating her life, but apparently, having Vincent standing less than two feet away and asking for a room proved that the ninja's doing had a rather broad spectrum.

"I guess you could stay for a couple of days" she mused aloud "Everyone's away, so you could take the guys' room"

"Thank you" once again there was that softer look her gave her, and yet again it was gone the moment it appeared.

"Where did you meet Cloud?" she asked, standing up finally and getting back to her originally planed task.

"Costa. He looked… different"

"Mhm" she smiled as she placed the groceries in the appropriate shelves of the fridge "He's happy"

Vincent thought about what she just said, remembering the quiet blonde. She was right.

Cloud was happy.

***
It was strange as it was that the bar wasn't as crowded as usually at this time of the evening. Two tables were still unoccupied, and so were the chairs at the counter, including the two at the very end of it, just next to the cash register and the beer kegs. Next to the place where Tifa usually stayed if she wasn't making drinks. Funny enough, despite the smaller amount of people in, those who were in, were more drunk than on other days she saw them here. Inwardly she prayed to whoever was up there that none of the drunken men got the idea to do something really stupid, that would require an immediate need of her intervention. Which usually included her front door being smashed to tiny bits. And she really wasn't in the mood to try and repair that all alone.

The said door opened and a few women stumbled in, 'tipsy' would be too small a word to describe their state. Not drunk either, but definitely going there.

Tifa's brows wandered up.

Her evident surprise was understandable. She could count on the fingers of one hand all the times women came into her bar, from which non were Yuffie. Those rare few were usually there to pay for their men's drinks and drag their drunk asses out or it was Elena looking for a bottle of Mideel Grape Wine she wanted for a present. And that only happened once. But four giggling and slurring women who occupied the four high stools at the bar? That was a first!

"Good evening ladies, how may I help you?" Tifa asked with a welcoming smile.

They giggled some more, exchanging looks between each other before all four steadied themselves a little. Very little as a flushed red head kept slipping off the chair.

"We would like… a manly drink" said the blond whose golden hair flew down her back in heavy locks, and who reminded Tifa of a doll she got for her birthday when she was four.

"A strong one…" a foxy looking brunette added, playing with the chain around her neck.

"And heavy too" the last of them said, a skinny raven haired woman in her late twenties.

Were they ordering a drink or a man for the night?

"A SOLDIER Rush, maybe? Finest Northern Vodka on brown sugar, crushed ice and a lime. Strong and heavy" Tifa smiled at the four glazed looks she received.

It was actually her favorite drink, but she also knew many men liked it, as it was strong. And the slice of lime made it a rather refreshing one. And gods be her witnesses, but those four needed some refreshing.

"Alright" the four slurred perfectly unanimously.

"I'll be right back"

Tifa grabbed four glasses and turned around, making her way towards the kitchen. Four pair of eyes were literally burning holes in her back.

"She isn't all that HOT" she heard what probably was supposed to be a conspiratorial whisper "How did she get those two sexy pieces of meat living here?"

Tifa rolled her eyes, yet felt the wide smile. Two sexy pieces of meat…? She briefly wondered whether Zack or Cloud would find that as a compliment. But all in all it was ridiculous, assuming that they stayed her because of her physical appearances. She realized that many people found their household worlds away from what would be considered a normal house, but she stopped caring about that quite long ago. It was her strange little family and no one had the right to poke their nose into it. With the exception of their equally strange friends.

As she filled the glasses with sugar and ice, she suddenly heard the whole bar go dead silent. And immediately she began to worry.

That never was a good sign. It happened a few times before, and the last time it did, she found a very angry looking Cloud leaning over a drunken man, the First Tsurugi barely inches away from the rapidly moving Adam's apple.

Tifa quickly rose to her feet, glasses in hands, and made her way back, opening the door with one elbow.

And stopped.

She was welcomed with a very, very irritated Vincent Valentine sitting in Zack's chair. The golden claws of his gauntlet tapping slowly on the mahogany surface of the counter, their tips scratching the wood. That made Tifa frown. She placed the glasses on the metal working counter on the inner side of the service one and then reached out, her hand gently touching the golden claws. Glowing red eyes gazed into her merlot ones.

"Don't" she only said, and heard a heavy sigh come from his lips.

But he stopped. She then turned to the small steel dry sink build into the inner counter and filled with ice, and pulled a chilled bottle from it, the bottle looked like steaming as its icy surface reacted to the sudden change of temperatures. Only then she turned to the four women she was making drinks for and flinched not that subtly at all.

Oh .. dear…gods…

Wait…was that .. drool??

She then took around, noticing the stunned looks of all men inside. Sure, of course everyone living or even passing through Edge saw Vincent one time or another and his presence in the bar wasn't that much of a surprise. What was completely unexpected however, was that Vincent slipped quietly into the bar through the door that led upstairs, into the living quarters of the family. His cape and band missing, he was clad only in black trousers and a black wife beater. Smelling heavily of soap and herbal shampoo.

Tifa fought the urge to groan out loud, realizing the amount of gossip that will surely roam around Edge after tonight.

And that gossip didn't make her look too good at all.

She poured the Vodka into the glasses, then reached of a knife. It took three quick moves to chop the poor lime fruit into four parts.

"Here you go" she forced a smile and served the first drink.

She might as well call those women nasty names and shave their heads, as all four were staring at the black haired man sitting alone at the end of the counter. The muscles in his right arm clenched as he now tapped the fingers of his unclawed hand against the bar. Tifa could swear she saw little cogwheels turn heavily in their heads. Tifa then slammed the last drink in front of the red head, startling everyone and bringing an end to the very awkward silence.

"That will be 220 gil total"

"We…will pay later "doll face had the eyes in the size of mill wheels and it obviously took a lot for her not to glance at Vincent anymore "We probably have more…"

"Alright" Tifa nodded and made a little note on their bill, then took her tray and went to collect all the empty bottles and glasses.

She made a stop at every table, cleaning up and sharing few words with every one of her regulars, and soon the bar was once again buzzing with short laughs and loud talks. After cleaning up she made her way back, threw out the empty bottles and placed the glasses in the sink, wiped her forehead and then came up to Vincent.

"So what can I ge.." she stopped abruptly and leaned in closer, a confused look on her face "Did you by any chance, use the shampoo in the blue bottle?" she asked quietly.

"Yes" the 'why?' part was perfectly heard even if unvoiced by the man.

"It's for kids" she grinned "You're getting fluffy"

"Get me wine" he groaned, trying to flatten his hair with his right hand.

A dark green bottle and a tall glass were placed in front of him in a matter of seconds. He only nodded his thanks and poured himself some, the ruby red liquid filling the crystal-clear orb.

"Excuse me…" the brunette slipped into the chair next to him, taking on a slightly vulgar pose.

Tifa turned then to the sink, keen on washing the glasses, all the time being able to watch the scene in the mirrored back of the bar.

"What?" Vincent asked, voice dead and his eyes locked on the amused ones reflected in the mirrors.

"I just couldn't help by notice you sitting here all alone…" she traced one finger along the edge of her glass.

Cheap nail polish caught the light from the lamps above.

"So?"

He saw Tifa lower her head, longer brown strands falling into her face. Hiding her obvious grin from his eyes.

"So I thought I could join you for a drink or two" is she would lean a little more forward, she will surely fall out of that chair, Vincent noted "Unless of course you ARE a taken man " glazed eyes briefly brushed over the bartender's slim frame.

"No"

"Must be my lucky night!" she beamed and gave out a slight giggle, as she heard her girlfriends whisper feverishly.

"…" Vincent took a sip of his wine, enjoying the dry woodsy undertones and not giving the girl even one look.

"So tell me gorgeous, how is it possible for a man like you to be all alone on a cold, cold night like this?" there was a definitive purr in her voice.

Vincent frowned as Tifa's shoulders shook lightly.

"I have a gun" there was cold and dangerous note in his voice.

The brunette however was either too drunk or too stupid to get the hint , or the warning actually, and she ran one hand down his bare arm.

What she got however was the soft click of the trigger safe and she suddenly gazed into the muzzle of Cerberus. If she squinted slightly, she could see the bullet in the barrel… But the only thing she did was give out a weak mewl.

"Vincent…" Tifa's gently scolding voice was like angel choir singing to the girl's ears.

And then the gun was placed away, the drunk brunette back in her previous seat in a blink of an eye. Vincent placed Cerberus back into the holster as Tifa shook her head lightly.

"It's only for you" he informed her as he saw the amused glint in her eyes.

"Thanks"

All four women finished their drinks in record time, Tifa thought. They dropped their money and were out before all the coins could stop and settle on the counter. She smiled to herself as she collected her earn. She just got a 100 gil tip. Maybe she should consider taking Vincent in… Getting him a coffin in the attic wasn't something too hard to accomplish. Then again, Barret would lose it if he heard that the "brooding, depressed vampire twerp" was in the same house as his darling daughter. No matter how amusing the thought of having Vincent move into "Seventh Heaven" was, Tifa dismissed it with a smile. Besides, that claw and those pointy shoes could do a lot damage to the wooden interior.

The door opened with a slam and Tifa immediately looked at whoever came in.

"Honey, I'm hooome!" came a singy voice and she felt her lips twist.

Her slender arms folded, gentle brows knitted.

"Out" she spat out as he blew her a kiss.

"Oh darling ,you had to forgive me by… " Reno then noticed the dark man, who turned around at the commotion "Well if it isn't Vince!"

"Reno" the name came out surprisingly close to a growl.

"My my , Tifa.. and here I came, ignoring Tseng's orders to cheer you up and bring an end to your solitude…" the red head took a few steps closer.

Did EVERYONE know she was all alone right now?

"Get out" she motioned to the door, not one humorous note in her voice.

She still didn't want him around. No matter how many gil he would leave afterwards.

"Aws but…" there was that soft click again.

This time Reno was the one to cross his eyes to recognize the muzzle of Cerberus between his eyes. He didn't even notice when Vincent slipped out of his chair and walked up. There was a slight difference from similar situation with the drunk brunette from a few minutes ago.

That being the fact, that Vincent could actually shoot Reno.

"Well then, I'll be seein' ya, Vinnie!" the Turk gave out a short, nervous laugh and back away "See ya next week Teef"

And he was gone before either of the two could blink, the door closing behind him with a soft thud. Some patrons threw him amused looks, as most of them were already used to strange things happening when this certain red head was present.

Well…that was quick. Tifa had a thoughtful expression on her face, as she observed Vincent holster the Cerberus again.

"You'd like to move in perhaps?" she asked, her eyes resting on his dark frame.

Feeding him still would have cost less than repairing the door anyway. Vincent threw her a look over the edge of his wine glass, as they both returned to their respectful places and Tifa noticed something close to sparks of amusement in his eyes.

"Thank you" he raised his glass lightly, a silent toast "But I don't that would be appreciated by Barret"

She grinned as apparently he too knew the over-protectiveness of their older friend.

"That's alright…" she said after a while "Would get too crazy anyway…"

"But keep a room for me… in case of emergency"

Tifa had an feeling she would be seeing Vincent much more often now. Welcoming a new customer, she made a mental note to buy a new set of large towels.

In case of emergency.