Vincent searched around the small house for a bit. He hadn't seen Cid in a couple of hours, and decided to find out where he'd ran off to. The pilot's normal place to hide always seemed to be his workshop, out in the shed, but he wasn't there. Nor was he in the Highwind, or Sherra.

After searching some of the usual hang-outs, Vincent decided to check the house. It was a stretch that he'd be there, because when he wasn't hovering around Vincent, he usually wasn't in the house, but it was worth a shot.

Surprisingly the pilot was discovered in the den. He had konked out in his lazy boy, snoring like a bear. How the gunman hadn't heard it before, he'll never know. But, at least he found him.

Vincent crept in quietly, settling down onto the table next to him. He traced a finger through the short bangs, smiling down at him. He'd wondered how long this stubborn man would last.

*"(Vincent.)"

Vincent groaned at the interuption. "(What is it? I'm not listening to your leud remarks today, Chaos.)"

*"(No, it's got nothing to do with that… I'm hungry.)"

"What?"

Cid snorted, threatening to wake up, but soon fell back into it, his snores melting into a heavy breathing. Vincent held his hands over his mouth, sneaking out into the kitchen. "Now?"

*"(Yea. It's been a while since you fed me last. I stayed quiet long enough, because of your issues, but I'm starving.)"

"Heh, quiet?" He said that a little too loud, and peeked in to see if Cid was still asleep. Assuring that he was, Vincent continued to inquisition the demon. "You've done nothing but yap this whole time. Why should I feed you?"

*"(Because, if you don't, our deal will be broken.)"

"Yea right. You already broke that deal when you started fighting me."

*"(Dammit, Vincent, I'm not in the mood to argue with you. I'm starving.)"

"Well, too bad. I'm not in the mood to deal with your needs. Give me one good reason why I should do this?"

*"(Grrr… you're so damn stubborn. How bout I don't try to force myself on him.)"

Vincent internally glared at him, as best he could… ok a little was visible outside as well.

*"(You're paranoid too, y'know that?)"

"Who's fault is that, I wonder?"

*"(Hey, I didn't ask to be in you.)"

"Yea, but you're not helping."

*"(Tomato-Tomahto. How bout I let you sleep. I mean it this time… you feed me, and I let you get your strength back as well.)"

Vincent settled down in one of the chairs, folding his arms and legs. "For how long?"

*"(I don't fucking care. As long as you want.)"

"Hmm?" He considered the options, taking the demon's honor code into consideration. Believe it, or not… he had one. "Don't really know if I can trust you. Maybe I should sleep first, than take you out."

*"(HELL NO. You wouldn't be able to sleep with me gripeing about my hunger, would you?)"

"I guess not. Y'know, the others don't cause me this much trouble."

*"(That's just 'cause I keep them under wraps. Now is it a deal or not?)"

…

"I still don't know."

*"(Dammit, Vincent, am I gonna have to force my way out!?)"

Vincent groaned, snapping his hands to the side of his head, against the demon's frustration. "Ok, ok. I'll take you. But you have to stay true to your end of the bargon."

*"(Yea, yea. I know. Cross my heart, and hope to pray. Just move it.)"

Vincent stood, heading for the door, then stopped. "Wait."

*"(What is it, now?)"

"I can't just leave, without telling Cid. He'd come looking for me."

*"(Just leave him a note or something, then get going.)"

"Hmm. That's the first useful thing you've said in a while."

xXx

Vincent just sat inside of his own body, silently musing. Just happy to get some time to rest. He wasn't sure how long he'd allowed the demon to remain in control, and was even more confused when he called inward to him.

"What is it?"

Chaos chuckled slightly. *"(You're not gonna believe what I just found.)"

Now Vincent's curiosity was peaked. What could it possibly be to make him start to push Vincent back in control? "What did you find?" He opened his eyes, a bit shocked to see the area surprisingly clean. His gaze soon fell on a large oak tree that was all too familiar to him. He hadn't even realized he'd traveled to this area.

Vincent's eyes shifted down, along the bark, until it fell on a crude wooden cross, settled at the base. The wood was slightly rotted, from years of wear and tear. Seeming to decompose from the words 'G. Valentine' carved into it.

The gunman's eyes started to sting. If only he could see him now. See how far he'd fallen. Vincent dropped to his knees, placing a hand against the cross. The brittle wood crumbled benieth his fingers. "Father." He finally spoke, the restraints against his tears beginning to break. "I don't know what to do anymore." His head fell forward, biting his quivering lip. "You don't know how much I wish you were still here." Tears slid from the end of his nose to fall over the long blades of grass. "Father, I feel so lost. I wish I was stronger."

Chaos started laughing again. *"(You know he can't hear you, right?)"

Vincent sighed, trying to wipe the tears away. "I know." He looked up at the sky, hoping to see some glimpse of him… maybe flying overhead. "I Just need his guidance. I miss him so much." He sobbed, not wanting to take his eyes from the sky.

"So, that's your father?"

Vincent jumped at the familiar voice, nearly knocking down the cross as he stood. He whipped around to Cloud, backing up against the tree. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

Cloud shuffled his feet, staring awkwardly to the ground. "I saw you flying around, and figured I could finally get a chance to talk to you." He looked up at Vincent, his eyes narrowing with pain. "Please, stop looking at me like that. I'm not going to do anything to you. I just want to talk."

Vincent's eyes softened. He wiped away his tears, gaze falling to the tree roots. "What do you want, Cloud?" He was trying so hard to hide the pain from his voice. The fear and desires that were stirring up within him from seeing the spikey-haired man again. This wasn't good. He didn't feel strong without Cid around. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to resist Cloud, or not.

Cloud sighed. "I've had a lot of time to think about what's happened between us." He stepped closer, hoping Vincent would at least look at him. "The house feels so empty without you there."

Vincent stepped back as Cloud reached a hand out to him. "That's not my problem."

"Vincent… I-" He stopped short, contemplating his next words. Despite his lack of social skills, he did know Vincent. He knew how to handle the ex-Turk, and was going to try to be as gentle as he could. He sighed deeply. There seemed to be no solution. "You're right."

Vincent finally looked up at him, in shock at hearing those words come out of Cloud's mouth. "I am?"

"Yea." Cloud met the crimson stare, feeling he'd cry. "I fucked up. I don't deserve your forgiveness. I just want you to ba happy, Vincent." He sighed, no longer able to look at him. "I wish you could find it with me, but I know now that you can't… is there?" Cloud gazed back up at him, somehow able to fight his tears. "Is there any way? Anything I can do to show you how sorry I am?" The swordsman took a step forward, feeling desperate again. Being without Vincent made him seem like he was willing to do anything. He couldn't stand the thought of losing someone else he cared about. "Is there anything I can do to make you trust me again? Please, Vincent! I'll do anything." Without really thinking about it, he fell to his knees.

Chaos couldn't help but laugh at the display, but Vincent was honestly beginning to feel sorry for him. Did Cloud really love him this much? Maybe… maybe he'd truly be faithful… now knowing how fragile his trust was for him. "Cloud?" Vincent gulped, to try and clear the strain in his voice. "How long?"

"What?" Cloud settled upright on his knees. "How long was I-" He trailed off, not needing to finish the statement. Come to think of it… did he even say it out loud to Vincent at all?

"Well." Vincent's eyes wondered, feeling he couldn't look at him again. "Sort of. I was just wondering if when I?"

Cloud stood, not quite sure he understood where he was going with this anymore. He took a step forward, startling Vincent. The gunman jerked back. "When you let me riddle in my guilt."

"What? When? What did you do?"

The red gaze shifted away, glistening with tears. He'd been so consumed with guilt that he confessed everything to Cloud… and he didn't even remember. "Whenever Cid kissed me."

"What?"

Vincent flared at the shorter man, his tears still squeezing through. "That time whenever I confessed to you that Cid had kissed me. I felt so guilty, and you let me wallow in it." He breathed deep, trying to registor in those blue eyes if he remembered or not. Vincent's brows lowered, shading the crimson orbs to make them glow. "Were you seeing him then?"

Cloud racked his brain, trying to think of the time he meant. He remembered it. The rage he felt, not towards Vincent really, but at the pilot. Though he did seem so cold to Vincent. Maybe because he felt he'd let it happen… but he couldn't remember. Was he seeing Reno then?

It was a good while ago. He knew they were at least engaged then.

Blood started to seep from Vincent's palms, where his nails dug deep into his flesh. Anger rising the more Cloud remained quiet. "Were you?"

Damn! What would be the right answer here? He honestly didn't know, but would it be good to tell him that?

"Answer me, Cloud!"

"I-I don't know."

"What?" Vincent's expression softened for a moment, before the anger began to consume him again. "How could you not know?"

"I don't remember, Baby. I wasn't mad at you. It was just a kiss. It didn't mean anything."

Vincent's face fell. "You weren't?"

"No. I was pissed off at Cid." Cloud took a cautious step forward. "I didn't realize I was making you feel so bad about it. I'm sorry." He lifted his hand to gently brush the tears from Vincent's cheek, but the ex-Turk didn't even seem to notice.

"Then why, Cloud? Why couldn't you just tell me that?"

Cloud smiled, slowly beginning to reaize that Vincent was allowing him to come closer. "Because I'm a dumbass. Heh, we've already established this." His smile began to dissolve into tears again. "I have so much more to make up to you than I realize… don't i?"

"Oh, Cloud." He couldn't understand it. Vincent had never been able to forgive anyone who hurt him, or someone he loved. He'd hated anyone who caused him pain, but this was so confusing. He'd formed such a deep affection for the man standing before him, that he couldn't find how to break it.

Why did he still love him?

All he wanted to do was to fall into those familiar arms, and cry. To have his Cloud back. The man that belonged solely to him. Maybe he could forgive him. Maybe Cloud was sincere in his promise to stay true to him. How much he wished it could be true.

Vincent soon found himself wrapped within the swordman's arms. He was on his knees, crying into his shoulder. His arms were wrapped around him, gripping tightly. "Cloud, I can't do this anymore. I'm not strong enough."

"Don't say that." Cloud's hand traced through the long raven hairs, rocking the slender form gently in his arms. "You don't realize it, Vincent, but you're so much stronger than you know. You're way stronger than I am, that's for sure." Cloud nudged him back, brushing the tears from under his former (hopfully still) lover's eyes. "How bout it, hon? You wanna give this dumbass one more chance?"

Vincent looked up at him, and coldn't help but laugh at the small pouty lip. Why the hell did he have to be so adorable, when he was pathetic?

Cloud laughed a bit in relief, brushing more tears away. "There' that beautiful smile. Gods, how I missed it."

Vincent's fingers traced up along the arm, gently grasping onto his hand. His eyes closed, placing a small kiss into his palm. "I still love you, Cloud." Both hands came up to clamp onto his.

Cloud's free hand traced the lining of the dark haired man's face. "But?"

The red eyes gleamed up at him, harboring a small smile. "No, buts."

Did he really just say that? Cloud couldn't even believe he'd actually heard it… this felt like a dream. "Really?" He asked, still a bit unsure. "Does that mean… are you giving me another chance?"

Vincent's smile brightened, his cheeks still glittering from tears. He looked so beautiful under the soft sunlight fluttering though the tree branches, that Cloud could've sworn the next words came from an angel. "Just don't prove me wrong." He traced a hand along Cloud's jawline, coaxing the head closer.

Cloud smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. I can't lose you again."

Was this really happening? Cloud never thought he'd feel those lips against his again, but there they were. Vincent was actually kissing him. The lips he'd desired to taste for so long gently carressed against his. No longer hiding any restraints. Completely giving himself over to him once more.

--

AN: wait... what just happened? Vincent was supposed to end up shooting him, then run home all freaked out to Cid to have some 'show me i'm not a monster sexxy time'. damn characters not listening to me anymore.... where's the script?