Epilogue

Part V

I knew I shouldn't have come out of hiding… Of course, I suppose certain occasions require my presence.

Yuffie made sure of this. I received more phone calls from her in the past week than I did in the past year. That's saying something, truly.

I lift my hand slowly to the familiar door, before knocking it twice. I can already hear voices inside, and the door finally opens after a heated argument.

Cloud stares back at me for about half a second, a little surprised to see me.

"Vincent," he says, offering his hand.

I shake it. That is one thing about Cloud; he's quiet, and straight to the point.

FUH-HONK!

Though the same cannot be said about Yuffie who is currently standing beside of Cloud blowing on a party favor. It rushes out and hits my nose, letting out an obnoxious noise.

That's the other thing about Cloud…you can always count on him to shut Yuffie up.

Cloud's fist grips down on the paper party favor, the noise dying, and Yuffie looks at him.

She removes her mouth, "Hey!"

Cloud glares at her, and I notice for the first time the purplish black bags beneath his eyes.

"No sleep," he says softly, wrenching the thing from Yuffie's hands.

She squeaks, and Cloud tosses the party favor out onto the street. It conveniently lands in a puddle.

"Kuh-loud! That was mine—

Cloud glares at her, "Yuffie…I swear, if you wake—

"What are you guys doing?" Tifa's somehow manages to get between Cloud and Yuffie.

"Erm," Yuffie squirms beneath Tifa's gaze, and Cloud falls silent.

"Here Vincent is, and we haven't seen him in ages, and you guys keep him standing in the doorway! Come on in, Vincent," she grabs my hand, pulling me between the two.

"Thank you, Tifa."

She releases me as we make our way inside. "It isn't a problem. Cloud's been a little high strung these last few days, and with Yuffie…well…"

"I understand," I reply, and she smiles.

She too, has bags beneath her eyes. However, they aren't as big and something tells me Cloud's been making her sleep, forfeiting his own. She's still a little wide around the middle, but I bet that she'll be back to normal in no time. Tifa isn't one to sit still, so I believe the weight will be lost soon.

Tifa leads me into the dinning room where it seems everyone has gathered.

"Hey, stranger!" I get a hardy clap on the back from Barret.

Shera's holding onto Maria's hand, trying to keep her from getting lost in the crowd. I believe she is two now, or somewhere around that age.

Cid's sitting at the table sipping on a beer, laughing at something Reeve's said. Reeve hasn't changed much, still head of the WRO, and rebuilding around Midgar. He calls Maria over, and gives her a cait syth doll. She giggles, and tugs it around behind her, but not before she gives Cid a hug.

Cid still hasn't gotten use to shows of affection it seems, because he flushes a bit, and pats her back awkwardly. Maybe it's just public shows of affection.

Reeve laughs at him, and Cid smacks the back of his head as Yuffie sits down between Cid and Reno. That is still an addition I cannot get used to, but neither is the ring on Yuffie's right finger.

I don't think she'll ever set a date, really.

Nanaki is sitting beside of Denzel on the floor, who's taller than the last time I saw him. His hair's shaggier too, if that's even possible.

They actually are carrying on a rather intelligent conversation, for a boy who's twelve or thirteen.

Marlene comes in from the kitchen. "Look! I made a cake!"

She grins, setting out a pink and white cake on the table, and walks over to me.

"Vincent, good to see you." She grins.

I nod my head, and she stares at me.

"Well don't just stand there, silly! Give me a hug!"

I had forgotten about this. I believe Marlene is the third person I've hugged in the entirety of my life. I can't remember who the other two are, but I'm certain I must've hugged at least two other people in my life time.

I think…

I hug Marlene rather awkwardly, which is pretty much all my hugs. I mean, look at me…do I look like a person who offers out hugs to the nearest person?

I think not. I haven't had much practice in this field.

Marlene releases me, grinning again. "Wait till you see her. She's so pretty."

Cloud moves into the room, gathering everyone's attention with a glare.

He's been practicing.

"Alright…listen up…she doesn't quite understand the difference between night and day yet. She's sleeping right now, but Tifa's going to bring her down. I need you guys to be quiet. If you aren't quiet, I'm going to toss you out a window on the second floor. I'm serious. I haven't slept…I can't even remember what today is. Please…guys…for once, just be quiet. You especially Yuffie."

Yuffie scoffs, but I must say, that was quite the speech. I don't think I've ever heard Cloud talk that much at one time. Not that I can say anything about that, though.

Tifa comes in slowly, a tiny bundle in her arms. Tifa looks nervous though, as if she has no clue how to hold this baby. Cloud takes her, and surprisingly looks more at home holding the baby than Tifa. Really, I would've thought it the other way around. Cloud looks down, and everyone cranes in to see the child, but he's staring at her. I wonder what it is like to experience this joy. Only about four or five years ago Cloud was asking me about sins, and whether or not they could be forgiven. I believe he has made the most of his life, and couldn't be happier. It's strange, different, to see him so light. Even at his wedding, I do not believe he really conceived what was happening. I do not believe I will ever experience the joy of having a child, but I'm happy enough witnessing the joy of others.

"Can I see her?" Yuffie whispers.

Cid chuckles lowly.

Cloud slowly walks towards Yuffie and holds the bundle out towards her, Cid, Reno, and Reeve leaning over her shoulders to see the child.

Tifa places her hands on Cloud's shoulders, staring down at the baby in his arms.

"This is Emily Amelia Strife," Tifa says softly, proudly.

Yuffie gasps, and is acting like she's never seen a baby before.

"She's waking up!" Reeve hisses, and almost sounds scared.

Really, I would expect him to the most scared. He doesn't strike me as a baby person.

Cloud gives a little smile, passing the baby into Tifa's arms. She looks helpless, but takes Emily anyways, getting her situated into her arms.

Tifa walks around the room, showing Emily off to Nanaki and the others, before finally making her way awkwardly towards me.

"See, Vincent?"

I blink, staring down at the strange combination. Really, I hadn't expected such a combination to look so well.

She has her father's hair color, a small tuft of bright blonde sitting at the top of her head in wild spikes. Her eyes though staring up at me are big and round, and a warm reddish-brown color. The combination is striking, and I reach out subconsciously, touching Emily's cheek.

She gurgles something, grabbing my finger, and I look up at Tifa.

"Congratulations."

She grins. "Thanks."

A hard pressure comes down on my finger, and I glance down. I'm glad Emily isn't teething; else this might be somewhat hinting at painful.

Tifa giggles, staring at Emily whose bitten my finger, looking at ease with the girl in her arms for the first time.

"She did the same thing to Cloud."

A/N: I don't think I dove into the depths of Vin's mind to well, which is exactly the reason why I don't write a story about him, haha....I've said it before and I'll say it again. I absolutely adores Yuffentines when done correctly, but I honestly don't feel like I know Vincent's character well enough to write a fic that could attach a believable story line b/w him and Yuffie...if you notice in any of my stories I always put Yuffie either on the side just closer to vincent, not necessarily romantic, but more in tune with him. On the other hand I completely (and obviously) support a good Reffie...they're just too much trouble to ignore, and honestly, the main reason I never write Yuffentines (and my inner fangirl hates me for it) is I can honestly say I'll never truly believe Vincent would ever get with anyone after Lucrecia. I just see him literally as a loner. But that's in actuality. I reiterate, I enjoy a good Yuffentine, but for me trying to keep this story as 'realistic' as possible, I couldn't put Yuffie and Vincent together and feel right about it. Does that make sense? Hope it does. Don't kill me Yuffentine lovers!