A/N: Well this is definitely one of my shorter chapters. Hello again!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who's reviewed this story so far. I'm glad you like it, and knowing that makes me write more. XD

I hope you enjoy this chapter, too.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters.

Chapter Three

The night was quiet. Vincent sat on the couch, staring up at the ceiling and listening the clock tick. The hectic day had come to an end, leaving him to sit there alone and ponder what was before him.

The walk he had taken with Yuffie was productive. He hadn't exactly convinced her he was right, but he managed to calm her down to the point where she quit arguing. Right now she was in his room, asleep on his bed. She was after all, his friend. He couldn't make her pay for an inn, not when he had a full house at his disposal. He could've put her on the couch, but he felt it would be better for him to be out here. He could keep a better eye on everyone that way.

The hour was late. He figured he should lay down and try sleeping. Tomorrow he would be leaving for Midgar, one way or another.

He heard a door opening and lifted his head to look. Kadaj stepped into the living room, making his way silently toward him. He was dressed for bed, wearing a simple pair of pants and the over-sized shirt Vincent recalled buying for him in Bone Village. Quite a while ago.

The young man stood before him, the two of them not saying anything for a long moment.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?" Kadaj broke the silence, getting straight to the point.

"Yeah," Vincent answered. He looked ahead of himself again, at nothing.

"Are you taking us with you?"

"I don't know yet."

Kadaj made his way around the couch and stood before him. "What was that phone call about anyway?"

"It was Reeve. They found some stuff of ShinRa's he thought I should see."

"What kind of stuff?" he pressed further.

"Stuff about us."

Kadaj smiled. Us. It made them sound like they were all connected, all a part of the same thing-like they really were some sort of family.

Kadaj suddenly came toward him and sat down on his lap, making it impossible for Vincent to dismiss him or ignore him. Vincent woke up slightly in response to the odd position, and stared at the remnant strangely. Kadaj's gaze was oddly serious.

"Take us with you."

Vincent relaxed back into the couch again. "Why?" he asked, just so he could see how he would answer.

"We're bored, Vincent. We need a change of scenery."

Vincent stared at him directly in the eyes, knowing there were more reasons than just that. Kadaj looked away from him, the same way he always did when he was about to admit something genuine.

"I'm worried about my brothers. You are, too. And I can't see any reason why you would really want us to stay here by ourselves. Unless you're getting tired of us."

"I'm not getting tired of you," he said, unable to hold back a smile. Kadaj looked down at him strangely, before a smile of his own touched his face. "I'll take you with. But I am concerned. The three of you don't exactly have the best reputation in Midgar. What if someone sees you?"

"They won't," Kadaj assured eagerly.

"You might be just as bored there."

"We won't."

Vincent conceded in the end, shaking his head softly. "Fine." With the subject settled, he rested his head back again, hoping the boy would get off him and go to bed. He wasn't so lucky though. And the fact that he hadn't moved an inch yet led him to believe there was more he wanted to say.

He opened his eyes again to find Kadaj staring beyond him and the couch, at the closed door of Vincent's bedroom. His fingers absently picked at the fabric of the couch, showing his frustration with how angrily he was doing so.

"Why does she have to stay here?" Kadaj blurted out, just before Vincent was going to ask what was bothering him. "This our house. Why should she put you out of a bed?"

Vincent couldn't help but be amused. "She's my friend, Kadaj. Even though she's...strange."

"I don't like her. She's not good enough for you."

"What?" he asked, shocked.

"She's not. You deserve someone much better."

Vincent was speechless for a moment, and just stared at him. "I'm not interested in her."

"You're not?"

"No."

"She's certainly interested in you."

"No, she's not."

"Yes, she is. Why else you do you think she was so upset?"

Vincent gave up the argument in the end, shaking his head. "You're giving me a headache."

Kadaj chuckled.

The door to Yazoo's bedroom opened, making the both of them look that direction. Yazoo stepped out of the bedroom, looking as serene and as preened as ever, showing no signs of a hangover. He didn't even seem to notice the two on the couch, or decided to ignore them, as he headed for the door.

"Yazoo!" Vincent called, stopping him in his tracks. "Go back to bed. We're leaving for Midgar in the morning."

"Midgar?" Yazoo repeated, "What prompted this?"

"Reeve called this morning," Kadaj answered, "He needs Vincent's attention for something."

"I see," Yazoo casually commented. "But I'm not tired."

"I don't care. Go back to bed."

Yazoo looked from Vincent to Kadaj, his gaze asking. Kadaj nodded his head, then Yazoo turned and went back to his room. Vincent stared at him, a little frustrated. It was common knowledge in the house that Yazoo and Loz listened to Kadaj, and only Kadaj. It was a little annoying, but as long as Kadaj listened to Vincent, everything would be okay.

"You, too," Vincent said.

Kadaj complied, sliding off his lap and back to his feet. He stared down at Vincent for a moment, then went back to his bedroom. Vincent watched him leave, before laying down on the couch, quickly falling asleep.

A/N: Please review. :)