A/N: Get your tissue papers ready people,. It's been a pleasure so far, and so I thank everyone who has added this story to their subscription lists and their favorite stories lists. You've all been wonderful readers. Do read and review, would you kindly?

Aeris Gainsborough General Hospital, Kalm…

Time until Vincent's life expires: 3 days

A woman sat in front of a mirror…a contemplative look was on her face as she brushed her hair. Her auburn hair was being straightened with a distracted hand—as if she was wondering about some past event. Before she could think any more on the subject, the door slammed open with a blond man walking in. The look of surprise on her face was clear.

"Michael, what are you doing here?"

"Stopping you from marrying the wrong man."

"You have no right to be here. Now get out of here!"

"How can you say that Samara? How can you say that when it's all I can do right now not to kiss you here and now? How can you tell me that I have no right to be here after that kiss we shared last night?"

The look on Samara's face was that of agonizing pain. "I don't have any choice Michael…if I don't do this, then I won't be able to save Jan."

"But you don't love him!"

"What do you know about love Michael?"

"I may not have known love from the beginning, but you taught me about it…as I was growing up, I thought love was with the dates and one-night stands I've been having, and I foolishly thought that love was but a fleeting emotion, like the petals of a flower. But you taught me that true love exists—that it is immortal. You also taught me the true meaning of love, and because of that, I now have to courage to reveal to you something that I've been hiding…something I should have told you when I was a teenager, and have only been reminded now of…I love you Samara Wallace; I've loved you since the day I first saw you, it's just that I was too stupid to see it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

It didn't take long before Michael closed the distance between him and Samara, slowly embracing her…Samara was too shocked by the revelation to do anything…the last bits of resistance she had started bubbling to the surface…

Vincent lay in the hospital bed alone and watching a soap opera…thankfully, it was a re-run of a show he enjoyed when he had nothing to do in between missions as a Turk aside from maintaining his weapons and keeping in shape. Most of the newer soap operas he watched as of late were absolute garbage in his opinion…the show he was watching known as "Final Mythology" brought back memories of polishing and cleaning the long barrel of a semi-automatic sniper rifle chambered for 12.7x108mm rounds before setting it back in its company-owned case in preparation for his next assassination or bodyguard mission. He watched a different episode while loading 7.62x39mm rounds into the magazines for his assault rifle and .500 S&W rounds into speedloaders for Cerberus prior to doing his workouts. Contrary to what people believed, Vincent was good at multitasking, so he was actually paying attention to the story as he cleaned, repaired, and loaded his weapons. The idea behind the soap opera was that it was an anthology of emotional love stories—each episode telling a different story. This particular episode that he remembered watching as he cleaned the barrel told the tale of Samara Richards having an unexpected reunion with her long-lost high-school friend Michael Kennedy while her younger sister Jan was sick—it was a tale of regrets and revelations between lovers, and it was his favorite episode.

As he clicked the TV off using the remote, he began to worry about Yuffie. Oh how he wished he could be there in the same room as Yuffie—however, Dr. Edwards insisted that it was better that when he dies, she would not be there so as not to harm the baby since she is due to come out any time within this week now. He'd been confined to this bed for the last weeks or so after that day he lost power in his knees…he couldn't feel anything below his knees, and as of this week, he was unable to feel anything below his waist save his organs. What made his day brighter since that day was that his friends showed up to visit once or twice; and Yuffie always came to see him daily at least once a day. He could see their smiles of joy in their lives…Marlene and Denzel seemed to be holding to each other closer than he last saw them—they were frustrated by homework, but the former had an easier time than what he would see as her future husband. This was because Marlene happened to be a rather bright little girl while Denzel needed a little more work to actually grow. It's actually been weeks since he last saw Nanaki, but being the new leader of Cosmo Canyon, he was not surprised—with great power comes great responsibility. A lesson he learned long before he chose to become the chief of police for the 1st Precinct Wutainese Military Police Corps, and commander-in-chief of all the officers in Wutai…and a lesson he helped adjust Yuffie into.

Before he could be left to his thoughts, he saw the door to his hospital room opened, and in walked Tifa with a saddened smile on her face…her pregnancy with the twins was very obvious due to the fact that her belly was larger than Yuffie's to accommodate two children instead of one. "Hello Tifa," he said, "you seem to come more often nowadays."

"Oh you know…I couldn't stand the cigarette smoke anymore."

"I understand…Yuffie beats Cid over the head if she even smells those cigarettes—it's supposed to be bad for people anyway."

Tifa let out a brief laugh of happiness…it was then that she let out a sigh as if the memory her friend's situation sapped even the image out of her head. "Have you gone to naming the twins yet?"

"One of them is a girl we shall be naming Maya…her brother on the other hand will be named Warren."

"Such good names."

"Have you thought about what to name your daughter yet?"

"So far we've come up with several names, but I suppose we're both leaning towards Anya…that really got her thinking the last time I saw her."

"Anya? That's a beautiful name."

"It is…so what really brings you here Tifa?"

"I wanted to tell you that Cloud and I have decided to name you and Yuffie the godparents of our twins."

"Tifa, are you sure that's wise? I'm nearing the end of my life…how can I be a godfather if I can't be there for them?"

"We want to do this so that at the very least, you could…"

"You cannot have ties when one has already passed Tifa…I appreciate your intention to keep me alive if only in memory, and I am honored…it's just that I don't think it's a good idea."

"Don't worry. At least Yuffie will be there for them in your stead."

"If that's the case, then why haven't you come to Yuffie about this as well?"

"That's because she already did."

Vincent looked towards the doorway of his ward…he knew who that voice belonged to, and she was walking in with her own bundle of joy…a bundle of joy he participated in creating. "Yuffie…"

"Don't say another word Vince…it's an honor to be named godfather…something I think you should be able to handle even if you're not here with me anymore."

"But Yuffie…"

"No buts…you worry too much. I can handle those little brats when they start popping out…just you watch!"

He could not help but let out a small smile of happiness at this moment while Yuffie walked up, took off her shoes, and pressed her face against Vincent's chest. No matter the situation, Yuffie has always put a smile on his face no matter how small it is. "I'll accept this title Yuffie…since I seem to have no choice in the matter…"

"Don't lie…we all know you've wanted to have this title for a while now."

Tifa simply smiled and walked out—she had delivered her message, she did not need to watch as her friend got to be inappropriate with her husband. It was then that she wondered what it would be like when Yuffie would be there for her kids…Auntie Yuffie, now that was a title she'd like to hear from young voices…a shame that there won't be an Uncle Vincent around to help out, or even enjoy the time spent with the kids…

Unknown Time and Place…

"There's not much I can do for you Vincent," the regret in Aeris' voice was very clear, "your soul is already decaying here in the borderlands between life and death. By the time it's already done, there will be no soul left for you to go into the Lifestream with. However, after a bit of pleading, the Ancients have found a way to grant you a little bit of an extension."

"What do you mean by an extension?"

"It means that that the Ancients will give you a little more time on the world before you are able to come back…it wasn't easy, but I convinced them to write up this contract for you. They will grant you a good fifteen minutes, but in exchange, you must find someone to transfer whatever remains of your life-force into. Once that is done, you will have time enough to say a proper goodbye."

"And what of the spirits that reside in me?"

As she spoke, Zack picked Vincent up and carried him bridal-style in his arms. "They've already guaranteed that at least a part of you will be able to go into the Lifestream. I can't tell you all the specifics yet, because the spirits that reside in you have called Chaos up so that they can all merge together and form a new spirit to bond with your daughter. We're all invited to watch the ceremony."

Present Time…Time until Vincent's Life Expires: 22 hours

Vincent looked towards his roommates…as far as he could tell, they were all severely critical—he studied the four other people in the same eight-person ward as he was in. The patient that struck out the most to him was the sixteen-year-old teenage girl next to him…she would grow up to be rather beautiful, that he could tell. Before she was a patient from a car accident, she was a great singer in the local high school's choir. It wasn't long until Vincent revealed that he was the pianist in high-school…and the two of them connected in a sense. Hilda on the other hand, was still wary of Vincent…and he didn't blame her—after all, he was just a stranger. From her appearance, she was suffering from a condition that thinned her blood a bit…possibly leukemia. But even under her sickness, he could see that she had come from a Wutainese background, although from her mother's side due to the fact that her surname was Williams…it was probable that a quarter of her was Wutainese blood.

"So Vincent, what do you do now?"

"Me? Oh, I've recently been one of the chiefs of police in Wutai for almost a year now…up until my hospitalization."

"What happened?"

"It's too complicated for you to understand what happened to me…but unfortunately, it happened just shortly after I found out that me and my wife were going to have a little girl."

Hilda could see it in his eyes…even though he didn't look it, she knew he was mentally old…she could also tell that he was dying—the fact that he was overly pale was the dead giveaway to her that he did not have much longer. Before she could think anymore on the man before her, she heard a door slamming open, and in ran a person she knew well from the news…it was Cloud Strife.

"Vincent…Yuffie…her water just broke! She's here…in the hospital!"

Vincent's eyes widened with surprise. Those words were enough to put strength in Vincent's body as he tried to struggle out of the bed—the loss of feeling in his legs be damned, he was going to be there for his wife if it killed him! With that on mind, he grabbed the railings of his bed, and flipped over only for Cloud to catch him, and letting his legs hit the floor. Vincent may have been heavy for Yuffie, but due to the JENOVA genes he had been implanted with, Cloud had no trouble picking up Vincent, and setting him into the nearby wheelchair before grabbing both handles, and pushing forward to the maternity ward. He was stressed as it was with Tifa's mood swings once in a while, but it would be a cold day in hell before he lets his friend miss his Yuffie's pregnancy!

As they wheeled on over to the maternity ward, Vincent noted that Cloud was running side-by-side with a stretcher that carried his wife. He noted the look of weariness on Yuffie's face as he quickly grabbed her hand. It was not long until Cloud suddenly stopped, causing Vincent's grip to slip—he was about to chew Cloud's head off until he realized that the door closed behind the stretcher carrying Yuffie…and it was too narrow to enter. Cloud moved on in, and opened the doors to finally find Yuffie in ward C-4. Vincent looked on into Yuffie's eyes with concern in his eyes…the birth had come sooner than expected. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…I think Anya wants to see her daddy soon."

"It's a bit sooner than expected…Yuffie, do you think you'll be all right?"

"Don't worry Vincent. Just you wait…we'll be seeing our princess soon enough…"

Vincent reached out to his wife and grabbed her hand. The time of his demise was nigh…he wanted to spend what time he had left with his daughter in his arms; and not even the reaper himself was going to stop him. Sure, he would miss Anya's first words…her first steps…even lecturing her for the first time about the opposite gender…and it would seem likely that another man will win Yuffie's heart one day, but he will not miss watching Anya's eyes opening for the first time at the very least.

"By the way Vince, I know I should've told you this long ago, but I like Reno as a brother figure, but I wouldn't marry him."

A sigh of shame left Vincent's mouth upon hearing the revelation…oh she knew. "I knew someone was listening in when I smelled a hint of peaches mixed in the air with Rude's oak scent that day…were you…"

"I wanted to start up an argument with you about it, but then I saw why. I appreciate the thought you have for everyone, but I don't have any feelings for either Reno or Rude…in fact, I don't have feelings for anyone else yet. You don't have to worry, I'll be able to handle everything on my own…"

"To be honest, as much as I tolerated Reno as a person, I did not like the way he smelled; he stank of cheap beer, a mixture of perfumes, and a hint of ganja. In any case, I worried that you'll be so lonely one day while I'm dead that it'll be too much for you. That's why I gave Reno or Rude the blessings in advance if either won your hand…and I should have told you this, but if you fall in love with another man while I'm gone, you have my blessings to marry him should the time come…under one condition…"

"What is that?"

"You heard what I told Rude to tell Reno right?"

"Of course, I remember it well…you said, word for word, 'any man abuses who Yuffie or my daughter in any way will be dragged to the Lifestream and beaten senseless by yours truly'."

"Before you re-marry or our daughter is about to get married, you must send this message to the grooms-to-be."

"Will do."

Unknown time and place…

Vincent glanced around the entire area…this was a totally unfamiliar area to him…but then again, being in this place in general was very strange to him, so being in a dark wood with only Aeris and Zack as company was not as shocking. What was shocking however was the appearance of a flickering light—as if there were fire up ahead.

The trio moved on up and saw the shadows in the firelight…there were four of them surrounding what appeared to be a child…the four figures were outlines he would recognize anywhere…tall and slender, with a canine body built for speed and horns on its head was Galian Beast, the first spirit he was bonded to, and the only one of the spirits that resided in him to do so. The next figure was by far the tallest figure he knew of, towering even Galian Beast, and its body was massively built for power, and the bolts on its neck were a tell-tale sign that this figure was Death Gigas. The third figure he recognized was obvious—the wild hair, and the chainsaw in the shape of a zweihander was none other than Hellmasker. The final figure was rather easy to recognize—the wings, horns, and hoofed feet, and the regal appearance told him that this was none other than Chaos himself.

As the trio closed in on what appeared to be a ceremony, Vincent saw that the baby was a beautiful little girl that smelled like an even mix of both cinnamon and peaches. But it seemed that the air was dominant with the smell of peaches…too dominant in the air as a matter of fact…as if pleading that what he was thinking was not true, Vincent turned his head to see the one person he did not want to see here in this borderline between life and death…

Present Time…Time until Vincent's Life Expires: 7 minutes

The screams of pain from outside the operating room were clear…the birthing process had begun almost a few hours ago. Doctor Edwards tried to get Vincent back into his room, but the silent threat the Vincent fired in his direction was more than enough to convince him to shut up and leave him alone or else. That silent threat also made it clear to Grey that any attempt to make him miss the birth of his daughter would result in a consequence the doctor did not want to know about…with that on mind, he left the man in his wheelchair facing the operating room…awaiting the moment that he would see his daughter for the first and last time.

Grey did not blame him one bit—if he were in Vincent's position himself, he would have told any doctor that tried to move him from that spot to 'go to hell'. He watched and waited…keeping the other man company…even going so far as to bring him a small sandwich and one for himself about half an hour ago while the two of them waited. Not a very good last meal, but at least it was something to bring up Vincent's strength a bit before seeing his daughter. With that thought on mind, both men watched the red of the session lights as it was constantly on…waiting for the large light-emitting diode to turn off and thus signaling the moment that Vincent gets to see little Anya Valentine.

For the next three minutes, nothing was happening until the red light dimmed off, and Grey walked up to Vincent's chair and pushed him towards the operating room gently as the sound of the swinging double-doors unlocked. The doctor heading the operation walked out…the look on his masked face was happy…it was a successful operation! "Mr. Valentine, your wife wishes to see you."

With that, Grey wheeled Vincent in next to his wife as she was breast-feeding their little girl. It was then that he knew it was to be a private moment for the family as Yuffie looked down at Anya with a look of maternal ecstasy in her eyes—the love of a mother towards her daughter. Vincent's eyes however, shone with a light that would only belong to a proud father and a loving husband…the man he had been waiting to be. The doctor had no place here…aside from making sure everything was fine.

"May I hold her Yuffie?"

Yuffie nodded, and waited for their daughter to fall asleep after she was satisfied. It was then that she held the baby in a blanket in front of her so that Vincent could hold onto her. He looked in on that cute little face…he could see that Yuffie's genes would be dominant here despite what she says about his traits being more dominant in their daughter. In a brief moment, he watched as her eyes opened—and revealed eyes the color of rubies…from that, he supposed that she would be the subject of interest for many boys at high school. It would probably be his last words, so he may as well reassure his baby girl that it will be all right before he leaves this life…with that, he let out a sigh of happiness and lowered his voice. "Hello there Anya, this is your daddy…no matter what happens in the future, no matter what you do, I will always love you…even from beyond the grave."

As Yuffie looked on at her husband holding their daughter, she noted that his smile was turned upside down into a frown…and then she noted that his eyes were not moving…something was wrong. "Vince? Are you okay?"

His joy was cut short when he felt something in his chest…his breaths were getting shorter and shorter as his heart rate started slowing…his vision was blurring and fading in and out of darkness…as the it was his time to go…with that, Vincent used the last of his strength to hand Anya over to Yuffie. In the last moments of his life, he had heard several things…first was Yuffie saying his name while he heard the sound of the EKG racing…next was the gasp of pain from Yuffie as she fell backwards into the stretcher as their daughter cried as the two of them were struggling to survive…he then heard the sound of the doctors racing in to save them all…by the time everything was finished, the last thing he heard was Anya's final cry of life, Yuffie's struggle in pain ceasing and the doctors giving up their fight to save her using the defibrillators at sound of her EKG flat-lining…

Time until Vincent's Life Expires: 0 days

Time of death: 11:59 PM

A/N: This chapter we visit Vincent's dreams for once…or are they dreams. Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I felt that I had to update sooner, because you were all such fabulous reviewers. As to naming the girl Anya, I thank The-Windflower-Fairy and XlittleninjaX24 for helping me to pick the name…sorry, but I couldn't decide whether or not to give her the middle name of Megumi or Nozomi. In any case, I thank everyone who has reviewed so far…especially you serenbach…you've all been wonderful readers.

Songs Played:

"Ashes" by Michael Salvatori and Martin O'Donnell from "Halo: Reach"—Vincent dies with his family

Vocabulary and Culture notes:

12.7x108mm—this is a slightly larger round than the .50 BMG (which is a 12.7x99mm bullet) made in Russia…obviously, this would be useful in a heavy machine gun or a sniper rifle due to its heavier stopping power.

7.62x39mm—this is a rather well-known Russian round for being used in the AK-47 assault rifle.

Zweihander—this is a large sword used in medieval times by the Landsckneht soldiers in Germany; this is a two-handed sword hence its name which means 'two-hander'.