“Yuffie… this is not a plan.”

“Shh!” Yuffie tapped a single digit against her lips, peering around corners as if she were a spy.

“This is ridiculous.” His eye roll would have won an award.

“I just want to make sure he’s not here…”

Yuffie tensed, then jumped back as a flood light hummed to life outside Seventh Heaven.

“Your skills are infinite.”

And that was all it took. Before he could blink, Yuffie was providing him each and every piece of her mind, loudly enough to rouse the dead. All of her sneaking went to waste, and Tifa was at the door within minutes, asking Yuffie why she was so enraged.

“Because, Tifa, this… this-” She flung her arms toward Vincent, unable to find words to voice her frustration. She settled visibly on a word “-asshole always has something smart to say.”

Tifa laughed, amused by the antics. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

“I think that’s between you two.” Yuffie moved past Tifa. “Mind if I grab something to eat? I swear my stomach’s eating itself.”

“No problem.” Tifa crossed her arms and leaned against the post at the top of the steps, watching quietly as she listened to Yuffie disappear behind her.

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s just how you two are.”

“I suppose that is probably accurate.”

“Probably doesn’t cover it. But I’m sure you didn’t come all the way here to bicker on my doorstep.”

“Absolutely not.”

“So, what’s up?” Tifa gestured toward the steps as she took a seat. Vincent joined her.

“I read your note.”

“I knew you would.”

“I trust you know the meaning…?” Even as he finished the words, he knew the question was stupid.

“Of course.” She smiled genuinely, and then “I wouldn’t have left them for you if I wasn’t sure, either.”

“What about…”

Tifa interrupted, catching his chin and silencing him with a fleeting expression of affection. “We’ve known that things were going nowhere for a while. It took some time to figure out, but we know it’s better for us if we stay friends.”

He couldn’t help but smile warily, wanting to trust her confessions but all the while hesitant and interested in protecting his heart and mind. She was infectious, and he knew that well enough.

“I really feel that we have potential, Vincent. I want to give us a try.”

He wondered briefly how she could have come to be so sure in such a short time, but then again, disassembling her mind was a task that he wasn’t sure he wanted to begin just now.

“Where do we go from here?”

“Well… why don’t you stay here in Edge for a while?”

“I could do that.”

“Will you?”

Their eyes met, he knew her sincerity when he saw it. “Yes, I will.”

She burst with a giggle and wrapped her arms around his neck. It was like he could feel the tension melt away, and feel her relief as well. She had been fidgeting and nervous, but confident all at once. She was such a complex woman, and he knew he had his work cut out for him. Yet, the idea thrilled him. He knew that no matter what was ahead of them, they would work through it and somehow, things would work out.

Tifa pulled back, finding his eyes. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that."

He answered her with a kiss.

The End

---

Well, what do you know? I finished :) I really had nothing else to add to their story. The rest is up to your imagination, or another story, another time. Perhaps one day I’ll find the time for a sequel. I apologize if it seems short, but there was nothing much left to close without going on with unnecessary detail.

If you want a little extra, check out The Art of Insomnia. It’s only half way through, and I plan to get another chapter in shortly now that I’m home from vacation.

Thanks so much to all who read through this journey. I grew a lot as an author, and it is not without reviewers that I have been able to do so. You’re input means much to me and I truly appreciate it.

Feel free to comment on the close, or to make suggestions for the sequel ;) Or just go read Insomnia.