Vincent reined the chocobo in as he approached the set of buildings that looked more like residential apartments than a headquarter area. It had opened about five years ago, and now the former Avalanche members were having their reunion for the first time in five years. The first reunion had been when the new headquarters opened. They had celebrated Cloud and Tifa's engagement, and later they got together again for the wedding.

Vincent smiled as he recalled those times. There had been so many occasions to get together... first, Cid's wedding. Then Cloud and Tifa's engagement, Reeve and Scarlet's wedding doubled with Cloud and Tifa, where the two women made semi-peace with each other. Then again as Red went to investigate reports of lion-like beasts and finding another clan of his kind. Red was no longer alone, and Vincent felt good for him.

There had been births as well... firstly that of Reeve and Scarlet's son, Simon, which had Scarlet smirking that she had had a son before Tifa. The feud between the two women made their husbands roll their eyes, but was a source of great amusement as well. Then came Cid and Shera's little Magdalena, whose first word had been, unfortunately, one of her father's curses. Cloud and Tifa had a son, whom they called Storm.

The last reunion had been at Wutai, where their little Yuffie had finally become First Lady of Wutai since she'd already become twenty-one and more than capable of ruling that feudal country. Well, maybe she wasn't their little Yuffie... but they all held special affection for the girl who had not stolen their materia, but their hearts. Vincent calculated the years. Yuffie was about twenty-four years old now... definitely not a little girl anymore.

"Yo, Vinny!!" Cid bellowed from a window. "Yo, why didn't you #*$@ing PHS us or something??"

The Avalanche members who were already there came out to greet their enigmatic friend. He had declined to live there, despite staying a member, opting instead to travel around the world. Still, they kept an apartment for him, on the topmost floor. He had been touched and amused by the gesture; they had first found him in a basement.

"Welcome back, Vincent," Red said as he padded towards the red cloaked man.

"It is good to see you as well, Nanaki," Vincent replied, smiling. He noted the purplish red lion next to his friend. "Who is this?"

Barret came out. "Ya meetin' Red's new girlfrien'!!" he shouted.

Vincent blinked.

Red cleared his throat and the lion next to him grinned, bumping gently against him. "Vincent, this is Salene. Salene, this is Vincent Valentine."

"Pleased to meet you, Vincent. Nanaki has spoken much of you," Salene said politely.

"My pleasure," Vincent answered in greeting, bowing.

Later they gathered in the cafeteria, where the furniture had been rearranged to form a large table for the special occasion. Yuffie ran in as they were sitting down to eat. She was still wearing full regalia of her station. She had changed much in the years that had passed. No longer immature, her features had filled out and to say she was beautiful was an understatement. Delicate Wutain features had replaced the tomboyish look on her face.

"Am I late?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yuffie!" Tifa rose to hug her. "My goodness, you look so much older I almost didn't recognize you!"

Yuffie grinned. "I'm sorry. Growing up and all that, you know." She looked down at the toddler at Tifa's leg. "Hello, little Storm!" she gushed, kneeling to his level. "Where's my hug?"

Storm, Cloud and Tifa's son, smiled shyly and hid behind his mother's leg.

"He's so much like his dad," Yuffie commented.

"Auntie Yuffie!!" Magdalena, Cid's daughter, shouted and ran to greet the First Lady of Wutai.

"Maggie! Simon!"

The dinner was leisurely, and everyone discussed their lives. Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Cid and Shera lived at Avalanche Headquarters, so were very keen to hear of the others' stories. Vincent had covered all of Midgar and wryly told them of how he got lost in the Sleeping Forest for about a month or so. Not needing to eat or drink so much, he had survived of course, but, as he dryly said, it would be a long time before he even tried going back in there without a compass. Red and Salene were newly in love, Red having duty as Protector of Cosmo Canyon.

"And you, Yuffie? How have you been?" Cloud asked.

Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Gods, I swear if anyone mentions the word 'marriage' to me one more time, I would scream!"

"Why?" Scarlet asked, halfway about to put a piece of meat into Simon's mouth.

"It's the 'produce an heir' thing," Yuffie sighed. "I want to keep the throne in the Kisaragi name, but somehow all the clans have been scrambling to send their eldest sons to see me... you get the idea, don't you?"

Everyone did.

"So our materia thief has been having no lack of suitors?" Vincent asked, amusement evident in his voice.

Yuffie's lips thinned. "I'm not a thief anymore, you vampire."

"But you are surrounded by suitors."

"Yo, why you askin'?" Barret asked slyly. "You wanna join 'em?"

Yuffie shrieked. "Oh no!" she said in mock horror. "Not another one!"

Cid howled in laughter. "That's a #$(*ing good one, Barret!!"

"Cid!" Shera gasped. "Maggie's here!"

Vincent took no offence, surprising himself by laughing in response to Barret's comment. "Come on, Yuffie's having enough problems with affairs of state and... marriage, and you'd like an addition to her problems?" He paused for a moment. "Yes, I suppose you would, after the problems she's caused us," he added with a twinkle in his red eyes. Everyone laughed except Yuffie, whose face made a rueful moue.

The Avalanche residents regaled the others with stories of the children's development. Vincent's keen eye detected a wistfulness in Yuffie's eyes as she looked at Magdalena, Simon and Storm dancing in a little circle. He, too watched them and felt a little pang of regret rush through his heart. Long ago, he would have had that chance to have a family and be normal... but that had been all ripped away by one man's sadistic nature. Not only that, Vincent had lost the greatest love of his life.

He turned his thoughts inwards, recalling every single detail of Lucrecia's face: the beautiful emerald green eyes, the soft brown hair, her delicate white skin which he used to love to kiss... He still missed her, even after thirty-eight years. He wasn't sure if it was because she was so wonderful he wouldn't find any other like her, or because he simply didn't have the heart to find anyone else to replace her in his life. He deserved the loneliness after all, for not being strong enough to take her away when she needed to leave.

"You're thinking of that woman again, aren't you?" Vincent was startled to find Yuffie close to him.

Vincent stared at his golden claw. "Yes," he admitted. He sighed.

"Doesn't the pain lessen for you?" she asked softly.

He shrugged, but the question wasn't meant for him to answer; it was simply rhetorical. Of course it wouldn't lessen! he thought to himself. He still had the rest of his life to atone for his foolishness and mistakes. His life... which more or less likely was for eternity. Well and good, he thought grimly, all lighter thoughts gone. He deserved it, fool that he had been.

"And you're still blaming yourself," Yuffie said, shaking her head in disgust. "Gods, I think that's so pathetic, Vincent."

"Thank you," Vincent replied acerbically. He and Yuffie continued talking a while longer until Tifa got Yuffie's attention, leaving Vincent to brood on his own once more.

But when she entered, the young men were properly behaved, seated at the sides of the room on the floor quietly, many of them eyeing the dark, red-cloaked man standing before the throne, facing the door. His wild hair held up by a red bandanna and his golden claw in sight, he was a very dangerous looking man.

"Vincent?" Yuffie stopped short. "Vincent, what are you doing here?"

Vincent smiled. "I was passing by, and I haven't fully toured Wutai yet, so I decided to come visit the First Lady of Wutai, my former comrade."

Yuffie was slightly insulted by his statement, since Wutai was a free country now, and a country of proud warriors. Yuffie had refused to let her father, Godo sign any agreements presented by Reeve until she'd been satisfied with the terms, something which had made Scarlet really frustrated. In return, Reeve offered Scarlet control of his household. But Yuffie was delighted that a friend had come, someone who could actually keep those fops away from her just by being there. She grinned at the men who were looking disgruntled and approached the throne.

"You should have told me," Yuffie said to Vincent as she sat on the marble and cushioned throne. "I'll have the servants prepare a room for you right now. Gods, it's been how long? Two months? You guys hardly ever visit me."

"Well, I'm visiting right now, so that should keep you happy," Vincent smirked.

"Really had nothing better to do, eh?"

Vincent shrugged. "First, the lovey-dovey atmosphere, then, all those children. How can I stay at the HQ like that? A man prefers regular instability to that erratic stability."

Yuffie laughed as she brushed back her hair from her face. She turned to the nobles and elders in the room. "Is there anything important to discuss today?" she asked, knowing that most of the matters she handled were generally petty, as if they took delight in bringing to her all their problems. Today, everyone took the hint and shook their heads. "Good. Then you all are dismissed," she announced, waving her hand. The room was cleared of all irrelevant people, leaving behind only the servants. "You would like some tea, Vincent? There's a little table outside meant for the traditional tea ceremony."

Vincent bowed. "I would be honoured to have tea with the esteemed First Lady of Wutai."

"Bring us some tea, Kian," Yuffie said to a servant, rising from her seat. She sighed, then grabbed Vincent's arm and dragged him outside. "Come on! And tell me everything! I'm absolutely dying here!!"

Yuffie was standing at the little bridge in the garden, waiting for Vincent to join her on their morning walks. Those walks had become customary during this past month, and Yuffie found it a pleasure to start the day with someone who wouldn't bother her with petty troubles.

She heard someone approaching and turned to say a greeting to Vincent, but instead found Borre, the eldest son of the second most powerful clan in Wutai. He was big and bullish, with a manner befitting a boar. Her eyes narrowed at seeing him. He had been most persistant in the past year, and she found his behaviour offensive. Hardly what she would prefer to have for a husband.

"You have been spending overmuch time with that strange visitor," Borre grunted, literally.

"What is that to you?" Yuffie asked coolly. "I am the First Lady of Wutai. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

"You are a woman."

Her eyes blazed with anger, and a brittle smile appeared on her lips. "You are an animal."

Borre smiled sardonically. "And that man... they say he can transform into a monster."

"An advantage in combat."

Borre looked frustrated. "Why??" he demanded. "Why will you not have me?? Our clans are the most powerful, Yuffie. We could control all of Wutai! We could stop the feuds and keep all the power for ourselves!"

"I already control all of Wutai," Yuffie snapped. "Your foolish feudings are simply a bother, is all. Besides, Wutains will be Wutains. Our feuds make us, Borre, if you haven't noticed."

Borre's look grew sly. "You care for that visitor, do you not?"

"He is a comrade. Of course I care." But Yuffie stiffened at the thought.

Borre looked victorious. "The clans will not accept a foreigner as a ruler."

"He doesn't want to rule Wutai."

"You must marry sometime, Lady Yuffie."

"Perhaps," Yuffie said mildly. "But it will not be to you. If neccesary, I will not marry at all. The throne will stay in the Kisaragi name. You need not doubt me."

The brutish man's eyes widened. "You would bring dishonour to your family if you bear a child out of wedlock!"

"If that is what it takes to prevent Wutai from falling into the hands of greedy, power-obsessed men... such as you... then so be it. Who will gainsay me? I have done nothing but bring peace to Wutai since Meteor. I was an Avalanche member, but I left it, left my friends for my people. Tell me, what have I done that has been for the worse?"

Borre raised his hand to strike her; he was that angry. She was right. He simply could not accept the fact that a woman had managed to achieve what entire dynasties had not. And his family had once been on the throne.

A golden claw clamped down on his head, ready to crush it. "You will be dead in the second you dare strike the Lady Yuffie," promised the soft voice of Vincent Valentine.

"I will not," Borre whispered. "I was angered."

"Then you will learn to control your temper. Is that clear?" Vincent asked, squeezing a little to drive home his threat. Borre nodded frantically. "Good," Vincent said, releasing the big man.

"Leave us," Yuffie ordered curtly. Borre scrambled from the garden. "That was good timing," she beamed at Vincent.

"What did he want?" Vincent asked curtly, still a little angry at what the man had tried to do to Yuffie.

"The usual. He wanted me to marry him."

Somehow, that raised Vincent's hackles more than he cared to admit. What was wrong with all these men? Couldn't they see Yuffie wasn't available? Wait, yes, she was, but couldn't they see she preferred his company to theirs?

The thought struck him right on the side of the head. Did she really enjoy his company? He knew he certainly enjoyed hers; she was now a mature young woman, though she still had her annoying moods. They were definitely irritating, but certainly a welcome distraction from the loneliness he usually felt. With her, he didn't feel isolated and he welcomed the addition of someone else in his heart...

"Vincent?" Yuffie asked softly. "Are you all right?"

A smile slowly made its way onto his face. "No, no, no... I'm feeling much better now..."

Yuffie smiled in relief. "Good. Let's walk to the fountain this time, then."

Gods... the pain in his head! It was worse than he'd ever felt in a long time! What had he been doing? Yes... he could remember a bit now... He and Yuffie had been having dinner last night, and they'd been arguing over philosophy. Philosophy, for heaven's sake! Arguing had been thirsty work, so Vincent surmised he must have overbimbibed.

He was suffering from a hangover!! He, Vincent Valentine, ex-Turk, Avalanche member, a man who'd been dead for thirty years, was having a hangover from overindulgence! Incredible! The last time he recalled getting this drunk had been when he was twenty-five! He would laugh if it didn't hurt his head so much. Still, he managed a tiny grin as he turned to thank Yuffie.

Wait a minute.

Yuffie?

He blinked his eyes several times at the sight of her beside him, her arms around his waist as if he were a pillow. She was sleeping peacefully, her hair a cloudy mess on the pillow and her face leaning against his hip.

Oh gods.

He looked at the door which was wide open. No wonder the servants had been staring!! His eyes followed the trail of clothing from the door to the bed : the shirt he'd been wearing... her jacket... her head-dress... her dress, though he did admit it looked nice in a crumpled heap on the floor... and other articles of clothing.

Oh gods.

"Yuffie?" he ventured. "Yuffie, wake up."

Yuffie moaned a bit and said, "I'm having a headache."

Vincent sighed and replied, "I can symphatize with that."

She opened her eyes, looking extremely sleepy, looked up at him and frowned. "Vincent, what're you doing in my room?"

Her room?? He looked around. There was his travelling pack in the corner, other of his personal items on the table, his Death Penalty holster hanging on the back of a chair... her room??

"This isn't your room, Yuffie."

"What're you talking about?" Yuffie demanded, still too sleepy to fully understand the situation.

"This is my room."

"Oh geez, I haven't got time for this nonsense, Vincent, I want to sleep, I got a headache."

"If it makes you feel any better, so do I."

"Good. By the way, what're you doing in my bed?"

Don't laugh, he told himself. For gods' sakes, don't laugh!!

"This is my bed, Yuffie. You're in my room."

She bolted up. "Whaaat?" she exclaimed. She looked down at herself, then quickly pulled the covers over pertinent parts of her body. "Oh, gods!"

He couldn't have said it better himself. "Have a look for yourself."

Yuffie scanned the room, a blush slowly, but furiously spreading on her face. Then -

"Oh ye gods, Vincent, you're naked!!" she shrieked.

He slapped his forehead. As if he hadn't noticed. But he didn't have the heart to point out, "So are you." So he said instead, quite dryly, "Tell me something I don't know."

Yuffie was blinking quickly, trying to comprehend the situation. What had she done? What was wrong with her? She should be getting the hell out of here right now, but why didn't she? She squeezed her eyes shut and her head sank in between her knees. She felt Vincent get off the bed and immediately noticed how cold it was without him. She hoped he was getting into some clothes.

When she looked up, he had already put on a pair of trousers, though he still hadn't combed his hair or anything. At least he looked presentably gorgeous.

Did she say that?

Gods, she did! Yuffie kept half her face behind her knees as she looked at Vincent, hoping he wouldn't notice. Of course he would noticed. Vincent always noticed these sort of things. Why had she slept with him? She faintly recalled lots of wine with dinner. He had been in his most charming mood, something which she'd never ever seen before. They'd been playful with each other and started arguing about some silly topic.

Yuffie!! she screeched at herself, you just slept with Vincent!! Do something!!

Vincent tactfully closed the door. Yuffie sighed, guessing it wouldn't be much of a point trying to hide from him, especially after last night's indiscretion. She got off the bed and began picking up her clothes.

"Do you want some fresh clothing?" he asked.

She smiled a little at him, thankful for his sensitivity and nodded. He opened the door a little and asked a nearby nosy servant for some clothes for her. Then he closed the door and said quietly, "We need to talk."

"I'm sorry," she blurted. It had been her fault for treating him the dinner.

He didn't reply for long minutes, and she hung her head down in uncomfortable silence. She wouldn't blame him if he started packing right then. Finally, he stepped up to her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "It's all right," he said softly, kissing her forehead. She looked up to see some sort of a smile quirking on his lips. "It's been a long time since... since I did something like this."

She was relieved, thankful he wasn't holding it against her. There was something about this man, who was so dark when she first met him eight years ago, that made her feel comfortable, like an embracing night. She could have clapped her hands in joy. She'd found the perfect man!

She smiled at him. He smiled back. Throwing her arms about him, she thought to herself, Here we go again.

It was a servant who brought the news to Vincent : Lord Godo, Yuffie's father, wished to see him. Vincent felt a little nervous at that, especially since he'd been staying in Wutai this last whole month, helping Yuffie run the country. Godo might not approve of the decisions Vincent had made, considering the unconventional, blunt method he generally used. Also, all in Wutai knew of the First Lady's consort, even if they didn't talk about it.

Vincent swept into Godo's study with his usual flair. Godo admired the man's elegance. He also respected Vincent Valentine who was possibly as old as himself. For the past month, Godo had been having laughing fits at the shock many of the clan leaders expressed whenever Vincent made an official decision for Yuffie. The Wutains were based on tradition and honour, but Vincent had ignored protocol almost entirely; his solutions were blunt and brutally practical.

"Lord Godo," Vincent said in greeting, bowing. "I understand you wanted to see me?"

Godo inclined his head in return. "It has come to my attention that you have been helping Yuffie more and more these past few weeks."

"Yuffie has somehow become more irritable this past month, so I thought it prudent to take over during her periods of irrationality."

The old man frowned, then nodded in understanding. "The other clan leaders have been speaking of you, Vincent. They do not quite approve of your way of making the decisions for her. She is the ruler, not you."

Vincent shrugged. "Yuffie asked me to. Are you saying it would be wise for me to stay away?"

"No. I just called you here to give you a piece of advice."

A black eyebrow rose over a blood red eye.

Godo smiled. "You don't quite understand her moods, but I do. Her mother used to be that way. I would suggest you not argue with her during this period. Pregnant women are singularly impossible to deal with."

Stunned, Vincent nodded.

"You may go now, Vincent."

The First Lady's consort bowed and left the room faster than expected.

Vincent came into their room then, looking quite irritated. He broke into a smile when he saw her. "What's wrong?" he asked, noting right away the look on her face.

"Avalanche. They're having a reunion soon."

"So?"

"I can't go! Can't you see? I'm going to give birth anyday now, and all you can say is 'so'??" she exclaimed, throwing the letter at him. She immediately regretted her outburst. He had been nothing but patient all these months, helping her make decisions in her stead. Of all people, he was most amenable to her wishes, acceding to her wants gracefully without argument.

"Well... we could ask them to come here," he said thoughtfully.

Her eyes flew wide. "Are you crazy?? And they'll start asking!"

"Then let them ask. They're our friends; they won't judge."

She was sobbing by that time. "I just..." she hiccuped. "I just feel so ugly like this."

His eyebrows raised in surprise and he quickly went to her side, pulling her into her arms. "I don't think you're ugly," he told her quietly, hushing her. "This is a child in you, our child. You're a beautiful young woman who's defied tradition to have her own life. You've been ruling Wutai admirably, and look, you've got a baby inside you. How many women can do that?"

She shrugged weakly. She wanted to ask him, Do you love me? More than you love Lucrecia? but she didn't have the strength. She knew he loved his former lover very much; despite thirty years in a coffin, he still blamed himself for her death. That made him into the man he was now. But... but... there were so many 'but's...

But maybe he did love her. After all, he'd stayed all thes months, hadn't he? He'd been good to her and had been the best person in her life. Maybe... maybe Vincent after so many years could love again...

"I guess..." she began slowly. She looked into his blood red eyes for assurance. He nodded for her to go on. "I guess we could invite them here for the reunion."

His smile was beautiful. "I'll contact them straightaway."

"Yuffie!!" Tifa ran out. "My gosh! You're pregnant! And you didn't even tell us??" Tifa looked hurt.

"Well..." Yuffie began uneasily before clicking on an excuse. "I've been awfully busy. And it wouldn't have done any good if you came and began to worry over me... Hello Storm!"

Everyone greeted her and she eased herself into a chair, hoping they wouldn't ask who the father were. She eagerly asked them of news from Midgar, trying to keep their minds off the fact she was pregnant... and very pregnant at that.

Inevitably, the question came up. Cid grinned and asked, "So Yuffie, who's the pop of your baby? Didn't read anywhere that you got married."

"I'm not," Yuffie mumbled.

Red blinked. "You mean..."

"It's an arrangement he and I made," Yuffie quickly explained. "I didn't want to marry because I want to keep the throne in the Kisaragi name, and he agreed to this, so... But I love the father of my child! We're very happy together, and althought he likes travelling, he's been so good to stay and help me this whole time-"

"That don't answer our #*&$ing question," Cid interrupted.

Yuffie was stuck. At that moment, Vincent Valentine came in. She looked up and smiled in relief. "Vincent!"

He answered with a grin especially meant for her, going to her side immediately. "How are you feeling?" he murmured.

"Nervous," she whispered. "Don't go away."

He nodded, then turned to look at the rest. They were all staring at him with shocked looks on their faces. "Did I miss something?" he asked quietly.

"You're the father of Yuffie's child?" Cloud asked, shock still in his tone. "You?"

"Yes."

Cloud let his jaw start hanging again as he turned to Tifa. "Can you believe that man?? Vincent and Yuffie!!" he exclaimed to her.

"So... Our vampire finally got it out of his system, eh?" Barret asked.

Vincent smiled. "At last."

Barret grinned. "Then what're we all lolling our bloody heads for?? We should be toasting them!!"

It took a few moments, but soon everyone was giving their congratulations and raising their glasses to toast Yuffie's impending child. Yuffie was grinning finally, thankful that their friends accepted the fact that she loved Vincent, and hopefully vice versa. She was laughing when suddenly she felt a sudden jolt in her belly. Gasping, she grabbed Vincent's sleeve.

"What is it?" he asked, then straightaway knew the answer. He stood up and yelled for the servants.

"What is it?" Reeve asked, concern in his tone.

"Good gods, it's not the baby, is it?" Cid exclaimed.

"Yes, it is," Vincent replied firmly. He quickly helped Yuffie out of her chair.

"Let me help," Tifa offered.

"And me," Scarlet pitched in. "You're a man," she said disdainfully. "You wouldn't know."

Vincent only shrugged and let the women handle it. Cid was yelling, like he did when Shera gave birth and Barret whooping. Storm and Reeve began to lean back with their drinks in hand, wanting to watch how Vincent coped. No point in Vincent hogging all the amusement these past few years of watching them being incapatitated.
 

7
Eighteen hours. That much Vincent could tell by looking at the clock. Eighteen hours since Yuffie had first gone into labour, and he was still stuck outside. At first he'd wanted to go inside as well, but Tifa and Scarlet had barred from doing so. Reflecting, he thought that he should have simply gone in.

"Nervous?" Cloud asked. He was sitting next to Vincent.

"Never been more," Vincent mumbled in reply, running his hands through his black hair. "How long did it take until Storm finally came out, again?"

He'd been there, waiting right along with the others at the hospital. But it hadn't really ruffled him much. This one was different. This was his lover in there, and this was his child being born.

Reeve, on Vincent's other side, grinned. "You should know. I don't think he was too coherent enough to recall the details."

Vincent smiled a little, recalling how worried Cloud had been. He had paced and paced the floor; the cleaner later found the trail, thin as the carpet had become. He remembered, too, how Cid had coped with Magdalena's birth. By cursing and yelling every now and then, he'd been chain smoking, muttering to himself all the while.

"This... is the ultimate torture," Vincent did some muttering himself now.

Then, suddenly, a baby's wail echoed throughout the entire house.

"SHE DID IT!!!" Barret yelled, leaping from his seat. "SHE DID IT!!!!!"

Cid also did the same. "SHE *#$@ING DID IT!!!"

Vincent sighed in relief, Reeve and Cloud patting his back in congratulations. A couple of moments later, another baby's cry could be heard. Red's good eye widened in surprise.

"#$(*!!!! TWINS!!!" Cid shouted. "VINNY D'YOU HEAR THAT???"

"Well, Vincent," Red said, a smile on his feral face, "You're the father of a pair of twins. Let's wait one more minute and see if we've a litter here."

Vincent laughed, giddy with relief and joy. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but I'm going upstairs," he told all of them, going for the stairs. He ran up the flight of steps and into the room where Yuffie was cuddling the two children. She looked up and smiled at him, eyes sparkling with happiness.

"You're the father of two twins," Scarlet told him. "A boy and a girl."

Vincent didn't look like he heard, heading straight to Yuffie's side. Tifa smiled and nudged Scarlet and both of them left the room.

"You're a new mother," he said softly. "How are you feeling?"

"Happy," she whispered. "And I love you."

"I love you too. May I?" he asked, wanting to hold one of the twins for her. He gently scooped the child into his arms and kissed its soft forehead, amazed at how tiny the baby was. "They're beautiful. What do you want to call them?"

"What do you think? This is our son you're holding."

Vincent studied the babyish features carefully. "Godo, after your father, who's been kind enough not to kill me for sleeping with you," he said, grinning a little.

Yuffie laughed. "He may not appreciate that part, but, yes, I wanted to do that."

"And we'll name our girl after her mother," he said, kissing Yuffie's cheek. He drew back when she shook her head. "Then?"

She looked into his red eyes. "How about..." she asked carefully. "Lucrecia?"

Those eyes softened. "Thank you," he replied quietly.

They kissed, both feeling enormously content.

Vincent was feeling oddly restless as he stood off to the side, watching Yuffie as she sat on the throne and conferred with her council. They were all relieved to get her back, since Vincent's rule had not agreed with them. The babies were sleeping upstairs; Vincent would go visit them soon.

Gods, what a mess. Yuffie had told him repeatedly how she didn't want to marry, how she couldn't trust a man to make the decisions her way. And she was quite right. Yuffie was a good mother, mothering not only her children well, but the entire nation of Wutai.

He heaved a breath and went upstairs, realizing how out of place he was here. It was as always, he was the outcast. He couldn't just stay here, and wanted to go out into the world again, this time taking Yuffie with him. If only she didn't have Wutai to rule, he would be happy taking her to some remote place and spending the rest of his life there.

As if his life had a time limit, Vincent thought, wincing. Sixty years had done nothing to change his appearance. What made him think that he would be able to grow old with Yuffie? He thought with horror how his immortal life would affect him; watching his children grow old, his descendants...

He shook his head, trying not to think such thoughts. Standing over the crib which held the two twins, he felt torn between leaving, and staying to watch over them.

But he had no place here. He didn't deserve to be here. He didn't have any right to hold his own children! What had he been thinking, allowing himself to fall in love with Yuffie, as if he had already been cleansed of his past sins??

"Vincent?" Yuffie's soft voice drifted from the door. "What's wrong?"

"I... nothing."

Yuffie knew better than to think nothing of it. Vincent was wearing his brooding expression, and she knew that wasn't 'nothing'. She went to his side and looked at her children. They were both perfect; Godo and Lucrecia. Lucrecia... did Vincent still miss his former lover? Perhaps that was it. She turned, but saw something else instead.

"You want to leave," she interpreted correctly. She understood as well as he did; there was no place for an outsider here in the ruling house of Wutai.

"I wish..." he began, but instead shrugged helplessly. He drew her into his arms. "You don't have any need of me anymore," he whispered, a part of him desperately hoping she would say otherwise.

Yuffie swallowed, wishing it wasn't true. She really didn't need him, except for love, and he'd given her as much as he could. She sighed, thinking it was time to let him go. Vincent took the sigh as a sign for him to begin packing. He bent over his children and kissed each of them. "Papa'll come back soon," he promised them softly.

Later as he was about to mount his blue chocobo, Yuffie ran up to him to embrace him. "Take care," she whispered into his ear. They hung onto each other for long forlorn moments. Then, carefully, she drew back away from him.

"I will," he assured her. Another long moment.

"If things were different..." she said hesitantly, and he nodded. In her heart, she meant, If you hadn't loved Lucrecia too much. Vincent heard, If I didn't have Wutai to rule. It was very different, but they had the same results.

"I'll come back," he told her, meaning it.

"I know you will." She smiled. He smiled in return. "Thank you for the children."

He bent to kiss her. "Thank you," he murmured against her lips. "For loving me."

"You're welcome."

He got on, and grinned so engagingly Yuffie Kisaragi knew that he would return, and often. She didn't have anymore regrets. Life just fell into place like jigsaw pieces. She waved as he rode away, already awaiting his return.

As he looked back, Vincent blew a kiss to Yuffie. Thank you for helping me live once more, he said in his soul. I love you.

And with that, Vincent Valentine began looking forward to the future.