Unexpected Love

A/N: Okay. I am sorry but there is going to be a time jump here. Nothing major. Just three weeks. I didn’t want to bore every one with dates and endless nights of them watching movies. We all know what couples do at first. Its date nights and sex. The sex scenes would have been good but honestly, I can’t do shit for dates. I don’t post these unless I have like three or four more chapters in line. _________________________________________________

Cloud was sitting on the corner of Tifa’s bed. He had come back here after four days to find Tifa was not here. She had the bar tender on call covering for her for a week. But, the temporary bar tender, Maria, had come to him a couple days after his return and said Tifa had called and asked for another two weeks. The bar tender loved working at Seventh Heaven and had agreed. Cloud was beginning to get worried. He had called Yuffie thinking she may have been there. But he had been unable to get a hold of Yuffie either. Tifa’s phone was sitting on her night stand. Only a little bit of her clothes were gone so she had to have planned on come back right away. Right?

He may not be able to give her the relationship she wanted from him right now but he still had a lot of time left. They were still both really young. Cloud sighed and laid back across the foot of Tifa’s bed. He just couldn’t see where else the fighter could have gotten off to. She was supposed to be coming back today.

_________________ Meanwhile _______________

Vincent reclined on the bed and watched as Tifa tried on outfit after outfit. They were going out to a movie and then stopping by Seventh Heaven to get the rest of Tifa’s things. If this had been a normal relationship, it would have been too soon for them to be moving in together. But this was Tifa and Vincent. They had known each other for a few years now and they had been through a lot together.

During one of their late night talks, just laying in bed cuddled to each other, they had discussed when they first realized they had fallen for each other. Vincent had confessed it was the night that picture they hold dear was taken. Tifa had confessed it was the same night for her but she tried her best to ignore those feelings.

The plan was simple. Vincent didn’t live that far from Seventh Heaven so Tifa could move in with him and still go to work at the bar. All that was left was to inform Cloud of the shift and everything else was done.

Tifa turned quickly to face Vincent from the closet. Her hands out stretched as she awaited his approval. She must have moved to fast because she was suddenly light headed. She placed her hands on the door frame to hold herself upright as she waited for the feeling to pass.

Vincent was up on his feet and at her side the moment she gripped the door frame. His cool hands had just brushed her cheek and he opened his mouth to ask if she was alright when she pushed him away rather forcefully and went running towards the bathroom. He looked over his shoulder as she kicked the door closed.

Tifa ran through the bathroom and dropped to her knees before the toilet, barely lifting the lid before emptying the contents of her stomach out into the bowl. The marble was cool on her bare legs as she wrapped her arms around the toilet and heaved again.

Vincent stood on the other side of the door, unsure what to do as he listened to her. Finally making a choice, he opened the door and, in three strides of his long legs, moved to Tifa’s side. He wrapped his hands in her hair and held it back as she continued to heave into the toilet.

Tifa was to grateful to him holding her hair to protest him seeing her in such a state. Finally the feeling subsided and she rested back against his legs, panting deeply. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feel of Vincent running his hands through the soft strands of her hair.

“Are you okay?” He asked tenderly.

“I guess I moved to fast.” She responded shakily.

Vincent wasn’t convinced. He had seen her fight and seen her move much faster than that before. And never once had she gotten sick. He thought back to breakfast where she had stated the milk had tasted funny.

“Is it possible that milk was bad?” He asked.

Tifa had completely forgotten how the milk had tasted off to her earlier.

“Possible.” She nodded. “I didn’t even consider that.”

Tifa spared a thought that it could just be nearing her time of the month. But that thought fled as she considered how bad the milk had tasted to her. She had sent it back three times and each time it came back tasting worse. Finally she had settled on just ordering a glass of water for her breakfast.

Vincent kissed the top of her head before pulling away from her and standing up. “I’ll go get you a glass of water. We’ll cancel our plans for tonight until you feel better.”

Tifa nodded and stood up, slowly. She didn’t want to make herself sick again. That feeling of unease settled over her and she sighed. “Thank you, Vincent.”

She walked to the sink and washed her face before brushing her teeth. He was right. She was sick and didn’t need to go anywhere. That didn’t stop her from feeling bad about their plans being ruined. And she would have to call Seventh Heaven to let Maria know she was sick and wasn’t going to be able to come in tonight after all. Maria was a very understanding person and she really loved working at the bar so Tifa was sure she wouldn’t have a problem tending one more night. At least Tifa hoped she was only going to be sick one more night. Wasn’t food poisoning just a twenty four hour bug that made you sick and a dog?

She washed her face again and walked out the bathroom, turning the light off behind her. Vincent was walking back into the room with a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. She smiled at him as she made her way to the bed, pulling her clothes off.

Vincent watched as Tifa crawled into their bed in nothing more than her panties and bra. It had been three weeks, almost four, and he still couldn’t get over the fact that she was here and she was his. He sat down next to her and held out the pills while she took the glass from him.

Tifa took the medicine, wincing slightly as she hated taking pills, but Vincent was old school and preferred not to use cures and potions unless it was something major. She finished taking the pills and set the glass on the table beside her, when she turned back to Vincent he was holding a phone out to her.

“Call Seventh Heaven, let them know.”

Tifa nodded and dialed the number. She watched as Vincent removed his clothing, setting everything aside neatly. The bare pale flesh that was scarred but still perfect distracted her from the call. She watched how the muscles of his chest moved while his arm muscles flexed and the muscles of his stomach rippled as he slid his pants off. Revealing his long slender legs to her.

She was so wrapped up in staring at the man in front of her that she didn’t notice when someone had picked up the phone until they spoke again in a more irritated voice.

“Seventh Heaven… Hello?” The voice called.

Vincent turned to gauge Tifa’s reaction as Tifa fought not to hang up the phone. It was Cloud. And clearly Vincent could hear him as well.

“Cloud…” Tifa said hesitantly. He normally wasn’t there at this hour.

“Tifa?” He asked. “Where are you? I don’t recognize the number you’re calling from but I know it’s close.”

“Yeah. I am close.” She held Vincent’s gaze.

Tifa had thought seeing and hearing Cloud was going to be hard. She was shocked to be speaking to him on the phone, yes. But she felt not pain or regret. She missed him. But it was the kind of missing you have for your best friend when you haven’t spoken to them in a while. She smiled at Vincent and motioned for him to join her.

“How have you been? Are you alright?” Cloud asked worriedly.

“I’ve been good, Cloud. You?” She responded while moving over slightly so Vincent could sit next to her on the bed.

“Doing good. The usual stuff. Runs and other such things. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Actually, that’s why I am calling.” Tifa curled herself around Vincent as she spoke. “I think I got food poisoning this morning from some bad milk. I am really sick. And I am sorry but I am not going to be able to come in tonight.”

“Oh…” Cloud looked down at the bar top. “I hope you get to feeling better. Anything you need?”

“No, Cloud.” Tifa turned her head to look at Vincent with a smile. “I got everything I need right here.”

Cloud didn’t know what to say. The state had thrown him for a loop and he didn’t know what to make out of it. So he sat in silence, looking at the bar top.

“Cloud?” Tifa asked.

“I’m still here.”

“Well you sound busy. I will let you go. I need to get some rest anyways. I should be feeling better by tomorrow so I should be able to come in.”

“Alright, Tifa. Take care of your self and call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Cloud. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Tifa.”

Tifa hung up the phone and tossed it aside before cuddling herself down into Vincent’s arms. She felt fine now. No sickness or anything.

“Are you sure about this, Tifa?” Vincent asked.

He had asked her this question enough times now that she didn’t have to ask what he meant.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life as I am of being with you.” She lifted her head and pressed her lips to Vincent’s quickly. “I am happier with you than I have ever been in my life and nothing is going to change that.”

Vincent smiled and pulled her against him more. “You seem to be feeling better. You sure you want to stay in tonight?”

“I’m sure. I may get sick again any minute.”

“Movie night it is then.” He chuckled before drawing away from her and climbing out of the bed. “What do you want to watch?”

“Something funny.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Tifa was working her way under the blankets as Vincent left the room to go get a funny movie for them to watch. They had just bought a whole bunch of new movies that they had yet to see.

Tifa watched Vincent leave the room and was working on getting comfortable when she started feeling sick again. It hit her hard and fast. Sent her scrambling out of the bed and running for the bathroom again. Once again, she barely made it to the toilet in time as she heaved. Her body trying to empty her already empty stomach.

Vincent walked back into the room and closed the door behind him. He looked at the bed expectantly only to find it empty. The sounds of Tifa being sick in the bathroom were followed shortly after. He frowned as he thought of how she must be feeling. She sounded absolutely miserable. He turned everything on and popped the movie in while he waited for her to be done.

He sat back on the bed, the movie paused at the beginning as he heard her wash up and start to leave the bathroom. He gave her an apologetic smile and she weakly returned his smile as she crawled into bed and cuddled up next too him.

“I told you I would be sick again.” She said with a small giggle.

“You’ll get better soon.”

Vincent pulled her into his arms and pressed play on the movie.

Vincent spent most of the movie smiling, enjoying the way Tifa felt in his arms as she laughed. She had gotten up a few times and went to the bathroom, Vincent pausing the movie and making sure she had fresh water.

The movie was almost over. The main character confessing his love to the woman as he sat on the hood of her car while she tried, desperately, to get him off her car. That’s when Vincent noticed Tifa was no longer laughing, but crying instead. He turned Tifa in his arms, running his thumbs under her reddened eyes while holding her gaze.

“Tifa, what’s wrong?”

“He loves her so much. He has done everything for her.” Tifa sniffled up at him.

While slightly amused that Tifa was crying at a comedy, Vincent frowned to himself. This wasn’t like his strong fighter. She didn’t even cry for the sappy romance movies they had watched. And, truth be told, a few of them had made Vincent want to tear up. Not that he ever did.

Vincent concentrated on the female in his arms. Holding her closely. He had to find out what was wrong with Tifa. He loved her and she wasn’t telling him something. Tifa’s tears finally died down and soon she drifted off to sleep. Vincent laid there, holding her still, listening to her even breathing. That’s when he heard the flutter coming from around her stomach.

He shook his head and listened again. He heard nothing out of the ordinary. Was he just hearing things the first time? Vincent sighed and closed his eyes while easing himself and Tifa down further into the bed so they could sleep. He honestly hadn’t expected her to sleep so early. She had woken up really late this morning. But she was sick so maybe that weakened her. Maybe that is why her emotions were out of whack to.