It Started With a Smile
WytorBAM

Yuffie felt Squall's hand in her own as they drove back to the Highwind Shoppe, but her thoughts were on Vincent. What if he was upset with her? Sure, he shooed her out, but that didn't mean that he really wanted her to stay, right? What if that was what was going through his mind?

"Yuffie?"

She looked over at the man beside her, his blue eyes filled with… what? She couldn't figure it out.

"Yeah?"

He took a moment to think as he pulled to the curb in front of her temporary home. "I think… You should spend more time with Vincent."

Her mouth fell open. "Why… Why do you say that?"

Leon stared at the steering wheel. "Because he needs you right now… And because I think you need to figure things out. I know you have feelings for him because of the way you talked about him tonight. I don't know if you have those same feelings for me, and I don't think you know either."

Yuffie bit her bottom lip. "I'm sorry, Squall… Everything just kinda happened all at once, I guess." She looked up and used her hand to make him look at her. "Please call me to go out occasionally? I really like you, but… I guess I'm just kinda confused right now."

"I'll do that, Yuffie."

With that, she got out of his car and walked inside.

Vincent licked his lips before looking at the speech therapist again. "My name is Vincent Valentine."

The woman nodded. "Okay, but who is your friend?"

He sighed, tired of this woman already. She had made him repeat Cid, Aerith, Yuffie, and Vincent at least twenty times already.

"Yuffie Kisaragi. Cid Highwind. Aerith Gainsborough." His red eyes glanced to the door, knowing that Yuffie was late. "Yuffie is late."

The woman received a shock from that. "Vincent, how much can you say?"

"As much as I like to say," he replied.

She laughed and shook her head. "In less than a week, you've accomplished more than anyone I've ever known. You don't even stutter. I'm going to recommend that they no longer assign me because I'm no longer needed." She stood and stretched before smiling kindly to him. "You take care, Vincent. Don't overuse your vocal chords."

As she walked out, Yuffie bounded into the room with a grin on her face. "Hey, Vinnie! How're you today?"

He looked up at her. She had bags under her eyes and the spark was slowly diminishing. "Yuffie? Have you been sleeping well?"

She shrugged. "So, you don't have to see the speech therapist anymore? How's the physical stuff goin'?"

"Do not avoid the subject, Yuffie."

Her eyes locked on his own red. "Okay. I have finals all week and Squall told me I needed to get my priorities straight before he'll date me again."

Vincent's jaw clenched. "What did he do to you?"

She stared at him in shock. "Do to me? Nothing. He just said I needed to figure some things out before he would take me out again. Because, y'know, with you being all better and stuff, I'm a little confused. He's a great guy, but I don't know how I really feel about you still."

Vincent sighed. "I'm sorry, Yuffie. My presence is tormenting you…"

"No, Vinnie! Don't even think that! I still love you, Vincent!"

Red eyes met her own once again and a small smile spread across his handsome features. "I love you, Yuffie. And I heard you when I was… incapacitated… I could hear you, Yuffie. Only you."

She smiled happily. "Really?" Then a thought struck her. "Do you… Do you remember everything?" she asked, thinking about the bruises she had once cried at his bedside about, about the pain someone else had inflicted upon her, about the rape…

Vincent read the fear in her eyes and wanted desperately to tell her a lie, but he told the truth instead. "No, I could only hear your voice, but not your words."

She bit her lip. "I really missed you, Vinnie." The tears came though she didn't want them to. "I really, really, missed you…"

Sorry, all! I got caught up in school and shit, so I haven't been able to write. Hopefully, I'm back… But don't hold me to any promises! Thanks for those of you who are still reading this! I LOVE YOU!!!

-BAM-