This is just a fun little story set soon after Dirge of Cerberus. It'll feature some RenoXYuffie and YuffieXVincent, but nothing over the top. I'm going to keep this fanfic short, so don't expect more than a few chapters. You can, however, expect the next chapter to be out in the next few days. Please review, as reviews are the Pheonix Downs that keep this author chugging away! I hope you enjoy!

After the events of Meteorfall, the members of AVALANCHE had celebrated with a week of well-earned festivities on the Gold Saucer. Then, they had went their separate ways, and enjoyed three years of relative peace until all Hell broke loose. Geostigma, Kadaj and his gang, Sephiroth's revival, Deepground, Hojo…and all had happened within months. By the time Omega was taken down, the members of AVALANCHE were dead tired. So, when Tifa had suggested another vacation to Gold Saucer, everyone wholeheartedly agreed.

It was only when they were checking in at the hotel, and Cid had noticed Elena and Reno also at the counter, that they realized they weren't the only ones who had come up with the idea. Yuffie was the first to respond; she crossed the space in two quick strides and sucker punched Reno in the face. Cloud and Vincent ended up having to pull the ninja off of him, and Tifa had explained – again – that the Turks were no longer their enemies. Then, in private, she had added, "At least, not right now."

Once they were all settled in their rooms – girls in one, guys in another – they gathered together to discuss their plans.

"So, what do we want to do first?" Tifa asked the group.

"Straight to the bar fer me," Cid Highwind announced, chewing on his cigarette, "I'm gonna get so damn drunk, I won't be able to tell you from Vincent!"

The gunslinger in question shot him with an icy crimson-eyed stare. But Cid did not get the point.

"Well, if you cut that girly hair a'yours, you wouldn't have a problem, would'ja?" the pilot laughed gruffly.

Vincent said nothing; instead, he slowly raised his gleaming metal claw, as if to remind his companion of its existence. Cid's guffaws slowly died into nervous chuckles.

"I was just kiddin'!" he added, before adding under his breath, "Damn humorless vampire…"

Marlene spoke up next, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Daddy's taking me and Denzel to the amusement park!"

"That's right!" Barret cooed, patting her head fondly, "We're gonna ride every single ride they got!"

He glanced at Denzel, grinning.

"Right, kiddo?"

The boy grinned back.

"Uh huh!" he said enthusiastically, then turned to Shelke, "You're coming too, right?"

All the members of the group looked at her. The former Tsviet replied in her usual monotonous tone.

"Studying the physics behind the attractions would prove beneficial."

Marlene, who had recently dubbed Shelke one of her bestest best friends, went up and took her hand, replying in a matter of fact tone of voice, "That means she wants to ride the Merry-Go-Round."

Most kindly suppressed their smiles, but Cid and Barret couldn't help but chuckle. Suddenly, Yuffie Kisaragi, the self-proclaimed Single White Rose of Wutai, stood up, putting her hands on her hips.

"I'm going to the Haunted House!" she declared loudly, "And Vincent's going to take me!"

All the members of AVALANCHE starred. The cape-clad gunslinger didn't move from where he was standing.

"We have already discussed this, Yuffie," he replied, sounding slightly weary, "And I already gave you my answer."

Yuffie's shoulders slumped, her grinning countenance turning upset.

"But Vin-ceeent," she whined, "That's not fair! I've always wanted to go to a haunted house!"

"Then go," Vincent said, "But I will not be joining you."

The ninja tried her best to make herself look as cute as possible. She jutted out her bottom lip, her auburn eyes wide and pleading.

"Please? Please, please, pleeeeease?"

His pale, stoic face did not soften in the slightest.

"No, Yuffie," the gunslinger said firmly.

Yuffie abandoned her current tactic. Her face screwed up in frustration.

"Why not?" she demanded, "It's not like you have any other plans!"

"Yeah," Cid agreed, which surprised everyone, "Why are you so against seein' a haunted house anyways? Seems the kinda place you'd like to hang out at after…"

Vincent met the pilot's eyes coldly, who suddenly remembered that the gunslinger had spent thirty years locked in a haunted house, and not entirely of his own free will.

"…ah," he finished weakly, and suddenly became engrossed with lighting a new cigarette.

Cloud cleared his throat, and tried to change the subject.

"So…"

But Yuffie was not to be distracted.

"You don't have any other plans!" she repeated, attention still fully engrossed by the raven-haired man, "If you don't come with me, you're just going to wind up doing the exact same thing you did last time we came…nothing! Is that what you want?"

Vincent met her accusing stare, crimson eyes unblinking, his face emotionless other than a slight frown.

Furious, the ninja clenched her hands into fists, and she seemed to shake a little.

"Fine then!" Yuffie finally exploded, "Go ahead! See if I care! Spend the night in the room being miserable and alone! It's the only thing you're good at!"

Before their argument could escalate any more, and their friends get any more uncomfortable, there was a loud knock on the door.

"I'll go answer it!" Tifa volunteered quickly, and was up and running for it before anyone could say anything. The door opened to reveal a most unexpected guest.

Reno the Turk was standing at the doorway. He raised his hand in greeting, smiling boyishly. Yuffie's fist mark was still glaring red on his jaw.

"Hey," he said cheerfully, "Looks like we aren't the only ones who need a break."

"Oh, hey, Reno," Tifa said, forcing a smile, "Is there…something you need?"

"Actually, I was kind of hoping to talk to the gorgeous chick who kicked my ass earlier," the turk replied, peeking his head inside, "Is…she here?"

Tifa blinked. A few seconds later, she slowly said,

"You mean…Yuffie?"

The red-haired man brightened.

"Yeah! Yuffie."

Confused, martial artist turned around to call her friend, but the girl was already behind her. She had heard the whole conversation. The ninja crossed her arms and tilted her head, a threatening posture that screamed buzz off.

"What do you want?" she asked flatly.

The red-headed Turk didn't seem to take offense at all; rather, he leaned against the doorframe with one arm.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier," he said.

This thoroughly surprised the ninja. Her arms drifted to her sides.

"You wanted to apologize…for me punching you in the face?" she asked in bewilderment.

Reno chuckled nervously, smoothing back his hair.

"Uh, no, I meant earlier earlier. You know, for the things that happened a few years ago. I never really got the chance to say I was sorry, so, well…I'm sorry. I was kinda hoping you would let me make it up to you."

Yuffie raised an eyebrow.

"How's that?"

"Well, how about dinner, for starters," the Turk said, flashing a devilish smile, "There's a great Wutaian restaurant not too far from here, and maybe afterwards we could go to…"

"…the Haunted House," Yuffie interrupted, "I want to go to the Haunted House."

"Yeah! Sure! The Haunted House!" Reno agreed instantly, beaming, "So you'll come?"

The ninja's auburn eyes sparkled with a sudden idea. She cast a mischievous glance at Vincent, before turning back to Reno.

"What time will you pick me up?"

"Seven sound good to you?" he asked, looking happily surprised about her change of attitude.

"Seven is perfect," Yuffie replied, winking flirtatiously, "It's a date, then!"

The Turk blushed slightly, but was grinning ear to ear.

"See you then…Yuffie!"

Then he was gone down the hall, and the ninja closed the door. Whirling around to face her friends, she smiled.

"Change of plans! I have a date!" Yuffie announced, enunciating the words loudly, apparently in case any of her friends were wearing earplugs. She grabbed a hold of the martial artist standing next to her and began pulling her towards the door, "C'mon, Tifa! I need a massive makeover! It's been a dragon's age since I've wanted to look nice for someone!"

Her friend didn't even have a chance to reply before Yuffie dragged her out into the hallway and slammed the door, leaving the rest of the members of AVALANCHE to stare after her.

Cid rubbed his head, and gave a tired glance at Vincent.

"Well, shit," he said, "You can tell she's pissed at you."

He was rewarded with a heavy smack from Barret's gun-arm. Before the pilot could utter any more profanity, his towering friend hit him with a glare.

"Stop cussin' in front of my little girl!" he ordered.

Shelke got to her feet, Marlene still happily holding her hand.

"Perhaps we should follow Yuffie Kisaragi's lead and depart."

"Good plan," Barret remarked, and lifted Denzel onto his shoulders one-handed, which the boy obviously thought was incredible. "C'mon, let's move out! We're wastin' day light!"

The four of them left, followed soon after by Cid, then Reeve, and Red XIII, until the only ones who remained were Cloud and Vincent. The ex-SOLDIER sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Yuffie's right, you know," he said, "We're here to have fun. You should go do something that you enjoy."

And with that, he strode out of the room, leaving his friend behind. The gunslinger was grateful for this, because if anyone had looked too closely, they would have noticed that his normally impassive face was not so impassive now. And while it was true he had planned on spending a quiet evening by himself, his plans had changed the moment that Turk had ogled Yuffie. He had been able to tell from his lingering gaze exactly what that brazen red-head had wanted.

His human hand clenched into a fist.

"Do something I enjoy?" Vincent mused quietly, malicious intent filling his crimson eyes, "Yes, I can think of something."