Guilt’s Cost: Part CXVI

Acceptance

They all headed back to Cid’s house and entered. Cid handed the baby back off to Tifa as she sat on the couch next to Vincent before going into the kitchen and retrieving beers for each of them. Vincent accepted his just out of courtesy. He wasn’t in the mood for drinking but then again he rarely was anymore. Those days, for him he hoped were over.

Cid landed in a chair and stared on at his two new visitors. Jaras was sitting on the floor near the television, slowly nursing the bottle Cid had given him. The old pilot couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Never would he have imagined that Sephiroth would be sitting in his house drinking.

Vincent just gazed at Tifa next to him, observing her gentle actions with the baby. The tiny infant seemed perfectly at ease within her arms and it was all too clear that motherhood would be something that suited her well. This hurt him slightly on some level as he was all too aware that a child was something that he just couldn’t give her.

Cid cleared his throat and spoke, needing to break the silence that had fallen over them. "So, how the hell is old Tseng doing?"

Even though he knew that it was just he way Cid said things, hearing his younger brother referred to as old caused something within Vincent to bristle. His tone of response was a little too sharp and gave it away. "He’s just fine."

Cid cocked an eyebrow. "You having a bad day or something?"

Vincent looked up from Tifa and over at Cid. "No."

"You’re lying." Cid smiled to himself. Riling Vincent was still proving to be a fun pass time.

Vincent rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Tifa. "How are you?"

Rocking the baby in her arms gently, she looked up into his crimson eyes. "Fine, but a lot better now that you’re here."

Hearing this blatant mush, Cid smacked himself in the forehead. "You two need to get a room. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t carry out that disgusting lovey dovey crap in front of my boy."

In unison, Tifa and Vincent looked over at Cid, clearly not amused. Jaras’s eyes grew wide as he sensed the tension in the room growing.

Tifa turned her gaze from Cid to Vincent then back again. "What’s going on with you two?"

The men just continued to stare at one another. Both of them harboring some unknown hostility for each other again.

Tifa realized what was going on and flushed red. She got up from the couch and handed Cid his son. After, she turned back to Vincent and held out a hand to him. "I think you and I need to go have a talk."

Vincent took her hand and rose from the couch. He flashed one look back at Cid as he found himself pulled from the room by his wife.

Tifa led him out of the house and into the yard. She stopped and faced him. "What is the matter?"

Vincent dropped his gaze, embarrassed at the truth. "Nothing."

"Don’t lie to me, Vincent." Tifa crossed her arms over her chest and stomped a foot into the dirt. "You’re jealous, aren’t you?"

His eyes went wide for a moment before getting himself under control again. "Me? Jealous of Cid?"

"Yeah." Tifa retorted, bending down slightly to force him to look her in the eye. "Is that it?"

Vincent tensed his jaw and remained silent.

"Oh god, Vincent!" Tifa let her hands fall back to her sides. "Honestly!"

"Did you catch the look he gave me when he saw it was me standing there with you?" He responded defensively.

"I was too busy being excited about you being here to notice what Cid was or wasn’t doing." She stated honestly.

He sighed. "You do know that Cid has a thing for you, right?"

"What?!" Tifa was almost amused by his claim through her anger. "Come on, Vincent!"

"I’m serious." He turned his gaze up to the sky. "He has for a long time. I know you’re just friends Tifa, but I’m telling you that he is upset that I am here now. He was happier having you all to himself."

"God, Vincent!" She scoffed. "The man’s wife just died yesterday, give me a break."

"Tifa, don’t get mad." He looked back into her eyes. "I know that, but the truth is the truth. Maybe he doesn’t even want to admit it to himself, but he likes you way beyond friend."

"And so what if he does?" Tifa narrowed her eyes, but the memory of Cid sneaking in a kiss the night before burned into her mind. "You don’t trust me?"

"Of course I do, Tifa." He lowered his voice. "But it’s starting to look to me that I’m having to compete with the entire male population of the planet for you."

Tifa knitted her brow. "What does that mean?"

"I know how Jaras feels. He and I talked about it on the way here." Vincent hung his head again. "What is it about me that is so much more special that all of these other men?"

"The fact that you are Vincent Valentine." She took a step closer to him, knowing that he was allowing himself to drown in his own self doubt again. "The fact that you are my husband."

"But you left me to come here…" he whispered.

"Vincent, I was ordered by your brother to come here, plus you know as well as I do that Cid needed me." Tifa reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Correct me if I’m wrong but it seemed like even Tseng almost had a moment with you right before you left." A warmth ran through his body at the feeling of her hand upon him.

"Vincent, don’t you ever worry about me leaving you, please." She took her other hand and grasped one of his. "What is this really all about?"

Vincent felt a hot flash of color come to his face. "Tifa, I don’t know how happy you are going to be with me anymore…"

She looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I’m not…" Vincent dropped his gaze away again. "I’m not like I was anymore… I can’t do things…"

Tifa took him fully into her arms and rested her head against his chest. "Vincent, that doesn’t matter to me."

"Hojo took everything…" Vincent’s voice was choked off by the pressure building in his throat.

"Vincent, I know." Tifa held him tightly, wanting to reassure him. "I saw and I know, but I don’t care! I wish you could believe that!"

He was unable to say anything and shook slightly within her embrace. After a long time, all he managed was one tortured sentence. "I’m sixty three years old and castrated…"

Tifa looked up into his face. "Vincent, look at me."

His tear filled eyes slowly obeyed and he stared down at her. "What?"

"I love you, and either you accept that or you don’t." Tifa said flatly.

Vincent swallowed hard, needing to be able to answer her. She wouldn’t lie to him and he knew it. "I do."

She smiled. "Then act like it, okay?"

Vincent closed his eyes and bent slightly until his lips met hers.