Timeframe: Begins when Cloud is out of comission; Cid is the one who finds Vincent

Cid led his group into the locked basement, wondering what could be hidden inside. Yuffie and Cait Sith gasped when they saw it was full of coffins. They had expected a treasure, materia, even monsters, but COFFINS? Cid had kept calm, knowing there was more there than met eye.

Using the tip of his homemade spear, he nudged the center coffin's lip open a crack. No monster ripped it open, so he continued. The lid fell onto the ground loudly, scattering dust everywhere, making it harder to breathe.

A pale figure rested in the coffin. He was dressed in blacks and reds, looking sinister and evil. But something about his delicate face caught Cid's attention. The way the lips twitched in his sleep (for he knew this man was not dead) indicated he was in a nightmare.

"Hey, wake up." Cid took a few steps closer and placed his hand on the man's. Crimson red eyes opened as he did so. Cid's breath caught in his throat, but he stayed where he was.

"Who are you?" The man asked. His voice was deep, but strangely soft. It was a sad voice that reminded Cid of his failed dreams.

"The name's Cid Highwind. Who're you?" Cid helped the man sit up, supporting his light weight easily.

"Vincent. Vincent Valentine." He looked at the others, then back at Cid. "You were...in my dream."

"Shit, that's crazy. I wasn't fighting ya, was I?"

"No...you were the one who saved me..."

Race the moon, catch the wind,
Ride the night to the end,
Seize the day, stand up for the light...

"Now that's creepy!" Yuffie interjected.

Cait Sith nodded, "Yeah, I'm outta here!" He hopped out, almost running into a wall.

"Wait for me!" Yuffie ran after him.

Cid shrugged, "So...whatcha' doing here?"

"Atoning for my sins." Vincent looked away from the bright azure eyes. They reminded him too much of the outside. "I must continue. Please go away."

"Hey now!" Cid placed his hand on Vincent's frail shoulder. "Why don't you help us out?" He pointed at the gun holster he had. "You can fight, can't ya?"

"Yes but...my sins are too many for me to return to the world."

"I dunno what you've done, Vincent, but don't you think that if you fight evil, you'll be scoring points for good, right?"

Vincent nodded hesitantly. "I suppose. But your friends...they want nothing to do with me. Why should you?"

"Cuz I'd rather not have to shut you up in this creepy place again." Cid looked around. "So, are you gonna help us or not?"

Vincent was quiet for a while. "I will. I will return to the outside, and atone for my sins."

I want to spend my lifetime loving you.
If that is all in life I ever do...

"Hey Vince..." Cid walked down the steps to the navigational controls in the Highwind. "Just wanted to thank ya again for joining us."

//Thank me? I would have thought they would be trying to get away from me...// "Um, it is nothing. I'm honored to join your group."

"Well, it's really Cloud's group, but he's outta comission for now, know what I mean?" Cid sat on the control panel next to Vincent. "So tell me, you just gonna stay with us until you get Hojo?"

Vincent shrugged, "That was my plan, but...I do not want to abandon you all so soon."

"Whatever you decide Vince, just know that I'll support you. I just hope we can stay together..." Cid spoke without thinking, as he often did. But his words were from his heart.

The ex-Turk knew this, and was touched. "I...I do not know what to say..." //Yes, you do! But do you have the guts?!// "No, I do. I pledge my life to you, Cid Highwind. Shall we fight every battle together, and be victorious."

Heroes rise, heroes fall,
Rise again, win it all.
In your heart, can't you feel the glory?

Vincent ran into the cave, ingnoring Cid's and Cloud's yells. Shaking the water off his hair he looked around. He was so SURE that he had heard Lucrecia's voice. "L-Lucrecia?" he called out tentatively.

"Vincent..." A soft, melencholy voice answered, "Vincent...you came..." In the darkest corner, a light began to shine. It was soft white, accented by a light green, almost like the Lifestream. A woman stepped out of the glow. Her long brown hair swayed softly, as if pushed by an invisible breeze, and her green eyes sparkled with a strange, yet beautiful, light.

"Lucrecia!" Vincent ran to her, almost tripping on the way. "I thought you were gone from me!" He hugged her close, reassured by her fragrance. She smelled of lilac and lavender. "We will be together now, right?"

At the entrance, Cid swallowed hard. He placed a hand over his heart, as if it could stop the hurt. //I must be happy for him. I must let him go....// Cloud sympathetically rubbed the pilot's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Vincent, we can never be together." Lucrecia separated and pulled away. "I only came back to tell you that you are forgiven. You didn't just try to help us...you almost died for me..." She caressed his face, then turned away, "And there is someone alive whom you love. You must be faithful to him..."

The ex-Turk fell to his knees as Lucrecia disappeared. "No, Lucrecia..." He sobbed, his tears spilling onto the marble floor.

Cid hurridly walked to him, kneeling down. "Vincent, don't cry. She said she forgave you, doesn't that make you feel better?"

"Oh Cid!" Vincent wrapped his arms around the pilot, shaking as he cried. "I almost broke the promise. If I could have followed Lucrecia, I would have. I would've abandoned you..."

Cloud walked out to give them some priacy as Cid tried to comfort Vincent. Cid took off his left glove and placed his hand under Vincent's chin, pulling it up. "Look at me. I'd do anything for you Vince. If I could, I'd die to bring her back for you. But I can't." He gently kissed Vincent's cheek, tasting the salty tears. "So I'll stay with you, and I'll get you through this."

Vincent stared at him. His red eyes glistened with moisture. Normally passive, they now showed his pain, his anguish, his sorrow. //And Cid could take it all away. He'd keep me safe. He'd...love me...// He moved foraward and huggd the pilot again, though far less agitated. "What would I do without you Cid? I love you...I will never let anything come between us."

Through our joy, through our pain,
We can move worlds again.
Take my hand, dance the dance with me...

Cid stared out the window of the escape pod, drowning in the beauty of space. He placed his right hand on the window, as if he could touch the stars.

Vincent walked into that small room and sat next to him. "I'm sorry Cid."

"Huh?" Cid snapped back to reality, "Sorry 'bout what?"

"That I could not help you..." He gently touched Cid's left arm (which was in a sling). "I tried. I tried my hardest. But I couldn't save you--"

Cid pressed his hand to Vincent's lips. "It's OK Vince. I'm here, right? Shera was the one who thought of using a lever, but it was your strength that pushed that hunk of metal off me."

Shaking his head, Vincent nudged closer to him. "Yes, it was Shera. Not I." His eyes glistened, but he kept control of his tears. They were a sign of weakness, in his mind. //And I will show no more weakness to my love.//

"She was just lucky. Vince, don't beat yourself up over this." Cid ran his hand through Vincent's hair, enjoying the silky softness. "Now stop bitchin' and enjoy the view," he grinned and slyly moved his hand to Vincent's back, hugging him closer.

Vincent placed his arms around the pilot, trying not to touch his hurt arm. "It is spectacular, but I prefer seeing a certain someone not wearing any clothes..."

"Just be patient. I can't please you and watch the stars at the same time, can I?" He suddenly grinned, "Unless...." he pointed to another window next to a stack of blankets.

"Thank you for giving me another chance, my love."

"No worries...I'll know you'll make this worthwhile....You always do..."

I want to spend my lifetime loving you,
If that is all in life I ever do.
I will want nothing else to see me through,
If I can spend my lifetime loving you.

Rain poured down from the skies. Cloud angrily kicked the Professor's carcass in disgust. Vincent had been the one to kill him, but Hojo had one last attack ready. Cloud prayed Vincent would not be taken from them too.

A few feet away, Cid kneeled next to Vincent, who had a large wound on his chest, which was bleeding heavily. Cid had removed his jacket and was now using it to stop the bleeding. Tears filled his eyes. "Don't die Vince...please don't die..." he pleaded with a trembling voice.

Vincent wanted to stroke Cid's cheek, to say there was nothing to worry about. But he neither had the strength, nor the faith to do either. His eyes were glassy and unfocused, but he could hear Cid. He could feel his presence. But he was starting to lose sense of it.

Though we know we will never come again.
Where there is love, life begins.
Over and over again.

Cid gasped in fright when he saw Vincent close his eyes. The ex-Turk's breathing became slower, as did his heartbeat. "No Vince, no..."

Vincent was slowly slipping away, into the great beyond. His soul was about to enter the Lifestream, and nothing could make it return once it entered.

"No Vince!!!" Cid screamed in anger, tears sliding down his face. Cloud walked behind him and placed his hands on the pilot's shoulders, attempting to move him away from the dying body of Vincent. "No!" Cid viciously pushed Cloud back, causing him to fall hard on his butt.

Breathing hard as he stood, Cid raised his hands to the sky, which still rained down upon him and Vincent. "Dragon! I summon you!" The powerful dragon that was part of him could not ignore his strength of will or his direct summoning. It roared as it tore itself from Cid's soul, and manifested itself physically. But instead of healing Cid, it knew what it had to do.

Calling the magic in the air to aid him, the dragon used one of the most powerful heal spells Avalanche had ever encountered. To heal Cid, the magic was weak, but when it was used to heal someone else, it was incredible. Holy light surrounded Vincent, healing his body and returning his soul to it. Now weakened, yet satisfied that it had done its duty, the dragon returned inside Cid, leaving the pilot whole again.

Vincent opened his eyes slowly, Cid's face being the first thing he saw. A slight smile touched his lips as he saw the Captain's worried look. "Thank you, my love."

"Thank the gods you're OK Vince!" Cid weakly grabbed Vincent in a hug, but forced himself to act strong. "I was scared....I thought you were leaving me..."

"Shh..." Vincent softly kissed Cid's face. He grabbed the pilot back in his hug, supporting the pilot's weight as he felt him start to let go. "Even if I wanted to, I could not leave you. You wouldn't let me." He helped Cid stand, and supported the pilot as he swayed. "But must you weaken yourself so much in the process?" Vincent tried to hide his worry with joviality, but wasn't very successful.

"For you Vince, I'd do anything..." Cid smiled, then collapsed onto Vincent, exhausted.

The ex-Turk made sure Cid was all right, then carried him in his arms gently, following Cloud as they climbed down the Sister Ray's tower. Not once did he look back at Hojo's dead body.

Save the night, save the day,
Save the love, come what may,
Love is worth everything we pay.

Cid and Vincent were last as AVALANCHE tried to escape the Northern Crater. After defeating Sephiroth, the cavern had begun to fall apart. They suddenly stopped when a large crack in the ground formed between them and the others. It grew to a width of 5 feet, then slowed. The length expanded beyond where they could see. "We must jump, Cid!" Vincent yelled to his love, trying to be heard over the sound of chaos.

Cid nodded. "I'll go first, then catch you!" Seeing Vincent nod, the pilot took a few steps back, then ran towards the chasm, leaping once he reached the very edge.

He seemed to fly for a few seconds, then landed roughly on the other side. Getting up as fast as he could, he turned towards Vincent. But the ex-Turk was now trapped. The chasm had started to increase in size once more, and the collapse of the cavern seemed more imminent.

"Go Cid!" Screamed Vincent, "Just get out! I'll be right behind you!"

"No Vince! I'm not leaving without you!" Cid yelled back. He knew Vincent would probably not have the courage to jump the chasm (which seemed bottomless) if he were alone. And he had no power of levitation, as his magic power was too low. "Vince, go back!" Vincent complied, putting all his trust on the pilot as he stepped back a few yards. "Close your eyes! I'm gonna tell you to run. When I tell you to jump, do it!" Vincent nodded, and forced himself to block out the sounds of falling rocks.

Cid quickly sidestepped as a large boulder almost hit him. //There's no time to lose!// "Run Vince!"

The ex-Turk sprinted forward, honing in on Cid's voice. He knew that he might miss Cid's order to jump, but at least he would try his hardest not to fail. "JUMP!" the scream sounded loud in his ears. Vincent didn't even hesitate. He sprang from his last step, and opened his eyes in mid-leap.

Cid was as close to his edge that he could, arms extended as he waited for Vincent. Suddenly, the ground spilt again, seperating the two lovers. Vincent finally landed, but only at the very edge, and the ground dropped beneath him.

Screaming in absolute horror, Vincent only barely felt something grab onto his cape. As he dangled above the dark abyss, he somehow found the courage to see why he hadn't plummeted to his death.

Cid was above him, pulling as hard as he could on Vincent's cape. "I got ya Vince! And I'm not letting go!" The cape held, but Cid could not find the strength to pull up his lover.

Tears fell from Vincent's eyes. "Let go Cid. Save yourself."

The pilot pulled even harder, but only pulled the ex-Turk up a few inches. "Don't give up Vince!"

"You'll die if you stay, get out!"

"Never!"

The cape began to rip, ever so slightly. "Go on!"

"I won't leave you to die alone! I'll die too!"

I want to spend my lifetime loving you,
If that is all in life I ever do.
I want to spend my lifetime loving you,
If that is all in life I ever do.
I will want nothing else to see me through,
If I can spend my lifetime loving you.

Cid bit his lip as he heard Vincent's cape rip more. //There's only one way to save him...// Wrapping the cape around his right arm and holding it securely, Cid removed his scarf, tying it around his other arm, then tossing the end down. "Hold on to my scarf Vince!"

Vincent grabbed at the white material, his thoughts wandering to the memory of when he had first seen it. His last nightmare before being freed from his coffin.

The dream had had him in a dark place, surrounded by Hojo's tools of pain. And the white cloth had appeared outside the open window of the laboratory in the Midgar building. Cid's face peeked in the window from above as well. Vincent knew that he had to jump out the window and grab the scarf. It seemed easy enough, but if it had not been tied onto anything, he would plummet more that 60 stories to his death.

Sounds of scalpels cutting echoed in the laborartory. So did Hojo's cackling laughter. Vincent leaped out the window, grabbing onto the scarf in a leap of faith. It held. And then he had been pulled up, away from Hojo.

Vincent snapped back to the present as he heard Cid scream. His eyes widened as the white scarf in his hands was soaked in crimson. "Cid?!"

Cid grit his teeth against the pain in his left arm. A rock about 1 foot by 2 feet had fallen, and crushed his arm. But he would not let go of the scarf in his hand. "Vince, I'm gonna let go of your cape. Keep hold of my scarf!"

Vincent held on tightly, then felt himself drop a few inches as his cape was let go. He heard Cid yelp in pain once more. "Just leave me Cid! You can still make it!"

Ignoring the pain in his left arm, Cid used his right to grab more of the scarf. He dug his heels into the ground, pulling with all his strength. But at the angle that Vincent was, he could not be pulled up. Just about to let go in defeat, Cid felt two arms wrap around his waist, and pull with him. Looking back, he saw Yuffie was the one trying to help.

Her petite muscles were stretched taunt. She had noticed that Cid and Vincent stoppped following after a while, and had returned to get them. She had known that they were "involved", but her feminine side grew to think it was romantic after a while. Not to mention, she admired Vincent as a figther, and thought of Cid as a "foster" father. It would ruin all she had tried to accomplish as a ninja if she let them die without trying to help.

Slowly, the combined efforts of Yuffie and Cid helped pull Vincent up, until he could dig his claw into the ground and haul himself all the way. Before he could thank Cid or Yuffie, the young ninja grabbed both men's arms (Cid's right, as she had seen his left), and all three ran like bats out of hell.

Once outside, they met up with the others on the Highwind. Cid tried to steer the mighty airship away from the chaotic crater, but his hurt arm was of no help. Vincent suddenly appeared at his side and helped steer the Highwind away from danger.

As it turned around, towards Midgar, AVALANCHE stared in shock as Holy counter-acted Meteor, saving them all.

The group cheered and yelled, crying from utter joy. All excpet for two, that is. Cid had once again collapsed in Vincent's arms, weakened by the pain and blood loss. And the ex-Turk, faithful as always, carried his lover to his quarters, where he could rest and be healed. The two had their own miracle to be thankful for. They were alive, and together.