Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII or any of the characters.

A/N: Cloti, slight Yuffentine, Cloud/Tifa/Aeris triangle, you get the picture...Slightly AU, slight Aeris bashing. Beware, cleris lovers. I'm going for Angst/Romance, so expect fluff and maybe lemon. Rated M for a reason.

Prologue

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This is an Alternate Universe (AU) so heres how its going down

Aeris is 25, Tifa is 25, Cloud is 26, Vincent is 50, Yuffie is 23.

Aeris never died, and the whole Kadaj episode never happened because Sephiroth was killed by Cloud once, and that was that. Cloud and Tifa lived together afterwards taking care of Marlene and Denzel, but this was because Tifa was the first person he met from Avalanche. Cloud meets Aerith after he joins Avalanche and somehow she is attracted to him, so he's attracted too... and now that Sephiroth is defeated and over, our story begins...

Chapter 1
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She finished washing the last glass and stuck it on the drying rack. She dried her hands. Pausing to wipe away the perspiration that was on her forehead, she tied back her long chocolate hair and walked over to the window to flip the sign to "Open."

It wasn't long before people began coming in for the happy hour specials. Tifa was busy mixing drinks and serving the busy crowd. Life sure had become normal again, and with Shinra finally defeated and under control, things have started to take on that routine feeling.

But Tifa still felt a little empty inside. Was it jealousy? Was it resentment? No, she couldn't bring herself to be jealous or resentful of that flower girl Cloud always went out with. Why did Tifa feel like crap then?

Beep Beep Beep Beep Click -- Tifa put the timer back in its place. 4:00pm.

Marlene and Denzel would be home soon, and of course...Cloud. Sighing, Tifa went out of the Kitchen and grabbed her notepad. It was time to work...

Marlene and Denzel were busy doing homework by dinnertime. Tifa was still busy serving drinks and getting ready for the dinner orders that were sure to come.

Yuffie, who also worked at the bar part of the time now, was too busy flirting with a bunch of unscrupulous young men to focus, leaving Tifa with the bulk of the work.

"Figures," she thought, and went on with her work, glancing worriedly at the clock. Why wasn't Cloud home yet?

And then, a man with blonde spiky hair like a chocobo opened the door. Tifa smiled. Her smile faded when she realized he brought that girl with the brown hair and emerald eyes along with him.

"Hey teef, I'm taking Aeris to the Golden Saucer tonight, don't wait up ok?"

She bit back her frustration and faked a smile, chiming in quickly as he turned to head out as if he didn't care what she had to say about it - "Sure Cloud, have fun."

Her eyes lingered for a few seconds on the closed door. And inside, something broke.

A/N: That was a good start I think... R&R!