Chapter One

It had been two months since Cloud had defeated Sephiroth, Kadaj and his gang, settling back into normal life was proving slightly more difficult for him than he would have first thought. He was having to adapt to life as a more consistent father figure now, Cloud was great with Marlene and Denzel and they adored him. Though when it came time for discipline's and telling off Cloud would go into panic mode, unable to know how to deal with the situation. Cloud would back off shaking his hands and head, beckoning for Tifa to step in and take control. Tifa. Now there was an entirely different kind of difficulty for Cloud to try and manage. He and Tifa had never declared their love for each other, it had remained just a silent acknowledgment between them. They did not kiss or embrace one another, they simply found contentment in knowing the other would always be there for them. This understanding had always suited Cloud, he wasn't the emotional or romantic type. Though deep down he longed to be, not only for himself but for Tifa too. Cloud has always thought this way of things had suited Tifa too, but it was becoming all too clear of late that Tifa was becoming weary. It was obvious from her actions that she wanted more from him, even if she did not out rightly say so. This made Cloud frustrated with himself, he didn't know how to be that way with her. Truth be told, he was scared. For so long his life had been nothing but battle after battle, one crisis to another. To him that kind of lifestyle was the norm, but not anymore. There was no more danger, no more battles to be won. Cloud had nothing to distract him from this new life he shared with Tifa and the orphans.

Cloud watched as Marlene and Denzel began scrapping over the toy that had just fallen out of the cereal box, so it seemed it was going to be one of those mornings he thought to himself.

"Denzel no, that's miiine!" Marlene wailed.

"Uh – uh it fell in to my bowl!" Denzel protested as they played tug of war with the toy.

"That's cause you snatched the box before I had finished, it would have come out into myyy bowl, Cloud make Denzel stop!"

"No, Cloud, make Marlene let go, it's mine fair and square!" Cloud had his elbows rested upon the table, sighing he put his head in his hands.

"Hey knock it off you two will ya!" Cloud groaned, grabbing fist full's of spiky blonde hair. Their argument continued, paying no attention to Cloud. He scrapped his chair back, getting up and turning away from the children. "Tifa!" he called. "You finished out there yet?" Tifa appeared in the doorway, drying her hands off with a cloth.

"What's wrong Cloud?" she asked concerned.

"I can't be dealing with this right now, I've got deliveries to make!" Cloud swept quickly past her in to the hallway. Tifa watched him start to sort his packages out, then glanced over at the children. Leaving the cloth she had used to dry her hands with on the counter top, she swiftly went over to resolve the issue.

"Hey kids enough now, give the toy to me!" Tifa spoke calmly.

"Ohh, but Tifa…!" Denzel started.

"No buts, now come on, go get your lunch boxes and get yourselves off to school, don't want to be late ey." She smiled, giving them each a kiss on the forehead as they darted out the room. Tifa returned to the hallway to watch Cloud finish up, she saw the strands of his hair fall over his face as he bent to pick up another parcel. She liked the way it did that, she imagined what it would feel like to run her fingers through it. Her eyes moved down to his perfectly muscled arms and she longed to feel cradled in them, would things ever be that way between them? Her heart sunk a little as she thought of the reality, she knew Cloud wasn't like that.

"Tifa?!" She heard Cloud call her name. He gazed at her leant up against the wall with folded arms, her long dark hair tickled at her waist. His stare travelled slowly up her slim figure, lingered by her gentle curves. Then Cloud's dazzling blue eyes met her warm hazel ones. How he did love those eyes so. They both quickly looked away and Cloud shuffled nervously to his feet. "Everything alright?" he asked. Tifa hadn't realised how intensely she must have been starring at him and she felt the heat start to spread in her cheeks.

"Y-yer fine, I just wondered, if you were coming back or not tonight?" she hoped he would be back, but it wouldn't surprise her in the least if he wasn't.

Tifa was getting used to being alone now, she didn't like it but she was used to it.

"I should be back, there's not many packages today, just a few."

"Ok, I'll wait up for you." She said delighted, beaming a big smile at him. Cloud gave her his usual nod of agreement.

"See you later Teef!"

It was around midnight when Tifa sat at the bar, eagerly awaiting Cloud's return. She'd put the kids to bed, cleared up the place and prepared the bar ready for tomorrow. So this was her time to relax, she poured a shot of vodka into a glass and filled the rest with cola. Tifa caught sight of her reflection in the mirror behind the bar, she brushed her fingers through her hair while checking her appearance. She had tried to make more of an effort of late, always hopeful that Cloud would pay her some attention. She wore a beautiful cream silk dress, casual, nothing to fancy. Tifa didn't want Cloud to become suspicious of her, just something that would make him notice her. Before she had managed to drink even half her glass, she heard the latch on the door open. Cloud shut and locked the door quietly behind him, careful not to wake Denzel or Marlene. As he paused in the doorway of the bar, the first thing he noticed was Tifa. How beautiful she looked. She seemed to getting more beautiful each night he was home with her, he nervously rubbed the back of his head. He knew what it was all in aid of and he wondered how much time he would have to prepare himself. If he didn't make a move soon, Cloud knew it would not be long until Tifa did. He wasn't sure if he was ready. His inability to know how to show her affection was going to disappoint her, he would hate to see that hurt look on her face.

"Cloud, how was work?" she smiled warmly at him.

"It was ok, like I said it was an easy one today." Cloud watched as Tifa went behind the bar to fetch him a drink, she really did look wonderful tonight. He should tell her so, he thought. Just go behind that bar, put your arms round her and tell her how beautiful she is, Cloud commanded himself. As he tried to take a step forward his legs shook like jelly, cowardly he retreated to the bar stool next to Tifa's. She handed him a nice cold beer, leaning over on the bar in front of him. As Cloud picked up his pint, Tifa's cleavage was in full view. His jaw dropped a little, then composing himself he brought his eyes up to meet hers.

"Hey Cloud, I was thinking, maybe you could take a day off, we could do something together?" her face looked hopeful, as though knowing what Cloud's answer would be.

"What do you want to do?" he asked, taking a sip from his beer.

"I don't know, I guess…we could just take a ride on your motorcycle, see where we end up?"

"I don't know, you know we need the money Tifa and then there'd be the fuel costs…"

"Please Cloud, we hardly get to spend any time together and well,…I miss you, it'd just be one day!" Cloud looked at her pleading face, saw the sorrow in her eyes as she awaited his rejection of the idea. Cloud sighed, they really didn't get to see each other all that much. Maybe a day out together might be nice.

"Ok Teef, we'll do it, but you know I'll have to take on a few more jobs, make up the day's work right, so long as you're ok with that?" Tifa suddenly flung her arms around Cloud's neck from across the bar, squeezing him tightly.

"Oohh thank you Cloud, you don't know how happy you've made me!" she rejoiced. Cloud's hands stayed fixed around his glass, she pulled away when she realised he was not going to hug her back. "Sorry!" she said, blushing slightly. "I'm just so happy!"

"It's alright." Cloud replied, his expression softening. He watched Tifa refill her now empty glass and she came to sit beside him.

They talked awhile about their days, sharing more than just a few drinks together. Cloud could feel the buzz in his head beginning and knew it was time to stop, as he looked at Tifa her eyes told him she too had had enough.

"Maybe we should get some sleep now?" he suggested, idly sloshing the last of his drink around the bottom of his glass. He started to get up when Tifa's hand fell upon his arm, he hovered not quiet knowing what to do or say.

"Wait Cloud, there's something, something I, wanted to talk to you about!" she looked nervous but determined. Cloud sat back down, the hairs on his arm tickling from her touch.

"What's the matter, is something wrong?" his voice was concerned. He glanced down at her hand on his arm but she didn't remove it.

"Cloud look, I know you don't find these kind of things easy to talk about, so I shall try to make this simple,…I know, how you feel about me, and, you know I feel the same right,… well, maybe we should try to let those feelings show more?" He saw her cheeks glow a faint red colour and her eyes flickered from his.

"But Tifa,…you know I'm not like that, it doesn't change how I feel, you know that, I thought you were happy with the way things are?" Cloud frowned, he hated to deny her such a simple thing as his affection.

"I know, I have tried to do things your way Cloud, I really have but…" she trailed off, not really knowing what more she could say. She knew Cloud was stubborn, things were on his terms or not at all.

"Come on, let's get some sleep, we can talk more tomorrow." Cloud smiled supportively. Tifa finally let her hand fall from Cloud's arm, gently sighing she picked up their empty glasses heading for the kitchen. She knew they would not talk more tomorrow, that was just Cloud's way of escaping the conversation. Cloud's arm felt cold from the absence of her touch, his heart filled with regret. He waited for her to return from the kitchen and the pair headed upstairs, their rooms were opposite each other and they stood nervously waiting for the other to say something. Eventually Tifa gave up waiting for Cloud to say something she knew he never would, she grasped her door handle quietly opening it. "Tifa!" Cloud whispered, standing half in and out of his doorway. She looked at him, trying to make out his expression in the darkness. "We will try, ok…good night!" and with that he shut his door behind him. A smile painted Tifa's face as she approached her bed. Try, she said to herself. At least that was a start, a step in the direction she so longed for them to take.

Chapter 2