Cloud Strife sat in the corner booth, away from the crowd in the Seventh Heaven bar. Ever since she helped to save the world, Tifa's popularity had grown, and thus her business was booming. All of them were more famous than they had ever thought they would become. He sat watching as people shouted and laughed and drank. His eyes skimmed the crowd for a familiar face, looking for those wine-colored eyes, a swish of long, dark hair, or a laugh that sounded like bells ringing. He was getting ready to get up and hurl himself through the crowd, just to see her, but a familiar figure slid into the open seat across from him.

"Barrett," he acknowledged.

"What's up, spiky-head?" Barrett laughed.

Cloud just shook his head, and replied, "You seen Tifa?"

Barrett looked at him with a funny look.

"You mean you don't know, man?"

"Know what?"

"Yuffie's comin' to kidnap Tifa, and take her out tonight. Says she needs some fun; says she's been cooped up here with the kids for too long."

"Ah."

"Yeah, I came to run the bar for her while she's out. Thought I'd take the time to see Marlene."

Cloud just nodded and sunk down in his seat.

Let it go, he thought. She won't do anything stupid. It's Tifa.

Out of nowhere, Yuffie appeared. She was wearing more clothes than usual, but she still had quite a bit of skin showing. The sequins on her black shirt sparkled when the light it them just the right way. She was wearing make-up, but it was still hard to accept that Yuffie had, indeed, grown up.

"You don't mind that I'm taking her, do you Cloud?" she asked in a very sweet, very suspicious voice.

He just shook his head.

"Good," she beamed.

And then he saw her. She was coming down the stairs, her hair swinging around her hips. She was wearing a pair of black, form-fitting pants and a sleeveless sapphire shirt that showed her belly button, and not only her belly button, but her incredibly built abs.

No, he thought. I can't go there. I won't think about her, or her body, or how heavenly she smells. He groaned on the inside.

"Thank you again, Barrett. I would have asked someone else, had I had more time to figure it out. But Yuffie called me this afternoon, and I knew you were headed to town. Oh! Cloud... I didn't know you were back." Tifa flushed, and it only complimented the make up she was wearing.

"I only had a few deliveries this week."

"Good. Then you two can catch up later! Tifa, let's go!" Yuffie grabbed her hand and dragged her to the front door.

"Yeah, we'll talk later, Tif!" Cloud called towards them.

Yuffie turned and winked.

"Don't wait up."

Barrett laughed and headed towards the counter where customers were waiting. Cloud growled.

Wait to go, Strife, he thought. I should have come home earlier. Then maybe I could be the one taking Tifa -

His thought process was interrupted by a pair of very loud men sitting at the table closest to him.

"Yeah, that Tifa Lockheart... What I would do to get my hands on her."

"I know what you mean. She's smokin'. I would have joined AVALANCHE, just for the chance to rock her world. Haha. Get it?"

The two idiots busted up laughing. Cloud knew that if he didn't get out of there, he was going punch one of them. Or both of them. One thing he learned from their conversation was that there was no way Tifa was going out tonight. Not to a club filled with scum bags like the ones he just encountered. No, there had to be something he could do. He pulled out the cell phone that he highly neglected.

Pick up, for the sake of all the is holy, he thought. You people call me all the time on this freakin thing, and the one time I need -

"Hello?" answered a gruff voice.

"It's Cloud. You doing anything tonight?"

"No, Cloud. I will not go on a date with you." replied the vampire.

"Vince, knock it off. Yuffie is taking Tifa to a club tonight. Wanna keep watch with me?"

"You're going to spy on... Tifa? What for? She can take care of herself."

"Vincent! Just.... quit asking questions. Are you in?"

"Yuffie's going?"

"Yes."

"I'll meet you outside Seventh Heaven in ten minutes."

Cloud smiled as he hung up.

"Yuffie, please explain to me why you are dragging me out of my bar on the busiest night of the week, just to go to some stupid club."

"You need some fun, Tifa. You're cooped up all day inside that building, taking care of everybody else's needs. So, we're going out tonight to take care of some of," she stopped and winked. "Your needs."

"Oh no, Yuffie! I don't want any man within ten feet of me. I'll roundhouse kick him in the face. No."

"TIfa!" Yuffie whined. "You need a man."

Tifa just shook her head.

"No."

"Then you need some fun."

Tifa sighed, and Yuffie grabbed her by the wrist, a very popular move used by Yuffie, and dragged her into the recently opened club. The bouncer let them in without a moment of consideration.

"Ladies," he gave them a nod.

"Thus the perks of being the saviors of the world." Yuffie chuckled.

Tifa smiled.

Yuffie found them a booth, they put their coats down, and Yuffie took Tifa up to the bar to help her pick out a drink.

"I was thinking about one of those."

"No, that'll give you an incredible headache in the morning, even if you only have one."

"Oh. Okay. Well, what about that."

"No. You won't like that at all. Try one of these. They aren't too strong, but it's still enough."

They got their drinks and went back to their seats. Not five minutes later, Yuffie gasped.

"What? What is it?" Tifa asked, worried about the young ninja.

"Tifa, look who it is!"

Tifa turned and saw a familiar shade of red hair. Reno. That must mean, yep... There's Rude.

"Crap. Don't let them see me."

Tifa slid down in her seat. Yuffie laughed.

"Come on, I know what we can do to hide you."

"What?"

"Dance."

"No. Oh no. No. No. No."

"Yes. Quit arguing."

Yuffie stood up, smoothed the creases in her incredibly short skirt, and held her hand out for Tifa to take.

"I don't even know why I listen to you," Tifa said.

Yuffie laughed and lead her out to the dance floor.

The wind whipped his face as he sat on the steps outside the Seventh Heaven. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He had finished his deliveries early just to see her. He thought of the dream that he's had; it was the reason he had wanted to come back so bad. It had been an exact replay of the day Sephiroth had set Nibelheim on fire. He saw Sephiroth slice her with his sword. He held her bleeding body in his arms. He hurt. And he woke up with the aching desire to see his childhood friend. He had long since defeated Sephiroth, but the past still haunted him, and he knew that that day was burned in Tifa's memory as well. He heard the familiar flapping of a red cape as an old friend landed on the ground next to him.

"Sure do know how to make an entrance don't you, Vince?"

The gunman laughed.

"You ready, Strife?"

He nodded.

"Good. I can smell their trail, but it's fading. The wind is blowing it all over, but I think I know where Yuffie was planning on going anyway."

Cloud stood.

"And how's that?"

Vincent looked away sheepishly, coughed a little self-conciously, and began walking in the direction of the club.

"Vincent?"

The vampire stopped.

"I've been following her, okay? I was planning on going to the club tonight before you even called. Someone's been tracking her, and I'm not leaving her alone until I figure out who it is."

Cloud laughed.

"Sure it isn't you, Vince?"

"Shut up. Are you coming or not? I'm sure I can keep the men away from Yuffie, but I don't think I could handle all the men pining after our darling Lockheart."

"Shut your face and lead the way."

Vincent laughed and continued walking.

Cloud followed, his thoughts on Tifa. Why was there this sudden urge to protect her? He knew she could handle herself, he'd seen her do it a million times. Yuffie was going to pay for taking her out.

"What are you mumbling about back there?" Vincent laughed.

"Huh?"

"You planning on killing my ninja?"

"I didn't realize she belonged to you?"

Vincent blushed. Cloud laughed.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

"She's grown up a lot, you know? And, and... I..."

"Vincent, don't sweat it. I can see why you would be attracted to her. She's charming."

He nodded.

"Thanks, man. And hey, don't worry so much about Tifa. She won't let another man anywhere near her. She's loves you too."

At first the words were comforting, but then Cloud realized something. 1) They shouldn't be comforting. He shouldn't care if Tifa let's another man near her.

And 2) "What do you mean "loves you too"? I - I don't -"

"Love her?"

"Right," he choked out.

"Sure. Let's just go spy on her, and make sure that no man touches her the entire night."

"That's the plan."

"And what if some guy smacks her on that incredibly nice butt of hers?"

"We kill him."

Vincent laughed loudly.

"That's what I thought."

"Stop it."

"You love her. You love her. You love her."

"Stop."

"You. Love. Her."

"Vincent! Will you shut up? I don't love her! I - I can't."

"Can't what?"

"I can't - do that to her. After everything... everything I've put her through."

"You know she's forgiven you. For everything. Even though you haven't apologized."

"Can you just walk, please? And keep your opinions to yourself."

"Facts."

"Vincent."

"Sorry."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Did he really love Tifa? Something turned in his stomach every time he thought about it. If he did, could he tell her? Would she return his feelings? Vincent seemed sure that she would, but Cloud knew her a little better. Even if she does love him, she wouldn't just welcome in with open arms. No, she wouldn't allow herself to be so defenseless. He would have to prove it to her... but could he?