First of a huge great big thank you to my reviewers! I couldn't believe how many I got. Okay this is different to the first. Not really cute but there is kissing! Don't worry I'll try and make up for it with and extra cute and fluffy next chapter. I wrote this while listening to a song called Tongue Tied.

Ten ways to kiss your lover: Chapter Nine. Tongue Tied

Their bodies lay together devoid of clothing bar some scanty underwear. Dark hair trickled down a a sallow back and across an arm resting close to her. One lay asleep while the other continued watching. Fearing that if he looked away for a moment, she would be gone. No longer breathing in her sleep. Every so often he closed his eyes, weary with the effort, weary from the after affects of the last few hours. Sleep left him alone to his continued watching.

Their bodies lay together, yet did not touch. Long no longer soft dark hair trailed across the arm he had near to her. That void would not close. It did not matter how much he longed to.

Blue eyes widened as a breath in her body shuddered. His fingers flexed on their own initiative towards her, and fell dead.

'Tifa?' In response she shifted. Turning from her side back to face him. Eyes still closed, body still asleep.

And Cloud was suddenly very aware. Her fingers splayed out, tips away from his arm. If he just moved it every so slightly. Cloud closed his eyes tightly and groaned quietly. This was not how he'd imagined tonight.

Reason capitulated. Giving in, he ran one finger against her nail, tracing a path down her finger, across the back of her hand to her wrist. At least she wasn't cold any more.

Everything was meant to change between them tonight. That had been an unprecedented disaster.

Her face was bruised and her lips swollen however that was not what Cloud noticed first it was her eyes. The coldness that permeated her body seemed to have penetrated them also. Cloud swore loudly, calloused hands grabbing her a little too roughly by the shoulders before hoisting her up. For a moment something sparked in her eyes. Hope soared.

And died as red eyes flicked away from blue, focusing on the imminent distance. It took a lot of effort on Clouds part not to shake. Instead skin grew red from the constant pressure of his hands. It was a welcome change from blue.

'Tifa!'

Eyes responded to her name but did not centre on him. 'Look at me.' His voice was raw from constant shouting. Shouting so hard for that hour that his muscles protested against their misuse. In the end, he had found her by accident, tripping over her leg, face first into the snow. The dark was setting in so fast that it made difficult to see.

Forehead pressed against cold forehead. 'Don't leave me.' It was a plea.

A tremor ran through her body and red eyes widened fractionally. It was enough, for now.

'We have to start moving Teef.'

It was almost an hour later that they had reached the Lodge. They had being closer than Cloud had thought. However Tifa was barely conscious by the time they got there. In the end he had resorted to carrying her. Her body was ice in his arm, her clothes long since trodden through.

Despite his own flagging energy he managed to turn one the radio for help.

Stripping Tifa of her clothes had being necessary he reminded himself. Her own had been so wet they were dangerous to her. It was only when they were inside that he realised all there luggage was back where their car had crashed. Probably strewn all across that harmful snow. A swallow bobbed in hi throat despite him self. Tifa just might not see it that way. Hopefully she would wait until they were rescued before she resorted to emasculating him.

Technically he had not touched her more than necessarily. However that technicality strongly depended on Tifa. Nervously he tugged the duvet up higher over their bodies so he could see less.

Not that it really mattered at this stage. He had lain beside her for so long, almost touching that he no longer needed to see her body to know what it was like. Blond hair moved slightly as a sigh escaped his lips. This really was not how he had imagined this weekend at all.

Without meaning to his eyes dropped lower while he thought about the nights events. The duvet slipped once more as his body moved. Blue eyes widened as he realised his movements were been watched by dark, alive red eyes.

It was too late to pretend to be asleep.

'What happened?' Her voice sounded tired.

That reminded him. He had to check the radio, to make sure they could get help as soon as possible.

'Freak blizzard, crashed the car.' Short answers were safer. Far safer blurting out all at once that she was naked and that he needed to remove her clothes, and while he'd tried his hardest not to see anything, it didn't quite work. If she asked, he'd answer. He prayed that she wouldn't.

'Ah.'

'Cloud?'

His anxiety levels soared. Tongue tied. That was the safest course of action.

This time it was without cause. A dusting of pink crossed her nose and Tifa shook her head.

'It doesn't matter.'

Not the clothes then. Thank the gods.

Cloud nudged her nearby arm. 'What?'

The blush deepened to a bright red. 'My nose is still cold.' Her complaint ended on a plainitive note.

Oh. That could be fixed

It was his intention to tweak her nose. Widely out of character for him he knew, yet he felt the circumstances called for it. The action became a lot more tender. Thumb traced her nose and rubbed gently over her lips. Eyes met his startled and uncertain.

Crap

Lips slightly parted.

Gently he brushed her fingers against her jaw. Eyes watching her the hole time. Silently asking,

'Is this okay?'

Her answering smile was all he needed.

Leaning forward, he kissed her cheekbones, kissed her playfully on her nose, felt her hand close around his shoulder. Gently he caressed her neck as their lips met and mingled.

Tifa drew back, shyly smiling. Cloud eyes darkened, as he lightly trailed the tips of his fingers down her neck to rest at her collar bone. Eyes closed in pleasure at the touch and her breath was hot against his lips. Once more, he brought his thumb to rest against her lips before kissing her again.

This was what he had hoped to be doing when he had planned this weekend.

His hands moved under the sheet and along her sides.

Tifa stiffened suddenly in his embrace.

'Cloud! Why am I naked?!'

Yes, it was time to check that radio.

-fin-

I wrote this nearly five times before I was reasonably happy with it. I still think it could be better but I wanted to post by today. The next chapters should be fluffier and I really had fun with the next chapter 'The Bet.' For a change it's going to be mainly from Tifa's P.O.V.

I have most of the outlines done, but if anyone would like to suggest a kissing scenario feel free to comment as I have three blank chapters. Eeep!

Have to say this again. Thank you so much everyone who reviewed me, Amazon Turk and Kenjutsu Princess get a extra special hug for being my first two reviewers, Ink of quill is a lovely person who is going to beta for me. Cerberus Angel and sam, Moonlight Milkyway, Free Hero and Bluishorbs all get great big hugs too!

Waves at everyone who put me on their story alert.

You are guys are the best:) I was chirpy and it helped me to get this out faster.