A shorter chapter this update, I feel I reached a natural chapter end.
The barmaid, walked into her bedroom a huge smile on her face, she had done it. She had shown Cloud how she felt, she was still a little disappointed that he hadn't followed her lead and tried to push things further, but be also hadn't stopped her as she removed her top in front of him and done the act on him. A quick glance at her alarm clock revealed there was still time before Cloud would go wake the kids, so she decided send a message to Bigdawg.
"Hi, Bigdawg,
I have something to tell you, remember when I told you that cloud and I have never done anything more than just kiss, and he has never shown any sign of wanting anything more, that I should make a move on him?
Well, this morning he kind of saw me topless, then he rushed off immediately into his room. I followed him and caught him looking at a picture of myself and yuffie, while pleasuring himself. So without thinking, I walked him and gave him a hand doing it. I wanted him to take it further, but he just sat there and let me do it.
Now I'm even more confused, have I ruined things between us? He asked why I did it, and I just replied that I was the cause.
Please I need advice here, how can I get him to tell me how he feels, if he doesn't love me or see a future between us I can move on from him
Luv, NaughtyBarGurl xxx"
She read the message over, and debated wither she should send the message or not how would BigDawg react? Would he stop messaging her, would he understand..? How had she gotten herself into this mess, instead of just the one man who she loved, there was now the two, but did she really love a man she didn't know? She saved the message into her drafts and changed out of her bed clothes and into a pair of leggings and Clouds old t-shirt which she saved from the trash, after yuffie helped out by washing their clothing and accidently placed it in with a red bra and ended up dying his favourite designer white t-shirt pink. She smiled remembering Cloud chasing the ninja round the bar threatening to kill her for ruining his favourite top.
She shot up out of bed and glanced at the clock, it was 8:15 she had fallen asleep. Rushing into the kitchen she started to prepare the kids a quick breakfast so they could eat on the bus, as well as their sandwiches for midday break. While buttering the bread she heard the kitchen door open and the kids walking in, "Good morning" she said beaming them both a smile, "sit down, I'm afraid breakfast will be a sandwich on the bus today."
"That's ok," Marlene replied yawning, while taking her seat,
"Yeah, we'll miss the bus if we had something here" Denzel added.
She smiled and poured them a juice drink each. "Drink these, you sandwiches are nearly ready" she said placing a glass in front of each of them. The door creaked open, as Cloud walked in carrying the morning newspaper he took a seat at the table and started reading it. She smiled at him and resumed preparing the lunches.
She handed the kids their lunch boxes and a breakfast sandwich each, "let's go, bus is due" she said staring at cloud who put his paper down.
"I'll see you when you get back from school" he said, hugging them
Tifa turned to look at him, "thought you had deliveries in Wutai today and would not be back till tomorrow?"
"I do, buts there's nothing urgent, I'll take them tomorrow." He picked up the paper again to resume reading it.
"Ok, I'll be back soon, just got to see them to the bus" she said as she followed the kids out of the kitchen.
Tifa opened the side door to ket the kids out. The bus was in the bus stop, "its here you need to run". She watched as Marlene and Denzel rushed down the street for the bus, getting there just in time since it was about to leave.
"Just made it" she muttered to herself shortly as the bus pulled out. She saw a woman in a red dress up the road across the street. "Scarlet?" She called to the woman hoping it really was her.
Tifa watched as the woman turned and waved to tifa "morning Tifa" she called while walking over. "How are you this morning? I am sorry I can't chat for long I was just on the way to open the store, I promised I would get Elmyra's vacuum repaired by today"
"The old red upright vacuum, its playing up again?"
Scarlet nodded, it's one of the old Pre-ShinRa models, I didn't know any of them still existed"
"Yeah, Aerith told us she found it discarded in the back room of the church." Tifa smiled.
"Ah, no wonder she won't get rid of it, I'm having trouble repairing it, I am having to make an all new filter for it. The trouble is I will have to charge her extra for it"
"I'll pay the additional cost, don't tell her about it. Oh, I was wondering if you can come by later this afternoon, the coffee maker started playing up yesterday wanted you to take a look at it."
"Sure, I'll nip over later." Scarlet glanced at her watch, "sorry I got to go and start working on it. See you later Tifa".
"Goodbye scarlett" she watched as the woman walked away, before turning and waking back into the bar, locking the door behind her.
Heading towards the kitchen she heard cloud shouting, she rushed into the kitchen and found he was stood over by the coffee maker fiddling with it "it broke yesterday Cloud"
He turned to face her "ah that's why the water isn't boiling then and why the copper kettle was by the stove?" He asked sheepishly.
"Yeah, I'll start our breakfast now. Can you go to the store we're low on bread."
"Sure I'll go now," he left the kitchen.
She watched him leave before getting the sausages and bacon from the fridge for their breakfast.
Once the food was cooking she went to her bedroom to check for messages on her phone, she saw a message waiting from bigdawg
"Hi, my naughty bar gurl.
I have considered your request for a hint, and all I can say is that we have met, and I can help you with the bar.
I am afraid that is all I can tell you at this time. I look forward to hearing from you soon
Love Bigdawg xxx"
She stared at the message, "we have met, and someone I know" she read the line again, who could it be? She closed the message and thought again about the message in the drafts, she deleted it, deciding not to send it, before returning to the kitchen.
After breakfast, sitting opposite Cloud, she could tell he felt uncomfortable around her. "Is everything ok Cloud"
"Yeah, err No, I'm confused Tifa, we agreed to just be friends, then this morning you walk in and do, well you know.."
She smiled, "Cloud, you know I love you, always have always will. Please, be honest with me, do you love me?"
"Tifa.. I err, I cannot be with anyone, you know what happened with Aerith, how I let her die"
She slapped him across the face, "Cloud! Aerith was my best friend, you did NOT let her die, Sephiroth took control of you there was nothing you or any of us could do to save her." She fell to her knees and starting sobbing, "Cloud, why don't you love me?"
"I do Tifa, but you know.."
She placed a finger on his lips, "please I'm tired of your excuses, please tell me the truth"
He looked at her, "I just can't Tifa, I am sorry"
She got up and stormed out of her kitchen and towards her bedroom. She lay there crying into her pillow.
