Tifa dug her fingers into the back of the couch as she moved with Cloud. Tifa had to be careful that her feet didn't slip on the carpet. It would only take one slip for this to end very badly. That was one of the risks of having sex standing up…but that was the thrill of it also. Cloud had one arm around her which helped her keep her balance. As good as this was there was only one problem…it was 10:15. Party guests would be here shortly. This moment couldn't get more heated and they were running out of time. "Cloud…ooooh god Cloud." Tifa had been panting his name incessantly. When he was behind her like this he could put his hands all over her. Tifa was only undressed from the waist down however. The challenge was keeping her intact from the waist up and making a mess of her from the waist down…it was a sensual challenge. Tifa begged him to come all over her. They had to hurry and get themselves orderly and pull the food out of the oven before Zack and Aerith came in. The fact that they had to hustle made everything that much hotter…it was a sort of 'how long can we go' contest 'before we're caught'.

Neither Cloud nor Tifa were prepared for such an intense climax. It happened fast and it caused them both to gasp in pleasure. "Oooh god that was so good…" Tifa panted as she clenched the back of the couch with trembling arms.

"That was too good…we'll have to do more later." Cloud said. "We have to…to get those mushrooms out of the oven." Cloud struggled to catch his breath as he let gentle hands roam her body.

"Oh shit…you're right. Yeah, we should…not burn the food." Tifa said slowly turning around to face Cloud. She put limp arms around him.

"You know…we need to get the candles lit too. We blew them all out so they wouldn't burn themselves out. You…you hug me first and then I'll light the candles while you pull the food out." He said resting his head on her shoulder.

"That sounds perfect…what time is it?" Tifa asked. Cloud looked over her shoulder at the clock.

"It's 10:25." I guess we better move." Cloud said letting her reluctantly out of his arms. Now it was time to hurry around like crazy and appear as if they hadn't been having sex in the living room. Neither of them had gotten dressed so quickly. Tifa rushed off to the kitchen and Cloud rushed off upstairs to get the first of the candles lit. The house smelled wonderful as Tifa pulled things out of the oven and gave the crock pot a stir.

Cloud went through the house quickly lighting the candles. They had never moved so quickly to get things situated. By 10:35 they curled up on the couch and by 10:40 Zack and Aerith walked through the door. Aerith came in squealing because she was so cold. She said hi to Cloud quickly and ran upstairs as fast as she could.

"Oh my god! It's cold out there!" Zack said closing the door behind him.

"Hi! Did you two have a good time?" Tifa asked.

"We had an absolutely wonderful time. And I can't believe how much it's snowing out there!" Zack said handing the camera over to Cloud and Tifa.

"It's snowing?" Cloud asked.

"Hell yeah it's snowing! You haven't seen it? What have you been doing?" Zack asked. "I can't believe all these candles…okay I'm going to go change." Zack said leaving Cloud and Tifa. Tifa put her head on Cloud's shoulder. For a moment Cloud was a little upset that neither Zack nor Aerith had said a thing about how beautiful Tifa looked. But he also knew he was overly sensitive about everything these past couple days.

"Let's look at their pictures." Tifa said turning the camera on. "Ooooh look at that one! Oh this is a good one. Oh my god look at that ballroom. That one is just perfect!" Tifa said scanning through their pictures. "Cloud? What um…what did your tux look like?"

"It was black. It was solid black." Cloud said.

"Whoa…It looked hot didn't it?" Tifa asked with shining eyes.

"Well, I mean it was…okay…it….yeah it was hot." Cloud said. Tifa laughed. As they scanned through all the pictures Zack and Aerith had taken it was apparent to them that they wouldn't have fit in at this gala tonight. First, it was a strictly SOLDIER and Turk clientele in every picture and secondly everyone at the gala actually danced…and that would have made them both dreadfully uncomfortable. Aerith came hurrying back down the stairs.

"We had so much fun tonight! Everything was so beautiful! It was just so perfect and amazing and you should have been there and…" Aerith stopped herself. "I'm sorry…the house looks so great and the food smells wonderful. I didn't even thank you for that."

"It's okay, honey. I'm so happy that you and Zack had a good time tonight. The pictures are so good! We'll need to pick one out to frame." Tifa said. There was a knock at the door and Aerith hurried to get it.

"Wow, you two changed fast!" Aerith said opening the door to discover Cissnei and her boyfriend Riko were the first guests of the night. Cloud and Tifa stood up. Tifa wanted to get some of the alcohol out of the fridge and frankly, Cloud didn't want to leave her side.

"He lives in that apartment building right across from the hotel." Cissnei said stepping inside the door. She was referring to her boyfriend and how he had an apartment directly across from the hotel where the gala was held. Now here they were in much more casual clothes and a duffle bag in hand for an overnighter. It was apparent by Cissnei's hair and makeup that at one point tonight she had looked quite glamorous. "You look amazing!" she said.

"Really? You like this?" Aerith asked putting her hands on her long sleeved shirt and her slouchy pink pants.

"No! not you. You already got to steal everyone's thunder tonight. Tifa looks amazing." Cissnei said walking over to her and Cloud. One thing was sure about Cissnei….she was honest about everything. Cloud's face lit up. It thrilled him that Cissnei noticed how beautiful Tifa was. Tifa smiled.

"Thanks. Do you and Riko want something to drink?" she asked.

"Hell yeah we do! We don't care what just make it strong. This house looks lovely. The four of you sure do trust all the drunks that will be in your house tonight to not burn the place down." Cissnei said looking around. Tifa started pulling bottles out of the refrigerator.

"Do you two want to take your bag to your room? The guest room is upstairs at the end of the hall on the right. Don't worry the couch folds out and it's surprisingly comfortable." Tifa said.

"Okay, we'll go check it out." Cissnei said. Zack came down the stairs only to notice that Cissnei and Riko had gotten here without him knowing.

"Are you the first two here?" Zack asked.

"Yes, hey when we come back down here remind me to tell you about Tseng." Cissnei said.

"Oh god, is it good?" Zack asked going over to the couch with Aerith to look at their pictures.

"It's better than good. I'm going to give him hell about this for at least a year to come." Cissnei said.

"I can't wait for this." Zack said. There was another knock at the door as Tifa declared her 'bar' officially 'open'. It was four other SOLDIER 1st Class that Zack worked with. Aerith knew them but neither Cloud nor Tifa recognized them.

"Did you all come together?" Zack asked.

"Yes. We parked down toward the end of the street is that okay?" one of the guys asked.

"It's fine. Come here I want you to meet my roommate Cloud and his girlfriend." Zack said referring to the four of them. He got up from the couch again.

"Can I just say…oh hey guys." Cissnei said to the four SOLDIER who just walked in. "Anyway, you're room makes me want to do dirty stuff. My god! All that white on your bed and those red walls! It makes me want to go in there with Riko and…damn your room is hot!" Cissnei finished. She was referring to Cloud and Tifa's room. Tifa shoved something into Cissnei's hand and Riko's hand.

"I can assure you me and Cloud are going to do plenty of dirty in there later. Don't worry, you won't hear a thing." Tifa said winking at Cissnei.

"Oooh god, you're the best! I'm so glad I actually know you now!" Cissnei said hugging Tifa.

"So, what are you guys drinking?" Tifa asked the four SOLDIER who had just joined the party. While Tifa took care of that Zack declared himself the door greeter as there was another knock. Zack was delighted to see none other than Angeal Hewley.

"You smell like cigarettes." Zack said.

"Oh, I've been hanging out with a group that chain smokes like you wouldn't believe and then they drag me right now with them." Angeal admitted.

"Well, get in here! I'm so glad you made it!" Zack said. Aerith rushed over and hugged Angeal, which always looked so strange because he was so much bigger than she was. He had already heard about how Aerith and Zack stole the spotlight at the gala tonight.

"Holy…shit…who is that?" Angeal asked Zack or Aerith…whoever would answer him first.

"That's Tifa. Oh, that's right you've never met her. No, no Angeal. I know what you're thinking. She's Cloud's girlfriend." Zack said leading him over to the couch. Angeal laughed.

"You're bullshitting me. You always do this." Angeal was still laughing at him.

"No, man I'm serious! She's Cloud's girlfriend!" Zack insisted.

"Zack…there is no way a guy like your roommate…could ever…ever be with a girl like that." Angeal said still laughing. Aerith had wandered off into the kitchen and so she wasn't there to back Zack up.

"I am aware that Tifa is smokin' hot and that she seems an unlikely match for Cloud…but Angeal…I assure you the only one getting in Tifa's pants tonight is Cloud because she is his girlfriend." Zack said. Angeal was shocked.

"You're serious aren't you?" Angeal asked.

"Uh…YEAH!" Zack said. Aerith had come back over to the couch with them and presented some kind of beer to Angeal.

"Thanks sweetie, after what Zack just told me I need that." Angeal said. He shook his head. "I seriously thought I was gonna get laid tonight Zack. You have now crushed all those hopes." Zack laughed at him. "I mean come on! Every woman in Midgar…wants to sleep with a SOLDIER 1st class!" Angeal said still completely agitated by the fact that Cloud, an infantry guard, could possibly be with a woman like Tifa.

"That may very well be true Angeal, it may…but you won't get Tifa." Zack said. There was another knock at the door and Zack got up again to answer it. It was three of Aerith's friends this time. Aerith got up and ran over to them. She and Zack talked to them for a minute before Zack returned to Angeal. He was going to say something to Angeal but Cissnei came over instead and had to give him hell for not coming to the gala.

"What were you going to tell me about Tseng?" Zack asked Cissnei.

"Oh…honey…this has to wait until there are more people here. Don't worry, I'll tell you soon enough." Cissnei reassured him. Whatever dirt she had on Tseng it had to be good. This was quickly shaping up to be quite an entertaining New Year's Eve.