I would like to thank my reviewers for well, you know, reviewing. But I'd like to reply to Black Vinta (your PM is disabled otherwise I would have messaged you that way).

I don't write lemons. Sorry if you're disappointed but I don't really do that kind of thing. Anyyywaaaay I will try to churn out FIFTEEN more chapters. I'm not saying it'll happen but I'll definitely try! To be perfectly honest I'm not actually sure what's going to happen next. I guess whatever happens… happens.

So, on to chapter four!

Since it was Sunday, I decided to sleep in. I mean like hard core sleeping in. I usually wake up at six for work… but I got up at 6:05. I'm bad. Just kidding. I slept in till about 9:30. Then Yuffie came in and woke me up. Her excuse was that she wanted to make sure I wasn't dead. She was probably just bored and wanted someone to talk to, seeing as Aerith hadn't come home last night. I wasn't too worried though. She was probably just sleeping over at Zack's house. Which reminded me…

Cloud. (Insert fan girl sigh here.) He was so dreamy. I could think about him all day and not get tired of it. But since I had actually had a social life I had to get dressed.

I looked around my room for something to wear and settled on some ripped blue skinny jeans and an old t-shirt from my high school that said Lakefield High School Tigers.

I walked out in one of the mismatched chairs at the kitchen table. Yuffie was sitting across from me with her laptop on, probably looking at gay porn or something.

"What are you working on?" I asked her.

"Oh, I'm just trying to find a free gay porn sight. All of these want my money!" she joked.

I shook my head in a mock scolding way. "Tsk, tsk, Yuffie. I thought you went to the therapist to get over your addiction! Do we need to send you back?"

She sighed. "It's just… it's so entertaining and it makes me so we-" she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

We looked at each other, and I silently asked her who it was. She shrugged and then pointed at me and then the door. Message received.

I got up and went to the door. I looked through the peephole before remembering that it had somehow been broken before we even moved in.

I opened the door, prepared to shut it quickly if I needed to.

"Cloud?" I asked when I saw who was standing there.

"Oh. Hey, Tifa. I didn't expect to find you here." He said nervously.

"I only live here." I replied sarcastically.

He blushed. He seemed really nervous about something. I saw him looking over my shoulder at something. I turned around and saw Yuffie mouthing something at Cloud. I glared at her. When she saw my glaring she cringed and waved goodbye to Cloud and then walked out of the kitchen. I turned back and looked at Cloud.

"Can we talk?" he asked me.

"Sure." I said, stepping out of the apartment and closing the door behind me.

"Um… I'm not really sure how to say this but Zack and I are going away for a while. I don't know when we'll be back, and I'm not sure how long we'll be there for." He said.

"So you're just leaving? What about Aerith? How does she feel about this?" I asked him. I was starting to get a little pissed.

"It's not like this is the first time we've done this. Aerith knows what it's like. Maybe you should talk to her about it." He paused for a moment and then said "I know this seems sudden, and I'm really sorry about that but… will you wait for me?"

I thought about it. This guy, who I'd just met, who was already leaving me for who knows where. But… I felt so drawn to him, how could I not say yes, I would wait for him?

"I'll wait for you… but you have to write to me. Every chance you get. Or call. It doesn't matter." I told him. "Promise me." I added on.

He looked me straight in the eyes and whispered "I promise."

I nodded my head once before I threw myself into his arms and held him tight.

"Just when we were getting close too…" I muttered to myself. Cloud must have heard me because he chuckled. I could feel it vibrate through his chest and into my cheek, which was laying on it.

We held each other for a little while before he pulled away. "I have to go. Our flight leaves at three."

"Ok. I'll walk with you to your bike." I told him. I held his hand as we walked down the stairs to the front lobby. We walked out side into the chilly air and I shivered.

His black bike gleamed in the sunlight. Zack pulled up with Aerith on the back of his bike. I watched her get off his bike and take off her helmet. I could immediately tell she was crying.

Zack opened his arms and she ran into them.

I turned away, I felt like I was intruding on something very intimate. Cloud and I locked eyes and I found I couldn't look away. His blue eyes seemed to be burning. I didn't seem to have a will of my own as I moved forward. We got closer and closer until we were right in front of each other. He lowered his head and our lips met.

It was desperate, and harsh, and it spoke of a million goodbyes, but it was also oh-so-sweet.

When we broke away we were both gasping for breath.

"If I knew how good kissing you was going to be I would have kissed you that first night at Wildcat." He said breathlessly.

I gave a weak laugh, but I felt my eyes well with tears. One slipped out and trickled down my cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb and pulled me in for a hug again. He held me as I buried my head into his chest and cried softly.

When I managed to compose myself, Cloud kissed me quickly once more and then got on his bike. He pulled on his helmet. He must have remembered something because he reached into his backpack that was sitting behind him. He dug around until he found what he was looking for. He pulled it out and handed it to me. It was a sealed envelope. I felt the heavy parchment paper on my fingers. This was the expensive stuff.

I looked up as the motorcycle roared to life. Cloud blew me a kiss and I caught it and put it in my pocket to save for later. I blew him a kiss back and he caught it and put it on his heart. I laughed.

Aerith and I watched as they drove away from us. I wanted to run after Cloud and tell him to come back or at least take me with him, but I knew that I could never catch up with them now.

"It gets harder every time to watch him go. I always can't help but think 'what if this is the last time I'll see him?' 'What if he doesn't come back?'" Aerith said.

I whipped my head around and looked at her. "What do you mean? What are they going to do?"

"They're being deployed. They're the best of the best. Wildcat is just a base for them where the higher-ups can reach them. They go out on missions for SOLDIER and sometimes they just barely make it home." Aerith said dully.

I was horrified. Barely come back alive? Does that mean that Cloud could be… killed? I shook my head. Anyone as strong as Cloud couldn't possibly be killed. But SOLDIER… those were hardcore people. I didn't even know that they had people here. We were so far from the capitol. The capitol was where SOLDIER was supposed to be situated.

"Cloud and Zack moved here to try and get away from SOLDIER, but somehow they found them and threatened to kill them and everyone they loved if they didn't cooperate. So, every so often they have to go on missions for SOLDIER." Aerith explained.

I was shell-shocked. Who could have imagined Zack and Cloud were SOLDIER operatives? They were so gentle, kind, and sweet. SOLDER operatives were supposed to be harsh, mean, killing machines.

"You look like you're about to pass out, Tifa. Let's go up to the apartment and talk about this. I'll even make you some hot chocolate." She said gently.

I did feel a little light-headed and dizzy.

"Ok…" I said quietly. I suddenly felt very detached from the world. I could see myself and Aerith standing near each other, and then I collapsed. I was brought back into my body with a snap. My eyes slid shut to Aerith's face hovering over my own.

When I came to I just lied there for a few minutes reliving what had happened. I longed for it not to be true and for Cloud to knock on the door and sweep me off my feet but I knew that wouldn't happen.

I reached up to brush some hair out of my face and I realized I was still holding the letter he had given me. I looked at it for a moment before I turned it over and opened it.

I pulled out the piece of paper inside and just looked at the writing. I didn't read it yet, I just looked at the boyish scrawl on the paper. When I was ready to read I concentrated on each word before I went to the next.

Tifa,

We just met a few days ago but I already feel like we have this connection. I can't explain it. If I could I would stay with you always.

I'm sure Aerith has already explained to you about SOLDIER and my involvement with it. I'm not like the others. Their only purpose is to kill. I'm not like that. The higher-ups only give Zack and me infiltration missions these days. We are good at what we do and we are paid well. That's how Zack and I were able to buy Wildcat.

We don't get sent on missions that often, maybe once or twice a year. There is no telling how long this one will last. I can't explain it to you either, otherwise that could put you in more danger than you are already in.

I'm sorry that I can't be a normal guy for you. I want to be the man you want me to be. I want to be your everything. When I get back I want to try to have a normal life with you despite SOLDIER.

Yours,

Cloud

I wiped my hands under my eyes to get rid of the stray tears that had accumulated there. I wanted him to be my everything too. I sat up and realized that I was on the couch in our living room.

I got up and rummaged around for a pen and some paper. When I finally located them I sat back down and put the piece of paper on the coffee table that was next to the couch.

I tapped the pen against my chin as I thought about what I wanted to say. I had so many unspoken words in side me that I was hard to sort them all out into something comprehensible.

When I finally managed to get my thoughts organized I put my pen against the paper and began to write. I poured it all out, pausing at some places to think about what I wanted to write about again, and scribbling out whole sentences because they didn't sound right. Finally though, I had managed to write down everything. Of course, I had had to start over a few times because it sounded too corny or just outright stupid but eventually I managed to write something I was pleased with.

I looked it over once more to make sure it was what I wanted before I sealed it in the envelope.

Cloud,

When Aerith told me that you were a part of SOLDIER, I didn't believe her, but the look in her eye told me that she was completely sincere. I didn't know what to think at first. I thought about SOLDIER's reputation and how you are the complete opposite from what everybody says that SOLDIER operatives are supposed to be. I can't imagine you as a heartless killing machine.

That said, I want you to do everything in your power to come back to me safe and sound. I want you back in my arms… soon. Please, please, please take care of yourself and be safe.

Aerith told me how SOLDIER threatened you and Zack, but don't worry about me too much because I can handle myself. I used to take karate lessons and I'm still pretty good at it. I can defend myself should anything happen.

So, while you're infiltrating whatever I'll think about ideas for dates we can go on when you get back SAFE AND SOUND.

I want you to be mine. Maybe not my everything but at least mine. I want to spend a lot more time with you so don't go off and get yourself killed or I'll kick your ass with my karate skills.

Yours,

Tifa

I thought it was a pretty good letter; just the right amount of seriousness and humor. I found an envelope in a drawer in the kitchen. I neatly folded the piece of paper I had written on and gently slid it into the envelope. I sealed it and turned it over to write Cloud's name on the front. I wrote his first name, and then I realized that I didn't know his last name. I furrowed my brow, trying to remember if anyone had ever mentioned it to me. If they had I certainly didn't remember.

Fortunately Yuffie wandered through the kitchen just then. "Yuffie, what's Cloud's last name?" I asked her.

"Oh good; you're up. Um, Strife, I think." She said.

"Are you sure? I asked her. She thought about it for a moment before she replied "Yeah, I'm positive."

I carefully printed Strife on the envelope and then stood up.

"I'm going out, I'll be back later." I told her.

Yuffie just nodded as her mouth was full because she had just taken a huge bite out of the muffin she was holding in her hand.

Before I left I grabbed a jacket out of my room and then left the apartment. I headed in the direction of the subway. While I walked I tried to remember the way to Wildcat.

When I reached the subway station I was pretty sure that I remembered how to get to Wildcat. I put my ticket in the slot and walked through that weird thing that spins around. I took my ticket back when I got to the other side.

As I waited for the subway to arrive I thought about when Cloud and I had kissed. It was so desperate at the time but it also had an underlying feel of sweetness that made me tingle all over. I was suddenly desperate to kiss Cloud again.

I sighed with longing as the subway arrived. I stepped on, along with about fifteen other people.

No one talked to each other and the only sound was the subway traveling along the rails, the screamo music that a teenage boy was listening to not far away from me, and the occasional rustle of paper as an old man turned the page in his newspaper.

My thoughts again wondered to Cloud. The shape of his eyebrows, the slope of his nose, the way his mouth would tilt up in a small smile whenever I did something that amused him.

I almost missed my stop I was so entranced in my thoughts. I was the only one who got off. I made my way back up to street level and walked down the sidewalk. I was getting more into the outskirts of town. There were a lot of warehouses down this way. Up ahead I could see the building that housed Wildcat.

It was starting to get a little colder now. I hurried my footsteps to get to the Wildcat faster.

Suddenly I felt my arm being grabbed and I was pulled into an alley between two empty warehouses. I tried to bring my other arm up but that was grabbed and pinned painfully behind my back.

"So you're Cloud's new sweetheart, huh? He hasn't had a feisty one in a while." A scratchy voice said into my ear.

"What do you want with me?" I asked him.

"You're coming with me to see the boss. He's verrrry interested in you. He wants to see what lucky girl has managed to catch Cloud's eye." The guy started dragging me down the alleyway, away from Wildcat.

I knew if I went with this guy a lot of bad things could happen so I started wiggling and squirming wildly. There was no way in hell I was going with this guy.

The guy in question tried to keep his grip on me but I managed to break free. I stumbled away from him and started running towards the end of the alley. Maybe I could circle around to Wildcat.

Just as I was about to step out onto the open street something ran into my back and went sprawling. My head cracked against the concrete and suddenly I had to work to see clearly.

I saw someone crouch in front of me and cover my mouth and nose with a cloth. A sickly sweet smell invaded my mouth and nose and I tried to get away but it seemed like my limbs all weighed a thousand pounds each.

The second to last thought I had before I blacked out was that maybe I couldn't protect myself after all. My last thought was that this was the second time I had passed out today. Then I closed my eyes and embraced the darkness.

Oh shit! Tifa just got taken out! What could possibly happen to her next? Will the boss of SOLDIER let her go? Who exactly was the guy that attacked her? I guess we'll just have to find out…