Pt 12

Over the knot, under the knot, over the knot, under the knot, over the kn-

"That's not how you do it."

Tifa squeaked, almost jumping out of her skin as Aerith's head appeared over her shoulder, a hand appearing over the other shoulder to pluck the knot from her fingers.

"You have to think about the way the knot is built," Aerith explained, untying the mess within a few seconds, "There are different parts that are holding it together, you have to understand them if you're going to understand and complete the knot itself."

Tifa nodded, watching as Aerith deftly tied the knot and held it up. "But I keep trying, and it never really works. I think I get lost somewhere in the middle."

Aerith smiled as she untied the knot again and sat down in the chair on the opposite side of Tifa's desk. "Where did you get this from anyway?" She asked.

"A training program." Tifa said, reaching over the desk to take back the string.

Aerith frowned. "A training program? But we haven't done a training program in 6 months..." She paused, realisation colouring her features. "Tifa, have you been struggling with this for 6 months?!"

Tifa pouted, doggedly re-attempting the knot and ignoring Aerith, who was bent double with laughter, tears appearing in her eyes, clutching the edge of the desk to stop herself toppling off the chair and onto the floor. "Gosh," Aerith gasped when she was recovered enough to sit fully in the chair, "You're so funny! Why don't you just give up! You don't have to be perfect at it; you probably won't even use a knot like that."

"But I want to be able to do it." Tifa whined, "It annoys me when I can't do something!"

"I know," Aerith giggled, "Like that one time when you couldn't hit the can off the wall, you spent so much time throwing those knives at it and then you just gave up and shot it down!"

A smile broke across Tifa's face at the memory, "Yeah, exactly like that."

They sat reminiscing for a moment before Aerith leapt up out of her chair, beaming, "Our shift's over, why don't we go somewhere?"

An excited grin flashed across Tifa's face, before she remembered and her face fell, "I can't Aerith, sorry..."

"Oh, why not?"

"I h-have..." Tifa paused. She couldn't very well tell her that she was keeping a sick criminal in her home and that he was in her bed wearing nothing but his boxers, even the thought nearly made her blush. "To... sort my friend out..."

Aerith raised an eyebrow, probably making assumptions about this 'friend', but shrugged and turned to grab her coat, throwing Tifa's at her just in time for it to land over her head as she lowered her eyes to the string in her hands. Fine, be that way...

When she got into her apartment, she shrugged off the jacket and went to go check on Cloud, who was still sleeping soundly, the covers tucked right up under his chin, his hair ruffled and sticking out at all angles. Truth be told, he looked very sweet all cuddled up in bed. He looked a bit pink actually.

Walking over, she poked a hand under the tickly spikes and felt his forehead. It was really warm and felt as though he was coming down with a fever. She sighed, picked up the empty mug from the bedside table and turned to leave. "Teef?"

She turned back at the feeble voice to see his bright blue eyes peeking out of the covers at her. He coughed pathetically, "Can I have a drink of water?"

Nodding, she turned and left, closing the door behind her and conducting a silent serenade about how utterly cute he was, even if he was ill. Straightening her clothing after her little girly moment, she walked into the kitchen, shoved the mug in the dishwasher, and got a fresh glass from the cupboard and filled it with water.

When she returned, he was sitting up in bed and was breaking out a couple more painkillers with shaking hands. She handed him the water and watched as he downed it, along with the pills in one. She caught the glass as he dropped it suddenly, his hand coming up to clutch at his head as he groaned and collapsed back on the pillows. Her eyes widened, "Cloud?!"

"M'fine..." He mumbled, hardly moving on the bed, even as his eyes flickered open for a brief moment to rest on her, "Just the cold water..."

"Oh," Tifa breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought I'd killed you or something..."

"No," He mumbled, "But I might survive better if you were down here with me?"

She narrowed her eyes at his suggestion and left to re-fill the glass. When she came back, he was already asleep, the covers only coming up to his waist, one hand thrown over his face. She put the glass on the table and tugged the covers up to his neck at least, if not for his sake, for hers.

She sighed as her stomach grumbled and wondered what he'd want to eat. She wasn't much of a cook, but she wasn't incapacitated either, so she could make it edible at the least. And since he was in no fit shape to go home himself, she was going to have to feed him something; she doubted he would have eaten during the day.

Diner it turned out was going to be a pasta bake, and while she was waiting for the pasta to boil, she decided to shove his clothes in the washing machine, fishing the jacket from the sink and bunging that in there too. It also gave her a bit of time to sit down and worry about the knot a bit more, but not for long as the pasta was boiled then and she still hadn't done the cheese sauce.

After a panic and rush around about the food, she was done and finished and had two platefuls of it on a tray. Well, it was a bit mean to confine him to the bed and then leave him there alone; besides, she had to make sure he didn't fall asleep in it or something.

"Cloud." She jogged his shoulder, smiling when he opened his eyes and moved the hand from across his face. He looked groggily at her, before sitting up slowly with her help. "Do you want something to eat?" She asked.

"What is it?" He mumbled, shutting his eyes and allowing for his head to stop swimming.

"Pasta bake."

"Not really... But it looks good..."

She paused; not knowing whether to be offended that he didn't want to eat it, or flattered by the fact he said it looked good. She picked up a plate and some cutlery and held it out to him, but ended up having to put it in his lap for him because he was too weak even to hold the plate. Then she picked up the remaining plate and climbed onto the bed beside him, sitting cross-legged with her food in front of her.

He watched her getting comfortable, then looked at the food on his plate. It did look nice, and he was really hungry, but he was feeling sick anyway and if he was going to chuck he didn't want it to be something she'd cooked for him. Great proclamation of love that would be, "You've cooked me something really nice, here, would you like to see it back again?" He wrinkled his nose.

"Is there something wrong with it?"

He looked up to find Tifa watching him with a vaguely offended expression, "No! There's nothing wrong with it!"

"Then why are you pulling a face?"

"Just.... something I thought..." He mumbled, putting the first forkful in his mouth and stopping, his eyes wide like saucers.

"What?" Tifa asked worried, eating some hurriedly in case it tasted revolting and she'd inadvertently fed him something disgusting. Just as she was thinking it tasted fine – thank goodness-

"It's delicious!" He almost squealed, shovelling it in as fast as he could and still manage to chew. Tifa grinned in self-satisfaction and dug into her own plate, watching him out of the corner of her eye, happily scoffing the food.

When they'd finished eating, she collected their plates and took them into the kitchen, stooping to put them in the dishwasher. Straightening up, she was just turning to grab a glass of water, when the phone rang in her room. Great! If Cloud was trying to sleep, it would have woken him up immediately!

She rushed into her room, passing the comfy looking Cloud who had propped himself up on some pillows, and grabbed the phone, growling into the handset "Yes?"

"Tifa? It's Rude. Are you alright?"

"Oh!" Tifa exclaimed surprised, "Sorry, I thought you were going to be another one of those salesmen. How are you?"

"I'm alright. I was thinking I hadn't spoken to you in a while, so I wanted to give you a ring, see if you were available?"

"Yeah..." Tifa said uncertainly, wrinkling her nose as she gave Cloud a look. He was watching her with a slightly confused look on his face. "Hang on I need to switch rooms..." She said, pointing at Cloud then putting her hands together by the side of her head, signalling to him he should sleep. He frowned at her and mouthed 'Who?'.

Shaking her head, she pointed at him again and repeated the gesture. On the other end of the line Rude asked, "Is this a bad time? You seem a bit distracted."

"No," Tifa smiled, giving up on Cloud and walking to the door, "This isn't a bad time at all!"

When the door had clicked shut, Cloud frowned even deeper. It was obvious that there was some guy on the other end of the phone, and Tifa didn't want him to know who. His mind sped back to what Zack had said, "She'll start looking for fun with other people who aren't going to bug her all the time." He decided he had to know, and slid down the bed to lie flat on his back, slowing his breathing to listen intently. He could just about make out the conversation going on the other side of the door. One-sided though it was.

"It's just Cloud was trying to sleep."

No he flipping well wasn't! He was actually very awake now he had some warm food inside him and was feeling much better thank you very nicely!

"He's just a friend Rude, that's all, don't worry..."

That's all! That wasn't bloody all! Wait until he finds out him being in her bed! (Smug look)

"Is there a problem with him sleeping in my bed?"

Not from the person in the bed there's not, but if it makes him jealous, it's all worth it.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that, do you think I should move him then?"

What?! Move him? No don't move him! He rather likes it here, he would have you know!

"He's ill."

Certainly far too ill to be moved anywhere...

"I don't know, he was really cold and he looked blue this morning. He was out in the rain and then didn't bother to change."

Out in the rain getting her food he would remind everyone. And she didn't even eat it! (Sniff sniff)

"I know, what an idiot! Haha, no I know though!"

Pfft! Idiot yourself! He wouldn't be in this sorry state if it hadn't been for her neglecting to feed herself.

"When? Tomorrow? Yeah, I guess I'm free then."

Wait, what? Free? To see him!? But this couldn't happen! This was dreadful!

"Alright, I'll see you then. Bye Rude!"

The door swung in and Tifa skipped in with a huge grin on her face, dancing her way over to practically slam the phone back in the charger. He couldn't help himself, "You're seeing another guy?"

The excitement flickered on her face before she bit her bottom lip and said, "Shouldn't you be sleeping? You're ill remember."

He frowned as she went round the opposite side of the bed and dug around in the dresser, pulling out a top and shorts and disappearing into the bathroom, leaving Cloud watching her receding arse with a decidedly unhappy expression.

When Tifa came back in her sleep-wear, she frowned at the back of Cloud's head. It wasn't as though she'd never shared a bed with anyone, but that was her best friend, and he'd never tried to do anything to her before. Unlike someone she knew. Sighing, she walked over to the bed and climbed in, keeping as close to her edge as she could and still have any of the covers.

"I don't bite you know." He said, sounding very depressed. He looked over her shoulder at his rigid form and nodded, knowing full-well he couldn't see it. His mood was infectious it seemed as he'd brought her previously sugary disposition to an all time low.

"Can you turn the light off? The switch is by your head." She winced as he punched out the lights, literally, and added "Please don't break my wall..."


A/N: Well, I'm really sorry for the massive wait, but you'll be pleased to read that I have got up to chapter 17 ready to post, and that is my gift of apology to you all... Sorry about the long wait x( Internet problem... :(

But anyway, what did you think??