A/N: We're both not surprised if you want to kill us all for not updating in the last month, so we're well prepared if any of you scream at us for not updating recently!

One of us was in the USA (Utah if you want to know!) for two weeks and didn't bother to update and now won't shut up about how much warmer USA is compared to England.. And I have been out and about mostly, college has finished so now I've got 5 weeks free!

And also we have a minor excuse in that a 'friend' moved all the keys on the keyboard and it left us wondering how the hell to do anything so that took an hour or so to sort...

Once again our special thanks go to... writing gamer, cherrypudding, Oh No It's Mr Gibbles, Kaarina Helvete, kitsune13, vx-Luna-xv, Kisdota-The Freak GamerandDeadRosencrantzfor all reviewing and of course to everyone else who hasn't given up on us and decided we're useless and stopped reading (because of us not updating...Sorry again ahhh!)

So here's the eighth (too) long awaited instalment.


E S C A P E

Chapter Eight:

Introduction of the Flower Girl

Work was nothing more at its least a drag, but only when it's eleven in the morning and the only customers inside are ones who have nothing in their lives and want to drown away their sorrows, or the odd customers who can't tell how long they have been in the bar and still believe it's ten at night. Tifa wasn't even entirely sure why the bar was open at this time of the day; surely it costs more to keep it open in the mornings than how much it made with its few customers?

It wasn't possible to 'mix' things up either; there was no TV in The Honey Bee Inn except in one of the rooms that are at the entrance in that pentagon shaped room. Tifa had managed to stumble in one and had received a shock to say the least, before she slammed the door shut and returned to standing behind the bar. She vowed to never even go near those doors ever again.

In the past week she'd taken care of Marlene a couple of times, when Barret had said he had to set up a few meetings with the other members of Avalanche. Tifa hadn't been surprised when she found out Barret was the leader of the 'terrorist' group, she couldn't picture him taking orders from someone else.

Tifa glanced at the clock as she wiped her umpteenth glass that day, she wasn't even sure anymore which ones she'd wiped and which ones she hadn't.

The one thing that managed to help pass the time was that Jessie was working the same time and occasionally the two of them could stop and talk for a while before someone would stumble in and order a set of drinks.

At the minute Jessie was wiping the tables down, her eyes glazed over as she stared at nothing, clearly deep in thought as she did so.

She heard the doors open but didn't bother to glance up, it would most likely be another down on his luck guy who wants bury his thoughts and get lost in alcohol.

After a few minutes Jessie walked over a sorry look on her face as she strolled behind the bar. "I give up." She muttered, dropping down on one of the stools that were behind the bar.

"What's wrong?" Tifa asked, too enthusiastically for her liking, only over the fact that the two of them would have something to talk about and if they were lucky they might be able to drag it on for a whole hour.

"I think he's too quiet for me." Jessie answered. Tifa frowned and the girl tilted her head in one direction, Tifa followed her direction and stared at the young man sat in a booth against the wall. It was Cloud.

She hit herself for not looking up earlier and seeing it was him, he probably thought she was trying to ignore him! But she hadn't expected to see him here at all; surely he should be working somewhere. "All I get is one word answers or grunts...stupid Soldier..." She mumbled to herself.

Tifa was too busy watching the blonde young man who looked up and his bright blue eyes fell on her, Tifa smiled back at him and watched as the corner of his lips turned up slightly, remembering Zack saying that was the equivalent to everyone else's normal smiles.

"It's clearly not meant to be..." She heard Jessie rambling to herself, Tifa gave her a heartfelt squeeze of her shoulder and the other woman glanced up and gave her a small smile.

Before Jessie could continue speaking, Tifa waltzed round the bar and towards the blonde who was still watching her. "How can I help?" She smiled at him and he looked up at her, his eyebrows furrowed.

Tifa smiled when it suddenly dawned on him he was sat in a bar and he shook his head. "I'm fine." He replied looking up at her. Tifa felt the end of the conversation near and was about to turn round.

"I saw Zack yesterday." She added, determined to keep the conversation flowing. Cloud nodded once, she'd expected a look of surprise to flash across his face but it remained the same.

"I'm not surprised." He mumbled back, his eyes falling away from her face and his eyebrows furrowed obviously thinking back to something Zack had said or done. Tifa held back a laugh as she watched his expressions.

"Will you sit down?" He suddenly asked. The brunette glanced over her shoulder at Jessie who was watching intently before Tifa sunk into the leather seats to face the blonde. "I was thinking about what you said the other day, well two weeks ago." He began, his eyes not daring to focus on hers.

Tifa waited for him to continue and felt her heart lift when she realised her constant digression nearly two weeks ago with him had been taken in.

"And I'm going away for a weekend." He answered, bringing his leather clad hands onto the table. Tifa stared at the worn leather from endless amounts of fights he's clearly had.

"You probably need it." She said with a smile and got a grunt of a reply.

"And I'm going to Nibelheim." He muttered, his voice sounded almost pained like he still wasn't set on the decision and was almost forcing himself to do it. Really, he should force himself, his mother probably hadn't seen him for a while and it was his mother after all. She suddenly looked up and stared into his eyes and saw the raw emotion inside of them. Maybe that was his telltale look, which all she had to do was gaze into his eyes and she'd know what he was feeling.

They weren't cold at this moment, she could almost lose herself in them, and they reminded her of the colour of the sea and the sky. They set his bright blonde hair off perfectly and looked like they suited his pale face. She shook her head when she realised she was staring and had probably scared the blonde young man.

"And seeing I'm going to Nibelheim, I wondered if you wanted to, come along." He muttered again, his azure eyes searching her face for any sign of slyness, like she might instantly reject him. "You know, I thought you might want to, to see your dad...not because of me...I didn't mean that...to go back and see your family...not with me though...I'll just..."

She smiled at him as he finally finished his ramblings and realised he was digging a deeper hole as he continued. Tifa paused, she'd love to go back, but it's only been two weeks what would her father say; surely it will cost her a lot to leave. "I'll pay for everything; I'm driving there as well." He added, answering her question like he could read her mind.

"I couldn't let you..."

"It's my, present to you." She watched the corner of his lips twitch once more, before his cheeks flushed with colour.

"I'd love to Cloud." Tifa answered, she knew she couldn't afford it, she wasn't even sure how she'd get out of the city and she had no idea when the next opportunity to leave would come by.

"I just thought... you might like to come, because... when I was first here, I wanted nothing more but to see the sky and not the smog, or the plate." He stuttered slightly, before sighing once.

"It's very thoughtful of you Cloud." She smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. She wasn't just saying it to make him relax, she genuinely meant it, she was seeing a caring side of the blonde man and thought maybe he is a little recluse but she liked him just the way he was.

"Well... if you drop by at my apartment later, say three?" He asked and Tifa nodded while smiling up at him as he stood up. He had a nervous expression across his face and pursed his lips before nodding and headed out of the bar.

Tifa smiled as she watched him walk out. "What was that about?!" She heard Jessie suddenly cry and she twisted round. She saw her friends hurt expression like Tifa had dived in to take Cloud's full attention.

"He's taking me back home for the weekend, he's going there anyway." Tifa added hoping Jessie might not get to so offended. She watched the girl nod once before returning to wiping the table down.

The prospect of returning to Nibelheim with Cloud Strife was a strange one. What will everyone think of him now? She hoped their opinions would change once they see him, maybe not speak to him as he might come off a little cold. Tifa smiled at the thought before she suddenly realised a flaw in her plan, how will she tell her father how she got here? That Cloud brought her? What will her father say?


Tifa had raced home and changed into something much more suitable for a long car ride to Nibelheim and packed a few essentials seeing she had something back in Nibelheim still. Then with Cloud's address in her pocket she'd headed up towards the plate in search for his apartment. She'd had to stop a couple of times and ask where this place actually was and she was sure someone had pointed her in the wrong direction as she ended up walking back on herself.

The whole building looked far smarter than the flats she was living in and it wasn't a simple matter of strolling into the building. It took her a minute to work out what she needed to do and had to ring Cloud's apartment to be let in, Zack had answered the phone and she had to check it was the blonde's home before the other Soldier let her in.

Did Cloud live with Zack?

She hadn't seen that one coming; she thought Cloud would have liked his privacy. She'd walked into the metal lift that took her upwards and the doors slid open and she was greeted with the blonde's apartment.

Tifa took a step inside and the doors automatically closed behind her. It was far more luxurious than Jessie's and Barret's apartments put together. The walls were painted a calming cream and the furniture looked like pale wood save for the black corner couch which Zack was currently lying on. He had a bag of crisps placed on his chest while he stared up at the TV watching some strange TV show. His heavy black army boots were still on although they were untied and hung off of his feet as they too hung off of the edge of the couch. He turned and looked at her before waving. "He'll be out in a minute." He said signalling down a small corridor.

Tifa nodded thanks and turned to stare at the photographs he had hung on the wall. The blonde looked quite the photographer. She had no idea where half these places were but all of them she'd love to go to. Most of them had Cloud and Zack in the photo, with Zack's arm firmly locked round the blonde's neck. She laughed a tiny laugh and heard a laugh from Zack. "Cloud says he's not photogenic." Tifa laughed back at Zack and agreed with him mentally as not one had Cloud smiling save for one. Except this one was with a young woman wearing a simply pink dress. Her long hair was braided and she had a beautiful smile, she had her arms wrapped round the blonde and even Cloud had an arm placed round her slender figure. Did Cloud have a girlfriend?

She heard a door open behind her and it snapped her back into reality. She twisted round and watched as Cloud walked out, a duffle bag across his bag which he dumped on the floor. He gave her a small smile and glanced round the room. "I should have cleaned." He muttered and Tifa told him not to apologise. She stared at the two huge tires piled in the corner and then the mess of paper scattered across a table.

"I didn't realise you lived with Zack." She said, turning from the black haired man to Cloud.

Cloud frowned at the other Soldier. "I don't." He mumbled. "He only comes here because his place is too much of a mess."

"No it's not!" Zack mumbled his mouth full, whilst not tearing his eyes away from the TV for a split second. "Anyways, you do realise what you've let yourself be roped into Tifa?"

She shook her head and looked from the blonde who sighed in defeat and leant against the wall to let Zack explain himself.

"Cloud has a bike." Zack mumbled, tilting his head in the blonde's direction.

"There's nothing wrong with it." Cloud muttered.

"No, there's nothing wrong with the bike, but there's something wrong with you, I'm sure he goes suicidal when he drives it." Zack answers. "So, cling on for dear life if I was you, or just don't go and stay here with me." Zack added, his eyebrows rising in a warning glare. He patted the couch while staring at her.

Tifa laughed and looked to Cloud. "I am not a bad driver..." He muttered. Tifa smiled once more, she was surprised how much the two men had such a good friendship, compared how they're nearly completely opposite to one another.

She listened as Zack suddenly started complaining about what was he going to do over the weekend while Cloud was away and Cloud simply replied "Your job." She was sure Zack brought out the best of the blonde, most likely he was more comfortable around him than anyone else.

Tifa turned to the blonde who had disappeared to get dressed and returned in a deep navy blue turtle neck sweater without any sleeves, his pants were black and almost seemed to baggy for him round his legs. She frowned at the harness he had strapped across his back and wondered what it could possibly be for. "Ready?" He asked, snapping her out of her trance. Tifa nodded and made to follow him out of his apartment. He suddenly turned on Zack and pointed at him threateningly. "When I come back and find this place is a mess I'm blaming you, you know!"

Zack held his hands up like he was having a gun pointed at him. "Why do you always blame me!" He paused for a moment, his eyes staring up at the ceiling in deep thought. "It might be Seph!" He answered a smirk across his face.

"Like that will even happen." Cloud muttered a small smirk tugging on his own features. The metal doors slid open and the two of them step inside and watch the doors then slide shut. "I shouldn't leave him there." Cloud said, confiding in Tifa.

"I'm sure he won't be that bad." Tifa smiled.

Cloud turned to her, wondering how she always saw the best in everyone. He gave her a short sarcastic laugh and she smiled brightly in return. Every time she smiled, it made him feel like he'd just saved her life. It was an overwhelming but strange feeling nonetheless.

He led her down to the basement of the block of flats and towards his gleaming black bike which he was overly proud of. He stared at the shining black metal and turned to Tifa who had a look of horror on her face. "I'm not a bad driver." He answered in disbelief that Tifa had actually believed Zack.

Tifa didn't doubt Cloud's driving for a single second, but she was just wondering the speeds the blonde would reach with the huge machine.

Knowing there was nothing else he could do, he slid onto his bike and turned the engine on, it roared into life and he was sure he might have made Tifa jump. He looked up at her and she was still staring at the machine. He flicked open the two side compartments and reached for his duffle bag and slid it into the sides, he turned to look up at Tifa and saw a new look of terror plastered across her face at the sight of the six gleaming swords inside. He snapped the compartments shut quickly and turned to look at her. He understood completely the fact that he was once a quiet boy who lived next door to her and was now a full grown man who could wield the said six swords completely; he wouldn't be shocked if she had been taken by surprise.

"I have to stop off somewhere in Midgar, if that's alright." He told her. Tifa snapped out of her reverie and turned to face him, she gave him her best smile and he nodded once.

She walked forwards and slid onto the bike behind him. She watched him dig into his pocket and pull out a pair of riding goggles. "What are those for?!" She said with a laugh.

Cloud twisted to face her as he slid said goggles on and frowned at her. Tifa had to admit it, it suited him. "I thought you're some tough Soldier, scared of getting dirt in your eyes?" She teased. He laughed a low rumble and set the bike off.

As soon as he drove out of the building she felt the sudden change of momentum and clung onto the blonde as he sped down into Midgar. She clutched onto his navy sweater hoping she wasn't drawing any blood or caught his skin with her ferocious grip. She wanted to yell at him and tell him to slow down, but she was sure if she even opened her mouth she might end up with an endless amount of bugs inside, so kept her lips pursed shut and her eyes closed tight.

She had no idea how long he'd driven for, but it felt like less than ten seconds and when she realised he was slowing to a stop she still didn't want to let go in case he was going to allow the bike to roar into life once more. "Are you alright?" She heard him ask. She could feel his muscles twitch as he tried to turn round. "Tifa." He added, grabbing her hands and slowly prising her fingers off of his shirt. She felt the cold leather touch her fingers and for some reason she wanted nothing more but to feel his skin against hers.

She let her eyelids slowly slide open and she stared up at the blonde who had pulled his goggles off and let them rest on his chest. "If you don't want to come I understand." He muttered. "It's just faster to go by bike."

"No, I'll be okay!" She cried, not wanting to disappoint him after he'd been kind enough to invite her. "I was just a little, surprised."

Cloud nodded once and made to get off the bike while watching Tifa in case she suddenly passed out.

Tifa looked round and her eyes landed on the one single building that stood out. It was a church, in the middle of Midgar. Tifa suddenly remembered Marlene telling her about a church full of flowers and wondered if this is the place. "You can come in if you want." Cloud said, as he walked up the few stone steps while his hand was pressed against one of the heavy looking double doors. Tifa nodded and slid off the bike and followed after him.

He pushed the door open with ease and its hinges screeched in protest. Tifa was instantly hit by a strong sweet smell; she looked inside and saw the yellow and white flowers that adorned the end of the church. The whole building looked unused, like the idea of religion had been long forgotten. There was a hole in the roof and a few of the windows were smashed, while the many pews that led up to the flowers had a layer of dust on all of them.

She could hear the floorboards shrieking under Cloud's weight as he walked forwards. "Cloud!" Cried a beautiful voice. Tifa looked for the source and was surprised when she spotted a woman sat by the flowers that she had missed. She'd clearly been overwhelmed by the presence of the flowers and had missed the woman completely.

She watched the woman stand up and brush off her pink dress. Tifa was sure this was the same woman in Cloud's photos back in his apartment. She felt her legs go stiff and she stopped as Cloud kept walking forwards. The woman was indeed beautiful. Her long light brown hair was tied up by a pink ribbon which looked like it was starting to fray at the edges, but it clearly meant something to her. Her eyes were a shinning green that matched the colour of the leaves of the flowers; she looked every image of an angel.

"This is Tifa." She suddenly heard her voice and looked up and allowed a smile to spread across her face, she slowly walked forwards and stood besides Cloud. "This is Aerith."

Aerith. Tifa mused, it suited her.

"It's nice to meet you Tifa!" Aerith cried, smiling back at her that just like Zack made Tifa smile in return. She looked to Cloud and even saw the faint smile on his face, this woman clearly meant something to Cloud, and she had to judging from the smile on his face. "Oh!" Aerith suddenly turned on her heels and her pink dress swished round her slender legs, she ran to one of the many pews and picked up a simple brown envelope before handing it to Cloud. "I thought you might like to plant some for Mrs Strife." Aerith said with a beaming smile.

Cloud opened the envelope and stared inside and at the seeds. "You didn't have to." He answered before closing it once more.

"What's the point of enjoying something, if you can't share it with the world?" Aerith joked, while smiling at Tifa who nodded in agreement.

Was this woman Cloud's girlfriend? She obviously could make him smile with the simplest look in her eyes. It even felt like she had an aura around her that made you forget all the terrible things in the world and just make you feel so much happier. Tifa felt a lump form in her throat and swallowed it away. Why should she even be bothered if Cloud had a girlfriend or not? Aerith seemed a caring and loving person, which she was sure Cloud deserved.

"Will you be alright?" Cloud asked suddenly, his voice dripping in concern and anxiety. Tifa watched Aerith playfully push the blonde.

"Don't be silly." She laughed. "I'm okay every other day, why not just for the weekend?" Cloud nodded once agreeing with her. Tifa wondered suddenly what might be wrong with Aerith, for Cloud to be so concerned about. "Anyway, get going." Aerith added, she carefully kissed the blonde on the cheek and laughed as she watched the blush rise in his cheeks. "Make sure he drives safely Tifa."

"I will." She replied, finding herself instantly liking the older woman of maybe two or three years. Tifa heard Cloud mumble something about being a perfectly fine driver. "You are, just slow down a little." Tifa answered, catching the blonde off guard. He turned to her and nodded.

"And make sure Zack doesn't mess up my apartment Aerith." Cloud added with a quiet laugh and the flower girl replied with a nod.

Cloud turned and headed back out of the church and Tifa smiled at the other brunette. "It was nice meeting you Aerith."

"We should meet up sometime Tifa, when you get back." Aerith said softly, her eyes full of caring and charm. Tifa laughed in agreement and followed the blonde.

He closed the double doors behind them and headed to his bike.

Why are you feeling jealous Tifa? She cried to herself as she watched Cloud slide back onto his bike before pocketing the seeds. Yes Cloud was rather handsome he was no longer the scrawny boy of next door, but she'd constantly told herself that its personality mattered. But everyday she found herself warming to the blonde young man, who she wanted to figure out what was going through his head and help him break free and not be afraid to show his emotions. You can't be serious. She thought once more.

Tifa Lockheart couldn't be falling in love; could she?