First and foremost, thank you much to all my reviewers.

Disclaimer remains the same, as always.

Distance

Chapter 8: Slow Seduction

Shock was pretty much the only emotion that could explain the groups reaction to Leon's actions. He was practically sucking Yuffie's face off! When Leon had grabbed her, Yuffie had braced her hands on the front of his shoulders, but now they were wrapped around his neck. His right hand was cradling the back of neck, while the other was keeping her pelvis pressed closely to his.

Cloud caught hold of Cid before he could stalk over to the Gunblade specialist and strangle him.

"Lemme go! LEMME GO!" Cid growled as he struggled violently to get out of Cloud's iron grip.

"Leave them alone. Yuffie's a grown woman, she can do whatever and/or whoever she wants!" Cloud said and then grunted slightly when Cid elbowed him in the gut.

"That's not the point!" Cid exclaimed and finally got out of Cloud's grasp.

Cid straightened his clothes with abrupt jerks and then glowered at the younger blonde.

"Then what is the point?" Cloud asked wearily.

"I can't help being protective of her! You may look at her and see a grown woman… kissin' Leon," Cid growled. "I look at her and see a little girl who appeared out of nowhere, with no one to care for her, a look of resigned detachment and a sad smile on her face! I practically adopted her the moment I took her in. Can you blame me for being a father figure to her!" Cid said and then scrubbed his calloused hand over his eyes.

"A-hem!" Tifa cleared her throat abruptly, causing Cid to poke himself in the eye.

He yelped and began sputtering profanities rapidly, drawing everyone's attention to the pissed off older blonde.

Yuffie's hands slid down to Leon's pecks, and slowly, she pulled back to catch her lost breath. She had forgotten how devastating Leon's kisses could be! And as memories of that night arose, a fine blush dusted her cheekbones.

"What was that for?" Yuffie asked gently, opening her eyes.

"For coming back." Leon said quietly.

Yuffie was taken aback. She wasn't expecting Leon to say something like that. Hell, she wasn't expecting him to have anything nice to say to her let alone kiss her!

"Oh? Is that so? What would I get if I pissed you off?" Yuffie asked slowly, her eyes sifting from gunmetal to a warm chocolate brown.

Leon noticed the shift in eye color, but disregarded it in favor of telling her just a bare sample of what was on his mind. He gave her a rare, slow, heated smile that showed a bare hint of his teeth.

He leaned closer and pressed his lips to her unseen ear. "How about being pressed against a wall with your legs around my waist?" Leon whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear, and sending fine shivers coursing down her spine.

Yuffie's brows arched slightly, intrigued. As her blush died down, her lips quirked.

"And if I ran before you could do so?" Yuffie asked quietly.

"Then I'd have to give chase." Leon gave a low purr. "Hmm, chasing you sounds like a good idea."

Yuffie fought the urge to swallow hard at the idea of being chased by Leon. Abruptly she shut down all the… interesting ideas that could result from that chase.

"I doubt you'd be able to catch me." Yuffie smiled flirtatiously and then silkily slipped out of his hands and walked towards Cid and Cloud who were now arguing fiercely. Yuffie caught the smile forming on the corners of Tifa's lips.

"Is that a challenge?" Leon called out.

Yuffie smiled as she held her elbows behind her back and stopped. She twisted her upper torso to where she could look at Leon without straining her neck and she gave him a suggestive wink.

"No, it's not a challenge. It's an outright offer." Yuffie said, looking Leon from head to foot and back with a look that only a woman could pull off.

Leon felt every nerve ending in his body come into attention with frighteningly clear intention. He swallowed hard when Yuffie smiled his way, and felt his groin twitch violently when she turned and walked towards the two blondes with a suggestive twitch of her hips.

Leon internally winced at the owlish glare Cid shot his way. Leon arched his brow, causing Cid's glare to intensify tenfold. Feeling defiant for some reason, Leon shot Cid a full on grin. Two things were the result of that stunt. One, It threw Cid off guard and two, it also pissed him off. "C'mere you brat!" Cid howled with his spear brandished. He then ran towards Leon, who looked at the older man in disbelief.

Yuffie stepped out of Cid's way, and looked at Cloud and then back at Cid who was wildly swinging his pole at the easily evading Leon. "What's that all about?" Yuffie asked.

"Cid's having trouble digesting that you're grown up and having interest in the opposite sex." Tifa smiled.

Aerith caught the private look Tifa and Yuffie shared, and couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the close friendship they shared. Aerith shook those feelings away. It wouldn't do to make Yuffie even more distant than she already was!

"How about we go to the castle and get something to eat?" Aerith suggested.

"Oh you don't have to put up with us. Yuffie and I were going to rent a hotel room." Tifa said.

Cloud whirled around at Tifa's comment.

"Absolutely not! We have hundreds of rooms in the castle, you'll stay with us!" Cloud said.

Yuffie coughed something resembling an 'I-told-ya-so' and Tifa scowled at the young woman.

"Cloud's right. We have lots of room, why waste your munny on a hotel when you have a place with us?" Aerith asked.

Tifa looked at Aerith, unsure. "I…" Tifa started.

"I won't take no for an answer! Besides, it'll be nice to have female company for a change! The guys are great, but…" Aerith trailed off.

"Okay! Ok! We'll stay at the castle!" Tifa chuckled.

"Uh, would you two go break them up? I'd like to have a few words with Cloud privately. We'll meet ya back at the castle." Yuffie said as she looped her arm with Cloud's and led him towards the castle.

Tifa and Aerith shared a puzzled look but did as asked.

……………..

Cloud swallowed slightly as they made their way to the castle.

"So…? What did you want to talk about?" Cloud asked hesitantly.

"Just kinda curious as to what's been happening since I've been gone. Have you and Aerith started a relationship?" Yuffie asked casually.

Cloud shook his head. "No. I care for her, but not in the way I thought I did." Cloud said quietly.

Yuffie swallowed hard. "I hope my leaving wasn't the cause." Yuffie said.

Cloud shook his head again. "No, no. I mean, you're leaving hurt, but… that's not what caused it." Cloud murmured.

Yuffie nodded gently, and then took in a deep breath when a cool breeze picked up. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, causing Cloud to turn his attention from the ground to her. Cid was right. They may look at her and see a grown woman, but at this moment, Cloud could see the little girl that had appeared out of nowhere with a look of resigned detachment and a sorrowful smile.

Cloud let out a sharp breath and pulled Yuffie into a tight hug. Cloud had never realized how much he had considered her a little sister until she was standing before him a grown woman. She had grown up, and he hadn't been there to witness the transformation.

Yuffie sighed and hugged him back. Teasing him now would ruin the moment. She felt a stray tear slid down her cheek at a sudden realization. Cloud had finally let her in.

……………..

"So… what's for dinner?" Cid asked, tentatively touching the underside of his black eye.

Tifa and Aerith were walking ahead of the two men, both trying not to laugh at how ridiculous they looked. Tifa had used a pair of handcuffs, which she had conveniently found in one of her pockets, to shackle Leon and Cid together.

They were scowling.

Hard.

"Would you mind uncuffing us? It's not exactly my fault the old man had a near coronary." Leon said.

"What?!" Cid roared.

Tifa bit her lower lip to keep from laughing outright.

"Pffft!" Aerith let out a quiet laugh and put her hand over her mouth to stifle her own laughter.

"Y'know Aerith? Yuffie makes a mean pasta bowl, maybe we can persuade her into making dinner tonight?" Tifa said, causing the two fussing males to quiet down quickly.

"Wow, had I known all I had to do was mention food, that you two would stop arguing, I would have said something fifteen minuets ago." Tifa said causing both males to scowl.

Aerith giggled under her breath.

"Aerith?" Tifa asked after a few minuets,

"Yes?" Aerith asked.

"You wouldn't happen to have a camera would you?" Tifa asked.

Both males took on something akin to horrified expressions.

"Actually I do… hey great idea!" Aerith exclaimed catching Tifa's drift.

"There is no way in hell…. Hey! Get back here!" Cid shouted as the two females took off running.

"We're going to have to call a truce if we want to avoid blackmail." Leon said.

"Deal." Cid muttered as they took off running. "Be aware, Imma get ya back for deckin' me!"

"Whatever you say old man. Whatever you say." Leon chuckled.

O.o Ok! I'd say that's a wrap for now! R&R!!!