Chapter 9

Date Night

Cloud had dropped Tifa off at her house so she could get ready and Cloud promised he would see her again in an hour. Marlene had protested that Cloud should stay a while but once they had told her they were going on a date she squealed and started shooing Cloud out the door. He quickly gave Tifa a quick kiss and sped off on Fenrir.

"No, No, um no and definitely no" Marlene declared looking over several of the outfits she had picked out and throwing them on the floor.

"Marlene! Don't throw them on the floor and what do you think I should wear?" Tifa asked she was getting all flustered this was actually the first proper date they were going to have and even though she was comfortable around him it didn't mean she wasn't nervous about their first official date.

"This" Marlene squealed holding up a navy bodice dress and a white cardigan.

"Are you sure I'll be on the back of Cloud's bike" Tifa said chewing on her lip, the outfit was cute but was it going to practical enough.

"Well put on these tights, oh and these shoes and just wear this jacket while you're on the bike" Marlene said holding up the shoes, tights and the jacket.

"Oh fine now shoo so I can get ready" Tifa sighed, Marlene ran out the room and Tifa started getting ready.

"So how do I look?" Tifa asked as she emerged from her room wearing the dress, cardigan, with navy and white heels and sheer skin toned tights, her hair was pinned back with a simple clasp that had little tiny studded horse shoes on and a matching necklace.

"Oh wow Tifa you look beautiful" Marlene declared

"Um pretty good you and lover boy going out tonight then?" Barret said

"Yeah he's taking me to the Gold Saucer" Tifa replied.

"Well have fun and behave" Barret added giving Tifa a look, she giggled and left the room hearing the sound of Fenrir approaching.

Tifa stood on the doorstep as Cloud parked Fenrir by the fence, he ran to greet her but came to a complete halt, his eyes lingering over Tifa's body she looked stunning and he was unable to move, the dressed hugged her in all the right places and Cloud was going to have a hard time keeping his hands off her and well keeping others away. Tifa had been checking out Cloud too, he was dressed in a tight black shirt showing off his muscles and a open dark blue dress shirt and rather tight jeans and Tifa had pretty much a similar thought that she would struggle to keep her hands off him. Eventually the two were able to move and in one fast motion Cloud swept Tifa off her feet, wrapping his arms around her and kissed her, she was giggling when they pulled away.

"Wow Teef you look amazing I'm going struggling to keep my hands off you" Cloud whispered his hot breath against Tifa's ear.

"I can say the same thing about you" Tifa purred back

"So ready to go?" Cloud asked breaking the embrace and extending his hand towards Tifa, Tifa nodded and took his hand and he lead her to Fenrir.

When they arrived at the Gold Saucer Tifa was amazed by it all she had never been there before and she was taken aback by all the bright lights, noises and colours that the place was filled with.

"Come on Tifa there's more to see than just the outside" Cloud said taking her hand and leading her inside. The first place Cloud took her was to the gondola ride which was simply breathing taking not that they had spent much time looking at the passing scenery they spent most of the time in the private gondola making out. Then it was over to wonder square where they played some of the games and Cloud won Tifa a large stuffed blue unicorn and then they headed to the theme park's 'restaurant' where they had to sit at a table with three chairs because of the unicorn and shared some fries and a strawberry milkshake.

After they had finished eating Cloud took Tifa event square to see whatever play was showing that night, it happened to be some cheesy romance and Cloud and Tifa had almost been asked to be the leading roles but they had managed to worm their way out of it. Sharing a large bucket of popcorn they spent most of the play laughing at how ridiculous it was and feeding popcorn to one another. Tifa was a little sleepy by the end of the play.

"Hey shall we go somewhere else or do you want me to take you home?" Cloud asked as they left the theatre.

"Neither I want to stay with you" Tifa said then let out a yawn.

"Well how about I take you back to my place and we can watch a movie or something?" Cloud suggested keeping a hold on Tifa.

"Yeah sounds good" Tifa agreed sleepily.

Once they arrived at back at Fenrir Cloud had to work around the stuffed unicorn, Tifa wasn't going to leave it behind so they had stuffed it into the bike's storage compartment.

Tifa had woken up a bit on the ride to Cloud's with the cool wind blowing in her face. It had taken around 30 minutes to reach Cloud's apartment from the Gold Saucer and when they parked up in front of Cloud's apartment block Tifa was ready to follow Cloud up the stairs but he literally lifted her off her feet and carried her bridal style into his home. Gently he placed her down on his sofa and gently kissed her. Cloud then left to go put on the kettle for coffee before returning to the lounge where he had found Tifa almost dozing.

"Teef?" Cloud said gently giving her arm a shake. Her eyes fluttered open but her vision was slightly blurry and she ended up punching Cloud in the face, her eyes widen in shock at what she had done and immediately she started apologising.

"Oh Cloud I'm sorry I'm really so very sorry" she repeated over and over as tears rolled down her checks.

"Teef its fine nose not broken and I can still kiss you cos you just got my cheek" Cloud smiled and kissed a stray tear away.

"Are you sure I'm really real.." she didn't get to finish as Cloud silenced her with his lips on hers. Their kiss deepened and Cloud lifted Tifa from the couch and carried her clumsily to the bedroom, kicking the door open then shut behind him he placed Tifa down on the bed, she tighten her grip on Cloud's neck and pulled his lips to hers again the kiss was filled with love all of it being released in that one kiss.

"Teef you don't know how much I love you" Cloud moaned in Tifa's ear.

"Cloud I love you too" Tifa said with her eyes almost a glow with the love she had for Cloud, they hadn't been back in each other's lives for two long now but even with all those years apart they had held onto the love for each other. The coffee had long been forgotten about the two of them lost in each other.

"Morning" Cloud said as he kissed Tifa's bare shoulder as she began to stir

"Good morning to you too" Tifa smiled her voice almost childlike in the quite room as she turned to face Cloud.

"How did you sleep" Cloud whispered wrapping his arms around Tifa and pulling her closer

"Best night's sleep ever" Tifa yawned stretching ever so slightly in Cloud's hold. Rather reluctantly they forced themselves out of Cloud's bed and began getting ready to go to work at the stables.

Tifa had put the outfit she had on the night before so she was dreading turning up the stables and facing the walk of shame.

"Cloud can we stop at mine before work please I can't really go to work like this" Tifa sighed trying to smooth out her wrinkled dress.

"Duh of course we can" Cloud laughed at her as he continued to cook the breakfast.

Arriving at the stables Reno was standing waiting for them he had once again been sent to tell them to report to Rufus' office once again.

"Cloud, Tifa Rufus' office now don't ask why because I don't know" Reno shouted at the pair as Fenrir's engine was cut off.

"Oh god what the hell does that ass hole want this time" Cloud sighed as he offered Tifa a hand of the bike.

"I don't know and something tells me I don't want to" Tifa agreed shaking her head taking Cloud's hand as they headed to the Rufus' office.

Cloud had once again barged in Rufus Shinra was really starting to piss Cloud off now they had been called to his office to many times now and each time Rufus had been staring at Tifa's chest.

"Good your here, take a seat" Rufus huffed clearly unhappy about something. Cloud took a seat first and pulled Tifa onto his lap making Rufus' already mad expression turn darker.

"So what are we here for" Cloud demanded

"THIS!" Rufus spat and throw a stack of newspapers down on the coffee table.

"What about them" Cloud shrugged he had not bothered leaning forward and having a better look he was too interested in playing with Tifa's hair.

"Tifa's single image is now ruined can you explain these pictures and headlines?" Rufus demanded holing up the papers that showed several pictures of Cloud and Tifa together, some shots of them kissing others just holding hands and some of the cuddle but all of them had been taken at the Gold Saucer where they had been on their first proper date.

"So what Tifa maybe in the spotlight but that shouldn't mean she can't have a private, social and dating life now does it you you" Cloud defended before Tifa gave him a look.

"Rufus don't you get it? I don't and I never have and I never will love you I love Cloud and that is my choice and nothing you do or say will make that change" Tifa declared getting up from Cloud's lap and if it was possible she seemed to grow she looked taller than Rufus and stared him down then in one quick motion she pulled Cloud off the sofa and kissed him and when she broke the kiss she took Cloud's hand and dragged him out the room she was not going to let Rufus ruin her day not after the mood she had woken up in.

"Teef slow down" Cloud said panting for breath as he had been dragged down to the stables.

"Oh sorry Cloud" Tifa grinned her anger dimming a little.

"Teef its fine" Cloud teased a little.

"I'm sorry but I need to get away from here ride out into the woods anyway I've been wanting to show this place for ages now" Tifa said her smile returning to its usual beauty.

As quickly as they could they tacked up Indi and Ivy and headed out the yard. They started out side by side and although Indi and Ivy had never met before they didn't try to bite or kick each other. They carried on side by side until Tifa brought them to the edge of the woods the surrounded the west of the stables and actually led down to a natural cross country course if you knew where to look but that wasn't Tifa's intended course. With Tifa taking point she lead Cloud and Ivy through the woods down a rather steep hill that was covered in overgrown tree roots. Cloud had to lean so far back that he believed any further would mean he would be lying down on Ivy well oddly anyway and give Ivy her rein so he was practically was just riding at the buckle. Thankfully for Cloud the ground levelled out and after a few more strides Tifa closely followed by Cloud emerged in a beautiful clearing in the middle of the woods.

"Wow" Cloud gasped taking in his new surroundings.

"I know right" Tifa smiled looking back at him from Indi. Tifa halted Indi underneath the shade of a tree, dismounted loosen his girth and ran up the stirrups and tethered Indi in the shade of the tree, Cloud gave her a look and she nodded and Cloud followed suit.

"So um why did you bring me here?" Cloud asked looking around.

"Well I wanted to share this place with you no one else but you know of this place" she giggled and pulled Cloud further into the clearing. Tifa suddenly stopped and threw herself on the ground pulling Cloud down with her she was giggling she couldn't help it this place always made Tifa like the little girl she used to be before her mother died. Cloud looked over at the giggling women that he loved she was beautiful in the soft sunlight.

"Well Tifa thank you for sharing this place with me I really appreciate it" Cloud smiled

"Well that's because I love you Cloud and well I brought you here for more than just to share this with you I want to talk to you about something" Tifa explained her smile faulting a little at her last words.

"Sure what is it?" Cloud asked moving a little closer to Tifa.

"Well remember when I told you I had found out about Rufus, Hojo and the horses well since then I've been thinking about how to get rid of Rufus" Tifa stated

"Well let's hear it then I will do anything to get rid of Rufus for good" Cloud grinned he was really pleased that Tifa was not only sharing her secret place with him but she had actually been planning a way to get rid of Rufus and even Hojo which Cloud loved the idea of.