1) I am very sorry for being so long. Profile explains all.

2) I'm hoping this chapter will gain some, if not all of your forgiveness xD

Chapter Nine

Awkward was not enough to describe how Cloud was feeling about Aeris moving in with him. Sure, he had lived with Tifa before she left but it had taken a good few years before he plucked up the courage to ask her to move in with him. And it wasn't only that. Cloud just was not sure how he felt about living with a woman when they weren't in a relationship. He knew it was silly, but he just didn't feel right about it.

The fact that Yuffie had scoffed and muttered that he should be a man for once, when he told her his troubles, hadn't helped him gain any confidence. But somehow, Cloud had managed to get to Aeris' hospital room to pick her up and get her to the car pack so he could drive her home.

Aeris was silent the whole time and Cloud could tell she was doubting everything. When he and Yuffie had first told her, she had refused and tried to convince them that everything was fine. But as Yuffie began describing some gruesome scenes of housewives battered to death that she had seen on the television in an attempt to get through to her, Aeris began to listen. It didn't take long for her to agree after that and Cloud was thankful because, even though he knew what Yuffie had described was exceptionally rare, he didn't want to think of Aeris dying in such a cruel way. Finding her unconscious at the bottom of the stairs was already hurtful enough and the image of her motionless body still burned fresh in his mind.

As they reached Fenrir, he passed her a helmet and straddled the bike. "Make sure you hold on," he warned as she got on behind him. She grabbed the sides of the bike firmly and Cloud was relieved by her choice. He was never one for getting touchy-feely with anyone; he was not even that cuddly to Tifa when she was around.

Cloud shook his head to clear his mind and started the bike. As it jerked forward, Aeris gave out a surprised 'eep' and the force sent her colliding into his back. Cloud merely grunted in response and concentrated on the road ahead.

"Never again!" she muttered as she stepped off the bike, holding her stomach. "I really thought I was going to die!"

Cloud rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid!"

"I'm serious!" she cried.

Cloud's lips twitched slight but he said nothing. Shaking his head, he turned and walked up to the door. Aeris followed meekly behind but was distracted by the sound of meowing. Looking down she saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing up at her as a black cat stepped out of the bushes. As Cloud opened the door, she crouched down and held her hand out, rubbing her fingers together in a coaxing manner.

"Come on," she cooed, outstretching her hand further. The cat stayed where it was and clearly had no intent to go with her wishes. Aeris huffed and stood up.

"He's not coming in here!" Cloud said gruffly, hissing at the cat. It took off immediately. Aeris watched it go and opened her mouth to say something but then thought better of it and closed it again.

Cloud acted as though nothing had happened and motioned with his hand for her to follow. Tentatively, she stepped over the threshold and followed him down the hall.

"You've been here before so you know where everything is," he said as they passed the kitchen. He came to a sudden stop at the door next to it and pushed it open. "This will be your room."

He stepped aside to let her have a look inside. The sheets looked clean and fresh and the room had an air of homeliness about it. She remembered this room; it had once been Tifa's office. Aeris surveyed the room once more and turned to Cloud.

"You didn't have to…" she began but Cloud shook his head.

"Yes I did," he replied. "That stuff has needed to be moved for ages."

"But Tifa…" she started but stopped herself. She sighed and shook her head, clearly realising that bringing up Tifa was a bad idea. She stepped into the room and sat down on the bed.

"I'll get you some clothes to sleep in," he commented before leaving. Aeris stood up again with a heavy sigh and glanced around her once more. Restlessness was clinging to her and with lack of anything else to do, she crossed the room and shut the curtains. Cloud returned then, holding a T-shirt in his hands.

"Here," he muttered handing it to her. "Yuffie said she's going to take you shopping for stuff tomorrow."

"I don't have any gil," she replied instantly.

"Yuffie's paying for it…no…scratch that…I'm paying for it. The brat wriggled a hundred and fifty gil out of me!"

"How on earth did she manage that?" Aeris asked, suddenly feeling a lot less agitated and a little more cheerful. Cloud ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm not even sure…" he replied. "Apparently, I wrote a cheque to her once and she just banked it. One hundred and fifty gil! I must have been drunk."

Aeris smiled in response. The action surprised her for as she did so, she felt a slight pain in her cheeks, as if they weren't used to being stretched anymore. She shook her head and sighed again. When she looked up, she noticed Cloud was staring at her curiously. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her torso in a protective manner, remembering Sephiroth had always stared at her before he would move in for the attack. But after a few seconds, Cloud still hadn't moved.

"What?" she asked, looking back at him. Cloud blinked and shrugged one shoulder.

"I haven't seen you smile in ages. I mean, truly smile," he replied. Aeris felt a blush of embarrassment hit her. Had it really been so long since she had smiled or laughed? Had everyone forgotten the image of a cheerful flower girl?

"Well I'm going to bed," Cloud said, stretching as if to prove his point. Aeris merely nodded in reply. She got up and closed the door after Cloud before she got changed and collapsed on the bed. Though the sheets were fresh and the mattress was soft, Aeris couldn't get comfortable. It wasn't familiar enough to her and no matter what she tried she just couldn't sleep properly. Somehow, despite Yuffie and Cloud's promises to protect her, she knew that Sephiroth wouldn't rest until he had gotten her back and punished her for her trangression.

Cloud awoke the next morning, cursing and running wildly around the house in an attempt to be organised. "I'm late," he muttered to himself.

"…meow…"

Cloud froze where he was, halfway down the hall, and turned around to see the same black cat from last night running up to him. He blinked.

"How the hell did you get in here? Shoo!" he hissed opening the door and hissing the cat away. Sighing he watched the cat sleek off down the street before walking back inside. He froze for the second time that morning. Aeris as standing in the hallway, with her back to him, wearing the T-shirt that he had given her last night. Cloud would not have cared if it wasn't for the fact that as she stretched up the shirt, which already rested halfway down her shapely thighs, was pushed up even further. Cloud blinked as his face flushed a deep red in embarrassment. He grabbed his boots by the door and stepped back outside. He yelled a goodbye and closed the door quickly behind him, missing Aeris' jump and soft scream of surprise.

Cloud leaned against the door with his eyes tightly shut and resting one hand on his forehead. Bu he soon had to open his eyes again because when they were closed, all he could picture was that image. He shook his head.

"What's the matter with you?" he mumbled as he lifted himself away from the door and sat down on the top step to put on his boots. Once done he stood with another sigh and slowly made his way to work.

"Who knew Aeris had such sexy legs?" he wondered before he quickly frowned. "Stop it!" he muttered. It wasn't right to think of a girl that way, especially not Aeris. It was just as bad as thinking of Yuffie that way. But Yuffie doesn't have nearly as sexy legs…" his mind mused.

"For the love of Gaia!" he mumbled, shaking his head in an attempt to shake his thoughts. He just hoped that work would distract him a while.

A.N: Okay, any forgiveness I may have received is going to disappear when I say this but…it's still going to be a long time before anything happens between them. Aeris has a lot of stuff to get over and so does Cloud. But never fear, they shall most definitely be together…as if you would expect different from me eh? Lol

No, I have not made Cloud a pervert! In fact, I think I showed he's a gentlemen because he's not giving into his thoughts of Aeris.