Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, any of it's characters and/or references.

Alright I know I went way overboard with my last lemon in the last chapter, I'm sorry, let me apologize also because there is no lemon in this chapter with Tifa being assertive, so for those looking forward to that I apologize, but that will come along in the future.

Chapter 10: Secrets

Cloud closed the door behind him as he stepped into the room. His eyes immediately rapt by the sleeping beauty, being ever silent so as not to disturb her from her slumber he made his way over to his bed. The throbbing pain in his head still disrupting his thought, yet when looking at her it seemed so trivial. Allowing his eyes to break for a minute they traveled across the room, it was rather untidy, there was an old tire wheel against the wall, his papers were scattered across the room, the exception being his bed. His bed was the only thing that remained neat. Kneeling at the head of the bed he gazed the maiden's sleeping face, she was sleeping on her side facing him and some of her hair falling across her face. Being ever graceful he lifted his hand and gently brushed her hair out of her face tucking it behind her ear.

A smirk formed on his lips, he remembered doing this countless times before during their travels together, every time he did it, it always seemed to make her smile and lift her mood, suddenly a pang of guilt washed over him. He clutched his chest in pain and forcefully looked down at the floor. He glanced back up at her serene expression on her face and the guilt seemed to wash away. The throbbing pain in his head seemed to dissipate. Suddenly he found her half open eyes staring directly at him. And suddenly the pain in his head didn't matter, swallowing a lump in his throat he proceeded to start the conversation.

"Tifa," His voice was soft yet filled with both fear and concern.

The young female smiled lazily, the sleep still present in her eyes. She innocently tried to wipe away the sleep from her eyes, she then cast her eyes back onto her male companion and smiled at him.

"Hey," She said.

Cloud smiled back, "Are you alright?" Cloud asked, his fingertips lightly brushing against her forehead, his voice still cautious afraid of her response.

Tifa smiled back at him, "Why wouldn't I be dear?" She asked.

A pink blush found it's way on Cloud's cheeks at the expression she referred to him by. Tifa scooted across the small bed and sat up but still held the sheets that lay over her nude body against her. Cloud sat down on the bed. Tifa sat a little behind him but as soon as her lover was seated came over to him and hugged him from behind, she leant her head over his shoulder and smiled at him. He felt relived, she wasn't angry at him or upset, it seemed she rather enjoyed herself. The blond warrior couldn't help but smirk.

"Well I guess, I was the one to submit huh?" She asked him.

Cloud was silent, his eyes were focused on his hands that rested on his lap, "It's okay, we knew it was one of us that had to, but for my part please Cloud I need you so much, you know that I…" She started.

"Tifa, I can't!" Cloud cut her off.

Cloud's sudden remark startled Tifa, he looked over his shoulder to see she was now sitting beside him, her feet were still on the bed but below her. Tifa was looking at him startled by his remark.

"Tifa, I can't accept this victory," Cloud stated.

"Why?' She asked puzzled.

"Because I can't remember anything that happened," Cloud answered. The same throbbing pain started to return in his head. But being an experienced Soldier he quickly began ignoring it, though for how long, he didn't know.

"Cloud?" Tifa asked confused.

Cloud planted a fake smile on his lips, "Tifa, the kids are looking for you they're downstairs, I'll bring some clothes for you."

However Tifa was able to see through the fake smile and as he prepared to stand she grabbed his hand and pulled him back down.

"Tifa?" Cloud asked looking at her confused.

"Hold it," She said her tone shifting from caring and playful to dead serious within a few seconds.

Cloud could see it in her eyes, her steadfast resolve, "Are you going to tell me what happened?" She asked.

"Tifa, just trust me…I can't…not yet anyway," Cloud immediately answered.

"Cloud, you ask me to trust you, yet you keep walking away from me, why?" Tifa asked.

"Tifa, I told you before, I care for you…" Cloud stopped suddenly.

Tifa looked at him a bit startled, a smirk formed on his lips. Now Tifa stared at him even more startled than before, then using a burst of speed, the same burst of speed he used when performing omni-slash; leaving a yellow trail behind him he grabbed her and pinned her down on the bed.

Tifa could barely recall what happened, on second she sitting up talking to him the next she was pinned on bed, the white sheet still covering her from her bosom down, but this position seems really familiar to her, did time however there was no lust that filled her lover's eyes, nor was he holding her wrists. His face was about a foot away from hers, his hands on the sheets and her between them, she looked up into his eyes to see him looking down at her with eyes filled with love but something more; a deep sorrow behind them.

"Cloud?" Tifa asked.

"Tifa do you love me?" The blond-haired swordsman asked.

"I do, with all my heart, but you already know this Cloud…why would…" She was cut off by Cloud placing a finger above her lips.

"Then trust me, know I feel the same way you do, probably stronger and I would do everything to protect it, to protect you, trust me Tifa, the same way you love me," Cloud finished.

Tifa nodded her head, Cloud lifted himself off and sat up allowing Tifa to come up also, she had to hold the sheet to prevent it from falling off.

"Cloud?" His name would be an entire question for her. He knew she was asking, what now?

"Wait here I'll go get some clothes for you from your room, everyone's downstairs waiting for you," Cloud said standing up.

She shouldn't let him go so easily, no, the voice inside her was screaming for answers, she wanted to know what happened to him. Did he not remember anything? It was one of her greatest experiences and she was slightly hurt, but she deafened herself to the voice asking the questions. Whatever happened to Cloud it was serious and he would tell her when ready, she still had faith in him. Steadfast, strong, loyal and never-ending faith in him. It should be that her faith in him should be withered and hanging by a thread, but instead it was burning brighter that it ever had. Tifa stood up off the bed, still holding onto the sheets, before she could perform another action, his lips were on hers. The young maiden did nothing to break the kiss only encouraged it by wrapping her hands around his neck and pulling him closer.

Cloud's arms wrapped themselves around her waist, he knew what happened now, what he hoped to avoid. The two pulled each other closer deepening the kiss letting passion fuel their desire but eventually Cloud broke the kiss. Tifa was slightly disappointed but knew it was necessary. He kissed her on her cheek one last time before leaving to go to her room to retrieve some of her clothes. When he opened the door to her room it was exactly as he had left it. The bed was messy and stained with both of their releases, if they were going to sleep there tonight, he would have to change the sheets, her clothes were also on the floor, deciding to get her a new set he walked over to her closet, but stopped instantly; his cheeks turning on fire. He realized he would have to pick out underwear for her.

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It was early in the morning, about six, the sun and just begun to rise, Cloud and Tifa were together in her room once again on her bed. The morning sunlight didn't penetrate into the room; long, thick, dark curtains kept them out. Cloud was awake for quite some time; the night's events had gone over rather calmly. Everyone had gone back home except for Barret and Red XIII. Cloud gave Barret his room which was Barret's old room and returned to sleeping alongside Tifa which he had grown to miss. Red XIII slept downstairs in the living room, no one knew if he would sleep on the sofa or a mattress.

Tifa was facing away from Cloud facing the wall to which the sun would rise every morning but the curtains helped to maintain her peaceful slumber. They were both under the same blanket only he was sitting up looking over to her. Leaning over to her side he gently caressed her cheek with one of his hands. His face was close to her ear.

"I'll never do anything to hurt you Tifa, please know that, I'll protect you…always," And with those final words he crept out of the bed being extra careful not to do anything that might cause her to stir in her sleep. Leaving her sleeping tucked beneath her blanket he proceeded to get dressed in his usual outfit. Dressing in the long dark blue denim pants and blue shirt he always wore he went into Tifa's bathroom, still being careful not to make any sounds, he finished quickly and went downstairs.

Surprisingly Red XIII was already awake and sitting out on the front porch of 7th Heaven. Cloud came and sat down on the steps, Red was on his left side.

"You okay?" Red asked sensing torment from within Cloud.

"Yeah I'm fine," The chocobo-head answered.

"Was I supposed to believe that?" the Red fur-ed beast answered raising his head, "Know what, I can still smell her scent on you, and last night your scent on her was also extremely powerful, actually this whole place reeks of both of you."

"And, what if it does?" Cloud asked.

"Did you tell her about your past relationship?" Red answered with a question.

"You know, you're the only one that remembers about both me and Aerith and our moments," Cloud commented.

"Did you tell Tifa?" Red asked not shifting from the question.

"Yeah she knows, well not exactly…you could say I told her a half-truth," Cloud answered.

Nanaki nodded his head, "So what you are saying is that you made up a false history to your suiting."

"No, nothing like that, you knew how I felt about Tifa, even back then when I thought I was Zack," Cloud tried to come up with an excuse.

"Cloud, you told her what she wanted to hear, or what would make you fell better," Red explained.

"Nanaki…Tifa...she's everything to me," Cloud said lowering his head, an ice cold morning wind flew past both of them and into the open seventh heaven however neither of the two showed the slightest bit of deviation from their normal actions, "I don't want anything to jeopardize the way she feels for me, I care for her to much and what we have."

"Even if that means deceiving her?" Nanaki asked, "You had another blackout again? Didn't you?"

Cloud remained quiet looking down at the steps beneath him, "Yeah I did," He answered.

Tifa moved about in the bed, shifting her position so she could face Cloud, she was partially awake from the coldness and wanted to feel him up against her, she wanted his warmth, but suddenly the realization hit her that she was alone in bed. She bolted up quickly and scanned the room, she realized Cloud was already awake and outside somewhere. It took her a second to traverse the distance between her bed and her bathroom, trying to finish up as quickly as possible she tried multi-tasking, and it turned out rather well. Within fifteen minutes she had already gotten ready and changed into her usual outfit and preparing to do downstairs. A part of her was longing to see Cloud, it was burning her; she wanted to see him, feel him, touch him so badly but nevertheless suppressing her want she opened the children's room to check up on them, then proceeded to go down towards the bar and hopefully a waiting Cloud. Her mind began wandering, if she had successfully seduced him, then she could have kept him in her bed and she would have been able to have her way with him this morning. She giggled at the thought as she continued down the stairs.

She wasn't surprised to see it open, as she stepped onto the floor she looked out to see the front door open and Cloud and Red sitting out on the porch. A smile came to her lips, but she still wanted to be closer to him, her burning need that would only be satisfied to have his flesh resting on hers. Just then an ice-cold breeze entered into seventh heaven, despite wearing all black Tifa found herself shivering, she also found herself contemplating if she should interrupt Cloud's conversation with Red. Even though she knew she shouldn't, she couldn't stop herself from wanting to.

"Tifa…it's cold," A young male voice said, Tifa turned to the staircase to see Denzel standing there dressed in his pajamas and wiping the sleep out of his eyes. The young nine-year-old boy looked down at his guardian haphazardly while trying to wipe his eyes at the same time.

Tifa walked up to him and bent forward a bit, "Well then if you're feeling cold, how about a glass of hot chocolate," She replied smiling at him, her face beaming with joy, before leading him to the kitchen behind the bar.

Red and Cloud were still involved in their discussion.

"Red, I can't, I shouldn't, I love her, I love Tifa," Cloud told his companion, but at the same time a sound of desperation in his voice as if trying to convince himself.

"I know you do Cloud, but at one point, didn't you…" Red was cut off.

"I can't tell her the truth, not even I understand why I sometimes act like that," chocobo-head confessed.

"Talk to Tifa, or not, but what does your conscious tell you?" Red asked, "Just do what that tell's you to do and you'll be fine."

Cloud didn't reply he just raised his head and looked forward. He knew what he had to do even if he didn't want to, but then how would Tifa react? He can defend himself by saying it was half-truth's but that's not the way she would see it. He would have broken her trust. The coming confession would be a test of their love.

To Be Continued...

Alright took a long time to update, no lemon here I'm sorry, but there will be another one soon where Tifa is more assertive. Again let me apologize for my last lemon, some of you found it offensive. I sorry, I hope it won't hinder you from reading or reviewing future chapters. On another note, I'm going to concentrate on this fic and my other one Lucifer's Prayer from now on, so updates will be faster, also check out that fic, no lemons in it but I think it's turning out pretty cool and I'm putting a lot of effort into it. It's a CloudxTifaxSephiroth triangle, though right now there's a lot of SephTi action. So please if you read this chapter leave a review a let me know what you think, it only takes a few seconds.