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

Surprise I actually managed to update, it's quite a surprise for me also, well hope you enjoy this chapter

Chapter 12: Vying

Tifa ran from Cloud's arms and as quickly as she could on her shaky feet and back into her room, tears falling freely and uncontrollably from her eyes, her ears were deaf to her sobs and as soon as she entered she tried to turn around to close the door but was immediately stopped by Cloud. Cloud pressed his hand against the door preventing Tifa from locking it. The young female tried to push him out but he had followed her too closely and placed his hand in already, she trembled as she backed away from the door and Cloud entered.

"Tifa please," Cloud pleaded.

But the crimson-eyed female refused to listen to him, her mind were filled with erratic and selfish thoughts making her unreasonable. She clamped her ears shut with her hands trying to shut out his voice so she won't have to listen to him.

Cloud remained silent, not moving from his position but regretting his words, still he knew he couldn't leave things as they were, he still loved her and wanted desperately to hold and comfort her in his arms. Tifa looked up to see Cloud had stopped speaking, but she dare not look into his eyes lest her heart surrender to him once more. Realizing he wasn't going to leave, she removed her hands from her ears.

He was about to speak but was interrupted by her, however her voice did not reflect her mood, it appeared she was able to think clearly and despite her shaking maintained some level of self control.

"Cloud, please," Tifa spoke, "I can't…please leave me alone," Her voice quiet and calm yet also sounding tired. She was also surprised when her tears had almost let up, but as she finished speaking another tear formed on the corner of her right eye and prepared for it's run down her already tear-stained cheek but it's lifespan was short-lived as Tifa felt Cloud's hand by her face below her eyelid and wipe away the tear.

He prepared to remove his hand from on her face but surprise was hidden behind his smile as Tifa held his warm hand against her wet cheek with her hand. He made no effort to remove his hand and was almost certain she was feeling the same whirl of emotions he was experiencing from the contact of both their flesh.

Tifa couldn't help it, she could almost feel her heart twitch in her chest with Cloud's skin so warm and soft against hers. There was no doubt in her mind she wanted to be closer to him but there was another voice in her mind a darker one like a poison that spread throughout her and made her blood run cold it was this same voice that caused her to drop his hand letting it fall to her side, even though her entire body felt cold her cheek where his hand previously rested was still warm. His touch had also stopped her trembling.

Finally Cloud prepared to speak again but was taken by surprise by Tifa throwing herself into him and clutching his shirt tightly burying her face in his chest, and once again Cloud hid his surprise. Instead he brought his arms around her and held her tightly against him, loving the way she fit into him.

"Tifa, I'm so sorry," Cloud began as he calmly and gently stroked her hair.

"Cloud please," Tifa interrupted him, "I just want to be alone tonight, it's been too much," she said speaking in her normal voice.

Cloud couldn't know if he could obey her request, as he contemplated her request he felt Tifa slip away from his arms, a little confused he looked at her, "Tifa?" he asked slightly puzzled.

Tifa appeared to regain her composure, hiding her doubt, fear, anger behind her invisible mask, "I'm tired Cloud," She sighed tiredly and closed her eyes, but it was her turn to be surprised when she felt his warm and soft lips on hers. Warm sensations spread throughout her and she felt a familiar tingling inside her, her senses took a brief note of how the kiss was soft and gentle yet filled with passion but at the same time not hungry or demanding before she melted into the kiss, it was like he was kissing her for the first time. She didn't struggle against him…at first, but as soon as her venomous thoughts returned she gathered all the strength she had and pushed him away.

Cloud wasn't surprised when Tifa pushed him away but he was hurt, deep down he knew he was wrong, he had lied to her and part of him wanted to understand her view, but try as hard as he might he was too blinded to see it, selfishly only wanting her comfort.

"Tifa, I'm sorry I lied to you," Cloud apologized, "If there was anything I could do to make it up to you I would," his voice was soft filled with a familiar sorrow her ears remembered.

The raven-haired female clenched her fists tightly, "Cloud, you don't understand do you?" Tifa asked rhetorically, "You said you loved me all along, I was overjoyed when I heard that but that was all a lie," as she spoke Cloud lowered his head dwelling on the words she spoke, "You told me you only had feelings for me and none for Aerith, but that wasn't true…why?" As she said her final words Cloud could hear sobs.

He raised his head to see tears forming back on her eyes, he made and attempt to move forward to wipe them away but she compensated by moving away as he approached. Cloud realizing her resolve spoke, "Tifa…I…I," He didn't know what to say, slowly he became aware of her position, of how she felt, her heart breaking knowing that she could have easily been replaced.

"We wouldn't be together if Aerith was alive would we?" Tifa asked, "Want to know something?" She asked him, "I loved you all along, ever since that day you left and we made our promise, I waited patiently as the hours turned into days, that in turn became weeks, then months and years, I waited clinging to the hope that you would come back and keep your promise, and you did, you came when I was in a pinch and I loved you more for it."

Cloud felt small, he wanted to reply but there were no words he could speak that would bring comfort to her.

"When you said you loved me all along, I was so overjoyed, knowing that you endured the same thing I did, but when you said it wasn't true and that you fell for another…" Tifa's sobs overcame her and she couldn't speak.

"Tifa believe me I did love you, for so long I did, but I don't know how, but I had feelings for Aerith," Cloud replied.

Tifa felt like an arrow had pierced her heart, "Do you still love her?" she asked.

Cloud nodded quickly, "Of course not, I don't even know if what I felt was love, but Tifa I know for a fact what I feel for you now is love and it far surpasses anything that I once held for Aerith."

Tifa felt a twinge of joy but the pain was still there, the pain of betrayal, "Still those feelings for me would not have existed…" Cloud cut her off.

"I don't know about the past, or would have become if Aerith was still alive, but isn't the present all that matters?" Cloud asked, "How we feel now, not how we felt, not looking back on what could have been but look forward to what should be?"

Tifa stared at Cloud in shock, she never thought that she would be lectured by him, that he held wisdom about life. She didn't object when he moved closer and pulled her into his arms, "I'll help you remember if you ever forget, remember?" Cloud said reminding her of another promise me had made to her when they first started living together, "I love you Tifa Lockhart, now and forever."

She looked up at him as his lips came down on hers, "Always?" she asked.

"Always," Cloud confirmed.

"Even if," She paused "If, I always wasn't here?" Tifa asked looking up at him.

"Tifa?" the cerulean-eyed boy asked looking down at her, he understood what she was saying, he understood her fear, her fear that she would be replaced.

Tifa knew what she was saying was selfish, but she couldn't bare the thought of Cloud with anyone else, even after she died she didn't want to be apart from him. Cloud hands came up and cupped her cheeks, he brought his lips down to brush against as he did he spoke.

"When you die, I die along with you, I'll follow you wherever you go," He whispered into the kiss.

Tifa smiled back and wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss in the process, however when Cloud's tongue traced her lips requesting entrance she pulled away and smiled, all the tears from her face had gone.

"You promise?" Tifa asked.

"I swear it, my mistress," Cloud replied with a smirk.

"Cloud?" Tifa asked.

The blond-haired swordsman buried his face in Tifa's neck, "I'm yours Tifa, forever, I'll do anything to make you happy."

Tifa was both shocked and overjoyed at Cloud's statement, she smiled as she held him, her fingers running along the back of his neck and playing with the unruly hair. Things were certainly going to get better for her, but she won't have a chance to exhert her new influence tonight, because almost immediately as she went to kiss him a sleepy-eyed Marlene walked into dragging a pillow and her blanket along with her. She stopped when she saw Cloud there also.

"Is Cloud having a nightmare also?" Marlene asked, "Does he want to sleep with us too?"

To Be Continued…


Anyone else think that ending was cheesy? but it's not over yet, see Cloud finally submitted at the end thus the long awaited lemon with Tifa being dominant will definitely be in the next chapter...also I'm definitely sure the next chapter will be out a lot sooner. I know some people won't like my portrayal of Tifa, but i wanted her actions here to reflect similarly to the game when Cloud fell into the lifestream and the following events, some people may not like it and for that I'm sorry. Also another note, I'm sorry to say but this fic will be ending soon, only about 5 chapters left. I wonder if there's anyone left reading this story, it's been so long since I last updated, but if you did read, how about taking a few more seconds to click that review button and tell me what you think.