I've always been a bit of an Aerith-hater, although I try not to let it slip in too much… it still does though. I love Vincent too so I want to add him in more! Ha well my boyfriend used to use his fists, so maybe you could try that, in lieu of a sword? It's worth a shot! Japan was wonderful! Some of the buildings are beautiful, like pieces of art. Plus people dress amazingly there, even if it is a bit weird. I saw a girl dressed like a dinosaur while I was there, and another dressed like Cinderella. Haha. Welcome fragmentsofmemories! Thanks so much, reviewers! You warm my heart!

-x-

So, the place they needed to find now was the Temple of the Ancients. However, they had received word that they needed the Keystone first. And, of course, Dio had it. Tifa sighed as the group maneuvered their way back to the Gold Saucer. Cloud was holding her hand again. Whenever they weren't fighting, Cloud was gripping Tifa's hand tightly, as though he never wanted to let go. This caused Tifa to smile internally and she squeezed his hand. He looked down at her and smiled.

"Hey, Teef, when this is all over, we should come here. On like… a date or something?" a blush crept onto his cheeks. She nodded.

"A real date would be nice!" She grinned. He laughed, looking forward to their destination.

Seeing the outline of the Gold Saucer made Tifa shiver slightly, remembering how they'd been thrown in jail last time. She shook the thoughts out of her head. Dio had apologized. Nothing bad would happen this time, right?

-x-

Wrong. They were stranded at this place, and worst of all, Aerith had asked Cloud on a date! Tifa was shaking with anger when Vincent found her, gripping the corners of the bed. Vincent sat beside her and smiled slightly.

"Tifa, come downstairs. Barret and Cid are drinking, and that's always fun to watch, right? Please, come. I don't want to see you like this." He grabbed her arm and gently pulled her towards the bar where the two men were having a competition.

"Tifa, darlin'! Have a drink, it's on me. He's being a fuckin' idiot, if you ask me." Barret was starting to get tipsy and this caused Tifa to laugh slightly. Cid pushed a full glass over to her. What the hell, Tifa thought, this night can't get any worse.

-x-

"I think that all Sephiroth wants is a really big hug." Tifa giggled. Barret let out a roar of laughed at this statement.

"Tifa, baby, you should be the one to do it! Any man in his right mind would be happy if they were near ya!"

Cid nodded, grinding the butt of one cigarette in the ashtray and lighting up another. "He's right, Tifa, with jugs like that…"

Vincent shushed Cid, unsure how Tifa would take his words. Tifa, however, laughed out loud.

"These have gotten me plenty of tips, so maybe Sephiroth will calm down if I…"

"Tifa?"

Tifa's eyes widened at his voice, and she turned around on her chair.

"Cloud! Done with your date with Aerith?" she giggled and Barret laughed again.

"Tifa, you're drunk. And it wasn't a date."

"No I'm not." She had furrowed her brows, trying to keep herself from laughing again.

"Yes you are."

"Well, if you are allowed to go on a date with Aerith, I should be allowed to drink. Right Cid?"

Cid wolf-whistled, which caused Tifa to burst into another fit of giggles.

"I already told you, Teef, it wasn't a date." He was getting upset, but Tifa didn't care. He had done this to her.

Tifa snorted. "Okay, then. According to most people, going out with a girl is a date!" she said, and turned back to the table to reach for another glass.

"Tifa, maybe you shouldn't." Vincent said quietly from his seat beside her. She looked at him.

"Vince, you're such a buzzkill."

He chuckled. "I think Cloud wants to talk to you. Maybe you should follow him."

She turned to see Cloud striding out of the bar. She sighed and stumbled after him.

"What's your problem, I'm just having fun." Tifa said, starting to sober up. Cloud's intensity seemed to suck all the alcohol out of her veins.

"I don't know, Teef. I just need you to understand about Aerith."

They were standing in the hallway of the hotel, just outside Cloud's room. Tifa leaned against the wall and collapsed onto the floor. Cloud followed suit, and sat directly across from her.

"It's just… hard." She managed to whisper. Cloud reached across the gap and grasped one of Tifa's hands.

"You know I love you. Right? I know what she's doing hurts you, and I don't want you to hurt, but I don't know how to make her stop."

Tifa smiled lazily at him. "I know. I'm just being stupid."

"No. You're not. Come on, let's go on a date."

-x-

Tifa stared out the window of the gondola. Cloud was sitting across from her and she could sense his eyes on her. She turned towards him and said "what?"

"You're so pretty."

She laughed. "You're not so bad yourself, stud."

Cloud chuckled too, the smile reaching his eyes. She saw them sparkle and didn't realize she was leaning towards him. He reached across the small gap between them and pulled the bar-maid onto his lap.

She rested her head on his shoulder and just let him hold her for a while. She reveled in the comfort of it, wishing they had the time to just hold each other. She wished their life wasn't so hectic and full of fighting. She wished she was back in Nibelheim, playing near the well with her childhood love.

But that wouldn't happen, and she was a big girl. This caused her to sigh and Cloud shifted her so he could see her face.

"What's wrong?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I just wish everything was simpler."

He nodded. They both watched the fireworks outside as they traveled.

"You know, sometimes I wish I never left to join SOLDIER." Cloud stated. Tifa looked up at him.

"Why?"

"You." He blushed. "I left for you, and then I wished I hadn't, for you."

Tifa was confused. She sat up straight, still perched on his lap, and looked straight into his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and began his confession.

"Well, I left to impress you. I left so maybe, one day, I'd be famous and you'd want to be with me, and I'd be able to protect you from everything. But then, after I left, I remember wishing I hadn't. I remember wishing I had stayed, because just seeing you every day would be enough."

Tifa felt one hot tear sting her eye and she blinked, letting the traitor free. She could see on his face how hard it had been to confess that to her, and she appreciated him so much for that. She could read on his face how much he cared. She felt as though her heart would burst. She pulled his mouth to hers.

She felt his tongue run across her bottom lip and allowed him to explore her mouth. As many times as they'd kissed, she realized she would never get sick of it. She loved every moment they spent together and mentally cursed herself for drinking earlier. Cloud pulled away then, as though he had read her mind, and sighed. "I'm sorry about the Aerith thing, Teef. I promise, she's nothing compared to you."

He pressed his lips against Tifa's neck and she caught herself laughing, giddy at his words. Her anger towards her best friend melted away with each touch of Cloud's lips.

She was giggling loudly when the gondola stopped and the doors opened. The ticket woman looked in the gondola and sneered at the two. Tifa leaped off Cloud's lap and pulled him back towards the hotel, giggling the whole time.

-x-

Did you like? Keep reviewing lovelies! I tried to make the gondola scene fluffy, but still stick with the story line. Tell me what you think!

-Kaylee.