Lady, running down to the riptide

Taken away to the dark side

I wanna be your left hand man.

I love you when you're singing that song and

I got a lump in my throat 'cause

You're gonna sing the words wrong.

-Vance Joy

The scent of flowers and decaying wood drifted to her before she even crossed the threshold, redolent of memories both sweet and bitter. It took a moment for her to realize just how much time had passed since she stood in this space. Her soles hadn't touched the rough planks of this floor since the day healing waters flowed, filling the flowerbed with hope. She was surprised to see it revived, brimming with white and yellow blooms once more. The parallel did not escape her as she thought of the way her life bloomed wild in the time she'd been away.

Tifa took a steadying breath, willing her feet to move forward. One step, two. She could do this. She crossed the sanctuary, only her footsteps echoing in the quiet. It felt so peaceful, so unlike the chaos of everyday life. Coming to a stop at the boundary of the flowerbed, she lifted her eyes to the light streaming through the ruined ceiling.

"Hey, Aerith," she began, her voice resonant in the thick silence that enveloped the church. She took another breath, letting it out in a huff.

"I miss you. I wish…" Tifa lowered her eyes to the flowers, clearing her throat as if it might dislodge the lump already forming there. "I wish you were here. Everything that's happened in the last few months…I wish I knew what you'd say. I wish we could curl up together on the sofa and have this chat."

She traced the happy yellow blooms, bringing to mind the colors of Costa del Sol. "I went on vacation, you know. By myself! Can you believe it?" A light laugh snuck out as she recalled the day she was forced out the door. "Yuffie made me take some time for myself. It felt really good and then…"

Tifa paused, picking through what she wanted to say. How to share this. The conversation truly felt out of place in the quiet of the sanctuary. But she'd let that stop her from seeing Aerith for too long.

"I met someone. Well, I guess I can't put it quite that way. See, I ran into Reno." An unexpected smile curved her lips. "Aerith, I didn't see it coming. It sounds like you knew the Turks to be good but…I wasn't sure. Even after last year, I was hesitant. But then I got to know him and it changed everything."

Tifa turned on her heel, wandering the edge of the flowerbed as she conversed with her friend. "I guess I—well, I never expected to get on that ship home with a budding connection to Reno, of all people," she confessed with a laugh. "But we spent so much time together and he's…he's so good for me, Aerith."

Thinking back to those early days made her knees tremble, filled her with butterflies all over again. She sank to the floor, curling her legs beneath her while she reached for a petal.

"I won't lie, it was not easy when we got back to the real world." She couldn't overlook the struggle it was to work things out once they returned. "Barret he…he really didn't like the idea. Yuffie tried to soften the blow, but well...you know Barret."

Thoughtfully, she brushed a hand across several blooms. "We had some tense evenings navigating through all the minefields. At least on my end. I felt so bad…Rude and Elena pretty much welcomed me with open arms but between Barret and Cloud I'm not sure who was icier to Reno. And Barret was so angry with me for a while. It took a long time for them to accept that we weren't going to end things just because they didn't like it."

One bloom stood taller, its petals reaching toward the filtered light. She trailed a finger up to its point and warmth blossomed in her chest like a hug from her friend. The presence she felt encouraged her to go on. "Eventually, though, they could see what I saw. And they realized how happy we were together even through all of the difficulty. It's been a few months since then and…"

Her heart swelled, pushing against the walls of her chest. She slowly let her hand drop from the bloom, letting it fall to her lap. As she bowed her head, a whisper of a touch ghosted across her cheek, lifting her chin back toward the light. She could have sworn she heard a soft voice telling her it was safe to share what was on her mind.

She brushed a sudden tear away with a wistful smile. "I know. I know I can tell you anything, so here goes. Aerith, I think—no, I know, that I love him. Everything we've shared these past months, the way he makes me feel, it's so different than anything I've ever experienced. He truly accepts me and he helped me find who I am now that things have settled down. I found a way to love myself and in the process, I've fallen in love with him, too."

The gentle warmth she felt flourished until it was almost as though she were standing beneath the summer sun once again. Tifa stayed with the flowers, basking in the freedom of honesty for hours until the sun sank low to stream through the stained glass windows. As colors danced across the floor, she rose to her feet and smiled toward the blooms. Before she left, she whispered to the sky, "I love you, friend. I promise I won't take so long to stop by again."

Reno checked all the ingredients in the fridge one more time, assuring himself that everything was set. He and Tifa enjoyed plenty of dates over the months since returning to Edge, but this one had him feeling a little nervous. They tended to see each other at the bar or out in town. It was the first time she'd be coming to his place. The first time they'd prepare a meal together that he planned. He knew it was silly but something about letting her see every last bit of his life got beneath his skin and had him crawling with anticipation.

After debating for five minutes if it was cheesy to put out a candle, he opted to light the only one he owned. Initially, he thought the gift was a poor choice on Elena's part but as the light scent of tobacco and teakwood began to fill the room, he finally admitted maybe it wasn't so bad.

He was filling a tumbler with a generous pour of gin when a knock drifted into the kitchen. Swiping his palms against the fabric of the grey denim he wore, he hurried across to the entry.

As he cracked the door, Tifa smiled in a way that made her glow. A cropped, cream sweater draped effortlessly off one shoulder, the exposed skin catching his eye. He ushered her in and out of the cold, sweeping her up into a hug just so he could kiss the top of her shoulder. She hummed gently.

"Hello to you, too," she said with a hint of laughter.

"Hey." He trailed his nose from her shoulder to the crook of her neck where he nuzzled, Tifa melting a little in response. He couldn't help it—a full week had passed since he last saw her. "I missed ya."

"I missed you, too." She pushed back, taking him in for a moment before her eyes drifted.

"Here, come in."

Tifa set her bag off to the side of the door as she closed it. He led her through the living room, watching while she absorbed the minimalist design. White walls, wood floors, sleek black furniture. It wasn't homey in the way her space at the bar was. He'd never really had a reason to make it feel like a home.

Her brows raised with a tilt of her head, but she didn't comment on it. Instead, she inhaled and told him, "Something smells really nice."

"A birthday gift from Elena," he admitted, waving a hand toward the burning candle.

"She has great taste."

"Sometimes," he teased.

"So what are we making?"

"You'll see," he replied. Tifa raised both brows curiously as he rifled through the fridge, gathering up ingredients and relocating them to the kitchen island. Arms full, he nodded toward one of the upper cabinets across the way. "Mind grabbing a cutting board? I think there's one stashed away up top."

"You own a cutting board?"

He'd have tossed a tomato at her if his hands weren't otherwise occupied. The mock glare he settled for sent her toward the cabinet with a smile. When she reached overhead, her sweater hitched and he found it impossible to pry his eyes from the sight of her in vintage denim. The high waist tapered in flawlessly, clouded his mind with thoughts of peeling the jeans off and bending her over the counter.

The tomato hit quartz with a thud and rolled, sending him scrambling to catch it before it went over the edge.

Tifa turned his way, eyed the tomato beneath his hand as she set the wooden board on the island. "What did that tomato ever do to you?"

"Looked at me funny." He chucked the flattened fruit her way. No surprise, she swiped it out of the air. "Now get to work."

Tifa pitched the tomato right back at him. "I would assume you're better with a knife."

Reno narrowed his eyes over a smirk. "Of the two of us, you're the cook."

"Yes, but you're—well, you know."

He took a measured step. "Mm, I don't think that I do."

Her lips became a thin line as he tilted his head, encouraging her to go on.

"Trained with a variety of weapons?" she offered sheepishly.

Two more steps and he lifted the knife from the block, flipping it artfully into his palm. "How do you know what I'm trained in?"

Tifa fumbled, swallowed hard. "I—umm."

He stalked behind her. "Yes?"

Strands of her hair moved with his breath and she shuddered. The arch in her back deepened, that perfect ass of hers grazing him in a way that made his head swim. Reno slipped the knife into her open palm, placed the tomato on the cutting board.

"Diced?" Tifa murmured.

"Mhm." He buried the word in her hair, let his hands roam the curve of her hips, both thumbs catching in her belt loops with a tug.

The knife moved easily through the tomato as she began to slice it. Her slow pace made him think he was a distraction, so he endeavored to be just that. Lazily, he brushed his fingers up her left side, playing beneath the hem of her sweater. When he nipped her bare shoulder, she shivered again, nearly missing the cut she was going for.

"See, I was going to say that you're trained in torture," she mumbled. "Should've gone with that."

He smirked. "Accurate. But I think you're the one torturing this tomato," he told her as he stole the knife. He made quick work of dicing the rest despite working around her and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Tifa made a frustrated noise at the absence of him as he went for an onion and rolled it her way.

"You wanna stick with the knife?"

She nodded, looking like she wanted to murder the onion. Looking to hide his amusement, he took a sip of gin. Instantly he realized he'd forgotten to offer her a drink.

"Shit, sorry. What can I get ya?"

Tifa looked up from her rather aggressive knife work. "Hm?"

"You must be thirsty," he said, completely aware of how she might interpret that given the mood in the room.

Her eyes slipped over the deep vee of his shirt, his forearms beneath rolled up sleeves. She was looking rather parched. But she shook it off quickly enough. "Wine sounds good tonight."

"Red?"

"Sure."

"Great, because that's all I've got," he admitted.

He set the fresh glass beside her, switched on little music to help along the dinner prep. Half way through, Tifa realized they were cooking one of the dishes from the meal they'd come to consider as their first date in Costa del Sol. Her smile was worth the bribe he had to pay the chef and the endless search for ingredients.

The tone of her voice was wistful as she said, "Sometimes I just want to go back."

Spiced plantains started to sizzle, filling the kitchen with a nostalgic scent. "Maybe we should."

"It would be a nice escape from the cold," she mused.

This winter season was proving to be a beast. To go back to that warm summer sun above with sand underfoot was highly appealing. It sparked an idea. "What if we go back again next summer?"

Tifa gave him an inquisitive look and honestly, he felt just as surprised. Talking about the future, making plans months down the line...who the hell was this guy standing in his kitchen?

"Wouldn't that be fun. We could revisit a few spots."

Chiefly, a certain tree. The sudden flush on her cheeks said she was likely thinking the same thing. He wiggled his brows. "I can think of a few things I wouldn't mind repeating."

"I'm sure you can."

They relived more than a few memories, chatting about the trip and the months following as they enjoyed the meal. And he started to think that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to plan a future with her, even if the thought startled him each time it bubbled up. They just worked well together, balancing each other out. He didn't particularly love the arguments they sometimes got into but he did love that they usually ended up on the floor in a tangle of limbs. Tifa was very much a fan of make-up sex and that was something he could get behind.

"All this reminiscing has me thinking about how I spent the afternoon in what's left of Sector 5."

Tifa's admission startled him for a moment. His hand stilled, leaving his fork hovering over the last bites of dinner while he waited for her to elaborate.

"I went to have a chat with Aerith, to fill her in on everything that's happened since summer."

Curiosity took the place of apprehension. "You told her about us?"

"Uh-huh."

"And did she approve?"

Tifa seemed to waffle for a good long minute, so he made a show of being on the edge of his seat. It earned him a laugh before she replied. "I know it sounds crazy but I think she's happy for what we've found. I just felt it."

The genuine smile on her lips, the fact that she openly shared something like this with him, it all felt like the final clues of a mystery falling into place. He waited for the fear to sweep in after the realization, but it never did. Instead, he felt strangely at ease.

Pushing back from the table, he refilled their glasses and grabbed for her hand. "There's something I want to show you." Tifa followed him out onto the balcony. The winter sun had already set, but something about standing out here appealed. "There's no glittering ocean on the horizon, but hey, city lights ain't half bad."

"This is a great view," she replied. "And the last time we stood on a balcony together, I couldn't do this."

Tifa rose onto her toes and kissed him. It took him back to that first kiss on the beach, urgent and tinged with alcohol. Her free arm snaked around his neck, pulled him closer. They'd come such a long way from that moment, but kissing her like this still left his mind hazy even after she pulled away.

As the lights of Edge glowed all around them, a familiar song floated from the speaker. He'd heard it at least a dozen times. And judging by the smile on her lips, she had as well. She hummed happily along with the lyrics, sipping wine between lines. But as the song shifted into the chorus for the second time, Reno found himself transfixed.

Tifa swayed gently even as he swung an arm over her shoulders. She was absently singing the words, her voice so faint he almost missed it when she sang the words wrong. He couldn't tell whether it was the wine or if she heard the song a little differently, but whatever the case it was ridiculously endearing. Especially when she sang, 'and this will be our year, took a long time to come.'

The lump in his throat was irrefutable.

It hit him all at once. And it came out just as quickly. "I fucking love you."

Tifa stopped swaying, whipped her eyes up to his. "What?"

"What ?"

"No—what did you just say?"

"Just that you...ya know," he drew out the 'o.' Tifa leaned closer, waiting. "Sing about as well as you slice tomatoes."

"Oh? Because you're such an expert on all things musically inclined?" Her shoulder hit his sternum playfully. "Just like your top-tier expertise with a knife?"

"What can I say?" He shrugged and took a sip. "I'm a talented man."

Tifa looked him over suspiciously, her mouth curved in a lopsided smile. He didn't buy for one second that she hadn't heard what he said. The realization rooted him to the floor and where she moved with the next song. He felt like a statue.

"Good thing I love you, too," she all but whispered, her mouth brushing his jaw. "Otherwise, I'd have to call you a chicken bump again."

He snorted. "Fuck's sake, anything but that."

Tifa laughed, her breath skating across his neck. Try as he might, he couldn't avoid grinning like a fool. Reno tugged her closer, relishing the way she fit against him and knowing there was absolutely nowhere else he'd rather be. Maybe this next year would be their year. And if it had taken a long time to come, well, that was simply because the best things were always worth the wait. Not that he'd admit that cheesy ass shit out loud, but he could appreciate it all the same.

Reno was more than happy to be swept up in the riptide that was a life with Tifa.

Notes: I couldn't help but give them a happy end here since this was always meant to be a fun summer piece before real life got a bit in the way. I am going to pick back up working on Body of Lies, however, so if you're interested in a more gritty, intense take on them be sure to check it out. Much love and thank you for following along with this story 😘

Oh, and the song Tifa's humming along to! Totally 'This Will Be Our Year' by The Zombies.