Chapter 6

Alright, this has been the longest I've gone between adding a new chapter. I warned ya in the first chapter, the semester is starting to get rigorous. Essays, readings, sleepless and work, work, work. I am doing my best to write as often as I can in my free time so I can update quickly. Then again, this was a fairly long chapter to edit…at least for me after working on homework all day long.

Warning: slightly more sexual themes within this chapter as well as language. Don't like it? Don't read it. I DID warn you.

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING related to Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy XII (when it comes to Princess Ashelia's name). All copyrights and ownership belong to the respectable company of Square Enix. I am not creating this story to make money nor am I earning a profit – I simply do this as a hobby because I have a love for writing and this series (and all the other Final Fantasy games for that matter!)

~ oOo ~

"Sir, if you would please follow me this way, you're table is ready." An older gentleman with a crisp white apron tied around his waist led Reno and Amalia, who were both hand-in-hand with each other, towards the private balcony Reno had specifically requested. He didn't mind eating in the restaurant with the other customers, but he did prefer eating alone so he could enjoy Amalia's presence without the wondering eyes of the other customers. It was only in well-known, established places such as the Chocobo's Nest, the very restaurant they were currently at, and crowded dwellings where they were noticed. Reno – the infamous second-in-command Turk and Amalia – one of the members of AVALANCHE who saved the world from the wrath of Sephiroth; both "famous" in their own right. Neither cared if people saw the two of them together but they didn't want to risk anyone asking the couple any questions about their own private matters. It wasn't any of their business.

Thus the reason for the private balcony.

The waiter led the couple through the packed restaurant, eventually making their way through a double glass door where their table waited outside for their enjoyment. Opening the door, the waiter stood aside and allowed the couple to enter first. Reno pulled Amalia's chair out and allowed her to be seated first. She gave him a smile and as she sat down, he pushed her chair in until she was in a comfortable position; Reno then took his seat next, plopping down into the seat, not caring if some would consider his sudden change in demeanor "rude".

That's the Reno I know, Amalia thought as she washed her lover slouching against the padded backing of the expensive chair. His attitude might have slightly changed in the last few years, but that "I-don't-give-a-shit-about-what-people-think" outlook still remains. And I wouldn't change that about him.

Waiting until they were both seated, the waiter stood in front of their table and presented the two with their menus. "Today we are serving a three-course dinner special which includes your choice of an Appetizer, then the Lobster and Steak combination which includes mash potatoes and rice with a biscuit and, to end the night, a fresh slice of Chocolate Lava Cake; all for fifty-nine gil."

Reno glanced up at the waiter then at the female sitting across from him. "Hmm, now that doesn't sound that bad."

"No it does not," she replied, her eyes drifting across the menu before her eyes, considering what she should order.

"Do you need a few minutes to look over the menus and decide what you would like?" Amalia nodded in response and Reno agreed, asking to have some time to think. "No problem. Would you like me to get both of you something to drink?"

"Yes please, I'll just have a glass of water."

"With lemon?"

"Please."

The waiter scribbled on his small black notepad and turned towards Reno. "And you, sir?"

Reno had grabbed the alcoholic list that stood next to the salt and pepper shakers, his eyes scanning over the variety of drinks that he could choose from. "Yeah, I'll have the Behemoth and two shots of your classic Diamond Weapon shots."

"Oh, a man with a taste for hard core beverages. Right away sir." Snapping his notepad closed, he walked back into the restaurant, leaving the couple to have a few minutes of privacy. Reno left his menu on the table, closed, while Amalia still scanned its contents.

"Can't decide, babe?"

"No, it's not that. I think I want the usual but was just considering other options."

Reno snickered. "You know you say that every time we come here, right?"

She peered over the top of the menu at him and arched an eyebrow. "Do I really?"

"Every single time, yo."

"But I can't help it, the steak is just too damn good."

"Nothing wrong with that babe." Peering at the door, the waiter pushed through, a platter balanced perfectly on his hand as he gave Amalia her water and Reno his deadly Behemoth drink along with the shots of the Diamond Weapon. When the couple had their drinks, he asked, "Are we ready to order? Or is another minute needed?"

"Nah, I'm ready. Ashe?"

"Same here. May I have the strip steak, well-done please?"

"Oh course. What would you like as your sides?"

"Mash potatoes and rice, but can I order a small side of the mixed vegetables?" Amalia glanced at Reno for approval and he only nodded, not really caring about her ordering another side. She knew he had the money to spare, but it didn't mean that she could be so frivolous with his money. The idea didn't settle right with Amalia, she never wanted to be that kind of girl.

"Alright. And for you?" He indicated towards Reno.

"Yeah, I'll just take the dinner special." He grabbed both of the menus and held them out for the waiter to take. "Cooked medium-rare and the sides it already comes with is fine."

The waiter scribbled everything onto his notepad. "And that does come with an Appetizer and the Chocolate Lava Cake. Have you decided what you'd like?"

"The garlic sticks would be great." Reno answered.

"Ok, I'll go place your order and bring out your Appetizer." He took the menus and walked back inside. Once the door shut, Reno reached across the table and grabbed Amalia's hand, rubbing his thumb across the back, her skin smooth and silky beneath his rough phalanges.

But he suddenly pulled back and handed Amalia one of the shot glasses. Grabbing the glass by the top and pulling towards her mouth, she watched as Reno did the same. "Ready?"

"Hell yeah."

"Good. Ok, 3…2…1!"

Both tilted their heads and the shot glasses back, allowing the clear liquor to slither down their throats. Amalia squinted her eyes as she failed miserably to ignore the burning sensation the alcohol left as it trailed down her esophagus. Reno mimicked but was able to pass the sensation more easily than Amalia could. Slamming the shot glass onto the table, Reno roared to life for a few seconds. "Holy shit! Damn, I forgot how strong that drink actually is."

Amalia followed suit. "Damn straight! Burns just like the attacks of the real Diamond Weapon. Betcha that's the effect they were going for, especially for those who fought the fucking creature."

"Like you!" Reno smiled.

"Hell yeah! Especially me!" The two laughed in unison and Amalia could feel the small alcohol in her system. It was just one shot but she could never handle large amounts of alcohol, it bothered her body way too easily.

"Already getting tipsy on me, babe?"

"I hope not, but you know I can't handle mass amounts of alcohol." Pushing the glass away from her, reminding herself to not have any more drinks for the rest of the night, Amalia smiled. "Remind me again why this is a tradition of ours?"

"You don't remember?"

"Not particularly, that was a few years we agreed to this."

"Oh Ashe, you never cease to surprise me." Clearing his throat, he took a drink from his regular alcoholic beverage and smacked his lips, savoring the taste of something that wouldn't burn all the way into his stomach. "Well, the first time we came here together, the shot was a new item on the menu and I tried to get you to have one with me. But you kept saying 'I'll have one only if you do'. So, we both ordered one and drank it at the same time – and we just get one every time we come here, yo."

"It's a stupid tradition, if you ask me."

"I don't hear you complaining, yo," Reno noted.

"True, but I never said I would stop the tradition." Amalia smiled brightly and Reno again reached across the table to take her hand into his.

Amalia sighed – the feel of Reno's skin was electrifying and soothing at the same time. The more he touched her the more she wanted to be devoured by the red-haired Turk. She covered his hand with her free one and closed her eyes. Immediately she was taken to a far-off dream she had been having for quite some time now. Whenever she felt heated, Amalia always imagined the hands of the red-head touching her, running his skin across her flushed body. The dream always left her breathy and in the need of something she had never experienced before.

In her dream, a shirtless Reno, with his pants gradually slipping off of his hips, stood over Amalia as he ever-so-slowly pulled down his pants until they fell to the floor. She lay completely naked, exposed to the man who could see every flaw, every curve and every reaction her body had when she was around her lover. Reno managed to rid the rest of his clothes and towered over the trembling girl who could only watch at the amazing view she held.

Reno always leaned forward, always planted a kiss on Amalia's lips and always traveled further south. His tongue left a winding trail of heat as he coated her body with licks and kisses, creeping his way from her face to her neck, to her chest, the navel and even lower. She always managed to moan and groan as Reno nipped his way across her abdomen and she could feel his fingers snaking their way through her womanly area. He gently tugged at her natural hairs, navigating through the terrain and slipping his fingers inside her river of arousal. She would always cry out in extreme pleasure, not understanding what he would do next but not caring because it had always felt so damn good. As his fingers gently made their way inside, Reno meandered his way towards her most sacred parts and followed the actions of his fingers. Amalia always expected his tongue to finally touch her down there. That was what she had always wanted and was never able to get it…

Because as soon as he was able to give her mind-blowing pleasure, her dreams always ended in a twisted agony of self-denial and how she couldn't, or wouldn't, allow herself to feel real pleasure with her lover.

But at that moment, Amalia could feel a blush creep across her cheeks and she had to open her eyes before she allowed a moan to escape from her lips. Readjusting her seat, she immediately knew that she was aroused; she could feel a pulsating tingle between her legs and had to bite her lips shut before she ended up producing noises that would potentially give away her current situation; not something she had expected to do, especially in the public environment they currently resided in.

But Reno was able to bring her mind out of the gutter. "Babe, you ok? You've been kinda quiet."

"Huh? Oh, sorry 'bout that, I guess I've just got…a lot on my mind right now"

"Hmm, wanna talk about it?" Amalia was about to answer when their waiter arrived once more to drop off their appetizer. He placed the full bowl in the middle of the table and provided each with their own small plate, just in case.

"I just placed your order in so it's cooking right now. I'll come back in a bit to see if you need any more drinks. Or do you need anything right now?" he smiled politely in their direction.

"No I think we're good for right now, thanks." Reno answered and then the waiter nodded and walked back inside. Reaching across the table to grab Amalia's small plate, he placed two garlic sticks on it from the bowl and placed it before her eyes, hoping she would nibble on at least something before their meal finally arrived. But Amalia didn't even flinch – and she was the only other person on the planet who Reno knew to eat as much as he did.

But he could tell something was truly plaguing her mind. She suddenly retracted within herself and slightly hung her head downward, eyes cast away from the food. Reno grabbed a few pieces for himself and took a bite, the butter-garlic sauce melting in his mouth. He took another bite before he could finish the first and glanced again at his girl, arms loose against her side as her hands lay within her lap. This made Reno nervous; whenever she fell into this "funk" Amalia always ended up losing her appetite. He had to do something – Reno didn't want to watch her starve when he knew her stomach was growling from hunger; he could hear the intense rumble from across the table.

Swallowing what was in his mouth, Reno said quietly, "Ashe? Babe, you need to eat something, alright?" But she didn't say anything; she was eerily quiet and, for Reno, that wasn't a good sign. Reno was about to use his secret weapon – using her full name – something he only did when he had to really grasp her attention. Pulling the second-in-command essence he had deep within himself, Reno commanded, "Amalia Strife, you need to eat something, now. And that's an order."

This grabbed her attention and he could visibly see the corners of her eyes lean upwards as she tried to suppress a smile but ultimately failed.

Amalia looked up at the concerned man from across the table and she held his gaze, suddenly feeling ridiculous for the feelings she was experiencing within her heart. Her hand snaked towards her plate and she took a tiny bite of the top garlic stick, and as the sauce melted on her own tongue, she immediately took another bite, a bigger one, and then another and another until she had eaten the two on her plate within a minutes time. Her actions received a laugh from Reno and a pure, genuine smile graced her face.

"There's the smile I know and love so much, babe."

As she reached to grab more of the garlic sticks, Amalia said, "I apologize, Reno. I just…I don't know. I've missed you so much and then you suddenly came back from your mission where you were gone for, quite a while…I guess I just had several emotions running through my body and couldn't straighten them out." That's not a lie, is it? It certainly feels like the truth. I had a hard time grasping that he was gone or so long. But, Amalia argued deep within her subconscious. I know that's not the full answer.

While she was in a mental thinking process, Amalia didn't even feel when Reno grabbed her hand and held it within his until he squeezed it gently. In return, she squeezed back, trying to let the poor man know that she was better now. At least, Amalia kept trying to tell herself that she was alright.

"Don't worry about a thing, babe. I know with me being gone for so long on all these different missions that I've placed some unnecessary stress on you. And I apologize for that. But, just remember," Reno squeezed her had slightly harder until he had her focus solely into his eyes. "Everything I am doing, I'm doing to protect you. Can you remember that, babe?" Yes he added extra emphasis on a few of his words, but he wanted her to know the truth. Whether or not these missions were for her safety, he would protect her at all costs.

Amalia could feel another blush creep upon her already flustered cheeks. Outside, she could feel the effects of Reno's words, but inside, she was killing herself knowing that she wasn't giving Reno the answer he truly deserved.

Should I finally tell him tonight what's really going on? Amalia couldn't help but continue to think to herself.

As he thrust more of the garlic sticks into his mouth, Reno continued to stare in Amalia's lovely face – he knew she was torturing herself by thinking about something. But what exactly was it? What would be keeping her from enjoying a nice meal together? The Turk scratched his head, unsure of what to do with the current situation. But, as suddenly as he was questioning it, a lightbulb blinked inside the Turk's head.

"Ashe?"

"Yes, Reno?"

"I…have a serious question to ask you."

"Ah, ok. Shoot – what's your question?"

"Tonight, are you quiet because…" Aw hell, why did I decide to bring this topic up at DINNER? Reno mentally kicked himself in the ass, because he sure felt like one for what he was about to ask. He sighed before continuing. "Amalia…"

Ah fuck, he's calling by my first name, she thought.

"Are you really quiet tonight because of what happened back at the apartment?" Her eyes widened but quickly went back to normal, but Reno was able to register the difference in her actions, especially since she retracted her hand from his and placed it along the edge of the table.

"W-why would you ask me something like that, Reno?"

"I…it just occurred to me. We technically went farther tonight than we have in the past. It's the only thing I could possibly think of. Ashe, I just want to make sure you're ok. You're silence and sullenness is starting to worry me."

Holy fuck…fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…well maybe he does know? He asked, so…he has to understand that obviously something is wrong with how I'm feeling about our…"intimate moments" together. Maybe this is a sign saying I should come clean? Again, Amalia was having an internal battle between her thoughts. So she did what caught both Reno, and herself, off guard. She placed a genuine smile on her face.

Reno expected any other type of emotion for Amalia to express: anger, sadness, tears, embarrassment…anything. But what he received in return was Amalia smiling. A gesture he was definitely not expecting. "I-I'm sorry, Reno. But," taking a deep breath as the small fell off of her lips, Amalia slowly stated the next few words, scared for how Reno was going to interpret them. "Y-you're…somewhat r-right. I…" and before she even had a chance to sit out the words Reno needed to hear, Amalia began to cry. A tear escaped one of her eyes and leaked down the side of her cheek. As it slid off of her chin, another fell and then another and another until she wasn't able to control the tears as they dropped on their own accord.

But Reno instantaneously kneeled in front of her with a napkin in his hand, gently wiping away the tears of sadness that fell from her beautiful face. One by one, the tears dropped and Reno was there to catch them before they could fall off of her face entirely. Amalia didn't move but the more that her man cleared her face the more she leaned into his hand, desperately wanting his warmth to take away the pain deep within her. A few minutes passed before the silent tears stopped dropping and Amalia was finally able to look at her lover's face. But this time, she didn't expect for him to smile.

"Well, hey there, beautiful," was all he said as he wisped a few pieces of hair behind her ear.

"You're not mad at me…?" was all she whispered back.

He shook his head. "No, of course not, babe. I'm not going to lie, I've kinda had a gut feeling that something regarding this issue was bothering you for quite some time now, but I didn't want to pressure you. But something was different this time and I'm sorry that I brought it up but…" Reno's hand grazed her cheek, his fingers softly tracing the outer line of her jaw from one side to the other.

But the more Reno touched her face, the more she wanted to cry and, almost as if on cue, one last tear fell from her eye and dropped onto Reno's hand. "I am so…so sorry, Reno. I-I should've said something sooner…"

"No, don't be sad. Whatever it is you've been feeling, you have every right to feel that way." Caressing the skin around her eyes one last time to ensure that no tears were left, Reno stood, grabbing Amalia's hand and pulling her up towards him; he stared down into the magnificent color of her eyes, knowing that he could drown in the mixed colors. Leaning down and placing a swift kiss on her forehead, he leaned towards her ear and whispered "We'll talk about this later. But right now, let's just enjoy our first dinner together that we've had in a while, ok?" Amalia nodded in response but as Reno took a step towards his seat, she grabbed his arm and held on as if her life depended on it.

Knowing exactly what she was thinking, Reno pulled Amalia into his arms and positioned his head to sit on top of hers; she linked her arms around his waist and held on firmly. "Ashe, I know exactly what it is that's running through your head." He gently pulled her away and leaned down until he was eye-level with her. He studied her expression for a few seconds and immediately detected that she had fear within her heart – and he knew where that fear was coming from. "I swear to you, Amalia Strife, I am not going to leave you. Nothing could ever force me to leave your loving embrace. Do you believe me?"

"Yes," Amalia instantaneously answered. She was shocked at how quick she found her voice but continued to speak so she wouldn't lose it again. "I just…needed to hear you say it." She leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips and retracted just as quickly as she had acted.

Reno kissed her forehead once more before saying, "Believe me when I say, Ashe, that I would be a fool if I ever were to leave such an amazing woman, such as yourself." This caused a blush to form on Amalia's cheeks and a sudden smile formed on her lips and she only added to its power and she allowed it to grow slightly wider. "Listen, we'll talk more when we get home but, for now, let's enjoy our dinner and have a good time. I promise, this isn't the end of us, Ashe."

"I believe you, Reno."

"Good, that's the answer I was hoping to hear from you, yo. Now, let's get you seated. I believe our food is about to arrive anytime now." Pulling her chair back, Reno assisted Amalia in seating herself again and then he sat back down in his own seat. Only a few seconds passed by before the waiter walked through the door with their food held high on another black platter. As quickly as he came, the waiter gave them their correct dishes and left them to continue eating on their own.

Although the couple could feel the slight uneasiness in the air, both ate their meals respectively and provided conversation with the other. Neither stopped talking to the other they moved from one topic to the other. Reno could see the color flowing back into Amalia's cheeks and he wanting to guess that it was because the truth was starting to come out, though it honestly could have been the food as well.

So, it's true, Reno thought has he engulfed several bites of the lobster he ordered. For the past several years I always wondered why we had never gone "all the way"…because something has been bothering Ashe about it for that long.

Engaging in conversation, Reno talked about the mission as much as he was able to without distributing private information that Rufus didn't want Amalia to hear. He explained how they were able to defeat the people trying to make their way into the reactor, how Elena became hurt, and then he finally told her how Elena also broke her leg. Although she had heard the story earlier that day, Amalia thought it was hilarious to hear it from Reno.

On the other hand, Amalia conversed in all the jobs she had been doing over the past month; watching the bar for the weekend when Cloud and Tifa left, taking care of the kids in the morning, working through transactions and orders for the delivery business. By the time she had explained everything that had been on her plate for the last few weeks, both had finished their meals and were now expecting to receive their dessert.

As Reno pushed his now empty plate forward, he said, "Well, sounds like my Ashe has been quite busy since I've been gone."

"Honestly, it worked to my advantage. I wanted to have some work to do all the time, it helped to keep you and the others off of my mind."

"Was it that hard to be away from me, babe?" Reno arched an eyebrow, knowing full well that he was being cocky.

But Amalia leaned forward, ready to play at his own game. "Couldn't I just ask you the same thing, Reno?"

"Tch, yeah, you could. And to answer: yes, it was hell not being able to see you. Night and day, knowing that you were back in Edge waiting for me to come home while I was off fighting to protect the thing we created…it was a nightmare." Reno ran his hands through his red hair.

"It felt longer than one month."

"Oh, I wasn't the only one who was thinking that?" Amalia shook her head. "Thank god…yeah, I don't know why but time was such a bitch…each day lagged on longer than the previous and I never thought that our mission would end."

The click from the patio door captured both of the couples attention as they noticed the waiter walked in. "Well, it looks like both of you have finished your entrées. Are we ready for your dessert?"

"Actually, would it be possible to take our dessert home?" Amalia asked quietly, somewhat wanting to stay and eat the cake here, but also wanting to go home because she knew that tonight would change her relationship with Reno; and the sooner they were able to get home, the sooner the pain could possibly go away. I know he's telling the truth that he won't leave me, but what will he do when he finds out what's been going on inside my mind…?

"Of course, I'll go get that right now for you. Here's the check, there's no rush you can stay here as long as you need." The waiter started to grab their plates and noticed that both were out of their drinks. "Do we need any refills here?"

Reno shook his head. "Nah, we're good. Just the dessert and we should be good to go."

"Great, I'll be back in a few."

As their waiter walked away from their table, Reno grabbed the check and quickly glanced at it. He never cared about the price for whatever it was he paid for; there wasn't a point, he had enough money saved up to last him until he floated back into the Lifestream. Pulling out his wallet, Reno dropped over two-hundred gil into the folder the receipt was delivered in and left it on the edge of the table. Noting how much money he paid, Amalia raised an eyebrow; she was slightly bewildered. "Was the check really that much?"

"What? Oh no, it was less than a hundred, but I gave him a huge tip because he deserved it."

"I know he was good, he's been out waiter before, but why such a big tip this time?"

Reno smiled and looked deep into her eyes. "Because he waited patiently by the door when you were crying."

Amalia's mouth dropped into a "O" position, not quite knowing what to say. Now she felt embarrassed at how she was acting but Reno shook her head and mentally told her not to worry. Their waiter came back one last time and dropped off their boxed dessert within a plastic bag. He took the folder with him to grab their change when Reno explained that wasn't necessary; he wished them a goodnight and a safe drive back as the couple began to stand. Holding the dessert in one hand and Amalia's in the other, Reno led them back to the front of the restaurant and out the open doors to the packed street. Making their way over to Shiva, which was parked along the side of the building away from the main parking area, Reno placed the bag inside the seat compartment and then hopped onto the bike. Amalia followed and straddled the bike behind him, her arms once again intertwining with his waist. She strengthened her grip and wasn't about to let go. As he turned the bike on and throttled the gas, Reno turned his head and said, "Hold on babe, I'm gonna get us home in record time." She only nodded in response as she hid away her head behind Reno's back.

A single tear escaped from her eye as she knew that, later tonight when they finally got home, she and Reno were going to have a difficult conversation that she had been trying to avoid the last four years.

~ oOo ~

The ride back to the apartment was unnaturally quiet. Amalia kept her arms tightly around Reno's waist as he sped forth from Kalm all the way back to Edge. As the vast expanse of the open plains plagued her eyes, Amalia allowed her eyelids to droop until she had finally lost consciousness. Through his muscular chest, she could hear the steady thumping of Reno's heartbeat; though she tried her hardest to stay awake, the soft beat of his heart was enough to send her off into a deep, deep sleep.

As the bike hummed into the distance, Reno could feel Amalia's arms slacken from his waist. Gripping the handle tightly with one hand, he held her hands against his stomach so she wouldn't fall off. Reno wasn't worried, they were almost home anyways. A few minutes passed as he guided the bike nicely inside the cities outer wall; there were still people walking across the city even though it was later into the night. Their silhouettes blurred as Reno sped right on by, reaching the outside of his apartment complex within the blink of an eye. Seriously, best purchase Ashe has invested in, Reno noted, as he dulled the humming of the Shiva's engine.

Gently easing her limbs from around his midsection, Reno stood as quickly as he could while trying to keep Amalia from following towards the ground. But as his feet made contact with the ground, she stirred, her head tilting towards the sides as her eyes fluttered open. Holding her shoulders for support, he waited until she had her bearings straight before her arched her back and cracked her vertebrae. Twisting her arms above her head, Amalia turned towards Reno and smiled softly. "Mmm," she mumbled, still trying to wake from her short-lived nap. "Are we home yet?"

"I just parked, angel. Are you awake enough to walk or would you like me to carry you?"

Before he could receive an answer, Amalia was already removing herself from her seat. Offering her his hand, Amalia accepted and stood slowly, trying to find the feeling within her legs. "Thanks…I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"I think it was the food, babe. You had a pretty big dinner and a nice drive home."

"Hmm, probably…" As she stood, Amalia swayed slightly and Reno had to keep his hold on her shoulders. She's still not quite awake, poor thing, he thought.

Grabbing the cake from the seat compartment, Reno held Amalia's hand within his and guided her towards the door. With eyes half closed, she was guided into the building by Reno who never let go of her hand. Vaguely aware of her surroundings, Amalia didn't care; Reno was watching out for her and she knew that - even if she fell asleep standing in the elevator – he wouldn't leave her behind. Being softly tugged by the feel of Reno's hands and aimlessly guided by her own feet, they eventually made their way through the apartment door where her body molded into the soft touch of the couch.

Reno stood by Amalia's side and watched as her chest rose and fell, matching the even breathing she held as she fell back into a deep sleep. He couldn't believe how exhausted she seemed compared to earlier. Kneeling, Reno traced the contour of her face, his fingers trailing from her chin, down to her shoulder when they eventually landed on her hip. The farther his touched reached, the deeper Amalia took a breath. He knew the effect his touch had on her. But why doesn't she give in to her sensations? Reno wondered.

Making his way towards the kitchen, Reno took the boxed dessert out of its bag and placed it in the fridge, knowing that he and Amalia would eat it later tomorrow. He scrunched his nose as the fumes made contact with his brain and he quickly retracted from the fridge. Damn, he thought. Need to take care of the tomorrow. Scratching his head, Reno was unsure of what to do next. Should he leave Amalia to sleep on the couch or should he take her to their room?

Deciding on the latter, he walked back into the living room to find Amalia completely stretched out against the couch, with an arm above her head and the other sprawled across her stomach. Stopping dead in his tracks at the edge of the couch, Reno couldn't help but admire the girl that was before him. She was the epitome of perfection in his eyes with her hair sprawled across the pillows and the way her mouth slightly opened as she breathed in and out. Knowing she would be better off in the comforts of their bed, Reno lifted Amalia from the couch, her head slanted against his chest and Reno couldn't help but stare into her beautiful sleeping form.

Making his way upstairs and opening the door to the bedroom they shared, Reno placed Amalia where she usually slept on the bed, her body unconsciously shifted onto her side. Leaving her side, Reno began to undress; pulling off his infamous Turk outfit, he sprawled his jacket and pants onto the chair in the corner, his work shirt following in a moment's time. Clad only in his boxers, Reno made his way towards the bathroom. Switching the light on, Reno stood in front of the sink and bathed his face in cold water until his skin dripped with the clear, sensual liquid. Grabbing the hand towel off to the side, Reno dried his face then threw the towel into the laundry basket.

Walking back into the bedroom and towards the dresser, Reno searched in its drawers until he grabbed a clean shirt for him, which he placed over his head, and the usual set of pajamas Amalia wore whenever she was over; short cotton shorts and a simple tank top.

"Reno…?" He turned towards the bed and noticed that Amalia was no longer asleep, her Mako-infused eyes softly searching for his.

"I'm here angel," Reno replied, walking towards her side. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he cradled her cheek in his hand. "Did you have a nice nap?"

"How long was I asleep?"

"Well, practically the entire way home."

"We're home?"

Amalia was rewarded with a chuckle from Reno. "Yes, babe. We've been home almost…twenty minutes now?"

She only groaned in response and sat forward. "I can't believe I fell asleep… How did I end up here?"

"You honestly don't remember waking up outside, do you?" Amalia shook her head and Reno scratched his own, a particular spot right behind his left ear - a nervous habit he had gained before he had entered the Turks. "Don't worry. You wanna change really quickly so you can go back to bed?" She nodded in response. "Alright, I'll go get us some waters and you can change." He handed her the clothes he had pulled earlier and walked out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

Making his way back downstairs, Reno grabbed two bottled waters from the fridge, idly waiting while Amalia took her time to change. Taking a drink of his water, Reno gulped down nearly half the bottle, thinking back towards how the day had progressed. It had been an extensive day, but one he would gladly repeat again if he had the chance. Yeah, their dinner had produced some unwanted tension neither person wanted, but the way Reno looked back on what they discussed, it was needed for their relationship.

I know Ashe is always open with me but I want her to be able to talk about our potential sex life. Forget the fact about whether we have sex or not, I just want her to know that I won't ever leave her. Waking back towards the door, Reno only took a few steps before he stopped in mid-step. Wow, would you look at that. A few years ago, I would never have cared about another girl with the way I do about Ashe. I would've straight up fucked anyone if I could but with her, I honestly don't mind if we ever make it to that level. He smiled at this sudden revelation.

Does that mean I changed for the better?

The sound of the door opening above his head signaled that Amalia was done. Taking the steps two at a time, Reno hurriedly made his way back towards her, suddenly needing to wrap his arms around her and calm the fears he now knew she had. Although he wasn't sure exactly what those fears were, Reno knew she had them and all he wanted to do was quench them until she had none left. Stepping through the door, he found Amalia sitting in the middle of the bed, threading her fingers through her ashy hair. Hearing his footsteps, Amalia glanced upwards and provided Reno with a minor smile.

Sitting down next to her, Reno handed her the unopened bottle of water, which she took and softly replied "thanks." They both sat in silence; Reno drinking the rest of his water while Amalia continued to knead her hair, pulling at invisible knots she believed to be there. After a few minutes, Amalia turned towards Reno. "We…need to talk don't we?"

A sigh escaped from Reno's lips as he processed her words. He held his face within his hands; not sure where to begin, and not sure where the conversation would end. "I-I guess the question remains is…what is it you want to tell me?"

Amalia swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. "I…I don't know where to start, Reno."

Taking her shaking hand into his, Reno rubbed the skin with his thumb. Inside, he desperately wanted to know what was plaguing the mind of his beautiful girl. But he didn't want to rush her. "Just…start by telling me what you are feeling. Is that ok babe?"

She docilely nodded. "W-well," Amalia stammered, trying to find the words she had wanted to express. All the emotions she had wanted to tell Reno from Day One suddenly burst through her body; every sensation of fear and sadness coursed through her veins. Needing strength to finish what she hadn't even started to say, Amalia squeezed Reno's hand. "Since we've been together…we've never really been intimate w-with e-each other…And, before I push any further, I m-must apologize." She tilted her head downward only for Reno to grasp her chin with his fingers and pulled her eyes up to meet his.

"Don't ever apologize for whatever it is you are feeling; I believe I've already told you this."

"I c-can't help but feel the way I feel…"

"Shh, I know, it's ok. Ashe, whatever it is you have to tell me, I won't be mad. You know that, right?" She shook her head, signifying no. Reno tilted her head to face him. "You have to trust me; I won't."

Taking a deep breath and forcing it out, Amalia again started playing with her hair; it was her nervous habit just as when Reno scratched his head. "I'm…" she began. "We – I haven't instigated sex b-because…I'm scared…"

I knew it. "But why?"

"Reno," she spoke low and softly; Reno had to tilt forwards in order to hear her words. "I know of your reputation as a w-womanizer back before everything that happened with Sephiroth…we've discussed this before."

"Yes?"

"I…well, what if I-I can't…" Amalia cut off her sentence and immediately began to speak again, focusing on another topic. "I'm scared you'll leave me once you've had your w-way with me…"

Reno blinked and, for one of the rare moments in his life, he went speechless. Oh dear god. I would have never, EVER thought that's what's been bothering her all this time. "Ashe, you've been feeling this way for four years?" She nodded in agreement. "Why didn't you ever say something? Why did you have to keep it a secret from me?" It was now Reno's turn to speak softly; he didn't want to come off as an ass just because she finally told him. Hell, he didn't even know what he was supposed to feel at that particular moment.

"I don't know, I guess…I was so afraid that you would end up using me in the end that I kept telling myself that'd you'd only continue to stay by my side if we never had sex."

"And you really believed that?" He slipped and accidently raised his voice; he could visually see Amalia recoil at his words. Shit! Way to fucking go Reno…

"No, not at first. But gradually, I started to believe it the longer we were together. My thoughts kept reminding me that if it was so easy for you to fuck those others girls than…what's stopping you from fucking me and then ditching me?" As she was speaking, a few tears began to leak down her face and Reno let them fall, guessing that she most likely didn't want him to touch her at that exact moment.

"No, I would never do that to you, Ashe. You're not some toy that I can play with when I have a sudden desire too; you're much, much more to me than that." Cupping her hand in his, Reno pulled his close to his, lips molding against the other. All he did was kiss her, it was all he ever wanted to do; but he could feel Ashe pulling away from him and he let go. Once apart, Amalia covered with her mouth and looked away, more tears staining her face.

"Ashe…"

"Reno…I-I'm sorry I can't…I can't do this!" Amalia jumped off the bed, leaving the safe enclosure of Reno's arms. Bounding towards the bathroom, she slammed the door shut and, from the bed, Reno could hear the faint click as she locked the door; ensuring that the two remained apart from one another.

Sitting dumbfounded on the bed, Reno locked his gaze on the door that separated him from Amalia. He was still trying to wrap his head around the sudden information she had provided, unsure of how to process what she said. So, he thought. She's afraid because I've had sex before whereas she hasn't? Standing, Reno gradually made his way towards the door and the closer each foot gave him, the more he could hear Amalia from within the confined walls of the bathroom. Leaning his ear against the wood, Reno listened intently and it only took him a few seconds to realize that Amalia was now crying; washing away her fears and her doubts.

Not being able to express the feelings that were rushing through his veins, Reno leaned against the door; his heart being torn in two as he could hear the ragged sobs of his girl. Drawing in a raggedy breath of his own, he gently tapped on the door. "Ashe…hey, babe, please…open the door." He didn't get a reply; instead, Amalia began to sob harder, unable to control the vast amount of emotions she had stored within herself, her sobs echoed within the bathroom and within Reno's ears that cringed in a pain he felt he should not have.

Forcing himself to leave their room, Reno pushed himself away and dragged his feet out the door and made his way down towards the kitchen. He wanted to help Amalia feel better but he wasn't sure where to start…or what he could even do. Without even realizing he had made his way into the kitchen, Reno stood in front of the sink, his hands grabbing the edge of the counter so hard, the skin around his knuckles felt it would split. Hot chocolate…the drink he knew Amalia was slightly addicted to - Reno knew that even if she didn't drink it, she would appreciate the thought.

At least, that's what he kept repeating to himself.

Grabbing the kettle from the stove and filling it with water from the faucet, Reno ignited the burner and placed the chocobo-style kettle on top of it. Grabbing both the Nibelheim cocoa and her favorite mug from the cabinet, Reno waited against the counter as the water began to boil. Letting his face fall into his hands Reno groaned, unsure of where their relationship was heading after this.

After all this time, I never knew Ashe had been feeling this way. And technically, it's my fault…all because I was frisky with women before we even knew each other. But I was never happy with any of those women…I'd fuck those women as much as I could but with Ashe, it's different. I want to make love to her…Reno looked above him towards the ceiling, the exact spot where the master bathroom was outlined. Angel…you are the only person who has ever made me feel whole, complete…and loved. Those other women were just a distraction from the constant pain I felt everyday knowing all the stuff I had to endure by being a Turk. But you accepted me wholeheartedly…please, don't give up on me now.

Reno exhaled. "Damn, never thought this would come back to bite me in the ass."

The kettle began spewing as it boiled and Reno pulled it off the stove, pouring the steamy water into Amalia's mug. Breaking open the package, he dumped the cocoa and stirred the chocolaty-goodness, the once clear liquid turning dark brown. Sitting the kettle back down, Reno pulled the bag of mini marshmallows and placed seven inside the mug, the random number Amalia always placed in her hot cocoa. Grabbing it firmly in his hand, Reno began his way upstairs, wanting to know that, even if she was still unhappy with the situation, that she could find it in her heart to forgive him.

~ oOo ~

Amalia sat on the edge of bathtub, fresh, cold tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn't even bother trying to hide her face anymore, she knew Reno had left, she could hear his footsteps walk away and leave the room. She began a process of clenching and unclenching her hands, not sure of where she should place them. Already she had hidden away her face in them, but what next? Should she hide some more or should she face the hole she had just dug?

Oh Gaia I can't believe he now knows…Looking back, I feel foolish for thinking that. Why would I ever tell myself that Reno would do that? I know for a fact that he's not like that…but is that the whole truth? Is that everything I'm feeling about the situation? Amalia looked across the bathroom into the wall mirror, her red, swollen eyes piercing back at her. The skin across her cheeks was turning a pinkish hue from her embarrassment. She didn't know what to think of the situation, but the last question she had asked herself echoed loudly within her ears.

No, was all she told herself.

Amalia knew she was keeping more information from Reno. She was self-conscious about the circumstance and truly did not want Reno to know what else she had yet to tell him. And yet, she did – Amalia knew that by telling Reno she would have the courage to go through with what she desperately wanted to do. That's what confused her most, knowing that she wanted to have sex with Reno but was scared because of his reputation and her fear of being left behind.

Looking back into the mirror, Amalia suddenly felt disgusted with herself. She had been with an amazing man for a long time and knew him from the inside-out; she knew his favorite color, his morning routine, how he liked to have his clothes folded and even the darkest secrets he had kept within himself about being a Turk. Hell, she even knew his family history and origins – something not even the people of Shinra knew about. Thinking about that alone, it occurred to Amalia that Reno must've had faith and trust within her to tell her his secrets without a second thought. If he can do that, then why can't I?

Because you're afraid of being alone and that he'll drop you off without a moment's notice, a voice reverberated in Amalia's head.

At this realization, Amalia nodded her head to no one in the bathroom but herself. I'm a fucking idiot for letting this get to me…but sex is such a big deal and I'm…

"Inexperienced…" she whispered to out loud, the confines of the bathroom wall silencing her word from leaking out into the world.

"Knock, knock." Snapping her head in the direction of the door, Amalia's heart froze. Reno. "Ashe, angel please…can I come in? I've brought you something." Feeling her heart skip several beats, she stood more quickly than she imagined she would. But as she grasped the handle, she froze once again; taking a deep breath, knowing that she needed to face her lover and apologize for her idiocy on the matter, she unlocked the door and pulled it towards her.

Seeing her face come into his field of vision, Reno gave her a soft smile, and placed the steamy cup of hot chocolate into her field of vision. He could see the redness of her eyes, but made no move to acknowledge it. "I made you your favorite."

Slowly reaching out to take the mug, she held it within her hands and asked, "With seven mini marshmallows?"

"Of course, angel."

Walking back into the bathroom, Amalia once again sat on the edge of the tub, gently bringing the hot mug towards her lips and blowing against the steamy liquid to cool it off. As she took her first sip, Reno followed suit and sat down on the toilet seat. Resting his elbows on his knees, he watched as she greedily drank the cocoa; he could see a faint smile on her lips. They sat together in silence; Amalia steadily drinking what was left of her cocoa and Reno watching her with a close eye. Neither one spoke until Amalia placed the mug in her hands for good and turned her head to look in Reno's eyes.

He was the first to speak. "Did you finish it already?" She nodded. "Want me to go make more?"

"No, I'll be ok." She twirled the mug in her hands. "It was delicious by the way, thank you."

"You're most welcome, babe."

"Listen, Reno…" He raised an eyebrow as Amalia's grip tightened on the mug; he knew she had something to say. "I'm sorry…for everything. I was a fool in thinking what I did."

Reno didn't respond. And after a few quiet minutes, he still didn't say anything – he couldn't even think of what he should say. Instead, he took hold of her mug and, after standing to his feet, sat in on the counter, not worrying about that it should be out placed into the kitchen sink downstairs; he'd worry about that later.

"Reno?" He turned; Amalia's voice full of question and confusion. Without asking, in his Reno-way, he bent down and lifted her bridal-style.

"Eeep! Reno! What're you doing?!"

"Taking you to bed, what else?" She smacked him on the back of his head and he laughed, realization of what his words caught up to him. "Not in that sense!" Leaving the bathroom and making sure he turned the switch off, Reno walked towards their bed and gently laid Amalia on her side. Turning the overhead light off, he then made his way, through the darkness, to his side and lay down next to her. Reno untied the leather band that bound his air together and set it on the nightstand.

"You're not going to do anything to me?"

Amalia's voice caught him off guard and he looked into the darkness to find her glowing Mako eyes staring at him. Reaching down through the sheets he found her hand and held it firmly. "No Amalia, I won't."

"But why?"

"You sound disappointed that I'm not."

"N-no…" Reno could see a faint blush smear her cheeks as his eyes began to adjust to the darkness that enveloped them.

"Don't worry, we won't do anything until you for sure you're ready."

She sniffled. "Reno…"

"Hey," turning on his side he pulled her towards his chest and began to run his fingers through her hair. Amalia didn't object, only snuggling closer to the warmness he offered her. She shivered and Reno reached down, grabbed the covers and pulled them over their bodies. Immediately Amalia enfolded her arms around his waist and Reno tightened his hold on her. "Angel please don't cry…you've shed enough tears, and it's all because of me."

"No! I'm the one who -" She was cut off by Reno's lips. This time, she did not push away but pulled him towards her. They stayed that way for a few minutes; Reno's hands tracing her back while Amalia ran hers through his fiery hair.

When they finally pulled away, both slightly panting from the sudden onslaught of raw and needed passion, Reno said, "Don't you even say it; I'm not gonna have this conversation with you where we go back and forth."

"But I'm sorry."

He sighed and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Babe, you apologize for your feelings way too much, yo. Listen," he looked deep into her eyes. "I'm the one who's sorry. To think you were feeling this way for that long…I never considered that my frivolous past would come back to haunt me this way. But Ashe…you're my angel."

"Reno," she stroked his cheek. "Why? Why do I mean so much to you? Why do you call me 'angel'?"

"Because, my angel, you're perfectly imperfect. You're the most gracious and unbelievably kind person who has ever been in my life. You've forgiven me for my sins, for being a Turk, hell, for even trying to annihilate AVANLANCHE back in the good 'ol days." He kissed her eyebrow. "You've given me a second chance." Her cheek. "You've given me hope." Her nose. "You've simply been there for me when others have walked out on me." And finally, her lips.

"I'm you're angel because of all that?"

"Yes, my angel. But you wanna know something?" She nodded her head a little too enthusiastically. "All those women from years ago," her smile disappeared but she still listened nonetheless. "Were nothing more than a distraction – a distraction from all the pain I felt everyday knowing what I had to do with my life in order to survive. All of them were a mistake; I never loved any of them, I never truly wanted any of them. But when it comes to you, I get this rush of heat in my chest that I've never felt before. You've given me a place in this world when I was always told there would never be one for me." He kissed her again and Amalia went limp. She couldn't believe her ears; Reno had never gone into so much explicit detail about what she meant to him.

"Reno…" was all she could manage to say.

"Ashe…please don't let this trivial matter about us not having sex ruin our relationship. I don't want to lose you over this," he skimmed his hand over her cheek, unable to believe at how her skin always managed to be soft.

"I won't," she replied immediately. "I won't ever let you go; I belong to you and you belong to me."

"Forever babe, I'll never lose you," Reno tightened his grip and Amalia did the same. Her breathing relaxed and within a matter of time, Amalia had fallen asleep, exhaustion causing her to collapse long before Reno did. He looked down at her sleeping face and kissed the top of her head. His last statement was true – he would never lose her, but he was scared shitless about her safety. Reno had no idea why the hell this one random guy wanted Amalia or what he wanted her for. But he'd never let him get her, Reno would protect her with his life, he promised himself that the day he had laid his eyes on her and the same promise only grew with each passing day.

They'll never lay a fucking finger on her, was the last thought Reno processed through his head before his eyes finally closed as well.

~ oOo ~

Phew! What a chapter! The longest one I've written yet. Well? Did everyone enjoy it? I told you, the story is starting to thicken and we're starting to see more and more. I'm excited to write more.

Review and comment or simply just read. I'm just hoping everyone is enjoying m story.

Chocobocolina ~ out! :3