A/n: Ok, chapter 19. Wow, almost twenty chapters! I'm almost done. Whew. Please read and review, I still like to know how I'm doing! BTW, Florida was great!
Disclaimer: Only the storyline is mine.
oOoOoOo (Btw, this is my new separation line. I don't know if it'll work, cause the last one doesn't anymore -.-; ...)
Elena sat at the breakfast table with Tifa. "Isn't it amazing how Rufus can go on an on like that as though he had it all planned out and written somewhere? If I did that, I'd stutter myself silly."
Tifa smiled. "Yep. I've never seen a press conference before, you know, for real. Its kind of nerve wracking. I was thinking like, 'What if they ask me a question?'"
Elena shrugged. "Well I wonder what the press is gonna say about you and Rufus." She said, grinning into her coffee cup.
Tifa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" The question was posed with deliberate ignorance.
Her friend smiled. "What I mean is, they saw the way Rufus looked at you. And I saw the way you looked at him..." She trailed off.
Tifa blushed. "That was a long time ago. We're just friends now... I think."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Suuuure. Tifa, I can tell you are madly in love with him. Heh, and it's definitely no secret that he's totally head over heels for you. Trust me, I've known him a long time, and he wouldn't let just anyone sleep in his bed while he sleeps on the couch."
Reno walked in with a slight grin. "Hello ladies. What's up?"
Elena piped up again. "We were just discussing Tifa's admirer."
The redhead grinned. "Ah. Yes, what Rufus is too proud to reveal himself."
Tifa was beyond red. "He's the one who keeps saying friend! I've been scared to death all these years that he was going to be like his father and I'd lost the Rufus I knew forever. I wrote to him and didn't receive anything back. Turns out they were keeping his mail from him. Joined AVALANCHE to avenge my father and help the planet. Imagine my surprise and horror when I do see Rufus again, and he's acting like his father. But I didn't give up hope when he gave me those keys. Only once did I ever lose hope and that was a time I'd like to forget. I've felt the same way about him all along. If he feels the same he should be man enough to tell me." Satisfied, she sat back down and witnessed the surprise on her friend's faces.
Reno and Elena, both with jaws dropped, first look at Tifa (or rather past Tifa), then at each other.
"I... I didn't tell you because I was ...scared of how you'd react. I didn't know you felt the same way. You're the only one I've ever had this feeling about, I didn't know how to deal with it." A voice behind Tifa made her jump and turn nearly maroon.
She hadn't meant for him to hear that... She turned around and Rufus stood there, half smiling at her.
"It's hard for me... All my life, I was raised to ignore emotion. And for the longest time, that once emotion wouldn't leave me alone. ...Forgive me... for not realizing it sooner." Rufus said gently, slowly putting aside his pride to get out his feelings. Its funny how easy it was to dish out sarcasm, but when it came to being the first to reveal his feelings or admitting he was wrong, he was always too proud to let it come out.
Elena and Reno backed slowly and quietly out the door, not wanting to ruin the moment.
Tifa smiled back up at Rufus. "I'll forgive you." She said, grabbing his hand. "This time." She added slyly.
oOoOoOo
That night, Tifa was invited to stay and watch the press conference on T.V.
Reno turned on the news, eager to see how bad the press twisted Rufus words. To their surprise, the only thing they twisted was Tifa's reason for being at the ShinRa mansion.
One reporter gave his take, "Rufus ShinRa seems to have an eye for beautiful women not unlike his father. His reason for having the young AVALANCHE female at the mansion that early in the morning was this," The reporter paused to show Rufus tell the press, "Ms. Lockheart and I are making a pact. AVALANCHE shall cause no harm to ShinRa if ShinRa does not harm the planet. Seems fair." The reporter continued. "Seems to me that the 'pact' includes a little more than peace. AVALANCHE was a pretty violent little terrorist group. I hope President Rufus knows what he's getting into."
"They make me sound like I'm an evil seductress. It's not like we were blowing up reactors for no reason." Tifa said, sighing heavily. "And that remark they made about you having an eye for beautiful women like your dad, them make it sound like you're obsessed with a lot of women. I was the only girl there besides Elena, and she's your sister!" She finished, shaking her head in disgust.
Rufus smiled. "Tifa, don't worry about it. People don't care about that kind of stuff. We'll prove them wrong. We'll show them together." He said, kissing the top of her head as she leaned it on his shoulder.
oOoOoOo
Two months later, in a rebuilt ShinRa building in what was being constructed as "New Midgar"
Elena knocked on Tifa's bedroom door. "Tifa, Rufus wants to see you in his office."
This brunette raised an eyebrow and put down the book she was reading. Usually, Rufus was very busy during the day, especially since he was rebuilding the company. "What could he need me for?" She thought as she walked toward the President's office. When she arrived after a surprisingly short elevator ride, she knocked lightly on the large doors.
"Come in." A deep voice commanded.
She walked in and continued towards the huge oak desk, stopping beside the large office chair. "Yes, you called your highness?" She said sarcastically as she kissed the young president's cheek, making him smile involuntarily.
This reminded him of their 'first date', making him smile all the wider. "Tifa, how would you feel if, let's say, you were promoted?"
Really quirking an eyebrow, she giggled. "I think you're forgetting that I don't work here, Rufus."
Smiling, he stood up and looked into her wine colored depths. "You don't have to work here to be know as the 'First Lady'. ... After all these years of friendship and strong feelings, you never lost hope in me, even through the hard times. That's why I know that this would work, because I know you love me as much as I love you. ...Tifa, will you marry me?" Once again, a perfect speech came from nowhere as Rufus pulled out a small velvet box and opened it before Tifa.
Tifa's face flushed and tears came to her eyes. Her mouth dropped open and her eyebrows rose with surprise. No doubt about it, Rufus was back and he wasn't going to leave her again. "Yes... Yes I will!" She exclaimed, rushing to hug him and in the process knocked them both down.
Rufus, laughing, looked up at the beautiful, smiling young woman that was to become his wife, and for once, he was truly happy with his life.
"Uh, maybe I should come back at another time..." Reno's voice made the two jump.
Tifa quickly stood up off of Rufus and helped him up.
Laughing, Reno put some papers on Rufus' desk. "Sorry to interrupt your little 'meeting', but the press is wanting the latest details on the business."
Rufus brushed himself off and grinned at Reno. "I'll be out in a minute."
Reno rolled his eyes, and shaking his head, walked out the door.
Tifa smirked. "Just a minute?"
Rufus shook his head, smiling and pulled his new fiancé to him. "Maybe a bit longer than a minute."
oOoOoOo
A/n: Ok. This chapter was short because I needed to cut it off before the epilogue chapter. I can't believe I'm almost done... Oo I've been working on this for a year! Anywhoo, I'm just about done. The epilogue chapter should be kinda short too. Please Review guys!!
Kage3
Disclaimer: Only the storyline is mine.
oOoOoOo (Btw, this is my new separation line. I don't know if it'll work, cause the last one doesn't anymore -.-; ...)
Elena sat at the breakfast table with Tifa. "Isn't it amazing how Rufus can go on an on like that as though he had it all planned out and written somewhere? If I did that, I'd stutter myself silly."
Tifa smiled. "Yep. I've never seen a press conference before, you know, for real. Its kind of nerve wracking. I was thinking like, 'What if they ask me a question?'"
Elena shrugged. "Well I wonder what the press is gonna say about you and Rufus." She said, grinning into her coffee cup.
Tifa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" The question was posed with deliberate ignorance.
Her friend smiled. "What I mean is, they saw the way Rufus looked at you. And I saw the way you looked at him..." She trailed off.
Tifa blushed. "That was a long time ago. We're just friends now... I think."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Suuuure. Tifa, I can tell you are madly in love with him. Heh, and it's definitely no secret that he's totally head over heels for you. Trust me, I've known him a long time, and he wouldn't let just anyone sleep in his bed while he sleeps on the couch."
Reno walked in with a slight grin. "Hello ladies. What's up?"
Elena piped up again. "We were just discussing Tifa's admirer."
The redhead grinned. "Ah. Yes, what Rufus is too proud to reveal himself."
Tifa was beyond red. "He's the one who keeps saying friend! I've been scared to death all these years that he was going to be like his father and I'd lost the Rufus I knew forever. I wrote to him and didn't receive anything back. Turns out they were keeping his mail from him. Joined AVALANCHE to avenge my father and help the planet. Imagine my surprise and horror when I do see Rufus again, and he's acting like his father. But I didn't give up hope when he gave me those keys. Only once did I ever lose hope and that was a time I'd like to forget. I've felt the same way about him all along. If he feels the same he should be man enough to tell me." Satisfied, she sat back down and witnessed the surprise on her friend's faces.
Reno and Elena, both with jaws dropped, first look at Tifa (or rather past Tifa), then at each other.
"I... I didn't tell you because I was ...scared of how you'd react. I didn't know you felt the same way. You're the only one I've ever had this feeling about, I didn't know how to deal with it." A voice behind Tifa made her jump and turn nearly maroon.
She hadn't meant for him to hear that... She turned around and Rufus stood there, half smiling at her.
"It's hard for me... All my life, I was raised to ignore emotion. And for the longest time, that once emotion wouldn't leave me alone. ...Forgive me... for not realizing it sooner." Rufus said gently, slowly putting aside his pride to get out his feelings. Its funny how easy it was to dish out sarcasm, but when it came to being the first to reveal his feelings or admitting he was wrong, he was always too proud to let it come out.
Elena and Reno backed slowly and quietly out the door, not wanting to ruin the moment.
Tifa smiled back up at Rufus. "I'll forgive you." She said, grabbing his hand. "This time." She added slyly.
oOoOoOo
That night, Tifa was invited to stay and watch the press conference on T.V.
Reno turned on the news, eager to see how bad the press twisted Rufus words. To their surprise, the only thing they twisted was Tifa's reason for being at the ShinRa mansion.
One reporter gave his take, "Rufus ShinRa seems to have an eye for beautiful women not unlike his father. His reason for having the young AVALANCHE female at the mansion that early in the morning was this," The reporter paused to show Rufus tell the press, "Ms. Lockheart and I are making a pact. AVALANCHE shall cause no harm to ShinRa if ShinRa does not harm the planet. Seems fair." The reporter continued. "Seems to me that the 'pact' includes a little more than peace. AVALANCHE was a pretty violent little terrorist group. I hope President Rufus knows what he's getting into."
"They make me sound like I'm an evil seductress. It's not like we were blowing up reactors for no reason." Tifa said, sighing heavily. "And that remark they made about you having an eye for beautiful women like your dad, them make it sound like you're obsessed with a lot of women. I was the only girl there besides Elena, and she's your sister!" She finished, shaking her head in disgust.
Rufus smiled. "Tifa, don't worry about it. People don't care about that kind of stuff. We'll prove them wrong. We'll show them together." He said, kissing the top of her head as she leaned it on his shoulder.
oOoOoOo
Two months later, in a rebuilt ShinRa building in what was being constructed as "New Midgar"
Elena knocked on Tifa's bedroom door. "Tifa, Rufus wants to see you in his office."
This brunette raised an eyebrow and put down the book she was reading. Usually, Rufus was very busy during the day, especially since he was rebuilding the company. "What could he need me for?" She thought as she walked toward the President's office. When she arrived after a surprisingly short elevator ride, she knocked lightly on the large doors.
"Come in." A deep voice commanded.
She walked in and continued towards the huge oak desk, stopping beside the large office chair. "Yes, you called your highness?" She said sarcastically as she kissed the young president's cheek, making him smile involuntarily.
This reminded him of their 'first date', making him smile all the wider. "Tifa, how would you feel if, let's say, you were promoted?"
Really quirking an eyebrow, she giggled. "I think you're forgetting that I don't work here, Rufus."
Smiling, he stood up and looked into her wine colored depths. "You don't have to work here to be know as the 'First Lady'. ... After all these years of friendship and strong feelings, you never lost hope in me, even through the hard times. That's why I know that this would work, because I know you love me as much as I love you. ...Tifa, will you marry me?" Once again, a perfect speech came from nowhere as Rufus pulled out a small velvet box and opened it before Tifa.
Tifa's face flushed and tears came to her eyes. Her mouth dropped open and her eyebrows rose with surprise. No doubt about it, Rufus was back and he wasn't going to leave her again. "Yes... Yes I will!" She exclaimed, rushing to hug him and in the process knocked them both down.
Rufus, laughing, looked up at the beautiful, smiling young woman that was to become his wife, and for once, he was truly happy with his life.
"Uh, maybe I should come back at another time..." Reno's voice made the two jump.
Tifa quickly stood up off of Rufus and helped him up.
Laughing, Reno put some papers on Rufus' desk. "Sorry to interrupt your little 'meeting', but the press is wanting the latest details on the business."
Rufus brushed himself off and grinned at Reno. "I'll be out in a minute."
Reno rolled his eyes, and shaking his head, walked out the door.
Tifa smirked. "Just a minute?"
Rufus shook his head, smiling and pulled his new fiancé to him. "Maybe a bit longer than a minute."
oOoOoOo
A/n: Ok. This chapter was short because I needed to cut it off before the epilogue chapter. I can't believe I'm almost done... Oo I've been working on this for a year! Anywhoo, I'm just about done. The epilogue chapter should be kinda short too. Please Review guys!!
Kage3