A/N: Hey, peoples. In this chapter, Tifa and Red gets to go on their first 'date'. Should be interesting. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 5.

They were escorted to the hotel. The man that had helped so happened to be Tifa and Cid's good friend, Reeve. He sent several people down to the desert below the theme park to see if they could find the groups' stuff. Reeve had paid for their stay at the hotel and was enjoying lunch with them. "I'm so glad you guys could come. Aeris told me that you were coming." He said smiling. Tifa nodded with a smile. "We're glad we could come too." She told him. Reeve looked at Red and Yuffie. He frowned a little staring at Red. "Well, this young man looks familiar. Who are your friends?" he asked. Tifa and Cid looked at each other trying to figure out how they were going to break the news to Reeve. Yuffie just jumped into it. "Hiya! I'm Yuffie! This is my best friend Red. Tifa and Cid likes to call him Rufus though." She said. Reeve's eyes shot to Tifa and Cid who smiled innocently. The man stared at them with surprise. "This is……" he paused. Tifa nodded. "Yes. It's Rufus Shinra." She told him.

Reeve stared with wide eyes. He then looked back at Red. His eyes squinted and looked him over. He slowly circled Red looking him over. Red kept his eyes on him. He was really getting tired of people doing that. Reeve faced Red again looking him in the eyes. "Oh my Hyne. It is Rufus Shinra. He looks just that little boy I once knew." He said. Red's eyes jerked over to Tifa and Cid who looked back. Yuffie stared. "Wait, you knew Rufus?" She asked. Reeve smiled stepping back. "Yes. Well, sort of. It was a long time ago. The last time I saw you, you were just a very small boy. You might not remember me." He said.

Red stared at Reeve with confusion on his face. Then another flash went across his mind. "You were friends with my father. You used to work for him, didn't you?" He asked. Reeve smiled and nodded. "Yes. I did." He looked at Tifa and Cid. "Well this calls for a celebration. You are my personal guests and everything is free of charge." He said. Tifa smiled shaking her head. "Thank you, Reeve." Reeve nodded. He looked at his watch. "Oh! I must run real quick. The play will be starting at Seven." He looked at Tifa and Cid then at Red. "You better make sure Rufus comes to see the performances. It's going to be good." He said grinning. They all nodded. "We plan on it." Cid said. Tifa nodded looking them all over. "Well, the biggest problem now is we need to clean up again. Our cloths are spoiled." She said. Reeve smiled. "Well, we just put in a gift shop. There's cloths on sale this week. Go ahead and buy whatever you need. Put it on my tab too. I can afford to buy you some cloths." He said. Cid nodded again. "Thank you, Reeve." He said. Reeve smiled looking at Red. "It's good to see you, Young Master Shinra." He said. Red blushed a little. "Uh, thanks." He watched Reeve quickly leave.

Red got cleaned up and was wearing dark blue jeans and a white shirt with the Gold Saucer logo. He was just stepping out of his room with Cid just as Tifa and Yuffie were. The two girls smiled seeing Cid and Red. Tifa was wearing jeans herself and a tank top and a black body sweater. Tifa was wearing tan shorts and a green top with a Cait Sith on it. They looked nice.

Red was smiling at Tifa who was smiling back. "So you ready to have some fun?" She asked. Red grinned. "Course." He said. Yuffie pumped her fists. "I'm ready!" She said cheerfully. Tifa nodded grabbing Cid's arm and looked at his watch. "The play's going to start in a few minutes. If you wanted to watch it we better go now." She said. Red and Yuffie nodded. "Okay. Let's hit the play." They both said at the same time. The four of them headed towards the theatre. The had just entered when Reeve walked up. "Hey, everyone. Enjoying your time?" He asked. They all nodded. "Of course, Reeve. This is Gold Saucer." Tifa said. Reeve smiled brightly. "That's great." He paused. "Uh, Tifa? Can I ask you a favor?" he asked. Tifa's eyes lit up and she frowned. "No, Reeve! Not this year." She said. Red and Yuffie looked at each other. "Huh?" They asked. Tifa shook her head. "Nothing." She said quickly. Reeve looked at her with a pleading look. "Please, Tifa! Just one song!" he begged. Red smirked. "What are you talking about?" He asked slyly. Tifa opened her mouth to say something but Reeve beat her to it. "Didn't Tifa tell you? She's quite the actress and singer. She can act, sing, dance, you name it. She can do it." He said smiling.

Tifa closed her eyes tightly waiting for the fireworks but they never came. "Oh really? No I didn't know that. If she can do that, she's very talented." Red said sound cheerful. Tifa opened her eyes and looked at him. He and Yuffie was smiling. "We'd love to hear you sing, Tifa." She said. Tifa looked at Cid who was smiling. Reeve nodded. "Please, Tifa. Do a little show for Rufus. It would be great to hear you sing again." He said. Tifa looked at him. "I can't do it anymore, Reeve." She hissed between her teeth.

Red smiled nudging her. "Come on. You can't be that bad." He said. Reeve nodded. "Believe me, Rufus. She's brilliant." He said. Yuffie jumped up and down. "Please, Tifa. Do it for us!" She said looking like a little puppy. Tifa held her breath looking at the others. Red and Cid were smiling. She looked at Reeve who looked hopeful. Tifa blew out a long sigh and lowered her head. She couldn't help but smile. "I haven't sang a song for two years, Reeve. But I will try my best." She said. The four burst with cheers. "Thank you so much, Tifa! I'll announce it after the play." Reeve said happily and hurried away. Tifa sighed and shook her head. Red smiled at her. "Your going to do fine, Tifa." He told her.

They sat down in the first row and watched the play. They could see Aeris performing as the princess. The audience laughed and cried at the parts. Red was really enjoying his time. He glanced a few times at Tifa who was smiling the whole time. He caught her sometimes lip syncing the lines. He couldn't help but smile.

Finally the play ended. People stood and applauded including the four companions. Reeve walked out and held up his hands. He waited till it was quiet before smiling. "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. We have a special treat. Those of who has been here before will remember this lovely young lady who has been the star of the play before. She has come to visit once again and has agreed to sing a small tune for us. Tifa Lockhart, please come up!" The crowds burst into cheers. Tifa just sat looking like nervous. Red smiled and took her hand making her look at him. "Your going to do fine." He whispered. Tifa smiled and nodded. She stood and went up. Everyone cheered.

Tifa walked onto the stage looking at the crowd. She stepped up to Reeve who one arm-hugged her. "So, Tifa. What are you going to sing for us?" He asked. Tifa looked at him before looking straight at Red. She lightly smiled thinking of something. "I know a song. I used to hear it all the time when I was a child. By a loving mother who was not mine. But her voice reminded me of my own that died when I was very little. This song is a mother's lullaby to her child." She said. She turned to the band and spoke something to them. They all nodded and readied to play. They began to play a small song. It started off slow. Tifa went over to the edge of the stage.

Dancing bears,

Painted wings,

Things I almost remember,

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December.

Red slowly frowned as something flashed across his mind. He knew this song. He had heard it before. But where? He smiled again hearing the lovely voice of Tifa.

Someone holds me safe and warm.

Horses prance through a silver storm.

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory...

Tifa stopped singing for a moment as the band continued to play. She closed her eyes as she swayed to the music. The lights around dimmed to a blue light and fake snow began fall all around her.

Someone holds me safe and warm.

Horses prance through a silver storm.

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory...

Red continued to watch with awe. Tifa was beautiful singer. He was entranced by her voice. He felt something strange in his chest. His heart was beating faster than usual. He didn't understand it.

Far away, long ago,

Glowing dim as an ember,

Things my heart

Used to know,

Things it yearns to remember...

And a song

Someone sings

Once upon a December.

The song slowly ended and Tifa was still standing there with her eyes closed. She slowly opened them and looked straight at Red. She smiled softly at him which he smiled back. For a minute no one clapped. They were still so entranced by Tifa's song. Finally everyone stood and burst into cheers. Cid whistled loudly. Yuffie jumped up and down as she clapped. Tifa didn't look at them. Her eyes were too busy looking straight at Red's. For some reason she couldn't take them off of his.

They were walking together. Yuffie had run off for a while to check things out. Cid went to the Battle Arena. So it was just Tifa and Red. They were eating some ice cream together while watching people play in the Game Center. "So where did you hear that song?" Red asked. Tifa didn't answer. She just stared into her ice cream. She didn't know how to answer that question. She bit her lip as she continued to look at her cup. Red looked at her when she didn't answer. "Tifa?" He asked. Tifa shook her head. "It was such a long time ago. I don't remember." She lied. Red could tell she wasn't telling the truth but he wasn't going to press her for the answer. He nodded.

Tifa looked around as they walked. "We still have a ways to go before we can convince Vincent about you being you." She said. Red didn't look at her. He just kept quiet. Then he paused. "Do you really think I'm Rufus Shinra?" he asked. Tifa looked at him. He looked back. Tifa smiled. "Of course, Red. Your are Rufus. I know you are." She told him. Red saw something flicker in her eyes. He didn't know what it was. "Tell me another thing." He said. Tifa tilted her head smiling. "What?" She asked. Red stared her right into the eyes.

"Why are you helping me? What's in it for you?" He asked. Tifa frowned as she stared him into the eyes. She couldn't possibly tell him that she was doing it for the reward money. She knew that he wouldn't like that. She smiled softly. "I want to see you be happy. You deserve to have a family, Red." She told him. Red squinted his eyes a little and he tilted his head. "Do I?" He asked. Tifa stared at him. "Yes. Everyone needs a place to belong."

Red nodded softly. "What about you? Where's your family?" He asked. Tifa continued to look at him. She slowly turned away not answering. She kept walking. Red watched her for a minute then followed. "Tifa, did I say something to offend you?" He asked. Tifa shook her head. "No. I just don't want to get into my family. Please don't ask me." She said. Red slowly nodded. "Alright." He said. They looked at some more players. After awhile Red decided to give a fighting game a try. Tifa watched with a smile as Red beat the computer down.

After that they went back to the hotel. Red walked with Tifa back to her room. They were laughing softly about how Red beat a large man at the fighting game. It was a lot of fun. They stopped outside her door. "Well I had fun." Tifa said. Red smiled as he continued to look at her face. He was seeing something he hadn't before. Tifa stared back into his eyes. They couldn't break eye contact. Red looked down at her lips. He wanted to taste them. Find out if they had any flavor. He started to dip his head slowly. Tifa softly moved her head back but stopped as she stared into his eyes. She couldn't move anymore. She had the same desire Red had. Red slowly lowered his head towards hers. Their lips were only an inch away from each other. Their eyes gazing into each other's.

"Tifa! Red! There you are!" They heard someone cry out. Red and Tifa were jerked back to reality and they broke away quickly and turned. Yuffie was hurrying up the stairs towards them. She was smiling. "Hey, guys! You won't believe this! But at least ten guys asked for my number! It was so cool!" She giggled. Red and Tifa silently laughed and shook their heads. "That's great, Yuffie." Red said. Tifa looked at Red. "Well, we better get to bed. We have an early morning. We're heading towards Costa Del Sol first thing in the morning." She said opening her door. Red nodded. "Goodnight." He told her. Tifa nodded with a smile. "Goodnight, Red." She waved and went in. Yuffie paused by the door looking at both of them. Her eyes lit up as realization hit her. She smiled as she watched Red go towards his and Cid's room. "They are so into each other." She grinned. "Talking about matchmaker time." She giggled rubbing her hands together. She hurried into her room closing the door behind her.

Red closed his door and leaned against it. His heart was pounding. Why was he feeling like this? He couldn't believe that he had almost kissed Tifa. "I can't be falling in love, can I?" he whispered. He shook his head and went to take a cold shower.