Rated R for mature situations, drug references, mature language, and explicit sex scenes. You've been warned.

Author's Notes: I'm throwing out a warning for an explicit sex scene at the end of this chapter. For all the younger readers, now is your chance to skip ahead to the next chapter. This was really the only sex scene I was going out in detail on because I felt it's the only one worthy of it. More explanation after the chapter…

G A W D Y F O R T U N E S

Part 1: Unfaithful

By: Xtine

Chapter 8: True Love

Tifa had decided that this time she was just going to let Reno go, and not pursue him, and if he were to return, tell him that it was the end between them. The lie had gotten out of control, and she didn't want to see her life fall apart from around her.

A half hour must of passed before she found herself walking around again. Her feet were dragging and her walk unsteady as she dawdled to the front door as to lock it securely. She opened the door first, allowing some fresh air to seep in through her nose when she took a glance down and saw some blood spilled on her doorstep.

Her heart stopped.

Immediately she knew Reno had been caught up in Barret's gunfire, and she felt her heart drop and a painful ache bolt through it. Once again she denied what she told herself earlier about ending their affair, and convinced herself to search for the wounded man. Her emotions were once again taking hold.

With such grace as a feline, she jumped over to a coat hanger that was nestled in the corner of the room and she grabbed the first jacket she could get her hands on. Luckily she already had shoes on, so she bolted out the front door and made an attempt to follow the bloodstains that were being washed away from the pouring rain.

She lifted the hood of her jacket over her head, and bundled the jacket close to her trying to keep in the warmth. She knew that if Reno were out in this weather that he wouldn't survive the night, especially if he were injured. His injury was obviously from a gunshot, and she just prayed that he hadn't bled to death yet.

xoxox

The town was rather dark for the time of day it was. Tifa hadn't bothered to see the exact time, but she figured it had to be around five or six now, seeing as though she could see the sun far in the horizon away from the rain clouds.

She had been walking for a good twenty minutes when she finally lost the trail, and she felt her heart fill with hopelessness. There was no way she was going to be able to find him, Reno of the Turks, who was now fleeing for his life. Even with the odds highly against her, she continued on searching, checking every alley and every shadowed corner of the town, praying that her gaze would fall upon the wounded man.

Another twenty minutes passed and her clothes had become sopping wet. Her flesh was now chilly from her clothes damp against her skin, and the small breeze nipping at her. Compulsive shakes were tormenting her body as she walked down a small walkway that led to the edge of the town and a path beneath a bridge.

She was coming closer to the underneath of the bridge when she looked within the shadows and saw a small orange glow light up against the black backdrop. Immediately she knew it was Reno, as it came clear that he found himself a dry spot to stay during the rain.

Reno felt her presence, as he could hear the soft footsteps of a woman approaching. He made no effort to acknowledge her existence though, as he instead just stared off as she came closer.

Tifa could barely see him hiding, even when she was standing only a few feet in front of him. Her face was molded into the pain that her body was feeling at the moment, and she kneeled down in front of him, still not making a sound.

Reno now felt obligated to look up at her, his emerald eyes meeting with her small wine orbs. He could see that she had been crying, as her make up was smeared around her eyes, making them look much darker then they really were. She was still beautiful to him though, and the fact that she came out after him touched him in a way he didn't think could happen.

"You'd better leave," Reno spoke sullenly, the tables finally turning.

Tifa's gaze left his. "Why?"

"You damned well know why," Reno gritted his teeth as he spoke, for he was attempting to change positions. Tifa noticed his attempt to hide the pain.

"You're hurt," her voice was soft.

Reno could only shake his head. "It's nothing."

"I've got to get you some place warm," Tifa ordered. "I saw the blood on the doorstep. The only reason I was able to find you was because I was able to follow the trail you left."

He couldn't put up an argument to that, although he still felt uncomfortable having to go back out into town knowing that there was a large black man after his ass.

"What I need to do is get out of this town," Reno corrected her. "I'm sure after Cloud hears about this he's going to be after my ass as well."

Tifa shook her head, "I'm not telling him. Now please, come with me."

"I'm not going to put you in danger anymore. Tifa, you have a life to go back to, leave me here to take care of myself, like it's supposed to be." Seeing her come after him made him realize that it was time for him to show some emotion, and for once to not think of himself. He didn't even notice himself change in the past few days, and he definitely wasn't aware that this woman would have been the one to do it.

Tifa didn't understand. Before he was preaching to her about how she was making the biggest mistake of her life, and how she was ruining her life, but now he was telling her to go back. She didn't know what to believe anymore.

"I don't know what the Hell is going on anymore," she began to explain, tears pressuring her speech again. "All I do know is that you're hurt, and if I let you sit here to die I could never live with myself. So please, if not for my sake for your own, come with me."

Reno couldn't put up an argument anymore. He damned well knew that if he were to keep his leg injured like it was and try to simply walk it off, he would be left with a limp the rest of his life, if not worst. If he were to get himself an infection, chances were he would end up losing the whole leg.

He didn't say anything, and in turn Tifa felt he finally gave in. She stood up and took a place next to him, kneeling down to his level and putting one of his arms around her neck as to help him walk. She stood up with him, and he clenched his teeth as he felt the pressure apply to his leg yet again.

Together they hobbled out from beneath the bridge and underneath the broken shards of light from an old street lamp. Tifa took the chance to take a glance at him, and she saw the side of his face swollen from where Barret had knocked him up.

"Barret got you rather well," Tifa noted his blackening bruise. Reno simply nodded as a response and together they made their way back towards her bar.

xoxox

It took them a little less than an hour to finally make it back to the refuge of her bar. The whole walk they were attempting to dodge any streets that were busy, or even any street lamps that would expose Reno's face.

When they stumbled in through the front door, Reno simply collapsed on the floor, completely exhausted from hypothermia, shock, and pain. Not to mention the emotions and confusion that was now running a muck within him.

"You can't stay there," Tifa spoke softly and knelt down by his side again. He was lying on the floor on his back, breathing heavily but still fully conscious. A smirk crossed his lips and his eyes were closed but he could sense Tifa leaning over him. His hypothesis was true when he felt the tender touch of her soft (yet cold) hand remove the stray pieces of his wiry red hair away from his face.

"I'll get up in a minute," he muttered and took the moment for the much needed rest. Tifa smiled at him, and stood again, going over to lock the door to assure that there would be no other surprises for the night. Knowing Barret, he was likely still chatting with Cloud, and even helping with some of the reconstruction. She only hoped that he wouldn't return back to Kalm until late, and when he did, she hoped that he wouldn't decide to give her a visit.

Reno still lied upon the floor as Tifa walked off towards the bathroom to rally together items to help heal him. After gathering a small bowl of warm water, a clean rag, and some bandages, she headed up towards the only bedroom in the house and set the items upon the nightstand. Her next challenge was to get Reno upon the bed.

Returning to Reno's aid, Tifa knelt down beside him and attempted to help him sit up once again. He took her help with no struggle, and obliged when she made him drape his arm around over her. Carefully she stood herself up with him clinging onto her for support.

The trip up to the bedroom was a little more difficult than anticipated, considering the long flight of stairs that they had to climb. In time they reached the quaint room, where Tifa lead him to the bed and helped him lie down. Reno sprawled his body out across the bed, gracious to be in the comfort and warmth of a bedroom.

"You're going to have to take off your pants," Tifa suggested, her voice mellow.

Reno mused a response, "Don't you think we should take it a little slow?"

Tifa showed no resentment to his sarcasm, knowing that it was his only way to deal with stressful situations. Silence shadowed the two as Tifa placed the small rag into the ceramic bowl, letting it soak up some of the water. In the meantime Reno worked diligently to take of his blood stained pants.

The wound wasn't nearly as bad as Tifa had feared it to be. Luck had obviously been on his side considering she easily found the entering and exiting wound on his upper thigh, and from the looks of it, chances were there were no shattered bones.

"You're lucky," Tifa commented after a close examination of his leg. Reno simply shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't believe in luck," Reno replied coolly.

Tifa couldn't make a remark to his statement that wouldn't cause a small discussion about faith, and she knew at the moment neither of them needed that.

Taking the rag in her hand, she gently placed it around one of the wounds in an attempt to clean the blood away. Reno clenched his jaw from the piercing pain he felt from the water, but he made no grumble from the discomfort.

After rinsing away most of the crimson blood off the wounds, Tifa applied a white wrap around his leg to help prevent further bleeding and infection.

"There," she spoke softly. "Now you need to get some rest."

"Where are you planning on sleeping?" For once Reno wasn't only thinking of himself.

"Don't worry about it," Tifa's tone was solemn and showed no real emotion. Reno already knew there were no other beds, Hell, there wasn't even a chair that she could have curled herself up in.

"But--," he tried to argue, but was interrupted by a delicate hand caressing his face.

"Sleep," she ordered and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Even for her kind nature, she was not one to easily win over in an argument. With no other choice in hand, Reno let his heavy eyelids shut and his unconscious brain take over.

xoxox

Reno had been sleeping for an hour, or so Tifa had figured as she leaned against the side of the bed, her chin lying on her crossed arms. Her eyelids were increasingly getting heavier as she watched the slow rising of Reno's breaths to show he was in a peaceful sleep. Even with her mind racing from the excitement of the day, her exhausted body just couldn't keep up anymore and she eventually fell into an uncomfortable sleep.

xoxox

The clock read 11:00 p.m. when Reno's eyes forced themselves open. He blinked, trying to make sure he read the time correctly and then gave a deep sigh. He turned his head in the opposite direction only to see Tifa's head resting on the side of the bed and her eyes closed.

For once Reno put aside his selfish ways as he looked down upon the angel that was giving so much to him. He had every urge to hold her, caress her lithe body, softly kiss her sensitive areas, and to make love with her, actual love and not the simple fucking he used to do with all the other girls. Of course, he couldn't understand why he was driven to do such actions, mostly because it was so unlike him. His feelings towards everybody was either hatred or a mutual agreement that I need you, you need me sort of attitude. The feelings he was getting with her were stronger than that though, and the thought actually scared him.

He looked at her body for a few moments, his brain racing, wondering if he should give into his desires or if he should actually think before taking actions for once. The more he thought of it however, the more he wanted to take her lithe form into his arms and hold her forever, never letting go. He wanted to whisper those strange sweet nothings into her ear and sit on a grassy hill letting the time go by as they made love in the flowers with the hot sun high overhead. A new fantasy grew in his mind and she had become apart of it.

Compelled to act upon his desires, he sat up and swung his legs over opposite side of the bed that Tifa was on. Cringing as he bared weight on his bad leg, he managed to stand and hobble to Tifa's side. Careful as to not wake her, he precisely slid one of his arms under the back of her knees and the other arm around her waist and lifted her up with ease. He set her on the bed gently trying not to stir her sleeping form, but a small moan that escaped her lips said otherwise.

"Feeling any better?" she spoke, barely audible.

Reno nodded his head; seeing that her eyes were open enough to at least see his shadowy figure stoop over her. "A little bit."

"Reno," her voice captured his attention, "will you lay with me?"

Silence hung around Reno as he really didn't know how he should respond to that. Of course that was everything he could ask for, but common sense was slowing down his responses.

But he knew that there would be no harm with their little bit of passion, as it was late and chances of anybody parading in on them now was slim to none. So with a small stroke of confidence, he sat on the side of the bed while waiting for Tifa to give him room next to her. He happily obliged and leaned back resting his head on a pillow. To his amazement, Tifa moved her arm over his torso and rested her head on his chest once she felt that he found himself a comfortable position.

Reno ran his fingers through her raven colored hair, feeling the silk gather between them. He closed his eyes and took in her sweet scent.

Expecting that she had fallen right asleep, Reno was pleasantly surprised when he felt her fingers running across his chest. Her light touch stimulated his body little by little and he could feel a need for her grow. He took his other free hand and placed his palm on her cheek, caressing her cheek with his thumb. Leaning his head right against hers, he took another taste of her sweet smell.

Before long he felt her luscious lips up on his, first just touching his softly and then beginning to massage his with her own. He closed his eyes and just relaxed under her touch, for once letting a female take control of his body, which is one thing he had never done before as he always felt he had to be the dominant one.

Tifa leaned on her arms a little more to be closer to his mouth, her hair now falling on and around him like a satin curtain. Seeing that he obviously was not going to fight her, she proceeded to inch her body on top of his, her hands now caressing each side of his face to entice their fiery embrace.

Reno could feel her hot breath upon his lips every time they parted for a brief moment to catch a breath of air. He felt his body trembling with excitement as he felt her weight upon his. He let his arms wrap around her waist and his hands grasped at the small t-shirt she was wearing. Hoping for approval, he tugged at the bottom of her shirt to lift it over her head, which she accepted gladly.

Her breasts were still supported by her bra, but her torso was now almost naked. He gazed at her slender build as his fingers wandered down her form, feeling every curve.

She leaned back down to him, letting her lips once again meet with his, but with more excitement and tenderness than before. She let out a small gasp as she could feel one of his hands slip under her bra while his other was working on the clasp.

Noticing that he undid her snap with one hand, she gave a small giggle but decided to not say anything when she got a smile from him in return. She slipped off her bra with ease and resorted back to kissing him, but now letting her tongue protrude into his mouth and explore his cavity.

Reno let one of his hands grasp firmly onto her breast, squeezing it gently in a massaging motion. His other hand began to wander further south along the small of her back until he rested on the top of her pants. Cautiously, he rounded his hand towards the front and proceeded to undo the small button that kept her from becoming his.

Tifa felt herself being lost in the excitement. Not once did she think of the consequences as they broke their kiss for a moment to lift his shirt off as well.

His naked form sent a chill up her spine as she could feel her flesh upon his. His roaming hand had now successfully maneuvered through her button and zipper and was now caressing her through her panties.

A small moan of pleasure escaped her lips as she felt one of his fingers rub directly on her jewel. He could feel her becoming hot and wet from the excitement and that was just what he needed to successfully enter within her.

Tifa could feel the desire continue to rise between them, so she let her fingers slide to the button of his pants where a bulge had formed from his member. She released him from the imprisonment of his pants letting him stand at full attention.

Reno took the pleasure of putting his hands on her panties (and pants) and slowly pulling them down the sides of her legs where they were eventually removed upon reaching her toes. He felt her support herself above his body and try to position herself directly over his member.

The anticipation of him entering her was leaving them both with butterflies swirling in their stomach and an urgent desire surface in their actions. Reno's hands firmly placed themselves on her rear where he massaged her tight muscles as she slowly pressed her weight down upon his member.

Their senses were growing wild as their animal instincts of mating was surfacing. In a slow rocking motion, Tifa inched her way down the length of his shaft, not letting him have full penetration quite yet. Time and time again, she swayed her hips back and forth upon him, carefully observing his every facial feature that showed his pleasure.

She let out a satisfying moan as she started to thrust her hips a bit faster, letting more of his member inside of her with every motion. Reno returned a grunt of pleasure as he could feel his length starting to pulsate inside of her. His hands wandered to her breasts, as she was perched over him, having control of the situation. He rubbed and massaged her breasts more firmly than he had before, as his own sensations of pleasure were controlling his body.

Finally Tifa let her full weight down onto him, letting her hips grind down on his member, which sent a wave of pleasure soar throughout both of their bodies. With every thrusting motion, the sensations grew, getting each of them closer and closer to their climax.

Tifa pleaded for the rhythm to go faster and Reno happily obliged. Grinding down on him with every muscle in her body, she felt herself starting to tense up, the beginning of her orgasm starting within her genitals and moving in a wave throughout her entire body. Reno felt her vagina clasp firmly around his member, and he experienced the same pleasure, and shot his cum deep within her chasm.

Once their bodies stopped trembling from the heat of their orgasms, Tifa leaned down to him again and nuzzled her face into his clavicle. Not a word was said between the two, as they laid naked upon each other. Instead they simply closed their eyes and let themselves drift off to sleep where they were to dream of each other and their blossoming romance.

Author's Note: So I felt it was important to go into detail of them actually 'making love' as this shows that they must have true feelings for each other. This also plays a crucial role later in the story, not to give anything away. Not to mention, who doesn't like a nice hot, steamy scene every once and a while.

Disclaimers: I do not own any of the names, characters, or places mentioned in this story.