Wow, I can't believe I'm writing another chapter so fast. But, I guess my writing is getting worse. I'm the worst writer ever hahaha.

TiNkAh (btw, I only own the story)

He came just like she pictured it. Except a lot earlier than expected. A lot earlier.

Rufus knocked on her door quietly, unsure of what to say and unsure of how to act. He didn't know what one was supposed to say to a woman who kissed him senseless and said the words that never meant anything to him. Nothing in the world could have disturbed him more. He totally wasn't a man that any girl could budge, but she managed somehow to change everything. Especially since having parents that barely spoke to each other, the emotion of "love" was hard to determine. It wasn't like this kind of occurrence happened everday…in fact..it never happened at all. He didn't want to remember it of course, but…he couldn't help it. He tried to sleep that night, really he did but..he dreamt of her.

Vividly.

It was impossible to forget the feel of her soft form in his arms. The way she scrambled about, as if not finding any purchase except for her lips against his. They were soft and full and everything a man should want, but he couldn't ask for anything more. He just couldn't. What he wanted from her was unforgivable. Something that shouldn't be asked from anyone. Yet, he had to. It was the only way.

He knocked again. She didn't answer. He couldn't blame her, although it was the next day, it was late night early morning time. No one in their right mind would be awake right now. Finally, knocking more forcefully, he heard footsteps approaching the wooden door.

This is it, he said to himself.

The door opened slowly and there she was..in all her glory. In her white flowing nightgown with her hair tossed carelessly about, she stood there rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She'd been asleep for at least 4 hours thinking of this moment, and here it was. At first, she didn't know how to react seeing the person that she'd recently been dreaming of, but now that he was here, there was no way around what she had to say. He was once again dressed perfectly, catching her in the most vulnerable of times.

Just like he always does.

"What do you want?" she demanded, although in a very tired voice.

"A moment of your time, please," he replied.

A moment of my time at 3 in the morning..how thoughtful of him.

"I do hope you know that the sun isn't even out yet."

"I'm aware," he replied coolly.

Looking to the left and then to the right, she sighed and reluctantly stepped aside. "Well, I suppose you might as well come in. It looks bad for you to be standing outside my front porch."

With a nod he entered her domain and was surprised. At what, he couldn't quite tell but being in her home was welcoming. Her pictures, of friends and family, were arranged perfectly, with nothing out of place. The color of her rose rug was the exact shade of her eyes in the moment she was angry. The furniture, that of a dark rich green reminded him of the forest. With the roses on the table and the quilted blanket with a red rose on the sofa, he knew without a doubt that her favorite flower was a rose. It matched her perfectly, he thought.

"I'm sorry to wake you at such an ungodly hour, but I wanted to be sure that you were alone," he said once he stepped in.

Ungodly hour? Who speaks like that nowadays? Yeah..Mr. Shinra, it's only 3 IN THE MORNING!

"Anything for you," she said through gritted teeth. As he walked by her, she smelled his cologne. It was a mysterious scent that either made her want to lean over and get a big whiff or just plain out ask him what he wore. Embarrassed, she decided to do neither.

"Please…enter the living room." She pointed the way to the couch with her favorite blanket over it. He waited until she sat down to the chair adjacent to it before finally sitting down. She mentally scoffed. What a great time to be showing manners, especially at this time!

"You're probably wondering why I'm here so early," he drawled.

"I'm dying with anticipation, Mr. Shinra," she rolled her eyes with this statement, hoping that he would catch her meaning.

Narrowing his eyes, but still not rising to her bait, he replied, "I think under the circumstances, you should call me Rufus."

"I think under the circumstances, you should just hurry up and state your business so I can get my beauty rest," she fired back.

"You're already beautiful, it doesn't matter if you had rest or not," he murmured quietly.

Taken aback but not wanting to show her surprise she nearly yelled, "Just say what you have to."

"Okay. I know you probably deserve better, but I have to tell you this. I need you to marry me."

If it wasn't for the fact that she was sitting in her chair, she surely would have collapsed. If it wasn't for the fact that she wasn't drinking a beverage, she surely would have spat it out. If it wasn't for the fact that her jaw wasn't connected to her face, it surely would have dropped to the floor. So, instead, it just fell all the way open.

"WHAT?" she managed to sputter out.

With his eyes to the floor, he said it again. Except a lot more spaced out this time, as if she needed every word to sink in before getting the exact meaning of it all. "I….need…you…to…marry…me."

Rufus didn't know anyone's eyes could bug out like Tifa's did. It was almost like she was holding something in the way they looked. Then out of nowhere, she burst out laughing. In between her gasps of air, she said "You …haha you have got be kidding me. Did Cloud put ..haha you up to this?"

Rufus just stared at her. She thought he was joking. Unfortunately for her, he wasn't.

"Tifa, I'm not joking. I mean what I say."

Finally serious, she glared at him. "Why? Why do you have to marry me of all people? We hardly know each other and WE USED TO BE ENEMIES for God's sake."

"It wasn't my decision," he simply said. Tifa didn't know why this infuriated her, but it did. Completely.

"Oh is that so? It wasn't your decision. And who's was it Mr. Know-It-All?" she sneered.

"Your father's."

She was speechless for a moment. "No..you're wrong. He would never make me marry a monster like you. You've killed people. You've caused hurt and pain to many."

"It's not like that anymore. Really. I've changed, ever since the death of my father. He couldn't control me anymore, not like that." But, she couldn't believe him. There was something in his tone, in the way he said it with his eyes on her, that showed that he was lying. This handsome man with his piercing blue eyes couldn't want her. He wanted her to be his wife, but she was already too bitter and too lonely for so long to believe in love. Love was for fools, and she sure as hell wasn't one of them. He didn't love her, and she refused to be with anyone that didn't.

"I think you should leave," she said quietly. Almost to herself really.

He gave her a look. One that went through her skin and into her soul. She didn't know how he could do that, but he did it all the same. This was going to be harder than she thought.

"I told you once before I wasn't leaving until I got what I wanted," he stated.

"And I told you that you don't always get what you want."

"Touché, Ms. Lockheart. Touché," he softly replied.

Wanting to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling she felt as he gave her that look, she muttered "Well, I gave you your time. Can you please leave now?"

"I guess I have no choice but to try harder to convince you," he said as he stood. "Good evening and good night. I hope you sleep well. I'll be seeing you soon."

"Please don't. It won't help. You don't know who you're dealing with. Trust me," she replied. He really didn't think that she would fall under his spell did he? She had no doubt that he had seduced legions of women, but she wasn't like everyone else. She wasn't going to allow him to think that either. "I honestly think you're either drunk or high on something to be here. If you promise to never come back, I'll forget this ever happened," she added.

"I don't indulge in spirits and the only thing I'm high on is life. I can't promise you that. I have to marry you," he stated with utter finality.

Her heart raced to hear him speak this way. It was weird to hear someone speak with so much conviction. Like he could really break through her barriers and get to her. Yeah right. Cloud had tried, but failed miserably. Rufus wasn't Cloud, not even close. Which clearly made him 10 times more dangerous.

"I know I'm going to regret asking, but why is it you have to marry me so bad?"

"Your father used to work for my own. My dad was almost crushed at a construction site if it wasn't for your dad coming to his rescue. With that, he was forever in his debt. Yet, he only asked for one thing. And that was for you to be happy and to be my wife. It was like giving you a life that you could only dream of. You would come into wealth and power. That's what he wanted for you. I can't gain the full inheritance until we're wed," Rufus calmly explained.

For the second time that night, she was speechless. He couldn't be serious.

"We'd only have to be married in name I assure you," he continued as if this wasn't a life altering fact.

"Get out Shinra," she calmly said. "Get out and never come back. I'll never marry you, never."

"I know it's a shock, but it's the truth. You deserved no less and I wouldn't lie and say that I was actually in love with you," he stated as if her opinion didn't even matter.

Trying very hard to keep her temper in check and with her hands clenched in fists, she said "I don't care what else you have to say. I thought I had hated you before, but now I really really REALLY do hate you. So please, do me a favor and JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"I'm getting out of your house but that doesn't mean I'm getting out of your life."

He walked towards her front door as she stood there in the living room. As the door shut, she let out the breath she'd been holding.

What a jerk! What a complete jerk! I can't believe I even thought he was cute, he's totally gay! I hate him, I really do!

She couldn't believe that her own loving father put her into this mess. She'd was just going to have to find a way to get out of it. She would do anything to get out of it. Oh boo hoo little Rufus wasn't going to get his full inheritance unless she was married to him. Well, since it was basically up to her, she would make him wait until she died or until she found another way to escape this madness.

Tomorrow, she thought, I'll get out of it tomorrow.

Except that it was already tomorrow and already too soon.

Omg too bad my writing sucks. I should seriously quit now right? Yeah, I thought so too.

TiNkaH