Just what was Reno planning to surprise her with on this little date he'd set up? He found a signature grin playing on his lips as he strolled to an undisclosed location. He would surely have her smiling again.

Just blocks away, her quick footsteps led her to the doors of the inn; she hurried past the desk and up the stairs, still avoiding the inn keeper as if he were the plague. She was a little more than embarrassed over her behaviour from the prior evening. More than anything, she prayed she wouldn't run in to the man whom she'd nearly beat up on the second floor. As she continued her journey to her room, she didn't encounter a single person, which she was thankful for. Her mind entertained nothing short of skepticism for his dinner plans. She was nervous, fretting about what he had in mind as she passed through the door to her room. She found herself by her suitcase, peering into the neatly folded garments within. Fingers paused over a light skirt, but she decided skirts weren't the best idea. Though she hadn't any plans of repeating last night, her level of caution prompted her to select a nice pair of black pants along with a matching sleeveless shirt. The outfit wasn't close to anything he might have had in mind when he told her to put on something nice, but it would do just fine.

Once she'd showered and fixed up messy strands of sable, she slipped on the clothing she'd chosen and applied a light bit of makeup. She wasn't about to pour her whole heart into dolling up for someone she barely agreed to see. In fact, she really hadn't any idea why she had made that agreement. Had she not been under the impression they had slept together, she would have been well on her way home by now. Alas, her urgent need to figure out where to go from here controlled her actions for the time being. She wasn't one to have one-night stands and the thought rather disgusted her. Part of her wanted to forget what had happened, while the curiosity in her wished to find out why the brief glimpses she recalled of the prior evening made her feel so light and nice. What she did remember was feeling cared for when he took the time to walk her back, and she barely touched on the memory of kissing him. He sparked feelings she had long been unaware of. She took one short glance in the mirror before heading out into the town.

When she arrived back at the beach side, she found Reno with that ever present smirk to accompany his same old attire. She felt uncomfortable as he studied her for a short time, his eyes roaming over the new look. To her benefit, he didn't seem to mind that she had opted for a nice pair of pants that were only mildly dressy. To him, she looked sophisticated. Pretty and professional, but not to the extent that say… Elena would appreciate. He approached her with a light greeting, a fleeting kiss upon her cheek that sent a tingle down her spine. Almost as if he was thanking her for not running when she had the chance, even though she had contemplated such.

"So, where are we going?" Tifa asked, taking care to see that her voice was light hearted.

"A restaurant I like. The food there is great." He swept a hand behind the small of her back, urging her in the direction of said restaurant. When his fingers brushed against her, she felt a warmth flood her body as if the sun were shining down upon her. Why did she feel so giddy when he touched her? A hidden smile curved her lips as they walked along the quaint town.

She grew slightly uncomfortable when she realized they were heading in the direction of the bar which now held quite the memory for her. The benefit of the doubt would be given to him as she continued along until they passed the bar.

"I thought I'd keep out'a that place for now." He snickered. She knew he would say something to that effect before the words even came out of his mouth. He received a simple huff.

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" She looked questioningly at him.

"Safe to say I won't. Maybe, if you're nice…" He trailed off. So she had to bribe him to let it go, then? She shook her head, shrugging off his little attitude as they arrived before a nice looking restaurant. She assumed it to be some sort of all around cuisine, as the name was bland and avoiding any ethnicities.

Reno managed to slip in front of her as they approached the doors, opening one for her like the perfect gentlemen. How shocking. She thankfully entered and waited for him to return to her side. The hostess brought out two menus and gave Reno a knowing look. Tifa glanced up at him with an attempt to figure out why the waitress seemed to know him so well, but missed her chance.

"Right this way." The hostess called out, and she turned toward the center of the building. She passed several open tables, causing Tifa to wonder about the oddity. The slender woman held open a glass door which led to a patio Tifa could only describe as lovely. Once the couple had been seated at a table dimly lit in the sunset by a single candle, the hostess departed. There beside the candle sat a chilled bottle of wine, with two glasses. 'Did he really take the time to prepare all this for me? And who would have thought he had it in him.' She really didn't know him very well, and he seemed a tad unpredictable. Little did she know that this charm was something he rarely touched on, it was a deadly weapon he only used when he felt the subject of his intentions important enough. Usually he didn't have to romance a woman to get exactly what he wanted, but Tifa was not just any woman. He knew full well when he had decided to pursue her that it would be a complicated endeavor. She was quite stuck on the blonde haired boy, and then there was that little bit about him blowing up the plate in Midgar.

Reno moved to grab the bottle of wine, noticing it was conveniently uncorked. He easily poured two glasses and nudged one in Tifa's direction. She distracted herself with the noise made from the glass sliding against the table, but immediately recalled the burning question on her mind.

"Did you go to all this trouble just for me?" She pleaded an honest answer. The subtext was proposing the question of what he expected in return.

"You are the one I invited to dinner…" Clearly he wasn't going to indulge her.

"Thanks." She took a sip from her glass of wine, watching as the waitress approached the table.

After the polite questioning of what she could get for the pair, they both made their orders, and waited patiently for the waitress to disappear back into the restaurant. Once she had gone Reno took the opportunity to begin a story sure to bring at the very least a giggle or two.

----x----

Dinner had gone surprisingly well, she had laughed quite a lot during his explanation of the time he'd stepped on Rude's sunglasses, only to watch the bald headed Turk pull out a spare pair from his jacket pocket, placing the shades coolly on without a word. Her meal was absolutely delicious, and she could see why he had named the restaurant as one of his favorites. The wine was easily the best she'd had, but she took precautions with each glass, ensuring she didn't return to the beach for round two of her skinny dipping adventure.

They were strolling along the shore beneath the moonlight, when Reno wrapped his fingers around her small hand and paused. Her steps halted, and she pivoted until her eyes met his. Sometime along the way he had produced a small velvet box from his pocket, and now it tucked neatly into her hand as his fingers departed. Her eyes wandered down to the box, which begged to be opened.

"What's this?" She asked, brows raised above her dancing eyes.

"Just a little somethin'. Open it." He urged, admiring the way her pale skin shone beneath the tropical moon.

A light breeze rustled through her hair, eyes trained on the box as if she could open it through sheer will. Honestly, she was absolutely thrilled by the idea that he had taken the time to pick something out for her. However, all the nice gestures and romantic ideals were downright terrifying when she thought about it. This was Reno, after all. She couldn't just stand there, dumbfounded while he waited in anticipation. Her fingers gingerly pressed against the top portion, pushing it backward until it popped open. There against a pillow of satin lay a beautiful chain of white gold, accentuated by a small diamond seashell. Speechless, she looked at him with a wide smile.

"Didn't want you to forget me when you get back to life in Edge…" He gave his best at an honest smile, though with years of his practiced smirk, it was not the easiest expression to manage.

"Reno… it's beautiful. Somehow, I don't think I would have forgotten you… even if you hadn't given me this night." Her eyes softened, and she pulled the necklace forth from the box. "Would you?" She held the delicate chain toward him.

"Of course, babe." He couldn't avoid grinning that lopsided grin any longer. That name annoyed her, he knew as much. He lifted the chain from her hand, and slipped behind her. The cool charm brushed up her chest as his arms came around her, raising the trinket until it rested perfectly below the joining of her collar bones. The clasp was tricky with the thick tips of his fingers, but he managed never the less.

His arms formed a tight embrace, rocking her lightly while he rested his chin in the crook of her neck. The salty air chilled her hair, and the strands felt wonderfully cool as they brushed against his cheek. A deep inhalation expanded his chest and the scent of her shampoo lingered in his nostrils, intoxicating as wild flowers and champagne. This girl, once considered an enemy, was beginning to have quite an affect on a heart once thought to be concealed behind the bad boy façade.

The proximity of his body sent her mind reeling, helpless to control the light tingle that flew down her spine. 'Why does his touch have such an affect on me?' She could only guess, but perhaps it was because of the way he'd romanced her beside herself. Maybe the explanation came in the form of his gorgeous turquoise eyes, intoxicating smirk and devilish good looks? Even the forbidden feeling she received from being in his arms weighed on her musings. He certainly was forbidden. If any of them knew of her little escapade, they'd surely slap her in an asylum.

"When are you leaving?" He broke the silence that had lingered over them with the slow sound of a receding tide.

That was a question she could not answer. She wanted to stay longer, find the answers to the questions that teased her while she remained within his hold. "I suppose soon. Everyone will be wondering where I've been." The words trickled slowly from her lips, almost painfully.

"How soon…?" He dared to question her answer.

"Probably tomorrow." She couldn't stay here in some fantasy. She had a life, and people in that life who cared about her. Surely Cloud, Marlene and Denzel would miss her. They would want her back, and she couldn't leave them to wonder what had become of her. This feeling she had when she was around Reno had to be due to her intimate connection to him. She had to be honest with herself. She had only ever been with one other person, and she knew that a bond would be forged with whomever she would share her body. The only thing she hadn't expected was that her second would be Reno. Of all people, Reno. To stay here in a resort town would be avoiding her problems in favor of living a fantasy. She would not allow her self such indulgence.

"Tomorrow… I guess I should let you get to sleep, then." His eyes seemed to fill with disappointment. His affections hadn't convinced her to stay as he thought they would. Perhaps she was beyond the reach of his charm.

Without a second thought, she reached her tip toes and planted a single kiss on his cheek nearest her. His chin left her shoulder and he disentangled from her slight frame.

----x----

The fog bank hung over the distant horizon in a thick layer, keeping the sea side shrouded in mystery. The morning sun had barely broken through the mist, but the real light cascaded from the street lamps above a rebellious head of crimson. He leaned lazily against the pole of the street light, hands folded neatly into his pockets. A yawn snuck through his lips, the early morning wasn't exactly the time of day he usually ventured. However, this morning served an important purpose. He scanned the harbor, watching the small shuttle boat that served to take tourists back to the eastern continent.

The waves rolled against the sand a few yards away, though the sound carried well on the thick air. He'd lit a cigarette in boredom a moment ago, but was regretting the decision when he remembered a comment Tifa had once made about the stench that hung around her pilot friend Cid. The stick fell to the ground, the tip of his shoe smothering the orange embers out. The last exhalation of smoke bellowed from his parted lips, while the lingering tap of boots, too light to be male, brought his attention to the slender silhouette walking the sandy path.

He had one chance, one objective. A mission he wasn't assigned to, but would complete none the less. As the figure approached him, he discerned long brunette hair and an unforgettable face. Her eyes were fixed on the ground with each step, as though something weighed her down. He entertained the idea that she was weighted down by the sadness she felt returning as she came within feet of boarding a boat that would take her back to her prison. He was determined to free her from such a prison. He counted the seconds with anticipatory breaths, pushing off the light post.

Oops! You'll have to read chapter five :D I feel like this chapter sucked, but I hope that's just my own critical, perfectionist ways. I am so sorry for the delay in posting, but I really had run into a block on this story. It's very challenging to figure out how to craft a story with such a crazy beginning, thrown into a whirlwind of character emotion and troubles. This story is rather light, though. If you happen to favor a more serious tone with better development of a relationship, you might like to read The Aethereality of You. It is my latest ReTi, which I happen to be rather thrilled with. Thanks for reading, and do share your thoughts in a review, if you like! Perhaps it will help inspire the next chapter so I don't neglect this fiction quite so badly… -snicker- ;D