Well it's been a while, i would have had this up sooner but have have been busy playing a bunch of games, here's chapter 4.

Chapter 4: Memories and Discovery

Cloud had secluded himself to the garage working on Fenrir after the event's that took place earlier, eventually when the children came back Denzel joined Cloud in the garage hoping to learn a little from him however after realizing the strange silence in Cloud he decided it would be better to leave him alone, however unbeknown to the blond haired warrior occasionally a pair of bright red eyes would check on him.

Tifa felt terrible for yelling at her male companion she didn't know what came over her she now just wanted to run into his arms an apologize for her earlier actions and beg for his forgiveness, this was the man she had waited on patiently for so long, whom she had secretly loved and whom would always remain within her heart. But that had possessed her to act the way she did? She didn't know. Perhaps it was because Cloud was acting like her male patrons always flirting and giving crude jokes, but that wasn't all, she wanted to give him all of her, she knew that, she didn't want to object to the actions he was performing on her and whatever was hindering her she needed to resolve it quickly but deep inside she knew what it was.

Eventually the day passed, night had fallen and the children had already eaten dinner and retired to bed. It was approximately ten thirty when Cloud emerged from the garage he was surprised when he saw Tifa waiting for him, once again she smiled like she always did, as if the earlier events didn't occur, she took a plate of food and laid it down on the table.

"Come eat," She said then she turned, she didn't want to face him, her heart was like a twister filled with her emotions, there were so many things she didn't understand, but suddenly all her regrets were put to rest.

Cloud had wrapped his hands around Tifa's small waist and buried his head in her hair.

"Tifa I'm sorry, I didn't mean to act like that," He said apologetically.

Tifa's eyes softened, she wanted to cry, "Cloud, don't, it's not your fault, I'm just not ready to go that far yet," She replied softly then turned to face him, "But that doesn't change the way I feel about you, please Cloud understand."

"I don't understand," He replied calmly.

"It's just that I need more time to figure things out," The dark-haired woman said.

"Need time?" Cloud asked, "Tifa I want you, I've wanted you for so long, I've always wanted you," Cloud pleaded.

Tifa felt the tears begin to fall, her eyes had betrayed her, she tried to fight in back as hard as she could, but it was a futile effort, she soon began sobbing, eventually trying to cover her eyes with her hands so Cloud couldn't see her crying, those words he had said, how long had she wanted and waited to hear them.

Seeing Tifa cry was a first for the mako infused warrior, she was always so strong, even when she was sad she always held back her tears so no one around her could see her as weak, Cloud felt like kicking himself for making Tifa cry, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, after all hadn't he made a promise to protect her, even if he made it as a child the memory was always fresh in his mind, and he always tired his best to keep it, even if it meant having to move out and live alone in misery while being consumed by an incurable disease. Turning Tifa into him he tucked her head under his chin and held her tightly.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry," Cloud said apologetically.

"No Cloud it's just that well I want you also but there's a memory that keeps getting in the way," She replied as she inhaled his scent.

"What memory?" Cloud asked, "Was it something I did? Please tell me so I can make it up to you."

"No it's not you, it's just this memory I have of Aerith," Tifa stated.

The blond haired man removed Tifa's head from beneath him chin but he still held onto her, he looked into her eyes and smiled, "Tifa I told you, I cared for her but not in that way, you're the only one I want and ever wanted."

"I know but there's something you should know, something she told me," She said gazing up in his deep blue eyes.

"She told me how she loved you, at first after our time in Kalm she said how she saw her first love in you and that drew her to you, but after a while she began to love you more than she did him, more than she ever though it was possible to love anyone, she asked me this because wanted me to tell her everything about you, she loved you so much," Tifa paused for a minute removing her gaze from his eyes diverting them to his chest, "It was then I gave up on the possibility of you ever loving me back, I thought I could stop loving you but the more I thought about the two of you, the more my heart began to ache."

Cloud removed one of his hands for Tifa's back and placed them under her chin tilting it so she could see into his eyes, so she could know he was telling the truth.

Tifa was surprised by Cloud's action, her face had a painful expression on it, but as she looked at Cloud's face he was still smiling at her almost immediately her tears were gone.

"Tifa it was impossible for me to ever love Aerith back, the way she wanted, I cared for her, like a mother or sister, she reminded me so much of my mother, but not as a lover I could never look at her that way and I'm sorry that she fell in love with me," Cloud replied smiling.

"It's not that simple, she was one of my closest friends, she told me how she never had much friends in the slums that how I was her first true friend in a long time, she told me how she wanted me to be her best friend like how we were," Tifa said then finally parted from his embrace once again turning from him.

"Tifa, Aerith is dead you shouldn't hold onto your guilt, I did and it tore me apart, it kept me from my happiness, I learnt that we can only forgive ourselves we can't expect others to do it for us," Cloud stated.

"You Don't Understand!" Tifa shouted, she didn't want to snap at him, it was the last thing she wanted to do but tears began forming in her eyes again, "I want you also, I want you so much it hurts but I don't want to betray her, she had suffered so much, even if she is dead, she is still in the lifestream and I think she still loves you."

Cloud didn't say anything, he just went up and embraced her from behind again, "Tifa know that even if she were still alive you would be the only one for me, don't you think it's disrespectful for me to be with someone when I heart truly lies with another?"

Tifa turned into him again, "I don't know what to do Cloud,"

"Tifa please give me tonight, only tonight, I want to be within you, I cannot wait any longer, if you want we can ignore that it happened, and you can slap me as much as you want, but give me tonight," He pleaded.

Tifa giggled when she heard him say she could get to slap him as much as she want's, but hearing the plea in her lover's voice, she knew she wanted to make him happy, but was she read for such a step, Cloud would be her first, and she wanted him to be she wouldn't lie, and then won't she be betraying Aerith, one of her closest friends. Suddenly it dawned on her. Who was the person that was first place in her heart? Wasn't it Cloud?

"Okay," She said softly, "But just tonight."

Tifa took his hand and lead him up the stairs and down the corridor to the master bedroom, to her room. She carefully locked the door, released his hand and walked over to her bed, she sat there and opened her hands towards him.

"Come," She said softly.

Cloud walked towards Tifa, in his mind he kept repeating the question if this was real, was Tifa really going to give her body to him tonight. After all haven't he craved it for so long. He stopped in front of her, Tifa fell back on the bed. Cloud descended on top and her and engulfed her lips into a heated passionate kiss. His knees were on either side of her thighs, his kiss was filled with lust and passion, forcing himself to stop he pulled away and stared at her smiling form.

"Tifa I don't want anything between us tonight, to act as a barrier, even if that means getting you pregnant," He said softly.

Tifa only nodded soon Cloud mouth was on her again, this time one her neck, sucking at her skin, she wrapped her arms around him.

'Anything for you Cloud, you're the first person in my heart' she whispered so softly it could have been a thought.

Both their passion erupted that night, the experience was a first for the both of them, the pleasure that they experienced and the ecstasy of the climax were drowned out by the love they felt for each other.

In the morning Cloud awoke, it was raining heavily outside, the sky was overcast and there were the loud sounds of the raindrops hitting against the house. Cloud's gaze was on the droplet filled window, but that soon shifted to the body of the nude woman beside him as she stirred in their sleep. He softly and gently kissed her nose. She stirred slightly again but their tranquility was soon interrupted as the door opened and in walked a sleepy eyed Marlene carrying her pillow and a blanket in her eyes. It was pretty obvious to Cloud that she was coming to sleep with Tifa like she always did on mornings like these, but then it Cloud realized that despite having the blankets pulled up to their shoulders, both him and Tifa were completely naked from their night's experience and the sheets were tainted.

There was a flash of lightning and Denzel soon appeared in the doorway with his pillow and blanket. Marlene recognized Cloud was in bed with Tifa.

"Cloud did you come to sleep with Tifa also?" Marlene asked as she arrived by Tifa's bedside.

To Be Continued. . .

well what do you think, i think one more chapter will be enough, let me know what you thought.