Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII

Pairing: Cloud x Yuffie andvery slight Cloud x Aeris (Sorry Tifa fans. It's not that I don't like her, I just like the other pairings better.)

A/N: Ahh! Writer's block sucks! I'm also having trouble updating faster because well, I'm just busy. Replaying Final Fantasy VII, trying to beat Kingdom Hearts II, trying to level up my characters on World of Warcraft, questing on Elder Scrolls Oblivion, and I bought Advent Children! Damn that was a good movie. I didn't want it to end :(

I also have school again. Boo.

Here we go. Enjoy the very short chapter 4. Sorry I couldn't make it longer.

She's so Lovely

Chp.4: Just a Crush

The three party members, Cloud, Yuffie, Cid and the rest of the Highwind's crew had finally arrived in Midgar around noon. Reeve told Cloud to gather everybody up in the newly improved Shin-ra building. After the meteor incident, Shin-ra became more Gaea friendly. They shut down all remaining mako reactors and started using solar power for energy. Barret finally had a new view towards the once hated Shin-ra.

That moment in the crews lodge…

Cloud called everybody up except for Yuffie who was sleeping on his bed. He didn't want to wake her. After he got off the phone with the last person, Vincent, he picked up his necessities and looked at the peaceful looking ninja before him.

'It's just a crush.' He thought. 'Nothing more.'

He still had strong feelings for Aeris. Not just of love, but also regret. Regret for not being able to save her life. Regret for not being able to protect her. Regret for not telling her… how he really felt about her. After Aeris' death, the thought of her hurt Cloud just as much as any wound could, possibly even worse. She was the first person ever to steal Cloud Strife's heart. Not even the beautiful Tifa Lockheart was able to do that. She was too good of a friend to Cloud for him to ever have feelings for her. He was scared that if they did have a relationship and it didn't work out, that their friendship would be different, or worse, end. He didn't want that to happen. Poor Tifa. She loved him with all her heart and no matter how hard she tries, he would never feel the same about his childhood friend that way.

After zoning out in his thoughts, he opened his room's door and made his way to the Shin-ra headquarters, totally forgetting about the blueprints and plans for reconstruction that were in his room.

Moments later…

Cloud, followed by Barret, Cid, and Vincent, walked into the main lobby and a young, brunette woman at the front desk that was just a few yards away from them waved to get their attention.

"Hey you!" She exclaimed. "Mr. Reeve said a man with big, blonde spikes and some other people were here to have a meeting with him. I'm guessing it's you guys correct?"

"Yes, that's us." Cloud answered.

The secretary then reached into a drawer and pulled out four transparent key cards that read in big white letters: VIP access to 50th floor and above. She then said, "Mr. Reeve said you may keep these cards and also please don't hit or shake the vending machines like you did at the old Shinra building. Mr. Shinra might get upset."

Barret and Vincent both said to themselves, 'Mr. Shinra? Rufus Shinra? So he's still alive even after the explosion.'

Cloud didn't pay attention to the info about Rufus Shinra still being alive because he got kind of embarrassed when he was reminded of his little mishap with the vending machine. He started playing the scene over in his head.

(Flashback)

Cloud takes 10gil from inside his pocket and puts it in the bill receiver. 'Fighting Shin-ra soldiers make me thirsty. Hmm… Dr. Dew or Pepper Mountain Cola?' He contemplates.

After a few moments of thinking, he pressed the iced tea button with no reaction from the machine.

'Must be sold out…' He thought. The dehydrated hero started pressing all the buttons, but still, nothing came out. So in his frustration, he cocks his arm back and takes a hard jab at the cursed machine.

The woman working at the main desk of the employee's gym goes up to him and says, "Sir, please don't hit the cola machines."

Vending machine: 1 - Cloud: 0

(End Flashback)

The secretary had asked the four men to sign some papers and put their information on it. "Include name, birth date, blood type, and gender. When you guys are finished, give me your papers and put your thumb on that touch pad and swipe your card so I can put your info in them." She said while pointing at the finger print machine.

Being fascinated by the technology, Barret said, "Wow. Now that's fancy."

The four guys get done with the identification routine and Cid looks at Cloud and asks, "Hey blue eyes, what about the kid? Will she need to do all this bullshit? I don't want to wait fer anyone."

With arms crossed, Cloud shakes his head and says, "Don't worry, I'll take Yuffie later. For now just let her sleep, alright? The poor girl's exhausted 'cuz she kinda has trouble flying."

Barret, Cid, and Vincent all replied at the same time, "We know."

"Have a nice visit you guys!" The secretary said as the four guys walked towards the elevator.

They go inside and Barret pushes the 51st floor button. Inside the elevator, some upbeat jazz music was playing as they moved up floor by floor. They hoped nobody would call the elevator they were on so that they can get to their destination faster.

'This is going to take a while…' Everyone thought.

End of chapter 4. Sorry for the short chapter and the long update. As I said above, I have lots of things to do. But don't worry, I wont stop writing this fic as a simple thank you for the people who like reading it. I'll work on Chapter 5 tomorrow first thing in the morning.

Right now, I might go watch Advent Children for the 3rd time so, until the next chapter!