I do not own FFVII nor any of its characters,however the story idea is mine. "Cloti"main pairing.Also a hint of Yuff/Reno (cause they're so childish they go good together).

In Love,But not with you

Cloud waited until one in the morning before attempting to lift himself out of the house through his sun roof. The glass slid easily, it had been his escape route before. Taking his keys, he didn't bother changing. He brought his helmet this time, he didn't need people to reconize him in the old city. Breathing deep he leaped off the roof and hit the ground hard. He managed to throw off some of the weight as he rolled on the grass as soon as he touched. He stayed still for a total of three minutes, nothing came after him. Cloud kicked the stand for his fenrir up and rolled it five blocks away from his house before starting it quietly and driving slowly. Sephiroth he'd take his chances with...his father he wouldn't. Driving at a school zone speed for at least a mile, he then sped up his pace. The engine roared loudly as he made his way into his old town near the ShinRa power electric company. ( Just work with me on this people ). He drove down to an abandoned park that he always used to hang out at, just because everyone would leave him alone. Another rider was already there, sitting on a swing that still had the strength enough to hold someone. The rider looked out of place since he was an adult on a child's toy. Cloud rode up to the rider's fenrir and parked his next to it. Cloud then started walking over the rubble of stones and such to get to the opposing swing. He sat down, feeling a little uneasy because of whose presence he was in and if the swing set could hold them both.

" So... what seems to be the trouble ? " the rider asked, his eyes still looking out straight. His dark hair and light eyes gave him a handsome face. He was just as built as Cloud was. Zack's hands stayed on the chains holding up the swing, no matter how old, he'd always felt safest when holding onto these supports. Cloud hadn't removed his helmet, which he knew was unfair since Zack had dared show his face. Cloud breathed in deep and removed it, being greeted by fresh air around his golden spikes.

" Odd isn' it? "

" Cloud? "

" The fact that...we've stayed friends...and yet...we're afraid to talk to one another " Cloud smiled weakly as he looked at the ground. He felt a hand on his shoulder and it made him look up, Zack had never changed, always there for him, truely his best friend.

" Its about a girl isn't it ? "

" You truely know me well...but no...not this time... I just...needed to come back and talk to you... "

" About anything in particular? "

" How bout we start with how you've been ? "

Tifa sat on her bed, her shock was fading. She replayed Sephiroth's words in her head.

' I guess " I " had gone to far. " I " m not a fool, I wasn't going to stop him. ' Tifa stopped playing those words in her head and picked up her cell. The last caller was Cloud, so his number should still display. She called it and got his answering machine.

" Hey you've reached Cloud...you should know what to do ".

" Hey C...Cloud...its Tifa...umm...I...I know you probably won't believe me...when I tell you this...but...the past is the past...you didn't act like that when I was with you...I...you...I don't think you...should be held accountable...for what happened so many years ago...from what...your brother told me...he was the one that caused it...I umm... I called...to apologize about how...I acted...I hope you'll forgive me...I don't know if...you'll feel any different when I say...I already forgive you...even though...you don't really need my forgiveness...I...I guess...I'll see ya later...b...bye Cloud... " Tifa breathed out uneasily as she hung up. Cloud had bothered to get to know her first before Sephiroth...therefore she felt she must give Cloud a chance to explain himself...if she wanted to be with him...she needed to trust his words and not hold his past against him.

Cloud laughed as Zack explained what had been happening ever since he'd been gone.

" Really? YOU! Of all people...have a girlfriend? Who? " Cloud swung a little on the swing, the kid inside him smiled with delight at having his best friend back on good terms,their nervousness gone and just back to being buddies. Zack turned five shades of red and Cloud fell out of the swing laughing in the protective sand underneath it. Zack kicked him, still blushing.

" Aerith? Or better known as Areis? I always knew you had a thing for her " Cloud choked as he got back up. He took a deep breath to calm himself. He patted Zack on the shoulder and told him not to worry.

" Everything will work out, you two are so alike anyway...does she still sell flowers? "

" Yeah...she's pretty good at it to ".

" No doubt...is she still afraid of me? "

" I imagine she would be Cloud...you did come very close to killing her ".

" ... "

" I know you didn't mean to... " Zack closed his mouth, they were getting back to that eeritable silence that they hated so much. Cloud was back to looking at the floor while Zack didn't say anything for a while. Suddenly out of no where, Cloud's phone chirped with the signal of a new message. Cloud retrieved it from his back pocket and looked at it.

' Caller : Tifa '. Cloud's eyes stayed fixed on the caller I.D, unable to blink. Zack raised an eyebrow at Cloud's reaction. He looked over Cloud's shoulder and read the name.

" Thats a pretty name " he said slyly as Cloud quickly tucked the phone away, he listen to the message later.

" Surely thats not a guy's name calling to ask if you wanted to go drinking...so...Whose Tifa ? " Zack smiled. Cloud turned away from him, but Zack turned him back towards him.

" Whose Tifa, Cloud? " he asked again, his smile still the same.

" A girl that knows my past and is calling me apparently ".

" Sounds like she likes ya if you ask me ".

" Where would you get that conclusion from ? "

" If she knows of your past and still has the nerve to call you...hmmm...I wonder " Zack answered sarcastically.

" So...whats the message say? " Zack prodded.

" I don't know ".

" Then lets listen to it ".

" No ".

" Then delete it " Zack challeneged, he knew Cloud way to well that he would delete a message from a girl he liked.

Tifa lyed in her bed wondering if Cloud had even bothered to listen to her message.

" With the way I acted today, he might as well delete it before listening to it " she whispered quietly to herself. Getting up she went down stairs to get a glass of water, but her cell rang. The caller I.D said : Unknown. Cloud would be the unknown, since she hadn't programed his number in yet.

" Hello? "

" Is this Tifa? " the voice wasn't Cloud's, it was someone she'd never heard.

" Yeah...whose this? "

" Ok, Hi Tifa...you wouldn't know me, but my name is Zack. I'm Cloud's best friend...we ugh...got your message...heh...and ugh...thats adorable...Hey man calm down...Ow! You bit me! " the way a series of " GIVE ME BACK MY PHONE! " in the background. Tifa giggled on the other end.

" Ow...dude...calm the fuck down...sheesh, you wouldn't listen to the message around me so I played it for you,and as your best friend, I'm entitled to talk to her...don't you bite me again, I'll kick you...who knows...have you had your shots for rabies in the last year ? Anyway...So Tifa, you like Cloud don't you? "

" Well...yes... "

" And we all know he likes you...so...screw the arranged marriage to Sephiroth and elope together...have a small wedding else where or convince your father to let you marry him...hey...hey...back off...I will bite you back...I'm serious...ahhh...punk... ".

" So...your Zack, the famous best friend? "

" Yeah...thats me...hey! Watch it! I'll break this...she'll understand why... hey ugh Tifa? "

" Yes? "

" Cloud's gonna have to call you back sometime later...cause first he's gotta catch me...I hope to meet you in the near by future ".

" Umm...o...ok...same here...nice talking to you Zack... "

" See ya ".

Zack took off on foot, running fast and laughing.

" Ok Zack...you have...three seconds...to ...give me...back my phone " Cloud said in between breaths as they ran across the park playground. Zack turned halfway and stuck out his tongue like they always used to play. Zack always won these sort of games because he usually made the rules.

" Not until...you catch me " Zack laughed climbing over rubble. Cloud tripped and fell over into the sand face first. He picked his head up to look up a tiny ways when he saw a photograph in the sand. Picking it up there were letters on the back. " To my sweet Zack ". Cloud turned it over and saw both Aeris and Zack holding one another under the stars on the beach, truely a beautiful picture, but not manly in the least. Had anyone else found it, Zack's pride would be shattered.

" Hey...Zack! How bout...a trade? " Cloud picked himself up, he was tired from trying to get his phone back and then running. Zack stopped and turned around, a smile still planted on his face.

" Two hundred bucks and I'll give it back... "

" I was thinking more along the lines for saving your pride " Cloud smiled slickly as he held up the picture. Zack checked his back pockets and his eyes widend.

" Alright...you win this time...lucky bastard...if that hadn't fallen out of my pocket I would have had two hundred bucks by now " Zack handed him back his phone and took his picture before placing it securely in his pocket. Cloud put his phone away and reached into his other pocket where he kept his wallet and took out five hundred dollars, then handed it to Zack.

" Whats this for? "

" You and I both know I don't need it...take Aerith out somewhere nice tomorrow, alright ? "

"...Thanks Cloud... ". Guys or not, pride or not, Cloud still felt like a kid, and when saying goodbye he hugged his bestfriend tightly. It was night and who knew when they'd talk again. Cloud mounted his fenrir and Zack copied his motions, both said farewell and sped off in two different directions.

' You have my thanks Zack...for talking to Tifa when I couldn't find the courage to just yet ' Cloud thought as he sped towards home.

Around noon the next day is when Sephiroth came to Cloud's room to go and wake him. Cloud had snuck home so quietly, he thought it was a trick when no one had found him.

" Lazy bum...get out of bed " Sephiroth said shaking his younger brother. Cloud mumbled angrily and turned away from him. Sephiroth rolled his eyes and shook him again.

" I don't want any ice cream today...you've poisoned it ".

" WHAT! " Sephiroth raised an eyebrow as Cloud continued to mumble upserd things.

" The monster in the closet tells horrible jokes ".

" Fasinating...Cloud get up " Sephiroth shook him hard and Cloud opened on eye and looked at his elder brother.

" Damn...and I thought the creatures in my mind were scary...I'm not a morning person Sephiroth "

" Its noon ".

" Is it? " Cloud sat up and looked at his alarm clock. The red numbers surely read 12:36 pm. Cloud groaned as he let himself collapse back onto his bed. Sephiroth growled as he lifted the mattress and Cloud fell out.

" Alright I'm up, I'm up...damn...why do I have to bother getting out of bed today anyway? "

" Don't ask me...I was just told to come and wake you... " Sephiroth seemed nicer that morning...something was very odd. Cloud walked to the stairs and sat on the railings,letting himself slid down to the bottom. Both his brother and father stood there at the door, in suites, nothing to unsual.

" Whats up? "

" Your brother and I have to go out of town for a meeting...we'll be gone for at least three days ".

" Are you serious? "

" Yes...The only thing I will ask of you is if your friends come over to make sure they clean up after they leave...your not grounded anymore...we'll see you in three days alright? "

" Ummm...ok...have...have a good trip ". Since when did the Strife family become so friendly to one another?

A/N: Can anyone guess whats up? Admit it, this chapter made you laugh...please tell me it made you laugh...it made me laugh thinking of it. I'm hoping to post the next chapter later tonight or noonish tomorrow...can you guess whats going on? If you can, don't say anything unless its in an e-mail, some don't like it when you guess the plot of stories they haven't figured out