Hey there! I know that I didn't get many reviews, I couldn't just stop this story. Maybe more people will review one day. I can only hope that those who have read it will enjoy it. Anyways, on to the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do NOT OWN Final Fantasy or any its characters.

Almost, But Not Quite

Tifa leaned against the door after she had closed the bar. A sigh escaped her lips as she laid her head back against the wood. Opening her eyes, she looked at the empty bar and smiled a bit. It was quiet, and she wasn't used to that at this time of day. As her eyes scanned the place she noticed a towel on one of the tables. She stood up again and made her way to the table to take it back to the sink. Realizing that someone special was waiting for her in her room, she tossed the towel into the sink and hurried to see her childhood friend again.

As she walked by a mirror, she looked in it to make sure she looked at least halfway decent for him. It had always been like this, these past few years. Always trying to look her best for him, to hopefully catch his eye. To see if he would see her as more then just a friend. Finally, after looking in the mirror for a few minutes, she decided to move to her own room. Why was she nervous to see him again? It was like this every time she saw him now. Shaking off the feeling, she knocked on the door.

"Come in."

She took a deep breath and let it out before opening the door. There he was standing in front of her desk, looking at the picture of him and her. A small smile was on his face as he looked at it. Her eyes looked at him with care. She hardly saw him smile. When she did, she wanted to time to stop. Soon the smile faded, and the moment had passed.

"I see you found that picture of us at the Gold Saucer." she said, walking closer to him.

"Yeah, I don't see why we took it."

"Because that's what friends do, Cloud." she said, shaking her head fondly.

He looked at her and blinked several times.

"I know. You were never good with that kind of stuff." she said, sitting on her bed.

"Yeah." he said softly.

She looked at him standing there. He looked nervous about something. She smiled a bit. It wasn't the abnormal to have him look uneasy about something. He always did. Although she tried to make him happy, it always seemed that she just couldn't do it as well as another. Yet, she would try her hardest to always be there for him and to care for him.

"So, how long are you staying here?" she asked, wondering if he would be with her for a while.

"Hmm? I am not sure." he said, looking at her with his mako-blue eyes.

Those eyes, every time she looked at them it sent chills up her spine. A good chill. One that she liked a whole lot. She had always found his eyes to be pretty to look at, and now they had a certain glow to them. Which in her mind, made them only look more intriguing. Others may find his eyes weird or even scary, but not her. She loved them. If only she could just look at them forever, but she knew that wouldn't happen.

"Tifa?" he asked, waving a hand in front of her face as she looked at him. Seeing her look at him like that made his heart beat just a little faster. He couldn't figure out why this was. He felt things around her that he never did around Aeris. It was all new to him. But that wasn't the odd thing, he actually liked being this close to her and feeling this way. In fact, the feelings that he had for Tifa had always been there. For that's why he had left to be in SOLDIER. He wanted to impress her.

She blinked a few times. "Hmm?" she said softly, shaking her head as if to clear it. She was coming out of her thoughts.

"...Nothing." he said, looking away from her.

His eyes looked back to the picture. She seemed so happy that day. He wasn't smiling in the picture, but his eyes didn't look as plain. They held a slight hint of joy. Although he would never admit that to anyone. Soon after that a sigh came from him. He was debating on whether or not to stay here with her. He knew that she would want that, but was he? He just couldn't shake the bad feeling he felt when he thought about leaving her again. She always seemed so sad whenever he left her.

"Say Cloud? You want something to eat?" Tifa asked after a little while as he stood up.

Coming out of his thoughts, he looked back at her and nodded slightly. "That would be nice."

She smiled and walked to the door. Just as she got there, she stopped and looked back at him. "Well, come on. Ya can't stay all by yourself with me around." she said, her smile was there again as looked at him.

He could feel his heart jump a little as he saw her smile. Telling himself to calm down, his face remained emotionless. "That is true, but I am worried about your cooking." he said in a playful manner.

This caught Tifa off guard. He hardly ever acted like that. It was something that she just wasn't used to at all. After the initial shock had gone, she nodded. "I think it has, but you will have to see for yourself." she said, winking. It wasn't like him to act this way, but she pushed it aside. After that she walked out of the room and left, leaving Cloud alone once again.

After that, he stood there and thought about if he should stay here or not once again. He wanted to make her happy, but in truth he was really scared to stay. Cloud didn't want to put her into anymore danger then he had to. He had to protect her. It was a promise he had made to her a long time ago, when they were just children. Another small smile came to his face as he thought about that night so long ago. It seemed like a whole different world then.

"Cloud...come on...get out here!" He could hear her call him from out at the bar. A small chuckle came from him as he made his way out there. Finally, he sat at the bar and watched her cook.

"Certainly smells better."

"Hey...shutup!" she said, laughing some.

His mako-blue eyes watched her as she cooked. Even though she was, in his mind, his only true friend. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be more then that with her. She was so kind and caring to him. Always thinking of him and making sure he was happy. He couldn't think of any other who put forth so much effort into insuring his happiness. Not even a flower girl who had a crush on him did as much as Tifa did. Cloud's heart still ached from that horrible accident, and he still felt guilty for her death. He looked back on it now and the one person who had been by his side through everything terrible that had happened to him was Tifa.

He came out of his thoughts when she placed the plate of food in front of him. After giving him a set of silverware, she smiled. "Here you are. Now I hope it is to your liking." she said, shaking her head fondly.

He smirked and took the fork. Soon after he had eaten some, he looked up at her. "This is actually pretty good."

She smiled as she poured him something to drink. "Well, I have been practicing. I have to do my best to make good food." she said, then set down his glass.

He smiled at that. Her food was really good. Much better then the stuff he was used to eating on the road. He looked up at her, his eyes never leaving hers. His mind was racing with so many things to say, and yet he couldn't speak at all. He could see her looking back at him, and it only made his heart race.

"Tifa...I-I..." he said softly as he kept his eyes on her. She looked back at him, her heart racing as well. Tifa had no idea what he was about to say, and that made it even more nerve racking.

"Yes?" She managed to get out as she kept looking at those enticing blue eyes of his.

"I-I...this is really good food." he said, looking down. Ashamed of himself for not being able to say what he really meant. Once again he was beating himself up for not saying something when he should have told her.

'Almost, but not quite.' he thought to himself as he began to eat again.

He left Tifa standing there confused on what just happened. Standing there for a few seconds, she just thought about the past few moments. Soon she walked next to him and sat down. A smile on her face as looked at him. She was perfectly fine with him being just at her side. She didn't need any words at the moment. She was just glad that he was alright and not hurt or in trouble.

End Chapter...

So, everyone...how did ya like this chapter. its reading into more of their emotions. Don't worry the story only gets better and better after this. I promise. Just review and tell me if ya like it. See ya soon.