The Soft Spot

by Horky

soft spot: noun emotional susceptibility. A collection of drabbles Trying for 100 of the couple CloudTifa.

32. Hate Me

Hate Me
For: ClotiNotCleris
Prompt: Princes Tifa/Prince Cloud hate first
Summary: There were only few infuriating people he could handle in his life. His sister was one of them, and he had no desire to add any more, especially a wife.

Cloud didn't like smelling flowers as the scent could be overwhelming, but as it was, the castle was overflowing with them. Servants were scrambling around like bugs, carrying bulging vases of yellow and white flowers. There was no way Cloud could know that these were lilies and daisies as to the fact Cloud kept his proud manlihood by not knowing what the names of flowers were.

Cloud was standing in a breezy way, connecting the west wing to the central part of the castle. Usually the breeze way carried the distinct scent of the ocean, which he could see if he was on the castle walls. He was concentrating on the sky trying to figure out how at the age of twenty one his life had been paved out for him, lined brick by brick by his no good father, and the inevitable responsibility of running a kingdom. It's not that he minded being a prince or the responsibility, it was having to be set into this path he couldn't break, these steps in his life that had been placed before he had even been conceived.

The familiar sound of high heels clicking on the stone path alerted him to her presence before she was there. Cloud turned, staring blankly as Aeris walked up, a servant trailing behind her carrying a green doublet, and a blue.

The servant swept into a low bow. "Your grace, if you'd be so kind–

"What do you want to wear tonight?" Aeris asked bluntly, putting her hands on her hips.

Cloud stared flatly at her. "Nothing."

Aeris stomped her foot, grabbing the doublets from the servant and shooing him away with a brush of her head. Aeris had fallen into her path much easier, because her path didn't include taking the throne. She had married as she'd seen fit.

Lucky her.

"Cloud, be serious. Your bride to be is practically on our doorstep and you look like you just got back from the training grounds!"

Cloud blinked. "That's because I did."

Aeris sighed, her face tensing. "Cloud. You've been moping for a month now. My sympathy has been stretched thin. I'm sorry– wait, no I'm not. I'm not sorry. Clean yourself up, and be in the courtyard before that carriage reaches the gate. I'm being easy, Cloud. Father will tear you a new one if you don't move it."

"I don't care. I don't want to marry her."

Aeris sighed, thrusting the blue doublet out in her hand. "I'm sure she doesn't want to marry you, either, I know I wouldn't with the way you're acting. Listen, it's either get dressed and be a bit uncomfortable with a pretty girl or be severely uncomfortable and deal with one of father's lectures."

Cloud narrowed his eyes, before snatching the doublet out of her hand.

"Thank you," she said, smiling sweetly.

Xxx

The carriage wheels bumped across the brick path leading towards the tall, imposing gate. The Lockhart kingdom in theory larger in population, and area, but the kingdom of Strife was by far much more wealthier.

Tifa gazed out the window, staring at the white castle surrounded by it's lush gardens, the ocean roaring against the cliffs of the capital and felt a sick tightening feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Please behave yourself, your grace."

Tifa shot a look at her personal body guard, watching her from the shadow of the opposite seat. Instead of reprimanding him for his sharp thoughts, she stuck her tongue out at him before tugging the curtain closed across the window, and tugged at the tight bodice of her dress again. She wasn't used to this kind of torture.

"Tifa–

"Vincent, just calm down, alright? I won't do anything stupid," she muttered under her breath. Her half-brother, a bastard son from one of her mother's ladies in waiting, had developed an intensely annoying habit of voicing her secret concerns she told no one. It was painfully obvious that their father was one and the same. His eyes were a more clear red than hers, though, but they both shared the thick, black hair that curled around her father's ears.

The fact of the matter was she did not want to marry Prince Cloud Strife in two days time as to the fact that she had never met the man, nor did she have any desire to. The worst part is she knew what a treaty wife would end up as. She had seen it with her mother, before she had died. She loved Vincent, but she also knew that her soon to be husband would snatch up a lady in waiting before she had even reached his bed. He did have two days, after all.

The Strife kingdom was imposing on their borders, and rather than risk the war that had been on the verge of beginning for the last decade, the Lockhart kingdom sent a peace treaty in the form of their only heir, and a female one at that.

Of course she had to marry, and marry powerful. Now the Lockhart kingdom, and the Strife kingdom would be united, after what had been many years of tense not quite war but not peace. Some people welcomed the peace, those that had seen the last war with the ShinRa kingdom knew the price war brought about. Also, they were uniting the countries against ShinRa, which had over the past few decades rebuilt its army, and was becoming more threatening with each passing year. Others hated the decision; prejudices had been born over the shaky border that seemed to shift with each season, and many of the Lockhart did not relish being under the control of a Strife King, and hints of rebellion always flitted here and there, though Tifa didn't feel they were completely backed.

But Tifa would do nothing to jeopardize her kingdom, and her subjects; she would not start a war because she didn't want to marry Strife's Crown Prince. Her father had made the decision, and while Tifa loved her father, it was in a sort of required, from a far love. There were things she loved about her father, but she could never forget that it was partly her father's fault for her mother's death.

The carriage eased to a stop within the courtyard of the castle, and Vincent leaned towards the door. Tifa took two deep breaths (as deep as the god forsaken corset would let her) and shielded her eyes from the sun as her driver opened the door. Vincent got out first, and his pale hand came back in through the door to help her down. Normally she wouldn't need his help, but as it was she had to wear a dress the size of her carriage and shoes like hidden weapons as if she were some assassin.

Tifa stepped out, feeling like a fish out of water at the many people standing before her, smiling like idiots. Tifa tried to curb her thoughts to a nicer tone, but it was difficult. She was going to have to put up with these people for the rest of her life.

Vincent bowed low, too low for Tifa's liking, and she gave her little curtsy.

"I present, your graces, Princess Tifa, of the Lockhart kingdom." Vincent straightened elegantly, and Tifa felt a flare of jealousy. He had always been more royal than her, even as a bastard son. "My Lord King regrets his absence, but extends his compliments to the happy family of the groom."

The man, obviously the king, smiled crookedly. "Of course." But his eyes passed over Vincent quickly, as if he was only in the way, to Tifa.

Tifa dipped shallowly again. "Your grace."

"Please! Come Princess Tifa, we must show you around your new home!" The King stepped forward, slipping Tifa's arm into the crook of his elbow. "My wife regrets that she is too ill to attend your welcome, but she shall be at the ball tonight. No worries."

Tifa dipped her head respectfully.

"For the time being, I'll present you to my daughter, Aeris." The woman standing a couple feet back stepped forward. She was intensely beautiful, and took her looks from her father.

"A pleasure," she said, dipping, and bowing her head. Tifa smiled in response. She had only met two people and she was already tired of being looked at.

"And of course you'll be excited to meet my son, Cloud, ah..." King Strife pauses, glancing around at the servants that stand around us, waiting. Then he looks at Princess Aeris, clasping her hands nervously in front of her. "Where is your brother?"

Xxx

Cloud stood in the shadow of a column. Most of the servants were standing about the courtyard as the carriage rode up. He watched as a man stepped out. He knew he should be over there, waiting on his ...fiancé but he couldn't bring himself to leave the safety of the shadow to confront this new problem.

"Shouldn't you be out there?"

Cloud turned quickly, nearly jumping out of his skin. "General."

Sephiroth stood there, his arms crossed across his chest, and looking as menacing as ever.

"Shouldn't you be out there?"

"I think your father wants your bride to meet you, not me."

Cloud grimaced; Sephiroth was his father's top general, and had been a mentor and role model for Cloud since he had been a kid. As it was, Sephiroth was really the only one who could get him to do anything.

"It doesn't matter. I'm already late, so I'll be in trouble regardless."

Sephiroth stared at him flatly. "You just need an excuse." Sephiroth turned quickly, snatching a red rose from a vase of flowers in the hallway. "Give her this."

"I never knew you were so romantic, General."

"Your name is mud."

Cloud spun again, watching as his father turned towards the servants, and he spotted Aeris's head. A woman in an elegant cream colored gown was hanging to his arm, visibly distressed as his father jerked around looking for him, probably.

He swallowed. Sephiroth was right.

So after taking an incredibly deep breath, Cloud took a brave step forward, and stepped out into the sunshine.

Xxx

Tifa felt a pit twisting in her stomach; she felt the king's grip on her arm tighten as his obvious anger built at his son not being there to greet his own bride. Honestly Tifa was a little mad herself. It's not like she wanted to be out here in this dress having her future decided for her.

"Father." Tifa's head snapped around catching sight of a blonde head dipping into a low, respectful bow.

"Cloud." The king's voice was still disgruntled, and Tifa could tell he was struggling to mask it. "This is your bride, Princess Tifa."

Cloud rose slowly, his eyes coming up to look at her and it was obvious he got his looks from his mother. He was handsome, Tifa grudgingly admitted, but that probably meant he was even more lecherous than an ugly prince would be. And then to further that thought he held out a red rose to her, his eyes the color of cobalt. His eyes were shocking in the sunlight, his pupils practically invisible in the sea of his eyes.

Tifa accepted the rose gracefully. He was obviously a player.

"I'm sorry I'm late, father, but I had to find a flower for her grace."

This was obviously the right thing to say, because the entire courtyard relaxed as the King smiled. Then he passed Tifa over to Cloud, like a doll on display. Tifa took this in stride, her pride snarling at the thought.

Tifa flashed her eyes at him from beneath her eyelashes like Scarlet had taught her, and smiled with her head tilted to the side. "I'm so happy to finally meet you, your grace."

And Cloud smiled smooth, like the perfect prince he had to act as. "Likewise, my lady." And he put his hand over hers, resting on his forearm, and they strolled into the castle, appearing every bit the happy couple they weren't.

Xxx

Tifa was uncomfortable sitting in the small throne beside of Cloud. As the attention was focused more on the dancing now she saw Cloud visibly drift off into his own world, slouching down as people danced below them.

The day had been frustratingly mind numbing, and Tifa was on her last leg of patience.

Cloud shifted, resting his chin on his hand, bored. He had consumed a little too much champagne in his despair and was trying to keep his mouth shut so he wouldn't say anything stupid. Not that he was worried about embarrassing himself, but more that he didn't want her to know that he didn't want to marry her, and say something to his father.

Tifa turned her head towards him, her earrings bouncing on her cheeks. "Your sister is very nice."

Cloud blinked, glancing at her, surprised at her speaking. "Yea–yes. She is."

Tifa opened her mouth, trying to think of something else to say, but finding no words. First he shows up late for her arrival, then he tries to be some Casanova with that stupid rose, and now he was about as interesting as a piece of rope.

Tifa sighed, relaxing back into her seat.

Cloud shifted. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Tifa wanted to punch him. Of course she didn't. If she had a brother he could be dealing with peace treaties instead of selling his sister into slavery.

"No."

"Oh."

Idiot, she thought, rolling her eyes. Unfortunately she didn't realize he was watching her. Cloud sat up, staring at her fully. Tifa blinked, glancing back, unnerved to find him staring at her intensely.

"What is it, your grace?"

"Is there a problem?" Cloud was being unusually blunt, and he knew it, but he was still annoyed at this whole situation.

Tifa blinked big. "Pardon?"

"A problem?"

"No..." she said slowly, feeling like she was walking into a trap.

"Then why did you roll your eyes?"

Tifa stared at him incredulously. "I'm sorry, your grace. I'm just...tired. It was a long trip."

"Of course," Cloud said, focusing on the dance floor. "My apologizes," he added, frostily.

Then something in Tifa snapped, like a twig. "Am I not pleasing to your grace?" She asked, challenging him.

Cloud turned his attention back to the woman. For some reason the snip tone she had taken reminded him of Aeris, and her ability to make him feel stupid. So he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Other than the fact that your as interesting as a wet rag?"

Tifa felt her grip on the chair tighten, and she stared at him head on.

"It's not like I exactly want to be here, begging your pardon, your majesty."

The hit of sarcasm in her voice was not missed by Cloud. "Well I certainly didn't ask you to be here."

Tifa leaned away from him, crossing her arms before her. "Well, I'm glad we're on the same page."

Cloud did the same, mocking. "Yes. How very beneficial to us."

Tifa turned to say something to him, a beautiful retort rising to her lips, but she realized suddenly that the room had gone quiet. Tifa jumped as the king's voice boomed across the room.

"Of course, now that we've all been dancing, the happy couple must! Maestro!"

Tifa felt a swell of hatred towards the man, but hid it was a frosty smile as the orchestra broke into a waltz.

"Ridiculous," Cloud muttered, heard only by Tifa as he stood and held his hand down to her.

She smiled up at him, taking the hand. "At least we agree on one thing."

Cloud studied her closely. "Of course."

Cloud led her down the steps to the dance floor, and the crowd watched as the two began to dance, studying each other with what looked like passion and a strong connection never seen before to those who didn't know the two well.

Vincent rubbed his temples, and General Sephiroth glanced at him, muttering out of the corner of his mouth, "So she hates him too?"

"God help us."

Tifa stared at Cloud, a small smirk on her mouth. He mirrored it, showing his annoyance as he spun her in a circle.

As Tifa tucked herself inside of his chest Cloud muttered to her. "If we weren't getting married the first thing I would do when I became king would be to declare war on your country."

He dipped her back, and he couldn't help but feel slightly impressed as she bent back, her head nearly touching the floor, before snapping back up to him forcefully. Her knee somehow, mysteriously and accidentally of course, found it's way to the space between his legs. His mouth tightened as she smiled up at him sweetly.

"Of course, but you would be so embarrassed when I led my army into this beautiful castle and personally kicked your ass off your oversized thrown."

Cloud led her to the right. "Oh would you?"

"Of course," she said, spinning gracefully. "But only after you kissed my shoes and pledged your ever faithful allegiance to me."

The orchestra rose in volume, reaching the climax of the song, and Cloud spun Tifa several times. As she came back to his chest once again, Cloud's grip tightened on her. "At the very least you'll be an amusing wife."

Tifa stepped back as the song ended, curtsying to him. She rose slowly, looking at him. "Ah, but I thought I was only as interesting as a wet rag."

He bowed, taking her hand again as the applause rose. "Apparently you have no creativity. You'd be surprised by the uses a wet reg can have."

Tifa tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "You'll have to tell me some."

"Not now, my dear bride," Cloud said, turning to face towards his father. "There are games to play. Please, be kind to my dear father's heart."

"Of course. He actually has the power to do something with that army you claim to have."

Cloud glanced at her momentarily, incredulous. He was wrong. She was worse than Aeris.

He faced forward though, as his father came through the crowd, escorting his mother.

The King brought the queen forward, a pale, sickly looking woman. Her beauty was still there, and Tifa saw where Cloud got his eyes, though hers were a bit more cloudy, and unclear.

"My dear Tifa, I present to you your new mother."

Tifa winced slightly at the wording, and Cloud risked a brief glance as she released him, and curtsied to the queen.

She was getting tired of curtsying. "Your grace."

"Stand, darling." The queen held out both hands to her, and Tifa took them, feeling how cold they were. "I am so happy I will get to see my son married, and to such a beautiful woman."

She smiled, but it was obvious she was shaking from exertion.

Cloud opened his mouth, but Tifa beat him to it. "Your Grace, why don't we sit and talk? Leave the men to their world."

"A wonderful idea. She's smart, too Cloud. You're lucky."

Cloud bowed to his mother, feeling a tug in his heart. "You have no idea, mother."

Tifa tucked the queen's arm to her side, supporting her little weight easily. Cloud was hovering hesitantly, ready in case the queen should have a spell. But he was glad to see at least Tifa was strong, if she was anything positive. Which she wasn't. Cloud watched sourly as Tifa led his mother back to the thrones.

As his eyes went back to his father though, he felt his breath hitch. "What is he doing here, father?"

The crowd around them had started to dance again, and between the swirling skirts Cloud could see a man standing against a wall with brown hair wearing the livery of ShinRa.

But his father was already moving on, and Sephiroth was beside of him now. "Genesis will cause no trouble, sire. I already spoke to him."

Genesis was Cloud's cousin, an heir to the Strife throne after Cloud and Aeris, and a man of the court of ShinRa. Technically family, but also a dangerous enemy.

"He's merely here to witness the blessed event on behalf of King Rufus." Sephiroth added.

"Watch him," Cloud said, moving slowly away from Sephiroth.

"Of course, sire."

Cloud moved through the crowd, parting it easily. The ball was over for him, he was tired, physically and mentally.

xxx

When Tifa woke it was to pure confusion. For one thing, she remembered falling asleep in a new bed albeit but a comfortable one. She was laying on wood, and at first she thought she'd fallen off the bed, but then she remembered the floor was made of stone, and covered with a thick rug.

And while she hadn't been in the Strife Castle for long, she had a pretty good idea that it didn't rock, and it didn't have a leaky roof which would be the only account for the water splashing on her face.

There was low rumbles of voices somewhere above her, and she cracked an eye. Her mouth was gaged, and her hands tied behind her back, and laying beside of her Tifa recognized a lock of blonde hair.

Tifa rolled onto her back slowly, spotting a dawn sky above her, and two men sitting at the front of the boat. Tifa felt momentary panic, and then steadied her nerves. This wasn't the first time she'd been kidnaped and she doubted it was the last. Of course, if she got out of this and became the Queen of Strife then maybe she'd have more guards. It wasn't like Vincent didn't do his job, but there was only so much he could do.

Like have a specially made dagger holder for her nightgown.

At first Tifa moved slowly, inching her bound hands down to her thighs. That was one nice thing about being underestimated as a woman; they usually tied your hands in front of you. Tifa realized soon she didn't have to be that quiet, though, because of the rocking of the boat her slight movements were easily drowned out. Tifa kept her eyes on the two men as she reached down, slipping her hand beneath her night gown with some difficulty, and plucking the dagger from its holder. Cutting the rope was harder, because she had to keep glancing down to make sure she wasn't about to chop of a finger, and it only took a second for one of her captors to turn around. It was also hard to cut the ropes holding the dagger at a strange angle, but Vincent had made her practice, and she was pretty good at it.

She suppressed a sigh as the ropes came free, and shook them from her wrists. Standing was difficult; she knew she was on a boat, but she was still disoriented. There was a chance she had been drugged, but apparently not enough. Gripping the side of the boat tightly Tifa stood warily, watching the two men. One was sitting a little closer to her. She'd go for him first.

The dagger was a wonderful weapon, small but useful. Tifa gripped it tightly in her hand, and made a quick motion, stabbing down into the base of the man's neck. The man screamed, gurgling, trying to stand. Tifa used his weight, and the unsteadiness of the boat to rock him out over the edge. He splashed into the water, but Tifa was already focused on her next target. The second man was watching her with wild eyes, studying the bloody dagger in her hand.

"Now, princess...just calm down–

"Shut up!" Tifa took a menacing step forward, and the man twitched.

She should've seen it coming but that was never Tifa's luck. The man reached down, snatching up the oar and swung it in a wide, graceful arc. It connected with Tifa's side, and the dagger toppled out of her hand as she fell onto the side of the boat. She felt sick as it splashed, and the man took a step toward her, wielding his oar. Tifa thought it would be funny if she wasn't the one about to get beat in the face with that thing.

He swung the oar again, but she was ready this time and she caught the oar, bringing her hand back, and thrusting her palm into the thin shaft of the oar. It snapped, sending splinters through the air, and Tifa spun the broad end of the oar behind her back, gripping it tightly.

"Dammit...no wonder they wanted you dead."

Tifa scoffed, throwing the oar at the man's face.

He yelped. "Damn woman!"

She rocked forward onto one foot, prepared to fight the man, but instead he reached into his jacket, pulling out an object vaguely familiar to Tifa. It was a gun, a rather recent invention and no where near as reliable of aim (unless you were Vincent) as a bow and arrow at long distance, but at this close it wouldn't matter. The bullet would tear through her easily.

"Get down!" This was not the man in front of her.

"What?" Tifa asked the disembodied voice.

Then a foot collided with her chest and she toppled back over the side of the boat. She had enough time to see Cloud impressively wield a huge ball and chain shackled to his wrists, swinging it in a large circle and plowing the heavy ball into the man's chest.

That was, however, until she hit the water.

Tifa surfaced, gasping for breath as Cloud tried to steady the rocking boat. The man wasn't anywhere in sight.

"You asshole!"

Cloud was trying to slow the swinging bludgeon carefully. "Ungrateful woman...I just saved your life!"

"I'm in the river!" Tifa was turning red with anger, and embarrassment that he had to save her.

"Could be a dear wife and get the keys while you're down there?"

Tifa growled at him, before grabbing the body of the man she stabbed. "How do you know he has–

Then the boat rocked violently as the second man surfaced, pain written across his face, but adrenalin pumping in his veins. Tifa watched with horror as the boat tipped under his scrabbling weight, and Cloud toppled back, unbalanced by the weight of the ball and chain. The splash he made was unusually large.

"No!" Tifa yelled. Sure the guy was an asshole but she didn't want to be in this alone.

Tifa swam over to the man, punching him in the face. "The key!" She felt around his waste, finding the key buckled to his belt. She pulled at it, ripping it free and punched the man again. She took a deep breath, holding the key in her mouth, and plunged beneath the water.

It was dark under the water, but it was easy to follow the trail of bubbles Cloud was leaving. The water was deep, and Tifa felt her lungs straining against her hold, wanting air. But she pushed herself; she had to do this, she had to hold her breath, though every reflex in her body screamed at her to breathe.

She only found Cloud with luck, bumping into his foot. Of course he was upside down, she realized, the ball was attached to his wrists.

Tifa gripped his legs using them to crawl down his body to the ground. His eyes were wide as he watched her, and Tifa didn't bother to show him the key. She wrapped her legs around his chest and pulled the key out of her mouth with one hand, grabbing onto his arms with the other. The shackles each had a key hole, and her fingers were nearly numb with the cold water she could barely hold the key. When she finally got the first one unlocked, his body jerked violently towards the surface. For a frightening moment she thought he was unconscious already as she almost lost her grip on him, but his free arm came up around her, holding her to him so she could unlock the other shackle. Her nightgown kept billowing all around her in the water, getting in her way, and caught up with the chain. She ignored it though, freeing Cloud from his last shackle, and letting him go. Cloud let go of her swiftly, pushing off the ground. She didn't blame him; he'd been under longer than her.

She pushed off too, but suddenly jerked to a stop. She looked down, her nightgown twisted with the shackles. Tifa felt a fleeting moment of panic, grabbing onto her dress and tugging hard. She could feel her lungs on the verge of bursting. Tifa glanced up, searching for Cloud but she could only see darkness above her. Tifa tugged on her dress again, before trying to untangle it from the chain, but her fingers felt large and clumsy in their numbness.

Blackness was edging at the corners of her eyes, and Tifa could hear Vincent yelling in her ear. Not that Vincent ever really yelled but the lack of oxygen to her brain had Vincent calling her an idiot for getting killed by an unruly nightgown.

Then hands wrapped around her almost numb wrists. Tifa tried to turn her head, but she couldn't tell if she was; everything was black. Then there was a hand on her face, and lips to her, pushing air into her mouth.

Tifa felt life blast back into her limbs, and she became aware of Cloud's dim face in front of her's. Then Cloud disappeared, and with one, jealously swift movement, ripped the ends of her dress from the shackles.

He kept an arm wrapped around her waist as he pushed off the bottom of the river again. The ascent seemed to take forever to Tifa but they suddenly broke the surface, the sun watching them from the horizon.

Tifa gasped, doing all she could to keep breathing as Cloud hauled her to the boat. She gripped the edges and he pushed her up enough so she could climb in. He followed her, tugging himself up, and the boat rocked unsteady for a moment, but settled as his solid weight hit the bottom beside of her.

She gasped for breath, coughing harshly.

"...guy...where....is...." Cloud panted.

"Knocked out....punched...him..." She replied through heavy breaths. "Where'd...you...hit....?"

"Shoulder...."

Tifa slapped him weakly. "Why not..." she swallowed, slowly feeling her lungs returning back to normal. "His head?"

Cloud looked at her flatly. "Seriously? ...gun.... in his hand....priorities woman."

"They nearly killed you....your....priorities." She shivered, curling up on herself reflexively.

Cloud struggled onto his elbows, reaching up above them, to where Tifa couldn't see and didn't bother to look. He dragged a thick blanket down, wrapping it around the both of them, and tugged her close.

She resisted at first, and Cloud smiled. "Might as well...get used to it, honey..."

"I hate you," she muttered, settling against his chest.

"I'm glad you don't hate me enough to kill me."

"I just figured it'd be easier to bring you back than explain why you were dead and I wasn't."

"I guess I should be grateful of that."

"Yes. You should."

Xxx

When Tifa woke it was because the unmanned boat hit the banks of the River Nanaki. The river ran the length of the continent, and it was hard telling how far from the castle they had been taken. Cloud was still curled up against her side, and she didn't feel quite as numb, but she was tired, and bruised.

She sat up slowly, wary of being seen by just any random person. As it was, the banks were completely deserted and undomesticated. Tifa sighed, half of relief, and half of disappointment. Cloud stirred beside of her.

"Where are we?"

Tifa shrugged, tugging the sodden blanket up to her chest. "Hard telling. I don't recognize it. We have to be on the River Nanaki though."

Cloud bolted up straight at this looking at the banks of the river. "River Nanaki? Shit."

"What?" Tifa asked.

Cloud glanced at her, narrowing his eyes. "Obviously you didn't study much about your new country, did you?"

Tifa's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? I love to read, but reading about your country made me want to puke. You're lucky I even remembered your name."

Cloud smirked, but his face went serious again. "I'm pretty sure we aren't in our kingdom anymore."

"You're kingdom."

"My kingdom. We're in ShinRa territory now, and this is the worst place to be."

Tifa looked at him, realization dawning on her face. "ShinRa's probably behind this, right?"

"Yea," Cloud muttered, staring at the banks. "See those trees over there? Those don't grow on the banks of River Nanaki in the Strife Kingdom. We're well out of our safety zone."

"And if the Crown Prince of the Strife Kingdom, and the Princess of the Lockhart kingdom go missing in the key moment..."

Cloud looked at her, dead serious. "ShinRa's trying to start a war, but not involving him. He's trying to get us to destroy each other."

Tifa sighed. "The only reason I came here was to prevent a war. Lot of good that did us."

"We have to get to civilization."

Tifa shook her head sharply. "No. We have to get to Strife civilization, if even that. If we go to someone's house in ShinRa territory there's a chance we won't see the next day."

"Well we can't walk around with you in a nightgown."

"A torn nightgown."

Cloud rolled his eyes. "Let's see what our friendly captors left us." Cloud stood slowly, moving to the back of the boat, while Tifa crawled to the front.

"Got a bag of clothes..." Cloud called over his shoulder. "Some bread...cheese. Looks like they were planning to dump us in the river, and then keep on going into ShinRa."

"I got a bow, and a quiver. Oh...jackpot."

"What?"

"Money, probably for this job." Tifa held up a bulging bag of coins. "At least we can buy supplies. Horses. Food. Clothes."

"Well, you'll have to wear this for now," Cloud said, tossing her some pants.

She shrugged. "Can't be worse than this."

Xxx

It had taken three days of steady walking to find civilization, and even then it was a small village. Tifa was waiting on the outskirts of the village when Cloud returned with two horses and a bag of supplies.

She smirked; how ironic was it that they were surviving with the money that was paid to kill them?

Cloud handed her the bag.

"How much money do we have left?" She asked, digging through the bag before tearing into a loaf of bread.

"Share. Plenty, and we're lucky they were paid in ShinRa coins or else we'd be drawing more attention to ourselves."

"What is this?" she asked suddenly, pulling out a frilly cloth.

"A dress," Cloud said, indifferent.

Tifa's nose wrinkled. "I'm not wearing this."

Cloud looked at her, narrowing his eyes. "I'm sorry it's not up to your usual standards, my lady."

"No. I can't travel in this."

Cloud bit into an apple. "You traveled in much more than that, if I remember correctly."

"Of course you would," Tifa said sweetly. "You were late for my arrival, remember?" Her voice changed back to serious. "It isn't the pattern, though it is ugly, but this is going to be a long haul to the border. Over a week, and then some once we actually reach the border to get to the capital. We both decided it would be better to abandon the boat, and everything else that could lead back to those men. So the travel will be harder, and I will be much more comfortable in pants."

"What?" Cloud asked.

"Pants. The thing you are wearing. Surely you got more than one pair?"

"Yeah. For me."

"And one shall be for me."

"Have you even worn pants before?"

"Yes," Tifa said, pulling his spare pair out.

"But you're...a princess."

Tifa's eyes widened in mock surprise. "And you have a brain! Stay here. I'm going to change."

Cloud scowled at her back as she disappeared into the woods. He was moping silently over the fact that he had a cross-dresser as a fiancé when she came back from the woods. He had to admit, though grudgingly, the pants looked strangely...sexy on her. She had pulled them tight with a bit of cord around the waist band, and they hung baggy down her legs. It was strange seeing a woman wearing pants, but he could get used to it.

But there was one obvious thing.

"You know, people will ask questions if they see you like that...and there's no way...to hide...well..." Cloud made a vague gesture across his chest.

"That's what the cloak is for." She yanked the cloak around her neck. "And they're called breasts, Cloud, though I'm sure you're unfamiliar with them."

Cloud eyed her warily as he climbed onto his horse. "I don't know if I want a wife so brutally honest."

"Oh come on." Tifa leaned towards him as they rode beside of each other. "We were going to be married, anyways. You would've learned about breasts sooner or later."

"Good point. There's only one thing I ask of you: a male heir."

"So I can be as brutally honest as I want?"

"As long as I have a son."

Tifa shrugged. "Ok."

"I mean, if you want a daughter, that's fine, but a son we need."

Tifa stiffened. "We won't have a daughter."

"We won't?"

"No." She looked at him, serious. "I would never put her through this."

Cloud nodded, frowning. "I suppose kidnaping is pretty traumatic."

"Not that...I wouldn't want her sold off to the highest bidder."

"Why are you complaining? You're going to be married into one of the richest kingdoms."

Tifa glared at him. "Married? Is that what you call it? More like sold into slavery."

"I thought...we were on the same page..." Cloud said, genuinely confused.

Tifa shook her head. "Never mind," she muttered. "I'm going to ride a head, catch up with me later."

And Cloud watched as she galloped down the road, utterly confused.

Xxx

As they set up camp on the side of the road that night, it was full of tense, awkward movements. Cloud didn't know where to put his bed roll in relation to Tifa's, and he could still tell she was upset even though she had rode with him for the last four hours they'd been on the road. Neither of them had attempted much conversation, if any, and Cloud felt as if he was missing out on something.

As they sat there by the fire after eating, not quite ready to sleep, Cloud looked up at her suddenly.

"Am I that bad?"

Tifa glanced at him sharply. "I don't know," she stated simply. "I don't know you."

That sort of made things clearer, but he still couldn't see why she was so mad. "My mother was a treaty wife, and she's happy, if that makes you feel better. I mean, I'm sure she and my father didn't exchange insults the first time they danced....but..."

Tifa smirked, but her face turned grim again. "My mother was a treaty wife too."

"I know your father couldn't come, but what of your mother?"

Tifa stared in the fire, her eyes on another world completely. "My mother's been dead for seven years."

Cloud shut his mouth tightly, not knowing what to say.

Tifa broke the silence, though. She looked up at him, studying him truly for the first time. She studied his features, and his eyes. He was probably spoiled, but there was a hardness to his brow, and callouses all over his hands from sword fighting. There was a hairline scar just above his eyebrow, and his eyes seemed older than he was. "How many illegitimate children did your father have?"

Cloud looked at her sharply. "None." He wasn't insulted by the question; he knew it was common practice for men to take mistresses.

"Truly?" She asked, incredulous.

"Truly." He nodded.

For a moment she looked hopeful, but then her forehead crumpled and folded. "That doesn't mean he didn't have a mistress."

"True," Cloud conceded. "But that doesn't he did have one, either." Cloud tilted his head, studying her. "What is this about, really? Your mother...did she love your father?" Cloud surprised himself being so curious. Usually he kept to himself, kept quiet and said as little as possible, and never initiated conversation. But she was supposed to marry him, though after the kidnaping that was probably up in the air, but she was the only one around, and for some reason he felt like making an effort. Their initial meeting wasn't very pleasant, but she did save his life without hesitation. She definitely wouldn't have been his first pick, but he could've had worse.

Tifa hesitated. "My mother...was very..." She paused, searching for the right word. "Devoted. She was a few years older than my father, the only heir to the Lockhart throne, and after her father died, she was forced to marry to prevent a war. And she married my father. My father loved her in his own way, but...not the way you love a wife, and your queen. Almost like a beloved pet, if anything. She couldn't give him a male heir...she was rendered unusable after I was born, which broke my mother's heart because it destroyed my father's ego. It killed her slowly, and I watched it over the years, to young to be at court, but learning all the intertwining secrets, and scandals. My father took many mistresses over the years, and my mother would just smile, and he would pat her hand at supper, like his favorite old horse. It disgusted me."

Tifa glanced up at Cloud, finding him studying her intently. She blushed, surprised by her own openness to this man she barely knew. The man that was supposed to be her husband.

Cloud wanted to ask more questions, but hesitated; he was probably lucky she'd opened up this much. Still, it had explained a lot of her apprehensions about being a treaty wife. He suddenly couldn't blame her for being so bitter, and judging her father by what she said, he would have no problem selling Tifa off to the highest bidder, as she had said earlier. He was selling his daughter into the same fate he had given his wife, but worse was that she still hadn't said how her mother had died.

Tifa sighed. "All the same, I guess I'm Strife now."

"Nearly," Cloud said. "But you're really the only true Lockhart around."

Tifa smiled softly, tilting her head. "You're right. I am." Her head snapped up. "We should sleep."

Cloud merely nodded his head, and stretched out on his bed roll. The fire was a pleasant crackle as he stared up at the distant stars, pin pricks in the black, inky sky.

"Who broke the oar? You or our kidnaper?"

"Me."

Cloud smirked. "Impressive."

Tifa fought back the witty remark on her tongue; he really had no idea.

Instead she satisfied them both with a simple 'Thank you'.

Xxx

It had been nearly a week since Cloud had woken up in the bottom of a boat to his fiancé throwing half an oar at a man a lot like a brave person, and not at all like a spoiled princess.

Before them lay the border separating ShinRa from the Strife Kingdom. They had covered good ground, avoiding people as much as possible, even opting for skipping out of inns. ShinRa folk would easily recognize their strange accents, and that would cause more trouble than it was worth.

"We should wait till tonight," Tifa muttered. "So the patrol won't see us."

"I could just tell them who I am."

Tifa glared at him. "Half your kingdom probably thinks your dead, or that I kidnaped you. Who would believe that we are royalty right now? The only thing we have to prove who we are is our word."

He grimaced. She did have a good point. He had heard of his fair share of imposters of himself over the years.

"We could let the horses rest a little longer," he admitted grudgingly. "It'll take at least two weeks to reach the capital from here."

"How did we get so far down river so fast?" Tifa asked.

"It's possible we were out for longer than one night. We don't even know the date." In their protectiveness of their presence they hadn't even gotten news from any of the villages. "No one knows where we are, and it's hard telling what my father is thinking, and what your father is thinking."

Tifa narrowed her eyes. "What if it's bigger?"

Cloud glanced at her as she studied the border. "Hmm?"

"You said you thought it was your cousin, Genesis who put this all together. Well, if he's a member of Rufus's court, what if he put Genesis up to it, for the throne? If he could get rid of us, and cause a war. He isn't that for from the throne, is he?"

Cloud felt a momentary lurch of fear, but suppressed it. "No. He's too far...he'd have to get rid of all of my family..."

Tifa still didn't look satisfied. "True...but what if the people decide to overthrow the king and his family, because of the war? What if they did that and Genesis took the throne. Then he wouldn't have to get rid of Aeris and your father." Tifa looked at him, her eyes boring into his. "The people would do it for him."

Cloud snapped around, heading for the horses. "We can't wait."

"Cloud if we rush this we might get caught." Tifa chased after him.

But Cloud was already saddling up his horse. "You can wait."

"Cloud we can't separate-

"Maybe we can. We'd have less chance of both of us getting caught."

"Cloud." She grabbed his arm, and he stilled.

He turned to look at her, and she had changed a bit over this past week. Nothing like a near death experience to pull people together. A part of his mind knew she was speaking the truth; it would do no good if they got caught, especially by a ShinRa patrol. The other part of his mind knew that they couldn't wait. The disappearance of a Crown Prince and his fiancé didn't happen everyday, and their countries were already on the verge of war as it was.

He knew he could trust her, and he was pretty sure she would follow him, and not wait, but he felt something twist in his heart.

"Aeris, my mother...they...they might be killed. I have to."

Then she closed her eyes a moment, and nodded her head, squeezing his arm. "Ok. Let's go."

Cloud nodded, swinging up into the saddle. "One of us has to get through."

"We'll both get through," Tifa replied, settling into the saddle. She pulled the bow from her back, holding it in front of her, the quiver strapped to her back.

Cloud took the cue, loosening the sword he had purchased from the sheath, so it would be easier to draw.

Then they began a gallop, breaking out of the cover of the forest. The border was void of trees for the most part, making it easier for the patrols to spot people crossing. Technically everyone was supposed to go through a checkpoint, but neither Tifa or Cloud had any papers and didn't have the time or money to forge them properly.

Tifa watched the left, Cloud watching the right. At first Tifa thought maybe the worrying was for nothing, that they would make it across the border without incident. But then riders came from the forest behind them, on their left a hundred yards away.

"Cloud!"

Cloud turned his head, counting quickly. Fifteen riders.

"Something tells me those aren't ordinary patrol."

"Do you think they were waiting for us?" She shouted over the pounding hooves.

"Probably! Rufus probably would've had those men killed, and taken the money back so he couldn't be incriminated!"

"And when they didn't show up..." Tifa said grimly.

"They knew something was wrong." Cloud finished her sentence.

Tifa kept an eye on the riders following them, Cloud leading the way. She felt her heart jump into her throat.

"Cloud! Dodge!"

There were arrows in the air, lots of them, and Tifa spurred her horse sharply to the left, Cloud following her. The arrows clattered behind them harmlessly. Tifa turned in her saddle, pulling out three arrows as she twisted. Shooting arrows from a horse's back had always been one of her favorite things to practice; she appreciated a challenge. She had never thought it would come in handy.

She loosed all three arrows at once, unseating two men.

She thought they backed off a little for a moment and she allowed herself a tiny smile.

Cloud was focused on what was ahead. "We'll lose them in the trees!"

Cloud cut sharply back to the right, and Tifa followed him, the fringes of another forest rolling up to meet them. Tifa turned quickly losing three more arrows behind her before they disappeared into the foliage.

"Four of them are down!" She yelled, and Cloud nodded. He'd appreciate her skill after they got out of this.

For a moment it seemed as if taking to the trees, even if a little dense, was a good idea. Then there was suddenly people dropping from the trees.

Tifa shrieked.

One hit Cloud, knocking him from his horse, into Tifa's path. She jumped him, easily. But there was another one, waiting on the ground for her. The man reached up, taking the opportunity of her being unbalanced and grabbed her leg. She was violently ripped from the saddle, falling backwards. The breath was knocked from her for a dizzying second. The man that had pulled her off was above her, straddling her.

"Hello, princess."

Ambush ambush ambush her mind screamed. They'd probably been waiting for them all week. Maybe they had even been followed to the border, and if they killed them here, they could always be claimed as breaking the law.

But Tifa wasn't about to go down with a fight. With a sneer that would've made Cloud proud, she brought her leg up, kicking the man in the back of the head. As he fell forward, she punched him in the jaw, and he fell to the side, limp.

She spit on him as she stood, her eyes searching for Cloud as she brought her fingers up to her mouth and whistled shrilly. The horses, while not the best breed, were well trained. They'd come back if she kept whistling enough. Plus it would help her find Cloud. Her eyes searched the ground for her bow; she still had her quiver, and she could use the arrows if she had to, but she wanted the bow.

That was when she heard more hooves pounding the ground, and the sound of men grunting. Tifa rushed through the trees, nearly tripping over Cloud and a man wrestling on the ground. Tifa kicked the man swiftly in the side, knocking him off Cloud. She kept kicking him, waiting on Cloud to stand. Cloud stood slowly, whistling like she had a moment ago.

"We can't dwell here," she said, glancing at him.

"Oh really?"

Tifa glared at him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Now's not the time for sarcasm dearest." She kicked off the man laying on the ground, levering herself over Cloud's shoulder and straight into the man that was jumping out of the tree behind Cloud.

Cloud jerked, twisting sharply. "They were waiting for us."

Tifa nodded, punching the guy in the face.

"Where...?" Cloud started, pointing vaguely at her.

"Not the time," she repeated, grabbing his arm, and tugging him through the woods. The hooves were getting closer; she could only hope they were the right horses attached to them.

The familiar gray horse that was her's, and the brown one that was Cloud trotted into the clearing. Cloud made his way to them quickly, checking their legs and calming them, holding their reigns securely in one hand.

"I think they're alright–

Another horse galloped into the clearing, this one with one of the men that had been chasing them on its back. Tifa wasted no time, reaching up and hooking a hand around the saddle as he pass her. She jumped, kicking her feet into the side of his face, knocking him from the horse. At the same time, she pulled on the reigns stopping the horse, and dismounting.

"Geez, woman." Cloud was watching her.

She shrugged, but was interrupted as the man sprang to his feet. Cloud made a jerking motion forward but Tifa took a step forward, starting with a kick straight to his face. Chest, head, kick up with toes, down with heel, round house kick low, high, middle butterfly kick butterfly kick butterfly kick. So she was a little stressed, and a little mean right now, and felt like being a little excessive. The man's body flew backwards, hitting a tree. At least she had gotten her point across.

Cloud was watching her with a strange expression on her face, but she was more interested in the bow that was attached to the man's horse. She turned, grabbing the bow from the saddle.

Then metal clashed behind her head, and she turned sharply, stumbling against the horse. Cloud was in between her and another man, holding a sword so obviously intended for the back of her head. She had no idea how Cloud got beside of her so fast.

Then he moved, and she saw how. He was fast, faster than she thought possible, and she could immediately see the regret in the man's eyes for attacking Tifa. She was shocked by his gracefulness with the blade, spinning as fast as she could, if not faster...wielding his blade with a deadly precision. Tifa couldn't watch, though. More men were starting to pour into the clearing. She wasted no time, pulling her arrows free and losing them quickly. As Tifa buried an arrow in the last man's chest Cloud was stabbing the man he had been dueling.

Tifa ran to her horse, swinging up into the saddle quickly, Cloud following suit. And then they were galloping, fast, through the forest. North. Deeper into Strife territory, and hopefully away from more ambushes.

Xxx

It wasn't until they stopped late that night, many many miles from the border that Tifa realized Cloud had been wounded. Sure she was bruised, and a little sore, but Cloud was bleeding, from his chest.

And he hadn't said a thing. He was tougher than she had thought.

Tifa immediately berated him once the fire had started, and she could actually see the blood.

"Sit!"

Cloud flinched at her voice, to tired to argue. So he sat beside of the fire while Tifa dug in her packs. She had been the one that made him get the healing salve. She settled beside of him, facing his chest, their legs pointing in opposite directions.

She practically ripped the remains of his shirt off. The last thing she needed was the Crown Prince bleeding to death in some god forsaken forest.

Cloud watched her blearily with mild amusement at her fervor. She worked quickly, cleaning the would, and applying the salve. It wasn't as bad as she thought; the cut was pretty shallow, and had stopped bleeding a while ago, but her nerves were still shaken.

As she began to bandage the cut, wrapping the bandages around his torso, she actually looked at his skin. For a prince, it was a surprise for her. She saw many scars speckled across the expanse of his chest. She tried very hard to keep the heat from her cheeks...apparently Cloud worked out. A lot.

Still, her embarrassment was quickly replaced with concern when her finger brushed over a scar just above his heart. It looked like a sword had stabbed him, and trying to be cool about it, Tifa let her fingers brush across his back, opposite to the scar as she bandaged him. She felt her heart skip a beat when it ran over an identical scar. He had been run through, near his heart, if not straight through it. He was the Crown Prince. That didn't mean he was super human.

He shouldn't be alive.

"That was from a ShinRa raid," he murmured softly. Tifa flushed crimson at being caught, but Cloud's eyes were closed, and his face glowed orange in the flickering light of the fire.

"But..." Tifa knew ShinRa hadn't declared war with anyone in decades.

He opened his eyes slowly, heavy lidded. "Your country isn't the only one were on the verge of war with." He slid his eyes closed again. He was loath to admit it, but Tifa had a soft touch, and it was soothing, bringing sleep closer, faster.

"But you're a prince," she said, stating the obvious. She felt like a genius.

"And you're a princess, but I can guarantee you that Aeris wouldn't be caught dead plowing her foot into a man's skull."

Tifa smiled softly. "My brother made me learn how to fight."

Cloud's eyes opened again, and were smoldering in the light, studying her. "I thought you didn't have a brother."

Tifa sighed. "Technically, by all records I don't have a brother. Vincent is my half-brother."

"Ah." Cloud closed his eyes again.

Tifa finished bandaging his wound, but didn't back away. Instead she brushed her fingers over the scar again. "How did you survive?"

Cloud sighed, softly, leaning into her touch. "ShinRa raided our train. I had to protect my sister." He shrugged. "Luckily for me Aeris is a mage."

"A healer?" Tifa asked. "That must be convenient."

Cloud smirked. "You have no idea."

"Still," Tifa said, tracing the scar. "She must be very powerful to save you from this."

"She is very gifted. So are you." His eyes opened as he said this.

She smiled. "You impressed me. But there's more than just one scar here."

"You said it yourself; you'd lead your army to kick my ass off my throne. I led my army, to remind ShinRa where the border lies, and that it will always lie there."

"That was very brave of you, being the only male heir. It could've ended the line, and your brother-in-law would be next in line."

Cloud nodded. "True. But my father understands that a king should lead his people into battle."

The sat in silence for a moment longer, Cloud pressing into her right hand, and her left hand some how absent mindedly rubbing his head. He kept leaning over, falling towards her, and she kept letting him.

"We should sleep," she muttered, off handedly.

"Hmm..." And his head hit her lap, and she didn't protest. She blamed it on the fact that she felt bad for him, so many scars and near death situations, and the fact that she was tired, and he was tired. It was cold, too, so a little extra body heat never hurt.

She sighed, laying back, running her fingers through his hair, and stared at the stars.

They were going to get married anyways, whether she liked it or not. And a little affection probably would help out in the long run.

Xxx

They were exhausted, tired, and dirty over the next few days, still recovering from their close brush with being killed again, or kidnaped, or some other negative result. They saved most of their talks for beside the fire at night, and Tifa would check Cloud's bandages, and rub his head, and they would fall asleep with his head in her lap.

Fortunately Cloud was like Tifa in the fact that they did not want to acknowledge it to one another the next morning, and they were both, two very stressed people who just needed a bit of comfort.

Cloud was silently amazed that he had let his guard down so much, be he supposed that came from spending so much time with Tifa, and the fact that she had already saved his life, and actually knew how to fight. He was impressed with her archery skills, and her logic, not to mention her acrobatic fighting style that made him a little wary of the lithe princess.

That was an easy thing to forget about Tifa, he thought, as he rode beside of her. He glanced at her out of the corner of her eye; she had taken to pulling her hair back in a low pony tail, and the pants she wore were rough around the edges, and frayed. It's not like he had never seen a woman wear pants before, it's just...well, she was a princess, and the only princess stereotype he had to go on was his sister. Aeris would not be caught dead in pants, flipping through the air like a monkey, and shooting men off their horses with a bow and arrow. Sure, Aeris had her uses, and was more gritty than she came off, she'd healed plenty of wounds to have a level head in a tense situation, but it wasn't anything like Tifa. Tifa stayed cool during a fight, in fact she seemed to get the same thrill out of it as Cloud did. Not killing people, but just...fighting.

They camped early that night, deep in the woods. Cloud was recognizing the surrounding area now, confident on reaching the outskirts of the capital in a couple days. They'd been traveling for well over two weeks, and he and Tifa had formed something of a friendship. Maybe more than that, because he actually trusted her, and he trusted few people.

Cloud poked the fire with a stick, watching Tifa as she hemmed a rip in his last shirt. The other one had been destroyed by the sword wound he had gotten.

"Maybe we should head into a town tomorrow, get news. We could use some food."

"We should be wary, Cloud." Tifa looked up. "They'll be looking for us a lot more closely in our villages."

Cloud smirked. She had taken to calling the Strife Kingdom in 'ours' and 'we'. No longer was she devoutly against being associated with him, and his people. It was slightly reassuring.

Still, he had some apprehension, because they both knew things would change once they fell back into their positions as a prince, and princess. The fact was he actually liked Tifa, out here in the forest, camping. She matched him well, but that was in this environment. Sure the whole situation he and Tifa faced didn't help their beginning, he hadn't wanted to like her. But, he knew he would change once he started putting on embroidered doublets, and sitting around a privy council, speaking of politics and economics. He also figured Tifa would change, too. Out here, he realized how much a free spirit she had, but not in the bad way like he originally thought. Her free spirit had shown brightly whenever they had danced. Not to be mistaken, of course. Her sharp tongue was still there, just not so serious, and Cloud enjoyed her witty retorts.

Most people were so afraid of insulting him, always treading around him like they were on eggshells. It was refreshing for someone other than Aeris to challenge him, though originally he had cringed at the idea.

"Do you think they'll be angry with us?" He asked suddenly. "For not coming forward?"

Tifa concentrated on her stitching. "Initially...but I think they'll just be happy we're ok."

Cloud nodded his head, standing and meandering around the fire. Tifa kept her eyes on her work, trying to finish the patch before it got too dark, and all she would have is the light of the fire. Cloud rocked back on his heels, focusing at the stars starting to peek into existence. He couldn't believe their journey was almost over, that he had come so far with one person in such a short amount of time.

"I'll try and make you happy," he blurted out. He had the most precise ability to say something as awkward as possible. He had meant for that to come out more eloquently.

She snapped her head to look up at him, but then smiled mischievously. "And how would you do that?" She teased, not for a moment taking him serious.

But he squatted down beside of her, looking her in the eye. His voice was light, but his eyes were heavy. "Well first off, I won't take a mistress. It'll only be you."

That shocked her, but she recovered quickly, still trying to keep it as light as possible. The actual thought of marriage, and children with a man she had known for maybe three weeks still unsteadied her a bit. "Even if I can only give you a daughter?"

"I would be very happy with just a daughter." And with a twist in her heart she realized he was being serious, that he would play around with something like that. Cloud had a mean tongue, but he was serious, really. His eyes were older than his face, and his body was older than his years said. And any Crown Prince should not be happy with just a daughter, but she knew he would be, and she knew he was serious.

And that was what scared her the most.

"Really?" She asked, her playful tone gone.

"Yes. And she won't be a treaty wife."

Tifa smiled softly. "I don't think that would be so bad...as long as she liked him, and actually knew him."

"That sounds like a good idea. We don't want our daughter threatening war with her fiancé the night she meets him."

Tifa stuck her tongue out of him. "You're just jealous you didn't think of it first."

Cloud shrugged, falling back to sit down. He pulled the shirt, and needle from her hands, and tossed it on a pack.

"Hey!"

Cloud didn't let her speak though, he laid back, pulling her head on to his chest this time, and he stared at the stars now in full bloom.

"You're supposed to be an insensitive bastard, and I'm supposed to be a nagging witch."

"When have you ever done anything you're supposed to?" He asked.

"Point."

Xxx

When they arrived at the inn, Cloud was incredibly glad he had opted for a wide brimmed hat, and made Tifa pull the hood of her cloak up. There were missing posters of him up all over the walls, and even worse, there were wanted posters of Tifa.

Cloud acquired a room in the inn, and the two rushed upstairs, frightened by the posters.

As soon as the door shut Tifa turned to him. "Why do they want me?" She hissed.

"I don't know," he said. He had plucked one of the posters from the wall as inconspicuously as possible. He unfolded it now, reading the words. "You're wanted for...my kidnaping and presumed murder."

"Me? Me?!" She cried. Then she took a deep breath. "Shouldn't they be looking for me, too?"

Cloud stood for a moment, silent, then walked to the window in their room. The window faced the ocean, and he looked out it, spotting red sails on the horizon, far away.

"There's a whole fleet of Lockhart ships out there. What is going on?"

"They're fighting," Tifa said decisively, and Cloud glanced at her. "Think about it, especially if Genesis is planting seeds around. My father will blame your father, because it happened on his watch. But your father will blame my father, because this happened the night arrived...and knowing Vincent, as diplomatic as he is, he wouldn't wait around for any of your people. He would be on the hunt as soon as possible, and if he disappeared from the castle, a long with me and you, your father might assume that we kidnaped you for some unknown reason."

"Damn...we need to leave."

Tifa sighed. "We're less than a day's ride away...we might as well stay here, clean up tonight, but send messages. I can send a message to Vincent. If we travel any deeper into the capital we risk being recognized, and the last thing I want is to be arrested for kidnaping you."

"What if Vincent isn't there?"

"One of my ladies should be...she knows the code, too."

Cloud nodded. "I'll send a message to Sephiroth. He can send a royal guard here, and I can explain this whole mess. I should probably warn Aeris that she's in danger, too."

Tifa nodded. "Right. Well, let's get to it."

Xxx

Tifa felt infinitely better after she had bathed, and after the letter had been sent out. She was stretched out on the bed, feeling significantly more comfortable than she had in the past three weeks. The bed felt heavenly compared to the hard ground, and she was so happy there was no dirt on her blankets.

Cloud came in, carrying to steaming bowls. He passed one to her, and sat in a small chair by the window. The night was dark, and Tifa was finding it hard to get used to so many people again.

They ate their supper in silence, but a comfortable one. It was strange not having to worry about anyone chasing them or finding them. They figured it was safer to just wait it out in the room till tomorrow. They had told Vincent, and Sephiroth that they would meet them at the Ocean Fountain. It ran along the cliffs above the ocean, and was a popular, well populated place, harder for Genesis to try and form an ambush, if he even managed to catch wind of the meeting.

Tifa couldn't help but feel a little sick on her stomach at the prospect of all the things that could go wrong. There would be a lot of talking tomorrow, and a lot of explaining, but she figured if they had made it this far, they could make it through tomorrow. Cloud took her bowl from her, setting it on the window sill with his. He noticed the half eaten stew, and was mildly curious at her lack of appetite for their first fresh meal in three weeks.

He sat beside of her on the bed, and could see how tense her shoulders were.

"It does no good to worry now." She glanced at him, and he looked back at her. "Tonight is our last night of freedom... we don't have to be a prince, and a princess tonight. Enjoy it for what it is."

She blinked, glancing down, before reaching out and grabbing his hand. It was big, and warm in hers, and she relaxed a bit.

But it was hard to relax when someone is kissing you, and he was kissing her. And she kissed him back, and because, she told herself, she had to marry him anyways, even if she had hated him from the moment she saw him, though she couldn't really say that anymore with much conviction.

And they melted together, a night of freedom, the night where they didn't have to be Princess Tifa and Prince Cloud, but acted as if they were bound by those duties, and the marriage that lay before them.

Secretly, even though Cloud had said a daughter would be fine, she wouldn't mind if it were a son.

Xxx

Cloud held her hand as they wove through the crowds along the Ocean Fountain. The fountain was large, spraying water into the air, but they hung near the middle, away from the railing protecting them from a fall off the cliffs. The fleet of Tifa's father was significantly closer to the cliffs than yesterday.

Tifa spotted Vincent first. It was the tell tale red cloak of the Lockhart nation, and she rushed towards him. Vincent, despite the fact that Tifa was hooded and cloaked, knew it was her in a moment. He grasped her forearms tightly, checking to make sure she was unharmed. Cloud stood a step behind her, an eye on the crowd. A slight, familiar figure was bouncing beside of him.

Yuffie grinned, dressed for a fight. "I got the letter to Vince...we didn't know if you were being forced to write it of your own free will, so we're ready to kick ass if we have to."

"It's fine," Tifa said. "I'm fine. We're fine. We were kidnaped, but we got away. We should be dead, but we aren't. What is going on? Why do they suspect me?"

"It is my fault," Vincent said. "I rushed from the castle when I learned you were gone. I didn't know Cloud was missing too. So it appeared as if we had spirited him away. There is also a man, from ShinRa, who plants ideas in the court, plotting against us."

"Genesis?" Tifa asked.

Vincent nodded. "How do you know?"

"We suspected him," she said. "Look," she lowered her voice. "Even Cloud is here."

Cloud gave a brief nod to her brother, but he was watching a banner with the Strife coat of arms on it struggling to get out of a dark alleyway.

"Sephiroth is here," he whispered into her ear, and pointed to the banner. She nodded as he rushed off, pushing through the crowd.

It took Tifa a moment of talking to get Yuffie and Vincent to follow. As they crossed into the heavenly shade of the alley, Tifa noticed that Cloud was standing very still, and the banner, which she had figured would be in the hands of the royal guard was merely propped against the wall.

She then noticed the lone figure, and she took a quick step forward to greet Sephiroth.

Vincent's hand shot out, clamping down on her wrist, about the same time a blade thrust out of Cloud's back.

Tifa felt her heart skip a few beats as Cloud took a staggering step backwards towards her. She wrenched her hand free, holding her arms out to catch Cloud. His body was heavy, and his blood was spilling onto her as she lowered him slowly to the ground.

"Cloud...Cloud!" Tifa screamed, her voice echoing out of the alley. "Cloud! Cloud!"

His eyes were searching for her, he could hear her, but it was hard to see her in the dim alley way, and with the blackness of death crawling into his vision.

"Run..." he choked, his blood spilling from his mouth. It tasted bitter, and he tried to cling to the sweet taste of her, the taste he had last night that moments before still lingered on his lips. "Tifa..."

It was going black, and even her eyes were disappearing, behind a haze of certain death.

He couldn't hear her anymore.

Xxx

"Cloud! Cloud! Cloud no–no! Cloud!" Tifa was screaming frantically, people turning to watch the scene. They were trying to out scream her now, but she had to make sure he could hear her.

Vincent was tugging on her arm, but she wouldn't let go of him, she couldn't. But Vincent was strong, and he gave a mighty tug, Cloud's head slipping from her lap, and onto the dirty bricks of the alley way.

She kept screaming his name. Until she noticed the banner, grasped in the hands of a brown haired man.

He was yelling, over her, over the crowd. "Behold!" He stepped forward, thrusting the banner at her. "The woman that was to be our queen! She has slain our Crown Prince in his own streets! See his blood! See it stain her clothes and hands! She carries the sin of murder! My cousin is dead!"

The crowd roared, and her eyes widened. "No..." she whispered, but the crowd couldn't hear her, and wouldn't hear her. "That's not true."

Vincent was tugging her, shoving a blade into her hand still slick with Cloud's blood. He had pulled his revolver out, and was using it to part the crowd. Tifa was still in shock, Yuffie brandishing her conformer menacingly. Somehow they made it to the cliff edge, the crowd screaming, threatening their tiny bubble of protection. They had the cliff wall against their backs, and Vincent thrust Tifa back behind him and Yuffie. She stumbled against the railing, staring down into the deep blue abyss, and the white froth of the waves crashing against the cliffs. She was leaving hand prints on the yellow stone. Red hand prints. How had they made it this far just to fall.

The crowd was closing in, pressing in on Yuffie and Vincent. They had no reason to suffer. Tifa felt the edge of the railing, standing shakily up on to it. Cloud was dead. They thought she'd murdered him. Genesis would take the throne. ShinRa would destroy their country. Their countries, her's and Cloud's. Vincent and Yuffie would be killed as traitors.

Cloud was dead.

She faced the ocean.

Xxx

Warmth spread into Cloud's finger tips, and toes. It spread up his arms and legs, filling his chest. He gasped, his eyes opening. Green eyes stared at him, flanked with brown hair.

"Cloud! Oh thank you...oh I didn't think...." Aeris was crying, tears curling down her cheeks and hitting his face. "It was...worse...you almost...you were...and I don't know..."

Cloud sat up slowly. The last time he had found Aeris like this was when the ShinRa raid had attacked the royal train, and he had been ran through.

What had happened. There was blood everywhere, and for some reason he felt that he was forgetting something very, very important.

"It'll be ok," she sobbed, and a sturdy hand came behind his back.

Cloud glanced at his brother-in-law. Zack grinned, though it was a sad one. "Didn't know your fiancé was a psycho, bud."

"What?" Cloud asked.

"Don't worry, Genesis will get her back."

And then it all fell into place, spreading sickness into his body. He hadn't told Aeris Genesis was behind it. He'd just told her where he would be, and to watch out for anything suspicious. Genesis had stabbed him, and Tifa was taking the blame for it, just like the kidnaping.

"No," he whispered. "Tifa..."

"It's ok, Cloud...she won't bother you again," Aeris choked. Relief was evident on her face, but Cloud didn't have time to explain.

Cloud stood slowly, and Aeris gaped. "Sit down! You're still weak!"

Cloud braced himself against the wall, Zack standing quickly to help hold him up.

"Take it easy, man."

"It's wrong," he whispered. "That's wrong. Tifa...Tifa..." He stumbled out of the alley way, and Zack helped to part the people back. They were amazed, anyways, that he was alive, let alone walking, if only barely.

The crowd had gone silent, and Cloud could hear words spilling into his head, everything slowly coming back.

"...tell us, you murderer? What's your excuse, your plan?" Genesis cried.

Tifa was standing on the railing, facing them. "I have no plan. I am no murderer, not of Cloud. I have done nothing wrong," she replied calmly.

"Lies!" The crowd roared, but Genesis silenced them. Tifa and her guards were cornered. There was no escape. The prince was dead, and no one would believe these traitors. Genesis had made sure that the letter Cloud had written was altered to his specifications. Sephiroth would arrive to a dead prince, with enough time to arrest the murderous princess.

"I have done nothing wrong."

Genesis laughed. "Really? Because the blood on your shirt says differently."

"Fine," Tifa stated. "Promise me this. It's my fault. I didn't kill him, but it's my fault. His blood will stain my hands, but not these two. They are innocent, my mere servants, forced to protect me even though they despise me."

Vincent shot a look over his shoulder. "Tifa!"

"Silence!" She shouted, and even though the crowd thought her a murderer, she still commanded herself with a royal presence. Tifa pointed the blade at Genesis, giving him a smoldering look. "You will all be in hell when this monster takes the throne. Protect your princess, for surely she is the next one in line."

The crowd roared with obscenities but all Tifa heard was her brother yelling at her.

"Tifa! No!" He saw it coming; he knew her better than anyone.

Xxx

Cloud shoved Zack away from him violently, stumbling blindly through the crowd. People were screaming around him, screaming at the railing, and screaming at him. He was walking; he had been dead a minute ago.

Cloud held his chest; it was still sore, and he was short of breath, but there were more important things. Genesis was screaming, and there was Vincent, and the short girl, Tifa's lady in waiting. And there was Tifa, pointing a blade at Genesis, hatred in her eyes, her shirt stained with his blood. And Vincent was yelling at her, stepping towards her.

And her foot went back, and met no resistance. Nothing but air.

And Cloud screamed, roared.

And for a brief second, he couldn't be sure, her eyes passed over him.

But she must of thought him a ghost come to haunt her because she didn't flinch at all.

And the air caught her, the cliffs rising above her head as the crowd surged towards the railing. Cloud stumbled forward, pushing through all the incredulous faces.

But when he reached the railing all he could see was the deep blue abyss below, and the white froth of crashing waves against the cliff.

Xxx

Aeris was standing beside of him in the breeze way, quiet. Two weeks had passes since...well, since the cliffs claimed another victim. It hadn't taken the full two weeks to sort out the whole mess, and it had taken two weeks to find Genesis and arrest him before he could reach the border. It had also taken two weeks to convince his father that Vincent and Yuffie were not traitors, and that there would be no war with the Lockhart Kingdom.

Cloud felt so guilty, because he had been responsible for the end of the last true Lockhart. Aeris gripped his hand tightly as he closed his eyes.

She would whisper comforting words, but two weeks of comforting words hadn't taken away the pain, and shame was still thick in her voice for suspecting Tifa.

Aeris wasn't exactly sure of all the details that had happened in the four weeks that Tifa and Cloud had gone missing. He had given the essential details; the kidnaping, and the journey. The inn, the scene in the alleyway, but looking at her brother's face she could tell he was leaving out so much more.

Sephiroth was revamping his security, and spy network. He still hadn't found the leak that had allowed Genesis to get a hold of Cloud's letter.

Genesis would be questioned for another two weeks before executed as a traitor to the crown.

The King still had plans to pass the crown to his son soon, though, regardless of the fact that he had no queen. The King also had plans to declare war against ShinRa once evidence showed that the coins left over from Cloud and Tifa's journey could be proven to be the money paid to the kidnapers. They hoped to get that out of Genesis.

Cloud took this all in stride, never faltering. But Aeris had never seen him so empty, so quiet, and so distant.

Cloud shook his arm free from her hands, walking away with out a word, and Aeris felt her heart sink a little farther.

Xxx

Cloud was sitting in a plush chair in the darkness. His bed was before him, but he couldn't sleep, and there was a slight breeze coming in through the open windows.

There was a scraping noise, very soft but it stood out in Cloud's ears. He didn't move for a moment, but then stood quickly, wrapping his arm around the neck of the intruder, and pressing a small dagger into against their neck.

"The last time someone tried to kidnap I ended up in the bottom of a river. I can assure you your fate will be much worse than that."

Cloud was surprised when the intruder had the gall to speak.

"Oh? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have ended up back here without my help."

Cloud stiffened, his grip on the dagger slackening. "What?" He asked, through numb lips.

"I mean, I always knew you were ungrateful–

Cloud spun the body around in his arms, holding it out at arms length. "The window." It was too much too hope, but only three people knew what happened on that river, really. And they were all supposed to be dead.

The intruder complied, stepping into the moonlight of the window. She smiled. "You haven't been this cold to me in a while, Cloud."

Cloud couldn't move. His body was frozen. His jaw locked in place as he struggled to open it. "You...were...dead..."

Tifa smiled softly. "Vincent always has a back up plan. He had the ships moved closer to the cliffs in case something went wrong at the Ocean Fountain." She closed her eyes, amused. "Which obviously went very wrong."

"Two weeks," he croaked.

"I had to wait for things to die down. As it is, I still don't think things are back to normal yet–

Cloud stepped across the room quickly, gripping her forearms. "Why did you do that? Why did you jump?" He asked tightly.

Her eyes softened, and for the first time there was no amusement in her eyes or voice. "You were dead. Vincent and Yuffie would've been killed as traitors. No one would believe me. I had to try and save Vincent...he's my brother."

"I thought I killed you," Cloud said. "It was my fault."

She shook her head softly. "No, Cloud. It wasn't." But she smiled. "Well, we can finally get married. I figured I'd stand a better chance against your parents if you were with me to tell them I'm alive."

"Let's wait," he said, backing her up into the darkness.

Her forehead wrinkled he knew, even though he couldn't see her face anymore. "Why?"

Her legs bumped the bed, and he folded down on top of her. "Because. They need their rest. It's been a long couple weeks."

She smiled against his lips. "I'm a tough wife, Strife. I'll be the only one you can have."

"You're the only one I want."

A/N: That was long...LOL sorry for the long time update! I made up for a super drabble. Drabbles less than 100 words? You must be crazy. They must be atleast 14,000 long. LOVE YOU! PS There are probably mistakes in this...bare with me I'll fix them later

REQUESTS CLOSED as of now. There are still request I haven't added to the list, past 100, but that's all I'm doing for now. Once I get those done I'll finish the other requests, and maybe open requests back up.