Title: Laundry Time

Author: FinalFlowers

Rating: M

Summary: Cloud and Tifa struggle to find some time alone together in their day to day life. Between work, kids, homework and household chores- adults just don't have it easy!

A/N: I just wanted to write these two being intimate. I've been writing a lot of angsty drama lately, so I decided to changed things around for a bit and write some… well, porn.

Happy reading!

LAUNDRY TIME

"We need to be alone." Cloud told Tifa sharply under his breath. "I'm beginning to feel like I took a vow of celibacy."

Tifa took a dish out of the sink, let it drip for a second, then handed it to Cloud. He took it and began drying. "You and me both, Hun. You and me both."

"No one's paying attention. Let's slip out."

Tifa looked through the kitchen to the bar. Her hired help could handle the small crowd; Marlene and Denzel were sitting at the special table set behind the bar doing their homework. His suggestion could work. Her and Cloud had been so busy lately. He had been on the road for the last three weeks, working- making deliveries, helping gather materials to help the building of Edge City, clearing some monsters away from the edges of town. Tifa had been busy at work as well- the holiday season had just ended, and now the spring season was around the corner. The kids had been involved with after school activities; Denzel had karate; Marlene had joined a theater club. It had just been impossible for Tifa and Cloud to have any time for themselves.

It had been two months since they last had been intimate.

"Garage?" Tifa asked, and Cloud nodded.

Quietly, Cloud put down the plate he was drying and Tifa slipped off her rubber gloves. They stepped back from the workstation and slowly made their way towards the back door. As soon as Tifa's hand had touched the doorknob, Marlene's voice could be heard through the kitchen.

"Cloooouuud!" the young girl called out as she opened the swinging door to the kitchen, her math book in her hand. "Can you help me with my division?"

Cloud sighed as Tifa lightly pressed her forehead on the door. "Sure, Mar. Let's go."

Cloud followed Marlene out to the bar. Tifa dejectedly pushed herself off the door and went back to the sink to finish the dishes.

()()()()()

Tifa fluffed her hair out; smoothed the dark blue nightie she was wearing down and looked at herself in the mirror. Cloud was in their bedroom, waiting for her, so she didn't want to wait too long- but she also wanted to make tonight special. A few days had past since their last attempt; Cloud had just come back home from a delivery, and now Tifa and him were going to enjoy each other.

Tifa put a light mist of perfume on her then stepped back from her bathroom sink. She smiled at herself- she looked great. Cloud was not going to be able to keep his hands off her.

It was time.

Tifa reached over to the bathroom door, silently slipped out into the hallway, and padded over to their bedroom door. She pushed the door open, still smiling, to see her boyfriend on the bed.

Fast asleep.

Tifa sighed. She gritted her teeth, went over, and gave him a hard poke on his chest. He snorted, muttered a curse, then rolled over and went right back to sleep.

Tifa sat down on the bed, defeated. She knew this might happen- he had been on the road for two days straight, and he had told the family over dinner about a behemoth he encountered. It was no surprise to her that he was exhausted. Truth be told, she was tired as well. It was payday for a lot of people, so her bar was filled all night.

So, she decided to call it a night, curled underneath the blanket and go to bed. She snuggled up to Cloud's back and fell asleep.

()()()()()()()()

The door to the garage banged open, the sound reverberating through the big area. Cloud slammed the door shut and stormed to the center of the space. In almost no time, Tifa had opened the door and slammed it shut herself.

"Don't you DARE walk away from me when I am talking to you!"

"Talking? You called that TALKING?" Cloud pointed at her. "That was you attacking me, even though we both know that I am right."

"In the right? You are in the right? I'm sorry. I'm the one home every single day. I am the one who deals with the children and their affairs EVERY DAY. So, when something needs to be decided, I am the one who decides." Tifa argued back.

Cloud cruelly laughed. "So, my opinion does not matter? Tifa, we are raising two children together. I need to be able to have a say."

"It's not even that big of a deal!" Tifa exclaimed. "Denzel wanted to join track. I paid the membership fees. I bought the uniform. I am going to be driving him back and forth to practice. Why should you care?"

"I care because… I care!" Cloud yelled. "I care because yes, it is a great thing that Denzel wants to do more things. And yes, I care because Tifa, we do NOT have the money. I already work more than I should, away a lot longer than I want to be, and I do it for this family! And now, when I am home from work, I can't seem to spend any time at all with my son. I rarely see Marlene now that the spring musical is coming up. I can't even see you!"

"Well, you are seeing my now, ya happy?!" Tifa sniped at him.

Cloud sighed. "You KNOW what I meant!" He turned from her and breathed in deep, trying to calm himself. He began pacing around, then heard Tifa begin to sniff behind him.

Cloud stopped pacing and leaned against his motorcycle, Fenrir. He looked at the ground, unable to watch Tifa as she began crying.

"Teef…" he began

"You called him your son."

Cloud gave a little start and looked up at his girlfriend. She was smiling at him. He nodded.

"Yeah… I guess I did."

Tifa wiped her eyes and walked towards Cloud. He held out one arm, inviting her to come in for a hug.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I made a big deal out of it."

"No, I… I'm sorry. You do have a say in what happens with the kids. I… I had just gotten use to doing it all."

Cloud hissed. He could feel his blood begin to boil again, but he kept his temper in check. It had been two years since the Geostigma incident, and he felt like he was still paying for it.

"Promise me that is the last time you do this. I can not keep getting punished for something that has happened so long ago. I'm not gone now to hide; I'm gone a lot so I can provide for you. For all of us."

Tifa nodded. "I promise. I didn't mean it like that… we both agreed it had to be like this most days, and… it's a lot to deal with. I need help."

"Well, then, I'll try to help more." Cloud sighed. "We can sit down with the budget, and maybe I can cut my hours a bit to be home more."

Tifa groaned this time. "It's gonna be hard, Cloud. Maybe… maybe I'll be the bad guy and tell Denzel he has to choose between karate or track."

"Nah. Don't do that. We'll figure it out. We always do." Cloud rubbed her back, feeling her relax a bit more. "We'll figure it out."

()()()()()()()

A week passed, and Cloud took a step back from work. No weekends, and only long day was going to be Wednesday. With the exception of a few ongoing contracts, Cloud was strictly local delivery only. Having him around the house more was a blessing to Tifa, as Cloud could help with the kids and the household chores more. For once, Tifa felt like she was catching up on everything.

Except for one thing. Everything Cloud was doing was driving her crazy. It was so insanely hot to watch as he pulled weeds out of their garden, with the muscles of his arms twitching with the action. It touched her watching him help the kids with their homework.

They still had not have had the chance to be alone.

Until now.

The kids were off doing their after-school projects; the bar was being managed by Tifa's hired help. Cloud was only hanging up pictures that Tifa had been begging him to do for a while. She looked over at him, smiled, and came up with an idea.

"Hey, Cloud. Come help me with laundry. I hate being in the basement alone."

Cloud nodded. "Yeah, alright. Let me finish up here." He said, not even looking at her. He placed the last nail he needed to the wall and hammered it in.

Tifa moved to the basement door. "I'll meet you down there."

Cloud continued with the project, making sure all the nails were in the stud beams before carefully hanging up the picture frames. When he was done, he stood back and looked at his handywork. He was proud of himself, it looked good. He decided that Tifa needed to see this and wondered where she went. He looked around him and noticed the basement door open.

"Oh, yeah." He said to himself and walked towards the basement.

The stairs creaked as he walked down them. The basement was small, holding boxes from their travels, decorations and the washer and dryer. It wasn't a cesspool by any means, but there was a lack of comfort down here, so Cloud was not surprised that Tifa did not like to be down here all by herself.

"Hey, Teef, come see what I did- "he stopped as he felt a small, soft material hit his face. "What the…" Cloud grabbed it as he tumbled down his front; held it out in front of him.

It was Tifa's underwear.

His eyes met her body as she lightly jumped up onto the washing machine, completely nude. She had opened herself up to him.

"Oh boy." Cloud said, then slowly made his way over to her, transfixed. "I'm glad I closed that basement door."

Tifa only laughed as she reached out, grabbed his arm and pulled him in closer. Cloud's lips crashed against hers, tasting her. Tifa had wrapped her arms around him, holding him close to her. She moaned and let Cloud take over.

His hands traveled down her bare back to cup her buttocks. He pulled her closer, rubbing his clothed body against her sensitive flesh. Cloud pulled his lips away from her and began traveling down the column of her throat, kissing her warm skin until he reached her full breasts. Tifa sighed in pleasure as Cloud had his fun with her.

Regretfully, he took his hands away, but only to undue the button on his pants. He let his pants fall to the ground and then stepped out of them. Tifa started pulling his shirt up and off him, then the two fell into each other again.

Their kisses grew more heated. Cloud shifted his lower body to align with hers. Tifa's legs went around his waist, holding him closer to her. With almost no thought, Cloud slipped into her, and nearly cried at the sweet contact.

"Oh, I missed you." He murmured into her ear and she gasped as he began moving.

Tifa grasped his hair in one hand and pulled his face towards her. Their moves were becoming frantic, their kisses becoming sloppy. It was like they were young teenagers in lust, afraid that at any moment, they could be caught.

"Cloud…" Tifa's breath hitched.

"Mmmm…" He answered into her neck. "Thanks for saying we should do laundry."

Tifa laughed. For long moments, there was only the sounds of their breathing and a gentle slap of skin on skin.

"Tiiifaaaa!"

Tifa gasped in fright. Right above their heads, they could hear the door open and close. Two sets of small feet began running through the house.

"Shit." Cloud cursed.

"Not now not now!" Tifa exclaimed, then quickly wrapped her body around Clouds. "God, I'm so close!"

Cloud pushed her more into the washing machine as he picked up his movements. It was hurried, it was not as romantic as they wished, but the job was done. They took a moment to gather their senses.

()()()()()()()()

Denzel and Marlene had torn through the house, looking for their guardians. When they could not find them, they decided to check the garage and the basement. Marlene took off for the garage; Denzel went to check the basement. He had so many things to tell Cloud- he learned a new form in karate, and he learned all about how when lizards get scared, they can pop off their tales and run.

So he opened the door and barreled down the steps.

"Cloud? Tifa?" the young boy called out.

He got down to the bottom, turned the corner, and found his parental figures. Tifa was putting dirty clothes in the washing machine, while Cloud was folding laundry. Denzel looked at them and shook his head.

"You two never do anything fun." He commented.

Cloud smiled. "Hey, kid."

"How was school?" Tifa asked, going about with their normal day.