Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: This is a Cloud and Tifa story, just with a dramatic twist due to his absence. They will be happy later. This is the first of the steady pace of updates.

Updated Chapter Changes: 4/6/19 & 7/26/20

-. Don't Think Twice .-

Chapter V

Early December, εγλ 0007

It had been almost a week since Cloud had almost walked out on AVALANCHE; he had butted heads one too many times with Barret on the first job he had been hired for. The gil wasn't worth it, but any chance to be around Tifa was. He'd been an idiot for how he had acted since she wanted him to stay. Even though he signed up for the next mission, he could tell she was worried about him booking it out of there. Every time he looked into her crimson eyes, they were filled with uncertainty.

He threw back the last of his scotch from where he sat at her bar, watching Tifa wipe down the rustic tables. The last customer had left for the evening half an hour ago, and the rest of AVALANCHE had gone downstairs to retire for the night; Cloud was the only other member awake and present. Every night for the last week he had waited up for her as she closed down the bar, watching over her as he nursed a drink she would serve him. Tifa was a martial arts apprentice of Master Zangan, he was confident she could beat down anyone that crossed her. Despite this, he couldn't help but want to make sure she was alright.

He twirled the glass along the bar top with his fingers to idle his time. He was sure he was good enough for her, so couldn't he just talk to her? Most of his time up here in the bar was quiet on his end. He shook his head as he got up to help flip the chairs on the tables.

As she always did, she smiled sweetly at him and thanked him. "Thanks Cloud."

He just made a small grunt in response, earning a giggle from her.

"What's so funny?" he asked. He was genuinely interested in what she found humorous about him.

"We have our own little routine. You drink scotch over there while I work and then help me close up shop. There isn't much I can predict about you, but I can in this," she tucked her hair back behind her ear as she finished wiping down the last table.

"Oh really?" He raised a pale eyebrow at her statement, his question coming out in a tease in return.

She made her way back behind the bar to drop off some glasses into the sink, not noticing his presence behind her. "Mmhmm. I like it."

That's when he leaned up with his left arm against the counter next to her. "And what do you like about it?" he tilted towards her. He could tell she was taken by surprise by how close he had gotten to her unannounced. She dropped the soap dish in the sink.

"Your presence...it's nice." Tifa was stammering while concentrating on the dishes, her cheeks turning pink.

He grabbed a towel next to her and got to work drying the glasses she finished washing. "Your presence is nice, too."

Her cheeks grew red, but they were now uplifted with a smile.


September 16th, εγλ 0009, 10:43 a.m.

The door to his office slammed violently behind him as he stalked back in. He needed a barrier between his rage and his wife. Tifa was his best friend, the love of his life whom he married, and she was choosing another man over him. Another man that meant more to her than anything they ever had.

Was she really in love with this new guy?

This morning had been a complete disaster from what he had originally intended based on Zack's advice. Cloud wanted to prove their marriage was worth fighting for and a chance to be a good husband to her. Instead, he had only revealed that he was quite the jackass to Tifa, nothing more. His insides had coiled furiously when she acknowledged she was happy without him, and had been for four months. Four months? And the kids knew him too…as her boyfriend. The fact irked him further. He didn't want to think about her with someone else.

Didn't their marriage mean anything at all to her?

Cloud collided back onto the mattress in an irritated and miserable state. He wasn't needed anymore, but he didn't want to get up and leave again after coming back from his original abandonment. Leaving again would be giving up, and he wouldn't do that to his family again. Even if it would seem impossible to live here with his wife dating someone else, he had to be there for the kids.

"So now it looks hopeless to you, right?"

Cloud didn't look up to see who his visitor was; he knew his deceased friend had returned. "Welcome back, Zack," he greeted dryly with a straight face.

"So, it may seem pretty serious now...but you have a lot to make up for. Cloud, start over on that promise you made her. If you ever have the chance to be there for her, don't think twice and just take it. Aerith sent me to tell you that," Zack conveyed. "Everything will be alright...eventually."

Lifting his upper body to lean back on his forearms, Cloud looked up at his friend who was sitting back on his desk like the previous night. How could he be there if she didn't even want him? Before he could speak to Zack, the telephone on his messy workstation began to ring, making his visitor vanish as if he was never really there to begin with. Quickly, the courier got up and picked up his business line.

"Strife Delivery Service," Cloud answered as he reached for a pen and paper.

"Cloud, its Reeve. I have a business proposition for you...could you make a trip out to my office?" the commissioner inquired.

This wasn't a typical delivery based on Reeve's tone of voice. "What's this about? Can't you tell me over the phone?"

"No, I'm afraid not. My staff requested this be as formal as possible."

Cloud paused. The last time he met up with a client for business it was Rufus warning him about the Remnants. Reeve was a friend and would alert him if the situation was necessary.

"This will be worth your while Cloud, I promise you that. Would you like to come out tomorrow? I can transfer you to my secretary to set up an appointment," Reeve continued to persuade, calm as ever.

Worth his while? Maybe it's a big payout for the delivery... "That's fine. See you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Cloud."


Early December, εγλ 0007

Closing time was his favorite time, as it not only provided an opportunity to be around Tifa, but he could see the uncertainty about him ease up in her eyes. The rest of AVALANCHE had been out procuring information for the next Mako Reactor hit for the past five nights, and Cloud chose to stay put at Seventh Heaven. He told Tifa he needed her there, and only wanted to be involved with the big missions the eco-terrorists partook in.

He just wasn't expecting to help with...babysitting. But here he was in Marlene's room finishing up a bedtime story; it was her favorite, Cinderella. Tifa asked him to do it when the little girl woke up and he didn't have the heart to tell her no. The bar was far too busy.

"Why does the prince take forever to find Cinderella? Doesn't he remember what she looked like from the ball?"

Closing the book, he placed it back on the shelf next to her nightstand. "I'm not sure. It's how the story goes."

"But he really likes her! You shouldn't take forever with a girl you like."

This was sounding far too familiar with his situation. "Are you ready to go to sleep?"

"Do you like Tifa?" the little girl asked.

Really, this was too close for him. She was only four years old! "Tifa is my friend, and it's way past your bedtime." He began to pull the covers up to prepare to tuck her in, but she pushed them back.

"But Cloud! If you take forever with Tifa she'll just kiss some other guy instead!"

Kiss? Tifa kissing someone else? "Goodnight Marlene."

Flicking off the light, he left the room after successfully tucking her in. What had gotten into her? She's four and was well-aware of her surroundings. She's four and giving him, a twenty-one-year-old male, a callout on his lack of a love life. He headed back to the bar while scratching the back his head. He didn't notice the place was completely empty or the bar was almost done closing up until Tifa spoke.

"I was beginning to think you'd never come back up. She got you to read a book, right?" his friend asked. She was sitting at the bar, waiting for him with two glasses on the counter. They began this tradition ever since he showed up, talking late into the night. Was it really this late already?

"Thanks for the warning," Cloud sarcastically replied before sitting down next to the barmaid.

Tifa laughed, pouring him some scotch that he missed out on from earlier. "Here. Something hard for ya."

"Thanks." He took a few sips before she poured herself a small share of rum.

"What was the book?"

"...Cinderella."

"Well, that's an easy one. What took so long?" Her tone was mocking him while she smiled teasingly. He could see the playful glint in her red gaze, showing pure amusement at his suffering.

Even with her warm eyes, he wavered about the reply when she asked that. He didn't really want to answer. "She's worried about someone kissing you."

A hearty laugh burst from her mouth. "Really? Someone kissing me?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed and embarrassed. "I'm not reading for her again."

"Oh, poor Cloud, it's not that bad!" She patted him on the shoulder, and continued to be entertained with his discomfort after handling the little girl.

"What's so funny, Teef?" He slightly turned in his seat to the woman that held his heart, his hands now resting on his knees.

"She doesn't need to worry about that. No one is going to kiss me!" Tifa proclaimed as her shoulders shook from the hilarity of the subject.

"Not yet."

Her beautiful laughter halted at his statement, her ruby eyes widened and her lips parted in awe. He was surprised at himself for what he just said to her, but he wanted her to stop laughing at him and also at the idea of 'someone' kissing her. She really didn't think she wasn't kissable, did she?

"...Cloud?" Her eyebrow perked up and her face, that was beginning to flush, appeared closer. Was he leaning in? She wasn't pulling away if he was. She seemed to be welcoming it. His lips on hers wasn't a dream but a huge possibility.

"Cloud, are you going to...kiss me?" She bit her pale lips while looking up at him through her lashes, her eyes steady with his.

"Maybe," he barely breathed out. He wasn't so sure himself, but she still sat across from him, waiting for him. Her hair smelled of lavender, calming him from his growing anxiety. But then he had a better idea, to make sure she wanted this just as bad as he did. Just before she closed her eyes, he could see those red orbs veiled with hope.

He gently placed his lips at the corner of her mouth, giving a small peck. It wasn't full contact with hers, but he still managed to taste the sweet raspberries and rum that mingled from her lips. He only lingered for a moment to signify this wasn't a kiss between friends, but a kiss for something more if she wanted it. He could hear her breath hitch as he pulled away from her soft skin, but her eyes eventually opened, revealing how glossy they were with excitement.

She was still so close as he hadn't retreated too far from her, anticipating her lips. He brought his hand up and tenderly brushed aside her chocolate strands behind her ear, giving her time. She smiled at him shyly while her hand slowly snaked its way towards the back of his neck. Tifa ran her fingers through his soft spiky locks before gently drawing him back to her. Temptation took over him when he saw her lips parted for the second time, capturing her mouth with his. Cloud shifted his hand across her collarbone, earning a shiver from the brunette, to cradle her shoulder. After brushing his lips a few times over hers, he angled his head to deepen the kiss, which Tifa readily accepted. He was kissing Tifa Lockhart, an experience that brought both gratification and terror to him. He was kissing Tifa Lockhart, and she was enjoying it.

Eventually, he pulled away but could still feel the sensation of their kiss. Her ruby eyes fluttered open and she let out the breath she had been holding in. Before she could say anything, the back door to Seventh Heaven opened, alerting the two that they were no longer alone. While his friend was distracted, he pecked her cheek briefly before he got up from the barstool.

"Goodnight, Tifa."


Author's Note Continued: Chapter updated on 4/6/19; additional thoughts and feelings from Cloud's POV. Scene with Reeve extended. Chapter updated again on 7/26/20; date/time stamp changes applied.