A/N: This came about after watching the scene in Final Fantasy: Advent Children where Cloud is walking into Aerith's Church, just before he finds Tifa among the flowers… Rowr… *Grins*

Summary: Tifa enjoys her favorite moment of the day. Despite all the pain and heartache of the past, she considers herself lucky to have the type of life that she does… and the view. The view is definitely worth it!

Jealousy, Take 6

By Ivy Tanté

Tifa Lockhart looked at the clock on the wall of 7th Heaven and smiled. Motioning for her part-time bartender –Ben- to take over, she sauntered to the end of the counter and waited for her favorite show of the day. Perhaps she shouldn't take such pleasure in it, but she also didn't see any reason to deny herself. Checking her phone, she saw there wasn't a text alerting her he was running behind so he would be right on time this afternoon.

Then the sound of boots on wood right outside the entrance came and she straightened up. In walked Cloud Strife. And it happened, just as it did every day she took the time to notice.

Every female in the room turned to look as the blonde swordsman quietly closed the door behind him and headed for the bar. Conversations faltered as most of them completely lost their train of thought, blushes bloomed as inappropriate daydreams flitted through their minds, and more than one patted her heart as that organ flirtatiously skipped a beat. It never failed to amuse her. Those glances -some shy, some hot, some down-right naughty- were repeated day after day.

And Cloud deserved them. Though he wasn't tall, his form was lean and strong and more than enough to catch the female eye. Wide shoulders and upper chest narrowed down to a slim waist and hips, with surprising long legs considering his height. He had muscled arms and strong hands with long and supple fingers - skilled fingers, she mentally added. But other women wouldn't know of that particular ability since that knowledge was hers alone.

The spiky, pale blonde hair accented and framed a face nearly angelic in appearance while the incredibly blue eyes with their green Mako taint gave pause. They were far older than they should have been; aged and sad and guarded. The slim nose, strong jaw and tempting lips rounded out his features and made him an attractive and appealing man. It was the aura that surrounded him that made the whole package so tantalizing. There was a strength that radiated from him; a sense of barely-controlled power that made his quiet demeanor all the more striking.

Smiling, she watched his progress as he crossed the room toward her. In his wake, people were staring - there were a few muted comments as her regulars told newcomers just who had walked into the bar. Eyes went wide as the name floated in the air. Cloud Strife, ex-SOLDIER, savior of the planet; the man that had beaten Sephiroth three times. The tales of his exploits were considered legend.

Then everything else was forgotten when he reached her. She could see he was tired from a long day of travel while he delivered packages and messages. His clothing was dusty from the drive through the canyons surrounding the ruins of Midgar and the town of Edge, and she could see the outline on his face where his goggles protected his eyes from the blowing grit. There was a cut -healed already, thanks to the Mako in his system- just below his collarbone that had bled and streaked his pale skin with red ribbons.

"Hard day, Cloud?" Tifa said softly, holding out her arms. She didn't care how filthy he might be, though he often resisted at first when he arrived home in so bedraggled a state.

The soft smile he gave her made her heart roll over in her chest. "Just long," he replied in his quiet manner. Then he embraced her, his arms wrapping her in his warmth. He smelled just a little sweaty from the heat, but his scent -storm and lightning- was stronger and filled her senses. Yes, she thought, burrowing into the lean, hard frame. This was what she needed, what she had longed for all day.

And peeking over his shoulder she could see what she privately called 'The Looks' from the women in the room. They ran a gamut of emotions; envy, jealousy, greed, hunger, desire, wistful longing, shy need. Those looks were all for the man hugging her so tenderly against him. But he was holding Tifa Lockhart, and she didn't take his affection for granted.

They had been through so much in the past, so many tragedies, so much loss and horror. The man in her arms had shattered more than once before finally knitting the pieces back together into something human and real. Tifa had played a major role in his recovery and felt pride over her support. But he had done the same for her, and the give and take of their relationship was an integral part of the life they now lived.

So now they could stand there in her bar, arms around each other, and just enjoy the closeness.

One of her regulars laughed out loud at a comment from a friend, then called out, "Hey, you two. Go upstairs, already!"

Laughter broke out and filled the room as Cloud turned around to say in his quiet way, "Not finished yet, so quit looking if it bothers you."

More cat-calls sounded as Tifa found herself blushing. Cloud did have a wicked sense of humor at times, and generally she wasn't prepared when it popped up unexpectedly. "Cloud," she protested softly.

When his attention returned to her, there was a fire in his eyes that knocked the breath right out of her. As innocent as he looked sometimes, there was a side to him capable of turning her knees to water and her brain to mush. "Want to go upstairs, Tifa?" he murmured, leaning down enough to tease the skin just under her ear with a gentle nip that made her shudder.

Darn the man! He knew all too well just what turned her on, he just didn't usually display it so publicly. "Cloud!" her voice was a bit louder than she intended and caused even more ruckus in the bar.

"Sorry," he apologized, and meant it. Humor was one thing, but he wasn't the type who enjoyed embarrassing her. Looking back toward the tables, he gave them a grin and offered, "Got a little carried away, folks. Sorry about that."

"Nothing to be sorry for, mister," called one of the patrons from near the door. "I'd be doing a lot more than just getting carried away, was I you." There was admiration in the man's voice and more than a bit of gentle envy in his eyes.

The room erupted again. And it made her laugh as Cloud blushed this time, raising one hand to rub at the back of his neck as he released her completely. Giving her a swift kiss on the cheek, he retreated toward the stairwell leading to the upper floors without a backwards glance. But the pink tips of his ears gave evidence of his embarrassment.

Yes, Tifa thought as she watched him dash out of sight. She was fortunate to have Cloud in her life. But he was fortunate to have her in his, as well…