A/N: Just because I'm bored and this is already written. As previously stated, this one's shorter than chapter 1, and will probably be around the usual length per chapter. Thanks to everyone who read chapter 1 (and is now reading chapter 2). I would really like any reviews. Just a HEY I READ IT or YOU GOT THIS FACT WRONG, would be enormously appreciated. And if anyone has any predictions or concerns that's awesome too. Not to be mean, but I probably won't update until I've gotten at least one (or a crazy amount of hits). It's really for encouragement/quality purposes only.

oh sorry:)

I'll stop babbling...

"I like him."

The room was silent. She could hear the echo of her own voice, and despaired at the thought that maybe other people outside could hear it too.

Yuffie's grin overpowered her. "Like who?"

Tifa sighed, "…Cloud. I like Cloud."

It was met with an impossible squeal and then a smug expression. "Ha, I knew it!"

Tifa glared, "…Well I knew about you and Vincent, didn't I?"

This shut the ninja up quickly. She fumbled around the bed and then placed her hands on her hips, "Well at least I was brave enough to admit it!"

"Like it made a difference…"

"Hmm?"

It wasn't like Tifa never thought about telling Yuffie or Barret or even Aerith at one time. But what difference could that make? She knew what they would have said. Yuffie and Barret would laugh, and Aerith, depending on the time, would have encouraged her or admit the same thing.

But none of that would tell her how Cloud felt. And that was the only thing she was waiting for. He may have had a small crush on her back in Nibelheim, but that was almost 10 years ago.

A lot has changed. Cloud was no longer the small boy, desperate to prove himself. He was a man, fragmented yet strong.

"Telling each other who we like doesn't make any difference." Tifa slumped. "They still don't like us."

"Hey, hey! What happened to your optimism, huh?" Yuffie's mind was bubbling. She edged her way closer to the older woman, "Who says they don't?"

Tifa huffed, "Cloud's as stoic as a rock…and Vincent thinks Lucrecia's his one and only." She saw Yuffie's smile wane, "…Sorry Yuffs."

But her cheerfulness was relentless. "Don't be. Not like she's coming back anytime soon, you know?" Yuffie walked over to Tifa's dresser and grabbed her brush. She stroked the bristles through her thin black hair, trying to make it shine as much as possible. "…You keep insisting that they both don't like us, but maybe it's not entirely hopeless."

Tifa didn't see how it couldn't be.

"Think about it." Yuffie squeezed a glob of hair gel into her pale hand. The liquid goo was swiped through her hair, giving it a glossy finish. "Maybe we just haven't been trying…"

Restraining her chuckle seemed impossible. "Haven't been trying?" I put back his memories, made him stay when he first came to Midgar… Maybe it wasn't exactly the most obvious way, but Tifa had at least hinted that she liked him. "I've tried."

Yuffie raised an eyebrow, "Have you? Like I know you've taken care of the chocobo head for years now, but boys are dense. You need to spell it out!"

It was awkward. Tifa was 4 years older than the ninja preaching next to her. At 22, she should have had some kind of inkling on how to tell a boy she likes them, but here she was getting lessons on how to flirt from a hormonal teenager.

Yuffie sensed her confusion. "Maybe an example can help. Like how Aerith acted."

Tifa's heart skipped a beat. Don't remind me.

"She told me once about her boyfriend Zack, and how nice he was and how much she missed him and blah, blah, blah." Yuffie smirked, at Tifa's relief. She wasn't going to talk about how Aerith, at times, threw herself at Cloud.

"So?"

"So…Aerith actually had a boyfriend."

She still didn't fully get Yuffie's point. "It's not like I can't get a boyfriend, Yuffie."

Surely the ninja knew that. Tifa's been hit on at the bar more times than she count. All she had to do was say yes.

"But never one you like…never Cloud. And let's face it, he's denser than most boys."

Tifa couldn't deny that. "What are you suggesting?"

The mischievous grin grew on Yuffie's face. Something told Tifa she was thinking about this for a while, just didn't know exactly how to present it. Yuffie flattened down her short shorts and straightened her top. "We make ourselves more…available."

Available? "Like how?"

Yuffie rolled her eyes, "Well you're easy." She ran towards Tifa's closet. "Where's that black skirt?" She found the prize with a gleam and threw it at Tifa's face. "I don't see why you stopped wearing this thing if you wanted Cloud's attention."

Tifa held up the mini skirt with some nostalgia. "Hard when you're raising two kids."

"But isn't it hard never getting laid? Seriously, Teefs, if I'm 22 and that hasn't happened yet, I'd be a lot more pissed than you are."

Tifa became disgruntled. "It's not the end of the world." She stood up and held the skirt up to her hips. Maybe this time without the suspenders…

Clothes were flying out of the closet, not making Yuffie's cut. Ever inch of carpet was being littered with an article of clothing. "Okay…so we don't want to make it too slutty. You do want a long term relationship, right? Though with Strife, maybe…"

"Yuffie?"

The ninja turned suddenly, "Yeah Teef?"

She rummaged through her own clothes and even took out her old make up bag from her dresser drawer. "Let me handle myself. What about you and Vincent?"

Yuffie breathed out heavily. "Now he's useless. I can't possibly show any more leg without Reno following me around every second. And it's not like I have your boobs to do anything with the top half."

Tifa crossed her arms, suddenly self conscious. "I don't really think Vincent would respond to that anyway."

"Probably." Yuffie dropped to the floor. "Guess I need your help with this one." She raised herself back up and suddenly gleamed. "You know what, Tifa? We may be able to help each other out."

The teenager grabbed Tifa's hand and dragged her back on the bed. The room became still with anxiety. "What if… I get the low down on Strife for you, and you find me little tid bits about Vincent?"

That could work. "You mean spy on them for each other?"

"Only less harmful! More like 'teach' each other. I could tell you what he's looking for in a girl, and you'd do the same! Just ignore all the science-esque details." She gave a low grunt. "That'll never happen."

"And when should we deliver this information to each other?" It was hard suppressing the excitement boiling in Tifa's chest. Could she really get Cloud to like her? Would he finally notice her that way again?

"Hmm…one week? That should be enough, and if it's not, well just plan for more."

Tifa got up from the bed, hurting her cheeks with her smile, "Sounds perfect, Yuffie! Thanks…I mean, I've liked Cloud for a while now."

Yuffie groaned, "Trust me, I know."

She ignored the statement, "It means a lot that you're helping me with this."

"Well not like you're getting off free. Vinnie will be a challenge for ya!" She began to follow Tifa out the door, but then quickly scooted back inside. "First change!" She pointed to the forgotten skirt and gave Tifa her more commanding of tones.

"Call me back in and I'll help with make up!" She left with a glee and closed the bedroom door behind her.