Final Chapter

The chilly wind gently caressed her cheeks. It swiftly brushed past, tugging on her sable hair as the street lights bath the couple in a light orange glow. The streets were empty at such an hour, the whistling of the wind was the only sound heard besides their footsteps.

Tifa lifted her hands and brought them together. She gently rubbed them to keep herself warm. It was unusually cold for the night. She carefully hobbled along on her two feet, one which was injured the night before. It was nothing serious, she could still walk though there were occasional tendrils of pain that shot up her leg.

Beside her, Reno walked at her pace. Every time she took a step, so would he. Their steps matched each others. A left of hers, a left of his. There was no hurry. He looked ahead, keeping his hands in the pocket of his jeans. Out of the corner of his blue eyes, he made sure Tifa was alright and she wasn't faking her ability to walk. He had offered a piggy-back ride but she had silently refused with a shake of her head.

Tifa could have just gone home with Tristan but she didn't. She chose to walk home instead, simply stating that the weather was too good to be riding in a car instead. When she got up to leave, Reno said nothing but just followed her. Throughout the journey, no words were exchanged but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Each was contented to their own thoughts and feelings.

For Tifa, it was the feeling of calmness and security. Even if he wasn't touching her, she could feel his warmth from right beside her.

For Reno, it was the feeling of affirmation and hope. Even if she wasn't saying anything, he knows what she was thinking and it was alright for him to be walking next to her.

His took his hands out of his pockets and allowed them to hang by his sides.

She stopped rubbing her hands together and did the same.

Her left hand. His right hand. So close yet apart.

'What if…'

Tifa didn't need him to continue, she knew what he was trying to ask. However, she didn't say anything.

'What if I were to hold your hand. Hypothetically speaking. Would you, slap me?'

A chuckle escaped her lips.

He turned to look at her, as they continued walking.

'I doubt anyone would slap the person who tries to hold their hand.' She answered without looking at him. 'But of course, that's hypothetically speaking.'

'So hypothetically speaking, you wouldn't mind if I were to take your hand?'

'Hypothetically speaking, no.'

'But in reality…'

'Yes, I would probably slap you.' She answered with a deadpanned look.

Reno's face fell at the answer. He nodded and continued to look straight ahead.

…………………………………………

'Thanks for accompanying me home.'

Reno nodded. Still with the dejected look on his face.

'Are you okay?'

He nodded again.

'Right. I will see you around then.'

Just as she turned around to make her way to the main entrance which led to her apartment, a flash of lightning cast a sudden bright light across the dark skies. The sound of the thunder followed soon after.

At that very moment, Reno made up his mind. He quickly reached out to grab Tifa by the arm to stop her.

'Reno, what…'

She was silenced by the determined look on his face.

'I want to hold your hand.'

She stared at him in bewilderment. A light blush escaped to her cheeks at his words.

'Didn't you already did…a few times before?'

He shook his head, 'No I didn't. I mean I did. But that was just me holding your hand, you didn't hold mine. Your hand was in mine, but it's wasn't holding mine. And those times I held your hand, I had a reason to do so. To get you to look at me, to keep you from running away. I want to hold your hand,' He paused for a moment, looking a little embarrassed, 'without a reason to.'

Tifa blinked once at his last words. 'To hold my hand, without a reason to?'

Lightning flashed once more as the droplets of rain began to fall on them. It always seemed to rain around them.

'Reno, it's starting to rain. We'll talk about this tomorrow okay? You should get home.'

'No, not until you let me hold your hand and you…to hold mine.'

Tifa bit her lower lip as she watched the man in front of her getting soaked. The aqua blue orbs didn't falter under the rain but instead, seemed to emit a glow…something more than just a glow, a feeling. An emotion. It scared her for a moment to realize she was staring right into his eyes where his emotions seem to be kept. She could see the real Reno behind the cool-unbothered façade that he usually had. A different Reno from the one she saw during his Turk days.

All the sudden realizations made her wriggle out of his grasp as she turned away to retreat to the safety of her home.

'Tifa.' His voice was barely audible under the heavy patter of the rain. But she heard it all the same, somehow the sound of his voice calling her name was inadvertently stored in her mind. Tifa took a deep breath and looked back at him.

Reno had his left hand held out.

'You realize what this would mean don't you?' She asked.

Reno nodded once. By taking his hand, it would mean Tifa was whole-heartedly accepting Reno into her life. That she was admitting to her feelings. Her feelings for him.

That she, Tifa Lockheart, had fell in love with her former enemy.

She knew of his feelings. He made it clear to her, many times before, only it was her who ran away from it. But she knew she couldn't run away anymore. He could only take so much before he gives up on her. She didn't want him to give up, not at all.

Her fingers trembled lightly as her right hand reached out to his. Their fingers touched each other's lightly. The damp coldness of his from the rain gave a tingle to hers, but inside of her, in her heart, there was a sense of warmth. Her fingers gently made their way into his palm as Reno's fingers slowly enveloped hers. With a smooth motion, their fingers intertwined together.

She dared herself to look at him in the eye.

His blue orbs reflected the smile that was playing on his lips.

She smiled in return.

A/N: Completed! Okay, so I am really mean for leaving this hanging for so long but thank you very much to everyone who has been reading and waiting patiently for this. Everyone who had left thoughtful and sweet comments, thank YOU. This is the final chapter cause really, I didn't think there was a need to drag this on any longer. It's really short too, sorry about that, but I had a sudden moment of inspiration and I thought it would serve alright as the final chapter, so here it is. Once again, I am sorry for making you guys wait so long. Hopefully, this chapter serves a nice round-up to the story, even if it's short. It's really fluffy too, I know. Lol. Thanks again. Cheers!

Excuse me for any mistakes and grammatical errors, I am actually in the midst of my assignment but since I had this idea, I thought I should write it before I forget. So this was not exactly checked for errors or whatsoever just yet.