Ok. This is my first fanfic. I must say that I'm originally a Cloti fan, but after seeing some awesome Reno and Tifa fics, Reti is becoming one of my favotire couples.Thus, I was seemingly compelled to write one... Please read and review. Thanks!

Chapter 1

It's been six months since Geostigma has disappeared—six months since Cloud has come home. Everything was perfect for Tifa Lockhart. Barret had just taken Marlene and Denzel to North Coral so Tifa and Cloud could have some well-deserved alone time. She missed the children already, but she had to admit to herself that it was nice to have a little time alone. It wasn't often that she had time to do the things she wanted.

"Cloud." She whispered his name as she swept the floor of her bar Seventh Heaven. She could hardly believe the change to his personality since he defeated Sephiroth for the second time. He really seemed to be trying to focus on the family more, their family. No more running! The thought quickly flashed across her mind. A picture of Cloud appeared in her head—his spikey blond hair, bright blue eyes, well-muscled physique, soft lips… Yes, alone time with Cloud was definitely what she needed.

"Did you say something Tifa?" The waitress behind the counter piped up.

"Um, I was just wondering when we were getting in the shipment of wine I ordered last week."

"I thought it would be here today." The pretty waitress replied. "Would you like me to call and check with the company?"

"No thanks Cheryl." Tifa smiled. "I'll just have to be more patient." Tifa went back to her thoughts while the two women got the bar ready for business. Seventh Heaven was a popular bar in the town of Edge. It was a small, quaint bar with living quarters upstairs for Tifa, Cloud, and the kids. It wasn't much, but it was home. Home. Tifa thought. With Cloud here it finally feels like home.

"So, uh, Tifa…" Cheryl shyly stammered. Tifa looked up from her thoughts. "Do you think they will be here tonight?" she blushed.

Tifa knew exactly who she meant. They—they were the Turks. "It's a Friday night." Tifa smiled. "I wouldn't see why they wouldn't be." The Turks had made Seventh Heaven their new drinking ground. Every Friday and Saturday some, if not most, of the Turks would stroll in and settle in for a night of drinking. "Is there someone specific you were wondering about?" Tifa continued to smile, knowing full well which Turk Cheryl was hoping to see.

"Oh stop it!" Cheryl covered her face which had turned a nice dark shade of red. "You know…"

Tifa laughed out loud, throwing her head back. "You should talk to him Cheryl. He's really very nice although I didn't always think so. You're an attractive woman. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."

"I don't know Tifa. Rude is always so quiet. I wouldn't know what to talk about."

"I'm sure you'll think of something." Tifa replied. The truth was, Cheryl was never hesitant about talking to someone she found attractive before. She usually had to beat off the men with a stick. Her long blond hair, dark blue eyes, and petite figure drew men like bees to honey. "I've never seen you like this before."

"Like what?" A masculine voice interrupted their conversation. Tifa spun around to see Cloud leaning against the doorway of the entrance. His piercing blue eyes looked from one woman to the other. "Or am I not supposed to know?" He quipped.

"Cloud! When did you get back?" Tifa hurried over to the tall man and circled her arms around his neck. "I missed you and the kids were bummed they didn't have a chance to say good-bye before they left." Cheryl chose that moment to leave and give the couple some privacy.

Cloud wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her to him, lightly brushing her lips with his. "About ten minutes ago." He smiled at her. "I've got a surprise for you." He kissed her again.

"What is it?" She asked excitedly. Tifa's mind raced with endless possibilities. Flowers? A picnic? Dinner out? She could barely contain her excitement. This was a Cloud she could get used to.

"A vacation. Just the two of us. Costa del Sol." Cloud looked into her russet-colored eyes and stroked her long, soft brown hair which flowed down her back to her waist. "I've booked a room for a week." Tifa was astonished and could only stare back at Cloud with a thunderstruck look on her face.

"Uh, I… huh? Wha-?" she spluttered out. Not much left Tifa speechless.

"Does this mean no?" Cloud frowned, playfully.

"No it does not! Of course I want to go, but what about the bar… and your delivery service?"

"Hey Cheryl!" Cloud called from over Tifa's shoulder.

"Yeah?" Cheryl peeked out of the back.

"Do you think you could run the bar for a bit if we hired some temporary help for you?"

Cheryl looked from Tifa to Cloud and smirked. "You bet."

Cloud looked into Tifa's sparkling eyes. "My delivery service can take a hiatus if I want to take a break… any other concerns Miss Lockhart?" he teased.

"When do we go?" Tifa was ecstatic.

"It's not for a couple of weeks. Summer is a busy time for that area." He released her and turned to go back out. "I have a few more local deliveries to do, but I'll be back tonight to help you with the bar." And with that, he left back out the front door.

Tifa felt as if things couldn't get any better.

"Tifa! Here they come!" Cheryl squealed. It was 10:30. They were right on time. "Oh my god! Do I look ok? How's my hair? Am I wearing too much blush?" Cheryl ran around the counter of the bar to catch a glimpse of herself in the large mirror behind Tifa's work station.

Tifa laughed. She couldn't remember laughing so much or enjoying life as much as she was now. "Cheryl! Calm down! You look fabulous. Why don't you show them to their usual table?" She shooed Cheryl from behind the bar and looked up at the entrance to see a pair of aquamarine eyes staring in her direction. She waved at the owner of those piercing eyes and smiled warmly. She mouthed a 'Yo!' in his direction.

Reno caught Tifa's look and returned it with a lop-sided grin. She looked radiant tonight. She was practically glowing. He started toward the counter, but was stopped by Tifa's helper. "Something I can do for ya?" He asked her, irritated by the obstacle she presented.

"Um… Tifa wanted me to show you to your regular table...if that's ok with you two?" Cheryl replied over the loud music playing over the sound system. She looked shyly up at Rude. "Will there just be two of you tonight?" Rude nodded his head in affirmation. "O-ok. Follow me." She cleared a path to their usual table in the back. "Here you go." She watched as Reno and Rude took their seats. "Can I get you gentlemen the usual?"

"…" Rude was silent, but Reno grunted in reply. Cheryl hurried away to get their drinks.

"Damn." Reno swore. He looked over at Tifa again. Her dark hair cascading down her back, her eyes dancing with laughter—it quite took his breath away.

"Go talk to her." Rude looked at Reno. Reno was never one to shy away from the ladies.

"What do you mean?" He looked at his bald companion. Rude even wore his sunglasses inside and at night. He smirked. "We're here to enjoy some drinks." Reno quickly shot a look in Tifa's direction.

"Uh huh." Rude wasn't convinced. He knew Reno too well even if Reno couldn't admit the real reason he couldn't stop coming here. Cheryl came back with their drinks.

"Are you sure there's nothing more I can get you?" She was looking directly at Rude.

"We're good sweetheart." Reno replied for them, snickering inside at the crestfallen look on the waitress' face. Aw hell! He thought. I'll give the poor kid some hope. "But you should check back with Rude later. He didn't eat today. He'll probably be hungry after a few drinks."

"Ok!" Cheryl brightened at the suggestion and skipped off back to work.

"…" Rude slowly turned his head towards Reno with eyebrows raised.

"What?...Oh come on! That girl is so into you. Why don't you give her a try?"

"…"

"You'll see. Just be glad Elena isn't here tonight. She'd be telling that girl the most embarrassing stories about you she could think of." Reno laughed at his friend's discomfort. "Look at the way she flew back to Tifa." Reno looked at the bar again. He saw Tifa reaching up to get some liquor from a shelf. He let his eyes wonder over her sculpted body. She definitely had the body of a lean fighting machine and a rack that any man would love to get their hands on. Long legs and a nice round ass. It's too bad she's with that Cloud guy.

Close to closing time Tifa was finally able to break away from her patrons and come visit the Turks. Reno smiled and shoved a chair in her direction. "About time Lockhart."

"Hey Reno. Hi Rude. How's it going?" Tifa sat down in the chair next to Reno, a little exhausted.

"Well babe, I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away from me for too long." Reno let his eyes wonder over Tifa.

"Whatever." She smiled, used to Reno's bravado. She returned the once-over he gave her. Reno was a stunner to put it mildly. The girls love his wild spikey red hair and exceptionally good looks. He exuded sexiness. She looked at his turk uniform, his top buttons were undone as usual and his jacket unzipped. The goggles he wore were not only stylish, but kept most of his long locks out of his face. His red hair tapered into a long ponytail which no woman could resist. She suddenly pictured herself locked in a passionate embrace with the Turk and running her fingers through his hair. What is wrong with you?! She chastised herself. Why was it she always felt so drawn towards this man? The feelings were so powerful at times she felt overwhelmed by them. I'm supposed to be with Cloud… She reminded herself.

"Enjoying the view babe?" Reno teased and was pleased by the growing blush spreading across Tifa's face. "You know, I could give you a peek if there's something you'd like to check out…I show you, you show me…" His eyes looked hopeful and he leaned forward towards Tifa. "Come on Lockhart. You know you've been wanting to try something new and exciting and oh so satisfying..."

"In your dreams Turk!" Tifa laughed at Reno's apparent disappointment. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you had too much to drink." She leaned forward until she was mere inches from Reno's face and placed her hand on his. Reno felt his pulse quicken at her nearness. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

"Is that an invitation babe? Cause you shouldn't do that unless you mean it." His smoldering eyes locked onto hers and his hand was now playing with her fingers. Tifa smiled shyly at him and wondered why her stomach was doing flip-flops.

She turned to Rude. "Actually, I was wondering if you could do me a favor." She released Reno's hand regretfully and sat back in her seat. A slight frown creased Reno's face at her sudden withdrawal.

"…" Rude waited for her request.

"Could you walk Cheryl home tonight? Her brother usually stops in to pick her up, but he couldn't make it tonight." The Turk was silent for a minute, and Tifa thought he was going to turn her down.

"Sure."

"Thanks Rude. I'll go tell Cheryl." Tifa left the table to go tell Cheryl and issue the last call for the night. Ten minutes later the last of the customers were out of the bar and Cheryl was leaving with her Turk escort for the night. Reno had stayed behind and was helping Tifa close up the bar. "You know you don't have to do this Reno."

"I know babe. But I didn't want to ruin your setup with Rude and your little waitress."

"She has a name you know—Cheryl." She stopped wiping down her counter and watched Reno turn over the chairs and put them on the tables. "How did you know it was a setup?"

"Please Tif. Anybody could see that a mile away." He sat down on the seat in front of her. "How about joining me for a drink?"

"I don't know Reno. It's pretty late." She glanced at Reno, but she was no match for his cute puppy dog look. "Alright. I guess one drink couldn't hurt."

"That's my girl." Reno flashed his lop-sided grin at Tifa. "It's ok to relax you know."

At that moment there was a loud bang from the front door. Cloud came in, looking very wound up. He came around the bar and possessively put his arms around Tifa. "Your girl Turk?"

"It was just a figure of speech Cloud." Tifa said, trying to appease him.

"Relax Spikey. I was just helping your woman relax, ya know. Put a smile on her face." Reno was getting annoyed with Cloud. Just who does this guy think he is? He's certainly not worthy of someone like Tifa. He thinks because he's neglected her all these years he can waltz in and pretend he never hurt her? "Someone has to."

Cloud knocked the beer that Tifa had given Reno out of his hand, shattering it in pieces on the floor. "We're closed. You need to leave. Now. Just who do you think you are coming in here… like you know what's best for Tifa…"

Reno's temper got the better of him. "And you do Angst-boy?" Reno stood up and glared at Cloud. "Give me a break." Disgusted, he turned toward the door, but looked back at Tifa. "Out of respect for you, I'm gonna let his treatment of me slide. Nobody treats Reno of the Turks like that and gets away with it. No one!" And with that, he stormed out the front door. Tifa disengaged herself from Cloud and ran after Reno.

"Wait! This is just a misunderstanding." She stopped Reno outside the door. "Please don't be mad. Surely you can see how it must've looked to him when he came in."

"Please don't defend him Tifa. You always stick up for Angst-boy. Even with the way he's treated you. Fuck!" He looked into her eyes and felt himself calming down. "Just go back inside. Where you belong—with him."

Tifa reluctantly went inside. She had other problems now. Reno could hear their argument through the door.

"You've got it all wrong Cloud." Tifa was angry. "And why did you have to go and smash his drink like that? What is wrong with you?" She paused for a moment. "Reno is our friend." Another pause. "Fine… my friend." The rest of the conversation was muffled and Reno decided to head out.

He felt unsettled. His girl. What was getting into him? He honestly cared for Tifa. She's my friend right? I only want what's best for her…but he couldn't help the uneasy feeling he got when he thought of Cloud with Tifa. Tifa…She was the only woman who wouldn't swoon or throw herself at Reno. He had worked hard to establish their friendship. He didn't want to ruin it now. So why did he insist on picking fights with her boyfriend? He sighed, trying to clear his head of these troubling thoughts. At times like this, Reno fell back on his personal mantra. There were three things he loved to do—fight, fuck, and drink, and since he already did the first and last, he turned his attention to the second. Surely that new blond at the ShinRa Company who was giving him the eye this morning wouldn't mind getting to know her co-worker a little better…

Alright! Chapter 1 is done! Don't worry. There's a lot of Reti coming up. I promise!