As soon as they got in the door Cloud spoke up.

"Aerith, could I speak to Tifa alone?"

"Yes. I need to be alone to think." Aerith replied.

Tifa stood there. She had the same blank look she had been wearing since Rufus announced his terms. Cloud knew she wasn't taking this well.

"Tif…?"

She didn't respond. Cloud walked in front of her until he was only a foot away. He tried again.

"Tif?"

No response.

He decided to try a different tactic. He leaned in to kiss her.

"Cloud what are you doing?!" Tifa exclaimed.

Well, that worked.

"I was trying to get you out of your daze."

"Well, it worked. What do you want?" She demanded.

"What am I going to do Tifa?"

"Well, I thought that was obvious."

"I don't want to be with Aerith."

"You don't?"

"I mean, I don't want her to die. But I don't want to help her conceive either."

"I don't think you have a choice Cloud." Tifa replied stoically.

"I don't want to be with her."

"What do you want Cloud? You brought her back didn't you?!"

It was at that moment that Cloud realized he had hurt Tifa. He had hurt her deeply. She was the last person on this planet that he wanted to hurt. All he could think was that he wanted to take her pain away. In a swift motion he wrapped his arm around Tifa and kissed her hard.

What…? Was all Tifa had a chance to think.

This time it was a real kiss. At first Tifa resisted, but not for long. Soon it was a joint effort. The kiss was passionate. Tifa's hands wandered along Cloud's shoulders and back while his hands ran through her hair. It seemed to last an eternity. But when it was over it seemed to have last a fraction of a second.

When they parted, they didn't go far. They could still feel each other's breath. Neither spoke at first. Neither wanted to ruin the moment. Cloud spoke first.

"I want you."

Tifa was stunned. She had never imagined that Cloud wanted her too. She always thought she was second to Aerith. Aerith was the perfect flower girl. She was older, kinder, and just perfect. Tifa didn't even think she was competition. She had loved Cloud so long that she didn't even remember what it felt like to not love Cloud.

"I want you, too." Tifa whispered into Cloud's ear.

He couldn't believe it. He never thought Tifa had ever wanted him. He had known her for so long he thought that if she had liked him she would have told him. Apparently not. It didn't matter anymore. As long as they knew they both wanted each other now.

Cloud leaned in and gave Tifa another kiss. Just a short one. Nothing like the last. He exhaled and took a step back.

"Now what are we going to do about Aerith?"

"I don't know Cloud. What choice do we have?"

"I know. I know."

"It's really up to her anyways, right?"

"Knowing Aerith she isn't going to want to risk anyone else. She will probably choose death over having a child."

"I'll talk to her Cloud. I'll try to convince her."

She leaned in to kiss Cloud, feeling foolish. She would have to get use to this. Cloud met her halfway. They shared a kiss somewhere in between their first and their last. Then Tifa went up the stairs to talk to Aerith.

Tifa knocked on the door.

"Aerith? It's Tifa. Can I come in?"

"Yes, come in."

Tifa walked in to find Aerith sitting on the bed. She looked very tranquil despite the circumstances.

"Aerith, I want to let you know that Cloud and I would like you to try and stay alive."

"I know Tifa. But, I don't want to risk anyone else."

"We know you don't. But we just got you back. We don't want to lose you."

"Tifa. I was always there. You never lost me. I was all around you."

"I know, Aerith, but it's still so difficult."

"I know. I was watching. I wanted to help everyone, but I was powerless."

"So if you don't want to see that again you are going to have to make a difficult decision."

"I know. I just… who would the father be anyways?"

Tifa swallowed hard. She knew the answer to this question and she didn't like it.

"Cloud, obviously."

"Obviously… hmm… I don't know what he thinks about that."

"He would do it. He would do it for you, Aerith."

"Yes, I think he would. He might regret it though."

Tifa suppose that was true. Especially given her new knowledge of Cloud's feelings. She still felt like she was walking on clouds, but each word out of Aerith's mouth brought her closer to the ground.

"Not if it meant saving you he wouldn't." Tifa decided.

"I'll think about it. I just need some time alone."

"Okay, we'll be downstairs."

Tifa left the room, shutting the door behind her. Cloud was pacing downstairs. He always did that when he was thinking about something difficult.

"Cloud? I talked to her. She's going to think about it."

"Well that is better than nothing. I am not sure I can do this Tifa."

"If it means saving her I know you can."

"Yes, if it means saving her I probably could." Cloud agreed.

What a predicament they were in. Finally they had let each other know what they felt right before Cloud may have to sleep with Aerith. Fate was not kind.

END OF CHAPTER XI