Warning - This chapter contains mildly mature themes - Thank you

"This is stupid." Cloud muttered to himself after half an hour had passed.

Tifa had simply wandered off with Vincent, no questions asked. If only he had that much influence over her…maybe this task wouldn't be so hard? He shook his head at the thought. She gave him more attention than any other member of the team, so who was he to complain if she spared a few moments with the loner of the group?

Well, he was one very paranoid fighter, when these 'moments' turned into almost an hour of time.

Sighing in defeat, he was about to retire to his room when he heard a subtle sound amongst all the noise. His head tilted slightly as he tried to follow the approaching sounds, but by the time he'd figured out that they were footsteps, a voice signalled the person had already arrived.

"Well I was going to offer you one of my flowers but, well, it seems you're doing alright for them yourself."

Cloud looked up and blinked dumbly at Tifa. His blue eyes widened ever so slightly, his lips parting as he took in the sight of her. The black dress she had been given wasn't made of any rich fabric, but was simply woven with care. It looked smooth and well made, and he couldn't help but swallow hard when he saw how well it fitted her. Only when she bit her lip out of shy awkwardness did Cloud register her words at last.

"What?"

Tifa giggled at how long it took him to form such a small response. With a delicate finger raised, she pointed at his head. His hand went up immediately and it dawned on him when he felt the wreath of blue flowers sitting there. Tensing with embarrassment, he made a move to pull them off of him, having completely forgotten them, but Tifa's hand grabbed his wrist.

Their eyes met again.

"Oh no you don't Cloud Strife, you're going to sit there and wear them. It's more fun now you know you're wearing them…" Her eyes danced with life as a smile lit up her features in the firelight and she made a move to sit beside him. Finally letting go of Cloud's wrist, Tifa turned to him slightly and plucked one of the purple flowers from the ring that hung around her neck and down onto her chest. Pausing for a moment, she fixed it carefully in her hair, just above her left ear and then handed the rest of her flowers to a passing girl.

All the while Cloud watched her with interest. The simple movements she made like wrinkling her nose and licking her upper lip when she concentrated …it was these things he always took care to notice. Unknown to him, a softness grew in his eyes and as always, Tifa spotted it.

"What?" She asked with a small smirk.

"Nothing…"

Tifa looked doubtful. "Hmm…fine. Well could you at least tell me why you've been sitting here all night by yourself?" She nudged him lightly on the arm and leaned closer for a second. "Hiding from all the dancing girls?" She whispered knowingly with a wink.

'Don't do that…'

Cloud thought to himself, swallowing a lump in his throat until she finally leaned back to give them a little more breathing space. She really had no clue of the effect she had on him just by being close.

Shifting her bare legs slightly, Tifa curled them underneath her and leaned to the right, her palm pressed flat on the ground so she could support herself. Blowing loose hair out of her eyes, she sighed.

It looked like she was waiting for something…

Cloud could have hit himself -

"Oh yeah, uh…I mean no, I wasn't. I'm not. I just…" His voice died as soon as Tifa caught his eyes with her own gaze. It was just a simple look, one she had given many times before when she was attentive. But the mirth in her eyes, and that dress, not to mention her carefree relaxed attitude tonight - it just wasn't helping Cloud look all that mature when he ended up wordlessly gawping at her.

"Cloud…?"

He gulped. "Uh, yeah?"

"Are you ok?"

"No." 'What? Dammit!'

Instantly, Tifa's face filled with worry and she moved closer to look at him with concern. Reaching her hand out she rubbed his arm gently. "Cloud what's wrong?"

'Please don't do that…'

"No Tifa, I'm fine, honest. I thought you meant was I ok with all the dancers being everywhere, and all the people bothering me - which I'm not. I'm ok. I just wanted some time alone."

Her eyes lowered and she let go of him, sitting back. "Oh…then I should leave you to it. I should be going to my room anyway…"

'No! I didn't mean you!'

Without thinking, Cloud reached out and clasped her hand in his to stop her leaving. Turning back to him with a bewildered look on her face, Tifa stopped.

"Tifa I…" Cloud swallowed and tried his hardest to form intelligent words while looking at her. "I didn't mean you." He answered honestly.

Tifa seemed to mull this over and nodded eventually, though still not certain - Cloud could tell by the doubtful smile she gave him. But feeling assured she would stay, Cloud let go slowly and set his elbows on his raised knees once more.

Moments of silence passed comfortably between the pair, as always. But chancing a look away from the fire, Cloud spotted Tifa staring at him. His head turned to face her in confusion.

She didn't budge. Her brown eyes were focussed on his hair, a small playful smile on her face, as she propped her chin up in her palm.

He didn't even have to ask what it was this time.

Sighing with frustration, Cloud yanked the flowers off of his head before Tifa could stop him. Shoving them beside her, he looked forward once more, his eyebrows knitted together. Tifa just laughed at him and tried coaxing the flowers back into his hands, but he kept shrugging them away every time.

Tifa only found this more entertaining because of the pout on his face.

"Aw…come on Cloud, I was just looking! I wasn't saying anything!"

"…"

"Cloud! Please?"

The warrior simply glared forwards in annoyance, trying his best to make himself the epitome of masculinity, but Tifa's head slowly crept into his view as she leaned in to look up at him. His hard eyes faltered as he glanced at her. Those big brown eyes were looking straight up at him and he was having a hard time ignoring them.

"I'm sorry…I won't mention it again…" Her voice said. "Forgive me…?" She looked far too adorable to ignore anymore and Cloud knew it. Trying to act nonchalant however, Cloud nodded curtly and looked away.

But Tifa was in far too much of a good mood to let him off easily. Taking delight in her small victory, she pinched his cheek and shook his face from side to side a couple of times before letting go.

"Aw thanks Cloud. See? You're nice really…" Tifa claimed with a giggle.

Looking as hard faced as ever, it was impossible for Tifa to detect the laugh Cloud was hiding behind his façade. She just uplifted him with all of her funny quirks, but he was still too proud to show his lighter side. Even to her.

For the moment anyway.

More time lazily passed by in front of the flickering flames, and Cloud eventually noticed Tifa hadn't said anything for some time. Glancing casually her way, his face fell when he couldn't spot her. Turning around to face her side, Cloud looked at the empty space in confusion and shock.

"Tifa?" He called.

But no sooner had he started to panic with the feeling of loss, she popped into his viewpoint once again. His thumping heart settled immediately as he caught her in his sight - but it started up again just as quickly.

She must have left while he was being grumpy and he hadn't noticed, but now she was walking toward him in a way that had his full attention. Her eyes were trained on him as she moved, bare legs moving gracefully with each deliberate step. Her long hair hung loosely about her, framing her face and smooth shoulders in a way he rarely saw. And for some reason, he recognised the certain way in which she approached him. He just couldn't pinpoint why…

Then all of a sudden it hit him -

On the Highwind. In the dream-like state Cloud had slipped into with Tifa, he saw a seductive side of her he never knew existed -and here it was, plain as day.

And she was getting closer.

Cloud didn't know what to do. His body froze stubbornly, not allowing him to scurry away or back up against another wall. He just sat there watching her, eyes locked. He gulped in air to try and sustain his aching lungs but air still seemed to rush from his mouth in exasperation.

Tifa had developed a whole new attraction to Cloud tonight. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that the trials and fights were all over, or if it were simply the relieved mood she was in, but her closest friend suddenly became her whole world. Ignoring whatever Cid had called her over for, Tifa just started walking toward Cloud as soon as he caught her eye again, wanting to be close to him in a way she had never been brave enough to before. But suddenly, be it the stars or the firelight, she had a new source of confidence and pursued her desire just this once.

When she arrived by him, she looked at him in a way that beckoned him, unknown to her. But as it so often was, one look from Tifa could make Cloud bend to her will even if she didn't want him to.

Before she could sit down, Cloud was on his feet in a split second and grasped her hand firmly in his own. Without a word he lead her through the crowds and as if by some strange mutual understanding, she let him without question.

He knew his path and lead her on with no hesitation. Somehow, he was already certain of where to go. And he now realised why he hadn't locked his door.

Walking straight in, Cloud lead her into the candlelit cavern room. Tifa closed the door behind them without needing to think and he was already facing her when she turned.

Then everything stopped.

The moment they were caught in paused with them both trapped inside. Neither could nervously ignore it, not this time. They had already come too far. So when Cloud walked up to her, Tifa didn't lower her bashful gaze and he didn't walk by stubbornly. Their eager eyes met right up until they mutually closed.

Her arms slipped almost too perfectly around his neck, and her shape felt like she had been moulded just to fit into his hands.

Hot bursts of air fell on each other's lips as they tried to catch their breath. Noses brushed against one another, eyelashes stroked soft and hard skin, barely blinking. And finally, their lips parted against each other in a single moment before capturing themselves in a kiss. His mouth was smooth where hers was full, and with each push they found themselves unable to let go.

His hands roamed the small of her back, pulling her in even closer. A small sigh trembled her lips softly when her body was drawn against him as soft muffled sounds of a guitar lead melody fainted in from outside. After a lingering kiss, Cloud gently teased himself away with light kisses until his mouth wandered over the smooth contours of her jaw and down the curve of her neck. Tilting her head back, Tifa's hands slipped down to grip his shirt and she held on while he ravished her with soft attention. He noticed with new satisfaction how she tightened her grip on his shirt when his teeth graced over the light hairs on the back of her neck before nipping the skin.

He'd definitely remember that one. Especially because of the way she sighed in contentment whenever he did it.

What he hadn't bargained on however, was that he would feel just as good by the simple act of her holding onto him. He felt more than wanted by her, for the first time since he could remember, he felt truly needed . In this realisation, his dominant side took over when he suddenly pushed her up against the door. But judging by the way she pulled him into a firm kiss, she wasn't displeased in the slightest.

Still grabbing fistfuls of his shirt, Tifa tilted her head so that she could move her lips in time with his, revelling at how his kisses grew more demanding. Planted her right foot back against the door, Tifa bent her knee so she could slide her foot up along the wooden surface. Her thigh now level with his hips, she wrapped her arms around his neck once more and pulled him further in.

Cloud felt completely consumed by her. She surrounded him with everything she had and he didn't want anything to break it. Reaching his hand down carefully, Cloud felt for the lock to slide it into place, but blinked his eyes open in confusion when he felt Tifa's hand already there. Breaking their kiss briefly, Cloud looked down at her in surprise but she merely replied with a swift push of the lock, matching the smirk that had crept onto his face.

The possibility of being found out exhilarated them and only seemed to spur them on further. Cupping his face in her hands, Tifa looked up with half-lidded eyes as Cloud checked the lock. Barely being able to stand the brief pause, she breathlessly whispered his name in anticipation and he faced her in an instant, kissing her with a new intensity. Tifa surprised herself with her eagerness as she tugged his shirt roughly out of his pants. Parting her lips against his, she slid her hands underneath the heavy fabric and smoothed her fingers over his chest, her nerves tingling when he slid his tongue into her mouth.

They found a fiery hunger in their kisses after that, Cloud being unable to resist sucking in her bottom lip briefly, amazed at the perfection of such a small part of her. The fullness of her lips enticed him to kiss her, never wanting to stop. He tried to get as much of her as he could, pressing and pushing as she massaged his tongue erotically with her own.

Without warning, Tifa raked her small nails down his sensitive back and Cloud had to press his palms on the door either side of her head to support himself. His body tensed under her touch as she seemed to set every one of his senses alight. His back twitched and arched him against her with every lazy line she traced along his skin. Moving her hands lower, Tifa tilted her head at a small angle and teased him by keeping her parted lips barely a breath away from his. So when her nails swept across the back of his hips, his full attention was solely focussed on that one touch of hers and he automatically bucked against her. Not expecting the sensation of their sudden, specific contact, Cloud's throat rumbled with a soft growl.

Tifa could feel him strain against the fabric of his pants and was already addicted to the friction. Tucking her fingertips carefully behind his waistband, she pulled him right up against her and he hissed through clenched teeth at the brief stroke over his skin by those nails of hers. Palms now practically glued to the door in the tension, Cloud started breathing heavily.

"Tifa…" He warned, his husky voice barely able to steady itself. He wouldn't be able to hold himself for much longer if she carried on, and he needed to know she was sure.

She met his close gaze with her own, and not a shred of doubt could be found in either glance. How they had gotten into such a situation so suddenly, they couldn't comprehend. But something finally gave way tonight, and neither of them was willing to waste it. Tifa's look with both knowing and serious and Cloud noticed a maturity in her deep brown eyes all of a sudden. In their silent exchange of knowledge, they both realised they had been wanting the same thing all along, and it wasn't instinct. There was reason behind their desires, purpose and explanations that they were still unsure of how to say.

But words weren't needed anymore as Cloud lifted Tifa in his arms, not daring to break the contact, and lead her to the bed he hadn't been able to rest in alone.

Author Notes: This addition to my previous one-shot fic was brought on by the wonderful author Hipathya. Her recent review on this old fic was so enthusiastic it spurred me into adding more to the tale. And I hope you all enjoyed it. But in the beginning, there were mixed views on the matter of turning this into a multi-chapter or leaving it alone. So comments would be HIGHLY appreciated, believe me. I really hope I didn't mess this up, because I was really happy with the original idea of this one-shot. But As Hipathya suggested, I am toying with adding a final chapter. I don't particularly want to, but what do you guys think? And feedback would be treasured beyond belief guys! So come on, give me a bell okay?

Xx Jessie xX