"Cloud what do you want for breakfast?" Tifa called down the stairs as she jumped the last steps to land catlike at the bottom. "If you think that I'm going to let you eat all the pop tarts again you have another thing coming!"

She turned the corner into the kitchen grinning at her own joke but her smile faded when she glanced around the empty room. Tifa walked over to the table and picked up a crumpled piece of paper with Cloud's familiar scrawl-

-Tifa

I'm so sorry I can't be Here today, I need to take this job. I'll be home tonight so we can celebrate then, okay?

Love, Cloud

Tifa rolled her eyes, crumpled up the note and lobbed it at the garbage can. It bounced off and lay dejectedly beside the bin. Well I'm a martial artist not a basketball player she thought, excusing her terrible aim. She got up and ambled to the cupboard, shaking her head when she saw an empty space that had recently belonged to the pop tarts. Cloud is…Cloud. She mused inwardly feeling an unwanted pang of affection for her childhood friend. Brushing it off she grabbed her coat and started for the door. Enough being full of angst and self-pity. She had to pick up some more food if Barrett and Cid were coming by tonight and the thought of how much those two fully grown men ate made her shudder a little as she headed outside.

"Well sweetheart, I have to say I'm so full I feel like a pig ready for slaughter." Barrett snorted into his beer at Cid who was rubbing his stomach appreciatively. Tifa rolled her eyes at him as she walked by a tray full of empties in her hands, it was steady business tonight.

"That's a relief Cid because I didn't make the food, a bought it." She suddenly straightened to her full height and loomed over both Cid and Barrett, her brown eyes darkened and flashed at them. "If your two ever give Denzel beer again I will make sure you end up dead in an alley, understood?"

Barrett snorted again and so much beer went up his nose Cid had to slap him on the back, roaring with laughter. "Aww come on Tif! That boy needs to grow some hair on his chest!" Barrett choked out as Cid wiped the tears from his eyes. Tifa continued to give him cold eyes until Barrett sighed and set his drink down. "Tifa lighten up it's your birthday, Jeez! You need to have some fun tonight even if Cloud's not here." Tifa's expression flickered slightly at the mention of Cloud's name so he quickly switched tactics. "Look Cid is going back to see Shera tomorrow and I'm going with him before going off on my own for a little vacation. Maybe a week or so? I miss Marlene and you know I can never say no to Denzel so why don't they come with me?It'll be my gift for you; they can come back to my place tonight."

Tifa softened her glare a little and then set the empties on the counter and sat down beside the two. "Marlene and Denzel would love that." She cast her suspicious eyes again on the two men. "No funny business? You'd be responsible? Act like adults?" Cid threw his arms back looking like a picture of innocence.

"Hunny what do we look like a couple old senile birds?"

"Do you want me to answer that?"

Barrett winced and quickly cut in before Cid could retort. "Hey you go say good-bye to the kids, their already packed-" Tifa raised her eyebrows but Barrett continued "We can watch the bar for a couple minutes while you say good-bye. They're waiting upstairs."

Tifa opened her mouth then closed it before accusing the two men. "You've been planning this, both of you!"

Cid groaned and rolled his eyes. "You caught us babe now scramble on upstairs while we get all these customers drunk." As Tifa hurried upstairs he called after her. "And stop giving me those damn glares for Christ's sake. You're old now do you want your face to freeze like that?" Over her shoulder Tifa made a rude hand gesture to the old astronaut but continued up the stairs. Cid returned to drinking his beer but shot a sidelong look at Barrett who was suddenly intently focused on his own beer. "So bullets-for-brains you gonna finally tell me why we're really carting these two kids around?"

"Marlene's my girl, I need a reason to see her now?" Cid didn't look like he was buying it. "Look Cloud's coming back tonight, maybe he'll work up the balls to do something about their little romance if the kids aren't around. God knows he's taking forever, he needs a little push." Cid was chuckling when a man walked up behind them and leaned casually against the counter every inch a cocky young male.

"Gramps you got anything good to drink around here? I'd like a scotch on the rocks if you can tear yourself away from your little stitch'n'chat."

Barrett got up and went behind the counter while Cid drained his beer and followed. "Piss off Reno."

Reno shot the two a lazy grin. "Relax, I'm not here for you." His eyes suddenly went to the stairs where Tifa was walking down helping Marlene and Denzel carry their things. "I'm here to…. take in the scenery." He took his drink and melded into the crowd, his eyes never leaving Tifa.

"One more beer before we head off?" Cid asked.

Barrett was staring at the spot where Reno had just been, a concerned look on his face. "Naw I gotta be responsible tonight remember? What do ya think of our friend Reno's wandering eyes?"

Cid just shrugged and walked out from behind the bar, grabbing his bag before answering. "Tifa can do whatever the hell she wants and if she doesn't want Reno she'll certainly tell him so. Besides maybe Cloud needs more then a little push, maybe a little competition will be what that lazy-ass needs to get off his butt and say something to her."

Barrett snorted and also walked out from behind the bar making his way with Cid through the tables to where Tifa and the children stood, opening his arms to receive a smiling Marlene. He looked at Tifa and could see from the corner of his eye that Reno was still watching. Cripes, he thought as he embraced Marlene, Cloud better hurry it on up because by the look on Reno's face he might have more then just a little competition on his hands.

Tifa waved good-bye to the group, blowing a kiss to Marlene when a smooth voice sounded in her ear "Well isn't that sweet, so does this mean you've got the place to yourself tonight?" Tifa jumped and nearly fell into Reno who was only inches away from her ear, startled that she had not sensed anyone so close.

"What do you want Reno? I've got customers to deal with"

Reno feigned a look of deep hurt, clutching his chest dramatically. "Can't I simply admire a beautiful rose when I see one? Why don't you close the bar early so I can admire you a little more?"

Tifa started to smile but suddenly remember Cloud's note and manoeuvred herself away from Reno, starting to walk towards the bar. Reno wasn't about to let her get away that easily. He caught up with her in three easy strides before blocking her path.

"Come on Tifa you spend so much time mooning over Cloud that you forget about yourself, don't you get lonely? You must have desires too, don't you just want to…" he leaned down and his lips brushed her ear as he whisper "..experiment?" Tifa shivered and pushed Reno hard surprising him with her strength so that he almost fell over and continued her way to the bar counter.

"Reno, I have said it before and I am saying it again, I am not having sex with you."

"Oh come on sweetheart you and I both know deep down inside the answer is yes. You're lonely and you want to be held and desired. If he is too dumb to realize you are an attractive women who needs attention and care then you should let someone who does have a go, namely, me.

Tifa stared hard at Reno wondering what to make of this. He had flirted before with her, making suggestions as other men had but she had always turned any prospect of a physical relationship or any other relationship down because it was Cloud who was always on her mind. Now she felt differently about it. I'm a fully-grown woman she reasoned I could have a sheerly physical relationship if I want. She almost angrily pushed away a pang of guilt over the thought of what Cloud would think. If he didn't return her feeling why did it matter what he thought. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be touched and held by another man. Beside she mused I'm supposed to be whatever he needs me to be.

Reno seemed to sense her confusion because he suddenly pulled her towards him and kissed her, his hands around her waste, holding her there. She thought about punching him again but the thought slipped from her mind as his lips sent an electric jolt through hers. Reno pulled away from her and asked, "So what's it going to be, a sweet dream or me?"

"Well," Tifa replied running her hands through his mess of red hair "It all depends, will you help me kick out all the drunks?" The cocky grin illuminated Reno's face and he laughed before turning towards the tables and shouting for their immediate dispersal.