Tifa blinked as she stared up into Cloud's face confusion etched into every corner of her eyes until she remembered where she was and why she was there. She pushed herself away from Cloud and staggered back before turning quickly to face the church walls.

I can't even look at him she thought shaking slightly. He was probably just here to talk to Aerith and stumbled upon me. Good going Tifa.

"…Tifa?" His voice shook when he spoke but she didn't turn around, she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Instead she busied herself by looking around the church thoughtfully examining the ceiling, stain glass and the pond.

"Tifa please! Look at me!" The agony in his voice made her heart wrench painfully and she blinked rapidly to hold back her tears.

"Tifa?" This time it was a question as cool fingers gently lifted her head and forced her to meet his eyes. Cool blue met warm brown and in that moment Tifa fell into the depths of that blue and saw every burning desire there. She opened her mouth to speak but Cloud spoke first.

"I love you." He let the words hang in the air before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"I love you Tifa and a part of me always has. From the days I first laid eyes on you when we were kids even though you never even knew I existed. I love you because you never let me destroy myself even though I wanted too. I love you because you gave me a reason to live after it seemed like all of mine were taken away." His voice caught in his throat. "I didn't ever let myself think I could for a second have you so I buried my feelings so deep that I nearly lost them. I nearly lost you. I'm sorry that it took all of this for me to confess how I feel for you I just had to confess it to myself first."

Tifa said nothing and a silence stretched in between them until Cloud again spoke his voice tangled with emotion.

"Godamit Tifa say something please anything!"

When she didn't respond again he looked down.

"If you want me to go I'll understand. I'll leave and never come back if it makes you happy. I know I don't deserve you."

He pressed something into her hand and walked away without looking back at her. Tifa's mind whirled as it made a feeble attempt to digest everything Cloud had just said. He loved her. Tifa had never allowed herself to believe a future like this with Cloud was possible but now that she did it expanded to fill her entire body with soft warmth. She had always promised to be whatever he needed her to be and now he needed her to be the very thing she had secretly wished for. She glanced down at her hand and saw shining back up at her was the little silver heart charm. It shone in the early morning light that had started to timidly stream through the broken stained glass.

Tifa smiled and returned the charm to her bracelet before looking up to see that Cloud had left the church. Panic struck at Tifa's chest and she bolted down the aisle to throw the doors open and burst outside. Cloud was standing near his bike with his back to her, his hands clutching the seat. She knew Cloud well enough to know he was afraid to turn around. Afraid of her answer. In eight quick steps she crossed the gap between them and tapped his shoulder. Cloud turned and for a brief moment their eyes met and he saw her decision there.

Tifa reached up and gently held his face in her hands before guiding it to hers and brushing her lips against his. She felt him hesitate before kissing back gently pulling her close to his body. She felt something much stronger then the electric kiss she had shared with Reno and clung to Cloud tightly her lips taking on a more desperate edge.

Tifa felt Cloud sense this and deepened the kiss tracing his fingers along her jaw line before he buried his fingers in her hair. Tifa shivered and broke away leaving Cloud with a confused look one his face.

"Tifa what's wrong?" He asked his voice husky

She smiled and reached up to run a finger gently along his lips.

"Everything is perfect Cloud Strife. I just thought we should finish this interesting conversation in a more private place." She nudged Cloud towards his bike so that he got the hint, his eyes wide and thoughtful as what she was saying dawned on him.

"There are a lot of unsaid things I've been waiting a very long time to show you."

When Tifa opened her eyes she was slightly alarmed by the fact that she was not in her own bed, let alone her own room. It wasn't until she remembered the night before that she smiled and sat up to survey Cloud's room. Her eyes glanced from the plain white walls to the simple wooden desk before settling onto the picture frame that hung above it.

She stretched gracefully and climbed out of bed looking around for her clothes, which were nowhere to be found. She shook her head before she wandered over to Cloud's closet. Tifa brushed her hand along the shirts that she always hung up for him so neatly and grabbed a white button-up off its hangar, slipping into it and hugging it to her appreciatively. She closed her eyes and inhaled taking in Cloud's scent that clung to the collar of the shirt. As she did up the buttons she turned and walked over to the desk to inspect the picture frame.

We look just like a family. She thought, touching the faces that smiled out from beneath the glass gently. This is my family.

Tifa stood there and allowed her thoughts to roam over the events after she had returned home. She blushed remembering how Cloud had carried her up the stairs to his room. Last night had been so…sweet. Entirely different from Reno or any of the other experiences she'd had with men. It had just felt so right and Tifa had never thought someone else could make her feel like that, could touch her like that. It had been so natural to Tifa, like breathing. She blushed even harder as more memories that came flooding back.

Even if Cloud came to her now and told her it had all been a mistake, Tifa would never regret her night with him. I will never give up the happiness last night brought me she thought as bliss blossomed inside of her. There was no going back now but that didn't matter to her. Cloud loved her so everything was all right.

The floorboard creaked outside the doorframe and Tifa turned to find Cloud balancing what looked to be a poor attempt at making breakfast on two plates. He took a seat on the bed and set the plates down before looking up at Tifa and flashing her a crooked grin. He was wearing black sweatpants that rested just bellow his hip bones and his blonde hair was particularly unruly today, splayed in a mess of spikes that shot out in every direction. The sight of him brought a smile to Tifa's face as she took a seat on the bed.

"I thought I heard you moving upstairs." Cloud said picking up a piece of burnt toast and examining it. I thought I'd make us breakfast but the end result is a lot different then what I had in mind."

"I can see that" Tifa said amused as she eyed the rest. "I'm very touched by this Cloud but I think from now on you should leave breakfast to me." She glanced down at the plates again before adding "are those supposed to be eggs?"

"Ouch" Cloud chuckled and moved the plates to the bedside table. "I was up early so I also put your clothes in the laundry although I see you found something else to wear." His eyes wandered down the length of the shirt Tifa wore.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

Cloud raised his head and smiled shyly at her. "You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you." He reached across the gap between them and touched her cheek. "You're so beautiful Tifa." Tifa looked away when he said this her blush returning as Cloud continued.

"I thought it had all just been a dream when I woke up. I thought it had just been a very, very good dream but then I saw you lying beside me and I was so glad that it hadn't been."

Cloud pulled Tifa against him and lay back onto the bed, cradling her in his arms. Tifa took a deep breathe and listened to the sound of his heart beating rhythmically into her ear. She closed her eyes and savoured the moment. She had wanted this for so long. They lay like that for awhile, drinking in the comfortable silence between them, it was Cloud that finally broke it.

"You know I'm not an emotionless stone right?"

"Oh Cloud I'm sorry I said those things I was just very angry."

"I know. I felt it." He chuckled "And it hurt."

Cloud reached out and laced his hand through Tifa's and gently squeezed it. When she met his eyes he spoke. "Tifa I'm so sorry about last night. About everything." He winced, remembering.

Tifa looked at him shock painted onto her face. "Cloud you have nothing to be sorry for. I was" she swallowed before continuing "just very tired and desperate. I'm not sure what I was thinking. Can you imagine if the kids had found out? I was so irresponsible and I jepordized our family. You didn't." She sighed sadly. "I was so careless with our lives."

She felt Cloud kiss the top of her head and trace designs down her arms with his fingertips. "I think we both made mistakes." He said "and they nearly destroyed everything." Tifa felt a thundering rumble up his chest as he chuckled. "All that dilly-dallying I guess."

Tifa lifted her face up and kissed Cloud softly on the lips trying to express everything she was feeling in that kiss. Anxiousness, desire, happiness, anticipation, love. Whatever she faced now she could deal with because the man she loved was at her side. She sighed happily as Cloud deepened the kiss. She could have continued like that forever if her stomach hadn't growled sending Tifa into a fit of giggles. Cloud looked at his attempt at breakfast glumly.

"Come on," Tifa pulled him off the bed and guided him towards the door. "Don't worry I'll make us something edible." Cloud chuckled and just as Tifa was about to leave the room she glimpsed a flash of pink in the corner of her eye. She whirled around and stared at where she'd seen the flash a faint smile gracing her lips. Cloud looked at Tifa confused.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

Tifa eyes lingered on the spot knowing what, or rather who she had seen. Their guardian angel would always be watching over them she thought. Tifa then glanced down at her wrist and surveyed the glistening silver heart that abided there. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him before leading him out of the room and down the stairs.

"Everything is perfect Cloud, just perfect."