Sephiroth moved deeply inside his wife's smoothly muscular body, she seemed to melt around him yet clench on him as her soft sighs were breathed into his ears while they made love belly to belly on the soft sheets. She had her long legs wrapped around his hips, tightening her like a vice around him. Her small hands rested on his back, her head lulling back in her pleasure as she murmured how good he felt in a broken voice. She was so wet, gloriously wet as her softness met his hardness as they glided together in a dance older than time. He watched her flushed face as her hips surged in time with his, prolonging their pleasure, neither in a rush to reach their pinnacles, just savouring the sensation.

The heady smell of their coupling filled their room and made his head swim.

His head bent to capture her lips and she kissed him back frantically, causing him to speed up his thrusts until she whimpered as it spiked her pleasure and her nails bit into his broad back and this burst of pain caused him to go into overdrive. Her lips dropped from his to wail out her orgasm as her nails parted furrows into his back and with a satisfying burst, he filled her with his essence.

"Tifa" he cried out and collapsed forward into her waiting arms as he held her sweetly damp body against his own. He leaned back to catch the satisfied smile she always wore after they had intercourse...and woke up swollen with need in the center of his body and sexually frustrated as he had for weeks now.

He groaned and got up with his personal traitor jutting ahead of him as he walked to the washroom to take an ice cold shower, refusing to give his body the release it sought. He didn't understand why he was having the erotic dreams in the first place, he had only had sexual intercourse the once and he reacted badly to it. Yet almost nightly he coupled with Tifa and did things to her body with his tongue, fingers and penis he couldn't imagine doing in real life. Yes the sexual satisfaction had felt really good, but not so much that it needed repeating in how emotionally it had disturbed him. Tifa sometimes looked at him in a hungry way that made him uncomfortable but didn't ask this from him.

He and Tifa had reached a truce of sorts and had formed a tentative friendship. It had helped talking with Angeal to put things in perspective but he was no closer to divulging the secret that Tifa had been his first anymore than he had learned of her reason for marrying him in the first place.

As time went by, both got to know each other's habits. She got to know that if the door was shut on his bedroom or office, to leave him be until he emerged. They would have common meals together and would talk about their days if they had been separated. He found out that she liked to have a single glass of red wine before turning in and found himself joining her before the fireplace in their informal living room. He would slowly drink his own glass as she prattled on and even found himself lingering as her eyes started to blink shut, then would walk her to her room so they could both retire for the night. Their adjoining room door never really locked between them but also never opened.

One of the many topics she liked to discuss was her adoptive son, now his too apparently. He was a likeable young man who was distant to Sephiroth for what he represented to him. But appeared to be trying to bridge that gap by suggesting sword lessons on one similar to Sephiroth's own Masamune as he had never fought with one so slim and deadly before.

That got Sephiroth thinking about children and had Dexter check the will again for mention of them, but was assured they were not required. Then felt guilty that in Tifa's time spent with him, some of her most promising fertile years would lapse. So if she wanted children from her body, she would have to remarry fast. Perhaps they could...Sephiroth shook his head to clear it of foolish thoughts, putting it down to his still being groggy from sleep and the sexual endorphins coursing through his system due to his sexually charged dreams. He felt weirded out that here he wasn't even have sex with her, yet here he was planning for them to procreate? Perhaps he was going insane-again? Or was he starting to buy into their own ruse? He questioned himself. Tifa certainly wouldn't want him to pollute her body with his children, he concluded.

He finished his shower and now back to normal, he got into his leathers to go to his meeting with Angeal and Rufus as he was talking about hiring both enhanced men for missions too dangerous for normal men. Sephiroth had been holding out on this, reluctant to get involved with another Shinra, even if Rufus seemed far more benign than his father. However there was something shifty in his character that be didn't really trust completely. He wasn't afraid of danger, he literally had been made for danger and was the embodiment of danger.

He was lost in his thoughts where he questioned if why he uwas holding out so much was partly because he worried about what would happen to Tifa if anything should happen to him. Why should she care? It was a marriage of convenience. She would go through the motions of being a newly rich widow and probably be in bed with her precious Cloud before his body was even cool. He found himself clenching and unclenching his fists in the middle of the living room at this idea.

"Sephiroth?" Tifa called as she stepped into the living room after searching for him.

"I'm sorry did you need something?" he asked her politely, coming out of his trance.

"I was wondering if you would like me to make you some breakfast before I go shopping with Yuffie?" she asked him.

"No it's okay, I have a breakfast meeting with Rufus and Angeal" he reminded her.

"Okay, I'll see you later" she said, he looked at her chosen outfit for the day and that, coupled with the erotic dreams he had been having about her, he snapped when he thought back on what Aerith had been talking to him about.

Flashback

"I have a delicate matter I wish to discuss with you" she said.

"What is it?" Sephiroth asked her as he lowered his menu. She had met him at the end of his meeting just in time for lunch and had insisted on accompanying him.

"I know that it is really none of my business what is going on in your fake marriage but; it's about the way Tifa is dressing. People are starting to talk" she said in feigned concern.

"What's wrong with the way she dresses?" Sephiroth asked her, baffled by what his friend was saying. Tifa normally wore revealing outfits that he certainly appreciated, even if they were a little frustrating at the same time.

"A proper married lady shouldn't dress like that, especially a high placed Duchess. Her daily attire makes her look like she's off to put in her shift at brothel and makes a mockery of yourself as a member of royalty and as her husband. She's humiliating you by dressing that way and it is only a matter of time before the press realizes it" she explained to him. "A high born person like yourself can't have a liability like that living with them " she said and hid an evil smile behind her menu and studied Sephiroth's frown over top of it.

End Flashback

He studied Tifa's outfit of the day, as a heterosexual male he certainly appreciated it, she had on a short crop t-shirt that revealed her toned midriff and her usual leather mini skirt with boots. She also appeared not to be wearing a bra of any description as her soft nipples poked out the thin fabric and Sephiroth then understood what Aerith had been talking about. Other men were seeing her out and about, dressed like this and wanting her and thinking she was on the market by dressing so provocatively. Even if she wore his wedding ring, she was still advertising her goods.

"I'm sorry where do you plan to go dressed that way?" he coldly asked her.

"What do you mean?" she said looking down at what he was objecting to.

"I mean your attire: it is unbecoming of a married woman to dress that way. It gives the wrong impression about us" he snapped at her.

"This isn't the middle ages. I can dress how I want" she snapped back at him.

"As I recall, you wore about the same amount of clothes when I met the teenaged you. Isn't it time you dress as a grown woman should?" he insisted.

"Are you implying that there is something wrong with my body that I need to cover it up?" she demanded.

"No of course not, you have an excellent figure" Sephiroth said through gritted teeth, deciding he would rather deal with the most dimwitted grunt than have to deal with a hot headed wife.

"Then what is the problem?" she asked him with a smirk.

"The problem is that everyone can see practically every part of my wife's body. That you would make a mockery of our marriage" he coldly said. "You agreed to be my wife in every way for the next five years, think of the message you're sending to other men" he said.

"At least they want me" she snapped.

"It's not that I don't. It's just we can't have a sexual relationship at the moment, perhaps in the future? I'm just not ready" he said.

"Why not?" she demanded.

"The reasons are change. Or I shall lock you in the basement?" he threatened.

"I would like to see you try" she snarled at him.

He felt like ripping his hair out by the roots. "Tifa, I ask you for nothing. You come and go as you please. You see your friends as you wish. You live in a mansion and now are a rich Duchess. I deny you nothing and your allowance is more than generous. I don't force you to do a thing. I now request that you dress in a respectable manner as befitting your station in life and as my wife" he said.

"Fine" she said and stomped off to change. She returned wearing a purple long sleeved t-shirt that although was form fitting, wasn't low cut and a knee length skirt. "Do I pass your inspection, General?" she asked him facetiously.

"Much better" he said with relief in his voice. "Well I have to go" he said, bending to impulsively kiss her cheek.

"Where do you think you're going looking like that?" Tifa demanded grabbing his arm as he tried to depart.

"Like what?" he said examining himself in confusion, not seeing anything out of place.

"Married men don't go flashing their bare chests around like that. Put on a shirt and then you can leave" she insisted.

"You cannot be serious! I have always worn my uniform like this. I get too hot wearing something beneath" he insisted.

"You look far too provocative. What's good for the goose is good for the gander" she insisted and towed him to his room while he protested.

"Here a white collared shirt ought to do " she said as she rummaged through his closet and handed it to him. "Honestly your other friends wore shirts, you can too. I don't know why you even bother wearing that relic. That program was over a long time ago. Trench and harness off now and put this on and then you can go" she insisted.

"No" he protested.

"So why don't I show you what even I wouldn't dare to wear in public and that will be my chosen outfit of the day?" she said with a smirk going to change and paraded herself before him. He swallowed hard: she looked positively lewd, a wet dream come to life. He wrenched off his trench so fast that he dislodged an array of mini chocolate bars he had secreted in the pockets to shower upon the floor.

"Sephiroth, you're late..." Rufus said and then laughed at the newly conservatively dressed Sephiroth.

"Wow I haven't see you so covered up since grunt days" Angeal said with a grin.

"Apparently, married men don't go around flashing their goodies" Sephiroth explained with a blush.

"Tifa made you dress this way? I'm surprised you didn't stand up to her" Angeal said.

"Tifa can be very persuasive in her arguments" he said blushing to remember the bundles of triangles and strings that she had laughingly called a bikini. Talk about taking the passive aggressive approach!

"I never thought I would meet the woman who could bring you to heel. I don't understand why you still wear that old thing? I mothballed mine a long time ago" Angeal said with a shake of his head indicating to where he wore normal combat clothing.

"I have to agree, you'll stand out like a sore thumb during missions. I had the seamstress design a new uniforms for you both, breathable ones at that," Rufus declared holding it out to them.

"That is certainly different" Angeal said in approval.

"Oh very well, but let's get this meeting started so we can decide if this is going to happen" Sephiroth urged, trying to change the subject.

"I don't know if I can concentrate with you all covered up like that. I once had considered pursuing Tifa for myself, now I'm glad I didn't. If she could reduce you to this, imagine what she would do a regular man" Rufus teased him.

"Can we just get on with the meeting?" Sephiroth said in exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose against the headache he felt coming on.

Tifa got home and felt rather guilty about the fight she had had with Sephiroth, their relationship was so tentative and when she thought about it; his request wasn't unreasonable. She had been dressing provocatively but not to attract the attention of other men, but from him. Although they had an agreement, she hoped to change that. Their wedding night had been the most mind blowing sex she had ever had. Certainly she had never screamed in orgasm before and had hoped for another performance once his weird spell was over, but it was never offered. He was being polite as he had been during their one month's dating period, but it was like he had closed himself off from her and wouldn't tell her the reason. It stemmed from their one lone sexual encountered and Tifa wondered how bad could she had been? Okay she probably lacked the experience he did, but he sure seemed to enjoy it.

Dismissing this thought, she decided to start dinner, there was a staff to run the mansion but none of them lived on the premises and both herself and Sephiroth were good cooks and prepared meals according to who was awake/home first. She massaged butter and herbs under the skin of a good sized chicken, after stuffing it, before popping it into the oven and decided peel and chop the potatoes for later when she made Sephiroth's favourite garlic-parmesan mashed potatoes. She had just finished and had them soaking in water when the door chimes went. She washed her hands and went to see who it was.

She opened the door and looked up in shock to see who it was. "Cloud?" she asked.

"I got your message, care to explain all this?" he demanded.

"Come to the kitchen I'll make us some coffee" she said.

"No, why did you marry Sephiroth?" Cloud demanded.

"I had no choice" she said. "Come on" she said.

Sephiroth got home after a successfully completed meeting and sniffed the scent of Tifa's cooking with appreciation. For all that she was supposed to be a fake wife, she actually was growing on him and saw to his well being as she had promised. He had actually gotten used to using the word wife in no time flat. He felt kind of foolish as he fiddled with the roses he had felt compelled to buy her after their childish fight. He was about to go find her when he paused as he heard voice and felt compelled to remain in place as his sensitive hearing allowed him to learn Tifa's secret and ever fiber of his being filled with rage at what he heard. He set down the roses and strode forward before he even registered moving.

"So he was going to make me a whore. I found out about Sephiroth's ad looking for a bride and there was just enough money to pay off Don Corneo so he can't touch either of us" Tifa concluded to a extremely pissed off looking Cloud. "I did it for you as well as for myself."

"So instead you made yourself a whore to Sephiroth?" Cloud sneered.

"It's not like that, he treats me with respect. He's not like how he was" she vehemently said.

"You are married to and sleeping with our greatest enemy, you should be ashamed of yourself" he hotly said.

"She has done nothing to be ashamed of, it's you who should be ashamed of yourself for leaving her in debt to such a man and abandoning her like a miserable coward to face your debt. Did you think that based on her physical appearance, that Don Corneo would allow her to work it off by doing carpentry for him?" Sephiroth inquired striding forward as calmly as possible when it was all he could do not to summon his sword and strike the head from the insulting ass.

"Sephiroth, I heard that you're a Duke now" Cloud sneered.

"It is just another meaningless title to me, I command nothing but a household of servants and own this house which you are in without my invitation and insulting my wife" Sephiroth said drawing himself to his full height and looming over Cloud.

"Sephiroth, I invited him in" Tifa objected.

"Then he should keep a civil tongue in his head while addressing the lady of the house" Sephiroth said.

"The Demon General is giving me a lecture on manners? That's rich coming from an inhuman monster like yourself" Cloud said with a rude snort.

"Cloud, that was beneath you, he is not to be blamed for his genetic makeup" Tifa said, feeling angry at how Cloud would insult her husband. She in her mind had finally managed to accept "her" Sephiroth and the "then" Sephiroth and they were completely different to her.

"I can assure you that I'm certainly human enough, far too much for my liking" he said cryptically.

"But not enough that you had to pay a woman to sleep with you" Cloud sneered.

"I paid Tifa to marry me out of necessity. As for what goes on in our bed, that is our business but suffice it to say when that did occur, she was legally my wife and it wasn't forced on her" he said. "Besides you are the one who put her in my bed."

"He's telling the truth" Tifa agreed.

"She's not chained here and if she wanted to walk away, I would renounce this title and place if she wanted to be free" Sephiroth said looking directly at her and she realized for the first time that he was trying to say that he cared about her.

"Sephiroth..." she said.

"Is part of your objection that I'm with her, that I turned down you many times?" Sephiroth asked him, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You like men?" Tifa said in shock.

"Does that surprise you?" Sephiroth said with a smirk.

"You know what, I wash my hands of you. Have a good life playing fake wife to the man who murdered everyone you loved" Cloud said and stormed out.

Tifa watched the only man she ever loved leave her and buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Sephiroth didn't know what to do then reacted instinctively, remembering in his own grief how he had longed for comfort and what Angeal had told him and wrapped his arms around her and was suddenly glad he wore a shirt beneath his uniform as Tifa latched onto him and cried her heart out as he awkwardly carded his fingers through her hair.

Soon she drew away. "I'm sorry..." she said.

"There's nothing to apologize for...I certainly understand grief" he assured her. "Now go wash your face and put on bed clothes. I'll finish dinner and then we'll watch one of your cloying movies" he said and on impulse pressed a kiss to her temple.

"I'm not hungry" she said.

"Okay, so I'll eat and you'll have a drink with me" he said with his arm still around her as they walked to their adjoining bedrooms as he needed to change too, he swiftly changed into sleep pants and a t-shirt and walked out to find her waiting and dressed in a similar fashion. She sat at the table, fiddling with the stem of her wine glass, she didn't want to seem to want to be far from him in her grief as she silently sat beside him and he managed to get her to eat off of his plate.

She was still numb as he led her into the living room and turned on the fake fireplace, set out her favourite snacks to tempt her to eat, turned on the TV, put in the movie and draped a throw blanket over her lap, got beside her and put his arm around her.

To receive comfort from Sephiroth was an odd experience for Tifa but at the same time, she realized that this is what his stony exterior concealed, a noble and kind person. She welcomed his soothing arms around her and gentle petting when she sobbed until it felt like she was a boneless rag doll. She could see now why his few friends were so devoted to him as it was obvious how little he shared this side of him with anyone.

She was exhausted as he led her to the door to her room.

"Are you going to be alright?" he asked her.

"Yes, thanks for tonight. I really needed..." she said and then stopped, realizing she was probably saying too much, admitting too much and then stood on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

Sephiroth watched her enter her room and touched the place on his face in wonderment where the sensation of her soft, plump lips remained and then went into his room to ready himself for bed and was soon asleep in his bed.

Tifa however, tossed and turned in her own bed, it suddenly seeming too large and cold and then gave up and knocked timidly on the adjoining door to their rooms and blushed when a sleep tousled Sephiroth answered her knock.

Sephiroth's eyes cracked open when he heard the knock and their glow lit his path to the door that they had never opened before. Tifa stood on the other side and he could tell she was nervous.

"Could I sleep with you tonight?" she asked him in a rush of words that almost seemed to trip over each other.

He seemed to hesitate at this.

"I meant just beside you in the same bed, we don't have to..." she stammered and blushed.

"Come in" he said as he opened the door wider to admit her.