Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. I don't own Squaresoft ( Square Enix ). As much as I wish I owned them, I don't. I don't own the characters in this story, if I did I wouldn't be sitting here writing. Though! The story is based on true events.

Warnings: A bit of touchy touch going on with Cloud and Aeris in the beginning. Read past it if you want.

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"She's got eyes of the bluest skies, as if they thought of rain. I hate to look into those eyes, and see an ounce of pain." Rolling over in the bed, Cloud shifted closer to Aries, playing with her hair and listening to the song fill the room.

"Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place, where as a child I'd hide, and pray for the thunder, and the rain, to quietly pass me by." He leaned closer to her, kissing the side of her face.

"I love you, Aeris." Cloud smiled down at Aeris, who was blinking her eyes open and stretching slightly, running her hands through her hair. She pressed her face into the pillow and mumbled an, 'I love you, too', to Cloud.

He pulled the covers up some, moving closer to Aeris, a small smirk playing on his lips. Tilting his head down, Cloud kissed along Aeris's jaw, nipping lightly at her skin. Cloud slid his hand under the night gown Aeris was wearing, running his fingers along her thighs. Biting her lip and sighing, she parted her legs, whimpering softly when Cloud bit into her neck. He kissed his way up to her lips, smiling against them when she lifted her arms, wrapping them around his shoulders. He removed his hand from underneath her night gown, sliding it up her stomach and chest, cupping her breast in his palm.

"..Cloud." She gasped into his mouth, shivering as he rubbed his thumb over her hardening nipple, through the thin material. She moved her hands down his bare chest, pushing him back slightly and blushing. He looked over her face, smiling softly at her flushed cheeks and her kiss swollen lips. Aeris moved over Cloud's body, pushing him down on the bed and straddling his hips. Grinning, Cloud grasped her waist, moaning softly when she grinded her hips down against his.

"So give me one, good reason, I should be forgivin' you when I don't care anyway." Cloud blinked as his cell phone started going off, glancing over to where it was on the night stand.

"Let it ring, Cloud." Aeris said softly, grinding her hips down against Cloud's again. He gripped her waist tighter, pushing his hips up against hers and tilting his head back. He loved touching her, he loved being with her, he didn't understand why he questioned loving her to begin with.

"So give me two, good reasons I should be forgivin' you when I'm the victim today." Okay, that was it, Cloud couldn't take it; he had to get his phone. He sat up, still holding Aeris in his lap as he reached over and grabbed his phone from the night stand.

He read the caller ID, his breath catching in his throat. "U-Umm, I hate to do this to you, Aeris, but I need to take this call."

Her eyes widened as she was gently pushed off of him, back on to the bed. She watched him get up, shove his hand down his pants to fix himself, and then walk out of the room.

"H-Hello?" He held the phone to his ear, stepping outside and sitting down on one of the lawn chairs.

"Hey there, Blondie."

Cloud's heart did a little jump as he heard Squall say that, he smiled, biting down on his lip, trying to keep himself from blushing.

"You know, you interrupted me."

"Doing what?"

"Trying to get some." Cloud laughed into the phone, looking around for his pack of cigarettes, sighing when he realized they were inside, and he was still in his pajamas.

"Oh! Well, should I let you go then?"

He panicked, not sure what to say; he really wanted to talk to Squall, but then again he really wanted to take care of his 'problem'.

"No, I.. I mean I want to talk to you. We haven't spoken in a week or so. And this is our first time talking on the phone."

Aeris peaked her head out the back door, sighing and tossing Cloud his pack of cigarettes. "I figured you wanted them. I have to start getting ready for work, I'll see you later tonight."

He thanked her, and she nodded, disappearing back inside.

"Sorry about that." Cloud pulled a cigarette from the pack, lighting it up and taking a drag off of it. "So what are you doing?"

"Not a whole lot, my wife just left for work, so I'm here with the kids right now."

A soft smiled appeared on Cloud's lips, he loved kids, and looked forward to some day having some of his own.

"That's cute, how old are they?"

"Well, one of them isn't mine, she's from my wives previous relationship. Her name is Selphie, and she's 4, then our son, Tidus, he's 1."

"I bet they're adorable." He took another drag off his cigarette, glancing around the backyard.

"Yeah, they're pretty amazing; a handful, but amazing. They are my life, I love them to death."

"That's sweet, the only thing I have close to a kid right now is my cat." The both of them laughed; a feeling stirring up in the pit of Cloud's stomach. He swallowed, ignoring the feeling and flicking his cigarette out into the yard.

"So, are you off work tonight?"

"Yeah, thank God." He rose to his feet, pulling the back door open and stepping inside.

"What about you?"

"Home for the day, if I wasn't I'd be gone by now."

"That's cool." Making his way into the living room, Cloud glanced out the front window before taking a seat on the couch. "So?"

"You should send me some more pictures."

Blushing a bit, Cloud lifted his hand to his face and started to chew on his nails; nervous habit.

"Well, I could take some more with my phone. I also have some older ones on my phone, if you want them." Shaking his head, Cloud laughed softly. "That is, if you have a camera phone."

He heard Squall yawn on the other end of the phone, before he answered him. "Just so happens I do."

"Well, I'll have to get off the phone to take some and send them."

"Alright, you can call me back once your done, if you want."

Cloud nodded, even though Squall couldn't see him. "Okay, I'll talk to you in a few."

They hung up and the blond tilted his head to the side, groaning softly when his neck popped. Standing up, he rubbed at his stomach, walking down the hall way towards his bedroom. Stepping into the bathroom, Cloud flicked the light switch on and stared at himself in the mirror. He rolled his eyes, running his fingers through his hair in an attempt to fix it.

Flipping his phone open, Cloud pressed the camera button, biting down on the corner of his lip and holding the phone up to the mirror. He took a picture, turning his phone back around to look at it.

"You look good." Cloud jumped at the sound of another mans voice, tripping over the hamper that was in the bathroom and falling into the bathtub.

He looked up, growling when he saw Axel leaning against the door frame. "Sorry spiky, didn't mean to scare you. You alright?" Axel held his hand out to Cloud, who took it and allowed the red head to pull him out of the tub.

"I'm fine, why are you here?"

"Just wanted to stop by and say hey," he dropped Cloud's hand walking out of the bathroom. "Why were you taking a picture?" Axel asked once Cloud stepped out of the bathroom.

"Squall asked for one." The blond mumbled, sitting down on his bed and sending the picture. He closed his phone, setting it down on the nightstand and looking over at Axel.

"What was that? I didn't hear you?" Axel leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest and raising his eyebrow.

"S-Squall, he asked for one." Cloud stuttered, starting to pick at his nails as he glanced around the room. "Don't be mad at me, Axel."

Shaking his head, Axel walked over to the bed and sat down next to the blond. "I'm not mad, I, I just don't see why you keep talking to him."

Cloud shrugged, watching as Axel took his hands into his own. "Is it the attention? Do you want attention, Cloud?"

The blond chewed on the inside of his cheek, shrugging again. Honestly, he really didn't know what to say; he wished he could answer Axel, but he couldn't even answer the question himself.

He looked up at Axel again, his eyes going wide when he felt a pair of lips against his own. "If this is what you want, Cloud, I'll give it to you."

Cloud's hands went straight for Axel's chest, trying to push him away. The red head pressed his lips harder against Cloud's, his tongue brushing out against the blond's lower lip.

"Axel, please stop."

"I thought this was what you wanted. You know, attention." Axel said, kissing at the corner of Cloud's lips.

"I, I don't know what I want.." The blond said, dropping his hands from Axel's chest. He pulled his head back slightly, his eyes examining Axel's face, sighing softly.

This time Cloud pressed his lips to Axel, causing the other man to jump in surprise. Cupping his face in the palms of his hands, Cloud nipped at the red heads lower lip. He had no idea why he was doing this, maybe to prove himself wrong; trying to convince himself that he didn't like Squall, that all he wanted was attention, like Axel said.

Cloud laid back on the bed, pulling Axel down with him and wrapping his arms around the older mans shoulders. "Would you be angry if I said I just wanted to lay here..?"

Axel shook his head, pecking the blond on the lips and smiling softly. They both settled down in the bed, Axel's arms wrapped around Cloud's waist, his fingers stroking up and down the others back. "You really are beautiful, Cloud."

The blond blushed, burying his head into the crook of Axel's neck, letting out a small sigh. "I want to take a nap, so be quiet, please."

"Sorry."

XXX

Cloud snuggled closer to Axel, swallowing hard when he felt the red head's fingers run across the scars on his arms. "Don't touch them Axel."

"Sorry, I forgot.." The red head sighed, leaning his head down and kissing Cloud's forehead. Axel raised his eyebrow when Cloud's cell phone started to vibrate on the night stand.

He reached over, grabbing Cloud's cell phone, getting ready to hand it to him until he read the caller ID. Axel growled, flipping the phone open, sitting up in the bed and holding it to his ear. "He's busy, don't call back."

Cloud's eyes widened, and he sat up in the bed, shoving at Axel. "What the fuck?! That was my call!"

"Now he's calling you? Cloud, don't you think that's a little too much? I could handle the texting, but calling! Come on!"

"It's my phone, he's allowed to call me if he wants to."

"He's married, Cloud, he shouldn't be interested in you. Especially, when your engaged."

"We're just friends," Cloud crossed his arms over his chest, turning his head to the side. "And you're one to talk, when just two hours ago you had your hands all over me."

"That's different!" Axel said, pushing the covers aside and sliding out of the bed. "And you know that, Cloud."

"Really? Please, tell me how that is different, Axel..?" Cloud looked over at Axel, his eyebrow raising.

"I-It just is, okay?"

"No, I want an explanation."

"He could be some psycho killer, Cloud."

"That's for me to deal with, not you."

"I'm your friend, and I love you, I'm allowed to worry about you."

Cloud sighed, getting out of the bed and stretching. "Whatever Axel, I'm not going to listen to this. Maybe you should just go home."

Axel stared at Cloud, a frown appearing on his face. "C-Cloud.., I just want you to be okay."

Growling, Cloud turned on his heel, picking a pillow up from the bed and hurling it at Axel. "I am okay!"

Axel ducked out of the way, glancing behind him when the pillow hit the wall. He shook his head, looking back at Cloud.

"Fine, be that way then, see if I care." With that said, Axel left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Furious, Cloud followed after him, "If you care about me so much you wouldn't be doing this. Getting all jealous and stuff. You'd support any decision I made, even if it was a bad one."

Axel stopped, slowly turning around, gritting his teeth and glaring at Cloud. "Yes, I am supposed to support you; but if I think you're making the wrong decision I am supposed to tell you. You have no business getting close to this man, and you know that! The only reason you are doing this is for the thrill of the chase. It's something you can't have, and you want it. You're greedy, Cloud."

Cloud's mouth hung open as he tried to speak, tears stinging the corner of his eyes. "I-I am not greedy!"

"Yes, you are. If you loved Aeris so much you would've said no to me kissing you earlier."

"I tried!"

"Not hard enough. And you're right, I am jealous. I love you, Cloud, always have. I want what's best for you. I don't think marrying Aeris is what's best for you, nor do I think talking to Squall is."

"Oh, and being with you would be what's best."

"I'd like it, but no, it's not what's best."

Cloud rubbed at his eyes, "You don't get to decide what's best for me."

"Maybe not, but I do get to have my opinion."

Tears fell down Cloud's face, as his eyes darted around to room. Everything Axel was saying went straight to his heart and caused him pain, emotional pain, yes, but still it hurt.

"Why can't you respect my decisions?" He sobbed out, sinking down to the floor.

"I do, just not on this one. Cloud, he's married, he has kids! You should be respecting his family, by not talking to him."

"We're just friends.." The blond said, picking at his pant leg.

"You say that now, and yet you get worked up over the shit I'm saying about him. I just don't want you hurt." Axel sat down next to Cloud, pulling him into his arms and nuzzling the side of his head.

"I love you, Cloud. I want you to know that. You are a very good friend of mine. We have a long history together," Axel brushed his fingertips against the scars on Cloud's arms. "And I would do anything for you."

"Then just b-be my friend, let me make my own mistakes." Balling his fists in Axel's shirt, Cloud looked up at him.

"I want to protect you."

"You can't always be my angel."

Axel smiled softly, pecking Cloud on the lips. "I can try though."

"I don't need your saving, not this time, Axel. I'm okay, honestly."

"Just promise me you'll limit your talking to him.."

"I'll try."

"Promise me, Cloud."

"You know I can't."

Axel sighed, running his fingers through the blond's hair. "Fine, I'll have to accept the, 'I'll try'."

"Do you promise to love me, no matter what decision I make?"

"Like you had to ask." Axel smiled, pressing a kiss to Cloud's forehead, running his thumb under Cloud's eyelid, wiping away a tear.

Cloud cuddled up to Axel, sniffling and rubbing at his eyes again. "Am I hurting you, Axel?"

"No, I'm fine, love."

"I, I meant emotionally. You know, with me marrying Aeris and all?"

"Let's save that for another day, okay?"

Cloud nodded, glancing around his living room and sighing softly. Did Axel really think he was greedy? Or was he just trying to hurt him? Questions Cloud wanted answered, but thought it'd be best not to ask. He was, honestly, afraid of the answer. His heart just couldn't take any more pain, and his eyes hurt from crying. Axel had a point though, Cloud had no reason to be getting worked up over some guy, he met over the internet. This was stupid. He was stupid.

Sniffling again, Cloud buried his head into Axel's chest. "I love you, Axel."

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Authors Note: I apologize for it being short, semi-sappy, and lame. I'm in a big rush. I've got a lot of things going on at my end, so it's taking me awhile to actually sit down and write. So, if anyone wants to see something in the next chapter, feel free to tell me. You can e-mail me your ideas if you want, if you feel it's too long for a review comment. Thank you for the reviews! Again, I apologize, do try to enjoy though.