A/N: Well frosterd Yuffie's plans will have to wait as she is not as prepared as she thought she was. Apparently, she underestimated Cloud or the author ;P Please read, enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!

Chapter 11: Fit For A Goddess!

He hated to leave her without any warning, without even staying for breakfast and with just a note to explain his absence. He knew that she'd understand, she always did but this was not in his control at the moment. He knew that people would be expecting gifts to be delivered to their loved ones. Sometimes they just forgot that he might have a loved one too who would want to receive a gift from him.

Sighing, Cloud decided to leave Tifa's room. If he stayed any longer there, he'd be tempted to not go at all. Carefully putting the note on her side table and a basket on the dressing table, he closed the door and left for his Valentine's Day deliveries. Special because he would be working on an apparent holiday but since most of his customers were paying double for working today, he didn't mind that. A lot that is.

Okay Cloud Strife, better start up early so that you can be back early. You also have to go to see the Mythril Man to receive your special package, Cloud said to himself as he decided to skip breakfast and head out early. It was 4:30 am when he revved up Fenrir's engines and left for work. He had wanted to see her reaction on seeing the basket or reading the note in it to gauge his future actions but for now, he'll just have to hope that she didn't feel uncomfortable with it and continue to do what he set out to originally.

She thought she heard a familiar noise but then decided to not take too much note of it putting it off as a sign of tiredness. She was up late last night reading a new novel.

When she woke up again properly, her eyes were drawn to a huge basket on her dressing table. A basket full of flowers, peach petal roses. They looked so fresh and beautiful. Getting up, she made her way over to them. Their fragrance was overwhelming her. As she bent to touch one, she spotted a note in them. It just said:

"Dinner at 12; Wait for me; Leave your hair undone."

She would have waited for him regardless but his writing it meant that he might have some plans for them. She blushed a little at the thought as she had never imagined Cloud to know the importance of such days. Or the fact that roses can mean a lot to anybody. How Cloud had managed to get hold of these and keep them hidden from her, confused her, but whatever he did, made her smile and she chose not to focus on the 'hows' and ruin the emotion.

Tifa decided to honour his wish of leaving her hair undone but had no clue as to why he would say that. She knew that he liked her hair as he had the habit of actually playing with them when they sometimes were talking after dinner but his specifically wishing for something was different. She had previously just attributed that to Cloud being Cloud, saying or doing something with her as an act of friendly gesture.

As she turned around, her eyes took in another note on her side table. This one said:

"Sorry I had to leave early. Special deliveries :/

Hope you understand."

This one made her laugh. Once again she had no idea if Cloud knew of emotes and their usage. Putting the note aside, she made way to her cupboard to choose an outfit and start with the day. Just before leaving her room, she took the flower basket and carried it downstairs with her, stopping on her way once to wake up the kids for school. She set up the basket in one of the windows of the bar, a place where it will act as a reminder about the person she lived with (as if she needed any for that matter) and to others of the importance of this day. As she made her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, she sensed two people entering the bar, their presence was in the atmosphere rather than in person. She gave a slight smile knowing well who they were and carried on with her work after greeting them both.

"When are you going to confess your love Tifa? We're talking about Cloud here. What makes you think that he'll interpret what you do for him as love and not a gesture of friendliness?" Aeris asked her observing her from behind.

I don't know Aeris, I am waiting for a signal to actually say any such thing, Tifa replied to her friend, I don't think I want to face rejection. And he is enjoying his life so much as the way we are that I am sure if I say any such thing, I'll make him drive into his shell of loneliness again.

Both of them knew how true that was but one of them also knew that if Tifa didn't make any move, that might drive Cloud into his shell back again. And that one sensible girl swore it on herself that she won't let her friends make such a stupid mistake.

"The guy is obviously head over heels for you Tifa. He spent a week to just think of you-"

"Zack!"

SMACK!

"Ow! Aeris! What was that for?!"

"Sorry honey, I thought there was a mosquito on your shoulder."

Honestly guys there are no mosquitoes here, Tifa grinned.

"Yeah what she said," Zack reiterated, rubbing his biceps.

"Honest to Gaia there was Zack," Aeris replied. Noting that Tifa was back to preparing breakfast and had hopefully forgotten what Zack was about to say, she softly said, "Just don't act late Tifa. Or you'll both suffer."

That being said, Tifa felt both of her friends leave. She sighed as she moved back to breakfast, thinking about what Aeris had said.

It was later than 12 am when Cloud entered the limits of Edge. The only thought which kept him going was that of a dark-haired lady waiting for him at dinner in his home. He was tired and he just wanted to be with the said lady. It was all that made sense to him by this point. All through the day, he had seen over-joyous reactions from people on receiving gifts from their special someone's and that annoyed him.

He knew that people were explicitly in love on this day but that did not mean they go out and make others feel miserable at missing out on such moments and currently, he felt that he had missed out on a great opportunity to spend a day with his love. Not that she knew about the last part herself.

As much as he wanted to give Tifa that custom made gift, he also wanted to send across the message that he would not just love her on this one day but on all days and that his gift was not in celebration of that day alone but one of a series he had in mind for her where he was trying to make up for the lost occasions. He hoped that he would not have to tell her all of that directly and that she'd get his hint.

"She is a smart women Cloud but that doesn't mean that she can read intentions too. Communication is necessary for a healthy relationship of any sort. You have to tell her these things if you want her to appreciate them. You still haven't confessed your love to her. How is she going to justify your activities then?" Aeris interrupted the warrior's thoughts as he kept on driving towards his destination.

"You need to speak Spike or else she'll never know of your true intentions. You have to assert the fact that you are not content being her friend, you want more," added Zack's voice as if reprimanding him.

So you are a relationships sage now Zack? Cloud countered.

"No. I just felt like patronising you," Zack replied with a chuckle, "You are too easy a target to annoy sometimes. It would have been a wasted opportunity if I hadn't butted in," he added.

Of course, let's all gang up and annoy poor Cloud since we have nothing better to do, Cloud replied in boredom.

"Guys you are diverting from the main point!" Aeris shouted as Zack was thinking of a perfect reply.

I'll get to it Aeris, don't worry, was all Cloud said as he neared his street. He registered both of them wishing him luck in their own ways and disappearing as he parked Fenrir and made his way to the front door. He noted the basket of flowers, his basket of flowers, visible from one of the windows of the bar and couldn't help the smile that graced his face just then.

She had opened the door before he had reached it. With a smile on her lips, Tifa greeted him but was surprised into silence when Cloud pulled her in his arms and just stood there hugging her.

He was not sure why he acted like that on seeing her but when she had opened the door, he couldn't get over the initial shock of what she was wearing. Then his eyes went to her hair which were undone and his heart gave a leap of joy. He realised that it was way much later than 12 and she still bothered to stay up for him; this couple with all the other factors overwhelmed him and his true feelings for her surfaced causing him to act as such. "Thank you for waiting up, sorry I am late" he said inhaling her fragrance.

"Wow Cloud, I think that is the first time I have heard somebody thank and apologise in the same sentence," Tifa grinned looking up at him and rolling her eyes for good measure. "Come, you must be hungry, I have dinner prepared for us," she added taking his hand and guiding him inside. If she was feeling awkward about the whole hair situation and his special request before, it was all gone by now. Probably because of the blunt way he had acted tonight. If anything, he did show that he was happy to see her and she was content with that.

"Ummm … wait. Do you want to freshen up first?" Tifa asked, suddenly remembering that he had just come home after almost 22 hours and would be tired.

"That would be nice. Are you sure you can wait some more?" Cloud asked Tifa, apology apparent from his tone. He was in dire need of a shower. He smelled of dirt, grease and fumes. He also wanted five more minutes to put the last touches to Tifa's gift on the basis of which he was hoping for a lot of things.

"Of course, you go get ready, I'll warm up the meal," Tifa replied to him with a smile on her face.

I thought a lot about this and I'll take it one step at a time. I want her to know that she is beautiful but also not to make her feel awkward or uncomfortable around me. That is why I decided to start by defining her place in my life. Discarding the last two choices of Vincent's description, I ended up with just one and even that was not completely satisfactory for me. She is not my equal, she is above me. A goddess who deserves to have a pedestal of her own and people worshiping her.

For that, I had to think of a gift which at least implied to her my feelings. Since a necklace, bracelet and anklet were out of the question, the only option left was earrings but that would have screamed typical and Tifa was anything but that. Besides, she already was wearing those pearl-drop earrings of hers and if my memory served me well, they were a memento of her mother. I think only the biggest jerk in the world would go and ask her to remove them and wear something else. I had been a jerk to her and all of my friends, true, but I am not that big of one so I respected her wish to wear them.

With that in mind, I decided to have something made specifically for her. To find out what it had to be, I decided to think of her most redeeming features, those that I think of first when I hear her name. Her eyes, hair and face seemed to jump to up to my mind.

I had to have something that would adorn all three of these features, not look commonplace and tell her that she was special. Easy task, right? That is what I thought but it took me a week to actually have something like a sketch in my mind, after that, all I needed was the special material and the actual jewels to be embedded.

Gold does not suit her, so I decided to go for either silver or white gold. Maybe Mythril infused white gold would work perfectly, Mythril so that it is durable too. Rubies and bloodstone encrusted flowers or maybe a mural from various jewels might work. Something as an addition to those that would draw eyes to her hair. I can go for pearls too but I'll keep them aside as an option, not a definite.

I succeeded in what I set out to do, however now that I am so near to giving it to her, I am starting to doubt my choices. Will she like it? Or will I fail to meet her expectations of me … again.

Cloud's brain was overworking because of the bombarding thoughts. He had hurried with his shower and now sat in his room, a pen in his hand thinking of what to write on that little note he had with the gift. Since he did not want to make Tifa wait any longer than necessary, he ended up writing just one sentence and decided to wing it with whatever her reaction would be.

"Thank you for the flowers Cloud," Tifa told her companion as they sat in their spot, the window, having dinner.

"What flowers?"

"Those flowers that you left in my room."

"Teef, I didn't leave anything in your room." It was getting difficult for Cloud to keep a straight face but it was worth the look of shock on Tifa's face as she realised the depth of his words, surprise clear on her face, her eyes opened up fully wide.

"If it wasn't you, who was it? Who would dare to enter my room with such familiarity as that," Tifa replied. She was mentally reprimanding herself for falling so soundly.

"Mmmm … maybe you have a secret admirer for yourself," Cloud replied as he studied Tifa's eyes but for some reason, he could no longer help the corners of his mouth from curling up in the hint of a smile and that was his failing.

"Cloud Strife! That was you! Oh god, you had me worried, I am going to strangle you to death," Tifa said as she saw Cloud's smile and realised that he was just messing with her head. However, before she could say or do anything further, he pulled out a ruby silk cloth out of his pocket wrapped like a traditional Chinese gift.

"Accept this token before you kill me Teef," Cloud said softly as he handed it to her, "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Hey Cloud, food for thought. Traditionally, girls are supposed to give gifts to guys they like on this day," Tifa said, reaching for the gift, all the while thinking of what Aeris had said to her. As she unwrapped it, her thoughts changed direction and she decided to guess what it could possibly be. When she had unwrapped it completely, her eyes settled on the note lying on top of the enclosed case. She picked it up and read the message out loud. It said:

"It's in your eyes, the starting of a new day and I want to be there to witness that beginning with you. Always."

"Hmmm … I don't think I'd want to start it in any other way too," Tifa replied in a barely audible voice as she put aside the note and took off the lid to the case in her hands.

It held an ornate hair comb made of white gold, flowers of rubies centered around a bloodstone each on one side and small leaves of jade with each of the flowers. That was not all though. With each teeth of the comb hung a long filigree of white gold too. Upon close inspection each filigree had miniature murals on it made with sapphires, emeralds, more rubies, amethysts and various other crystals. One of them showed her fighting Sephiroth with Cloud and Vincent. Another one was of Avalanche fighting the Bahamut in Edge from recently. Then there was one of her with every member of their group engaged in a certain activity.

The middle one from all of those was of her and Cloud. A scene depicting their night under the Highwind; at the bar; standing in Aeris' church after the healing of Geostigma; watching over a cliff holding hands; sitting in the window alongside each other. It was a remarkable piece of art, nothing less and to think that Cloud had thought of it all just for her had put Tifa into a state of heightened pleasure. She was speechless. However, when she did find her voice, she could say nothing more than broken sentences.

"Cloud … this is so beautiful … you shouldn't have done that … do you know how expensive this is … It is exquisite … thank you so much," she said, a bit flustered, tears shining in her eyes, though not falling.

"Tifa?! You are going to cry over a gift! You really are a girl after all," Cloud said in response to the tears. Truth be told, he could not think of anything better to say as of all the possible reactions, tears was the one that had not made it to his list.

"Of course I am a girl Cloud, what did you think I was when you were planning that gift," Tifa rolled her eyes which were shining with unshed tears due to the ludicrous reaction Cloud had previously given to them.

"Hmmm … I thought you were Tifa when I was doing the planning," he replied playfully. "Here," he then added as he pulled her around and put the comb in her hair, the filigree hanging off, just the length of her original hair and moving as gracefully as they did when she moved her head to the side to look at him. Resisting his urge to crush her, he just hugged her softly as she put her head on his shoulder.

When Tifa woke up, she noticed that the sun was almost up, she was in Cloud's arms and both of them were sitting in his window. Apparently they had fallen asleep last night in each other's arms. Smiling to herself, she pulled away from Cloud's embrace and gently roused him up, supporting him till his bed. Then, adjusting his sheets, she brushed her lips against his cheeks, switching off Cloud's phone before leaving. He was taking a holiday today and she would see to it that he rested till as long as he wanted.

Closing the door to his room, she made way to hers and thought about the gift that Cloud had given her. Who knew that he had such an artistically original side to him. Gently removing the comb from her hair and putting it on her bedside, Tifa felt a rush of pride and joy. Cloud had actually spent so much time thinking about her to make this, choosing what to use and what to show where. And that feeling of joy was still there as she went to sleep, smiling visibly.

A/N2: My sister told me about that part about the Valentine's Day and the flower dialogue was actually something I witnessed between two friends of mine, exact up to the strangling part, although the guy being a jerk just said that a little strangling would be nice for him and his anatomy *sigh*