Disclaimer: Alright, so don't own this. Wish I did, but don't so I must suffer forever. Lol.
Rated M for language, violence, and lemony goodness in chapters to come. Review and enjoy!!
Just as he had expected, dinner was absolutely dreadful. He couldn't believe that Tifa was going to such extreme odds to avoid eye contact with him. Thankfully the children didn't seem to be noticing the tensions between their two adoptive parent figures. Marlene was rambling on about a macaroni picture she had made earlier that day, and Denzel was going on and on about how he had stepped on it.
Tifa seemed to be genuinely interested in their stories, and even added a comment here and there. Anything to avoid having to look or speak to Cloud. He was her enemy right now. He had completely deserted her after all. He had stood idly by and let Reno tell everyone within ear shot what happened between them that eventful night. The mere thought of it sickened her, and caused her eyebrows to twitch with her hidden anger.
Dinner passed by plainly enough, and clean up was even normally executed. Then came bath time. Cloud always helped Tifa prepare the children for their bathes, except when they were fighting. Tifa would not allow him to be in the same room, in that close of proximity when they were at each other's throats.
So as each argument had ensured, she had motioned for the children to follow her to the bath room, and made sure to shut the door behind her with a forceful shut and click of the lock. Cloud rolled his eyes with a disinterested expression as he walked to his own room, hanging his large sword against the wall. He scratched at the back of his head as he regarded the room full of pictures of the four of them: Tifa, Marlene, Denzel, and himself. They looked at him with happy faces and loving smiles.
And Tifa…the way she held on to the kids as if they were her own, and the look on his face as if they were his as well. He wasn't very good with kids but Marlene and Denzel had changed everything. Even though they weren't biologically his children, he still cared about their well being like they were his own flesh and blood. And his best friend had stepped up to the plate, and surpassed the role of stand-in mother; she had become super mom. It was all too clear that Tifa would be a wonderful mother someday, if she could find someone to marry, that is.
His brows quirked together as he chewed on his lower lip in thought. The idea of Tifa being with someone and having a family was quite troublesome to the blond warrior. But at the same time, he couldn't see her with him either. He knew that's what she wanted but he couldn't give that to her. He wasn't right for her, was he?
"No," Cloud said aloud, hoping that physically hearing himself deny his thoughts would shut them up. It only made it worse.
The handsome man let out a groan of mental pain as he got to his feet and pulled off his gloves, setting them on his dresser. He glanced at the clock and sighed. It was nearly 9 in the evening, Tifa would be about to finish tucking the kids in bed and then heading down to bar tend and listen to all the drunk men hit on her for hours until she closed. This thought caused that unfamiliar emotion to soar through his veins again.
Cloud walked over to his desk and looked down at the map he used to determine package delivery locations. Suddenly, he remembered that he would need Tifa to tell him where exactly he was to go. He cringed a little at the idea of having to talk to her, especially only hours after their blow out.
"You can fight Sephiroth and watch Aeris die but you can't talk to Tifa when she's pissed at you?" He grumbled to himself as he walked out of his room, and down the hallway. He cast quick looks into the children's room to see if they were indeed sleeping as Tifa had instructed them to do. Both still forms moved only with the deep breaths of sleep, the moon lighting the room ever so slightly. He nodded in approval as he continued his hesitant walk towards the downstairs and the bar.
He could hear loud laughter of men and women talking and drinking drifting up the stairs, the most notable voice was one that belonged to Yuffie. The mere idea of the meddling ninja downstairs putting her nose where it shouldn't brought a scowl to his face.
With a deep breath, Cloud opened the door that led into the occupied and busy bar. The room was smoky and smelled of the liquor that every person in the bar apart from Tifa and Yuffie was drinking. Yuffie was the first to spot him, and gave a nudge to Tifa's elbow. Her dark eyes roamed over to the door and found a still Cloud, staring around for a moment before letting his own eyes settle on her.
She quickly turned away to chit chat with Yuffie again, trying to ignore his presence the best she could. He let out a soft sigh as he approached the counter and cleared his throat, "I need the delivery information, Tifa."
"Well hello to you too, Spikey. Take your nap yet?" Yuffie teased, her eyes sparkling with delight at his current discomfort, and Tifa's lack of interest.
Cloud let his head lull to the side as he tried to ignore the jesting in her tone, "Ah c'mon Cloud, aren't ya happy to see me? Tifa and I have just been talking. Care to join?"
"Not tonight, Yuffie," Cloud answered her in his matter-of-fact tone before Tifa had the chance to reject the suggestion herself. He loved being able to top her if he could. Childhood competitiveness never really dies.
Yuffie caught sight of Tifa's eyes as she glared at Cloud, who seemed unaware of her death stare, "Oh my god, you two are fighting."
"We aren't fighting!" Tifa exclaimed, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink as she poured a refill for a customer at the other end of the bar, before returning to her spot in front of Yuffie and Cloud.
"You so totally are!" The ninja exclaimed with recognition, her eyes darting from Cloud to Tifa, and back again, "You're fighting about Tifa's sexcapade with Reno."
"Yuff-"Tifa began to only be cut short by the ninja's excitement, "Oh my god, are you serious? Look Spike, you don't have any right to be angry with Tifa. And Tifa, you shouldn't be mad at Cloud either."
"Why?" She asked, tucking a long strand of her dark hair behind her ears. Cloud watched her gracefully put her hand back onto the counter and listen to Yuffie, her dark eyes quivering with interest, her mouth parted slightly in her anticipation.
"It's normal for a best friend to be protective over their friend, especially if it's a guy and girl best friend. He feels protective over you like you're his baby sister," She explained, tapping a finger to her temples, "see, I'm very observant."
"And annoying," Cloud added, his blue eyes becoming bored with the situation quickly.
"Yes, very," Tifa agreed, giving Yuffie's hand a smack.
"Yeowch! What's that for? I'm just saying Cloud has no right to be upset with you for riding Reno like a horse, and you have no right to be mad at him for feeling protective over you," the young girl muttered, loving the face she received from Cloud when she mentioned Tifa on top of Reno. It looked as if he were in some sort of pain. 'That's what you get for not acting on your feelings, dumb ass.' She thought to herself as Tifa let out a gasp of shock, "YUFFIE! I never thought I'd say this, but get out."
Yuffie frowned, "You can't be serious, Tifa. He doesn't care about how you and Reno got down. Just being protective, remember?"
Tifa shook her head fervently, "Maybe so, but I don't want to hear that. That's very private. Go home and sleep. I'll see you later."
The younger woman let out a sigh as she got up from her stool and waved goodbye, "Alright then, see you Tifa, Spike." And disappeared out the door and into the night.
Tifa and Cloud stood in silence for a moment, both regarding each other with unsure eyes, "Um, sorry about that."
"I'm sorry about earlier," he murmured, scratching at the back of his head in embarrassment. He always hated to apologize to her. It was like he was exposing himself to the point of no return whenever he apologized to Tifa.
She shook her head in response, gnawing on her lower lip, "No, I'm sorry too. Let's just forget about it ok?"
"No Tifa, I shouldn't have let him say those things about you. It wasn't right. You're my best friend and I hate to see you hurt, especially in that way."
She bowed her head, trying to hide the tears that had decided to work their way into her eyes, "No Cloud, it's alright. I understand. It's a guy thing, it's totally alright. Listen, I'll just talk to you tomorrow, alright? Here are the plans-"Tifa finished, reaching under the bar and handing him a few sheets of paper, "Good night."
Cloud nodded to her as he climbed the stairs again.
************
Tifa let out a yawn as she locked the bar door and headed up the stairs. It was nearing 5 in the morning and she was beat. She would definitely sleep well tonight. She stopped at the children's room to check on them, smiling in approval at their sprawled out forms on the beds. Marlene even had her arm hanging off the sides; her feet were giving a slight kick to go along with her dream.
Tifa cracked the door a little so she could hear them call if they needed her. She passed Cloud's room, and hesitated, wondering if he were still asleep or if he had stayed up to plan his route for the morning delivery. She turned to head to her room, the floorboards creaking underneath her.
Tifa drew in a deep breath as she waited for a moan of annoyance from the children. It had been a loud creak after all.
"Hey, is that you?"
She froze, her eyes wide in surprise upon hearing Cloud's thick voice. Apparently she had woken him from his sleep, "Um, yeah?" She answered, cringing at the loudness of her own voice.
There was movement from inside his room before she found him standing in the doorway, completely dressed in his black attire as always, his spikes perky as ever, "Just now getting to bed?" He asked her, letting out a yawn.
She nodded, approaching him slowly, her eyes unsure, "Relax, it's just me," He muttered, taking a few steps towards her. She complied, letting out a long breath, her lungs thanking her for the much need oxygen flow.
"Why are you still up, you have a package to deliver, ya know," She told him playfully, tilting her head to the side to observe him. He nodded, his eyes glassy, "I know that. But I always try to make time for you."
She froze yet again, sealing in the oxygen she had been breathing, "Cloud?"
He smiled a small smile, his head nodding slightly, "You know that, don't you? I try to show you that. I'm not that great when it comes to showing how I feel, you know."
"I know but I didn't know you waited for me at night-"
"I always wait for you."
Ok, now she was confused. What was he talking about?
"Cloud, are you even awake?" She asked, trying to figure his odd behavior out.
He gave a slight laugh, "Don't be shy with me. You always show me how much you've missed me, Aeris."
She couldn't help but scowl at his mention of the flower girl. He was sleeping. 'Of course he wasn't meaning you, you idiot. He doesn't love you, he loves her,' She thought, grabbing one of his arms and turning him around, "C'mon, let's go to bed."
"Just what I like to hear," he purred, his eyes a dreamy blue. He followed her to the bed and laid himself down with a groan. Tifa cleared her throat as she watched him pat the spot beside him, "C'mon Aeris, show me how much you've missed me."
"I can't Cloud," Tifa told him, her heart wrenching and demanding for her to accompany him in the large bed. His face hardened as he listened to 'Aeris' reject him, "Well then, how about I show you how much I've missed you?"
Tifa let out a whelp as he grabbed her hands and pulled her into the bed with him, pinning her under him in one quick motion.
'This is going to be difficult to explain in the morning,' she mused, her eyes wide with anticipation, fear, and need. She didn't know how to act, but all she knew was that the screaming of her mind told her to leave, but the quivering of her heart and core told her that she should stay. Either way, it was going to be difficult to escape completely unscathed.
She drew in a sharp breath as his face neared her own, his white teeth flashing under the moonlight, "That's my girl, Aeris. You're always such a good listener."
There it is! Hope you enjoyed it, review and lemme know whatcha think. Chapter four will be up in a day or two.
~Nikki~