Disclaimer: *sigh* do not own these characters or story of FF7 or AC. If I did…it might be bad. Lol.

Rating M for language, violence, and lemony goodness.

I posted the prelude to this story. It's called "Encounter." Because of who the two characters are, it's listed under Reno and Tifa. It's only a one shot though, remember that! ; ) Review and lemme know whatcha think of that one too.

"God Teef, you look awful!" Yuffie muttered, staring at her friend like she was an imposter.

Tifa swatted at Yuffie, turning so that she didn't have to look at the all too curious ninja, "Stop it, Yuff. I know I look awful. I'm so confused."

"About what?" The ninja asked, popping a grape in her mouth, moaning at how great it tasted, "Where did you get these? You know, I go to the market all the time and they never have them fresh like this. All the time I ask them, 'Any fresh grapes' and they just nod and point but they're always squishy. I just can't stand how-"

"Earth to Yuffie, problem here!"

The younger woman blushed, "Sorry, grapes get me going for some strange reason," she muttered, making an odd face of embarrassment. "So what's the problem?"

"Well um…you can't say anything to anyone 'kay?"

"Oh my god you fucked Reno again didn't you? I knew-"

"NO! Yuffie, concentrate! I didn't sleep with Reno again. I just have a problem and I need some advice."

"Shoot!" Her friend exclaimed, devouring another grape, one right after another.

"Ok well, er, ok so let's just say there are these two people and they've known each other forever, and then something happens that they've been wanting for a long time. They sort of tell each other how they feel too. Well, showing more than anything. How do they go about asking what their label is…like are they officially with one another or just a romp in the sheets? Or do they show their affection in public? My friend is so confused Yuff, She's never been in this situation before!" Tifa wailed, looking at her dumbfounded friend, "Yuffie?"

A shaking slender finger rose to point directly into Tifa's face, "DEAR GOD YOU SHAGGED SPIKE!" She exclaimed for the whole kitchen to hear. Luckily the children were outside and away from her explicit comments. Tifa slugged her right in the arm, glaring at her, "Shut up, Yuffie. I wasn't talking about me, now focus."

"Then why are you turning red if you weren't talking about you?" Yuffie teased, raising an eyebrow in a haughty expression.

Tifa's stomach churned, knowing all too well that the proof of her lie was on her cheeks, "Yuffie, don't say anything, please?!" The martial artist whined aloud, grabbing at her friend's arms frantically.

Yuffie stared at her, "I can't believe it, you hooked up with Cloudy-poo. This is news of monumental proportions. I should tell the news so that they can have a story on this. 'Finally the moment of truth has arrived, Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart have finally succumbed to years of sexual tension and did the dirty,'" Yuffie teased in a mock news reporter tone, " So…he told you how he felt?"

Tifa shrugged, "Well sort of. He said that Reno couldn't love me or take care of me the way I needed. And I asked him who could, and he laughed and told me that I shouldn't even have to ask."

"Ok, so he didn't actually say the three little words but he implied them. And he didn't actually say you two were together but he meant them…er, right?"

Worried eyes met Yuffie's curious ones as she thought, "I don't know if he meant it or not. I'm afraid to show him any affection where people can see us. I don't want him to run away after I finally am seeing some progress in my 'hopelessly in love with Cloud' department. What should I do?"

Yuffie shook her head frantically, almost seeming to shake an image from her mind, "No, no, no, I don't want any part in this. If I give you the wrong idea and you act on it, you'll blame me, and then I'll have you and Bipolar Bob on my ass."

"Please Yuff; I'll make it worth your while!" Tifa tried, her eyes pleading.

The ninja crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow, "Try me."

"I um…er, well what would you want?"

Yuffie laughed, watching her older friend's brain work at full speed, trying to figure out the situation. It was priceless. It was amusing and heart warming at the same time. If only Cloud knew how much he drove this woman crazy, in the physical and loving sense, but also mentally. She looked like she was about to have a melt down.

"Just tell me, I'll do it for you! Anything!" Tifa begged, shaking Yuffie by her shoulders.

The sneaky ninja put a finger to Tifa's lips to silence her, "Just be quiet. I can't think of an outrageous demand with you carrying on like that. Now," she said, dropping her finger to stroke at her chin dramatically, "What do I want?"

Tifa wandered to the fridge and tried to busy herself with finding a drink while she waited anxiously for Yuffie's demands. Typically she wouldn't humor the girl with her stupid little charades but she was desperate. She needed to figure out what to do about Cloud soon. He would be home sooner or later and she didn't know whether she should just play the 'best friend' or if she should play the 'loveable girlfriend'. It was all just a huge cluster-fuck.

"Ok so I have two demands."

Tifa jerked her head upwards so that she could find Yuffie's eyes, "Alright, and they are?"

"First, you let me borrow that top, it's totally cute. And secondly, I get to borrow Fenrir so Vinny and I can go out for a picnic."

"Why do you need Fenrir for that?"

Yuffie grinned, "Have you ever felt how much the motor on that thing shakes…it'll make for an interesting day out. Besides, we'd like to picnic kind of out of the city, if you understand what I'm saying."

Dark brown eyes blinked at her in comprehension and horror at the same time, "Yuffie, he'll never let me borrow that thing. Besides, won't he get a little curious when I'm not the one using it?"

"Just tell him that I'm the one using it, that you owed me one."

"Well he definitely won't let me then! He trusts you being responsible almost as much as he trusts Reno with…anything," Tifa grumbled, pouring a glass of orange juice. She sipped at it while she studied Yuffie, "you're serious? That's what you want?"

Yuffie nodded, her eyes challenging, "Yuppers. So what do you say?"

Tifa gnawed on her lower lip for a moment before she nodded her head one quick time, "Alright fine, it's a deal. I'll let you borrow the shirt for your date and I'll figure out a way to tear Cloud away from Fenrir."

"He has an unhealthy fascination with that thing," the young girl mentioned, her eyes growing wide as she began to zone out.

"Yuffie, could you at least wait to fantasize about you, Vinny, and Fenrir until I'm out of the room?"

Yuffie laughed as Tifa quickly left the room, walking towards the family room.

"You're just jealous because you didn't think of it first!" The spunky girl bellowed after the fleeing form of Tifa.

************

Tifa's head was bobbing back and forth as she fought back sleep while she waited for Cloud to come home. Once he was home she would be able to con him into watching the kids for a little while so that she could nap for an hour or so.

Even though her mind was racing with the valuable advice that Yuffie had bestowed upon her: 'flirt, dress nice, touchy-feely is good, sex is a must, and don't ever forget the friendship aspect of it. The next thing you two need to do is verbalize that way there's no black and white areas. Make him want it, Tifa. Sounds like he's ready to move on and it sounds like he's ready to move on with you.' She found it easy to erase all of her anxiety and day dream of Cloud. Last night had been the best night of her life. If they could just figure things out now, she would be completely happy for the first time in her life. She was so close to what she wanted that she could practically taste it.

A smile carved itself on her face as she thought of how he had looked at her when she had woken up that morning to his strong arms. His eyes had been warm and knowing, blinding her with their sincerity. He had never looked at her that way in her entire life; he had only seen a look similar to that when he was talking about Aeris. But this look, this look was even different from that. Maybe more…intense? 'Maybe I'm just being biased,' she thought, snuggling into the arm of the couch further, letting out a contented sigh.

"Mom?"

Tifa's eyes batted open to find Denzel looking at her, eyes expectant, "Hi baby, what's the matter?" She asked, sitting up and holding her arms open for him to place a hug on her. He did so, burying himself into her neck, "I like when you're happy."

She frowned, sitting back so that she could look at Denzel, "What do you mean, I am happy, Denzy."

He nodded, "I know, I just wanted to tell you that I like it. You're prettier when you're happy. You haven't been really happy in a while, and I don't know why you're so happy but I like it. Don't stop, ok?"

Tifa's heart melted as she looked at the boy, innocent and embarrassed, "Of course I won't change it Denzel. If you say that you like it, then I definitely wouldn't want to make you sad and change that. So Mommy will stay happy, alright?"

He grinned, "Why are you so happy? Did Cloud give you a gift or something?"

She laughed, ruffling his hair, earning an annoyed moan, "Yeah, he gave me a gift, sweetie. Now, where's your sister? You two ready for some lunch?"

He nodded eagerly, darting out of the room to find the location of Marlene.

************

"Yummy, grilled cheese!" Marlene exclaimed, licking at her lips in anticipation.

"My favorite," Denzel added, rubbing his hands together like he was plotting an evil scheme.

Tifa tried not to laugh at their comical appearances as she flipped the bread over to grill the other side, "Well of course, I know what you guys like. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. And of course a heaping glass of cherry kool aid."

"Yay!" Marlene exclaimed, grinning at the also excited Denzel.

"Smells good."

Tifa's eyes shot over to find Cloud lingering at the doorway, leaning against the door frame, his eyes glued to her. For some reason she didn't think he was talking about the food. A bright smile filled her face upon seeing him, cheeks instantly burning with shyness.

"Hi Cloudy, welcome home!" Marlene greeted, her eyes closing with sheer joy. Denzel waved sheepishly at the blond man as he turned back to drawing patterns on the table with his fingers.

He nodded at the two kids but remained transfixed on Tifa, pushing himself from the door frame, walking towards her. She froze, her heart beating so fast she was sure it would fly right out of her chest.

Cloud stopped just in front of her, looking her up and down, just as he had done that morning, and gave her the slightest smirk, "Where's my 'welcome home' from you Teef?"

She swallowed at her dry throat, her legs shaking with the sexual tension she felt rising through her stomach, "W-welcome home, Cloud. How did the delivery go?"

He continued to grace her with fully devoted eyes that seemed to swallow her whole, "It went well. Thank you for the extra potions you left in my supply bag. I ran into a couple of nasty fiends on the way."

Tifa nodded, strands of her hair falling into her face. She instinctively reached up to pull the nuisances out of her face, but was beat by a gloved hand. Her mouth parted in awe as Cloud tucked the strands behind her ears, a sigh of approval passing through his throat.

"Mommy, you're burning the grilled cheese!" Denzel wailed, throwing his head back in despair.

Falling back down to the present, Tifa's dreamy eyes turned horrified as she turned to the grilled cheese. Dark gray smoke was billowing from the bread. She flipped it over to find the bottom completely torched. She laughed nervously, "I'm sorry you two. I'll make new ones."

"Gosh, I'm so hungry!" Marlene whined, smacking her small fists on the table.

Cloud left the flustered Tifa and stood behind Marlene, placing his gloved hands over her fisted ones, giving them a slight squeeze, "Stop it, you don't need to throw a fit. It won't take that long for Tifa to make a new one."

"Yeah, Marley!" Denzel grumbled, earning him a stuck out tongue in response.

"It's all Cloudy's fault. He wouldn't stop talking to Mommy," Marlene muttered again, freeing her hands from Cloud's.

"Now, now, see I've already started making new ones. It won't take long, Marley. Be a big girl .See how Denz is just sitting there being patient? You should try and be patient like him."

Marlene cast her adopted brother a jealous glare but studied him at the same time, letting her hands fall to her sides she took in a deep breath and began to draw pictures with her fingers on the table top.

"Better," Cloud muttered to the little girl, giving her head a pat, Denzel's as well, "I need to go unpack, but I'll be right back down."

"Alright," Tifa said, catching his mako eyes twinkling at her ever so slightly, "I think that I'll be joining you all for lunch, if that's alright."

She blinked for a moment, "Yay, Cloudy wants to eat with us! Can he mommy, can he?"

It was a rarity that Cloud wanted to eat lunch with the three of them…actually Tifa couldn't ever remember Cloud wanting to eat lunch with them. It was always just breakfast or dinner, never lunch, or never both dinner and breakfast. Usually he would skip on one of them to wallow in memories past or to clean up Fenrir.

"S-sure, I'll make you a plate," Tifa told him as he disappeared down the hallway, heading towards his room.

"Mom, you know how I said I like when you're happy?" Denzel asked her, reminding her of the conversation they had shared earlier.

"Yeah why?"

He nodded towards the hallway, "I like when Cloud's happy too."

Tifa grinned at him, flipping the bread so that the other side could grill as well, "Me too, Denzy. Me too."

Alright so there's chapter 8. Uneventful but frickin cute as hell. Lol. Next chapter will have more in it; I just wanted to have the day after posted to show the actions of everyone. Really liked it. Alright, review!

~Nikki~