Disclaimer: Final Fantasy does not belong to me...however much I may like it to. I own no characters, places etc. etc. so please don't sue me! I'm a nice person :)

Author's Note: Chapter Twenty-Four...PLEASE review as I really enjoy reading your views and they inspire me to get better! It would make me very very happy! Anyway stop reading this and get on with reading the fic! Hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter Twenty-Four: Warming Showers and Hopeless Desires

How...how could I let this happen? What was I thinking...? If I was even thinking at all...

He hadn't even used protection. What was he thinking? If he was thinking at all. She wanted to scrub him from her skin. Remove what remained of his touch.

Tifa fumbled through the bar; not caring that she was wearing a man's jacket, or that her clothes were soaked through, and quite clearly ruined.

It was just about that time of day when the place began to get busy, and the general hum from the customers almost felt like a cover for her; the masses boxing her out, and allowing her to go somewhat unnoticed.

Unluckily for her, she had to make her way past the serving-bar, which was currently being managed by a very noisy, and very alert ninja.

The moment she came into eye line with her, Yuffie began to wave her over, though as she drew closer, a foreign look of concern dawned across her usually bright features.

"Tifa...?"

The older female just brushed past her as quickly as she could; almost not daring to look her in the eye.

As she headed for the stairs that would eventually lead her to her flat, she heard a rather impressive bellow come from the bar she'd left behind her.

"You'll have to wait mister! Unless you want me to go ninja on your ass?"

She smiled in spite of herself; she should have known she wasn't going to lose her that easily.

Tifa soon heard her light footsteps following behind her, before she felt a small set of fingers wrap firmly around her wrist.

The young ninja tugged at her gently, though the brunette chose to stay in place; back turned and motionless.

"Tifa...are you all right?"

Her tone was uncertain; she wasn't exactly used to dealing with such situations of upset. It was in her nature to be straight-forward, and almost childlike in her nature; the pure innocence that came with such a genuine and honest outlook. So in retrospect, it was always strange to hear such seriousness from the young ninja.

There was a moment of silence, as Yuffie studied her friend as best she could. When her voice returned it was nothing more than a whisper, but there was a noticeable bite to it.

"What did that jerk do to you?"

Tifa could feel the hot, prickle of tears beginning to form, though she tried desperately to keep them from overspilling; she wasn't going to cry over him, she was better than that.

With all the carefree amusement she could manage, the brunette turned and displayed a light smirk to her ninja friend.

"I thought you said he was a good catch?"

"Tifa-"

"I just want to take a shower all right? You should be getting back to the bar."

Her words had come out sharper than she'd expected, and Yuffie looked offended for a moment, though it quickly faded as a dull hurt warmed within her eyes.

Tifa watched in silence, as the girl backed away hesitantly, before turnings and going through to the bar.

She continued to watch her for a few moments, before turning away herself and all but racing up the stairs.

She hadn't meant to bite at the young girl, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't answer her questions right now because honestly, she didn't really have an answer to them. She just needed to be alone.

The hard pressure of the water felt pleasant on her skin, and her bruised muscles were more than happy by the raiding heat that steamed up around her.

She had all but torn off his jacket; hardly bearing to have it on her any longer. Her own jacket no doubt still lying on the floor of the greenhouse brow furrowed at the realisation that it was pretty much lost to her now.

Damn...I liked that...

The rest of her clothes had been thrown straight in the rubbish bin. If any pieces could have been salvaged, she wasn't interested. She wasn't going to wear them again now.

She wasn't sure what she wanted to do with his jacket. Disposal by burning had seemed like a good idea, but then that might seem petty.

Who cares about being petty? He damn well deserves to have it shoved down his throat...

She hummed deeply, as her body temperature rose; the rain successfully turning her skin into a canvas of ice.

Why a damn roof? Maybe he didn't want to damage his precious plants...

She smirked. Yeah that seemed like a reliable answer.

Her neck gave an uncomfortable pang as she leant her head further under the flow of water, and it didn't take her very long to recall why.

Tifa slowly raised her hand and ever so gently, brushed her fingertips over the reddened skin. She only hoped that it wouldn't leave a mark; she neither wanted, or needed a permanent reminder. She already had her own mind for that.

She tip-toed to reach him, and laid a tentative kiss upon the corner of his lips. She wasn't sure how she was meant to be going about this. It was new to her. When ever she'd done this with someone before, it had all been so very safe.

But now she felt too vulnerable.

A sudden force hit her from behind, and before she could react, she found herself pushed up against a rather hard, stone wall.

Her back gave a deep throb as the effects of such an impact began to take effect. Though of course she was hardly given a moment to recover, as his mouth fastened onto hers with a kind of aggression that made her heart stop beating for the briefest of moments.

She wasn't scared, but she was intimidated, and she wasn't secure in her knowledge of Rufus to really be sure that he wouldn't hurt her.

There was a big difference between being in love and wanting someone, and right now they both wanted something; she was under no illusion that he cared deeply for her, or that he was offering her anyway, but that didn't mean that she didn't want him to treat her more like a human being rather than his plaything.

Tifa felt his fingers wander over her skin, as another blast of icy wind rolled over them; her smooth skin rapidly becoming marred with tiny goose-pimples.

She was fighting to catch her breath now, as his lips became more fierce in their attack. With every kiss she felt that little bit weaker, and it worried her. Why couldn't she gain the advantage here? She was suppose to able to handle this.

His hand laced its way through her hair, whilst his other hand trailed down her side; his thumb brushing over her now, hardened nipple.

She couldn't stop the shiver of pleasure that swept her body at this tiniest of actions; the adrenaline, and temperature seemingly multiplying the sensation ten-fold.

True this wasn't how she wanted it, but the fact remained that what he was doing to her wasn't unpleasant, and she couldn't stop the heat that was beginning to radiate within her core, or hold back the moans that hummed in her throat.

Her mouth was released, as a trail of small, feverish kisses were placed down her neck, though they were brought to a halt when he bit down rather too violently on the sensitive skin there.

A small wisp of panic shot through her, as she felt a warm trickle slide down her chest. Had he really drawn blood?

She felt his tongue dart out, and draw across the tender area, and couldn't withhold the whimper that she'd been holding in her throat; his teeth continuing to nip at the now, raw skin.

Her palms began to push at his chest as another wave of panic overcame her. She felt trapped and he was showing no signs of even recognising her pleas for release.

His head rose slowly, as his lips brushed against her own.

"Relax. I'm not going to-"

He seemed to pause in reflection for a moment, and she looked up at him uncertainly.

"Not going to what?"

He never had answered her question. Though she had answered his.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I-I don't know what you mean."

"Do you want me?"

She paused for a moment to observed her companion.

She had wanted him, and she still did...but still, something about this seemed wrong. It was too late to pull out of this now though, right?

Tifa pushed her voice to sound, though what aired was nothing more than a whisper.

"I wouldn't be here otherwise."

Why did he ask her that? Would he really have cared if she'd said no?

It had been so rushed, so desperate. It wasn't meant to be like that, was it?

Rufus's figure caused her gaze to focus, as he lowered himself to crouch before her.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there for but it felt like an eternity.

His finger reached out and tapped her chin gently.

She couldn't help but jump. It unnerved her. Such a considerate touch after what they'd just done. It was like, however hard she tried, Tifa just couldn't understand him.

Her flinch seemed to have angered him in some way, as his eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong with you?"

There was no gentleness to him now, and any affection that might have been threatening to show had well and truly departed.

"Miss. Lockhart."

If she'd had the energy she might have smirked. Only a minute ago he'd been calling her name, but now he was treating her like he always had.

"You said you wanted this."

She knew that. He didn't have to treat her like a child, especially considering what they'd just done together.

"Don't act like I forced you into this."

"It's not that."

Her gaze reverted back to the concrete. She couldn't bear to look at him, she was too frightened of what he might see in her eyes.

"I'm not the emotional type."

He rose and left her field of vision.

"If you're looking for cuddles and sweet talk you're in the wrong place."

She knew that too.

A small, almost mournful sigh sounded from her lips, and she bent her head lower under the flow, as she reached out to turn up the water's heat.

Tifa all but slumped down on her bed; her face nestled in the soft duvet cover, whose familiar smell seemed so much more comforting to her now.

She felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and all she wanted to do right now was sleep it off.

Her towelling dressing gown was hardly ideal wear, but the soft threads just seemed too cozy to remove.

Staying in place, the young female stretched out a hand to the one of the bedside cupboards, and gentle pulled open a draw; her hand proceeding to reach towards a small chemist-box.

She didn't know why she had kept taking the pill. As if she'd believed Cloud was ever going to come home one day and suddenly want her.

She was surprised Rufus hadn't mentioned it. He certainly wouldn't want to get a 'commoner' like her pregnant. Then again, it probably wouldn't be too hard for him just to get rid of her if he so wished.

A crisp 'pop' sounded as she released it from its foil prison, before placing it on her tongue.

The small tablet slide down her throat at a tortuously slow rate; its path remaining rather dry without the aid of water.

After she was certain it was doing its work, she slide the box back into the draw and once again thrust her head into the warmth of the duvet; unwanted tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks with an uncomfortable heat.

But why? Why was she so upset?

It's because I liked him.

It was true. In spite of herself she'd grown to hold some feelings for the young President; whether these feelings were really health or not was still in question. But the fact remained.

Her belly had felt so warm when he had kissed her back in the greenhouse. It was so sincere that for a moment she had almost forgotten who he was, what he was capable of. It had allowed her to let her guard down, only for him to revert back.

I should have known better than to lay my trust in a man...

She couldn't like him. She couldn't let herself he used like that. To be taken in again.

Cloud...

She had tried so hard not to think about that man; he was her friend, and she would forgive him anything, but that didn't stop it from hurting.

Rufus was just the same.

He couldn't, or rather wouldn't give her what she wanted. What she craved for. And yet she still wanted him to love her.

Why does everything have to be so complicated...

In spite of herself, Tifa found her body yearning for that wretched man to burst through her bedroom door and to cradle her in his arms like a little child. She just wanted him to make everything better.

She nestled her face deeper into the duvet, as she curled her body into an almost defensive ball.

Those kind thoughts are best left where they belong Tifa...in your dreams.

She was still lying there when Yuffie came up at the end of her shift.

A gentle creak gave her away, as the young ninja hovered by the bedroom door; neither daring to enter or willing to leave.

Tifa rose her head a little and turned every so slightly towards the door, so as to allow her voice to carry further.

"What do you want Yuffie?"

There was a short paused before the young girl responded; her usual cheeriness replaced with a somewhat awkward concern.

"I'm going now?"

"Ok."

There was another spell of silence, and for a moment the brunette thought she might have left, but sure enough, her voice sounded once again through the wooden door.

"Do you want me in tomorrow?"

Tifa considered her inquiry for a moment. If the ninja was here then she wouldn't have to face the customers in her current state of unrest, but then she would have to deal with more questions from Yuffie.

"Erm no...I should be fine by myself. You go have some fun all right?"

There was yet another pause, though this time when her voice returned it sounded as if it had been infused with a dangerous amount of pure-grade Yuffie mischief.

"Can I have fun beating up that stuck-up, yet incredibly handsome blonde?"

A soft chuckle emerged from Tifa's throat without her consent, though it was not completely unwelcome.

"Sure."

The ninja giggled herself as she finally stepped away from the door and began to make her way out.

"Night Tifa."

She could hear that the smile was back in the young ninja's voice, and she was glad. No-one else, especially someone that young, should be having to worry about someone like her.

This was her fault, and it was her responsibility to deal with.

Great one Tifa, now you've just gotta figure out how you deal with something like this.

She emitted a tired sigh, as her eyes fluttered close.

If she'd managed to stay awake a few moments longer, she might have heard the phone ring, but Tifa was already deep in the veil of sleep when a familiar voice began to sound from the answering-machine.

A/N= The amount of hate-reviews Rufus got for the last chapter was pretty impressive... I suppose I should be glad that my writing managed to get so many people riled up XD

I just hate it when people write lemons and make them out so both parties enjoy themselves and it's all perfect etc I mean it's a nice thought, but not overly realistic... Doesn't mean it can't happen XP but it's not all about fireworks and lovey-dovey...ness ^_^

Again, more reviews for the last chapter than any for a while...I wonder whether that was for the hatred of Rufus or the mini-lemon? Hm...the pervy plot thickens

I've been watching excessive amounts on Anime...and when I say excessive, I mean excessive. I think I spent about £200 just last month on a load of new series...I don't even know how I managed to get that amount of money ^_^ but I have been making my way through them XD so I'm surprised I've managed to get this out so quickly *mini applause for me* The next update should be up within a week too, so here's a hoping my sudden burst in activity continues ^_^

Anyway onto the chapter!

I know this one was relatively short, but that's mainly because a large chunk of what I was going to have in this chapter has been moved onto the following one, so the next update should be quite a large one.

I did a bit of mirroring with the shower scene XD as soon as I started writing it, the chapter with Rufus in the shower just popped into my head. I tried to make it so that when it was Rufus it was before the event and the desire for it, whereas here it was almost the opposite.

Oh, and her crying isn't meant to make her appear weak, but sex is an emotional thing anyway you look at it, and sometimes you just can't help it, all those hormones and feelings can make you feel like crying anyway, even if it was lovey-dovey perfectness X) so that, coupled with her own experience with Rufus...well it just seems like a natural thing to happen.

The flashbacks were in Tifa's pov if you hadn't noticed XD They were quite fun to go over in her mind actually, but I didn't want to go too far into her thought process, because I'm planning on having the pair erm...discuss it together.