Aww aint it sweet. I know that's what a few of you are thinking. Anyway looks can be deceiving and so can words. I think we found that out the hard way. Now we'll see what happens when you lock Tifa and Cloud in a room alone for a few days. Oooh the anticipation is killing me. What to do what to do. =)

Anyway another all over chap is necessary. So this means it will almost focus on at least half of the group. This may be a long one. May not be as long as prior chaps but longer than some.

Affections and afflictions:

"Tifa can I tell you something"

"Sure go ahead" she dried her eyes and pasted a smile on just for him.

"I don't wana get up"

"Well we can't sit here in the rain." She falsified a laugh for his benefit.

"Strife." Koty was still lying in the same spot where he had fallen Zack still looking at him like a mad man. "Are you well."

"Koty you have to be blunt with Cloud he doesn't know how to piece sentences like I do." Tifa giggled through the next few sobs.

"Wow thanks teef. I have so much more self-esteem now." Cloud rolled his eyes at the comment. "I fine but when this is over with remind me never to ride in the rain."

"Consider it done." Koty spoke and to Zack's knowledge lost consciousness.

"Come on guys let's get the three of you inside." Zack was trying to reserve himself. In his unnerved state his voice shook and his hair seemed to lose its luster.

Zack picked Cloud from the ground and he at first protested. Soon afterwards he discovered he was for some reason unable to resist. Tifa too was very weak and both of them leaned on the soldier for some form of bracing.

"Should I try and move him." Zack questioned "he said not to worry"

"Well we can't let him lay in the mud." Tifa retorted with a motherly tone "we should at least be here when he wakes up."

"I will watch him" Shelke's voice came through the rain to almost startle Tifa and Zack. "You should all rest."

"Shelke." Tifa tried to argue but was too late. "Well. Maybe he'll be okay"

She walked casually over to the man's body and sat down. He was quiet but even in his sleep he seemed happy. Or at the very least relieved. She noticed how he almost seemed to smile. His hard rigid features she had seen the days passed recently all seemed to melt into a childish form.

She noticed his head in the water and out of an act of rare sympathy she pulled his head into her lap. 'That should be more comfortable. I don't know how you did it but you managed fine. Most of us were worried for his safety but not you. You knew he would be fine didn't you.' She ignored her own thought process and simply looked at the man.

"You came…. Why" he looked up at her not making a point to move.

She shrugged.

"I'm sorry but I cannot move." He admitted

"Do you need help getting inside?"

"No…. I like the rain. She is a gentle siren."

She noted the reverence in the word siren. She rarely thought that anyone but Vincent thought with a poetic mentality.

"Why do you like the rain so much?" She asked feeling the need to interrogate him further.

"After being a captive for many years, I rejoice at the chance to feel such rarities. The rain, it is something of a stranger to me. This is only the second time I have ever felt its presence and remained conscious enough to revel in its purity."

"You were a captive too?" she looked back on her years in DEEPGROUND. They were not pleasant memories and she often times did not cherish them. But they gave her insight into Koty's pain. He too had been held against his will.

"Yes. I have been a slave to madmen and a pet to a tyrant. I don't remember all of it but I know I feel a strong urge to rebel against them. My memory is fragmented but I remember the first time I felt the rain."

They conversed for a while, Koty telling his story, and Shelke like an eager sponge taking in all of the knowledge that he so freely gave. After several minutes they were both soaked. Koty payed seemingly no head to the groaning of his armor as the rain dampened its exterior. Shelke noticed the way it was pieced together. Strange metallic plates one covering the pectoral area of the chest seemed to be the center and attachment point for all of the other pieces. Another simple plate hinged on by a thick rough textured strip of strange black material lay over the diaphragm area. And the black material continued down his body. Thick metallic plates held on with what seemed like bolts to the chest plate, covered his shoulders. The odd spaulders were edged and not rounded like the pads from DEEPGROUND or those worn by former SOLDIER operatives. And there was a wrap around back plate that was foreign to her.

She continued to study him. Oddly enough he had blonde hair. A trait she had seen so rarely. In her life time she had met only a few people with blonde hair. The only one that was prominent being Cloud. But the most interesting thing she had noticed was his eyes. They weren't a normal color. Clouds eyes were always blue unless he was strung out on mako. Koty's on the other hand were a cold bright grey. She had noticed his eyes from earlier take an ebon sheen. This perplexed her. 'How did he change his eye color like that?' While she busied herself studying him she failed to notice him discontinue the conversation. She also failed to catch him looking her over.

He didn't make a sound. Like a thief in the night he remained deathly quiet. As if afraid to upset the balance of a delicate procedure. Watching her every move as she studied him. Her azure eyes fascinated him and he watched her with an intensity that made the air thick. 'Intriguing yet why.' He made no motion to further his interest, but he felt a tinge of pain watching her.

"Is something wrong?" She noticed the silence and with a monotone reply to him broke it.

"No…. It's nothing." He closed his eyes and a small droplet rolled down his cheek. She noticed it but blew it off as a rain drop.

Inside Zack wrestled passed Barret and Cid in an attempt to save what little personal dignity Cloud had left. When he finally managed to make it to the room he helped Tifa to relax and laid Cloud on the bed next to her.

"Alright so spiky can you move?" he questioned

"Sorry…. I can't even feel my legs…." He admitted hoarsely. This frightened Tifa "don't worry I don't think it's permanent."

"Are you okay?" She tried to move and comfort him but her body refused to cooperate and her response was more of a weak whimper.

"Take it easy both of you. I don't know what he did but…. What's his name." he was cut short by Tifa

"Koty"

"Yeah him… he definitely just saved your ass and for some reason Tifa almost passed out." He was being serious. "Now the last time we were in a situation like this Cloud. I practically had to take out half of the Shinra army to keep you alive. So please let's not over do it again."

With an agreeing sigh and a nod from Tifa Zack made his exit with a promise to check in on the couple after recovering Koty from the jaws of the outside world.

"So now what." Cloud sounded impatient. Tifa could tell he didn't like not being able to move.

"Can you still feel your hands?" Her voice sounded too desperate for her own good.

Down stairs awaiting Zack's descent was Cid "what the hell is goin on."

"Cid I don't know how to explain it but… whatever can you or Barrette help me with armor boy out there. I think I may need the extra power. He's a bit bigger than Cloud." Zack was avoiding trying to make sense of things.

"Wait. Look outside" Red notified the group.

"What is it? What's going on?" Zack was always curious and situations were so strange lately that it went without saying that he was interested in the happenings Red seemed to be so keenly tuned in upon.

"Is Shelke okay." Vincent as rarely as he spoke displayed concern.

"Yes. She is fine. Do I detect a sense of worry Valentine?" Red purred at the thought of Vincent actually being worried for others.

"It's not like that."

"What's going on?" Zack looked puzzled.

They were just sitting there. His head in her lap made it seem somewhat awkward but they didn't speak. They didn't move. They were analyzing one another.

It was several moments later that an epiphany struck Vincent. 'The photo.' He raised the picture he had earlier taken back into custody from Koty and noticed the shocking similarities between the girl he assumed was this 'Kara' he had heard about and Shelke. The eyes the hair, even the facial makeup was an exact match. Only differing by what seemed to be a matter of age. The girl in the photo seemed slightly older. 'No it couldn't be…. What is he thinking…..? This could be dangerous.'

"Whatcha lookin at there man." Zack was now peeking over his shoulder.

"It's none of your concern. Now stop that." Vincent immediately pocketed the photo and watched the scene with interest and a sense of caution.

"Oh I get it. You don't like him sniffin around her do ya. Got a crush or something." Zack's pestering attitude was wearing the Turks patience thin.

"It's not that. He is dangerous to all of us. Especially her."

"Or maybe it's the other way around. Ya know that picture tells me that he had a thing for someone who from what I've seen fits Shelke's description with a striking similarity. Nah I get it. You think she's hot stuff and don't want him messin with her."

"Silence." They had been so busy arguing with each other that they didn't notice the fact that Koty and Shelke had actually started talking until Red voiced the situation upon them. "He is speaking"

Outside Shelke seemed to take a huge fascination in Koty's story.

"So what happened to her?"

"Id…. Rather not discuss it. The memory is painful at its least."

"I understand…. I'm sorry about your friends…. I know how painful it is to lose someone close too" she tried to refrain from giving away her life.

"Your sister."

"How did you know?"

"Tifa told me." A clever lie or at least he had hoped so.

"Oh…. I see."

"I apologize for your loss"

"No. she chose her fate. There was nothing that could be done. Besides her suffering is over." she was still her monotone but he could tell that the pain was there.

Inside the group began to discuss the matter of what to do about the recent near death of their spiky haired companion. However upstairs he was more than being compensated for his recent misfortune.

"What are you doing…?" His questioning was muffled by a gentle kiss.

"Cloud why didn't you say it before?"

"Say wha…." Again he was muffled

"Shh" she released his lips "if you wanted to wait…. For that reason. Why didn't you just say so? I thought you didn't want me"

His eyes became furious. The lack of being able to move prevented him from taking her lips to his own. His immobility kept his love at bay. His passion could not be unleashed as he had hoped to allow it.

"Don't worry I know…. But Cloud…. I want to give you…. All of me…."

"Tifa…. I don't want to do this yet….. It's not right. Not like this."

"Then I guess you'll have to wait for your time. But before you make a decision let me…. Give you a sample of what you'll have." An evil smile broke over her as she gazed at him with a fevered passion.

"Huh." 'What's she up to'

"Cloud let me see your hands."

He mustered what little strength he had and rolled unto his side to face her. Afterwards she took his hand. 'This…. What' she kissed his knuckles gently. Tracing her lips over his skin, she kissed his hand over and over. 'What is this' she simply continued to plant kisses on his marred digits making shivers run his spine and his heart race. 'How is she doing this?'

She wanted him to know. To know that she would except him. Even if it meant she had to wait for him. So she did what she knew he would allow. He wouldn't go so far as to enter her, she knew that all too well. But now that he could not move she made it a point to take a bit of control. Slight discomfort was often the first step to happiness and she knew if she was going to get anywhere with him that she would have to awkward him out slightly.

"Don't…. don't be scared. I…." Tifa desperately wanted his permission to do something.

"I'm…. I'm not scared. I just…" stopping himself he decided that enough was enough whatever she threw at him he would face head on. Giving a small nod he consented to her request.

"I want you to know what I feel" she placed his hand on her cheek. "All of it. I've felt like this for so long, Cloud. You don't know"

He felt her warmth. The way her skin so soft collided with his fingertips. He could feel the shiver that ran through her as she moved his hand to her neck. He was powerless but for some reason it didn't matter. He enjoyed his submission to her.

"Tifa why…"

"Shhhh" she cooed "I've wanted to."

She moved his hand down her neck to her collar bone. Considering her strength she had very soft skin. It was like touching pricy silk. He couldn't help but marvel at her beauty as she slowly pushed aside any cloth that would impede his touch.

"I've wanted you to this for so long…. You just don't know." He could feel her voice reverberate through her as she spoke.

'Oh dear god. Please Tifa you don't know what this is doing.' She continued to move his hand downward before placing it on her chest.

"This is yours you know." She used her free hand to push a stray strand of hair out of his face. "It's always been yours."

He could feel a soft repetitive throbbing beneath his palm. It was soothing. Like hearing a waterfall or a soft melody on a violin. Her heart was his favorite melody. The sound of love following every beat was his lullaby, and kryptonite.

"Tifa…. I…"

"Yes?" she sounded nervous and her heart skipped a beat "what is it."

"Tifa I love you."

'Oh Cloud…. Why did you wait so long to say it?' She didn't wait or reply to him before slamming her lips into his. She was obviously not as vivacious as she had been earlier but she was definitely happy to hear those three words.

"You stupid…. why didn't you say that earlier?" she was so busy kissing him after that that she failed to notice him regain control of his hands.

While she busied herself pulling his hand to her he also grabbed her free hand and placed it mirrored to his own.

"Tifa…. If you'll still take it…. Its messed up. I know. I haven't taken care of anything especially this. But if you want it. It's yours."

"Cloud" there were tears in her eyes. But before he could act she returned to his lips

"I take this as a make up" he joked something rare enough to actually make Tifa seem slightly embarrassed.

"No…. we're just getting started."

Their bodies formed together perfectly. And with the feeling of warmth blanketing them they allowed the fatigue to consume them.

It wasn't till several hours later that Zack would come in to find them nestled together in eachother's arms.

"Guys are you awake…" several seconds later and no answer her shook his head "i'll take that as a do not disturb"

"Are they okay" Yuffie peeked in behind Zack.

"Yeah their sleeping. What about Shelke and what's his face."

"Koty's on the couch sleeping Shelke is watching him. I think Vinnie's a little jealous though" she giggled and then sniffed.

"You okay. You seemed pretty torn up."

"Yeah I'm fine I was just worried that's all. So how long will they be out?"

"Can't tell. Could be hours. Even days. We'll just have to wait." Zack silently hoped that the prior would be true.

"Well I'm gona make sure Dracula down there doesn't try to kill Koty in his sleep."

Zack nodded in affirmation. Then he returned to watching Cloud and Tifa. He was at first comforted by the scene and then he remembered Aerith. 'Man. I wish she were here…. Aer. I miss you baby' he walked out of the room quietly leaving Cloud and Tifa to subconsciously admit their affections and heal from their afflictions. 'I'll see you soon. But right now they need me.' As the door clicked he set about making the preparations for their awakening. It would be quite a day to come, and no one in AVALANCE was sure what would happen at this point. No one that is but Cloud.