Valentine's Day

It's late when I get back, later than what I had planned on being back. The stars are out, a full moon, and I'm frustrated with how the day's gone. Sure, I understand that everyone is in love on this day, I understand that everyone wants those special gifts delivered.

Trust me, I of all people know this...

But still, I'm stuck out here, trying to get home so I can see...

...well...

I just want to get home, okay?

That's when I see the city coming up, the familiar streets and surroundings, and I let out a sigh of relief.

...Home...

There's a light on in the bar, a few customers trickling out at the end of night. Tifa leaves the bar open late on this day, for couples who want to go out, and those who want a bit of drink to forget that they had no one.

She's ushering out the last of the customers as I park Fenrir. I see her eyes acknowledge my presence for a moment, but there away again...

...a blush...

...a blush from her...

I don't think I've ever been this happy in my life, I can't keep the grin off my face as I climb off of Fenrir, keeping my back to her. I hear her go back inside, and I smile to myself. It's time to get to work.

She's sniffing one of the roses as I edge my way in silently, a content smile on her face, a face that's blushing.

I avert my eyes to the floor, and shut the door loudly, to look as though I haven't seen any of this. My eyes come up, and it shocks me how fast she can move. Her back is to me and she's washing dishes.

I smile again.

I hide it though as I walk up to the bar, slipping my gloves off. She turns, and smiles at me.

"Welcome home." She states.

All thought of not smiling leaves me, and I smile again. She watches me as I reach up, touching one of the yellow roses in the vase. I wonder if she realizes it was the one she was sniffing.

"Where'd you get the roses from?" I ask, trying to keep a straight face.

She glares at me.

"And just when I was about to thank you for them."

She turns swiftly. I had an idea something like this may happen.

"Guess it's from a mystery man..." I state softly, and I know she's smiling, because I know she knows it was me.

"Well...I don't know if I'll give you my present now...I mean, since someone obviously cares for you." I say, nonchalantly.

I can see her freeze up as I lean back against the bar. She turns slowly.

"What?"

"Well, I did have something for you, but, it seems to me I might make someone upset if I give you my gift."

"Wait!" She cries, eyes wide.

I feel the corner of my mouth twitch.

Damn my twitchy mouth.

She scoffs at me, and then narrows her eyes, knowing I'm just trying to mess with her head.

"You...you...you..." She's working out a perfect insult for me, I can see it in her eyes.

Things haven't gone according to plan, but I know now's the time. I waste no time reaching into my back pocket and bringing out the small, thin box. Tifa gasps, all thoughts of insulting me gone.

"I bet I could take him, anyways." I say.

She reaches out, touching the box lightly. She unhooks the latch and gasps. It's that string of pearls she saw in the window a couple months back. She holds them up, her mouth in a forever 'O' shape.

It's now I turn, walking around to her side of the bar as she still stares in a amazement at the necklace.

"I can't believe...you remembered! I can't believe you bought it! And for...for me! The price Cloud!"

She drops her voice low for her next sentence, "The price. You really shouldn't have."

But that doesn't wipe the smile off her face that's formed.

She hasn't even noticed I've moved, so she jumps when she feels my hands brush her hair off her shoulders lightly, holding it back. I take the necklace with my other hand, and I can see she's holding her breath. She reaches up grabbing her hair, and I thank her lightly as I latch the pearls around her neck.

I lean in, resting my hands on her shoulders. She's dead still, her fingers resting lightly on the pearls.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Teef." I whisper to her ear, and pull away.

She sighs, turning slightly to look at me. I think this is the closest we've ever been in a long time. She's looking up at me, with those big ruby colored eyes.

I think I've told you before how much I love those eyes.

I lean forward before I've thought about it, and just barely brush my lips up against her cheek.

That's when I lose my nerve, my calm exterior and all the mental preparation I put into this moment comes crashing down. I feel the heat creeping up the back of my neck, and as I pull back, I swallow, knowing full well my entire face is blood red. I try to say something, but all I can do is stutter, and she's looking at me with a shocked, baffled look on her face, a face that's getting it's own red glow. I turn to go, then second guess it, stepping back, but I decide if I do anything else tonight my face will permanently be stained red.

"Uh..guh...uh, good...good night." I stammer, and run up the stairs.

I stop at the top of the stairs, frozen, second-guessing everything I've done tonight. Especially that kiss, I mean, what if it was too much? I mean, that wasn't me at all...

But I let out this big sigh I'm holding in when I hear her giggle happily.

There's a few thumps in a row and I realize she's jumping up and down. I smile, in fact, I can't keep the smile off my face. It's there as I head down stairs to plan out my maps for the next day, and it's there as I work well into the night. It gets bigger though, with my last thought before I drift asleep, just after Tifa pulls me over to the couch.

I wonder how much crap Vincent gets on Valentine's Day?

A/N: Squees with upmost delight! I know twitchy isn't a real word (my spellchecker told me this) but I can't help it, we all use fake words...and I just loved writing this...I really debated as to continuing this into the next morning in this chapter, but I decided to wait, as there has been such an amount of fluff, you could drown in it in this chapter...so, just wait till next time! and, as always, thanks for all the awesome reviews you guys have been given me and what not! you are loved! oh, and I am actually working on Come Together, promise. oh, and any questions regarding the progress of my stories or any new stories I'm toying with, can be found in me profile, just to let ya know!