Authors note's: Not much to say but, here is the last chapter. This story was a mere trial story, to test the waters so to speak. Since the interest in this has been very cold, I won't be trying out to write the multi chapter Zack/Tifa I had in mind.

Guest: Thanks for your reviews! I'm pleased someone liked this short story of mine, and I'm guessing It's my writing style/writing skills that might be the cause for lack of reviews.

Bulma83: Thanks for the kind words!

Chapter 3: Bonds.

The two ex enemies have been stuck inside the gave for three days. They had not been able to find a way out because of the dragon who still ran rampage inside the smaller tunnels. Several small cave-ins had rumbled though the eerie mountains which made it dangerous trying to crawl through smaller holes in the walls.

It had been decided that waiting for backup was the wisest course of action. With minimal supplies and nothing to do, had resulted in them getting to know each other better: since talking to each other was the only way to pass time.

''Did your men really understand to look for us after 48 hours?'' Tifa asked a little panicked after another rumble shook them. Barely avoiding a falling rock from the celling. ''It been three days since we got stuck.''

''Of course they did!'' Tseng snapped harshly while keeping his balance as the ground shook. ''Just because they are ''special'' sometimes does not mean they are imbeciles.''

''If I die here, I swear that I will come back as a ghost and haunt Reno and Rude forever!'' cursed Tifa angrily while brushing dust from her black top. Her head snapped up when a wall burst open enveloping the room in more dust. ''Oh, you've got to be kidding me!''

''Make that two ghosts...'' muttered her companion before a roar interrupted their rant. His hand immediately went to his gun, turning off the safety mechanism while raising it. ''Seems our friend has returned.''

Tifa flexed her fingers, hoping for a good fight. Her energy levels were too high from sitting around doing nothing for the past days. Without a care, she rushed across the uneven cave floor, her eyes set on the furious dragon. She reached it in a matter of seconds, her adrenaline pumping through her veins as she landed the first punch on her opponent. Her premium heart's blades slashing up a long gash across the beast's throat.

Tseng cast bolt 3 with his mastered lightning materia. As the bright and searing bolts of lightning rained over his enemy, he let his gun follow up with a shower of well aimed bullets. His lips formed a smirk as one bullet lodged itself in the remaining eye, completely blinding it. As a result the dragon let out yet another roar of pain.

The roar from the dragon echoed around them, the sound bouncing of the walls vibrantly. Sensitive as the walls now were from the recent damage and cave-ins, it was not surprising that it caused a new one. The ground quaked and the walls and celling shook from the force, and stones started raining from above: effectively burying the dragon, silencing it for good.

''Watch out!'' Tifa cried and darted towards Tseng. She managed to push him out of harms way before everything went dark. He slammed backwards down onto the ground and could only watch in horror as she was covered in stones.

''Damn it, hang on!'' Tseng shouted and crawled towards her determined to dig her out. He used his bare hands, not caring that they became chafed and bloody while he worked. He swore as he came across stones, too big for him to budge. Swiftly he used materia to destroy them and gasped when he finally saw bloody body beneath. ''Tifa...''

Urgently he extracted the wounded woman from the stone trap. Cradling her carefully against him as he carried her to a slightly safer spot. With trembling hands, he fumbled for a flask of Ether: emptying it in a few gulps before focusing on healing.

''Don't you dare die on me.'' Tseng muttered desperately as his cure started to mend her wounds. It was not until he cast regen and full cure for a second time, that her eyes fluttered open.

''...Hi...'' whispered Tifa hoarsely with a tiny smile adorning her face. Dust and filth had settled over them making them both look deathly ill in the eerie light inside their prison. The air was slowly becoming hard to breath, which caused them both to sound out of breath. ''That angry look...does not suit...you...''

''Stupid woman, You almost died.'' Tseng said and hugged her close with a tired sigh. Covering her body with his, against the still falling stones and crumbling walls. Sharing what warmth and protection he could give before the room entombed them both.

''Boss, you can't do her in a filthy cave yo!'' a voice shouted behind them.

''I was trying to protect her.'' Tseng said with his usual cold voice. He looked over his shoulder, seeing a smirking Reno surrounded by a barrier spell in one of the newly made openings. ''What took you so damn long?''

A barrier enveloped them suddenly, and Tseng gently scooped Tifa up into his arms. With a calm and grace only he possessed, he walked through the chaos of falling rocks. Rocks bouncing off their barrier as he reached his colleague.

''I've worked my sweet ass off the past 24 hours to get in here!'' Reno defended himself, winking playfully at Tifa. ''Hey, gorgeous! How are ya feeling?

Tifa smiled and nodded her head. ''I'm fine, thanks for saving us Reno.''

''Let's ditch this place, yo.'' Reno smiled warmly at the fist fighter. ''Just follow my sexy behind and we'll be out in no time.''

Rude waved at them from the helicopter when they emerged from the mountain tunnel. They buckled up and flew off right away. It would only be a couple of hours till they were back in Edge. Tseng and Reno were discussing details surrounding what had happened in hushed tones while Tifa looked out the window.

She felt grateful for being safe and away from that raging dragon and crumbling caves. If it weren't for Tseng, she would have been another victim to be claimed by Mount Nimbel. True, she had saved his life by pushing him away to safety, but that had only been a stupid panic reflex of hers. It was something that had surprised even herself, but it had ended well despite her recklessness.

Tifa found herself looking at her newest friend. His eyes had once more grown cold and business like, when being surrounded by his subordinates. She blushed a little when remembering how safe she had felt in his arm back in the caves. He was kind of nice, in a stern sort of way if one could be patient enough to wait for him to open up a little. She had really enjoyed his company and hoped he would not return to be a complete stranger towards her when they got back.

''Why don't you sleep for a bit?'' Reno interrupted her thoughts and creepy ogling of his commander. ''You look like you need it, Teef''

''You certainly know how to make a girl feel pretty...'' She replied, sticking her tongue out at him. Earning a wink in return and a chuckle from their pilot Rude. ''But I'll take you up on that offer, wake me a few minutes before we reach Edge.''

Tseng murmured softly in his borrowed phone, as he noticed how Tifa's eyes grew heavier before finally falling asleep. Not wanting to disturb her since she needed to rest after the injuries her body had sustained. Rufus on the other end of the line seemed to catch on quickly on his brief report and barked instructions to some poor souls attending him. He met Reno's gaze and arched an eyebrow at the amused look on his friend's face.

''As you wish, President Rufus...'' Tseng calmly insured his boss one last time before ending the phone call. He let out a tired sigh as he handed over the borrowed phone to its owner. ''Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever grow up...''

''Is that not the reason he has you, boss?'' Rude injected calmly, but with a hint of mirth in his voice.

''Yeah! You're his number one ass wiper yo.'' chuckled the amused red head.

Tseng glared sterlingly at his comrades effectively silencing their soft chuckles. A predatory smirk suddenly formed on his lips as he thought up a sufficient reply. ''Then that makes the two of you my ''personal'' assistants...'' He calmly reasoned, effectively putting a stop on that topic.

Tifa awoke when Rude announced that they would be in Edge within a few minutes. She looked out the window, observing the landscape. The desert that once surrounded the area had slowly starting to disappear, as grass were slowly coming out of the once dead ground. Edge had grown into a fine town. The people living there had done fine job cleaning up the old Midgar. They only things left from old Midgar was the Shinra building and sector 7, they had left those alone as a reminder. Aeris church had been somewhat rebuild as it looked before. The flower girl's beloved flowers grew inside it, around the healing water. Zack's sword lay amongst the flowers since Cloud had thought it a much better resting place for his old friend's keepsake.

Once they got out of the helicopter the three men escorted Tifa back to her bar in a limousine. The car ride only took a few minutes which Reno used to his full advantage. He tried several ways to coax Tifa into agreeing to a date with him, but each attempt failed as usual.

''Here we are...'' observed the ever stoic Rude.

Tifa turned in her seat to look at Tseng. Their eyes met and despite the usual stoic look adorning his face, she could see a hint of warmth in his dark eyes. A smile tugged at her lips when noticing it. ''Thank you for saving me from the rocks. I would have died if it weren't for you.'' she spoke softly.

''There is not need for thanks. You saved me first after all...'' he merely replied, returning her smile with one of his own.

''Then let's call it even...'' Tifa replied with a soft chuckle as she climbed out of the car. She waved at Cloud standing in the window, before turning back to the car. She reached down and planted a soft kiss against Tseng's cheek, and blushed when Reno let out a playful whistle. ''Take care of yourself and good luck with your assignment. I hope you'll be successful in finding the material you sought at another time.''

Tseng reached out and took hold of Tifa's hand before she could slip away. As he chivalrously planted a soft kiss to her knuckle, he slipped a new cell phone in the palm of her hand. To replace the one she lost during their trip. ''With the information you provided about the mountains, It certainly points to a positive outcome. On behalf of the President and the Turks, I thank you for your cooperation.''

''I'm glad I could manage to help.'' was the only reply she could conjure. Her cheeks flushed from his kiss and gift. He smiled only in return before the car drove off, leaving the flustered fist fighter behind. Strong arms encircled her from behind, enveloping her in a familiar, safe embrace. ''I missed you too Cloud...''

''You better have, I almost went mad with worry about you.'' Cloud calmly murmured into her ear. His ever calm voice almost made it impossible to believe him ever having been mad with worry. ''Come inside and tell me what happened.''

Tifa turned in his arms and returned his hug before following him inside the bar. A buzzing sound from her new phone caught her attention. She flipped the phone open and quickly read the text message. A warm smile lit up her face and when her gaze landed on Cloud she blushed again when seeing his arched eyebrow. She merely held up her phone for him to read:

''Would you do me the honours, of taking you to dinner the coming Saturday?
Yours truly,
Tseng.''

Fin.