Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, its characters or storyline. This story is mine, as are the OCs sprinkled throughout. Awkward chapter is intentionally awkward. Enjoy.

..:-X-:..

055 – Mountain Climbing

"It's not a big deal."

"How can you say that?!"

"Every woman does it at some point. Maybe some men too, but I wouldn't know about that."

"Ugh…" Aerith covered her reddening face with her hands, slouching in her seat.

Across the table from her, elbow-deep in a bowl of ice cream, Tifa was amused. "Don't be embarrassed."

"But it was EMBARRASSING."

"For who?" Tifa snorted. "Certainly not Cloud, unless you told him."

Aerith looked horrified at the mere idea, "There was no way I was going to tell him!"

Tifa lifted her shoulders, "Then it's just a little secret between you and yourself…and me, I guess." When her friend continued to look ashamed, Tifa canted her head, "I've done it. Yuffie's probably done it. I'm sure McCallister's done it."

Aerith looked tempted to cover her ears. "I think he knows."

Tifa snorted, "This is CLOUD we're talking about. He wouldn't know I was pregnant if Leon wasn't practically pouncing on him with every new ultrasound picture." She said, pointing to her growing belly. "Trust me, he doesn't suspect anything."

"You seem a little certain of that." Aerith sounded suddenly suspicious.

Tifa just sent her a cheeky grin and took another bite of her ice cream. The two were hiding out in Yuffie's office in order to avoid two things. One was people who, noticing now the undeniable pregnancy bump of Tifa's stomach, kept congratulating her and trying to talk about all things baby to her. The second was Jake Alms. He and McCallister had finally gone on their agreed date, and apparently it hadn't gone quite to plan. Since then, the man had been asking for every woman's opinion on the matter that he could find, which was generally Tifa or Aerith, as he tended to loiter around Merlin's house. Yuffie's office was rarely used by the younger woman—it was practically just a desk with a few files in it and an outdated computer—and those in Yuffie's department knew not to look for her there, so it had been deemed the hide-out for the afternoon.

But you take advantage of something ONCE…

"Uh…hi?" Yuffie greeted with a question mark as she opened her office door to find the two there.

Tifa waved with her spoon, being in the process of swallowing ice cream. Aerith just sunk lower in her seat.

"…Whatcha doin'?" Yuffie asked in a singsong voice, looking curious about their presence.

"Hiding." Tifa sat back in the swiveling chair behind Yuffie's desk—the only one that was comfortable.

Yuffie crossed over to the lonely little file cabinet against the wall. "From-?"

"Jake." Tifa offered.

"I know right?" Yuffie looked at her in agreement. "What's his damage?"

"McCallister is his damage." Tifa shrugged.

Yuffie smirked, "You're really starting to show." She glanced at Tifa's stomach.

"That's the other thing we're hiding from." Tifa pointed at her. "My eyes are up here!" Then, changing mood almost like lightning, she asked. "You've faked an orgasm before, right?"

Aerith groaned and sank even lower in her seat.

Yuffie blinked, "On occasion…" Her gaze slid from Tifa to Aerith, "What kind of weirdo conversations are you two having back here?"

Tifa paused, unsure how deep into this she wanted to go, but Aerith spoke up, sounding irritated. "I faked it last night with Cloud." She folded her arms on the desk, dumping her head into her forearms dramatically.

Yuffie blinked again, looking from Aerith, to Tifa, and back to Aerith. "So?"

"So?!" Aerith sat up, "I feel horrible!"

"Did it feel horrible?" Yuffie lifted an eyebrow. "Is that why you faked it?"

"No!" Aerith wailed, "I was just…preoccupied. I couldn't focus…I've been so wrapped up in all this research and these budget meetings…I just sort of…pretended…"

Tifa laughed and Aerith looked at her, affronted. "Aerith, it would have been worse if you hadn't."

"Cloud and I have been…together…for over six months, and this has never happened before." The woman confessed. "Are we doing something wrong?"

"No," Yuffie shrugged, "In fact, I think you're a better girlfriend for faking it when you didn't really…reach the top of the mountain." She snickered at her little euphemism.

Aerith didn't look encouraged by that, and instead asked Tifa. "So you…with Leon…"

"Sure." Tifa bobbed her head, "Not here recently though…With these hormones…a Blizzard Spell couldn't put me out." She paused, looking thoughtful. "I wonder what Leon's doing after patrol today…"

Both Yuffie and Aerith looked disturbed at that.

Shaking her head, Aerith fidgeted, "I guess I'm just…not used to…NOT…reaching the top of the mountain with him."

Yuffie snickered again at the euphemism.

Tifa, however, paused in her thoughts to look at Aerith. "Wait…wait…wait…'with' him? As in, at the same time?" Aerith just looked at her blankly, so Tifa leaned closer, clarifying, "At the same time?"

Aerith shifted, "Well…yeah."

"Holy crap." Yuffie put her hands on her hips.

"What?" Aerith looked between the two self consciously.

"You two have been doing it for six months," Tifa said slowly, "And you reach the top of the mountain at the same time, every time?"

Yuffie snickered again at the euphemism.

"Barring last night." Aerith folded her arms. "Is that not normal?"

"No." Tifa chuckled through her response, "But that's…impressive."

"Dude…" Yuffie blinked, "I want your sex life."

Finished with her ice cream, Tifa pulled out her phone and texted Leon. Aerith looked bewildered.

Yuffie just groaned and left her office, muttering, "Fucking soulmates."

..:-X-:..

056 – Change My Mind

Cid was going for the broom that he kept in the main office of the garage, but Jake was already bolting for the door, yelling over his shoulder, "I'm sorry! I just thought I'd ask your opinion!"

"You're just lucky I don't have a gun back here!" Cid brandished the broom, stepping out of the office.

He was going to tan the younger man's hide for his endless pestering about girl problems, but he stopped short when he found, not Jake Alms standing in his mechanic shop, but Beverly.

She looked intrigued by his choice of weapon. "Is this…a bad time?"

Cid faltered, wrong footed, but saw Jake making good progress all the way across the commercial district through the glass doors. "Yeah…I mean, no. No, not a bad time." He set the broom aside. "What brings you here?"

Beverly pressed her hands together briefly before shoving them in her pockets. "What usually does?"

He paused for just a beat before setting the broom down. "A'right. Shop closes in half an hour, we could-"

"No." Beverly interrupted, "Not—" She let out a rush of air and shifted from one foot to the other. "I meant you. I usually come to Radiant Garden for you…not just the sex."

A tingle descended his spine, but he rolled his neck to get rid of it. "Look, I'm sorry about…a few weeks ago. It was pretty shitty of me to just show up, yellin' and carryin' on like that."

Beverly looked pensive, "Well…yeah, but…some interesting things were said."

He stared at her, unable to entirely recall that night, aside from the fleeting memories of alcohol, raised voices, sweat, and her perfume. He could put the pieces together…but he hadn't realized he'd been drunk enough to spill any beans. What beans were there to spill?

"You're an honest drunk, Cid." She smiled slowly.

"Ah, Hell…What did I say?" He mumbled.

Beverly held his eyes evenly for a second longer than was normal. "You said that you liked me."

Cid remained carefully expressionless…and failed entirely. "Yeah, well…there you go." He snapped a cigarette out of the pack in his pocket, lighting it swiftly.

"So I told you that I liked you too." She added.

"Were you as drunk as me?" He grunted.

"No, I'm an honest sober person." She remarked. "And you said that liking me scares you."

"Well…maybe it does." Cid said nonchalantly, inhaling around the cigarette.

Beverly looked hesitant. "Why?"

Cid twitched, not liking where this was leading. "Why doesn't it scare you?"

"Cid, we're both adults here. Don't act like a teenager." Beverly said flatly.

He bristled. "I'm not the one that threw a hissy fit because I didn't freak out when you announced you were moving to Radiant Garden."

The grin slid off her face. "I did not throw a hissy fit."

"You totally jumped on my ass."

"Why are you picking a fight?"

He smirked. "Because you get all hot and bothered when you're pissed."

She opened her mouth to retort, deflated, and shook her head with a snort. "You're an ass."

He puffed lightly on the cigarette and a more comfortable quiet moment passed.

"So…what happens now?" Beverly prompted. "The cat's out of the bag: we like each other."

"Hm." He nodded, "I guess this is where a normal man would ask a normal woman out."

Beverly looked thoughtful. "Okay, so what will WE do?" She paused. "Sorry, it's not 'we', is it?"

Cid frowned, exhaling smoke. She looked both hurt and hopeful at the same time. Fucking hopeful. He knew what hopeful felt like, and he knew even more acutely what it felt like to have that hope doused in gasoline and lit on fire. He inwardly flinched. Dammit, that had been over 20 years ago. It was time to get the fuck over it.

"I," He enunciated, leaning back against the counter. "am going to be in Atlantica next week."

She squinted one eye at the change in topic. "Okay, have fun with the fins…"

"LANDLOCKED Atlantica." Cid clarified. "Inspecting the Heartless prevention program on the continent." He stared at the glass doors past her. "It's gonna take a while, so I know I'll be there at least until next Thursday night."

"What does that—"

"Maybe," He spoke over her, "you have business to do in Atlantica."

She squinted the other eye, "I don't usually—"

"And if we're both in Atlantica…by happen-stance…around eight o'clock on Thursday…and we happen to run into each other at this local restaurant…" He tapped the ash off the end of his cigarette. "It might be busy and we might end up sharing a table."

Beverly gave him a long, hard look, before chuckling. "That's probably the most romantic way I've ever been asked out on a date."

"I never said date." Cid said, mocking loftiness.

"Oh, okay." She nodded sagely with a wink. "So…maybe I'll see you then."

"Or maybe not." Cid continued to feign nonchalance. "It's just whatever."

"Right," She snickered. "Well, I'm glad we decided not to decide on anything."

The phone rang on the desk behind him, and they both glanced at it.

"I guess I'll get going." Beverly took that as a cue to leave. "See you…whenever."

"Whenever." Cid shrugged teasingly.

She flashed a devilish grin as she backed out of the glass doors, slipping her sunglasses on as she headed toward the town square. Cid watched her go, arms still folded, cigarette idling between his lips, and a dumb grin snuck across his mouth.

He picked up the phone on the next to last ring. "Cid's Garage."

"Did you ask her out?"

"Alms, go fucking talk to McCallister about your shit!"

..:-X-:..

057 – Blind Date

Until she found herself standing outside the restaurant, Yuffie was determined not to do this. She thought it was stupid and unnecessary and…stupid. And yet, there she was, glaring at the front doors of the establishment, cursing everything, particularly Jake. He must have caught her at a weak moment…she wasn't entirely sure how he had persuaded her to do this. It probably had something to do with his ability to turn on the Puppy Eyes at the drop of a hat.

Stupid Jake and his stupid face.

Feeling immensely self-conscious, Yuffie checked her watch again. She was late. Just by a few minutes, but she was late. This Trevor person was probably already inside, if he was any gentleman at all…Then again, he was one of Jake's friends. So he was probably full of lame pick up lines, cheeky mannerisms, and artificially whitened teeth. She grimaced but caved and walked into the restaurant.

Okay, so she hadn't been on a date in a while. That was no big deal. She had been busy saving the universe and generally being a bad ass. She had no time for men and their stupid boy penises. They couldn't handle her. She could get a date anytime she wanted. She was a bad ass. So why was she sweating?

Yuffie glanced around the half-crowded area. Jake had told her that Trevor was tall and brawny and ginger. He hadn't said what he'd told his friend about her. Probably that she was awesome…because she totally was. Too awesome for something as lame as a blind date, anyway. She could just leave right now, and save this poor Trevor fellow the embarrassment of not being as cool as her.

But leaving felt like retreat, and she was no coward. So, sweating and starting to feel nauseated, she continued to look for a tall, brawny ginger. All the tables seemed to be full of people, couples, chatting and talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

Crap, she was going to have to talk to this dude.

As soon as that thought registered, she spotted a tall redhead at a table by himself. The lighting was socially dim, probably to make the restaurant seem romantic or ambient, but it only served to jumble his features as she squinted, trying to decide if this was worth her while.

Because, yeah, it was kinda douchey to judge someone on their appearance, but we all do it. For better, for worse, even if we don't act on it and immediately reprimand ourselves for doing it, we still do it. If he was cute, she would give him a shot. If not, well, it was just dinner.

That morning, she had cleared out a Heartless nest in the old castle ruins, facing down three beasts the size of minivans without a moment's thought. THIS she was stressing out about?

Steeling herself, Yuffie crossed over to where he was sitting. He made eye contact with her when she was a few paces away, and something struck familiar with her. She couldn't put her finger on it.

"Trevor?" She greeted apprehensively.

No, I'm Joe. Leave me alone, I'm busy being ginger. OR…

Yes, but you're shorter than I expected. Raincheck? OR…

No hablo ingles, pero eres feo.

"Yuffie?" He smiled just as apprehensively, standing from his seat and offering his hand. "Yeah, that's me. Trevor, I mean. Not Yuffie, that's you…but you knew that…Sorry."

His voice was deep and rumbly. Yuffie shook his hand, noting that his hand was huge and that, upon closer inspection, he was built like a truck. Where did she recognize him from?

"Nice to meet you." Seeing him so nervous put her a little at ease. "So, Jake has told me absolutely nothing, other than you're ginger. Tell me a little about yourself. Are you from Radiant Garden?"

They both sat down again.

"Not originally." He replied. "But I relocated here after I was transferred from the base unit in Deep Jungle."

"Ah, so you're enlisted in the Alliance?" Yuffie prompted. "I'm the head of the Stealth and Recon Department." She said proudly.

He canted his head, "Wow, that's unbelievable." He blinked. "Not...unbelievable because you're a woman or anything…I actually think women make better leaders than men…not to show any disrespect to the men leaders in the Alliance…Sorry…sorrysorry." He shook his head, "I ramble when I'm nervous."

"I noticed." Yuffie grinned gently. "But that's cool. I'm sweating like a mammoth."

Wow, Yuffie, don't try to be ladylike or anything.

Trevor snorted at that and looked at her evenly. "You look really familiar."

"Yeah, you know, I was thinking the same about you." She squinted thoughtfully.

They both suddenly paused.

"No-slow-dance girl?"

"Lumberjack?"

Stupid Jake.

..:-X-:..

A/N: I feel like the longer I write this story, the more insecurity issues per capita just keep exponentially increasing. Commitment issues for everybody! Maybe that's just my passive aggressive reaction to stories where Boy meets Girl and they kiss and then it's promptly happily ever after for them. Real life recently reminded me that it does NOT work like that. Hence my cynicism.

Tifa and Leon already went through all that noise, so they're immune at this point, haha.

Preview for next week: If a grown man could actually squee, Cloud saw Leon do it.