28: Finally

Warning: Slightly mature content. Okay, slash 'slightly'.

"Ten minutes till lights out. Where are the models? Have them line up in the right side of the stage now!" Rufus ordered through the walky-talky. Loud music was blaring from the speakers, the onlookers were all fidgeting on their seats, waiting to finally see the controversial line's presentation. Backstage, none of the models and stylists heard anything coherent but their own words.

'I need hair spray!'

'I need a new bottle of nail polish!'

Organized chaos was the right way to describe it, Tifa mused as she watched the models and staff scurrying about. The first collection was the casual street apparel, consisting of leather biker jackets, distressed jeans. Cloud and she would be walking down the runway in a few minutes. He was wearing a red leather jacket with spike studs on the shoulders, a gray shirt and distressed jeans paired with boots, while she would be sporting a similar jacket—only its studs were smaller and in black—then a stark white shirt with the word 'hi' embossed on it and distressed shorts, paired with knee-high studded boots.

"Feeling nervous?" she asked her boyfriend.

Cloud looked up at her and smiled a little. "Yeah. I mean… I might fuck up out there."

She laughed at him and punched his arm playfully. "Don't be. Just think of the time you were bravest, and you'll be alright. Plus, you sound like a girl worrying about your walking skills."

"Sure. I'll be beside you anyway," he whispered.

"Yep."

He studied her face for a minute before saying, "Those earrings don't go with your outfit, you know."

Tifa frowned. Well, this was the first time he had ever said anything like that. "What? Really?"

"Yeah," Cloud said while grinning. "Um." he paused, looking down at the floor. "I got you a birthday present but I forgot to give it to you, so…" he grabbed his ever present backpack and produced a small box. "Here," he said. Tifa took the box slowly.

Oh. This box is familiar.

"Oh my gosh Cloud they're so pretty!" she exclaimed at the sight of the earrings. "Thank you very much!" In a moment, the diamond wing-drop earrings were on her ears, shimmering pleasantly.

"Thirty seconds. I don't see Tifa and Cloud!" Rufus roared to the walky-talky.

"Tifa and Cloud are on the move," replied Lazard lazily. The stylist sighed deeply. "Finally, round one is over."

Dionne had made a last minute playlist change. He said that he did not feel like the remix was right for the 'diverse themes of the show'. Tifa let him go ahead and change the tracks, of course.

"Go," Rufus told the first pair of models and My Chemical Romance's Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back started to play. When she reached the end of the runway, Rufus released the next two. There were twenty-eight models walking in this collection. Black Veil Bride's Rebel Love Song was the last track for the collection. The collection took fifteen minutes and ten seconds.

As expected, the audience erupted in cheer as Tifa and Cloud emerged onto the runway, holding hands. Editors-in-chief of various fashion magazines were sitting in the front row, their eyebrows high on their wrinkle-free foreheads (well, three had blunt bangs.) She saw almost everybody from the industry there, sitting and watching her. Among them was Cissnei, wearing a sapphire blue frock. Cissnei looked up and caught Tifa's eye, then smiled gingerly.

When they reached the changing tent, it was chaos again. The second collection consisted of the smart casuals. Kelly Clarkson's What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) opened the second show.

"Those aren't the earrings I made you wear earlier," Lazard observed as he brushed her hair.

"No, these aren't. These are from Cloud. They're nice, aren't they?" she answered.

"They're pretty."

Gotye's Somebody I Used To Know played and Cloud rushed to the runway. Tifa would only be walking the runway twice—at the beginning and at the end. During the party collection, a remix of Katy Perry's ET by Noisia blared through the room. Tifa sneaked a peak, and saw some minders bobbing their heads to the beat. Dionne had picked nice songs, she thought. Some of the members of the audience squealed at the sight of Cloud returning to the runway for the third time, but it was Aerith, wearing her pink sequined dress, who caught the eyes of the onlookers at the second track, We Found Love by Rihanna.

Forty minutes seemed to have passed too quickly, Tifa thought as she walked in between the two lines of models. Everybody was clapping for her. She had not changed out of her casual street clothes. Cloud stood at the very front of the line.

"Thank you!" Tifa mouthed, her voice having developed a difficulty in leaving her lips. She waved and bowed her head, smiling broadly. Cloud took her hand and she looked up at him. "Congrats," he whispered, his smile mirroring hers. Without waiting for another moment to pass, he leaned in to claim her lips. The kiss earned louder clapping. Her heart was hammering against her chest's confines again, making her unaware of the deafening applause for an instant.

She smiled at him before they began walking back, followed by the rest of the models. Once they were backstage, the staff's cheers were even more deafening. Rufus had shaken a bottle of champagne and sent its cork flying… spraying the unfortunate employees beside him—namely Lazard and Shelly, with it. It was really bizarre to see Rufus behaving that way. Tifa had only been expecting a curt smile and congratulations with a bouquet of flowers, to be honest.

"So, how was it?" she asked as they zipped through the highway with the Fenrir. They had declined the Mercedes and security detail after the party, albeit the thick throngs of paparazzi waiting outside. The couple's adrenaline rush had still not gone down.

Cloud sped up a bit then cut past a Hummer. "It was awesome, now that it's over, but let's get something clear here, Teef. I'm never going to walk the in a fashion show ever again."

She laughed. "That's cool with me. You kept slouching. Slouching is a taboo for models."

"Aw man, you noticed?"

"Duh. You'll need more workshops and lessons."

"Lessons? Workshops?"

"If you want to continue being a runway model. Your poses are fine."

"Ah, thanks."

"You were aware that the entire show was televised right?"

"Like the Victoria's Secret fashion show?"

"Uh-huh."

"Cool. Zack and I watched those. In TV, of course… You were there on the sidelines before, weren't you?" he said.

"Yep. The production manager of the show works for VS, he's a close friend of Ysabelle, that's why the show was more than a fashion show." Tifa frowned. She'd watched the VS show together with Genesis and they didn't talk until the show was over—he was too busy having his eyes glued to the scantily-clad supermodels. "Did you see Cissnei?"

"Oh…um, I think I did."

Tifa buried her head on the crook his shoulder, watching the blurred lines of the road zip past. Cissnei was there. The girl had some nerve showing up in her territory. But, Tifa should not be worried. Cissnei was there to watch the show—not look for another man to steal. She was sure that Cloud was far more loyal than the past man in her life.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." she replied, shaking off the fear she was feeling. She knew that Cloud would not be swayed by any seductress. But…

"Are you thinking of Cissnei?" Cloud asked. He heaved a sigh. "Don't worry. You're the one I love. Have faith in me, like I have faith in you." The Fenrir shuddered to a stop, and she knew that they were in front of her house. She swung one leg over to get off, not really expecting that he would be staying tonight.

"Good night," she said quietly.

He stared at her for a moment, searching for something. He got off the Fenrir and smiled. "You're sending me away so soon." His arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her closer to him.

"I wasn't sure whether you wanted to stay. I thought you were very tired…aren't you?" she asked.

He shook his head and she pulled him towards the house. The moment she'd locked the door, he put his arms around her again, smiled his blue-eyed smile and bent down to kiss her. The kiss was not gentle nor rough, it was hungry. He pressed gently against her, his erection connecting touching her belly. It had been so long since she last felt how a man's body reacted with hers… Lowering her hand between them, she let the back of her fingers brush over him. He sucked in his breath.

"Jeez, girl," he said. "You are shameless."

"I'm sorry."

"My fault…" Cloud said.

Tifa burst laughing after a moment. "You go upstairs, I'll meet you there in a minute. Can I… can I get you anything to drink?" she said, feeling all fussy inside, like some nervous virgin.

"No thanks." he said, looking at her straight in her eyes.

Upstairs, he pulled the shade in her bedroom, and he room filled with pale, warm light. The bed was neatly made, as he had watched her do so that morning. Tonight was the night. He didn't know why he was suddenly in the mood, but he couldn't just ignore his need… Was he asking too much of her? What if… she wasn't in for it?

"I'm coming, don't give up on me!" she called. Cloud heard her footsteps on the stairs and in a moment, she appeared in the doorway. She couldn't help but grin as she walked towards him.

She lay down next to him, rolling onto her side. He touched her cheek then smoothed her hair. "You are so beautiful," he whispered. "You're so precious to me, do you know that?"

"I feel the same way," she said. Her voice felt thick.

He bent over to kiss her and she pulled his shirt over his head as he drew away. She watched him quickly undressing. Once he was done, he took the pleasure of undoing her. "You are so breathtaking," he muttered. She closed her eyes and let the electricity flow through her body.

They made love until the wee hours of the morning. Afterwards, they cuddled. They spoke no words, not wanting the spell to be broken. Cloud ran his finger down her arm. His touch was… light, gentle. The sensations still lingered. Tifa finally turned her head to face him. "You know, that was…"

"Shh," he said, placing his finger on her lips. She kissed them and put them away.

"You know, I bought this house because of one reason. You wanna know that?"

"Okay," Cloud said.

Tifa got up from the bed, crossed the room to retrieve a robe from her closet. "Follow me," she said as soon he had buttoned his pants. She led him to her rooftop, which he had never set foot on before. The dark starlit sky was beginning to lighten up. The sun was rising, and it was extremely cold. Cloud wondered if she was feeling cold.

"I'll make coffee." Tifa said, a smile flashed quickly. "Do you want to stay here a little longer? I'll be back in a jiffy."

"No, I think I'll help you make coffee."

"Alright." They went back inside, to the warm house. She turned on the radio to fill their silence. Mellow music resonated from its speakers, which set the perfect mood for the groggy—not to mention very tired—couple. Tifa opened the fridge and asked, "Which jam would you prefer? Raspberry or Blueberry?"

"Blueberry's fine by me." Cloud answered, as he took out a loaf of bread. "How would you like your bread? Toasted with the crust cut out?"

"I prefer my crust intact." Tifa said. "We're discussing breakfast like a married couple."

"I know right?" he laughed, reaching out to take her hand. "We'd better hurry up or we'll miss the sunrise."

"Yeah," Tifa said.

The sky was already sporting a light yellow tint by the time they came back up to the rooftop. He set the tray down on the table. "Now I know why you love this place," he said.

"I'm loving it even more now," she whispered, looking up at him.

He nodded. "Let's chow before the food and coffee gets cold."

Author's Note: Okay, is that long enough for ye? I'm sorry I wasn't able to submit this chapter earlier, I had to go out of town. I think… I am an awkward author when it comes to love scenes. Do you or do you not agree? I found it extremely awkward to imagine them getting it on, even though I was all alone, honestly.

Please don't forget to review.

Victoria Chrystallis