A/N: Rated M for language and sexual content. Standard disclaimer applies.

Updated 10/10/2020: Massive edits throughout. Additional dialogue and scene between Reno and Tifa.

Chapter 20:

Marlene had been chattering about Reno's promise all morning. Tifa honestly thought the little girl might forget what the Turk said to her the previous night by the time she woke up – or that she would be less amenable to the idea given that Reno was a stranger to her. No such luck. And now Barret was irritated.

"He said what?" he asked, his voice raised and guttural. "When did he talk to you?"

"Last night," Marlene offered in her most innocent-sounding tone. Barret's face contorted even further into a grimace. What kind of man talks to a little girl that isn't his own and makes promises to her about taking her on trips?

"He offered to take us all up today," Tifa added, as if that might help make Barret more comfortable.

"Out of the question," Barret said defiantly.

"Why not?" Marlene asked with a bit of a whine to her voice. Barret's eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

"Because he's the one who—"

"Barret!" Tifa interjected, giving him a look.

However much Barret might hate Reno, he couldn't tell Marlene what the redhead had done. She was only four when the plate dropped, and Barret didn't need to bring up a trauma that had affected her childhood so deeply. It was better for her to be blissfully ignorant of everyone who was involved rather than be reminded of that day.

"It's not happening," Barret insisted.

They were all seated in Tifa's kitchen eating breakfast – eggs and pancakes, at Marlene's behest.

"Daddy!"

"Barret, she really wants to go, and remember what we talked about yesterday…"

"Drinking with them Turks is one thing, but letting one – that one – take us into the air in some rickety helicopter is out of the question," Barret said. He then shifted his gaze to Marlene and let his expression drop, looking into her big brown eyes and feeling his resolve tremble. "Marlene, we can't always get what we want, and we can't expect other people to do what we want."

Tifa didn't interject again. Barret was Marlene's guardian, and truth be told, Tifa didn't really think Reno was being serious even with his text the night before. Nor did she think any of this was a good idea since the monster population was getting out of control and trying to protect Marlene during any trip would be difficult.

"But he offered!" Marlene exclaimed, throwing her hands out to the side. "He's nice!"

Barret and Tifa both snorted at that comment.

Barret hated to disappoint Marlene, especially since he had been doing that for most of her life. But he was also worried about her safety – that Turk could be planning something against AVALANCHE for all he knew. Still, if they all went up with him, maybe they would be safe. After all, he had always been a pushover during their earlier quest. Barret hung his head and took a deep breath. He shook his head in disbelief of what he was about to say.

He lifted his head and saw Marlene, wide-eyed and hopeful, staring back at him. He couldn't say no to that little face.

"Okay, but one short trip and that's it," he said, trying to maintain some semblance of authority.

Marlene got up from the table and ran around to give her father a hug. Tifa smiled at the display of familial love. She missed that. She missed having Marlene around her home like in Sector 7. Things were so much simpler then – and she wasn't alone.

She stepped into her bedroom to text Reno back, figuring he wouldn't answer or would cancel or wouldn't show up at their meeting time and place if one was agreed upon. The whole thing was a ploy to get her attention, and bailing would certainly be a very Reno thing to do, she thought. If that were the case, she'd need to come up with something equally as entertaining to excite Marlene. If Reno let down that little girl…

"Good for helicopter today? Can you pick us up at 11?" she sent the text and held her breath.

She had never responded to one of Reno's texts before and didn't want to make it a habit. This was all for Marlene. Reno would have to behave himself around Barret and his daughter, of that Tifa was thankful.

Then there was that little part of her that thought it might be fun to go up in a helicopter and spend the day with Reno. As much as she told herself she hated their encounters, she was really coming to enjoy what each new day would bring – whether he would sneak up on her and how he would make her smile.

Oh, Gods help her, she actually liked his presence. Couldn't be, she just missed Cloud's presence. She hadn't experienced liking someone other than Cloud before, so this was all new territory to her. It was exciting and horrifying at the same time. She really hoped Cloud would just come home soon to end all these thoughts rattling around in her brain.

Meanwhile…

Reno woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing. Probably Elena again, wanting to hang out on Sunday so she wouldn't be alone. Weakling. Why couldn't she just drink alone like everyone else?

He checked his phone and immediately shot up in bed, the sheets falling below his naked torso, when he saw who had texted him. He even rubbed his eyes to be sure he was reading correctly.

"1 text message from Tifa."

Hot damn, that little girl worked a miracle. Maybe kids weren't so bad. They did seem to like Reno for some reason, but he hadn't usually tried to connect with any. He had that reputation and all; couldn't look like he'd pull his punches if children were around. He destroyed Sector 7, dammit, who knows how many kids died by his hand.

He shuddered at the thought. That, more than anything, had always haunted him. President Shinra ordered him to kill all those people, including children, just because of some little eco-terrorist group.

He shook his head to dismiss the thought. He had a text waiting for him.

"Good for helicopter today? Can you pick us up at 11?"

So, it wasn't the sexiest text, but it did mean he would get to see her if he got his shit together. He checked the time on his phone after reflexively looking to where his alarm clock used to sit. He hadn't bought a new one, and the one in pieces on the floor wasn't talking anymore.

Shit! It was already past 10!

Reno jumped out of bed as if he had gotten an urgent, direct command from Rufus Shinra himself, then ran to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave. No time for coffee. Wait, there was always time for coffee.

It was the fastest he had gotten to the office from his apartment in, well, ever. The helicopter was on the roof.

Okay, so he didn't exactly have permission to use the helicopter whenever he wanted, but that hadn't stopped him before – and he hadn't been caught. He knew how to get to the roof undetected, even though he did feel a pang of guilt using his Turk training against his employer. Just a pang, though. Besides, he and Rude were the only professional pilots Shinra had at the moment, it basically belonged to him.

Twenty past 11, but the chopper was fast. He had to fly it back over Old Midgar and then quite away around Edge to keep it out of sight of any Shinra employees. Thankfully, the new Shinra building had been erected near the wall to Old Midgar, making it easier to sneak the vehicle off company property.

It felt good to be back in the sky again. It'd been a couple months since he and Rude went to Nibelheim, and he had been itching to get back into the pilot's seat. Plus, he was going to get to spend his day with Tifa (and the oaf and the kid, but whatever) and he was much more excited about the antics they could get up to than spending another day drinking with Rude and Elena.

Don't get him wrong, he loved drinking with Rude and Elena, but he needed a change of pace, even for just one day.

He had texted Tifa back to tell her to meet him on the outskirts of the city to the east. With hardship came ingenuity. Since the monster attacks had gotten so bad businesses had to close, Edge learned to adapt. Business owners who could afford it built roof entrances to their establishments, while average citizens constructed roof-top pathways. The monsters were generally confined to the ground, so residents of the world's largest city created a whole system of skywalks and ladders to keep the city running as best it could. It was crude in some parts of town, with simple planks of wood and whatever else residents could find that would fit between buildings to allow passage.

Since Tifa lived above her bar, roof access wasn't possible, but she did work out a deal with the one-story business next door that allowed people to climb down the other building and walk just a few feet to the front door of Seventh Heaven. Most of her patrons didn't see the brief danger as a hindrance to their drinking, but she had to start cutting people off before they got too drunk to traverse the skywalks.

To get to the outskirts of the city, Tifa, Barret, and Marlene climbed and carefully crossed the paths leading east. Barret carried Marlene over the more dangerous bridges, but the little girl quickly showed she was adept at making her way over the make-shift walkways.

It's how they had gotten to the ice-cream shop the day before, but had decided to use the sidewalk on the way back to Seventh Heaven since there didn't seem to be any monsters in the short distance to the bar – and the rooftop paths had become crowded.

Reno half expected them not to show, but after a couple swings in the chopper, he saw her with the big man and the little girl. Barret was shooting at a few doomrats that were trying to get into the city as Tifa was helping Marlene down from the ladder against the last building in Edge.

Reno switched the chopper to autopilot briefly so he could fire some warning bullets from the helicopter's machine gun on the earth outside the city. It would certainly draw attention to the vehicle, but this location was specifically chosen because it was far enough away from where any snooping Shinra employees lived.

The distraction worked to scare off the fiends and he set the helicopter down a little further from Edge before shutting off the engine and disembarking. He trotted around the vehicle to greet his new companions, taking immediate notice of what Tifa was wearing.

"Where to?" he said cheerfully as he looked them over.

Tifa donned a pair of jean cutoff shorts that showed off even more of her toned legs than her usual miniskirt, along with an oversized crop top that sloped down one shoulder to reveal the thick red strap of a bikini. Reno's mind instantly filled with thoughts of what might be uncovered when she removed the coverup; visions of seeing what remained covered by her damp dress from the night they kissed dancing through his head. Completing Tifa's ensemble were flipflops and a big floppy hat with large round sunglasses that nearly covered her face. She was clearly prepared for a beach trip.

"The beach!" Marlene said excitedly. She too, had sunglasses and a bathing suit on, though hers was a purple one-piece.

Barret was dressed… as Barret. He never had time for beach trips. He was also standing with his arms folded and his gaze narrowed on Reno, searching for the dastardly scheme the Turk had worked out against them.

"The beach it is, then," Reno beamed, though his cheerfulness seemed a bit contrived.

Things couldn't have worked out better, in Reno's mind, as he led them back to the helicopter. He'd get to spend the day racking up points with Tifa and staring at her half naked. He had always wondered – but never complained – why women were perfectly comfortable wearing basically their underwear in public so long as they were near the ocean. Tifa had been so concerned about him seeing her in her underwear yet here she was offering herself up on a silver platter, and she didn't seem concerned. He loved it.

"You don't actually have to land," Tifa told him quietly as they approached the helicopter. "I told her it was most likely just a short flight and not an all-day trip."

"Don't worry 'bout it," Reno said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I got nothing else to do today. Might as well laze around a beach." He turned to look over his shoulder at Barret and Marlene, who were a few feet behind them. "Besides, any chance to see you half naked is worth a sunburn."

Tifa wanted to shove him for his comment but clenched her fist instead. She couldn't let Barret know he had said anything crass to her or he might get suspicious about Reno's intentions. She didn't want Marlene's day to be ruined over an errant comment.

"Expect payback," she whispered when he realized she would not retaliate in front of Barret.

Reno grinned and opened the side door, offering his hand to help Tifa step inside. She accepted, and he did the same for Marlene, but Barret pulled her away and lifted her up on his own to Tifa's awaiting arms. Reno shrugged and returned to the pilot's seat, giving instructions on how to use the headsets so they could keep in contact before taking off.

They were already over the ocean when Tifa made her way to the cockpit, supporting herself by leaning on the back of the two pilot's chairs.

"Shouldn't we have landed back there?" she called over the roar of the engine.

"You said the beach, right?" Reno asked.

"Yes, I thought you understood the Midgar beaches," she said.

Barret's distrust level was rising as soon as he saw the chopper fly over the ocean between the Eastern and Western Continents. He knew that Turk was taking them somewhere for an ambush.

"So, I'm taking you to the beach!" Reno called over the headset.

It was then that the three passengers saw Costa del Sol out the window. Marlene was ecstatic, having never been to the resort town before.

Tifa became nostalgic, memories of happier times flooding back as she took in the crystal waters and golden sands. She still had the key to the villa on her keyring. Her heart jumped at the thought of finding Cloud in town. It would break her heart to learn that he had moved to the resort town after their discussion in The Forgotten Capital. She knew it wasn't likely that he would be there, but if he left because he didn't love her anymore, what was stopping him from finding someone new?

Reno set the chopper down in a secure area just outside of town, where a team of guards were working to ensure tourists could still visit despite the increase in monster attacks around the world. The Costa police force must have rivaled Junon's, securing the outer perimeter of the town and the beach to keep visitors safe. As Reno stepped out of the cockpit, he felt his stomach drop at the sudden realization that he might run into Maur while in town. He didn't think the Turk would turn in his superior officer for an obviously unofficial use of company property, but he might get the wrong idea about Reno's relationship with Tifa and blab to his coworkers. Maur always was an awkward romantic.

Still, Reno walked around the helicopter with a smug grin on his face, quite proud of himself for the extra step he had taken to ensure Marlene's happiness and the points that would score him with Tifa. He helped the girls with their bags – perfect gentleman – and led them into town like he was their personal chauffeur or something. The beach was surprisingly crowded thanks to the Costa Tourism Board's campaign to attract travelers by emphasizing the increased security. Costa del Sol was still the lovable little resort town it had always been, but the AVALANCHE members now noticed there was a large police presence in the street and especially around the beach.

"Those Midgar beaches are no good, yo," Reno said as they made their way toward the oceanfront. "We'd be fighting monsters all day. At least here the police keep them at bay."

As he spoke, Barret could hear the distant sounds of gunfire and metal meeting flesh, a small price to pay, he assumed, for those wealthy enough to travel at this time to enjoy a little sun.

They managed to find a space on the beach and set down some towels. Tifa was dying to go see the villa, but Marlene was already running to the water.

"Marlene, wait!" Tifa called as she chased after the little girl.

That left Barret and Reno alone on the beach.

"What's your angle?" Barret asked, accusatorially, though he didn't take his eyes off Marlene.

"No angle," Reno said casually. "I wanted to take the chopper out and figured I could make your girl happy."

"My girl?" Barret asked, his eyes narrowing as he whipped his head toward the Turk.

"Your daughter."

"Right," Barret was now suspicious in a different way. "Just how often do you come to the bar?"

"A few times a week, it's Rude's favorite place," Reno said while watching Tifa try to keep Marlene from wading into the ocean.

Reno had noticed Tifa's stitches had nearly dissolved, which must have been thanks to Cure spells repairing the surface wound. She wasn't completely healed though, and he knew she was smart enough not to go into the filthy ocean without closing the wound first.

"Uh huh," Barret said. It was all starting to make sense, but he figured he'd let it go for now.

Tifa returned with Marlene, practically dragging the little girl back to their towels. She already looked a little winded from trying to herd the girl.

"She really wants to go swimming," Tifa said to Barret upon their return.

"Can you take her? I guess we'll be here for a while, might as well go buy some trunks," Barret said, eyeing the shops behind the beach.

"You mean you didn't pack your sailor suit?" Tifa teased.

If anyone other than Tifa had just made that comment, Barret probably would have murdered them on the spot. He prayed Reno hadn't heard, though the redhead didn't seem to be paying much attention. Barret stormed off toward the town as Tifa began to remove her outer clothing.

"Now this is what I came here to see," Reno smirked as Tifa began to remove her crop top, folded it, and placed it in her beach bag. When that was done, she quickly put her hat and sunglasses back on.

Reno's expression dropped when she had fully removed the shirt only to reveal a red bikini top that covered as much of her chest as her usual tank top. Reno had expected – dreamed of, rather – a tiny string bikini that barely covered her breasts.

"Behave," Tifa warned, motioning toward Marlene.

"What did you come here to see?" Marlene asked, prompting Tifa to give Reno a look.

"The ocean, sweetheart," Reno cooed. "The ocean."

Tifa removed her shorts and placed them in her bag as well, completely aware of Reno's constant gaze. At least her bikini bottoms revealed more than her usual skirt.

She rolled her eyes. Yup, he used Marlene to get a day with her. Not like she was making it difficult for him, what with allowing Marlene to choose the beach as their destination.

"What's with the hat?" Reno asked once Tifa had finished removing her cover up. Tifa leaned close to him to whisper.

"It was for the sun but since we're here I'm going to use it for the paparazzi. They're getting bad again and I don't want to risk more articles," she said as quietly as possible.

Reno cocked an eyebrow at her admission and realized it might have been a mistake to come to the resort town.

Marlene kept looking at the ocean, forcing herself to stay near Tifa while the older woman sighed and hesitated.

"Hey, Reno, do you have your Restore materia by chance?" Tifa asked the redhead.

"Yup. Need to finish closing the wound?"

"If you don't mind."

Reno pulled out his mag rod and cast Cura just to be sure the wound completely closed. There was still a scar, but to the untrained eye it might look like an old injury instead of one that required her to stay in the hospital the past week.

Marlene watched Tifa get healed and couldn't help but remember the other night. Now she was sure she had heard a Cure spell in Tifa's room as she was returning with a fresh glass of water, but she had just seen Tifa's Restore materia in the first-aid box downstairs where she retrieved the potion earlier in the day. Thankfully, for Tifa, Marlene was too young to put it all together.

"Ready to go swimming, Marlene?" Tifa asked the little girl, who nodded eagerly.

Reno certainly enjoyed watching Tifa walk away. He rolled up his sleeves and leaned back on his towel, just imagining all the vile things he'd love to do to that woman. He watched as Tifa held Marlene's hand until the water was up to the little girl's waist, and then kneeled down in the ocean to teach her the basics of swimming. Tifa would make an excellent mother someday, he thought, uh, for some other guy who was certainly not him because all he wanted from her was sex. Definitely. One hundred percent. Just sticking to the plan.

He watched as this gorgeous, nurturing woman coaxed the little girl onto her stomach while keeping her own hands underneath the child just to get her used to floating in the water. He could watch her all day.

"You ain't swimming?" came a husky voice that brought him out of his thoughts.

"Nah, never learned," Reno told Barret, without taking his eyes off Tifa.

"Really?" Barret asked, sitting down on the towel furthest from Reno, now wearing some black cargo swim trunks. Why did they have pockets? Who knew, but there they were.

"Yep, grew up in the slums," Reno informed him. "No water, and even if there was, you wouldn't wanna swim in it."

"Gonna ask her to teach ya?" Barret said with a half-smirk.

"Hmm?" Reno was only half paying attention to his former adversary, who he still wasn't too keen on.

Barret just chuckled to himself and watched Marlene splashing about in the shallow water. Tifa looked back at him and smiled, then turned Marlene around so she could wave.

"She's an amazing woman, ya know," Barret said in a warning tone. He didn't want to start anything with Reno right now but wanted to give him the "don't you dare touch her" talk, even if he didn't believe Tifa would ever allow the Turk near her in the first place.

Reno didn't answer. Oh, he heard Barret alright, but wasn't about to let the big man think he was right. Because he wasn't.

"Well, enjoy your view," Barret said mockingly as he stood up and strolled down to the beach to join Tifa and Marlene.

Tifa let Barret take over teaching Marlene how to swim and laughed at the image of such a large man being so delicate with such a small girl. Tifa stood up and took a few steps back from them in the water, just to make sure Barret had things under control, then headed back to her towel to get some sun.

She sat down gently, trying not to squish her wound. Even with that final Cura spell, the thing still hurt. The salt water definitely didn't make it feel any better, but she didn't want to say no to Marlene or be alone with Reno right off the bat. She didn't want Barret to get the wrong idea.

Tifa took off her hat and sunglasses since everyone around them seemed to be simply enjoying the beach. She bent her knees but leaned back on her elbows, squinting at Reno in the glare of the sun that was shining just behind his head, making his bright red hair look like it was on fire.

"Not going to swim today?" she asked. Reno didn't want to admit to her that he couldn't.

"Nope, today I am just a humble chauffeur," he said, pretending to tip a hat toward her.

"Too bad, I was hoping to get some time to just lie in the sun by myself."

"Well, you know I can be quiet," Reno said, that roguish grin forming on his face. "Besides, I can't wait to see you with tan lines."

Tifa swatted him with the back of her hand and sat up to start applying sunscreen. She had gotten sunburned in Costa del Sol last year and did not want to experience that again. Her only consolation was that Cloud had gotten burned as well, so they suffered together and spent the next couple days regularly applying aloe to each other. It would have been hot if they hadn't been in so much agony.

Flashback…

"Morning, lobster," Cloud said to her one morning when they were both at their reddest.

"Mmm morning firetruck," she responded, in a voice that otherwise would have turned him on if the very thought of moving didn't cause him so much torture.

"Moogle nose."

"Ruby Weapon."

"Hedgehog pie."

"Reno's hair."

"Hey," Cloud said, "let's not say things we can't take back."

"I'd laugh but my face hurts."

Present Day…

"Want some help?" Reno looked positively devilish.

"I'm good, thanks," Tifa waved him off and smiled wryly. "Remember, I'm very flexible."

She put some sunscreen in her hands and reached behind her to apply it to her own shoulder blades, then applied a little more and reached her hands back lower to apply it to the area around her bikini top strap. It tugged her wound, but she wasn't about to give Reno the chance to touch her when Barret could see.

"Impressive," Reno said with a nod of his head and a short golf clap. "Now how far back can you stretch your legs?"

Tifa chuckled and shook her head before lying back down on her towel and stretching out her legs.

"You're really going to sit here all day in the sun like this?" she asked the redhead.

"Do you need silence to get a tan?"

Tifa snickered.

"You can use my sunscreen if you want," she said, handing him the bottle. She closed her eyes and settled in.

"Thanks, but I may need help with my back, yo," Reno said, deciding that it was too hot to wear a dress shirt even with the sleeves rolled up. He started to unbutton the shirt before applying lotion to his arms and front.

"You're saying you're not very flexible?" Tifa teased.

"Oh, I'll show you how flexible I am…"

"Tifa! Watch me!" Marlene called from the ocean.

Tifa sat up gently to see that Marlene was now paddling in the shallow water toward Barret, who kept moving backward while crouched down to get her to swim a little further.

"You're doing great, sweetie!" Tifa called to the girl, before lying back on her mat and hoping Reno had lost his train of thought.

"So, about my back…"

Of course.

"Fine, but only because I know how painful it is to be sunburnt," Tifa said, getting to her knees and squeezing some sunscreen onto her hands. She then rubbed them together and started massaging it onto Reno's muscular back. He was paler than Cloud, and thinner, but he was clearly fit with lean muscles in all the right places.

She hadn't touched a man like this since she rubbed aloe onto Cloud's back after their little getaway in Costa del Sol last year. The bar was under construction, so they spent a week in the resort town just enjoying each other's company and basking in the sun. It was one of her most perfect memories with Cloud. They both laughed and loved and didn't seem to notice there was anyone in the world but each other. She would give anything to have those days back…

"Having fun back there?" Reno asked after he realized Tifa was taking too long.

She shook her head and finished applying sunscreen to the small of his back.

"Sorry," she said, embarrassed.

"I already know how you find me distracting," Reno said, smiling.

"You and your ego!" Tifa rolled her eyes before lying back down on the towel and closing her eyes.

She thought about the villa, and whether Cloud had stayed there recently or if he was there right now. She wanted to investigate but didn't want to appear hopelessly devoted after what he said in The Forgotten Capital. If he were there now, however, he could come out at any moment and catch her out of context with Reno.

"Reno?" she asked after a few minutes of silence had passed.

"Yeah, babe?"

"Don't call me that."

"Sorry, babe."

"Did you get me those flowers?"

"How could I? I was working all day and visiting you in the hospital – or out drinking with Rude."

"Reno?"

"Nuh uh, lady, you ain't gettin' nothin' outta me," Reno smirked. "I'm trained to withstand all sorts of interrogation techniques."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"What about this one?" she said softly, causing him to look in her direction only to find her looking up at him with the sweetest, most pathetic puppy-dog eyes he had ever seen on a person.

"Uh… nope, not gonna work."

She pouted her lips and somehow managed to look even more pitiful. Reno turned away from her and lifted his chin in an exaggerated protest maneuver but turned his head to look over his shoulder at her with one eye opened. Tifa started quivering her lower lip and acting as if she were about to cry. She knew he was struggling.

"…still nothing."

Tifa let out a soft whimper.

"No way," Reno was more defiant now. "Well, there might be some way you could convince me to tell the truth," he said with a grin.

"You're terrible!" she retorted, smacking him with the back of her hand.

"Yanno, we've never had this much time together, just the two of us," he offered, seeming a little nostalgic.

"Well, that's usually because you sneak up on me and can't keep your hands to yourself!"

"So, you're saying you wouldn't mind spending time with me like this?"

He had her now. She'd walked into a trap he hadn't even planned to set.

"You ain't gettin' nothin' outta me," she said, mimicking him.

"Sounds like a yes if I ever heard one."

Tifa sat up as quickly as she could with her still-sore wound.

"So, you did get me those flowers!" she was already sure it was him, but this was basically confirmation. And she was still surprised. It was Reno after all. "How'd you do it? Why'd you do it?"

"I was in the Nibelheim neighborhood…" he said calmly.

"Bullshit."

"Hey, language there, little lady."

"So, Reno really does have a soft side," Tifa laid back down and brought her hands up behind her head in triumph.

"Huh? No way!" he quickly tried to correct. "I'm hard, baby, ain't nothin' soft about me."

"Yeah, okay," Tifa said sarcastically. "Your secret's safe with me."

Barret and Marlene returned, with the little girl excitedly telling Tifa about how she was just swimming,

"I saw," Tifa said in mock excitement to encourage Marlene. "You were doing great out there."

"Yeah but it's really tiring," Marlene said, plopping down on her towel.

She'd be back up and playing in five minutes, tops, Tifa bet herself.

"Hey Barret, I'm gonna go check out the villa, will you be okay here for a minute?" Tifa asked.

"Sure," he said. "Take your time."

Tifa stood up and put her hat and sunglasses back on. As far as she knew, no one had been to the villa since she and Cloud visited the previous year. She grabbed the key out of her bag and made her way to the house AVALANCHE had purchased while chasing Sephiroth.

It had been a whim, one of those unpredictable, sort of romantic kind of moments with Cloud. She and Yuffie had been with him when they returned to Costa del Sol before heading back to the Northern Crater for their final confrontation. They had known long before that the place was for sale following President Shinra's death, but hadn't expected it to still be on the market so much later. They had just sold their first mastered "Magnify" materia, and Cloud suddenly wanted to go on a spending spree. Tifa supposed it was because he never had much money growing up.

Flashback…

Cloud and the two remaining AVALANCHE women burst into the villa without considering whether it might now be someone's home. Tifa and Yuffie had actually been giggling about Cloud's claim that he was going to buy the place and name it "Villa Cloud."

"Sure you are," Tifa had teased when he made the suggestion. He may have been feeling better after Tifa helped him find his conscious in the Lifestream, but he still didn't seem to be the type of person who would buy a beachfront home on a whim.

Cloud's swagger as he entered the building shocked the realtor, who was again napping on the bed when they entered. He leapt up and looked the three over and somehow (must have been some kind of realtor sense) that they could afford the place.

"'Praise the Lord,'" he said. "It's a miracle! Who'd ever think someone with some real money would ever come here… I probably shouldn't even ask, but are you really going to buy it?"

Cloud looked back at Tifa, who was trying to stifle a laugh. He hadn't shared his feelings with her yet, but he had rediscovered his love for her. He wouldn't admit this until much later, but he had bought this place for her.

"Yep, 300,000 gil," Cloud said.

He handed the realtor the money in an unmarked sack, feeling a suitcase would have been too seedy and cliché, though he had briefly toyed with the idea until Yuffie asked if he was trying to look like a "mobster."

Cloud turned back to Tifa after signing the necessary paperwork. She was still not believing the purchase was complete, even though she witnessed the whole thing.

"Oh my GAWD, he bought you a house!" Yuffie enthused before running into the bedroom to jump on one of the mattresses.

Tifa blushed. She liked when Yuffie – or anyone else, for that matter – hinted to her that Cloud was in love with her, but she didn't really believe it at the time. She certainly hoped they knew something she didn't, but she didn't find it likely.

Cloud scratched the back of his head and approached Tifa while Yuffie was in the other room.

"Why don't you, uh, hold on to this key," he asked. "Just wanna keep it safe in case Sephiroth wants to take control of me again. We can make another key later."

Tifa beamed. Maybe Yuffie had been right. Either way, she now had the keys to her very own Costa del Sol villa that she could visit whenever she wanted.

Present day…

Tifa moved through the town quickly, keeping her head down but occasionally looking around for anyone who may be a member of the press. Her face was covered and her long hair was secured under her hat in a messy bun, but someone could be watching the villa. It was known that Cloud Strife had purchased it and that he and Tifa had spent a vacation there last year – it made the tabloids, as did pictures of them on the beach together. She took one last look around her before approaching the villa.

She reached the door and froze. He could be here. He could be here. He could be here and hiding from her and chasing skirts on the beach and break her heart all over again. Maybe she didn't want to find out what was inside.

But she had to.

She placed a trembling hand on the wood and lowered her head, taking a deep breath. She'd made it this far; there was no turning back. She inched forward and rested her forehead against the door, listening intently for any sounds – hushed voices, rustling, a dropped dish, anything. Hearing none, she knocked gently and waited patiently for some indication of life inside.

Nothing.

She knocked again, with a little more force, but still heard nothing.

Taking another deep breath, she placed the key in the lock and turned slowly. Inside she could find all her answers. With her heart heavy, heartbeat racing, she opened the door and called his name. No answer. She flipped on the nearby light switch.

Nothing.

The villa hadn't been touched in some time. The sun shone through the large lattice window to the left of the entrance, reflecting its shape on the floor in front of the folding screen. In the light, Tifa could see dust particles dancing and floating, only visible where the sun cast its gaze. She looked around and started moving forward, noticing a film of undisturbed dust covering everything like some protective layer to preserve her memories.

The bedroom door was open and she could already tell it was empty, but she entered anyway, running her finger tips over the top of the dresser and allowing the trails to serve as a marker that she was here. Nothing had been disturbed for quite some time. Even if Cloud had come here after he left Edge, he was long gone. There was no way he could have been here after their talk in The Forgotten Capital.

Tifa walked around to the far end of the bed nearest the back wall and sat down to process what she had just discovered – or not discovered.

Meanwhile…

Tifa would be alone, in a villa, in a resort town, with a bed. Reno considered his various excuse options to get away from Barret and Marlene, who were now building a sandcastle near their towels, and make his way to Tifa. He shot each one down as being too lame or obvious. Barret already seemed suspicious. What would he think if Reno left the beach shortly after Tifa? Would he think they were having secret romantic getaways? Or that Reno was up to no good? Probably the latter, and the redheaded Turk did not want to cause a ruckus today. Today was all about getting Tifa to think his intentions were above board.

Oh, but there was one way to get away from the eco-terrorist and his daughter.

Reno took out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and brought his lighter up to the tip.

"Hey!" Barret growled. "You can't smoke on the beach!"

"I thought anything goes in Costa del Sol," Reno mused.

"Take it somewhere else!" Barret commanded.

Reno shrugged and stood up to walk off the sand and back toward town, with some uppity beachgoers complaining about the smoke as he did.

Mission accomplished.

Reno knew from experience that sandcastles took infinitely less time to destroy than to build. If Barret and the little girl were going to make something photo worthy, they would be occupied for a while – and Marlene had demanded many accoutrements.

Reno finished his cigarette by the time he reached the villa door. He hadn't had to watch where Tifa went, everyone knew about the Shinra villa. Or, he guessed, it was now the AVALANCHE villa. Ugh.

He considered for a brief moment what would happen if that Cloud guy was in the villa. Tifa might go running into his arms, but if he were here, it meant the bastard really did skip out on her. That could certainly open a door for Reno, but he didn't really want to win his prize by being the rebound guy. That was too easy. He also at that point considered how much Tifa would be hurt if she did turn to a Turk only to get immediately crushed again. That's right, he considered her feelings. He shuddered before placing his hand on the door handle and turning.

He had to admit, the place was choice. Decently sized for Costa del Sol, but big enough for a couple people to spend a vacation or live, if they really wanted to. He didn't spend too much time looking around before he noticed Tifa through the bedroom doorway. She was sitting solemnly on the far bed facing the wall, her back to him. The heavy smell of the beachfront mixed with sunscreen filled his nostrils, with just a ghostly reminder of the floral scent of Tifa's hair. She didn't seem to flinch when he entered, as if she either knew who was coming in (and didn't care) or hadn't even heard the door.

As he walked toward her, he could see that she was fidgeting with her hands in her lap and though he suspected she was upset, he didn't see her shoulders rising and falling with the telltale signs of crying.

A perfect opportunity.

He quietly rounded the bed and sat next to her. She let out the soft laugh of someone who was trying to force back tears. Reno knew by now that it would be okay to put an arm around her shoulders, so he did so. She rewarded him by leaning her head against him.

"He's not here," she said, almost to herself.

Reno didn't have to ask who "he" was but knew he had to suck it up to move her along.

"I'm sorry," he said, and he sounded sincere. He could act when he needed to.

"I'm happy," she said.

Now Reno was confused, by all outward appearances she was trying not to cry after seeing someone run over her puppy.

"You don't look happy," he said.

There was that little laugh again.

"I know," she said. "I'm sad because of what happened, but I'm happy that he's not here."

"Why does that make you happy?" he had to ask.

"Because it means he didn't ditch me to chase loose women on the beach," she said with a snicker to cheer herself up.

"Hey now," Reno said. "Let's not go knocking the chasing of loose women on the beach."

She guffawed at his comment, not meaning to sound so unladylike.

"I guess I kind of hoped I'd find him here though," she said after a brief silence. "I think it would be easier if I could just hate him."

"You need advice on how to hate Strife?" Reno's eyes lit up and he removed his arm from Tifa's shoulders. "Well, you came to the right place. First, find a doll that looks like him – and then choke it real hard." He mimicked choking something as he spoke.

Tifa chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder to stop his dramatic recreation.

"I don't actually want to hate him," she said.

She turned to look at the wall again and Reno relaxed, leaning back on his hands while waiting for her to speak.

"Sometimes I just feel so alone," she said, returning to her pensive state.

Reno didn't accept that one bit. He pushed himself back into a sitting position and grabbed each of her upper arms, turning her to face him. She kept her head lowered, so he took his index finger and hooked it under her chin to gently lift her head until she was looking into his eyes, which were wide and earnest. It reminded her of how Cloud did the same thing when they confessed their love for each other under the Highwind.

"Hey, don't you say that, yo," Reno began. "If there is one thing in this whole world you ain't, Lockhart, it's alone."

His words comforted her a little, even if they were clumsy. She smiled at him, though it didn't reach her eyes.

"You got Barret and his little girl, all your other terrorist friends (he couldn't help himself), and uh, the Turks now," he added.

Tifa blinked. "Thank you," she said as her eyes offered a hint of acceptance.

Reno wasn't sure if he should keep going. He still wasn't used to this, even if he had comforted her before. He'd been there for distraught Turks before – mainly Elena – but that was different. Usually he would just tell her to buck up and get back to work but he knew he couldn't take that tactic with Tifa. Instead, he reached forward and gently wrapped his arms around her. She leaned toward him and rested her head on his chest with her arms around his waist.

Damn it felt good to hold her.

Her chest was pressed against his, with just a thin piece of bathing suit material between them. Reno kept quiet but tried to think how he could move from this position to one more favorable. He scrunched his eyes to remove the thought. He had to be a gentleman here. But his hands were so close to the knot on her bikini…

"Reno?" she asked, as if she were about to scold him. Could she read his mind?

"Yes, babe?"

"Why did you bring us here?"

"Marlene said the beach, so she got the beach."

"No, I mean, why did you offer her the helicopter ride?"

Reno pulled away from her and scratched the back of his head.

"Ah, well, I hadn't been in the chopper for a while, and" he stammered, "it's actually my favorite thing in the world…"

"Really?" she asked in equal parts innocence and surprise. "Even more than booze and loose women?"

Now this was a more comfortable conversation for him.

"It's actually a pretty big gap," he told her. "That chopper is my baby, booze and cheap women don't hold a candle to her."

"Really? I never would have guessed."

"Yeah, well, there's still a lot you don't know about me," he said, suddenly noticing how close her face was to his own.

"Oh yeah?" she said, her voice breathy though she didn't intend it to be.

"Yeah."

"Like those dancing skills you seem so proud of?"

"That, and other things…" he trailed off.

Their eyes met and he noticed the sadness in hers had been replaced with mirth; ruby orbs wide and quivering while studying his expression. He wanted to kiss her, but knew how vulnerable she was at this moment. She could push him away or easily regret it, or she could let him kiss her just because she was missing Strife. But her lips looked so inviting.

Their faces inched closer until he couldn't take it any longer and went in to claim her lips, placing a hand behind her head to lock her close. She reciprocated, leaning forward so that he could wrap his other arm around her back and pull her against him. He held her tighter than he had at the Shinra mansion or in her bar. Back then, he was just trying to comfort her; this time, he was playing for keeps.

If she was at the point where she wished she could hate Cloud, he reasoned, she was at the point where she wanted to move on. And he wasn't wrong. Cloud was always going to be a part of her life, whether he was physically here or not. Reno had to accept that he couldn't undo their relationship, but he could move her forward – and she appeared ready.

He deepened the kiss as she reached up to place one hand on the smooth skin of his neck, underneath his ponytail, and the other just above his hairline, winding her fingers through his crimson locks. He moaned into her mouth as she tugged gently at his roots, before slipping his tongue between her lips.

Reno wasn't sure whether he lowered her or whether she pulled him down, but she slowly ended up on her back on the bed, her legs still hanging off the edge as she had been sitting. Reno ensured no daylight passed between them as she laid back, enjoying the feel of her breasts rubbing against his bare chest. She bit his lower lip and he purred.

He wanted her. Gods did he want her. He wanted every inch of her, and his body was getting dangerously close to proving that to her. All that lay between them was his pants and the thin material of her bikini. The fact did not escape his mind, even if he knew this was not the time to fulfill that dream.

He let one of his hands leave her cheek where it had rested and brush along her shoulder and down her arm until he reached her waist near her new scar. With a return nip to her lower lip, he released her tongue and trailed kisses to her earlobe, lingering there for a moment as he nibbled. She melted into him, moaning softly as he lightly kissed his way to her neck before taking a bit of her delicate skin between his teeth. She cooed and her nails dug into his tresses, pleasantly scratching his scalp.

He couldn't believe she was allowing this and he kept preparing himself for her to push him off and start yelling. Tifa Lockhart couldn't possibly be allowing Reno of the Turks to suck on her neck or even be alone with her on a bed in a beach villa. He half expected to wake up from another dream, cold and alone in his large, empty bed.

But no dream could compare to the soft flesh beneath his fingertips or the heat emanating from her body. His head told him not to push his luck, his heart told him to stay as he was, but some other part of him told him to keep going. The hand at her waist began to slide upward along her ribcage, his fingers tapping against her gently as they crawled forward.

He reached the underside of her breast and dared himself to go for it. With any other woman he wouldn't have hesitated for a second, but Tifa was not like any other woman, and he was pretty sure he had somehow sold his soul just to get this far with her. Well, if he ever had a soul, that is.

One finger reached out to lightly poke her breast to test the waters. When no scold came, he slipped his palm up and over her breast before giving it a squeeze. She moaned in approval and he thought he could have a heart attack.

Two years ago he tried to murder this woman from a helicopter. She returned the gesture by viciously beating him to a pulp – and it turned him on. Now he had her tit in his hand as she writhed beneath him. When had his luck turned?

His thumb teased her nipple through her bikini as his lips returned to hers. Emboldened, she trapped his tongue between her teeth and sucked on it. He nearly came undone right then and there, his eyes rolling back into his head as a moan escaped him. He tried to say "fuck," but it was muffled.

The hand on her breast lowered once again to the edge of her bikini. He pressed into her skin gently to get the tip of his fingers underneath the material and began to move forward once again.

This proved to be the line, as Tifa moaned in such a way to let him know he had gone too far. She sat up, forcing him to sit back off of her on the bed. She did not push him, and she did not look angry. Far from it; she looked embarrassed. Not the kind of embarrassed he would have expected, like she had realized who she was letting touch her and suddenly couldn't believe herself, but the kind of embarrassed one would see from someone who was self-conscious.

Reno couldn't imagine what in the world Tifa Lockhart would have to be self-conscious about, especially in her chest area. He'd felt them; they were real. Why was over the bikini okay but underneath was the end?

"Did I go too far?" he asked, equal parts concerned and frustrated.

"No…" she looked at her lap, avoiding eye contact. "It's not your fault, but we should get back before Barret gets suspicious."

"You worried he'll think you're off screwin' around with the enemy?" he chuckled, testing to see how badly he had screwed up.

"No!" she insisted. "Well, maybe."

"Let him think! It'll do the big lunkhead some good."

"Reno…"

"Hey, you know what will cheer you up? Let's go play some of those boardwalk games. I'm a champion ring tosser."

"Oh, really?" Tifa asked skeptically, the weight of their previous actions seemingly lifted.

"Yep, woulda gone pro but sprained my thumb before tryouts."

Tifa loved how easy it was for Reno to make her laugh even when she was feeling blue. And truth be told, she loved carnival games but didn't get to partake very often. It'd be fun to do something other than work and fight monsters for a change.

"Okay, show me your skills," she challenged.

"You're on, Lockhart."

Reno offered her a hand to help her to her feet and she accepted.

"After you, my dear," he motioned for her to take the narrow space between the bed and the wall out of the bedroom. He watched her ass as she walked toward the front door and had to run to catch up to her once she reached it, lest she discover his lechery.

She put her hat and sunglasses back on before opening the door just a little to peer out and check for any prying eyes. There weren't many people in the town as they were mostly on the beach, so she stepped out and waited for Reno before locking up.

The Turk hadn't totally lied about his ring tossing skills, as evidenced by the large plush chocobo Tifa carried back to their area on the beach.

"Where you two been?" Barret said with narrowed eyes.

Tifa hoped her flushed cheeks weren't noticeable.

"Cloud wasn't in the villa so I left," she said. It was the truth, just not the whole truth. "Found Reno playing carnival games. Here Marlene, he won this for you."

Reno counted the lies and omissions in her statement. He was definitely corrupting her already.

Marlene took the chocobo excitedly and hugged it to her chest, then took Tifa by the hand and dragged her toward the sandcastle she had built with Barret.

"Do you see my sandcastle? Daddy helped me build it," she said.

"That's beautiful, sweetheart," Tifa again used that mock-excited tone. "Fit for a princess."

"Daddy, I want to go swimming again!" Marlene demanded.

"Okay, but this is the last time today," Barret compromised.

He took the little girl by the hand and gave one last look over Reno and Tifa. His eyes lingered on a mark on Tifa's neck that hadn't been there before. He wanted to say something, rather, he wanted to grab Tifa by the shoulders and yell at her that she was crazy, that whatever was going on here was a horrible idea. It was one thing for Reno to have a crush on Tifa, it was quite another for Tifa to actually accept the Turk.

Cloud must have seriously broken her. Tifa was way too smart and strong to be slumming like this. Just what the hell was she thinking?

He opened his mouth to speak but felt Marlene begin to tug his hand a bit harder. He'd have to talk to Tifa later.

When they were gone, Tifa again removed her hat and sunglasses before laying down on her towel with her chest to the ground in order to tan her back.

"So, when you do that, do you have to make divots in the ground for your tits?" Reno asked.

Though he was clearly messing with her, he did kind of want to know. Those things had to be painful in some situations, right?

"You're pushing it today, Reno," was all she said, though she didn't sound mad.

"Okay, okay, last question: do you undo the strings to your top when you tan?"

"I might if lecherous Turks weren't around," she said, without looking at him.

She must truly be able to read his mind.

Barret and Marlene returned about 20 minutes later to rest. Within the hour, the group was ready to call it a day.

Reno flew them back with Marlene insisting on sitting in the co-pilot's seat. She had decided she wanted to learn how to fly the helicopter, so Reno was giving her a very basic tutorial. Barret, of course, was watching from the main seating area horrified, convinced that Turk bastard would hand over the controls to a six-year-old without thinking.

But Reno did not hand over the controls, and set the chopper down outside Edge just where he had picked them up. He turned off the engine to help Marlene out to rejoin her father. The whirl of the engine and the dust kicked up by the vehicle was at least useful enough to scare away some of the monsters that were patrolling the area, even if it did mean choking back dirt. Reno waved farewell after informing them he would spend the rest of the day cleaning out the sand and sea water they had all left behind in his baby.

Tifa rolled her eyes when he said it and turned to walk back to the ladder onto the Edge rooftops with Barret and Marlene.

They had just gotten inside Seventh Heaven when the expected text from Reno came.

"Had fun today, yo," it said, "even if it didn't involve booze or sex."

Tifa giggled to herself and shook her head. She helped Marlene draw a bath and get ready before deciding that she would actually respond to Reno.

"But you had your favorite thing. The helicopter," she replied.

"What's going on with you two?" Barret said in an accusatory tone. She had been standing in the kitchen when she sent the text and he had just entered.

He and Marlene were going to make the long journey back to Corel in the morning. Barret had a fortified truck he called "The Tank," that could withstand monster attacks, but it wasn't foolproof. The sunroof allowed him to fire at weaker monsters or toss grenades at stronger ones before speeding away.

"What are you talking about?" Tifa asked, setting her PHS on the counter behind her and turning to face Barret.

"You know DAMN well what I'm talking about!" the former leader of AVALANCHE raised his voice, pounding his fist on the kitchen island. Tifa crossed her arms over her chest and remained defiant. "What's that on your neck?" Barret asked accusatorially.

Tifa had noticed the beginning signs of a hickey as soon as they got back to Seventh Heaven. She had been mortified and let her hair down over her shoulders to try and cover it. She knew Barret must have seen it. Hell, the whole world must have seen it. She could only pray he wouldn't say anything. Apparently, the Gods were not listening today – to her at least.

"It's nothing," she said like when she was a teenager and Marle would ask her about the bruises she had gotten from fighting doomrats and gorgers with the Neighborhood Watch.

"What is going on Tifa? Talk to me," Barret's tone shifted. He wasn't going to get anywhere by yelling at her and whatever was going on seemed like a cry for help. "Is this because of Cloud?"

Tifa shot him a look that could have melted the skin off a bomb.

"Cloud is gone, Barret. He left me six months ago," the anger in her voice surprised even her.

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and threatened to spill, but she held them back with defiant resolve.

"What happened?" Barret asked, keeping his softer tone.

"He left, and I thought it was just because his headaches came back and he was having nightmares, but he said it wasn't just that…" she let her arms fall to her sides and she clenched her fists so tightly they shook, her fingernails carving half-moon shapes into her palms.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"I didn't want anyone to know. I told Vincent and Yuffie. I'm pretty sure Cid knows, but please don't tell anyone else."

"I won't, but Tifa," Barret stepped forward to reach a cautious hand toward her shoulder, "you'll talk to me if somethin's wrong, right?"

Tifa nodded her head but said nothing.

"Is something wrong now?" Barret pressed.

"No!" Tifa insisted. "Barret, I'm not a teenager anymore, I can take care of myself."

Of course, there was no way she could have said the words without sounding like a teenager.

"I trust you, Tifa, but I don't trust him."

"Even after today?"

"One day can't make up for Sector 7."

Tifa bit her lower lip. He was right, but it hadn't been just one day for her. Reno and the other Turks had been there for her over the past few months.

"I know, but he's trying."

"Tifa…"

"Please, Barret. I don't want to talk about it. Can you promise me you won't tell anyone about this?"

"Tifa…"

"Promise me!"

Barret knew how Tifa felt about promises, so for her to ask him to make one must have meant whatever was happening here was serious. He didn't approve, but he couldn't run her life. He would be there for her when it all fell apart though, and he knew it would. Defeated, he slumped his shoulders and sighed.

"…okay. Just, please be careful, okay? Don't go gettin' reckless just cuz you're hurtin'."

"Barret, I'm fine. I've actually managed to laugh these past few months."

Barret shook his head. He knew he wouldn't convince her tonight, and he was exhausted and filthy from the beach. He'd just have to hope she came to her senses before everything when to shit.

"I believe you," he lied. "I'mma go get cleaned up and say goodnight to Marlene."

Tifa watched him walk down the hall as the bathroom door opened, indicating Marlene was finished with her bath. Tifa thought about what Barret had said for a few seconds until her phone vibrated on the counter next to her. Whatever hesitation had entered her mind was just settling in when she read the next text from Reno.

"I guess one out of three ain't bad. Could have used one of the other two tho."

With her bathroom free, Tifa showered, taking extra time to scrub the sand from her body and getting lost in her newfound indecision. Everything with Reno had felt so right at the villa. For a brief moment, she felt further from her feelings for Cloud and like she could move on. Reno had been the one making her laugh all this time, and even though he clearly didn't understand boundaries, it seemed like he was trying – or maybe Tifa was reading too much into his actions. These thoughts were still swirling in her head once she realized she had gotten all the sand off.

She stepped out of the shower and dressed for bed before cleaning up the sand from her home and bar and throwing everyone's wet and dirty clothes into the laundry. With that done, she took out her phone and caught herself smiling as she reread Reno's last text.

"Okay, next time I'll buy you a drink," she said, knowing it would drive him crazy.

An immediate response.

"YOU'RE NO FUN LOCKHART."