A/N: Rated M for language and sexual content. I don't own these characters. Square Enix does.

I miss the smut. Do you miss the smut? I miss the smut. This was supposed to be a smutty story but it got away from me and turned into an angsty romance. Story of my fiction-writing life.

Chapter 45:

Tifa wiped down the kitchen counter and dried already-clean glasses while she waited for the coffee to finish. It was a nervous habit she had picked up back in Sector Seven when she was always waiting for Barret and the others to return from a mission – or for Shinra to raid her bar with guns blazing. She thought she got a handle on her habit after the planet was saved and she opened the bar in Edge, but once Cloud started pulling away it returned.

So, she was a little surprised that she was currently practicing the habit, given that Cloud Strife was sitting across from her at the kitchen island with a warm smile plastered on his face. He had arrived a few minutes earlier to meet her before Cid came to pick them up in the Highwind for his own engagement party in Rocket Town.

Tifa knew why she was nervous. In another hour or so she would be face to face with a group of people who all expected her and Cloud to be back together by now. It had been a week since they defeated Jenova again, but Tifa still hadn't made her decision, since both Cloud and Reno were vying for her affections. Some in the group were probably judging her, at the very least, for her tryst with the Turk.

She kept her back to Cloud as she busied herself at the kitchen sink so he wouldn't see her distress. She knew it was silly, since Cloud always knew how she was feeling, no matter how much she thought she hid her emotions. Today, however, he seemed to be either not picking up on her nervousness or letting it go. He was probably nervous about the impending questions as well.

He had been tapping his fingers without saying a word after they exchanged pleasantries and he followed Tifa upstairs to the apartment kitchen. He had to admit it felt good to be in the home again, even if he was just a guest. When he saw Tifa fall into her old habits he knew she must have been thinking the same thing as him: What the rest of AVALANCHE would think of them not being back together. He hoped the engagement party would be distracting enough so he and Tifa could avoid the sympathetic judgment of their friends.

The coffeemaker brought them both out of their thoughts when it beeped.

Tifa walked over to it and reached up to open the cabinet above to retrieve two mugs. She poured a cup and sprinkled in some nutmeg before handing it to Cloud with a smile and an unnecessary warning about its temperature. She turned around to pour her own cup.

"Mmmm," Cloud said as he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of the beverage beneath his nose. "Your coffee was one of the things I missed most while I was away."

"Oh?" Tifa asked, sashaying up to the island opposite him and bringing her own cup to her lips. "What else did you miss?"

She held the cup in black leather gloved hands that matched the tank top and shorts she was wearing with the duster apron. She had decided to forgo her usual miniskirt outfits today, not wanting to be underdressed for Cid and Shera's engagement party. Of course, even with her midriff showing and form-fitting leather, she was a knockout when she was trying to be more modest. Cloud wore his usual SOLDIER uniform with his Ultima Sword strapped to his back, just in case.

"A lot of things," he purred, though his cheeks tinted pink. "Your cooking, your laugh… you."

Tifa giggled as her face turned red. Cloud was definitely back to his old self. It had taken him a couple days, but she understood. You don't almost die and come out of it immediately with a cheery outlook like nothing happened.

She looked at him coyly, poised to respond, when Cloud's phone rang. They both knew who was on the other line, yet Cloud held up a finger to indicate Tifa should "hold that thought" as he brought the PHS to his ear.

"Hey, Cid," he said when he answered. "Yep, no problem, we'll be right out." He flipped the phone closed and returned it to his pocket. "Cid's here," he told Tifa.

"Ah, okay," she replied. "Let me grab a couple things and we can meet him."

Cloud watched her gather a few bottles from behind the bar downstairs, a little disappointed they didn't get to finish their flirting. Maybe later at the party – or later. He didn't recognize some of the bottles Tifa grabbed as they didn't have labels, but he shrugged and offered to carry the bag she had put them in.

"Thanks," she said as they left the bar.

She locked up and they headed for the Highwind, which was hovering just outside of town. No door-to-door pickup when Cid was on a tight schedule and already aggravated that he had to spend the morning of his engagement party flying around the world to grab his own attendees.

The skies over Edge were dark and overcast, signaling an impending storm. Tifa looked up at the gray clouds above them, knowing a downpour was coming. It hadn't rained in the city since… that night she found Reno on her doorstep after her date with Rude. Hopefully this storm wouldn't be so eventful.

Shera had assured her earlier that there were clear skies in Rocket Town and unseasonable warmth for this time of year. Tifa took a sigh of relief to know she'd probably miss the storm since she was staying the night with everyone in Rocket Town. Maybe they'd be stuck there indefinitely until the storm passed.

Other than celebrating her friend's engagement, Tifa was most looking forward to discussing her dilemma with Yuffie. She had wanted to call her younger friend for the past couple days to talk about what was going on with Cloud and Reno, but she had been busy with the bar and the two men. She wasn't sure if Yuffie could be completely unbiased in this situation, but Tifa needed to get her thoughts and apprehensions out into the open. Maybe saying them out loud would help her make a decision.

Cloud saw the first spark of lighting way off into the distance, probably beyond the shores near the chocobo farm, as he climbed the rope ladder up to the Highwind. He quietly praised himself for fixing up the outside of the bar before the storm came. Tifa was ahead of him on the ladder – no skirt to look up today. As quickly as he mentally praised himself for his chivalry, he chastised himself for his lechery. Tifa was more than that to him, he just couldn't help it when he was around her with no outlet for his lust.

He barely had a chance to stand up after climbing over the railing when the airship started to take off. Cid really wanted to get this part over with.

Once everyone was collected (Cait Sith acting as a proxy for Reeve, who was yet again handling rebuilding matters) Cid returned to Rocket Town, practically pushing past everyone to get off the ship and back to his fiancée. No one could be upset with his avoidance behavior; they were actually charmed that the gruff pilot who seemed so angry when they first met him was now racing off to be with the woman he had been so harsh toward previously.

"Tifa, we gotta talk," Barret said, placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her aside as the others left the bridge.

Tifa nodded, knowing what it would be about.

"Later, let's wait until we've said hi to Shera and everyone else," she suggested.

Barret agreed. Cloud noticed his two companions whispering behind everyone else and looked at Tifa questioningly, though she didn't seem to notice.

Cid's modest home in Rocket Town had been decorated for the occasion, most likely by Shera. The colors were white and gold, with a glittery banner that said, "We're Engaged!" and various party decorations. Shera looked more stunning than Tifa had ever seen her. Gone was her lab coat and ponytail. She was wearing a sparkly gold and white strapless cocktail dress with a flower pattern on it, and her hair was loose to her shoulders and curled. She wore gold wire-framed glasses with rectangular lenses, which didn't detract from her beauty at all.

Tifa suddenly felt underdressed, but she wasn't the only one. The entire group had worn their regular clothes, not expecting Cid and Shera to throw such a formal party. Neither had informed anyone of a dress code.

"Welcome!" Shera said as they entered the home, offering hugs and accepting congratulations on her engagement. Cid was nowhere to be seen.

"This place looks great!" Yuffie said when it was her turn to intercept Shera.

"We're so glad you could all make it," Shera said once she had said hello to everyone individually.

It was at that moment Cid appeared from out of the bedroom, wearing a black tuxedo with a gold vest and tie. The rest of AVALANCHE gasped, having never seen him dressed in anything but his mechanic gear, and suddenly feeling even more underdressed.

"Um, were we supposed to dress nicer?" Tifa asked uncomfortably, looking down at her own leather fighting outfit.

"Oh, no, no," Shera insisted as Cid joined her, placing his arm around her waist. "We actually decided to surprise you all. We talked about it and realized that neither of us wanted a big ceremony. We only wanted our close friends, so we figured it would be best to have the wedding today."

Tifa felt Marlene's grip on her hand tighten with excitement. The little girl and Elmyra had joined Barret for the trip, and her tiny hand had practically been stuck to Tifa's own as soon as they boarded the ship.

Cloud had hoped to get some time with Tifa during this trip, around friends, away from Reno, but things had gotten complicated. He couldn't flirt with Tifa much with Marlene practically joined at her hip, but he supposed this was all still beneficial to him. The wedding, more so than an engagement party, would get Tifa thinking about commitment, and Marlene's presence would remind her of the family she still wanted.

And there Cloud would be, by her side just as all these thoughts swirled in her head.

"That's amazing!" Marlene screeched after Shera's announcement.

"So, we'll have a little engagement party in here, and the ceremony in a little while out back," Shera informed them.

Cloud made sure to lock eyes with Tifa as everyone clapped and cheered for the happy couple, giving her a smile that said, "that will be us some day." Tifa's own lips curled up as her eyelids became heavy.

Marlene was thoroughly attached to Tifa as everyone made their way to the backyard after catching up over drinks inside the house. The bartender chuckled as the little girl insisted they sit together for the ceremony. Cloud stayed close as well, giving Tifa the occasional reprieve from only being able to talk to a child.

A few rows of white folding chairs had been placed in Cid's back yard, with a wooden trellis set up and woven with roses and greenery. Marlene wanted to sit in the front row, and nearly had Tifa sit on the end seat before Cloud squeezed in next to her. Barret joined on the other side of Marlene, with Vincent, Yuffie, and Elmyra behind them. Nanaki and Cait Sith had to sit on the ground next to the chairs due to the difficulty they each would have trying to get into one.

The other seats were occupied by the crew of the Highwind.

Cid exited the house with a man no one knew – the officiant – and walked to the trellis. Within minutes, Shera exited the house and walked past the chairs to join Cid, taking his hands in hers. As the officiant performed the ceremony, Cloud ventured to place his hand on top of Tifa's, which rested on her thigh. She squeezed her fingers around his and they remained like that until Cid and Shera were pronounced man and wife.

Cloud and Tifa looked at each other as the officiant spoke, their eyes focused on the other's, searching. Cloud scanned Tifa's eyes for hints of familiarity and hope, while Tifa smiled at Cloud as her own mind worried about the decision she had to make. Being here, in his environment, with Cloud, certainly elevated him in her book, but as always, it was because she was with him in this moment. Although, she did wonder if marriage and family were even in Reno's vocabulary.

The pair remained seated when everyone else stood up to follow the newlyweds back into the house, their eyes still locked on each other. It was Marlene who interrupted, tugging at Tifa's arm to let her know it was time to head back inside.

Tifa laughed and returned to "parent mode," scooping Marlene up onto her hip as she stood up and joined the rest of AVALANCHE. Cloud hung back a moment to watch her walk away, imagining her in a wedding dress before focusing on the way her hips moved when she walked. He watched as she stuck out her hip to balance Marlene while pulling her PHS out of her opposite pocket, smirking at the screen, typing something using only her thumb, and flipping the device closed to return it to her pocket.

Cloud sat back in his chair and looked up at the clear blue sky, closing his eyes and letting the sun warm his cheeks. He was making progress, for sure, but he hadn't succeeded yet – and he didn't know how he was comparing to Reno.

Back inside, Barret was leading a toast to the new couple as everyone lifted their glass of champagne. Cloud entered as everyone was about to take a sip, quickly finding a glass and joining Tifa where she stood just as she quickly flipped her phone shut to return it to her pocket once again. He couldn't keep worrying about Reno. All he could do was focus on his own actions.

Later…

"Yo, Teef!" Barret called as he motioned for Tifa to join him in the corner of the living room.

Discreet as always.

Tifa had been catching up with Vincent and Cait Sith when Barret called her name, setting her heart aflame for that brief moment when she first heard the word "yo." She excused herself from the conversation and convinced Marlene to talk to Yuffie before striding over to Barret.

"What's up?" she asked, playing dumb.

"I got a meeting with the Shinra tomorrow about my oil fields," Barret said, his voice low but not exactly whispering. "I heard they're sending your Turk along for intimidation."

Tifa cringed when Barret called him her Turk. Was it a dig at her expense? Or was he hoping she could help him out with Reno?

"He's not my Turk," she scolded, bringing her hand to the side of her mouth to whisper even though no one else seemed to be paying attention.

"Well, do you know anything about this?" Barret shot back.

Tifa didn't want to be in this position. She wished Reno hadn't told her about Shinra's new venture into oil or why the Turks were involved. Now she had to find a way to answer that wouldn't get either of them killed. If only this had happened two years ago, then she'd have no issue giving up Reno's information.

"All I know is that the Turks are there to make sure the land is sold," Tifa said, putting her hands up defensively.

"I ain't sellin' my land to Shinra, and neither is anyone else in Corel," Barret growled, as if Tifa were the one threatening him.

"I know, Barret," she said, trying to calm him as he balled his good hand into a fist so tight it shook. "But be careful, okay?"

"You really hooked up with that Turk?"

"Barret…"

"Is that it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I seen the way he looked at you in Costa and the Crater," the large man huffed as Tifa just stared at him with wide eyes. "I use ta have that look when Myrna was alive. Dyne had that look when Eleanor was alive. Cid has that look now." He pointed to Cid who was dancing to a slow song with Shera in the middle of their living room.

"What do you mean?"

"I ain't helpin' no Turk!" Barret barked, almost loud enough for others to hear. "Cloud has that look and then some. Always has – around you."

Tifa turned to look over her shoulder at Cloud, who had been wrangled into dancing with Marlene. The little girl was standing on his boots with her arms wrapped around his waist. He glanced over at Tifa and half rolled his eyes to show he was embarrassed but wasn't going to deny Marlene. Tifa smiled and blushed.

"Barret…" Tifa trailed off a moment, looking toward the floor with a distant expression on her face. "I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but please don't get hurt."

"Shit, you know me."

"Exactly."

Barret frowned at her. Thankfully, the song had finished and Cloud had managed to free himself from Marlene for the moment to walk over to Tifa and Barret.

"Mind if I borrow her?" he asked Barret, motioning to Tifa.

The man with the gun arm nodded. Cloud offered Tifa his elbow and led her back into the living room for another slow song. He held her hand and placed his other on the small of her back, holding her close as they swayed with the music.

Damn, it felt good to hold her like this again. He had his arms around her briefly yesterday in the garage, and she had held him tightly on his new motorbike, but he hadn't truly had her in his embrace since the Gold Saucer, and even then it was too brief.

He rested his cheek atop her head as she leaned her head against his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment, not noticing other members of AVALANCHE were pointing and smiling at them as if this were proof they were back together. He could feel her body heat against his own as he pressed her against himself as tightly as he could without hurting her.

The world seemed to fall away into a haze of purple and pink as they "danced," neither seeming to notice anyone else was in the room anymore. The slow song about love and redemption were the only words that needed to be said in the minutes that they stood together, no longer even swaying, just holding each other and experiencing each other's scent and presence.

This was Cid and Shera's moment, but Cloud and Tifa had become lost in their own. Tifa thought back to that night in Aeris' garden and how even though Cloud was hurting her, she didn't want him to let her go. She lasted as long as she could until part of his wrist bangle caused her spine to spasm.

And here they were again. So close, yet so far. A clichéd couple.

Except this time, Cloud wasn't the peak of the triangle, Tifa was, and she wasn't as oblivious as Cloud had been all those years ago. Cloud struggled with his feelings but thought he was the end of the struggle; it took him a long time to realize Aeris and Tifa were flirting with him the whole time.

Tifa was intimately aware, and Cloud could see the toll it was taking on her. He'd catch glimpses of her stress when they were on the road way back when, and he was noticing them occasionally now as well.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back gently when the song ended. They both noticed they were the only two dancing and that everyone else seemed to be watching them. They blushed.

Later…

Cloud had a beer in his hand and was sitting alone on the back step of Cid's house as the sun rapidly set, leaving the backyard cloaked in dark blues and purples. The pilot had made a quick trip to drop Barret off in North Corel so he could prepare for his meeting with Shinra tomorrow, and Tifa had been dragged away by Yuffie at some point after her dance with Cloud.

He wasn't sulking like he used to, he just didn't want to cling to Tifa the whole day. He was giving her a little space, a chance to miss him, and thinking back over the day so far and how close she felt even though she was still just out of his reach.

He had just taken another swig when he heard the back door open and was washed in light from inside. He rested his forearms on his knees and let his beer bottle dangle between his legs as he heard heavy footsteps approach him.

"Don't tell me ya gone back to sulkin'," Cid asked as he sat next to Cloud on the step.

"Not sulkin', just thinkin'," Cloud responded. Cid wasn't exactly the person he hoped would exit the house, though he knew he had to stop being selfish and focusing on his own problems when this was Cid and Shera's day.

"I take it you ain't back together yet?" Cid asked.

Cloud didn't respond, which gave Cid his answer.

"A little advice?" Cid asked.

Cloud nodded, knowing there was no point in objecting.

"Stop thinking so much," Cid offered. His vest was unbuttoned, his tie undone, and he was no longer wearing his tuxedo jacket. "Me and Shera happened when I finally stopped thinking so much about myself and my own problems."

Cloud said nothing, continuing to stare out into the darkening backyard and taking another swig of his beer.

"You can still fix this," Cid said, lighting up a cigarette. He took a puff and squinted his eyes when he exhaled. "Nothing worth it is ever easy."

"How did you turn it around with Shera?" Cloud finally asked.

"Turn what around? There was nothing to turn around," Cid said, almost proudly. "Me and Shera work together because me and Shera work. Together."

Cloud turned his head slightly to look at the pilot, puzzled.

"Shera never spent her life dreamin' of a husband and family," Cid explained. "All she cared about was research and science. Same as me. She would have been fine being my roommate and researchin' her whole life – hell, she was willin' to die to get that rocket into space when we were a bit younger."

"So, why propose then?" Cloud asked.

"Cuz it was me," he told a confused Cloud. "I was the one who wanted more. It's honestly why I was so rough on her back when – tryna keep my distance. I was like a little kid who pulled pigtails."

"You had to convince her?"

"Shit, yeah," Cid said, scratching the back of his head. "I knew she was the one. She knew it, too, I think. But something was holding us back. I had to figure out what it was and fix it, like the damn Highwind."

Cloud stared blankly at him.

"It was me. Once I stopped bein' a jackass, everything changed," Cid admitted.

Cloud let out a low "hmm" before looking out across the backyard.

"Somethin's holding her back from being with you, and I bet you know what it is," Cid said with a hiccup, pointing to Cloud for emphasis.

"Reno," Cloud practically hissed the name out into the air.

"No, it ain't him," Cid said. "Somethin's holdin' her back from him, too. She's not the type of girl to be dragging two guys. She's probably scared and confused by all the attention." Cid then threw his head back and laughed. "Shit, she didn't know what to do when it was just you," he said.

Cloud's nostrils flared as he wondered whether Cid was referring to Tifa's attraction to the blond swordsman in general – or their night under the Highwind when everyone was watching.

"It's something that she wants – needs – from you that you haven't given her. Figure out what that is and boom! Back together," Cid continued.

"Somehow I don't think it's that easy," Cloud huffed, lowering his chin onto his forearms, which were now crossed over his knees.

Inside…

"I have been dying for updates!" Yuffie exclaimed as soon as she dragged Tifa into Cid and Shera's bedroom, closing the door behind her and jumping to sit on the bed. She spilled a little of her drink as she did so.

"There's really nothing, Yuffie," Tifa replied with a heavy sigh. "Reno is great when I'm with him. Cloud is great when I'm with him. They fought the other day, and they've both apologized."

"These dates, you're not gonna give me details?"

Tifa plopped down on the bed and fell backwards with her arms over her head.

"This is Cid and Shera's wedding, I don't want to hijack their special day with my crap," she said.

"Oh, everyone's in their own little world now, you're okay," Yuffie insisted. "So neither of them is ahead right now?"

Tifa rolled onto her side, facing away from Yuffie. "No, they're both trying really hard."

"You have to have some idea!"

Tifa pulled her knees up so she was in the fetal position and wrapped her arms around her legs. "When I'm with Cloud, I want to be with him. When I'm with Reno, I want to be with him," she said into her knees.

"If it were me," Yuffie said, placing her free hand on her chest. "I'd just have fun with both, but then I've never had two of the hottest guys on Gaia after me."

"Yuffie…" Tifa hugged her legs a little tighter.

"I know, I know," the young ninja said. She leaned back on her free hand and took another sip of her cocktail. "Have you thought about making a pros and cons list for each of them?"

Tifa shot her friend a quick glare. "They aren't some business decision where I can weigh benefits and costs," she said.

"Fine, I'll do it for you. Be right back," Yuffie said as she stood up and left the room.

Tifa couldn't even imagine boiling Cloud and Reno down to a list of tangible qualities. They were both good and bad in different ways, and such a list seemed beneath them.

Yuffie returned shortly with a yellow legal pad she found in Cid's office. She sat on the edge of the bed and balanced the notepad on her legs before drawing an elongated "t" on the page, with Cloud's name at the top.

"Okay, Cloud first," she said, tapping the pen on her jaw and looking up at the wall. Tifa just let out a disagreeable moan, not wanting to participate.

"Pros: He's hot. He's always protecting you. He has a big sword."

"Yuffie!" Tifa flipped over and tossed a pillow at her friend. Yuffie lifted her arm to swat it away, spilling more of her drink.

"Hey! You're getting alcohol all over Cid's bed!" she admonished before looking at the legal pad again. "Okay, Cons: He's moody. He abandoned you."

"Yuffie…" Tifa trailed off as she sat up beside the ninja.

"Am I missing anything?" Yuffie asked.

"Tons, but I'm not participating in this – and make sure you destroy that document before anyone else finds it."

"Well, then I'll just have to move on to Reno," Yuffie said, loudly flipping the page over to make a point. "Let's see… pros: He's hot. He's been there when you needed him. He has a bigger sword," she added, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

She then dodged another pillow.

"Geez, woman, let me work!" the younger girl demanded in jest. "Cons: Destroyed Sector Seven and killed all your old friends. Probably has some disease from sleeping with so many women."

"Yuffie! Seriously, stop!" Tifa yelled before hanging her head. "He's not… diseased."

"You sound pretty sure of that," Yuffie teased. "Something I miss?"

"You didn't add that they've both grown up so much and that I can barely breathe when I'm around either of them."

Yuffie eagerly added the new notes to both pages. Tifa rubbed the bridge of her nose in agitation. Yuffie tapped the pen on Cloud's page before flipping between both sheets of paper.

"Those are some pretty big cons…" she mentioned. Writing them down was starker than she thought.

"I know!" Tifa fell back onto the bed again. "Maybe I should let them both go…"

Before Yuffie could answer, there was a knock on the door and Shera entered. Both girls sat up properly on the bed and smiled.

"Everything okay in here?" Shera asked, eyeing the pillows on the floor.

"Yes, we're sorry, we'll clean up," Tifa said quickly before Yuffie cut in.

"Tifa can't decide between two guys."

"Yuffie!" Tifa glared at her friend again. "I'm sorry, this isn't the right time. This is your day."

Shera closed the door behind her and walked up to Yuffie, looking down at the yellow legal pad.

"A pros and cons list?" she asked, taking the note pad from Yuffie's lap and reading both pages. "Oh, this is no good."

"What do you mean?" Yuffie asked.

"You can't boil love down to numbers and charts, believe me," Shera responded. "I know this will sound cliché, but you have to do what your heart tells you. My whole life I was focused on the science. And all along, love was right in front of me. I just had to listen to my heart."

"Aww…" Yuffie cooed.

If someone other than Shera had just spoken those words at that exact moment, Tifa would have rolled her eyes so hard her retinas would have detached.

"Oh, Shera! I brought a surprise with me," the brunette beauty said to change the subject. She may be lost in her own thoughts of love, but she didn't want everyone else to be focused on her problems as well.

"A surprise?" Shera and Yuffie asked in unison.

Tifa laughed and stood up to walk out of the room, with the other women following behind her. She walked over to the couch where the bag she brought with her still sat, and carried it into the kitchen. She removed the bottles and barware she had brought and placed them on the kitchen counter.

"Can I get some glasses?" she asked Shera, who nodded.

"Take what you need," the older woman said, watching to see what Tifa's "surprise" was.

Tifa rifled through the cabinets to find as many tumblers as she could. She set them in a line on the dining room table, gaining the attention of some members of AVALANCHE and the Highwind's crew who were standing nearby. As Tifa set up, the other partygoers slowly began to crowd around the table to figure out what she was doing.

Tifa grabbed a bottle of sparkly blue liquid and poured it into each of the tumblers on the table. She then grabbed a spoon to pour a little rum 151 on top of the drinks, moving down the line skillfully without spilling any alcohol. She reached in her pocket and pulled out her handheld cooking blowtorch to easily light each glass on fire without breaking the flame or her stroke.

Some "oohs" and "ahhhs" could be heard from the group standing around her and the table.

"You guys ready?" she asked in typical bartender fashion.

Cloud had made his way to the front of the crowd, always attuned to whenever the attention was on Tifa. He nodded along with those around him and crossed his arms over his chest with stoic anticipation. Tifa winked at him.

She next picked up a bottle of yellowish liquid and expertly poured it into the glasses, just as she had done with the rum 151. Amazement washed over the crowd as they watched the drinks change from blue to purple. Cloud's eyes sparkled in the flames with a kind of proud expression on his face.

Whoops and cheers erupted from the crowd when Tifa flicked cinnamon at the flames to make them spark. She had perfected the Phoenix Flame during her rare moments alone in the bar and had been excited to show all her friends while performing a spectacle for Cid and Shera, who were given priority to take the first two glasses.

After they were served it was a mad dash to grab what remained. Cloud, Barret, and Yuffie each managed to take a glass, and the rest were snatched by the Highwind's crew. Elmyra had been taking care of Marlene during the show, as the little girl loved to watch Tifa make drinks. Elmyra pulled Marlene from the crowd before everyone lunged for the glasses, gently pulling the girl back by her small shoulders.

"This is A-MAZE-ING" Yuffie hollered after she blew out the flame and took a sip. "When'd you learn how to make this?"

Tifa smiled and tilted her head. "I actually recreated it from a recipe at a bar in Edge," the bartender offered.

"Teef, this is great," Cloud said before holding his glass up toward her. "Beautiful, too."

Okay, this time Tifa knew he was looking at her when he said it, as he gave her a sly little grin and a wink.

"Can't be seen drinkin' this girlie shit, but it's delicious," Barret added.

"Thank you all," Tifa said as people started to spread out again to enter their own conversations. She remained near the kitchen to make the drink for anyone who didn't get one or wanted a second.

Meanwhile…

"What are you going to do?" Rude asked Reno.

The bald Turk was leaning back in his desk chair, his hands behind his head and his ankle resting on his opposite knee. His back was to the window, not wanting to see the world outside that had plunged into darkness.

The Turks were cooped up in their office in the new Shinra headquarters, none wanting to travel home in the raging storm outside. It was mid-afternoon, yet it looked like the dead of night outside; a murky blackness constantly interrupted by flashes of lightning that must be striking all over the city. From their vantage point, much of the sky looked brown as the city lights reflected off the storm clouds. Inside their well-lit office, they could drink and remain dry and only notice the storm when the thunder clapped or when a particularly strong gust of wind caused the rain to rap louder on the windows. It was already coming down in a loud, steady beat, but there were several occasions when the wind would combine with the rain and the thunder to make them think their office windows just might break.

"My job," Reno seethed in answer to Rude's question, without looking up from his phone.

He didn't want to be in the office. The last time it rained like this…

"I could watch you laugh while topless all day. Oh, don't be shy now."

"Reno…"

"I hear that in my head nonstop, yo. Reeee-no…"

His thumb had been hovering over an open text screen as he considered sending her a message. The way she said his name still rang in his head whenever it was quiet. It was the first thing he heard when he woke up – after the alarm or his phone actually woke him up – and would pop into his head whenever he'd walk somewhere, even a short distance. Suddenly, there it was. Her sweet voice in his head calling his name.

He couldn't even think of something flirtatious to send her at the moment, as his mind was occupied with worry about what would happen with Barret tomorrow and his own struggle with feelings. But he wanted to hear from her, even if it was just a text.

"Some storm, huh?" he typed lamely.

He sent the message and continued to stare at his PHS waiting for her response. A few seconds later, he got his reward.

"Wouldn't know, it's gorgeous where I am," she wrote back.

He hadn't realized she would be out of town today. Must be in Rocket Town at Cid's engagement party – with Cloud. He couldn't let a boring comment about the weather be the only thing he sent her today.

"Remember the last time we were caught in the rain? :D," he texted back.

"She's gonna be pissed," he heard Rude say, snapping him out of his pleasant reminiscing and breaking open the proverbial floodgates.

Why couldn't this meeting take place two years ago? Back then, Reno had been fairly content to just imagine Tifa dancing around naked in his mind. He would have had no trouble taking out that big oaf back then. Back before he knew what it was like to hold her, kiss her, fuck her. Back before she tangled herself in his head and in his heart like some kind of parasitic tree.

Reno had already played every possible scenario for the meeting over in his head a thousand times. There was no way Barret would just accept Shinra's offer to buy his oil fields. And then Reno would have to get tough. And then Barret would flip out. And then Reno would have to do something bad. And then he'd lose Tifa. If he decided to take that meeting as a chance to defect – something he didn't want to do – then he'd be at the mercy of Shinra. He'd have to take his getaway bag and change his identity and disappear, always looking over his shoulder waiting to be killed. He'd lose Tifa that way, too. No, the only way this meeting could work out in his favor was if Barret simply accepted the deal, which was never going to happen.

Now Reno was quite literally about to face down the barrel of a gun – the one attached to Barret's arm – and the man held Reno's future with Tifa in the palm of his good hand.

"I KNOW! FUCK!" Reno yelled, kicking his desk hard enough to dent one of the legs.

"Reno!" Tseng called from inside his office. "I recall you just lost a substantial amount of gil recently. Do you want to buy a new desk as well?"

"Goddammit!" Reno shouted to no one in particular. He leaned back hard against his chair and sighed heavily, running a hand through his tresses. His goggles became dislodged as he did so, forcing him to reposition them atop his forehead before closing his eyes to compose himself. "This is a fucking mess," he said in Rude's direction. "Is Rufus torturing me? I mean, why else send me?"

Rude let out an amused grunt and swiveled his chair to face Reno.

"You're second in command, and Barret's a big fish, not to mention his history with Shinra," the bald Turk explained. He then leaned forward on his elbows to lower his sunglasses down his nose, peering above them pointedly at his partner while his left eyebrow twitched upward. "And you used to be the most ruthless… though Rufus does seem to have a particular disdain for you."

Rufus was never the biggest fan of the Turks, but he always seemed to have it out for Reno in particular. The redhead was convinced the tension had gotten worse since Rufus heard the bugs in Tifa's apartment.

For a brief moment Reno entertained the thought that Rufus wasn't just grossed out having to listen to his subordinate bring an adversarial woman to orgasm. Rufus had always seemed asexual to Reno – more obsessed with power and money than women. Reno had figured Rufus wasn't interested in women because it would be difficult to find one who didn't only like him for his money and power. Or maybe he was gay. Maybe that's why he was so mean to Reno in particular?

Nah, Reno had a sixth sense for these things. He found it more likely that Rufus had a crush on Tifa that he never acted on – could never act on – that made him hate Reno so much more since the bugging incident. But that couldn't be true, could it? Rufus had never shown an interest in Tifa or anyone else as far as Reno knew, and he had planned to kill her first when he decided to execute members of AVALANCHE.

Reno shook his head to dismiss the thoughts. Sure, he'd rather think about almost anything else other than Tifa right now, but the sexuality of his boss' boss fell outside of the "almost" category.

His phone buzzed. It was Tifa, his saving grace.

"That reminds me. You owe me a new dress," she had texted.

Oh, she remembered that night. An impish grin crossed Reno's lips. The first night he was able to see and play with her tits. The first night she actually stopped him from moving things forward. The first night she burrowed into his brain and refused to leave.

"He could have sent you," Reno said to Rude.

"But I'm teaming up with Freyra in Mideel for the next meeting," Rude said with just a hint of a smirk. "I don't think Rufus wanted to deal with sending you into that."

"Hey, Shotgun and me are cool now, yo."

Rude eyed him suspiciously from behind his sunglasses.

Reno stood up with a groan and strolled into Tseng's office, knocking on the open door even though the boss knew he was there.

"Boss?" Reno asked when Tseng looked up from his paperwork.

"Yes?"

Reno shoved his hands in his pocket and entered Tseng's office in his usual hangdog manner.

"How'd your meeting go in Gongaga?"

Tseng narrowed his eyes at his subordinate, knowing immediately what this was about. Reno had always been transparent, but he had become even more so in the past couple months.

"We closed the deal," he said matter-of-factly.

"Did you get any resistance?"

"Some, but I handled it, as you will tomorrow."

Reno rubbed the back of his neck and shifted his weight onto one leg, sticking his hip out slightly. If he pressed Tseng any further, it would look like he had forgotten how to do his job. "Handled it," could mean any number of things, but it probably meant Tseng threatened someone or worse.

Reno didn't want to be in this position. If Barret refused to sell, Reno'd have to put on the pressure, and that meant threatening the people in Barret's life, particularly his daughter. And what if Barret threw Reno's relationship in the Turk's face during the meeting? Reno was there to assist the lawyers and negotiators in a tense situation. If they lost respect for him, seeing him as some hopeless romantic instead of the ruthless Turk he was, he'd be up shit's creek.

"Reno, trust me," Tseng said, his voice softening just a bit into an almost fatherly tone. "Just do your job and it'll all work out."

Work out for who? For Shinra? For Reno? There was no way everyone walked away happy in this situation.

End notes: Don't be getting used to such quick updates again. This may have been a fluke. Maybe not, though, since I already have so much of the next few chapters ready to go.