Chapter 31: The Third Vote

March 16, 0008

Cloud came home in the late afternoon to find Tifa sitting alone at the kitchen table. She was quiet again, but, this time, it looked as if it she was staring out into space.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he placed his hands gently on her shoulders from behind.

"I'm wondering how we would get by if I didn't win," she replied honestly as she placed her hand on his. "I was so absorbed in my campaign that I practically forgot I didn't have any other job lined up. I wonder how I would support us."

Cloud was about to assure her that he would support them, but stopped himself. A housewife was the last thing Tifa would ever want to be, and such a suggestion would only upset her more.

"You could write your memoirs," he instead suggested.

"The money would dry up," she replied. "I was one of ten who stopped Sephiroth. Everyone else whose still alive is going to write one sooner or later."

"You could start a dancing school," he blurted out; it was the first thing that came to mind.

"I don't know how to dance any more than a chocobo does!" she laughed.

Cloud sighed, realizing that it was hard to cheer her up.

Then, he got an idea.

He remembered.

And, he would start it off as if he didn't.

"I need to make the bed," Cloud suddenly announced as he removed his hands from Tifa and headed for the stairs.

"The bed's made," the perplexed Tifa replied.

"Not that I saw," he dismissed as he marched up the stairs.

Tifa got up and followed him.

"What brought that up, anyway?" she asked as she mounted the stairs herself. "I'm sorry if I'm boring you!"

Cloud didn't responded. He just needed her to follow him.

"And now you're ignoring me!" Tifa continued, in an annoyed tone of voice. "What the hell is going on?"

Cloud continued to ignore her as he reached the top of the stairs and walked into the bedroom.

Tifa followed.

"There," she said, almost frustrated by this point. "The bed is made. What's gotten into you?"

In response, Cloud picked up one of the pillows, and, before he could change his mind, he struck Tifa with it.

"Cloud!" she exclaimed, in a tone more surprised than angry.

And then, Cloud stripped down to his boxers.

He climbed onto the the bed and started jumping.

And then, she realized.

My dream! she thought. He listened to me! He wants to make my dream come true!

Tifa didn't think like most women, but even she appreciated it when she was listened to. At that moment, she felt so much love from him she couldn't describe it.

"H-hold on!" she said.

Tifa quickly stripped to her bra and panties. She climbed onto the bed and grabbed a pillow herself.

"How dare you hit me!" she reprimanded with a smile as she started jumping.

"I couldn't help it!" Cloud insisted.

"Take that, asshole!" Tifa playfully insulted as she struck him with her pillow.

"Look fast, bitch!" he playfully replied before striking her back.

"Don't call me a bitch, cockface!" she snapped as she hit his shoulder.

"Don't call me a cockface, dickhead!" he retorted as he hit her in the chest.

"Watch my tits, you…ummm….ummm…." she stumbled.

Cloud smirked as he continued to jump.

"What swear word starts with an e?" she asked as she bounced.

"None, I think," he replied honestly.

Then, Tifa got an idea.

"Eff you!" she said

"That's not a word, you fuck head!"

"It is now, you goddam buckfutter!" she laughed as she whacked him on the arm.

"Hoe!" Cloud shouted as he thwacked Tifa across the face.

And then, Tifa dropped the pillow. Before Cloud could say a word, she threw her arms around him and kissed him.

Her dream had come true.

"You're amazing, you know that?" she complimented.

A few minutes later, Cloud and Tifa, still in their underwear, were sitting next to each other at the edge of the bed. Tifa rested her head on Cloud's shoulder, and squeezed his hand.

"I really needed this," she said. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Cloud replied as he kissed his wife on the head.

Tifa looked up, and smiled.

"Can we do things like this more often?" she requested.

"Of course," he answered. "I want to make all of your dreams come true."

She lovingly squeezed his hand again.

They stayed sitting next to each other for a while.

Then, Tifa broke the silence.

"Too bad we can't make dinner from here," she said.

That was, of course, the cue to go downstairs. Both of them were starting to get hungry.

Cloud stood up and put his clothes back on. He then turned to see Tifa, still in her underwear and still sitting on the bed.

"What?" she laughed. "I can't enjoy the show?"

"Pervert," he playfully muttered.

"It was you idea!"

"Based on your dream," he reminded her.

Tifa finally got up and slipped her shirt back on. She then reached for her jeans.

"Wait," Cloud began.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she turned to face him.

He found the white cotton panties she was wearing extremely sexy.

He knew she would say no, so he didn't bother.

"Umm….nothing," he replied, even though she knew he was lying.

Tifa looked at him, and placed her hands on her hips.

"You want me to go around the house like this, don't you," she asked.

He nodded.

Tifa, being the dominant one in the marriage, usually wouldn't go around in a tee and panties if Cloud was fully clothed.

But, this time, she felt as if she owed him. She could make an exception. For a price.

"Alright," she agreed. "But tomorrow, you're going all day with your shirt off. Got it?"

"Got it," he agreed.

Tifa folded her jeans and put them away before walking over to Cloud and kissing him.

They then went downstairs, holding hands.

Now, most couples will, from time to time, go about the house in a state of undress, but Tifa was a big exception, so it was somewhat new to her. The vulnerability she continued to feel was a good feeling, and it brought her closer to Cloud.

Of course, she made Cloud close all of the downstairs curtains. They made out three times; Tifa thought their tongues would eventually fall off. They were extremely affectionate even when they weren't making out.

She realized it was another great idea.

"I like this," she admitted. "Thanks again."

Tifa also noticed her demeanor was different the whole time. She seemed playful, flirty, and sexy at the same time. She would often stand on one leg, mainly to give Cloud a view of her legs in action. She was amazed she kept her balance so well.

I wouldn't be surprised, of course. She was a girl; we have better balance than our male counterparts.

It was one of the few times she embraced her femininity.

I also think it was the closest she ever did to dancing, except for that sailing adventure, which I don't cover here.

They had dinner and washed the dishes. Then, the inevitable question came.

"Do you want to have sex tonight?" Tifa asked.

Cloud nodded.

"Okay," she said with a smile.

She took his hand and led him up the stairs, with Cloud staring at her butt through her panties the whole time.

He led her into the bedroom and to the bed.

He bent her forward.

He then gripped her panties.

The rest of the night wrote itself.

The Shinra Number 26 launched from Rocket Town.

The waterfall gushed over Lucrecia's Cave.

A train entered the tunnel in the Corel Mountains.

A geyser erupted near Mideel.

The Midgar Zolem constricted around its prey.

Meteor hurled through space.

It struck the Planet.

Uh-oh….

THREE DAYS LATER…

March 19, 0008

The speaker silently walked in as he approached his seat. The whole Western Continent was watching, even though the moment itself would last less than a second.

Cloud and Tifa were watching from their parlor, with their hands clasped. Tifa's palms were sweaty.

"This is it," she said softly. "No more suspense. No more delays."

The tie was still on the screen.

STRIFE: 66

BALEN: 66

Tifa felt her heart racing, and practically squeezed Cloud's hand.

It was one of the longest moments of her life.

The speaker took his seat.

He pressed his button.

Then, the screen read accordingly.

STRIFE: 67

BALEN: 66

"It's for Ms. Strife," he announced.

Tifa was frozen in shock.

She couldn't believe it.

"You won," Cloud said with a smile. "You won."

LATER…

March 21, 0008

Tifa stood in the Shinra Mansion foyer as she gazed around the building that would soon become her home. It was somewhat dilapidated, but repairs would be inevitable.

She was still taking it in; she had been elected President of the Western Continent. And just several months earlier, she had been a fugitive. She was beyond amazed on how quickly her life had changed.

"I never thought I would ever live here," she began. "Ever since I was little."

Cloud was standing by her side.

"You've definitely earned it," he complimented.

And then, it hit her.

She remembered Cloud's history with this place. She had nearly forgotten, and felt ashamed of herself for having done so.

"Cloud," she began, "you know we don't have to live here. I know you have…..some bad memories with this place."

"Don't worry about it," he assured her. "We'll make some better ones together."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Cloud nodded.

"But can we please seal off the dungeon?" he requested. "I really don't want to think about that place."

"Of course," Tifa assured as she gently wrapped her arms around him and rocked him gently. "That'll be the first change we make."

She then brushed his spiky hair.

"I love you, First Gentleman," she said with a smile.

"I love you, Madam President," he replied before kissing her.