Silmeria - Thanks for the wait. Enjoy the chapter

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Three - Liquid Courage

As a child, Cloud would try to find various ways to impress Tifa. It didn't matter what he did or if he made an complete ass of himself as long as he got her to laugh or even acknowledge him for a minute. He never knew that at the age of twenty-two he would have her humming in pleasure at a simple sip of a margarita he made on one early Sunday afternoon. The world worked in mysterious and often unfair ways sometimes, but Cloud found that he didn't exactly care, for he was too busy chuckling at Tifa's impressed smile and bright eyes.

"You're a natural, Cloud." Tifa praised, setting the glass down and licking her wet lips. "Not even Jessie could make them this good when she first started and she used to be a bartender for a catering company."

"Thank you." Cloud fought the heat from coming to the surface of his cheeks at the compliment. He stood behind the bar and fiddled with his black apron as he cleaned the remnants of his latest creation. He wasn't bold enough to experiment with the liquor-it looked too expensive for that, but he wasn't against the thought of practicing with the cheaper varieties. He even admitted aloud that he had fun with the lesson.

"I'm glad, but don't get too excited. There are going to be nights when you wish you could drink the liquor instead of giving it out. We can get some pretty rowdy customers."

"It is a big city and your bar seems pretty popular." Cloud looked to the sound counter to the far left that held a coffee machine along with the beans and various machines that included a blender, ice-cream machine and sink. "You serve more than liquor?"

"Oh?" Tifa looked to the other counter and grinned. "That's mostly for the underage customers. They love the coffee and shakes and cookies that we serve. There are going to be days when you're behind that counter and this is one is closed. We only serve at nine o' clock to three a.m. City regulations and all."

"That's early to start and early to stop." Cloud remembered that Costa Del Sol started at seven p.m and ended at four a.m, but it made sense for a larger city like Midgar to start early and end early. "Has it always been that way?"

Tifa shook her head, her eyes narrowing as if she was remembering a bad memory. "We used to serve liquor at all hours of the day, but the Alpha put a stop to it. The more drunk people are, the more trouble they tend to get into, you know? Not a lot of people agree with the curfew and it's worse for bars who don't get as much business topside or downside."

"Rules usually don't work out in everyone's favor." Cloud placed the towel on the counter, his body exhausted but his interest piqued. He didn't know much about the Alpha of Midgar, but he heard nothing but good things about the man. How he was kind and just and how he was turning this city into a good, decent one. "The Alpha's name is Zack Fair, right?"

"Alpha Sentinel Zachary Caelum Fair II." Tifa smiled. "It's quite a mouthful and he doesn't like to be called it. So, should you encounter him then make sure to call him Alpha Fair."

"Caelum?" Cloud blinked, remembering the man who had guided him to Tifa just the other day. "Wasn't that guy's name? The one who's a regular?"

"Yeah." Tifa looked at him closely, her lips upturning into a sly smile. "Go on..."

It didn't take long for Cloud to figure it out and when he did, his face paled significantly before heating to such an extent that Tifa was worried that she shouldn't have said a word. She knew that Cloud got extremely nervous and anxious when he was embarrassed and the fact that he was talking to the Alpha of Midgar without knowing it was embarrassing enough.

"You knew?" Cloud asked, accusation in his tone. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I'm sorry." she was quick to apologize. "I was thrown off that he wasn't going to introduce himself properly and I just...went with the flow?"

What a sorry excuse, but what else could she come up with?

"You went with the flow?" Cloud repeated, deadpanned. "I guess lying means going with the flow?" Cloud folded his arms, regarding her with a cold look that only a Guide could pull off. "Shame on you, Tifa Lockhart."

"I-I'm sorry?" Tifa titled her head, blinking when she didn't smell real anger coming from Cloud, only indignation at the situation. "You're not mad?"

"It's more my fault that I didn't put two and two together." Cloud shrugged, leaning against the counter with a small, indulgent smile. "I mean, looking back, there were dozens posters of the man in Minerva Town when I passed, but I was too in awe to pay attention. I'm putting together the pieces and it's ridiculous how I didn't recognize him."

"It won't be the last time that happens, Cloud." Tifa shrugged, her lips upturning into a teasing smile. "I'm sure they're plenty of people who don't know what Sentinel Fair looks like."

"True." Cloud acknowledge with a grunt. "But, that still doesn't take away the embarrassment of the whole situation, you know? He probably laughed until he was sick."

To his surprise, Tifa shook her head with a tiny smile. "Zack isn't the type to laugh at others-unless they do something silly-I'm positive that he didn't want you to know about who he was until he checked you out. I've had trouble with a few Sentinels in the past." Tifa's face darkened for a moment before brightening again. "I don't why, but Zack took care of me when I first came to Midgar. Gave me the seed money for Seventh Heaven and set me up with a place of live. Let it be known that Zack takes care of his people."

Cloud blinked in surprise. Of course, he heard of Alpha Sentinels taking care of their fellow Sentinel and Guides, but to this extent? Seed money for a bar and a place to live for a Sentinel that wasn't born in his territory. Traditionally, it was up the Alpha Sentinel of Nibelheim to provide gil for housing and any and all endeavors the Guide or Sentinel wanted, but it seemed Zack would have none of it.

"That's...impressive."

"I was surprised when he put so much effort into knowing me." Tifa looked mildly amused at her own words and most likely the memory of such an event. "It wasn't until a few months in that he told me the reason for getting to know was that I didn't lie about the reason for entering his city."

"Huh? Why would you lie about it?"

Tifa shrugged, but her eyes grew dark at the question. "Most people come to Midgar for riches and fame-all looking for a life better than the one they had previously, but my reason? I just wanted to live a life without a Guide, to have peace." Tifa closed his eyes and for a brief moment, Cloud felt the sadness coming from her direction and it took all that he had not to send a wave of comfort. Even if this was Midgar, a Guide's emotions pressing against a Sentinel's shield wasn't always a welcome reprieve.

"Zack welcomed with me open arms." Tifa continued softly. "Set me up with a place to live and gave me seed money for this bar and grill and to be honest, I was surprised at how quickly it grew and I still don't know if it was his influence or not. Even after more than a year, he still comes and checks up on me like a big brother or an investor."

"I think it's a little bit of both, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but now do you see what I mean? Sentinel Fair wasn't trying to be malicious, he was only trying to see if you were a psycho." Tifa grinned to his eye roll. "He's actually a good, kind-hearted man, if you haven't heard that a million times already." Tifa leaned closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's quite handsome, isn't he? I mean, he's one of the most eligible Sentinels on the planet. What's not to like?"

"You really shouldn't talk about the Alpha like that, Tifa, even if you do know him." Cloud stepped away, his eyes wary. The walls had ears when concerning any and all gossip about the Alpha Sentinel and Cloud wanted no part of it.

"Oh, he knows he's handsome and flaunts it when the opportunity presents itself so I wouldn't be too worried about it."

"Have you...-"

"Oh, Gaia, no." Tifa looked pale at the thought. It wasn't often, but Sentinel-Sentinel relationships did pop up in the more liberal cities and Tifa was denying it made Cloud realize that she wasn't one of those people who indulged in such relationships. "Of course, I've been in relationships, but never with another Sentinel. The doctor meant it when he said that I'm not compatible."

"You never got a second opinion about it?" Cloud stared at the one woman with an expression akin to sympathy. It was a tragic day when Tifa Lockhart found out that she couldn't bond to a Guide. Being a Beta, she had three out of four of senses activated and it was a loss not only to the potential Guide, but to Nibelheim as well. She was a brave and courageous woman and magnificent fighter and materia user so it was indeed a loss, but Tifa seemed happy here in Midgar with her friends and her bar and grill. So, Cloud couldn't really fault her for nothing bothering with the whole process, but he knew that she wanted a Guide of her own, but the Goddess seemed to have other plans for his friend.

He just hoped that they're were happy ones.

"No, why bother when they're just going to tell me the same thing?" Tifa shrugged, easing off the bitterness of the statement with a smile and dim eyes. "Besides, I'm happy with my bar and friends and now that I've got you here with me, it'll be even more exciting." Tifa's smile turned sly and her eyes returned to their normal, mischievous selves. "I can't wait for you to see what Midgar is like, Cloud, and if you're lucky, you can find your Sentinel."

"My Sentinel?" Cloud repeated with a slow blink, he hadn't really thought about it until now and the thought suddenly worried him. What kind of Sentinel would he find in Midgar? In all villages and cities, there were some good and bad eggs, but Midgar was a different story. It seemed like it was more bad than good and the thought worried him, but why should he really worry about it? He doubted anyone really wanted him.

"You'll find someone." Tifa remarked, reading his mind-she had been doing that since they were children and it was always mildly frightening. "Don't you worry, you'll find someone."

"How do you know?" Cloud tilted his head to the side. "This place give you psychic abilities or something?"

"No," Tifa snorted before her face softened. "A sweet person like you, Cloud? I know that you'll find a Sentinel who will give you the world and if he doesn't, well, I'd give him a smack on the head to remind him what a precious gift he has, yeah?"

Cloud smiled, but couldn't hold back the sadness at the lost opportunity between him and Tifa. He would have loved to be her Guide, more than anything, but Fate had other plans in store for the both of them. He knew, deep down, that both of them would find their happiness whether it be in the form of a person or an endeavor, both of them would find it in time.

He just hoped it would be an easy road.