Tifa's LockedHEART part 2

I could feel his arms wrapping all around me, the warmth of his breath down my neck, his lips on mine. I could touch his silky spikes and intertwine them in my fingers. I could feel my hands on his chest, I could feel HIM, there, with me. I wanted to see him, make this moment last forever, so I opened my eyes.

The sunlight from the window made me squint, so I brought up my hand to create a shadow for my eyes to adjust. I looked on his side of the bed, but I was alone. The covers were wrapped around me. "Was last night only a dream?" I thought, and started to panic. I tore off the covers and frantically looked down at myself. I was still wearing the same clothes from last night, not my usual pjs. My shoes were off, but there was no sign of his shoes, or his clothes, or any of his stuff here...

My chest heaved up and down, each breath seeming to weigh much more than the last. My head swiveled all around the room, looking for any sign that he could have been here. "It couldn't have been a dream," I said to myself, "it was to real, I waited all my life for this to happen..." but the reality of the situation was in favor of a dream...

NO!!!

I jumped out of bed and raced down stairs almost crashing into the wall. I turned down the hall and began clearing steps, but it wasn't fast enough, so I jumped passing about 10 steps landing a crouch, catlike right in the center of the bar, and I looked around.

To see Vincent, showing Denzel how his gun works. Marlene at the counter helping Yuffie cook. Cid, talking to Barret in a booth, while Red XIII and Cait Sith lay at their feet. I took in the moment. This was my family, all together once again, and I knew things were going to be like this from now on, all of us together, and it warmed my heart. All of us, the best of friends...

All of them, staring back at me, eyes wide, questionably wondering why I randomly jumped into the room.

I gave a weak smile, stood up, head high as I brushed the dust off my skirt.

Then I found him.

He was in the very corner of the room leaning up against the wall, hiding in the shadows, taking everything in. He must have been watching me the entire time, for when I met his eyes, it was like they were always there, watching me. A tiny smile parted his lips. I straightened myself, but still kept my eyes on him. He then pushed away from the wall, leaving his sword behind. His eyes locked with mine again, and started walking straight for me. I could feel the whole room watching us, but all I could think about was him. Was last night all a dream? Did he stay? Did he kiss me? Did he hold me? Did I imagine that he told me he loved me?

All these thoughts piled in my brain, but all of then disappeared, because he was right infront of me, looking down with his glowing eyes. They burning right into my soul. He then leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Good morning Tifa."

I shivered.

He lifted his head to look at me again, and he gently kissed my forehead, and walked upstairs.

I found myself just standing there, awestruck at what just happened. I was exploding with excitement in a body that wouldn't move, but just stood frozen in time that seemed forever. First off, it wasn't like Cloud to show emotion, especially emotion like that. Second, he kissed me in front of our friends, something must have changed him, something dramatic...

So last night was real.. everything did actually happen, I kissed him, held him, touched him...

Told him I loved him....and he told it to me back.

"Well hot damn, it's about time." Barret shouted.

I snapped back to reality, looking at Barret, really confused.

Cid saw my confusion and decided to answer for him. "Well you two fricken love birds have been at it as long as I can remember, and it drove me damn nuts that neither have you have done anything about it."

"So," I said. "You knew?"

"Knew?!" Yuffie laughed. "We all knew, except for you two, you guys are so blind, it was just driving me crazy!! I was about to do something about it, like, I don't know, push you into him or something. Kidnap you both and send you somewhere romantic. So I repeat, "It's about time!"

I looked at my friends astonished, how did they know all this time where we didn't even know? Then Vincent turned to me, it was his turn to talk.

"Tifa," he said, standing up, "because of the predicament in which we all placed ourselves into, we had no choice but to focus on our goal, not our feeling. Therefore, even if you two didn't see it, we could. So don't wonder why we all knew when you guys didn't, it because we were there, watching. All our lives were so close that we had but no choice but to recognize the tension between you two. It was obvious."

"Yea," Yufffie agreed.

"Enough babbling." Barret mutted. "Go, I'm sure spiky ass is upstars waiting for you." he grinned.

I shot him a glare, then turned and raced upstairs, hearing laughter fade from behind me. I walked into my room to find him staring out the window. He must herd my footsteps, because once I entered, he turned around to greet me, a smile lighting up his face. It was so beautiful because he never smiles.

I began to cry.

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me, rubbing my back.

"They know." I said.

"Yea." he replied. "It took all my courage to do that in front of them because I figured that they would find out eventually."

"Yea," I said.

"Tifa," he said, taking my chin, "why are you crying?"

Really, I didn't know myself untill it spilled out of my mouth. "Because when I woke up you weren't there, and I figured it was all a dream, a wonderful dream, the closest thing I would have to a reality.." I couldn't finish.

"When I woke up," he said "You looked so peaceful sleeping there, that I didn't want to disturb you, nor leave you, but I remembered Marlene and Denzel. So I took them downstairs, made them some breakfast, and our friends showed up. I began talking with everyone, then you came down." He kissed my forehead again.

I couldn't take it anymore, I placed my hands on his chest and shoved him on the bed, then I jumped after him.

"Tifa?" he said, confused.

"I love you, so much." I whispered, and started to kiss him. at first it was gentle, but it became harder, and more passionate, our lips locked and our tounges explored.

"But they're right downsta-" he muttered.

"Shhhhhhh" I replied.

He chucked, catching my drift, and my mood, bringing his around me and pulling me into him. His tight embrace locked all around me, where his hands started finding their way around my body. I brought my hand to his hair while the other laid on his chest. The kiss became more romantic with every moan, every heaving breath, the fact that he was right next to me, holding me, kissing me.

And he was all mine.

He moaned again, and he grabbed my hand and interlaced his fingers into mine. Then he stopped kissing me, and looked deep into my eyes.

"Chocolate brown." he whispered.

"Huh?"

"The color of your eyes, they're chocolate brown."

I could feel myself blushing, "I never thought you took notice."

This remark seemed to offend him, because imminently his face turned hard. "Tifa, those eyes of yours are what haunt me when I'm looking at anything but them."

I giggled, and lightly kissed his lips, then I laid down ontop of him, resting my head in his chest, our fingers still intertwined.

"I've waited so long to be so close to you." I whispered.

He sat up, pulling me into his lap and wrapping his free arm around me. "I won't leave, ever again." he promised. "I can't leave my family."

"So it's official, we're your family?"

He smiled, "YOU, are my family."

"But Marlene and Den-"

"Of course, it's a pakaged deal, they're like my children, where you are my sweetheart." he said, and kissed me again. I smiled back. He staying. He's staying with us!

"Forever?" I asked.

"Forever." he assured.

I rested my head in his chest once more, as the sunlight streamed through our bedroom window.