Cloud smiled into the wind as he maneuvered through the newly constructed streets of Midgar. He'd been gone barely two weeks, yet so much had already changed. Sector One was practically finished- well on its way to being a bustling metropolis. The other Sectors were right behind Sector One. Cloud shook his head. Three months after the meteor crisis and Midgar already had numerous new buildings and streets. It had all happened so fast it made his head spin. As he sped down the street on his motorcycle, the sound of construction surrounded him on all sides.

He quickly made a tricky little swerve to avoid crossing pedestrians. His hand automatically went to his pocket. Cloud felt the thick bundle of gil. Strife Delivery Service...he thought with a wry smile. He never would have imagined that his future career would be a delivery boy. In fact, for a long time, he had never imagined a future for himself at all. But as he pushed the money deeper into his pocket, he couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of pride. Who cares how I got it...he thought stubbornly. It's a lot of money. Another smile tugged at his lips as he thought of all the use he could put the money to.

Cloud tightened his grip on the handlebars as he entered Sector Seven. The road here wasn't quite as smooth; Sector Seven was still being constructed. However, since he had been gone there had been a lot of progress. Along the bumpy road were the unmistakeable signs of new foundations getting ready to be dug.

He made a careful turn onto another street. This street contained a large amount of new, and completed buildings. They lined the street, bunched close together and creating a narrow alley way every now and then. He brought his motorcycle to a stop outside one of them. It was an unremarkable building; gray concrete like the rest, with several windows and one door. Nevertheless, Cloud climbed off his motorcycle and grinned broadly at the plain wooden door.

As Cloud opened the door, his senses were assaulted with the smell of fresh paint. So they've been busy while I was gone too...he thought amusedly as he took off his shoes and crept out of the foyer. His eyes widened in shock as he turned into the bar area. There were tables with chairs placed tastefully around the bar and at the back of the room, was a brand new wooden and marble bar. His surprise quickly turned to pleasure as he noticed the two figures bustling around at the far end.

Both wearing old shirts of his over their clothes, with their hair tied back away from their face were Tifa and Marlene. They were splattered from head to toe with white paint. Tifa was balanced on one of her new tall barstools, which was balanced on a wooden box, painting the upper half of the wall while Marlene hovered around anxiously.

"You're gunna fall Tifa!" Marlene moaned, covering her face dramatically with her hands. "I just know it!"

Tifa gave a tinkling laugh.

"I'm not going to fall Marlene!" she chided her. "Besides, how else am I suppose to reach all the way up here?"

Marlene ignored her. She looked up at Tifa pleadingly.

"Please come down Tifa!" she begged.

Tifa looked down at Marlene incrediously.

"Honestly Marlene!" she said shaking her head. "What are you so afraid of? I'm perfectly fine up here. See?"

She wiggled the stool slightly. Marlene let out a little scream.

"Stop, Tifa!" she cried.

Tifa sighed. "Okay, okay. I'm coming down."

She turned around carefully ontop the stool and Cloud laughed outloud at the sight of her paint streaked face. Startled, both her and Marlene let out shreiks. Marlene continued shreiking as Tifa wobbled unsteadily on the stool. Still chuckling, Cloud reached up and placed two stabilizing hands on her waist. Smiling widely, Tifa put her hands on his shoulders and let him lower her to the ground. They stood frozen like that for a moment, their close proximity tempting Cloud to bend his face down to hers and just-

Marlene finally came her senses and knocked this thought out of Cloud's mind.

"Cloud!" she shouted, grabbing him around the legs. "You're back!"

Looking as if she too were knocked out of a daze, Tifa slid her hands of his shoulders and Cloud's hands dropped from her waist.

"Hello Marlene." Cloud said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Marlene grabbed Cloud's hand with both of hers and shot Tifa a scathing look.

"Did you see Tifa, Cloud?" she said accusingly. "She could have died!"

Cloud glanced at Tifa nervously.

"I'm sure Tifa knows what-" he began weakly.

Marlene cut him off and looked up at him pleadingly.

"She always does stuff like this! Tell Tifa to be more careful Cloud!" she begged. "Tell her! She'll listen to you!"

He shot Tifa another unsure glance. Tifa sighed and bent down to talk to Marlene.

"It's okay Marlene." she said gently but firmly. "I wouldn't have died if I fell off the stool."

Marlene looked unsure. Tifa gave Cloud a look over her head before turning back to Marlene.

"Do you want to go finish setting up your room?" Tifa asked Marlene.

She nodded enthusiastically, thoughts of Tifa falling off the stool to her death leaving her mind.

"Okay," Tifa said. "I'll help you get started."

Marlene shot up the stairs. Tifa turned to Cloud with a small smile.

"I'll be right back." she told him. "Go sit at the bar! You can be my first costumer!"

Tifa ran off after Marlene. Cloud watched her leave the room, then headed over to the bar. He sat down on one of the stools and looked over at all the work that had been done in his absence. It was finally looking like a bar. He ran his fingers over the marble top of the bar. There were already shelves behind it, stocked with top-of-the-line everything. He smiled at the half painted walls. Apparently Tifa had been having trouble getting the top half.

"What can I get you?" a voice startled him.

His head shot up. Tifa was standing behind the bar. Her professional manner was ruined only by her paint covered clothing and the broad smile on her face. Cloud felt a smile tugging at his own mouth.

"Something hard." he told her.

Tifa laughed, her professionlism shattering completely. Cloud watched her as she began grabbing bottles off the shelf.

"So..." he said as she began mixing the amber liquids together. "What's up with Marlene?"

Tifa's smile wilted slightly.

"Marlene's...afraid of everything." she sighed. "Heights, spiders, the dark..."

Tifa shook her head and gave Cloud his drink.

"I think she's afraid something will happen to me, or I'll leave her like Barret did...Not that I'm blaming Barret!" she added quickly. "It's just hard for a child her age to accept why he had to leave her."

Cloud nodded and downed his drink. He could understand Marlene's fear for Tifa. He was always afraid for her himself, worried she'd leave the doors unlocked at night or that someone would take advantage of her generous, helpful nature and hurt her. Despite all that had happened to her, Tifa could still be suprisingly naive.

She tilted her head, pearl drop earrings catching the light. "How is it?"

"Perfect." he told her. "As always."

Tifa blushed slightly at the compliment and gave a quiet thank you. She leaned her elbows up on the bar and looked at him inquiringly.

"How did it go?" she asked seriously.

Cloud reached into his pocket and pulled out the large wad of gil and placed it on the bar. Tifa's face fell slightly at the sight of the money but looked up quickly with a wide smile.

"That's great Cloud." she said softly. "I'm glad everything went well."

Tifa ducked her head and began cleaning glasses that Cloud knew were already spotless. He watched her curiously for a minute, confused by the sadness that was troubling her beautiful face.

"So..." she said, trying to be casual but failing to keep her voice steady. "I guess this means you have enough for your own place, huh?"

My own place? Cloud thought. The words made his stomach clench unpleasantly.

"Oh...umm I guess so." he muttered.

Tifa was silent. Cloud could tell by the look on her face that she was struggling for words. He was having a similar conflict himself.

"So..." she began softly, tucking her bangs behind her ear. "You're leaving then?"

She glanced up to meet his eyes, but looked away quickly. She ducked her head and began to turn away but Cloud grabbed her arm. Tifa turned her eyes to him, looking up from under her thick eyelashes. Her lower lip was caught between her teeth.

"Do you want me to leave?" Cloud asked quietly.

Tifa's head jerked up, the expression in her eyes was surprised. Cloud smiled at her and let go of her arm. She returned his smile slowly.

"No Cloud..." she said, a trace of shyness in her voice. "I don't want you to leave."

He watched her as she ducked her head again, and a tinge of pink appeared in her cheeks.

"I'll stay then." he said softly.

Again her head jerked up. He felt his grin widen at the pleasure and shock in her face.

"You mean it Cloud?" she asked, the beginning of a smile gracing her features. "You'll really stay?"

He nodded. "Of course!"

Tifa's grin spread to her entire face, illuminating her eyes. He watched with suprise and amazement as she used her arms to spring over the bar and kiss his cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her head into his shoulder. The smell of paint wasn't strong enough to cover up Tifa's scent, a smell Cloud always associated with the Nibelheim mountains...a mix of mountain flowers, fresh snow, and clean air...Cloud hoped Tifa couldn't hear how loud his heart was beating. He gently returned the embrace.

"Oh Cloud..." she said quietly, but happily. "I'm so glad!"

She pulled back, and Cloud let go reluctantly. Tifa's smile was still wide as ever. Cloud felt helpless to do anything but smile back. She grabbed his hand.

"Come on Cloud!" she said, pulling him up and heading out of the bar. "There's a room upstairs you can have! It's not finished yet- well none of the rooms are really, except the bar. But it's the biggest bedroom and you can use it as an office too- if you want to that is! And we can paint it whenever you want but I need help getting the top half of the walls..."

Cloud listened in amusement as Tifa continued chatting enthusiastically. He could understand her excitement. A bubble of hope was filling his chest. A real home...he thought, smiling as Tifa led him by the hand around what would soon become his room/office. He watched Tifa's beautiful face as she talked animately, turning around and smiling at him every few minutes to make sure he was still listening. A real home with Tifa...he thought. Maybe it really is our turn to be happy...