I swear, writing this chapter was harder than nailing jello to a tree. I've run through at least a dozen different scenarios. But I'd get halfway through the chapter and decide that I didn't like where it was going, backtrack a few paragraph and rewrite them, then find that concept just wouldn't work and get all delete-happy in response. I'm not completely satisfied with this ending but considering how much I've got going on in RL right now I think I've done well.

Chapter Ten

Aerith smiled secretively as she sat on the steps leading up to the house. Her green eyes glowed with a fervent knowledge. Beside her Yuffie was alternately staring forlornly at the stoic pair in the distance and drawing graphics that Aerith did her best to ignore in fear her face may spontaneously combust. The healer ducked her head as the two men neared, hiding her widening smile with a tilt of her head that sent a curtain of hair over her face.

Cloud had a pensive look on his face, darting furtive looks at Leon as the gunblader kept his eyes firmly on the path ahead, the very tips of his ears a light pink. Aerith's mouth curled further upwards as Leon chanced a glance at his friend, meeting intense blue. The pair froze for a breath-taking moment before locking their eyes on the smiling woman. Leon looked slightly uncomfortable; one hand rising to tug at his ear, completely oblivious to the renewed looks Cloud shot him. The blonde's expression resumed that thoughtful look, now mingled with faint mixture of hope and resolve.

As the two men disappeared into the house, Aerith clasped her hands together joyfully. Tonight. A voice whispered gleefully in her mind. Tonight would surely seethe culmination of nearly two years worth of dancing around each other. Beside her, Yuffie straightened, her keen eyes having noted the change. Snapping her sketchpad shut with a jubilant grin she glanced over her shoulder at the door before swinging her head around to give Aerith a hopeful look. She bounced excitedly at the answering nod.

Soon.

xXx

Cloud hummed thoughtfully to himself as he leant against the doorjamb, watching an oddly excited Aerith putter around the kitchen with Leon. The dark-haired male gave the woman confused looks when she nudged him with a hip and giggled for no apparent reason. It wasn't just Aerith in an oddly good mood either, the blonde noted as Yuffie and Tifa both scrambled into the room. They paused and looked at him before giggling together. Heads bent close together they whispered eagerly to one another as they migrated towards the table.

Leon cast all three women anxious looks before turning to stare at Cloud, one eyebrow raised questioningly. The blonde lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug, allowing his eyes to gently roam the brunet's profile as the man turned to answer a yell from Cid. Ambling over to the table and sliding into a seat the blonde allowed himself a moment to think, tuning the girlish whispers originating from the two seats to his left.

Something had just…clicked earlier outside on the bailey. Cloud couldn't recall what they'd doing, couldn't remember if they'd even talked. But somehow it had felt perfect. In that moment he'd just known they were going to be okay, that they could go beyond friendship. Suddenly, they were on the same page. It had been an indescribable moment for Cloud; he had felt the insecurities and doubts drift away on the wind. All he needed was inspiration of how to broach the subject with Leon. He didn't like the idea of simply it out; that wasn't his nature, regardless of how it may simplify things. He wasn't certain how to go about it but he was certain he'd finally achieve his wish.

When their eyes had met earlier, while he had been casting a supposedly secretive glance at the blonde, Leon swore he'd seen his own longing mirrored in Cloud's eyes. He'd kept that knowledge tightly wrapped around him since as he pondered the odds of Cloud broaching the subject. For reasons he didn't care to inspect, Leon was very much Squall when it came to his feelings for Cloud. He occasionally cursed his hesitancy on the matter but he couldn't find it in himself to try to change that. He didn't want to change it. Maybe it was the fanciful dreams from his adolescence. Leon wanted Cloud to make the first move. He wanted Cloud to initiate any potential changes to their relationship as the blonde had always since they first met. It might have been the insecurity, the fear that he'd read Cloud's expression wrong. Or perhaps it was the once deeply-ingrained instinct of waiting for Cloud's thoughts on a matter.

…It may have been the romance novels Aerith subjected him to while growing up in Traverse Town but Leon refused to go there.

xXx

In the end it was very anticlimactic, Yuffie thought despondently. In fact, to her dismay, there wasn't even a climax…in the physical sense of the word of course.

She'd camped outside the men's bedroom all night, eagerly listening for telltale springs creaking to no avail. All she'd heard was the dull murmur of words spoken too softly for her keen ears to pick up. She'd heard the rustle of clothing as outfits were shed and pyjamas put on in their place before two different beds were weighted down by tired bodies. She'd held her breath when the light peeking under the door disappeared, hoping that perhaps her Great Ninja hearing had been wrong for once…but all she'd heard was the slow breathing and soft snores exclusive to deep sleep. That had nearly been enough to make her cry in frustration.

Packing up her sleeping bag and pillow, she'd dejectedly walked back to the room she shared with Tifa and Aerith. The two women were awake and watching her knowingly when she'd walked in. Tifa patted her head comfortingly before burying herself under her blankets and falling asleep. Aerith stayed up a little longer, lips curled in a knowing smile as she stared at the door.

"Yuffie." Aerith giggled softly at the answering whine. "Don't forget; you live with them."

Cid cursed for an hour straight at being woken by the loud cheer Yuffie let out.

It brought about a change in the routine. One all parties involved gladly adapted to. The morning routine wasn't to be rushed through so he could leave the house as soon as he could. Mornings slowed down, became almost languid as new additions to the routine were established. The day started at dawn for both of them. Already Aerith could be heard in the kitchen, enticing smells drifting through the house as she cooked, luring everyone out of bed. A sleepy languid kiss was exchanged first thing; no matter how many times they silently resolved to brush their teeth, and combat morning-breath first. As soon as they were both presentable they went to eat breakfast, sharp eyes keeping a look out for their live-in fangirl as they stopped in darkened corners for a brief moment. They were separated for most of the day, going about different jobs to pay the bills. Evenings were a chaotic affair with the whole group at home and a few guests besides. Yuffie's sole photo of the couple consisted of Cloud's arm around Leon's waist as the brunet rested his head on the blonde's shoulder in a rare quiet moment just before dinner.

Cid would never tell Yuffie because of the ninja's moaning about prudish eunuchs and a lack of photo ops. But if one was to walk out to the Crystal Fissure around midday, one could usually see the pair creating a new make-out point for the town.

End

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