Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 and its characters belong to Square. This story belongs to me.

Author Note: First long Rufus x Tifa fic, Post Advent Children, estimating between 15-20 chapters. Please read & review! Comments are appreciated.
A/N 5.2.17: Gutted and revised this story.

Birthday Surprise

Reno's birthday conveniently fell on a Friday night, and in his mind a weekend full of celebration was in order. Clocking out early at 3 p.m. Reno left the Shinra Mansion heading home for a nap to rest up for a long night. It had been a year after the resurface of Sephiroth through the scheming of Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz. Things had become normal for the first time in awhile among the different continents. Reno, Rude, Tseng and Elena all lived in pretty luxurious apartments funded by Shinra. Shinra's temporary headquarters along with President Rufus Shinra's residence were located in Neibelhim where the old Shinra Mansion was. Rufus Shinra was a busy man, but tonight, he took it easy; he had to celebrate his loyal employee and friend's birthday.

-xx-

Tifa finished dinner and was setting up for a usual Friday at her newly located Seventh Heaven. It had been rather lonely for her lately, and everything had become routine. Marlene and Denzel had moved to Corel with Barret, leaving her with less to do and no one around. Prior to the events of Kadaj, things seemed to be falling into place for her and Cloud in Edge. They adopted Denzel and took care of Marlene as well, since Barret moved to Corel for work. Tifa thought that her and Cloud finally had it together, but only a few sweet months of calmness and consistency were shattered completely with Kadaj. Aside having to move out of Edge because of destruction, while reuniting with the group, Vincent Valentine had spoken to their friends about an old proposal he found in Hojo's documents. The proposal defined a method of the ability to restore and bring Ancient's back from the dead. Vincent said he wanted to try bringing Lucrecia back in order to talk to her one last time. Four months ago he left to begin his quest.

Cloud also left with him four months ago, in search to bring her back.

Aerith.

She sat back on the couch in her apartment above her famous small town bar and reflected on their last conversation.

"Tifa...I got to do this. I know it sounds crazy, but I need closure."

"Cloud, don't you think enough is enough? Everything is normal for once, we have each other, the children and a new life."

"Tifa, I can't. This life isn't for me; I've tried, but I could never love you the way you deserve to be. Something keeps drawing me back to her. I'm sorry" and with that, he got up and left.

She knew she wouldn't see him for awhile, months, maybe years. Initially, she tried calling him, hoping to keep contact, but he never answered his phone or returned messages. She was heartbroken; her friends knew, along with many people in town. She just kept smiling and let the tears flow during the lonely nights in bed.

Tifa kept busy; she wanted to continue with her business, hoping to lease a space for a new bar in Neibelhim, which she figured was her new permanent home. She visited Marlene and Denzel on a regular basis. She had her own life now, but it was lonesome.

Sighing, Tifa looked at her watch, it was nine; the regulars would be coming in soon.

-xx-

"YOOOO! RUDE!" Reno shouted when the tall, bulk man in shades walked through the door.

"We are drinking beers and Choco-Bombs all night! You're gonna carry me home!"

"Where's Rufus?" Rude asked.

"Should be here in a few minutes," Elena answered; she was sitting on the couch with Tseng. "He was buying a bottle of Champagne. Actually, Reno, where did you want to go tonight?"

Still focused on his mixology, Reno replied "Seventh Heaven of course. It is close, we can take a cab back, or I'm sure Rufus asked for a driver."

"He's drinking tonight?" Elena asked. "I thought he had a meeting tomorrow."

"NOPE! I convinced him to push it back to Monday. The guy needs a break, plus I wanna get him drunk like he was at the Shinra Christmas Party last year."

They all laughed remembering the President slurring his speech at the company's annual Christmas party during the toast he made. The Turk's have only seen him drunk on rare occasions.

"Speak of the devil!" Rufus walked through the door. "Toast man, everyone is finally here and its MY birthday!"

-xx-

"OH YEAH! TIFA BABY, ITS MY BIRTHDAY!" Reno shouted as he stumbled to the bar opening his wallet.

Tifa laughed and gave Reno a round on her. She was use to seeing Reno and the Turks on a regular basis in her bar. Tifa looked up recognizing a familiar face. A tall, composed, well-mannered, handsome and confident man emerged; Rufus Shinra walked through the door. He approached her, despite false rumors, the man was alive and looked well. His eyes circled around the bar and then fixated on Tifa.

"Ms. Lockhart, It's nice to see you," he said to her in his icy voice.

"Mr. Shinra-" He cut her off. "Please, call me Rufus."

"Rufus, what would you like?"

"Vodka on the rocks." She slid the drink to him. His gaze never left her sight. Rufus studied her, aside the occasional updates Reno gossiped he didn't know much about her. Rufus never forgot her face and thought about her on occasion.

"Tifa," he said smoothly. "How are you? It's been awhile, and I have thought about you from time to time."

"Excuse me?" Tifa replied with a puzzled look on her face. "With everything you have to think about? I'm fine."

"Reno and Rude tell me they come here often and talk about you. I just wanted to see how you are considering a few years ago I kept constant watch on you and AVALANCHE." He smirked.

"I'm okay," she said blankly. "I own the bar, and I'm trying to lease a new one. Nothing extremely exciting but it is nice to have a calmer lifestyle than before, no?" She laughed awkwardly. Rufus always had deep blue eyes, but up close they were hypnotizing.

"Didn't you have geo-stigma? I also heard you were funding a huge project for restoring Edge and Midgar," she spoke wiping the bar down never loosing eye contact with him.

"I recovered over Geo-Stigma thankfully. I've created the World Regenesis Organization, it not only is re-building Migar but also conserving the planet and Lifestream. It has been very successful so far."

He paused.

"Perhaps someday you can hear it more in detail. I'm sure you'd like it, and maybe you could be of help to it," he replied flicking his hair back.

"Thanks, but no thanks," she cut him off. "I'd rather-"

"'GO FUCK YOURSELF SCUM BAG!" Someone screamed outside and interrupted Tifa. "I AM A TURK, YOU HEAR ME!"

Rufus and Tifa both jumped and quickly ran outside behind the bar where the noise was coming from. Apparently two policemen were informed of a noise complaint coming outside and sure enough it was a very drunk Reno being held down by Rude.

"Ms. Lockhart," the officer said. "You should know better, this is your responsibility, I'm going to have to fine you for this drunk." He started to write the offense as Tifa glared at an incoherent Reno.

"Officer," spoke a voice from the background; Rufus emerged. "I'll take the blame for this, he is my employee."

"Sorry, Mr. President, I can't. Just take him home." He handed the ticket to Tifa and left.

Tifa stared at the ticket. 3000gil. She couldn't pay that, not right away. This was terrible.

"Reno, your night is done! Get out!" she yelled and stormed back inside.

"Rude, put Reno in the car, I'll be right back and we'll go," Rufus said and followed Tifa back into the bar.

Rufus grabbed Tifa's shoulder. "Tifa, let me pay for that fine. It was my fault, I wasn't keeping an eye on him."

"No! Rufus, I don't need you or Shinra's help." She continued walking, he grabbed her hand.

"Please Tifa, it is the least I can do. I will stop here tomorrow for your fine. Do not disagree with me, I'm going to pay it." He released her hand.

"Good Night Ms. Lockhart, my apologizes again, I will visit you tomorrow."