Ridin'dirty

Part thirty

"Are you real?" Cloud asked with a soft whisper.

"Yes Cloud, I'm real and I'm back and I will never leave you again."

Smiling, Cloud buried his face into her neck and let out a deep sigh that he had been holding since she had died in his arms.

Cloud had his Tifa back and he wasn't going to make the same mistake of losing her again.

Their lips moved across the others like there was no tomorrow, their tongues were battling a war that had been lurking in the dark for years and finally had burst out. Hands were everywhere, fingers caressing places they knew all too well. Breaths mingled in with each other like dust into the air.

All was perfect.

All was just like it was supposed to be.

All … was interrupted by the one and only …

"Well aren't you a sight for sour eyes! Jo, Cloud, give her to us now will ya!" Zack yelled from not too far away causing Cloud to break the kiss he was enjoying very much.

Without turning around, Cloud growled at Zack with a voice that was again filled with life and love. Also anger, but a different kind of anger this time …

"Zack! If you open that shitty mouth of yours again within the next ten minutes, it will meet the end of my sword before the first word left your lips. Understood?"

With his eyes open wide, Zack watched Cloud's back and a giggling Tifa smiling at him. She was shaking her head and couldn't hold herself from laughing out loud. Clearing his throat, Zack cracked his neck before rubbing his hand through his hair,

"Yeah well, I can wait a few more minutes, no problem." Turning around, he found everyone of AVALANCHE gapping at him, all eyes focused on him and his walking body.

"What?" he asked them all when he reached them.

"Yoooou surviiived?" Yuffie asked with a shocked voice, still looking at him with her mouth hanging open.

"Heu what the hell are you babbling about?" Zack asked confused looking at Yuffie with confused eyes. Reaching Aerith, he placed himself behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close against his chest.

"What Yuff means is that ya didn't f*ckin died! Spikey could've ripped that ugly head of'yours in one swift move!" Barret barked from where he was leaning against his new favorite toy in the whole wide world.

"Hey! Watch your words big guy! My head is mad out of the finest materials and crafted by the most gifted craftsmen. And I would've handled Cloud just fine." Zack said with a smile on his face before placing a gentle kiss in Aeriths neck, causing her to shiffer all over her tiny little body.

"You aaaare so full of shit! But iiiiii must agree on oooone thing, ya kinda cute!" yuffie sang before turning around and bumping straight into Vincent's broad chest. Grabbing her arms with his hands, he held her steady while he looked into her eyes.

"Buuuut not as cute as Vinnieeeee!" Yuffie sang while looking back at Vincent's stern face.

"What the'hell is goin on here! Every f*ckin body is fallin'n love 'round here!" Barret growled while pushing himself away from his truck and placing himself behind the wheel. Grabbing it forcefully, he smiled at his new truck and let out a booming laughter while picturing himself riding around with it and Marlene by his side. Both of them heading towards the ocean, because apart from Tifa's bar, that was Marlene's favorite place in the world.

"You really know how to scare people." Tifa said with a big smile on her face while repositioning herself on Cloud's lap, placing herself dangerously close against his junior.

"People should know when to leave me alone." Cloud countered and grabbed her by her waist to pull her closer against himself.

Tifa gasped when she felt his manhood against her own private parts causing her body to shiver. When she looked back into his eyes, she couldn't control herself and crashed her lips on his again. A little surprised, Cloud fell back a little, bit quickly regained himself and kissed her back with the same ferocity as she was. After what seemed like hours, Cloud's mind was slowly coming back to reality.

Slowly pushing himself away from her, He found her looking at him with that cute pouting face of hers.

"Don't give me that look Teef!" Cloud said with that gorgeous smile of his.

"All right, all right, why are you looking so serious?" Tifa asked him, when she found the sincerity and curiosity burning in his eyes.

"How did you come back?" Cloud asked with all the courage he could master, he was somehow afraid of the answer. What if it was only a deal, a deal until everything was over. Was she going to die again? Was he going to be left alone again? He knew he wouldn't be able to survive that again.

Looking at him, she knew he was thinking bad thoughts. She knew him all too well. And because of that fact, she also knew she couldn't tell him the truth just jet. He would become even more protective of her and he wouldn't let her fight. Off course she knew she would have to be a little bit extra careful, but hey, it wasn't like she was sick or something! But anyhow, that wouldn't be the only thing, he wouldn't be as focused as normal. And he needed to be focused on this mission. It was going to be one of the most difficult fights he had ever gone through and he needed to keep his thoughts at the fight, not at her and their unborn child.

"Teef? You're freaking me out here." Cloud's voice broke through her thoughts, causing her to jump up a little.

"Cloud, I … I can't tell you right now. You will find out soon enough…"

Interrupting Tifa, Cloud grabbed her by her arms and held her with a strength where Hercules would be jealous off. His voice was rough and filled with promise.

"I knew it! they're going to take you away again! I won't let them! Teef I promise, they won't get even near you! I will kill every single one who would dare to …"

"CLOUD!" Tifa broke through his rampage with a smile on her face, causing him to look really confused at her.

"Cloud, I'm not going anywhere! It's good news, just trust me on this okay?" Tifa said in a soft and gentle tone, her eyes never leaving his, showing him all her love for him and that she was telling the truth.

Looking confused and still a little unsure, Cloud took a hold of her face and brought her closer to his. His eyes were searching hers and he found the sincerity deep inside them, giving him the strength to let it go … for now.

"Fine, but this conversation isn't over and you know it!" Cloud warned her while raising his eyebrow at her.

"I wouldn't even dare to dream of it." Tifa said with a giggle before closing the distance between them and placing her lips gently on his.

How she had missed that feeling he gave her everytime his lips caressed hers. The way he made her feel under his command. She loved it. She just loved the way he possessed her, the way he made her feel she was his. Cloud Strife was the only one who had that power over her and she relinquished in it. He was giving her that feeling right now and she let herself fall for his command.

Bending her over ever so lightly, Cloud placed his hand on the small of her back and gently pulled her closer against him. His touch was gentle but at the same time rough and hard. She let him reposition herself and he smiled against her lips. His hand found the rim of her shirt and slowly he let his fingers glide underneath her shirt so they could feel the soft but firm skin of Tifa Lockhaert. When his fingers touched her skin, he could feel goose bumps took the places where his fingers had been seconds before .

He was definitely enjoying himself.

Then there was this annoying beeping sound coming from behind Tifa. First Cloud tried to ignore the irritating beeping, but after a few seconds, realization hit him.

"Shit!" Cloud cursed through gritted teeth. Looking over Tifa's shoulder he saw the tracking device had come to life again and had located Sephiroth again.

Turning around, Tifa looked at the radar Cloud was studying closely. When she found him frowning at the device, she placed her palm against his cheek and pushed his face towards her so she could look at his troubled face.

"What's up hero?" Tifa asked in a soft and gentle voice.

"It's weird, this thing had been giving us Sephiroth's location and it has always moved away from us, but now, they're coming back… They're coming right at us."

Looking at Tifa he found the same fire burning inside her eyes as had been burning in his. She wanted to take revenge as much as he had wanted to. Nodding at her, he turned around and found Barret coming towards them. He had probably heard the beeping sound from the tracking device. Cloud saw Barret walking towards them, but something was off. He wasn't walking his usual large strides and he was clearly taking his time. He was fumbling with his hands, like he wasn't sure what to do with them.

"What's up with you?" Cloud asked while frowning and eyeing the big guy walking towards them.

"Noth … Nothing Spikey, we'just heard the f*ckin thing beeping and wanted'to know what's goin on." Barret answered Cloud while keeping his distance.

"I didn't mean that man, why are you walking like that?" Cloud said nodding towards Barrets feet.

Following Clouds gaze, Barret looked at his feet and then back at Cloud and back at his feet.

"Didn't want'to disturb ya boss."

"What the hell are you babbling about?" Cloud said a little bit amused.

"Ya threatened Zack earlier Spikey." Barret explained while looking back at Cloud who was now smiling a big goofy grin. They were afraid of him? Hah, that was hilarious.

"You guys are scared of me?" Cloud said with an amused voice while looking at the others who were standing behind Barret.

"Told you so." Tifa whispered in his ear.

"Hah, then I must say I am proud that you came forward Barret." Cloud said while placing his arm around Tifa's waist and pulling her close against him.

"Well boss, it heu, it's not really like'that ya know…" Barret started saying, causing Cloud to turn his attention back to Barret who was looking at his feet again.

"We heu … we drew straws and I'lost." Barret finished his explanation and quickly walked back towards the rest of AVALANCHE and started talking to Cid.

Looking baffled, Cloud just watched the big guy walk away and join the rest of his little group. All of them were looking at Cloud except for Cid who was now talking to Barret. Aerith was smiling towards him and shook her head before focusing her attention at Tifa. Her eyes were coming to life again and she was glad everything was turning out to be just fine. But Aerith found something different at Tifa. There was something going on and Tifa wasn't going to say anything, but Aerith was determined to find out.

"I'm hungry." Tifa said after two hours of preparing everything for Sephiroths arrival. They had been working on placing a trap and erasing any evidence of them being there. According to the tracking device, Sephiroth was still coming towards them and it would take him an hour or so until he would be there.

Walking up towards Tifa, Shera gave her one of the sandwiches she had prepared earlier in case somebody would get hungry.

"Here you go sweetheart." Shera said with a smile and handed her the sandwich with peanutbutter.

"Oh my favorite!" Tifa shrieked out happily and urgently brought the sandwich to her mouth and began devouring it.

"You know how to make her happy Shera." Cloud said from where he was working on hiding his fenrir in the bushes. He didn't know how Tifa loved that darned peanutbutter so much. He hated it. According to him it was the most awful thing ever invented.

"I'm not the only one." Shera said winking at Cloud before looking back at Tifa. Frowning she saw Tifa staring at the sandwich with a disgusted look on her face.

"What's wrong Tifa?"

"I don't know … I…" But Tifa couldn't finish her sentence, turning around she ran straight to the bushes. Falling down on her knees, she took her hair in her hand and held it back. The bloody sandwich was coming back up and she began to throw up. Not a second later, Cloud was standing behind her, taking her hair from her and gently started rubbing her back.

"What's up Teef? Are you feeling sick?" Cloud asked while looking at a rather pale Tifa.

"Don't know … sandwich just tasted awful…" Tifa said while taking a few deep breaths.

"I've always said that peanutbutter is disgusting!" Cloud said while bending down behind her and pulling her in his lap, so she could relax a few minutes against his chest.

"It's not! I love peanutbutter! But it just tasted different this time." Tifa said after placing her head against his chest.

"Maybe it wasn't good anymore?" Cloud said trying to find an explanation.

"No way, Shera is really strict on that. She always throws things away a few days before their expiration date." Slowly realization started to sink in with Tifa. It was probably because of the pregnancy. So much for not being sick … but how was she going to stop Cloud from worrying? The fight was about to begin within the next hour and her they were sitting in the bushes, her leaning against Cloud because she just threw up. And he was being worried about her like every normal lover would be.

"It's probably because I came back from the dead or something…" Tifa said with a soft whisper, hoping Cloud would take the lie she was telling. Frowning at her, Cloud just kept caressing her hair and tried to get a look at her face, but she was hiding her face from him, she was definitely lying. Remembering what she had said earlier, he let it go for now. But this was slowly driving him nuts and he needed to know what was going on.

"Probably." Cloud said slowly before bending over a bit and kissing her hair.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes and after a while they both heard the rustling sound of leaves behind them. Turning around, Cloud saw Aerith walking towards them with a worried look on her face.

"Is she alright?" Aerith asked while looking at Tifa who was pushing herself up, turning around to find Aerith looking at her with that friendly face of hers.

"I'll be fine, just a few more minutes and I'll be ready to kick those guys asses into the lifestream myself." Tifa said with a confident voice. She found Cloud eyes boring into hers and before he could protest, she placed her hand over his mouth and started arguing with him before he could even say something.

"And don't tell me to stay out of this! I have as much right to kick those sons of bitches their asses as you do!"

Pulling up his hands, Cloud surrendered and just smiled at Tifa.

"Wouldn't dare to come between you and your pour victims, I already feel bad for the guys…"

"Good." Tifa said before placing herself down again against Clouds chest. Just when Cloud wanted to pull her closer against him again, Aerith interrupted him.

"Heum Cloud?"

"Yeah?"

"Well Zack asked for you, he needs your help with his sword. Don't ask me what though." Aerith said with a laugh while looking back from where she came and found Zack fumbling with his sword. He was clearly getting agitated with the thing.

"Tell him I'll be there in a few." Cloud said while pulling Tifa against him.

"You can go." Tifa said looking up at him and giving him a smile that made his heart turn into mooch.

"But.."

"I'll stay with her Cloud, apart from you, I think I'm the best qualified of taking care of her." Aerith said while taking a few steps forward and bending down so she was sitting beside him.

Looking from Aerith to Tifa, he was clearly debating the thing over and over in his head. He didn't like it to leave her side, when he was about to decline Aerith's offer, they all heard someone swearing loudly followed by a loud bang coming from Zack.

Looking up to where the sound came from, Cloud saw Zack jumping around, holding his arm close to his chest. His sword lay a few feet away from him on the ground.

"Well, maybe I should go and take a quick look. Yell if something's wrong okay?" Cloud said the last part looking at Tifa who was already pushing herself up and placing herself against a nearby log.

"Off course." Tifa said with a smile and was cut off by Cloud's lips. When they heard another yell, Cloud pulled away and before he left , he whispered against her lips,

"Love you baby."

"Love you two." Tifa said with a smile and watched Cloud walk away from her. When he was near Zack, she turned her attention at Aerith and found her observing her closely.

"What?" Tifa asked after a few seconds.

"You're pregnant aren't you?"

It wasn't really a question, it was more like a statement.

A little shocked, Tifa's eyes turned wide open and stared directly into Aerith's smiling ones. How does she know? Is she some kind of psychic to? Looking for the right words, Tifa was looking around frantically.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You clearly don't want anyone to know especially Cloud." Aerith said while scooting up a little closer so her left side was touching her right side. Looking at her friend who was now sitting next to her, Tifa frowned.

"How do you know?"

"I didn't know for sure, but I suspected so." Aerith said with a grin on her face.

"But how?" Tifa asked still not content with the answers.

"Well, first thing I'm an ancient to and I know there was no way the others would have send you back unless there was a very very good reason for it. and if I was in their place, I would never sacrifice a child, let alone an unborn child."

"okay but that's still not good enough." Tifa stated looking at her friend who was now looking in front of her.

"When I saw you with Cloud on the bike, I felt something was different about you and when Cloud was asking you about your return, I saw you holding your tummy. And the off course, there is this…" Aerith said looking at Tifa who was still looking a little pale, but she was gaining color with every passing second, "you love peanutbutter and suddenly you don't. And if I'm not mistaken, Cloud hates peanutbutter…"

"You are way too clever you know that…" Tifa said while pulling up her knees to wrap her arms around them and hug her legs closely.

"But I am right aren't I?"

"Yeah, yeah you are." Tifa answered.

"Ooooh this is so wonderful! Congratulations!" Aerith shrieked while throwing her arms around Tifa to give her a big hug. Placing her own arms around the little brunette, Tifa couldn't hide the smile that was forming on her lips.

"Thanks Aerith." Pushing herself away from her, Tifa focused herself on Aerith and turned serious again, "Don't tell anyone just yet okay?"

"I promise, but why not? Everyone would be so happy!" Aerith said with a gentle voice.

"Yeah I know, but, it's just, I don't want Cloud to know just yet. This fight is important and I don't want him to worry about me or his baby while fighting. It would keep his focus away from Sephiroth and I fear that would mean his downfall. He needs to be focused on this and I know him, he wouldn't be able to keep his mind away from me."

"He is a little bit overprotective isn't he?" Aeriths said with a genuine smile while pulling up her own knees to hug them close against her chest.

"Yeah, sometimes he is." Tifa said smiling back at her.

"I'm really happy for you Tifa. You really deserve him."

"Thanks Aerith." Tifa saw the struggle in Aeriths eyes and she knew that Aerith was thinking back at the beginning of their time together. The time when Aerith was still head over heels for Cloud and was trying to win his heart.

"I'm really sorry for what I did in the beginning. I really am, I didn't…" But Aerith was cut off by Tifa's hand on her knee.

"Shhh, it's okay sweety. You aren't the first and probably not the last one that has lost or is going to lose her heart to Cloud. I know he is easily to fall for. He's dangerously hot and he is a real man. I don't hold any grudge against you for that."

Looking into Tifa's big brown orbs, Aerith found the sincerity and honesty inside them. Smiling back at her friend, Aerith nodded and placed her own hand over Tifa's.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome, now, tell me everything I've missed! What's up with you and Zack?"

Tifa was beaming one of her biggest smiles, all of her color had come back to her face and she was latterly glowing once again.