"Tifa? Tifa? Tifa, are you listening to a word I’m saying?" she asks.
"Huh? Tifa looks at her. "Sorry, Yuff. I was thinking about Cloud. What were you saying?"
Yuffie frowns, "I was saying that my cousins are coming home for Christmas. I can’t stand my cousin Ashley. She is a brat. She’s bringing a friend this time, too. Are you having company this year?" she asks, pulling on her blue gloves.
"No. my mom is still mad at me for moving out into my own house. She wants me to come back and live with her. I don’t think so." Tifa says, pulling on her black gloves.
"Then come over to my house. Keep me company and stop me from murdering Ashley. We could go and visit Cloud for awhile. Please? My parents won’t care." Yuffie begs.
Tifa smiles, "All right, as long as your parents won’t care."
A week later. Tifa knocks on Yuffie’s front door. Mrs. Kisaragi answers the door.
"Hi Tifa! Merry Christmas! Come in, please!" she says.
Tifa smiles, "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Kisaragi. Thank you." Tifa walks in and closes the door. She sits next to Yuffie on the couch. Yuffie is wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. Tifa is wearing a white sundress.
"Tifa, let’s go up to my room." Yuffie says, pulling Tifa up the stairs. They walk up to her room and close the door. Yuffie plops in her over-stuffed chair. Tifa sits on her bed and holds the white teddy bear resting on the pillow.
"How are you and Ashley getting along?" Tifa asks.
Yuffie smiles, "She and her mom and her friend are getting here a little late."
"Yuffie! Ashley’s here! I’m sending her up." Mrs. Kisaragi calls. Yuffie groans. A minute later, Yuffie’s door opens and a beautiful young woman walks in. She has long brown hair and clear blue eyes. She is wearing a long blue dress. Behind her is a pretty young woman with short blond hair and brown eyes. Her dress is identical to the first one’s. They both look about sixteen.
"Hi Yuffie. How are you?" the first one asks. "This is Tiffany. Who’s she?" she asks, pointing at Tifa.
"Ashley, this is Tifa, my best friend." Yuffie says. Tifa looks at Ashley and turns back to the teddy bear.
"Some friend. She seems very interested in your teddy bear." Ashley says.
Tifa looks up at her and says, "Yuffie, let’s go and visit Cloud. I don’t want to fight on Christmas."
Yuffie smiles, "Let’s go." The two girls walk downstairs and Yuffie says that they are going to Cloud’s.
"Take Ashley and Tiffany with you." Her mom calls.
Yuffie groans, "Fine."
The four girls walk to Cloud’s. he answers the door in his usual clothes. "Hi guys. Who are they?" he asks.
"Hi Cloud. Merry Christmas! That’s Ashley, Yuffie’s cousin and that’s her friend Tiffany." Tifa says.
Cloud looks at them and sneers, "Yeah right. Anyway, Merry Christmas. How are you guys? Cute dress, Tifa. You look nice, Yuffie."
"Thanks, Cloud. Are you sick or something? You’re always so mean." Yuffie says.
Cloud smiles, "Hey it’s Christmas. Hey, come in." he says, and stands back to let everyone in. Ashley walks by him and runs a hand along his muscular chest. Cloud gives her a look. Once everyone is in the house, he closes the door and sits next to Tifa on the couch.
"Hey Cloud, is the Christmas party still on?" Tifa asks.
Cloud nods, "Yeah. Cid finished decorating the Highwind. It’s planned for tomorrow, everyone in AVALANCHE is invited. We’ll fly by Aeris’ grave, too."
"What are you guys talking about? Are Tiffany and I invited to this party?" Ashley asks.
Cloud shakes his head, "Nope."
Ashley frowns, "Why not?"
"Are you a member of AVALANCHE?" Cloud asks.
"What’s AVALANCHE?" Ashley asks.
Cloud sighs and rolls his blue eyes, "The group of people that killed Sephiroth and helped to stop Meteor."
Ashley laughs, "Yuffie didn’t help."
Yuffie smiles, "Yeah I did. So did Tifa." She turns to Cloud, "I might have to bring these dummies. My mom wants us to be friends. Is that okay? After all, I did help kill Sephiroth."
Cloud sighs, "Fine. Go ahead and bring her. The party starts at ten in the morning and lasts till three the next afternoon. They’ll have to stay in your room, Yuffie."
"No problem. Well, we better go and tell mom where we’ll be. See ‘ya Cloud." Yuffie says. Ashley, Tiffany, Yuffie, and Tifa walk back to Yuffie’s house.
The next morning at nine fifty-five, the four girls board the Highwind. Cid walks over to greet them.
"Hey Yuffie, Tifa! Long time no see girls. Yuffie, your friends are in your room, got it?" he asks.
Yuffie nods and takes the two on a grand tour. Tifa turns to Cid, "Hi Cid. How are you? You’re right, it has been a long time. Merry Christmas, Captain."
Cid smiles, "Same to you, Tif. You look great. Even though you’re wearing the same white shirt and black skirt you always wore, you still look great."
"Thanks, Cid. Where’s Barret? I want to say hi." Tifa asks.
"He’s in his room." Cid says and walks back to the wheel.
Tifa walks to Barret’s room and knocks on the door. His deep voice calls through the door. "It’s Tifa." Tifa calls back.
Barret opens the door and smiles, "Hi Tif, how are you?"
Tifa smiles, "Great."
"Gimme a hug, girl." Barret says. Tifa hugs him and he holds her close, "I missed you so much, Tif." He says.
"I missed you, too." She says, pulling back. "How’s Marlene?"
"She’s fine. She gonna stay with a friend tonight. You still friends with Yuffie?"
"Yeah. Hey, when’s the ship take off?"
"Right now. Let’s go to the deck." They walk to the front of the ship and Tifa runs to her usual spot and looks down to see the land get tiny beneath her. She turns when Cloud stands in his spot. She sees Red, Cait Sith, Vincent, Yuffie, Barret, and Cid. It’s so good to see everyone together again. Ashley and Tiffany hang back behind everyone else.
"Hello everyone. It’s so good to get all of us together again. I still have all my materia and my sword. Do all of you?" Everyone nods. "That’s great. I have really missed everyone."
"Cut the crap talk and say ‘let’s party!’." Barret says.
Tifa laughs and Yuffie starts to look green. Cloud smiles, "Alright, let’s party!" everyone cheers and Vincent smiles. Tiffany and Ashley move a little closer to the group. Cid turns on some music and his crew bring in some snacks and drinks.
Tifa walks over to Yuffie, "Are you okay?" she asks.
"Why did I agree to come? I get so airsick." Yuffie moans. Tifa smiles. "I’ll be in my usual spot URK!" she runs from the room. Ashley smirks.
Tifa walks to Red, "Hi Red, Merry Christmas."
"Same to you Tifa. It’s been long time." Red says.
"Yeah, almost a year. So how are you?"
"Good." He pauses, "You better go save Cloud."
"Huh?" Tifa looks over to see Ashley talking to Cloud. Cloud keeps forcing smiles. Tiffany is talking to Vincent. "I see." Tifa laughs. She walks over to Cloud and Ashley.
"You’re so muscular!" Ashley is saying.
"Oh really?" Cloud asks.
"Hiya guys." Tifa says. They look at her and Ashley’s eyes get dark.
"Hi Tifa!" Cloud says, sounding very relieved.
"Hi Tifa." Ashley says, giving her a look.
Tifa ignores her look and stands close to Cloud. "What were you two talking about?"
"I was asking Cloud about the battle and Meteor." Ashley says.
"Oh really? I was there from the beginning, maybe I could explain it to you. Have you ever heard of AVALANCHE? I mean before Cloud told you."
"Yeah, I heard of them. I had just forgotten about them." Ashley says.
"Well, everyone aboard this ship is a member of AVALANCHE." Tifa says.
"I thought AVALANCHE was a group of terrorists?" Ashley asks.
"No, that’s what Shinra said, but it’s not true. Anyway, we fought together and destroyed Sephiroth and Meteor. It was very hard and I was very scared, but I knew I had to go on for the planet and for a personal reason." Tifa said. Cloud looks at her with a strange look in his eyes. "I’m glad it’s over." She finishes. She closes her eyes for a moment and then reopens them. "Anymore questions?"
"What was the personal reason?" Ashley asks.
"Uh, I’m gonna go and talk some more with Barret." Tifa says and hurries to Barret.
Cloud stares after her with the strange look in his eyes.
Later that night...
Tifa leans on the rail watching the countries moving under her. Someone walks up and leans on the rail beside he
"They’re beautiful, aren’t they?" Cloud asks, looking up at the stars.
Tifa looks up, "Yeah, they are."
Cloud looks over at her, "Tifa," he starts.
"I never really noticed that they never really change. They always look exactly the same, all the way through your life." Tifa says, staring at the stars with a strange look in her eyes.
"Tifa?" he asks.
"They watch you as you go through the changes in life, as you fall in love, as you make friends. They watch as the Shinra destroys whole cities just to destroy you." A tear slides down her face. The moonlight shines down on her face making her face pale.
Cloud puts a hand on her shoulder, "Tifa, are you okay?"
"Cloud," she starts, "Do you think that the stars judge us?"
"Uh, I never really thought about it. I guess so. Tifa, they wouldn’t judge against us. We fought to save them, the whole world! They should judge the Shinra, they’re the scum, not us." Cloud says firmly.
Tifa looks at him, "How can you be sure?"
"Tifa, we saved them. If it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t be shinning right now."
She looks back up at the stars, "I guess."
Cloud gently turns her face to look at him. "Tifa, what was the personal reason you fought for?"
"You should know better than anyone."
"Tifa, that night under the Highwind." Cloud starts.
"I told you that night, when you were sleeping. I whispered it in your ear. It was after we……" her voice trails off. "Did you hear me?"
"Did you mean it?" he asks, his blue eyes searching her brown eyes.
"Yes."
"What did you say?"
"I whispered ‘I’ll fight till the end for you Cloud, because I love you’."
"Really? I heard you."
"Did you believe me?"
"Yes."
Tifa starts to pull away, but Cloud holds her close. "I’m going to bed."
"Alright, goodnight Tifa." He says.
Tifa starts to walk away. She walks to her room and lays on the bed. She slowly falls asleep. She is half asleep when someone walks quietly into her room and whispers in her ear, "I love you." Then he walks back out and closes the door. She smiles and falls asleep.
The next morning, she wakes up to see her room destroyed and her clothes slashed. She feels something sticky on her forehead and she reaches up to find honey has been dumped all over her hair. She wraps her hair in a towel and hurries to the deck to see that everyone is out there.
Cloud looks at her and smiles. He loses his smile when she stalks up to him, "What?" he asks.
"I want you to kick Ashley off this ship, now!"
"Why?"
"Yeah Tifa, why?" Ashley asks from the back of the room. Everyone looks at Tifa.
"This is why!" Tifa yells and pulls off her towel. AVALANCHE stares, shocked. Cloud gasps.
"I didn’t do that." Ashley insists.
"Sure, whatever. You better run because, I’m gonna kill you!" Tifa yells. She moves to run at Ashley, but Cloud grabs her.
"Tifa, no! Just ignore her and go take a shower."
"Cloud, she slashed all my clothes!"
"Then put yesterdays back on and then come and open your presents."
Tifa nods, "Okay. I’ll be back."
Half an hour later, Tifa walks back onto the deck. AVALANCHE sits down and passes out presents. Tifa got Yuffie some Materia, Barret and Marlene a puppy(It’s at his house.), Vincent a new cape, Red a picture of his grandpa, Cid and Shera rings with they’re names on them(they got married), Cait Sith a new crown, and Cloud picture of AVALANCHE sitting under the Highwind.
Tifa got a necklace with Cloud’s picture in it: Yuffie, a pair of earrings: Barret and Marlene, two tickets to go see LOVELESS: Cid and Shera, the same picture she got Cloud: Cait Sith, a poem about herself: Vincent, a picture of his family: Red, and a beautiful white dress and diamond earrings and necklace: Cloud.
"Wow." She breathes.
"Do you like it?" Cloud asks.
"I love it." The dress is long and silky with long sleeves. On the sleeves, there are lopes to slip your finger through. The dress is slit-leg. There are white platform sandals that go with it. A white, silk shawl is under it.
Cloud smiles at her expression, "Merry Christmas."
She wraps him in a hug and Barret clears his throat. Cid laughs and Yuffie giggles. Cloud just hugs her and ignores everyone else. Tifa laughs, "You guys are just jealous."
"Who would be jealous of Cloud?" Yuffie asks. Cloud gives her a dirty look.
"No, I mean you’re jealous cuz you don’t get hugs." Tifa says.
Barret laughs, "I got a hug yesterday, but it wasn’t even close to the one Cloud got."
Cloud glances at Tifa and gets red.
Tifa glances at Cloud and laughs when she sees how red he is, "Embarrassed Cloud?" she asks.
Cloud shakes his head, "No, uh why do you ask?"
Tifa laughs, "Because your face is bright red."
His face slowly returns to normal. "I hope everyone had fun, I know I did." Cloud says, changing the subject.
"Oh really?" Barret asks, "What did you and Tifa do last night? I heard you two were alone out on the deck last night."
Now Tifa gets red, "Nothing, Barret. We just talked."
Barret just nods, "Sure, I believe you." He looks at everyone and winks.
"Cloud got lucky last night!" Yuffie says, laughing. This gets everyone, except Ashley and Tiffany, laughing.
"Shut up Yuffie. Or should I tell everyone who the love of your life is?" Tifa asks.
"No! You don’t have to do that! I’ll shut up!" Yuffie says.
"Who’s the love of your life, Yuffie?" Barret asks.
"No one." Yuffie says, glancing at Tifa and giving her a death look.
"Okay, is it Cid? Cloud? If it’s Cloud, Tifa will kill you, you know." Barret says.
"Shut up Barret! You dork! Why would I like Cid? He’s old!" Yuffie says.
"I’m not that old!" Cid says.
"And Cloud, well he’s Cloud! What else can I say? It’s bad enough that he’s Cloud, and then there’s more!" Yuffie finishes.
"Look at you, Yuffie. You’re a sixteen year old crybaby, but you’re also a brat!" Ashley says in Clouds defense.
Yuffie looks up at her, shocked.
"Also, you’re a little thief, you’re scared of everything AND no one, and I mean NO ONE, likes you!" Ashley yells.
Yuffie looks crushed. She shrinks back into her seat. Tifa looks at her and moves over and puts her arm around her shoulder.
Cloud stands, "Ashley, why don’t you shut yer mouth! True, Yuffie can be a brat, but she’s OUR brat!" he says, waving his arm indicating AVALANCHE.
"Yeah! We like her just as she is!" Tifa says.
"So shut yer whole before I shut it for you." Barret says.
"Yeah!" AVALANCHE says together. Yuffie looks up and Ashley steps back.
Yuffie stands, "I may be everything you say I am, but I can kick your butt in a fight!"
Barret laughs, "Go Yuffie!"
Ashley hurries to Tiffany, "That’s enough you guys." Tiffany says.
Cloud motions for Yuffie to leave her alone.
"Hey, let’s party till three!" Tifa yells. The party starts again. "Are you okay?" she asks Yuffie.
"Yeah, I’m fine. I just can’t stand her. URK! I’m going to my usual spot!"
At three, Cid lands the ship and everyone goes home. Once home, Tifa walks to her room and changes her clothes. Then she walks back to her living room and is about to sit down when her doorbell rings. She opens the door to see Cloud standing on her porch.
"Can I come in?" he asks.
She steps aside, "Sure." Cloud walks in and Tifa shuts the door. "Sit on the couch. Want something to drink? I have lemonade."
"Sure."
Cloud sits on the couch and Tifa walks into the kitchen. A moment later, she returns with two glasses of lemonade. She hands one to Cloud, "Here."
He takes a sip, "It’s good. Wedge was right, you are a good cook."
She sits next to him and smiles, "Thanks. The party was fun. I was surprised when you stood up for Yuffie."
"Hey, Ashley was being mean and I had to set her straight." He pauses, "Plus the look in her eyes was one that I’ve never seen before. She looked so small and hurt, she looked like she was about to cry. I hated to see her that way. I mean, she usually doesn’t take that kind of stuff to heart, but I think that since her own cousin said it, it hurt twice as much. When she didn’t have a come-back, I knew something was wrong. Yuffie is the queen of come-backs. They’re usually pretty good to." He laughs.
"She thinks of you like a older brother, someone she can trust and someone to protect her." Tifa says.
Cloud looks at her, "Really? I thought she hated me." He laughs, "I never had anyone think of me like a brother before."
Tifa looks at him with shocked eyes, "Is this a side of you I’ve never seen before?"
He blushes, "Yeah, kinda. I always wanted a little sister to teach things to."
"Really? You never told me that."
"I was embarrassed, I thought you would think I was a wimp if you knew."
"Cloud, I would never think you were a wimp. You remember what I told you last night, don’t you?"
"Yeah,"
"What?"
"Nothing." He looks at his lemonade.
"Cloud, did you come into my room last night, shortly after I went to bed?" Tifa asks, watching him closely.
"Yeah,"
"I heard you." Tifa whispers.
Cloud looks at her, "You did?"
"Yes."
"I meant it with all my heart."
A tear rolls down her face, "I know, my love."
Cloud puts his lemonade down and kisses her tear away. Then he pulls her into his arms and holds her close. "Why are you crying?"
"Because, I always thought you loved Aeris."
"No, I thought I did, but it was you. I was messed up and when you called me out of the lifestream, I knew it was you I loved. I realized that I have loved you from the first time we met."
Tifa looks up in his blue eyes, "Really? She would be so jealous if she knew!"
Cloud laughs.
Tifa hugs him close to her and breathes him in deep. She sighs and he kisses the top of her head.
Suddenly, her phone rings. Tifa groans and sits up to answer the phone. "Hello?"
"Hiya! How are you?!"
"Hi Yuffie. I’m just talking with Cloud."
"Cloud? Oh really? What are you guys talking about?" she hums the wedding march.
Tifa laughs, "No, just stuff. Wanna say hi?"
"Uh, okay."
"Here he is." She hands the phone to Cloud.
"Hi Yuffie." He says.
"Hey Cloud." She laughs and hums the wedding march.
"Oh, you’re so clever. Are you trying to tell me something?"
"What!"
"Are you trying to ask me to marry you?"
"EWWWW!!!! NO!!!!"
Cloud laughs, "Oh, okay Yuffie. So how are you?"
"Good. You?"
He glances at Tifa, "Couldn’t be better."
"Really? I’ll take the hint and say bye. I know you two are going to be busy."
"No we won’t."
"What’s the difference from the night under the Highwind and now?"
"Bye Yuffie." He hangs up.
"Well?" Tifa asks.
"She is such a brat."
They laugh together. Suddenly, Tifa leans over and kisses Cloud on the lips. A moment later, she pulls back. Cloud stares in her brown eyes and he sees nothing but love in them. He knows she sees the same in his eyes.
"How’s the lemonade?" Tifa asks.
"Huh? Oh yeah, the lemonade. It’s good."
Tifa smiles, a nervous smile. "I squeezed the lemon’s myself."
"Tifa?"
"Yes Cloud?"
"Are you okay?" he asks concerned.
"Yeah……"
"Yeah…………………?"
"I, I, I’m fine."
"No you’re not. What’s wrong?"
"N, nothing."
"Why are you stuttering?"
A tear rolls down her face. "I’m scared that you’ll find someone else."
"How, I’m not going anywhere."
"Girls are always around you, they love you. Every girl in town wants to be your girl."
"Tifa, I don’t like every other girl. I want you to be my girl."
"Really?"
"You keep asking me that and every time I say yes. Plus, every guy in town wants to be your guy."
She looks up at him, "I don’t want every other guy, I want you."
He laughs, "I feel so lucky."
"How do you know that every guy In town wants to be my guy?"
"They’re always telling me how lucky I am to be a friend of yours and that you’re the most beautiful woman they’ve ever seen."
"Re, I mean wow."
Cloud laughs, "Should I feel lucky?"
"Yes because you’re the hottest guy I’ve ever seen and I love you with all my heart."
The phone rings.
"Hello?" Tifa answers.
"Is this Ms. Tifa Lockheart?" a deep voice asks.
"Yes, who is this?" Tifa asks.
"This is Charles Manning. I’m am your mother’s butler. I was to call and tell you that your mother will be arriving tomorrow at noon to visit. They will be there for a week."
"What!" she looks at Cloud, "Excuse me," she walks into her bedroom, "Charles, let me talk to my mother please."
"Alright. Hold on please." He calls for her mom, "Here she comes."
"Hello Tifa." Her mom says cheerfully, "You wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes, who said you could come to my home?"
"Well Tifa, I’m your mother. I haven’t seen you in almost a year."
"Well, I’m visiting with Cloud."
"Cloud?"
"That’s right, you never met him. He’s one of my closest friends."
"Oh, well I’ll be there around noon. Good-bye Tifa." She hangs up.
Tifa walks out to the living room and puts the phone back. She plops down next to Cloud.
"What’s up?" he asks.
She glances at him, "My mother is coming to visit tomorrow. I have no idea how long she’s gonna stay."
"Man, I feel for you. I’m sorta glad my parents are dead. I don’t have to explain why I married anyone to them or anything like that."
"Lucky."
"You know, my mom said that I needed an older girlfriend, one that would take care of me. You’re a year younger than me and Aeris was a year older. I think that’s why I thought she was the one I wanted, so I could please my mom. But hey, they’re both dead, so who cares what they wanted, right?"
Tifa smiles, "What ever you say Cloud. What ever you say."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"I may be younger than Aeris, but I bet you I can cook, clean, and love better than she could."
Cloud laughs, "You can."
Tifa joins in laughing, "Yup."
"I can love better than any of these men in town." Cloud says.
Tifa looks at him and smiles, "Is that so?"
Cloud grins, "Oh yeah!" he glances at the clock above the TV. "Hey, I gotta go. I’ll come visit you some this week, okay?"
Tifa nods, "Alright."
She walks him to the door. He kisses her good-bye and whispers in her ear, "I love you."
Tifa smiles, "I love you, my love. See you." Cloud walks across town to his house and Tifa closes the door.
The next day at noon, someone knocks on her door. Tifa answers it wearing her white sundress. It goes down to her knees with no decoration, just plain white silk. She’s wearing the locket Yuffie got her and the earrings Barret and Marlene got her.
"Hello Tifa! You look great!" her mother says.
"Hi mom, come in." she steps to the side and let’s her in. She closes the door and sits next to her mom on the couch.
"That’s a lovely dress, Tifa. Let me see the locket." Mrs. Lockheart leans over and opens it to see the pictures of Cloud and Tifa. "That’s a very handsome young man."
Tifa smiles, "That’s Cloud."
Her mother raises her eyebrows, "Really? He’s very handsome."
The two talk for about two hours while Tifa makes lunch. Just as she puts the dishes away, someone knocks on the door. Her mom answers it.
"Tifa, someone’s here to see you." She calls.
Tifa wipes her hands on a dish towel and walks into the living room. She sees Yuffie standing in the doorway, looking suspiciously at Mrs. Lockheart.
"Hi Yuffie. What’s up?" Tifa asks.
Yuffie looks at her, "Hi Tif. Nothing much." She grins, "What did you and Cloud do? Huh?"
Tifa blushes, "Nothing, shut up Yuffie. This is my mom, mom this is Yuffie, my best-friend."
"How old is she?" her mom asks.
"She just turned seventeen."
"A little young."
"No I’m not. I helped Tifa and the other’s kill Sephiroth and destroy Meteor." Yuffie snaps.
Tifa smiles.
"Very dis-respectful young lady." Her mom mumbles.
Yuffie’s face gets red with anger, "I hate mean old women." she stresses the word old.
Someone knocks on the door and Tifa hurries to answer it. She sees Cloud standing on her porch.
"I thought I’d come see how you were doing." He says.
"It’s a good thing, Yuffie’s about to ring my mom’s neck!"
Cloud laughs, "I’ll save you." They walk to the couch. Yuffie giggles and hums the wedding march. Cloud gives her a warning look.
"Hello," her mom says, starring at Cloud in wonder.
"Hi, I’m Cloud Strife, Tifa’s friend."
"Yes," Mrs. Lockheart says absently.
Tifa giggles and Cloud winks at her. "She likes you, hint-hint." Tifa whispers in his ear.
Cloud laughs, "I see wink-wink."
Yuffie pats Cloud on the back, "Your mother-in-law sure likes you a lot."
"Mother-in-law?" Mrs. Lockheart asks.
"No." Tifa says, glaring at Yuffie.
Yuffie giggles, "I’ll leave you three in peace. New family’s need to get to know each other."
Cloud grabs her wrist, "If you don’t shut your trap, I’ll sew it shut." He says. Yuffie’s eyes get big. "Good-night Yuffie." Cloud says sweetly. He kisses her on the cheek and she blushes as she walks out the door.
"So, Cloud, what do you do?" Mrs. Lockheart asks.
"Well I am a member of AVALANCHE. I helped kill Sephiroth and everything. I am also an ex-member of SOLDIER."
"Really? How did you become a member of AVALANCHE if you were in SOLDIER?"
"I quit SOLDIER and became a mercenary. Barret heard about me and hired me to help him with Reactor number one. Then Tifa asked me to stay and fight with them, so I did."
"Wow, you quit your new job for my daughter? That’s very sweet."
"Mom, I’d rather not talk about that fight." Tifa says.
"Why not?" her mother asks.
Tifa looks at her sandals, "It wasn’t a pleasant fight." Cloud looks at her, his blue eyes filled with concern.
"Why, Honey?" Mrs. Lockheart asks.
"I was very scared and I felt so alone. I didn’t like hurting people and then Aeris,"
"What?"
"Aeris died and Cloud got confused." A tear rolls down her face. "I need to be alone." She runs up to her room and stares out at the stars, her tears falling like the rain. She hears someone come in and stand behind her.
"The stars are like your guardians, whenever you’re sad, they listen. They always watch over you."
Tifa tries to hide the fact that she’s crying, but she fails. Cloud turns her to look at him and kisses a tear off her cheek. She just collapses in his arms and he holds her tight. She sobs in his shoulder, clinging to him. He kisses the top of her head.
"Why are you crying?" Cloud asks.
"I don’t know, I think it’s because Aeris cursed me. Whenever I’m with you I remember her and feel guilty for loving you."
"Why?"
"Because, Marlene told me about her asking questions about you. She said Aeris wanted to know everything about you, including my relationship with you. She asked how close we were and everything. Aeris asked if we were going together and Marlene said no. Aeris said that you said we were going together." Tifa looks up at him, "Did you tell her that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Cloud blushes, "I pretended we were going out. I wanted to feel that you loved as me much as I loved you. I wanted to feel that you needed and wanted me as much as I needed and wanted you."
"But Cloud, I did."
Cloud stares down in her eyes a moment and slowly lowers his lips to meet hers. They kiss a long passionate kiss before slowly pulling apart.
"Tifa, be my girl. Come places with me. Let me introduce you to everyone as my girlfriend. Please,"
"Only if you’ll be my guy and go places with me and allow me to introduce you as my boyfriend."
Cloud smiles, "Alright."
Tifa kisses him again, "I always wanted you as my guy, and now that I have you, what am I going to do with you?"
He laughs, "Give me another kiss before we head back downstairs?"
Tifa kisses him, long and deep. Cloud takes her hand and they walk back down to the living room.
"I got her." Cloud says.
"Good." Mrs. Lockheart says, smiling.