Disclaimer: I own neither the characters nor the lyrics.
This is my second Nickelback songfic. The first one was kind of a flop. It was rushed and hardly made any sense (maybe because the day I wrote it was the first time I'd heard the song), but I actually planned this one out (well, this one and another one for Cloud and Tifa that I'm working on). Anyway, enough babble from me! Enjoy! ^_^
Far Away
This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Five weeks… He'd been gone five weeks. Tifa had kept her phone beside her, just in case if by some miracle, Cloud would decide to call. Marlene and Denzel missed him, but they could see how miserable it made Tifa to mention him. Just then, the phone rang.
The three of them looked at the blinking screen. Tifa gave them a half-hearted smile, as she picked the phone up. "False alarm kids. Hello?"
"Hey, Tifa!" Barret said excitedly on the other line. "I'm on my way to get the kids! Be there in 'bout ten minutes, awright?"
"All right," Tifa said, trying to mimic Barret's excitement.
Apparently, Barret picked up on it. "Hasn't called yet, huh?"
"No." Her eyes started to tear up. She didn't want to admit that he hadn't called to anyone but herself; it didn't make her sound as pathetic.
"Tell ya what! I'm gonna kick his spiky-headed ass when he gets back!" Just then, Barret came through the door, and Denzel and Marlene ran over and hugged him.
Tifa went up to her room after the others had left and lay down on her bed. It wasn't fair! How could he treat her like this! After all she did for him! Maybe…I'm just kidding myself, she thought. Maybe I shouldn't wait for him anymore. Tears rolled across her cheeks. She couldn't just walk away, couldn't just abandon the children. She was the only mother they had now. And she wanted Cloud to be more of a father to them, damn it! But, they don't deserve someone who's not going to be there… Still pondering this, Tifa fell into an uneasy sleep.
Too long too late
Who was I to make you wait
Cloud couldn't believe that he'd been away for over a month. It hadn't felt that long to him. He had thought about just going back to Midgar and not finishing the deliveries, but he needed the money. He needed to help out with school for Marlene and Denzel, and Tifa had talked about adding onto the bar. She'd been getting more and more regulars ever since the Geostigma had been cured.
He was afraid to call, though. Sure, he cared deeply for Tifa, more than she would probably ever know. If Cloud called now, he would have to admit his true feelings, and he didn't want to tell her over the phone. Sometimes, he wished she would just stop waiting for him. Screw it, Cloud thought to himself, taking his phone out of his pocket.
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know, you know, you know
He took a deep breath, as he heard the other line ringing. Cloud's heart began to beat faster at the thought of hearing her voice. After three rings, she didn't answer, but her voicemail did.
I love you
I've loved you all along
I miss you
Been far away for far too long
"Hey, Tifa, it's me," Cloud said softly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I know you probably hate my guts for not calling, but, uh…I just wanted to say…that, um, I just miss you, Tifa. I'll…I'll be home soon." He sighed and snapped his phone shut. Coward, he thought angrily. You're a coward, Cloud Strife!
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
And you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore
He sat up and put his face in his hands. The night sky above just made him think of that promise he'd made to her…a promise that had been broken on more than one occasion. The guilt that Cloud had felt towards Zack and Aeris' deaths was nothing compared to that which he felt now. He didn't deserve her, and he knew that. He knew she made mistakes, but to him, she would always be perfect.
On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of Hell to hold your hand
Cloud sighed again. She had an effect on him that no one else did. He'd go to any length to save her. Hell, he'd dressed up like a woman to make sure some pervert wouldn't touch her (not to mention that he was also hit on by said pervert). He could face monsters, Sephiroth, even himself and not flinch, but a look or a smile from her could bring him to his knees. She was both his strength and his greatest weakness.
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything, but I won't give up
'Cause you know, you know, you know
That's it, he thought, standing up suddenly and walking out of the room. His Fenrir was waiting for him. Cloud put on his glasses, fired up the motorcycle, and sped off without a backward glance.
That I love you
I loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
Tifa woke early that morning, earlier than she would have liked. The clock next to her bed read three thirteen. She shook her head, flipped her phone open, and saw she had one new voicemail. Probably Barret having trouble getting the kids to sleep, Tifa thought, smiling slightly. She nearly dropped her phone when she heard whose voice it was.
"Hey, Tifa, it's me. I know you probably hate my guts for not calling, but, uh…I just wanted to say…that, um, I just miss you, Tifa. I'll…I'll be home soon."
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
And you'd never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore
Tifa realized that she hadn't taken a breath in over a minute. How soon was soon, though? she thought. How could one man be so frustrating? There were times when she wished that he would just give up the delivery service and be where he was really needed, with her, Marlene, and Denzel. She forgot these thoughts when she heard a familiar rumbling downstairs.
So far away
So far away
Far away for far too long
Cloud pulled into the garage, mentally noting to clean the Fenrir up later, and cut off the engine. Please let the lock be the same, please let the lock be the same, he thought, taking out his key and opening the door.
So far away
So far away
Far away for far too long
Tifa didn't care that her hair wasn't combed, that her eyes were swollen from crying, or that her clothes were wrinkled from sleeping in them. All that mattered was him. All that mattered to her right then was seeing him. She half ran, half fell down the stairs, and he was there to catch her at the bottom step.
But you know, you know, you know
Words weren't enough for that first long moment. Cloud didn't care that Tifa was practically strangling him because of how tightly her arms were wrapped around his neck; to be honest, he kind of liked it. In between sobs and sniffles, Tifa noticed that he was hugging her differently. His hands weren't in the middle of her back like she remembered; they were around her waist.
I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
"I'm sorry, Tifa," he whispered when she had finally quieted enough to hear him. "I didn't mean to be gone so long…I just…should stop making excuses…" He smiled slightly.
She mirrored his smile. "I got your message."
Now, tell her now! he shouted in his mind. Before she realizes how pissed off she actually is! "About that," Cloud said, trying to find the right words. One of his hands went to the back of his head out of nervousness.
"Yeah?" Tifa asked innocently, trying to clear her face of any emotion. In her head was a completely different story. Just say it, you chocobo-haired—
I love you
I loved you all along
He took a deep breath and looked her right in the eye. "I love you, Tifa. I always have, and I always will. I hate the way I've treated you, and I'll spend the rest of my life asking for you to forgive me, if that's what it—"
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
Tifa interrupted suddenly to kiss him, and she felt his other hand go to the back of her neck. Cloud sighed inwardly when she pulled away slightly. "Does this mean I'm off the hook?" he whispered against her lips, showing the boyish grin that had been hidden for so long.
She grinned back. "Yeah, with me. Marlene and Denzel might be a little harder to convince."
He nodded slowly. "Right…"
"Cloud Strife, you've beaten Sephiroth three times now, defeated his remnants, found the cure for Geostigma, and pretty much saved the entire planet twice, and you have the nerve to be afraid of two innocent children?" Tifa asked sarcastically.
"I think another fight with Sephiroth would be easier," he said, chuckling softly. "At least you forgive me, though."
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me, and never let me go
Tifa wrapped her arms around him and leaned against him. "And I can breathe easier knowing that you're home."
"Home," he repeated. "With the woman I love and two kids that are gonna torture me for weeks." Cloud couldn't remember the last time he had felt this…elated. He felt like another huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders and replaced with the beautiful angel in his arms.
Tifa giggled. "I'll be sure to keep the camera handy at all times." She felt as if all the wrongs in the world had been righted by his return.
"I'm not going anywhere, Tifa," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "Nowhere far, anyway."
She looked up at his vivid blue eyes. "Promise?"
He smiled at her and sealed that promise with a kiss.
Ok, I think this one turned out A LOT better than my last one! At least Cloud doesn't sound like an alcoholic. Please let me know how I did ^_^ I always like feedback!
Fun Fact: I was actually going to make the "reunion" scene a little more intense, rather than sweet. I had a really good zinger for Tifa to say to Cloud, but I totally forgot it. That made me very upset because I was so excited to use it!