A/N: Don't own so please don't sue. I'm already negative in the bank.

On top of that this is my retry at Next Phase because, well frankly I don't like it and I couldn't find away to pick it back up. So I am redoing but after the beginning it should follow the same story plot which I didn't get very far into.

Next Phase: Prologue

Tifa shut the kid's door. They wore tucked in for the night. She sucked in her breath as she slowly took the stairs, letting a hand glide against the wall while doing so.

'Just a quick jog.' She reminded herself.

She left the last step and with in a blink she found herself locking the door and releasing the breath she had been holding since leaving the children's room. Taking another deep breath, she set into a steady pace. Her feet lead the way without trouble, for taking this routine so many times before. But something was different this time. She wasn't going for any real reason, let alone a good one.

Tifa skid to a halt in front of the large wooden doors. Her heart skipped a beat before picking up several paces.

'I couldn't possibly use the front doors.' Tifa chided herself.

Tifa slowly walked over to the left of the church; Aerith's church. She easily spotted a route that would take her to the top of the church in a few mere seconds. Almost zombie like, Tifa climbed her way to the top.

She stood at the edge of the roof; arguing with herself to take the next few steps needed to complete her odd mission. Finally deciding, she wobbly kneeled her way over to the large opening in the roof, probably the same one made by Cloud those four years ago. Her heart beat in her chest, almost to the point she thought she might be dying of an anxiety attack.

Her brown eyes slowly scanned the church. She was just about to sigh with relief when her eyes falling upon the sight Tifa feared most, Cloud. He wasn't supposed to be here. He was suppose to be far away, helping to rebuild a city or some sort of ridiculous errand that kept him from being at home most the time. But here he was once again, in Aerith's church. Always and again.

Tifa's voice hitched in her throat and she saw Cloud's head move slightly at the sound. Ducking away from the hole in the roof, she silently tiptoed to the edge of the roof. Without a second thought, she jumped to the dusty floor below, impacting with a small thud. Not even allowing herself to stand up all the way, Tifa was making a mad dash back to her bar. She nearly collided with the bar's door when arriving. She slammed the door behind her and came to a stop behind her bar. She was numb, pushing back any thought that tried to wiggle its way into her mind.

Absentmindedly, Tifa found herself wiping at the bar's already cleaned countertop. A knock at the door made her look up.

"Tifa, you in there?" An older man's voice boomed through the empty bar.

Tifa instantly realized who it was, Pops and Captain. They wore two regulars who she sometimes lets in to drink even when the bar was closed. But not tonight. She didn't feel like keeping company. She quickly squatted behind the bar, incase they try to look through the windows for her.

She could her them chatting outside the door. Before she even realized what she was doing, Tifa found herself drowning out the old men's voice, and getting lost in her own thoughts.

'It's been four years since her death, why can't he forgive himself? Maybe he has. But then why does he always run to her church? And why doesn't he ever ask the kids or me if we want to go? I miss Aerith too. Why can't he stay here for me, or at least the kids? He seemed fine before he went away. Then again that was two weeks ago. Why, Cloud?'

And then Tifa let out a low sigh, a sigh of defeat.

"Four years, and nothings changed."

Tifa felt her eyes tear up, and that was it. She lost all control. Still crouch in a tuck behind the bar, she sobbed.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed when her sobs finally fell silent and all that was left wore hiccups. Her head was pounding but she still couldn't find it in her to budge. She slowly ran her fingers through her hair, letting them come to a stop at the top of her head.

The door swinging open along with two male voices caused her to freeze. She held her breath a she struggled to hear through the pounding of her head.

"This is it."

"Cozy."

The first voice, Tifa recognized instantly, was Cloud. The second one sounded familiar but she couldn't quite place it. But that wasn't her main concern at the moment. She could not, would not let Cloud find her like this; so weak and un-like Tifa.

"Let's go into the other room. Tifa will be upset if we mess anything up." Cloud spoke; a hint of joking in his voice was clear at about Tifa being mad.

"Understandable. Sounds like she's been working pretty hard," the other voice sounding extra friendly, almost like you could hear the smile in his voice, "let me just grab a quick drink."

"Alright." And with that Tifa could tell Cloud had left the room.

"Let's see maybe some vodka or rum?" The cheer voice grew closer to Tifa, as she continued her mental panic on what to do. She didn't dear look up, she was sure her eyes wore swollen. Focusing on the wood, she tried to ready her explanation on hiding.

"Oh, Tifa is that you? What you doing down there?" The cheer voice dropped a pitch, for concern for her.

"I- I thought you wore customer's coming in for a drink." She lied, her voice only cracking mildly in the beginning.

"Oh yeah. That sucks. People can sure be annoying."

And then it hit her, that voice. She recognized it clearly now, but that was impossible. He should be dead.

"Zack?" Tifa shot up fast, forgetting completely about her blotchy face.

"In the flesh." Zack grinned bashfully as he scratched the back of his head.

"How?"

"Not exactly sure. Going have to work on solving that one." He gave a wink.

"Oh." Tifa lowered her face, realizing what she must look like.

A few seconds of uncomfortable silence passed.

Zack could easily tell Tifa had been crying. Why he had no clue, nor why would he? But he could tell she did not want to talk about it. So he did the only gentlemen thing he could think of.

"You should get some sleep, Tifa. You look like hell." He spoke teasingly.

"Thanks." She mumbled as she climbed the stairs two at a time.

"Maybe this is all just a bad dream." She tried to convince herself as she tucked herself into bed.

--

So tell me what you think? Total sucky sucky? Or is it okay? K thanks.