The sun slowly set over the quiet town of Kalm. Tifa Lockhart stood at the window of the house she shared with Cloud Strife. It had been nearly eight months since Sephiroth's defeat and meteor had been destroyed over the city of Midgar thanks to the combined efforts of Holy and Lifestream.

"It's going to rain," Cloud said watching the dark storm cloud's roll over the evening sky.

"Thanks for stating the obvious," Tifa said with a smile.

She was sad to notice that Cloud did not return it. Cloud had been living with Tifa for only a few months and it had been a very strained few months. Cloud's thoughts always wandered back to that day in the Northern Crater. He would be so distant when he thought about his battle with Sephiroth. He became a different person completely when those memories overtook him.

"Did you realize it's been eight months exactly today that we beat Sephiroth," Cloud said startling Tifa from her memories.

"I don't really give it much thought," Tifa said. She was upset to realize his mind was on Sephiroth again. It's always Sephiroth, Tifa thought sadly, he seems to have completely forgotten Aerith.

"Eight months since Aerith…" Tifa tried to bring herself to say the word killed but was unable to.

"Died," Cloud finished for her.

Tifa nodded watching the blonde haired man carefully. He was able to say it with such ease it startled her.

"Do you miss her," Tifa asked.

Cloud shrugged looking away from Tifa.

"Sure I miss her," Cloud said, but his voice didn't give Tifa the feeling that he really did. Outside thunder boomed and lightning cut paths through the dark clouds.

"Do you love me?" Tifa gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

She couldn't believe those words had just escaped her lips. Cloud turned to look at her, his blue eyes were puzzled. He didn't say anything for the longest time, he just watched her.

"I don't know," Cloud said.

Tears welled in Tifa's eyes and she quickly turned away from him, not wanting him to see her tears.

"Did I say the wrong thing?"

Tifa shook her head, her long brown hair flew around her face. Rain began to pelt the window like little fingers tapping on the glass.

"I've got a lot of things on my mind, Tifa. You can't expect me to think about you every single day," Cloud told her coming to stand next to her.

He rested his right hand on her shoulder. His fingers squeezed her shoulder gently and it sent waves of warmth through her body. She shrugged it off angrily and turned to him.

"I never asked you to think about me all the time! I just asked you a simple question," Tifa told him her lower lip quivering, tears still threatened to fall despite her anger. Thunder boomed overhead cause Tifa to jump slightly.

"Well that's what it sounds like," Cloud countered loudly.

"Where in my question did you get the impression I was asking if you thought about me every day," Tifa asked lighting ripped through the clouds outside.

Cloud opened his mouth but a loud explosion cut his words off. The room plunged into darkness and Tifa lost sight of Cloud. "I thought that's what you meant," Cloud said.

"Well I didn't," Tifa said crossing her arms over her ample breasts.

Thunder and lightning continued outside and the tiny squabble inside turned into a full-blown fight.

"All you think about is Sephiroth," Tifa screamed grabbing a lamp off the table.

"And all you think about is yourself," Cloud yelled back, dodging the lamp Tifa threw.

"You don't care about your friends! Cid has called twice and neither time did you return his calls. You're just to busy worrying about Sephiroth to call anybody back. Sephiroth is dead! You killed him, move on!" Tifa's whole body was shaking with rage. She had never felt anger like this before in her entire life.

"I know he's dead!"

Tifa grabbed another item off the end table and hurled it at Cloud.

Cloud ducked the flying object and began to yell again. "I know I killed him! You're just jealous because you weren't strong enough to defeat him! You weren't strong enough to avenge your father!"

Tifa gasped, unable to believe what Cloud had just said. The look on Cloud's face told her he couldn't believe it either.

"I'm sorry Tifa. I didn't mean that," Cloud told her quietly.

Tifa could only stand there and stare at him. She wished she could speak but words escaped her. The air in the room felt heavy and Tifa was finding it harder to breathe.

"Do you feel that?" Cloud was apparently feeling the change in the air too.

Tifa dropped to one knee fighting desperately to draw air into her burning lungs. Cloud tried to reach her, but soon he too dropped to his knees clutching his throat. Lighting crashing outside and Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart knew no more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The morning sun cast golden rays into the small living room of the house in Kalm. Two figures lay still on the ground. Tifa Lockhart gave a groan and slowly raised herself so she rested on her elbows. She rose to her feet even slower, her palm rested on her aching head.

"What is going on," she wondered out loud.

Her eyes shot open wide as she heard her own voice. She raised her left hand to her lips and curiously laid two fingers over her mouth. She looked around the room taking in her surroundings. "Where am I?"

She walked out of the living room, smiling lightly as the carpet tickled her bare toes. She opened the first door she came across and ran her hand up and down the wall searching for a light switch. Her fingers brushed it and she flipped it up. A toilet and bathtub greeted her when the glowing light illuminated the room. That was all well and good but it wasn't what she was looking for. She turned slowly to her right and spotted the mirror.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Her screams filled the small bathroom and awoke the other person still lying on the floor in the living room with a start. She pointed to her reflection, her mouth working but no words were being admitted.

Cloud Strife walked down the hallway briskly in the direction of the screams. He stopped in the doorway and opened his mouth to say something but stopped. She turned to him and pointed at him her hand shaking wildly.

"Who are you!?"

"Who are you," he asked back just as puzzled.

"I asked you first," she said, still pointing.

"Well I'm….."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Authors Note: Beyond Devotion. Updated and with a new chapter on the way.