Disclaimer: FFVII belongs to SquareEnix :)

Author's note: The first part of the story would be formatted into "e-mails" and "phone calls", all sent to Cloud. Hope you'll enjoy this :)

This story takes place about a month after DoC. Tifa lets Cloud leaves, knowing that he doesn't love her romantically. So she tries her best to keep in contact with her childhood friend...

Chapter 1

January 20, 0011

Dear Cloud,

How are you? We miss you. I know it's been only two days since you left. What are you doing? Where are you now? You never pick up the phone.

Marlene and Denzel miss you a lot. Though Marlene's doing a lot better now that Barret's back. He found a place just across the street from the bar. So when Barret's out working for the WRO, Marlene comes over and help out, like the old days.

But Denzel's not doing so well. He misses you terribly. He rarely talks and stays hunched up in his room. He carries around your wolf keychain everywhere he goes, never letting it out of his sight. I don't know how to comfort him at all. Though I suppose when school starts again after the winter break, he'll be better. Don't worry. We'll be fine.

Write back! Take care of yourself. Miss you.

Love,

Tifa

January 21, 0011

Ring ring. Ring ring. Click.

Caller: Yuffie

"Hey chocobo-butt?! How could you just leave like that? I'm so fuckin' pissed! Tifa cares about you so damn much and you just dumped her like that?! Are you serious or what?! You even slept with her! I can't believe she'd just let you go like that. If I were her, I'd throw your little spiky head down DaChao and stab those Mako eyes of yours til Mako flows out! ARGH! I can't believe it. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I officially HATE you. You jerk!"

\*

Ring ring. Ring ring. Click.

Caller: Yuffie

"Fuck it, Tifa's making me apologize. But I won't. I WON'T APOLOGIZE TO SOME BASTARD LIKE YOU. Fuck."

\*

Ring ring. Ring ring. Click.

Caller: Barret

"Wad da fuck Cloud! Can ya pick up the damn phone?! Denzel's missin' ya like crazy you spiky ol' ass! Yeh, well, Tifa's missin' you too. An' mah little girl too. O' I don't! Ah goddamnit Cloud! Why did ya do this? Well, call us back damnit! Now!"

January 30, 0011

Ring ring. Ring ring. Click.

Caller: Tifa

"Hi Cloud? How are you doing? I haven't heard from you for more than a week so I thought I'd call to see how you're doing...would you mind picking up the phone? The kids are looking forward to talking to you. Barret too. Well, hope you're ok. Oh, did you get my e-mail? I hope you did. Umm well that's all. Take care. Bye."

February 9, 0011

Dear Cloud,

I miss you so much! Tifa is helping me write this e-mail.

How are you? I am fine. We really miss you. Especially Denzel. He is skulking a lot. Even in school. He is having very bad grades in his spelling tests. I got a 100% on my last spelling test. I am going to join the spelling bee contest too. Papa and Tifa are so happy. I am very happy too. But I wish you were here. I know you would help me practice.

Happy Hearts Day is coming soon. Tifa and I are decorating the bar with pink hearts. There will be a party. Someone booked the bar so the man could ask the woman to marry him. How sweet!

Please pick up the phone. Where are you? Are you all around the world?

I miss you! Bye!

Love,

Marlene

February 15, 0011

Dear Cloud,

Happy Hearts Day!

We had a long day at the bar today. Remember Charlie? The man with the red bandana on his head? Well, he proposed to his girlfriend, Rena. With diamond ring and flowers and all. We all got teary-eyed for them, even Barret.

So, where are you now? You never replied us once. Marlene's quite disappointed. She came rushing to the bar every day after school, hoping you'd replied her. I don't mind that you never reply to me, but, Marlene looks up to you. It wouldn't waste you too much time to write her back with a simple reply, would it? The least you could do is leave us a message on the phone. Denzel misses you too. But he's finally talking more again. If you contacted us, just once, I'm sure it would have brightened up their day so much.

Hope you're all right. Miss you.

Love,

Tifa

Author's note: To be honest, I don't think Cloud (in the game/movie) would ever leave Tifa and the kids again, but hey, this is fanfic :P And I've always wondered what would happen if Cloud really did realize that he doesn't love Tifa in a romantic-sort of way. Just feel sorry for poor Tifa.