Bringing it all back, and giving it another shot.

Disclaimer: Any characters from SE obviously not mine.

THE LOVELESS

The hard part was over now. Right?

At least Tifa hoped it was over. There were times when she thought if all the fighting they had done was even worth it. If even her death was worth it. It's been a year now since the Lifestream had fought back against Meteor, and for some reason - no-one had even begun to think what would happen after, it all happened too fast for any of them to understand what was going on. It wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, like the small part of Tifa had wished. It was just more destruction and blood. People got used to the rubble and unstable buildings, to the people who were staggering across the streets for what seemed like months on end after their homes were simply pounded into dust in just a millisecond. Those who were alive suffered - the poor, rich, old and young. Those that had eventually died... Tifa had often found herself wondering if they were the lucky ones.

Cloud started to disappear every now and again. It started off with a few nights. He was silent about it, sneaking off like a cat in the middle of night and mounting on Fenrir. She wasn't sure if he thought she knew. And every night after that, since the first night he had left, she wouldn't sleep until late to hear the sound of his boots carefully treading past the kids' room, pausing for a moment at her door, and then making their way downstairs, always waiting to hear the exhaust to blast off and the low rumble of Fenrir dissipating into the distance. Those nights eventually turned into days and the days turned into weeks.

Tifa was glad she had Seventh Heaven to preoccupy her. Barret was right on that one, work definitely had kept her mind off of things. Everyone seems to think that she was good at words. She wasn't really. Expressing herself wasn't her strongest trait - being tough and stubborn at the right time, maybe - but saying her thoughts out loud? Not a biggest a fan. It was a rough combination, those two. Everytime they were around each other it was like walking on eggshells, she always wondered what was he thinking in that bright yellow head of his.

It wasn't always like that, even right after what had happened two and a half years ago. Cloud was more optimistic, probably even more optimistic than Tifa. It was Barret who suggested opening up a bar which she was unsure about, but Cloud had smiled and reassured her that if the going gets tough, we'll just quit. And then after what felt like living on borrowed time, they had to move on somehow. They managed to open up the bar. Barret went off to deal with things on his own for a while and left Marlene to their care. Cloud had saved up quite a stack of Gil to modify Fenrir. And until recently, maybe it's been two months already, he brought home a boy sickly with the 'Stigma. Denzel, he said his name was, as he hid behind Cloud like a shy puppy. It was like a family, just like Barret had said to Marlene before he left, and it was Cloud and Tifa's job to nurture it.

Only, it's probably more better to describe it as dysfunctional.

She wondered where Cloud was right now, that worrisome feeling gnawing at the corners of her heart. Maybe he's on a long delivery trip. She knows he started to expand his routes. She heard him talking about it to the kids a few days before he left for Gaia knows where. She remembers one time last year when he said he'll be gone for a week to Costa Del Sol for a massive delivery of scrap metal sheets. She expected him to come shuffling back with rigid arms and an awkward stride because his fair skin would probably get cooked underneath all that sun, but was surprised when she saw that he tanned pretty well. Maybe it was the heat that day - it was a summer - seeing Cloud like that really made her fluster.

But it's been more than ten days already. He didn't say where or why he was going. He left a note on the fridge. Out on a delivery, be back soon. Say bye to Denzel and Marlene for me. It was a blatant lie and he knew it. Tifa didn't know what to feel and what to do. Her mind was angry and there was a heavy feeling in her chest. And he hasn't called back. She left him voicemails everyday, asking him how he is, asking him what he's eaten for the day and asked him the million Gil question: "When are you coming back, Cloud?"

Tifa's gazed at the ceiling, watching the blades from the ceiling fan turn and turn as she wiped the rim of a crystal ale glass with the cloth that was laying on her right shoulder. There were quite a few customers in this relatively humid afternoon, and the buzz of chatter filled the bar as they enjoyed a couple of nice cool beverages.

Her eyes scanned around the room, picking up a few conversations from the people who sat at the bar front. On a long day like this, it was quite entertaining to eavesdrop on what they've got to say. Sometimes the customers talk to you, sometimes you talk to them, but other times Tifa preferred to just listen and be in her own little world.

"... don't give a shit about the Wutai Warriors man! Last time they played in the league they barely even survived!"

"Oh yeah? The Trouts don't stand a chance in this years league."

"Hey! Whatcha gotta say about the Junon Trouts? That's my hometown-"

"I just don't get him sometimes. I really thought he was gonna ask this time."

"He doesn't deserve you, honey."

"This dude, I gotta tell ya, he looked he was on drugs or something. He's all buff and beat up and shit. Came up to me, looked me dead in the eye with these like crazy eyes, like they were LITERALLY glowing at me. I really thought it was gonna be over for me, man."

One conservation in particular was something she wasn't quite ready in hearing.

"... haven't seen that hot blonde guy in a while."

"Looks like he's left her."

"Poor girl. Can't imagine if Daniel walked out on me and the kids like that."

"They always say it's another woman. "

"Even with the kids? Honestly, most men are just a piece of trash!"

"You know - I've heard that the boy isn't even theirs."

"Maybe it's the guy's son with someone else-"

Tifa had heard enough of the gossip.

She set the ale glass a little too hard on the sink so that a section of the thin rim chipped off. Tifa opened her mouth to say something, she wasn't quite sure what, a retaliation maybe, but bit her tongue and chose against it. Choose your battles Tifa, she thought to herself.

Then a little voice behind the bar spoke up.

"You're wrong! He didn't leave us! Tifa told us he went on a long trip somewhere and he's coming back! And for the record - they are our Mom and Dad!"

"Marlene!" Tifa scolded. She didn't even realise she was there! The six-year old stood atop a stool, her head the only thing you can see from behind the otherside of the bar front.

For a moment, Marlene's eyes widened in shock at the sound of Tifa's stern voice. Then she stomped her little foot, tears welling up in her eyes.

"You promised Papa that we'll be a real family! You promised that you'll both love each other and me and Denzel!"

She scurried off with her little legs, stomping up the stairs and Tifa heard a door being shut too forcefully.

The two ladies were slightly bewildered at what just happened. Marlene's voice was small, but it caused enough for the ambient hum of the bar to slightly decrease and catch the attention of a few people closer to the bar front. For what felt like an eternity of being in the limelight, the buzz started to pick up again and people seemed to ignore what they heard.

The women in front of her exchanged nervous glances with each other before thanking Tifa for the drinks, and dropping quite a reasonable amount of Gil in the tip-jar. Tifa managed to let out a smile as they headed out towards the door.

"Please, come again!" she called out. The women didn't hear or probably ignored her as they resumed to their chatter as they walked out of the bar.

They turned right, as she watched them through the window her eyes caught sight of something spiky and blonde floating on the other side of the street. Her heart skipped a beat. When she squinted, trying to look past the glare of the sun against the metal '7th Heaven' sign, she realised it was only a kid hoisting a chocobo plushie on his shoulders.

She let out a breath.

She figured she'll have to deal with Marlene later.

Two knocks.

"Can I come in?" Tifa asked in a soft voice. She popped her head through the door and saw Marlene clutching a chocobo figurine in her small hands, and trotting it by Denzel's feet.

Marlene stayed silent for a while and gave in.

"Yeah…"

"How's Denzel coping?" Tifa whispered, a she walked by Denzel's bedside and placed a glass of orange juice and a plate of sandwiches down. She took lifted the damp cloth that lay on his forehead. It was warm and underneath it was oozing pus. It looks like the poor boy's 'Stigma was neither getting worse nor any better. Tifa took it as a good sign, for now at least. She shoved away the dirty cloth in a plastic bag and doused a new one in a bowl filled with cold water she had laid on the other bed, wringed the water out, and placed it carefully on his forehead.

"He's okay." Marlene mumbled.

She continued to look at Denzel's face, pushing back his fringe. It was far too long now, he won't be able to see anything through that curtain of hair. He'll freak when he finds out they're gonna have to cut it.

"Marlene?"

Silence.

"Marlene, we have to talk about what happened earl-"

"I'm sorry, Tifa!" the girl burst into tears.

Tifa stretched her arms out to her and Marlene allowed herself to be picked up and carried by Tifa's side. Marlene had grown, that's for sure. Tifa had felt the change in weight and size in her arms. The girl laid her head on her shoulder as her mother cradled her, soothing her and telling her to hold her tears.

"Don't cry Marlene…" Tifa began. "I told you remember? Cloud will come back."

"He's taking too long." her voice was muffled by Tifa's hair.

She thought for a moment.

"You know what I think, Marlene?" she propped the little girl down at the edge of the bed, and kneeled down in front of her. "I think he's taking too long because he has to knock down all those monsters to finish the delivery." Another blatant lie. Marlene won't be fooled. But Tifa had said it sometimes to reassure herself that that is a plausible reason he hasn't come home yet. A few minor delays - that's all.

"I guess Cloud isn't that strong anymore." Marlene gave a small smile. If she knew Tifa was lying, then she was probably smart enough to play along.

She patted Marlene's head and nodded. Cloud is fighting, Tifa was sure of that. But he was fighting something a little bit different than hybrid monsters.

"Tifa, why did you let them say it?"

She furrowed her brows slightly in confusion and finally understood what she had meant.

"Because Marlene, sometimes... we have to choose our battles." She took the six-year old's small hands and enclosed it with her own palms. "Gossip is never a battle worth fighting for."

"Is it because it's true?"

Looks like he's left her. Tifa's heart clenched and she had to stay silent for a while just so she wouldn't hear her voice falter. She rubbed her hands over Marlene's head.

"No, baby. It's not true." Marlene could smell a lie just as well as Tifa can. If she knew it was a lie, then Marlene was really good at playing along.

"Cloud loves you guys," she continued. "He loves his family remember?"

"You're part of our family too, Tifa."

Tifa let out a laugh, but Marlene could tell it was a sad laugh. Tifa bent her head low to kiss Marlene's small and delicate fingers, while she quickly wiped a tear that appeared at the corner of her eye.

"I know Cloud loves you too."

Tifa planted another kiss on the top of her head as she got up from her knees. She didn't reply to Marlene, there was no need to.

"You know how I know?" Tifa was glad that Marlene didn't seem so sad anymore. The girl had started bouncing a little bit on the empty bed. "It's because in Loveless, the boy looked at the girl weirdly and he said he was in love with her and, and sometimes me and Denzel watch Cloud look at you with the same weird face!"

Loveless? As hopeful as that sounds, as innocent as the children may seem about love, Tifa's heart chose not to believe it.

"So who's been letting you watch Loveless, huh?" Tifa asked, warningly.