Disclaimer - I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters. Square Enix does.
Slowly, deliberately Cloud reached his hand forward until it was mere inches from Tifa's chest, just above her breast and directly over her heart.
"I've always been here and I always will be." his voice was firm and strong, nothing like the child Tifa had known and everything like the man he had suddenly become.
His mako green eyes were stubborn yet soft and full of love, life, understanding. Things the busty brunette had never had the chance to see before this moment and feelings she was sure she'd never see again. Tears streaked down her pink tinged cheeks as the realization finally hit her. Cloud was leaving. Again. Possibly forever this time. Her big brown eyes never glanced away, she wanted to hold his stare for as long as possible.
"I never once doubted that." her voice was soft, but held the same stubborn undertone as he.
"Though it still doesn't change the fact that my heart hurts. It never will."
A small, sad smile made its way across the blond ex-SOLDIERs mouth as he gently lifted both of his gloved hands to her face where, very gently, he laid them on her cheeks and brushed her tears away with this thumbs.
"I know." was all he whispered.
"Then don't go, come back" her voice held such desperation that the next words to leave her mouth came out so low that Cloud would have had trouble hearing her had things been different.
"I miss you."
In one swift movement he had her pressed tight against his chest, one arm securely around her waist as his other hand caressed her hair in an attempt to comfort her.
"You know I can't. I miss you too, but Tifa you know I can't come back." his voice was full of sadness "At least... not in the way you want me to."
Tifa would have asked what he meant had she not felt the familiar pull on her body. Desperately she clung to Cloud she grasped the front of his shirt in her hands as the pull became stronger. Even Cloud had begun to cling to her in a futile attempt at a few more minutes with someone he held so close to his heart.
"No! Not yet. please!" she cried out in frustration at whomever it was that pulled her back, tears flowed freely down both their faces now and before she could say no more to him she cried out "I love you! Cloud please come back!" and then he was gone. The whiteness that surrounded them had enveloped him from her vision, as it did she from his.
"I love you too." he called out into the bright nothing-ness before he was joined by two others. A tall dark haired man and a small brunette woman whose hair was pulled back into a single braid.
"You know. I always rooted for you two." the young woman had a smile in her voice, just barely masking the sadness. "Actually both Zack and I did." she motioned to the other man as he merely nodded in agreement.
"You'll see her again." Zack placed his hand on Clouds shoulder to turn him around where the three continued into the whiteness till suddenly they were surrounded by a field full of wonderfully smelling flowers. All Cloud could do was nod and hope that they were right.