This is a really old fan fic, I wrote it about 2 years ago- hope you like it.

It happened in the Forgotten City, before he ever entered it and saw Kadaj's gang. It was there even before he heard anything about Kadaj's gang from Reno and Rufus Shinra. That feeling; the feeling of being held back. He felt he would truly be forever walking alone. Ever since the death of Aeris.
Aeris; that name was enough to pull at his heartstrings. And it hurt even worse of late- he had been having visions of her- some where she would laugh and speak to him, even touch his shoulder. Oh how he missed her.
He now sat on the edge of his bed, watching Tifa intently as she slept. He knew she liked him- maybe even loved him. He sighed. Here was a woman who actually cared about him and all he did was push her away. He got up and looked out the window at the starry night of Midgar. Every time Tifa looked at him his heart jumped- this reminded him of Aeris. Why did she pick Zack over him? Why did they both have to die? He glared out at the statue overlooking the town. He jumped when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder.
"Cloud? Are you allright?" Tifa asked worriedly. "It's nothing..." Cloud looked down. "Cloud.." she persisted. He looked into her eyes. "You can talk to me....but why won't you?" He glanced back over to the window, shifting his weight a bit. Tifa tugged on his shirt. "Please?"
Tifa sat a cup of coffee in front of Cloud. It was close to three in the morning but both entities were wide-awake. She sat down across the table from Cloud so they were face to face.
"So," the brunet looked at the blonde man earnestly. "What is it?" She wanted to say, 'What is it this time' but how could she be so cold to Cloud? Cloud averted his eyes to the decorative table cloth, pulling at the frayed edges. "I think.. I don't need to tell you what's wrong...it's the same as always." Tifa looked a little hurt; true, she did know what was going on- what was on his mind. Aeris. The woman she had to compete with. She mentally laughed. She was competing with a dead woman. She finally spoke. "Maybe, but it's not going to help if you just keep thinking about her and don't tell someone what's on your mind." She reached out and softly placed her hands on Clouds. He met her gaze again. She looked so worried. He took her hands in his and quietly said" Tifa-I'm sorry I can't be the man you want me to be. I just- need more time." At this point Tifa's eyes were watering. "Cloud- it's been over three years! Please-" She squeezed his hands as he seemed a little nervous. "We can get through this together!"
"But I'm not fit to-"
Here Tifa interrupted him, placing her smooth hands on either side of his face. "No! Don't say that! Don't ever say that! You are fit to be with me.." Their faces got closer and Cloud found himself almost giving in and breaking through. "..but only if you want to be.."
Cloud was about to close the space between them when the kitchen door opened and a sniffling Marline entered rushing to Tifa's side. "Tifa!I-I had a bad dream!" Tifa looked at Cloud and sighed. She took Marline's hand escorting her back to bed with soothing words.
Cloud looked out the window seeing that the sun had just begun its journey over the city. He knew what he had to do.

Tifa came back into the kitchen and looked around for her blonde-haired crush but didn't see him. Then she heard it- the sound that only ment more space. She looked out the window as Cloud's motorcycle kicked up dust and he sped off. It was enough to make Tifa breakdown right then and there- but she had to take care of the kids, the bar to open and customers to attend to. She held back her tears once more and began her work.
He shut off the engine and took a look around the Forgotten City seeing the white, blue-green trees with their ominous glow. He sat down near the waters edge going over the conversation he'd had earlier with Tifa. He had almost kissed her. He blushed at the thought. He hadn't been the only one who wanted that kiss- why had he eft again? Suddenly he could feel something very sharp pressing into his neck. He turned his head slightly to see..
"Brother!" It was his insane clone brother, Kadaj. Cloud was about to reach for his sword when Kadaj pulled his double katana away from his neck.
"So Cloud, what brings you back here?" Kadaj paced n front of Cloud, eying him peculiarly. "None of your business." Cloud turned his head away from Kadaj but still kept a wary eye on him. "Aw common! We are brothers, you know!" Cloud stood up and began walking away. "Brothers my ass!" He muttered. Kadaj scowled and aimed his sword at Cloud's back charging forward, but Cloud was quick on the draw and swiftly pulled out his own sword blocking the clones attack. Neither one of them gave in, trying to push the other down.
"You haven't even told me where mother is!" Cloud rolled his eyes and pushed Kadaj onto the ground, gaining energy from his rage, his sword pointing right at the silver haired mans face.
"Is that what this is all about? This whole surprise attack?" Kadaj was silent, only the sound of labored breathing could be heard. Cloud pressed the sword to Kadaj's neck, almost piercing his skin. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you." He glared down at Kadaj who flinched and mumbled something. "What?" Cloud pierced his skin slightly, watching the crimson line appear and trail down his neck. Through clenched teeth, Kadaj responded a little louder, "What would Tifa think?"
Cloud froze. Kadaj smirked. He had hit a weak spot. Cloud realized he was right. Tifa was against killing people, not hurting them or injuring them, just killing them; what would she think? He withdrew his sword, trudging back to his bike.
Kadaj watched as he drove off, smirking to himself.
He had a plan.

The wind blew through the top of the old ramshackle of a church disturbing the luminous lilies and pools of water that covered the floor. Cloud sat against the wall pulling off his gloves. He sighed rubbing his hands over his face and through his platinum blonde hair. It felt like ages since he had been here, yet he was in this exact position only yesterday.
The wind whistled through the church again and he could have sworn he heard Aeris' voice. The old rusty door was roughly slammed open revealing a black haired man in a long wine red cape. His mahogany red eyes were filled with worry and then relief as they rested on the blonde.
"Vincent," Cloud looked curiously at his friend standing up and dusting his pants off. "What are you doing here?"
Vincent stepped more into the church. " Cloud, something's wrong." Vincent stared directly into Cloud's eyes. "It's about Tifa." Cloud's breath hitched. "What?! What happened?!?" Vincent looked away, seeming to hide behind the collar of his cape. Memories of Lucrecia welled up inside of him, remembering this familiar feeing that Cloud was now experiencing.
"Come on, Cloud. The kids need you."
Cloud hurriedly got on Fenrir, and sped off towards the bar.

Vincent and Cloud entered the house immediately seeing Marline and Denzel on the couch. It was obvious that Marline had been crying. Denzel was trying to be strong for his sister, but tears stained his cheeks. Cloud went straight to them, gathering them into his strong arms.
"Cloud! You're back!" Denzel and Marline hugged him. Vincent interrupted their tender moment with a cough. " Denzel, Marline, do you know who took Tifa?" Marline's eye began to water again. She and her brother shook their heads.
Cloud placed a hand on Denzels shoulder. "Did you see what they looked like?" Denzel scanned his memory and slowly nodded. " Well, I couldn't really tell who they were, but I remember there were three of them, and they all had gray hair. Me and Marline were back in our room playing when we hear Tifa yelling. We came out but they were already outside.. I'm sorry Cloud." Denzel looked down, rubbing away his tears with his arm. Cloud sighed. "Denzel, its not your fault. Don't blame yourself." A voice in the back of Coud's head whispered 'no, it wasn't he fault, it was mine'.
He shook off the voice and thought back on what Denzel had said. They had gray hair. He knew who had taken her; Kadaj and his gang. "So I'm guessing you know who took her?" Vincent interrupted his thoughts. He nodded glaring and clenching his fist, mentally cursing himself. Kadaj was getting back at him.
"Vincent, I need you to take Denzel and Marline to Barret's. I'm going to find Tifa, along with Kadaj and his gang." He gave a look to the kids to assure them everything would be all right, but even he wasn't so sure of that. With that, he left for the Forgotten City again.

The Sun was beginning to set on the Forgotten City giving the bright trees a foreboding glow, only adding to Cloud's anxious heart. He turned off his bike and paced towards the center of the forest, hand at the hilt of his sword prepared to strike at any moment. To his left he heard voices echoing off the portentous trees. He hid behind one of the trees, watching closely as Kadaj spoke to his brothers, Yazoo and Loz. He looked around for Tifa and spotted her lying on the ground, arms and legs bound together and clearly unconscious.
Clouds heart beat faster. How dare they do this to her, she had done nothing to them. He stepped out into the clearing, staring angrily at Kadaj. The three silver haired men turned to him, smirking, completely undaunted. "Nice to see you again, dear brother!"
Kadaj gave a sign with his hand and his associates lunged for Cloud. He ran towards Tifa, but Loz was quick and dashed in front of him pushing him backwards almost knocking him off balance. Yazoo shot a few rounds at Cloud, only one nicking his shoulder, the rest he deflected back at him. Loz caught Cloud off guard and punched him square in the jaw
Yazoo and his brother took this chance to restrain him with their arms. Cloud staggered into a standing position trying to force his way out of their grip but it was useless. Kadaj gave a smile of satisfaction.

"I only came for Tifa, please, let her go." Kadaj stepped towards the unconscious woman, glancing over his shoulder at the blonde. "What's this? Big brothers pleading now, is he?" Cloud scowled and gazed at Tifa, struggling in the grip of his brothers to save her.