Reflections

By: Lexvan

Summary: During their quest for Sephiroth, a person from Tifa's past joins the group. Tifa starts feeling guilty about what happened between them and let's the guilt get to her. Once the group begins their journey down North Crater, Tifa finds a strange cave. But, there's more to this cave than meets the eye. Soon, her very life is in danger. Can she get out in time, or will she perish before she gets a chance to apologize to the one she loves.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII. Only my own original character, Aldaros, the old man, and Craig.

Chapter 1: Tifa's POV

They say that when you reflect back on what happened in your life, you have a lot of things that you wish you could of done different. For me, there's one main event I wish I could change. An event in which I ruined a person's life.

A person.......... I loved.

It all started after Sephiroth destroyed my hometown of Nibelheim. My sensai, Zangan, brought me to Midgar to seek medical treatment, and left the city. I guess Shinra was after anybody that survived. Once I was well enough to leave, I was put in an orphanage, seeing as I was only fifteen. I felt so alone there. Not knowing who everybody was and everything. But then, I met him.

Aldaros.

Aldaros VanThunder was his name. He was sixteen, about 6'0, brown eyes, black hair. And he was cute. Very cute. Some girls would say he was one handsome brother, but, I was only fifteen. He was one of a kind. When I first met him, he tried to cheer me up. It didn't take long for that to happen. We became fast friends. After about three months, we became a couple.

It felt good having a boyfriend to go to when I was sad or scared. And he was always there for me. Now when the other kids at the orphanage found out that we were a couple, most of them were happy for us. All but one. His name was Craig Peterson. He didn't think me and Aldaros should go out just be cause Aldaros was black. I shut him up myself buy slapping him, for insulting Aldaros. And that took care of that.

Or so I thought.

I was sixteen when it all happened. It was Aldaros' birthday. He was seventeen. We really cared for each other. That's when we decided to spend the night together. It would of been the first time for the both of us, which made it even more special.

After our friends and I threw him a surprise party, we waited until everybody was asleep. All the kids at the orphanage had their own rooms. So, Aldaros came into mine about an hour and a half after everybody went to bed. I was still in my jeans and blouse when he came in.

Once he came in, I kissed him and we made our way to my bed. We started kissing some more. Aldaros then made his way down to my neck. I began too moan in pleasure as he was kissing my neck. He then went for my ear lobes. He knew that was one of my most sensitive spots whenever we were making out. I then pulled his shirt off, as he kicked his boots off. I undid his belt, but didn't pull the pants off yet.

I then undid my pants and, started to pull them off. Aldaros then, started unbuttoning my blouse. I giggled a little as he was tickling my stomach, unbuttoning the rest of my blouse. He finally got it, but he stopped. I looked at him thinking something was wrong.

"What's wrong?", I asked.

"Tifa, are you sure about this?", he asked. "I mean, if you don't want to do this, we don't have to. I don't want to push you into doing this."

I then kissed him.

"I want to do this, because I love you.", I replied. "I want to be with you for the rest of my life."

He then smiled as he kissed me. We both knew how we felt about each other. He was about to pull off my blouse when suddenly, my door flew open with Ms. Winters, one of the people in charge of the orphanage, standing there, with Craig and two other boys, that were at least nineteen.

"What is the meaning of this?!", Ms. Winters asked.

Both of us were to shocked to speak. So, Craig made up his own little story.

"See, I told you he was trying to rape her!", Craig said as he pointed towards us.

"Frank, Carlos grab him!", Ms. Winters ordered.

Then, with out warning, the two boys grabbed him. And pinned him against the wall. I was about to try and stop them, but Ms. Winters held me in her arms like I was a little child. I looked over at Craig, who had a smug grin on his face. How did he know about all this. Then it hit me! I was talking to Jessie, about what we were going to do tonight. Craig must of overheard the whole thing.

Soon, the two older guys had Aldaros's pinned down.

"Take him downstairs while I call the police.", Ms. Winters ordered.

"Yes ma'am.", they replied as they carried Aldaros out of my room.

Just then, Jessie came running into my room.

"Tifa what happened?!", Jessie asked. "Are you okay?!"

"She is now Jessie.", Ms. Winters replied. "I want you to stay with her until I return."

"Yes ma'am.", Jessie replied as she sat next to me.

"I'll stay also.", Craig said.

"Craig, I need you to come with me.", Ms. Winters said. "The police will need a full report on what happened."

"Yes ma'am.", he said as he left with her.

Once they were far off, Jessie decided to ask the real questions.

"How did they know what you two were planning?", she asked.

"Craig must of overheard us in school during lunch.", I replied as tears started to run down my face.

I then started to cry. Jessie stayed there and hugged me. She knew how I felt. She was one of my best friend. To this day, I still feel so sorry that she died when the plate fell. Three days later, I found out what happened to Aldaros. He was sent to the Gold Saucer Dessert Prison. He was to stay their until he turned twenty-one.

I fell to my knees crying. Why?! Why did this have to happen to him?! He didn't do anything wrong. He only loved me! Then a hand fell upon my shoulder. I turned thinking it was Jessie. But it was Craig. That little weasel had the nerve to act nice when he caused all this. Did he think I was that stupid?!

"It okay Tifa.", he said. "I'm here for you."

He really did think I was stupid! That was it for me. I balled my fist up and nailed him right in the jaw. But, I didn't stop there. I punched him a few more times. By the time I was done, he looked like a old rag doll that was run through the mud a few times. I had dish duty for two weeks, but it was worth it. Every night, for a month, I cried myself to sleep think about Aldaros. Hoping that he was okay. I wished that I would see him again.

And I got that wish.

It was when we were put in the dessert prison, four years later. Cloud, Barret, and Yuffie went looking for Barret's old friend Dyne, while the rest of us stayed in some old burnt out house for some rest. But, I couldn't rest. I went looking for Aldaros. He turned twenty-one three months ago. Maybe, just maybe, he was still here. And if he was, I was either going to get him out, or stay with him.

I went searching throught the area and discovered the this place was once Barret's old home. Coral Village. I still went on searching. Until, some muggers tried to rob me. I handled the first three with no problem. It was the other five that worried me. I thought that I was done for, until a man in a brown cloak jumped in front of me and faced the muggers.

He then raised his weapon, which was an axe. But then he cocked it like a shotgun. I saw a trigger-like handle at the end of the axe handle. And up where the axe blade was, must of been a hollow end like a gun barrel.

"Leave now!", he said as he stared them down.

They took off like cats from a dog. I was still standing there ready to thank the man.

"Thank you for saving me.", I said.

"T-Tifa?!", the man asked.

"How do you know my name?", I asked.

He then put his axe away, and pulled off the hood to his cloak. I saw those long dreadlocks in his hair, and those beautiful brown eyes, I knew it was him.

"Aldaros!!", I shouted as I jumped in hs arms. "I knew I'd find you!"

"What are you doing here?!", he asked.

So, I told him what happened.

"Man, you sure lived a interesting life.", he joked. "So, your friends are going after this Dyne guy huh?"

"Yeah.", I replied. "Cloud thinks if they get him to confess, we'll be let go."

"Sounds like a plan to me.", Aldaros said.

"Aldaros, I'm sorry about what happened four years ago."

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault Tifa."

"I.... I still love you Aldaros.", I said as I looked up at him. "I never stopped loving you."

I looked into his eyes. I didn't see the warm, loving eyes that I saw that night. I instead saw eyes that showed hurt and pain from being here for four eyes.

"Tifa. Try to understand. I do care for you, but it's been four years since I last saw you. I still have feelings for you, but please, give me some time to think things through. Okay?"

I understood how he felt. I felt the same way after he was gone. But, within time, I saw that my love for him only grew stronger.

"I understand.", I replied as I hugged him. "I'll wait."

"Thank you.", he said as he returned the hug.

We then walked back to the house where the others were. Cloud and the others had just came back. It turns out that we were free to go. But part of me didn't want to leave Aldaros. Barret, the only other person that I told about what happened between me and Aldaros, understood. But, when he was set free, he decided to join us.

Cloud didn't want to trust him at first, seeing as he told us about how Hojo injected him with some mako to see if a SOLIDER could survive in the prision. But with a little help from Aeris, he changed his mind. It felt good to have him around. I can wait for him to make up his mind. Good or bad, I'll still be his friend.

We're at the halfway point of North Crater now. We split up into three teams, for the three paths that we can take.

Cloud, Barret, and Cait are in one group. Vincent, Cid, and Yuffie are in another, While Me, Aldaros, and Red are in the last team. I know Aeris is watching over us as we go forward to stop Sephiroth.

I look up and I don't see Aldaros and Red. I then see a cave. Maybe they went in there. Hey what's with all the mirrors?