Our Destiny, Chapter 1

CLOUDS POV:

Tonight was just like any other night for him in Seventh Heaven. Ever since Sephiroths defeat Cloud felt as though he had lost all purpose in his short lifetime. However, in this short lifetime it seemed he had already lived over a century after everything he had been through. In a flash it seemed he had lost everything and he constantly blamed himself for it…especially her death. He couldn't protect her, it was his fault she was dead. Just as that thought hit his head a vision came into his mind of the girl with the emerald green eyes. They were her eyes…. Aeriths eyes.

"Cloud?" said the voice that was all to familiar.

"Y-yes?" he responded nervously.

At first cloud couldn't see anything everything was black around him and he was struggling to get past the darkness. After a few moments a small light came into view causing him to freeze in place. It was warm, comforting, and inviting but still Cloud stood frozen and the light got closer. It began to grow and take shape and right before his eyes stood the very person he was speaking to in his vision. Aerith.

"Aerith! Y-your alive?" Cloud said almost praying it was true.

With a sad expression on her face she shook her head feeling pity for the obviously broken cloud in front of her. Without saying anything at first she reached out and touched his face making Clouds eyes close automatically in comfort.

"No Cloud. As much as I wish that was true I'm not. I was allowed to come see you one last time."

"One last time? What do you m-"

Putting a figure to his lips gently she smiled and continued "I sensed your distress over my passing. Everyone feels it but you more so that others. Its because you feel like you didn't protect me but Cloud…there was nothing you cloud do. You were there with me when I died…that's all that matters. You were my comfort when the time came." she said softly.

Shaking his head Cloud said "But if I had gotten there sooner…things would be different. You would be here." He said touching her hand on his face seeking comfort.

"You wouldn't have been able to do anything. It was fate. Besides, I'm happy here. I have Zack with me. I missed him terribly. Its good to be back with him again. He misses you too you know…he speaks highly of you." She said with a smile. "Now Cloud, its time to let me go. Your story isn't over yet. Continue your life and be happy make it worth living. Find something to live for…or someone." She said with a suggestive smile.

Cloud didn't understand what she was suggesting but he nodded his head anyway and in a broken voice he said "Ill try."

With that the vision ended with a bright light causing Cloud to cover his eyes and just as quickly as the vision came it ended. Opening his eyes Cloud sat up on his bed coming and looking around the room. Was it a vision or a dream he saw? Either way the emotion rushed over him and he covered his face with his has and sobbed softly. Little did he know he wasn't the only one awake in the middle of the night.

TIFAS POV:

Being awake this late in the night was nothing new for Tifa Lockhart. It seemed that way for everyone in her mind though. After Sephiroths defeat and the world put back into order everyone seemed to go on with there own lives. Cloud, Denzel, Marlene, and herself were the only ones who remained in Midgar. After the destructions Avalanche had caused to sector 7 by taking on Shinra causing it to be completely destroyed they thought they owed it to everyone to help rebuild. So Tifa opened Seventh Heaven once again. Along with the bar Cloud had started his own delivery service which added a little extra money to there pockets. Things were going well for them she thought but the fact still remained that the past still came back to haunt them. Especially Cloud.

Tifa worried for him constantly. Aeriths death had really struck him hard and there was nothing she could do to comfort him. She couldn't help but be filled with a slight jealously by the fact that Aerith was still in his mind. When they all traveled together Tifa had grown to have feelings for Cloud…strong ones. So strong that it was practically unbearable to watch as Aerith practically leeched onto Cloud. They were always together and no matter what Tifa did his attention never seemed to waver from Aerith.

Sighing sadly she glanced over at her clock and read 2:30 AM.

"Pondering over this isn't going to help. If he doesn't feel that way about you then there isn't anything you can do." She said trying to convince herself of the fact.

No matter how much she tried Tifas desire took over in her mind more than her reason. All she could think about was what would it be like if could wanted her just as much as she wanted him. Cloud was the most handsome man she had ever met with his muscular build and his hair that was as bright as the sun itself. His voice was deep but filled with sorrow but it was enough to send a shiver down her spine. Tifas favriote thing about him though...his heart. He cared deeply about everything and was very passionate. If Aerith ever experienced anything romantic with Cloud Tifa considerd her the luckiest girl in the world.

"Aerith...huh..." she said in a spiteful tone.

Tifa did miss her after her death there was no mistaken that but she and Aerith wernt always very close. Aerith liked to play the love triangle game between she Cloud and Tifa and it drove Tifa crazy. Aerith had made many comments to the fact that she knew Tifas true feelings for Cloud but had not backed off. It used to make her so angry but the she grew used to seeing them together and it just became sadness and jealously. The only time Tifa has gotten something remotly emotional out of Cloud is after Aerith died and they had their night by the Highwind. Nothing happened real romantically but it did give Tifa some hope that one day...he might be able to see her just as she sees him.

Finally, flipped away from the sight of the clock and tried to sleep once again. A few more minutes went by before she heard a noise coming from down the hall. Crying? At least that's what it sounded like. Slipping out from underneath her covers she walked out into the hall and listened closer and the sound was coming from Clouds room. Her heart jumped with worry and she walked quickly down the hall to Clouds door and listened.

"He's thinking of her again." she said in a whisper gripping her chest as though her heart might break. Nothing she had done so far had comforted him and honestly her jealously and hurt just rose when he spoke about her but…he was more important. He needed her right now and she would just have to set her feelings aside so with small sigh she raise her hand and knocked softly on Clouds bedroom door.