A/N: Cloud's thoughts are in italics.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or it's characters, nor am I affiliated with Square Enix.

The sound of a telephone ringing shook Cloud from his sleep. The hushed voices of Marlene and Denzel were heard from downstairs. Cloud shifted a little and thought of answering the phone, but decided he would much rather sleep some more.

The door clicked open after about the sixth ring, and someone answered the phone.

"Hello? Strife Delivery Service," It was Tifa. There was a short pause as she wrote down the address and phone number for the client before she said goodbye and hung up.

Cloud opened his eyes and blinked several times to adjust to the bright sunlight coming in from the window. He saw that she was standing beside the phone still, looking over. He sat up, brushing the hair out of his eyes, and tried to say "good morning", but it came out partially slurred from sleep.

"Good morning," She said. "Sorry if that woke you."

You don't need to apologize.

"It looks like you have a delivery tomorrow, it's for a business in Junon," She continued. "So you're leaving again?"

What else is there to do? It's work.

"Yeah," Cloud replied.

"…Are you coming back this time?" She asked uncertainly.

I don't know.

There was a moment of silence as she thought about what she would say next, or if she should say anything at all.

"If you don't want to stay here, you don't have to," She said. "I'm sure the delivery service isn't what's been keeping you out so much."

But I want to stay.

"There's no way I can tell what's going on in that head of yours if you never tell me anything," She advised.

I know that. That's why you still don't realize why it's so hard for me to stay here.

Tifa left the room feeling as if she had just had a conversation with herself. Cloud was always so vague, so brief. She wondered if he really had anything to say after all.

I wonder…do you feel the same way toward me?

A/N: I hope this story isn't moving too slowly, I don't want it to be dull. Also, thank you for the reviews and comments on the last chapter.