A/N: My original plan with this fic is to make it a simple one-shot. However, I actually had this feeling that it would be nice to make it a multi-chap fic.

Tifa didn't hear from Cloud again after the wedding night. Barret informed her a week later that the newly-weds moved to Kalm to live a simple, quiet life together. This relieved Tifa for some reason. It probably saved her from strolling down the streets of Edge while at the same time hoping she wouldn't meet Cloud on the way. In the meantime she decided to open her second bar due to her passion in bartending. Aside from that, it would be a great source of income, since her business will be running in a very busy city.

After ten months of hectic schedule she received an invitation from Cloud and Aeris. They were to celebrate their first child's baptismal shower. It didn't surprise her that they had a child in a short moment of time. She was actually pleased that they seemed to be having the time of their lives. They named him Kent Strife; a very lovely name for a little boy. Tifa would love to go and meet little Kent, but she felt that it was best for her to avoid Cloud first. She informed her friends that she could not go due to her busy lifestyle. It was partly true, anyway.

Almost a year later she received another invitation from the couple. It was their son's first birthday and they would love to have her around to celebrate with them. However, Tifa decided once again not to go. She admitted to herself that she had no more particular reason not to, but the memories of Cloud during the wedding celebration made her stick to her choice. She was of course aware that it had been a long time anyway, but she thought it was best not to meet him again until she was taken. Tifa always chose to play safe.

So instead she called her friends and carefully informed them her denial of the invitation. She lied that she already paid for reservations for an upcoming vacation in Costa del Sol. Nevertheless she sincerely wished them all a glorious celebration and promised to send the child a special gift.

The next three months were blissful for Tifa Lockheart, for life had been friendly with her that time. Business was going smoothly and her customers were civil with her. She dated occasionally but never really found someone special. However, she never had any problem being single. Her busy bar gave her a lot of things to spend her time with.

Then came the day when she suddenly decided to plan a real vacation in Costa del Sol to release stress while enjoying the tropical views of the paradise island. She also planned to drop by Wutai for a short while just to see how Yuffie was doing. Yuffie was obviously pleased when she saw Tifa waiting outside her door one morning. She was in her usual giddy self as she gave her friend a big hug and welcomed her into her oriental home. The whole morning they had coffee as they talked about how they were doing. Both of them seemed to be leading promising lives so far.

"So you say you're going to Costa del Sol?" Yuffie asked her.

Tifa leaned back and crossed her legs. "Yes, I am. A few hours from now I'll probably be going." She watched Yuffie nod in response.

"You've been there before, right?"

Tifa quickly formulated an excuse. "Yes, but it's so beautiful that I want to enjoy it all over again." Her friend gave her a suspicious look as she laughed to hide her urgency. Yuffie laughed with her just for the sake of it. "So how was Kent's birthday?"

"Wonderful! The kid is beginning to look a lot like his dad." Yuffie gleamed.

"They seem to be a happy family with perfect lives, aren't they?" Tifa mused, imagining a family portrait of the three of them. Cloud and Aeris would make a beautiful child, she told herself. Her friend seated opposite from her just stayed in silence, as if deeply thinking about her inquiry. Noticing the speechlessness that followed, Tifa raised a brow. "You don't think so?"

Yuffie bit her lip. "I didn't say anything, Tiffie." She retorted innocently.

"I mean- that lucky kid has two well-loved people as his parents. His charming father saved the whole world from a madman. His mother is a drop-dead gorgeous hero as well. Who wouldn't want that?" Tifa said in a carefree manner. Her friend, however, seemed to be uncomfortable with what they're talking about.

"Look," Yuffie began, "I'm so glad and grateful that you seem to take this whole thing like a breeze." Her statement sounded too hurried to be true. The smile on her visage seemed weak and sad, as if she felt sorry for Tifa.

Tifa looked at her pensively this time, surprised. "Of course I am, Yuffie. Let us not…"

She trailed off. Let us not what? She fell silent as she watched her friend looked down the floor, obviously deep in thought. A short comfortable interval continued.

"That's not my point." Yuffie suddenly said, breaking the silence. "It's just that…" She bit her lip again. She didn't know if it is a good idea to tell her or not.

Tifa set her cup aside and slowly leaned towards her. "It's just that what?" The unusual expression of uncertainty on her friend's facade made her even more curious.

"It's just that… Their family is not as perfect as you think it is." Yuffie replied cautiously. Before Tifa managed to ask her to elaborate further, Yuffie held up her hand gently, as if hushing her. "Okay, I'm gonna tell you the truth, but please-" Yuffie paused as she leaned towards Tifa. "Don't ever tell anyone that you're aware; especially Cloud and Aeris." She continued in a hushed tone, as if someone else was in the room.

"I won't tell a soul." Tifa assured her.

The Wutainese leaned back and sighed heavily. "During their son's birthday Aries confessed to me that the whole marriage was arranged by their parents. She didn't seem too happy about it. No one else knows about it- but you." She said solemnly. Yuffie always thought of arranged marriages as a depressing ache in the head. What's love invented for with those arrangements around?

As what she had expected, Tifa was stunned. Yuffie patiently waited for her friend to get back to her senses. The ninja watched Tifa's still expression slowly turn into a confused frown. "An arranged marriage!" Tifa gasped. "But Cloud loves Aeris!" She quickly pointed out.

"I didn't say he doesn't, of course he does. But do you really think that Aeris feels the same way for him?" Yuffie challenged her and took another sip from her cup of coffee.

"B-but they married each other, didn't they?"

"As what I have said, it was arranged."

Tifa was once again silenced by her remark. Why must everything be so complicated? She asked herself sadly. She suddenly remembered the memories during the wedding ceremony two years before. Poor Cloud…No wonder it all felt so different for her that time. The marriage itself was not normal after all. It was his secret after all; his secret that he couldn't dare tell her the night of his wedding celebration.

"Does Aeris love him as well?" She decided to ask, shaking her thoughts from her head. Yuffie didn't seem to be excited to answer that. Tifa had a feeling she would not like to hear it as well.

"No." Yuffie sighed. "But she said she must fulfill what their parents want them to pursue; a perfectly happy family."

"A perfectly happy family? But she doesn't even love him!" Tifa protested.

Yuffie sighed for the second time. She finished her coffee and carefully set the cup aside. "She said she is willing to pretend she is happy for her child and their parents' sake." She gave her this look that Tifa can't seem to decipher.

It was then that Tifa realized that Aeris was indeed too selfless for her own good. She always puts other people before herself, sacrificing her wants and needs to make others happy. What about her? Pretending for a very long time takes a lot of patience. Tifa thought. And what about Cloud?

The conversation with Yuffie greatly bothered Tifa. Nonetheless she didn't let it spoil her vacation. After bidding her farewell to her close friend, she rode a ferry going to Costa del Sol. She checked in a glamorous hotel that has a breathtaking view of the ocean in the balcony. For five days she was eating expensive food in a luxurious resort as she enjoyed the view of other people having a great time by the beach. And as she put on her sunglasses and leaned back on her recliner for a tan, she contentedly sighed and took a sip from her coconut juice. She could feel the gentle ocean breeze caressing her lean body. She closed her eyes and listened to the waves and the laughter of the children playing by the waters. It was then that she told herself that she would by all means avoid thinking about what she found out from Yuffie. When the time comes that Tifa would have the chance to meet the couple again, she told herself that she would look them in the eye and tell them that they make a great couple. Then she would wish them a happy and fruitful marriage for their sake and the child.

Forget about what Yuffie said. Forget about Aeris and Cloud and whoever the hell is concerned. Right now it's just you and this wonderful paradise island.


A/N: Please tell me if this story is actually getting somewhere. A review will be appreciated.

Also, I actually added the couple's parents in the characters list. There wouldn't be an arranged marriage without them, and their presence will add the obstacles to the story later on. In the meantime, have a very nice day. :D