Chapter 2: Blondie Chapter 2: Blondie

Elena decided to get up from the table and leave. Rude did the same and Tifa was left at the table. She didn't wanna get stuck with the bill, so she began walking out the door when she bumped into someone. "Hey, watch it, Blondie!" she yelled. Then she realized who she had bumped into.

"Is that how you treat your childhood friend so many years after you left AVALANCHE? I would go for more of a 'how have you been' approach…" It was Cloud!

Tifa jumped up and hugged him. "Oh, Cloud, I've missed you so much! So much has changed about me… You don't know who I am anymore…"

He looked at her hair and her outfit. He saw the gun in one pocket and a bag of gil in the other. "So, where are you now?" he asked.

Tifa turned away. He took her phone to program his number in. After he programmed the number, he noticed she had a text message. It was from Onyx, from earlier, when they were about to break in to Shinra. He read it and put the phone back in her pocket. "So…" he tried to start the conversation again. "You're a member of Cyanide? I heard that they're after money and one other thing. What else are you after?" She grabbed his hand and walked outside with him.

Tifa smiled, slightly, trying to hold back tears. She began explaining. "You see, Cyanide has four members with their own secrets and abilities. Onyx, the leader, is after Sephiroth because she loves him dearly. Autumn, the youngest and the brains, is after Kadaj for the same reason."

Cloud interrupted. "So maybe they can't make the two change their minds about the planet…"

Tifa nodded. "Perhaps… Violet is a bit mysterious and shy. She usually keeps her opinions to herself. But from the way she looks at Reno, we think that's who she's after. And me, I'm the fighter, and I'm after…after…" She blushed.

Cloud smiled. "Me?"

Tifa looked into his eyes. "Yeah…" she whimpered, about to cry. Cloud hugged her tightly and took her back to his apartment.

When they arrived, they sat at the table and began to talk more about what's happened since they've been away from each other. Tifa was still teary so Cloud smiled and said, "Dilly dally shilly shally…" Tifa giggled and asked him to tell her what's happened with everyone. He began to explain everything, "Everything is going great with the delivery service. Marlene has a little crush on Denzel, as you may have noticed a while back. Barrett is the same old Barrett. Cait Sith and Red XIII have become good friends. Cid is building a new plane. Here's something that may shock you… Yuffie seems to be flirting with Vincent a lot more and I think Vincent is a little perkier. Last I heard, they were going on a date somewhere. And now I'm here with you… Like you said, everything would get better. Now that I found you…I feel a lot better and I have something I want to tell you…" Tifa leaned in closer to listen. "I…"

Something cut him off…he doubled over in pain on the floor. Tifa kneeled next to him. "Cloud? Cloud! CLOUD!!" Cloud suddenly got cold and passed out on the floor. Tifa carried him to the sofa and laid him down carefully. She got a blanket it and put it over him. He was shivering. She held his hand and watched him. She picked up the phone and called a close friend of hers.

Meanwhile, Onyx and Autumn made it back to the hideout. No sign of Tifa or Violet. They split the money between them. They walked into a small room with a circular table and four chairs. One of the chairs seemed to be taken… Onyx picked up her gun and turned the chair around. "RUFUS!" she shrieked. She put the gun to his head. "Can I help you?"

Rufus smirked and said, "Yes, Miss Onyx, you have something I want…just give it back and I'll be on my way…"

Onyx chuckled. "HA! First of all, we don't give stuff back…we keep them! And second, I don't even know what you're talking about Shinra!"

Rufus scowled. "You know what I'm talking about, Onyx, where's Jenova?"

Onyx smiled. "No!" she shouted in a teasing voice. "And you can't have it!" She pulled the gun away from his head. "So, you gonna fight me or what?" Rufus shook his head and ran out of the building. He knew what she was capable of. She put the box containing Jenova's head on the table. It was only a matter of time before Sephiroth and Kadaj walked in.

Sephiroth nodded. "So, Onyx…"

Onyx smirked. "So, Sephiroth…"

Kadaj smiled. "Autumn…"

Autumn also joined in and smirked. "Kadaj… We are all now officially acquainted!"

Sephiroth looked at the box on the table. "So, you have Mother?"

Autumn frowned. "You're going to destroy the planet now, aren't you?"

Kadaj shook his head. "Not while you're on it at least. We'll think of something eventually…" Kadaj and Autumn decided to sit down at the table.

Sephiroth walked toward Onyx. "Onyx, I have something I would like to give you for you're troubles…" He walked closer to her and she puckered up comically. Sephiroth chuckled. "Oh, you thought I meant…" Her expression quickly changed to a frown. He took to fingers and lifted her face up so she would look into his eyes. "No, when I give you that, I want it to be somewhere special…" He put black materia in her hands and closed them. "Use it whenever you need some extra help… It will summon me and I'll come find you as quickly as possible." They then sat down on the opposite side of Kadaj and Autumn who were ranting on about how funny it would be to see Rude with hair.

Kadaj laughed and turned to Sephiroth. "Are we ready to go, brother?" Sephiroth nodded and they both disappeared. They left the box there, possibly for safekeeping. Onyx and Autumn laughed.

The air was cold out that night. It was getting late. Reno and Violet had fallen asleep watching the movie. Violet's head lying on his shoulder, his arms around her.

Back at Tifa's apartment, Barret had just arrived. "So wus' up?" he said. Tifa look up at him.

"He won't wake up, and he's shivering!" She looked back at Cloud. "Cloud, what were you gonna say? Please wake up…" She put her head on his chest.

Cloud slowly opened his eyes. "T-Tifa?" He put his hand on her head and ran his fingers through her hair.

Tifa smiled. "You're okay!" She let him continue running his fingers through her hair. "What happened?"

Cloud sighed. "I'm not sure…but…" He sat up. "I know what I wanted to tell you… Tifa…I've been away from you for so long, and I realized I couldn't handle it…I need to be with you…I love you…"

Tifa blushed. She put her hand on his forehead. "Lie down…I don't want you passing out again…" She held his hand and looked into his eyes.

Cloud struggled to get the words out, but finally it came to him. "Tifa …reach into my pocket…" Tifa pulled out a box. "Open it." She did so, and inside, was a ring. "Tifa Lockhart…will you marry me? I know it's not a flashy approach, but I can't really stand up right now…"

Tifa kissed him and put a pillow under his head. "It doesn't need to be flashy, I would have said yes anyway…because I've loved you for years…" She ran her fingers through his beautiful blonde hair. "Get some rest, you need it… I'll stay with you out here to make sure you don't get hurt again." She turned around and noticed Barrett was gone. "Let me just change…" She walked out into the hall.