A/N: I haven't played FFVII in awhile but I remember that when you first go to the Gold Saucer you have to go on this trolley to get there. Right? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm terribly sorry for taking a long time to update but I made this chapter extra long. So, enjoy reading!

The dim lights cast the bar in a dreary glow and the silence that pervaded the room was unsettling as Cloud returned home from making deliveries.

Unnerved by the languid atmosphere, he frowned when he spotted the dirty dishes stacked in the sink. For a second he panicked and rushed to the living room but before he could take a step a flash of white appeared and Marlene stood in front of him, her pouty lips tilted down in disapproval.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Tifa's sleeping. She was very tired today so she didn't open the bar. Oh, and we cleaned up for her," she averred proudly.

"You didn't wash the dishes," he pointed out.

"Tifa said you'd do it," she told him smugly then skipped to the living room, leaving him to follow her. Denzel sat on the armrest of the couch, looking down with a furrow between his eyebrows. When Cloud heard Tifa's soft snoring his tense shoulders relaxed. He walked up to her and removed his glove, using the back of his hand to check her temperature.

"She's not sick," Denzel informed him. "Just tired."

Cloud hummed. "You two go upstairs and get ready for bed."

"But it's only eight o'clock," Marlene protested.

Denzel tugged the end of her braid lightly. "Come on, Marlene."

They scampered up the stairs, Marlene grumbling under her breath. Cloud listened to their voices for a few minutes, hearing the running water from the sink as they brushed their teeth and the shudder of their door and the creaks of their beds. When everything was still Cloud bent down in front of Tifa and put one of his hands under her legs and the other on her back. When he stood up, she moaned and nestled her head against his shoulder.

"Cloud...?"

"It's alright. Go back to sleep."

He adjusted his arms when he reached the stairs, making sure her feet didn't hit the wall as he ascended. Pushing her bedroom door he placed her on her bed and untied her shoes then proceeded to remove her socks. As he pulled the blanket over her, Tifa shifted restlessly.

"No," she murmured. "Don't go."

Cloud froze. How ironic. He couldn't discern whether she was asleep or not but then she tugged on his sleeve and he was left to comply. He removed his boots and armor and climbed in next to her. Her mattress was big enough for both of them to fit with only a small space between them.

It had been two weeks since he started sleeping with her (not in that way) and she had yet to kick him out of her bed. He was honestly surprised she hadn't. First few nights, he learned that Tifa moved a lot in her sleep. She would involuntarily kick him, knee him, or elbow him. He didn't know if she did these things on purpose but as frequent as those were she mostly sought out comfort. Sometimes, she would snuggle towards him and tangle her sinfully long legs with his. Her soft lips would ocassionally part open and she had this way of moving her head in her sleep that just so happened to expose her smooth neck. Nights like those, he found himself stroking her silky, dark hair. Often times a soft sigh would escape from her mouth followed by a content moan that emitted from her throat. The sound of it would never get out of his head.

He was aware that he was invading her privacy and causing a rift between them but if that's what it took to make her see how much he cared; how much he wanted her to stop going on these "walks." As each day passed, she grew distant from him and the kids. Marlene and Denzel didn't press her for details but they were affected by her behavior just as much as Cloud was. He didn't know when it would end but if Tifa thought he was going back to his bed anytime soon she had another thing coming.

He made an effort to spend more time with her by taking less deliveries, helping her around the bar, accompanying her when she went grocery shopping and putting them away in the fridge but she continued to avoid him.

And that wasn't the worst part. They were suddenly strangers. Other than saying hello and asking about their day they didn't know how to talk to each other. Well, at least she didn't. Before it was him that used to be so reclusive. Now their roles were reversed.

A faint ringing interrupted his thoughts. Tifa didn't stir when Cloud swung his legs over her bed. The ringing was coming from downstairs, particularly the bar area. He padded out of Tifa's room and down the stairs. He looked around for the source of the noise and found it next to the dish rack. His insides twisted in revolt as he stared down at Tifa's cellphone.

The caller ID was labelled ANONYMOUS. Frozen, Cloud let it ring, allowing the noise to fill the void in the room. When it stopped he felt a heaviness grow upon him. He glanced at the stairs behind him before looking back down. Tentatively, he grabbed her phone with shaky fingers. He'd wait.

His patience was awarded. It started ringing again.

Cloud picked it up.

"Hey! It's me!" Cloud easily recognized the voice. It was the same man from the other day. The older one with the exuberant tone.

"..."

"It should be nighttime over there in Edge, right? Were you sleeping? Sorry if I woke you up. Anyway, look, I know you wanted to stay out of this because of your family and all but," the man on the other end sighed, "we really need your help. Isn't there some way for you to arrange things with your friend? You don't have to tell him everything. Surely, he'd understand. Just tell him it's something you need to do on your own—"

Cloud flinched. That was his excuse for the Geostigma.

"—and things will work themselves out, right? Right? Tifa? You there? Hello?"

Cloud cleared his throat. "Who is this?"

"O-oh, I'm sorry," the man laughed humorlessly. "I must have called the wrong person..."

Cloud snorted. "Stop calling this number and don't you dare answer if Tifa calls you," he growled. He flipped the phone shut and positioned it where he had found it. Cloud noticed the stack of plates and glasses piled up in the sink. He sighed wearily before he grabbed the sponge while his other hand reached for the dirty brown mug.

A week passed without incident and Cloud was relieved to see that Tifa stopped getting phone calls.

What woke him up the next morning wasn't the bright light that pierced through his eyelids. Rather it was the voices of his family and the rambunctious noise they were causing.

"Wakey-wakey!" Marlene squealed.

"Eggs and bakey," he heard Denzel say. Cloud opened his eyes and swatted the flashlight the kids were pointing at him to see that Tifa wasn't next to him on the bed. She was gathering things necessary for their trip to the Gold Saucer and placing them in her bag. She was standing by her closet, a white towel wrapped around her head, already dressed in a light blue v-neck dress. When she came by the nightstand, she looked over at Cloud calmly.

"Sleep well?" she asked, taking the towel off her head.

Cloud watched her wet hair tumble down before he closed his eyes and mumbled, "Mmm hmm."

Marlene chose that moment to jump on the bed. Cloud felt the little girl bounce as she stepped over him and open the blinds to the window. The sunlight hit his face and he pulled the blanket over his head.

"Get up, Cloud!" Marlene shouted. "Tifa says we're going to see Papa!"

Cloud turned his back to her. "She didn't say where we're going to see him."

Marlene gasped. "Where are we going? Tell me!"

"We'll found out later, Marlene," Denzel pointed out. Marlene pouted but jumped off the bed. Tifa urged the kids to dress up and they excitedly ran out the door.

"When did you wake up?" He asked, throwing the blanket aside.

"Thirty minutes before you did."

"Really?"

"Yes, anything else you want to know, detective?" Tifa hissed.

Cloud grimaced at her but he let it go. Across the room, she had her back to him. He blinked away the dark spots dancing in his vision and stood up to stretch.

"We're leaving in forty minutes," she told him. "Go take a shower."

Whatever it takes, Cloud thought. He took off his shirt and left it on her bed. "Wanna join me?" he asked boldly.

There was a moment of silence that enveloped them before Tifa turned around, her mouth open and ready to speak but instead her eyes widened. She stood still, her cheeks growing different shades of red while she gawked at his lean physique.

"I-I already took one," she stuttered.

Cloud hummed. "Maybe next time."

"T-that's not what I—" she groaned and fled the room. Cloud gathered his clothes and allowed himself to smile before heading for the bathroom. He felt a tad prideful knowing that he was the only one who could make her flustered but he didn't know how to feel knowing that parts of Zack hadn't entirely left him. Hopefully, it would bring him and Tifa closer, but no matter how close they were, there was always that thin line separating them.

I want to be closer, Cloud thought as he took a shower. The water beat down on his body, leaving little wet trails to run down to the floor and into the drain. He was still haunted by that night where he almost kissed her. She rejected him. It was one thing he was afraid she'd do. She's still that caring and wonderful person but she pushed him away, evaded his probing questions, and ignored his help. It was frustrating.

"Don't run. Let's fight it together. We can help each other. I know we can! ...I guess that only works for real families..."

But she was wrong. They were a family. Maybe not by blood but they were bound by a strong bond. It was his family. Their family, that was filled with misfits and orphans and he loved them.

Cloud stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist before he wiped the fog off the mirror to glare at his reflection. An image of his mother appeared before him and his eyes softened. Her vibrant eyes didn't glow like his but he had inherited her intense stare and her bright blonde hair. His mother was the only family he had when he was a kid. Cloud's mother and Tifa's father had burned to death along with Nibelheim. Tifa's mother had died from some sickness when she was eight and his father left him when he was an infant.

Thinking of his father made him flinch. He never met him. Never even saw a picture of him. His mom never talked about him since he abandoned her in a time of need. A bitter thought crossed his mind. Cloud had run away, too. Like a coward. Like his father, but at least he came back. And he was planning on staying, for good.

Families help each other, Tifa had said it herself, so why wasn't she letting him?

When they finally told the kids where they were going Marlene wouldn't shut up. She was talking animatedly and smiling so broadly that her face was shining as bright as the sun. Denzel, on the other hand, remained quiet. Through the hour trip to Junon and the boat ride to Costa del Sol Cloud could sense that Denzel was troubled. Before they boarded the trolley, Cloud put a hand on Denzel's shoulder signaling him to hang back so they could talk.

He looked down at the boy, his blue eyes searching. "What's wrong? And don't tell me it's nothing." He added hastily. I've been hearing that around here too much lately. They were going on a vacation to the Gold Saucer which, in Marlene's words, was the most spectacular and "funnest" place on the Planet.

Denzel looked up at him, his dark blue eyes shimmering wistfully. "Um, it's... I... I was just thinking about something."

"'Bout what?"

Denzel hesitated. "Well... I was just remembering something my parents said. They told me that they were going to take me here one day."

Cloud felt a sharp twist in the pit of his stomach. Well, isn't this grand?

Denzel's voice cracked. "The year the plate dropped they promised we'd all go on my summer break."

For Denzel, the struggle to keep his tears from flowing must have been difficult. Cloud was aware that Denzel looked up to him as a role model but Denzel was just twelve; still a kid. He'd never admit it outloud but Cloud was still crying when he was that age.

In the corner of his eye, Tifa glanced at them, her head tilted in concern but she didn't approach them. Denzel looked over at her before he hung his head in shame. "I'm sorry. I'm making you guys worry."

"Don't be."

"But it's better now."

Cloud raised his eyebrows. "Hmm?"

Denzel smiled. "I still miss them but I'm happy with where I am now."

Cloud found himself smiling back. He rubbed Denzel's moppy, red-brown hair and, with his hand on the boy's shoulder, they walked back to Tifa. He hoped that Denzel's parents were happy for their son. It was disheartening to think of it, but Cloud was glad they fulfilled the wish of Denzel's parents.

Removing his hand from the boy, Cloud reached for Tifa's hand and squeezed it. She stared at him, warmth radiating from her maroon eyes before a smile graced her face. As much as he wanted her to confess to him what was bothering her he knew that he just had to wait. Like Denzel, she'd tell him what it was and they'd figure it out together.

Hopefully soon.

Barret was waiting for them when their trolley landed. Marlene's face broke into a huge grin and, in her excitement, she pushed past several people when the gates opened to get to her Papa. Cloud and Tifa had to apologize to the people, some of which scrutinized them, but they brushed them off.

The Gold Saucer was the same as Cloud remembered. The only thing different was the hoards of people dressed up in weird costumes. Hundreds of performers wore outrageous bright clothing and masks decorated with beads and feathers. One performer wearing a purple knee length skirt and a strapless bikini had the courage to place a flower crown on his spiky hair, smiling at him before dancing away.

"I thought Halloween was over," Cloud muttered. He handed the flower crown over to Marlene who was perched on top of her father's shoulders.

Marlene beamed with excitement. "What's all this for, Papa?"

"They're having some dance or sumthin' near the Wonder Square. We'll go later, baby girl."

Easing their way out of the crowd, Barret led them to a vacant spot near a vending machine. Next to it was a picnic table occupied by three people. Putting Marlene down, she and Denzel walked over to the group, friendly smiles gracing their young faces. The man with light blonde hair looked up and glared at Cloud with steely blue eyes while sipping from his stainless coffee container.

"'Bout damn time you showed up," he said gruffly. "This is my third cup of tea."

"I don't remember inviting you, Cid," Cloud said coolly. He nodded at Shera in greeting who suppressed her chuckle behind her hand.

"Oh, I see how it is. I'll just fuckin' up and leave if you don't want me here. C'mon, Shera."

Tifa laughed. "Cloud's just messing with you, Cid. Although, I didn't think you'd want to come here again."

"Why the hell not?" The pilot demanded.

"You're still too sensitive about these things. You used to complain about all the noise and ruckus," Tifa teased, gesturing around her.

"Bet he still does," Cloud added.

"He does," Shera confirmed.

Cid scowled at them and took another swig of his tea.

There was a low chuckle that was directed towards Cloud and Tifa. "You're both one to talk. I'd say you two haven't changed much since then."

Things had grown even more interesting. Cloud didn't recognize him but now he did. He turned his attention to the man wearing khaki shorts and a chocobo printed short sleeve shirt.

"Reeve," Cloud nodded at the older man. It was weird seeing him in casual clothes. "What brings you here?"

Reeve smiled warmly. "Not happy to see me, Cloud?"

Barret snorted. "He ain't happy to see no one."

"Damn boy wants some alone time with his girl," Cid declared with a sneer.

Cloud ignored them however he took note how sweaty Tifa's hand had become. From the corner of his eye, she had one leg behind the other and tapped her foot against the floor as she glanced at anywhere but him.

He repressed a smirk and cleared his throat then turned his attention back to Reeve. "Just wasn't expecting you to show up."

"When I heard that you were all coming here I decided to award myself with a day off."

Tifa smiled. "I'm surprised Yuffie didn't tag along. Or is she hiding somewhere nearby?"

Reeve laughed. "No, she's not. Hard to believe it, but she said she had some important matters to attend to."

Cloud couldn't help but ask, "And you don't?"

Reeve smiled. "I needed time off."

"Everyone needs a break now and then," Tifa agreed. "How've you been, Reeve?"

"Just fine. There's still much work to do but it's nothing I can't handle."

Cloud spoke up. "I heard that there was some lunatic who tried to break into WRO Headquarters. Is that just a rumor?"

"No, it's not," Reeve answered carefully. Cloud noticed Marlene and Denzel both speaking with hushed voices to Shera, Cid, and Barret while glancing at him and Tifa. "But I'm not here to discuss any of that—"

"—yeah, Cloud and Tifa started sleeping together."

"MARLENE!" Tifa shrieked.

"I didn't need ta know that," Barret grumbled.

Cid guffawed before he slapped his knee, clearly enjoying the revelation.

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Something funny, Cid?"

Cid shook his head and stared at Cloud, his eyes wide with a toothy grin. "'Bout damn time, kid! How 'bout a wager? Let's see who gets a baby first!" he challenged. "Me and Shera versus you and Tifa!"

Cloud shook his head in amusement but he felt the corners of his lips tugging upwards. Taking note of Tifa's flushed face he turned to Barret. "You remember what I told you?"

Barret scratched his chin with his prosthetic hand. "Huh? Oh yeah. Don't worry 'bout Marlene and Denzel. I'll watch over them fer ya."

Tifa blinked. "Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Don't worry your pretty little head, Tifa." Barret looked over to Marlene and smiled fondly. "I've been looking forward to spending time with my baby girl, and the little man, too."

"Good." Cloud said. He released his hand from Tifa's and placed it on her lower back. "'Cause we gotta get going."

"So soon?" Shera asked, dismayed.

"They wanna start working on that baby," Cid snickered.

Reeve stepped forward. "Wait, Cloud. There's something I'd like to speak to you about."

I knew it.

"All right." He looked over at Tifa. "I'll be back." He squeezed her shoulder in reassurance despite the churning sensation he felt in the pit of his stomach, and followed Reeve.

Reeve smiled fondly at the sight before him. "This place brings back memories."

"Yeah. This... this is where it all started," Cloud agreed. He pointed over to the staircase as he settled next to Reeve by the high waist barricade. "Remember that? Over there, you handed the Keystone to Tseng."

Reeve didn't wince at his blunt statement but his eyes darkened. "The intruder who broke into our headquarters—"

"Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" Truthfully Cloud didn't care. He had only mentioned it earlier just to make conversation.

Reeve nodded and stared at Cloud, his dark eyes shimmering with anxiety. "Cloud, the intruder, she used magic without any materia."

Cloud raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Yeah, and chocobos can fly."

"We checked her and she had none on her. We scraped some footage of when she attacked and it was... it was nothing I had seen before. The kind of power and summons she was using was impressive."

"That's kind of hard to believe. How could she have used magic if not with materia?

"I don't know. Well, Vincent did say that there was something strange about her," Reeve paused and focused his stern gaze onto Cloud. "And another thing, this woman, she said she was looking for Tifa."

Cloud snapped his head towards him.

"Now, I've got your attention."

Cloud felt a cold, stray wind as he bit back the sinking feeling in his gut. "What did she want?"

"She said Tifa was a friend and that she needed her help."

Cloud furrowed his eyebrows. Help. Those two men who came a few weeks ago also said the same thing. That couldn't be a coincidence. But even if it was connected it still doesn't clarify what sort of mess Tifa's tangled in.

"Know anything of this?" Reeve asked.

"No."

But I'm gonna find out. Very soon.

"What else did this woman want?" Cloud asked, handing the device back.

"Nothing else. She won't tell us anything unless she talks with Tifa." Reeve shifted uncomfortably. "Actually I was wondering if Tifa would be so kind as to help us."

There was something about the way Reeve carefully said that that made Cloud narrow his eyes. "You accusing her of something?" Cloud inquired, voice low.

Hell, maybe she was behind something but, friend or not, he'd be damned if he was going to let Reeve or anyone else lock her up.

Reeve shook his head. "No, but it's strange. Perhaps we can arrange a meeting for Tifa and—"

"I think that's a decision for Tifa to make. Why didn't you just ask her?"

"I thought it was best to confide in you first."

"Whatever you think, Reeve, it doesn't mean Tifa is guilty," Cloud growled. "I don't know what your aim is but there's a difference between being involved and being the culprit."

Reeve sighed wearily. "Right, of course. But Cloud, something, I'm not sure what, is coming. Call me delusional but I can feel it. It's happening and whatever it is I don't like it."

"That makes two of us." Cloud shook his head in dismay. "Anything else I should know about?"

"You should know this already but keep an eye out for the Turks. Rufus has been a huge help with building WRO but he was with us during the interrogation. I don't know what he has in mind but I believe he's hoping to exploit this woman. So, he might try to, I don't know, kidnap Tifa because he thinks she might know something."

"Rufus is an idiot if he tries anything."

"I told him the same thing." Reeve chuckled.

Footsteps resonated softly toward them from behind and, alarmed, Cloud looked over his shoulder just as a woman approached them. She was pretty with curly red hair and light brown eyes. He didn't let her looks fool him, though. She was wearing a black suit.

"Ah I almost forgot," Reeve spoke, "Cloud, this is Cissnei."

Cloud nodded at Cissnei then glanced at Reeve with a raised eyebrow. "Didn't you just tell me to watch out for the Turks?"

"I assure you, Cloud, that I am on your side," Cissnei answered coolly. Cloud stared back at her with equal intensity in his eyes. She tilted her head as she observed him in mild contemplation. "Last time I saw you you could hardly walk."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

Before Cissnei could reply, Reeve stepped in. "I will leave you two. Cloud, remember what I said."

As Reeve left Cissnei took his spot on the balcony and leaned her forearms on the metal bar. Cloud stared hard at her. "Do I know you?"

Cissnei smiled but it was laced with sadness and then replaced with a bleak expression. "I was a friend of Zack." she said quietly.

Cloud's eyes drifted down. Of course. Zack was adored among SOLDIER. I... I think he even had a fanclub. Someone like him definitely made a lot of friends. Cloud opened his mouth to say something but his throat suddenly became too dry so he closed it.

Cissnei smiled wistfully. "You shouldn't blame yourself, you know."

"I don't." Not anymore.

"But you used to, I can tell," she said firmly. Cissnei pressed her lips together and folded her gloved hands in front of her. "I felt the same way, too. Sometimes I still feel like there was something I could have done. Something different... and maybe he'd still be here."

Cloud felt his fingers curling into a fist as he tucked his chin. He didn't meet her eyes, didn't want to see the nostalgia hidden inside, didn't want to get dragged to the past as he had willingly done so before. Tifa once told him that there was always a time to mourn but that it was never good to drown yourself in it. He had become better at it but sometimes he found himself slipping and he'd always turn to her whenever he did.

"You miss him?"

Cloud didn't answer. Instead, he looked up at the sky and smiled fondly. At that moment a star twinkled just as a soft wind stirred, making his hair brush lightly across his face.

"Yes," he finally replied. He missed Zack terribly but he had died so that Cloud could live. Cloud had been so distraught and disgusted with himself for forgetting someone as important as him but Zack, and Aerith, were in a better place, both silently watching over him. It's not quite the same as having them here but he already made peace with it a long time ago.

Cissnei cleared her throat, snapping him out of his reverie. Her expression was fierce. "Cloud, I want you to listen to me carefully."

As Cloud went back to the group he was surprised to see that Tifa wasn't with them. Shera informed him that she went to the restroom but hadn't returned after ten minutes. Instead of waiting Cloud made a beeline to the bathroom, manuevering past numerous people and performers. He stopped instantly once he saw her but he noted that she was nowhere near the bathroom. She was standing next to a vending machine talking to a performer.

Cloud narrowed his eyes. From afar, the performer she was speaking with seemed too imposing and muscular. His mask covered everything but his mouth, nose, and jaw. His purple suit looked like armor and there seemed to be tail feathers extending from the back of his pants and—was he carrying a spear?

Tifa was doing most of the talking, with her head tilted up as she was a head shorter. The man occasionally nodded or said something in return with his chin tucked down. They were close, too close, Cloud noted. Almost as if they were going to kis—

At that moment someone bumped into Cloud.

The teenager gave him a cheeky grin and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry 'bout that!" he apologized.

With a frustrated groan and a few seconds of glowering at the kid with sandy blonde hair, Cloud turned back to Tifa. But the man was gone.

Cloud walked right up to her.

From behind, he put his hand on her lower back and leaned down to her ear and whispered, "Who was that?"

Tifa's shoulders tensed before she turned her head and met his piercing gaze. "What?"

"The man you were talking to."

"An old friend," she answered earnestly. "Why?"

"Nothing," he said. He took her hand and led her away from the vending machine. "Hey, let's go to the Wonder Square."

She tilted her head. "What for?"

"You'll see."

Tifa's hair tickled Cloud's neck as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I thought you didn't like dancing, Cloud."

"I don't." He grunted. But she did and that was good enough for him. He didn't know what he was doing. He was just holding her and swaying side to side, back and forth. He gulped as he felt the pressure of her breasts against his chest and the honey scent coming from her hair did little to distract him.

Other couples danced around them. The music was mostly loud and upbeat but as luck would have it they arrived at the Wonder Square just as the slow and mellow songs started playing.

They had said goodbye to their friends and the kids, and Cloud nodded at Reeve in understanding before he and Tifa left. He had two whole weeks with her and he couldn't help but feel smug knowing that he managed to get her alone without her suspecting a thing. Aside from her current situation (whatever it was) there was some other things he wanted to discuss with her. His heart began racing just at the thought of it.

Tifa leaned back and gazed into his eyes. "So..."

"Yeah?"

She bit her lip, her eyes looking far away. "N-never mind."

"Cissnei," he blurted. Looking at Tifa's stunned expression he continued, "Reeve wanted to introduce me to a Turk named Cissnei."

Tifa seemed to believe him. "Oh, what for? You don't have another job, do you?"

Sometimes their old friends would call in a favor and ask Cloud for his much needed help. This always worried Tifa and he could already see the panic forming on her face.

"No," he reassured her, "No, nothing like that. Cissnei used to be a friend of Zack's. Said she wanted to meet me since I was with him when he died."

"Oh."

Well, that wasn't the only reason but Cloud tried not to think about what Cissnei informed him so he focused on Tifa. Something akin to relief washed over her face before her eyebrows furrowed in concern. "She asked you about Zack? It doesn't—you're not...?"

"Tifa, I'm fine."

She sighed. "Sorry, I'm just trying to understand."

Her words suddenly hit him.

You wouldn't understand.

"Tifa."

"Yes?"

In the midst of the square with dancing couples surrounding them, they were the only ones standing still. He bought his hand up to her face to brush away a strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes, and sighed. "Just... just because I don't understand, it doesn't mean I don't care."

He picked up the pace with the other dancers and started swaying again.

Tifa followed suit but this time she put her hands around his neck and pulled him in an embrace. "I know." She whispered.

A/N: Well, I wasn't expecting for this chapter to go down this way but that's how it ended. Once again, sorry for the long update.

Now, I wonder what gave it away that this fic had something to do with Dissidia. Was it Lightning? Or the mannikin Cloud spotted in Chapter 2? For those of you who haven't played, I'll find a way to explain the basics without giving too much away.

But for now please review! I'll try to update again soon.