A/N: Okay. Now, we have all had enough of Tifa's depression. Especially, me, as the author… I'm sorry to all the Cloud lovers. I love him too, but this had to happen… any woman in this given situation would do the same thing… lol. Poor Cloud. I did really mean to be nice to him, but I guess the toll has to be paid… btw, the same disclaimers remain intact. Also, I don't know the story of Fenrir, but I'm making one up so… heheh. Enjoy! And please review!
Chapter Four
Tifa stood at the door, waiting for Zack to come. She was already discharged, but she had to have someone escort her home. With her "talk" with Aerith over, Tifa had finally gained perspective. She had to move on. And with that resolution in mind, her anger came on in full force. The boy that she had loved was gone forever. Replaced by a man who was a boy on the inside. She couldn't forgive him, as she had once thought.
Now, with her courage and anger all in one place, she marched out to the lobby. There, she saw Zack pulling up a reluctant Cloud. She raised an eyebrow as Zack pushed his best friend down to the floor.
"Tell her," he growled at Cloud. Cloud turned pale and looked up at an expecting Tifa.
"I slept with a another woman in our bed," he muttered. The nurses gasped as they heard that. Tifa grabbed Cloud by the hair and kneed him in the stomach. She punched him in the lungs and flipped him onto the floor by his back. She did things that will not be mentioned. The nurses cheered her on and when she was done, Cloud was taken down to the emergency room with an explanation that a delirious patient had his way with Cloud. The nurses laughed for a week after that.
At home, she burned his clothes, smashed his cell phones and gave his bike, which she owned, to Zack. Zack had given it to her in his will, when he'd died. In her own grief, she gave it to Cloud. Now, it was back to its original owner. Tifa called Barrett and told him to bring over Marlene and Denzel. He was cursing at her over the phone and she responded that she wanted the children back. He grumbled but came over.
He looked at the huge garbage bag that was in the middle of the floor of the bar when he came. He also noticed three beers on the counter. One wasn't opened and it was for him.
"Well, you finally gave Spiky what he needed, huh?" he chuckled. He didn't know about the cheating woman, and he just thought that she had screwed his brains out.
"No. I kicked him out," she said and hugged Marlene and Denzel. Marlene heard the roaring of the bike outside and rushed out. she was disappointed to see another man on the bike with groceries. But after he took off his helmet, he smiled at her. even young girls were prone to the "Zack smile" at full blast. She rushed in and tugged on Barrett's pant leg. She pointed to Zack as he came in and handed Tifa the groceries. Barrett snarled and tried to punch Zack. He easily avoided the attempt and threw a light one of his own into Barrett's stomach.
"Name's Zack Fair," he said as he helped Barrett up. Tifa was chuckling silently as she heard Barrett's soft curses. He looked Zack up and down. He couldn't even tell the boy was normal. He had SOLDIER written all over him
"You're Cloud's friend, aren't you?" Denzel exclaimed. Zack nodded and looked at Tifa. Her color was back, as was the fire in her eyes. He chuckled and shook his head. He and Barrett took their beers into the living room. They talked and left the children alone with Tifa.
She smiled at Denzel and Marlene. She twitched as she thought of how to say the news to them.
"I scolded Cloud," she said to them.
"How? What'd he do?" Denzel asked.
"Why?" Marlene asked.
"He was cheating on me, sweetie. He was being a bad boy… I did what I do to the guys that come in here and mistreat women," she said as she grimaced, waiting for the kid's reactions.
"If he cheated, then he deserved it," Denzel said. Marlene nodded. Tifa hugged them both to her and they hugged back.
"He doesn't live here anymore, you know," Tifa said. She could feel the shrugs and silently laughed.
"Hey!" a voice boomed from the living room. Barrett was yelling at something. Tifa told the children to stay and she went to investigate.
"YOU FREAKING ASSHOLE!!! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!?!" a very mad Reno yelled at Zack. Zack braced himself for the attack. Reno yelled and started throwing a fit. Rude stood in the corner shocked.
"Zack," he said. Zack nodded and smiled at Rude. Reno was yelling and yelling at him. Tseng came in and looked at Zack. He paled and started over toward Zack. He punched the former SOLDIER in the gut and hugged him. zack laughed and hugged his friend back.
"How the hell could you do that to us? Reeve called up the president and said something about something that he had to see. When we got down there, you were gone," Reno yelled at him. zack looked over at Tifa. She was laughing so hard that she was crying.
"Come on in for drinks, guys," she said and motioned for the bar. Zack then pulled her into the wall as they all went out into the bar. It was only them left in the living room. He closed in on her and pulled her close to him.
"You were the reason why I'm back," he said. Then he kissed her lightly on the mouth and left her against the wall. Tifa sagged and blushed.
A/N: I know, it's shorter than the last chapter. But, I got a point across… I'm thinking about what to do in the next chapter. It might involve some drunken karaoke. I don't know yet. But, please review! And thank you for reading!