Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII

A/N: Another chapter. It's a bit angsty, but don't worry fluff is ahead I just like to balance between different areas in stories. Thank you especially to my faithful and new reviewers! You are all so awesome, and I love reading your messages, so R/R! Thanks and enjoy!

Cloud saw her there, lying like a corpse in the bed of flowers.

His heart began to race and his palms started to sweat. No. He thought, rushing to her side. He couldn't lose someone again. Lose her. Especially her.

"Tifa." He said, hoping she would easily wake.

She didn't.

"Tifa!" He called again, a bit more urgency and fear in his voice. He saw her breath and panicked that it was her last, fortunately it wasn't.

"You're late."

He wanted to cry he was so relieved. But, as relieved as he was, he was angry. Who had done this to his Tifa? "Who did this?"

She shook her head, eyebrows scrunching together. "He.. didn't say."

Suddenly, she rose with her last remaining energy. "Marlene!"

Cloud's arms were ready for her when her eyes closed and her body went instantly to him. He made a vow silently that he would always catch her then. Realizing her words he looked around as much as he could with the extra weight in his arms.

No Marlene.

"Damnit!"

Pain flared in his arms and he hissed. He wished he wasn't so weak. He wished he had been there for Tifa. He could have probably prevented her fight, her damage.

-

-

After Reno and Rude left, Cloud took the time to sit next to Tifa's unconscious form. He grabbed her hand from where it had been placed neatly on top of the other and brought the knuckles to his lips.

"I'm sorry. I've broken our promise... again. I'm always late. Just like at the reactor... I could've lost you today. I'm sorry I wasn't there to prevent Marlene and Denzel from being taken. This is all my fault." He sighed.

He carefully twisted the wolf ring on her finger. She had always taken care of it since he gave it to her. He wasn't going to let her down again. Not anymore.

But... he was going to die soon. How could he be there for his family? Distance myself. He thought placing her hand back to its original place and moving to the window. He couldn't let them watch as he slowly and painfully died.

He would have to distance himself. Just like he had been doing the last year and a half. He couldn't stand to see Tifa being broken like she was. He would keep himself away until he passed so it would be less painful for her.

However, Cloud didn't know the only thing slowly killing her was his absence.

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