To Heal a Broken Heart

Chapter Seven - Pieces

Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 and its characters, settings or the like. These words, however, are mine.

Tifa smiled contentedly as the last bit of sunlight washed over her. The children were still splashing in the water, laughing and rejoicing at the sudden yet enjoyable change; she found herself wondering how they could stand to stay in the water for so long but she left them to it. Having them happy for once, genuinely happy, was enough for her.

She had been cross examining the feelings that had been rushing through her all day and realized what they were and why she was feeling them. Throughout her life she'd always wanted to know people, the simple facts and things to look out for.

With Rufus, it was an entirely different story.

She wanted to really know him.

She wanted to know why the look in his eyes matched hers, she wanted to know why he'd done what he had done before and why he'd changed so suddenly. Why wasn't he rebuilding his company? Why wasn't he trying to make a life for himself?

He was finally free, right?

What was holding him back?

The similarity of their situations didn't really shock her -- she'd always tried to see the best in him before regardless of his actions and how wrong she thought he was. Even back in the days of the fight with Shinra and Sephiroth she'd noticed things about him that sometimes, others didn't.

They'd both lost a lot as children -- their homes, their parents.

She knew they both had run with a life they'd never really wanted or expected.

But then again, maybe there wasn't anything to find. Maybe he was just as shallow as before but had no means to rebuild the company, nobody to follow him save for the Turks.

Tifa mulled the thoughts over in her head while absently watching the sun set. She smiled at the memories of Costa before. The group had lounged about and talking, relaxed, gotten closer and closer until they were a close knit family.

Even throughout all the challenges and the personal quarrels, they'd stayed together.

Her face fell; they used to have that.

Now they hardly saw each other. She couldn't blame anyone -- they all had busy lives. Sometimes she just wished things were different.

Maybe that was because she thought Cloud would still be around if they'd all stayed together.

She shook her head. Cloud. It was almost laughable to her right now, how she'd been so foolishly infatuated with him. She wished she could just forget and destroy all those happier memories that kept her tied to the past.

"You never really cared, did you?" Tifa said quietly, staring skyward. "Take care of him, wherever he is, Aerith. I don't think I can continue on like this." She smiled to herself and felt silly -- talking to the air? She knew though, that Aerith could hear her and was watching her.

She closed her eyes and sighed, opening them again to find the children walking back to her slowly, their cheeks rosy and their breathing labored.

"Having fun?" Tifa asked warmly, moving aside so they could settle down beside her.

Marlene nodded enthusiastically but she noticed Denzel had fallen quiet. She gave him a worried glance; he wasn't still mad at her, was he? She hadn't really believe in what he'd said earlier but now with a sinking heart, she wondered if he'd really been venting. Venting a truth. "Something wrong, Denzel?"

He looked up quickly before lowering his eyes. "I..." Marlene grasped his hand in a show of support. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier...I didn't mean it." He looked up sadly and she could tell her wanted forgiveness badly.

She smiled and winked. "Don't worry about it. I know it's tough..." She looked skyward again. "We'll get through it... And Cloud will be alright." She ruffled Denzel's hair and he smiled sheepishly.

"Tifa, how long are we staying here?" Marlene asked, leaning against the older woman.

"I don't know. You should ask Rufus -- this was his idea after all." Tifa said and then for the first time, she wondered why he wasn't here with them. What was he doing?

Did she really want to know?

"I'm going to!" Marlene said, standing abruptly.

"Go with her Denzel -- both of you get dried up and into some clean clothing." Tifa added, eying them. "We'll probably come back here tomorrow."

"Aren't you coming?" Denzel asked. "And we don't have any clothes." He added uncomfortably.

Tifa smiled but her stomach dropped. "I picked up some new clothes for you too." At their skeptical glances she winked. "In secret. But make sure you thank Rufus, because he's the one who paid for it." She felt herself fall even lower into the pit of shame.

They both nodded and ran off, up the steps and towards the villa. Tifa sighed.

"This is your fault, Cloud." Tifa grit out, tears pricking her eyes. "Everything is your fault."

My children don't have clothes because of you.

I can't buy them anything because I don't make sufficient money.

You truly left me with nothing.

Rufus looked at the door when it swung open, the bell ringing lightly. The innkeeper he was speaking to smiled at the two children who walked in -- Marlene and Denzel. Rufus frowned, where was Tifa?

His question was answered by the young girl. She hugged his leg and looked up at him innocently. "Tifa is at the beach still. Thank you for the bathing suit and new clothes!"

Denzel nodded in agreement, giving Rufus a small smile.

Rufus smiled back at both of them -- strange how it felt so normal for him. He really did like these two. "Why did Tifa stay back?" He asked, flipping his hair.

Marlene looked at the ground. "She seemed really sad."

"Why?"

"I don't know. She always seems sad since Cloud left." Marlene looked up at him hopefully. "You're not going to leave her alone, are you? Not like Cloud."

Rufus shook his head no and after Marlene told him their reason for returning, he ushered them off and left with the innkeeper's promise to look after them. He slowly made his way down to the beach, reveling in the last warmth of the night. He found what he was looking for as soon as he hit the sand. Knowing his wheelchair would never make it over the soft brown layers, he stood and walked over slowly; he was still unsure of himself and his condition after Geostigma.

She was gazing into the flowing colors of pink and orange, a steady yet light breeze blowing at her bangs. The palm trees were slowly fading into the darkness, silhouettes of their true form and the water was sweeping gently ever closer to Tifa's form. She didn't seem to care though and Rufus soon knew why -- tears were in her eyes.

He tried to ignore them and when he stepped up beside her, he felt her eyes on him.

"Why are you here?" She asked quietly, sitting up.

"I could ask you the same thing." He said, swallowing. He was somewhat uncomfortable around her, he noticed. He wondered why.

"I had to think." She said, all tension and animosity usually littering her voice in their previous conversations gone. "I haven't been a great mother lately..." She continued easily. Her emotions were running high and she knew she needed to get it out. Speaking to thin air wasn't doing her much good and she couldn't exactly phone anyone. She chuckled. "Hell, I haven't been the greatest person lately."

"I'm sure you're going through a lot." Rufus said, not knowing why he was trying to help her. Maybe he thought if he did that for someone, someone might do that for him. Foolish, he admonished. How could he even think that?

"He left me with nothing, you know. Not a single thing. I can't make enough money to buy clothing for my children -- the most they get is maybe an ice cream once a week." She said, anger entering her voice. "I can do better then that for them, I know I can!"

He stayed silent.

"Why the hell am I so hung up over that him? Why am I so in love with him?" There, she thought, she admitted it. "What's he ever done for me? I'm so tired of waiting." She felt the familiar sting of tears and her voiced became quiet again. "I'm so tired of everything... He takes me when he wants me and then throws me away when he doesn't. Why did I ever..." She shook her head and lowered her eyes.

"Fools can't help themselves." He said suddenly.

Tifa looked around and up at him -- his face was set in stone and he'd gone back to hiding. She instantly came back to herself and realized what she'd just done, what she'd just told him. Jumping up, she took a few steps away from him.

"I... We should probably get back now." She said quickly, turning and walking away.

Rufus stared after her for a moment before following.

Yes, fools can't help themselves, he thought. He knew better than anyone.