Hello everyone. I have just a quick chapter for you this time. The goal of this chapter is to give you more insight on our Ms. Tifa Lockhart. My hope is it is a good blend of the Tifa from that we already know from the games, FF:AC, and my interpretation of where she is now in my story. Feedback as always is greatly appreciated, thanks to all that review and all that are taking time to read this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or it's characters


Tifa could feel the sea breeze as it brushed her face and flowed through her hair awakening her other senses of smell and taste as she breathed in the salt air while the salt teased her taste buds. This is where she wanted to be, where she had planned to be to give herself her first ever personal vacation. Her job, her friends and family were to be left behind so she could focus on herself without any of the day to day life that always gets in her way. This was the place where she was going to do her soul searching. Tifa had never really dared to do that before. Ever since her mom had died, taking care of others had been her way to cope with the loss. This was her way to survive without having to ask those terrifying questions; what are my goals in life, what do I want, who am I, who do I want to be?

Only one other time in her life had she been on her own, after she had recovered from Sephiroth's attack. Her father was dead and her town was in ruins, and she had left her mentor, Zangan behind because all she saw and felt when she looked at her decimated town was death and despair. Even to this day she sometimes has nightmares about that horrible day. Visions of townspeople, people she knew all her life were now unrecognizable from being charred by the flames. The horrible stench that had filled the air and the heat of the flames that still ferociously fed on last bits of homes that had not yet been completely consumed. That day more than any other shaped her life. It was on that day she learned of beings with no mercy.

That was the day she learned how to hate.

Tifa let out a quick, bitter laugh. When she was still fairly young she decided that she wanted to learn martial arts. She wanted to learn to be strong and defend herself and others. But after that horrible day, her agenda changed. What she wanted was replaced with what she needed...and that was vengeance. So after walking away from the only home she knew she eventually found her way to Midgar and with that came a place to stay. She quickly got a job working in the bar where she persuaded her boss to teach her to be a bartender. Then she met Barret and Marlene and they all became quick friends. After her boss decided to move to a different town she found herself left with a parting gift, the bar she worked. Not too long after that she offered the extra rooms in the building to her friend Barret and his Avalanche group. It didn't take much to get her to become part of the group. Two key words in Barret's lengthy speech was all she needed to get on board with his vision, against Shinra.

This decision would eventually earned her new titles to go along with her actions; terrorist and killer or activist and protector; depending on who you were talking to. She had become involved with a necessary evil. Tifa smirked as she quietly contemplated, is evil ever necessary? The wind whistled in her ears as she debated the answer internally. To have good you must have evil. There must be a balance. She pressed her eyes shut forcefully, trying to change her train of thought. Even by being part of the team that saved the world once; the team that continued to try and watch over it. Tifa had never really been able to release her guilt of her actions so long ago. Are you ever allowed to stop paying for such great sins? No, atonement was never finished. But she had seen Cloud forgive himself for what he viewed as his own terrible sins; it was time for her to do the same. Then again she didn't have an equivalent of Aerith to help her. Taking a frustrated sigh, she looked out at the ocean. The water was so calm, so soothing. This is why i picked this area. The laid back feel of Costa Del Sol was the perfect contrast to the turmoil inside herself. Yes this is the place she was going to try to define who Tifa Lockhart was and then become who Tifa Lockhart should be.

That had been the plan.

"Lockhart?" The male voice had an air of curiosity in it. "We're here...you okay?"

Tifa closed her ruby eyes one last time, trying to push away all her internal issues. Thank Shiva Reno couldn't read her thoughts he would probably have to head to a shrink after hearing all her issues.

"I'm okay just ready to get out of this car and stretch my legs." Tifa only gave Reno a quick glance, she knew he wasn't an idiot but he mercifully played stupid and headed into the hotel.

Gotta love how plans change.