Something a little different for ya this chapter. ;)

I think I got done editing it all, but if you see a confusing part, please let me know. I kinda rushed it out before work lol.

Tifa was in a bad mood, her customers decided. If the way she morosely wiped the same counter repeatedly was any indication.

She was ignoring everyone outside the usual politeness while she made drinks, leaving most of the work to her energetic helper that bounced around the room taking orders and delivering them with an eager grin.

Many sent them both looks. Though for different reasons. The regulars at Seventh Heaven knew of the long-legged ninja easily enough, having seen her as a constant these last few days, so they ignored her strange ways for the most part. Busying themselves with sending concerned looks the bars way instead towards the gloomier than usual owner.

Her face was pinched in troubled thought as she frowned at a particular blemish on the wood that Yuffie had left earlier with a fire Materia. Like it held all the secrets of the world but wouldn't relinquish a single one. They knew she wasn't frowning at the scorch mark, however. Something far worse was bothering her. The question was what. Many assumed it had something to do with the quiet blond who usually hung around. Having disappeared a couple days ago, no one had seen him since. Though there was rumors that he had returned that morning, only to storm out and leave once more.

Naturally, the regulars were skeptical to believe it at first, given the source being a rather drunk man who'd taken to sleeping in the alley at the time. But the owner's mood was beginning to make them question the truth of it. Did the young lovebirds have a fight? They felt bad for her and the kids if so, silently wondering when the blond would return to fix whatever mess he'd caused. They felt the lady deserved better, for sure. Though no one had the courage to go to her and speak up on the matter. The tense energy coming off her in waves keeping them firmly cowered.

Tifa sighed again for the fifth time that hour, scrubbing a little harder.

She knew her customers were staring, concerned even, but she couldn't seem to bring herself to offer any kind of reassurance for them. She just silently hoped she wasn't scaring off any of the new ones. Her dedicated cleaning sessions could get to even the strongest of wills, cracking them down until they quietly left as to not incur her wrath next.

A silly sentiment, really. She wouldn't actually take her emotions out on anyone. She paused, guilt pressing in as the look on Cloud's face flashed. Well... physically, anyway.

Giving up with another heavy sigh she resigned herself to just ordering another counter top, grabbing the soap bucket and rag and briskly walking over to the large sink, dropping them in a little roughly. Staring she watched as the water sloshed around, going over the edge to rest in the drain. Shaking slightly she bracing her hands on either side of the sink, ignoring the way Yuffie bounced around the end of the bar to head through the kitchen doors with a cheerful "I'll be back! Don't kill anyone while I'm gone!".

Squeezing the edges her knuckles turned white. This really wasn't her day.

Why had she said those things? Letting her anger get the best of her, she didn't even stop to consider Cloud's feelings, much less give him time to properly explain anything.
And there was an explanation. There had to be. Why else would he have been gone for so long, without even returning a single phone call? Message, even?

Looking back now she took notice to how scuffed his clothes were, the small tear over his chest. Something definitely happened. She could only hope that "something" wasn't as bad as it looked. Goddess knew he hadn't been answering any of her calls after he tore out of here. Not even Yuffie's, as she slyly tried to use hers next. The guilt, at least, drove her to contacting the others shortly after he left and telling them what happened, asking desperately to let her know the second one of them got a hold of him.

They had all agreed easily enough, though something about Reeve's voice had thrown her off. The concern was there, as was the sincere agreement to call immediately. But there was something else. Something distant in his voice, hesitant.
If she didn't know any better, it had sounded almost as guilty as hers. Though the why of it was lost to her. What could he possibly have to be guilty about? It was strange, baffling, to say the least.

And outright suspicious.

Now she was starting to think Reeve was hiding something from her too, as the red-headed Turk and his partner was, which definitely wasn't good for her mental and emotional health right now. Like she didn't already have enough to deal with trying to track down one enigmatic blond while taking care of the kids, fate just had to throw another secretive friend her way.

Pulling her hand from the counter she reached towards her pocket, touching the outline of her phone lightly where it rested. The thought to call Cloud again pushed, sending butterflies to her stomach.

Ever since he disappeared those first couple of days, the strangest feeling of something bad coming would surge, but today especially it just kept getting worse. The feeling had quieted when she'd seen him that morning, but it flared to life once more after he left once again.

She was never one to dismiss her feelings, but a part of her wondered if it was actually because of Cloud, or simply her own nerves getting in the way. She certainly couldn't deny what the mere thought of him did to her emotional state, it wouldn't be so far fetched to think she was overreacting because of it. Even so... what if she was wrong? Aerith would send urgent feelings like that to her in the past when she'd be trying to warn her of something, so what if she was doing it again? What if he was hurt? Or doing something reckless again because of her?

The feeling that thought alone brought hurt, tore through her chest with the same efficiency that the feared Silver General's blade did to Cloud all those years ago.

The sound of wood cracking under her remaining hand on the counter forced her to exhale the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, heart beating just a little bit faster.

What was she doing? This wasn't like her. None of it was. During these last couple months since the Remnants returned it was like old memories were pressing to the forefront again, after all these years, heightening her emotions almost painfully. It left her on edge, ready to snap. Whispering feelings of betrayal and hurt so keenly it was almost impossible to ignore.

In fact, Cloud had already experienced the backlash first hand.

It was this realization that left the guilt soaking in even more. She had hurt Cloud. Letting something so unlike her control her actions. She needed, no, wanted, to apologize. Now, more than ever. But... he wasn't answering her calls. How was she to do that? That didn't stop the surge of determination, however. To kept trying. She wouldn't let that stop her, as soon as Yuffie come back from her lunch break she'd call again.

Goddess be willing he'd pick up the damn phone then.

With another sigh she turned around, forcing herself to smile as she focused on the new customers coming through the door. Letting the atmosphere of the lively bar distract her for now as she waited.

With routine firmly established, thoughts of calling were pushed aside for later as the bar got busier. Then even more. Yuffie's return doing little to make a dent in the new rowdy crowd. Groping drunks being thrown out left and right by them both. The day slowly faded to night as drinks were served. Tifa paying it little mind as she hurried around, trying to manage the new customers as well as she could before closing time. Firmly telling herself to call Cloud as soon as she was done.

Thinking that everything would be alright for a few hours longer, Tifa had no idea what was happening miles away.
Something she'd deeply come to regret later.