Adventures in Living

I'm a really dork you guys, I thought Tifa's birthday was around the 15th of May, I dunno why, and it's not. When I looked it up, for the official Square biography page on the old website… it was the 3rd of May. So I fixed it… I can't believe I didn't realize that sooner. Anyway, I also got Final Fantasy Dissidia from Japan, and it's worth every yen of the 7000 I spent… (around 65 dollars). Once it's in English whenever that happens, buy it… Cloud is freaking cool! So… on with the story! We're switching POV this chappie! I hope I can write Tifa! Same rules apply!

Tifa's Entry 1: Aerith

Tifa woke up, rather late on the third of May, only vaguely realizing it was her birthday. Since she'd lost her family, it had become a sad occasion for her, and she wasn't really expecting anything. Cloud never remembered those sorts of things; in fact she was surprised that he remembered major holidays at all. She rolled on her back and realized that her boyfriend was missing, and part of her foggy brain that didn't know any better sat up in a panic. He'd disappeared before, and he always woke her up when he left in the morning. He was always gone by five o'clock, so she'd get up and make lunches for the kids. Really, she just wanted to see him before he left, but she did it under the pretense of peanut butter and jelly… before she was allowed to really care what he did.

It didn't even dawn on her that he might have let her sleep in because it was the anniversary of her birth, why would he do that anyway? She still had kids to get ready, and a bar to prepare for the evening. It wasn't until many scenarios ran though her head, all involving Cloud running from her again, when she saw the present on her dresser. She blinked at it, sure her eyes were deceiving her, and then she figured it had to be from the kids. It had to be pictures or something that they had wrapped themselves. The job could have belonged to an elementary school kid; she could see the messy tape and ragged edges from there. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled her robe on, before padding over to the dresser. There was a note taped to the top, in Cloud's messy handwriting.

Tifa

I know you're probably freaking out right now, so take a deep breath and calm down. I didn't leave, well not permanently. I took the kids to school, gave them lunch money, and cleaned the kitchen up. Breakfast didn't really go well. It's your birthday, and I put a sign up so people know we'll be closed tonight, and you can take the day off. I'm doing my route, but it's short, and I'll see you when I get home.

Love,

Cloud

The barmaid read the note a few times, focusing on the last part. She heard him say it a lot, usually when they were being intimate or he wanted her to feel safe. It just seemed so… real, seeing it there, on paper like that. She then realized Cloud had tried to wrap the present by himself, and she was pretty sure he'd not done it before. Usually for Christmas, he had the presents wrapped at the store. One look from him and most of the little girls at the cash wraps would do most anything for him. The funny thing was, he thought it was just a service provided by the store…

She let out a little giggle and took the package off the dresser, and went back to sit on their bed. She looked at the note again, before taking it off and sliding it into the drawer on her nightstand. She kept a lot of things that Cloud gave her, little notes and things… even if they weren't important. They'd helped a lot when she was going though the time he was way, it helped her remember good things about him, so she wouldn't get angry around the kids.

Tifa let out a little sigh and gently tore the paper open, which wasn't easy with all the tape he'd used. When she got the paper off, she lifted the lid on the box and raised an eyebrow. Inside, was the journal she'd given him for his birthday. She picked it up and noticed there was a page dog-eared, and she opened it up. Inside, there was another note.

Tifa

You're right, heroes needs to tell their story, but I'm not the only one who stood in front of Sephiroth, I'm not the only one to feel the fear, and smell the blood. We all did, and I hope that this book, started by me, and be added too, and finished by you, and our friends. Please, add your thoughts, and then pass it on to the next person. Read what I wrote if you want, or don't, it's up to you, but you need the opportunity just as much as I do.

Cloud

Her pink lips made a little 'o' as she read what he'd wrote to her, and then she found an expensive pen in the box with it, a small bow wrapped around it as well. She smiled a bit and flipped to the front of the book, to see what her lover had said. She was surprised to see, that each entry wasn't his story, but his feelings and memories of all his friends. And how fitting it seemed that Aerith was first. She let out a little gasp as she read the heart felt words, and even being with him, and seeing him every day… she had no idea he hurt so much all the time on the inside. A few tears slipped down her cheek and stained the pages, before she could wipe them away. She finished Aerith entry and saw the next one was Barret.

"Alphabetical then," she whispered to herself as she turned past the bent page. She was going to do the same thing, and she decided she'd read Cloud's entry before writing her own. She wanted to write all day, stay in bed and just let the feelings come to her. She rarely had much time to herself, being a mother, even if it wasn't biologically. She felt like she needed to get all this out, and she'd be able to do it. Besides… if Cloud had cleaned the kitchen, she was pretty sure she didn't want to see it yet. She took the pen and started to write.

Aerith

I know, that even now, there are people that think that Aerith and I couldn't have been friends. We both loved the same man, but I was more then willing to take the back seat and let her be with him. She was kind, and sweet… and he needed that. I wanted my best friend to be happy, and I never bore her any bad feelings. She was like a sister to me, and having lost my whole family, right before my eyes, having her taken from me was as bad as any of it. Sure she was my rival, but I loved her so much, I would have given up my true love to let her be with him.

But there was never the chance, because she was ripped away from us in the most violent of ways. Murdered, right there, I saw the blade go through her, and there wasn't anything I could do; that awful, demon of a man took her away, and it broke all of us. A little of each of us died that day, we all have the scar that was left when someone so pure and gentle was cut down so young. Cloud may think that he bears the brunt of the burden, because Sephiroth was trying to control his mind… but really, I wasn't frozen from his power, I should have moved. I should have thrown myself in the way… something. I should have done something.

We had to leave her so far away, and there are some times when I wish I could go sit by that lake and talk to her. Maybe she'd hear me there, but Cloud is the only one she talks to. Maybe I'm not in tune with the planet, or something, but I'd give anything to be able to make amends like he has. I want her to know that I love her, and miss her… and I could never be angry with her for having the courage to try and get Cloud's attention before me. Do you think she knows that?

There was a time though, that I was angry. Not with her, but with Cloud, because he was obsessed with her and leaving the rest of us behind. I never knew, until I read it, how he really felt, and why he acted the way he did. I thought he was in love with a girl beyond his reach, a memory can't hold you when things get tough… or when you're dying of an incurable disease. I was never mad at her though, I just wanted him to see me, see that we had a family… even if it wasn't a real one.

There are times, when I think she might be looking down on us, and gently nudging Cloud in a direction that leads to his family and friends… no not friends. We aren't really friends at all; we're a hodge podge group of family, held together by bonds even stronger then blood. She was trying the whole time to remind him of that, and maybe, now that she's with Zack, she's all right with the idea that he's with me. I hope so, because I want her blessing more then anyone. I know she's gone, but her memory will always be with us, and I think that binds her close. So close, that death really can't even take her away completely. Sometimes, I can feel her, and I know she's there, I know she's helping.

She saved Cloud, and everyone else with Geostigma. The water in the Church, it couldn't have been made by anyone else. We all have so much to thank her for, and she even continues to help us from beyond her watery grave. I will never be able to thank her enough, but I'll try. I know, she's always wanted her friends to be happy, so I will help them cherish life. She's already done a good job, and I'd be honored to help her. Please, rest in peace sister… you'll be with us as long as we all live… and beyond because what you helped me with is believing that death isn't the end, and I take comfort in knowing you aren't alone.

May 3

Tifa let out a little sigh as she finished. Her cell phone, at that moment, let out a chirp alerting her to a text message. She reached over to the nightstand and flipped it open.

Up yet?

She giggled and saw the words on the screen, they were from Cloud, and even though he didn't like to text her, he obviously hadn't wanted to interrupt her relaxation. It was sweet.

Yes, thank you for the gift!

She sent that, and a few moments later, another came.

NP, I'll be home at 2.

She started pressing buttons again, she was pretty fast at this sort of thing, then pressed send again.

I'll be waiting.

She wasn't expecting another one to come, but she smiled even bigger when she read it.

Love you, birthday girl.

Tifa sighed, feeling content now, considering she'd woken up in a minor case of hysterics. She sent one last message, saying she loved him back, then put the phone down. If he was going to be home at two, that really didn't leave a lot of time to finish her entries. She took another look at her tribute to Aerith, and then flipped back to read Cloud's feelings on Barret.