If you had read the last chapter from before I messed it up, yes, I did change the ending a bit. Well...by quite a lot. I didn't really like the way I ended the chapter before. And originally, this is more of what I was thinking of ending the story. I hope you like this version better! =D

It has been a few weeks since they rode back into town. Whenever asked, Tifa refused to talk about it either by changing the subject or completely ignoring it. When Yuffie first came by bouncing in, she soon left as gloomy as ever. And every time she did drop off Cloud's orders, she had that look of pity written all over her face.

Tifa still refused to talk to Cloud, or even spend a moment alone with him. As soon as she realized they were alone, she'd walk right out whether she had something to do or not. It went on like this for weeks. Denzel and Marlene noticed the strange atmosphere as well. It felt extremely uncomfortable watching the two adults having a mental fight without saying or doing anything at all. Eventually, they spent most of their day playing outside or in their rooms to avoid awkwardness between Tifa and Cloud. If not, they'd spend the night at someone's house.

Tifa noticed Cloud starting to distance himself and hiding away in the garage doing who knows what. She thought about talking to him again, but she couldn't find herself to say anything whenever she had the chance. By the time she knew it, she'd be walking out of the room every time he comes in. She felt extremely guilty about it, knowing full well that Cloud was trying his best. Deep in her heart, she knew Cloud was eager to win her favor, that he was actually sincere when he confessed to her. But her stubbornness and guilt was overflowing that she could not come to forgive him.

Tifa watched as Cloud left the clean, empty room as Hunter and Elena continued their duties. As soon as Hunter put the broom away, Elena also finished the dishes. Hunter came bouncing up to Tifa who was still staring at the space where she last saw Cloud. She didn't even realized what Hunter was saying until Elena put her hand on Tifa's shoulder, making her jump.

"Woah, you okay, Tifa?" Hunter spoke surprised at her reaction.

Blushing, Tifa nodded and sighed. "Yeah, I'm okay. Sorry about that. Dozed off a little."

Elena and Hunter looked at each other. Elena gently brushed her red hair away from her face. "You know, you haven't been yourself lately. Anything we can do to help?"

Tifa looked up back to where Cloud's afterimage repeated in her mind. "No, nothing. You can be done for the night."

They stared at her for a moment. Hunter flicked his copper hair away and headed to the closet to retrieve their jackets. Elena leaned in and put her hands on Tifa's. "You know," Elena spoke softly in a whisper, "somethings become better if you speak your heart. If you hide it, you'll eventually lose your most important treasure." Tifa turned to Elena surprised at her advice. Elena smiled gently. "Go talk to him. Even if words can't come out, actions will. He'll understand."

Tifa smiled warmly and put her hand on top of hers. "Thank you, Elena."

Tifa watched as the two left the bar, leaving Tifa all alone. Tifa tried to listen to the footsteps of the children, but then remembered that the children are staying at Yuffie's this time. She felt guilty making the children feel involved in their silly quarrel. She needed to make up with Cloud, bring everything back to the way it was. Tifa paused. "Do I really want everything back to the way it was?" Tifa thought to herself. Back to the way how they pretended to be a happy family, back to just ignoring each other's feelings in the hope of being happy.

She sighed as she turned off the lights and headed upstairs. She wanted to take a bath, but somehow her legs carried her to the Cloud's room. She lingered there longer than she had expected. Since they've come back, she moved out of their shared room to the smaller guest room. There was just no use in sharing rooms anymore, or so she thought. She found Cloud's lingering scent too familiar as she tore herself away. She found Cloud in his study and sighed before knocking on the door, not knowing exactly why she did so. Cloud turned around from whatever he was doing and calmly looked to Tifa.

They stared at each other for a brief moment before Tifa turned her eyes away. Cloud bit his bottom lips and looked down. "Is something wrong, Tifa?"

"Oh…no…it's nothing…" Tifa didn't know what to say, nor what she was doing there.

"Okay…It's getting late. You should probably take a bath." Cloud spoke as he turned back to his paperwork.

Tifa stared at his slim, broad back. He has aged greatly over the past few years. She thought about when they were young, how childish he had always been. Even when they met again years later, he still seemed childish to her. She always felt the need to guide him, to be someone he could count on. But, unbeknownst to her, he had already become a full adult. She had been watching him lead more and more. Before she knew it, she began to only watch his back as he faced his fate. Although years had gone by, she continues to watch only his back, never facing him head on. This is still something she doesn't quite understand why. She should be able to face him now, yet she finds herself afraid of knowing what the outcome is.

"Tifa?"

Tifa snapped out of her trance to see Cloud staring at her worried from his work desk. "Ah, sorry. I sort of…dozed off."

"Are you okay?"

Tifa nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." Then remembering something, Tifa giggled which made Cloud surprised. "I just remembered how you were the one that used to daze off all the time."

Cloud looked away and stayed quiet while Tifa stared at him, waiting for a response. The awkward chill in the air never seemed to waver the moment Tifa stood by the door. Just as Tifa was about to leave, Cloud spoke. "I…I haven't…them…"

Tifa turn to look at him. "What?"

Cloud sighed. "I haven't been able to talk to them lately." He looked at Tifa softly with sad eyes. "Live for the future." He whispered these last words before turning back to his work.

Tifa stared at his back once more. She knew exactly what he was talking about. He once told her that sometimes he was able to communicate with "them" during the Geostigma infection. At that time, he wasn't able to forgive himself for their deaths and continuously blame himself. He wasn't able to let go of his past, his guilt, and his mistakes. Tifa can remember sometimes hearing him silently cry at night, as not to wake her. Even if she knew at that time, there was nothing she could do about it but to move on.

Then Tifa realized something. "Live for the future?" Maybe, the one who couldn't move on wasn't Cloud, but Tifa all along. Although he went through a depression stage, he finally accepting his fate and moved on. But Tifa still couldn't. She couldn't forget the villagers, including her father, who was killed in Nibelheim, by Sephiroth. She couldn't forgive Shinra for draining the Life Force. And she couldn't forgive Cloud for making her wait so long. She always thought she was the strong one, the one who could forgive and forget, but she wasn't. She had continuously support Cloud through his worse that she didn't realize she was falling behind. She realized that Cloud had been there for her more than she thought. What a fool she was!

A tear slid down her face as she finally realized her true feelings. She's been bottling it all up helping everyone else that she forgot to help herself. She felt incredibly stupid as she silently wiped away her tear. Setting aside her stubbornness, she finally understood what Cloud meant when he said Aerith was a part of him, just as she is a part of Tifa. Just like how everyone is a part of her, whom made her who she is today. Just as he said, he wasn't using her as a rebound, but a love that he was never able to fulfill before. She smiled as she watched Cloud continue his work.

Cloud noticed that Tifa was still lingering by the doorway. As he was about to turn around again, he felt slim arms wrap around his neck from behind. Her sweet smell gently immersed in his personal bubble. He stiffened at her gentle touch as she gently hugged him, letting her hair fall loosely on his shoulder.

"T-Tifa?" Cloud gasped stunned at her action.

Tifa sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Cloud. I should've realized sooner."

Cloud was confused and still flabbergasted. "Realized what?"

"Face me, Cloud."

As soon as he felt her arms loosen, he swing his chair to face her, only to be met by another heart stopping action from her. Her soft lips locked in place with his. Her eyes closed showing the length of her lashes. Her majestic smell now enchanting his pounding heart. Cloud could only stiffen with shock, not able to respond correctly.

Tifa lifted her face from his with a slight blush. She held her breath waiting his response, but he was too much in shock that he only stared at her wide-eyed. Tifa laughed at his expression. "What's with that face?!"

As much as she was laughing, Cloud was still very confused at what happened. He stared at her, watching her laugh while holding her stomach. As soon as she was done laughing, she smiled gently at Cloud, but as Cloud was still in shock, her smile soon faded. She began to feel stupid, thinking that maybe Cloud has already moved on from her. She may have realized her true feelings too late. And he may be in shock due to his feelings for her already diminished.

"Uh…" Tifa began fidgeting, "well, I guess that was unnecessary. Um…" Tifa started blushing, and tears started building as millions of scenarios flew through her thoughts. "Well…um…I…uh...I guess I…um…I should go…"

Tifa turned around quickly blushing with embarrassment and stupidity. Taking only two steps, Cloud quickly jumped up from his chair and grabbed her hand before she could leave. He pulled her into his embrace, thinking that maybe, just maybe, this was okay now.

"I…uh…I'm not dreaming, am I?" Cloud spoke after a moment as Tifa gasped for air. He loosened his grip on her and held her shoulders. "This is real, right?"

"Cloud?"

He embraced her once again and sniffed her hair. Once he calmed down, he took in a deep breath and kissed her head. "Tifa, tell me what this is about. I want to make sure I got the message correctly this time."

Tifa lifted her head up to look at him. She cupped his slim, aging face and smiled. "I love you, Cloud. And I'm sorry for being so stubborn before. For not accepting you, and pushing you away. In reality, I was pushing myself away. I couldn't forgive myself, for everything that had happened up to now. But now I know what's really in my heart. I'm sorry. I love you." Tifa said with tears rolling down her face.

Cloud smiled for a brief second before kissing her passionately as if his life depended on it. Tifa gasped for air in between as her knees weakened at his hot, blazing, passionate kiss. Cloud pinned her against the wall and continued to take in everything of hers. She is finally his, and he has never been happier than this moment. Tifa moaned as Cloud's tongue pushed through her lips, kissing her sweetly.

Cloud backed away for a brief moment to look at Tifa's hazy eyes. Her red face and panting breaths made Cloud dizzy and full of excitement. He locked lips with her once more before kissing her neck, taking in her sweet fragrance. Tifa let out a soft moan as Cloud made his way back to her lips. His hands ran from her neck down to her waist and back up, as if he was making sure she was still there.

Cloud finally stopped and held her in his arms once more, both panting from excitement. Before feeling too excited, Cloud kissed her forehead and pulled away from her. He locked eyes with her, watching her rosy cheeks and hazy eyes trying to focus. He smiled as she blushed looking down. He cupped her face and made her look at him once more.

"Tifa, are you willing to accept me? Can I really have your acceptance?"

Tifa let out a small laugh as Cloud rested his forehead on hers. "Yes, Cloud. You have my acceptance. I love you."

Cloud smiled widely as he pulled her in for one last kiss. "I love you too, Tifa."