Yuffie wasn't the only one who was having troubles.

" Im not your fucking swinging door, Cloud."

"I never said you were Teef."

"You treat me like I am. You stay and make us all fall in love with you again, only to have to fucking leave again. Im fucking tired of it Cloud. It's the road or us."

"Tifa, you have to understand. Its my job!"

"I DON'T CARE CLOUD! WE'RE ENGAGED! IF YOU CAN'T STAY WHY THE HELL DID YOU ASK ME TO FUCKING MARRY YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE? EVERY FUCKING TIME YOU COME BACK, YOU MAKE DENZEL BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO STAY! THAT YOUR GOING TO BE HIS FATHER, BE THERE FOR HIM EVERY TIME HE GETS HURT! WELL GUESS WHAT? IT WON'T ALWAYS BE THAT WAY! ONE OF THESE DAYS HE'S GOING TO GIVE UP ON YOU! MAYBE HE'LL TURN TO VINCENT! HELL KNOWS HE'S AROUND MORE THAN YOU! DO YOU SERIOUSLY WANT THAT?!"

Tifa was screaming through her tears, pounding her fists on the man's chest. Long strands of brunette hair now stuck to her face, her usually lovely and calm chocolate eyes blazing with rage. She leaned her head against his shoulder, the dark fabric becoming another shade darker with her tears. Her breaths were ragged and sharp while his were slow and measured. His vivid turquoise eyes are closed, the only sign of how deep her words had cut him. Her tears burned his shoulder; Cloud couldn't bear to see Tifa cry.

But he had made her. His arms reached out to hold her, but she threw herself backwards. Her eyes softened for a moment, but hardened almost immediately. She headed towards the stairs, stopping on the seventh step. She seemed pale, standing in the dark. Pale and fragile. But she wasn't. Tifa had always been strong. Stronger than him in fact.

"Cloud, if you can't promise me forever, I-...I don't want you to come back. I can't be put through that again." She whispered, slipping a platinum and gold engraved ring from her finger. She let it drop to the carpet of the stair, and turned her back to him. She had never done that before. She shivered as she walked up the fight of stairs, and threw herself onto her bed. Her sobs were soft, but the silence that the nocturnal hour brought allowed them to be heard by Cloud's delicate ears.

He winced.

Cloud had never tried to hurt Tifa. He had done so many times through the years, but it had never been intentional. His love for Aerith had cut her to the bone, but he had convinced himself that she would come to realize that there were other men in the world. But she hadn't. Tifa had remained loyal to him for many years; brought him strength when he was weak and courage when he was scared. She had been his rock. He loved her; but it felt like he was betraying Aerith. Cloud knew she was dead; he knew that he could never be with her again until he died. Aerith would be a part of him forever, bigger than he would ever know. He loved them both.

But he was hesitant. And it had cost him both of them. Cloud was the one that had let Aerith die. He was supposta protect her from anything and everything. But he had failed her.

And now he had lost Tifa. He sighed and walked to the seventh step, touching the ring gently. It had been bought to be on Aerith's finger, but it was going on Tifa's. He buried his face in his palms, the long, tangled web of pondering giving him a slight head ache. It was a simple equation really. Cloud + Tifa love. But the lovely little addition had been upset when he had met Aerith. Everything he had known was turned upside down by the dove. He found himself doing things he had never thought of doing before.

But wasn't that how it was with Tifa now? He had everything he needed here. He had Denzel, Marlene, Vincent, Cid, Shera, Reeve, and no matter how much he thought he loathed the girl, Yuffie.

I need to know. Will you forgive me? Will you let me go? I love you, but I also love Tifa. We'll be together in death; but I can't be alone for that long.

Silly, of course you can love her. She deserves it, she needs it. I'll wait for you until the end of the world, but until then, I want you to be happy. And I want Tifa to be happy. And there is nothing to forgive, Cloud. There never was anything.

Cloud was a little surprised, to say the least, when a soft, gentle voice replied. His eyes closed again, savoring every syllable that she said. He was wrong, to love one in life and one in death, but he needed them both. He knew they would understand.

I love you Aerith.

"See you on the other side." He whispered, standing up. He made his way slowly up the stairs, towards the soft sound of Tifa's breathing. Hesitatingly he knocked on the door, but received no reply. He opened the door a crack, the sight of Tifa sleeping lightly greeting him. He hadn't realized it, but while he had been thinking out the situation, two hours had past. Time stopped for no man, not even one who had saved the world twice. His footsteps were silent as he moved over to her bed, sitting on it lightly. His arms encircled Tifa's slender body, his own moving so that it fitted around hers. His lips brushed her neck softly, causing her to wake. She was still drowsy, but he was alive. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as his lips were positioned next to her ears.

"Tifa, I promise. I promise to love you every day im alive. I promise never to leave you, Denzel or Marlene. I love you with every fiber of my being Tifa. Will you marry me?" he whispered, his hand caressing her face as she turned to look at him.

The serene beauty of Tifa's face was contorted; but not by rage. By pure, uncontainable joy. She threw her arms around him, her soft lips pressing against his passionately. Tifa pulled away slightly, grinning.

"Yes. Yes! YES!"

Her last screech was loud enough to wake Yuffie and Shelke, each whom rushed into the room, thinking that Tifa was under attack.

Yuffie came in first.

Her entrance was nothing short of dramatic.

" I SWEAR you fucking bastard, touch her again and you will have to deal with Yuffie Kisaragi, The greatest ninja ever!"

The dialogue was accompanied with a few kicks and hand movements, as if to prove herself a capable ninja.

Tifa giggled and Cloud grinned.

"Wha? Cloud? Wait. No. I don't wanna know what's happening here." she pronounced between a yawn, heading for the door.

"Nononono. Yuffie, Cloud and I are getting MARRIED!"

That made the small, attractive girl whirl around and run towards the duo, jumping onto the bed.

"ITS ABOUT TIME!" She screeched, embracing her two friends.

Shelke stood at the door, looking at the scene with mixed feelings.

It was always Yuffie Kisaragi.

The people belonged to her.

She wanted to be apart of this, but she couldn't.

As she turned, preparing to head back to her solitary confinement, a loud voice followed her.

"Gosh Shelke. Don't be just a party pooper. Come congratulate the mofos!"

And so she did.

It was silent for a few minutes, the four people just taking in the undeniable bliss.

But it didn't last long.

Nothing really did when Yuffie was around.

"So, I get to be the brides maid, right?!"

"Yuffie."

"Yes Cloud?"

"Shut up."

"Fiiiine."