Tifa had never felt more lonely in her life as she dragged herself out of bed to get dressed for work. She tried to keep up a cheerful front for Marlene and Denzel's sake, but it was getting harder and harder. It had been weeks without any word from Cloud, and he usually at least would talk to her about the kids if nothing else. Even Reno was avoiding her...he had been an infrequent patron at her bar as it was, but after not seeing him for two weeks after their blowout, he had texted her with his version of a truce, promising to not be such an asshole if she'd quit being so bitchy, and she had been so offended by his language that she told him to fuck off, and that was the last she had heard from him. Even the other Turks weren't coming in for a cold one, so she didn't know if he was alive or dead, and she kept telling herself she didn't care. But it hurt so much to have the only two men she had ever been with to freeze her out of their lives. Even her friends didn't seem to have any time for her. Neither she nor Aerith had heard much from Yuffie lately, they knew she had gone back home to Wutai, but that was it. Even Aerith was busy with her flower business...

It was a typical day at work, but she didn't get her typical enjoyment of how the customers would confide in to her like she had the answers to all their problems. It made her feel like she mattered to people, but lately it bothered her that they never seemed to ask how she was doing in return.

"I'll take a gin and tonic." a familiar voice ordered.

"Mrs. Beasley! I mean...Ellie...what are you doing here?" Tifa was surprised to see her.

"You haven't been coming to knit with the Stitching Bitches anymore, so I'm finally coming to you." the older woman replied.

"What's wrong?" Tifa asked concernedly as she handed her the drink.

"You tell me. I want to know what exactly happened between you and Reno." Ellie said.

"I thought you would have already known that." Tifa said bitterly, feeling herself tense up. "And why is it any of your business?"

"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady." Ellie snapped. "Would you rather talk about this in private?" she asked in a friendlier voice.

"Fine." Tifa replied with ill grace, deciding to avoid making a scene. "We'll talk in my office."

"Why do you want to know about it?" Tifa locked her office door shut and sat down at her desk with an irate expression on her face.

"Because I care about both of you, and obviously something went wrong that upset you two. I saw you leave in tears, and he didn't have any other women over for two weeks even though he was home, and that wasn't like him." Ellie explained as she sat down in the chair on the in front of the desk. "So since he won't talk about it, I'm asking you."

"He's a cruel and selfish ass." Tifa said, though she was surprised that he gave up women until she refused his rude version of a truce. She didn't think he had it in him.

"I've lived next to him for five years and I've never seen him that way. I also never saw a woman leave his place feeling anything but completely satisfied until you." Ellie pointed out. "What did he do that you found so offensive? Didn't you enjoy yourself?"

"Oh, he's a great dick." Tifa angrily agreed. "He told me I was fooling myself by thinking Cloud would ever want me."

Ellie stared thoughtfully at Tifa for a few moments. Privately she agreed with his assessment of her 'relationship' with the constantly absent Cloud, but he didn't understand you don't tell a woman that, especially just after having sex with her and the woman in question was as stubborn as Tifa. "So what did you do?"

"I slapped him and he kicked me out. Then he came here that night and tried to get my barmaid to go home with him." Tifa informed her, remembering how hurt she had been by his behavior.

"Tried? He didn't succeed?" Ellie continued her questioning.

"He would have, but he left without her and Laura was pissed for days. He was just determined to ruin things for me." Tifa pouted, even though she was still confused as to why he didn't sleep with Laura.

"So he wanted to get back at you? Does that mean you hurt his feelings too?" Ellie questioned her.

"I doubt he has any feelings that don't come from his penis!" Tifa exclaimed, even though she felt unsure about that. "That's the only thing that would hurt him, when I told him being with him was the worst thing that ever happened to me."

Ellie sighed in frustration over how immature they were being...they both needed some sense knocked into them. "Tifa, it's fine if you don't want to be with Reno, but don't make everyone suffer just because you're clinging to Cloud. Just be fair to him, and Cloud, but yourself most of all." she leaned forward and patted the young woman's hand. "You're still young enough to have a long happy life with the right man, but if you wait much longer, you'll have a long bitter life. Now I've got to go, there's a nice gentleman waiting for me to teach him a new version of bingo." Ellie smiled mischievously at Tifa as she got up and left the office.

Tifa sat motionless in her boss chair for a long time, the older woman's words playing like a broken record in her head, and it was too much for her. "I need a vacation!" Tifa decided. Barret had promised to watch over the kids and the bar if she ever needed it, but she had never wanted to leave it before, not knowing whenever Cloud would come home. She'd see if Aerith wanted to go to her hometown of Icicle so she'd have some company.