Chapter 12:

Tifa slowly opened her eyes and she felt like her head was going to explode from the pain.

What in the world...?

"Tifa..." The voice of her boyfriend rang in her ears making her open her eyes completely. She looked at his face before she smiled weakly, making him sigh in relief.

"Hi...?" She said which made him chuckle. "What happened...?"

"You fainted, again..." He said as he leaned down to kiss her lips. She closed her eyes to savour it.

"Mmmm... I'm sorry..."

"It wasn't your fault. I guess that was too much huh? The sudden reunion? Aerith was the one who called them all so..." Noctis said with a smirk.

"Where are we anyway?" Tifa asked while she tried to sit up, Noctis gently placed his hands on her elbow and waist to help her.

"Your old room..." He said. Tifa looked around, she tried to feel familiar but it didn't. She looked at her nightstand and saw a family picture that was held on a simple black frame, she smiled sadly before she looked away.

"You feeling okay?" He asked, she nodded her head.

"I'm fine... Where's everyone?"

"They're downstairs, they were just here a while ago, but Cloud shooed them all out." Tifa chuckled and Noctis smirked.

"Let's go downstairs then?" She said while she stood up.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Noctis said as he helped her up.

"I'm fine... Don't worry too much..."

"It's my job to worry about you." He said before he got kissed on the lips. He smirked before they both went out the door to go downstairs.

"There she is!" Cid yelled as soon as he saw the brunette along with Noctis. Everyone smiled at her while Tifa smiled sheepishly before Marlene and Denzel latched themselves on her lower body.

"Hey, sorry about that. Hi kids..." She said gently while she patted both their heads.

"We were so worried about you!" Marlene said.

"You were? I'm so Sorry..." Tifa said before she gave both kids her motherly smile.

"That's okay, you're alright now and that's all that matters." Denzel said lovingly. Tifa couldn't help the tears that were forming in her eyes, the kids really did love her so much.

The evening progressed and so did the party, Tifa served everyone with their preferred drinks while laughter and teasing were all over the place. Although Yuffie and Prompto had been spending their time talking in a secluded corner the whole night earning them dirty smirks and catcalls. After lots of drinks and countless talks, the kids went to bed with Tifa and Cloud tucking them in, then everyone started finding places to plop their drunk bodies into. Cid snored away in one of the bar tables, Barret snored louder on the couch, Prompto propped his back on the wall while Yuffie used his lap as a pillow, Gladiolus were sprawled on his chair with his head thrown back while he snored loudly. Ignis held his head on his arms on top of the table, Nanaki was curled up near the sofa, Noctis was carried upstairs to Tifa's bedroom, Aerith was already in the bedroom she shared with Cloud, Cait Sith was lifeless in one corner while Vincent was nowhere to be found. Cloud and Tifa were the ones who remained awake and sober, trying to clean up what they can from the sea of bodies and mess.

"I'm glad everyone had fun." Tifa said as she washed some glasses, Cloud was beside her, drying them with a towel.

"They missed you and they wanted to celebrate." He said as he placed them one by one on the cupboard. He heard Tifa sigh.

"I just wish I remember them... You all..." She said with her head down. Cloud's face softened then he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, take your time in remembering, and I'll just be here to remind you..." He said gently. Tifa glanced at him then she gave him a sweet smile.

"Thanks Cloud..." She whispered.

"Want to go outside for a while?" He asked as he put his hand down.

"Sure, I'd love that... It's kind of stuffy in here." She looked around with an amused expression making Cloud chuckle.

They both took a seat on the steps outside the bar, they were unconsciously looking up at the starry sky at the same time.

"You know." Tifa began which made Cloud looked at her. "Somehow, when I look at the stars, it feels special..." Cloud's face softened in her statement.

"That's because we made our promise in a starry night like this." He said. Tifa looked down and smiled.

"Yeah... Now I know why..." She glanced at Cloud and she noticed that he looked down as well. "What's wrong?"

"I just..." He sighed. "I was just imagining my life if... You were the one I popped the question to..." He said then he looked at her again. Tifa's face softened then she put a hand on his shoulder.

"We would have had a blast. That's for sure." She said with a grin, he too grinned big then he started laughing.

"Yeah, you're probably right... But... It's impossible now..."

"Yeah... Just treasure your life with your wife Cloud... And I'll treasure mine with Noct... He treats me really well..." Cloud felt a pang in his chest but dismissed it.

"I know... And I've been a total jerk towards you..."

"Don't say that... You were not, you were just being a lovesick little man." Tifa teased, Cloud pursed his lips then he laughed again.

"But... When I felt that I was losing you... I started to regret a lot of things, and I realized that I do have feelings for you..." He said without looking at her, Tifa was silent and waited patiently for him to speak again. "And you've loved me for a long time... And I've been so blind and stupid..." Tifa looked at him with shock written on her face.

"I... Loved you...?" She asked with her mouth wide open, Cloud looked panicked instantly.

"I-I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to sa-"

"Don't be..." Tifa interjected. "I've been feeling something for you whenever I looked at you but I just don't know what it was... Like... We have a connection or something... But my feelings of love... I don't know if that's it..."

"I know..." Cloud said. "And you like Noct now huh?"

"...Yes." Tifa sighed, not looking at him. "Why don't we just make a new promise?" She said with a smile. Cloud looked up at her.

"New promise?" He said, Tifa nodded.

"Yes, that both of us will be happy in our lives with the ones we are committed to, no matter how we feel about each other, we will forget about that and focus our attention to them." She said while Cloud nodded.

"And... That no matter what happens, we're still going to be there for each other..." Tifa said then she looked at him. "We're going to be the best of friends until the day we die..." She said with a sweet smile, Cloud smiled with tears forming in his eyes but he blinked it away then he nodded.

"That's a promise..." He whispered while he searched her eyes. Tifa held out her pinky which made Cloud give her a confused look. TIfa smiled then she grabbed his hand and she intertwined their pinkies together making Cloud chuckle. Then they both leaned forward to give each other a tight hug, the stars listening and watching as two friends deepen their bond, who were ready to face tomorrow with bright smiles on their faces.

A/N: Thank you so much everyone for the reviews!