Cloud slowed the Chocobo down as they were approaching the entrance gates of Midgar, the town which had, just months ago, been the capital of the whole planet, and was now falling to pieces. Since the Mako reactors had been shut down, nature was tightening its grip on the area and plants had started to grow, not having any respect for the buildings, simply overwhelming them.
Actually, Cloud saw it as an improvement. Although he had once been living in the big town, he had always thought of it to be far too unfriendly, a gigantic machine that swallowed every bit of humanity and naturalism that dared enter.
Passing the gate, Cloud jumped down from Boco and led him, Tifa still on his back, through the remains of the city.
Here and there, they met some people that had returned to their homes, rebuilding what had been lost in the supernatural battle of Meteor, Holy and Lifestream.
Tifa eyed her surroundings curiously, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the large buildings.
Almost blindly, Cloud guided her through the whole town, passing the slums, showing her the place that had once been Sector 7.
Finally, they came to a halt in the former train-station and Cloud helped Tifa dismount the chocobo, placing her on a nearby bench.
Tifa glanced at him curiously, questioningly.
Just like Cloud had expected, she had no clue why he had brought her to that location and now demanded an explanation, hoping it might help her.
"This, as far as I remember, is the place where you found me, even before I joined AVALANCHE on its quest. When I had given up all hope, and was all alone, you found me here, and stood by my side, like you did so often…"
Tifa looked over at the young man right next to her. It seemed like this place held a special meaning for him, yet she did not remember anything.
She should remember it, and she would, soon.
Cloud looked up at her again, diverting his gaze from the peaceful scenery.
"I guess we should get going now." Carefully, he touched her hand and squeezed it.
"I promise I'll help you, Teef. I'm never gonna give up on you… just like you never gave up on me…"
***
"Wow", Tifa stated, simply overwhelmed by her surroundings. Never before had she seen anything like that.
The whole place was made of something similar to glass or crystal, seeming incredibly fragile. The transparent material formed odd curves and unnatural structures she had not even seen in her dreams before. On the very ground was a large abyss filled with water, on it floating a large platform accessible only over stairs that winded down even below the water's surface.
The whole place radiated a serene, and somewhat larger-than-life feeling that touched her heart almost immediately.
Something very important had happened on this very spot, she felt it. Yet she did not know what it was.
But Cloud most definitely knew all about it, one could see it in his eyes.
He had struggled hard with himself whether to take her here or not, but then had decided that he had to do it, no matter how much it hurt him. If it could possibly help her, then he simply had to try.
Carefully setting one foot after the other, he carried Tifa down the stairs and set her down on a platform that was half way down to the water.
Cloud sat down next to her, staring at the ceiling.
"This is an odd place… but it feels special. Tell me, Cloud, what happened here?"
He let out a deep sigh before even replying to her question.
Most obviously the event that had taken place here had shaken him deep inside, the pain and ache had not been forgotten yet.
And even though Tifa was afraid of what he might tell her, she longed to know.
Thus, she listened carefully as he closed his eyes and started describing the day that had changed everybody's lives…
The moment was serene, a second being stretched into an eternity, as they watched the beautiful ancient close her eyes and set out a prayer, asking for help for all the planet, to escape the menace that was approaching more and more every single second. A menace that was to destroy the entire humankind if there were no intervention.
Suddenly, a soaring rose in the air, and reflexes of light rushed down from the ceiling, cold metal slicing the back of the praying beauty.
Her eyes opened in sheer surprise and shock, not even aware of the pain that was torturing the body and draining life in just a few seconds.
In one last, cramping motion, the body jerked up, only to fall to the floor numbly to never ever move again.
The slicing sound still echoed through the hall, in the ears of the unbelieving spectators.
Unable to realize what had just happened in front of their eyes, they stood there, frozen to the spot.
His mind cried, his heart ached, his brain told him to act, to at least move a muscle.
Yet he could not, his synapses refused any kind of work.
And he immediately hated himself for that. He was a fool for not doing something.
If he had just reacted, he might have been able to save her, he might have taken her place.
Overwhelmed by guilt, he could not even let out a cry, he could not even express his deep sadness and pain, but had to distract his thoughts to intervene the approach of another threat. The threat that had just cost the life of a precious being, who had dedicated her whole life to the planet, unselfishly.
And this only worsened the guilt that built up inside of him.
With one inhuman cry of rage and anger, he launched into battle, once again taking revenge…
Tears built up inside her eyes, making her vision blurry, as she tried to understand what she had just been told.
The story had overwhelmed her, the emotions being far too much to be taken.
And Cloud obviously felt the same. He did not cry, nor did his eyes glisten with unshed tears, but Tifa could see it.
She could see the hurt and pain that burned inside his heart, quieting down, yet never really stopping.
"Cloud… I… I'm sorry…" she started, trying to control the sobs that escaped her throat unwanted. Shivering, she placed a hand on Cloud's shoulder, offering support and consolation.
And he gladly took the invitation as he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her thick hair.
All she did was to hug him back, give him the support he needed, at the same time being supported by him.
The moment was filled with silence as the two young heroes simply said on the floor, holding on to each other as if their dear life depended on it, not intending to ever let go of one another again.
***
"Ok Teef, here you are", he said as he put her down onto her rented bed.
Carefully, he reached down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"And have a good night."
Thus, he left the room, a smile on his face.
Tifa waved him good bye and started to slowly undress herself to get ready for bed.
After a few minutes, she was done and lay down, switching off the light, letting darkness creep into the room.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, she could not just fall asleep. Her mind was too busy, too busy to cope with the emotions she had experienced that day.
But as well with the emotions that were growing inside her since the day she had woken up in hospital, seeing Cloud for the "first time".
Immediately, she had felt oddly related to him, like they had shared something very special before. And with every day she had spent with him, with every day he had stayed by her side, caring for her, worrying about her, making her laugh, the feelings had intensified.
And it frightened her, to the core.
If it were not for her amnesia, she would know how to behave in front of him, what to think of the emotions she felt, if they were "good" or "bad".
But considering the circumstances, she could not be sure of anything. She did not know what to do with herself, and how to react to her feelings. All she could do was suppress them until she regained her memory, until she could remember all the details of their relationship, the connection between them.
With a sigh, she closed her eyes, trying hard not to start crying. But once again, her emotions took a hold of her, and salty streams rushed down her cheeks, soaking the pillow, until she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
***
A strange feeling overcame Tifa as she and Cloud reached their next destination.
It was a small town at the foot of a steep and dangerous looking mountain on the west continent.
It looked nostalgic, with all the small houses built in a circle around a small well in the middle of the town.
She knew this place, she felt it, yet she did not know what to connect it with.
"This is Nibelheim", Cloud answered the unspoken question. "This is the small town we both grew up in, as neighbors, door to door. Here we spent our childhood, more or less carefree."
Carefully, he took Tifa in his arms and walked over to the well with her, sitting her down on top of it, taking a place a her side.
Tifa ran her fingers over the rough wooden planks, feeling the structure on her skin. Curiously, she traced the frame and dipped her forefinger into the cool water, distorting her reflection.
"I… I feel this place is important to me. I cannot quite make out what it is, but something has happened here, right here, on the well, right? When we were still kids?" she asked, frowning, gazing into the water.
Cloud shot her a surprised glance and smiled.
"Yes, Tifa. You're right. It was a starry night, just like tonight, I had asked you to meet me here, right on top of this well. And I was waiting for you, anxious you might not show up…
Cloud swung his legs back and forth, impatiently waiting. He was anxious she might not show up. Why, after all, should she? It was not like they were best friends or something, even though it was what he dreamed of.
There was nothing in the whole wide world he longed for that much.
At the sudden sound of footsteps from behind, he jerked up and turned around.
There she was, his angel, his Tifa, smiling at him.
His heart nearly missed a beat as he tried to look at her and not blush at the same time. Considering it might be better, he simply sat down again, noticing that she did just the same.
"You know, come spring, I am going to leave Nibelheim, to join SOLDIER." He started, not really knowing how else to tell her.
"Oh", Tifa replied, surprised by the news. "All the boys are leaving…"
"Please, Cloud, promise me something?""Ummm… ok", Cloud replied after some struggling with himself.
"Promise me that, whenever I'm in a bind, my hero will come and rescue me. Please. I want to experience that at least once in my life."
"And I promised I would. If you ever needed me, I would be there, by your side. That was actually all I ever wanted", Cloud added, looking down, slightly embarrassed. "Even when I joined SOLDIER, it was just because of you. I wanted so bad for you to notice me, to see that I was there, too, that I was longing to be with you…… and I still am…"
He looked up at her, waiting for her reaction.
Tifa was stunned. The man she had gotten to love had just confessed he needed her, too. And that was all it needed for Tifa's emotions to overwhelm her.
Carefully, she moved closer to him and placed her lips on his, pulling him into a loving embrace. Cloud returned her actions, confirming she did the right thing.
Then it suddenly hit her.
Billions of pictures shut through her head, emotions rushed in and let her heart beat faster and faster. It was a hurricane of memories hitting her, and she suddenly jerked back, panting.
Cloud stared at her, feeling guilty, afraid that he might have done something wrong, that he had dared too much.
"Teef, I'm sorry… Are you okay?"
She just nodded at him, her face a picture of mixed emotions.
"Ya… I… I remember now… I remember everything…" she started, but suddenly burst into tears.
She remembered everything. And especially the last days before she had run off. And the reason, the nightmares.
Cloud carefully moved closer, trying to comfort her, but she backed away.
I gotta tell him, she thought. If I don't tell him all about it now, I will never be able to.
"You know, Cloud… the reason why I … I… run off… I had those nightmares, you know…"
He looked at her curiously. Sure, she had told him about having nightmares, but not what they had been about. Could they really have been the reason for her breakdown?
Tifa summoned all the courage accessible and continued.
"I… I dreamed that we met here, on the well. And I … told you that… that I … love you and then… Aeris appeared and you said … that you loved her…"
Tears were running uncontrollably now, thus Tifa tried to hide her face in her hands, she simply hated being considered as weak.
Yet Cloud took her hands in his and smiled at her.
"Tifa, it was just a bad dream. I love you, Tifa, and no one else. Although it took me quite some time to sort out my feelings, I finally realized it. It has always been you. My whole life was just built around you. And if you hadn't been by my side all the time, I would never have made it this far."
Tifa blinked, not sure if she had heard right.
Had he just told her he loved her?
He had!
Immediately, everything in the world seemed right just the way it was, and all the pain and ache she had once felt was forgotten in an instance.
Still crying, but this time tears of pure joy, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, kissing him, simply enjoying the moment.
Finally, everything was the way it was supposed to be, no more pain, no more hurt and ache, just love and content.
For the rest of her life… their life.
***
It was their fifth day in Nibelheim. Cloud and Tifa were staying at her house, savoring the silence and peace, simply wanting to be together, nothing else.
Cloud was standing in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the two of them. He was just putting some pancakes on a plate when he heard a door creak behind him. Alarmed, he spun around to see who the intruder was.
In a shock, he realized that it was Tifa, standing in the door frame, on her very own legs, by herself, smiling at her love.
"Tifa…" he gasped, "you… you're walking…?!"
Tifa nodded, and slowly, setting one foot carefully in front of the other, still shakily, she walked towards him, letting herself fall into the arms of the man she loved.
"Incredible…" he stated as he looked at her.
"Yeah, I guess that's the real power of love, huh?" she giggled, Cloud just joined in the laughter.
Life was perfect now…
Well… almost perfect, he thought, as an idea manifested inside his mind.
