2 Days Later

"Tifa, Tifa"

I looked around to see who was calling my name; it was Marlene "Yup?" I asked her.

"You know the flower lady?"

I looked down at her, "Yeah?" I asked, wondering why Marlene had suddenly brought this up.

"Well, Papa says she helped, you know. Stop the bad things from happening. But I don't understand, isn't she dead? And where's Cloud gone? Had he gone to look for her? How is he going to find her?"

I sat down next to Marlene, I had to make sure that my smile didn't falter or I didn't let her know that I was upset; it wouldn't be fair on her.

"Yeah, Aeris did die. But she came back to help us win the battle. I don't really understand it all to be truthful with you, but… but Cloud has gone to look for her, I think he knows how he can find her"

"But…" I watched as confusion hit the young girl and she shook her head.

"What's wrong Marlene?"

"Why didn't you go? Why didn't you go to find the flower lady too?"

I smiled, I guess she hadn't heard the expression 'threes a crowd' she was to young to explain it to, "I think it was something Cloud needed to do on his own Marlene"

"Didn't he want you to come?"

How to answers this? Cloud HAD asked me to go with him, but I couldn't. I mean, yeah great I can't think of anything better than standing there while him and Aeris were reunited. No thanks, not my idea of fun. "I think Marlene that it would be better for him and Aeris to be…together alone"

"Oh" Marlene still looked confused, I wonder what was wrong with her, I waited for her to begin telling me, after all there was no hurry; it wasn't like I had anywhere to go. "Tifa…"She began

"Yes?"

"When are you going to get married?"

I laughed, I wasn't meaning to laugh at her or anything. But it was hardly like there was anyone to marry.

"Marry who Marlene?" I asked smiling. I thought it was funny, but at the same time the question still kind of upset me. However Marlene didn't seem to think it was funny, instead she was looking at me as if I was stupid.

"Cloud silly!"

Great, I was hoping that this conversation wasn't going to go this way, it was bad enough that I was discussing stuff like this with an eight year old, although somehow that made it less embarrassing than talking about it with someone my age.

Shaking my head, I couldn't help but be a bit upset; I didn't really like talking about Cloud right now, guess that tsunagi chiyu (time heals)

"Me and Cloud? Married? I think he might get married to Aeris," I said shaking my head, trying to force a smile.

"He can't" Marlene simply said.

"Why not?" I asked her

"Because you can't marry two people"

I sighed; it was going to be a long day. "Cloud and I aren't going to get married Marlene"

"That's not what Cloud said"