Lina stayed outside on the deck after Cloud went in. Her thoughts flowed through her mind, as she thought about everything thus far.

"I'm glad Cloud is ok." She sighed. "I do think I like him, but I know I can't do anything about that. He and Tifa are in love. I wouldn't do anything to split that apart. I respect Tifa way too much to do anything like split them up. Cloud, for some reason, is very familiar to me, I don't understand why, but I know him somehow. Maybe he knows me for the same reason that I know him. Tifa said I looked somewhat like that Aeris girl. She seemed to mean a lot to Cloud." She talked to herself.

She sighed again, running her hands through her hair. Her purple dress was flowing in the wind. "I can't stop thinking about Cloud."

Cloud was sitting on the cold hard metal floor. He was sitting where Yuffie used to throw up. He smiled thinking of how funny it was. Cloud was also surprised to realize that he wasn't right next to Yuffie throwing up all over the place. Cloud was just thinking.

Did I mean those words? "I love you" he spoke to himself. I think I did. I . I kissed Tifa. I told her I love her. And, I think I mean it. What does Tifa think about all this? Does she love me back? Does she love me at all? He sighed to himself. "Maybe I should ask her." When Cloud stood up from his spot, and fixed his SOLDIER uniform, he looked up to see Tifa standing in front of him.

"Hi Cloud." Tifa said softly

Cloud smirked. "Hi." He looked at her and decided to beat her before she says anything.

"Tifa do you love me?"

Tifa looked down somewhat embarrassed. "I." She looked up and closed her eyes. With a nod, she said, "Yes."

Cloud tries to not smile so quickly. "I. I wanted to ask you . If." He glanced around very subtly. ". If maybe you wanted to make this more of just friends." He tried to remain looking into her eyes, but he was very nervous. Wait! Did I just say that!

Tifa's eyes threw themselves wide open. Tifa was completely shocked. She could not believe what she was hearing. Cloud wants to be with her. "Cloud do you really mean this?" Tifa tried to hide all her emotions. Tifa was attempting to understand that her one and only wish is coming true.

Cloud moved in closer, very nervously. "Tifa, I always had something for you, at a point I just forgot about it. Now I realize that I don't want to be away from you."

Tifa looked at him and decided to be bold. "What about Lina?"

Cloud didn't even know how to look at her. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, I think you might have something for her."

Cloud looked down. "I'm not sure."

"Do you like her?" Tifa asked with a very soft voice, barely audible.

"I don't know Tifa, I just don't know. All I know is that I love you, and I want to be with you. You have always been by my side." He looked at her and decided to ask a question. "Were you jealous of Aeris." He did not want to mention her in such a way.

"Of course not!" Tifa raised her voice. "Aeris meant the world to me, just like you Cloud." She looked down. "I just understood that you wanted to be with Aeris, so I left you to alone. I admit I was a bit angry when she talked to you about the date back at the cell in the Shinra building. I understood that it was my fault; I never should have left you alone too long. Cloud I understood everything. The only thing that bothers me is that what would have happened if Aeris didn't die. Would we be here? Huh! Tell me, would we be here, right now, talking to each other?"

Cloud could not answer that; he had no answer for such a question. "Tifa I'm sorry if I hurt you by the way I felt for Aeris."

"Cloud just shut up! I'm just worried that, you want Lina now. I understand Aeris because well she was a great woman. That girl deserved you."

"Don't say that Tifa. I deserve neither you, nor Aeris."

Tifa tried to speak, but a tear came out. As she composed herself, her crimson eyes glare into his. "Cloud. I think we should take this slowly. I'm not sure if we're ready to be together yet." Tifa could not believe she was saying this, but she knew it was right.

"Are you saying you don't want to be with me?" Cloud asked, obviously not understanding what Tifa meant.

"No! Of course I want to be with you, I have loved you since you left for Midgar Cloud!" She finally admitted it. "For five years I have been in love with you, and no one else. I never went out with any other guy because I wanted to be with you. I always checked the newspaper to see you on it, I always thought about you. Damn it Cloud, can't you understand that all I want is to be loved by you." Tears were bursting from her eyes. "I all I ever want is to be with you." She fell on her knees crying.

He slowly kneeled down next to her. "Tifa, I'm sorry for hurting you. Tifa, I'll gladly wait to be with you, as long as I know that we can be together. I don't care if it takes years. I will wait for you. I will wait to love you."

Tifa wiped some tears away, thinking that was the single only romantic thing Cloud has said for five years. "Would you really wait to be with me?" She bit her lip, as a tear streamed down her cheek.

Cloud looked at her, he looked into her beautiful eyes. He raised is index finger and wiped the tear that escaped her. "Tifa I love you more than anything, I will never leave your side, I will wait for the end of time."

Tifa was extremely overjoyed. She threw herself at him. "Cloud. thank you." She dug her head into his chest.

Cloud held her in his arms, held her close to him. Resting his head upon hers, he thought of no better place to be. I want to be with you, repeated in his mind, and he knew he meant it.

"Cloud?" she called out to him.

He looked at her smiling.

"I love you." She then kissed him.