[A/N: YaY! People are actually reviewing me! ::jumps up and down, clapping:: I wasn't thinking about spending that much time on this story, but I've had a change of heart. ^.^ I'll be posting new chapters as quickly as I can. I don't wanna keep people waiting too much. ~.^ As for this, this chapter is kind of a quick flashback on the events directly after Meteor. It's got alotta CloTi, and some Cid/Barret action. (you'll see what I mean!) I love those two. ^.^ Anyways, read on, I know this is kind of short, but It will improve, I promise. ^.^ v ]
Cloud had changed significantly since the incident with Meteor. After the rescue mission in Midgar, he had spent much time alone to figure and sort out his feelings and emotions. Tifa kept her distance, despite how much it pained her too, but he appreciated it all the same.
He spent most of his time in Nibelheim. It made sense; he was only born there. Everyone else was there, too. They had all decided to stay together for a little while longer to figure out where they would all go from here.
On the clear, crystal nights, he would spend his time at the well. Tifa would longingly watch him from her window, wishing she could do something to help him, to show she cared and that she was there for him, always. But she would never know the inner turmoil that Cloud would suffer.
Through much pain and self debate, Cloud decided that he was going to move on. After all, it's what people do, right? They face problems, dilemmas, even death; they'd grieve, then move on. He would never forget Aeris, he knew that, and he'd always love her.
But he loves Tifa, too. She had been there by his side everyday since they met again in the Sector 6 Train Station. She had promised to stay with him, no matter what, even if it meant facing Sephiroth alone.
Cloud was alleviated, now. His past was no longer a muddled memory of lies and confusion. He knew the truth, as did everyone else. He had lost an ally, someone he loved dearly. He accepted it, as he did his past.
And he moved on.
That night, particularly clear with each crystal star blazing gloriously in the dusky sky, Cloud walked away from the well, a feeling of renewal within him. It was as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders, no longer immobilizing him from advancing in his life.
He peeked into the room Tifa was sleeping. It was her old room from when they were kids. He remembered back as a kid, he would have given anything to be in this room, to be near Tifa. He would gaze up at the window, wishing he was instead gazing out.
"Cloud?" A quiet, soft voice lifted him from his thoughts.
"Tifa.. I need to talk to you." Cloud whispered back through the darkness.
Tifa didn't hesitate. She sat up, anticipating the conversation that was about to take place, as she had for several weeks, now.
The only light source for the room was through the window, which reflected the celestial light of the evening. Cloud watched as her small frame stood up, silhouetted against the moonlight.
/She's so beautiful../ He thought to himself. He suddenly felt nervous. He had entered the house feeling strong and sure of himself, but now his stomach began to churn. /What if her feelings for me have changed all this time?/ He pondered. /What if all the time I spent thinking about Aeris made her think I don't care for her as much anymore? What if she thinks I want to leave her? I don't think I could bear the thought of losing her, too../
Tifa noticed that Cloud was suddenly still in the doorway, with a look of concern on his face. "Cloud.. Are you alright?" She asked feebly, not knowing her own feelings. Her heart was pounding, afraid of what Cloud would have to say to her.
Cloud looked up from his reverie and regained his stature. He nodded silently and motioned for her to follow.
The couple padded out into the fresh air of the night. The tension was growing between them the closer they got to Cloud's destination, the well. Neither of them knew the others feelings, and both were afraid of rejection.
Cloud professionally climbed up onto the well, and with a bit of added courage, he turned and took Tifa's hand into his. He steadily helped her up (even though he knew the young fighter could easily manage on her own) and deftly pulled her into his arms.
Tifa breathed in a breath of surprise, and embraced her old friend firmly, her heart beating furiously.
"Tifa.." Cloud said without wavering. "I can't live without you. I just realized, again in my life, yet for the first time how much I need you here with me."
He paused a moment, waiting for her to push away or decline his words. She was, however motionless, and maybe even a bit shocked.
He pushed on, hugging her a little bit tighter than before. "I know it might not make any sense, but.. but.." He pulled back to look into her eyes. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of them. Her red wine colored orbs peered up at him, with wet tears cushioning them under the reflection of the brilliant stars, each one twinkling like a tiny, flickering crimson flame.
He brought his hand to her cheek softly, and she returned the kindness by placing hers on top of his, caressing his fingers. Her skin was just as soft as always, glimmering that milky white color he loved so much.
"Tifa.. I love you."
She then threw her arms around him, hugging her longed-for lover closer then ever before. Through her sobs of precious joy, she whispered back to him, "I love you too... Cloud.."
He stroked her hair softly and cuddled her softly.
—--
Cid suddenly felt a hard knock on the top of his blonde head, and stepped back from the window, wincing, and rubbed his crown where the blow had taken place. He met the harsh glare of a stone faced man in return.
"B-Barret.. a-heh.. nice to see you, buddy..." He chided, backing away slowly.
"Goddammit, Cid, don't you have any sense in that thick-ass skull of yours?" Barret countered, gruffly.
"I was just-"
"You was just nothin'! Can't you see they want a lil' privacy? Why the hell you think they went out there 'n the first place?"
Cid pouted, and walked back to his room, turning to take one last peek out the window.
"Uh uh!" Barret pulled the curtains shut, then folded his husky arms across his broad chest, continuing his icy glare.
"Awww.." Cid turned in defeat, and left, still rubbing his head and mumbling a string of not-so-nice-things under his breath. "Dammit.. Can't even get some good entertainment around here.."
Barret smiled to himself, then turned to take a quick peek out the window.
Cid peeked into the doorway.
Barret jumped and closed the curtain quickly, looking as if he was just caught with his remaining hand in the cookie jar. If his skin wasn't so dark, you'd swear he was blushing.
"I was just... checkin' to see if the window was.. Locked.." Barret stammered at the sudden change of roles.
Cid just cocked up a brisky eyebrow. "Uh huh." Only the scent of mock-sarcasm could be detected in his tone.
Cloud had changed significantly since the incident with Meteor. After the rescue mission in Midgar, he had spent much time alone to figure and sort out his feelings and emotions. Tifa kept her distance, despite how much it pained her too, but he appreciated it all the same.
He spent most of his time in Nibelheim. It made sense; he was only born there. Everyone else was there, too. They had all decided to stay together for a little while longer to figure out where they would all go from here.
On the clear, crystal nights, he would spend his time at the well. Tifa would longingly watch him from her window, wishing she could do something to help him, to show she cared and that she was there for him, always. But she would never know the inner turmoil that Cloud would suffer.
Through much pain and self debate, Cloud decided that he was going to move on. After all, it's what people do, right? They face problems, dilemmas, even death; they'd grieve, then move on. He would never forget Aeris, he knew that, and he'd always love her.
But he loves Tifa, too. She had been there by his side everyday since they met again in the Sector 6 Train Station. She had promised to stay with him, no matter what, even if it meant facing Sephiroth alone.
Cloud was alleviated, now. His past was no longer a muddled memory of lies and confusion. He knew the truth, as did everyone else. He had lost an ally, someone he loved dearly. He accepted it, as he did his past.
And he moved on.
That night, particularly clear with each crystal star blazing gloriously in the dusky sky, Cloud walked away from the well, a feeling of renewal within him. It was as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders, no longer immobilizing him from advancing in his life.
He peeked into the room Tifa was sleeping. It was her old room from when they were kids. He remembered back as a kid, he would have given anything to be in this room, to be near Tifa. He would gaze up at the window, wishing he was instead gazing out.
"Cloud?" A quiet, soft voice lifted him from his thoughts.
"Tifa.. I need to talk to you." Cloud whispered back through the darkness.
Tifa didn't hesitate. She sat up, anticipating the conversation that was about to take place, as she had for several weeks, now.
The only light source for the room was through the window, which reflected the celestial light of the evening. Cloud watched as her small frame stood up, silhouetted against the moonlight.
/She's so beautiful../ He thought to himself. He suddenly felt nervous. He had entered the house feeling strong and sure of himself, but now his stomach began to churn. /What if her feelings for me have changed all this time?/ He pondered. /What if all the time I spent thinking about Aeris made her think I don't care for her as much anymore? What if she thinks I want to leave her? I don't think I could bear the thought of losing her, too../
Tifa noticed that Cloud was suddenly still in the doorway, with a look of concern on his face. "Cloud.. Are you alright?" She asked feebly, not knowing her own feelings. Her heart was pounding, afraid of what Cloud would have to say to her.
Cloud looked up from his reverie and regained his stature. He nodded silently and motioned for her to follow.
The couple padded out into the fresh air of the night. The tension was growing between them the closer they got to Cloud's destination, the well. Neither of them knew the others feelings, and both were afraid of rejection.
Cloud professionally climbed up onto the well, and with a bit of added courage, he turned and took Tifa's hand into his. He steadily helped her up (even though he knew the young fighter could easily manage on her own) and deftly pulled her into his arms.
Tifa breathed in a breath of surprise, and embraced her old friend firmly, her heart beating furiously.
"Tifa.." Cloud said without wavering. "I can't live without you. I just realized, again in my life, yet for the first time how much I need you here with me."
He paused a moment, waiting for her to push away or decline his words. She was, however motionless, and maybe even a bit shocked.
He pushed on, hugging her a little bit tighter than before. "I know it might not make any sense, but.. but.." He pulled back to look into her eyes. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of them. Her red wine colored orbs peered up at him, with wet tears cushioning them under the reflection of the brilliant stars, each one twinkling like a tiny, flickering crimson flame.
He brought his hand to her cheek softly, and she returned the kindness by placing hers on top of his, caressing his fingers. Her skin was just as soft as always, glimmering that milky white color he loved so much.
"Tifa.. I love you."
She then threw her arms around him, hugging her longed-for lover closer then ever before. Through her sobs of precious joy, she whispered back to him, "I love you too... Cloud.."
He stroked her hair softly and cuddled her softly.
—--
Cid suddenly felt a hard knock on the top of his blonde head, and stepped back from the window, wincing, and rubbed his crown where the blow had taken place. He met the harsh glare of a stone faced man in return.
"B-Barret.. a-heh.. nice to see you, buddy..." He chided, backing away slowly.
"Goddammit, Cid, don't you have any sense in that thick-ass skull of yours?" Barret countered, gruffly.
"I was just-"
"You was just nothin'! Can't you see they want a lil' privacy? Why the hell you think they went out there 'n the first place?"
Cid pouted, and walked back to his room, turning to take one last peek out the window.
"Uh uh!" Barret pulled the curtains shut, then folded his husky arms across his broad chest, continuing his icy glare.
"Awww.." Cid turned in defeat, and left, still rubbing his head and mumbling a string of not-so-nice-things under his breath. "Dammit.. Can't even get some good entertainment around here.."
Barret smiled to himself, then turned to take a quick peek out the window.
Cid peeked into the doorway.
Barret jumped and closed the curtain quickly, looking as if he was just caught with his remaining hand in the cookie jar. If his skin wasn't so dark, you'd swear he was blushing.
"I was just... checkin' to see if the window was.. Locked.." Barret stammered at the sudden change of roles.
Cid just cocked up a brisky eyebrow. "Uh huh." Only the scent of mock-sarcasm could be detected in his tone.