Unshed Tears

-kawaiiteddybear

kawaiiteddybear: thanks for all the reviews everyone, sorry for taking so long, but i don't have internet so yea. heres chapter two!

Chapter Two: In the Moonlight

"Thanks Elaine for coming out today. If it's alright with you, I'm going to close up early." Tifa announced to her employee.

"Sure thing." Elaine smiled, "Have a great day."

"You too." Tifa smiled back. She watched Elaine walk off, as she locked up her bar. Finally she had reached her house, opening the door, wondering if Cloud was there. He had left after they had a small talk at the bar this morning. She hadn't seen him since then. 'I probably scared him away.' Tifa thought sadly. She smile touched her lips, as she walked into the kitchen. She had always loved to cook, but no one had ever really tried her cooking.

"Hey." a voice greeted behind her, causing her to jump.

Tifa turned around, looking in to mako blue eyes. "Hey."

"So what are you doing here so early?" Cloud asked her, sitting at the small kitchen table.

"The bar was empty today so I was going to make dinner for the both of us. I thought maybe you could be my taste tester." Tifa grinned.

"Fine by me." Cloud shrugged. He had never tasted any of Tifa's cooking, but he hoped that it was better then any of Cid's cooking. He cringed when he remembered the thought of Cid's version of mashed potatoes and chicken.

Tifa nodded, as she found her apron and put it on. "Let's hope you survive one meal cooked by me."

Cloud nodded, as he watched her race around the kitchen, taking out ingredients and furrow her eyebrows in frustration. He chuckled lightly as he noticed the smudges of flour and paste on her face. "Do you need any help?" he offered, walking over to the counter.

"I'm fine. Why don't you watch T.V or something?" Tifa grinned looking at him innocently, swiping her thumb across her nose.

Cloud sighed as he left the kitchen, "If I get food poisoning, I'm coming after you."

He heard Tifa giggle.

~*~

About an hour later, Tifa had called Cloud in. Cloud stared at the table in amazement. "Looks good." he told her, noticing a blush on her cheeks.

"Now, let's hope its edible." Tifa replied.

Cloud stared at the woman across from him, her hair was tied up in a ponytail, with two pieces of hair hanging down in front, blotches of flour and some yellow paste was still on her delicate face. He felt his heart melt as he watched her eat her dinner. 'Am I falling for you, Tifa?' he asked himself cautiously, he didn't want to hurt Tifa again, not until he was absolutely sure.

Tifa watched intently as Cloud took his first bite of the fried rice.

Cloud's eyes brightened, "It's really good."

"That's good." Tifa blushed.

They ate silently, finally Tifa spoke up, "So how is everyone? Barret told me that you went to visit everyone."

"Everyone's still the same." Cloud told her, looking up and chuckling, "Except Cid has taken up cooking."

"Your serious?" Tifa asked him, her eyes wide from shock.

"Last time I was there, he forced me into eating the first Cid's Death Meal." Cloud laughed.

"Death?" Tifa repeated.

"Trust me, it's not that great."

Tifa laughed, her expression suddenly becoming sad, "I wish I could see everyone again. I haven't been able to leave Kalm ever since... well... you know." referring to the day that everyone had seperated, including Cloud, "Besides, I hate travelling all by myself."

"Then why don't you and I both go visit everyone together?" Cloud suggested.

"I don't know..." Tifa sighed, "What will happen to my bar?"

"Just close it up." Cloud told her simply.

"Okay... It would be really nice to travel again." she smiled, remembering the days when the whole team was walking around the field and fighting off the monsters that lurk around the area.

"Just like old times, except without Aeris..." Cloud blurted out.

Tifa stared at him sadly, "You still love her don't you."

Cloud hesitated and answered, "I don't know..." He never expected that Tifa would ever ask him that question, it was just out of the blue. 'Does... Tifa have feelings for me?' he asked himself, observing Tifa's reaction.

"It's okay..." Tifa reassured him, "We all miss her too." 'Knowing Cloud, he probably does, he just doesn't know it yet.' Tifa thought. "Anyways, are you done? I'm going to clean up and get some sleep." Tifa told him.

"Why don't I help you, we'll get it done faster."

"Sure."

The two childhood friends stood side by side as one of them washed and the other dried the dishes. "So when do you want to start heading out of this place?" Cloud asked calmly.

"As soon as possible, I can't wait to see everyone." Tifa smiled.

Cloud nodded in agreement.

After they had cleaned up the kitchen, they both sat on the couch lazily.

"You know..." Tifa yawned, "This will be the first night that I will ever have a full night of rest."

"Why?"

"I'm always working at the bar late." Tifa answered, as her eyes slowly closed from exhaustion. Soon, she had entered the world of sleep, without even realizing it.

Cloud stood up and placed the blanket that Tifa had left for him, on top of her. He then say down on the opposite end of the mahogany colored couch. Cloud stared at her intently, she looked like a delicate angel. Her eyes were closed lightly, and her chest was heaving softly. Her brown hair laid sprawled on the couch, and her cheeks were somewhat rosey. The moonlight that crept through the window sill had cast a soft hue of light on her, giving Cloud the perfect protrait. Cloud just sat there, staring at Tifa, not getting tired of what his eyes were glued on. Finally his eyes started to get heavier and heavier, until he was cast into the world of dream.

~*~

Tifa's eyes slowly open, she let out a slight groan from the sunlight that was illuminating through the window. A small smile spread across her face when she saw the sight before her. The blonde haired soldier was sleeping right beside her. 'We must have both fell asleep yesterday.' Tifa concluded.

"Aeris..." Cloud whispered, his eyes still closed.

Tifa blinked back her tears rapidly, 'Get a hold of yourself, you always knew... That he still loved her...' Tifa's whole body gave a jump when the mako blue eyes were revealed. "Morning..." Tifa whispered, trying to mask her sadness.

"Hey..." Cloud replied, "So you ready to leave this place?"

"Let me pack and shower." Tifa smiled. 'I finally get to see everyone again...' she thought, remembering the past when all eight of the AVALANCHE members were journeying throughout the countryside, just enjoying each other's company.

Cloud didn't have much to pack, since he had just arrived a day before. But Tifa had went through her things slowly, carefully packing what she needed most and what could be left behind. She quickly dressed, not even realizing that she was putting on her old outfit, the white shirt with the black overalls. As she walked into the living room, Cloud raised an eyebrow. "What?" she asked immediately.

"You really like that outfit don't you?" Cloud commented.

Tifa looked down at herself, finally noticing what she had done. "I didn't even know, I guess its become a habit." she smiled sheepishly. She swung a dark blue bag over her shoulder and smiled, "Let's go."

Cloud nodded in agreement.

Tifa closed and locked her door, and they both headed out to world that seemed different, but wasn't all of a stranger to them. It was like heading back to the past. Tifa glanced at her surroundings, when they had pasted the place where she had usually sat and just thought about things. 'I'll be back soon...' she wanted to whisper out loud.

"So I was wondering-" Cloud started, being cut short from a loud sound.

A large shadow was cast on them, causing them to both look up, they saw a huge grey plane, with the word Highwind imprinted on them. The plane began to lower, and settled on the ground.

Cloud and Tifa smiled at each other. Both knew that this was the start to something that they had never expected.

~*~

[a/n: ARGGHHHH!!! i can't write!! STUPID WRITERS BLOCK!! BAH!!! i should've never stopped in the middle and then continue like 2 weeks later baka!!! even though it wasn't that great please review!

please go to mine and my friends' website:
www.geocities.com/magical_crazee_trio/
-sign the guestbook please!]