A/N: Hey guys. Total CloTi action here. Cleris fans, DON'T READ. Was meant to be a LEMON but I haven't wrote one before, so it has been taken out. But I hope this is good enough without it. I'm sure Jessica Holmes will like this chapter ;D

Note – If you read this fic with the music I suggest with inserts (which I doubt you do. I do when I'm writing the chapter), I suggest Cloud's Theme 'Interrupted By Fireworks' up to the '* * * * *'.

Summary – Squall, Cloud, Rinoa and Tifa investigate at the Nibelhiem Reactor. Cloud realises that he's putting his friends in danger by being around them. So he decides to leave.

Chapter 19 – A Night to Remember

---------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------

Tifa walked out of Kalm, dressed in her black skirt and a blue top. She had seen Cloud on the hills earlier but he had disappeared.

'Where is he?' she thought.

She walked through the forest south of Kalm, heading towards its centre. She thought she might find him here.

She reached the centre and a beautiful sight met her eyes. It was a large pond that was circled by trees. The only place where the water didn't reach was the side of the opening Tifa was at. She watched the water as the moonlight shone down upon it. She saw something hit the water, and she looked to the place where it had come from. She smiled as she saw Cloud standing there. He was trying to skip the stones across the water, but was failing miserably. She noticed that his large jacket was lying near a tree and he obviously didn't need it. Tifa walked up beside him.

"Hey Cloud." she greeted softly.

He turned to look at her, surprised that anyone had found him.

"Hey Tif. What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. I saw on the hills a few hours ago but then you vanished. I was worried."

"You don't need to be. I can take care of myself."

"That doesn't stop me from caring."

Cloud looked at her and saw that she really meant it.

"I guess you're right."

They both looked at the pond and a smile appeared across Cloud's face.

"You know where this place reminds me of?" he said, looking at Tifa again. She simply shook her head. "The place where we buried Aeris."

Tifa's smile vanished at this. She knew Cloud loved Aeris and missed her a lot. She and Aeris had been fighting for Cloud's heart. Aeris had won.

Cloud continued, not noticing Tifa's sadness. "I've always blamed myself for her death. But…I've started to realise, that she had to go."

Tifa looked up at him in surprise. She never thought she would hear Cloud say anything like that. She stayed silent as he kept talking.

"When it's our time to die…It's our time. That's what my Mom told me when I was a child. She told me again when before she died." he lowered his head, with a sad look on his face, as he remembered his mother. "It was Aeris' time. She had to go. She chose to. Without her sacrifice, the Planet would be gone. She would've died anyway."

He stopped there. He was finding this hard, Tifa knew that. He stayed silent as he watched the fish in the pond swim together. Tifa watched them too. She felt her happiness return as she stood side-by-side with Cloud.

"I'm leaving Tifa." Cloud told her. "And I don't think I'll be coming back."

All the happiness that had come was drained out of her and a slight feeling of anger replaced it.

"Why!?" she asked, tears filling her eyes. "Why are you leaving?"

"Because as long as I'm here, everyone will be in danger. The Mako-Mutants can sense where I am. They'll keep following me."

"But we can fight. We can kill them and destroy all the reactors so no more are made."

"That's not the only reason."

"Well! What is!?" she nearly shouted. Tears were now starting to slide down her face. This was all his fault. He had broken her heart again. He was going to leave, just like he did at Nibelhiem.

He hesitated. "I…I can't…tell you Tif."

"Is it because of Squall and his friends? Is it because of the attacks? Is it because you're always in a foul mood?"

"No Tif. I can't tell you why." he said sadly.

"I don't get it!" she shouted, tears now pouring down her face as she got angrier and angrier at him. She hated him for doing this to her. "How could you do this to us!? To your friends!? To ME!?"

He didn't answer that time. Instead, he just looked away from her.

"You don't care about anyone do you!? How can you care if you keep hurting me like this!? I guess you were always right. You're just the weak, useless clone Sephiroth said you were. Just like the boy I knew from Nibelhiem!" And with that she turned her back on him and walked away.

Those last two remarks had hit Cloud like a bullet had been shot right through his heart. She thought that Sephiroth was right. Maybe he was. It just tore his heart apart to hear it come from the one person he loved the most. He lowered his head and shut his eyes, trying to hold back the tears which threatened to come out.

"Tifa! Please, WAIT!"

Tifa stopped just as she was about to leave. His voice sounded strangled, as if he was trying not to cry. She didn't turn round but he continued his plea.

"Don't…don't make this…any harder than…it already is." his face grew quieter towards the end of his sentence.

Tifa turned round to see him, facing the pond again. She could see his tears run down his cheek. She must've really hurt him. She had never seen Cloud cry before. Not even when Aeris had died. She suddenly felt heartbroken, to see him this upset. She slowly walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned round, and his watery eyes looked into hers. Tifa stepped forwards and wrapped her arms around his neck. She put her head on his shoulder as he wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm so sorry Cloud." she sobbed. "I didn't mean what I said. I didn't mean any of it. I wish I could take it all back."

She continued to sob but Cloud didn't answer back. He just held her tighter, reassuring her that he had forgiven her.

They stood in each others arms for, what seemed like forever. Neither one wanted to let go, they wanted to stay like this.

They both pulled back from each other, but still in each others arms. They stared into each others eyes, their face centimetres apart. They both leaned forward and their lips met.

Tifa felt more tears come out of her eyes. She finally had him. He loved her, he really loved her. They kissed passionately and lowered each other to the ground.

Before they knew it…they had truly shown their feelings. Their souls had merged together and it would be a night they would never forget.

* * * * *

Insert – 'On The Other Side Of The Mountain' music

Cloud woke up next morning, feeling something warm curled up next to him. He looked down to see a naked Tifa and smiled. They were lying on the ground, using Cloud's jacket as a sort of duvet.

They had shown their true feelings for each other the previous night. Cloud thought that his timing couldn't have been any worse. He was leaving today. He didn't want to worry about his friends' safety every time the mutants attacked. If he didn't leave, he'd be putting his friends in danger. But if he did leave, he'd break Tifa's heart again. It was a no-win situation.

He snapped back to reality when he felt Tifa stir. She slowly opened her eyes and looked into his. Seeing her smile made him feel worse. If he left, he may never see that smile again. Or her beautiful eyes. There was so much he would miss.

"Morning Cloud." she greeted quietly.

"Morning Tif." he greeted back. Tifa sat up slightly and kissed him. She let her hands wander across his chest and shoulder blade, before breaking the kiss. She snuggled into him tighter than she had before. With Tifa next to him, if there was any cold wind, he couldn't feel it. She was so warm…he just wanted to stay here forever.

But he couldn't.

"C'mon Tifa. I gotta go."

Tifa didn't answer. Instead she held on to him tighter and whispered. "I don't want you to go."

"Tifa." he whispered back. He held her tightly against his bare chest. He heard her sob slightly, and kissed her forehead. "You know I've got to go."

She nodded and wiped her eyes. She sat up and they each reached over for their clothes.

* * * * *

Insert – 'Tifa's Theme' music

About an hour later, Cloud was preparing to leave. Tifa just stood near the pond the whole time. She held back her tears and the urge to beg him to take her with him. She knew he wouldn't let her go.

She didn't notice Cloud walking towards her until he put his hand on her shoulder. She flinched slightly, but she turned round and stared into his aqua-marine eyes. It was the last time that she might see them. She was upset about him leaving. But she was happy that he told her how he felt before he left.

She could barely hold back her tears. She wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to let go. Cloud hugged her back, and felt tears sting his own eyes. He pulled away slightly and kissed her.

They stood there for, what felt like, an eternity. Neither of them wanted to let go, but knew they had to. They broke the kiss when they heard Cloud's Neo Bahamut land behind them. Cloud looked back at Tifa with wet eyes. He grabbed her hand and wrapped her fingers around something. Tifa didn't look at it.

"Take care of this for me, okay?"

Tifa nodded while he took her other hand in his.

"And…and take care of yourself, and the others."

Tifa nodded again and squeezed the thing in her palm. Cloud started to walk away. Tifa held onto his hand as long as she could. But his slipped from hers as he got out of reach. The tears she had kept back silently poured down her face. Cloud climbed onto his Neo Bahamut and took off. With one last tearful look at Tifa, he flew off into the distance.

Tifa collapsed onto her knees and sobbed more than she ever had before. He was gone. The one person she had ever loved was gone. Maybe for good.

A/N: *SOB* *WAIL* NOOOOOO, he's gone. heh heh. not for long. whats the rest of AVALANCHE and the SeeD's gonna say. Find out soon.

Shout-outs –

Mako-Magic – I don't think Squall's gonna be too chuffed about Cloud leavin'. Find out soon.

cloudude55 – Sorry. I keep calling it the Highwind! I won't do that again. Promise.

Angelic-Princess-Rikku – Thanks. Glad you like it. I've always liked crossovers.

Fr33k S+Yl3 23 – Thanks for LOVING my fic. Its my first one so I'm happy to here that. You're free to contact me at any time. I'll be happy to chat.

Jessica Holmes – Sorry I'm such a fast updater. I can't help it. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, 'cause I did.