A/N: Hey guys. Sorry for a boring chapter last time. Anyway. This chapter should be better but it is short.

Summary – Cloud had left Tifa, his favourite materia, ULTIMA. She gave the group the news and they didn't take it very well. They realise that he didn't want to go; also that Squall may be in danger too.

Chapter 21 – Months Gone By

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

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

It had been four months since he had left. And Tifa was still thinking about him. How couldn't she? She loved him. She wondered where he was now. Was he safe? Were the Mako-Mutants still after him? Was he thinking of her? Every thought of him, made her miss him more. She wanted him back so badly. Did he mean it when he said that he won't be coming back?

Tifa lay on her bed, clutching Cloud's favourite materia to her chest. She stared at the ceiling, her head buzzing. She remembered their last night together. She had never felt so happy. So relaxed. She had wanted that night to last forever. It hadn't.

There was only was piece of him still with her. And it wasn't the materia.

She rubbed her hand over her, once, flat stomach. She looked as if she had started to gain weight, but that wasn't the case.

He was there. A part of him was there. And she knew that. It's what kept her sane. He was with her, right now. That was all she wanted. She wanted him to be there. No matter how small.

* * * * *

It was a summer. Lots of the kids in Kalm ran through the town, with ice-cream cones in their hands. A lot of cafes had tables under the shelters and people wore mostly shorts or skirts.

The Seventh Heaven was also very busy. They now served all their beer and alcohol chilled. Most of AVALANCHE had went back home. There had been no attacks since Cloud had left. Maybe he was right to leave.

The first month had been hard. A few of AVALANCHE had taken a while to cool their anger at him. But none of them were as upset as Tifa. She had been heartbroken. She hardly ate or spoke to anyone, and when she did, her sadness was apparent in her voice. But she had started to cheer up after that. No one knew why. They thought it would be months before she felt any better.

She was now, once again, running the Seventh Heaven. Barrett and Marlene had stayed behind, as did Squall and the others. Tifa usually had Irvine helping out behind the bar. He only volunteered because he liked to flirt with the female customers. Every time he did, earned him a smack on the head, from Selphie.

Also, the bar now served food, cooked by Tifa and Rinoa. They both had excellent cooking skills. The group of 8 (10 if you include Marlene and Angelo) had made the Seventh Heaven even more popular than before.

Squall and Rinoa were in the back room. They sat on the couch watching the television. Angelo slept at their feet and her tail was wagging.

Squall turned his head towards the stairs when he heard someone walking down them. He saw Tifa come into the room and go to the fridge. She brought out a packet of crisps. Zell walked in just as she opened them.

"Hey, you're gonna put on even more weight if you eat too much of them." he teased, pointing at her stomach.

"Yeah, like you with your hotdogs?"

Zell blushed slightly and Squall chuckled. Barrett walked into the room.

"Yo Tif. Ya ready ta get back ta work then?" he asked.

"You bet!"

* * * * *

Cloud lay on his bed in his Costa del Sol villa.

The heat from outside came in through the window, like it did everyday. The houses and villas here didn't need central heating because it was always warm, if not very hot.

He lay on his back, his eyes shut. He felt sweat form in his now, well-tanned skin. He had been there for almost half an hour. He continuously thought of Tifa, like he had done for the last four months. He hoped she was okay. He wondered how she was feeling. Was she angry? Upset? Or was she starting to cheer up?

He actually felt quite happy. There had been no news of any Mako-Mutant attacks since he had left. And for the he was grateful. He was sure that they were also after Squall. His headaches and nightmares had become rare. Everything was starting to settle down.

At least…that's what he thought!

He heard a loud scream, followed by a high-pitched screech, from outside. His eyes snapped open and he quickly got up and walked onto the balcony, which was outside his window. He gasped.

Several of the houses were in flames and a few bodies lay on the ground. He saw a very familiar monster chase after the civilians. Mako-Mutants.

Cloud walked back into his villa and grabbed his Ultima Weapon. He strapped it onto his back and started towards the door. He didn't get far before half a dozen mutants walked in. They snarled at him and slowly advanced. Cloud backed away and then sprinted to the balcony. He leapt over the railing and landed on the ground hard. He had jumped a good twenty feet and landed badly. He ran into the middle of the town and saw a mutant charge at him.

He drew his sword and swiped its head off easily. Behind him, the mutants that had charged into his villa chased him. He sliced open the first three and basted the others with Bolt3. They fell to the ground, paralyzed. Cloud was about to run, when he felt a large blast hit his back, sending him flying. He landed several feet from where he had bee, injured badly. He could feel blood running down his back, and he started to feel dizzy. Every few seconds he felt his energy being sucked out of him. He was poisoned.

But he didn't have time to cure it. He turned round and looked up to the sky to see dozens of aerial mutants above him. Each one of them charged their blast and shot it at him. He managed to dodge the first few but the poison was affecting his body. He was continuously hit, again and again, by the blasts.

As the last blast hit him, he felt the last of his energy disappear. He collapsed to the ground, still holding onto his Ultima Weapon. His chest, back and arms were bleeding badly, and the rest of him was bruised. Some of his skin was burnt and his clothes were shredded.

Two of the aerial mutants flew down next to him. One of them lifted him up, the other grabbed his sword. They took off and retreated. Their target acquired.

* * * * *

It was evening time, and everyone at the Seventh Heaven, were enjoying a meal together. They chatted happily to each other, and were also telling some jokes. Because it was so hot, they had ice-cream for desert and some ice coffee. After the meal, they all rested in the back room.

That was until Cid came.

Tifa saw the Sentinel land at the end of the town and she walked out the bar, to see Cid sprinting towards them. He looked very panicky.

"Cid. What is it? What's so urgent?" she asked.

"It's Costa del Sol." he said, gasping for breathe. "There's been another attack."

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

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so short but I hope you liked it. Also…could you please read the Author Notes I've posted up. There's some info you may want to see. Later.

Shout-outs –

Brutal2003 – Yeah sorry the chapter was short, but I'll make it up with later chapters.

KuramaHasPrettyEyes – Sorry can't answer your questions but keep reading, you'll find out in a few chapters.

Jessica Holmes – Glad you liked Chapter 19. I know how much you like CloTi's. And sorry I gave you a teary eye. LOL. And how can people flame your fic. They're mad! I'm anxiously awaiting the next chapter. Later.

Fr33k S+Yl3 23 – Thanks again Roxanne. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.