*Do not own FF7.... sadly... First songfic, don't hurt me, *cowers*
Hope life's been good to you
since you've been gone
Tifa turned toward the long forgotten, yet familiar voice, a gasp escaping her throat. It had been years since she had last seen Cloud, and now, here he was, standing in front of her. His hair was shorter, and his clothing wasn't something he would have wore a long time ago, but, she admitted to herself, that WAS a long time ago. She didn't know him anymore.
"Hey Teef. How's it going.
I'm doin' fine now - I've finally moved on
It's not
so bad - I'm not that sad
Her throat constricted, how could
she tell him about her life after he had left. She had moped around,
bawling for weeks, knowing he had never gotten over Aeris, and
probably never would. But soon, she had decided she would wait for
him, no matter how long. She waited a whole year, and, when he didn't
come back, she pushed her feelings for him away, and found a new
lover. Not him, and she knew she would never love him like she loved
Cloud, but she didn't think she'd have to deal with those old
feelings.
I'm not surprised just how well I've
survived
I'm over the worst, and I feel so alive
I can't
complain - I'm free again
She shrugged her shoulders, soft brown hair cascading lightly, before replying, "I get by." Her thoughts ran amok. How could he come back, and just expect everything to be all all right? "How you been Cloud?" her eyes searched his impassible face
His
eyes flicked upwards, studying the ceiling, and he sighed, and looked
back into her eyes after a moment. "I missed you Tifa."
And
it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's
beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So, I hold my
breath - to forget
"Guess we all have our vices Cloud." Her voice broke, and her eye began to tear up. How many times had she dreamt about him returning to her, taking her up in his strong arms, and telling her he loved her, and only her. But it was not to be. Then... or now. "I really guess we both learned our lesson then."
"Tifa? How can you say that?"
Don't think I'm lyin' 'round cryin' at night
There's no
need to worry, I'm really all right
I've never looked back - as a
matter of fact
"Cloud,
I remember there was a time when I would have wanted nothing more
than this moment, just for you to come back and see me, To tell me
these things, but that time is over, and that girl is gone." She
turned her head to the right, to hide the pearly silver tears welling
up in her ruby eyes. It only took a few seconds for them to dry, and
she looked back to him, no emotions showing on her face.
And
it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's
beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
She drew a deep breath and prepared to say what she dreaded most in life."Cloud, you and I are different people than we were.
So, I hold my breath - to forget
I'm not a replacement for 'her' And I would never want to be. So, I'm sorry to tell you, I'm a stronger woman than to be second best.
Don't think I'm lyin' 'round cryin' at night
There's no
need to worry, I'm really all right
I've never looked back - as a
matter of fact
"Tifa! You would NEVER be second choice for me. I want you, and only you. You loved me for who I was, not who I acted like. Tifa, I love you."
It only hurts when I breathe
".... Cloud, I'm married. "
Mmm, no, I've never looked back -
as a matter of fact
"To who Tifa? You can't possibly love him more than you love me." Cloud ran a hand through his now short blond hair, his sapphire eyes troubled.
And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks
when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
"You don't know him Cloud, but he a wonderful man, and He treats me well. He loves me with all his heart, he... You're right, I don't love him bore than you..."
So, I hold my breath - to forget
"But
he isn'y going to leave me, he isn't going to run off with some
flower-girl, and he isn't going to be completely oblivious to the
fact that I love him, like some others I know."
Don't
think I'm lyin' 'round cryin' at night
There's no need to worry,
I'm really all right
I've never looked back - as a matter of fact
"But Tifa, I'm different now, And I KNOW I love you! Why can't you see I love you more than he ever will, and you love me more than you ever will him. Come, Be with me Tifa, I beg you. I need you alongside me again. I've never felt so empty in my life, and I know the void is only from your absence."
'But cloud, Love honor and cherish are not words I take lightly...' She stood, impassive, her eyes pointed toward his face, but she wasn't looking at him, she was looking past him, through him, so she wouldn't have to see the pain she was causing the love of her life.
Seeing her look through him, he knew he had lost. "Oh, Tifa, I'm so sorry. I know what you always said about marriage, but if you could only understand what I feel, I know you'd rethink...." A sigh escaped his lips, he knew when he was beaten. "Tifa, I'm sorry. But I really did love you then, and I still do now."
He turned, and slowly walked back the way he came, pausing and casting one long last glance at the chestnut haired, ruby eyes beauty, and with a sigh that emanated from the soles of his shoes, and the void of his soul, he turned and walked off.
And she turned and watched him walk off, Her heart heavy in her chest, big pearl tears showering down her face, but she knew, somehow, that she had done the right thing...
It only hurts when I breathe...
"Oh, cloud, I DO know what you're feeling" She whispered into the wind toward his receding back.