Author's Notes: Getting into a routine of updating regularly since we're in the summer hols. Anyway, Dark Shedevil – Loving your new story – The Tainted and Pure Hearted. Yeah, you heard, get reading!!! A fanfic, which explores the relationship between Cid and Yuffie. Oooh nice and it's cool because you don't see many of them, do you? IT DIES TODAY – Thank you soooo much for your comments. You really brightened up my day. My brother read my story while I was sleeping and told me to carry on or he'd kill me. Help! Better get going then!

Fear and Courage Chapter 23

Bright and early, as usual, Tifa dragged herself from her bed, trying her best not to wake the sleeping form beside her. She used the time he was asleep to get showered and dressed. Drying her hair with a towel, she found herself staring at Cloud, as if in some sort of trance, like he had cast a spell on her. Well if he had, the magic was definitely working. The way he made her feel, she could never explain to anyone, she couldn't find the words. That unexplainable feeling, love. It can bring you the most joy or it can tear you up. Makes you feel like you're flying, or makes you feel like you're drowning.

She walked back into the bathroom to brush her hair. As she looked in the mirror, she nearly screamed in fright, but her own hand in front of her mouth stopped her. What she saw looking back at her was not her reflection, but someone else's. Her hair no longer dark, but lighter. Her eyes no longer wine-red, but green...?

"Aeris?" She whispered. "What are you doing in my mirror?" Anyone watching from outside the bathroom would have thought Tifa had gone completely insane, talking to her own reflection. Aeris smiled, "Hello Tifa," and floated out of the square mirror. She landed next to her companion and put an arm around her. "So have you told him yet?"

Tifa bit her bottom lip. "Not yet. It's just so hard. It's like he wants to tell me something, but... Oh I don't know! He keeps getting interrupted. I'm not sure if it's what I want to hear."

"Tifa, you must listen to him, and your heart. It's up to you now. Get it out of your system before it destroys you. You never know. I know you don't want to lose this close friendship you have with him, but, it's only a matter of time..."

Tifa's eyes roamed the room, hoping to find an answer, but nothing. Perhaps Aeris is right. I've got to tell him as soon as possible, she thought to herself. Her stomach filled with anxiety and a sickly feeling rose up to her chest. It was the right thing to do.

"I must go now Tifa. Please, do this, or you'll never know. Goodbye." Tifa whispered a goodbye and exited the room to see Cloud rolling over in his sleep. He looks adorable! Her head squealed as a smile crept upon her lips. She left the bedroom and walked downstairs to the kitchen. "Guess I'm cooking, huh?" She asked no one. So the ex-landlady of the Seventh Heaven decided that they were all having pancakes for breakfast.

Meanwhile Cloud was trapped in a horrifying dream. He dreamt that he was fighting Sephiroth again and he failed. He failed everyone. Sephiroth summoned Meteor and there was no way to stop it, or him. Sephiroth had got his own way and as a result, everyone he knew and loved was taken from him with a collision of the Meteor and the Planet. As he woke up, he found he was the only one alive. Searching around, he found Tifa's body was lying metres away from him. He got up quickly and ran over to her, taking her hand and praying she was still alive. Her wine coloured eyes fluttered open and she looked at him lovingly and wearily. He found himself crying as he saw the wound Tifa had. She's not gonna make it.

"Tifa," he whispered. "Please don't die. I need you!" Little did he know that he actually said it out loud. If Tifa were next to him then, she would have heard him.

She smiled at him. That smile. The one she gave to him, and only him and when he saw it, there was nothing else in the world to worry about. She was all that mattered to him now, even though he was upset about losing the rest of his friends. He wouldn't lose her too. He hastily searched his pockets and slots for a Restore Materia. Tifa placed a hand on his cheek. "Cloud, save that materia for yourself and be strong. I love you." And before he could reply, her body lost all feeling, and her hand relaxed. He cried even more and screamed.

And that is how he woke up too. Screaming. Just then, a little black cat ran in the room and jumped on the bed. "Cloud? What the hell happened?" Cait Sith asked anxiously.

"I'm fine Cait, I just... had a bad dream, that's all." Cloud replied panting, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Cait Sith put a paw to Cloud's head, checking his temperature. "Jeez that was one helluva dream you had!"

Cloud laughed a little. "You're telling me! Really Cait, I'm fine. C'mon, let's get some breakfast." The little fortuneteller agreed as Cloud threw some clothes on and walked with Cait Sith downstairs. What a horrible dream that was.

The scent of something sweet rushed up Cloud's and Cait Sith's nose. They knew that smell, and Cloud was looking forward to a breakfast made by Tifa. "Morning you two. Sleep well?" The dark haired woman asked without looking up from what she was doing. "Nope," Cloud replied smiling. "Aww Cloud, why not?" Cloud just looked at his furry friend and replied to Tifa, "I'll tell you later. Did you?"

Tifa giggled. "Next to you, who wouldn't?"

He remembered that from somewhere. Ah yes, that was his reply on the day after they met again. Cloud laughed with her, remembering that morning.

"Can you shout the others? Breakfast is ready." Unfortunately for the others, Cait Sith had his HP Shout with him and wasn't afraid to use it. He yelled at the top of his voice through the megaphone:

"Alright you lazy land worms. Get up now, breakfast is ready!"

You would not believe the volume of his voice just by looking at him. For someone so small, he had a rather loud voice.

All that could be heard was a swarm of early morning moans and groans. The three of them just laughed. They all came downstairs in a herd and sat down to breakfast and talked about anything and everything, thanking Tifa for the delicious breakfast. "So where to today?" Barret muffled between bites of his meal. "Barret don't talk with your mouth full!" Yuffie scolded. He then muffled a sorry to annoy her. She frowned at him then continued eating.

"I'll translate. He said 'Where to today?'" Cait Sith stated.

"What about Mideel? See how much it's changed?" Barret said after a gulp. "That's the last place we'd visit Barret. Nu-uh." Yuffie crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, I think we should go to the Forgotten Capital. Out of respect for Aeris." Nanaki suggested.

"That's a good idea. We could go to the Gold saucer after." Cloud added. "Yeah, alright. I'll get the ship ready." Cid stood up and walked out the door. "Alright, we ready?" Barret asked. "Everyone got their weapons and materia?"

Tifa checked hers, as did everyone else. "Yessir!" She answered.

"Alright! Let's go already!" Cid shouted inside. "Hurry up!" And they did. They ran out and into the Highwind, Tifa locked her front door and ran to the ship, getting on. The Highwind 2 took off and took the skies.

Well? Any good? R n R pleeeease. Merci beaucoup Sally xxx