"Man, I'm sorry, but you're outta
your mind." Cid said, shaking his head, not believing.
"I know you miss the girl, but we all do. And none of us have had any of those hallucinations."
Cloud sighed. It was pointless. They wouldn't believe him, no matter what he told them.
They had now been sitting in the operation room of the Highwind for almost an hour, planning how to go on. The others had insisted that Cloud got some rest after all he had been through, yet he had denied. Since he had talked to Tifa, he was being restless. His first priority was to fulfill Tifa's wish of making sure Holy was being summoned, and, even more so, to avenge her early, senseless death.
"Look, I do not care if you believe me or not, but I know what happened. I know what I saw." Cloud retorted, his voice determined despite the doubts of his friends.
"I don't know…" Aeris suddenly rose her quiet voice, slightly quivering. "I… I believe him… The Lifestream is strong. Those who return to it retain influence on this influence in this world. And Tifa is… was always strong. Inside the Lifestream, she could easily show herself if she wanted to."
Aeris kept her gaze directed to the floor. Talking about Tifa had torn open fresh wounds, brought back all the guilt she was trying to suppress and hold down for the moment.
Barret looked at his young friends sympathetically. "If that's true then, we need to make sure Holy is summoned, right?"
Cloud nodded slowly. "She said it had not been done yet, that something had gone wrong the first time. She couldn't tell me what it was, though." His expression saddened. He knew he had to be strong for Tifa and their mission, yet remembering the sound of her voice, the feel of her slender fingers in his, her soft, warm lips caressing his… It had felt so right, as if they had been made fit for each other and nobody else. The knowledge that he would not be able to experience all that again was almost unbearable. Yet he had to try to be strong for her. She trusted in him, relied on him. If he gave up on himself, it would be betraying her.
"We should go back to the City of the Ancients then. That's the only place where it would work." Barret suggested with a stern face.
Cloud sighed, yet nodded in return. It would be hard facing the scene again, but it was the only way it could be done. Slowly, he looked over at Aeris, whose face was giving away all the feelings of guilt and insecurity.
"That's it then, we're heading for the City of the Ancients!" Cid interrupted Cloud's thoughts and left to give the new directions to the pilots.
Upon leaving the room for the bridge, Cloud put a hand of Aeris' shoulder comfortingly and gave her an assuring look.
"Don't worry, it'll be allright."
Aeris attempted a grateful smile. Whether he believed in what he had said or not, he was their leader. And even more so in times like those.
And there it lay before them once more, just as serene and silent as if it had never witnessed the young woman's tragic death just a few days before. The altar room in the very center of the City of the Ancients showed no signs, no remainders of that event. To the heroes however, the crystalline structures, the light falling in from the ceiling onto the water's surface revived highly emotional memories. The atmosphere was tense, the air stale. An unnatural glow illuminated the altar and added an uncomfortable feeling.
Aeris knelt down in the center of the altar and gently ran her fingers over the glassy surface of the ground. The voices of the planet seemed to be crying out, reminding of the horrors that had happened in this very place. If she hadn't known better, Aeris would have thought to have heard Tifa's voice amidst all the others, encouraging her friend in her actions, spending her comfort. Hesitantly, the young woman looked up to the ceiling, into the blinding light, almost expecting a dark silhouette to fall from it.
It seemed as though Cloud was having the same feeling. His eyes were as well directed to the ceiling, glistening with unshed tears. Anger and frustration were threatening to surface and overwhelm him, robbing him of control over himself. Yet he could not let this happen. He had to be in command of his feelings and actions in order to do as Tifa had told him. He could not allow himself to grieve openly, not until it was all done.
Cid, Vincent, Yuffie and Red remained in the background, aware of the importance and tension of the situation. They knew that every disturbance could gravely alter the course of their mission.
As profound, but complete silence had set in, Cloud nodded at Aeris, gesturing her to begin the 'ceremony'.
The young woman quietly folded her hands and, closing her eyes, rose them to face level. The others watched in awe as the last Ancient started to chant lowly in a language neither of them had ever heard before. As the tunes kept flowing, a soft, turquoise light was emitted from the glassy structures and engulfed the Cetra. With every change of tune, the rhythmic vibration of the light changed pace, mounting from a slow beat to a rushing, hypnotic thumping.
Aeris kept the chanting up for some minutes until she opened her eyes and slowly stood up.
"I'm done… I think…"
Barret frowned. "You think?"
Aeris nodded in reply, worry etched into her features.
"The connection was very weak. I could barely reach the planet. But I think it heard my prayers." Even though she wanted to sound confident, her voice quivered with uncertainty. "There is nothing more we can do. It is now all up to the planet." Vincent added, his voice and facial features indifferent from their usual state.
"Yeah, now we're gonna get that white haired bastard!" Cid said, a smirk on his lips despite the serious situation.
Yes, Cloud thought, defeat the bastard and get revenge.
Don't worry, Tifa, I'll make him pay for what he did to you!
The final night had come, the night before the descent into the crater. The night before the decisive battle against Sephiroth. It would finally all come to an end, some way or the other.
Cloud grabbed the reeling of the Highwind tightly while staring down into the pitch black depths of the crater which, for now, concealed their opponent for the last big fight.
"This is it, then", Cloud said, quietly raising his voice to his comrades, still with his back towards them. Still, he had everybody's attention.
"This is the final fight. We all know it won't be easy, some of us might fall… This is why I want you all to return to your homes and find out who and what you are fighting for", Cloud turned around and faced them, his look determined. "Any fight is hard and requires devotion. And this you will only have if you are completely focused on your reasons for battling."
Vincent nodded slowly, eyes closed. "Cloud is right. We should return to our homes and gather strength one last time."
"Everyone fights for a reason", Cloud picked up, crossing his arms "If any of you realize that they have no reason to fight however, I'll understand if you decide not to return." He nodded at Cid, who immediately took over command.
"Allright, I guess y'all know where to go. Just gimme the destination and I'll take you there."
And so they did. One after the other walked up to Cid to let him know where they wanted to be dropped off. Cloud however quietly made his way outside onto the deck. He would prepare for the battle by himself, would sort out his thoughts one last time.
"Cloud…?" came a soft voice from behind him.
He turned around slowly and saw Aeris exiting the interior of the airship, her long hair gently blowing in the wind. She hesitantly walked up to him, a question obviously on her mind.
Cloud looked at her questioningly, supporting himself with his lower back against the railing.
"I… I was wondering where you're going for the night…?" she asked shyly, brushing a strand of stray hair out of her face. "You know, since…" she added, lowering her gaze.
"Oh, I want to stay here. I still have things I want to sort out before I go down there." He said, gesturing towards the crater below them.
"Oh…" Aeris stated simply, her voice trailing off. "Do…", she started hesitantly, uncertain whether she should go on, "do you want some company?" Upon finally finishing the sentence, she had regained her courage and looked him in the eyes.
Cloud smiled at her gratefully. "Thanks, but I really need to be by myself. Anyway", he continued, placing a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, "you need to go home to Elmyra. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you're doing well." Giving her shoulder one last squeeze, he removed his hand and placed it on the railing.
"You're right", she replied, managing a smile, and turned to make her way back inside. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." She added, gazing back at him over her shoulder.
Cloud nodded in reply and watched as she disappeared through the door, smiling to herself.
He quietly turned around to face the crater below them, supporting himself with his elbows in the railing. Certainly, he did appreciated his friends' concern – they were very worried about him, undoubtedly – yet he still had not settled his mind. All the negative feelings, the hatred, grieve, want for revenge, they were still far too strong inside himself, threatening to overwhelm and rob him of his sense. And even though they were all certainly justified, he needed to learn to control them. The current situation did not allow him to be blinded by his emotions but required to be well aware of his surroundings, actions and aims. His senses needed to be sharpened and unveiled if he wanted to fulfill his mission and finally complete his quest. He had to end it, successfully, for Tifa.
The other members of the group had finally left to see their beloved ones one possibly last time, leaving Cloud by himself.
With a sigh, the young warrior sat down in the grass, fixing his gaze on the sky. The decisive battle against Sephiroth lay right before him, yet what was on his mind had hardly any connection to it. His thoughts had been invaded by his childhood friend a long time ago but still had never before been as strong and present as in this very moment. When he closed his eyes, he was greeted by her smile, her ruby eyes, raven hair and breathtaking body. When he smelled the air, her sweet fragrance enriched the atmosphere around him. When he felt alone, lonely, it was as if her head was resting against his shoulder, her arms around his strong neck.
She was still there, watching over him all the time, he was sure. She was his guardian angel, his motivation and comfort in times of need.
Cloud let himself sink into the grass with another sigh, crossing his arms under his head. In this comfortable position, he closed his eyes and let his memories gain control.
Please, Tifa, help me and give me the strength I need for this.
While he was drifting off into a deep, sweet sleep, Cloud thought he felt a slender hand caressing his cheek, followed by a oft whisper in his ear.
"Rest, Cloud. It'll be allright…"
"…that whenever I'm in a bind, my hero would come and rescue me. I want to experience that myself just once. So, will you promise?"
Huh? Where am I?
Cloud glanced down at his small hands, his short legs. Carefully, he took a quick look at the little girl a few feet from him and finally realization hit him.
Tifa. The well. The promise.
It was the night before he had left Nibelheim. In this very night, Tifa had asked him to make a promise. It had, in a way, been the first time her feelings for him had shown. They sure had been there earlier, yet never as open as in this starlight night so many years before.
"So…?"
"Hmm?" Cloud uttered, leaving his thoughts and directing his attention to Tifa, who was now shooting him a questioning look.
"Do you promise?"
"Umm ya, sure…" Cloud replied, still a little confused.
Tifa beamed, awarding him with her cutest smile which made Cloud's heart leap in his chest.
"Thank you so much!"
Finally, Cloud returned the smile. They might still have been young in that night, yet his feelings already had been different from those you would feel for 'just' a childhood friend. Far beyond those…
"Oh, that's such a nice flower!"
Flower? Cloud shook his head, trying to focus his mind and looked down at the fragile object in his hand.
That's right, the flower I bought from Aeris after the first mission for AVALANCHE…
"Did you bring it for Marlene?" Tifa questioned, putting the rag down on the counter. Marlene, the little girl, was standing right next to Tifa, clinging to the woman's leg shyly.
Cloud's gaze jumped from the flower to Tifa and back. He remembered this day. Seeing Tifa again after such a long time had made his heart race, realizing how she had matured into an incredibly beautiful young woman. Right now, he cursed himself for not having shown what he had felt, for having been so cold and distant to her.
"Actually…", he started and hesitantly held the flower out to Tifa, "Actually it's for you."
Tifa looked at him, gasping and took the flower into her long, slender fingers. Bringing it up to her nose, she inhaled the sweet scent that was so rare around Midgar. She probably had not seen or smelled flowers since she had left Nibelheim.
She closed her eyes, her nose still buried in the petals and a dreamy expression appeared on her face. Cloud's heart melted at the sight. He had just given her a simple flower, and still she was overjoyed as if she had been awarded with the most precious jewel of the universe.
"Thank you, Cloud, it's so beautiful…" Tifa smiled.
Just like you, Tifa, he added in his mind. Just like you…
Ack, too bright…
Still trying to shield his eyes from the bright light to go back to sleep, Cloud rolled himself around in the big bed.
Big bed?
With a start, and a very puzzled expression on his face, he sat up and looked around.
When had he ever owned such a big bed? For some reason, he could smell Tifa's scent in the untidy sheets next to him. Obviously, they shared the same bed, even though she was not in the room right then.
This meant that this was not a memory. Could it be a dream?
Yet whatever it was, it rose questions in Cloud's mind, made him curious to find out what his life with Tifa could be like. So he quickly got out of bed, put on a pair of jeans from the dresser next to the bed and made his way out of the room.
In the corridor, he was greeted by various noises. He could easily identify some of them as the rattling of a blender and the clattering of dishes from down the stairs, accompanied by Cid's and Yuffie's voices. The two of them were obviously arguing over something again.
Cloud grinned. If this was a dream, it was a real one at least.
Then another one of the noises caught his attention. It was a soft, low humming coming from the room across the corridor. He quietly walked over and carefully opened the door.
The room seemed to be some sort of baby room; its walls were painted in a light yellow and in one corner stood a wooden crib. Opposite it sat Tifa in a rocking chair, holding a small bundle in one arm and a bottle in the free hand.
Upon hearing Cloud open the door and stepping in, Tifa gazed up to him and smiled sweetly, gesturing him to come closer. So he did and stepped to her side.
The tiny bundle in Tifa's arm was a cute little girl with raven hair and sparkling blue eyes looking interestedly at her surroundings. Now though, she seemed to be full and stopped sucking on the milk bottle. Carefully, Tifa shifted the baby in her arms, put the bottle away, took a washcloth and wiped the tiny face softly.
Cloud watched in awe as the little one stifled a yawn and rubbed her big eyes with her stubby fingers. Tifa smiled and turned her head to look at Cloud.
"You wanna hold her?" she asked.
Cloud looked at the bundle nervously, yet nodded in reply.
Gently, Tifa placed the baby in Cloud's strong arms and leaned her head on his shoulder, obviously a little tired herself.
"She's so beautiful…" Cloud stated, his gaze fixed on the girl in his arms, as if he had been hypnotized.
Tifa sighed softly and closed her eyes tiredly. "Mhm, our pretty, little girl…"
Their girl… Even though Cloud was still somewhat confused, yet the idea that this was their little girl, his and Tifa's daughter, seemed surprisingly right.
I wish this wasn't just a dream…
"This is no dream, Cloud." Came Tifa's soft voice from his shoulder. Her eyes were still closed.
What was this? What did she mean?
Cloud looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"But this can't be a memory, this never happened…"
Now Tifa opened her eyes and looked at him tenderly for a moment before speaking.
"It will, Cloud", she caressed the baby's face with her slender fingers, "Don't you see it? This is the future, Cloud, our future."
"Our… future? But how…?" He did not understand. Tifa had died, how were they supposed to have a future? It just did not make sense.
Smiling, Tifa looked him in the eyes again, caressing his cheek.
"Don't worry, Cloud. You'll understand when the time comes. But for now, hon, goodbye."
Having said this, she placed a passionate kiss on his lips.
Goodbye? But…
The kiss ended far too soon, their mouths separated and the two young people looked each other in the eyes one last time before his vision turned black and all of his conscious thinking ceased to be.
Cloud awoke slowly, hesitantly even on the grassy hills before the crater. It was still dark, probably a few hours before sunrise. He had no idea how long he had slept.
However, the scenes from his sleep were still fresh in his mind. He longed to go back to sleep and return to the happy moments he had relived. If only he could go back and remain there, far away from the loneliness and hardships of reality.
However, there was something that had encouraged Cloud to fight on…
"Don't you see it? This is the future, Cloud, our future."
Tifa's words had brought back hopes he had given up on much earlier. Having a future with Tifa, being with her, her having their child…
He did not yet see how it would be possible, but she had encouraged him. Her words spent him consolation and given him hope. He would understand in time, that was what she had said. And he trusted her.
Now it was up to him to fulfill his part and defeat Sephiroth. Defeat him and take one step closer to his new future.
a/n: Head… hurts… Oo I know that these were crappy scenes… Creativity block, the cruel, merciless monster, got me, remember? I guess you all believe me when I say that I really had to force myself to write this. Had to pry the words out of me :-S
Sorry for the loooong looooong wait, but right now, it's just so extremely hard for me to write and so strenuous. Any ideas how to get over a writer's/creativity block? Any suggestions welcome. And remember: the more suggestions, the more reviews and encouragement, the faster updates!
BTW, just 1 or 2 more chapters (depending on the length) and this fic should be done. Maybe I can make it before Christmas°
Thank you all for reading and please read and review!
Arigatou gozaimasu
"I know you miss the girl, but we all do. And none of us have had any of those hallucinations."
Cloud sighed. It was pointless. They wouldn't believe him, no matter what he told them.
They had now been sitting in the operation room of the Highwind for almost an hour, planning how to go on. The others had insisted that Cloud got some rest after all he had been through, yet he had denied. Since he had talked to Tifa, he was being restless. His first priority was to fulfill Tifa's wish of making sure Holy was being summoned, and, even more so, to avenge her early, senseless death.
"Look, I do not care if you believe me or not, but I know what happened. I know what I saw." Cloud retorted, his voice determined despite the doubts of his friends.
"I don't know…" Aeris suddenly rose her quiet voice, slightly quivering. "I… I believe him… The Lifestream is strong. Those who return to it retain influence on this influence in this world. And Tifa is… was always strong. Inside the Lifestream, she could easily show herself if she wanted to."
Aeris kept her gaze directed to the floor. Talking about Tifa had torn open fresh wounds, brought back all the guilt she was trying to suppress and hold down for the moment.
Barret looked at his young friends sympathetically. "If that's true then, we need to make sure Holy is summoned, right?"
Cloud nodded slowly. "She said it had not been done yet, that something had gone wrong the first time. She couldn't tell me what it was, though." His expression saddened. He knew he had to be strong for Tifa and their mission, yet remembering the sound of her voice, the feel of her slender fingers in his, her soft, warm lips caressing his… It had felt so right, as if they had been made fit for each other and nobody else. The knowledge that he would not be able to experience all that again was almost unbearable. Yet he had to try to be strong for her. She trusted in him, relied on him. If he gave up on himself, it would be betraying her.
"We should go back to the City of the Ancients then. That's the only place where it would work." Barret suggested with a stern face.
Cloud sighed, yet nodded in return. It would be hard facing the scene again, but it was the only way it could be done. Slowly, he looked over at Aeris, whose face was giving away all the feelings of guilt and insecurity.
"That's it then, we're heading for the City of the Ancients!" Cid interrupted Cloud's thoughts and left to give the new directions to the pilots.
Upon leaving the room for the bridge, Cloud put a hand of Aeris' shoulder comfortingly and gave her an assuring look.
"Don't worry, it'll be allright."
Aeris attempted a grateful smile. Whether he believed in what he had said or not, he was their leader. And even more so in times like those.
And there it lay before them once more, just as serene and silent as if it had never witnessed the young woman's tragic death just a few days before. The altar room in the very center of the City of the Ancients showed no signs, no remainders of that event. To the heroes however, the crystalline structures, the light falling in from the ceiling onto the water's surface revived highly emotional memories. The atmosphere was tense, the air stale. An unnatural glow illuminated the altar and added an uncomfortable feeling.
Aeris knelt down in the center of the altar and gently ran her fingers over the glassy surface of the ground. The voices of the planet seemed to be crying out, reminding of the horrors that had happened in this very place. If she hadn't known better, Aeris would have thought to have heard Tifa's voice amidst all the others, encouraging her friend in her actions, spending her comfort. Hesitantly, the young woman looked up to the ceiling, into the blinding light, almost expecting a dark silhouette to fall from it.
It seemed as though Cloud was having the same feeling. His eyes were as well directed to the ceiling, glistening with unshed tears. Anger and frustration were threatening to surface and overwhelm him, robbing him of control over himself. Yet he could not let this happen. He had to be in command of his feelings and actions in order to do as Tifa had told him. He could not allow himself to grieve openly, not until it was all done.
Cid, Vincent, Yuffie and Red remained in the background, aware of the importance and tension of the situation. They knew that every disturbance could gravely alter the course of their mission.
As profound, but complete silence had set in, Cloud nodded at Aeris, gesturing her to begin the 'ceremony'.
The young woman quietly folded her hands and, closing her eyes, rose them to face level. The others watched in awe as the last Ancient started to chant lowly in a language neither of them had ever heard before. As the tunes kept flowing, a soft, turquoise light was emitted from the glassy structures and engulfed the Cetra. With every change of tune, the rhythmic vibration of the light changed pace, mounting from a slow beat to a rushing, hypnotic thumping.
Aeris kept the chanting up for some minutes until she opened her eyes and slowly stood up.
"I'm done… I think…"
Barret frowned. "You think?"
Aeris nodded in reply, worry etched into her features.
"The connection was very weak. I could barely reach the planet. But I think it heard my prayers." Even though she wanted to sound confident, her voice quivered with uncertainty. "There is nothing more we can do. It is now all up to the planet." Vincent added, his voice and facial features indifferent from their usual state.
"Yeah, now we're gonna get that white haired bastard!" Cid said, a smirk on his lips despite the serious situation.
Yes, Cloud thought, defeat the bastard and get revenge.
Don't worry, Tifa, I'll make him pay for what he did to you!
The final night had come, the night before the descent into the crater. The night before the decisive battle against Sephiroth. It would finally all come to an end, some way or the other.
Cloud grabbed the reeling of the Highwind tightly while staring down into the pitch black depths of the crater which, for now, concealed their opponent for the last big fight.
"This is it, then", Cloud said, quietly raising his voice to his comrades, still with his back towards them. Still, he had everybody's attention.
"This is the final fight. We all know it won't be easy, some of us might fall… This is why I want you all to return to your homes and find out who and what you are fighting for", Cloud turned around and faced them, his look determined. "Any fight is hard and requires devotion. And this you will only have if you are completely focused on your reasons for battling."
Vincent nodded slowly, eyes closed. "Cloud is right. We should return to our homes and gather strength one last time."
"Everyone fights for a reason", Cloud picked up, crossing his arms "If any of you realize that they have no reason to fight however, I'll understand if you decide not to return." He nodded at Cid, who immediately took over command.
"Allright, I guess y'all know where to go. Just gimme the destination and I'll take you there."
And so they did. One after the other walked up to Cid to let him know where they wanted to be dropped off. Cloud however quietly made his way outside onto the deck. He would prepare for the battle by himself, would sort out his thoughts one last time.
"Cloud…?" came a soft voice from behind him.
He turned around slowly and saw Aeris exiting the interior of the airship, her long hair gently blowing in the wind. She hesitantly walked up to him, a question obviously on her mind.
Cloud looked at her questioningly, supporting himself with his lower back against the railing.
"I… I was wondering where you're going for the night…?" she asked shyly, brushing a strand of stray hair out of her face. "You know, since…" she added, lowering her gaze.
"Oh, I want to stay here. I still have things I want to sort out before I go down there." He said, gesturing towards the crater below them.
"Oh…" Aeris stated simply, her voice trailing off. "Do…", she started hesitantly, uncertain whether she should go on, "do you want some company?" Upon finally finishing the sentence, she had regained her courage and looked him in the eyes.
Cloud smiled at her gratefully. "Thanks, but I really need to be by myself. Anyway", he continued, placing a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, "you need to go home to Elmyra. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you're doing well." Giving her shoulder one last squeeze, he removed his hand and placed it on the railing.
"You're right", she replied, managing a smile, and turned to make her way back inside. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." She added, gazing back at him over her shoulder.
Cloud nodded in reply and watched as she disappeared through the door, smiling to herself.
He quietly turned around to face the crater below them, supporting himself with his elbows in the railing. Certainly, he did appreciated his friends' concern – they were very worried about him, undoubtedly – yet he still had not settled his mind. All the negative feelings, the hatred, grieve, want for revenge, they were still far too strong inside himself, threatening to overwhelm and rob him of his sense. And even though they were all certainly justified, he needed to learn to control them. The current situation did not allow him to be blinded by his emotions but required to be well aware of his surroundings, actions and aims. His senses needed to be sharpened and unveiled if he wanted to fulfill his mission and finally complete his quest. He had to end it, successfully, for Tifa.
The other members of the group had finally left to see their beloved ones one possibly last time, leaving Cloud by himself.
With a sigh, the young warrior sat down in the grass, fixing his gaze on the sky. The decisive battle against Sephiroth lay right before him, yet what was on his mind had hardly any connection to it. His thoughts had been invaded by his childhood friend a long time ago but still had never before been as strong and present as in this very moment. When he closed his eyes, he was greeted by her smile, her ruby eyes, raven hair and breathtaking body. When he smelled the air, her sweet fragrance enriched the atmosphere around him. When he felt alone, lonely, it was as if her head was resting against his shoulder, her arms around his strong neck.
She was still there, watching over him all the time, he was sure. She was his guardian angel, his motivation and comfort in times of need.
Cloud let himself sink into the grass with another sigh, crossing his arms under his head. In this comfortable position, he closed his eyes and let his memories gain control.
Please, Tifa, help me and give me the strength I need for this.
While he was drifting off into a deep, sweet sleep, Cloud thought he felt a slender hand caressing his cheek, followed by a oft whisper in his ear.
"Rest, Cloud. It'll be allright…"
"…that whenever I'm in a bind, my hero would come and rescue me. I want to experience that myself just once. So, will you promise?"
Huh? Where am I?
Cloud glanced down at his small hands, his short legs. Carefully, he took a quick look at the little girl a few feet from him and finally realization hit him.
Tifa. The well. The promise.
It was the night before he had left Nibelheim. In this very night, Tifa had asked him to make a promise. It had, in a way, been the first time her feelings for him had shown. They sure had been there earlier, yet never as open as in this starlight night so many years before.
"So…?"
"Hmm?" Cloud uttered, leaving his thoughts and directing his attention to Tifa, who was now shooting him a questioning look.
"Do you promise?"
"Umm ya, sure…" Cloud replied, still a little confused.
Tifa beamed, awarding him with her cutest smile which made Cloud's heart leap in his chest.
"Thank you so much!"
Finally, Cloud returned the smile. They might still have been young in that night, yet his feelings already had been different from those you would feel for 'just' a childhood friend. Far beyond those…
"Oh, that's such a nice flower!"
Flower? Cloud shook his head, trying to focus his mind and looked down at the fragile object in his hand.
That's right, the flower I bought from Aeris after the first mission for AVALANCHE…
"Did you bring it for Marlene?" Tifa questioned, putting the rag down on the counter. Marlene, the little girl, was standing right next to Tifa, clinging to the woman's leg shyly.
Cloud's gaze jumped from the flower to Tifa and back. He remembered this day. Seeing Tifa again after such a long time had made his heart race, realizing how she had matured into an incredibly beautiful young woman. Right now, he cursed himself for not having shown what he had felt, for having been so cold and distant to her.
"Actually…", he started and hesitantly held the flower out to Tifa, "Actually it's for you."
Tifa looked at him, gasping and took the flower into her long, slender fingers. Bringing it up to her nose, she inhaled the sweet scent that was so rare around Midgar. She probably had not seen or smelled flowers since she had left Nibelheim.
She closed her eyes, her nose still buried in the petals and a dreamy expression appeared on her face. Cloud's heart melted at the sight. He had just given her a simple flower, and still she was overjoyed as if she had been awarded with the most precious jewel of the universe.
"Thank you, Cloud, it's so beautiful…" Tifa smiled.
Just like you, Tifa, he added in his mind. Just like you…
Ack, too bright…
Still trying to shield his eyes from the bright light to go back to sleep, Cloud rolled himself around in the big bed.
Big bed?
With a start, and a very puzzled expression on his face, he sat up and looked around.
When had he ever owned such a big bed? For some reason, he could smell Tifa's scent in the untidy sheets next to him. Obviously, they shared the same bed, even though she was not in the room right then.
This meant that this was not a memory. Could it be a dream?
Yet whatever it was, it rose questions in Cloud's mind, made him curious to find out what his life with Tifa could be like. So he quickly got out of bed, put on a pair of jeans from the dresser next to the bed and made his way out of the room.
In the corridor, he was greeted by various noises. He could easily identify some of them as the rattling of a blender and the clattering of dishes from down the stairs, accompanied by Cid's and Yuffie's voices. The two of them were obviously arguing over something again.
Cloud grinned. If this was a dream, it was a real one at least.
Then another one of the noises caught his attention. It was a soft, low humming coming from the room across the corridor. He quietly walked over and carefully opened the door.
The room seemed to be some sort of baby room; its walls were painted in a light yellow and in one corner stood a wooden crib. Opposite it sat Tifa in a rocking chair, holding a small bundle in one arm and a bottle in the free hand.
Upon hearing Cloud open the door and stepping in, Tifa gazed up to him and smiled sweetly, gesturing him to come closer. So he did and stepped to her side.
The tiny bundle in Tifa's arm was a cute little girl with raven hair and sparkling blue eyes looking interestedly at her surroundings. Now though, she seemed to be full and stopped sucking on the milk bottle. Carefully, Tifa shifted the baby in her arms, put the bottle away, took a washcloth and wiped the tiny face softly.
Cloud watched in awe as the little one stifled a yawn and rubbed her big eyes with her stubby fingers. Tifa smiled and turned her head to look at Cloud.
"You wanna hold her?" she asked.
Cloud looked at the bundle nervously, yet nodded in reply.
Gently, Tifa placed the baby in Cloud's strong arms and leaned her head on his shoulder, obviously a little tired herself.
"She's so beautiful…" Cloud stated, his gaze fixed on the girl in his arms, as if he had been hypnotized.
Tifa sighed softly and closed her eyes tiredly. "Mhm, our pretty, little girl…"
Their girl… Even though Cloud was still somewhat confused, yet the idea that this was their little girl, his and Tifa's daughter, seemed surprisingly right.
I wish this wasn't just a dream…
"This is no dream, Cloud." Came Tifa's soft voice from his shoulder. Her eyes were still closed.
What was this? What did she mean?
Cloud looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"But this can't be a memory, this never happened…"
Now Tifa opened her eyes and looked at him tenderly for a moment before speaking.
"It will, Cloud", she caressed the baby's face with her slender fingers, "Don't you see it? This is the future, Cloud, our future."
"Our… future? But how…?" He did not understand. Tifa had died, how were they supposed to have a future? It just did not make sense.
Smiling, Tifa looked him in the eyes again, caressing his cheek.
"Don't worry, Cloud. You'll understand when the time comes. But for now, hon, goodbye."
Having said this, she placed a passionate kiss on his lips.
Goodbye? But…
The kiss ended far too soon, their mouths separated and the two young people looked each other in the eyes one last time before his vision turned black and all of his conscious thinking ceased to be.
Cloud awoke slowly, hesitantly even on the grassy hills before the crater. It was still dark, probably a few hours before sunrise. He had no idea how long he had slept.
However, the scenes from his sleep were still fresh in his mind. He longed to go back to sleep and return to the happy moments he had relived. If only he could go back and remain there, far away from the loneliness and hardships of reality.
However, there was something that had encouraged Cloud to fight on…
"Don't you see it? This is the future, Cloud, our future."
Tifa's words had brought back hopes he had given up on much earlier. Having a future with Tifa, being with her, her having their child…
He did not yet see how it would be possible, but she had encouraged him. Her words spent him consolation and given him hope. He would understand in time, that was what she had said. And he trusted her.
Now it was up to him to fulfill his part and defeat Sephiroth. Defeat him and take one step closer to his new future.
a/n: Head… hurts… Oo I know that these were crappy scenes… Creativity block, the cruel, merciless monster, got me, remember? I guess you all believe me when I say that I really had to force myself to write this. Had to pry the words out of me :-S
Sorry for the loooong looooong wait, but right now, it's just so extremely hard for me to write and so strenuous. Any ideas how to get over a writer's/creativity block? Any suggestions welcome. And remember: the more suggestions, the more reviews and encouragement, the faster updates!
BTW, just 1 or 2 more chapters (depending on the length) and this fic should be done. Maybe I can make it before Christmas°
Thank you all for reading and please read and review!
Arigatou gozaimasu