Disclaimer: Sony and SquareSoft's FF7 characters were used in this story for non-profitable purposes. No infringement intended.

To Lady Geagua, MaRiKo, Avarial, WrexSoul, Ah-choo, Malz, Game-kid17, rubyvixen/foxyroxy, Vash-chan AKA Makoto Almasy, xBebExSwEeTzZx, mai and SabrinaYutsuki – :) thank you all for the kind words and support, and sorry for taking so long in posting this chapter. [BTW, I wrote personal replys to each of your reviews. You can find them after the Author Notes.]

To zelda6: thank you still for everything. Especially for your friendship, patience and help – I wouldn't have gone this far without you. Hopefully, our passion for a certain pairing would influence some others. :)

To the readers, I present you the next chapter. :) Enjoy

The Night a Star Fell

Part Three: Unsaid

I don't have much to be proud of, and there are a few things in my life to brag about... No one can blame me for wanting more, for not being content with my life. But I must say that if I'm given the chance to live another life and leave everything connected to this one, I won't take that opportunity. You're with me, after all. And it is in this life where I have met you, one of the reasons why I have chosen to go on when I could have simply given up...

That's why I try my hardest to protect you, to shelter you from anything that comes close enough to evil... That way, nothing bad can ever happen to you, no one can ever hurt you or cause you pain...

"I'm sorry."

These words are so familiar to me, perhaps because I've said it more than a hundred times. I always get into trouble, and I guess it's inevitable for you to get hurt. I am with you, after all... Ironic, huh? No matter how hard I protect you, it seems as if I am the one causing you all these pain.

"It's okay." You look at me, and I see nothing but compassion in your eyes. They are glistening, as if wet from unshed tears. I can do nothing but divert my eyes from yours, guilt gnawing at my insides...

I can still remember... I can perfectly look back on the first time you have cried for me.

It was on that day, when my father have left my mother and I, that you have shown me that you are far stronger than I could ever be... Ever since our early days, you've always been that vibrant thing, the one constant factor in my world that has somehow kept me standing amidst life's madness. In the middle of my enemies' taunts and jeers, you sink down on the dirty floor with me, keeping me within the embrace of your tiny arms as I shed tears for my father. After some time, they leave, just as my father has.

But you... You stayed with me.

And you think I didn't see... I bet until now, you think I didn't know that you were crying with me too...

"Tifa –"

"It's okay, Cloud..." You smile, and as always, I have forgotten all my worries. "I would've waited for you still."

I remain quiet soon after that, since I believe that everything is all right. I refuse to say anything more, because I know that sometimes, the most beautiful things in this world cannot be expressed in words. And I am grateful you understand...

I put an arm around you and you rest your head on my shoulders. You smell like peaches and roses... They remind me of love, just as you make me feel it... "Thank you."

I watch as you close your eyes and nod.

Some words are better left unsaid...

TBC

Author's Notes: Shortest chapter so far... :) I'm sorry for the long wait. I wanted things to be (close to) perfect, and I guess excellence just takes so much time. Again, I'm sorry. :) Our friend zelda6 would be helping me with the editing of the other chapters, and we all know you guys wouldn't be waiting as much – next chapter would soon be up. I'll email you all again when I post it, I promise. :)

Oh. And lemme just share this with you all. While I was running a spell check on this chapter, I noticed that the computer was suggesting I change Tifa's name to tofu. *scratches head* O~kay, now that would look weird...

Lady Geagua - :) Yes, last chapter had Zack's point of view. This new one has Cloud's. ;P Sorry if I still confuse you – I have a tendency to go on and on... You can always tell me to shut up, though. :)

MaRiKo – *accepts the non-fat brownies* Thank you! :) Now I'll have something to munch on while writing. Yes, I do feel for Zack too... It's sad, but the worst part is that unrequited love does happen – and *gasp* it can happen to us!!! :( But not to worry... :) Zack, Cloud and Tifa wouldn't be having too much difficulties.

Avariel - :) Poor Squall has to accompany me almost everywhere now! ;D But I make him sleep under the bed, y'know, just to make sure that there really aren't any monsters there. :) BTW, my older sister also insists that Squall is in ffvi... Is that true???

WrexSoul - :) Hmm... Tifa also has this unrequited thing with Cloud. And you're in Europe! ACK! *almost dies in envy* I read somewhere that Venice is sinking (I forgot how many inches every year) and I want to visit it before it becomes totally submerged underwater. :) And how's your story? ^_^ Do update me, puh-lease???

Ah-choo­ - :) Thank you. I wanted this one to be different. :)

Malz – Hmm, statistics... *winces* I'm not really good in math, or anything related to math (though 3 out of 5 girls share my same fate – kidding! ^_^) I can't have Zack beat up Cloud 'cause then Cloud's fans might beat him up. :) And Zack is sweet, isn't he?

Game-kid17 – ack! Sorry this is so short! ^_^ You're probably going to whack me but I *really* can't keep my chapters long... Sorry, sorry, sorry! :) Hehe, and yes, Cloud is mighty dense, huh!

rubyvixen/foxyroxy – don't worry, I'll email (all of) you when I update, just in case you forget or something. :) I like metaphors and analogies... And as for Tifa being an angel, that's a sweet thought, right? A fitting one too. ^_^

Vash-chan AKA Makoto Almasy – Hey, Tifa and Makoto do have stuff in common! ^_^ They're both kindhearted but if there's someone silly enough to piss them off, woah look out! :) And I read RK fics too! :) Do tell me when you post it, ok? :)

xBebExSwEeTzZ – *lets out a sigh of relief* Wow, at least I'm not that confusing anymore... (I think?) :) and thank you for your kind words! I will email you when I get the next chapter up. ^_^

mai – ^_^ thank you for your support and review! If you want me to email you whenever I update, please leave your message in a review or feel free to email me. ^_^

SabrinaYutsuki – ^_^ Hey, it's been so long! I don't see you in school anymore... I have a lot of stuff to tell you. Ang daming kwento, I can't discuss it all in one day. Siguro we can schedule an overnight at your place or something, do a lot of catching up and all. Grabe, miss na miss ka na namin ni Margot! :) Keep in touch, ayt?

Fudgieangel - :) Sorry I wasn't able to email anymore, I'm a bit busy in school, fixing my Leave of Absence and all. How was the move? :) I promise I'll write back ASAP.

Oh, and if any of you don't want to receive any emails from me anymore, do feel free to say so. :) Likewise, you could always tell me if you want your email addresses added. 'Til next time! Review if you feel like doing so! Thank you for reading!