Someone to Love

seven-

He had been gone all day. She had wondered what was taking him so long. He had never been gone more that maybe five hours at a time. And, he was pushing 10.

Tifa sighed. She had hoped to return the favor, by making him a splendid dinner. But, what good would that do? So, she took a nap and slept until about 7, and then heated a can of Ravioli and sat on the couch watching T.V. The news channel out of Rocket Town (the nearest to Nibelheim) was covering the election, taking place in Midgar. It wasn't very interesting. Then the weather report showed radar of the massive rain cloud that was hovering over the Nibel Valley. 'Be thankful for the rain shadow.' She mused as the pitter patter of small rain drops on her roof grew into a thunderous downpour. Loud, boisterous dogs howled at the rain.

She sighed again. Was this all life had planned for her? Sitting on her couch eating from a can while she waited up for a man? Wow, what a boring life she mused. But, she had her fair share of excitement and adventure for one lifetime. Yes, her life was boring but, she was content. She had never been content in almost all her life.

The dogs were still howling.

She looked at the clock, 10 pm. It was now 10 hours. She left Vincent's house at noon. Was he okay? She certainly hoped so. But, Sephiroth was strong, he can handle it… right?

And right at that moment, she had a surge of overwhelming fear run though her body. What if he couldn't take it? What if it triggered him into an emotional recession? What if he reverted into the crazed killer that had haunted her past for so long?

No, that couldn't happen, she reasoned. The mako was leaving him. His eyes were blue, and his hair was turning dark, he couldn't go crazy.

But, what if it made him leave? Cloud had left without so much as a goodbye, and it had been triggered emotionally? What would she do if Sephiroth left? Could she live alone again?

A million and one questions swirled around in her mind and there was no stopping. She suddenly felt so helpless and alone.

Then the door opened.

Sephiroth walked in, almost robotically, and shut the door behind him. He walked to the kitchen picked up a knife, and held it.

Tifa took a sharp inhalation of air.

Had he reverted?

Sephiroth looked at her. His eyes were puffy. He had been crying! He could cry? His black rooted hair was hanging imply in his face starting to curl at the ends from rains out side. She had never seen a man look so helpless in her whole life. Let alone this man.

"Sephiroth?" She asked quietly.

He made no response. Just stood there, looking into her eyes for some sort of answer.

"Sephiroth," she began. "I know what it's like…"

Did she?

"I know what it's like to have your world change in an instant." She took small steps toward him. He was still holding the knife.

"Sephiroth?"

Again he said nothing. The stood there, looking at eachother. A look of total desperation was etched onto the features of his face.

She was only inches away from him. She couldn't hear the rain, or the TV or the dogs next door anymore. All she could hear was every painful breath that he took, his soft whimpers, and her own deafening heartbeat.

After a painful minute, she extended her hand. Sephiroth's eyes darted from her hand, to the knife, to her eyes and back again.

"Sephiroth…"

And just like that, he shook his head, dropped the knife on the ground and sank to the floor after it.

He sobbed. And Tifa was right there for him.

"Tifa, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeated, and buried his face into the nape of her neck, and all Tifa did was coo, and hush him, like she would a small child. But, maybe that's what he needed.

After a few seconds, he composed himself.

"Tifa, I'm…" He began

"Don't say anything. I know, it's alright." She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Almost, immediately, the despair that he felt melted away into this new and welcome sensation. He took initiative and deepened the kiss. He moved his had behind her neck and with cradled her face with the other.

"Thank you, Tifa." He said as he pulled away. Their foreheads touching, and he looked into her eyes so, intensely. She'd never seen such loving intensity before. Did he love her?

Tifa blushed.

And with that he picked himself up from the floor and helped her up too, and led her upstairs.

In Tifa's room he sat on the bed and Tifa was at his side. She ran a hand through his wet hair, and noticed, again, how his hair curled a bit when it was wet.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yes. I'm not going to go Insane." They both chuckled.

"Did you find out what you wanted to know?"

"No. But, I'm glad that I know what I do know, the Truth. It's hard, but…" he paused.

"But what?"

"It's hard but, nececessary. I'm 30! I should've known long ago who my Mother was, and what happened to me as a child. That part of my life is now over, and I wont have to worry about the past anymore. I can start fresh now and begin my life with you."

She was speechless.

"Life with me?" she gasped.

"That is, if you'll have me."

Tifa didn't say a word. This was what she had been wanting to hear her whole life practically. She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him. He took the signal and wrapped his arms around her waist and worked her underneath him. Their kiss sent sparks though each other, a bliss, a bliss that they couldn't, nor wanted to stop. It was all they could do for each other. They held and touched, and kissed, and fed more emotion into an Eden that they were creating in the night.

They were now connected. They were finally in a place where they didn't have to worry, and they didn't have to cry. They could be with one another and enjoy life. The clouds over their lives had parted, and there was nothing ahead of them but peace.

They had found themselves, and realized that there was someone to love.

I finished it. I know, long overdue, huh? I've just gotten back into the swing of fan fic writing. I Was recently inspired by Ksipesh and her completion of Guilt's Cost which I had been following, since my Freshman year of High School. I'm Quickly approaching my Senior Year, and felt compelled to finish this one fic, which had meant so much to me. Sorry for the TWO year delay. I feel really bad for that. But, I left it open so I could perhaps create more, but I feel that I finally gave it the ending that it needed.

Thanks—Jobi.