Tifa heard the childish laughing, it sounded so familiar to her. It was so peaceful, so happy, just like Cloud's when he was a little child, but she knew it wasn't him... He was dead, and there was nothing she could do about it. Except mourn his death and everything about it, she loved him, and never told him, and now he was gone.

"Tifa..." murmured Vincent as he held her close, he felt her tears, then he too heard the child's laughing, comeing from the house near the lake, it was ghostly, it sent chills up Vincent's spine, and yet, he so much wanted to see what it was.

"Vincent... What is that?" asked Tifa.

"I'm... Not sure." said vincent as he looked over there, to make sure it was not a monster. Just then a greenish white colored ball bounced out of the thing, and a young boy, wearing white completely (like the white mages on FF1) came running out to get the ball. He stopped laughing after seeing the two adults in the water, his blue eyes gazed upon them, and a yellow spike of hair landed inbetween his eyes.

"Uhm.." said Tifa as she walked towards the young child, he backed away, and threw the ball at her, it missed of course, "Hey little guy, I'm not going to hurt you."

Vincent walked over and saw the young child trembleing where he stood, Vincent started woundering, 'How did this child get here?'

"Get away!" said the child, he closed his eyes and backed away even more.

"Are you here alone?" asked Vincent.

"No, the Cetra lady keeps me company." said the little boy.

"Cetra lady?" asked Tifa but her mind kept telling her, she's dead, just like Cloud.

"But little one... That woman has been dead for quite a while." said Vincent.

"Nu-uh! I was talking to her a minute ago!" said the Child in defence.

"But how is that possible?" asked Tifa looking at Vincent.

"Kid what is your name?" asked Vincent.

"The Cetra lady keeps calling me, Cloud Strife!" said the boy proudly. Tifa looked at him then to Vincent, who looked just a dumbfounded, then back at Cloud. This wasn't the same Cloud as before was it?

"We... Just lost a friend named, Cloud Strife." said Vincent.

"Really? I just woke up." said the little Cloud like he thought they were the only humans on the Earth.

"Just woke up?" asked Tifa.

"Yep! I was in water, and it was all wet, then I woke up on a pillar with the Cetra lady."

Tifa looked down, it was like Cloud only if had never met them before, a few tears came out of her eyes and hit the floor, she looked so sad, Cloud didn't know what was wrong and he knelt down and looked up at her face. His brilliant blue eyes shimmered into Tifa's brown eyes, and she stopped. She looked at the child and then embraced him. Cloud didn't know what was wrong but he didn't like this game they had of squeezeing the other one breathless.

"Stop!" said Cloud, Tifa let go of him, and looked at him, glareing at her, she remembered Cloud would do the same when they were younger, Cloud picked up the ball and looked at them, "That game wasn't very fun."

"A game?" asked Tifa, "No cloud, that was a hug, not a game."

"Really? What's a hug?" asked Cloud.

"Well it's away of show affection towards another person." said Tifa.

"Oh... What affection?" asked Cloud.

"Well..." said Tifa. vincent looked down at her, then to Cloud.

"No one can really define that one, it takes shapes, as another person, as an emotion.." said vincent, then a really strong gust bursted in and blew the child's hood off, Tifa covered her mouth and her eyes shimmered, Vincent's eyes grew wide as they looked upon the child's face, It was Cloud's not a hair out of place, spikey blonde hair, and pale skin. Blue eyes, and same face expression to match.

"Why are you looking at me?" asked Cloud, "Is there some thing on my face?"

"N-no..." said Tifa in disbelife.

"Cloud... Why don't you come with us?" asked Vincent.

"Can the Cetra lady come too?" asked Cloud.

"Of course she can." said Tifa. Cloud ran back intot he house, but the 'cetra lady', wasn't there, he called out "Cetra Lady", and there was no reply. Maybe he thought she was mad at him, or she was asleep, then he looked around and the place seemed scarier and colder than before. He ran out and hugged Tifa, and plead could they go. Tifa nodded and they were off to the Highwind.

Chpapter 2 end...