All right it's been a long while... I have plenty of excuses don't worry. I'm just glad that this story is still alive and I have my best friend to thanks for that... RikkuxStarr put all my writing documents on a Cd for me. She saved me man... cause with my old cp I could not even open cd's on it...

So with that I dedicate this Fiction story to RikkuxStarr, my best friend!

Author's Note: Okay I gave a long update because it's been so long. A LOT of stuff is mentioned in this chapter ,but not much happens, well... action wise, but otherwise yes a lot does happen. Here you'll the made up history between Cloud and the other four, Glenn, Serge, Kid and mostly Orlha. Yea, you will learn why each person has their certain 'feelings' for Cloud, and Orlha and him were once kind of a 'thing' that ended badly in my story. Kid him also kind of had a 'thing' but this didn't go as far or end badly. You will also get a window into Cloud's feelings. Also Niki and Miki are in this and they well... I just decided to throw something in there that's off subject. Also this chapter has a BIG ending where the conflict is finally introduced!

Why no updates: First it started with simple writers block for then ending of this story. Then my cp did something that scared the shit out of me. It was such a bad out of date cp I could not open cd's on it or put things onto cd's to save them. So I transferred all of my writing documents onto two floppies and my friend RikkuxStarr put them onto a cd for me so in case some thing happen I would have them still even though I could not open the cd onto my cp. Then I wrote an ending. Then guess what! My old cp finally died for good. So I got a new one for x-mas. Thanks to my friend I still had my stories, but the ending to this story was lost. That's okay though cause it really bad and I hated it. So I'm working on the new ending. Otherwise the other reasons our High School and all this freakin homework, Midterms, my horse again, being the 4-h vice president now, holidays, and writers block. Life is getting so frustrating and I'm only a sophomore. Hell, I should not even be up now I have a horse show in the morning.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chrono Cross, Cloud or Aeris.

Chapter 14 Fell For Her

Kid quickly glanced up at the giant clock and saw it was already two minutes after twelve. Kid began to worry that she had already missed Cloud. She decided to wait and see.

As she waited Kid began to watch the band on stage. Miki was singing some song Kid had never heard. It was a very fast paced song with a good rhythm, not a slow song in any way. There was a flash and crackle on the stage that lit up the room like lighting. Then it went dark, very dark and the loud music turned into an eerie low melody. There was one light and it was on Miki, making her appear like a ghost in the darkness. She stood absolutely still, her eyes closed her arms extended out.

"and I...

fall..."

Kid heard Miki say. Those were the only lyrics she had understood the whole song, because of how quiet it had become and the words for once were not slurred.

The crowd watched in awe as Miki's still form very carefully began to tilt back as if she were falling unconscious. That was when Kid noticed Mi and Yu catch Miki's extended arms. The lights flickered again as Miki's still form was raised in the air and a loud guitar solo was going. The lights flickered again and instead of Miki there stood Nikki with his guitar playing away. The lights kept flickering, it appeared to be the closure of the song. Finally with one last ring of the guitar the room went all dark again. Nikki disappeared into darkness as the one light on him slowly faded out. Now it was pitch black until the last echo of Nikki's guitar faded away. Then very slowly the lights went on and brightened the room back up.

Clapping began as Nikki, Miki, Mi, Yu, some drummer, and some base guitar guy came forward. They all took their bows as Kid glanced around at the faces in the crowd. She still did not see Cloud anywhere and now it was four past twelve. However she noticed all the old people standing near by and how annoyed they appeared. That last song was not really for their age group, more for the younger people like herself. The younger couples who were around her had huge smiles across their faces and she could tell they had enjoyed Nikki's performance. She looked back up at the band. Nikki took another bow when someone rushed on stage and began to grab Nikki's attention.

"Is that... is that Norris?" Kid questioned to nobody as the blond soldier began to whisper something into Nikki's ear. Nikki nodded then gave the blond a smile. Norris handed Nikki a microphone and then ran off stage. Nikki began to tap the microphone. The sound was heard by the audience immediately catching their attention.

"Hello... Um, testing... Yeah Hi... Hello." Echoed Nikki's voice through out the halls of the manor. The lights now went from dim to all the way on again as the audience finally began to hush and look towards Nikki. "Hi everyone... Thanks for coming tonight. I want to announce a couple of things. The party is not over yet, don't worry. I mean besides it's only a little past twelve. We plan on going to three, no later then that though. Other wise that would be past the Viper's bed time." Nikki said with a grin as he looked over at the Viper and Miss Riddel laughing. The crowd laughed some too. "Well anyway it is getting late and a lot of the older people clear out around twelve thirty so we have decided to do a few important announcements now. One will be from Miki and I, so if she would please join me over here?" Nikki questioned. Miki made her way over to Nikki and stood beside him. He handed her the microphone.

"Hi everyone. Well anyway the band, Nikki and I would like to thank Miss Riddel for giving us the grace of playing for this very special occasion and also we would like to thank the Viper for allowing us to test some of are new songs at his party." People began to clap as Miki flashed a smile. Nikki bent down and began to speak into the phone again.

"Also Miki and I would like to give our own announcement together, of course with the permission of the Viper?" Nikki looked at the Viper who was smiling brightly. He nodded to Nikki. With that Nikki and Miki looked at one another with big smiles. Then they looked back at the people then together they both spoke.

"We're getting married." At that the crowd erupted into clapping and cheers. Kid could barley believe it at first, Nikki was so... weird! He looked like a girl for heaven's sake! Kid and Miki had become friends a while ago and Kid always thought it weird that Miki liked Nikki. Well Kid always knew they cared for one another, but she was still surprised. When had they decided to tell one another their feelings? Oh well... where was Cloud! She kept wondering, now getting frustrated.

"Thank you... and now I believe someone else has something they would like to say. Please put your hands together for... Sir General Cloud Strife!" Nikki announced. Steady clapping began as Cloud walked slowly upstage. Nikki handed him the microphone and with that Miki and Nikki walked away. Now Cloud stood alone on stage as the clapping began to die.

"What?" Kid questioned outraged. What was he doing up there! They were suppose to meet ten minutes ago right where she was standing!

"What! Serge whispered in a shocked voice. He began to wonder what Cloud would want to say. Why Cloud? Why not someone closer to the Viper? Like Karsh or Glenn...

"What!" Glenn turned around quickly when he heard Cloud's name. He was nowhere near the stage. He had been in conversation with an old military friend. Why was Cloud making a speech at the party? He could only imagine.

"I know why..." Went Orlha with a knowing side smirk. She was at the bar leaning back against it. She had been in search of Glenn when she stopped to get a drink. She waved a finger at the small figure of Cloud who stood on the far away stage, and as if he heard she began to say, "No wonder Kid is a bad girl..., you need to stay away from her and Serge... Mister Cloud Strife...! Don't go breakin my girl's heart."

Cloud stood there calmly on stage as people clapped and cheered. they really had no clue what he was doing up there on the stage, but they all knew who he was. Well most anyway. Cloud had won the respect of all the elderly in the army and politics. He was well know in Porre and El Nido. The younger people of the army either hated him completely or admired him.

Serge hated Cloud, as for Glenn he use to respect Cloud as an equal. Until he discovered Cloud's past with Orlha and the problems with Serge. Kid didn't care how famous Cloud was, she could care less how well respected or hated he was. Cloud had won her heart years ago and had become a loyal friend. At one point Kid felt there was more, but she had long since gotten over those feelings. Finally there was Orlha...

Orlha knew Cloud long before all of them, even Glenn. Orlha had fallen for Cloud when she was very young many years ago. It was at a bar around the holidays after her sister had just died and she was very venerable so Cloud swept her off her feet. She thought she loved him, and moved in with him. Cloud did not realize Orlha moved in with him because she loved him. He thought she was poor and needed somewhere to live. They did date and maybe he did let her on a bit, but not purposely.

Soon after Cloud started seeing someone else... Someone he fell in love with... Orlha became furious not realizing Cloud's true intentions and walked out. She moved back to her hometown, Guldove. That was when she started her job as a waitress at the bar. Soon she was on her feet again. Orlha never truly recovered until she met Glenn, Kid and Serge.

The long forgotten past and misunderstandings with Cloud is what affected her feelings for him today. Orlha never trusted Cloud after that and was always afraid he would hurt Kid. Orlha still hated to see Cloud. She always had fears her past with him would catch up with her and there were some things about her past involving Cloud she didn't want anyone to know.

Cloud was becoming annoyed by the crowd as they would not quiet down. He was feeling anxious. He wanted to do this for himself, for her. She had grown so much and he had not expected his feelings to change like that. But once they had danced he was sure of his feelings. He told her to meet him a few hours later. He immediately left the party to go purchase something very important.

Cloud was never one to be so rash, but he was in love with her. He had not felt love since... Aeris... Cloud immediately shook off that thought. He was moving on from his lost love. It was time to let her go. Aeris would never be replaced, but that did not mean new love was forbidden. Besides there was no way he would ever get her back and Cloud could not grieve forever. He had already been grieving for possibly five or six years now. Now twenty-five going on twenty-six he could not allow to lock himself up anymore. He had to move on, no matter how hard it was.

Finally Cloud nodded to them and raised a hand. The clapping finally began to stop. Once there was silence in the room once again. Cloud lifted the microphone to his lips and began to speak with a glance at the Viper.

"I am very happy for Nikki and Miki, they have my blessing. I also thank Sir General Viper for allowing me to make this speech. I hope he and his daughter continue to live a prospering long life." Cloud began.

Kid started to laugh at how some people became confused at Cloud's words. Cloud was straight and to the point. No hellos, no jokes, no emotion in his voice what so ever. Heck...! Not even a Happy Birthday to the Viper or thank you to the guest. Kid knew Cloud was not like how people imagined him to be. He was thorough, sharp, emotionless and always to the point. Only people who knew him understood him. Kid wondered what he was trying to get to.

With that Cloud paused, his eyes scanned the quiet crowd. Then he cleared his throat. Not to be awkward, just as a signal he was now beginning to say what he had wanted to.

"I once loved someone," Cloud paused again. He blinked and looked down for a second. "but she's lost from my life now." Kid saw the bit of sadness that flickered in his bright blue eyes, but as quickly as it came it was gone and he looked back up emotionless again. "I was saddened for a long time... Still am in fact, but I was given something to help me heal. A new friendship, a deep one..." Clouds eyes fixated on Kid.

Kid was surprised by that. She was not aware that he knew where she was, but she knew he was talking about her. After a moment his eyes went up again and Cloud continued. "Overtime, that friendship became affection. I found myself doing anything to keep the little affection in my life. Even trying to steal it away from others, so I could have it to myself."

Serge understood that Cloud meant him. Cloud had tried to steal Kid away from him long ago and he had just admitted it! Cloud's eyes went to the floor again.

"It was the only flicker of hope in my dark world, but then, I lost it for nearly four or three years..." Cloud's eyes went back up to the faces of the many people. "I deserved it at the time. I had done some wrong things and I apologize to all I hurt." Cloud stopped again as if waiting for someone to respond. "Since then I have done my best to do what is right. Over time my thoughts went back to that friend. It was not long until I asked to be reunited with her. She gave me that grace tonight and now I see how she has blossomed. She has long since grown into a wiser more beautiful women. I did not expect for feelings to change upon seeing her, but mine did. Now, I am sure what was once affection, is now love."

As Cloud said the word love his eyes went back to Kid and this time they glued to her. There was a gasp. Sir Cloud was in love! Many women felt robbed at the moment. Many men thinking about time. With that said Cloud kneeled to one knee. From his cape he pulled out a small box. He opened it up and held it out for all, not to short, to see. He then let his arm lower and extend towards the direction of the girl he loved. The crowd gasped again. People looking around to try and figure out who Cloud was looking at. Kid knew and she swallowed around the lump in her throat as it suddenly became 300 degrees.

"So now I ask you... Kid... " The people realized who it was and singled her out into a small open circle. She stood in the middle, despite how she burned inside she was absolutely frozen stiff. "Will you marry me?"

Coming next... What will Kid say if she forced to make a decision at that moment in front of thousands of eyes? Also Glenn and Orlha immediately want to get to Kid's side. How will Serge take to this, well he's crushed. Is Kid going to leave Cloud in front of everyone? You shall see...

Please anyone still out there reading this fic? Review please! I'm begging... well change my mind, I'm not going to degrade myself by begging, I'll just ask, please review.