"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

Judy Garland

A week later, the thin crescent moon cast a small sliver of light on Cosmo Canyon. Everyone was exhausted from the construction that occured during the day. Even though it had only been worked on for a few days, you could almost tell that the stones and wooden frames would soon form a wall. The wall was to be five-hundred yards away from Cosmo Canyon at all points. When making plans for turning Cosmo Canyon into a fort, they realized that they had to leave room for more buildings to be put in. They would need room for the new people moving to Cosmo Canyon, a barracks for anyone willing to fight on their side, places for training to occur, an armory, and eventually, they would need a hospital. They had already constructed a communication tower, so that they would be able to reachthe others from within Cosmo Canyon.

All this planning and building had exhausted them all. Reeve, who had been left to watch Marlene during the rescue mission, was over-joyed that finally the others needed his help. His days with Shinra left him with a lot of helpful knowledge, and they immediately put him in charge of the construction. Reno, Rude, and Elena had returned in the middle of the week with the men from Fort Condor and their families. They immediately agreed to help train any recruits in exchange for protection. The three ex-Turks decided to hang around and help for the time being.

Ever since the tower was put in, Cid, Vincent and Yuffie called almost everyday. Cid updated them on his alterations to the new Highwind, and promised to continue looking for recruits. Vincent said that the reconstruction of Midgar would not be taking place, and that Kale was instead adding on to Junon. He agreed with Tifa that Kale was "completely out of his mind" and "delusional". Yuffie's father had pledged support to them immediately, but reminded them that Wutai's safety was his first concern. Even so, he sent over one of his best war-advisors and men to fight for them. Yuffie called frequently, relaying advice and promising that she would come to see them soon and do what she could to help.

At the present time, nearly everyone was sound asleep in Cosmo Canyon. The only ones awake were the men assigned for night guard duty, and two other figures, carefully sliding out of their respective windows.

Fully dressed, even though it was past two a.m., Tifa jumped from her windowsill to the platform. Quickly, and silently, she descended the stairs. The night air was warm, and the sky completly clear. Tifa smiled up at the starry sky. I love nights like these...Tifa thought contently. She smiled wider as she approached the figure waiting for her, illuminated from the glow of the Cosmo Candle.

Returning her smile, Cloud silently extended his hand to her and she took it. Hand-in-hand they walked down the stairs that led out of Cosmo Canyon. The guards stationed at the bottom smiled at them and shook their heads slightly, allowing them to pass. Once past the guards, they walked farther, crossing over the beginning of what would soon be a wall, and climbing up a small cliff. Finally they stopped on a small plateau they had claimed as their own several nights ago.

They threw themselves down on the soft grass, cuddling close even though it was a warm night.

"I'm so beat..." Tifa sighed quietly into Clouds ear.

Cloud was slowly running his hand through the silky strands of Tifa's dark hair. He, too, sighed.

"So much had happened this week." he said softly. "I can't believe how quickly everything started."

They fell into a comfortable silence. Tifa watched the stars with a smile, they reminded her of that night at the well so many years ago.

"I love it when the sky looks like that..." she said quietly. "I wish things were always this peaceful."

"Me too..." Cloud mummured, looking at her face, gently illuminated by the sliver of moonlight.

Tifa met his eyes and Cloud lifted her up slightly so he could give her a gentle kiss. She smiled at him as she lifted her head up, cheeks slightly flushed. She dipped down to give him another soft kiss, but then ducked her head back into his shoulder, giving a slight shiver depite the warm weather.

"None of this seems real..." she said softly. "I can't believe we're going into a war."

Cloud stroked her back gently. "Me either...This past week has been unreal...It doesn't seem like there will actually be battles somewhere down the road..."

Tifa squeezed her eyes shut.

"I don't want to lose anyone else..." she whispered. "We already lost our families, we already lost Aeris."

Cloud's grip around Tifa tightened.

"It seems inevitable doesn't it?" he said, whispering too. "Losing more people...It is a war after all."

Tifa looked up. "Are you scared?"

He considered her question, a solemn look on his face.

"Of the war? Of fighting? No..." he said slowly.

"Then what are you afraid of?" Tifa prompted softly.

Cloud pressed his lips to her hair.

"Of losing this..." he whispered hoarsly. "Of losing all this...you and me...we've just begun our lives together, haven't we? Sometimes I'm afraid that this new beginning is going to come to a brutal end..."

Tifa pressed their foreheads together and took a deep, shaking breath.

"Me too..." she whispered.

Cloud held her close, as they waited for their hearts to stop pounding in fear. Now that they had both voiced their fears, they lessened slightly. It helped to know that they didn't have to face their fears alone. After a moment, they both felt brave enough to open their eyes. Cloud smiled as Tifa's brown eyes fluttered open and met his blue mako eyes.

"Still scared?" he asked with a smile.

"Me?" Tifa said, returning his smile saucily. "Scared?"

Cloud laughed and kissed her deeply. Her arms slid up and around his neck, in a way that was becoming delightfully familiar. He threaded one hand into her hair, the other pressing gently against the small of her back. He groaned softly into her mouth as she ran her hands lightly over his chest and stomach. Tifa smiled at him impishly, and he rolled over, pulling her on top of him. She laughed quietly and pulled herself up slightly to give him a lingering kiss. Moments later, as his slid his hand over the soft skin of Tifa's stomach, he found himself in a situation that was achingly familar. He gulped as his fingers brushed lightly over her rib cage. He broke their kiss gently, and Tifa looked up at him, both of them breathing heavily.

"Tifa..." he said softly, using his other hand to trace the curves of her face.

Gently, she reached her hand up to his face, her fingers brushing against his lips.

"I don't want to stop..." she said breathily.

No longer able to form rational thoughts, Cloud bent down and their lips met in a passionate kiss.

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Dawn was breaking on the horizon, and both Cloud and Tifa's eyes fluttered open as the sun's early light came through their eyelids. Their bodies were entwined together, Tifa's hand resting on Cloud's chest, Cloud's hand gently tracing up and down her bare back. Tifa looked up at Cloud and he gave her an intimate smile. She reached up and kissed him softly.

"Good morning Tifa." he said, brushing his fingers across her cheeks.

She smiled and cuddled back into Cloud's arms.

"I love you Cloud..." she whispered, her lips brushing his bare skin.

Cloud's hand lightly trailed up her back. "I love you too Tifa..." he whispered.

They lay in each other's arms silently, pressing close against the morning chill.

"Tifa..." Cloud whispered softly. "I've been thinking..."

Tifa hoisted herself up a moment to glance at his face.

"About what?" she asked.

Cloud stroked her hair tenderly, smiling as he remembered how it felt to have that dark, sweet smelling hair all around him.

"Back when we were in Junon together..." he began, feeling the first flutter of nerves. "After you fell asleep that night...I kept thinking about...well...you...and all the things we could do together...all the opportunities we had available to us now that we knew how we felt about each other..."

Tifa was silent against his chest. Cloud licked his lips and continued.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is...we always get in those types of situations don't we? The way we live...constantly on the edge...our lives could end any minute. You just never know...tomorrow could never come. I just keep wondering...what are we waiting for? What if we wait too long?"

Cloud hoisted himself up into a sitting position, and pulled Tifa up with him. Her eyes were wide and her heart beating almost as fast as his own. Gently, Cloud lifted her face to look directly at him.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Cloud's heart beat wildly against his ribcage. "Tifa...will you marry me?"

In a split second, Tifa's arms were thrown around his neck and her lips pressed up against his. She broke away slightly, and Cloud saw her smile, decimeters away from his own.

"Yes!" Tifa shouted, kissing him again.

Laughing, all the nervousness gone, Cloud kissed her back.