And, oh, how blessed is it thus to meet! To feel that vanished years have not estranged us, distance has not diminished love, that we are to each other even as we parted; to feel again the fond kiss, to hear once more the accents of a voice which to us has been for years so still,--a voice that brings with it the gush of memory!
Grace Aguilar
Cloud's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. Four forty-six...he thought turning back to look at Tifa. She was immobile in his arms. Come on Tifa...he thought anxiously. The sounds of the others who were poisoned penetrated the curtain as they woke up. Cloud tried not to take another peek at the clock. His only reasurrance was that he could now feel Tifa's soft exhalation against his skin.
"Has she woken up yet?" a calm, serious voice startled him.
Red padded softly into the room, dried blood on his fur. It appeared, however, as though all his wounds were completely healed.
"Red!" Cloud said, whipping his head around. "What happened to you?"
Red sighed.
"I came across Kale's army on my way home." he said somberly. "I'm fine now though."
He placed his front paws on the end of the bed and peered at Tifa.
"She hasn't woken up yet..." Cloud told him quietly, answering Red's earlier question.
Red nudged Tifa's hand sadly.
"She'll wake up soon, Cloud." Red told him. "You just have to give her time."
Cloud nodded, unable to form a response. He looked down at Tifa's face again, desperate for any sign of wakefulness. Slowly, he brushed his fingers across her cheek.
"I'll leave you two alone then," Red said softly. "I better go talk to the others...the doctors won't let them in, and they're going insane."
Red went quietly through the curtain.
"Did you hear that Tifa?" Cloud whispered into her hair. "Everyone's waiting for you..."
He began tracing up and down her back.
"But no pressure, right?" he murmured, kissing her temple. "I'll wait as long as you need me to."
Tifa was still unresponsive. Cloud sighed and pressed his forehead to hers. Tifa's breath was steady and deep, as though she was merely sleeping. The color had returned to her cheeks, and she looked the same as she did every morning at home in their own bed. It always takes her forever to wake up in the morning...Cloud thought. Maybe she just needs some convincing, like always. Cloud sat up in bed and looked down at the sleeping Tifa.
"Tifa..." he breathed into her ear. "It's time to wake up now..."
No response.
"Tifa...we have donuts..."
Nothing. Determined, Cloud bent closer.
"Tifa..." he whispered, lips brushing her ear. "If you wake up now, we can make it to our cliff before sunrise..."
Tifa's lips twitched slightly. A huge grin split Clouds face and he gently kissed her.
"I know you're awake Tifa..." he told her. "Don't make me use my secret weapon to get you up..."
Tifa rolled over, burrying her head into his chest.
"Don' t tickle me Cloud..." she mumbled, her words slurring slightly.
Cloud laughed out loud, and in one swift motion, lifted her into his arms, squeezing her tight.
"Tifa!" he said, laughing joyously. "You're awake!"
He loosed his grip slightly, so he could see her face. Tifa's eyes opened slightly, and as Cloud caught a glimpse of her brown irises, he was convinced he had never seen anything more beautiful. Grinning like a fool, he cupped her head in his hands, and began kissing her face, her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, all over. He thought he would burst with happiness when he heard Tifa giggle in that sleepy way she did.
"Mmm...Cloud..." she murmured, gently putting her fingertips on his lips. "I'm awake..."
Her eyes lost their sleepy glaze and she looked up in shock when she saw the tears in his eyes. She gently reached up to wipe them away, looking confused and concerned.
"Cloud? What's wrong?" she asked, hand lingering on his cheeks.
"Tifa..." he cried, clutching her close.
Tifa's arms wrapped comfortingly around his back.
"Cloud what-" she began, but stopped as her eyes focused on her surroundings. "The hospital?"
Cloud pulled back, just so he could see her face, alive and moving.
"Don't you remember?" he whispered, threading his hand through hers.
Her forehead furrowed in concentration. Slowly, realization dawned on her face.
"Poison?" she asked him, tilting her head.
Cloud nodded and stroked Tifa's hair back.
"How do you feel?" he asked her softly.
"Okay..." she answered. "A little weak...a little achey...but okay."
Cloud pulled Tifa to him again, heart jumping as her arms slipped around his neck. He bent down and kissed her softly, relishing the feeling of her soft lips moving against his.
"Tifa..." he breathed, ducking his head into her hair. "I thought you were going to leave me..."
Tifa gave him a sweet, lingering kiss.
"I could never leave you..." she whispered against his mouth.
He smiled, and leaned forward, kissing her just as he'd be longing to do for the past several hours, hands running over Tifa's soft curves. Just when they had fallen backwards onto the bed, the curtain swung open. The nurse stared at them, jaw hanging open. Cloud hastily removed his hand from where it was creeping up Tifa's pajama top.
"This is a hospital!" she shouted, scandalized.
She hit Cloud across the head with a rolled up magazine. Tifa laughed as Cloud rolled off her, cowering.
"Your wife needs rest!" the nurse seethed, hitting him again. "Go sit in the chair over there!"
"Yes m'am..." Cloud said meekly.
Tifa laughed again as Cloud rubbed his head, pouting. Cloud couldn't help but smile to see Tifa up and awake; leaning against the wall but sitting up in bed, laughing. As the nurse gave Tifa another antidote and checked her vitals, they couldn't keep their eyes off one another. The nurse sighed helplessly.
"You're good to go." she told Tifa. "I want you to take an antidote tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening, then check in the day after."
The nurse handed the antidotes to Cloud.
"And tonight..." the nurse said, glaring at Cloud, causing him to cower again. "I want you to rest Mrs. Strife. Do you understand me? Rest!"
There was a collective shout as Cloud and Tifa exited the hospital. They were a sight for sore eyes; both of them radiating happiness, Cloud gently supporting Tifa around the waist. Everyone who rushed forward to hug Tifa was forced to hug Cloud too, since he refused to let go of Tifa. They all gathered around, all talking and laughing at once, glad they had a reason to be happy. Marlene, who Barret had retrieved from Elmyra's house, clung tightly to Tifa's legs, chattering non-stop through everyone else's conversations.
Suddenly, through the rejoicing, Cloud seemed to remember something.
"The battle!" he said loudly. "What happened?"
Yuffie, Barret, Reeve, Cid, Red and the Turks grew silent and exchanged solemn looks. Marlene stopped chattering too, when she realized she was the only one still talking.
"Battle?" Tifa asked, looking from person to person.
Yuffie hung her head.
"It was bad..." she whispered.
The others looked at the ground.
"How bad?" Cloud asked quietly.
No one said anything. Finally, it was Reeve who spoke up.
"Not tonight..." he said quietly. "You two have been through enough...we'll save it for tomorrow."
Cloud sighed with relief as they entered their dark, cool bedroom. The contrast to the brightly lit, incredibly sterile hospital was a comfort. Their bed, with the pile of warm blankets and pillows had never looked better. The covers were in a state of disaray from them rushing to the hospital. It happened only hours ago, but the terror and grief seemed like ages ago. Cloud could hardly believe, as he helped Tifa into the room, that they had rushed out of this very room earlier that night, and he spent the rest of the night in the hospital, watching Tifa fade away.
"What are you thinking?" Tifa asked him, looking up at his troubled face.
Cloud pressed his lips to her hair.
"How I almost lost you..." he answered, so quietly that Tifa could barely hear him.
They stood in the doorway, holding on to each other close.
"I love you Tifa..." Cloud told her softly.
"I love you too, Cloud..." she replied, voice hushed.
Neither of them moved away. The pain and fear of the past night slowly slipped away as they held each other. Cloud closed his eyes, feeling Tifa's warm, alive arms around his back, squeezing him just as tightly as he was squeezing her. He barely had his eyes closed a second, when he felt himself falling asleep. They both pulled back sleepily. Cloud was just realizing how exhausted he was. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon; he had been up all night.
"Let's go to sleep..." Tifa said tiredly.
Cloud nodded as a huge yawn cracked his jaw.
They collasped in bed, barely managing to throw the covers over themselves before they fell asleep, curled around each other tightly.