Chapter 2: A Waking Dream Of What's To Come.

Delicate hands swayed the wet cloth over the dust covered work top, rims of translucent roughly stale circles adorned the bar from the night before, she smiled, absinth seemed to be somewhat a popular drink nowadays, and she would serve it gladly if it brought in the money to keep her and the kids afloat…. even if it did burn the varnish of the bar!

Placing her converse covered foot on the plastic box provided, she stepped up to check the plugs were in full working order, and ready for the night ahead. Closing her ruby eyes gently she relaxed herself as she let her thoughts take over her mind, images of the more happier times flashed before her closed lids. Forgetting where she was, she took one small soft step backwards, falling off the box and stumbling towards the bar! One more clumsy step, and she could feel herself falling in slow motion, everything became blurry as her head smashed onto the counter, black came before her eyes once again as her body slumped onto the floor in a graceful heap.

Waking up, all Tifa could do was grab her head in defeat as the headache overcame her senses. How could I be so careless! Her mind screamed at her, bouncing off the walls of her mind, worsening the headache's intensity. Taking a look around, Tifa nearly fainted in the spot she woke up in, was this…?

"Tifa! We need some help over here, would you mind…?" called someone deep but light and happy voice, she could tell whoever it was, was smiling with his words. Swiftly turning around with a smile on her face, she was greeted with something that disturbed her, making her grab hold of her stomach in reflex. Right infront of her…. was Cloud, the age he was now, smiling and laughing, uploading a truck with furniture and plain brown boxes. About to run over to his call, she saw something that indicated she must've knocked her head harder than she originally thought…

Running towards him was a 22 year old Tifa, hair as long as it had always been tied right at the bottom, flawlessly following her as the wind took her to her destination. After a few seconds, Tifa had stopped breathing as she panicked, trying to hide herself behind a truck…watching "her and Cloud" as they…conversed. "Tifa" had leaped at Cloud and safely landed in his arms, both were adorning smiles she had never seen on either of their faces. Hugging each other for some time, they both carried on with they're work, holding hands lightly as they moved what appeared to be Cloud's mother's luggage….Cloud's mother?

Suddenly a truck drove by her, small and blue meant for livestock if anything, nearly running her down in her ignorance. Startled and panicking, Tifa fell on the floor instantaneously, ruby eyes wide as she lay stiff on the dirt covered road. Hearing a slamming noise, more than likely coming from the truck who had sort of run her over, still staring up into the sky. Her intake of air started again when a delicate pink hand was placed over her head. Blinking a few seconds, Tifa decided to sit up….lifting her gaze to the women offering her a hand….and her heart stopped dead in her chest….the women in front of her, was that Aeris?

"Hello, I'm new to Nibelheim, I'm sorry we almost ran you over but I've been in a hurry all day. My apologies….I'm Aeris and you are?" the women's smile brightened as Tifa stood up, only to have her faint in shock and surprise.

It was blank in her mind, Tifa could feel it, the non existent air in her head blasted by her, making her hair clot her vision.

"Was that….a vision of what thing's would've been?" her voice let go gently, beautiful eyes closing gently as her body limply fell into the position she woke up in.

"Tifa! Tifa….Cloud I found Tifa! Mom!" a young boy's voice penetrated her head, blinding pain reached her brain as it registered clearly, making her grab her head even in her half awake state. Hearing heavy and somewhat worried footsteps, she lifted her limp body against the bar, pushing her heavy hair over her shoulders, clearing her breathing space, rough hand covering her heart, trying to subconsciously calm her breathing down.

Her body felt numb, nothing registered, not Denzel's worried look not even his small child like hand grasping at her shirt covering her torso. A warm hand touched her bare shoulder, shocking her awake with a sudden gasp, looking upwards slowly as her eyes shook with what she could only perceive as a mixture of sadness and pure undiluted happiness. Staring down at her, was the handsome and worried face of Cloud, his bright blue/green make eyes shone brightly against the dark surrounding the bar, gripping her shoulder gently, but assuredly Cloud reached her in for an embrace he had never bestowed upon anyone.

Watching it in slow motion, Tifa's eyes searched his face, from what she could feel her expression was reflected in Cloud's face and eyes. Coming back to reality all too soon, Tifa panicked, reaching out in lightning speed she grasped onto his back, pressing her body against him in desperation, tears slipping threw her soft perfect eye lids.

Cloud was worried, really worried. What happened Tifa..? he thought it was a regular knock on the head, but it seemed to be much more that what he perceived. Hugging her tightly, he rested is head on her shoulder, breathing in her perfume and nuzzling her neck for comfort. Stroking her back slowly, he approached the question he didn't know if he wanted the answers to.

"What happened Tifa..? What's wrong?"

Her eyes widened slightly, before she starting sobbing completely into his shoulder, body jerking with each emotional cry for help. Her voice whispered in-between her sadness:

"I saw…what I've always wanted Cloud…and could never have"

Ok that's the end of chapter 2, im going to make chapter 3 much more lengthy than that me thinks yup yup! Well I hope you enjoy it and can get the hint as to where Im going, and I will try and keep AC spoilers to the minimum :D ! reviews are appreciated