Well, I am back for another chapter in this wonderful Cloud/Tifa story. I hope that you guys are enjoying this. I don't get many reviews. Well, I am back for another chapter in this wonderful Cloud/Tifa story. I hope that you guys are enjoying this. I don't get many reviews, but the ones that I have been getting good ones and no bad ones. That is always a good sign. Well, on with the story then.

Disclaimer: I do NOT OWN Final Fantasy or anything related to it!

Hopes And Fears Revealed

Tifa looked back at Cloud with happy eyes. It had been a long time since she had smiled this much. So much had happened since he had left the last time and Tifa never thought that her childhood friend would think of something like this for her. She smiled brightly before turning to looked at all of the attractions. There were so many that she couldn't decide right away. Her brown eyes looked around, and finally, she made her choice. "Can we go see a play?" she asked, looking at Cloud for his approval. Tifa hadn't seen a play since the last time she had come here which was about 9 months ago.

The blonde nodded and followed her as his childhood friend led him to the theater. Sitting down next her, he looked at her for a few moments, admiring her beauty. His mako blue eyes showed warmth for a few moments before she turned her head to look at him. The moment her head moved, he looked away, ashamed that he couldn't just down right tell her his feelings. Soon, though, soon he would have to tell her. Cloud could no longer keep this inside. The emotions that he had bottled up would be told to her within the day, or at least he had hoped.

"Remember the last time that we came here?" she asked, looking at him with bright eyes still.

It took him a few moments to think about that. The party of nine had come here so long ago. Did he really come here with her? He blinked a few times, and then nodded as a vision of her came to his mind. She was happy; just like she was now. "Yes, you dragged me everywhere." he replied with a smirk.

"Hush." she said, laughing some as the lights lowered. The play started with her grinning. Her brown eyes watched the actors put on a rather good play. Although, she was interested in the story of this play, her attention was moving toward Cloud. He seemed so relaxed today. She wondered how that happened. Could it be her? Her eyes looked at her hand, and it was then that she realized that he was holding it ever so gently. Her eyes widened as she looked. Her mouth opened a little, and then she shot her head up to finish watching. Even though she was trying to watch, her heart began to race as she couldn't take her mind off what was happening. 'Is this happening or am I having another dream?' Tifa questioned herself about all of this. "Tifa." Cloud's voice rang inside her head. She blinked and looked up at him.

"You alright? The play has been over for ten minutes." he said, looking at her with slight confusion.

"What?" she asked, looking to see that no one was there anymore. A blush came over her face. "Oh. Wow, I completely zoned out. Sorry." she said, beginning to stand up.

"I see." he said, his hand long gone from holding hers. Although, he longed to hold it once more.

"Well, shall we get some food?" she asked, right before she heard his stomach grumble. Laughter came from her as she looked at him and then just smiled once again.

Cloud laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. "Y-yeah."

She nodded and took his arm, leading him back out to look for a restaurant. Her brown eyes looked to him. "What do you want?"

"Hmm, I was thinking some noodles."

"Is that all you like?" she asked with a playful smile on her face.

"Well, they are simple and taste good." he stated with a nod.

She laughed. "Well, if I remember correctly, there is a place here that has some noodles." she said, leading him to where it was. She stopped for a moment to make sure that this was alright with him. Tifa had always been this caring to him. She had always devoted herself to making him happy. Even though he hardly showed it, she thought that she was at least making him feel content when she was around. Oh, how little she knew.

It amazed Cloud on how caring she had always been to him. Always putting him first, made him smile warmly for a brief moment. His blue eyes looked at her and nodded to let her know that this was fine. He wanted nothing more then to have her be happy. It was his turn to make her feel cared for. He walked in with her and was content with being around her. They were seated, and he sat in front of her. He looked at her once again and just admired how she had grown with beauty.

After Tifa ordered her Teriyaki chicken, she looked at Cloud and felt a little odd. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her cheeks becoming a bit pink.

He shook his head some and looked up at the waiter who delivered their food. Cloud was thankful that it had come. He looked at the hot noodles and smiled some. However, he thought that it wouldn't be as good as Tifa's cooking. He grabbed his chopsticks and began to dig in. He was right, the noodles were good, but not as good as his childhood friend's. "How is your dinner?" he asked, looking at her.

She smiled as she finished eating her mouthful. "Hmm, pretty good. Although, I am sure that I could make this. You?"

"I have had better." he said, his blue eyes never straying from her dark eyes.

Tifa smiled as she knew what he meant and was flattered by it. After a while, she broke eye contact and looked at her half empty plate. Once more, her thoughts traveled to why they were here. She couldn't think straight anymore. Pressing her lips together, she finished as much as she could. "Say, you want to ride on the gondola?" she asked after she had seen that he too was finished with his meal.

He nodded, his own thoughts making him nervous.

So, she stood and went for the check, only to be stopped by Cloud. He told her that he would be paying. Tifa felt her heart nearly stop as she had never seen him act this way. Her eyes held shock for a moment, and then she nodded. As soon as everything was paid for, the two of them left the restaurant. As they walked back to the gondola, Cloud was tempted to take her hand, but stopped himself. He felt that it wasn't right yet. She looked at him and smiled. Soon they were there and waited to get onto one. Both of them seemed quite nervous for they needed to tell the other exactly how they felt. Cloud let Tifa board before him. They sat across from each other.

As it began to move, she looked at him and took a deep breath, but before she could say anything, Cloud spoke. "I have something that I must tell you." Were the words that she heard come from his lips. In that instant, her heart froze as all of her hopes rose. Something that must be told; that could only mean that it was important, and that she should listen. Pressing her lips together once more, she nodded some and waited for him to speak again.

Cloud let his mako-blue eyes look at her and tried to calm himself. "I know that you have always been there for me. Through everything, you have always been the one that I could come to and feel at home. I have seen how sad you have become since we defeated Sephiroth, and I didn't understand until now. It was foolish of me to take everything that you have done for me for granted. I didn't realize how much pain you must have felt, but now I understand and Tifa..." he said, taking a pause to see how she was reacting.

Tifa looked at him with a hand over her mouth. She was in complete shock as she listened to his words. Was her dream of this happening finally coming true? She nodded, wanting him to continue.

"Tifa, I want you to know that I never want that much pain to happen to you again. Never again will I take all your caring for granted. It's my turn to make you happy. You were right about one thing. My heart is with someone, but it's not who you think. I wanted to find the Promised Land, but I already found it. It's with you, Tifa. My heart lies with you. Let me live up to being your hero." he said, closing his eyes. Cloud felt foolish to just tell his secret that he had been keeping for years, but then again, he couldn't keep anything from his closest friend. It was to much. A sigh came from him and then not even a second later, he felt something soft hit his lips. His eyes opened to see Tifa in front of him, kissing him softly. He felt something wet hit his cheek. He pulled back and just looked at her.

There Tifa was, baffled by what he had just spoken. Never in a thousand years, did she think he would be the one to bear his heart like that. Of course, she had always called him her hero, but he had always denied it. To hear him say that he wanted to made her heart leap for joy. As soon as he was done, she had the impulse to just kiss him. Watching him look so nervous and hearing those words of passion come from him were just to much for her to handle. Tears welled in her eyes and spilt over as she kissed him softly. When he pulled away, she opened her brown eyes to show happiness beyond belief. "I-I never thought that I would actually hear you say that. I must be dreaming. I have longed to hear you say something like this. And, and now here you are. Cloud, just knowing that you indeed have feelings for me is enough to make me happy." she said, taking his hand and sitting beside him. Her eyes still were full of tears as she looked at him.

Relief seemed to come over him as he looked at her. "You know for a moment there, I was afraid you weren't going to like what I had to say."

She laughed as she looked at him. "Well, I do like it. Say, Cloud?" she asked, as she leaned against his shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"Let's go home." she said, yawning some.

"I think that is a good idea." he said, helping her out of the gondola. Everything was going to be alright. He was going to make sure that she was happy and protected. Once they were on the ground, he led her back to Fenrir and began to make the trip home. For once in his life, he felt as if things were clear and that his emotions made sense.

End Chapter...

Well, there ya have it. The next chapter might have a lemon! So, check it out. Drama is promised in a few chapters. So keep coming back for more. Don't forget to review, that makes me very happy. It lets me know how well I am doing. See ya soon. ones that I have been getting good ones and no bad ones. That is always a good sign. Well, on with the story then.