.Well, this story has become quite interesting really fast. It's amazing that I have some smart readers out there who are catching on to my plot. Ahh, but not to worry, I have so many plot twists, you will be on your toes for a while. Enough from me, on with this story.

Disclaimer: I do NOT OWN Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters!

Shattered Dreams, Fear Driven Nightmares

Swirling his sword around only to be block by another blade. His blue eyes looked at the attacker to see a wicked grin on a pale face. His aquamarine eyes seemed to hold nothing but evil as he looked into the mako-blue of the blonde. The silvered haired man pulled back and laughed evilly as he disappeared and came behind the blonde. Turning quickly, but only to see two people now. His blue eyes would widen as he saw that they were multiplying. Fear was running through him as he couldn't keep on fighting like this. He coughed some, before charging towards both of them. As he keep his defenses about him, he was slowly becoming weaker. His breathing was uneven as they got a couple of nicks. He groaned as he fell to one knee as the two were no match for him at his current state.

He looked up as he saw a sword pointed as his neck, but he didn't say anything. They asked him questions and still he would give them no answer. The one who had initially attacked him, looking to the other and nodded. Once that happened, something terrible happened. Those mako-blue eyes held horror as a brunette girl looked battered and bruised, lying limp in another silvered haired man's arms. He gritted his teeth as he looked at them all with vengeance.

"Cloud..." the girl breathed. It was scratchy and very faint. "You forgot your promise..." she said, before completely going. Laughter was heard all around as everything fell to black.

Cloud's eyes snapped opened, and he immediately looked to his side to see Tifa sleeping soundly by his side. He breathed a sigh of relief. What was that dream about? He shook his head at he couldn't seem to get that image of her bleeding and bruised out of his head. His eyes looked at her with sorrow and great care. There was no way that he would ever let that happen to her. No, he would keep his promise, or he would dying trying. Never would he see her in that much pain. He let his hand caress her cheek as Cloud watched her sleep. A small came to his face as his eyes watched her sleep in peace. Worry was in his eyes as he looked up at the door. He had to leave her for a little bit. That dream was becoming more vivid, and Cloud knew he had to find these people. Find these people and destroy them before they could harm her.

The blonde slipped out of bed carefully. He looked back at her to see if she was still asleep. After that, he carefully gathered his things and made his way to the door. Opening slowly, he went through. Cloud looked back at Tifa and smiled once again. "I will keep my promise." he said, softly and then walked out her door to the bar. As he walked through it, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon. He took one last look before around the bar and sighed. As much as he wanted to stay, he couldn't. Her safety was more important. He walked to the bar and wrote something on a small piece of paper. With a nod, he then left Seventh Heaven. As he got on Fenrir, he looked back on last time, then started his bike and road off into the rising sun.

About an hour and a half later, Tifa awoke. She yawned as she sat up and stretched. Her dark eyes looked around, and she smiled. Things were going quite well for her. Her heart seemed happy and light now that she had let her feelings be known. As she got up and dressed, she noticed that Cloud wasn't in the room. She only smiled and shook her head as he either was outside working on Fenrir or cooking. Since she hadn't smelled any food, she thought he was outside. Grabbing some clothes, she went to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for another day.

She walked into the bar later and began to cook breakfast for the two of them. When she set down his plate, she noticed that there was a piece of paper where he would normally sit. Her brow wrinkled some as she set his plate next to it. Her hand grabbed it and began to read it. Her eyes went from confusion to horror. Tifa dropped the paper and ran to the door. It was already unlocked, a bad sign. She swung it open and ran down the stairs to see if his bike was by her bar. Fear was in her face as she called out his name. Sadness was creeping into her heart as she looked around franticly for him. This couldn't be happening. This was all a bad dream and she would wake up right next to him. Right? Her breathing was jagged as she sat on the steps and placed her head in her hands. She didn't care of people saw her like this, something terrible had happened.

"Why Cloud?" she asked, as she stood up and walked back in. For now, she would open her bar to try to get her mind off of the tragic thing that had just occurred. Her footsteps took her to behind the bar where she began to mix drinks and try to put on a smile. Mostly everyone knew that something was wrong, but they didn't say anything. However, all of them felt her pain as her spirit was broken once again. For this, they hated Cloud.

One year and six months later, Tifa was standing behind her bar making her patrons some drinks. However, things had changed. Children now played in the hallway that led to her room, where Marlene was babysitting a nine-month old. She was carrying him to the bar. "Miss Tifa, he is getting fussy again." she said, setting the small child on the counter.

The dark haired woman looked at the small boy and smiled warmly. "Are you hungry, Sora?" she asked, reaching out her arms to him. When the boy laughed and clapped his hands, she took that as a yes. "Alright, let me get it ready." she said, looking down at some applesauce that she could give him. As she told Marlene to watch Sora, she went to fixing the baby's small meal. Once again, Tifa was to busy to notice that another new customer had come in.

"Welcome to the Seventh Heaven, Mr." Marlene said, with a bright smile on her face as she was playing with Sora.

Tifa swirled around and put on that smile that she always had. The one that pushed back all of her sadness. But, when her dark eyes looked at the new person who had come in everything seemed to change. Her face turned to horror. Her eyes quickly looked at the baby and then back to the one that she was looking at previously. She gulped as she moved closer to where he was sitting at the bar. "Can I get you something?" she asked, her voice a bit shaky.

"Something hard." That was his signature line. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the blonde who had said those words without looking at her. Her heart began to break all over again. She nodded and began to fix his drink. As her hands poured the mixture of liquor, the small brown haired boy crawled over to where she was standing. He began to reach for the cup, but then stopped and looked at the man sitting there. His blue eyes started at him and then looked to Tifa.

"Mama...hungy." The little one looked at her and started to sniffle. Tifa looked horrified that he had said something like that at this moment in time. Why now? She looked at the glass and mouthed a profanity before looking up and handing the drink to the blonde in front of her. She then picked up the baby and carried him a little ways over and set him down. She grabbed the plate and began to feed him.

After a few sips of his drink, the blonde looked to the two. His stern faced watched them intently. "I see you have children here now. Orphans?"

She looked up at him. "Yes, they are." she said, hoping that white lie wouldn't bite her in the butt later. Her eyes looked back at the boy who was making noise, of course wanting more food.

"Because you didn't want them to feel like you did." he said, looking at her. His blue eyes softened for a moment.

"Y-yes. You could say that."

He finished his drink and walked over to the two. He set down a bag. "Here, for the kid." he said, before looking at her one last time. Visions of his nightmares came to him and he told himself that he couldn't stay. With that he bid her goodbye and left.

Tears formed in her eyes as she watched him go away. "There went your father, Sora. I hope he comes back to see you grow." she said, before lowering her head to let them fall without her son seeing her sadness. It wasn't until that night that she laid her head down on her pillow and finally fell asleep. The tattered piece of paper fell to the floor as she released it in her sleep.

I have to protect you. I will keep my promise. When all is said and done, I will return to you, Tifa.

End Chapter...

Wow, cliffhanger much. Don't ya love me? So, why don't you review and let me know how I am doing on this story. I am loving it and this is only the beginning. See ya soon.