I don't think the first chapter was enough to give the impression about this story so I did my best to write the second as fast as I could. Hope you'll enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Much to his astonishment, Cloud was informed that the wedding would take place just in a week. Those were not good news for him. The house wouldn't be only his and his mother's anymore. Together with all the wedding stuff he was told that they were to move into another, bigger house. That was no big deal for him since he didn't like the view from his window. Of course, who would like to see a dead tree after waking up early in the morning?

The time passed pretty quickly for him. Much more quickly than he wanted. The week was full of bustle and ado but Cloud even didn't bother to help. Though his mother seemed to understand that so she didn't ask him about anything. After the day he helped Tifa with the dress he became unwontedly gloomy and silent.

Cloud watched the hired workers carrying some heavy boxes with all those wedding decorations inside the church the wedding was going to be held from the high and wide tree through half-closed eyes. He didn't care about that. His belongings were already packed and ready for removal so he had nothing to do. And what could be better then having a nap? Therefore he leaned his head on the trunk and closed his eyes completely. From where he sat he could hear the silent sounds of the hammers. Probably the workers were setting the chancel. Cloud recalled his mother saying something about how the church's one wasn't suitable for the ceremony. But again, did he care? Obviously not.

"Hey, Cloud!" someone grabbed his right leg that was hanging freely and started to pull it down. He immediately opened his eyes and grappled the trunk of the tree tightly.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked angrily almost crying. He couldn't see the person that tried to make him fall but one quick glance down was enough to recognize Tifa. "Wasn't it easier to call me?"

She puffed one lock away from her face since one her hand was gripping the trunk and the other – Cloud's leg. She was hanging only one meter lower than he, so Cloud didn't try to push her off. That could have ended badly.

"Come down, I want to talk to you," she said breathing heavily.

Cloud shook his head and reminded indifferently.

"Okay, I will. But you wear a skirt."

After these words Tifa blushed furiously and quickly let go of Cloud's leg and, coming down a few brunches, jumped off the tree. With a fast move she adjusted her short skirt and looked around to check if anyone had seen her.

Cloud climbed down just some seconds later and shook the dust off of his pants. Tifa watched him curiously and when he straightened started to walk away slowly.

"Let's go," she said without looking at him.

He just nodded and followed her. Soon Tifa stopped at a swing, sat down and patted the seat near her. Cloud looked at her dubiously but did what she had asked.

"So what do you want…" he started but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.

And he became silent wondering sincerely why she had asked him to go with her if she had nothing to say?

"Cloud," Tifa suddenly spoke, her gaze fixed on the ground. "Have you ever been in love?"

At first he couldn't believe his ears. It seemed to be a simple question but why then was his heart beating so fast? He gulped and a shiver ran down his spine.

"I…b-but… Why are you asking?" he mumbled feeling his hands become sweaty.

Tifa smiled cheerfully and rumbled his spiky hair. He frowned.

"Fine, I'll rephrase. Can you understand why your mother is marrying him?"

Cloud was either paralyzed or dumb. On the one hand, he knew the answer: she loved him and it wasn't a mystery for Cloud. On the other, why ask such questions?

"Well, she loves him, I must admit, but why…" and she cut him off again.

"I see you understand. Then can you accept this? Do you wish your mother happiness?"

He didn't answer. He never thought about the marriage in that light. Cloud frowned even more deepening in his inner self. How come he didn't think about that? How come he hated that man?..

"It's because of your father," Tifa stated as if reading his mind. "You're just jealous."

"No, I'm not!" he flew into a rage quickly standing up. "Just no one on this planet deserves my mother!"

With these words he whirled away leaving Tifa alone on the swing. She shook her head and followed Cloud with her eyes. After all, this guy was hard to teach.


"Hell, why do I have to wear these rags?" Cloud asked angrily pulling off the tie from his neck.

"Watch your tongue," his mother pointed out carefully hitching a brooch on her beautiful white dress. "I don't want you to be rude with your sister."

"Stepsister," he corrected with a tone of scorn in his voice.

The woman smiled and turned to face him.

"I knew you would be fond of that. Now go and greet your future family. It's not nice, you see. They came three hours ago and you still haven't seen them."

"What's wrong with that man if he comes only in the day of the wedding and brings almost all his colleagues with the President at the head of them?" Cloud replied undoing the first buttons on his shirt.

"He was very busy. I think it's amazing how he treats his job," she answered with a dreamy smile on her face.

Cloud understood that he wouldn't be able to bring his mother to reason at that moment so he just stepped out of the room and headed to the church.

"He'd better treat you like that too," he whispered before closing the door.

He didn't have to make a long way to bump into someone. Right when he was turning round the corner so he could finally see the church, Cloud felt somebody hitting his chest painfully. He closed eyes in pain and then quickly opened them rubbing his damaged bones. He looked down and saw Tifa lying on the ground and clutching her forehead.

"Watch where you're going," he said stretching his hand to help her. She accepted it and stood up.

"Sorry, I'm just… Listen, Cloud, can you help me?"

"Let me think," he rested the finger on his chin but when she playfully punched him in the arm added. "Fine, what do you want?"

Tifa smiled and led him further so he could see the church yard where that Gast man and all his colleagues were. She pointed at one man in white coat with blond hair. Cloud couldn't see more because he was too far but he recognized the man immediately.

"Oh, that's Rufus Shinra, Gast's boss," he said forwardly but then his eyes shifted to Tifa. "But why are you…"

"The President of Shinra Company?" she asked her eyes opening wide. "I thought he was old."

"That was his father. He died recently, so Rufus took his place," Cloud explained. "But again, why are you as…"

"How do you know that? After all, he's doesn't seem to move in our circle," she asked impatiently looking straight into Cloud's eyes. He sighed remembering how exactly he learned that.

"One of my future dad's," he emphasized the latter word with a disdain in his voice, "stories about his work when he tried to chum with me. Nothing special."

Tifa nodded then looked at Rufus once more and walked away. Cloud watched her with a thin smirk on his face and when he couldn't see her anymore headed to the church.

People were rushing past him making the last preparations but Cloud stepped slowly, easy, paying all his attention to them. He had to greet Gast but he wasn't eager to do that. So he decided to help any worker on his way that needed anyone's assistance. Suddenly his eye caught something interesting. A girl dressed in short cream-colored dress tried to hitch one end of a flower garland to the tree Cloud had been sitting before Tifa's interference. Her curly brown hair hung freely up to her waist. He came closer and noticed that she couldn't reach the hook in the tree. Cloud stepped behind her back and silently took the end of garland and easily hitched it thanks to his height. The girl gasped at his appearance and especially at his sudden help. She turned her face to him and Cloud could finally study her features: big green sparkling eyes, straight nose and pink lips. There was nothing special in her appearance except eyes but she was really pretty…

"Thanks," she flashed him a warm smile and looked away shyly.

"Don't mention it," he said embarrassingly setting straight one of protruding flowers in the garland.

She tucked one brown lock behind her ear and helped him with adjusting. Surprisingly, she seemed to be a specialist in that kind of stuff.

"Hey, do you work here?" the girl glanced at his face quickly and then turned to her work.

He laughed nervously but answered rather seriously.

"No. Do you?"

"Me neither. I'm just helping," for some unknown for Cloud reason she giggled and let go of the garland. "You too?"

Cloud faltered. He was neither helping nor working. Who was he then?

"Feel free to call me a gaper," he replied coldly. "I don't think I belong in here."

She seemed to be a bit confused with his answer but her smile hid everything rather well.

"Um, I need to go now, there are some other places I have to decorate," the girl said and took the box with decorations into her hands. "Was pleased to meet you, …"

"Cloud," he answered her unspoken question.

"Cloud…" she repeated in a muffled voice obviously addressing it to herself. But then she straightened and added. "I'm Aerith."

He quickly looked at her in disbelief.

"Gotta go," she took the box in one hand, waved to Cloud and then took it with both hands. Her slender figure walked away but he still stared at her.

Only one thought flashed by his and her mind.

Could it be?..


Thanks for reading this to the end (I mean the chapter's end, of course). Don't forget to leave a review if you liked it ;)