I think Vincent/Yuffie is better, since Tifa belongs to Cloud. ;)

And thanks for that lovely reviews:D Love you all.

Well as you people can see I am still here. Reason is my cold. I've had it for at least 2 weeks (mum thinks 4) and now it just got worse an my mum fears it might develop into a pneumonia, hence why I had to stay at home which means, more updates. ;) Enjoy.

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Welcome Home

Chapter 11

(Tifa POV)

I never heard him apologize. In all the years I have known him, he never said sorry to me. Staring into his eyes, I noticed how unsure he felt. Do you really mean it?

Realizing that Vincent still stood next to me, I turned around and smiled at him. "Good night." he said. Usually I would have kissed him on the cheek, I felt like doing that, but since Cloud was standing rightnext t ome, I felt this was a little inappropriate. Patting his shoulder I smiled once again and said Good night too.

(Tifa POV End)

"Cloud!" Denzel exclaimed. Running up to the man he threw his arms around him. "You are back finally." Cloud wrapped his arms around the boy and smiled down at him. "If Tifa allows me back in, yes."

Glancing at the woman, the warrior's eyebrows furrowed. Tifa swallowed and said "You know, the kids miss you, you should come back." A cold tone underlay her words. Was she not happy? Or did she just not want to admit? 'Don't think you can come back just like that. Though a part of mine had longed for this reunion, I'm not giving in so easily. I'm doing this for the kids.'

Cloud, Tifa and the two kids inbetween went back into the bar where Tifa prepared some soup. "So where have you been?" asked Marlene curiously, beaming at the grown man.

Cloud stared at his hands for a moment before talking. "I was-" he hesitated. "I was trying to regain more about my past. And I hurt people in the process."

"As well as you getting hurt." retorted Tifa sternly who served the soup.

"So what? Are you trying to tell me i should have never found out?" provoked Cloud, clenching his fist.

Tifa sighed and turned her gaze away. "I know it wouldn't have been ok, but it would have been better for you."

"I can deal with it." he retorted sternly and turned his gaze away as well. Tifa poured some soup in each plate and took a seat. "Yes I have seen how you can deal with pain." she reotrted placidly not raising her head from the big saucepan she was staring into. Realizing they had argued right in front of the kids who eyed the elders closely almost scared they would start to yell, awkward silence filled the room.

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(Cloud POV)

Was it wrong to come back? I thought it was Tifa I felt something for and now I got snapped at like this? I sat back on the bed I had slept very few nights in. The room seemed a lot more familiar now. And so did the faces now. I should have apologized properly, telling her I was an asshole and all that wouldn't help anything. Reluctantly I got to my feet again. But what was I supposed to tell her? That I made a big mistake? But I didn't see searching for my past as a mistake. It was my right to do so, right? Just as I was about to step out of the room I nearly bumped into Tifa who was about enter.

(Cloud POV End)

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(Tifa POV)

So I decided to apologize too. After all I lied to him. Entering his room I nearly ran into him. I felt my heart jump, not because I was surprised, that felt different, but rather as if I was nervous. "You know." I began trying to face him. "I did not behave ok either. I should not have lied, but I was afraid." I said almost pleading, taking a few steps closer at the Cloud who had backed away. "I was afraid you would fall back into the sadness again. I've seen you in so much pain, to the point I thought you would burst. I could not bear seeing you in this state again."

"Whenever I think I can be happy, I fall. It has always been that way. That's how my life goes. So why would protecting me – I know you meant it got my own good and I appreciate that – help me any? I'm not made to love. Seeing as it always goes wrong." his voice was low and he faced the little frame on the table while talking.

"This time, I'll catch you." I retorted. I knew, I had never really tried to help him, mostly because he had Aerith and when she was gone he wouldn't really have let me get closer. "You managed to move on with your life so perfectly once, when we built this here up. And I was still lingering in the past, unable to move on. Don't think that everyone is perfect. We are all a mess, but we are alive." I had waited so long to tell him this, so long to let him know, that we were all having trouble with moving on when he thought he was the only one.

But there was something more important than this I wanted to tell him. I had it on my mind every day, whenever I saw his face. But I couldn't, and I don't believe now was the right time either.

His head spun around again to face me. I saw pain in his eyes. You felt vulnerable, right?

"You have beaten the great Sphiroth once already, let a team of mismatched fighters to save the planet and conquered your own inner fears, which was most important. Yet you still remain unconvinced about your own worth. And that's what I want to help you with. I want you to be happy and be a part of this happiness, if you would only let me." I felt tears forming in my eyes again. It were exactly these words I had imagined to tell him so often. I had always been afraid of his reaction, but now, not he had gone once already and if he decided to go again, I was sure I could let go. Shame on you if you fool me once, Shame on me if you fool me twice. I wanted you to come back, if you hurt me again, right here Cloud Strife, I will not forgive you. I eyed him closely waiting for his reaction.

(Tifa POV End)

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(Cloud POV)

my mouth was dry, my mind blank. What was I supposed to tell her now? She went through so much just to get a man, spoiled as I am, back onto the right path and I stand here, searching for words. No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't come up with the right to say. With something that had an equal meaning as her words. She former her sentences so thouroughly, she must have thought long about it, and I, I stood there and had no idea what to say. How do you form your feelings into words? Is it that what most people wish they could do? What could I have said to make her feel I worthen the person she is?

"I wish, I could tell you the same, tell you how much you improved in all these years. But to me, to me you were perfect from the very start. I worthen you as a friend a lot, I never thought friends could have such a heavy impact on my life again, and if there were words to tell you how much I thank you, I would. But a simple Thank you, is an understatement." I saw her eyes watering. Did I say something wrong? was that not what she wanted to hear? "Tifa, what's the matter?"

(Cloud POV End)

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(Tifa POV)

Though Cloud was never a man of words, he made me happy. Maybe this was the first time, he really thought of what to say other than the kind of smalltalk we usually had. Though I noticed he still tried to distance I couldn't fight the urge and hugged him, hugged him tight to feel his warmth again. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. "I-" should I say it? "I thank you."

"Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?" Reluctantly he raised his hand. I felt it trembling as It rested on my back. "No. "I sobbed. "These are tears of joy."

Though I wanted to show him the cold shoulder and make him taste his own medicine, he caused my ice to melt again.

"Cloud." I released from the embrace. "There is something I wanted to tell you for a while." I could do it, I knew I could. It were just words, words that came from my heart. If I don't say it now, when am I supposed to say them then? Right now, that we reunited it would be the best. Maybe it would hurt less now if he told me he didn't feel the same. Now hat he had just come back.

"Cloud, I-"

(Tifa POV End)

The door bursted open and Marlene ran inside. "Denzel!" she exclaimed. "He passed out!".

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Yeah I know I'm mean. : But that had to be.