He had returned for this battle. What did she think, that he would stay forever? She was wrong, he left just like he always did. It would be like this always, won't it?

"Where are you Cloud?" she whispered quietly to herself as she stopped wiping the dishes and stared out the window. She had just finished lunch with Denzel and Marlene, and yet she still thought of him. Always him. No matter how many times he ran away from her, she still couldn't, and wouldn't stop yearning for him. Did she, love him? But he hurt her, so much. Every time he left, it was like a apart of her went with him. Didn't he know how much she cared for him? He loves her though, he wouldn't love his friend. Would he? A friend who had always stood beside him in each battle. The one who cared and cherished him for he was, even though he pushed her away all the time. Didn't he know that he broke her heart?

She set the plates back into the cupboards and continued staring out the window of the kitchen. Letting out a long sigh she closed her eyes and leaned back against the table. Though she saw him no more than a few hours ago, he still haunted her mind and heart.

Just another day without him, thinking of him, yearning for him.

"Tifa," a voice awoke her from her thoughts.

She opened her eyes and looked toward the door where Denzel stood. He had his eyes slightly softened as he stared at her. Denzel always read her easily, he knew what she was thinking, and though he told her to stop, she still couldn't. Cloud was like a spirit that haunts her continuously. No matter how much she pushed the thought out of her head, it would always return

"Yes Denzel," she answered softly, awaiting whatever the child wanted to tell her.

He swallowed before stepping forward to where she stood. His eyes glanced out the city as he said softly, "Me and Marlene have tried so many times."

"Tried what?" she questioned as she watched him.

He lowered his eyes but then looked at her.

"Tried to make him stay," he answered.

She gasped, so it was the kids who destroyed Cloud's mobile that day. It was them who had awoken early that morning. No wonder she swore she heard someone walking outside but decided to sleep it off. It was Denzel and Marlene who snuck into his room and dismantled his phone. Not just that, but also the mysterious lock on the door that was missing. His keys to his Fenrir. All of it, it was them.

She couldn't help but smile; they made him stay, for her.

"You took his keys? Broke his phone? Broke the lock on the door?" Tifa asked.

When Denzel didn't answer she levered her hand up to brush his hair back. "You and Marlene did that?"

The child nodded as if sorry for such a crime that he committed. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "None of it worked."

"You cost me and Cloud quite a lot of gil replacing those," Tifa sighed, she couldn't be bothered to tell him off for doing such a thing for her. Though it was wrong, she felt like she wanted to thank him, for keeping Cloud at home for an extra few days. Nothing was better than that.

"I know," Denzel replied. "But it was the only way, to keep him home," he lowered his head, "Even if it was just for a few days, you were happy."

She smiled and touched the tip of his chin to lift it up. His eyes met hers and she gave him a nod, "It was wrong, but I want to thank you Denzel. It worries me when he's out there," She turned to look at the window. "I don't know where he is or what he is doing; sometimes I worry, that he may never return."

Denzel winced at her words. His anger grew toward this man, the one who put so much pain into such an innocent woman's heart. As distant at that man could be, deep inside, there was feelings weren't there? He couldn't have been that cold. Then he would be just like a stone. Quiet and hard. When it hits someone, it could kill, but its fear is falling, deep into an ocean.

"I just wish he would stop chasing the past," she sighed in defeat as he let the last words escape her mouth.

The boy stepped forward and touched her hand genuinely. "I'll talk to Cloud and tell him Tifa."

Her eyes widen, "You will do not such thing."

"But Tifa, don't you want him to know?" his voice edge further.

She lowered her head. "It's his heart and he has chosen."

"Doesn't he have a right to know at least what you feel?" Denzel asked, his eyes growing wider.

What if he doesn't feel the same? Rejection is the last thing she wants. His friendship was enough, wasn't it? What if she told him and he ran away for good?

She looked around and sighed, he did run away. Possibly for good, and her she was hoping he would come back.

"Tifa! Denzel!" Marlene came running into the kitchen. She snatched her hand onto Tifa's and Denzel's, pulling them to the front door.

As they entered the room they saw Cloud standing there with a child in his arms. The rain outside had drenched him through his clothes and his face was somewhat softer. It wasn't the usual cold look, but more of a man who had a heart. A heart enough to save such a young child from the bad rumours of the world.

"I found him," was all she heard from him as she slipped her hand from Marlene's and made her way over to him.

The child was so small and dirty. His small face was so gentle so kind, innocent. How could anyone think of even leaving him out in the cold?

"How old is he?" Tifa asked as she touched his cold arm.

Cloud shrugged, "I didn't ask."

"Did you find him like this?" she questioned, forgetting about the fact that hehad returned.

He shook his head, "No. When I found him, he was okay. But after riding in the rain for so long, I think it got to him. I gave him my shirt," he motioned to the cloth around the child. "But he still didn't wake up."

She nodded, "Lets just dry him up and put him in some warm clothing," she said softly as she outstretched her hands to carry the child. Their arms brushed against each other for a moment and she felt his cold eyes lingering on her, but she didn't look up.

"Denzel, could you get some of your clothes for him?" Tifa had spun around even before he could say 'hi'.

Denzel looked at Cloud for a moment before turning and running up the stairs behind Tifa, with Marlene close behind.

He stood there dripping wet, his family had changed. There was something about her that changed too. She avoided his gaze for the very first time, and Marlene, she didn't yell like she usually did when she saw him. Denzel would usually smile, but now he didn't, he just looked and then turned and went. Did he, do something? What did he do to them? He shrugged off his thoughts and walked up the steps. He saw Tifa's shadow from under the bathroom door, he spun around when he heard Marlene's soft voice and he saw Denzel standing at his door. Marlene smiled and slipped inside, leaving the two men standing there.

Denzel stared with his brown eyes and no muscle moving. He locked eyes with the adult as he stood.

"You're leaving right?"

Cloud's eyes narrowed, 'Leaving?'

"Aren't you?" Denzel asked coldly as he threw his fist to his side.

He stood there with his mouth slightly open, but no words came out. He wanted to explain himself. To tell Denzel that he wasn't going to run away now. But he couldn't, there was something that kept him from speaking. Just when he thought Denzel was going to turn away Tifa came emerging from the bathroom.

Slightly startled she stood there watching the two with widen eyes. In her arms was the sleeping child. The only sound was the heavy breathing of Michi in her arms.

"Everything okay?" she asked, eyeing Denzel.

Cloud noticed that.

Denzel shrugged and shook his head at her, then turned to Cloud again. He locked his eyes with those of blue and sent him a message, a silent one. He blinked then stared to Tifa before looking at him one last time and turning to enter his room.

'Tifa?'

/"Tell her Cloud."/ Zac gasped in his head.

"He can take my bed," Cloud said to her.

She nodded and sent him a worried gaze before walking off to his room.

He watched her walk away and enter his room down the hall. "I couldn't say it," he said aloud.

/"Let the words come from your heart,"/