This was the moment. The moment of truth.

He was ready to tell her everything. To pour out every single inch of his heart to her and let her know, just how he felt. Though the thought of rejection haunted him, but he didn't care. Either way, he loved her and it was time he stopped this mess and told her the truth. It was an either win or lose situation, and he took his chances. For once. When he said something, it was always the truth, but there is a difference of truths. There is truth that come from the heart and the truth that come from the mind. His truth was always from the mind, but now, it was from his heart.

The simple but raw truth was the one that came from the heart.

The hard and old truth was the one that came from the mind.

"Aren't you happy Cloud?" she asked. The expression on her face was rather bland and simple. It was as though as if she were asking a simple question like a 'how are you?'. Maybe she didn't feel the same, maybe she felt nothing at all. Or maybe she just thought they were friends and nothing more.

How could he be so blind? That was all she wanted? From day one, just to be friends. He was her friend, wasn't he? They weren't strangers, and neither were they related. They were two different people, from two different families and were friends, right? Nothing else but simple friends. A girl and a boy can be friends without being lovers right? They didn't have to intimate with each other. A boy and a girl could always just hang out, like ordiary friends would right? But then, he wanted more than just friendship. He wanted a relationship. A boy, girl relationship. He wanted to pull her close, hold her in his arms. Smell her sweet scenet and kiss her, embrace her.

"I.." he couldn't say it. They were friends, what if he said something and she ran away? He couldn't have that happen. He needed her too much for her to run away.

He needed to see that smile on her face when she greeted him in the mornings. Or the simple glance during the day as she worked in the bar. He needed all those little things to carry on in life. He wanted to be happy, with her. Her eyes began to take more interest in him as she watched him struggling for words. Great, now she thought he was messed up.

But he was messed up.

'Just say it Cloud,' he yelled mentally to himself.

She sank slowly as she looked down from his eyes. It looked like she was defeated. Like she had given up all that hope that she had. Wait, she hoped? For what?

"Goodbye Cloud," she whispered sadly. "I know you are going to leave again, right?"

Leave? When?

"No Tifa I-" he said sternly which made her glance up again.

It was then that he saw the hope and pain in her eyes. She hoped but was hurt from hoping? That didn't make sense.

"Then what Cloud?" her voice was rising as she spoke. Michi however still remained asleep. "You're going to go and leave me here wondering what you do when you're out there," was she crying?

"I worry about you so much Cloud," her eyes were beginning to water. "I call you but you never pick up. I don't even know if you are still alive Cloud," she lowered her head and her hair covered her face, "I can't run this place, and look after the kids without you Cloud," she choked out in a whisper.

She wanted him to stay?

"You hurt me, but I still care for you," she let out a small laugh. "I don't even know why."

She cared for him? Did she, love him too?

He leaned forward blindly and boldly circled his hand around hers and Michi's. She was crying and it was because of him. Everything he did was hurting her. Making her cry. He made her cry. Her heart was so weak and fragile, because of him. It was all him. How could he be her hero if he was hurting her? He watched as she slowly raised her head and looked weakly at him. Her eyes were wet from tears and her face no longer held strength in them. She had broken, into two and it was his doing. He had to fix this. Even if she wouldn't be his friend anymore, she had the right to know.

But what was the right way to put it? He wanted his words to be simple and unique. He felt her hand tremble beneath his touch as she stared at him longingly.

"I cherish you, Tifa," he looked her in the eye and said it. The truth was out and revealed. "And I don't want you to hate me for the pain I've put you through."

Was she smiling?

She smiled and shook her head, "I don't hate you Cloud, I could never hate you."

"But I-"

Her smile faded away as she said softly, "I care for you not because I have too, but because I want too and even though you hurt me so much, it still isn't enough for me to stop.." her eyes widen as she contemplated whether to continue or not. She decided she would and said, "It isn't enough for me to stop loving you Cloud," she let the last few words out in a whisper.

But he heard, "I'm sorry that I hurt you."

"It doesn't make me love you any less Cloud," there she said it.

She loved him?

He brushed his thumb over her hand like he did last night and smiled a contented happy smile.

"I.."

A/N: Hehe.. What a place to leave it hanging huh? Don't flame me :) be nice, and I might even update earlier.