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Chapter 3: Crumbling

The rain hadn't stopped falling, it began a little past midnight and hadn't stopped since. Tifa hadn't changed into her pajamas, she had slept in the same clothes she wore the day earlier, she hadn't known when the rain had started to fall, perhaps if was as soon a she crawled onto her bed, the only sounds she heard in the night were the sounds of her own sobs and wails and she could not prevent nor fight the tears from coming, her heart was now damaged beyond repair, it had been splintered into to many countless pieces, incapable of ever being re-connected. She laid there on her bed, she was awake for about ten minutes, her white cover only reached up to her waist, she glanced over at her bedside clock it was saying seven o clock. Despite being able to move and be aware of her surroundings, the night's events kept repeating in her minds, or more specifically the words the man she loved said. After she had heard them she didn't know how she found her way to her bed, her sheets became drenched with the moisture of her tears, she cried until no more tears would come, till they glands that produced the tears were swollen and dry, her beautiful ruby eyes were bloodshot, her eyelids were swollen, she felt completely drained despite her night's rest, she didn't want to get up, she didn't know what the emotion she was experiencing was called, it was to mixed up with anger, hate, sadness, she just wanted to lay in her bed and listen to the heavy rain pour down on the earth below, but the slight pleasure of listening to the rain would also bring discomfort for it would mean that Cloud would stay home as he always did whenever it rained.

Mustering enough strength she finally sat up, the room wasn't very bright, but she would manage, she shifted her position to place her feet on the floor, she was unaware that her shoes were off, she had no recollection of removing them before she went to sleep but apparently she had as she stared at her ten toes, five on each foot. As she stood erect she lost balance for a bit and stuttered forward but soon reclaimed it. The dark-haired maiden made her way to her bathroom door, as she approached it she didn't open the wooden door, she just placed her head on it, she didn't know what to do. How do you live with the person you love that doesn't love you back, that knows you love them but is in love with someone else and that both persons are aware of it? It was the question that plagued Tifa's mind. How was she going to live with Cloud now? Was he going to leave? Would tings become awkward between them? Would they pretend it never happened?

Tifa opened the shower and found her way to the shower, maybe a cold shower was what she needed, she emerged from her bathroom half an hour later. She then opened her wardrobe to decide what to wear, she didn't want to wear her usual barmaid outfit. Finally she decided upon a sleeveless white turtle neck top and a white skirt that reached a little past her knees, she decided against wearing her standard shoes and put on a pair of brown sandals, she didn't wear her earrings or ring on her finger, finally she stepped out of her room, the children would be waking up soon and she needed to prepare breakfast.

She descended the stairs and into the bar area, she went behind the counter and to the stove which she lit.

Cloud was the first person to come down, he smelt the aroma of breakfast, and felt slightly hungry, after changing into his usual attire he stood on the stairs as he saw Tifa preparing breakfast. The first thing he noticed was the change in her outfit, she was never one to be concerned with her appearance, well probably because she would look great in anything. The blond-haired warrior considered what he should do, after what he told her the previous night, he wondered if it would change anything between them, he didn't want to break her heart, he just couldn't return what she felt for him, it didn't mean he didn't care for her, he did, she was his closest and best friend, the one person who had always stood beside him, who would never leave him, if he was missing she would go in search of him, she would always welcome him and tell him he had a home with her, but now he wondered if it would change. Would he no longer be welcome by her, to no longer be a part of her family? He didn't want to think of it, he was a part of this family and he wanted it to stay that way.

He descended the remaining stairs and into the bar area. Tifa heard the footsteps and secretly prayed that it would be either Denzel or Marlene not her blue-eyed companion, but she could hear the heavy footsteps as it got closer, she was facing the stove, still preparing breakfast so she didn't know who it was. But she knew, the footsteps were too heavy to belong to a child and her companions had stayed the night at an Inn so it could only be one person. She heard the echoing sound fade, finally she heard a voice.

"Hey," Cloud said greeting her.

The sound of his voice made Tifa freeze, she felt as if her spine was frozen solid and her joins immovable, she didn't want to face him, the only reason she had gotten out of bed was for the children, if it was up to her she would have continued sleeping not leaving her room but that would have been to selfish of her. Eventually after a few seconds she turned around to face him, putting on a face she only uses to greet customers whenever she's in a bad mood, trying to hide her emotions.

"What would you like for breakfast?" She asked.

"Well what are you making?" Cloud asked back.

Cloud noticed she never once looked at him, her gaze was on the counter before him, he himself was sitting on a barstool in front the counter.

"Just a normal breakfast," She replied and returned to the pan on the oven.

Just then two children appeared on the staircase, a boy and a girl at the same height, still dressed in their pajamas, the boy had a plain white one but the girl's one was white and littered with small pink butterflies.

"Tifa, I'm hungry," The boy said and then yawned.

Tifa smiled her genuine smile and walked over to him, whenever she looked at the two children she would feel at peace even now they helped calm the pain inside her but only a little.

"Tifa, is something wrong?" The girl asked noticing a change in Tifa not just her appearance.

Tifa nodded her head, "Why don't you two go freshen up, and I'll have breakfast ready when you get down, plus if the rain eases up later we can all go out for ice-cream," Tifa said somewhat cheerfully.

Both children grew enthusiastic at her guardian's statement and scrambled up the stairs, Tifa smiled at her two angels, she then giggled as she remembers the previous day's events or more specifically she remembered Denzel's rodeo outing with Red.

Cloud had noticed Marlene's statements, he didn't have to guess to know what wrong, he knew he had to speak with her, so leaving his seat he approached her from behind, He gracefully placed on hand on her shoulder, immediately Tifa nudged her shoulder free of his touch.

"Don't touch me!" She spat out somewhat silent yet aggressive.

Cloud was stunned by her display this wasn't the Tifa he remembered, the Tifa that was always cheerful and rarely got angry. Tifa made her way back and finished cooking, she then took a plate and put the pancakes she had prepared on them. She then placed it on the counter along with the syrup and then a glass a juice, she turned to acknowledge Cloud who had since returned to his seat, she had placed the meal right before him, indicating that it was for him, as she placed the glass she prepared to remove her hand but as she did, Cloud's own hand captured in a soft embrace, Tifa immediately withdrew it again.

"I said don't touch me!" She snapped at him again.

"Tifa why are you being so aggressive?" Cloud asked.

All the while Tifa had never stared into Cloud's eyes, she deliberately avoided them, she knew if she looked into them she would just end up breaking down like she did the night before.

"I'm not aggressive, why are you being so polite?" She asked.

"Is this about last night?" Cloud asked back.

The rain was still pouring heavily, the sky still a dark gray, it showed no signs of letting up soon and from the way it appeared it seemed that it would continue for the whole day. Tifa didn't reply, she just ignored him and turned her back to him, that was all the signal Cloud needed to determine what it was about. He lowered his head and prepared to speak.

"Tifa I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you,' He said sincerely.

"I know," Tifa replied trying to act calm and accept his apology, "I sorry for they way I acted, I shouldn't, maybe you can come with us when go out later."

To Be Continued...

Well, i centainly didn't expect all the hate for Cloud, well maybe I did that's why i put the whole Denzel and Red scene but apparently didn't cut it. Well anyway hope you enjoy this new chapter, let me know what you think. Please forgive any spelling or grammar errors I may have in this chapter.

Till next time...