I said it before and I'll say it again, I don't own Final Fantasy 7 any of It's characters and references.

Chapter 4: With Both Eyes

The sky was still overcast, the dark grey clouds stood ready to release it's downpour again on the earth below. The rain had eased up for about half an hour now, but the atmosphere was still dreary and cold, there were hardly any people on the street, all were inside as they knew another heavy shower was imminent but regardless all the business places were still open, puddles of water formed wherever they could, but would soon wash away. Despite protests from the adults, the two children had coaxed them into going to the new ice-cream parlor in Edge.

Tifa had remained in her new attire, Denzel, Marlene and Cloud were all dressed in their usual outfits. Marlene sat beside Tifa on the long leather seat, opposite sat Cloud and Denzel, with a rectangular table between them. The two children despite the cold weather were enjoying their ice-cream. They had both ordered chocolate on a cone not to Tifa's surprise, Tifa herself had also ordered one but took it in a small cup, Cloud didn't order anything he only accompanied the family. She unconsciously played with the ice-cream using a spoon. Her gaze was to the darkened sky outside the ice-cream parlor, she sat at the window, her mind trying to find peace in the angry sky, she was trying her best to act as if nothing was wrong, she knew Marlene had a sixth sense for detecting tension and uneasiness in adults. She turned to glance at the girl sitting beside her, she was busy with her ice-cream while trying to hold a conversation with Denzel at the same time, risking a chance she looked across from her, Cloud had his eyes closed and arms folded across his chest as he sat back on the seat.

Tifa sighed, she was being selfish again and she knew it, she had wanted his affection and she still did, if only he could feel for her what she felt for him, but she knew now without a doubt that his heart belonged to someone else.

She took up some of the ice-cream in the spoon and brought it to her lips, she loved the taste, savoring it before devouring it.

"What do you think Tifa?" Marlene asked.

The sound of the girl's voice broke Tifa from her trance.

"Oh, I'm sorry sweetie, what were you saying?" Tifa asked.

"We want to know if you and Cloud plan on having any babies soon." Denzel asked from across the table.

Tifa's eyes shot open wide at Denzel's statement. Cloud also shot up from his fake sleep and nearly fell forward, but quickly regained his composure, the two adults eyed the young brown-haired boy with somewhat puzzled and shocked expression.

"Denzel!" She said raising her voice.

"Well I mean, do you plan on adding our family?" Denzel asked.

"Denzel you know where babies come from?" Cloud asked.

Denzel nodded his head, "Of course I do," He replied.

Regardless to say this put both Cloud and Tifa in a very awkward situation, there was a short silence but soon Tifa spoke up.

"Well you remember Vincent don't you?" Tifa asked to which the young boy nodded, "Well he'll be spending some more time at the bar now, so just try to think of him as your big brother okay," Tifa said as she smiled.

Cloud was relieved that Tifa had answered the question, he didn't know what to say or how to answer the question, he didn't want to tell the children that he wasn't in love with Tifa.

The four made their way into the small truck they had come in and soon drove back home. As expected a heavy downpour soon came, but they were safe within the confines of the vehicle, the small truck made it's way through the empty streets and the bombardment to raindrops with ease Denzel and Marlene had fallen asleep during the drive home, Cloud was behind the wheel, when they had almost arrived, he glanced over at Tifa, she was in between both Denzel and Marlene, she had one arm around each of them as they rested against her.

'She'd make a great mother,'He though to himself.

Finally they arrived back home, the children had awoke only for a brief moment only to get into their beds, it was late evening but the weather seemed fit for sleeping. Tifa had changed back into her usual attire, somehow changing her clothes to try to drive away her gloom by using brighter more appealing clothes only made her feel more sad. She looked out at her window and up to the stars, the words Cloud had told her were etched there and would remain there forever until the day her existence was no more, not just her life but her soul, as long as there was a part of her she would feel the pain, so until she faded into the nothingness from which all things come the torture would be hers alone to bear. Every time she replayed those words that Cloud spoke to her, the broken fragments that were once joined together as one and called her heart would break even further, but she had developed a way of hiding her emotions whenever around company, but then again keeping her emotions to herself was something she was accustomed to. In truth she envied the dead flower girl, Aerith was like an older sister to Tifa, the older sister who had everything Tifa would ever want, they both lived sad lives, having lost both their parents but Aerith was always happy and optimistic, Tifa wished she could be happy like Aerith despite having all the awful things happen to her, but most importantly Aerith had the one thing Tifa wanted above all else, she had Cloud's affection.

The rain had eased up again but the dark clouds remained there as if feeding of Tifa's emotions, she sighed, she was not going to force herself onto the man she loved, for she knew that he to was also suffering probably almost as much as she was, not because of the guilt of letting the woman he loved die but the pain of living without her. Aerith was now gone, gone back to the lifestream and she had met her first love there once again but Cloud lived on, never again will he see her, touch her or speak to her.

"If only," She whispered softly as she lowered her head.

"If only what?" A voice asked from behind her.

Tifa instantly turned around in one swift movement. She though she was alone but there in the doorway stood a certain blond-haired swordsman.

"C-Cloud," She stammered.

Cloud half-smiled at her as he always did and walked over to her.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked.

"Nothing important" The dark-haired maiden replied.

"Oh I thought it was about…" Cloud didn't get a chance to finish.

"What Denzel said earlier?" Tifa asked.

"Tifa, I care about you a lot but…I can't," He said as he lowered his head.

The ruby-eyed girl turned away from him, she couldn't face him not when it came to this subject, she stared back up at the overcast sky, the darkness was beginning to win over the light.

"Tifa I don't love you," Cloud said answering the question she had asked him twice when he was asleep.

"I know," She replied in a very sad and quiet voice.

Tears formed on the corners of her eyes, she tried to fight them back, despite knowing it was a hopeless battle, but she wouldn't, she won't give him the satisfaction of seeing her breakdown in front of her, once more her feelings of anger began to develop, she clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth, she wasn't facing him so he couldn't see her pain, then something happened she didn't expect, she felt two hands wrap themselves around her and a piece of warm skin on the flesh of her neck. Instantly her anger faded but before she could speak, Cloud spoke first.

"Please don't hate me Tifa, but like I said before, I cannot return what you feel for me," Cloud spoke as he rubbed his forehead against the back of Tifa's neck.

"I know," Tifa replied solemly, "And I won't force you."

"Tifa," Cloud said somewhat surprised by her last statement.

"You love Aerith, I can't force you to love me, that won't be true love, the love I want you to feel for me, but I've been selfish I thought that I was the only one in pain, that I was the only one suffering then I thought about you and what you were going through, the woman you love is gone and yet here you are, you live without her despite wanting to be with her you continue to live on." The sad maiden stated.

"Thank you, Tifa, thank you for understanding, and well," Cloud's grip on her tightened, "I don't want to leave, I like staying here with you and our family, I cherish it Tifa, our family is the most important thing to me, so please don't force me to leave," Cloud pleaded, "You're my best friend also and I care for you, I like things the way they are please let me stay."

"Cloud, this is your home also, you helped create this place, you are the one that brought Denzel to us, you will always have a place here," Tifa said, "And I also like things the way they are with our family, so please don't leave again."

Tifa turned around, she gazed up at him and he gazed down at her, she was no longer angry but smiling up at him, both of them were in each other's embrace, her ruby eyes staring up into his azure ones, the blond-haired warrior was smiling down at his raven-haired companion, not the half smile he usually used but a genuine smile.

"Thank you for everything Tifa…for being so…perfect," Cloud said.

Fin?... Like Hell...To Be Continued...

Well this chapter was supposed to be up sooner but i've been very busy, seriously but well this story has some ways to go, and i know you're all wondering if this is supposed to be Cloti, well yes it is, like i said it has some ways to go, oh and i really like Denzel also he reminds me alot of Roxas from KH2 so that's why he does all the stupid stuff he does...oh and thanks for leaving the reviews i really appreciate them, they make me smile, so if you read it and liked it or even hated it let me know, i like to get feedback.