Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: This is a Cloud and Tifa story, just with a dramatic twist due to his absence. They will be happy later. Thank you to Denebola Leo for helping me come back to writing on after over 8 years by being my beta reader.

Updated Chapter Changes: 4/6/19 & 7/26/20

-. Don't Think Twice .-

Chapter IV

Early January, εγλ 0008

"Wait, what?! I thought I just left you two alone to get it on!" Yuffie squeaked at Tifa's news. She grabbed the barmaid's hand, looking at it exquisitely. "Where is the ring?"

"He's getting one now," Tifa answered, the pink in her cheeks flaring up with her radiant smile. The proposal was still romantic, even if there was no token yet to offer.

"Hmmm...well I'll forgive him. He did sweep you off your feet when he asked," the adolescent ninja said as she crossed her arms, giving Tifa a sideways glance. "So when and where will this be?" "Today," she admitted sheepishly with a tiny grin, tucking loose strands of her chocolate hair behind her ear. She still couldn't believe this was happening. "I'm going to need a dress to wear. Can you help?"

"Only if I can be your Maid of Honor and get a Master Materia from Cloud. What's yours is yours and what's his is yours. You can get married in the palace garden," Yuffie flippantly offered.

"Deal," Tifa giggled between her answer.


September 16th, εγλ 0009, 10:28 a.m.

She rolled over and snuggled her pillow more while letting out a small groan. Tifa wasn't sure when she fell asleep, but she had to reach the point of exhaustion to succumb to it. The brunette didn't want to get up quite yet to face her husband and preferred the sanctuary of her own bed. Last night she had told Cloud the truth, which was something she had thought she would never have the chance to do.

Her marriage was troubled for months before his sudden departure, she remembered. He stopped calling and left longer on deliveries, and he had barely been affectionate towards her. She was scared he was going to run until he brought home Denzel, a gift of hope from Aerith. The little boy looked up to the man as a hero, and Cloud was spending more of his time at home. Tifa found solace in Denzel's presence as he was an anchor for the blond, and silly little conversations began to return to the household. It wasn't long after that her husband disappeared.

Stretching against the satin sheets, she groggily opened her eyes to glance at the clock.

10:30 a.m.

Her eyes perked up in a flash. Tifa couldn't have slept in this late! She never did while she had the children to take care of. Throwing off the covers to her bed, the young mother sprang out of her room with a small curse.

She quickly checked the children's room and saw they were not in their beds, and Marlene's school bag was gone. Today the school had reopened, and there was an open enrollment for all the kids that had been healed from Geostigma so they could attend school. Denzel had a placement test today, and she slept in instead of helping with their morning routine. Cloud's door was open, the room was empty as well.

Did he take them to school? The house was completely absent from any noise, she noted. Stretching once more, she returned to her room to get dressed. Sleeping in was a luxury to her, but she would've rather seen Denzel to school that day.

Down the stairs and into the private kitchen, she found dishes in the sink that were not present the night before and was welcomed with the strong aroma of fresh coffee. Did he make her coffee? She checked the coffee pot and found the fresh brew was still steaming. On the counter next to the machine, she found a note for her.

Took the kids to school, be back soon. — Cloud

The door to the bar from the garage closed, with heavy footsteps that drew closer to the kitchen. Cloud opened the small pocket door from the bar and looked surprised to see her awake. He had a small brown bag at his side.

"Tifa, I thought you might still be sleeping." His statement was light as he stepped into the kitchen.

"No, I'm up now. Thank you for getting the coffee ready. Did you get the kids to school on time?" she asked while pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Yeah," he answered concisely. Cloud had pulled out two small plates and his own coffee mug. Tifa served him his share of coffee after he nodded, and they sat down at the wooden kitchen table.

Their living space was quite open on the back half of the private home they shared with the bar. The kitchen and living room were together with just the small kitchen table in between. A formal dining room was behind French doors in the back corner of their lot, with the small backyard and patio taking up the rest. Barret and Cloud did a fine job building their family home with a business in front.

"Denzel is registered and taking his tests. He was really excited to be around the other kids. On the way home I stopped for donuts," he pushed the bag towards Tifa while sipping his coffee.

"Thank you for taking care of the kids this morning. I wished I hadn't slept in like I did." Tifa was a little embarrassed but thankful for the help at the same time. She leaned onto the table and propped her chin on her hand. The caffeine she consumed was taking a bit to kick in.

"I don't mind. I missed out on a lot." Cloud glimpsed at her briefly before turning his attention to his own breakfast. His tone and composure were as cool as ever, as if they had been only friends for years. Nine months apart was a long time, and she was having a little difficulty reading him.

Tifa didn't want to fight with her former half, but she was expecting more from him this morning. Pressing her lips together tightly, she took another sip of her coffee once more before she responded. "I wish I had a chance to tell Denzel good luck."

"Tifa, he knows," he reassured her as he began to search her.

"Hmm...I suppose you're right," Tifa murmured back in agreement. She fidgeted in her seat a bit under the scrutiny of his cerulean stare. Cloud twitched his mouth and his pale eyebrows furrowed together in her direction. Ignoring him, she picked up her pastry to take a few bites. The rest of the meal was an uncomfortable silence, the air growing stiff with tension. Her cup now empty, she was about to leave the table when he broke the awkward stillness.

"...Does he make you happy?"

Her burgundy eyes shifted a bit, unsure why he would ask such a question about their son. "Denzel? Of course, he makes me happy."

"I didn't mean Denzel," Cloud said, avoiding his wife's puzzled expression. "I meant...that guy you're seeing."

"Oh...y-yes," she stammered a bit before pursing her lips in a thin line.

Her answer caused him to glower at her. The anger had to come out at some point. "What's his name?"

"...Jace Villiers," she said slowly. Now she was avoiding looking at him.

"Have the kids met him?"

"They knew him as a friend, but it's been a couple of weeks since they've known he is more than that. Cloud, we don't have to talk—"

"How long?" he cut her off, getting tense.

"Four months of happiness," she snapped back. Now she was getting pissed in return. He had hurt her deeply. She didn't like his anger, but she honestly couldn't expect him to be okay with her new guy, despite Cloud being pretty much non-existent from all of their lives. And for that alone, he had no right to drill her for answers.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner when this all started with him?" Cloud's eyes were narrowed dangerously.

Many would cower at those eerie blue eyes when he made that face, but Tifa just matched him squint for squint. "Would it have made a difference at all Cloud? You never answered my calls. I didn't understand what had happened between us to make you leave. What I did to make you leave."

"And I can't understand how you could move on so fast."

Tifa gave him a glare that conveyed how offended she was. What right did he have to say such a thing? "I didn't go out finding someone Cloud, he found me. Jace has been there and is open and honest with me. You never fully let me in, even as your wife. You gave up on us when you walked out, resigning to your fate without telling me. Without trusting me," her words simmered in anger and bitterness.

"Do you love him?" He was scowling at her.

"I'm not answering any more of your questions," she said flatly while rising from the table, roughly placing the dishes in the sink. Tifa felt her blood boil, remembering all the lonely nights she waited for him, begging for a chance to be together in a voicemail he left unanswered. Her marriage had fallen apart before it began, and she couldn't keep fighting it. She turned on the tap before grabbing the sponge to scrub the plates and mugs.

"Tifa, we're married."

"And you left me. Words aren't the only way to tell someone what you're feeling, Cloud. Your absence said plenty," the last part she spat out as hot tears flooded to her eyes, but she held them back. Tifa would not cry again about him, or in front of him. She jumped when she heard Cloud shove the chair harshly, the seat slapping over onto the floor with a loud thud. Turning around to face him, he was already making his way up the stairs.

We're worse than complicated.


Early January, εγλ 0008

Yuffie had wanted her to wear a glamorous kimono, but the short sleeve lace over white dress spoke to her. The embroidered pearls in the shimmering filigree pattern made her finalize her choice, accentuating her curves within the white satin. While the Wutaian girl went to retrieve her jade-colored halter dress, Tifa altered her knee-length bridal attire to be truly hers.

With a little work she learned from her mother, the brunette removed one sleeve and began to refashion the lone shoulder piece. Around the hem of the sleeve, she stitched a pink ribbon with an intricate design and a few teardrop pearls that matched her earrings and necklace. She wanted the pink strand to stick out as a way to have Aerith with them during the ceremony. When the princess finally returned, she shooed the royal handmaidens away in order to be the one to help Tifa get ready. While the bride was handed white high heeled sandals, Yuffie applied her mauve lipstick and smoothed out her long hair to wear down.

And here she was, standing with the love of her life in the palace garden as he held onto her hands. They picked the very tree he proposed at with the pink-tinged flowers in full blossom, the petals raining down around them. Yuffie helped set up a small ceremony with the palace priest. Tifa kept her eyes on his, but she couldn't help but wander a bit about Cloud's dashing attire. He was keeping it simple too, with a grey suit and black tie. She gripped his hands a bit more to keep herself from swooning.

"You look beautiful," her husband-to-be said.

"You don't look too bad yourself," she responded with a small curve to her lips. She was caught up in the moment when the good-looking groom took her hand to slip the ring on her finger. The silver band was half-covered in diamonds, with a princess cut stone in the middle. Modest just like her appearance, it was perfect.

"...in sickness and in health, until death you part?" the priest recited to her fiancée.

"I do," Cloud stated with his perfect smile.

Her heart stopped mid-beat when he confirmed his vow. This was forever. A part of her still felt this was surreal, a fantasy until he spoke. Tifa was really going to be his wife, a dream she didn't think was possible.

"And do you Tifa, take Cloud, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death you part?"

"I do," she smiled through her vow happily. Before the priest could finish the nuptials, Cloud leaned in quickly to capture her mouth in pure bliss.


Author's Note Continued: Chapter updated on 4/6/19; additional thoughts and feelings from Tifa's POV. Wedding ceremony was rewritten and fight scene extended. Yay spiced up drama! Chapter updated again on 7/26/20; dialogue changes and date/time stamp applied.