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.

A special thanks to Denebola Leo for being my beta reader and her suggestions for the ending scene between our complicated couple. This chapter is dialogue heavy, and she helped me hammer out the details to nail it. I know I left you all hanging last chapter, and it was HER suggestion. But we will start right back up where we left Cloud and Tifa.

I also need to share gratitude to both Kelleyi17 for her suggestion and push to bump up a Tifa flashback share sooner of her struggles and to Neverlost for some beta work and feedback.

Now, let's get back to Cloud and Tifa…

-. Don't Think Twice .-

Chapter XIX

December 12th, εγλ 0009, 10:39 p.m.

Tifa sighed in relief when the water was under control and no longer flooding her bathroom. As soon as she was done getting dressed, the pipe burst near the showerhead, drenching her within seconds. It caught her by surprise, and she was getting frustrated that the damn knobs wouldn't turn off properly. She could've figured it out on her own with his tools, but she was a little grateful he was here when it happened.

"Barret and I should've scavenged from the upper plate for pipes," Cloud joked as he wrapped up the mess. It made her laugh, too. Back then, everyone had to collect anything and everything to start over anew in Edge.

As she finished up her laughter, she quickly added with a smile to him, "let me get you some dry clothes. There's still some in storage."

And now she was downstairs in the garage, covered up with a navy bathrobe and slippers to fetch him his old articles of clothing. He was soaked through and through just like she was. Finding an old pair of cargo pants and a dark blue sweater, she snatched them up quickly to get back inside. The garage was rather chilly with the winter air leaking inside.

"Tifa?" He heard her name being called, but it was from a different man than the one that was in her bathroom right now.

Oh, no…

She hurried inside into the bar area, shocked to see her boyfriend standing in front of the counter looking around for her. He wasn't expected tonight at all as she had the dance recital to attend. Tomorrow was their planned date, not him stopping by tonight. "Jace? What're you doing here?"

"I wanted to surprise you," he smiled at her, holding up a bottle he had in his hand. "I brought over your favorite wine."

She just stood there, holding his clothes closer to her as she stared back at her boyfriend showing up so late at night.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to catch you so fresh out of the shower like this."

"I just wasn't expecting you." Her eyes then fixated on the very drink he offered up. "T-thank you…"

"What're you doing with those clothes?" Jace asked as his eyes noticed what she was clutching to her chest. "That sweater…"

"Umm…" How exactly was she going to explain this?

"Tifa? Did you find my clothes?" Now it was the voice of the very man from her bathroom, except he was currently downstairs instead of upstairs. Cloud came into view, but was now completely shirtless and casually towel drying his spiky hair. The blond was oblivious to her boyfriend being here as he was too busy wiping his dripping locks. It was when he ceased the motion with the terry cloth in his hands, his eyes widening confirmed he knew they weren't alone.

"Oh."

"What the fuck, Cloud?!" Jace yelled as anger escaped his lungs, with a few steps forward he lunged himself towards her ex with his first raised.

She reached out in vain to stop her boyfriend. "Jace, stop it!"

Even though the former mercenary was surprised by the oncoming onslaught, he sidestepped the attack easily. A few stools crashed to the floor just as her boyfriend collided with them. The bottle of wine rolled out of his hands, and Tifa was thankful in this rash moment of his he didn't try to use it as a blunt force. Focusing on Jace, she rushed to his side to see if he was all right. He was still face down as she knelt, stuffing an item in his pocket. "Are you okay?"

Turning over, he sat up without her help and narrowed his eyes at her. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Nothing that you're thinking of," Cloud flat out responded with disdain.

"I didn't ask you," Jace spat back at the blond, rising to his feet while Tifa followed suit, who stepped in front of him to try and calm him down.

"Oh, so you didn't say 'what the fuck' to me just now?" Cloud seethed from behind her.

She had to diffuse the situation, and she placed her palm flat against his chest. "A pipe burst upstairs, and he fixed it."

His usual soft yellow eyes met hers, but were still mirrored with malice. "Well, then he can get the fuck out now."

"Jace, this is my house," Tifa asserted herself against her hostile boyfriend. He had no place to kick someone out under her roof. The situation looked bad, but it was innocent. She'd be willing to talk more to him alone about this, but not if he was going to be pissed off beyond reason right now.

"You gonna make me?" Cloud taunted towards the man.

Seriously?! Now he was gonna antagonize him in return? Giving him a shrewd look over her shoulder as she turned, Tifa warned her ex with her eyes as she offered him his clothes. "Don't make things worse."

"Fine," he was irate but with how she saw his intensely cold eyes look past her as he said that, she knew she wasn't the target for his contempt right now.

"He was made to make things worse," Jace muttered.

"I can say the same about you, buddy," the blond apparently catching the remark.

Tifa put her palm up between them, as she stepped back to look at them both. "Can we just—"

"Say the same about me? While you were off fucking around, I was getting your kid medicine! Y'know, the one you walked out on."

Her gaze narrowed at his intention with that statement. "Jace!"

Blue eyes burned with rage, and with a hint of shame, just before the anger took over completely. It was a low blow to the father of her children, as even she was disgusted by what was said. Cloud grabbed the opposite man's jacket lapel, roughly handling him as he pulled him closer. "You son of a—"

"That's enough! Both of you can get out!" she shouted from the sidelines. Getting in between them would be bad news with the amount of testosterone floating around, but she wouldn't allow a brawl to happen in her bar. Even with her martial arts training, what was happening was too much for her to handle.

Cloud pushed her boyfriend back a little just as he released his jacket, leaving Jace a little off balance as he righted himself up on his feet. But the sandy-haired man looked more shocked at her request to leave rather than almost being beaten down by the blond. "Me?"

Sternly, she faced him. "Yes Jace, you too."

Cloud silently obliged and pulled on his navy sweater vest to leave the couple to quarrel on their own, but didn't wander too far off.

"But why?! If he's leaving, I can just stay," he tried to convince, but the damage was already done.

"I have two children sleeping upstairs and I will not put up with a fight in the bar," Tifa reasserted her stance as she pointed to the stairs quickly. Looking off to the side she could see her ex made his exit. Letting out a huff of annoyance, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Picking a fight with Cloud like that? Have you gone mad?"

"He just gets me so agitated how he hangs around you so much."

"But he's going to be around, because he's the father of my kids," she reminded him, all hints of her usual patience with him gone. Tifa could not properly co-parent with him starting fights. Didn't he realize that?

"Let me stay, please," he pleaded with his amber eyes, reaching out to cup her elbow. "I wanna talk."

She pulled away from his gentle grasp, as tonight was uncalled for. "You might want to, but I don't. I'll talk to you tomorrow when you've calmed down more." Pulling her robe closer together, she sighed heavily while avoiding his eager gaze. "Goodnight, Jace…"

And without much protest in the moment, she retreated back upstairs, away from him. Tonight she was beyond angry with his actions, and she needed to calm down, too, before she talked to him herself.


January 10th, εγλ 0009, 7:16 p.m.

When she had discovered him missing that morning after Christmas, she didn't think anything of it at first. He stayed for the holidays with the children, and left for work before sunrise. This was how their lives were for the past few months. Cloud would come and go, wherever work would take him and she wouldn't know about a long delivery until a few hours after he departed. It was always a sting to see an empty bed, and her phone calls going directly to his voicemail only manifested the pain inside.

Their marriage was in deep trouble, but they had two children to take care of, so Tifa put those two smiling faces above everything else. She had tried that one evening during the holidays, but Cloud had only pushed her further away. That moment she approached him outside his office door simmered away her last hope after he quashed her advances.

She remembered crying alone in her bedroom that night, but she never thought he would leave their home for good.

Before daylight he was gone, and she didn't worry too much about the first week he was absent. Really, it had become a part of the norm in the household at this point, and she took calls from clients for him. Leaving him voicemails he would listen to, but never speak to her.

When the tenth day of his absence came by is when she began to really worry. The children were beginning to question or making light conversation of looking forward to his return home from his delivery. But Tifa knew he wasn't going to come back to them, and perhaps...she was at fault for completely pushing him away.

Tifa had kissed him...but he didn't kiss her back.

"Tifa, another beer please," a patron requested from the other end of the counter, just as she finished up filling up her current order. The phone began to ring behind her as she set the glass down, the sound alone making her feel a little too drained. Her bar was overflowing with customers, and this was the fifth call in the last hour for his business.

Sighing to herself, she picked up the cordless receiver without a second thought. "Hello, Strife Delivery Service. You name it, we deliver it." Balancing the phone on her shoulder, she tended to her customers as she jotted down the newest order. She didn't even have a chance to call to inform him yet with how busy she was tonight. And if he didn't answer, she was going to have to call at least twice to give him all the orders.

"Tifa! Denzel needs you!" Marlene busted through the kitchen door, rushing to her behind the bar. The little girl was almost out of breath as she clutched to her leather apron. "I-I don't know what to do. It's really bad this time. Please?"

Those doe eyes stared up at her with a sense of helplessness she hated to see in someone so young. Marlene had been doing her best to help take care of Denzel, and at times, was becoming downhearted about it. Even if the little girl was putting on a front, especially for her sake with how tough her troubles were with Cloud, she knew Marlene struggled herself.

"I'll be there in a minute, okay?" Tifa reassured her, brushing the tips of her fingers through the petite girl's silky hair. Her mother did the same to calm her while growing up, and the same tactic worked on Marlene. Slowly, the girl nodded and hugged her waistline.

"That boy is still sick?" An older gentleman's voice broke between them from his seat at the counter. As Tifa side-eyed him while still consoling Marlene, he looked as suspicious as he sounded with his question. From her memory, this regular of hers was named 'Clyde' and had been concerned the first moment he heard about the boy's illness a few weeks back.

"It's just a chest cold that's lingering," she relented, hoping it would be the end of that.

"For a month? And how long was he sick the last time?" he responded with thick doubt, his beady eyes narrowing a bit. "You can't fool me...he's got that Geostigma, doesn't he?"

A few of the surrounding customers perked up to that word, the atmosphere becoming a little quieter after it was spoken. The woman nearby was now staring at Tifa instead of enjoying the date she was on with another man. Under the scrutiny, she kept her gaze steady with her hand still protectively on Marlene's shoulder. She lied to the man. "No, sir."

His focus landed on the small girl, before looking back up at her to call her bluff. "You got some nerve keeping that boy here while serving others. It's reckless!"

"Denzel is sick, and nothing more. No one is in danger here," she calmly disputed.

The man on the date with the pretty girl tapped on his date's shoulder, signaling for her to go. They left some gil on the counter, but not without a suspicious glance her way. Geostigma had its own hysteria attached to it publicly, and it seemed like a few of the customers weren't going to believe her. Clyde got up as well, zipping up his jacket he had left on during his stay. "You ain't getting shit from me."

"Then don't ever come back," she warned with her carmine eyes. But she knew he wouldn't be anyway, as well as a few others that looked upon the scene with shock and horror. Her heart beat inside her chest anxiously but she wasn't going to show any fear to Clyde, or any fear in front of Marlene.

The man scoffed as he stalked out, leaving without any payment as he promised. Some of her other patrons followed suit, while the remaining few pitied her with their eyes silently.

"Let's go check on Denzel," she hummed to the girl below, letting her lead the way. Gripping her hand, Marlene safely tugged her along, as if she was protecting her from what had just happened in the bar. And she didn't have to tell the girl not to mention what happened either. Grabbing some fresh hand towels from the linen closet, the brunette joined the children in their joint bedroom.

"Tifa..." Denzel called out with his raspy voice. He was covered in sweat, and the bandages were soiled in black ooze from a recent attack.

Her concerned eyes connected with his, and she gingerly pushed his chestnut bangs out of his vision. Marlene came over with a bowl of water to help clean up his forehead. Dipping the cloth into the liquid, Tifa began to move the bandages away to wipe away the ebony mess that remained. "I'm here, Denzel."

"W-what about...Cloud?" He coughed out the question. "Is he back yet?"

She froze at that question. Here he was, suffering from his ailments and asking for the man he idolized so much. Cloud was everyone's hero. And truth be told, the boy slept better when her husband was home in between jobs. "Not yet," she forced a smile.

But she wished he was coming back.

Because she slept better, too, when he was home. Even if he was in the other room.

"He's usually back by now…" he faltered as he adjusted himself against his pillow, wincing a bit as he moved. Denzel sighed in relief as she dabbed the damp cloth on his sore spot.

"I'm sure he's just making up time from the holidays."

"Cloud...didn't leave us, right?"

Tifa paused at his boldness, then continued to apply the cool cloth to his skin again. "No."

"He...he didn't leave because of...me, did he?"

"No," she shook her head, "of course not, sweetie."

He left...because of me, she thought to herself.

.

.

.

February 20th, εγλ 0009, 3:38 p.m.

Tifa wasn't at all surprised that her business dwindled after that night, but she took it as a blessing to continue caring for Denzel along with Marlene. This was her family, and it was all that she had left. With Cloud gone though, that meant the children fully depended on her, too.

It's been...almost two months now since she last saw Cloud. And months before that, there was minimal affection and effort by him before he took off.

It was quieter in the house without him, as odd as that sounded. Usually by now, if he was home, the kids would be helping him with his maps and she'd be preparing for her evening bustle of customers.

But none of that was happening tonight. She'd be lucky if three people showed up. And with the unwanted peacefulness in her home now, the faucet leak in her kitchen was getting louder. Each drop seemed to echo her insanity as it hit the sink, and she couldn't wait any longer for him to fix it. The nozzle needed to be replaced long ago, something he promised to do.

Cloud promised her a lot of things, though.

Plumbing wasn't in her line of expertise, but she was willing to learn. But this wasn't by choice either, as he left before fulfilling such a mundane task. Managing both businesses, taking care of the children, running the household by herself...it was becoming too much for her to bear on her own.

Because she wasn't supposed to be doing this all on her own, she told herself. He had promised her that too, didn't he?

"It's not like you to get so weighed down," her husband told her when they were alone.

"Well, it is now."

"No. You're stronger than that. And if you've forgotten how to be strong, I'll just have to remind you."

"You will, will you?" Tifa tried to hold back a smile as she looked up at him.

"If I can," he managed, suddenly blushing.

Grabbing the wrench from his toolbox, she set forth on starting the repair as she remembered that night, filled with the same stars. It was just before they left Midgar, just as Edge was beginning to come together; a time of much uncertainty and instability in the aftermath of Meteor.

Even that promise, he couldn't keep…

Even that last kiss they shared, he couldn't kiss her back, either...

For almost an hour she cranked and pulled with the tool repeatedly. The damn fixture still wasn't fitting in properly, and her frustration grew with each yank she gave.

"Shit!"

"Tifa?"

Turning her head up from her work, she spotted Marlene standing at the bottom of the stairs. The little girl pursed her lips, her brow wrinkled with worry. "Are you all right?"

"Yes...I'm just frustrated that I can't get this to work." Placing the wrench down, she massaged her hands from the growing soreness that was starting to fester.

Walking up slowly with her hands behind her back, she stood up on her tippy toes. "Do you need some help?"

"How much plumbing experience you got?"

"None," Marlene giggled. "But maybe I can help with dinner?"

"There's some pizzas in the freezer in the garage," Tifa offered the simple choice. She wasn't in the mood to make anything from scratch tonight. "And you can pick out which one we have tonight!"

"Okay!" The young girl said excitedly before running off to retrieve the frozen dinner.

Grabbing a towel, she wiped up the excess water, but the phone rang to signal an incoming order. She hated the ringing. She hated to take his calls for his business, but it was the only way to keep the lights on and food on the table. Even if he wasn't there for them emotionally and physically, Cloud did still support their family financially.

Were they...really over?

Marriage was a commitment, a choice to love and cherish someone for the rest of your life. But judging by his actions to be elusive and equitable to everything in their marriage, maybe he really regretted taking that step.

After his promise to always be there to remind her who she is...maybe he really just regretted her. Was her love not good enough for him? She didn't want to believe that to be true, but he was no longer here. Their communication crippled long ago, and her seeking a chance to rekindle what they had before wrecked it all. To really try and make it work, even if the marriage had become one-sided with just her effort and her love alone.

And that last part made her heart clench painfully as she questioned her self worth. If Cloud really fell out of love with her. Along with informing him of his delivery requests, she had tried calling numerous times to ask when he was coming home. A few tearful pleas for him to return and she wouldn't even push it with him anymore.

A desperate attempt to get him back home when she called him last week went unanswered as well. After the long days of being so alone, taking calls, and following up to his voicemail, she was starting to become numb to it all. She hid her bitterness of his betrayal from the children, but maybe it was working too well now.

What had gone wrong?

Why did he abandon them? Abandon her?

Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone to answer the call he should be taking. "Hello, Strife Delivery Service. You name it, we deliver it."


December 18th, εγλ 0009, 1:45 p.m.

"Tifa! I'm heeeere!" Yuffie sang out as she entered the tavern, her hands hauling quite a few shopping bags inside.

"Oh, thank you so much!" The barmaid bustled down the side stairs and met her friend at the counter. She was so worried once she woke up today with a cold that she wasn't going to be able to complete her Christmas shopping. One call to her friend, and her problems were solved. Her fever since this morning finally passed once she took some medicine after the kids left for school. It seemed both her and Jace caught the same virus floating around.

"Jeez, you look terrible," the raven-haired girl made a face as she said that, setting the bags on the counter.

"I hope the kids don't get it," Tifa sniffled while tucking her robe around her closer. Even in her flannel pajamas, she couldn't get warm enough. She was suffering through chills besides the nasal congestion now. Finding her wallet, she grabbed out a wad of gil to cover the cost of the gifts. "This should cover it, and then some."

Taking the money from her friend, Yuffie's eyes squinted at her hand. "Whoa, where's your ring? And don't blame me, I've kept my New Year's resolution to keep my hands to myself!"

"Well…we fought the other day," she replied, dejected as she looked at her bare ring finger.

"Who? You and Cloud?"

Tifa shook her head. "N-no, with Jace."

"Over what?" Yuffie pressed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

.

.

.

When he returned the next day to talk about their fight, she knew it wasn't going to be easy. Besides the not-so-innocent appearance of the broken shower fiasco, he walked in on, the physical fight that almost occurred had to be discussed. It seemed a night apart wasn't enough to calm him down.

"How can you keep defending him?" Jace accused her as he sat across from her in the booth. "He was the one that almost punched me."

"I didn't like that either, but everything you said last night was uncalled for," Tifa argued back as she leaned back into the cushion seat in her bar. "You don't have to like him, but you have to respect him as the father of my kids."

"He doesn't even respect our relationship, Tifa. Don't you see that? He's around you way too much."

"What can I do to make you realize it's over between me and him?"

"Take off his ring." Before he silently begged her, and now he was loud and clear.

"I told you, this is the family ring," she covered her ring with her other hand as if to protect it from him. "Why are you so fixated on it?"

"That's his symbol, isn't it? You're still a mother to those kids without a ring, Tifa. Every time I see it...the ring shows his claim on you."

"But we're getting a divorce...this isn't even the wedding ring…" she argued on the brink of being exasperated. Was he really bringing this up again?

"It's still his ring on your finger," he pointed out, his voice crisp and sharp with distaste.

"Barret wears the same damn ring on his finger!"

"I don't care. To me, it's another man's jewelry on you when you're supposed to be with me. Am I always going to be on the outside of your one big happy family?"

Cherry eyes began to mist over. "Jace…my family means everything to me. W-why are you acting this way?"

"It didn't mean much to him when he abandoned you and your kids. Why do you let him have some sort of hold on you after all that?" His question was not only direct, but bitter about her ex.

Her gaze flickered to his amber eyes, before twirling the Fenrir ring on her finger. She held the wolf's face between her forefinger and thumb as she focused on it, thinking at what her boyfriend was accusing her of. She didn't need to prove anything to Jace, as she was with him. That alone should be enough, as his insecurities were his own, not hers.

Cloud has no hold on her. It was over between them, even if she wavered a bit to him from time to time, as she always reminded herself of the pain from not only his absence, but his outright rejection before he left.

A wave of weak resolve took over her, one that needed to feel that desire for him. To reassure him, despite her own feelings.

As if it was an unwilling act of her own, she began to slip off the metal band. "I don't."

.

.

.

"Seriously, Tifa? Jace is the one that has a hold on you, not Spiky."

Tifa shifted uncomfortably next to the counter. "I'm just trying to make it work with Jace."

"But you don't need to, Tifa!" Yuffie pleaded with her. "If I felt that you were supposed to be with him, I'd say take off the ring. And to be honest with you, Jace is an asshole!"

Her ruby eyes widened at her friend's brutal honesty. "Yuffie..."

"No, I can't keep it to myself anymore. I remember just as much as you do how devastated you were when Cloud left," the ninja began, placing her hands gently on her shoulders. Her grey eyes reflected back to hers with great empathy. "I love him like a brother, but he really messed you up! I would never forgive him for what he did, and I was happy for you when you began to smile again once Jace showed up…" Yuffie shook her head before continuing on. "But the more I find out about him, the less genuine he gets. He's not making you happy the way you deserve."

Placing her hand over hers on her shoulder, Tifa softly replied. "…I didn't know you felt that way."

"I would've said something sooner," Yuffie met her gaze earnestly. "But I thought with what's going on with Cloud lately you'd figured it out by now who you really want."

"Cloud?" She raised a dark brow at what her friend was implying.

"Yeah, because you're still in love with him," Yuffie nodded with a smile.

"No...I-I'm not," Tifa backed away out of her grip, shaking her head profusely about the blond. The attraction was there, just simmering beneath the surface between them. But what she was feeling lately...couldn't be that. "He's just so confusing."

"Come on, Teef! I saw that gift you picked out for Spiky. And Jace gets a basic chocobo stable pouch? Seriously?" The raven-haired girl waved at the direction of the shopping bags that held the gifts inside.

Thinking about the leather bag her boyfriend wanted, she gave an honest answer. "Well, it's what he asked for."

Yuffie on the other hand, didn't seem to be buying it. "It's just you and me right now. You don't need to hide your feelings about Cloud anymore. I know that you know you still love him. And just maybe, you want to be with him again."

Tifa shook her head. "No, I...he had all the time in the world to reach out to me...We're married...but in the end, did those vows matter to him? He walked out on us without a word, making me question what I really meant to him..." She rubbed a stray lock behind her ear as her carmine eyes misted over. Taking a deep breath, she held back the tears that tried to pour out. Even if there was something there between them lately...Cloud had made her feel virtually worthless with his coldness and eventual departure.

"Tifa…"

"Yuffie...it was over between us before he even left anyway…" she sighed dejectedly. Thinking of the many nights she stayed up waiting for him, his quick exits to leave on deliveries or retreat to his room between meals, petty arguments of when they even had the time to speak to each other. He had completely shut her out before he left, and when she tried one last time...outside his bedroom door. She kissed him after asking for a chance, and he couldn't even muse her in that moment. Instead, he pushed her away and closed the door on her face.

That was the very last time she even saw Cloud before he came to find her injured amongst the flowers of the church. The pain from Loz couldn't compare to the emotional distraught that he had inflicted upon her. And for the longest time, Tifa tried not to think about that last memory with him too much for that very reason.

"I know, but that was before. I don't think he'd hurt you like that again," Yuffie pointed out gently. "But don't you want things back to normal? I mean Jace isn't our normal, y'know."

"He's been there for me!"

"Then why don't you let him inside your family?"

"He is!" Tifa protested as she defended herself and Jace. After truly thinking it over, he really wasn't a part of it. But he wouldn't hurt her the way Cloud did.

"Is he though? Tifa, you're totally struggling right now over the ring, when you don't even need to anymore."

A stray tear slipped down her face, completely torn between two men. "I don't know what to do."

"Hey, Cloud is there for you, y'know."

"He didn't have a very good track record for a while," she sniffled again, knowing the majority of the reason he left was because of his Geostigma. But instead of trusting her, he ran off to die alone. Her last memory of him would've been him rejecting her, when he should've gone to her for help. The solitary soldier was always the reclusive type, so if another issue arises, wouldn't he just walk out again? "Nine months is a long time to walk out on a marriage. And he shut me out way before that..."

"But he's working on it now, isn't he? I mean look at him!" Her friend's gray eyes lit up. "He's trying his heart out for you and the kids, you're his freakin' world, and you know it!"

"I...I just..." she let out a shaky sigh, feeling her heart about to spring out of her chest while thinking about Cloud. It was hard for her to admit openly that these moments with the blond lately were not only thrilling, but left her wanting more with him. He was more...forward with his affections to her, not as closed off as before he completely shut down his emotional availability during the hard times.

Was he...was he showing her what he could be for her, if she let him in again? Her lower lip trembled just as much as her heart did.

It was nerve-wracking what she was denying herself. Love is what makes us who we are, and he had once promised her he'd be there to always remind her who she is. But it absolutely terrified her to take a leap. To take that chance with Cloud. She placed a palm to her chest to try and calm down, but the inside of her chest was racing about him.

She did care about Jace...but with Cloud...

"Just dump Jace! Everything'll be like it was before life took a crap on you."

"You make it all sound so simple," she laughed nervously while holding back a smile. Her and Cloud together? It couldn't and wouldn't be that simple. But thinking about him that way made her feel warm inside as her heart skipped a beat.

She did love one more than the other. That she knew lately...but it scared her. But maybe she should...try again?

"Love isn't supposed to be so simple," she replied back solemnly. "Just give Spiky a chance. You won't ever really know unless you try, right?"

"When did you get so wise?" Her cheeks darkened as her smile grew across her face. She didn't have to say what she was thinking, but Yuffie was smiling for her too.

"Probably when I fell in love myself."


December 18th, εγλ 0009, 4:47 p.m.

Tifa was starting to feel worse for the wear. During Yuffie's time over it seemed the medication was kicking the virus down, but now she was back to fighting chills, coughing, and blowing her nose every ten minutes as she laid in bed. At least the store wrapped the gifts up for her, so she could just focus on getting better just in time for the holidays.

And to tell him how she truly felt.

Was she really going to do this? She couldn't really deny what her heart wanted anymore. And Jace…this wasn't really fair to him either. Just as he unexpectedly arrived in her life, so did her feelings for him. But her exasperation was starting to outweigh that, as his unwillingness to understand her family and put her in a position to choose more than once.

She has noticed an off and on apathy when it comes to her children, one she looked past the first time when he seemed remorseful for the incident. He had never dated a mother before, and Tifa was giving him the same patience as he gave her. But how much of herself does she need to sacrifice to calm his insecurities?

Even though she did remove the ring, she never wanted to do it. His lashing out at her husband the other night was for the sake of picking a fight. To keep forgiving him because she's trying to hold onto the image from their beginning was torment. Now she's been realizing he's been showing his true self, they just don't fit. Why make the relationship keep working if she herself isn't fully into it anymore?

She never really was over Cloud. Tifa knew that now, but when she was trying to move on after he rejected her during his bout of Geostigma, her heart never fully left him. Why didn't she realize this sooner? She felt foolish for denying it for so long.

Would he accept her back after...after being with another? Either way, she couldn't stay with Jace anymore. It was becoming too much, the fights stemming from insecurities and lack of empathy for her family. But Tifa had been trying to make it work and denied what she was feeling for so long over her fear of being hurt again.

She sighed as she pulled the covers over her shoulder, feeling a chill come on. Get through this cold and handle it later, she told herself. Jace was sick too, and would be soon held up with work due to the holidays. Last she spoke to him, he expected to not be back in Edge until the first week of the New Year. A clean break in person would be the best way when she did this, as she had to, no matter what. Tifa couldn't go on when her thoughts were about Cloud for the last month. His endless blue eyes, his soft voice he held just for her, even his cocky grin on his face when he flirted with her made her melt. But most of all, he's become a stable force in her life once again, more so than before.

Her heart was dancing excitedly in her chest again as memories flourished before they fell apart. Their talks at the bar when he would return home late from a delivery. When it was revealed he didn't know the difference between a carrot and gyshal green, he started to come home earlier a couple days a week to watch her cook. They always had to be mindful of how they acted in front of others, but cooking together provided a normal sense of intimacy for her. She wasn't much help in the garage either, but she was always invited to stay with him as he worked on Fenrir. Her smile grew longer when she recalled taking Marlene to the local park or city pool, as if they were a normal family. Cloud would swim after the little girl in the water and end up putting her in the middle of a splash battle between the other two. Tifa let out a small giggle with how carefree he can be when he tries to be serious all the time, a side of him she found charming. She missed her husband.

A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.

Rolling over she looked at the clock, seeing it was time for the children to be home. They were probably expecting her downstairs already, and really, her muscles ached just thinking about walking down the steps.

"Tifa? Can I come in?"

She gasped as she sat up in her bed, her cheeks feeling warm. She was definitely not prepared to see him like this! "Cloud?"

The door creaked open as he poked his head in. "Yeah, it's me. Yuffie called to tell me you were sick."

Of course she did, Tifa thought to herself while smiling a little. She knew what her friend was up to. "Oh, she did?"

"Yeah, I was kinda surprised to hear from her rather than you," Cloud answered as he stepped into the room further, still dressed in his black coat from the winter weather outside. He held up a small paper bag. "I brought you some soup from Johnny."

"Really?" Her ruby eyes widened at what he brought her. "He has the best recipe for chicken noodle, and he won't share!"

"I know he does," he replied as he sat down on the edge of her bed, handing the bag over. "But you didn't answer me."

"It just started this morning. I've been in bed most of the day to sleep it off," Tifa sheepishly explained while taking the container out. She was feeling awkward about the man across from her with her newfound feelings. However it had to stay a secret for now. She was still rather sick and wanted to be at her full strength when she told him. Not wanting to give herself away, she avoided his gaze. "I didn't think she'd tell you."

"Well, she probably knows you're too stubborn to do that," he smartly commented turning serious. "You can call if you need me, Tifa."

If she needed him…

She bit her lip at what he just said so sweetly. Even if he was maybe a little mad at her for not calling him, he was still being kind by taking care of her. And yes, she was stubborn. Cloud knew her, through and through.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother you when it's just a cold," she stammered as her face reddened, holding the soup in between her hands before looking up at him. "The kids, do you mind taking them until I'm better? I'd hate for them to be sick for Christmas." It was an honest worry for her.

"Of course I can," his sapphire eyes softened as he spoke to her. They were always so sincere when he looked at her, making her swoon a little. "I'm here...for you too. Not just them."

"I know you are," her lips uplifted towards him, her chest swirling in warmth with his eyes focused on her. "About the other day...what he said was wrong. You're a good father, Cloud."

"Oh." He shifted awkwardly as his mouth went into a straight line. "Thanks."

"Is everything alright?" She could read him though, as if something was off.

"Did he really get medicine for Denzel?"

Slowly, the brunette nodded. "Y-yes."

"That should've been me," his eyes were burning as he looked away. "I promised to be there when you needed me, and I wasn't. Not for you, or them."

"Cloud—"

He turned back to her with the pure eyes that reminded her of the boy she knew from their mountain town years ago. "I'm sorry, Tifa."

Her heart had slowed down for just a moment to process, and picked up speed again as he kept his gaze on her, never breaking. Emotions flickered quickly throughout his eyes—remorse, uncertainty, and fear. But also, a sincere passion. Reaching over she covered his hand with hers, giving a small squeeze as she smiled. She was showing him how she felt, forgiveness that was always there, and the reassurance behind that. A genuine smile pulled at his lips when her hand locked over his.

They sat quietly on her bed together, focusing on one another as if almost lost in time. Tifa knew she didn't look her best, her hair disheveled and her skin sweaty from her fever, but it made her heart go wild that he couldn't stop staring at her. Even now, after all, they put each other through. Maybe he really would be open to another chance?

Hearing the children outside the door, he sighed. "I...I have to get going. Get better, Teef."

She didn't want this moment to end either, but she knew it had to. Reluctantly, she pulled her hand back. He couldn't get sick either, and now was the worst time to even say anything and everything to him right now. Tifa would have to wait, but she still smiled again at him. "I will."

As Cloud closed the door to her bedroom door, she clutched the Fenrir ring that hung on a loose chain around her neck under her flannel shirt.

He was who she belonged with.


Author's Note Continued: Wow, so much happened this chapter with Jace trying to pick a Cloud and that conversation between Yuffie and Tifa. I couldn't believe it ended up being just over 7000 words. I seem to only do this when it comes to writing Tifa's complicated feelings and her realization of her feelings for Cloud (i.e. Summer in the City, Chapter 4). I honestly wanted this to happen much sooner, but I had so many suggestions by Denebola_Leo I pushed it back a little. Kelleyi17's suggestion was to show her struggles with her husband's abandonment, which I decided to do now rather than later. The bold text in her flashback sequence was a snippet taken from Case of Tifa in the novella On the Way to a Smile.

And that last kiss where he ended up pushing her away from, that's the ultimate rejection. It wasn't mentioned til now as it's too painful of a memory for Tifa. So it wasn't just Cloud walking away from her, he showed signs before he left he wanted out, which will be explored next chapter.

We're so close! Do you think they'll get back together? All this newfound fluff between them has me excited!

Chapter updated on 7/26/20; date/time stamp changes applied.