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.

I apologize for the long hiatus this story went through! I'm in a COVID frontline household, so it's been very stressful to the point I fell out of wanting to write. 2020 fucking sucks. I've been getting back into the swing of things and even debuted a new story this year. But of course, this story is my main passion.

Don't Think Twice is officially back! I hope you're ready for the drama! This new arc will explore how Cloud and Tifa make their marriage work. Just because the love triangle drama is over, doesn't mean the story will be ending anytime soon. We are almost at the halfway point of this piece.

Anyway, I know some of you were worried that I had given up on this story, due to the long hiatus, plus the personal attacks in my inbox from one unhinged fellow for almost three years. Too many people love that story for me to give it up, so I always focus on the overwhelming amount of positivity I get rather than the negativity. A hater of mine doesn't have that much power over me. I must be doing something right if I have gotten so much hate and personal insults for almost three years now over a fanfic, right? ;) Even when I haven't updated, I still get the anon flames LOL

Much thanks to both Kelleyj17 and mayelisa from Ao3 for being my beta readers for the Cloud and Tifa reunion arc. I'm so happy that both of them agreed to be on board with this.

Now, let's get back to where we left off with Cloud and Tifa: a wonderful Christmas kiss!

-. Don't Think Twice .-

Chapter XXI

December 25th, εγλ 0009, 12:54 a.m.

"You didn't have to carry me back to the porch, but I appreciate it," Tifa thanked him as he placed her on her feet. After the kissing and sweet goodbye, he was about to leave when he noticed her lack of shoes. She only giggled in return when he scolded her about having nothing to protect her feet out in the snow-covered street. Picking her up in his arms, she hadn't objected too much to the chivalrous act as he carried her back up to the front door.

"Try to bundle up a little more while I'm gone," he teased as he recalled the various times he caught her outside without gloves or a scarf on in frigid temperatures, all for the sake of snow. Now she was running around barefoot in it. He gently pushed her luscious chocolate hair out of her beautiful eyes. Eyes that he had longed for to look at him again the way she was now.

"I will," she promised. A slow smile spread across her face and her ruby red eyes sparkled at him again.

Cloud gently leaned in and kissed Tifa's soft lips, an exchange that quickly ignited into a fiery passion that demanded more from each other. His fingers tangled into her long dark hair, gently pulling her into him to add pressure to their kiss. He felt her hands on the back of his neck playing with the ends of his hair and a soft moan escaped her mouth that was locked with his, further intoxicating him.

It had been a long time since he last kissed Tifa Lockhart and even longer since he kissed her like this. She had flicked her tongue with his, kissing back with the same desperation he had been giving her. She couldn't stop herself it seemed, and he couldn't stop either. This reunion between them had been brewing for a long while, one of frenzy and ultimate bliss. A reunion that he had to be cut short so he could make his airship flight. This was one of many times he had to pull away from her when he really didn't want to. But he managed to break away from her, cupping her cheeks in his hands as he caught his breath.

Her eyes were glossed over and her cheeks were covered with a hot blush. His face was still mere inches from hers as they stared deeply at one another and it took all of his willpower to not capture her perfectly swollen lips with his again.

"Tifa…." Leaning his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes again as he took in her scent once more. He bit his bottom lip to suppress the urge to kiss her, even when her breath from her soft pants tickled his lips. It thrilled him how uneven her breathing was, sharing the same air since he cradled her face. After a few moments, he swallowed hard and gathered the courage to say goodbye. "I'm really going to miss you."

"Me too," she breathed back. "I'm going to miss you too."


December 31st, εγλ 0009, 11:49 p.m.

It had been a week since she saw Cloud, and she greatly missed his presence. Their requited feelings for one another on that magical evening still had her heart pounding, eagerly anticipating his return. It was hard not to think about him, but Tifa mostly floated through her daily activities as the children did their homework or played games. She felt like she was in a daze about the man she loved unless the children offered her distraction.

She hadn't felt like this in a long time.

Marlene was the only one that noticed the change and the young girl would often catch her smiling. Tifa would play off that it was nothing, but the small hum that emerged from the petite girl's lips made her realize that she did indeed know better. And that just made her smile bigger in return.

She was in love with her husband, and she wanted a happily ever after with him. The realization came gradually to her over the months, which overwhelmed her at first but now made her feel so complete. This feeling was so wonderfully strange, to be in love with Cloud again; it extended throughout her soul.

When he left for his business trip, he requested she'd wait to answer him on what she decides: him or Jace. But the choice had been clear to her for a while. She loved Cloud, possibly harder this time. And she felt foolish that she was in denial for so long, keeping herself from true happiness out of fear from past pain.

Her breath was taken away and the world stopped when he kissed her on Christmas Eve, leaving just the two of them in each other's arms. But reality struck and he had to go.

Her husband kept his word for the first night, calling her and the kids after he settled in. First, he checked in on Marlene and followed up on Denzel's math homework, then after their bedtime, he'd talk to Tifa alone. Never about their actual status, just about their day. They hadn't spoken to each other in such a way for well over a year. Even though it was just late-night talks about nothing on the phone while she laid in bed, it made her heart swell. They were reconnecting after all the distance.

It was the fourth night that surprised her.

"I miss you, Tifa."

"I miss you too," she smiled into the phone.

The fifth night was just as pleasant.

"I wish I was back home," Cloud softly admitted.

"We wish you were back home too."

"Not that I don't miss the kids, I meant I wished to be home...with you."

She could still feel the heat that had built up on her cheeks when she heard that, and the tenderness still lingered in her chest from her heart beating so fast. Her husband could be so simple with words, but still sweet.

But last night...

"Tifa?"

"Hmm?"

"I...um," Cloud shyly stumbled over his words. "Never mind."

"Cloud, you can tell me," she tried to coax him.

"I can't. Not yet, that is," he chuckled a bit.

Tifa knew what he wanted to say. Or at least, had a feeling about what.

Them.

She hadn't talked to Jace yet, as he was barely available to talk on the phone with the events at the Gold Saucer for the holidays, let alone visit her. The company was strict about time off between Christmas and New Years due to the peak in tourism. The brunette had things to return to her boyfriend; even though she hadn't told Cloud he was the one she was going to pick, a clean break with Jace done in person was the best course.

Which couldn't be done for at least another week…

Tifa could do it over the phone, send his things through the mail and be done, but it felt cowardly doing that. She wasn't abandoned by someone who didn't want to be found this time; she was going to reunite with her husband. She wanted to be brave in her choice to show Cloud she was unquestionable in her decision to be with him.

But Cloud wanted to wait to talk about them, didn't he?

Love. She loved him.

"Tifa? Can I get another gin and tonic?" A customer asked as she rounded the counter after delivering a round of drinks for New Year's Eve.

"Sure thing!" Grabbing the bottle and small tumbler glass, she fixed up the request with ease. Hiring two extra hands for the night's festivities was really working out. It was close to the countdown, and with everyone taken care of, she was going to take a quick break. After handing the desired drink over, she walked past Rem to let her know she'd be in the back. "I'm going to take a fifteen. I'll be back after midnight."

"Well, it's about time, you haven't all night," Rem teased as she poured a fresh draft of beer into a few mugs.

"Thanks," Tifa called over her shoulder as she grabbed a small water bottle. It was so busy up until now, she didn't have time to take her antibiotic earlier. Even though she was over her cold, she was on the final dose for her sinus infection medication she was prescribed. It was better to be safe than sorry. Throwing the pill back in her mouth, she took the bitter tablet as she entered her small private kitchen.

The countdown would be starting soon and wanting to start off the new year right, she knew what she had to do. Grabbing her phone from her pocket, she called Cloud. She wasn't expecting him to pick up the phone as quickly as he did.

"I didn't think you'd be calling tonight with how busy it must be," he answered the phone.

"I managed to get away," Tifa quipped back, happy to hear his voice. "I wanted to start off the new year right...with you."

"Well, I can't kiss you over the phone," he joked on the other side of the line. They still weren't official, but it didn't stop him from flirting with her.

The barmaid laughed at his open playfulness. He still managed to make her blush even miles away and she was glad for it. But she had something important to tell him. "Cloud, that's not what I'm trying to say here." Taking a deep breath, she turned more serious. "I wanted to continue where you left off yesterday."

"Tifa—"

"I love you," she admitted to him, bringing her fingertips to her own lips. The memory of their kissing a week ago flooded her mind, a night of their somewhat confession to one another. But now she had to be bolder since she wanted him back. Speaking those words out loud to him was a first in a long time for either of them.

She could hear him let out a deep sigh, a happy and relieved one, over the phone. "I love you too."

Her smile grew brighter, along with her heart at hearing him say it back. He hadn't said it to her since that night he returned home. Even though he was showing her lately, hearing the words made her feel complete. "I know that we agreed to wait until you were back to talk about this, but..."

"Tifa, are you...are you really sure?" He asked nervously.

"Yeah...yeah, I'm sure."

"I thought you might, but..." Cloud paused, swallowing hard. "But hearing it is kind of different. This means we're really doing this," he revealed, and she could feel his smile from across the phone line.

Getting back together. "Yes, we are."

"Hey, it's past midnight," he said before he laughed a little. "I guess we missed it, huh?"

Tifa looked at the clock, seeing it was a few minutes past twelve. "Yeah, but it's how I wanted to bring in the new year. That we are...starting over together."

"It's almost perfect since I'm not there to kiss you," Cloud boldly teased again. "Happy New Year, Tifa."

"Happy New Year, Cloud."


January 9th, εγλ 0010, 8:22 a.m.

He was over the water now, leaving behind the longest work assignment he had in the north. A little over two weeks from his family was a lot, but the final week away was the hardest. After Tifa's confession, he didn't get a chance to talk to her on the phone again. A huge windstorm had knocked out the cell tower so he'd missed out on hearing her voice for their wedding anniversary.

Two years married now and they had gone through a lot. He wasn't even there during their first, and he missed out again. The only communication they had was via email and even though he wrote to her on that day, he wanted to make up for that time when he got back. They never celebrated an anniversary before. But his wife, patient and understanding as she always was, didn't dwell on it too much.

"We'll have plenty of time to make up for when you get back," she wrote in her last email.

He sent another email the previous night, to confirm he was indeed on his way back so she may inform the children. Cloud still wasn't able to call, but he was now able to at least send a text message to her aboard the airship. Checking the time, it seemed to be around the time the children would already be in school. Now would be good, he figured.

Cloud: I'm just a few hours out now. I'll be back later this afternoon.

A few minutes went by before the familiar chime on his phone beeped. Checking the screen, he smiled seeing her response.

Tifa: Okay, see you soon.

Cloud was almost back home to his family.


January 7th, εγλ 0010, 1:03 p.m.

She hadn't heard much from Cloud since New Year's Eve, but she didn't regret confessing to him that night. It needed to be said, those words. And now, she needed to end it officially with her boyfriend. After confirming a time earlier to meet him that day as he was finally back in Edge, she grabbed a few of his things in a small canvas bag to make a clean break. She was to meet him at his hotel, while Yuffie was in a nearby cafe, waiting inside after escorting her to Lucis Square.

"You can do this, Tifa."

Her nerves were setting in, unready for the confrontation ahead. "I don't know how he is gonna take it."

She was really doing this...

Her palms were sweaty just thinking about facing him, but she had to do this. She had to tell him what was happening. Despite her anxiety over the situation, she arrived early to the Leville Hotel, walking down the hallway to face the music. One more turn, and one knock away before the showdown.

"Chad, get the fuck out before Tifa gets here! I don't want her to see you."

Hearing her name, she stopped before turning the corner. It was Jace's voice, and he sounded beyond agitated with whoever he was talking to.

"Just fucking chill, Jace. What is the big deal about her anyway? You won the bet a long time ago when you finally banged her like the 'desperate single mom' you said she would be," an unknown man stated, who she assumed to be this Chad.

Tifa leaned up near the wall, uneasy about this information she was digesting. She was a bet? Did he really say that about her? she thought. Not that it mattered any longer. It still stung a little to hear.

"It's not like that anymore," her soon-to-be ex said.

"Sure it is. Well, you got your manipulation materia back before for her little talk with ya," the unfamiliar man continued. "It worked on her a few times before, didn't it? Whatever shit she is trying to stir this time will be a cinch."

Manipulation materia?! He used that on me?! She clenched her fist tighter around the satchel strap she held. She wasn't supposed to be here yet to hear any of this but she had to find out more about Jace. If he really used the materia on her...but why wasn't she allowed to see this 'Chad' person anyway?

"I don't even know what this is going to be about," Jace said, his voice exasperated.

"You'll be fine, just like always."

The hinges on his door began to squeak a little. "Alright, just go. She'll be here in ten minutes."

Tifa nibbled her bottom lip. In just a few minutes, she'd have to uncover as much as she could from this person she wasn't supposed to see. The relationship was over, but this information was vital to obtain, for her own future protection. Even if things were to be over, he might not accept it and try to use it again.

The door closed, and heavy footsteps grew closer to her. The man that rounded the corner was tall with broad shoulders. He was too tall to see his face at first, but the tattoo on his forearm was one she couldn't stop looking at: an emerald cactuar king.

"Can I get your number before I go baby doll? I'll make it worth your while..."

"It's near closing time and I'm cutting you off. Leave or I'll make you leave."

Looking up to his face, she was met with dark eyes and fiery red hair, placing him further into her memory. She knew this man...

"To these drunks, I'm just a hot specimen who is nice and pours their beer. Nothing more."

"Well, you're more than that. And I had a question to ask you tonight…but I think it's bad timing."

"Oh?" Tifa asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"I'd like to have dinner with you," Jace stated.

"It's you..." she whispered. The problem drinker from her bar, just before she was asked out by...Jace. It was him standing there before her. But...why? Why was he here?!

"Good to see you again, Tifa."


January 9th, εγλ 0010, 11:56 a.m.

Cloud had to make this quick. Normally he would stay and eat at the office during his lunch on a return back from a business trip, but he wanted to see Tifa early as a surprise. His suitcase was already in his office and he had to print out a report to turn in before he took his break. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the copy machine, waiting for his document to finish printing, one sheet at a time. The blond hadn't even bothered to take off his leather coat.

"Hey, Cloud. I didn't know you were back already," Iris greeted him when she popped into the mailroom. "Reeve called earlier and wanted to follow up about the progress in Bone Village."

He nodded back. "Hey, Iris. I'll have to call him after lunch." His file was now all on paper, and he gathered the sheets to staple them. "I only came by to drop off this."

"Oh. Are you going to see Tifa?" She asked, stepping up to the counter he was using to sort his paperwork. Her hands rested on the edge of the surface and she tilted her head to the side to look at him.

He grabbed the stapler and clipped down on the corner of the papers, but there was no point in ignoring her. His coworker had made a move on him before he left on his trip and was pushing him again, but he was officially a taken man now. "Iris…"

"Sorry, I passed by Tifa on the street the other day and it looked like she was quite upset," she further elaborated. "I just thought you should know."

"Oh. Do you—"

"I didn't hear anything as to why. I just saw her go inside a coffee shop crying to Yuffie. It happened over at Lucis Square."

Tifa was crying? His brow crinkled up in worry at this information. Lucis Square is where the Leville Hotel was, and that meant she probably saw Jace the other day. He clenched his jaw for a moment.

Why would she be crying if she saw him? Cloud hadn't heard whether or not she broke up with Jace, only that she was choosing to start over in their marriage. Maybe he was overthinking this. Maybe it was...an unrelated matter.

"Thanks for telling me," Cloud quietly said, handing her the stack of papers. "I'll be back later."


January 7th, εγλ 0010, 1:17 p.m.

"What exactly is this bet?" Tifa pressed Chad. She only had a few more minutes to get this out of him.

"Oh, ya heard that, huh?" Chad laughed, showing no care in the world. And to her surprise, very forthcoming with the information she was seeking: her relationship did indeed begin on false pretenses, surrounding a bet that not every woman would sleep with Jace. The jockeys that were in her bar the first night she met him was the night she was picked for said challenge. "He really underestimated the work involved in getting you into bed. But you were a real challenge, he even had to pay me to help him win."

"If you are his...friend, why are you telling me all this?"

"He ain't my friend sweetheart," he crossed his arms over, speaking vehemently. "Bastard fucked me over on a promotion, and now that his womanizing days are over, I don't get extra money for being his wingman anymore either."

"And this manipulation materia...was used on me?" She asked him.

The grin that appeared on his face when she asked put her on the edge. "That's right. Fights only though. Would hurt his ego too much if he used it just to woo you."

He really did that to her?! She was repulsed at the fact, unsure of how she was going to handle this next step. She grabbed her stomach, feeling slightly ill at the thought of having a spell put on her by someone she thought cared about her. Angry, used, disturbed...but mostly outraged he did this to her. Tifa was just a game, and he played her.

A few steps forward, she walked past the man she questioned. "Thank you...for your time." She didn't know what else to say while turning the corner, facing his hotel door that was beginning to open again.

"Chad, I thought—" Jace shouted while he stepped into the hallway, halting when he saw her. His amber eyes darted between her and his acquaintance standing near her, looking panicked. "Tifa! You're here…"

She narrowed her red eyes towards him. "I've been here. We need to talk."


January 9th, εγλ 0010, 12:23 p.m.

It'd been two weeks since he was last in his home. The front door to the bar was unlocked, even if the sign on the window was flipped to show Seventh Heaven was closed. Cloud took off his leather jacket, walking over to the hallway that led to the garage from the bar area to use the family coat rack. There was a coat rack for guests that frequented the tavern, but he never used it, and didn't see a need to now.

"Tifa?" he called out, walking along behind the bar counter. He straightened the navy suit jacket of his work uniform tighter through his fidgeting, but also in a need to look his best. He pushed the door open to the private kitchen area and called out her name again. "Tifa?"

He heard small footsteps above and she appeared midway down the steps, dressed in a long-sleeve mauve shirt and light-colored jeans that hugged her curves. Even in the simplest outfits, his wife was stunningly beautiful. Her crimson eyes were warm yet a little hesitant when she saw him. Nevertheless, she greeted him with a shy smile. "Cloud, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting you for a couple more hours."

"I know, but I really wanted to see you," he admitted, leaning his hand on the kitchen counter. She hadn't budged from the landing since she came down, her hands wringing in front of her. He had expected a warmer greeting upon his return but summed it up to her being demure in approaching him. "I missed you."

Her claret eyes misted over at his admittance. She was hesitant at first, but her smile grew. "I missed you, too."

A silence had settled between them, and he was unsure as to why. Taking a few steps forward, he reached out to touch his wife. She hadn't been in his arms for two weeks, and he was hoping to ease her reluctance by making the first move. Gently, he tucked a strand of her soft hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek in his hand. She shivered visibly into his touch.

"Are you okay?"

"I—I'm fine," she stuttered, peering up at him. Her cherry-red eyes longed for him, yet they were so anxious when she held his gaze. There was a reason she was hesitating with him right now and he wasn't going to push her too far from him again. So even though she bit her bottom lip, he held back the temptation to kiss her. "Don't you think we should talk?"

"Yeah, we can…talk," he nodded, putting his hand down. He wasn't sure what they had to talk about since she had said she had chosen him. A fear crept up inside him, thinking back to how Iris said she saw his wife crying the other day. "Did you break up with Jace?"

Her eyes widened at the man's name, and Tifa had turned away from him as soon as he mentioned it. She rested her hands on the back of the kitchen table chair. She wouldn't so much as even look at him, just stare at the surface of the wooden tabletop. "Yes, I did. A couple of days ago actually. It's over between me and him."

"Is everything...okay? Tifa, what's wrong?" he questioned her again. What was going on?

Tifa pulled out the chair she just had an iron grip on. "Let's sit down, shall we?"


January 7th, εγλ 0010, 1:29 p.m.

"I don't know what Chad told you, but he has a personal vendetta against me with work," Jace hastily explained while shutting the door to his hotel room behind her. The man was uneasy based on her fuming temperament.

Keeping the satchel tight to her side, her eyes searched around the room until she found the item in question: a yellow orb on his nightstand. Grabbing the materia, she clutched it in her hand, to keep it away from him as she began to let out her anger at him."I heard everything from down the hallway, starting with me being a 'desperate single mom' and how the manipulation materia always makes you come out on top."

Seeing the glowing materia, his eyes widened as he reached out in vain to retrieve it back. "Tifa, you must've misheard, I would never—"

She held the materia further back from him as she stepped away, her voice laced with disgust. "Did you really think I wouldn't remember he was at my bar the night you first asked me out and I turned you down? I've been a bartender for years, and I make sure to remember all of my troublesome customers." Her hand that held the round object began to shake. "He was only there to help you with making a play at me, wasn't he? Soften me up for your little game. I must be really stupid to think I was going to be different from the ones before."

"You are different to me because you're not a game, Tifa! Not anymore, that is. It started out that way...a bet, alright?!" He sighed heavily, raking his hand through his sandy hair. "At that moment in the bar, I was making a play at you, just to sleep with you. I wasn't going to take it much further than our one night together. But something changed and I opened up to you about my past along the way."

She blinked. "Why?"

"Because I didn't expect to actually fall in love with you..." He stared at her with amber eyes, serene and honest.

But it wasn't going to work anymore, as those pale-colored eyes only reminded her of the materia. "That doesn't give you the right to use materia on me."

"Tifa, I didn't do that," he stepped forward, trying to ease her. "He's lying—"

"No, you're the one lying to me!" She yelled back, sick of all the dishonesty. "When did you use it on me?"

From the defiance she showed against his word, his gaze flickered, a sign he was giving up. "Fine," he spat out as he waved his arm. "Our fight about how I handled Marlene and getting you to finally take off his fucking ring, alright?" Jace explained bitterly as he neared her, leaning into her face. "When Cloud came back into the picture, you changed. And I did whatever it took to keep you. But lately, you're not worthy of the shit you've been throwing my way."

"You selfish son of a bitch!" Tifa squeezed her fists harder. He used the materia to keep her to himself, dividing her away from her family. She could've left him a long time ago if it wasn't for that damn thing! "You're nothing but a sleaze that goes from girl to girl!"

"And you're nothing but trouble, along with those little brats. Maybe your husband had the right idea when he fucking abandoned you."

Raising her fist behind her, she put all her strength into delivering a force clear into his cheek. He tumbled backward across the floor, covering his face as he winced.

"Goddamnit, Tifa!"

Letting out a huff, she stalked over to the window and lifted the pane. As the cold air rushed in, Tifa threw the yellow orb out. After slamming it shut, she turned to find him finally trying to get up from her earlier blow.

"It's over, Jace," Tifa stated, crisp and bitter. Turning the flap over on the satchel, she grabbed the few things of his that she had, and tossed them on his bed.

"Wait, this is why you wanted to come over here? To break up with me?" His yellow eyes narrowed to his discarded items she just threw near him.

"It's been over for a while for me," she admitted, keeping her eyes on his face.

"Then get out," he said while glaring back.

"I can't, Jace. Not yet. I still need to talk to you."

"What the hell for?"

"I think you'd want to sit down for this…" Tifa began, while placing a hand on her abdomen. Now that she had the answers she needed about the materia, it was time for the real talk.


January 9th, εγλ 0010, 12:44 p.m.

"If you broke up with Jace, what's left to talk about?" he asked, feeling confused. He had joined her at the table and was feeling apprehensive about her need to talk and how she had been acting so aloof when he walked into the house. "You told me on New Year's Eve you wanted to get back together. That you love me and chose me."

"I do, I really meant everything I said that night," she went to reach for his hand, but stopped herself. There was a fear in her eyes and her expression dwindled with pain. "But after Jace, I don't think you'd want to be with me."

"I don't like that you were with him, but that's a part of us working things out. For us to start over, slowly," he said, truly exasperated. She meant everything she said that night but she thought he doesn't want her now? His wife wasn't making any sense to him. He came here today to be with her. Why does she think he wouldn't want to be with her?

"This can't work out between us...anymore," Tifa said unevenly. "It's...it's different now."

"Different, how?" Cloud asked impatiently, stressing the first part of the question. How could it not work out between them anymore? She left Jace to be with him, didn't she?

His wife sat there at first, staring back in silence at him as if she was trying to hold herself together. But it was all inevitable as her vermillion eyes began to well up quickly, and a lone tear trickled down her cheek. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, and finally, she did.

"Because...because I'm pregnant."


Author's Note Continued: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Tifa's pregnant?! With Jace's child?

This is heavy, I know! I also know I have broken many hearts with this update, with how hopeful the last update was and began this new arc with. But this has always been in the plan (that was why the problem drinker was in the bar at the right time back in Chapter IX). This is the story that I have always wanted to tell.

I've seen this story come up a few times, and I felt I could try it by showing exactly how Cloud and Tifa found themselves in such a complicated situation. After months of being apart, they decide to reunite, but now...it's definitely not going to be easy.

Chapter XXII will be in a few days. The other half of the flashback for the breakup with Jace will be in that update. I look forward to your reviews!


Style Changes to Chapters I-XIX: to be more clear with the overall timeline of events on Cloud and Tifa's marriage falling apart and now finally being rebuilt, I added dates and timestamps. This will be a style I am keeping until the end of the story.

Update to Chapter I: I added a hint of Cloud rejecting Tifa just before he left, and also a new flashback scene of another phone call to Cloud of Tifa fighting for their marriage.

Update to Chapter II: A new flashback scene of Cloud receiving Tifa's voicemail.

Update to Chapter XIII:
I added a hint of Cloud rejecting Tifa just before he left. Sorry for yet another long note, I just have so much to say to everyone after not updating Don't Think Twice since December 2019.