Eternal Dream

By: irish d' salmon luver

Author's Note: I'm back, I'm back… but please don't put too much expectation.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Final Fantasy VII and the characters.

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Hey, will you still be with me

Even though I cannot be with you?

I'm sorry if I ever hide anything from you

It's because I don't want to lose you

Chapter 06: Late Confession

Tifa didn't remember when the last time she took any food was, and now she truly famished. She went to the kitchen, and after thinking for a minute she decided to make a simple dish. Omelet sounded nice. The food was soon ready, and then she brought it to dining room and began eating in silence. For a while, all the thoughts about Sephiroth were gone from her mind as soon as the soft texture of the omelet filled her mouth, and she savored its taste till the last bite. After she finished the food, a sigh of contentment escaped from her lips. Sometimes it would help her to think clearly when her stomach is full.

Tifa closed her eyes. She knew that sooner or later she had to tell Vincent about what his son did to her 8 years ago. It would anger him, for sure, but whom would he loathe more? Sephiroth, who raped his soon-to-be-wife and made her life full of misery, or herself, Tifa Lockhart, who was hiding this matter for all the time? But she was doing that because she didn't want Vincent to leave her when he found out that she wasn't innocent anymore. She knew he would disgust her even a little.

Hell, she even felt filthy for herself.

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Vincent just wanted to take a light nap when someone knocked the door of his room. He rubbed his tired eyes before he opened the door, only to be surprised by the person next to him. He thought it was Tifa, but he surely not her.

"Denzel, what is it?"

The boy just stood there. He didn't answer Vincent, but his eyes wandering into his room. When he saw the man on the bed, he frightened a bit. Vincent noticed this, so he quickly stood between Denzel and the sight of the fallen man.

"Denzel, what is it?" he asked the boy once again. This time, Denzel looked at him. He already opened his mouth to speak, but hesitating at the last moment, and so he shut his mouth again. Instead, he turned his body and tried to walk away from the older man, but Vincent caught his shoulder to stop him.

"Denzel, we need to talk."

"…Talk about what?" the boy merely asked him back.

Vincent shifted his weight uncomfortably, uneasiness spread over his usually stoic features.

"Anything. Everything. All we want to, need to, or have to talk."

Denzel tuned his body reluctantly to face the red-eyed man. "I don't feel like talking."

"But we have to talk, Denzel," Vincent insisted. It wasn't so like him, being pushy or forceful, but he knew that it might be the only chance he could talk with the boy. Denzel was deep in his thought; his furrowed brows taught the man that the kid was debating himself. After a few moment passed by he finally gave a shrug, "Fine."

Vincent gave an approval nod and then he ushered the young boy to the downstairs, and then they took a seat at the living room. Vincent noticed that he didn't see any sign of Tifa, but he decided to just ignore it. She probably just went shopping or maybe she still stayed in her room. He looked at Denzel. The boy just stared at the floor, but Vincent knew that Denzel was as uneasy as himself. Vincent found himself clasping his own hand; he was confused what made him did this at the first rate. He knew he had to talk with Denzel, but what should he say to the boy? Too much things he wanted to tell; he didn't know where should he started.

"Denzel, I know Tifa already told you that I have a son," Vincent eyed the boy's reaction, and when he saw that his body went rigid; he doubted that it was a good sign. He continued, "But do you really know who's my son is?"

Denzel suddenly shot a glare to Vincent. And it wasn't a confused or curious glare; it was hate that sparkled inside those glowing blue eyes.

"Of course I know! Everyone know who he is! Tifa told me before. He's Sephiroth, the ex-General of Shinra, the destroyer of Planet, and also a madman who tried to kill Cloud. Vincent, are you crazy?! I know that he's your son, but you practically put a psycho killer inside our house, and what makes it worse is you're trying to save his life, while every one in this world wants him dead! Now you're putting us in danger for hiding the most wanted man in the Planet!" Denzel shouted at the stunned Vincent, every word he said were like daggers stabbed trough his heart, which he doubted to ever have it anymore.

Vincent couldn't say any word. He knew that everything Denzel had said was true. He might not want to admit it, but he was blinded by his love and devotion to Lucretia. He tried to ignore the fact that Sephiroth nearly wiped out the Planet and nearly killed him, the others, and Tifa.

"…I always thought that Cloud deserves Tifa more, but Tifa loves you. I tried as best as I could to like you, but now I know that Tifa deserves a better man. I'm sorry to say this to you, Vincent, but you're disappointing me," with his final word, Denzel ran off to his bedroom, leaving a very upset Vincent.

They never knew that Tifa heard their conversation from the kitchen. And they also didn't know that she was crying silently.

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'I can't keep this up anymore. He's been too much pain in my life.'

"Be strong."

'How can I? I already use all the strength I had to just forget about him, but it seems like he will always disturb me."

"You're a strong person, Tifa. You had faced him once and then and you're still alive— you can do it again and again."

'Don't talk about me like you know me very well."

"But I DO know you very well. We've been a very best friend, didn't we, Tifa?"

A small smile creaked from the corner of her mouth.

"Yes. Yes, we are, Aerith."

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"Tifa," a hushed voice woke her from her short slumber. Tifa forced her eyes to open, only to find a pair of red eyes stared back to her.

"Vince," her voice was barely a whisper. Vincent gripped her arm and helped her stand. She stood too quickly and nearly fell again because her vision was fuzzy. Luckily, his grip was strong enough to hold her still.

"Are you alright? How long have you been sleeping here?" he asked as he helped her to stand on her feet. Tifa was a bit embarrassed to show her prone side to him. She wanted him to think that she was a strong woman, but she just blew that up. They were going to be a wife and a husband though, and she promised herself to not hide everything from Vincent.

'To not hide everything…'

Tifa took a deep breath before she spoke, "Vincent, I want… to tell you something. It's about Sephiroth."

"Tifa, whatever you say, I won't leave—"

"And me."

Vincent faced Tifa. She looked uneasy, shifting her weight from one foot to another and bit her lower lip. He waited patiently for her to start speaking, and when she did speak, her voice cracked, "It's about what Sephiroth did to me."

"Speak."

Tifa took a deep breath before starting, "It took place about eight years ago…"

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A.N: long awaited, I know. And short, I know. But this chapter really put me into a horrible author's block because I don't know what I should write in this chap. I admit that this one of the worst chapter I've ever wrote…But I'm starting the next chapter right away. Hope I won't get another attack of author's block then.