CHAPTER 2 – GOODBYE TO MY TIFA?

Cloud woke up the next morning…

He thought he had heard Aeris' voice calling him during the night…

He sat up slowly, and peered around the pretty church. The sunlight was poking through the glass windows, and Aeris' flowerbed of flowers were blooming away…he admired them lots, and they often reminded him of her. He stood and approached them cautiously…

He bent down and lightly touched them, and stroked one gently…he smiled as he heard her voice in his memory say…

"The Flowerbed Broke your fall…" Her words echoed through him…

He sighed, and stood…it was early morning. Cloud thought of Tifa…her words made sense to him at times, but at other times no sense at all…how could he move on? He tried so hard, but something was telling him not to give up, something inside of said this. It wasn't long before Cloud grew impatient of the silence throughout the holy church; he headed out of the doors, and went to look for Tifa…

Tifa had moved on from her Strife Delivery service, and was now living with Aeris' Mom Elymra, there; she remained with Marlene and Denzel while Barrett tried to continue with what little work Strife Delivery service got…

Tifa sat in Aeris' room, upon her cream and rosy pink bed. She sighed – her head in her hands…she was worried about Cloud, what if he went to find her? What dangers would he face if that was his decision? Many thoughts swirled round in Tifa's head, but they all seemed to come back to Cloud…

Suddenly, there was a knock at the bedroom door. Tifa looked up as Marlene opened the door.

"Tifa?" She said entering the room. Tifa smiled and stood. "Marlene…what is it?" Marlene jumped. "Cloud is here! He said he's come to see you…" A smile spread across Tifa's face. "Here? Right now? Where downstairs?" Marlene nodded. "Oh, okay! I'll go down and see him right now." Tifa said leaving. "Thanks." She smiled to Marlene smoothing her hair gently, and heading downstairs.

Elymra looked upon the lonesome ex soldier, who stood in her house. "Cloud…" Elymra said. Cloud couldn't bear to look at Aeris' mother, or step mother at least, but he managed to look her in the eyes. Elymra gave him a pitiful look, and a small smile. "You, still aren't happy?" She asked. "I would have thought by now you would have known Aeris is happy, and wants to you to live on." Cloud sighed. "I know that is what she wants," He paused. "I thought I heard her voice the other night," Cloud gave a small smile. "…Calling me." Elymra approached Cloud and placed a weary hand on his shoulder. "…Aeris always believed in you…and, you know something?" Cloud looked up. "I could tell that," Elymra smiled. "I could tell you had fascinated my daughter, ever since you walked in through my house with Aeris, after saving her from the Turks, by being her bodyguard...do you remember that day Cloud?"

Cloud thought back…he remembered the day too well. It was the day Aeris made him laugh…he hadn't laughed properly in years. "Yeah…I remember that day." Cloud was about to continue when Tifa came wondering down the stairs…

"Cloud?" She said. Cloud looked to the stunning Brunette across the room, and nodded to her. Tifa walked over to him, and smiled. "You came to see me?" Cloud nodded once again. Tifa's eyes looked to Elymra who looked from Cloud to Tifa, and back. "S, sorry…I'll leave." She bowed, and headed off upstairs. "No…" Tifa trailed off as Elymra had already disappeared, then turned back to Cloud. "Cloud?" She studied him carefully. He looked down. "What is it?" Cloud looked at her, and began to explain about his memories with Aeris, and how he cherished them, but they only made him remember Sephiroth's words…

"I will never…remain a memory."

That gave him hope…he did not want Aeris to remain a memory. Tifa sighed. "Cloud…really, all along, she never left us, she was right there with us." Tifa soothed gently. But this did not matter to Cloud, as he stood by his words. "Im sorry Tifa," He shook his head. "My mind is made up…I will find her."

Tifa thought for a moment, and looked at the fair haired guy. "Wow," She said. "I never knew you had such strength of mind, Cloud. Im proud of you." She smiled. "Is this what you want?" Cloud nodded immediately. "Well then," Tifa nodded back. "I believe in you Cloud…your do it, really." She smiled. Cloud looked at Tifa with appreciation of her comment, and her high hopes and praises of him…it seemed only Aeris did that when she was alive, and in his life. "Thanks…I guess I've got to leave now…im starting my journey." Tifa, was taken aback. "Journey? Cloud, where will you go? Where will you start?" Cloud shrugged. "Isn't obvious? The last place she would have remained with us…the City of the Ancients. The location of her death." Tifa's smile faded as she heard the word death cross her ears, and she looked down. "I hope you find happiness…what ever it is you want." She said, trying to force back tears that she knew would soon fall. Cloud nodded. "I have one more person to say goodbye to…" He said leaving Tifa stand alone in sadness, as he headed upstairs…

Elymra turned, as she heard footsteps behind her on the landing. "Elymra." Cloud greeted. "Cloud." She nodded. "Im leaving Elymra," He paused. "I have to go." Elymra was shocked. "B, but Cloud…w, why? Cloud, why are you leaving? You can't…surely." She whispered. Cloud sighed. "I never really forgot your daughter…her memories were never really memories completely…there was always a part of Aeris that was there with me, and I intend to find that part…and bring her back. Somehow…I'll find her." Elymra looked at him with admiration. "Cloud…you are so brave, I think those were one of the many qualities Aeris adored in you so much." She flattered. Cloud smiled. "Do you really think so?" He asked. Elymra nodded, as Cloud turned from her. "Well…goodbye Elymra. I hope I'll meet you again, and I hope to bring Aeris back to you." He nodded, leaving.

He returned to Tifa, who looked at him with teary eyes. "Do you really have to leave?" She cried softly. Cloud was surprised, as even more surprisingly rushed to her, and held a hand on her arm. "I'll come back…" He nodded. Tifa dried her eyes. "Cloud…I, please, let me go, take me with you." She pleaded. Cloud sighed and shook his head. "Im sorry Tifa, I need to go alone. Don't you understand?" He asked. Tifa nodded silently, and made sure her face was strong, and not a tear fell…

"You…promise?" Cloud felt himself choke and stop, as the word promise hit him. He couldn't keep his promise last time he promised Tifa back in their younger days, why try now? He shook his head. "No…I don't want to." Tifa gulped. "I understand." She said. "I can't Tifa," He hesitated. "Im sorry…please," He gulped. "Wait for me?" Tifa looked up at her child hood friend, who had grown into the man she was in love with. "Yes." She smiled, as tears fell from her eyes. "Always…" She sobbed again. Tifa approached Cloud, this was really goodbye, she wished to touch him, hold him at least, but would he allow it? Would cold and defensive Cloud still hold his barrier to her? She reached an arm out, and placed it round his waist…Cloud flinched, he had never been this close to anyone for…he couldn't remember how long. Tifa looked at him. "Cloud?" Cloud was nervous, should he? If anything, he wanted to hold Aeris in his arms…but he may never see Tifa again. In the close seconds they had images flashed through Cloud's head of Tifa when they were young…to her time in AVALANCHE with him, and finally to now. He smiled and tensely pulled the brunette closer into his arms…to Tifa, it was everything, as she squeezed Cloud, and held him.

After a moment, Cloud separated. "Goodbye, Tifa." He said leaving…

Tifa watched Cloud walk out of the door…out of her hungry and loving tender embrace…out of her world…out of her life…