Chapter Two:
Unbelievable

A/N: It took me longer than I thought, but I finally finished this chapter, I was stuck in a rut for a while. By the way, much thanks goes out to zinedinezidane2662 for taking time out to R&R chapter one! I'll end this A/N now by saying that as of right now I feel like I'll be keeping this fic going a while longer or at least finish it off with an epilogue if I end up getting stuck, but the epilogue idea has a slim chance of happening. Anyway, I hope you enjoy chapter two...please R&R and let me know your thoughts/opinions/suggestions/whatever else you've got on your mind of this chapter. Thanks!

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(It felt like yesterday was a dream...

No, I take that back...

More like a nightmare...

I couldn't believe what Cloud had told me...I had always been waiting for that moment since we were little in Nibelheim, and when the time finally came for my turn to tell my feelings to him, my stupid mouth wouldn't say anything...

I hated that moment so bad...

If I had a second chance to go back into the past to tell him those same three words he told me...

"I love you."

I would right now.

I still remember when I saw him looking deeply at me with the usual calm, relaxed glow the Mako always gave off in his eyes, as if he was waiting for me to say the same back at him. but I was just caught completely off guard. I've been able to make my feelings known before to anybody without hesitation, but this was the exception...

I just cracked...I broke down, cried, and left...I feel so embarrassed about what I did...I ran upstairs, still crying my heart away...I also remember him yelling after me as I locked the door, leaning with my back against it, acting foolish...I could hear his steps outside, and the booming sound of his fist knocking on my door, but I still continued to act like an insecure fool...I just couldn't get to believing that Cloud was actually saying those things to me.)

"Teef...Teef! TI-FA! LET ME EXPLA --!!"

"Cloud...PLEASE...just LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Teef..."

"Please..."

(At that time, I was so stupid...but...

There were so many emotions running through my mind...

Joy...

Surprise...

Sadness...

Anger...

God, I wish I wasn't so surprised, upset, and embarrassed that morning...I feel so horrible...I don't know how I can even begin to approach Cloud, let alone talk to him, again...

I guess I was just upset he still had Aerith on his mind...not to mention, acting closed minded...

I mean, don't get me wrong...it isn't that I dislike Aerith...the two of us actually got along, and I feel we still do even though we haven't talked in a while...I felt that Cloud and I were the only ones who should have a close bond, and not Aerith and Cloud...

But no...Cloud and I haven't really spoken since yesterday morning, and for that, I feel really horrible. I had looked downstairs a few hours after what had happened, but he was nowhere in sight...I guess telling him my true feelings at this very moment is out of the question. He's been gone all morning and evening...

I guess he took off, just to get away...

From me...

I don't blame him one bit if he decides to never come back...)

Lying down under the covers in her bed, Tifa's eyes began to feel heavier and heavier, feeling the gentle state of sleep fall over her. Lightly sobbing the last few drops of tears from her eyes, she looked out of her bedroom window, as if the bright, shining stars scattered across the darkened sky could help her to make her wish come true.

(Cloud...please give me a second chance to explain...

...That I love YOU, too.)

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Her body wildly jerking beneath the covers, Tifa screamed as she sat up, heavily gasping for air. It took her a few moments to realize she was safely back in her bedroom, and no longer a resident of the astral plane. Noticing that it was still late at night by the lack of light in her room, Tifa glanced at her alarm clock, the green illuminated numbers reading "2:15 AM".

(Thank God it was only a dream...)

Putting her head back to rest on her pillow, Tifa sighed while closing her eyes, still feeling sleep coming over her. Pulling the covers over her head, she noticed that the humming sound of the warm heat blowing through the vent above her door meant that the heater had turned on.

(I just wish what happened between Cloud and I was a dream too...

It was similar to my dream...only we were in an argument after the children had to go...not a wild and crazy one, but we did shout at each other...and Cloud ended up leaving all of a sudden, saying he needed time alone...he hasn't really been the person to actually argue with someone...

But I can tell that Cloud wasn't really going out on his daily "walks" before and after work for the delivery service to get some "fresh air"...I'm sure he went out to meet Aerith at the church during his free time...

All he had to do was tell me that he wanted to be with her, and I would understand...I may not like his decision, but I'd understand and let him be with her...

God I wish I had another chance to talk to Cloud...because from deep down in my heart...)

"...I know that even though I want to be with Cloud, I just want him to be happy...With, or without, me..."

"Teef...I only want to be with you..."

"CLOUD!?!"

Tifa almost threw the comforter completely off of the bed, slipping from beneath them to stand up on the opposite side of the room. She immediately began eying Cloud standing in the middle of the doorway, his muscular silhouette closing the door as he began to approach the twenty-two year old martial artist in front of him.

(I forgot...he also has the key to my room, and I have the key to his too...but wow...the Lord really DOES work in mysterious ways...well...here's my second chance...)

"Teef, like I was trying to say before...Aerith and I are only close friends...for a long time I've had strong feelings, for YOU..."

"Cloud, I...I..."

Tifa saw that the only feature she could recognize of Cloud in the darkness was the slight glow from his tall, spiky hair and the distinctive yet mysterious glow his eyes gave.

"Tifa...about this morni -"

"...I love you Cloud..." She could feel an enormous amount of tears welling up under her eyes as she ran over to him, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace as she could feel her voice about to give out. "I really do! I'm sorry about this morning too!"

Wow...how can she read my mind like that...?

"I love you too Tifa..." He lifted her chin to look deep into her eyes, before giving her a warm, passionate kiss on the lips, the moment Tifa had long been waiting for.

(I always have...)