Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any of the characters. Wish I did, though :)

Author's Note: TSume Sumeragi, thanks so much for reading! I'm so glad you liked it! Also, this chapter explains the background for the story. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 2

It had been a week since Cloud had broken her heart. Ever since that night, he hadn't been back to the bar. Tifa couldn't help but be grateful for that. Yes, she missed him, but she couldn't stand the thought of seeing him face to face yet. She didn't want him to see her so hurt. It would be humiliating for him to see her once bright, red eyes reduced to dull ones that no longer held the slightest hint of life in them. Or how she had to force a smile just so she didn't worry the kids. Or how she had lost weight from not being able to keep anything down. Tifa prayed he wouldn't come home and see her in such a miserable state. She wanted to keep what little pride and dignity she had left in tact.

She'd seemed to be able to keep her mood hidden from the kids. She went about their daily routine without fail. She kept a smile on her face at all times- too afraid that if she didn't, she'd end up in tears. If the kids had noticed anything different, they never said or asked about it.

The only times she let herself wallow in her misery is when she had finally closed the bar and Marlene and Denzel were fast asleep. She'd fix a stiff drink and spend a couples hours getting drunk and let herself forget about her pain, like she was doing now.

She was sitting at the bar, a bottle of Irish Wiskey sitting in front of her. She was waiting on Barrett to arrive. He'd called earlier that night saying that he's get there in a couple hours. So, she'd closed the bar early, cleaned the place up, moved Denzel to her and Cloud's room. Then, she'd grabbed the wiskey and fixed herself a glass. As she sat there in the dimly lit room, she couldn't help but think of how she ended up here. She let her mind wander back to her childhood for a moment.

Tifa, Cloud, and Barrett had grown up together, along with their friends Zack and Aerith. Barrett had been 7 years ollder than Tifa so he'd been like the older brother that none of them had. Zack had been 2 years older than her, and Tifa had secretly loved him pretty much since she was in diapers. She'd always loved him. But, he had dated Aerith, who was a year younger than him. Cloud had been a year younger than Aerith, and the same age as Tifa. She and Cloud had been neighbors and were inseperable for the most part. They were the best of friends.

Even with the age differences, they had all been close to each other. When they were younger, wherever you saw one, you saw the other 4 right with them. It stayed like that as they were older, unless Zack and Aerith were on a date. Like all good things, though, it had to come to and end.

When Barrett was 21, his best friends from work had been in a wreck and died. They'd left custody of their 3 year old daughter, Marlene, to him. Barrett had taken on the role of father without a second thought. He was determined to honor their wishes, no matter what.

Six months later, Zack left to join SOLDIER. That had been one of the hardest goodbye's for Tifa. A few tears had slipped out of her eyes but Zack quickly whiped them away. He then leaned down and whispered that it would be their little secret. Tifa couldn't help but smile at him and she'd kissed him on the cheek and wished him good luck. She had never thought that the smile that was on his face that day would be the last one she saw from him. After he left, no one had seen or heard from him. To this day, Tifa didn't know if he was still alive.

Tifa had been devastated when he left, but she didn't let it show since she and Cloud had needed to be strong for Aerith. It, suprisingly, hadn't taken long for the Aerith to get over Zack. Tifa soon found out why though. Cloud and Aerith had started dating. Tifa didn't really know what to think about it, but she supported them either way because that's just how she was.

Two years later, when Cloud and Tifa were 16, Cloud left to join SOLDIER like Zack had. He'd hoped to be able to see their long lost friend. It hadn't happened though. It was a couple of months after he left that Tifa realized that she had developed feelings for her childhood friend. And those feelings haven't stopped growing stronger.

Aerith and Cloud had tried to keep their relationship, but Aerith hadn't been able to handle the distance. Not seeing him often at all was too much for her to handle. Tifa could still remember the phone call she got from a heartbroken Cloud after Aerith had ended their relationship. Tifa had thought that they would just continue to get closer after that, but that call was the last time that Cloud opened himself up to her. To anyone, for that matter. He shut himself down and wouldn't let anyone get close.

It's been 8 years since Cloud joined. Tifa was now 22 and lived in Edge. She owned the bar 7th Heaven and had custody of Marlene, who was now 11, while Barrett was away for work. She had also 'adopted' a 12 year old boy, Denzel, that Cloud had brought home one day. Denzel couldn't remember anything about his parents and had been wandering around the Midgar ruins when Cloud found him. Tifa had felt so bad for the young boy and took responsibility for him without a second thought. She enjoyed having the kids around. They gave her life meaning. There was nothing more important to Tifa than the kids.

Cloud had gotten out of SOLDIER 2 years ago and was now ran a delivery business along with Tifa. He also lived with Tifa and they shared a room so that Marlene and Denzel could each have a room to themselves. It didn't bother them to share a room. Cloud was so busy with deliveries that he didn't make it home til late and was up early in the mornings. Sometimes, one of his jobs would keep him from home for weeks at a time.

Aerith had recently moved to Edge also. She'd opened up a flower shop a couple of streets down from the bar. Tifa still talked to her quite a bit was glad to say that they were still friends.

The sound of the bar door slamming shut made Tifa jump and broke her train of thought. She turned towards the door to greet the man who'd walked in. She already know who it was.

"Be careful, Barrett. You'll wake the kids." Tifa chided.

"Oh shit, Teef. My bad." Barrett replied apologetically.

"How was your trip?"

"Ah, hell. It wasn't too bad. There are some freakin moron's drivin 'round though." Barrett answered as he reached the counter. He stared at the glass in her hand for a minute, then looked in her eyes. "What the fuck happened?"

"What do you mean?" Tifa asked innocently.

"Teef, ya ain't had a damn drink in 2 freakin years. What the hell is wrong?" Barrett returned, his gruff voice starting to fill with concern.

"Not too much. I just had my heart stomped and spit on a week ago." Tifa said nonchalantly, but the bitter laugh she made gave her away.

"Shit. Where that stupid piece of shit chocobo head at? How can he be such a dumbass?" Barrett growled, clearly angry.

"Not here. He hasn't been back since that night I told him." Tifa explained.

"How're ya holdin up?" He asked, concern once again evident in his voice.

"I'm fine, Barrett. I've been a little stressed on top of that so I'm having a drink to calm my nerves before I go to bed." Tifa answered, hoping he bought it.

"If ya say so." Barrett replied.

"I do. Thanks for the concern, though. By the way, I move Denzel to my room earlier so you'll have a room to yourself this time." Tifa went on, changing the subject.

"Good. I can't share one with Marlene this time." Barrett returned.

"Huh?" Tifa aske, confused. Barrett never had a problem sharing a room before now.

"I brought someone with me this time." He answered.

"Who?"

Before Barrett could answer, the door opened and closed again. Tifa whipped around, secretly praying it wasn't Cloud returning home. Who she saw standing there, with a cocky grin on his face, made her mouth drop and eyes widen.

"Hey, Teefs."

Tifa couldn't help the tears that sprang into her eyes at the sound of his voice.

Zack Fair had finally returned.