Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7 any of it's characters and/or references

Chapter 5:

…The Road Ahead…

Tifa wasn't surprised when she awoke and found that Cloud wasn't there. Though she wished he would have woken her to tell her he was going out. She sat up from her bed and looked around the small inn room; none of Cloud's gear was present. Her hand moved to rest on her stomach and gently patted it.

"Soon," she spoke softly to herself.

The days were passing by quickly, soon she would start showing, soon she would be responsible for bringing a child into the world and raising it, though part of her was overjoyed another part was scared. She kept wondering if she could raise a child, she didn't know anything about motherhood and she also knew that raising it would appear to look like a bed of roses but those roses also had thorns that would make it uncomfortable.

The inn room that Cloud and herself stayed in was only two rooms, a bedroom and a bathroom, the bedroom had two small beds, one for each, there was also two small windows along one of the walls parallel to where the beds were. They had gotten the room for a fairly reasonable price and were planning to stay here for the duration of their trip.

She arose from the bed and walked into the bathroom closing the door behind her, about half an hour later she emerged fully dressed. Tifa had already made plans for the day; she had agreed to accompany Yuffie to the shopping center to help her find new rare materia. It took her only about an hour to find her way there, but Yuffie was nowhere to be found, deciding to kill some time she took up the option to look around, maybe she could even find something interesting she wanted.

Though the center was crowded Tifa had no trouble navigating herself or visiting the different shops, there was one in particular that caught her eye and made her stop in her tracks, she peered through the window and the first object she saw on display was a baby's crib. Her hand once again sub-consciously patted her stomach and without even knowing her feet ventured into the store until she was standing next to the crib. It wasn't very extravagant, just a plain white crib. Tifa's hand traced along the top of the crib as she peered down into it, it was empty now but eventually it would be holding her child, both Cloud's and her's. She could almost picture it laying there, smiling up at her with large blue innocent eyes just like his or her father's.

"Excuse me," a female voice interrupted Tifa from her trance, the long raven-haired female quickly turned around to face another woman. Slightly shorter with short brown hair and brown eyes, "Can I help you?" the woman asked.

Tifa was slightly startled but brushed it off by nodding her head, "no I was just browsing," She replied before turning to leave however before she stepped out the door she turned back one final time to glance at the crib.

As she ventured away from the store the crib remained in her mind, the memory of her passing her hand along the crib still present in her mind but that train of thought was soon interrupted when she saw Yuffie scanning through the crowd trying to find her. Finally though Yuffie made out Tifa and waved over to her, Tifa nodded her head acknowledging Yuffie and walked over to her.

"Hey," the young ninja greeted as she ran over and hugged Tifa.

"Ouch, hey Yuffie ease up," Tifa replied slightly surprised as Yuffie's forwardness.

Yuffie released and smiled at Tifa; Yuffie was still the same, with her short black hair, green top and khaki short pants.

"Where've you been?" Yuffie asked.

"Out looking for you," Tifa answered with a smile on her face, "Where is everyone else?"

"Oh, Barret and Cid are at the tavern, along with Reeve and Cait, Vincent, Red XIII and Cloud have disappeared," Yuffie summarized.

"Nanaki also?" Tifa asked slightly confused.

"Yeah he left early this morning, said he and Cloud had some things to take care off," Yuffie explained.

Her last statement was of great interest to Tifa, Cloud had not mentioned anything of going with Red XIII today, her mind couldn't help but dwell on the various possibilities of why. Unfortunately she couldn't dwell for long because Yuffie interrupted again.

"Anyway as special guests of honor at the coliseum opening we got special seats, come on, Dio wants to show us the coliseum, let's get everyone and go see," Yuffie said as she grabbed Tifa's hand and slightly jerked her forward, Tifa stumbled a step but quickly regained herself only to find that Yuffie was pulling her through the crowd.

"Hold on Yuffie, I thought you wanted to go materia shopping?" Tifa asked.

"Already checked all the materia stores, only common ones, nothing of real interest," Yuffie replied.

Tifa was finally able to catch up with Yuffie so she wasn't pulling her but now guiding her, part of her mind was still questioning why Cloud had gone with Nanaki, and why he didn't tell her, if he didn't tell her then it must be important…and so her thoughts only became more and more serious.

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Cloud was laying on a metal slab, angled at 45 degrees to the ground, there were two brown straps around his body that held him to the slab. His eyes here closed and his shirt and boots were missing, he was only dressed in his long dark pants. His eyes were half open, half closed. In the small room that held him there was one bright light over him, the rest of the room was nestled in darkness except for the slight glow of computer monitors which provided little light. There were also many forms of various electronic equipment in the room. Cloud was also not alone there there were at least two others from the brustling sounds.

The blond-haired warrior could vaguely make out the flash of red from his tired eyes as it seemed to circle him. Walking around the room a large catlike creature with red fur paced nervously.

"Grandfather are you finished yet?" The creature asked.

At the far end of the room, behind a computer monitor a response came, "Almost Nanaki, your friend's condition seems to have worsened," it was the voice of an old man.

Nanaki came in front of Cloud standing on all fours so the cerulean-eyed warrior could see him clearly, "Cloud have you been using heal materia?" Nanaki asked.

Cloud simply nodded his head answering the question. Nanaki sighed, "Cloud you know using materia only worsens your condition," the red-furred beast said sympathetically.

"That's it, I'm finished," The old man said from the far end of the room, "Nanaki you can take down Cloud now."

Using his claws Nanaki was able to cut the straps holding Cloud, he fell forward but was caught by Nanaki and he was able to land on Nanaki's back. Cloud stayed there for a few seconds regaining his strength. After a few minutes he was able to stand on his own again. The sole light that was above the metal slab had been dimmed severely and the whole room was now visible and other lights came on. Approaching Cloud and Nanaki was an old bearded man with a long yellow robe covering his entire body even his feet and the robe dragged on the floor as he came closer. He moved with such ease and at a steady pace it appeared as if he was floating on air.

"Bugenhagen," Cloud said addressing the old man, "What's happening?"

"Your condition is worsening, and not the symptom, it's the mako in your body, at this rate….your body…." Bugenhagen didn't need to finish.

Cloud had finished getting dressed putting back on his shirt and his brown boots, he stood facing his two companions, "So, there's no hope?" Cloud asked softly.

"I'm still researching the effects of mako on the body, and how they conflict with different types," Bugenhagen began, "all I need is a little more time."

"Cloud, grandfather is close to a breakthrough, just be patient we'll find a way to cure you, in the mean time I think you should avoid Dio's new tournament," Nanaki suggested.

"Thanks for your concern Red," Cloud said softly with his head lowered and he turned towards the exit, "but I can't back out now."

"Listen I know winning this tournament probably means a lot to you, but think about everyone else, you're shortening your lifespan," Nanaki seemed to be pleading with him, "Just give us some more time."

"I've not given up hope yet…" Cloud replied in his silent tone, his body facing away from them and his head still lowered.

"Then take it easy, just a little bit more, think about Tifa and…" Nanaki was cut off.

"That's enough Nanaki," Bugenhagen interrupted, "I'm sure Cloud knows about the price he has to pay and the effects it will take on everyone close to him, he already knows how this will affect everyone but his decision has already been made."

"Thanks for your help Bugenhagen," Cloud finished before opening the door and walking away.

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Tifa was impressed at the scope of the coliseum, it appeared as if it could hold thousands of people and that was only at the main viewing area from where the fights would be viewed. Below that there were dozens of sub levels each serving a different purpose.

"Ah and here is where we shall all be watching the tournament," the speedo wearing Dio said referring to a small box shaped area at the highest point of the viewing area. It was isolated from where the rest of the crowd would reside and even the VIP section, "Ah and that's not the best part yet."

With a wave of his hand one large screen came up from the ground in front all the seats, it was a large screen that stretched from one end of the room to the next, on display were a close up of the ground level of the coliseum.

"We can even see the action from the ground floor straight," Dio said.

Tifa and the rest of the Avalanche crew was very impressed with the building that Dio had built, he briefly allowed her to take her mind off her worries but even when she was dwelling on the coliseum the thought of Cloud fighting alone caused her to fear. At least when she fought alongside him, she had less to worry about as she could heal him and aid him, whenever they fought together she didn't worry, she felt as if they were invincible but now with him alone, she felt that he was weak and vulnerable.

A light tap on her left shoulder rescued her from her depressing thoughts, she quickly turned in that direction to see no one there, and then she snapped her head around in the opposite direction to see Cloud standing beside her, his face trying to hold back a grin.

"I know that was you Strife," Tifa spoke in a somewhat annoyed and playful voice.

Cloud turned to her, he couldn't help but smirk, whenever given these opportunities he couldn't help but tease her, even if it was somewhat childish, the fact that she fell for it every time and became annoyed appealed to him.

"What Tif, I just got here," Cloud answered trying to appear calm.

"I'll get you one of these days," Tifa answered back.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cloud replied trying his best to maintain his composure.

Cloud smiled at her as she smiled back, "So where were you today?" Tifa asked, "And where's Red, Yuffie said she heard Red saying that he was going out with you?"

The blond-haired swordsman hated what he was going to do but he dare not tell Tifa the truth, it would only cause her to worry and that was the last thing he wanted.

"We just went out to train," Cloud said softly, he knew he was lying to her and if she believed him he would hate himself even more that he already did, he never imagined in all his life he would fabricate false truth to Tifa. It made him sick just doing it but he held on to the belief that it was for her own good and protection.

"Oh, ok then, but next time please tell me," Tifa replied smiling.

Cloud nodded his head, she believed him, he felt rotten, he had broken her trust, and he knew there was nothing he could say to make it up to her.

Tifa clenched her hands tightly, she wanted to tell him, how she wanted to tell him badly, but now was not the best time, she had to tell when he was alone. That would be the best time, part of her knew Cloud wouldn't be angry or upset at her becoming pregnant but the wall between them caused her to halt her tongue and made the burning feeling that she was betraying him become stronger. There were just too many things on her mind that made her become nervous.

To Be Contined…

Alright it's been some time since my last update, sorry about that, but I'm in my final year of college, so you can guess how hectic things are. Well at this point I'd say something like I'd get the next chapters out sooner, but I don't want to make any empty promises, I'll try but that's the best I can do. Thanks to all who reviewed and red my story, there's still more to come. If you enjoyed this chapter give me some feedback.