A/N: Well, the time between updates is getting smaller and smaller! Yay for me! Anyways, sorry this chapter is so short but it fits in with the chapter layout I planned. I'm almost finished with this one so I'm probably gonna be working on this until it's completion. I'm serious this time. My Reno/Tifa has been completed so now I can concentrate on my unfinished fics. Here's the next chap!

Chapter Seven:

Day Number Three

"Oh, there you are, Tifa." I turned my attention away from the waves and turned one corner of my mouth up in a meager smile as Cait walked up to me. "What's wrong?" He asked, putting a small-gloved hand on my knee.

"I was so close to becoming a human permanently. So close," I said, staring down at my hands. I let Cait crawl into my lap.

Cait's mouth turned down as he snuggled up against my chest. "It'll be alright."

I lightly scratched his ears and back. "I sure hope so." I paused and continued to listen to the roar of the waves. Many moments later I broke the silence. "Maybe I'm just fooling myself. Maybe I'm just chasing a dream that I'll never be able to grasp."

Cait looked up at me with a shocked expression on his face. "Hey, don't say things like that. Prince Vincent is crazy about ya," he said, giving me a playful punch on the shoulder.

I smiled and gave Cait a hug. "Thanks for cheering me up."

"No problem!" He said, purring as I scratched his belly.

"Tifa!" I looked in the direction of the voice and smiled when I saw Cloud's dolphin tail waving at me from a few yards off shore. It disappeared from view before his head became visible. "Hey!" He called again, waving a flipper in the air.

I waved back. "Hi, Cloud!" I said, jumping off the rock and wadding out into the water. Cait toddled off, returning to the castle for a mid afternoon nap. Yuffie dropped out of the sky moments later and landed in the water with a small splash. "Hey, Yuff! Where have you been?"

"Sight seeing," she replied, ruffling her feathers. "I never thought the surface would be this exciting."

"Neither did I. It's been so wonderful. I just hope I can win the prince over by then."

"Hey, don't worry," Yuffie said. "You got him in the bag already. That Ashlea hag must not know that beauty isn't the only thing that counts."

"Yeah," Cloud said, backing her up. "You have nothing to worry about."

I smiled and sat down on a small rock that was jutting up from the water's surface. Yuffie jumped out of the water and landed softly in my lap. "Thanks for cheering me up guys. It means a lot."

"Don't worry about it, Teef," Yuffie said, jumping out of the water and landing in my lap. "That's what we're here for."

Cloud started to open his dolphin mouth to say something but immediately closed it. A funny expression graced his animal features, which made me turn around. What I saw almost made my heart stop. Prince Vincent was walking down the shore, hand in hand, with a gorgeous girl that looked exactly like me. I gasped as I recognized the amulet the mystery girl was wearing. It was the same one Ashlea wore.

I jumped off the rock as Yuffie flew away and kneeled in the water, safely concealed, as Vincent walked by with the mystery girl.

"I can't believe I've finally found you," Vincent said, stopping right in front of where I was. "You were the one that saved my life when my boat sank. How could I ever repay you, Amanda?"

Amanda smiled and lightly ran her hand down the prince's cheek. "Say you'll marry me."

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. It was angering having to sit there and listen to someone that stole my voice ask the man that I loved to marry her. My eyes started to sting as Vincent got down on one knee and kissed the back of Amanda's hand. "Will you marry me?" His deep baritone voice rang in my ears and the words he spoke to my imposter repeated over and over in my mind until I could barely stand it.

"Yes, I will," Amanda replied.

Vincent immediately rose and grabbed her by the waist, twirling her around in the air. "Tomorrow then, at sunset."

I gasped, my eyes wide with shock. Vincent and Amanda continued to walk down the shore, unaware that I had been watching them. I stared at the disappearing back of the handsome prince that I thought for a split second was mine before taking off towards the castle. Cait tried to stop me but his cries fell away from my ears like I was deaf. I stumbled on the soft sand beneath my feet, losing my footing and crashing to my knees. Tears began to flow from my eyes as I curled up into a ball on the ground. Cait finally caught up with me and kneeled down next to me.

"Hey, come on," he said, tugging on my shoulder. "We need to get you back to your room before someone sees you like this."

I continued to sob as I walked back to my room with Cait wrapped protectively in my arms. The small black and white cat continued talking to me but my clouded mind still would not hear him. It was still focused on Vincent's proposal to the witch that stole my beauty. I moved almost robotically to my room, like I wasn't in control of my body. It almost felt like I was watching idly from some dark corner of my mind as my body placed one foot in front of the other and led me to my room.

As soon as I was inside, I locked the door, drew the curtains in front of the balcony window and collapsed onto my bed. I cried myself to sleep and was soon in a peaceful sleep.