A/N: This is a pretty long chapter, just a fair warning :) I call Cloud idiot and whatnot, but only because he kinda is a dumb blonde ;) But I don't hate him at all!
Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Square. I'm just playing with them.
To My Reviewers:
Wow... I can't believe how many reviews I now have! I'm still in shock that you all are reading and enjoying my story :) It makes me want to work on it more. Which I will do tomorrow... however, don't be surprised if the updates start slowing because the ones I've posted have been written already a few weeks ago. I've just been adding slowly. Stay tuned for more set up to the real action/romance of the story!
Rend & lilmizgrunge: Here you go! Chapter 3:)
bee bee: You cried? Well, I must say that it makes me feel great to hear that, from a writer's perspective. I'm glad the story could instill such emotion in you! The sadness isn't over yet though... smirks Here's Chapter 3!
When Tifa and Denzel got to Costa del Sol, the real estate lady was waiting. She seemed excited to have sold a house, and she showed them around their new home with exuberance. It was spacious enough for two adults, and very comfortable. The weather was different than Midgar and a little hard to get used to, but they soon purchased warm weather clothing to alleviate the heat. Their things arrived later in the evening and they spent the rest of the day unpacking and putting things up. Tifa was having her piano delivered from Nibelheim, and planned on practicing again and getting into the music once more. Their first night went by quickly for both were exhausted to the point of sleeping throughout the night, and the next day they were woken by knocking on their door. The entire town had come to meet them, it seemed. They hurried to get dressed and look presentable, then went out to meet everyone.
The majority of the town folk were friendly, although some seemed slightly suspicious of the strange pair. They loosened up when Tifa explained that Denzel was her son by adoption, and everyone almost swooned when they figured out that she was one of the heroes who saved the Planet. Soon they were given tours of the town and houses, and finally they were able to relax with promises to visit everyone before the week was out. Exhausted, they relaxed over a light lunch that Tifa fixed (she was a surprisingly good cook) and then they went to get Denzel registered for school. Once that was done, they decided to spend a few hours on the beach. It was a very hectic yet relaxing day. They slept very well that night, and were up and ready early the next morning. Tifa ushered Denzel off to school, then went about looking for a job.
She searched until noon, asking everyone and anyone, and finally someone presented something suitable for her. It was actually the sort-of mayor of the town, a man by the name of Genko. He said that they hardly had troubles with any monsters attacking, but every now and then they'd get an attack. He asked her to be the guardian of the town, which would give her plenty of free time to spend with her son and opportunity to keep herself in shape. She immediately agreed, and started an exercise program to keep her body trim and fit. She decided that she could patrol the borders of the town to watch out for predators, and maybe venture out into the field every now and then to find monsters to fight with. That way she could keep her moves in practice and keep the monsters away from the sunshine town. There was plenty of time for the beach too, and both Denzel and Tifa enjoyed it immensely. While Denzel was in school she could suntan, and when he got out and on the weekends she could play in the water with him.
Denzel made many new friends, and became pretty popular at school. He had many stories to tell, and everyone loved listening to him talk about the heroes and their fights. Tifa made friends as well, and even attracted some male attention, although she always rebuffed them politely, telling them that she wasn't interested in any relationships right now. They backed off immediately, giving her respect. They knew she could pummel their faces in any time she wanted, and she wouldn't ever get in trouble. She still kept to herself a lot and didn't get very close to anyone at first. Time began flying before she knew it, and soon she was feeling much better, although her heart still burned and ached for Cloud, mostly at night when she wasn't so busy doing things. She tended to run errands for her friends during the day, and so she kept busy. She also spent a lot of time with Denzel, warming up to the mother role she was now in.
Tifa was finding more purpose in life, and soon her mind started putting Cloud to the very back, still there but only faintly. She had so many other things to think about. Her piano had arrived and been installed, and so she spent two or three hours a day practicing. Soon she was at a high enough level to where the villagers would stop and listen to the music coming from her windows, and she often was asked to give performances at celebrations. She agreed after much begging, and fit herself nicely into the village. Everyone knew her and her son and respected them. Denzel was a very smart boy and was the top of his class before very long. Tifa even had her own specially designated umbrella on the beach which was always in her favorite spot. Denzel and Tifa missed Marlene terribly, so one weekend she came to spend time with them. Denzel introduced her to all of his friends, and she got to swim with him in the ocean. They collected shells and did so many things together. When she returned to Barret she was full of the cool new lives Tifa and Denzel were leading. Their friends still missed them though.
Barret and Cloud had gotten into a few arguments that led up to a fight because Barret continually blamed Cloud for Tifa's leaving. He wanted to teach that spikey head a lesson not to go saying things to people without thinking, but Cloud was still clueless as to what he might have done to upset Tifa. He missed her a lot, and found himself thinking about her, wondering what had caused her so much pain. Still completely in the dark about it, he couldn't find an answer, and so he continued pondering, feeling her absence more acutely than he thought he would.
One day Tifa and Denzel were relaxing after a swim at the beach when Denzel turned to his mother curiously. "Mom, how much did you love Cloud?" he asked her, wanting to know. He knew it was a touchy subject but he really felt like he had to know. Tifa was surprised; they hadn't discussed Cloud or her reason for leaving Midgar since they had left.
"Honey, I still love him. I don't think I'll ever get over that. But that's because it's a soul consuming love… the type you can't get rid of no matter what you do. I just hope it gets easier to live with and ignore someday so I can be a little happy," she told him. Her eyes still reflected some sadness and loneliness, but he knew she was coping.
"I hope I never fall in love. It hurts too much to be that way!" he exclaimed, his jaw set. Tifa laughed almost humorlessly.
"Sometimes you can't help it; it just happens. However, you can be sure to woo the girl you want before she gets away from you," she told him, ruffling his still wet hair. He looked at her with scrutiny.
"Why didn't you woo Cloud?" he asked her, furrowing his brow in confusion. She shook her head.
"Because by the time I realized my feelings he had already gone off to fight in SOLDIER, and then later I thought I was over it until he met Aerith and became infatuated with her. Then it hit me again and by that time it was too late," she explained sadly. Denzel hugged her then. "Just let me know when you think you love a girl, and I'll tell you if it's really love or not," she added, to which he agreed. They let the subject drop then, but it remained in Denzel's head. Chiefly he was aware that she still loved Cloud and ached for him, but he knew she was getting better.
Life continued on steadily until one day Genko came pounding on Tifa's door in the middle of the night. She groggily answered, and found him frantically jumping around outside of her door. "Tifa! There's a creature we've never seen before terrorizing the town! A fisherman was showing his friend the tip of the beach when the creature attacked. It killed the fisherman but his friend managed to come back to tell us what happened. Hurry!" he said, running off to bring some sort of order to the chaos going on outside. Most of the villagers had heard and were frantically searching for shelter. Tifa hurried to get dressed, instructing a half asleep Denzel to stay inside while she took care of a problem outside. He watched her disappear with her gloves on, his eyes still half closed from being asleep. It dawned on him that she was off to fight, so he hurried into some clothes and followed after her, staying out of sight from everyone and everything.
Tifa was standing before a huge snake-like beast when he got to her, and the monster was hissing vehemently at her. It had two tongues and four eyes, with large talons sticking out of its torso like a dinosaur. Big drops of gooey poison dripped from bloody fangs that looked like they could pierce through a diamond. Tifa powered up, preparing to whoop some snake tail. The battle was intense, and there were several times when Denzel thought his mother was toast, and one time he was sure of it until she came back with a strong fast kick to its neck, taking out one of its tongues. It hissed loudly and slithered off in the blink of an eye, disappearing. She landed on the ground away from the pool of poison, victorious. However, she wasn't looking good. She slumped over onto one knee, panting and gasping for breath before falling over in a dead faint. Denzel immediately came out of hiding, screaming her name.
When he reached her, her face was deathly pale and her skin tinted a sickly green. He noticed a bite in her arm, and knew she was infected with the poison that smelled acidic. He screamed towards the village for help until Genko finally came out to see what had happened. Seeing their hero fallen, he immediately called for ambulatory help, and watched for the return of the beast while Tifa was being put into a helicopter and sent away to Mideel for professional help. Denzel was ushered into the helicopter with her, and they were taken off at a quick speed. He held onto Tifa's limp hand for dear life, willing her to wake up and to not die. The trip wasn't long but it felt like an eternity to Denzel as he watched Tifa grow paler and sicklier. When they reached Mideel, he was relieved to see her be handled by professionals. The doctor and his nurses recognized her immediately, and took special care to make sure she was checked thoroughly.
Denzel had to wait outside of the closed room, and he felt very antsy and impatient. A phone started ringing and he realized he had Tifa's cell phone with him for some reason. Perhaps Genko had slipped it into his pocket while he wasn't looking. It was the mayor himself, who wished to know details. Denzel told him what happened, then requested that he contact Barret and Cloud from Midgar to let them know. Denzel didn't want to be waiting alone like this. Genko did as he was asked, and while the doctor took a long time examining and trying to treat Tifa, Denzel slept. He was woken by a slight nudge, and found Marlene looking at him with wide eyes. Barret and Cloud were behind her. He immediately hugged her for comfort, his own eyes wide with fear and concern.
They all waited for a while longer, and finally the doctor emerged from the room. His face was grim, immediately setting their hearts to pound. They all rose, impatient to hear what was wrong with her.
"I have never come across a poison like this before. It is infecting her entire body at an alarmingly rapid rate, and it cannot be drained from her system at this point. I am afraid that she is passing beyond our help… she is in a comatose state that she may very well never wake from," he announced, causing everyone great sorrow. Denzel burst into tears, the first time he'd showed any real emotions in front of others. Marlene started crying too, and they hugged each other while they cried. Barret looked pissed off and Cloud looked completely stricken. Barret was the one to question the doctor further, for no one else could bring their wits about them enough to think.
"You're tellin' me there's no #$! cure in this whole damn planet for her!" the big man exclaimed, grabbing the doctor by the collar and holding his gun barrel on him. The doctor was visibly shaken now.
"I-if the creature that poisoned her is still out there… I would need a fang full of poison to make an antidote. B-but no one knows anything about the creature… it hasn't been seen until today," he managed to get out. Denzel came to the rescue, having dried up a little when he heard there could be a cure.
"I saw the creature… it was a big snake thing with two tongues and four eyes and two talons sticking out of its body like a dinosaur. Tifa knocked one of his tongues off with her kick, so he's sporting a big wound," he informed them. Cloud had been listening silently the whole time, and suddenly his face hardened with determination.
"I'll bring it back here," was all he said as he disappeared out the door. By the time Barret had released the doctor and gone to try to join Cloud, the man was no where to be seen. Damn he travels fast when he's really determined thought Barret as he turned back to comfort the weeping children. Denzel looked to the doctor.
"C-can I go sit by her bed while Cloud gets the poison? Please?" he begged, his eyes large and determined. The doctor nodded after receiving a glare from Barret.
"Sure but be careful not to knock anything around her. It is keeping her alive barely as we speak," he said, opening the door for the boy. Denzel went to her side, putting one pale fragile hand in his. Please mother, don't die on me. Please! he thought as he leaned over her, careful not to touch any of the machines surrounding her. The entire clinic was silent with anxiety; everyone was pulling for the young woman and no one knew if Cloud would find the creature and survive the fight to bring the poison back with him. The doctor meanwhile had one of the best alchemists on the planet flown in. The man was a genius with making antidotes, and if anyone could do it, he could. They all waited with bated breath. Just when they thought Cloud had surely been eaten, he burst in the door with the huge fang in hand. The alchemist took the fang and immediately set to work.
Denzel was unaware of this as he continued silently weeping at his mother's side, holding her hand to offer his support to her if she could feel it. The door opened on him and Cloud stood there, motioning for him to come out. "The doctors are going to try to give her the cure now," he told the boy in a rigid tone, his eyes flitting to her prone form for a moment. It shook him up more than he thought possible, and he tore his gaze away before he broke down. She looked so pale and weak lying there, and he knew how much it would vex her to realize how helpless she was right now. Tifa had always been so strong and proud of it, and he knew how much she hated to feel weak. He took a seat next to Denzel and they began another waiting process.
The doctors emerged about twenty minutes later, their faces strained. Denzel immediately returned to his mother's side while the doctors spoke to the rest of the supporters.
"We've given her the antidote… now all we can do is wait and see if it will cure her. It might be at such an advanced stage that she will never recover, but there is nothing left to do for her other than alleviate any symptoms she suffers. One of you should be on guard to watch her and inform the nurses if anything goes wrong, and to contact us for serious matters. We'll be in the village if you need us," they said, leaving to get some rest and relaxation. It had been a long hard workday for them both, and they needed the break. The others decided on shifts, and left Denzel alone with her for some time. Barret and Marlene had next watch, and then Cloud was after that. He sat down shakily next to her bed, his azure eyes glued to her fragile face. She looked so hollow… almost dead.
He noticed that her life in Costa del Sol had brought a nice honey tan to her complexion, which really suited her. She looked almost like a china doll lying there, as if the wind could blow in and break her. Watching her face, he realized just how beautiful a woman she was, and wondered why he'd never noticed before. Or maybe he had but he hadn't realized it. Either way, now he knew, and he was surprised by his own reaction to her. He felt a fierce protection come over him, and it seemed as if something inside just snapped and melted. He found himself thinking back on their history, their childhood and then their fight for the Planet. She had been so fiercely loyal to him, even when he was half insane with Mako poisoning. She had brought him back from the abyss and helped him emerge from his shattered memories. Without her he would have certainly died here in this very clinic.
He remembered their talks and how she had helped buoy him every time he tried letting himself down. Tifa was like his solid rock in a liquid world. He could always rely on her to see the best in him and try to make him see it himself. He was so stubborn and stupid sometimes, he wanted to kick himself. He had pushed her away so much, even after he had forgiven himself for Aerith's death. Then it hit him… maybe that was part of the reason she had left? She must have felt that he was pushing her and everyone away like always. His thoughts continued rotating around this theory as he watched over her. When it was Denzel's turn again, he stood watching Cloud quietly for some time before knocking to announce his presence. Cloud reluctantly left her, letting the boy take over watch. Denzel felt suddenly lightheaded, and watched his mother's face fiercely. Mother… you have to come back now. I've discovered something which you'll want to know! Please come back to us…
Denzel's shift was over soon and then Barret and Marlene went in again. Denzel watched Cloud, and finally couldn't hold it in. "Cloud… I think you should know that it's all your fault we left Midgar," he announced. Cloud looked up at him, his face holding no apparent surprise.
"I thought so. I shouldn't have pushed her away so much… like I always push everyone away," Cloud returned. Denzel grew frustrated then with the clueless man.
"No! That's not it! Cloud, you're the big hero that everyone loves, but sometimes you're as dumb as a pile of bricks. Mom didn't leave because you pushed her away… she left because she couldn't stand being around you anymore. It hurt her too much inside, and she was falling apart. She would have gone crazy if she didn't leave when she did. She hurt so much everyday… I saw it in her big red eyes. You never saw… you were always blind," he informed the blonde. Cloud looked shocked, and shook his head.
"But why did my presence hurt her so much? Does she really hate me so?" he asked the boy, genuinely confused. Denzel just rolled his eyes.
"No dummy. It's the complete opposite. She sees you as more than just a friend, don't you see? She has feelings for you more than you'll ever know, and it tore her up. You were too busy with your obsession with Aerith to notice her, weren't you?" he accused, his eyes narrowing at the hero. Cloud was completely taken away with this bit of news. Yeah, he'd been clueless alright. But instead of making him slightly edgy or nervous like he suspected that information would, it gave him an extremely warm feeling inside.
"Aerith? Yeah, I guess I was…" he managed to say. Denzel just sighed his frustration as he laid down to get some sleep. Cloud grew silent with thoughtfulness until it was his turn. When he sat by Tifa's bed again, he just stared at her beautiful face, his mind burning with the knowledge he'd just acquired. More than a friend? Feelings? Tifa, who had never expressed any interest in romance, had secretly been harboring feelings for him. Gosh, he was such a blind fool. It even made her move away from him so she could get some peace. He felt like a complete clod right at that moment. What a fool he was… no wonder everyone always called him idiot or dummy. He was so clueless because his mind was always far away from the present. Then there was Aerith… the pretty flower girl. He had fancied himself in love with her, but even though he wouldn't forgive himself for letting her die, he didn't feel like half his soul had been torn away by her death. Suddenly he heard her voice in his head.
'Cloud… don't be such a fool. You never were in love with me… you just saw me as a friend you had to protect. Our relationship wasn't a romantic one, no matter how much I made it seem so. You need to figure that out, baka!' Cloud only shook his head, disgusted with himself. Everyone else knew what an idiot he was except him. No wonder Barret had blown up at him and Marlene had given him dirty looks. He decided he needed to come back to earth and start living in the now before it was too late. Looking back down at Tifa, he was suddenly struck with a heartbreaking realization. There was a very real chance that Tifa would never wake up again; never open those dark red eyes and smile that smile which only she could make at him. A sharp pain like a sword being thrust into his heart hit Cloud, and tears sprang to his eyes. The cold warrior was breaking down in a hospital, and only the angels knew. A deep sob made its way out of his throat, and the tears started falling in warm rivers down his face.
He might never have the chance to tell her… just how stupid he had been. To apologize for being so blind and such a bad friend. A funny tingling in his chest made him stop to think… and it hit him like icy fire. He loved her. He had loved her for a very long time… but he had been so messed up in the head that he hadn't realized it at all. He had ignored her, ignored life itself, instead concentrating on all the things he had done wrong. She had tried bringing him back to life, but he kept running away from it. But she had still been there for him, ever at his side, offering her support. And he had loved her all this time without even knowing it. He might never get the chance to tell her that either, and it made him feel sick to his stomach. Tifa… she might be the only person able to offer him a chance at life, and here she was, a fate's breath away from being taken from him forever. The hours then turned into a timeless void and began stretching on for an eternity.