Warning: once again mention of abortion, with graphic detail on what happens during a surgical abortion, Also slight language in this chapter. I apologize greatly if this chapter offends anyone.

Chapter 3

"Discussing the Issue"

It did not take long for the young couple to find a place to talk privately in since it was lunch, and all the classrooms were empty. Although it did take quite a bit of time for them to open-up to one another.

Awkward. it was truly the only word which could single-handedly describe this meeting. There was tension between them. Neither wanted to have this conversation. Not even Tifa. But it was now or never.

Cloud stood up straight, his posture perfect. But his head was slightly downcast, his eyes glued to the floor. He did not know what to do, he didn't know what to say either. Cloud had his arms at his side and was making no effort to show any affection. It was quiet, so damn quiet. The silence forced the already nerve wrecked brunette to talk first.

"Why have you been avoiding me? I know this isn't the easiest thing to talk about…but why avoid me?" Tifa spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. Her voice was a little hoarse, Cloud knew that she had likely been crying all night. Cloud felt like a real asshole for making her cry. Cloud wanted to speak; his mind was pure mush right now. He bit down on his lower lip as if to prevent himself from saying something stupid. He did not want to offend her.

"Say something..." she croaked as her eyes were beginning to water. Ready to cry once again; as her pretty eyes had done the past few nights.

"What am I supposed to say..."Cloud murmured even though he knew it sounded cruel. He knew he had hurt her once again. he noticed this much by the way her shoulders tensed up. She shook her head in disbelief. Tifa's eyes squinted, and he could see the tears and the pain in her eyes.

"Supposed to say? Supposed to say? How can you be so heartless?" Tifa's lips quivered, her voice breaking.

"I'm not trying to be!" Cloud protested raising his hands up defensively. Although inside he knew that he was being insensitive. "I just don't know what to do." he added silently but with honesty. Tifa looked up at the taller boy and sniffled.

"And you think I do?" she brought a hand to her chest "Cloud...I'm just as scared as you are, but if we don't talk about this it'll only get worse!"

"I know...but..." Cloud sighed, he was trying to find the right words to say to her even though he was sure that he would only end up upsetting her "Tifa...don't you think it'd be better...if we got rid of it?"

Silenced creeped upon them. Cloud and Tifa stood still and at arm's length apart. Tifa slowly bowed her head and turned away from Cloud, her back facing him Tifa hugged herself and began to shake uncontrollably. Although she had looked up abortion as a solution, she had not truly looked for it as an end to her problems. She had only searched it online because she had felt that she had no other option. But after seeing what could happen to the life inside of her on a video clip that she had come upon. Tifa had come to the decision that she did not want to terminate her pregnancy. Although abortion was an option- Tifa knew that it was not the best option for her.

"No... I can't do that." Tifa sobbed as she put her hands on her stomach "I can't! And I won't!" she was shaking terribly.

Her shaking was enough to make Cloud act and put his arms around her to calm her down. This was met with much resistance from Tifa who pushed away from him. She slapped at his shoulder, warning him to get away from her. Cloud in vain reached for her shoulder to turn her around, once they were face to face once again, he tried to pull her in for another embrace. Only for Tifa to shove him, she than started hitting him, her balled fists began striking Cloud's chest weakly. though Tifa could hit much harder-way harder than Cloud ever could hit anyone, and he knew it.

Cloud knew that she was holding back.

Tifa did not know why she hit him; she just did. Cloud just figured that it was the stress from this whole ordeal and moved his hands up to stop her.

" !" Cloud grabbed Tifa's wrists and pulled her smaller frame towards him, as he did, he let go of her smaller hands and once again wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms in between them. Only this time, Tifa did not push away. Her body went limp, leaning into him. Tifa cried, she continued to do so even in the security of his embrace which she had so longed for since breaking the news to him.

"Cloud..."Tifa was trembling. Cloud tightened his arms around her giving her for that second the sanctuary that she had hoped to find in him from the beginning. He knew it took a lot for her to come up to him and confess her pregnancy. It took guts to admit that life changing news, and here he had cowardly run away from her. Cloud knew that now was the time to be a man; and face the consequences of his actions.

"I'm sorry." Cloud whispered in her ear as he brought a hand to her face, his smooth hands made her shiver a little. Tifa's cheeks were tear stained, her brown eyes were so sad, so defeated. Yet Cloud looked directly into Tifa's eyes and said what he knew would hurt her "But… I don't think we can keep this child." Cloud wiped away a tear that escaped from her as he said this though his tone was repentant, Tifa shook her head.

"So, what do you want to do? give the baby up for adoption?" Tifa said quietly, Cloud caught hold of her elbows to keep her close to him.

"We can..." he paused "But...if we get an abortion, you wouldn't have to go through it all, giving birth and giving it away."

Cloud had meant to sound helpful, he honestly wanted what was best for her. He didn't want Tifa to go up against her demanding father, to face the scorn of her peers. Cloud wanted Tifa to have a normal life. She would never be a kid again if she chose to keep this baby. Tifa's plans of going to college may never happen if she became a mother so young.

"I've thought about it…but I don't think adoption is right for me either." Tifa closed her eyes, in thought her lips pursed as she swallowed another sob "I don't know if I can just send a baby away, what if I want to be there for him in the future and can never see him again? Some families do that, even in open adoptions."

"That's all hypothetical, you don't know that." Cloud reasoned.

"I just…I just don't think I can do it." Tifa whimpered. Cloud knew Tifa, he knew her very well. Tifa had a big heart. A heart that loved all that were close to her. Despite everything going on, Cloud knew that Tifa already loved this baby too.

"I don't think I could either…" Cloud admitted, he furrowed his brows. "But I'm not ready to be a father."

Silence. Once again that dreadful silence. Slowly, Cloud and Tifa pulled away from each other. Tifa looked sad, defeated. Cloud could only stare on blankly.

"I'm not ready to be a mother either." Tifa said quietly. "But I'll do what I have to do. I'm not going to take the easy way out. I messed up. But I'm owning up to what I've done."

" I don't want to take the easy route" Cloud defended himself, and Tifa looked at him her brown eyes still watery.

"Then what are you trying to do then?" Tifa asked him simply, Cloud paused and once again it was quiet.

"I'm not trying to run away from this, I Just think that it would be better for us- for you most of all" Cloud said to her "You're the one that has to carry the baby, you're the one that has to give birth...I-I just don't want you to go through that yet your only sixteen"

"Having an abortion isn't going to make me feel any better Cloud. it might just do more harm than good" Tifa responded quietly.

Riling!

The bell, a few days ago that would have been bad timing, but not today. Tifa looked over at Cloud and then left the classroom. It was her turn to show him how much being walked out on felt, it was her turn to think to herself.

…

It hurt watching her walk away like that, it really did. Yet he knew he deserved-it feeling like this. Especially with what he had said to her because Cloud knew that he had hurt her feelings far worse than before. That look in her eyes had said it all. Tifa had the look of betrayal in them, and that is what he had done.

He had betrayed her.

It was with these thoughts that Cloud walked to his next hour with his hands in his pocket. his head once again fixed to the floor. He thought over what he said to Tifa about her getting rid of the baby, he could not believe that he had even suggested it. Cloud had only said it in her favor; he meant it when he said that he was thinking of her well-being. he really did. Honest to god he was only trying to help her, he did not want to be the one to ruin her image…he did not want to be like the last guy she had dated.

His fourth period class was computers and video editing, and he shared it with Zack. Both had actually missed out on the elective earlier on in their high school careers somehow. So even though Cloud was a Junior and Zack a Senior they had taken the easy course to finish out the credits. Usually Cloud and Zack would goof off in this class, occasionally editing funny videos. He knew that Zack was going to ask him about Tifa, and Cloud did not know what he was going to say to him. Not that he really wanted too-he knew that he did not have to tell Zack a damn thing about his personal affairs, but it was surprisingly difficult to keep anything under wraps around Zack.

Zack was an awesome friend, a fast talker, and the nicest person one could ever have the pleasure of getting to know. It was easy to let something slip when in a conversation with Zack. So much that, Cloud swore that if Zack ever met a secret agent the chances of that agent's true identity remaining secret would be as likely as a turtle being able to kick a shark's ass, if a shark even had an ass.

Immediately after stepping into the computer room, Cloud saw Zack. Zack was sitting in a blue chair by his assigned computer, Zack wasn't exactly sitting as he was more leaning in the chair with one hand draped and relaxed on the back of his seat and the other tinkering with a cellphone.

"Are you playing pool on your phone again Zack?" Cloud said quietly as he took his seat next to Zack, Zack shook his head but chuckled at Cloud's remark.

"Not today. I'm talking to Aerith, she just sent me this cute picture of herself in a mini skirt. I only wish she wore them more often" Zack said and smiled widely at Cloud.

"You should put the phone away, the teach's coming in soon" Cloud said dryly and turned on his computer that blinked on. Zack raised an eyebrow while studying Cloud he could tell the Cloud was still quite depressed and turned his cell phone off. Zack scooted his seat up so he could talk to the blond.

"What's with you?" Zack asked him. Cloud didn't answer. Zack pondered "Hmm, lemme guess...you got another ticket for speeding on your bike? nope...oh! I got it!" Zack said triumphantly as he snapped his fingers "You're still avoiding Tifa, right?"

"No... believe it or not I actually talked to her today and we did talk for a while." Cloud replied, Zack gave him a puzzled look as if to say 'and?' he sighed "I'll just say that our conversation did not go well."

"What? Why?" Zack was a little confused with Cloud's reply. Zack just did not understand why these two were angry at each other, just a few days ago they looked happy. What changed that morning when Tifa had come to talk to Cloud? What happened? Zack only wanted a simple answer. But he knew Cloud would never give him one.

"Soo…can you fill me in? what happened with you guys?" Zack added "I don't know what's going on with you two, it'd help if you told me the reason why you guys are having this slump. You know me I'm always happy to help out a friend." he finished, Cloud looked down at his keyboard and then back at Zack.

"You wouldn't understand if I told you." Cloud said to Zack, Zack scratched the top of his head.

"Try me." Zack put his arms behind his head and leaned back in his chair again, Cloud looked at his friend and then looked away again.

What should he say? Oh, Tifa is pregnant with my kid Zack! I told her to get an abortion, I told her to give up the baby because I'm scared as hell! What should I do?

"I can't say." Cloud murmured, and Zack rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak when their Teacher came into the classroom and instructed everyone in the room to turn on their computers and work on today's assignment, talk about a save.

Cloud finished his assignment early and went online to do some research for another class. after copying down his needed subjects. He went onto his email account. He did not have a computer at home. his last one had broken down on him about a month ago, His phone was too slow for email. Or anything high tech, he still had a flip phone unlike his friends. So, he used library or school computers to read his mail.

When Cloud logged on, he had 1 new message. he looked at the sender and saw that it was from Tifa.

Cloud did not frown, he felt kind of happy to see that she had sent him a message, he knew that Tifa had an editing class this hour too and figured she had wanted to talk to him again-that is until he saw the date.

It was from Saturday, that did make him frown. But then why was he sulking? He was the one who had ignored Tifa for two days. Cloud sighed and then clicked on the digital letter.

It did not have anything written in it. There was only a link. But why just a link to another page? Being curious he clicked on it; another window then popped up.

'Abortion, why you should not choose it.'

Cloud quickly hid the page and looked over his shoulder too see if anyone was staring at him, no one was. not even the teacher, the teacher was too busy reading this morning's newspaper. He then glanced over at Zack. Zack was still busy with his project...no wait not his project his cell phone. Cloud rolled his eyes; Zack was probably staring at that picture of Aerith again.

'She must have sent this to me for a reason' Cloud thought to himself, he then gulped and brought the page back up to read what it said.

Hello reader, Chances are you are on this website to learn about what exactly happens during an abortion, and what effects it may cause.

Instead of just describing the process we have decided to add a video of one taking place to show you what exactly happens to the life inside the womb. We must warn you that this clip is extremely graphic and is not for those faint of heart.

Cloud read what the site said and then scrolled down and clicked on the link for the actual video. Pausing for a second so that He could put on some headphones, cloud then played the clip. What was on it was something that he would never have expected.

The clip was in a form of an ultrasound, it showed an embryo, and then a needle like shape appeared on the clip.

"The heartbeat of the embryo is getting faster, and its movement becomes desperate, it somehow realizes that this syringe is inserted to kill it"

Cloud continued to watch, he forced himself too even when the tiny life was beginning to disappear before his very eyes.

"When the suction begins the body starts to be torn apart. It is unable to recognize the figure after this is done the remaining of what once was a living human is now nothing but pieces, this vulnerable living thing...could have been your child or mine.

The clip went on to describe what would happen to the woman who had a surgical abortion, for most it was safe. Safest in the first few weeks. But there were slight risks for a select few. Cloud was shocked at how many there were. He then X'd out the page, still in disbelief. he put a hand to his head trying to put together what he just saw. his breath had quickened, and then he thought of Tifa.

"Having an abortion isn't going to make me feel any better Cloud...it might just do more harm than good"

Seconds later the bell rang, Cloud wasted no time. He logged out, and picked up his things, leaving his class in a hurry not even bothering to fully shut down his computer.

He ran through the halls as fast as he could, he needed to talk to Tifa. He needed to speak with her in person and the sooner the better. But when he got to their last class, he noticed that she was not there. Cloud tried to reason this.

"Maybe she's just running late…she'll be here soon" He thought.

But Tifa never showed up for sixth period, and Cloud knew why. And he hated himself for it, he wished he could go back in time and take back what he had said to her.

He sulked the rest of the day.

…

After confronting Cloud, Tifa made the choice to leave the school and return home, she got the okay from the school nurse after Tifa had told her that she had been throwing up lately stating that she had a stomach virus. Of course, that was a lie. well part of it was. Tifa knew she was at least six weeks along and morning sickness happened more frequently around this time so the throwing up part was part truth.

Since no one was at home to pick her up; Tifa walked. Her house was not too far away, it was faster by bus, but she chose to walk all the way home. she figured a nice walk would help her relax since she had cried all morning and almost all afternoon between classes, she wanted to dry her eyes if possible. Fresh air was always good for the body and soul.

When she arrived home, she noticed another school bag at the door. There was only one other adolescent living in this house, and that was her fourteen-year-old stepsister Yuffie. Tifa knew that Yuffie had a habit for ditching school, especially on Monday's when Tifa's dad and Yuffie's mom both worked longer hours.

"OH! You're ditching too eh? I didn't think you had it in you sis." Tifa heard Yuffie's playful voice, she looked towards her right and saw Yuffie by the door frame that led to the living room.

"I'm not ditching I came home because I'm sick." Tifa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then looked at Yuffie "Why are you still in your dress? I thought you didn't like it." Tifa commented on Yuffie's clothes, Yuffie scrunched up her nose.

Like Tifa, Yuffie went to a school that required uniforms. But unlike Tifa's plaid skirt and blazer, Yuffie's was a heavy navy-blue jumper style dress with a white long sleeve shirt that went under the dress with a hideous and unflattering collar. Yuffie often changed out of it before school ended. The dress also showed to the world what kind of school she attended. Yuffie was a student at Tetra Reform School for girls (a.k.a bad girl's school.).

"I just came home I haven't had the chance to change out of it'" Yuffie crossed her arms, Tifa stared at her sister.

"Were you out with anyone?" Tifa asked Yuffie, Yuffie nodded and skipped over towards Tifa.

"Yup! I went out with my friends to the local quarry, it's a nice spot to hang out with no adults to bother you, you should go sometime." Yuffie said proudly. Tifa knew about that hang out, she had been there with Cloud when races were hosted near there, she had also seen what happens during parties at the quarry. not that she and Cloud had done it there, but things did get wild every now and then.

"Have you been to that place more than once?" Tifa eyed Yuffie questioningly, once again Yuffie nodded she had a grin on her face.

"Yup! I go their all the time it's fun-" Yuffie began but was interrupted by Tifa.

"I don't want you going to the quarry anymore, do you know what guys do with their girlfriends there?" Tifa scolded Yuffie who was taken aback, Tifa had never really been stern with Yuffie, nor had she ever really tried to be the voice of reason for her little sister, why she was scolding Yuffie now was beyond even her.

"So! You know I won't go and have sex or anything! I only go to talk with my friends" Yuffie retorted "And what's with you? What I do never bothered you before"

"That may be so, but things could happen." Tifa said quietly and looked Yuffie in the eyes, she sighed "just don't go there anymore okay? If you want to go out just go to the plaza or something, it's a lot closer to the house anyway. I'm not trying to be preachy…I just want you to be safe."

Tifa meant it. But she did not specify what kind of safe she meant to tell her little sister and did not want to get too graphic. Maybe it would have helped Yuffie in the long run, since no one had ever given her younger sister "The Talk" though Yuffie likely new enough already.

"Geez sis, maybe you really are ill" Yuffie said to Tifa, she wondered why her step sister was giving her a lecture. "Fine I won't go anymore, just don't tell mom that I left school early." Tifa nodded agreeing to cover for Yuffie.

Tifa went upstairs to her room after talking to Yuffie. It wasn't like Tifa to tell her what to do, but finding out that Yuffie went to the quarry definitely raised a red flag, Even though Yuffie was not her biological sibling she still loved and cared for Yuiffie as if the two were truly connected by blood.

Her family was wealthy, but not as wealthy as her neighbors. Tifa knew that her parents made enough to buy the big cozy dream house, papa had insisted on a house with a master bedroom and a junior suite for his daughter. Tifa liked her room very much, it was big and it gave her the space she needed from her family and from the world when things did get rough. Having a bathroom of her own with a shower and soak in tub was handy for days when she wanted to forget her troubles.

If she ever wanted to isolate herself, Tifa was sure that her room was perfect the place for that. There was a problem with that though, she did not want to be alone today. No matter how upset she was with him, Tifa really wanted to have Cloud at her side.

"But then...I'm not really by myself, am I?" Tifa put her hands to her stomach, she kept her hands there for quite some time in silence, as if she were speaking with it...no it was not an it, this was her baby.

It was still hard to believe that she was having a baby, it was hard to believe that she was going to be a mother! She knew her father was not going to like it at all, and that terrified Tifa. though she had no doubt in her mind that her father loved her dearly. She knew that there would be consequences for her pregnancy. It did frighten her on how protective her dad was of her, he did not approve of Tifa dating Cloud in the first place. Tifa could only wonder what her papa would say when he found out that that same boy he had disapproved of had gotten his daughter pregnant.

Tifa sighed sadly and closed her eyes as she lay down on her bed.

"It may feel like no one wants you baby." Tifa spoke out loud and once again touched her stomach "But I want you to know, that I do want you in my life." a single tear fell from Tifa's eye, sure she was scared, she feared what being a young mother would be like. She would find a good job, maybe, at least one that would allow her to support the child if she was to go on her own. Without support of Cloud or her family.

But would she be a good mother? Realistically Tifa wondered if she could provide for her baby by herself? Would Cloud want to see their child? Tifa closed her eyes and sighed She did not want to think about this anymore, she just wanted to sit here in her room and hope that everything would work itself out somehow, she knew that it would not of course.

But for now, she had the right to dream of better things, she would allow herself this temporary sense of security, at least for now.

Buzz, buzz.

Yuffie was still downstairs two hours later and heard a sound coming from Tifa's book bag.

"Hn?" Yuffie walked over to the bag and opened it, the noise came from her sister's cell phone, being the nosy girl that she was Yuffie picked it up and inspected it she read the caller ID.

Cloud

"That guy Dad doesn't like." Yuffie said out loud and looked up towards the stairs "I should tell Tifa" Yuffie than stood up and was about to head up stairs to tell Tifa about the phone call when the front door opened.

"Yuffie! You made it home early, good we must go out and see the doctor your appointment is today" it was her mom, Yuffie's eyes' widened she had not expected her mom to come home early.

"What? Doctors? When did I make an appointment to see a doctor" Yuffie questioned "I don't have it jotted down in my planner mom."

"Don't get smart with me Yuffie, you know that I made that appointment a week and a half ago now hurry up were going to be late" her mother grabbed her hand, Yuffie protested.

"Wait let me just give Tifa her phone, um…her friend is calling" Yuffie lied to her mother, her mom yanked the phone from Yuffie's hand and put the phone on a nearby stand.

"Tifa does not have to speak with her friends every hour of the day, now let's go before your appointment is canceled and your father is charged those fees again." she than dragged a reluctant Yuffie out of the house.

The phone kept ringing.

Cloud gave up calling her after an hour passed, he was tired and slumped onto the floor in his room he landed on the floor on his back. his vision focusing on the ceiling and he began to think.

He figured she was avoiding him now, just like he had done with her. Being ignored was not a pleasant feeling and cursed himself for doing this to Tifa because now he knew the pain that he had caused her.

Cloud wondered if he could do something to show her that he was sorry, that he wanted to talk things out, that he wanted to talk about the baby. Most of all, Cloud wanted to let Tifa know that he still loved her. Cloud knew he needed to do something to get Tifa's attention at school. He knew exactly who to go to for help on this.

Wow, I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. Can you guys believe I had writers block? It's weird I already have this story planned out but then having everything written down in summary form is easier than describing everything huh?

Well onto the reviews!

Rend- I hope you liked this chapter and I hope you keep on reading because the plot is going to be getting thicker as this story goes on...also sorry if the story makes you emo! I'll try to put in some happy moments the story too.

Kiome-Yasha- No need to worry about abortion here...or do we? Hmm, Cloud is going to step up to the plate of being a daddy soon and he's definetily going to stay by Tifa's side, I just hope you stick around to read it!

Mitsura- Poor Cloud, I did make him cry didn't eye? But I think that just gives him character ne? I did not have a picture in mind of what the baby would look like just yet but that one you painted made me go 'awww' that would be cute!

Lockheart016- I updated! I hope to see you as a repeat reviewer!

Macalaniaprincess- Thank you so much! It makes me feel happy to see that people like my fic and find it original, I always thought that that mine was the same as everyone elses though. Well keep on reading!

DemonLouLou- I'm so glad you liked the last chapter and I'm even happier to see that you reviewed again! I love repeat reviewers!

Uchiha Aywin- Hey Uchiha! I'm sorry I did not reply to your PM I'll make sure to reply the next time you do, and it's okay that you reviewed late I'm happy that you reviewed at all! And thanks for your comment everyone here is just so nice! Especially you friend I hope you keep reviewing.

Alexia Alexandra- Thank you! I'm happy to hear you think my story is interesting that really raises my spirits!

Royal Phoenix- I hope this chapter was to your liking, sorry it took so long for me to update.

Starwishes- Thanks! I'm glad that there are more people out there who really enjoy this story.

ArEAF-Rules- I'm happy to hear you enjoy it!

Amaranthos- Ama-Chan!Don't go into the light! I repeat do not go into the light! I updated you must live and read this chapter and others! Don't worry i'll make sure to update weekly from now Ama just remember not to go matrix on me!.

Well I'm off to go sleep now, and I promise that I will begin writing the next chapter tomorrow afternoon.

Rina