Hey there readers! I'm surprised to already have a review! Thanks for that by the way! :D I'm glad to know someone is reading and enjoying this. I'm sorry the chapters are shorter, I want this to be a longer story :) Please read on!
I DO NOT OWN FF VII
Chapter 3: Gone
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Tifa awoke the following day to the bright rays of sunshine beaming through the window and onto her pale face. Her wine eyes fluttered open and she stretched out her body and smiled. She looked around and studied the area, much to her surprise, she was in Cloud's room. She remembered they stayed the night in the same room for the first time in months, but she thought it had been in her own. She shrugged and looked for Cloud, but it looked like he must've already woken up. Tifa rolled to his side of the bed and looked at the clock. It was noon. With a loud gasp, Tifa jolted up out of bed and quickly got dressed. As she was buttoning her pants, she caught glimpse of a note on his night stand near his alarm clock.
Teef, got a job. Be back sometime next week.
Thanks for last night. Forgive me for the hasty leave.
Love,
Cloud.
Tifa heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. "Dammit, Cloud!" Tifa exclaimed. Maybe I just shouldn't have tried. She thought to herself. She had the rest of the weekend alone now. She did enjoy the night. It felt like old times again. Especially waking up alone, with a note stating Cloud would be gone for about a week or so. She did her best to cope with it, but if she was honest, Tifa absolutely hated it when he left. Because she never took any orders for deliveries. She never knew exactly where he was, or who exactly he was with. She had indeed caught him once with another woman. Regretfully, Tifa was so infatuated with Cloud, she forgave him and they moved on. Tifa always kept it in the forefront of her mind. She often wondered if Cloud didn't feel as if she was good enough. Tifa knew she could have any man she wanted really, but she chose Cloud. For him to have betrayed her that way shattered her confidence. She never spoke of the affair to anyone, wanting to spare Cloud's life.
After a few moments of recollection, Tifa decided she was going to visit Barret and the kids and see how their weekend was playing out.
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Cloud was headed out of town on his bike. A lot was on his mind, Tifa for the most part. He hadn't had a night with her in what seemed like ages. He felt a little bad for splitting like he did, but he figured Tifa would forgive him, like usual. As he neared the edge of town, he felt a strong urge to stop at the church, which was under repair, but it was the weekend and workers wouldn't be there. Once in front of the church, he came to a stop and propped his bike on it's stand. Slowly he approached the heavy doors of the building and swung them open. He inhaled the sweet, familiar scent. As he walked past the first pair of pews down the middle aisle, something pink caught his eye and he blinked a few times. Suddenly, a familiar face rose from a kneeling position and greeted him with a warm and sweet smile.
"Nice to see you again, Cloud." Aerith said.
Cloud's mouth opened as if he wanted to speak but he just couldn't. He examined his long lost friend, looked her up and down and blinked rapidly as his mind tried to understand the current situation. He felt as though it had to be a dream, a ghost, something unreal. But Aerith was tangible, her scent, her voice, her warmth.
"What? Not happy to see me?" She said with a light giggle. Suddenly she found her legs moving for her, in a forward motion toward Cloud. Faster, and faster yet until she was in a sprint toward Cloud until she collided with him into a tight embrace. Cloud, although surprised, hugged back tightly and fiercely and as soon as he was confident she was real, tears stung his blue eyes.
"How?" He managed to whisper as he buried his face in her thick, honey hair.
"Vincent, your friend, brought me back." Aerith replied, as a wide smile spread across her face. "I knew you'd come here."
Cloud pulled away a little and examined her face. Although he had aged, she still seemed as young as the day she died. He gave a small smile. "I'll really have to thank him for this. I can't believe this."
"What are your plans for the day, would you like to catch up on things?" Aerith asked as she clasped her hands together behind her back and began to sway to and fro.
She hasn't changed a bit. Cloud thought with a smile. He then immediately thought of Tifa, and leaving her for the delivery he had to go on. A frown soon fell on his face as he looked to Aerith and sighed. "Well I'd love to, but I've got some deliveries and deadlines I have to make so..."
"Then can I come?" Aerith asked with hopeful eyes.
Cloud was caught completely off guard. He blinked his Mako eyes and looked at her a bit perplexed. Tifa had never asked to come, then again Cloud always left town without really giving her notice. If it weren't for the kids, and Tifa having to take care of them, maybe she would have come along. He was torn. He and Tifa had just decided to try again, to work things out. But here Aerith was, alive and well and standing before him, so eager and sweet. How could he resist. Tifa would forgive him. Of course, she'd understand. "Alright let's go." Cloud said with a smile.
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"Calm down Teef! Just how long has spiky been gone now?" Barret asked though the phone. Tifa had called him frantic and overwhelmed.
"It's been three weeks, Barret. I just can't handle the kids, and the bar by myself right now. It's the middle of summer, and the bar is extremely busy. I'm not getting any sleep. He said he'd be back in a week. I was under the impression that it was a quick job." Tifa was pacing back and forth down the hall. Her eyes were heavy from lack of sleep and tearfall, and it was nearing 3 am.
"I'll be by in about ten minutes. I'll help ya with the kids and you can get your ass some sleep. As for spiky, we'll find him Teef.
Tifa hung up the phone and leaned against the wall. She caught a glimpse of sweet Marlene sleeping peacefully in her room. Tifa couldn't help but smile. Although she was stressed, she absolutely loved Marlene and Denzle, and she would do anything for them. But taking care of them alone was more than she could handle, and she began to wish Cloud would hurry home.
Barret kept his promise, He arrived in less than ten minutes and began helping Tifa close up the bar. Once all the work was done he carried Tifa to her room and tucked her in. She smiled up at him warmly. "Thank you so much, Barret. I hope he's okay."
"Anything for the woman who takes such good care of my princess. As for Cloud, I'm sure he's got a damn good reason for skippin out for so long."
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Tifa rose fairly early the next day, something around 9 AM. Barret had already gotten the kids up, fed them and sent them on their way to school. She could hear bits and pieces of a one sided conversation happening downstairs. Tifa decided to get out of bed and see what was up. She walked down the stairs and spotted Barret standing in front of the open refrigerator searching for something to eat for himself.
"Well F*** me sideways. You don't say?!" He exclaimed. "Nah, I don't want the details, I'm jus' tryin' to find spiky that's all... Well don't get an attitude." He paused, turned and looked at Tifa who was crossing her arms and shaking her head at him. He chuckled and gave her a wave and turned back to the fridge. "Well thanks Cid. Let me know if you hear anything else. I'll try Yuffie next." With that Barret hung up and put his phone in his pocket. "Go back to bed. You gotta catch up on some much needed rest." Barret said as he grabbed a small bottle of juice.
"Tell me what Cid said, about Cloud." Tifa said in response.
Barret only sighed. "Well, he says he thinks Cloud's been spotted in town. With a girl."
Tifa clenched her fists together tightly and looked at him sternly. "You don't say?"
"Look, before you jump to conclusions, let's just ask Yuffie. She keeps up with the gossip and such.
"Call her." Tifa said, blankly.
"Will do, Teef." He responded briskly. He got the feeling this wasn't the first time Tifa had dealt with such an grabbed his phone and dialed Yuffie.
Yuffie was contently snuggling an unsuspecting and out-cold Vincent when her phone began to ring loudly, waking the both of them up. Vincent, slightly annoyed pushed Yuffie to the other side of the couch.
"Hello?" She asked with a giggle.
"Listen Yuff, it's Barret..." He began before he was cut off.
"Oh Barrryyyyy! Hi!"
"You heard or seen spiky? Tifa's worried about him. He's been gone three weeks."
"Mmm... I saw him once. He was with the girl that came out of Vinny's closet."
"A for came out of Vincent's closet?" Barret questioned as he scratched the top of his head in confusion.
Tifa listened in in hopes of finding more answers.
"yeah, forgot her name though... Listen gotta go!" After that Barret heard a dial tone and closed his phone. He turned to Tifa who had heard the whole thing on speaker phone.
"So he's in town?"