Runaway Bride...and Groom?

The wind in my hair is a reassuring feeling, one I've missed. This whole situation, I've missed it. Don't get me wrong, when I used to go out on these bouts of rebellion it was for all the wrong reasons...geostigma, and guilt...death. It still hangs over me, sort of lurking on the edge, ready to destroy what little peace and happiness we've built.

But, as it is, this feeling, of complete freedom. Driving without end, seemingly without a destination.

Well, I have a destination, and if we weren't in such a time crunch (WEDDING SHIT) then I would be taking the lazy, scenic route.

But even though I love the freedom, the freedom of no responsibilities, the freedom of making choices for yourself, there is a fear with that...a fear that this sort of freedom will allow me to shirk my responsibilities...like I've done in the past. A fear that I'll lose myself in running from the things that make me who I am.

And the thing that holds back these fears, and sort of makes this freedom not so wild and unpredictable, or irresponsible is the arms wrapped around my waist, and the dosing head that keeps bouncing on my back.

Tifa.

And it's a much more potent sort of comfort with her actually here, with me while I run. But it's only a quick run.

And I also know that I wouldn't be able to face this alone. I didn't last time, but I wasn't fully myself then...I wasn't aware of the repercussions that this place was.

Fenrir rumbles to a stop as we coast up the abandoned street. Tifa mumbles something incoherent, and I allow myself a small smirk before turning my eyes over the grim surroundings.

I remember this town with life. I remember it with children, children that albeit didn't like me, but children all the same that ran around playing, and laughing. Children that would've been teenagers that burned to death in this very spot, slain by my own hero.

No. Not my hero. Not anymore.

Tifa sighs against my back, still unconscious.

I didn't want to face this alone, and Tifa is asleep...but even with her asleep I'm still comforted, because I know she understands, and she's the one person alive that understands this. That really does.

The worst part is that they rebuilt it.

The worst part is that I can see the ghosts of the people that used to live here, carrying out their daily lives as if they'd never died. I can see housewives sweeping off their steps, and I can see men moving about, doing their daily work. But...at the same time, I can see the ghost of flames dancing along the rooftops, and down the walls. I can see the blood that stained the bricks that aren't there anymore. I can see it all as if it just happened a moment ago.

Years ago.

Tifa's hand laces with mine, her fingers twisting down between my own. Her nose presses into my back, and she sighs. She knows why I am here. She probably guessed why we came here.

"You know," she says, softly, as to not disturb the solemn air. "Your mother would be so proud of you."

I restrain a wince. I'm avoiding looking at my own house, and hers. Would my mother be proud of me? I didn't save her. I didn't save this town.

I didn't save a lot of people. Not Zack. Not Aeris.

'Haven't we already been through this?'

I won't ever change. I'm dealing with my guilt each day at a time. There isn't a day that doesn't pass that I don't think about the past. And I know the same is for Tifa, because every now and then while she's at the bar, or cooking supper some sort of haunted look passes over her features.

I know I've been forgiven. I know I have forgiven myself, but I'm not done forgiving myself. Each day I live is a reminder that it is another day that they didn't live, and each day I deal with this guilt is the only way I'll be able to forgive myself in the end. At the End. When I join them.

I won't dwell on it like I used to, but that won't keep me from thinking about it, or feeling guilty. You can't just wash away years of guilt. It takes time. And it takes help.

I squeeze Tifa's fingers.

"I needed this too, you know?" I nod my head, and she continues. "When I was growing up here, I didn't know if I'd ever get married... all the boys here, well, they were just...immature. I took for granted that my father would give me away at my wedding, or see his grandchildren. It is amazing how much I love Marlene, like my own daughter, and Denzel, like my own son, and he has never met them...never will meet them...never even knew of their existence."

She sighs heavily, squeezing her other arm tightly around my waist, and pressing her face into my back. "It's something I have to come to terms with, and I don't think I would've been able to if you hadn't brought me here."

I squeeze her hand again. I think she knows what I'm feeling, it's just... though I needed to see this, and feel this, to remind me what I have lost, and more importantly, what I have gained, I just can't voice it. And maybe one day I will, when I truly have forgiven myself, and don't hang the blame over me so much.

Right now I'm content to listen to Tifa.

"You know," Tifa says softly. "I know you needed help. And I'm glad you asked me for it, the help to do this, to come here and face your fears. But I think you brought me here for more than just my help. You know, I needed your help too...facing this. Thank you."

I sigh, and she squeezes my hand.

We're silent for a time. Silence says more than words sometimes.

Xxx

The ride back towards Cosmo Canyon is silent, solemn, at first. The first day we spent on the road to Nibelhiem, and we slept in an inn at the base of the mountain that night. We left a little late this morning, because we do have plenty of time to get back to Cosmo Canyon.

Tifa is sleeping on my back, but I have this inkling. One last itch. One last turn and then we can go get married.

Nibelhiem wasn't the only unfinished business.

I smirk, hooking left onto another highway.

Xxx

The loud roars and bright lights is what wakes Tifa.

"Oh my God. Oh my God! Cloud! We don't have time for this!" Tifa exclaims, but her smile betrays her.

I hold my hand back to her, and she climbs off. We always have time for this.

Evening is set well in, and I know it's going to be a long night's drive full of illegal speed limits. But it'll be worth it. I almost feel like at this point we're taking our honeymoon first, wedding last.

Tifa skips through the entrance to the Gold Saucer, looking like a little kid. It's a pretty busy night, and Tifa's first stop is for some cotton candy. As Tifa stands at the vendor, my gil clutched in her hand, I slip my phone out of my pocket. I had turned it off so no one would interrupt our adventure. But...it might be useful to know what we're getting ourselves into once we actually arrive back at the hotel.

I turn it on, and it takes a moment, a longer moment than usual, to gather itself.

Then the missed calls pop up.

Seventy three missed calls.

Twenty six voice mails.

Thirty three text messages.

And fifteen emails.

Oh yes. This looks grand.

I don't even look at the missed calls. I know sixty percent of them will be from Yuffie, and probably thirty percent will be from Barret. 9.99 percent will probably be from all the other assorted guests, hotel managers, wedding planner, Cecil, etc. etc. The .01 percent will be Vincent's. If we're that lucky.

"You have...twenty six...new voice mails. Number one ...yesterday...at ...12:57 P.M."

Beep!

"Hey! Cloud! It's me, Yuffie...so Barret totally blew me off. Do you know where Tifa is? Call me! Now! Thanks!"

Delete.

"Message Two....yesterday...at 1:35 P.M."

Beep!

"Cloud! Oh my gawd! It's Yuffie. Call me! NOW."

I'll deleted that one.

Beep!

2:45 P.M. "Cloud I swear–

Delete.

3:00 P.M. "Cloud! Fenrir is gone. I think someone stole it! It's me, Yuffie! I know the signs of a thief. Call me, ASAP."

3:43 P.M. "...you're gone....Fenrir's gone...."

3:57 P.M. "OH MY GAWD Cloud I know you did not just run away! I know you didn't leave Tifa at the altar. Call me the fuck back!"

4:03 P.M. "Cloud! Seriously! You can't do this! Come back! I'll keep leaving voice mails until you come back!"

4:15 P.M. "Yo Spike, it's Barret. Yuffie seems to think you've run out on Tifa, so you might want to give her a call back, cos I know that's not true after the talk we just had. Just call me back, and if you see Tifa, I'm pretty sure you were the last one with her– "OH MY GOD! Are you talking to Cloud?! Give me the effing phone! Give it to me now! Cloud it's Yuffie! Cloud I swear if you're ignoring my calls I'll castrate you! Cloud–

4:16 P.M. "– I swear to all things holy Cloud I'm going to kick your ass in! I'm going to destroy your face so bad no one will be able to tell if they're look at your face or your ass! Oh my gawd! I can't believe you're doing this to me, after all the hard work I've put into this wedding! And Tifa! Tifa!– "Yuffie we can't find Tifa– "Ehmahgawd Cloud Tifa's been kidnaped I'll call you back!"

4:20 P.M. "You took her, didn't you Cloud?"

4:25 P.M. "Ok...I can live with that Cloud, if you and the lovely bride need some alone time, that's fine. That's fine. I can do that. I'll be calm. I'll get your wedding together, and we wait for your return. Which will be on time. For the rehearsal dinner. Tomorrow, Cloud. At six, Cloud. Cloud, be there."

Today 3:55 P.M. "Cloud, it's me Yuffie...it's getting awfully close to the rehearsal dinner...awfully close, and we haven't heard from you. I'm just a little concerned. If you aren't in a ditch somewhere bleeding then all other excuses are meaningless. This better be life and death Cloud. Life and death, Cloud."

5:55 P.M. "CLOUD! They've taken my phone! They're taking it! But I'll get– lemme go! Get away! Shut up Vincent! No one asked you! Cloud–Cloud, seriously if you don't call me back I'm going to keep calling until your ears bleed. Until they bleed Cloud. Blood will be coming out of your ears– hey! Hey! I'm not done– I'm not– fin–ished! Stop it! Vin–Vincent! OW ! Your shoes are pointy! Gawd!"

"Is that Yuffie?" I delete another message, glancing at Tifa. She frowns, her brow furrowing.

"Yea...we've got time for one thing. Then we better go."

Tifa nods her head. "What are we doing?" She asks, scarfing down her cotton candy.

"Surprise," I shrug, and she grins big, linking her arm through mine.

The line looks long from here, and I'm trying to keep it as inconspicious as possible as to where we are going, but as we weave through the crowd I spot a familiar face. I plant Tifa on the spot with a stern 'stay here'. She has a tendency to roam in theme parks.

I hale the man down with a simple wave, and he bounces up to me, looking concerned.

"Dio."

"Cloud! You know, I was invited to your wedding and was afraid I couldn't make it...but here...you are.... Did you know Yuffie's been calling me?"

"Yes. Sorry. Listen, can I ask a favor?"

As I weave back through the crowd, I latch back on to Tifa, tugging her towards the front of the line. She's already devoured her cotton candy, and is looking like she's on the trail to a pleasant sugar rush.

But she sobers up the minute she see's what line we have skipped to the front of, and what ride we are getting on.

Tifa freezes, throwing me a frantic look, but I tug her on to the gondola with little resistance. Dio slides the door shut, and we begin our ascend into the air.

Tifa looks at me frantically, almost embarrassed. "You...remember this?"

I nod my head, a little sheepish. I remember this night well, and I remember incredibly well that Tifa was going to say something, but...then there was the fireworks.

"Oh," she says, small.

"I want you to finish it." She doesn't ask what I'm talking about. By her reaction she clearly remembers what I'm talking about.

"Uh," she starts nervous. "Why don't I tell you how I feel now?"

I try to suppress my frown, but she sees it. I'm baffled for a moment. Why is it so hard to say something that she wanted to years ago, which I'm pretty sure involved us, considering the fact that we're getting married... tomorrow. Oh dang, we need to speed this up.

"It's hard," she starts. "It's not easy to remember exactly what I wanted to say...the exact words..." She's stalling. Probably for the fireworks.

"Even if the fireworks come this time, you have to tell me."

As if on cue a bright ball of red splashes across the sky. Tifa tilts her head towards it, her face glowing red in the light.

I think for a moment she's just going to let it lie.

"Back then," she says, a little louder because the fireworks are still going off. "I wanted to say something... well, I wanted to say that I was really...falling for you. That I wanted something more. That I was sorry for the way you were treated when we were younger. That I saw you, and I wanted to really know you better, even though we were already friends. I wanted more." She looks at me now. "And now I want to say that I am glad I have this much, and I know I'll have more. That I'm sorry for all the things that have happened to you, not just when we were growing up. That I'm glad you know that I love you, and I am so happy that you love me. That's what I want to say now."

And I end it, like it should've ended all those years ago, by kissing her softly as the fireworks echo in the background. It may have taken longer than she wanted, than I wanted, but we're here now. And we have it, now... and that's all that really matters.

A/N: Oh me oh my! Yuffie had a conniption! Will they make it back in time for the wedding?! Will Yuffie slaughter them on sight?! WHO KNOWS! ...me, again.

Thanks for all the reviews, lovelies! I'm sorry for the late update, and the less than detailed author's note, once again.

Oh! The other week I watched Dead Fantasy for the first time. I WAS AWED. It is SO AWESOME! The entire time I kept thinking 'Bitches don't play! TIFA DONT PLAY! SHE KICKS ASS!' It reminded me once again why Tifa is my all time favorite video game character ever. BOOM BABY