Finally

Cloud cast a hasty cure spell on Tifa to staunch the bleeding and got her onto his back. He ran toward their meeting place as Omega began rising into the sky. The beast rose and Vincent was spat out before shortly rising to meet the WEAPON. Cloud felt his soul being tugged towards Omega and winced. Tifa glowed a faint green, her weakened state more unable to keep hold of her soul.

Cloud jostled her on his back, "Tifa!" he huffed, "You've gotta stay with me. Tifa!"

Tifa groaned and shifted, "Cloud?"

"Talk to me."

"About what?" she murmured.

"Anything. Just stay awake."

Cloud staggered into view of Reeve's truck, "Tifa's been hurt!" he yelled.

Yuffie jumped at the urgency in Cloud's voice and sprinted over, "OHMYGOD!" she yelped when she saw Tifa. She rushed back to the camp and returned with Barret, who took Tifa off of Cloud's hands and rushed her to the camp faster than Cloud could manage in his current state. Cloud flopped forward and put his hands on his knees and caught his breath. He shakily made his way to the rest of his group. The girl Reeve had introduced earlier, Cloud couldn't remember her name, looked at Cloud.

"She should be okay, Cloud Strife," she said with the same bored expression as before.

Cloud looked at her, then nodded. He turned his attention to Tifa as one of Reeve's medics sealed the wound in her abdomen thoroughly before leaving to care for another wounded fighter. Tifa woke a moment later and carefully sat up.

"Ugh," she laid an arm over her abdomen.

"You feel alright?" Cloud shifted, unsure if he should help her or if he should keep from touching Tifa at all.

"I'll survive. Thank you, Cloud," Tifa laughed quietly, "What a pathetic end that would have been for me. 'What happened to you?' 'I was tired and got taken out by desperate grunts.'"

Cloud smirked, "That's not so bad. You weren't bedridden for a week because of a few beestings as a kid."

"The whole hive attacked you."

"I was dared into it."

"You never could back down from a challenge."

"I just wanted to show you I was as tough as the other kids in town."

Tifa laughed, then winced, "Is that what that was all about?" she knocked Cloud in the arm, "Stupid. You got yourself into a life or death situation biweekly!"

Cloud scratched his ear, "Johnny started it."

Tifa sighed, "That's what you always said. I swear; you and Johnny were always at each other's throats."

"The brat deserved it. But that doesn't matter at the moment. Look," Cloud helped Tifa to her feet and they watched as Omega was obliterated from its spot in the sky. The beast crumbled and fell, creating a mighty crash of debris as countless slivers of mako energy poured out from its body.

"Oh my god…" Tifa stared, "Do you think…?"

"Vincent will be fine," Cloud assured, "Like I said, the guy's even less human than I am."

Tifa nodded slowly, "Right. But I'll have you know that you are totally human."

Yuffie ran back to them, "Did you see that?! Do you think Vincent's okay? He's probably fine. The guy's a freak! Thanks, guys!" Yuffie ran off to blather to other random people. Tifa sighed.

"Do you think she'll ever grow up?"

"Who knows. Hey, Tifa?"

"Hm?"

Reeve walked up then, "Cloud! Tifa!"

Cloud scowled, "Yeah?"

"I have a favor to ask. Would you mind letting Shelke live with you and the children? With Deepground gone, she has nowhere to go, and she's become a good friend of ours."

Tifa blinked, "Well, sure, Reeve, but we don't have much more room. She'll have to make do with the sofa before we get a room ready."

Reeve nodded, "Thank you, Tifa. You don't mind, Cloud?"

Cloud shook his head.

Reeve nodded once more before leaving, "Thank you! I have to go talk to some of my higher-ups. Excuse me."

Tifa waved. Cloud cleared his throat.

"Tifa, about what I was trying to say-"

"YO! Did you guys see that?!" Barret hollered as he bound forward, "Blew half da city away!"

"That's great, Barret," Cloud grumbled.

"Just a second, Barret. Cloud needs to ask me something," Tifa looked at Cloud expectantly.

"It can wait," Cloud waved his hand.

"Awwwww, I see what's goin' on here," Barret smirked, "Spike's scared o' dark ain't he! A big dust cloud like that and it'll be pitch black in no time!"

Cloud growled, "You know what? Yeah. I'm just terrified. And you hangin' around blocking what little light's left isn't helping. Get lost."

Barret howled with laughter and ran off. Cloud rubbed the side of his head. He was going to catch grief for that stunt for years.

"Are you alright, Cloud?" Tifa rubbed Cloud's head. Cloud closed his eyes, some of his fatigue getting to him. This felt nice. A little to the right…

"Cloud?"

Oh yeah, "Do you want to-"

A large group of W.R.O. soldiers led by Cid ran past, shouting out which bar they were going to. Cid caught sight of Cloud and Tifa and ran over.

"HEY! You two a thing yet?" the blond called over the raising noise.

"Argh! If you people would leave me alone for 10 seconds, MAYBE!" Cloud yelled back. He clapped a hand over his mouth, "Crap."

Cid hooted and called over, "On second hand, lemme give you two some privacy!" before rejoining his group.

Tifa blushed, "That's what you've been trying to ask?"

Cloud sighed, "Yeah," he glanced over at Tifa, "And? Do you want to go out with me? God, that went so much better in my head…I…uh…really like you…so…" Cloud ears turned bright red while he talked. The color flushed to his face.

Tifa nodded, "Yeah," She took Cloud's hand and laced her fingers between his.

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank god. I would have been homeless if you said no."

Tifa huffed, "Was that your biggest worry?" she teased. She tried to stifle a yawn, but failed.

"One of them," Cloud yawned, "Personally, I'd like to crawl into bed and sleep for the next week right now."

"Sounds like a plan. Want to try and salvage what you can of Fenrir?"

"Nah, Rosso smashed it to pieces, which were probably scattered during the battle. Let's just go home."

Tifa nodded and left to meet Reeve and Shelke before going home.

Once in the door, Cloud wandered over a closet and got several blankets and pillows out and put them on the couch. Tifa sat at a booth and laid her head down.

"I'm sorry we don't have a room for you at the moment, Shelke…" Cloud said tiredly.

Shelke shook her head, "This is more than enough bedding for me. It was very…kind…of you to allow me to live in your house, Tifa Lockhart and Cloud Strife. I am grateful."

"Just call me Cloud, Shelke."

"Very well, Cloud. Would you also like for me to call you by only your first name, Tifa Lockhart?"

Tifa snapped her head up, "Huh?" her eyes were still closed.

"Shelke asked if you want to be called by just your first name," Cloud repeated.

"Oh. Yeah, sure, Shelke," Tifa yawned, "Whatever you're more comfortable with…" she laid her head back on her hands. Cloud walked over and pulled at Tifa's shirt.

"Come on, Tifa. At least get up to bed. You go ahead and settle down, Shelke."

"Thank you, Cloud," Shelke spread the blankets and pillows across the couch and went to sleep.

Cloud tried a moment longer to wake Tifa up before giving up and carrying her upstairs. In their bedroom, Cloud laid Tifa down on the sheets and fell next to her, dead to the world.