Chapter Four: To That Old Park

Genesis and Tifa were all alone his house again, it was the night before the start of his LOVELESS II FINAL Tour—and they were very busy snogging to even care about the time. Genesis broke the kiss, drawing in deep breaths, his face flushed, "Come," he said. Tifa's sparkly red dress lay strewn on the bedroom floor the next moment…

"Tif, why don't you just come with me? We could get married secretly somewhere, without the public knowing so quickly—what do you think?" Genesis said as they lay beside each other in the bed. He propped his right hand to support his head as he looked lazily at Tifa, who was staring back at him. "That's a great idea, Gen, but I have a very schedule like you too," she screwed up her face to emphasize how annoyed she was, "Then sneak out, like you know, act like you're sick for a few days, use my private jet!"

Tifa giggled and said, "Gen, you really don't think that's possible, right?"

"I really do think it is possible," Genesis said, laying back down, "I mean, with all the money we have in our banks, we may as well quit working for the rest of our lives," Tifa smiled—what a life that would be! She and Genesis would be free from cannibalistic paparazzi and rumors, they would be together, undisturbed…. Tifa looked at Genesis, but he wasn't the type of guy that would stop doing what he loved so quickly, he was only saying those words to ease the pain he was causing because of his approaching six-month absence.

"Are you really sure you want to, leave the fame and glory, Gen?" she asked, "because I'd leave anytime." She looked at Genesis, whose face was unreadable. "Gen?"

"You'd leave all this, for what?" Genesis suddenly asked.

"I'd leave it all for you, of course!" she replied with a little shy smile. Genesis smiled a little, "That's really sweet, but are you just going to leave all this for me or…?" he sighed and planted a kiss on her forehead and brushed away stray strands of her hair, "and that's because I love you so much." He embraced her and fell asleep instantly—but Tifa lay awake, staring out into the dark starry sky. She couldn't help but think about what he had just asked her. What would she leave the fame and glory for, aside from him?

Let's leave this noisy, cruel world, Genesis, we'd be a lot happier, she thought as she closed her eyes as well.

The next day, Tifa woke up alone.

There was a note in the bedside table, from Genesis.

When you wake up, I'll be in a plane. I didn't want to wake you up anymore… you look so beautiful when you're asleep. I'll call you when I land, okay? I love you.

Genesis

Tifa read the letter for a second time before she got out of bed, she gathered her scattered clothes and took a shower before leaving. She sat there in her car for a few minutes, thinking about where she would go since she had no work that day…

With a sigh, she started the car, with no destination at all, no plan.

It was a windy and sunny that day, so Tifa decided to roll down her window to let the air in. The air felt extremely wonderful against her skin, she sped up at the empty road. "Maybe I'll go to that old park nobody visits." she mumbled as she turned into a blind curve.

Cloud sat down in one of the tables, chewing the tip of a toothpick, apparently, today was a slow day for bussiness. "Hey, Zack!" he yelled, "Come over here, look at that car!" he pointed at the silver convertible parking just across the street and beside the unkempt park.

Zack came bustling in, sending flour all over the room, "Whoa!" Zack exclaimed, "that's one sweet car! Wonder who owns-?" but his question had been answered as Tifa got out of the car, looking quite satisfied with herself. "IT'S TIFA LOCKHART, CLOUD!"

Cloud didn't need to be told, he was staring at the perfection that was called Tifa.

Tifa looked around, the sun was high and hot now, it had taken her twenty minutes to drive here, and the park was still as sad and unkempt as it had been when she was young. The grass was not maintained, it was quite long and the swings, slides, monkey bars and seesaws were shabbily painted red and yellow and showed rust, the trees had grown higher and the picnic ground was no longer full—it was really abandoned.

Her smiled disappeared a little—she used to go to this park with her Mother, who had already passed away due to cancer. She still remembered that last day they were here, it was sunny and windy, her mother was already in chemo that time, and she was just five years ago. Elena Lockhart died two months after.

She heard a door open and a bell ring, she turned and saw her saviour, "Oh! It's you!" she said with a gasp, she looked at the raven haired lad following Cloud, "and this must be your friend," she smiled at Zack.

"Uh yeah, hi again," Cloud said with a shy grin.

Tifa looked at the tiny shop, "So this is where you work?"

"Yeah," Cloud said with a sheepish grin, "it's…"

"Neat, I….I haven't been back here since I was six," Tifa said with small smile, "I used to live here, when I was small, then we moved to Nibelhiem, when Mother died."

"Your…mom died?" Cloud said, "I'm sorry to hear that…"

"Don't be, she's better off that way anyway," Tifa said, "if she lived longer, she would have felt more pain. The chemo was not helping her get better, she got worse after every session. Well, hey, let's talk about something else!"

"We could show you around, if you want," Zack suggested, "but it's not really Costa del Sol."

Tifa smiled and said, "Why not! I'd love to!"

Cloud looked at Zack and muttered, "Sneaky fox, you're supposed to be peeling onions for the pizzas!" Zack grinned and said, "Let it slide, Cloud, the boss isn't here anyway!" Cloud face palmed for a second and smiled at Tifa, "Shall we?"

"Sure!" Tifa answered enthustiastically.

The sun was setting when Tifa and the two gentlemen came back around infront of the shop, laughing. "Hey, Tifa, let's grab a bite! It's on me!" Cloud said with a smile, "Sure!" Tifa said, returning his smile. Zack looked like Christmas had come really early for him.

"So what will you have?"

"Ah," Tifa said, "whatever you feel like treating me to," she smiled at him.

Cloud's face flushed for a moment, "Um, p-peporoni?"

"Okay!"

The three new friends chatted into the late hours of the night, enjoying each other's company when Tifa's phone rang. It was Genesis.

"Hello!"

"Hi love," Genesis said, "I missed you!"

"I miss you too, how was your flight?"

"Ah, it was okay, as always, it was the departure and arrival that was chaotic. So far, my arrival here has caused seven broken bones."

"Oh my."

"I know, it's awful," Genesis said, "have you eaten?"

"Um yes, I'm eating with a couple of friends," she said, "how about you?"

"About to, what are you eating?"

"Pizza." Tifa said before giggling.

"You seem to be having pizza an awful lot now," he said, "you could gain weight, you know."

"So? I'll eat what I want, Gen," she said.

"Alright don't turn into dragon lady on me now, Tif," Genesis said, "Oh, I need to go now, I'll call you later, okay?"

"Okay."

Tifa snapped her phone shut and she smiled at her two companions, "Sorry about that," she said as she sat back down.

"Was that Genesis?" Zack asked, looking up from his pizza slice.

"Yup," Tifa answered, she glanced at her wrist watch, "Oh my, I need to go now, it's almost midnight." She frowned, why did time have to run so fast when she was having a good time? Cloud smiled and said, "Oh, okay then, shall I escort you out?" Tifa nodded.

"Good night, Zack, I enjoyed my time with you," Tifa told Zack, "I hope we meet again soon!" she smiled and together with Cloud, exited the shop. "Yeah me too!" she heard Zack call after her. She turned to face Cloud once they reached her car, "I enjoyed my time with both of you," she said, "your friend is really funny. Thanks for the pizza again," she smiled. "No problem, you're welcome—er, I'll see you…" Cloud stuttured. Tifa smiled and she kissed his cheek, "Good night Cloud." She got into her car and started the car.

"Good night."

"I'll come back soon!" Tifa called after him as she began to drive away.

"Yeah, okay." Cloud said, "take care."