Backstory:

[WARNING: SLIGHTLY CONTAINS SPOILERS TO FINAL FANTASY XVI. VIEWERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED!]

An AU that involves two Final Fantasy fandoms. Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII. The story takes place in Nibelheim and Clive and Jill are getting married, surrounded by their friends and family. Clive Rosfield is a distant relative to Claudia Strife and therefore is Cloud's uncle. Jill Warrick is a distant relative to Thea Lockhart, and therefore, Tifa's Aunt. Clive and Jill were childhood friends just like Cloud and Tifa are. They were very rich and royalty until an accident occurred that led to the death of Clive's father and Jill's parents. What's worse is that Clive's brother, Joshua, has gotten sick and needed medical attention. The Rosfields' mother abandoned them and left with all their fortunes and money, leaving the boys to struggle on their own. After many years, Clive and Jill reunited, only for Jill to see Clive struggle to make money to live and for his brother's health. The two worked together to make money and managed to find a place to live. The three managed to find help from the Lockharts and the Strifes. Claudia and Thea helped Clive and Jill to settle down so that they can save up money to cure Joshua's sickness. The two worked hard and eventually, fell in love together. Time has passed and they managed to heal Joshua with the help of their family. Joshua then continued his education to become a doctor and help those around him as they did for him.

Meanwhile, we now go to our OTHER main characters, Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart. The two are childhood friends and have been inseparable since anyone can remember. But during middle school, Tifa got into an accident and Cloud failed to save her. He blamed himself for what happened and distanced himself from her. Tifa never blamed him and tried her best to be close to him. When they both made it to High School, Tifa missed him. So when she finally managed to talk to him after a couple of years of distance, she learned shocking news. Cloud wasn't going to the same College as she is, as they agreed to go to the same schools together in the past. Cloud was going to the military after graduation. He idolized Clive as he onced joined the military to get benefits for Joshua's health.

Cloud and Tifa argued about it and put a strong strain on their friendship. After they fought, they never spoke again.

And they fear they'll never make up.

Until Clive and Jill's wedding was announced…

Story:

Clive looks at himself as he gets ready for the most important day of his life.

The day he marries Jill Warrick.

A knock came from the door.

"Who is it?" Clive asked.

"It's me, Uncle Clive."

Clive smiles at the familiar voice.

"Come in."

Cloud comes in, wearing a tuxedo for Clive's wedding. "I just came to tell you that everything will be ready soon so you have time to relax a bit."

Clive took a deep breath and relaxed.

"That's good, thank you… Cloud."

Cloud nodded but Clive noticed a faint of sadness on his face.

"Is something the matter?" Clive asked.

"I-it's nothing, Uncle. I-I'm fine."

"Cloud Strife, I've known since you were just a kid. Don't try to lie to this old man."

Cloud was quiet but gave in.

"I-it's… It's about Tifa…"

"Tifa Lockhart? Jill's niece?"

"Y-yeah… we had a fight a while ago and… now that she's here…"

"I see…" Clive said. He recalls the two were close and it reminded him of his time with Jill as they once played together when they were young. Joshua and Jill would follow Clive on whatever adventures they'd have in their backyard of their mansion.

"And… truth be told… I wanted to apologize."

"So why not?" Clive asked. "Why did you two fight?"

"...I was going to join the military after high school."

Clive frowned. His time in the military was not a happy memory. He killed just to ensure his survival and the safety of his brother. And after he was discharged, he still struggles to make ends meet on the bills.

"Cloud, why do you want to join the military?" Clive asked. Cloud was quiet but Clive knew it's something important. "Cloud… I know you see me as some war hero, but trust me, it's not a place full of glory. It's… it's a life I regret living. So if you're trying to follow in my footsteps then-"

"It's for Tifa!" Cloud replied. "...I… I failed to save her when she got hurt back in middle school and… it haunts me to this day. So I thought… If I join the military like you did, I'd be strong enough to protect her."

Clive now understood.

"I see, so it's all for Tifa, isn't it?"

Cloud nodded.

Clive sighed.

"Cloud, let me tell you something."

Cloud listens as Clive tells him his past.

"After losing our father, Joshua and I struggled to get by when our mother abandoned us and took all our wealth and fortunes. Then, Joshua got sick and… I couldn't bear to see him in pain. So I joined the army, hoping to receive the benefits for Joshua's well-care. Alas, it was not enough. After I got discharged, I continued to do harsh work just to make end's meet. When your mother suggested we move into your household, I was grateful."

Cloud remembers how his uncles arrived at his house and his mom hugged them with tears of joy. She saw the boys as her brothers and she'd do anything to keep them safe. She worked just as hard as Uncle Clive to help Joshua's sickness. Joshua struggled but did his best to continue his studies so that he can help the family any way possible.

"And then you met Aunt Jill, right?"

Clive smiled.

Once, when Tifa came over to play with Cloud. She asked if they would like to meet her aunt. When Jill arrived to introduce herself to the neighbors, she broke down as she saw Clive and Joshua, her childhood friends.

"Indeed, and it felt like I was blessed," Clive responded. "To think, the girl we used to play with all those years would be our next door neighbors." Clive chuckled. "But, it wasn't long after that when I realized something that I should've accepted a long time ago."

"And what's that?" Cloud asked.

"...I'm not strong," Clive said. "I had moments in my life where I just broke down and felt like giving up. But if it weren't for Jill, I wouldn't be here at this moment."

Cloud looks at his uncle as he talks about how he broke down in front of Jill. And even then, she accepted him with all of her love. Faults and all. Jill never stopped supporting Clive even when he had nothing to give.

"Even now, I still feel like I'm unworthy of her love. But… I will cherish her with all my heart."

Cloud was silent until Clive asked, "Tell me, Cloud. Are you going because you think you're weak? Or do you think she does?"

"I…" Cloud stutters. "...I failed her… I fail to protect her and it haunts me to this day. She's my best friend, hell, my ONLY friend. She always makes everyday an amazing day. And the thought of her getting hurt…"

Cloud gripped his hands tightly as he reminisced the day Tifa got hurt, bloody and bruised.

"...I can't go through that again! She is always there for me, always makes time to play with me. She's kind, smart and caring. It's some of the many things I love about her and…"

Cloud stops as he realizes what he said.

"Oh…" He said. Cloud sat down as he realized the harsh truth in reality.

He's in love with Tifa. The prettiest and nicest girl of Nibelheim, hell, the whole world. And he's already ruining the sacred bond he has with her.

But he has to do it, right?

To protect her?

To be her hero?

Clive responded, "Now you understand, don't you?"

"...Yeah…"

"Cloud," Clive assured him. "I understand more than anyone how much it means to protect the women you love. If anything were to happen to Jill… I don't know what I'd do. She's… she's my other half… my rock… my heart… she is my treasure and I will love her until the end of days."

As Cloud was about to reply, Joshua came in.

"Brother, the ceremony will begin shortly. We best head to the altar."

Clive stood up and took a deep breath.

"Time to go, Cloud."

"…Uncle Clive, can I ask you one last thing?"

Clive nodded.

"…Aren't you scared of messing up?" Cloud asked. "Scared of failing aunt Jill?"

"Everyday," Clive replied. "But as soon as I see her, her eyes and her smile, I know I did something right in my life."

Clive put a hand on Cloud's shoulder. Assuring him that there's no honest or right answer.

"You can try to find the solution your entire life, Cloud. But in the end, you have to follow what you believe is right, through here," Clive said as he pointed toward Cloud's heart. "Now head back to the church, okay?"

Cloud nodded. "Okay… Thank you, Uncle Clive."

Cloud left, leaving Clive and Joshua alone.

"Cloud really has grown up all these years," Joshua said. "It's a good thing he had a great role model, huh?"

Joshua jabs Clive teasingly.

"Oh, I'm anything but, Joshua. It took me this long to marry Jill."

Joshua laughed, "Then it's a good thing that Jill has the patience of a saint, huh?"

Clive could not agree more.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry if it's short, but there'll be two more chapters. The next one will be Jill and Tifa's talk before the wedding. This is my first time writing a Final Fantasy story so forgive me if it's not doing so well. After finishing FFXVI… I just became an emotional wreck and I needed to write something while also including my other OTP.

Thank you for reading, until the next update,