What About Now?((Tifa/Closed))

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa glanced up at Cloud when he pulled her close. She gasped slightly once her head fell on his chest. She felt his hands firmly around her holding her closer then ever before. She hesitated but complied allowing him to hold her close. She actually liked it, being this close to Cloud. Her eyes closed as her head laid against his chest.

For a moment she even forgot the words she wanted to say,until a hand came to crease her cheek. Tifa's eyes remained close as she enjoyed his touch. She could care less about his focus or the l'Cie thing any more. He had time right? She was sure they would be able to figure things together.

They were together and soon would be married 'I am going to be Mrs Strife......' She thought and soon felt heat from her cheeks turning them to crimson red. Tifa realized her blush too late though and couldn't hide it. Why did it have to be so clear? She still tried by looking down until she recalled the question he asked.

Her gaze slowly but surly lifted to meet his, and soon saw the fear he held in his eyes. Could it be that he was afraid of rejection even now when she said yes? Tilting her head to the right she flashed one of her famous smiles at Cloud. "Where is my ring...... I can't marry you without one right.......?" She asked with a chuckle as she looked into his mako blue eyes.

[cloud78strife]

"Where is my ring...... I can't marry you without one right.......?" Cloud just smiled at her then. He was so full of happiness he forgot about the ring….”Well, I might just have to make a special stop at the jewerly store soon then huh? I’m sorry I didn’t have one right now. You deserve the best one….” He said that as he held her again so close. He could tell that she was liking every minute of this time they were sharing. He was to. A lot of thoughts raced through his own mind too. ”I can’t believe she said yes!” She was so amazing! How could he not see that she had feelings for him a long time ago. ”Tifa..You loved me for a long time right? I’m sorry I couldn’t see this sooner….That was my fault….”

He looked back into her eyes then. And was there with her. He would not let her get hurt…No matter what happened. He owed her that much. Now that this was official he had a lot to plan with her. And she probably knew that too. But the future scared him. What would really happen? He had to know. He could just feel that she knew more than she was telling him…”Tifa….I have to ask you this one question. What is my focus…? If you said I have one, what is it? You can tell me. And I know no matter what it is….I can make it through it…We can make it through any thing right…?”

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa chuckled at his words. “How could you forget the ring?” she asked teasingly but soon blushed once he mentioned that she deserved the best causing her blush to darken to a new shade of red. “Cloud…. You don’t have to do that…… I will happy with any ring….. no need to spend a lot of money on it….”

She added lowering her head to avoid his gaze at least until her blush faded. Strands of her hair fell down to cover the side of her face, and soon Tifa closed her eyes to rest her head on his chest. Maybe things would work out to the better. They were together finally, something Tifa never thought possible and now she felt as if they could make it through everything if they were together.

“Don’t worry about that Cloud…… I know you were too busy to notice how I felt….. even when it was obvious that everyone else noticed……..” She smiled remembering that even Denzel and Marlene knew how she felt and now finally Cloud knew and returned her feeling. Her smile soon faded at his question and soon her gaze moved to focus on the ground.

She knew Cloud’s focus was to destroy their word and probably everyone in it including her. Still Tifa didn’t fear him but didn’t know how to tell him this. “Your focus…….. is to destroy Gaia………..” She simply said knowing he would understand everything now.

[cloud78strife]

“How could you forget the ring?” “Cloud…. You don’t have to do that…… I will happy with any ring….. no need to spend a lot of money on it….” “Don’t worry about that Cloud…… I know you were too busy to notice how I felt….. even when it was obvious that everyone else noticed……..” Cloud was happy right up to the point when Tifa answered his question about what his focus was…He looked up at her and waited for the answer. “Your focus…….. is to destroy Gaia………..” Cloud then swallowed hard. So she did know…..He understood now why it was so hard for her to tell him….He turned away from her then and walked over to the window….

As he stood there he folded his arms across his chest and sighed….As he looked out at the scene out side….A single tear fell from his left eye. This couldn’t be happening…..Not to him. He was the good guy…Why him…? ”Ti---fa….” He felt a sudden shock through his heart! As he grabbed his chest at once. It was hard to breathe! He grabbed a hold of the window sill pane then….As he tried to breathe….What was happening to him now? Why was there always some thing in the way of him and Tifa? He just couldn’t believe he was going to do this. Was he being tested for some thing? No! Tifa would not do that to him….He then saw his brand light up almost….It was a dim light of energy coming from his brand….What the hell? He never thought in a million years that he would be the one that destroyed everything! ”He….lp..” He would probably scare her as he looked at her….And his eyes changed to a light green, cat slit eyes. He was having so much pain right now he had to fall to his knees….More tears escaped his eyes as he tightened them and looked at the floor….Was his life really over….? Would he ever get the chance to just live normal…?

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa knew this reaction all too well. Cloud was pushing her away when he moved to the window letting go of her. She sighed knowing this reaction would come the moment she told him of his focus. She expected this much and knew it would be hard for him to change. Still she wasn't about to give up knowing how hard this probably was for him. He was suppose to be a hero and now his focus was to destroy the world he tried to protect.

She heard him call her name and slowly moved over to him. When she reached, Tifa saw the pain in his eyes as he grasped his chest. "Cloud.......... CLOUD whats wrong?" She asked quickly leading him to rest on his bed. Thats when her eye caught the brand to notice it was emitting strange light. She heard him ask for help and soon felt tears form in her eyes though she held them back. "Hey......." She whispered lifting one hand up to rub his fingers on his cheek. "I am right here......." she assured him.

[cloud78strife]

"Cloud.......... CLOUD whats wrong?" He looked up at her with fear in his eyes…He did not know that it was simply the brand getting used to him…. "Hey......." "I am right here......." He felt her place her hand on his cheek. As he sat back on his bed. ”Thank you….I’m sorry…What’s happening to me?” He looked up and saw the tears in her eyes as he was crying now as well. His eyes went back to their normal Mako Blues as she touched his cheek. That was a close one. A few more seconds he would have slipped away from her. This was all Sephiroth’s doing he just knew it was a way to get back at him. He still has no idea that Sephiroth for once is not the one that did this to him…Or Hojo for that matter.

Cloud looked into Tifa’s eyes….He was finally calming down. But he was still worn out. And the light from his brand was now gone as well, for now. Cloud had a lot to learn about his new unique self…He had extra powers too. But in due time he will learn them. Right now all that mattered was that if he was gonna go insane again….And leave Tifa like last time. He couldn’t do that….All that he saw right now was Tifa…How could he leave her again after he propsed to her? He would try his best to stand his ground and stay put. He wanted to run away that was his problem. He did not want Tifa to see him like this….But she wouldn’t let him any way….

[Tifa Lockhart]

"Your just getting used to your brand...... that's all" Tifa assured him with a forced smile. Inside she was hurting to see him this way, and his tears only made things worse. But Tifa knew she had to be strong and be there for him like before when he lost his memories.

She would be there to help, lift his spirit and calm him down when she needed to, and she wasn't there had to be a way out of this. One that didn't involve killing everyone in Gaia and she wasn't going to stop searching till she found one. Her priority now though was Cloud, she had to make sure he was alright.

She noticed his eyes turn back to normal an a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She could tell he was exhausted as well. 'He needs rest....' she thought lifting her hand to wipe away his tears with her thumb while holding back her own that threatened to fall. '

"How about getting some rest....? And you will feel better in the morning I am sure...." Tifa added as her hands moved to hold his and squeezed them slightly to remind Cloud that she was still there by his side. Even when she told him what his focus was Tifa knew she should fear him but didn't, she still stood by his side as she always did.

[cloud78strife]

"Your just getting used to your brand...... that's all" Cloud nodded at that and laid back down on his bed. As he was still holding her hand to. He was so scared she would see that. But even when she hid her emotions and didn’t say anything about them, Cloud knew how she was feeling….She was worried about him. And scared. But he knew she was strong. Strong enough to stay right there with him….Even though he was practically the worst enemy of all of Gaia now…..She was still here….”Tifa…What about now? Will you still love me when….when….?” he was getting to tired to talk. He knew he was hurting her right now. After all they’ve been through. This had to happen….

"How about getting some rest....? And you will feel better in the morning I am sure...." Cloud nodded and started to close his eyes. He was tired. Much more tired than he realized. He felt her still there as he was falling asleep…His head rested peacefully on his pillow….He couldn’t be this. This enemy. All kinds of thoughts raced through his mind. He was terrified of what would happen in the end. Would they all die because of him, or would a miracle happen? Because that’s what they all needed right now. A miracle….And finally Cloud was asleep so sound. He moved his head to the side as he breathed calmly now….And was relaxed…..

[aerith]

Mean while, Aerith was down stairs. And just was sitting at the bar. As tears came down her face now. She knew what was happening in that room. And was just sorry for Cloud and Tifa right now. That she was the one that brought this upon them. If she had not let Yazoo slip through the Life Stream none of this would have happened. And Cloud and Tifa would be happy and preparing for their wedding right now. Instead of this….But now Aerith was here….And would do everything she could to protect Cloud from any harm….So she could do what was needed in the end. She really hated herself right now.

How long would it take for her to realize that she was the real threat here…? She just destroyed two lives. By telling them what would happen in a year. Her heart acked for some sort of comfort. ”Zack….Where are you?” She asked in her mind as she bent her head down and did a little prayer for Cloud and Tifa to be alright right now. And give them the strength to carry on through this…..

[Tifa Lockhart]

Still holding his hand Tifa helped Cloud down on the bed before wrapping the blanket him. She smiled brushing his bangs to the back and further away from his eyes so she could gaze into them. Them a question came and she sighed shaking her head in response. "Cloud..... hey I said yes didn't I...... I will always be here....... and always love you......." She assured him with a smile.

Tifa brushed her hand down to rub his cheek with her thumb before letting her other hand slowly slip from his grip. She thought of going to clean the bar even when she was tired she thought she should finish all her work before ending the day. "I will be down stairs if you need me...." She whispered before finally letting go of his hand and turned to walk to the door.

[aerith]

Aerith was still down stairs at the bar area as she heard foot steps come down to where she was…It was Tifa…She must have finally gotten Cloud back to sleep….She then looked up at her friend…

”How is he doing?” Aerith asked Tifa wanting to know as she looked into Tifa’s eyes…She could tell that Tifa was upset. No she could feel her friends emotions as if they were her own. Aerith was trying her best to hide all her emotions as well….She as so much like Tifa…But this was impossible to not just ignore….This was happening to Cloud…He was like a brother to her….Aerith felt Cloud’s own emotions as well…This was almost too much for her to handle since was carrying the weight of two people inside her right now…But all the time she was praying…Praying that some one would help them all through this….And that there was a way to keep every one from dying from this….

[Tifa Lockhart]

"He is fine........ just got him to rest now......." Tifa replied with another forced smile. She could easily tell that Aerith was torn up about what happened as well and there was no need to worry her even more. She considered mentioning the fact that now she was engaged to Cloud, that he finally proposed but decided against it. They still didn't agree if they should start telling others about this, besides she still didn't have a ring for from him. 'Yeah I better wait till I do.....' She thought smiling a little at the thought.

"Hey Aerith.... you should get some rest too...... Its getting late I can prepare one of the guests rooms and you can stay here tonight...." She suggested not really wanted her friend to walk all the way back on her own.

[aerith]

"He is fine........ just got him to rest now......." ”Good….If any one can get him to rest it’s you….”

"Hey Aerith.... you should get some rest too...... Its getting late I can prepare one of the guests rooms and you can stay here tonight...." Aerith then smiled at Tifa again as she saw a change of attitude in her friends eyes….Yeah, some thing happened between her and Cloud she could just feel it…But if Tifa did not want to say any thing, then that was okay as well….Aerith would find out soon… ”A place here for the night? Thank you Tifa…I really would like to stay closer to Cloud any way. He needs his friends around more than any thing right now….” Right now was not the time to cry over this….They both knew they had to be strong and be there for Cloud so he would not fall into a dark pit and never come back out….Aerith knew Sephiroth’s reputation with Cloud…And that , that mad man would try to torment Cloud even in death….Aerith never saw Sephiroth in the Life Stream though thank heaven….But she was still worried that would give Sephiroth enough strengh to come back….If Cloud was proved to be some thing that Sephrioth wanted….Then he would most likely try and come back….

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa smiled again but this one was more natural than forced. "It would be good to have you here...... come on I will prepare one of the rooms for you...." She added opening a drawer to take out a key before heading back up the stairs.

Tifa turned to the first room on her right and unlocked the door and walked in. Within a few minutes she was done and glanced out to search for Aerith. "Hey all done..... here is the key and let me know if you need anything" she added with another smile.

Tifa glanced over to Cloud's room and sighed in relief glad that he was sleeping peacefully now, after all that he went through her needed this. And she would be there to support and stand by his side. They were together now she knew that, she needed to be there for him like she always was and will be.