Final Fantasy 7 Epilogue- Part 2- "Hidden Emotions"!!

~After 2 solid weeks of contemplation, Cloud still had no answer. He knew he loved Tifa deeply, and since Aeris had totally forgiven him, he felt no guilt towards her about loving Tifa.

And God, did he ever love her. His recent dreams had proven that.

Every night for the past week, he had the same dream. He was standing in the feild of flowers outside of Aeris' house, with his arms arond Tifa in loving embrace, kissing her softly. He would pick her up, and carry her upstairs into her bedroom. He would lay her on the bed, and he would move down to her. The dream would end there.

It was his most favorite dream.

Suddenly, he had his answer. He stood up, grabbed something off the dresser and pocketed it. He left his room, and headed down the hallway towards Tifa's room. He glanced at a nearby clock. Almost midnight. He knocked on her door lightly, fearing to wake her if she was asleep.

When he entered, he heard the sound of fast running water, and faint but cheerful humming eminating from the small bathroom.

Something else he never knew about Tifa. She sung in the shower.

He sat down on the edge of her bed, and waited until the water stopped. A few minutes later, she emerged wearing a white robe. She jerked back a little in surprise when she saw him.

"Oh," she said, "hi--hi, Cloud." She smiled at him, a little weakly.

"Hey Tif," he replied, "sorry, I shouldn't have intruded." She shook her head. "No no, that's okay," she said, "so, what do you want?"

"Well," he said, "I was kinda wondering if you maybe wanted to spend some time together? We haven't had time to ourselves in a while." Her eyes almost lit up at the idea. "Yeah," she replied, "I'd love to."

He removed the item from his pocket. The Gold Ticket he purchased.

"Gold Saucer?," he asked.

"G--great," she said, "just give me a minute to get ready, and we can go." "Okay," he said, "I'll, uh, I'll wait outside." She giggled. "Yeah, thanks," she said as he got up and left.

When he closed the door behind him, she smiled widely. "Yes," she said, "this' my lucky day." Unbeknownst to her, Cloud had his ear pressed to the door. "You don't know how right you are," he whispered. Within minutes, they were on their way...

It was just a simple date, but they both loved it because it was just the two of them for a change. They took in a show at Event Square, and rode the Godola. This reminded Cloud all too much of his date with Aeris, and was almost reluctant to enter the Gondola. But, he wanted Tifa to have a good time, so he pushed the hurt down and got on.

"Did you have fun?," he asked as they left the Tram in North Corel.

"Yeah, I did," she replied smiling, "I had a great time. Thank you." "You're quite welcome," he said, "maybe we could do it again sometime?" She paused a moment. "That'd be nice," she said, "I'm looking forward to it."

They got back to the buggy, and headed back towards Cosmo. He stopped the buggy in Gongaga.

"What are we stopping for?," she asked. He almost didn't hear her; his eyes were locked on the sky. "Tifa," he said, "do you want to... sit out and watch the stars? It's a beautiful night out." She looked surprised. "You know me to well," she said, "I love doing that. Sure."

He opened his door and got out. She did the same, but just stood there to see what Cloud would do. Surprisingly, he just climbed up on the hood of the buggy and laid there, hands behind his head.

She smiled and joined him. Sitting down, she leaned back on her hands and crossed her legs. After a minute, Cloud couldn't resist the temptation to look at her. He looked over slowly from the corner of his eye.

What he saw totally amazed him. The way the moonlight reflected off her skin, hilighting her features. The way her soft brown eyes held the sky's image in them. The way her smile radiated with her exact thought at the moment: /It's so beautiful/.

As if possesed by somehing, he raised his hand to guide a loose strand of hair from her cheek, and drift his fingertips down it.

Tifa reacted immediately to his touch, leaning into it for a moment, then pulling back suddenly, almot afraid. Cloud brought his hand back.

"Sorry," he whispered, and returned his gaze to the sky.

/Why did that feel so good?/, she asked herself. Her cheek still tingled from where he had touched her. Then it hit her. She had been debating this question for months, and she finally had the answer. She did love him. /So, THIS is what love feels like/, she thought with a smile, /wow/. She had no idea the emotion this would bring her in mere moments...

After a few moments more, Cloud's hand crept over towards her again. He set it atop her thigh, and began to massage it lightly with his thumb.

She tensed up a bit at first, but then relaxed again, looking at his hand and grinning. She turned her head and looked at him.

Cloud felt her gaze as if it were tangible, and looked her in the eyes. He then realized what he was doing to her thigh...

He pulled his hand back, embarassed. "I know, I'm making you nervous," he said, "Sorry; I'll stop." She quickly reached out and grabbed his hand. "It's all right," she said, "it--it felt nice. I liked it."

He looked at her, searching her eyes. Then he did something that she hadn't seen from him in a long time...

He smiled. He smiled... at her.

Her heart catapulted into her throat. Ever since she had found him at the Sector 7 train station almost a year ago, she had never seen him smile. She had tried everything to try to get even a little smile out of him.

And there it was. His beautiful and rare smile; radiating on her.

She rolled over, resting her head on his chest, shortly taking in his gentle musk, and drifting her hand down his side. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, and drifted his hand down her hair.

She almost melted in his arms. She loved to have her hair stroked. Especially by Cloud. It was moments like this that kept both of them going; living day-to-day. Then, the reaction finally hit her, faster than a Wutaian Bullet train...

/I love you, Cloud/, she thought.

The ever-pleasant realization swept over her, and she nuzzled her cheek against him, closing her eyes. He gazed at her. Basking, really; intently admiring her. A strange yet eerily familiar voice echoed in his mind. Aeris'.

/If there was ever a time to say it/, she said, /it's NOW!! Now, or never. Don't disappoint me, Cloud/. /I won't,/ he thought, /I'll make you proud/.

He swallowed hard, turning his eyes back to the top of her head and trailing his gaze down her body. He leaned his head towards her ear. "Tifa," he whispered.

"Mmm?," she replied, almost asleep. He was quite comfortable, she came to find out.

"Can I talk to you about something?," he asked. She opened her eyes, frowning slightly, and propped herself up on her elbows.

"Sure," she said, "of course you can, Cloud. You can come to me with anything." He took another deep breath.

"First of all," he began, "I want to thank you."

"Thank me?," she inquired, "thank me for what?"

"For always being there," he continued, "and for everything you've ever done for me. Every time you've helped me. Through this whole ordeal with Sephiroth, you stuck by me and cared for me like only a true friend would. There is no amount of thanks in the world that I could give; it would never be enough."

"You're welcome," she whispered. She was at a loss for words; she never expected that to come out all of the sudden, spur of the moment.

Cloud continued on, as if she had never said a word. "You're the closest thing to a best friend I've ever had," he continued, "and the friendship you've given is the most important thing to me. You're the best thing I have going for me right now."

She was confused. "Cloud...," she said, "what are you trying to say?" He looked deep into her eyes, and he could see and feel her heart pounding in them. He smiled again, cupping her cheek in his palm. She sighed happily, leaning into his touch. For a long time, she had wanted him to touch her like this.

"Tifa," he said, "ever since we were teenagers, I've felt like this. I've never felt this way before." He moved his hand from her cheek to the side of her neck, gently rubbing it.

"Tifa," he whispered, "I never want to lose you, and I never want to hurt you. I never want to upset you, or ever make you cry." A loose tear streaked down his cheek. For the first time in a long time, maybe EVER, he was showing her real, true, raw emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes as well. Then, he did something totally unexpected...

He pulled her back down to him, and gently sealed her lips with his. He kissed her slowly and meaningfully, pouring his heart and soul into their exchange.

Tifa fell into his arms, eagerly accepting him with all her heart. Her first kiss! She had always wondered what it would be like. Now she knew. It was perfect, just as she had dreamed about. Being kissed by the man whom she loved more than anyone else.

She placed her hands behind his neck, raising one hand up to play with his hair, twining it in between her fingers. Quickly becoming more explorative, Cloud slid his tongue along the outside of her teeth. She moved her teeth, allowing his tongue to meet with hers. He was overjoyed; she wasn't rejecting him at all!

After moments which felt like eons to them, they released. They both smiled at each other.

Then he said it.

"Tifa Lockheart," he whispered softly, "I love you."

Tifa's mind and body froze. She couldn't move or think at all. The only thing in her mind were the three beautiful words he had just admitted to her.

/I Love You/.

She broke off her paralysis. A million thoughts ran through her mind, but she extinguished them all. She only wanted to lay here; with him. The man who loved her, and whom she loved back. Her eyes were opened wide, however, as she was still trying to push down the shock.

"M... me?," she whispered haltingly.

"Yes, you," he said with a small smile, "it's always been you. Never anyone else. I've come to realize that the part of me that was in love with Aeris... was the part of me that was living through the eyes of Zack. He loved her to death; I could tell from the way he always talked about her whenever I was his military back-up on SOLDIER missions. It completely embarrasses me how long I've kept this a secret; denied it from me. I can't do that to myself, or to you anymore."

She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. She grinned widely, joyous tears trickling down her cheeks. She leaned down to kiss him, long and passionately. "I love you, Cloud," she whispered before locking their lips together again. Laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed lightly. "This is the most peace I've ever had in my life," she whispered. That said, she drifted off to sleep.

They laid there for the rest of the night. But, unbeknownst to Cloud, perched on top of the Cosmo Inn, Vincent watched them through slitted eyes. He had always had a talent for being able to see long distances away. The corners of his mouth curved into a small smile. He was glad to see them finally put their fears and doubts aside, and follow their hearts.

"Lucrecia," he whispered, and closed his eyes, remembering his fallen angel.