She reached the plain wooden door that behind it held the hall and further in the living room of the house. All she had predicted proved to be right. Red by the fireplace, just as far from Cid to go undisturbed by his smoking, and Barret playing with Marlene. As she also had predicted, Cloud wasn't there (that still doesn't make him predictable).
Walking in to the room Tifa caught the attention of Marlene who immediately ran to meet her.
"Hi, Teef" Marlene said with her childish voice. Besides Cloud, Marlene was the only one who called her "Teef".
"Hi, Marlene" Tifa looked at the little girl who watched her back with shining eyes. In the corner of her eyes Tifa could see Cid was getting rather tired of Revee bothering him with questions about him and Shera.
(Another point for Tifa)
She smiled at this knowing Revee was playing very close to the edge.
"What you smiling at?" Marlene asked curiously.
Tifa directed her attention to the child.
"Nothing, sweetie."
"Where have you been?" Barret asked her and Cid cursed at Revee.
"I was just outside for some fresh air" Tifa replied "Um…" she hesitated "Does anyone know where Cloud is?" And everyone gave he the same answer; they didn't know.
"He has probably wandered of alone somewhere" Red told her.
"I saw him earlier today," Cid said inhaling the cigarette.
Everyone was quiet for awhile until a tiny voice spoke up.
"Uncle Cloud said he was gonna go away for awhile"
Tifa kneeled beside Marlene.
"Did he say anything more?" she asked.
The child shrugged in a way only children can and then answered:
"He said: Maybe I won't come home tonight"
Barret asked his daughter when she had seen him.
"Everyone was out. I couldn't sleep…" the girl looked a little ashamed since she had promised her father to be a good girl and take her nap.
"It's okay, Marlene" Barret told her and she continued.
"Cloud was in the kitchen drinking coffee and I talked to him." Marlene looked at Tifa. "Aunt Teef? Is something wrong with Cloud? He was looking sad."
Tifa swallowed, she was worried about Cloud but she didn't want to worry Marlene.
"No, Cloud has just got a lot on his mind." she told her in the way grown-ups usually talk to children. Marlene nodded thoughtfully.

That evening Tifa had wanted to go out to look for Cloud. But Barret, who was sure Cloud would come back soon, absolutely no later than tomorrow, had stopped her.
That night Tifa had been sleeping very uneasy. She dreamed of Cloud, who had disappeared from the face of the earth, that he would never come back. She searched for him in her dreams, but could never find him. The dream seemed to repeat itself until she, about 3pm, finally escaped from the clutches her nightmares waking in her own dark, angular room.
She whispered his name into the emptiness, knowing he wouldn't answer. She had about 3 days ago convinced Cloud to join her and the others for a small reunion. He had agreed to come and now he had disappeared. He wouldn't just leave, would he? No, Barett was probably right, if he wasn't back already he'll probably come tomorrow.
Normally she wouldn't have been so worried, she knew Cloud could take care of himself. But the dreams had seemed so real… She just wanted to see him right now, make sure he hadn't disappeared for good. Rising from her bed she noticed the full moon through her window, it captured her eyes and she had to take closer look. As she leaned out from the open window, watched the stars and the big moon her mind brought back familiar memories. Memories involving Cloud, her thinking of Cloud and waiting for him to return. Star nights would always make her think of him, she figured, ever since that night, long ago, when he had told her he would leave their hometown, Nibelheim.
She let her gaze sink from the glimmering sky, let out a sigh realizing how she always ended up missing him. What if her nightmares became true?
On the moonlit yard a dark shape moved slightly and her eyes captured it's movement. The person, it had to be a human, was like her a moment earlier gazing up towards the sky. Tifa let out a silent breath that due to the chilly air outside remained visible for a moment, Could it be…? Hurrying she got more properly dressed, if it was Cloud she would have to catch him before he left.
(He wouldn't just leave, would he?)

Dark and chilly the yard opened up in front of her. The dark shape wasn't visible anymore. She looked in the direction where she thought she had seen him.
Hugging herself to keep warm, she stepped away from the door and the house.
"Cloud" She whispered at first then repeated the name louder so he (if he were there) would hear.
No answer…
(He wouldn't just leave, would he?)

She moved about searching for the person that she had seen from her window, the person she thought (hoped?) was Cloud. Then suddenly he was right in front of her, sitting in the grass not far away from the place she had been mutilating the flower earlier. She was sure now, it was Cloud.

He turned around quickly as he heard her steps enclosing (a habit you easily apply after many nights in monster-infected lands).
"Teef?" he asked surprised of seeing her at this hour. "What are you doing out here?"
"Looking for you so that I can ask the same question" She told him with a voice just enough irritated for him to notice.
"I thought I would sleep under the stars tonight," Cloud said with a slightly tired, somber voice. He turned away again.
Tifa was getting more irritating by the minute. "You know, you could tell us before you leave."
"You were worried?" Cloud turned around again. Tifa was surprised by the question and before she could answer Cloud said:
"I did talk to Marlene, if that counts" as he said this, his eyes watched something in the distance behind her. She sunk down in the grass beside him, right in front of his vision.
"I'm sorry if I worried you, that wasn't my intention" She watched his green eyes that in the dark shone like emeralds. It had to be the moon that makes them shine like that, she convinced herself. She wouldn't be surprised though, if his eyes shone even in the darkest place without any source of light. It was an eerie green glow, but still she loved those eyes. The eyes that never let complete darkness rule, that always made her feel strangely secure.
Cloud watched her with eyes that waited for her to tell him it was okay, that she wasn't mad. That was something she recognized, the way his eyes always pleaded for forgiveness, how she could see he was honestly sad. Even if the matter was of small size. She sighed.
"It's okay…"
(You wouldn't just leave, would you?)
Cloud watched her with disbelief. For some reason Tifa had no trouble reading his face this night even though it was so dark she could barely see it.
"Really. Just tell us" (me) "the next time, okay?" Tifa said.
"I will, trust me." Cloud leaned backwards to watch the sky Tifa followed him in the corner of her eyes.
"You know why I like sleeping under the stars?" Cloud suddenly asked her. This was just the kind of sudden unpredictable question Cloud would come with.
"No…" Tifa leaned back beside him to watch the stars too, as if that would give her the answer to his question. But it only made her realize how tired she was. She closed her eyes.
Cloud moved slightly, she could hear the grass brushing against his cloths, then settled and with shining eyes told her something that made her open hers.
"They remind me of you, Teef"

The End