Emerge

By Ezri-Candy

Disclaimer: As much as I really…REALLY wish that I did, I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or any of its characters, Square-Enix does…However, I cannot be blamed if Vincent, Sephy, Reno, Reeve, Tseng or Cloud decide to come to me on their own free will. They have more fun with me anyway {Wink} I could be persuaded to 'lend' them to those who review, hint, hint.

Summary: Tifa comes to terms with the fact that she and Cloud will never be more than friends and begins spending time with Vincent. She starts a new relationship with a man she meets in Nibelheim and the relationship soon takes a turn for the worse. Contains Citrus…you've been warned.

Chapter 1: Dreams

Burgundy eyes closed momentarily, hidden behind ghostly pale eyelids. A small shaking hand rose and pushed chocolate colored strands of hair behind an ear. A sigh was released as Tifa sat alone at her kitchen table thinking about the recent changes that her life had taken.

Sephiroth and Jenova were now no more and the meteor that had loomed in the heavens above was destroyed thanks to the efforts Avalanche and its martyr, Aerith Gainsborough. Aerith gave her life protecting the planet while summoning the hidden power of the holy materia in order to destroy the meteor call upon by Sephiroth and Jenova. She was the last Cetra, sworn to protect the planet at all costs…no matter how great.

For three months after the meteor, Tifa Lockheart and her childhood friend, Cloud Strife, lived together in the small town of Nibelheim. Despite the martial artist's deepest desires, their relationship remained platonic, but the pair was as close as brother and sister. Of course he loved her, but not in the way that she wanted him too.

They talked about everything with one another and though Tifa's unrequited feelings for him brought her pain, she was also just happy to have him in her life. One of the most prevalent subjects that the blond swordsman would talk to her about was Aerith. Don't get her wrong, she loved the emerald eyed girl, just as she loved the other female member of Avalanche, Yuffie Kisaragi, and would give anything to see her alive and well. However, when he talked to her about his love for the beautiful Cetra, it hurt. But she would not let her pain stand in the way of his happiness so together, they thought of possible ways to bring her back.

Eventually, that proved to be unnecessary.

A few nights before a scheduled trip to Cosmo Canyon to search the extensive libraries there for was to resurrect her, something strange happened, and she would never forget that night and the events that followed.

=-=Flashback=-=

Cloud stood from his chair at the kitchen table and walked behind Tifa's seat. He wrapped his arms around her in a quick hug and gave her a quick peck on the top of her head. "Thanks for everything Teef. I am glad that you suggested we check with Nanaki and the elders about Aerith."

Her heart fluttered from the brief and innocent contact but she quickly pushed that down. "No problem Cloud, that's what friends are for right?"

He smiled at her. "Well, I'm heading off to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

She stood from her spot and walked toward him. "Wait, I'm coming too." He draped his arm over her shoulders as they made their way to the upper floor of her childhood home.

He stopped in front of her parent's former room and opened the door. "Night Teef."

Tifa hid a slightly shuddering sigh. "Goodnight Cloud."

The fighter entered her room, quietly closing the door behind her. She pulled back the sheets and crawled into her bed. The ache of their contact was slowly beginning to subside as she pulled the blankets up to her chin. 'It will get easier…one day I will be able to be near him without feeling pain.' She thought and closed her wine-colored eyes, quickly falling into a deep sleep.

Tifa felt a cold breeze kiss her face and shivered. She pulled to blankets over her head, blocking the draft, but her eyes snapped open and she sprung out of her bed. Her eyes widened when she saw the other beds, neatly lined up next to hers and holding the seven sleeping members of Avalanche.

She walked to the nearest bed and sat on the edge. Her mind was in a jumble and her hand was shaking as she reached down to shake the beds occupant, the seventeen year old ninja, Yuffie.

"Yuffie wake up." She whispered to the sleeping girl.

No response.

"YUFFIE!" She yelled to the ninja. "I know you can hear me, WAKE UP!" she shook the girl once more but all Yuffie did was yawn and bury her head deeper into her pillow as a small trail of drool escaped the corner of her mouth.

Tifa frowned. 'What in the hell is going on? Where are we?' She questioned herself as she tried to rouse the men sleeping in the other beds.

She sat on her bed, huffing in defeat. The area they were in was pure white and not one sound could be heard. It was odd, when she went to wake Barret, who usually sounded like a buzz saw when asleep, she heard nothing though she could feel the deep rumble in his chest.

Tifa looked around the area then she froze. Her hair stood on end and goosebumps appeared on her arms. There was a presence in the area but she could not locate it. Her heart began to pound in her chest as fear began to dominate all of her senses.

"Do not be afraid." A melodic voice said.

The room was engulfed in a blinding green light and the once silent room was filled with a horrible screeching sound. Tifa closed her eyes tight from the intense light and shielded her ears of the earsplitting sound. The sound finally died down and she tentatively removed her hands from her ears and opened her eyes slowly. She glanced at her new surroundings with her mouth agape. She shook her head and brought her small hands up to rub her eyes not believing what she saw.

The eight beds were now lined up along the main path leading to the Forgotten City. Tifa began walking towards the lake as if being pulled there by some unseen force. She tried to resist, but to no avail. Her body continued up the path and stopped before the shimmering lake in front of the large shell building. Her legs began to move, causing her to walk into the frigid waters of the lake until she was submerged to her waist. Tifa's head tilted towards the sky involuntarily and she was bathed in a shimmering white light. The cold sensation of the water was replaced by warmth and she felt a smile grace her lips.

The melodic voice rang out once more. "Come child. Bring the others."

Tifa nodded.

"Wake up."

=-=End Dream=-=

Tifa sat up in her bed and rushed out of her room accidentally bumping into Cloud as he came plowing from his room. They both looked at one another, startled and confused.

"You too?" She asked and he nodded.

Cloud opened his mouth speak, when they heard the shrill ringing of the two PHS that were charging in the kitchen. They rushed downstairs and answered only to hear the confused voices of their friends retelling their dream. Someone knocked at the door and Tifa moved to it still speaking to a screeching Yuffie only to find Vincent standing there, sans cape, with a confused but tired look in his eyes.

Tifa let the gunman in as another high-pitched sound that came through her phone she pulled it away from her ear. "Yuffs stop yelling! Hold on for a minute but don't hang up." Tifa spoke into the phone.

Vincent looked at the fighter. "I assume you have also experienced what I have?" He asked in his usual quiet monotone.

"Yeah. Everyone was asleep and I couldn't wake anyone up. A bright green light filled the room and the I was being drawn into the lake."

Cloud walked over to the gunman and the fighter with his PHS still to his ear. "Yeah Cid, we really need to check it out ASAP…I know it's the middle of the night but…oh okay, see you in an hour."

Cloud looked over to the grandfather clock and saw that it was just after midnight. "Well, we better gear up, Cid will be here soon to take us to the Forgotten City."

Vincent nodded and went for the door to fetch his cloak and the Death Penalty. "I will return shortly."

"Just come in Vincent, I'll leave the door unlocked." He nodded to her and swiftly left the home. "Cloud call Barret and Nanaki back, I'll let Yuffie and Reeve know." Tifa said placing the phone to her ear once more.

"Yuffie, get ready, we'll be there to pick you up shortly. See you then." She hung up and relayed the message to Reeve as well asking him where they should pick him up. Despite everything that was going on, she was extremely amused to hear him admit sheepishly that he was also in Wutai. 'I just have to get the details from the world's greatest ninja herself.' She thought as she raced back up to her room.

Tifa was able to squeeze the desired information from the small ninja on the short trip. Apparently, Yuffie and Reeve were dating and both were extremely happy together. The fighter smiled as they approached the lake. 'There's a little age difference, but that doesn't matter when you're in love…I'm happy for them.' She thought to herself as they came to a stop before the water.

Said ninja looked around. "So we came, what do we do now?"

They all shrugged.

"I guess we wait." Tifa said quietly.

Yuffie walked over to Reeve and leaned against him and he draped his arm over her shoulders. The sight made Tifa grin. 'They are cute together.' She thought.

Ten minutes passed and various whispers were heard around the small group of heroes when they heard a muffled voice and froze.

"I just got out of a freezing lake only to have to hop into more freezing water to get you my dear friend." To everyone's amazement, Aerith Gainsborough strolled out of the shell building behind the lake, holding her white materia up and examining it with one hand and wringing a corner of her soaking wet dress with the other as she walked. She stopped suddenly and looked towards the lake to find her friends standing there frozen like statues with their mouths hanging wide open. Even Vincent was shocked but did not display his as noticeably as the others.

Aerith walked over to the group and smiled. "Hey you guys…I missed you all so much…" They all remained frozen in place. She walked over the brown haired man standing next to Yuffie and looked up to him with a smile. "You must be Reeve. Nice to finally meet you."

Yuffie broke from her trance and leapt forward catching the young Cetra by surprise. "Aerith!!!" She hugged the dripping pink woman for all that she was worth.

Tifa also ran forward with tears in her eyes. The two women embraced the flower girl tears flowing freely. "I am so glad you came back to us Aer."

Aerith's tears were also flowing freely also. "I'm glad to be back."

Reluctantly, the girls separated as the men stepped forward to greet the young woman who meant so much to them all. Vincent was the second to last to step forward.

"Aerith, I am please to see that you are well. You were missed." He said sincerely.

Aerith wrapped her arms around his waist then looked up to the tall gunman. "It's good to see you again Vincent."

Vincent stepped near Tifa and Cloud entered Aerith's sight.

The swordsman's chest was heaving with emotion that he could barely contain. "Aerith…" he said, his voice extremely choked. "I can't believe it…"

The flower girl rushed forward and embraced the blond fiercely. "By the planet, I missed you so much Cloud." Her muffled voice emanated from his chest.

"Aerith, I love you so much."

The group watched as the two destined souls of their friends were finally reunited. Tifa had tears of both pain and happiness flowing from her eyes when she felt a warm gloved hand give her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Vincent Valentine looked deep into her burgundy eyes in silent support and Tifa gratefully accepted leaning closer to the stoic gunman drawing strength from simply being in his presence.

=-=End Flashback=-=

Tifa wiped away a few stray tears. It's not that often that one of the happiest moments in your life is also one of the saddest.

When they retuned to Nibelheim, Tifa invited Aerith to stay with her in her home. Over the three months that the trio lived in the small home, and in the beginning, Aerith had told her that she felt horrible about stepping in the middle of what she and Cloud had, but Tifa told the flower girl that she supported Aerith and Cloud's relationship and that he was like a brother to her.

Tifa's words had made Aerith feel more at ease and the pair spent a lot of time together doing things together and just talking and when it was possible for Wutai's future leader, Yuffie would venture from Wutai and visit her closest friends. Cloud and Aerith moved into his mother's home, which was conveniently next-door.

Surprisingly, Tifa and Vincent spent time together from time to time, sometimes doing nothing but sitting with one another reading or writing, going for walks and they did talk occasionally, but for them, verbal communication wasn't a necessity. With Vincent's presence, the pain subsided to a tolerable level, but it was still there. As time past, the martial artist went on a few dates before meeting Thomas Callahan.

Things had started off so well with the russet haired man. He was kindhearted, loving and quite shy, all traits that Tifa found to be endearing. The six months of their relationship were normal. Their relationship was not as perfect as that of Cloud and Aerith but she was happy. She had someone who loved her and three good friends who lived nearby.

The swordsman and the flower girl liked Thomas and thought he was good for Tifa. Vincent, well that was another story. The gunman showed no emotion towards the man Tifa was dating, but Tifa knew otherwise. She knew that he did not like Thomas one bit, but couldn't understand why. As the months passed, Vincent began distancing himself from the new couple and though Tifa would go visit him at the Mansion, she did miss his company and it hurt her to see someone that she had come to care for so deeply, begin to pull away. If it was possible, Tifa would have wanted to begin a relationship with the gunman, but four things held her back:

One: she didn't know how Vincent would react if she were to tell him of her feelings. She didn't want to ruin their friendship.

Two: she wasn't sure about how Vincent felt about her.

Three: there was his past relationship with Lucrecia. She didn't know if still mourning for the woman who had used and cheated on him.

Four: she was already in a relationship and one thing she did not believe in was cheating.

It was when she started visiting Vincent at his home and going out to spend time with Aerith that things between her and Thomas began to change. She would come home after going to see Vincent to find Thomas; having used the key she gave him, sitting on the couch waiting for her to return, with drink in hand.

Things began to get progressively worse. He begun to isolate Tifa from her friends and accuse her of cheating if she left the house for extended periods of time, especially if she had been to see Vincent. So she spent most of her time in her home.

Though he had not harmed her, he was becoming increasingly violent both physically and verbally. She was beginning to fear him. Just last week, she was late coming back from a shopping trip with Aerith and when she shut the door; she barely missed being hit in the head with by a flying beer bottle. He came up and pinned her against the door, his breath wreaking of alcohol, demanding to know why she was late and who it was that she was screwing behind his back. She denied doing anything but shopping with Aerith. Of course he didn't believe her and stormed from the house.

Tifa sat at her kitchen table wringing her hands partially out of fear of Thomas and partially because she had never broken up with anyone where it didn't end on good terms. She couldn't take it anymore. The stress and anxiety caused by being with the brown haired man was making her physically ill and she missed her friends. She had to get out and as soon as he came through that door, she would tell him.

AN: Okay my lovely, lovely readers…that was chapter one for ya. I was sitting at work and just started writing things down and came up with the idea for this story. That was about three days ago and I really like how this chapter came out. I planned to bring Aerith back but I didn't know how to do it.

Please let me know what you think of this story and Aerith's resurrection and then check out the AN at the end of the story.

Ciao,

Ezri-Candy