Prologue

Tifa led the demolition crew through Mt. Nibel. They were on their way to the mako reactor. Tifa had agreed to destroy it when Reeve suggested it. He had a plan that would help the people of the world, and lessen the harm done to the planet. The first step was destroying what Shinra had made.

She knew she had seen something run off in this direction. She had given the crew directions and was sure they wouldn�t get lost. She quickly headed deeper into the caves following whatever it was. She didn�t know what she expected to find. She heard something and quickly turned around only to see a few rocks rolling around. That was the last thing she saw before everything went dark.

�Hello, pretty.�

I know that voice.

�Please�let me love you.�

Who?

�I came back for you, my lovely. Please, love me.�

Why can�t I think? Who? Why can�t I see?

�To think, I was actually jealous of the idiot. He had your heart, not me.�

Cloud?

�I don�t understand how you could love him. He doesn�t deserve you. He�s not good enough. Be with me, and I�ll give you everything.� He laughed insanely. �I�ll give you the world.�

She shook her head. Who? She groaned. A hand brushed against her cheek, and finger passed lightly over her lips. They parted. She felt his breath against her now open mouth. Who? She wanted to ask, but couldn�t, her body not responding. She felt his lips press against hers firm, yet gentle. She moaned as she felt his tongue slip into her mouth. He pulled away. No�

�As much as I would love to�I can�t have you like this. Why? Because you�d hate me�even more then you already do.�

Hate? Who? Why?

�All I want is to love you.�

She felt a sudden rush of energy run through her body, and she opened her eyes slowly, only to see an unbelievable sight. �You�� He only nodded. �You�love�me?� Her face twisted in disgust. �You�re sick.�

�Perhaps, if I could do it all over again, everything would be so different. If only I had known.� He shook his head. �You will never love me.�

�That�s right, never.�

�Why do you love him?�

���.�

�I don�t understand how you can love him and hate me. HE IS ME!� She jumped at the tone of his voice. �He�s nothing put a clone, a puppet, not even human!� He said slamming his fist against the wall next to her head, causing her to flinch. She was shaking violently. As much as she hated him, he still scared her. �Please my lovely, Tifa. Let me love you.� He said brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

She pressed herself against the wall as much as she could, trying to elude his touch. �No.�

�Fine�if you won�t love me willingly�I�ll make you love me.� He said coldly.

�Make�.me?� She noticed her gloves where gone, as where her boots.

He leaned close to her nuzzling her hair. �Yes, its quite simple. He�s obsessed with that girl. Why did he leave you all alone? You are the last of his people are you not? Does he even care about you?� His face twisted with anger, then changed to a pleading expression. �Why not love me?�

�You want me to love you? After everything you�ve done to me, you expect to forgive and forget?� She looked at him with hate filled eyes. �You destroyed my life! Everything I cared for! Everyone I loved�� Her voice choked off as he leaned closer to her.

He grabbed her by the wrists and pinned them over her head with one of his hands. �We can do this the hard way, or the easy way.�

An expression of shock and horror crossed her face when she realized what he planned to do. �No�don�t�� She felt a hand slither over her skirt, and undo one strap of her suspenders. �No��

�No one is here to save you. Barret is at home playing with little Marlene. Red is happily living back at Cosmo Canyon. Cid is happily married to Sheila. Vincent�well, he�s not tied to you. Yuffie and her father are getting along nicely, and Cloud is looking for Aeris. I�ve been walking around the last five years, regaining my sanity. I�ve seen you fight Tifa. You are an amazing woman. I could see your heart in battle. I can�t believe he�d give you up so easily. You�re all alone, Tifa. You don�t have to be alone anymore.�

No�this is a nightmare�he�s dead. She kept repeating to herself. �Wake up�WAKE UP!!!�

�Oh, this is no dream, my lovely one. . .� He let go of her and fell to his knees clutching his head. �Make it stop. . .no. . .no I didn�t. . .I just . . .� He let out a blood-curdling scream.

She turned to leave him. . .but couldn�t. She turned back to see him laying on the floor holding his head. Something about him clicked inside her, then she remembered falling into the lifestream. He must have fell in 5 years ago. She remembered what happened to Cloud. . .what happened to herself. She slowly approached him and reached a hand towards his shoulder. �Are you alright?� He immediately pulled away. She reached over more and pulled him into her arms holding him comfortingly. He leaned against her. People change, Tifa. She repeated to herself, as she ran her fingers through his silky silver hair.