Let's discuss Cloud's main love interest: Aerith or Tifa

[PeneloRatsbane]

Note: "couple of short stories they put online" = Square Enix stories, not fanfiction. There's a good chance I may have read them. Although the one I remember was about Tifa and Cloud, not Aeris. So yarr.

The one about Aeris is Cloud/Aeris-y
plus those lil short stories really suck and most fanfiction is actually better!! hah, The one about Yuffie is just dreadful, really poor.

he loved Aeris but she died, Tifa is a great friend to him and they have a chance at a happy relationship together. It's simple, a person can often love more than one person

I agree on the last bit but what makes you think Tifa is just a friend?

Oh sorry maybe i wasn't clear, I meant in FFVII she seems mainly like a friend and although she is aware that there was something between Cloud/Aeris she was still a friend to both of them, she is so loyal to Cloud and its obvious that she loves him and i think with time Cloud loves her too and he definatley had a crush on her as a kid. But then he meets Aeris who was sweet and funny and beautiful and he fell for her because things were ambigous with Tifa at the start of the game. I think his future love and relationship lies with Tifa.
But If Aeris hadn't have died then things might have been different, Cloud and Aeris just seemed to click and it was lighthearted and easy chemistry until tradegy struck.
He loved both of them at different times but his future happiness lies with Tifa.