Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. I don't own Squaresoft ( Square Enix ). As much as I wish I owned them, I don't. I don't own the characters in this story, if I did I wouldn't be sitting here writing. Though! The story is based on true events.

Warnings: Cloud's a nerd!

Side note: Anything that has an "apostrophe" at the beginning and end of it is something that is actually in game. Or is being used for gaming. And of course anything in italic is being spoken by another person, either over the microphone, on the phone, chat servers, anything. If I want it to be a thought it'll be bold and italic. P Okay, now that we all know what to expect, or what not, onward to the story!

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The sunlight crept through the bedroom, kissing the freckles on the blond's face and arousing him from his sleep. He stretched out, turning off his alarm clock before it could start buzzing, signaling that it was time for him to get up. He sat up in the bed, the covers pooling around his waist. Smiling, he stretched his arms above his head before pushing back the covers and rising to his feet. He scratched his bare stomach, yawning and making his way towards the bathroom.

Turning on the tap, he ran his hands under the water, splashing some of it on his face. He towel dried his face, turning the water off and looking at himself in the mirror. He bared his teeth, scrunching up his nose and laughing softly at himself. He turned the bathroom light off, making his way out the bedroom and into his computer room. He turned on the PC, walking out of the room and going into the kitchen. He started himself a pot of coffee, before walking back into the computer room.

He waited for everything to load up, closing out of a few things, before bringing up his game server. Yes, he had to admit, he enjoyed playing 'World of Warcraft', it was addicting. And today he had a run through of 'Sunken Temple' to do with a few friends of his. Grinning softly, he exited the room, yet again, and going into the kitchen. He grabbed his cup of coffee and took it into the computer room, setting it down on the desk. He closed the door, sitting himself down in the chair and grabbing his headset off the desk.

Placing the headset over his head, and taking the mic off mute he logged into the 'teamspeak sever', smiling when he saw that one of his friends had already logged in.

"How's it going this morning?"

"Are you shitting me, it's already morning? Fuck, I've been up all night doing 'Battle grounds'."

He laughed at his one friend, shaking his head slightly. "Yeah, Axel. It's, if I'm not mistaken.." Pulling his mouse down, letting the cursor hover over the taskbar and glancing in the right hand corner to see what time it was. "It is exactly, 8:32 a.m."

Axel groaned into the microphone. "Damn it, I really need to learn when enough's enough. So, what are you up to today, Cloud? I haven't seen you in, oh, two days."

Cloud sighed into the mic and chewed on the inside of his lip. "Yeah, I've been pretty busy. How's Sora and Demyx? Are they logging on today? I told them we had a 'Sunken Temple' run."

Axel went quiet, most likely thinking to himself, before answering. "Well, when I saw Sora yesterday he said he would be on. Demyx I have no clue about. I know he's been busy with Zexion."

Cloud just nodded, even though Axel couldn't see him. "Well, I have six or so hours before I have to get my happy ass off here. I have to take Aeris out tonight. She said that we aren't doing much together anymore."

Axel laughed, "Better you than me. Glad I'm single! Man, my hair is sticking up everywhere. Log into the game so we can go ahead and group. Even with Demyx and Sora we still need to look for one more. Preferably a healer, please."

Cloud rolled his eyes, biting his lip to suppress his laughter when Axel said please. "No problem, I'll log in right now. Oh, and Axel?"

"Yes, Cloud?"

"When is your hair ever not sticking up?"

"When I get out of the shower. It's all smexy and straight."

Cloud raised his eyebrows, chuckling softly. "Smexy? You've lost it Axel."

"Shh, I know. It's all the game play, but don't tell anyone!"

"Alright, I promise. Hey, while I log in and look for a healer, call Sora and Demyx."

Axel blew some air into the mic and groaned a bit. "Fine, but only because I love you."

Cloud smiled, logging into the game server and clicking on his character. A 'level 53', 'troll', 'warrior', Cloud preferred 'Horde' to 'Alliance'. They had cooler races, and were way better in 'BG's' then the alliance was. Now some people would rather choose 'alliance' over 'horde', but not him, or his friends. He had nothing against the 'alliance', well not really, he just didn't like playing them.

Cloud searched in the 'Looking for More' section, seeing if any healer fit the criteria for their group. He came across a 'level 50, Blood Elf, Paladin', biting on the inside of his lip as his whispered the person, hoping they were 'speced' in 'holy'.

To [Leonhart242: Please tell me you spec in holy?.. Cloud pressed, enter, waiting for the reply of the other player.

[Leonhart242 whispers: It just so happens I am speced in holy, why?

Cloud did a little happy dance, and spoke into the mic. "I think I found us a healer, you get a hold of Sora or Demyx?"

Axel huffed, most likely rolling his eyes at Cloud on the other end. "What do you take me for? Of course I got a hold of them. They said give them both about 10 minutes and they'll be on, whose the healer?"

Cloud bit his lip, forgetting that he didn't yet ask the other player if he wanted to join their group.

To [Leonhart242: Well, we need a healer for 'ST' and I was wondering if you wanted to join our group?

"Hold on, I'm finding out if he's sure he wants to go." Drumming his fingers on the computer desk, Cloud waited for the reply.

[Leonhart242 whispers: Sure, okay, I need the 'exp' anyway. Invite away.

Cloud grinned, inviting him into his and Axel's group.

[Party [Eatmyfire: Look, a blood elf!

[Party [Eatmyfire: Do you have 'ts' mister blood elf, sir?

[Party [Leonhart242: Yeah, what's your connection info?

While Axel gave the blood elf paladin the information for the ts server, Cloud pulled the desk drawer open, reaching in and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He took one from the carton, before dropping it back into the drawer and searching for his lighter. He lit the cigarette, taking a drag off it and typing in the party chat.

[Party [Fenrir: Try to behave Axel!

[Party [Eatmyfire: When do I ever not behave?

The TS server buzzed and a robotic voice came on, announcing that a new player had joined.

"Finally, I don't have to type to you. What's up, pally?"

"Axel, quit being stupid."

"I'm not being stupid, I'm being...Polite. Remember, it gets you a long way!"

Cloud sighed, rubbing his forehead and taking another drag off his cigarette.

"We're just waiting on two more people and then we'll be set to go."

There was a noise on the other end, then a sigh, finally someone spoke.

"I hate mage's."

Cloud blinked a few times, thinking to himself, oh shit.

Axel growled into the microphone.

"What's wrong with mages? Huh? I could kill you!"

"Axel, calm down, it's not that big of a deal."

The robotic voice came back on, announcing that two more players had joined.

"Hey Cloud, heya Axel!"

"Hi Sora..Demyx."

"Shut up! I'm fighting with the pally!"

On the other end of the mic, Sora blinked, biting his lip and frowning. Axel could be such a bitch.

"I just don't like mages, never could get into playing them. If you play one, that's fine."

"I will kill you."

"Axel, I think you need to get laid."

"Shut up, Demyx!"

"Um, anyway. Can we get this group started? I didn't log on just to listen to you bitch, Axel."

Cloud laughed softly, putting his cigarette out and pulling the 'WoW' screen back up.

"By the way, just so we don't have to go back and forth with screennames. I'm Cloud, the mage is Axel. The hunter is Sora, and the rogue is Demyx."

Aeris peaked into the room, raising her eyebrow at Cloud and listening to him talk over the mic.

"Why must you play that game so early in the morning? Don't you have something more constructive to do?"

"Damn it, Aeris, shh."

"Tell the bitch I said hi!"

"Axel, shut up!"

"Never. So what's your name, mister 'I hate mages'."

The chat went quiet for a few minutes, before the other player responded.

"Squall. The names Squall."

"Nice to meet you."

"No it's not."

"Damn it, Axel, knock it off already."

Axel huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. He flicked off the computer screen, sticking his tongue out at it.

"Alright, Axel and I will 'summon' you guys, so just give us a second to get to the 'meeting stone'."

Aeris stepped into the room, walking up behind Cloud and wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek.

"Couldn't you just come back to bed for a bit?"

Cloud removed her arms from his shoulders, he sighed, kissing her hand and shaking his head.

"Sorry, I promised and this is a little more important right now."

Aeris eyes widened and she nodded, slowly backing out of the room.

"Ouch Cloud, we heard that, that was harsh."

"Oh, be quiet Sora, Cloud's getting bored with her anyway."

Cloud rolled his eyes at what Axel said, frowning a bit.

"I'm not bored..Per se, I wouldn't be marrying her if I was bored, right?"

"I got married because I was bored."

Everyone blinked when Squall said that. Cloud raised his eyebrow, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Yeah, sex sucks after marriage."

"Axel."

"Not really, it's just, different."

"Boring."

"Axel!"

"What?"

Cloud grumbled into the microphone.

"You're such an ass."

In game both Cloud and Axel had reached the meeting stone, first summoning Squall, then Sora, then Demyx.

"Why'd I have to be last?"

Cloud could hear the pout in Demyx's voice, and he laughed.

"Saved the best for last, duh."

"What the fuck? I know you didn't say he was better than me!"

"Of course I am, Axel."

"You wish."

Cloud rolled his eyes, whispering Squall.

To [Leonhart242: Sorry, my friends can be rather..nutty?

[Leonhart242 whispers: It's okay, mine can be rather out there. Not as far out as your friends are, but they can be a little crazy.

Cloud smiled to himself and lit another cigarette.

To [Leonhart242: Just ignore Axel, he tends to lose his sanity, quite often.

[Leonhart242 whispers: I've noticed. anyway, let's do this damn 'instance'!

"Alright, is everyone ready? 'Buffs' please."

Squall and Axel put buffs on the entire group. Satisfied, Cloud lead the way into the instance, growling when Axel got ahead of him.

"Damn it, Axel. Don't run off!"

"I'm not...Oh shit, I fell. AHH! LIZARDS!"

"Fucking dumbass."

Cloud jumped off the ledge, trying to find where Axel was. Sora sent his pet after the 'mobs' surrounding Axel.

"Fried lizard!"

"You're disgusting, Axel."

"But you love me, Sora."

"Sadly."

Squall sighed on his end of the computer, pressing the button to 'target' Axel and heal him. He followed Cloud and the others down the stairway and into the instance. Sora pulled the two mobs in front of the group, waiting until they were away from the other mobs, Cloud charged after them. Axel laughed maniacally, throwing a fireball at one of the trolls.

"Eat that you bitch ass, troll!"

"I should let you die."

"Squall, Axel, shush."

Cloud sighed, proceeding farther into the instance. This was going to be a very long and annoying run through.

XXX

Finally, after about 4.5 hours, they were finished. Done, done with the goddamn instance.

"Good job you guys, didn't take us too long."

"So says you, my wife's been nagging me to get off."

"Yeah, I need to get some sleep. Before I die!"

"Yeah, Axel, you die. I'd like to see that day."

"Oh shut up, Sora."

Cloud laughed softly, he had to admit he loved his friends. If anything else, they kept him occupied.

"I'll stop by your place later tonight Axel, with some pizza and beer. Sora, Demyx, you in?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Count me in, gives me and excuse to spend sometime away from Zexion."

"Alright, see you guys then."

"Bye!"

Cloud logged out of the TS sever, pulling up his WoW screen and getting ready to exit it. However before he could, a whisper popped up.

[Leonhart242 whispers: Thanks for the run, I had a good time. Even though that Axel fellow was a pain.

Cloud smirked, shaking his head slightly.

To [Leonhart242: Yeah, he can be. He's a good friend though. I'm logging for the day, hit me up some other time.

[Leonhart242 whispers: Sure thing, we should do some questing together. I had fun.

To [Leonhart242: Alright, I'm done. Bye for now.

[Leonhart242 whispers: See ya, Cloud.

With that, Cloud logged out of WoW, pushing himself away from the computer desk. He rose to his feet, turning the computer off and walking out of the room. He walked into the kitchen, his heart sinking a bit when he saw Aeris standing over the sink, her hands shaking while she washed dishes. If Cloud had to guess she was probably still upset with him for what he said. He swallowed hard, and took a step forward, wrapping his arms around his lovers waist. He kissed the side of her neck, whispering apologies into her ear. She turned in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I love you, Cloud." She mumbled out against his shirt, stroking her fingertips against the side of his neck.

Cloud just nodded, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. I mean, he loved her, if he didn't, he wouldn't be marrying her...Right?

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Authors Note: So, I hope everyone enjoyed. Tell me if you liked it. I thought it was something new to try out. And yes, this story is base on true events, like I said. Just obviously it was between a man and woman. And the apostrophe's were taken off after something was mentioned more than once, because I figured you guys got the idea. P Enjoy.