A/N: It has been years since I wrote a fanfic here but old feels came back and reading a lot of good VinTif and CloTi fanfics got me itching to write again. I hope you enjoy this one!

Ribbons and Swords

Part 1 - Ribbons

Summary: [Twoshot - DenzelxCloudxMarlene friendship/family with hints of CloudxTifa]

When Tifa decides to take the weekend off, it's Cloud's turn to take care of the children.

Warning: un-betaed and rusty fanfic writing. Please excuse my bad storytelling and let me know of any mistakes! Thanks!

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, characters and everything else associated with the Final Fantasy world belong to Square Enix.

Cloud scratched the back of his head as he tried his best to tie the damn ribbon exactly how Aeris tied hers. It was something that she had wanted to do everyday in remembrance of the beautiful Ancient.

"How the hell does Tifa do this everyday and make it look perfect?"

"Owww! Cloud you're hurting me!" Marlene pouted at Cloud's third failed attempt.

"Didn't Tifa teach you how to tie your own ribbon?" Cloud let out another frustrated sigh.

"No...Tifa doesn't mind doing this for me. Keeps her busy and it's a tradition between us! I can tie my own shoelaces though, see?"

Here she showed him her perfectly tied shoe-laces and reminded him of the Moogle-Chocobo children's shoe-tying song, "The moogle goes around and under the chocobo and then-"

"Ok, I think I got it his time!" Cloud interrupted before she could finish the song.

She arched a brow but noticed the satisfied look of his face at the results.

Ecstatic, Marlene scrambled to her feet and dashed over to the giant mirror in the bathroom, only to frown at the lopsided ribbon and eventually it undid itself and fell to the floor.

"Ahh damnit! Why can't I get it right?!"

Cloud slumped to the floor with his legs crossed and ran his hand wildly through his hair, "Oh why did Tifa decide to go to the spa with Yuffie in Wutai for the weekend?! How am I going to survive without her? God I miss her so much."

Marlene frowned as she watched Cloud practically ball up into a fetal position.

Sure, she and Denzel was a handful this morning and today was obviously not Cloud's day. One being that she woke up rather grumpy and whined for Tifa's chocobo-pie and strawberry milk.

Cloud had panicked and tried to find some in the pantry but told her that someone unfortunately ate the last piece of dessert last night.

Marlene became very upset and threw a small tantrum. It couldn't be helped. She was not a morning person and hungry. Tifa always found ways to calm her down. Papa would usually have a hard time and usually tried to cheer her up by throwing her up and down in the air.

Marlene could see the guilt in Cloud's mako eyes telling her that he was the culprit and apologized several times, promising her hat he'd make it up to her. Adult men and their appetites.

And then Denzel had accidentally knocked over one of Tifa's expensive alcohol bottles, a gift from Nanaki, Grey Chocobo, which was maybe a few years old. Cloud had tried to hide the evidence and cleaned it up as best as he can, while trying to calm a very anxious Denzel down.

Cloud had been patient but he wasn't so good with the household chores or the traditions that she and Tifa shared.

Cloud was better off playing Blitzball or Triple Triad with Denzel in this hot summer day.

With a gentle smile, knowing how hard he was trying to be Tifa for the day, she went up to Cloud and placed small hands on both his shoulders before patting them like her Papa usually did when she was feeling down, "There, there. You have tried and that's all that matters."

Cloud looked up and saw the genuine heart of Marlene and noticed just how much she took after Tifa, despite her not being Tifa's real daughter.

But the 3 years since Marlene had been under both their care, it felt like they were a real family.

With Denzel now as sort of an 'adoptive' son under their roof as well, it couldn't get any better.

Cloud nodded and pulled Marlene into a embrace, picking her up so that her feet dangled just a few feet from the floor, "Thanks Marle, you're the best."

He playfully squeezed her tightly and she stifled a giggle, "Cloooouuuudddd, I can't breathe..."

Cloud finally let her go and faced her with a big grin, "Now then, how does that Moogle-Chocobo song goes? Maybe it'll work with tying ribbons?"

Marlene returned a cheeky smile and pulled out the popular Lenne songstress doll that Marlene received from Cloud and Tifa for Chrismas, and they practiced trying ribbons with the fake doll hair, while reciting the Moogle-Chocobo lyrics slowly.

~Owari