Rated T: I can't promise pristine language, nor can I promise the absence of violence... or comprimising situations.
Summary: Set a year after the events of Advent Children, the Strifes are on their way to starting their family life. However, it might not be in the way they had hoped... or expected. Humour and Romance guaranteed. Cloud/Tifa.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, names of towns or anything related to Final Fantasy 7, Square Enix and such. I do, however, own my original characters.
This story is predominately drama free, and totally angst free! I love a good drama story, but I also love to read those laid back, family oriented stories that have a plot. So, if that's your thing, this is for you.
Pre-A/N: Since my inbox is getting a few questions regarding later chapters, I'm adding this in at the start.
For fuck sake, FFVII isn't just AC.
Advent Children is a tiny span of time after the epic events of the game. If you haven't played the game and only seen the movie, I really do suggest playing it. Else, you won't understand some of the things going on here.
One year post Advent Children.
7th Heaven, EDGE.
2:36am
The 7th Heaven had closed over half an hour ago. Halogen bulbs illuminated the dining area, adding a mild warmth to the room that just managed to cut through the chill of winter nights.
"This is the last night. We made a promise and this is the last night!" Tifa let out a loud sigh and slumped forward onto her elbows. The table was damp with spilt liqour, wine and beer. Her steel tumbler slipped from her fingers, its contents adding to the wet mess.
"T-teefah... how 'kin yoo hol-*belch*-hold your drink sho well?" The patron opposite her practically gargled his words, cheek down on the leather covered table; oblivious to any and everything.
"Lets just get you out of here, I don't want you vomiting all over my floor."
She hopped up and spent several minutes attempting to lift the man onto his own legs. His dead weight didn't help, being the large man that he was. After moving him halfway out of the chair, she simply dragged the man by his arms out onto the wooden steps. The night was bitterly cold. She reached up to rub her arms before jogging back inside to call a taxi; glancing sidewards to the man through the window. Utterly inebriated, she knew she couldn't just leave him outside, lest he freeze.
Minutes passed as she waited; busying herself with cleaning the bar, slipping glasses into the dishwasher and cashing up the tills. When the taxi finally arrived, she handed the driver a 20 gil note, looked down at the sleeping drunk and handed the driver another 5 gil in change.
"Make sure he gets home please," she chided. The driver chuckled at her pointing finger, his breath condensing in the air.
"I always do!" He grabbed the drunk by the underarms, she grabbed his legs and together they carried the man into the back seat.
"Take it easy, Tifa." The driver gave her a small wave as he dropped into the driver's seat and started the rickety engine.
"You too! Goodnight, Mark." She gave a brief wave back and turned to look at their home, which she found herself scrutinizing with lowered brows. A sigh passed her pouted, rosy lips. "Alone again."
Her legs carried her slowly up the steps and into the bar as the sound of the engine disappeared. After locking the door, she yanked on the window blind's cord, dropping them with a crunch onto the windowsill and, finally, spun the door sign to 'CLOSED' before making her way upstairs.
Tifa removed her boots at the top of the stairs and placed them to the left, where they stored most shoes. Silently, she tiptoed through the hallway and ever so carefully pushed the first bedroom door open. The hinges let out a reluctant squeal. She cringed at the sound, holding the door in place as she slipped her head into the small opening. Satisfied that Marlene and Denzel were asleep, she left the door slightly ajar and moved into the living room.
Her gazed passed over the dining table. She took in a deep breath of air and slowly released it, the apartment was so peaceful, it was almost over. Only a box and small package were left for delivery, one more round trip at most, perhaps not even a full day away from home and then he would be here.
Her eyelids fell shut as her mind wandered. After years of separation mentally, physically but oftentimes both; he would finally come back. She couldn't hold back her a shuddering breath, unsure if it was due to the cold, or that she had waited for so many long, painful years.
The scent of engine oil caught her attention; the soft breeze shifted and a pair of hands gently rested on her hips. She smiled and tilted her head, leaning back.
"Sorry, that last delivery was in Junon," Cloud whispered. He'd become more mindful of his voice lately, not that he was loud, but he still worried about waking the kids.
"It's fine, I wasn't expecting you back until early morning, anyway." She reclined into his chest.
"I wanted to come home." He applied gentle pressure with his fingers; glad that he'd removed his ragged gloves, just touching her seemed to sooth his aching fingers.
"No more deliveries?"
"Just those two."
"No more leaving me alone, cold, in bed, because you don't like the heater and still haven't shown me how to use it?"
"Tifa... It's not that I don't like the heater. I don't trust it," he stated vehemently; they'd discussed this before.
She just turned her eyes up at him. "So, is that a yes or a no?"
"No more nights with no heater," he continued; setting the record straight.
It began to dawn on her that finally, they could relax in each other's company without fearing the alarm clock, or the beating of small hands on the door followed by, "Cloud! Carrie in Kalm lost her... and she needs you to deliver a new one! She said she'd pay..." A devilish smirk played at her lips as she reached her hands down to cover his, thumbing his ice-cold fingers. It didn't matter how much Carrie wanted to smother him, it just wasn't going to happen.
"Since we're going to be closed for the weekend, I used some of the best meat and vegies up." She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "Yours is in the oven, would you like for me to warm it up?"
After giving her a small pat on the waist, he backed away from her. "It's fine. I'm too hungry to wait." Heading for the oven, he yanked open the huge fridge door on the way and grabbed a bottle of water.
Tifa followed behind him, grabbing the door before it could close and pulled a beer can from one of the many shelves. She let it shut on its own and walked over to the sofa; throwing herself down into its huge cushions with a relaxed sigh, she popped the can open.
Anyone watching from the outside wouldn't have thought it a particularly eventful or momentous evening. However, as Tifa sat there, watching Cloud squeeze the remnants of his drink past his parched lips, she couldn't help but bite her bottom lip with excitement.
7th Heaven
Two weeks ago.
"Have a good night!" I called out after the last two customers. As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, I ran up to it and flicked all three bolt, spun the 'OPEN' sign to 'CLOSED' and didn't even bother to close the blinds.
My shoulders slumped as I let out a deep breath, leaning back against the doorframe. The bar had been so busy lately that I just couldn't cope with the amount of customers and general workload.
Nanaki had offered to help. With the aid of some strategic kisses I'd managed to palm the explanation of health and safety off on Cloud. It saved me one heck of an awkward conversation. Besides, those two got along rather well.
At the very least he would come upstairs to see us, sometimes even his mate, Lynnea would come along. She was a graceful, inexplicably kind creature; similar in build to her partner, only she smaller and had a slight lavender tinge to her fur. Marlene and Denzel just couldn't help themself when they brought along the youngest edition to their feline family, Harcos. The cute little pup was only three months old and was no larger than a small house cat.
I couldn't help but smile, that little family were strangely intriguing, terrifyingly strong, yet so kind and compassionate.
Vincent, Barret, Cid, Reeve and even Shera had all been too busy to help at all.
Yuffie, strangely, had been a little saint. Offering to help me with taking orders and serving food during her two week holiday from work. She didn't want to accept any wages, but there was no way I could let her leave every day without some kind of payment. So, I'd cook her breakfast, lunch and dinner. It seemed to appease the younger girl and it cleared my conscience, too.
Even then, with the extra pair of hands, the last few days had been absolute hell. We'd been inundated with customers; often having to shut the bar hours earlier than normal, since we just didn't have any more food left to serve.
I turned off all the lights and wobbled up the stairs into our modest apartment. It wasn't exactly small, but with so many boxes, packages and piles of mismatched paperwork around, it certainly seemed that way. Having successfully slipped through the piles of mail, I kicked off my boots and threw myself unceremoniously onto the sofa.
"Tired?"
I blinked and sat up. My cheeks burned with embarassment as I realised my feet had landed in the middle of Cloud's chest. "I'm so sorry, Cloud! I didn't realise you were home already!"
He just smiled and shook his head. "I needed to plan routes for the next week. I'll be gone for a while."
My shoulder's slumped again; I hated hearing that. "Okay," I sighed.
"What's wrong?" He asked innocently. I tilted my head. My feet were blocking his view, but I could tell he was looking at me. I tilted my feet in both directions so I could see him.
"We've just been so busy recently, I was hoping you'd be around to help out."
He reached his hands up and held my feet between his fingers and thumbs. I groaned quietly as he ran small circles through my socks, soothing my aching soles. "Sorry, Tifa."
"Why don't you just stop the delivery service? You could work with me." I closed my eyes and dropped my head onto the fluffy cushions. "We could build an extention onto the building since there's so much empty space next to us. Put in an open view kitchen behind the counter, hire more staff..." I rambled; my thoughts suddenly moving at breakneck speeds. I wasn't quite sure why I was voicing them, though.
"If that's what you want." His voice was level, familiar. It never failed to relax me. His hands, meanwhile, were working pure magic on my tired feet. I couldn't beli- wait. Waaaait a minute.
I raised myself up with my elbows and blew a stray strand of hair from my eyes. "What did you say?" I asked him, my eyes wide with shock and a glimmer of hope.
His eyebrows met in the middle while looking at me as though I had two heads. "I said, if that's what you want."
I blinked once. Twice. I yanked my feet away from him and scurried to my hands and knees, crawling over him. His expression shifted to one of shock; eyes were wide open and occasionally blinking as I looked between them, searching for any hint of a joke.
I shook my head. "I wouldn't ask you to do this if-"
"I know."
I bit my bottom lip. "It's not like I want to stop you fr-"
"I know." He nodded, flashing me a small lopsided smile.
Maybe it was because I'd been so tired or the amount of stress I'd been under. Maybe even because it was late and I was hungry. I didn't know why, but tears welled up in my eyes. I fell on top of him and buried my head into his chest; sobbing quietly, unashamedly.
"Are you okay?" His voice echoed his concern as he held on to my shoulders. "Are you hurt? Did something happen?"
I laughed through sniffles, slamming the bottom of my fist into his arm as I squeezed the collar of his shirt with my other hand. "I'm fine. I'm just so... I don't know. It's been so hard recently with the kids, the bar, housework... I never get a break."
It wasn't nice pouring this onto him all in one go. He'd been oblivious, not that it was his fault. He had his issues and problems to deal with, too.
His arms rested across my back. "Sorry... for not being able to help," he said quietly, his voice laced with guilt.
I shook my head and sniffed. "It's not your fault, Cloud."
We laid in silence for a few moments, my tears gradually drying up as I listened to his heartbeat. He just laid still, but not stiffly; allowing me time to relax.
"It will take some time to deliver the last packages and tell people the service is closing."
"That's fine."
"I'll still have to leave for a while."
"That's okay." Feelings of excitement and guilt rushed through me. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked him.
He laid in silence for a few moments. "The income from the bar is more than good. I'd get to be at home all the time and that beats having to drive all over the world."
I frowned and lifted my head to look into his blue, glimmering eyes that had already focused on me. "But... I thought you enjoyed it?"
He shrugged. "It was fun for a while, but now I just dread having to drive all the way to Corel or Rocket Town."
My eyes fell closed as I felt my body truly relax. His warmth was making me sleepy. "Teaching you how to cook will be fun," I chuckled through my words and returned to the warmth of his body.
His hands reached over to my back, running small circles over my shoulderblades for some time. It could have been hours, I wasn't sure.
"Let's get some sleep," he whispered. I barely managed a nod.
We woke up that morning in the exact same positions.
I had to give him a back rub before he could drive.
7th Heaven, EDGE
Present Day
The offensive ringing of my alarm clock finally came to an end. I retreated into my pillow; yanked the duvet over my head as I stretched my legs and let out a long, jaw-aching yawn. I didn't want to wake up yet. Not yet. Please, not yet.
It took me several minutes to gather the resolve, but I finally managed to kick away the sea of downy comfort and hop to my feet. I stepped towards the window and took a moment to glance through the drapes, smiling at the sight of the back yard; deviod of both Cloud and Fenrir.
After throwing on my blue jeans and a skin tight, white t-shirt, I started towards the door. Pausing, I backstepped, my peripheral vision spotting a small, yellow piece of paper on my dresser. I picked it up and scanned over the scratchy handwriting.
Tifa,
Last two packages. Kalm and Bill. Back by lunch.
Love you,
Cloud.
P.S: Postmaster left a box, put it in the bar. It's heavy, be careful.
It may have said something entirely different, it was impossible to tell with Cloud's awful Chocobo scratch writing. It was always easy to make out the middle part, though. I raised on my toes and fell back onto my heels with a sigh. Despite it being cold, I felt a wave of warmth pass through me. Cloud was never back by lunch, which meant these were the last two packages.
"The last packages!" I couldn't hide my excitement, not even from myself. A smile worked my lips, I couldn't help it. The day had suddenly become much brighter, despite the pouring rain outside.
I took a quick glance at the alarm clock. "It's not turned seven yet, plenty of time!"
I strode into the kitchen and quickly poured myself a cup of steaming coffee from the machine. I noticed that he'd even left out the sugar, milk and a pork sandwich from last night. So, with mug in hand and sandwich in mouth; I made my way down into the bar and flipped the lights on.
After finishing my sandwich, I went to work tearing open the large box. My eyes lit up as I looked over the goodies inside. New knives of all shapes and sizes; copper pots, non-stick frying pans and an electric griddle over three feet wide underneath all of that. Not to mention that this was only the first of three deliveries.
I hopped up and stretched my arms, breathing out with renewed vigor for a long day of setting up and preparing.
"Perfect!"
A/N:
Please read and review. This is a new story and my second attempt at uploading. Reviews with constructive criticism will go a long way in helping me out, I won't bite back if you're trying to help out.
So, this story is set post-AC, post-Tifa and Cloud falling madly in love. Let's just face it, anyone reading this is a Tifa/Cloud fan, and I'm aiming for a different story without rehashing something that's been done better elsewhere.
Bonus points to anyone who can work out what the two new feline's names mean. As in, BIG bonus points! No, Carrie. You're not allowed.
All the best.