Every Now and Then Chapter 1, a final fantasy vii fanfic

Every Now and Then

Happy Birthday, Motchi!

(-Chapter One-)

Cool air blew in through the tiny space between the doors of Seventh Heaven, sending light, warming chills through Tifa's body as she cleaned the windows. Goosebumps danced over her arms and warm breath fogged the glass as she polished away, rough paper towels in one hand and spritzer bottle in the other. Outside, she could see Cloud coming up the walkway, Marlene slung over his shoulder and Denzel walking along beside him, grinning and talking about something.

Suddenly the three of them burst into laughter, and she couldn't help the smile that tugged at her mouth. Three distinct voices, one complete sound. It rang beautifully in the crisp, mid-morning air, and Tifa knew that such things were how their world was meant to be.

If only they could be like that always. They weren't, of course, but every now and then she caught a glimpse of the things she'd stored up for herself. She was a woman who invested in people.

Tifa backed away from the double doors and retreated to the bar, just as Cloud swung one of them open and entered the room, Marlene draped over both shoulders like a scarf, and Denzel following close behind. Cloud's eyes were crinkling in the corners, the way they always did when he gave off a genuine smile. Marlene was all grins and giggles, and Denzel was chuckling.

"I got you guh - ahp!" Marlene shouted down to the boy; her good-natured satisfaction was drowned out by a sudden yelp as Cloud slid her from one shoulder and completely off to the side. She dangled upside-down near his hip, laughing in fits as her tiny hands flew to the hem of her dress to keep it from slipping. "Okay. Okay! Put me down!" she cried, a smile on her face all the while. Cloud obediently did as he was asked, righting the little girl's balance on the floor before righting himself, greeting Tifa with a bright-eyed grin.

Warmth spread through Tifa's chest as she took him in, light and feathery hair bobbing as he moved, cheeks flushed pink with wintery wind and horseplay. She smiled back, eyes catching his and holding them there. "You kids head on upstairs and get ready," she said. "And take your gifts with you."

Cloud approached the bar as the very animated Marlene and Denzel rushed past him towards the decorative table, gathering their presents by the armful and taking the steps two at a time. Tifa reached out behind the counter and retrieved a bottle of cranberry wine from the miniature refrigerator, setting it on the bartop. "Be back in a second," she said, walking over to gather the scraps of paper littering her floor.

Just as the children flew back downstairs and disappeared with another load, she heard heavy scuffing outside. Peering through the glare of the late morning sun on the crystals dotting the edges of her windows, she spotted Barret ambling along the side of the building. She flashed a smile at Cloud just as he burst through the door.

"Hey!" he boomed. "Happy Anniversary! ...Or somethin'," he chuckled.

"Hello, Barret," Tifa returned, giving a small wave as she deposited the wrappings into a bag and set them aside. "Same to you."

Barret lumbered over and clapped Cloud on the back. "Looks like a tornado come right through here. Want help wit' that?" he added, looking back at Tifa.

"That's all right," she said, picking up the last bits. "I think I'm done here."

"Oh! Got somethin' for you. Be back in a minute."

Cloud and Tifa exchanged curious glances as Barret disappeared out the door. Within seconds, Denzel had hopped down the stairs again, with Marlene hot on his heels. "Is Papa here?" she asked.

There was the slam of a truck door, and Barret was back inside, carrying a huge log of seasoned wood with him. "Hey, Marlene!" he called over the load in his arms. "How's my little girl?"

"Good!" she smiled, not rushing for him just yet, seeing he was carrying something rather heavy.

"Hey, Denzel! You ready for a trip?"

The boy nodded at Barret as he set the log in the fireplace, on the far side of the room.

"S'not much," Barret said, "but I saw it an' thought you two might enjoy a nice, quiet night by the fire." He hoisted Marlene up on his shoulder and walked over to put his other arm around Denzel and draw him close. "We've got a good weekend planned for the kids," he chuckled. "Elmyra's cooked a feast, and everyone's gonna gather in the center of town after dark tomorrow, to plant in the Memorial Garden."

"That will be so lovely," Tifa said, skirting the counter. "You two run upstairs and get your things. And...thank you, Barret."

Barret set Marlene down, and she followed Denzel up to their room. He turned to the blonde. "So, how've things been with the delivery business?"

Cloud shook his head, smiling. "Hectic. I could barely handle it. Everything you see around here," he nodded to the potted saplings lining the walls, the lights adorning the ceiling above the bar, "Tifa did herself. I was running all over the place like a chocobo with its head cut off."

"Damn, Spike."

"Yeah," Cloud sighed. He was interrupted by the loud clunking of luggage on the stairs.

"We're ready!" Denzel exclaimed, as they both rushed to the side of the counter and waited patiently for Tifa to emerge from the bar and give them their goodbye hugs.

"Have fun, you two," she said, wrapping them into her arms. "Be on your best behavior for Elmyra. And enjoy yourselves!"

The children made their way over to Cloud, and he bent down and gave them each a hug in turn, something he didn't do very often, Tifa noticed. Cloud was always ready to horse around, but he was sparing with more obvious, outward signs of affection, especially with the boy. Cloud guided Marlene back around to face her father, and he ruffled Denzel's hair. "Go crazy," he said.

Barret gave Cloud a slight frown and laughed. "Sure. You guys relax, an' I get all the fuss." He turned to go, both of the kids dragging their bags behind them. As they disappeared through the door, he waved at Cloud and Tifa over his shoulder. "Take it easy, now."

Once Barret and the children were gone and the noise had died down, Cloud and Tifa found themselves in an awkward sort of silence. Tifa couldn't remember the last time she had a minute to herself to sit alone and think, much less any time alone with Cloud, who seemed to have the same problem. She did owe Barret, she realized; they had been preparing for the holiday all week, both of them worked to exhaustion during the season's swell of business. To her, it seemed that it had been 'the holidays' for an entire month.

The holiday, christened 'The Rebirth', was only in its fourth year running. In remembrance of the Planet's salvation, there was a celebration held the world over during the transition from winter to spring, marking the Planet's miraculous rebirth in the wake of Holy. Presents were given to symbolize the living, breathing circle of life bestowing more life; all manner of blossoms and saplings were planted to ensure that such life would carry on.

The idea had caught on quickly, and like any other holiday, opportunity was to be found around every corner. Busy shoppers came and went, passing through the bar, and Cloud truly was running himself ragged. It was such a relief to be able to shut down for the main event, to finally have a break, that Tifa almost didn't know what to do with the time.

There was a scraping sound against the wood floor as Cloud stood from his seat. Tifa was snapped from her thoughts, and her hand unconsciously darted out to grab his arm. As soon as she made contact, she realized what she was doing, and her grip slackened.

"You don't...have anywhere to be, do you?"

Cloud smiled apologetically. "Actually, I do have one more bundle to deliver," he said, "but I should be home by nightfall."

Tifa blinked back the foreboding in her gut and managed a small smile. "All right, then," she said. "Do you need me to get a coat for you?"

"No," he shook his head. "Mine's right over there." He motioned to the thick jacket draped over a chair in the corner.

She hadn't seen that there. It seemed to fit though, Cloud always being prepared to make a run. She bit back a tiny, laughing wince at that. She never could hold onto him, no matter how hard she tried; he had a mind of his own, and though sometimes it made things hard on her, she didn't have any desire to change that, not after all the time he had spent being unable to think for himself. Skittish and closed off sometimes, but every bit himself and no longer a shadow of someone else, a man she didn't know.

Besides, things weren't always so tough. And every now and then, he would prove to her that it was somehow worth it all, be it a look or a smile, or the barest hint of true joy she thought she saw in him when he was playing with the kids. When he could forget for just one moment that there ever was a Sephiroth, or a Meteor, or a boy named Zack with a flower-girl love named Aerith. Every now and then, her patience was rewarded in full. It was those moments that helped her to persevere.

When she thought about it, she couldn't remember a time before Meteor when Cloud had been living life for himself. If he needed time, space, whatever, she could deal with that. Only she had really been missing him.

"Cloud?"

He stopped half-way through the door to look back at her. "Yeah?"

Tifa smiled softly from her spot in the middle of the room, not quite sure when she'd begun following him. "You will be back tonight, won't you?"

She loved him, that much was certain. But there were times, especially during that particular season, when she felt that lonely ache. It was, after all, a time for remembrance. Maybe he would visit the church. Or maybe he would go and deliver the package like he'd said, and be done with it. But he would have to return sometime. She was his home, she was sure. The heart always returned to its first love, didn't it?

Cloud nodded. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." Then he cast her his best reassuring smile, before heading to the garage to pick up the last bag of well-wishes and ride out.

End Chapter One

Note, Feb. 09, 2007: I'm a CloTi virgin, but it's Kim's birthday, and what Kim wants, Kim gets. There's more to this, but it needs a little polishing. It was going to be a oneshot, but it kind of got away from me, and became longish and interesting. I wanted to get something posted today, to mark the occassion, so this is chapter 1. This will be a brief three or four-parter fic, and I hope I am able to do the pairing justice, or at least not butcher it completely.

New territory for me, so feedback, concrit, reviews, etc. are much appreciated!