A/N: Cloti,,,, hope u like it..
"Family Outing: Part 1"
By K.T. Selner
There it was; the bright sun, shining down at the twinkling particles of the sand. Ruffles forming on the water, people running around with almost nothing on, big umbrellas that add color to the beautiful view of Costa del Sol. Costa del Sol were the place to relax, a place where people tend to enjoy the heat of the summer. It was a sparkling view of paradise.
Tifa Lockheart stood on the stairs that made a path to the beach. She was looking over at the bright happy place she was in. Wearing only a black sleeveless shirt, a very mini shorts and a big sun hat, she looks like a goddess.
"Wow! The beach looks amazing!" She spoke as she noticed a familiar someone was behind her.
"Come on Tifa, I already checked in." the blonde warrior said and walked way.
Tifa turned around to see Cloud with the two kids they both have agreed to adopt, both children on his side holding their hands and their bag over his shoulder. Marlene and Cloud was laughing at Denzel when he tripped but Cloud had prevented his face meeting the hot sand. Tifa chuckled at the view. She knew Cloud was strong but he looks like he needed help so she ran to them and took the two kids away from him and let him carry the bags. If people were to judge, the blonde is a young father who has two children and Tifa was a young mother and a wife.
The room that Cloud got them was quite large. It was divided into two and has a door connecting each side: one for the girls and one for the boys. Tifa and Marlene have settled themselves, put their things properly on the cabinet and arranged their toiletries on the bathroom. But on the other side of the wall, the two boys, an adult and a child rather, just threw their bags on the side and didn't bother to unpack. Cloud lay on his back with his eyes closed tired of all the driving he did to get to paradise. He wanted to enjoy this time with the family but then again, exhaustion was always with him. He was starting to relax but Denzel interrupted him.
"Cloud?"
"Hmm?"
"I want to go to the beach already."
"Knock on the other room" he said and turned his back to Denzel.
"But Cloud, aren't you gonna join us?" a small frown appeared on his face.
"I'll follow when I get some rest, okay?" he mumbled and went back to relaxing
Though Denzel was disappointed, he reminded himself that Cloud was the one with the idea and the one who drove all the way from Edge. He still came with them, and maybe later when he has enough energy, he'll join in the fun. Just as when Denzel was about to knock on the door, it burst open. He was knocked out of the way.
"Oopps!" It was Marlene. "Sorry Denzel" she went to his side to look for possible injuries. She was like Tifa now, always concerned.
"I'm fine Marlene" he shook her hand away.
"Tifa said it's time to go to the beach!" Denzel nodded and went to the bathroom to change attire.
Marlene then saw the sleeping Cloud and went to his bedside. He had his back on her. She had to wake him up. He was wasting time on the bed. Marlene then poked his back but he didn't stir. She tried harder but the pressure from her little hand couldn't possible take effect on the warrior's back muscles. She got tired of the poking game that no one was enjoying.
"Tifa!!!" she screamed. Tifa then quickly ran from the other side who looked concerned. Then she saw Marlene just standing on the side of the bed where Cloud was sleeping.
"He wouldn't wake up Tifa…" she said worriedly. "Is Cloud sick?"
Tifa chuckled then went where Marlene was. "No sweetie, he just wants to sleep." She said and looked at Cloud, breathing slowly. Then she realized that he should have fun with them. "No, I don't think that he will. Come on Marlene" she said with a big grin on her face and sat at the end of the bed. She had her finger on her lips gesturing to shush Marlene as she was giggling already. Tifa was ready to tickle Cloud on his sides but she jumped when he grabbed her on her waist and slammed her on the bed ready to tickle her. He had his legs on her sides so she can't move. Cloud was tickling her to death. The laughter from her made Denzel run out of the bathroom and saw both adults acting like children.
"Come on Tifa! You're too good for this!" He said challenging her.
"Cloud! Hahahaha! Please! Stop!" she begged, she was out of breath. Her hands were waving in the air trying to grip on Cloud's muscular arm.
"No, I won't Tifa" he was having fun as she stirred on the bed but can't escape his grasp. "I can do this all day! Hahahahaha!"
Tifa tried again to get hold of Cloud's arms but when she forcefully raised her hand, it met his face. "AWWW!" Cloud yelped and held his nose. He stayed in the position where he had Tifa in between his thighs, shocked. Tifa carefully reached a hand to remove his. Cloud backed away from Tifa with his eyes welling up. "I'm sorry Cloud, it was an accident."
"Let me see it Cloud." Tifa ordered. Cloud just ignored her. "Come on Cloud! I thought you could tickle me all day?"
Cloud then glared at her. "You cheated."
"What?!"
"You punched me Tifa! And that's unfair." Cloud said removing his hand from his face.
"Oh my!" She was chuckle a little when she saw tiny speck of blood coming out of his nose with a little bruise on it. She reached her hand to touch it but Cloud slapped it away. "You're such a baby Cloud. Let me fix it. Okay?"
Cloud hesitated at first but he trusted her with this. He was twitching every time Tifa accidentally hit the wrong spot while putting a small bandage on it.
"We'll go to the beach, just follow if you want to." Tifa said softly after she let Cloud lie again on his bed.
"Tifa…" he called "its fine… It's my fault too. Give me a minute. Go on ahead, I'll change and I'll catch up…" Tifa nodded and smiled.
Marlene and Denzel was playing on the sand, making sand castles, running around, splashing water everywhere, checking out shells and teasing crabs. Kids are such carefree and both are having fun.
"Marlene!" Denzel called.
"What?"
"Check this out!" Denzel was holding a very nice seashell that was big enough to cover his hand. It was white with light green streaks on it. "We can give it to Tifa!"
"Yeah!" Marlene said and ran towards her guardian and called her with Denzel behind her. "TIFA!"
Tifa sat up from lying down on the sand. "Tifa look!!" Denzel said and passed the shell to Tifa.
"Guys, this is beautiful. Thank you." Tifa said
"Just keep it Tifa." Denzel again ran to the beach with Marlene.
"Kids! Be careful! Don't swim where I can't see you!!!"
Tifa shouted at them then went back to her sun bathing. She was only wearing a black sexy bikini with little straps on them. Lying on a blanket on the sand with a big colorful umbrella, she looked up at the cloudless bright sky. It was so peaceful. She inhaled and thought of things. She was still thinking about the bar, her job, her kids, her so called spiky partner, her made up family. Still worried about them and what's going to come. She shook her head removing her thoughts and was trying to find a happy place, not that thinking about the loving family she has, she just want her mind to went blank. She was still hearing the laughs from the kids so she isn't worried that they might do something naughty. Then as she was appreciating the sky, a head popped out of nowhere to block out her sight.
"Hi miss!" she sat up immediately to her surprise.
"Hi!" she said looking at a man who she doesn't know with questions on her face.
"I'm Eric… just want to ask if you want to join us for a game of volleyball. We lack a player and my friends asked me to ask you."
"Tifa" she said and raised a hand for a handshake. "I would like to but… I…" she said then looked at the kids on the beach.
"Oooohhh! Kids?" he asked looking a bit overreacting.
Tifa smiled. "They're adopted."
"Why?"
"They needed a family."
"That's sweet… Anyway, just come over and join us if you change your mind."
"Thank you for the offer Eric. See you around." Just as when Eric started to walk away. Tifa saw a familiar figure on the beach walking towards her: Cloud. He was wearing an orange short with a towel on his shoulder; his torso has visible battle scars especially the two who had been stabs from the one winged angel but his arms, shoulders, chest, the six-pack abs are things to look at the hero, though she saw him many times almost wearing nothing, she couldn't stop staring at him especially the sun touching his perfectly toned muscles. His hair was blonde with spikes that can defy gravity, his face was usually serious and there's one thing that brighten up the staid face: his blue mako eyes. But, as of today, there's a flaw in all that handsome description of Cloud: his nose has a small bandage covering a small bruise from the accident a little earlier. Tifa unconsciously grinned at the view of the injury, which she caused.
"Happy to see me, aren't you?" Cloud said when he reached the place where Tifa was and sat down beside her, putting down his belongings.
"Of course! I thought you were still mad and going to bury yourself on the bed."
"I was gonna, but I remembered that this was supposed to be the time to be with you." He said and looked at her, smiling. "And just wearing that?" he pointed at the swimsuit Tifa was wearing, then blushed, then looked away, "I'd never want miss that…"
Tifa chuckled when he noticed her sexy outfit with a little red on her cheeks.
"Who was that anyway?" Cloud added and pointed at Eric who was now playing on a nearby beach court. Cloud then reached up at the small basket that Tifa brought and got the lotion and started to put some on his arms.
"He asked me to play volleyball with them." She answered and took the bottle from Cloud and helped him to put lotion on his back. He nodded to thank her and gestured her to turn around to put some on her back as well.
"Do you want to?" he asked as he rubbed the lotion on Tifa's neck.
"Well… I… uh" she can't answer. Of course, she wanted to be with him and her family but also want to enjoy herself with other people. That wasn't bad.
"I'm sure you do!" Cloud said when he saw her confused face. "I'll look after the kids…"
Tifa's smile widened when she had the permission from Cloud and stood up but before she got any further, Cloud called her and when she turned around he threw her mini shorts at her. She held it up with a quizzical expression on her face.
"Don't want anyone looking at that." he said pointing at the very small clothing enough to cover just her privates. "I'm sure at some time you'll get clumsy and fall while playing and I'm sure you'll get an audience when it happens" he added seriously not looking up at her, just sitting on the blanket looking at something. Tifa wore the shorts before going over at Eric's crowd.
"Cloud!!!" Marlene shouted with her hand waving and sitting on the sand with Denzel who's looking a little frustrated and uttering soft words while making the sand to stand still. Unfortunately, he was not lucky. Cloud walked over leaving his spot.
"Want me to help?" Cloud sat on the hot sand facing the unfinished castle.
"Yep! Make us something nice Cloud." Denzel said passing the small bucket to Cloud in defeat.
Using the tools that the kids bought at the mall before going on this trip, he started to make the base of the castle. He carefully added a little more pail shaped sand on top of to let it be higher. He added enough water to make it stand on its own. His fingers carved little windows on the tower and some details to make the roof more… roof like. It took him a while to do the castle but he saw the big smiles on his kid's faces so he was determined to finish the job. As long as they are happy, he's happy.
"Wow Cloud!!! You're good at this!" Marlene said cheerfully.
"'Course he is! He's a hero!" Cloud's face blushed when he heard that from Denzel.
"Uh Cloud? Where's Tifa?" Marlene changed the subject. Cloud just looked up and pointed where Tifa was. "Why isn't she with us?"
"I let her join them." Cloud answered unhappily.
"Why?" Denzel asked "I thought that this time, it would be for us."
"I know I said that but I think she also needed to be with others, not just us." Both kid frowned at Cloud's reply.
"But Cloud, don't you want to be with Tifa?" Marlene's question made him choke a little and wondered how the little girl knew that. He was sure that he wanted to be with Tifa but he also knew that he can't hold her back with her decisions and desires.
"She'll be back, I promise… Let's not be selfish here guys." He said smiling and assured the children by ruffling their heads. Cloud let the children play in the water while he sat near the castle he made. Thinking about what Marlene said he loudly sighed and let his body spread out on the hot sand, his back on it. He then looked at the direction where Tifa was. He saw her every graceful move while spiking the ball. Her hair was dancing in the air and shimmers as the sun hits it. Her face was bright and optimistic. Her body was toned with the same little scars like his, fewer though, but there's one on her chest, clearly visible on whoever looks at her. This was for him the reminder of everything she's been through and his still kept promise to her: the slash made by the famous Sephiroth on the day at the reactor. He tried not to think about it and shook his head. They were both alright, the kids are fine and everything will be well as long as he's there to protect them.
He saw her having fun, sometimes clapping her hands or throwing a fist in the air when they scored, laughing out loud when someone made a mistake and scratching the back of her neck when she fell down and Eric took her hand to pick her up. Yeah, she was having fun alright. He wondered if she'll have fun when she's with them, her family.
He was taken away from his thoughts when Tifa smiled and waved a hand in his direction. He did back at her.
"You're It Cloud!" Marlene shouted and touched his arm when he did his wave at Tifa.
"If you say so!" Cloud replied and ran for the two kids that were running around laughing. "I'm gonna get you!!!" He chased the kids like some child who's just their age and by this he had his own little fun.
Tifa always looks at her family from the minute she joined Eric's group. She saw Cloud doing the castle while the kids poured water on his head and making his fair fall down. She also saw the way Cloud ruffled the children's hair as if making a gesture to make them feel better. She saw the kids playing on the water and Cloud looking after them. He's like a real father. Tifa saw Cloud looking at her with those blue eyes so she waved at him. The last look at her family was the one she really liked, she saw Cloud chasing the kids in a joyful manner. He even tripped on a rock and his face met the sand the kids laughed so hard. She silently giggled at this but she missed the chance to be with them at that moment so the smile turned upside down.
"TIFA!" someone shouted from her side that made her come back to reality. She hit the ball but she went out of balance and fall on her butt… again.
"You okay?" Eric said and reached a hand.
Tifa nodded and accepted the hand and stood up.
"Come on! Wanna go grab food?" he asked. Tifa again confused about what to answer and looked at her family. Eric noticed and had to ask something.
"Is he your husband?"
"HUH! What? NO!" she explained nevously "He's a very good friend."
"Well, he's good alright, letting you adopt children." She was surprised at the words, knowing it was sarcastic. Then he spoke again "If he's a friend then, he doesn't mind you meeting and joining other people just for a snack right?"
"But… I…" Just was she was about to answer, Cloud approached the two carrying Marlene with one arm, holding Denzel on his other hand towels on his shoulder.
"Teef! Wanna go get some food." Tifa smiled at Cloud and turned her gaze to Eric.
"Well uh… Eric this is Cloud, Marlene and Denzel" she said pointing at them respectively. "Guys, this is Eric."
"Come on Tifa! Cloud said he's hungry" Denzel interrupted.
Cloud let go of Denzel's hand to offer a handshake.
"Cloud?" Eric asked as he reached a hand "Cloud Strife? The hero?"
Tifa nodded assuming Cloud wouldn't answer.
"Nevermind Tifa, just go with them." He said and walked away.
"Thanks Eric."
On the restaurant, the family was sitting at the far most corner; they were eating burgers, barbecues and fries. The kids were fighting using the fries after Denzel put ketchup all over Marlene's serving and she got annoyed, he knew she doesn't like ketchup. Marlene had her revenge by taking some of Cloud's and throw it at Denzel then Cloud started to join in the fight with him in the middle.
"Kids! Stop it…" Cloud said when he noticed Tifa was silent. He points at Tifa to let the kids notice too. Tifa was staring outside, her chin in her palm, her thoughts unknown to them.
"I think Cloud scared off Eric…" Denzel suddenly spoke at the fight settled down. Tifa looked at him surprised.
"Why?" Marlene spoke suddenly when she was about to talk.
"Of course, he's a hero Marlene!" Denzel confidently replied.
"But Tifa's a hero too!"
"I know but Cloud finished the battle."
"But Tifa was in the battle with the big monster."
"Cloud was the one who fought with the long silver haired guy!" the children started yelling at each other again that made Cloud and Tifa nothing to say.
"She fought Loz and she was great because she didn't use any weapon!"
"Well Cloud can do that too!!! He just like oversized swords!"
Just as Marlene was about to answer of how great Tifa was, Cloud put his hands over each kid's mouths. "Stop it…" he ordered "You're gonna make me and Tifa fight." He released their mouths and Denzel spoke again.
"And that's why he scared Eric off! Tifa's living with a hero!" With those words the two adults came to a shock.
"So what if I did Denzel?" Cloud broke the silence. "But Tifa wouldn't allow me to do that. She has a decision if she wants to be with others, like I said, let's not be selfish" with that Denzel and Marlene ran to the sink and wash their hands
Tifa was still silent and still not saying something. "Tifa," he said softly and points at the direction where Eric was. "Do you want to join them?"
"…No"
"Come on Teef, honestly?"
Tifa came to a decision and stood up and cheerfully said "I wanna be with you guys and that's my decision!" she said and took Cloud's arm and pulled him to stand up. "Come on! Let's enjoy the beach some more!!!"
Cloud smiled but he knew that Tifa would also like to be with other companies. He knew she isn't his but he had the need to be with her, to make her safe, to make her happy that's why he let's her pick her choice and luckily she chose him. He smiled at the thought and Tifa noticed the smile.
"Cloud! Come on! Stop smiling like an idiot!!! It's almost sun set. I sure don't want to miss that." She said and ran with the kids to the beach. Cloud followed.
There it was: the sunset. Orange ball on the end of the horizon slowly saying goodbye to the sky, fading away for it to rest and will be welcomed the next day.
The family was sitting on the beach with Marlene and Denzel trying to copy Cloud's sand castle, rushing doing it because it's getting dark. The adults sat there side by side. Tifa with her leg stretched and Cloud sat Indian style. Both were admiring as the dark blue sky appears and little shining stars become visible.
"Hey Tifa" Cloud said softly.
"hm?"
"I'm sorry"
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry" he said more loudly.
"Why?"
"I always want to be with you."
Tifa raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Is there a problem with that?"
"Well… yeah… I know you wanted to have more company other than us and I know that what Denzel said was true. I hate the fact that I'm scaring people off you because you live with me but I like the fact that people wouldn't do anything to you because you're living with the hero. I really don't know what's better: the hate or the like. And I don't want to be selfish here." Cloud said and looked down wanting to hear Tifa's reply
"Today, I saw you and the kids running around like idiots. I thought it was really cute of you to do those childish things. Yes, I like to have more company sometime but when I saw that I wasn't in that moment I felt guilty… and sad… because I wasn't there for you three. I realized that I like it, no… I love it when I'm with you. And also you said it was my decision, so I decided that I'll stick with you no matter what Cloud."
At Tifa's words, he wrapped around her shoulders and let her lean on him. "Thank you…"
"Any time Cloud…" Tifa closed her eyes to savor the moment thanking him silently for the wonderful trip he planned.
r&r
