Author's note:

Hello everyone!

This is my first time writing a CloudxTifa fanfic!

The summary is kind of vague, I can't exactly fit a more appropriate summary to it.

I've always liked this idea though, but no one has ever written about it, so I decided that I'll do it myself!

I'm a huge fan of them both (Cloud and Tida), and I really ship them together!

I've had this fanfic idea for a while, but I didn't have enough time to write it.

I'm writing it now, just so I won't forget.

I already have about 2 more chapters ready, i'll post them again tomorrow!

This chapter is just a preview. The next two chapters would probably describe the story better.

I hope you enjoy this anyway!

There may be typographical errors, i'll get back to it sooner or later. This isn't a writing style i'm used too, but i'll still try.

I might also change this into a crossover story (with Kingdom Hearts), but i'll decide on that by Chapter 4.

Leave your comments or suggestions!

Thank you!

August 19, 2013

11:39AM

Five years after Meteor. Three years after the Geostigma outbreak. Two years after the battle with Deepground. The lives of everyone in Gaia have been pretty normal since the post-Deepground events occured, as well as the lives of the former members of AVALANCHE. The WRO, Barret, Cid and Cloud searched for Vincent for months after he disappeared. It turns out that he just wanted to stay hidden for a while, before he finally decided on showing himself to everyone again. He's still as anti-social as ever, but he tries to keep in touch with everyone.

Barret went back to Corel not too long after, as Cid also went back to Rocket Town. Nanaki was still in Cosmo Canyon with his family, while Yuffie stays in Edge and continues to work on WRO with Reeve.

Cloud has been living with Tifa again, after Geostigma was cured. When he first came back, there was a bit of hesitation. He didn't know how he should act, but thanks to Marlene and Denzel who welcomed him with warm and open arms, he was able to get used to it quickly again. Though, things weren't that different. He was still out more than he is at home, but this time he tries harder to get home earlier and be with the kids, though he still frequently ends up getting home way past their bedtime.

Everyone has been doing their own thing, but everyone meets up at least thrice or four times per year at Seventh Heaven. No matter how far away they all are, they would always be connected, as their deceased friends. Every year they would pay tribute to their fallen comrades. Their fallen parents. Fallen friends. Zack. Wedge. Jessie. Biggs. Aerith. They never forgot their friends, and everyone only hopes that Cloud has finally been able to forgive himself. They all tried to move on, and this time they were making sure of ensuring peace.

Today was one of those days, one of those days when they would get together

"Denzel, can you get that for me?" Tifa asked, hearing the phone ringing.

"Sure Tifa!" Denzel stood up from his chair and went to answer the phone. The ringing came from Cloud's room. When Cloud's not around, Tifa would normally ask Denzel to take the calls. He knew what to do, and when to alert Tifa if it was important. Most of the time it was just delivery calls, and Denzel would take the memo for Cloud to see later.

A few minutes later, Denzel went back down. Tifa asked what the call was about.

"It was just a delivery of greens for the Chocobo Farm, but it's not due til next week. I already wrote the memo." Denzel replied. He went back to his seat and continued peeling potatoes.

"Thanks sweetie. When you're done with that, you can rest or go play. Okay?"

Marlene and Denzel were helping Tifa prepare food for a party tonight. It was Cloud's birthday, but she was sure he forgot. It was ridiculous to think that someone could forget their own birthday, but it was Cloud. They all knew that was the case. Everyone was busy helping Tifa out. The bar would be closed tonight for their own party. Barret and Cid were travelling from Corel to bring drinks. Yuffie was helping Tifa cook and prepare the place, as Marlene and Denzel were too. Nanaki, and his family, were picked up by Cid and Shera on their way to Corel to pick up Barret. Reeve was going to come in later, after he finishes his work, while Vincent got the toughest task of them all. Making sure Cloud wouldn't come back home too early or too late.

Tifa heard Marlene and Yuffie call for her out in the bar. They were putting streamers and banners all over the place, with a big handwritten banner that says "Happy Birthday Cloud!", along with a drawing of a chocobo at the very end of the statement.

"Soooooo what do you think?!" Yuffie said, with sheer excitement.

"Do you think Cloud will like it Tifa? I wrote everything in perfect spelling! Yuffie did the drawing. She said Cloud will like it." Marlene asked, looking hopeful for a positive feedback.

Tifa patted Marlene's head and smiled warmly at her. "Yes sweetheart, it's lovely. You two did a wonderful job."

"Yeeeeeeyyyy! I can't wait for Cloud to get here! And Daddy's gonna be here too!" Marlene shrieked with excitement.

"Okay. You can go get some rest now. Yuffie and I will take care of everything from here."

"Okay Tifa. Is the cake ready?"

"Almost sweetie. It's still baking. I'll call for you when it's time to decorate it."

Marlene jumped for joy yet again. The kids were probably the most excited ones for this party. "Yeeeeeeeeeeey! I'll be in my room, okay Teef?"

"Tifa! I finished peeling the potatoes!" Denzel said from inside the kitchen.

Marlene dashed to her room, and not too long after Tifa went back to Denzel, she made him go back to his room too.

The kids were growing up. Marlene was already 11, while Denzel was 13. She knew she couldn't let them stay in one room together forever, so they turned one storage room into a bedroom for Denzel. However, they still played together. They're best friends, and it made Tifa happy just seeing them together.

"Look at you, you're really turning into a mom. Wonder when Chocobo-boy will ever make a move?" Yuffie stated, with her usual high-pitched tone.

"Yuffie ... we talked about this." Tifa said, trying to brush off what Yuffie's trying to imply.

Yuffie wasn't going to give up without a fight though. "But Teef, you've been with Chocobo-boy for years. It's stupid, he's stupid! Look at everything you're doing for him, and he still isn't making any moves at all? Heck, you should already have little annoying chocobo babies by now!"

"Yuffie, language!" Tifa warned Yuffie. It was bad enough the kids will have to hear Barret and Cid's cursings later, she didn't want them to hear it from Yuffie too.

"Teef, it's just stupid. I swear, if he doesn't make any moves at all tonight, you better just dump his ass right where he's standing. We're not getting any younger Teef, you need to marry soon." Yuffie proclaimed. Tifa could only sigh.

Tifa turned her back from Yuffie, trying to ignore her, and started cleaning up the mess Denzel made.

"But you love him, and you know it." Surprised by Yuffie's come back, it made Tifa stop.

Tifa looked defeated, she knew she was right. "Wooo! I hit it right in the bullseye, right?!"

Letting go of the damp cloth she was using, Tifa faced Yuffie. She couldn't look at her in the eyes, and kept her gaze on the ground. "Yuf ... Cloud will never look at me that way. To him, i'm just a friend. A companion. Someone to go home to when he's tired or hungry. After that he leaves and does whatever he wants untilhe's tired or hungry again. That's his only reason for coming back. I'm like ... his personal rest stop."

Yuffie sighed. She's younger than Tifa, but she knows they're getting too old. They can't stay single forever, but she knows Tifa's crazy in love with Cloud. She wasn't giving up though. "Come on Teef, don't bring yourself down like that. Tell you what, if it really doesn't work out tonight, i'll take you some place where real men are!"

"Not interested!" Tifa proclaimed with a smile, and dragged the cloth back, and went to the sink.

"See?! You're so in love with the guy, you're sounding exactly like him! Well, can't say I didn't try. Just always remember that option is always open, just hit me up and i'll take care of it! I'll find someone better than Chocobo boy! You'll see!" before she could add more, she was cut off by someone.

"What y'all talking about? Why'd you need someone bettah than Spikey boy for?"

Tifa and Yuffie looked at the source of the voice, and both of them perked up and greeted them. "Barret!"

Tifa ran to Barret as soon as she saw him, and gave him a hug. "Woah! It hasn't been that long since y'all last seen me! Ya missed me that bad?" He complained, but he returned her hug. It was like seeing his daughter again, after so long. He missed her too, but he wasn't going to admit taht, especially with Yuffie around.

"What do you mean it hasn't been long? It's been three months! Marlene misses you like crazy!" Tifa said, in between their hug. She was really happy. Barret has been too busy, she was glad he took some days off for this surprise for Cloud. Barret let go of Tifa, and messed her hair up like she was a kid.

"I miss mah little gurl too, is she in 'er room?"

"Yeah. She just went upstairs. You should go see her."

"Okay. I'll help y'all later." Barret was about to leave the kitchen, but was stopped by Yuffie.

"You better!"

Tifa couldn't help but laugh at the sight of a little girl trying to talk a big guy like Barret into a fight. She wondered why Barret was the only one there though. "Where's Cid and Shera? Nanaki? The cubs?"

"Still at the Shera. They're too slow, ya know? That's what the old man gets for gettin' yer pregnant!" He laughed to himself.

"Barret, they've been married for so long. It's about time they got pregnant." I defended Cid, but then Yuffie cuts in.

"Yeah! You should be happy the old man can still reproduce at his age!" Yuffie laughed louder. She's always the most entertained when it comes to her own jokes.

As if on cue, Cid entered the room with Shera. He gave Yuffie a glare,. "Hey! What do ya f €#%^£& mean by that, you little punk?"

"Cid, language!" Shera patted him on the shoulder, and Cid couldn't help but look defeated. Yuffie looked as if she'd just won.

"It's that punk who's startin' it!" Cid tried to defend himself,

Tifa separated the two before they could even continue. "Come on guys, don't start picking a fight now." She said, before walking over to Shera. She lead her to the living room, and made her sit on the couch, as Barret went to Marlene's room. Shera was almost 6 months pregnant, and she was already showing. She told Cid she'd understand if they wouldn't be able to make it, but Shera insisted. Tifa was glad she was looking healthy and well.

"Shera, i'm so glad you could make it. I'm glad to see you're doing well" Tifa smiled at Shera.

Shera smiled back at Tifa, and placed a hand on her baby bump. "I'm happy I could be here too. When you called us about the party, the baby kept moving around inside me. I couldn't say no, it was as if it was excited to see its aunts and uncles again. The place looks fantastic, and I can smell the food from here."

"It was Yuffie and Marlene who decorated the place. All the credit goes to them. You should sit down. You and Cid can stay in my room tonight. I cleaned it up real good for you."

"Thank you Tifa. Where will you sleep?" Shera worried they might be imposing on Tifa.

"Don't worry about me. I'll camp in Denzel's room tonight. I prepared a sleeping bag for Barret in Marlene's room. Yuffie might sleep in Marlene's room too, given she doesn't get too drunk that it'll bother Marlene. Nanaki said he and the cubs will just stay on the Shera, even though I insisted they just stay in here."

"And Vincent?" Shera asked.

"Oh, you know that guy will be gone before we know it!" Yuffie said, going out of the kitchen to join them.

"I just hope they don't make too much noise tonight that it'll interrupt your sleep." Tifa looked at Shera with a worry. The others are okay, Cloud, Vincent, Reeve, herself, and even Nanaki, but it's Barret, Cid and Yuffie she's worried about. She knows they'll be making a lot of noise once they get drunk.

"Don't worry about me, Tifa. Cid always stays up late fixing those ships of his. Trust me, I know what noisy sounds like." Shera gave Tifa a reassuring look. Tifa knows how patient Shera is, after all, before she married Cid she had to sit back and live with his unruly behavior.

"Must be why the old man hasn't gotten you pregnant until now, Too busy making love with his tools." Yuffie busts out another joke again, and Cid didn't look too happy hearing that.

"Hey! You little punk, I heard that!" Cid started chasing Yuffie all around the house. Tifa didn't even bother anymore, and just stayed with Shera. They're not that close, but she can somehow relate with how Shera is with Cid like how she is with Cloud. If Shera and Cid got together Tifa thought, would she and Cloud ever get together like that too? If Shera was able to wait for Cid for years and years, would she have to do the same too? Would Cloud ever reciprocate to her feelings? All these thoughts were rushing in Tifa's head, she almost forgot Shera was right next to her, until she gave her shoulder a tap. Shera looked worried, Tifa ignored her question, and was blankly staring at the door.

"Are you okay?"

Tifa tried to keep herself composed, she didn't want Shera to worry over her. "I'm okay. Did you say something?"

"I said, What about Cloud? Does he know?"

Tifa shook her head. "He doesn't know yet. It's a surprise. Vincent's making sure he gets here on time though."

Before they could notice, Yuffie was back. The most annoying thing about her being a ninja was even though she's a loudmouth, she's actually really quiet when she's moving. "Marlene and I have been making the decorations for weeks now! It wasn't hard hiding it from Chocobo-head, he always gets home late. He better compliment what I did first thing he sees it, or else i'll kick his balls!" Yuffie proudly said.

"That's it, kid! I already told ye not to talk to Shera like that!" Just as she came back, she was then again chased out by Cid. He's become a softie since marrying Shera, but Tifa would never tell Cid that. He barely swears, and if he does, he keeps light so that Shera wouldn't hear. Inside that rowdy exterior is a caring man.

"H-hey! Let go of me! We're not done preparing! H-heeeeeeey! Help!" Yuffie cried, as Cid dragged her away from the living room.

"It's gonna be a long night." Tifa could only smiled and sigh at the scene. She knew this wasn't even the beginning of how this whole night would turn out.