I really wanted to wait and upload this on Cloud's Birthday, since it is my birthday gift to him. But sadly, I can be as impatient as Yuffie sometimes. It also was suppose to be a one-shot, but thanks to a sudden plot bunny that just appeared out of no where and went crazy on me I ended up forming a very nice multi-chapter story. Not sure how many chapters yet, but it should be fun.

Final Fantasy VII and all related characters belong to Square Enix


Special Delivery

No matter how many times he tried to tell himself otherwise, he knew that a storm was coming. He could feel it. Lurking just over the horizon. He had tried to convince himself he was just being paranoid. Unfortunately, his past record could speak for itself. Whenever Cloud Strife had a bad feeling it usually meant trouble for everyone.

He thought that after the whole Deepground event that things could go back to normal, or at least he could finally start living his life the way he wanted. A part of him liked being a hero and finally people were starting to give him the respect he deserved. He was known throughout Edge as the savior of Children. There were other names he had heard in passing as well. Conqueror of the GeoStigma, Slayer of Bahamut, Guardian of the Planet, there were more, but he didn't care to remember them all. There was only one title he wanted and that was Delivery Boy. He was perfectly fine with that.

His delivery service was going strong and Tifa's bar was doing really well. Barret had found enough oil to finally be able to settle down and provide a stable home for Marlene. Cloud would be lying if he said he didn't miss the little girl. She had a lot of common sense for a kid her age and was one of the very few people who could actually make him smile. Now it was just him, Tifa and Denzel living above the Seventh Heaven and it was amazingly quite with just the three.

He could tell Denzel was a bit lonely without a playmate and both he and Tifa had talked about what they could do to make him feel better. This eventually led to Cloud spending more time with the boy, not that he minded. He enjoyed how fast the kid could learn and Cloud had agreed to help him build his own motorcycle when he was old enough. Naturally Denzel's face lit up like the fourth of July and Cloud had to catch himself before falling over. The kid was stronger than he looked. The blonde swordsman had to start getting used to hugs.

Again, he felt it. That twinge of needing to be somewhere. It pricked at the back of Cloud's mind like a sharp thorn. Some sixth sense was telling him where he needed to be. He looked at his cargo, he still had two deliveries to make. Whatever it was could wait until he was done, right? Apparently not. Again that feeling like something big was happening made him slow down. Suddenly that feeling gave him a destination. He was needed at Seventh Heaven. Without hesitating he pulled a sharp U-turn, cutting off another driver who honked their horn at Fenrir as it screamed down the road.

Back at the bar, Tifa was pacing back and forth, the phone held tight in her hands. She had been debating to call Cloud for the past half hour, but she didn't exactly know what to say. He probably wouldn't pick up, but she found herself hesitant. How exactly would she tell him? What was the best way? Was there a correct way? Denzel was still in school so she couldn't practice on him or ask for his opinion. She set down the phone and looked at the paper once again. Reading each line carefully. So many emotions were running wild in her mind she wasn't sure which one to express. Fear, joy, nervousness, excitement, a sudden urge to throw up, another urge to dance and announce it to the world, but then the fear came back when she looked at the phone. It wasn't right for her to be feeling all of this alone, nor was it fair. Part of this was his fault to. He deserved an equal share of the blame.

With a determined look she slapped the papers down on the counter and picked up the phone. Working or not, she was going to tell him. Her finger was less than two inches away from speed dial when the doors burst open.

"Tifa!"

Tifa swiveled her head around to see Cloud standing in the doorway, he had the fusion sword strapped to his back, fully ready to use it if he needed, but what surprised her most was the look in his eyes. Battle-ready and,...was that a hint of fear?

"Cloud? What's wrong?" She secretly prayed that they didn't need to save the world again, though she wouldn't be surprised.

Seeing the bar was still in one piece and Tifa was safe, Cloud relaxed a little. He probably was worried over nothing, but if anything experience had taught him over the years it was that you could never be too careful.

"I...I had a...," he turned his head and mumbled something she couldn't make out.

"You what?" she asked.

"I had a bad feeling. Is everything alright?" There. He said it.

Tifa smiled warmly at him. He could try to pass himself off as a delivery boy all he wanted, but she knew the truth. He was a hero, her hero and now,...he had a new title.

"I'm not sure," she replied.

The worry returned to Cloud's eyes as he approached her. "What's wrong?"

At that moment, all her fear vanished. "Nothing's wrong. Not anymore."

"But something did happen," he replied.

"Yes," she admitted, "something happened. Something wonderful."

And now the swordsman was confused. Tifa giggled.

Cloud let out breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding. "Tifa, tell me what happened...please."

"Well, alright, but only because you said please," she replied. "You might want to sit down though."

He was stubborn and only folded his arms. He wasn't so weak yet that he needed to sit down for every little incident. In fact, Tifa was beginning to annoy him, just a little. Why was she beating around the bush?

"We're...going to have a delivery," she said.

At this Cloud huffed. "I make deliveries all the time, I still have two to deliver today, which I'm now running late because I came back here and what are you laughing at?"

Tifa couldn't help it. She tried, but it was hopeless. "I'm sorry, Cloud, but this is something only I can deliver."

"Tifa, you're not making any sence. I'm very busy, I'm running late and if I don't get these two packages delivered on time I may lose an important client."

Tifa only giggled again causing the blonde to grunt in annoyance. "I'm leaving."

"I'm late too, Cloud."

He turned to ask what she meant when he noticed she was gently rubbing her stomach. Realization slowly began to dawn on him.

Tifa saw his expression shift, similar to how she felt earlier. She saw realization, joy, fear, shock, joy again, fear again until it seemed all emotion faded from him entirely. Perhaps he should have taken up her offer to sit down.

He looked her directly in the eye, "Tifa, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Tifa smiled and nodded, "Yes, Cloud. I am."


An awkward place to stop, I admit, but the next chapter requires it. I'll try to have it updated by the end of the week. There is a poll set up on my profile page which will involve a very important issue with this story. It's one of the details the plot bunny didn't cover and I'm undecided. I'd appreciate it if you voted. ^^