Chapter 2: A Man's Family
It was night when Cloud pulled into the side of the Seventh Heaven Bar. He switched off his engine then looked up through the windows of the bar. All the lights were out, everyone must be asleep he thought. He entered the bar quietly and headed for the refrigerator in the kitchen. Looking through it for a second he found a plate set aside for him. Smiling he pulled it out placing it on the counter.
After having some dinner he headed upstairs to check on Denzel. He opened the door slowly and poked his head in on the boy. Denzel slept peacefully, snoring away. Cloud smiled then closed the door behind him. He headed down the hall and stopped by a certain door. He took a deep breathe then pushed it open slowly. Cloud made sure not make a sound as he entered the room.
He stood there watching Tifa sleep. The curtains were opened causing a brilliant glow to be cast on her sleeping form. Cloud approached her bed carefully then knelt down. He brushed some hair out of her face, looking over her features. Cloud watched her for a few more seconds before he stood up and headed back for the door.
He opened up and turned back to look at her one last time before closing the door and heading for the bath room. Tifa shifted slightly in her bed a smile spread across her face.
The next morning Tifa awoke to see that Cloud's bike was still parked by the bar. Usually he was already out by now. She looked around upstairs but couldn't find any trace of him. Tifa heard a sound coming from down stairs, she headed down to see Denzel sitting with Cloud having breakfast.
"What's going on?" Tifa smiled
"Just fixing Denzel up something before I take him to school." Replied Cloud
Denzel dropped his spoon and looked up at Cloud smiling.
"Really?" he asked
"Yeah, finish up eating, then go get ready." Cloud replied
Denzel slurped down the rest of his cereal then sped upstairs. Tifa sat down at the table as Cloud poured her a cup of coffee. She smiled and nodded at him taking the cup. She still didn't quite know what to make of what was going on.
"So you're really going to take Denzel to school?" Tifa asked
"Yeah, we don't get to spend much time together so I thought he'd enjoy it." Answered Cloud
"He will, he really looks up to you."
"I know. Listen Tifa I……"
"TIFA! I CAN"T FIND MY LUCKY SHIRT!" shouted Denzel from upstairs
Tifa sighed.
"I guess I better go help him." Said Tifa
"Okay, I'll talk to you later." Replied Cloud
Tifa took one last look back at Cloud then headed up the stairs.
A while later Cloud and Denzel were speeding through Edge of Cloud's bike. Cloud pulled up to the front of the school.
"Have a nice day." Stated Cloud
"Thanks." Replied Denzel
"Hey Denzel can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"What if I was around more, you know we spend more time together?"
"Sounds awesome."
"What if I said that you, me and Tifa could do something this weekend. All of us."
"All of us?"
"Yeah."
"That sounds great."
A smile began to crept across Denzel's face. The anticipation started to fill up in him.
"Good I'll tell her. By the way….what do you think of Tifa?" asked Cloud smiling
Denzel beamed.
"She's great. She's kind and strong and she really cares about us all." Replied Denzel
"Thanks see you later." Replied Cloud
Denzel smiled at Cloud as he ran off toward school. Cloud smiled back. When Denzel was out of sight Cloud revved up his engine and headed off. He drove around the city for a while trying to clear his thoughts.
He turned the corner spying a flower shop ahead. Cloud parked his bike by the store. He sat there for a while. Just thinking. Turning over everything in his head. Cloud switched off his engine and headed inside.
Cloud looked over the different flowers. The shop manager came out from behind the counter and approached Cloud.
"You looking for something sir." Asked the manager
Cloud ignored her. His eyes came to focus on a set of red flowers. He plucked one out of the bunch.
"Yeah I want this one." Answered Cloud
"Is that all?" asked the manager
"Yeah, it is." Replied Cloud
After another hour driving around on his bike Cloud found himself standing in front of the Seventh Heaven bar again. He took a deep breathe, pushing the door open. The bar was empty, not being officially open yet.
Tifa heard him approach and came out from the kitchen to greet him. Cloud held out the flower he was holding. Tifa took a step back, shocked by his gesture. Taking a hold of the flower she brought it to her nose and took in the scent. She looked up at Cloud breathless.
"What's this for?" asked Tifa
"A present." Cloud replied
"It's lovely." Smiled Tifa
Tifa placed the flower in a vase with water on the counter. Cloud walked up behind her stopping only a foot away. Tifa turned around slowly, savoring the closeness. Cloud was acting strange, but she didn't care.
"Earlier you said you had something to tell me?" asked Tifa her eyes locking on to his glowing blue mako eyes
"Yeah, I did. It involves us….all of us." Cloud stumbled on his words
"Oh." Tifa replied solemn
"I want….I want to make Denzel my son. Adopt him." Cloud let out
Tifa was shocked.
"Cloud I….I don't know what to say. Denzel's going to be thrilled. Cloud your amazing!" exclaimed Tifa
Tifa threw her arms around Cloud. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer. Tifa blushed then pulled away embarrassed.
"Cloud I…"
"That's not all I have to say."
"What else is there I…mean…Cloud Strife father. Who'd have thought?"
"That's the other thing. I can't raise him alone Tifa. The boy needs a mother."
"Cloud."
"I need to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I've been afraid, for a long time. It started back then…in our home town. And even after everything that fear never left me. I found myself wanting to get close, but the fear always made me pull back. It never went away, just went deeper. But I don't care anymore. I want to tell the people I love that I love them."
Tifa began to tremble. Looking into her eyes Cloud moved forward, closing the gap between them.
"One time you told me. That I was your strength. And I told you I'd be there. And I was, physically, but emotionally still distant. I said I cared and I do. I'm sorry Tifa. I…."
He struggled with the words.
"I love you." He let out
Tifa couldn't move. Cloud's words hit her like a ton of brinks. She had dreamed of this moment for years and now that it had come she was speechless. Her body started moving before her mind. She wrapped her arms around him again pulling him close. Cloud leaned in smiling. They locked lips, pure ecstasy.
Cloud pulled away first looking into Tifa's eyes. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. She hugged Cloud again just trying to make sure it wall all real.
"Tifa…will you stay with me, help me raise Denzel……will you marry me?" Cloud asked
Tifa smiled and nodded. Cloud leaned in again capturing her lips. He ran his hands through her hair. Tifa smiled, she began to unzip her top. She pushed back Cloud and laughed slightly.
"Maybe we should head upstairs instead of doing this in the bar." Laughed Tifa
"You're right." Replied Cloud
Tifa raced upstairs smiling to Cloud. He chuckled to himself and followed her up.
A few hour later School was over and Denzel was walking home with Marlene by his side. Denzel and Marlene avoided eye contact as they walked down the street. Each of them embarrassed to be around the other.
"So Cloud really took you to school this morning?" inquired Marlene
"Yeah, it's been great Cloud is around more often and we get to hang out." Replied Denzel
"It's just like with my Dad. Now that he has more people working with him he can spend more time here with me." Smiled Marlene
"Let's hurry up to Seventh Heaven maybe Tifa has some treats for us." Exclaimed Denzel
"Great."
"And maybe Cloud's there. I'm going to ask him if he can show me some of his moves."
The two children raced over to the Seventh Heaven bar, flinging the doors open. Denzel stood there in shock at the sight before him. Cloud and Tifa were standing in the middle of the bar….kissing. Marlene looked away embarrassed as Cloud and Tifa pushed away from each other.
Cloud tried to recover himself. He looked over at Denzel and motioned for him to come closer. Denzel looked at Cloud then at Tifa, he didn't know what was going.
"Denzel we have something to tell you. I know you've been without a family for a long time, but…..Tifa and I are going to get married and when we do…….we want to adopt you as our son." Smiled Cloud
Denzel beamed and threw his arms around Cloud. Cloud pulled the boy into a hug and grinned.
"We're going to be a family?" asked Denzel
"Yeah…..we are." Cloud answered back
To be continued……………..
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Now that Cloud has made his choice the next step is to pull his little family together. Easier said than done. The next chapter will focus more on Vincent and Yuffie's budding relationship. Tough times lay ahead, Keep reading. Remeber to send any reviews, thoughts, questions, suggestions, opinions, etc. you have I love getting feedback. Next chapter, Chapter 3: Crimson
