Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to SquareEnix.
Tifa attempted to read her novel as she sat on the airship deck. A pair of reading glasses sat atop her nose since years of working in a low-lit bar, mixing drinks and wiping tables, left her eyes weaker than most women her age. Her hair was pulled back into a low pony-tail so to keep it away from the strong winds, but every so often, a stray strand would fall into her line of vision. Again, she tried to focus on the words, but they kept swirling away from the pages, lost in concentration that wasn't entirely there. Knowing that she was alone save for the occasional crew member, she put the book down and pinched the bridge of her nose.
Denzel lay asleep in one of the rooms below, tired from his lack of rest earlier in the weekend. Both agreed to travel to Wutai when Reeve and Yuffie left to pick up their boys. Tifa intended to make this trip a milestone in her life, accepting a marriage proposal from the emperor. Seventh Heaven remained closed for now, locked up and lights off. If she re-opened or not depended on Godo's reaction, and how quickly they wished to proceed with the nuptials.
Not willing to pick up her book again, she leaned back and stared up at the clouds. That thought put a smile on her face, not at all feeling guilt over the eventual re-marriage. Tifa enjoyed her married life with Cloud; the struggles and occasional hardships brought them into a close relationship that felt rich and rewarding. It wasn't easy, and maybe that's why she took his death fairly hard. Everything they worked for in their lives came crashing down in an barrage of metal shards and stained tar.
She loved Cloud; she still loved Cloud, but she also loved being married. There was something to be said about waking up with someone in the morning and going to bed with that same person at nightfall. Someone was there for you, and you were there for them. Where they were weak, your strength compensated, and vice-versa. Lives were shared, but never smothered by one another.
She missed the nuances of marriage most of all. A kiss here, a hug there. The surprise flower on the bed pillow, even if Cloud accidentally picked the one that Tifa happened to be allergic to. They shared meals and laughs, and took pride in Denzel's achievements. Arguments ended with Tifa tossing a used dishrag at his head, then laughing when it stuck to his hair. Make-up sex commenced shortly afterwards, the poor dishrag flying in the air.
Her smile grew a little more. Though many bachelors in the community considered Tifa an attractive widow, she didn't become man-hungry or troll around for dates. The Widow Strife kept to herself after Cloud's death, preferring to spend evenings alone in her bar than out on the town. The security was preferable that way. Yuffie pestered her to go out more, but she never took the advice; Godo's offer seemed much more honorable.
Another thought crossed her mind, and it didn't frighten her in the least, even if Yuffie still got the chills from the idea. Sex was an important part of any marriage, and Tifa did intend to consummate this one. She meant what she said earlier; Godo was not a bad-looking man. Years of martial arts left him appearing young for his age, and that part kept her smile from disappearing. It'd be a pleasant release to have sex again.
"You seem calm," a low voice spoke.
Tifa looked up to see Reeve standing nearby. His arms were crossed, but his eyes and smile were relaxed and calm. "Hi, Reeve." She sat up and grabbed her book so he could sit down. "How's Yuffie feeling?"
"I finally managed to get her to sleep." He sat down and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Pregnancy escalates her already weak stomach."
"Hoping for a girl this go around?" Tifa asked.
Reeve nodded. "I wouldn't mind it." Then he laughed. "I'll upgrade Cait to castrate once she's old enough to date."
"Cait the Castrator," she nodded. "Why do I have the feeling you already drew up the plans?"
"Because I did."
Tifa chuckled. "What if you have another boy?"
"Cait will upgrade to 'Troublesome Girl Lookout'."
"You have the plans?"
"And they're completely interchangeable with the castration ones."
She grinned. "You haven't changed, Reeve."
"Yuffie says the same thing." He sighed, one of nostalgia, and turned away to stare at the passing sky. "Are you still serious about the emperor?"
Tifa didn't hesitate an answer. "I am. It's not exactly the most romantic, but --"
"On the contrary," Reeve interrupted. "The situation is very awe-inspiring; you have the regal emperor falling head over heels for the beautiful foreigner. Add in there the fact that you're both widowed, and you can almost hear the squeals of delight."
"Or squirms of disgust because Godo is somuch more older than I." Tifa purposefully stressed the word 'so', making her sound like a certain expectant ninja.
The commissioner shrugged. "I never minded a May-December relationship."
"Of course you wouldn't, Reeve."
"Just let me know where you plan to register."
He quickly dodged a book aimed for his head.
xxx
Godo realized something as he watched his grandsons play and grow older: If having grandchildren was such fun, why didn't Leviathan bless him with them first? Seeing their happy smiles and playful demeanor made him feel accomplished and much younger in years. Even better, he was still in decent enough shape to keep up with them. Late nights and early mornings didn't phase him in the least, partially because he didn't want to miss their youth, and partially because his council could be just as immature. Arguing over the last scoop of ice cream was a hellfire more funny than arguing over new amendments that redefined his entire constitution.
With ice cream, everybody wins.
He looked at Geoff's latest drawing, a black dog with lobsided ears and skinny tail. "I'm not sure I recognize this breed."
"That's 'cus it's a robot, grandpa! And he'll have your accent." Geoff grinned, wiggling his loose tooth.
"A robot dog, hm?" He studied it more closely. "I'm not sure it would get along with your father's feline robot."
"That's the point!" Geoff exclaimed. "It follows the natural order!"
"What about a mouse robot?"
Geoff stared at his grandfather like man had suddenly grown another head which only spoke computer jargon. "I can't use small electronics yet. Daddy says I'll electro ... eceltro -- I might shock myself."
Chrys snickered, but stopped when he noticed the emperor's eyes on him. "Chrys," he warned, voice deep, "did I hear that your slingshot found some trouble today?"
The three-year-old shifted his glance to the side of the room. "It wasn't my fault."
"Care to explain?"
"Well," -- his brain soon formed the correct reasoning-- "Staniv's butt got in the way."
Laughter resonated off the walls, a hearty laugh from the usual stoic emperor. "I think that deserves a trip to the ice cream store."
"Really?!" Both boys jumped to attention, Geoff dropping his many crayons.
"Hold it, hold it," warned Godo, holding his hands up to calm the children. "What do we tell your mother if she asks where we went?"
"Um ... " Geoff suddenly snapped his fingers. "We went to the Sushi Bar and Wutaiin Grille House!"
Godo nodded. "That's right, and what did you have?"
Chrys raised his hand. "I had the beef terkiyaki."
"Teriyaki," corrected his grandfather.
Geoff answered next. "I had the eel sushi roll, but I threw it up an hour later."
"Very good! You both are exceptionally smart." He grabbed their hands and led them to the door. "In a few more years, I'll find a place for you on my council."
"Don't I have to graduate first?" asked Geoff.
Godo paused, looking down into the boy's dark eyes. "Is your mother in you, at all?" Every time he stated something, it verberated his genius father.
"No, that's silly. But I used to be inside her tummy; you see, in human pregnancy ... "
Godo rubbed his temples, his question confirmed. Yuffie certainly carried the boy, but Reeve's genetic material took the dominant role.
xxx
"Five gil says my father gave the boys ice cream." Yuffie was awake now, her stomach passive, and sipped on a bottle of lemon-lime soda. "And I'm also willing to bet Staniv got pelted in the ass."
Reeve looked up from his card game against Denzel. "I thought I told Chrys to leave the slingshot at home."
"He did, but he knows how to make them from a couple of sticks."
"Who taught him that?"
Yuffie smiled. "Me; duh."
Tifa chuckled, once again lost in the thick novel. "Life lessons from Mommy Yuffie."
"Says Granny Tifa."
Another chuckle, this time from Denzel. "Gin, Reeve."
"You're too young to drink," came his quick reply.
Denzel scowled, and showed the commissioner his hand. "No, I meant the cards."
"Oh!" Reeve looked down at his own hand. "I'll be damned."
"So, when can I drink in Wutai?"
Tifa answered, far too quickly, "Whenever I give you permission."
"Can I date?"
"D'aw!" Yuffie squealed. "Denny's growing up! I should hook you up with one of my old students. She's really cute, and right around your age too. Oh!" Yuffie jumped up and waved her hands like a child waiting for candy. "You guys can spar in the ring and I'll bet on the winner!"
Tifa glanced over the top of her book, not to keen on her friend's idea of matchmaking. Though it was a time-honored tradition in Wutai, the fistfighter herself was fairly positive it didn't involve gloves and mouthguards. Interesting how a contract could still be involved. "Whatever happened to pizza and a movie?"
"Says the granny who likes to read romance novels."
Said 'granny' rolled her eyes. "It has a strong plot."
"Suuuuuurrrrrre," Yuffie teased, waggling her eyebrows.
Reeve shuffled the cards for another game. "You read them, Yuffie."
"Hey, the main character reminds me of you."
"How so?"
"He has a big co --"
"YUFFIE!" Tifa aimed a glare harsh enough to make even Sephiroth cower behind a rock. Denzel averted his gaze away from his mom's; that one glare meant bad things.
She raised her hands in defense. "What? I was going to say coat."
No one believed her, Reeve especially, but that didn't stop a small smile from creeping on his face.
xxx
Mystic: 'Tis short, and I apologize. Couldn't resist the dialogue fun either. XD