After dinner the little family of four spent their time, watching television together. This was one of the very memorable times of Cloud actually having the time to spend with his family.
As the time went on, eventually they all crept upstairs and to bed.
"I haven't yet found my excuse," Tifa smiled from where she sat on her bed.
"Don't need one," was Cloud's short reply as he lifted his covers.
Luckily the lights were turned off, it would be easy spotting a blush from a mile away if they were.
"I'll find one by morning," Tifa mumbled with a smirk.
"Goodnight," he whispered.
"Night," she whispered with a yawn.
He could hear her soft breathing, each sigh sending him further and further into dream land. Into a lovely dream.
It wasn't much longer before he awoke to darkness and a very squashed bed. In his arms was a lovely display of a curled up Tifa, soundly asleep and behind him two smaller bodies curled up under the blankets as well. If only the weather would continue on like this forever. Tifa would have enough excuses to sleep in his arms. A smile grew upon his lips at the thought.
He could feel her hand laced with his that lay comfortably on her waist. She didn't seem to have any tensed muscles in her body this time around.
"Love you," was a soft whisper.
His eyes shot open wide. Did someone just say that?
Cloud's heart rate decreased as he felt the soft brushes of her finger against their laced hands. It was her who had said it.
"Love you too," was his soft whisper back to her. To the record, this was his very first time saying such a thing to anyone.
He couldn't totally confirm it was her until she turned around and faced him. He could just make out her barely open eyes from the vague moon light.
She gave him a small smile. "You really do?" she whispered back.
He nodded firmly and shifted closer. "No more excuses," he whispered, "Lay like this with me always."
Tifa leaned in slowly and let her lips touch his. "Always Cloud," she whispered. "My excuse is that I seem incapable of sleeping unless you are beside me."
"I know," he whispered and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"You know, the news said something about it raining in the week to come," Tifa whispered, "and I think, tomorrow we are going to have to join the two beds."
Cloud smirked, "One not enough for four?"
"Hmm..Not really, you're in the middle, and I'm practically falling off the side." She whispered.
"Oh," he gasped, sitting up immediately.
"Wait!" Tifa whispered. "Where are you going?" she held onto his hand still.
"Move to the middle," he let go of her arm and crawled off the bed.
She did as she was told and lay there soundly.
Her eyes followed his figure as he lifted the side table that separated the two beds, placing it at the other corner away from the middle.
Thankfully the carpet was placed in the right place, wiping out any creeks as Cloud joined the two beds together.
He gave her a small smile as he crawled onto the other bed. His eyes watching her as she shifted over with him.
"Like this, they don't need to be close, because technically we are all on the one bed," Cloud whispered to her.
"Smart Mr Strife," Tifa settled on her side under the blankets.
He nodded. "I know."
Silence now dwelled amongst them. No words could be found.
Eventually Tifa made her move, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. They hadn't done this much since they confessed their feelings.
"What did I do to deserve such love?" Tifa asked with a sigh.
"Friendship is the beginning of all relationships."