Chapter 11

*some time later*

The door opened with a small creak, the sound echoing across the room and finding its way into my ears. I frowned slightly into my newly purchased newspaper, not bothering to remove it from my face if I didn't have to. It became evident immediately however, that my peace this early in the morning wouldn't be undisturbed for long.

"Oh good, you're up already" Cloud said, putting something down on the kitchen-counter at the other end of the room. His steps came closer as I turned the page of my paper, eyes scanning the next page.

"Yeah"

Cloud grinned slightly to himself. "Always so accommodating, Vincent… Where's Tifa?"

I turned another page, managing to catch a glimpse of Cloud out of the corner of my eye in the process.

"She's still asleep. She has trouble sleeping these days so I asked her to leave the morning preparations to me"

Cloud walked closer and bent the paper with a finger, peering into my face through the hole. "What the heck have you done?"

I looked over at him, a bit annoyed. "What? I haven't done anything"

Cloud smiled slightly. He looked like he was struggling to contain a laugh.

"Exactly! Your hair and clothes… You're not in your regular get-up at all."

I rolled my eyes slightly to myself. "So what? Does it bother anyone if I try to go a bit more casual than before?"

Cloud shook his head. "No, not at all. I was just a bit surprised really. It reminds me that it's a while since I saw you"

I scoffed, returning my eyes to my paper. The past years I had become less obsessed with making sure I dressed myself up in all my usual clothes every day, and had started to wear a more regular get-up on the weekdays. I still had my old clothes safely stored in the drawer at my and Tifa's room however, reserved for missions or other times I would need it. My hair however was the same as usual, just actually let roam free without the usual bandana obscuring my face. I had to admit however, being casual was something I quickly became fond of, as there in reality were several reasons that I wanted to seem less menacing.

"The others will surely be surprised to see this I reckon. It's been a while, yet it's not like anybody expect you to change" Cloud continued, sounding extremely amused. "It really suits you though"

I nodded my head slightly in some sort of thanks, before putting the paper down on the table in front of me. "Can I get you something?"

Cloud shook his head again, gesturing slightly with his hand. "No thanks, I have to be off in a little while. Much to do"

"You're so hard-working these days." I muttered, gently removing some stray strands of hair from my eyes.

"How is Tifa?"

"Not too well, since it's nearly time. The doctor said just a few more days last time so it could be any day now"

Cloud smiled slightly, looking both a bit worried and relieved at the same time.

"I understand. I bet you're excited, huh?"

I nodded. "Of course. I'm also looking forward to see my wife doing better. It's quite hard to watch her so tired and exhausted all the time. It seems to be more painful for her this time"

"I see. Good thing she's a strong girl. Do you know the gender yet?"

I shook my head, grinning to myself. "Not really, but Tifa seems to have a strong feeling it's a boy. She keeps saying he'll be just like me"

Cloud smiled contently, letting out a small laugh at the same time. "Now there's a scary thought"

"I have to agree with you on that one"

We both broke out into laughter, and I immediately felt a bit better. It had been a while since anyone had visited, especially Cloud, and I had to admit I was looking forward to the evening when everyone would be gathered once more. Silence lingered for a moment and I took a sip of my glass of water. My throat felt like a desert.

"How is your new place then?"

Cloud scratched his head slightly. "Oh, it's not nearly as nice as yours. I just need somewhere to crash when I finally get back in the evenings so it works for me, at least for the moment"

I lowered my head slightly, suddenly feeling a bit guilty.

"Barret would have let you stay in the bar you know"

Cloud grinned slightly.

"Don't go all emotional on me now, Vincent. That would be so unlike you. I don't want to run down the place since I'm so busy these days, and it's easier for me too to live on my own because of that. Besides…"

He looked over at me, eyes softening slightly. "Since you moved and the children have grown so much, there is no major reason for me to hang around that place all the time anymore. I feel like its best this way, since I can visit whenever I like anyway."

I nodded slightly. "I guess you're right."

Cloud nodded as well in response. "Of course I am. Just watch it; you'll never know when I'll drop by to visit you again."

I grinned, mostly to myself however. "I'll keep a note of it"

Cloud got up from his seat before walking into the middle of the room. He stopped by the package he left at the kitchen-counter earlier, pointing with a finger over at it.

"Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry. I put the stuff you guys ordered over there. I have some more errands to run but I'll be back with the others later tonight for the birthday-party."

He continued his stride over to the door, yet didn't pass through it. He turned slightly to look back at me, the same soft yet stern gaze he had sported before prominent in his eyes once more.

"She grows fast, huh?"

I grinned, closing my eyes slightly. "Way too fast"

"Tell Luna that uncle said hi"

He exited the door without another word, waving his hand slightly back at me in farewell. I returned my gaze to the folded newspaper on the table in front of me, yet didn't pick it up. My mind wandered slightly, once again calmed and relaxed as silence engulfed the room. So many things had happened the last years it was hard to wrap my head around it all at once. Even now.

I got up from my seat, slightly restless and ascended the staircase to the upper level. Once there, I carefully made my way to my one of the small rooms and peered in through the door. I smiled as I approached the sleeping form in the small bed, sleeping soundly in the early morning hours. I kneeled slightly over the small girl, observing her intently as she slept on, oblivious to my presence. For every year that passed, her appearance became even more like Tifa's, and it never seemed to stop surprising me how much. Her hair and eyes however, were unmistakably mine, and I gently reached out to stroke her dark locks, awed it was possible to care so much for another being. Even the beauty of our most brilliant buildings and monuments that adorned our cities and towns diminished in comparison to this little girl. It somehow amazed me that she indeed was made from my very own flesh and blood. I wondered how on earth anyone actually could claim those buildings and monuments were the wonders of the human race; the most beautiful and fantastic things ever created by us. After becoming a parent and holding my newborn daughter for the first time however, I could easily say otherwise. Our children were, and today, just before I would become father for the second time, my Luna turned four years old.

I kissed the top of my daughter's head as the sun slowly crept over the mountains of Nibelheim, starting another day in my newfound life together with my family. A newfound life in a newfound happiness, where each day no longer was a pain to endure.

I knew now that it was a gift.

Author's Note: That's it, boys and girls! The very last chapter! Gosh, I can't believe I'm already at the end of this. It seemes like yesterday when I started to write it, yet it's already been over a month! I want to thank all of you who have followed this story and submitted your overly kind reviews to me, it's really meant a lot to me. Hopefully, people may continue to enjoy the story in the future and I hope you all will stay tuned for more of my work in the future!

Thank you so much for your support, it really means a lot to me!

CrimsonHeaven