Wow chapter 11, dang this is a long story. But people seem to like it so I'll keep writting. Anyway...chapter summery...uhhh... This chapter is very much like the previous one; a filler. But there is a small fight between Cloud and Tifa so that should be worth reading.....

Disclaimer: I own nothing......

CHAPTER 11: A REAQUAINTANCE WITH AN OLD "FRIEND"

The next morning Cloud was awakened by the sound of Tifa's voice, she was sitting in bed holding both the twins.

Cloud: Good morning loves.

He kissed the twins lightly on their heads, then he grabbed Tifa's chin and pulled her lips to his.

Cloud: Happy Anniversary.

Tifa: What?

Cloud: We've been married one year today. Don't tell me you forgot?

Tifa: I did, I'm sorry. But I did remember something else.

Cloud: Oh yeah? What is that?

Tifa: It's your birthday.

Cloud: Today's my…so that means we got married…wow.

Tifa: You didn't know that?

Cloud: No, but I can honestly say that you are the best present I have ever received.

He kissed her. The phone started to ring downstairs.

Cloud: I'll go get it.

He threw on some pants and ran down stairs into the kitchen, he answered the phone.

Cloud: Strife Delivery Service, Cloud speaking.

Reno: Hey Cloud.

Cloud: Reno? What do you want?

Reno: Mr. Shinra wants to speak with you.

Cloud: Then have him call me.

Reno: He wants to talk to you in person.

Cloud: You know where I live.

Reno: You should cooperate with us Cloud; it's in your best interest.

Cloud: My best interest Reno? Is that a threat?

Reno: No Cloud, but you might want to consider coming; we're still at the lodge. Trust me; it'll be worth your while.

He hung up and Cloud went back upstairs. Tifa was still sitting in bed with the twins, but Denzel had joined her. He went and sat on the foot of the bed.

Tifa: Who was that?

Cloud: I'll tell you later. So Denzel, what do you think about your brother and sister?

Denzel: They're okay, I guess.

Cloud: Just okay?

He chuckled.

Denzel: I just need to get used to them is all. Can I go and hang out with some friends?

Cloud: Just be back before dinner.

Denzel got up and left the room. Cloud sat down on the foot of the bed and laid his face in his hands. Tifa got up and put the twins back in their cribs then sat down next him she laid her hand on his shoulder.

Tifa: Who was on the phone?

Cloud: Reno. Shinra wants to meet with me.

Tifa: What for?

Cloud: He didn't say, but he did say it would be worth my while.

Tifa: That could mean anything, but I think you should go.

Cloud: Why?

Tifa: Because it could be something important, there has to be a reason they called.

Cloud: Alright, I'll go.

He kissed her.

Tifa: Take your sword.

Cloud kissed her again, grabbed a shirt and his sheath and went outside. When he went out back to the shed he opened the side compartment on Fenrir and took out his swords, which he put into the sheath. He fastened it on his back and got on Fenrir. He reached the lodge and it looked the same as it had a year ago. He walked up the flight of stairs to the door and opened it, drawing his sword as he did. As he had expected, Reno was waiting for him on the other side. He charged Cloud, but Cloud grabbed his wrist and flung him over the edge of the staircase. He closed the door, locked it, and waited.

Rude walked slowly out of a back room, Rufus Shinra following close behind him.

Rufus: Hello Cloud, so nice of you to come.

Cloud: What do you want Shinra?

Rufus: I want to make you an offer.

Cloud: I'm not going on any errands for you, use your own goons.

Rufus: That was not my intention; I don't want to take you away from your family. I heard you married Miss Lockhart, how nice.

Reno: And that you're a daddy too.

His voice was slightly muffled. Cloud kicked the door.

Reno: OW!

Cloud smiled, remembering his last visit to the lodge.

Cloud: What sort of offer did you have in mind?

Rufus: We owe you a lot for what you did last year. And for the testing that was done. I want to give you some…compensation.

Cloud: What kind of compensation?

Rufus: Monetary.

Cloud: Not interested.

He turned to leave.

Rufus: Don't you want to give your family everything they want, need, deserve?

Cloud turned back around to face him.

Cloud: What's the catch?

Rufus laughed quietly.

Rufus: Why does there have to be a catch? I genuinely feel bad about what my company did to you and Zack.

Cloud: Well you're a little late. Zack is dead, and I'm free of the stigma.

Rufus: Please let me finish. I'm prepared to give you five million Gil as compensation.

Cloud: You really are serious aren't you?

Rufus: Yes I am, but there is one more thing.

Cloud: I knew it.

Rufus: Listen. I also want to give you the money Zack would have received if he were here.

Cloud: Ten-million gil…

Rufus: Will you accept my offer Cloud?

Cloud: I will.

He extended his hand to Rufus. Rufus shook it.

Rufus: Rude, get Mr. Strife his money.

Rude went back into the room they had come from, and emerged with a silver briefcase.

He handed it to Cloud.

Rufus: It's all there.

Cloud: Thank-you Rufus.

Rufus: My pleasure.

Cloud turned and opened the door. Reno was leaning on the railing outside.

Reno: That really hurt you son of a…

He never got to finish his sentence. Because Cloud had grabbed the back of his jacket and tossed him back inside, he collided with Rude and they fell to the floor. He slammed the door and started down the stairway.

Reno: You still got it Cloud!

Cloud chuckled to himself as he mounted Fenrir and drove away. When he got home Tifa was waiting for him at the kitchen table.

Tifa: What did they want?

Cloud: To give me this.

He tossed the case on the table and sat down.

Cloud: Open it.

As she did, her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open.

Tifa: Cloud! How much is here?

Cloud: Ten million.

Tifa: Why did he give this to you?

Cloud: It's compensation. He says it's because of all the testing that he did to me.

Tifa: Okay I get that, but ten million gil?

Cloud: Half of it is supposed to be Zack's, but since he's not here Shinra gave it to me.

Tifa: What's the catch Cloud?

Cloud: He insists there isn't one. But I have a feeling we'll be hearing from him.

Tifa: Maybe he really does mean it; maybe it really is just compensation.

Cloud: Maybe. But do you realize what this means?

She gave him an inquisitive look.

Cloud: We don't have to work ever again. We'll always be with the kids; we won't miss a single day of their lives.

Tifa: That does sound great.

Her voice was heavy, like something was bothering her.

Cloud: What's the matter Tifa?

Tifa: Barret called while you were gone.

Cloud: How is he?

Tifa: Good, great actually. He came into some money and…

Her voice caught in her throat.

Cloud: Tifa you have to tell me what's wrong.

Tifa: He's taking Marlene Cloud. She already knows and he's coming for her tomorrow. She's getting packed right now.

Cloud: How is she taking it?

Tifa: She's sad, but she seems happy to be going with him.

She started crying, Cloud got up to sit next to her. He put his arm around her shoulders.

Cloud: We knew this day would come eventually.

Tifa buried her face in his chest.

Tifa: I know, but she's like my daughter, our daughter.

Cloud: The house will seem empty without her, but she needs to go with Barret.

Tifa: I know, but I'll miss her so much.

Cloud: She can come and visit anytime.

That night was spent getting Marlene ready to go. Soon it was morning and Barret was at the front door, Marlene was out in the car, and the good-byes had already been said.

Barret: Thanks for taking care of her Spiky.

Cloud: It was no problem Barret. It was our pleasure.

Barret: We'll be back to see you soon.

He turned and walked to the car; he got in and started it up. Marlene waved good-bye one final time as they drove up the street. As the car turned a corner, Tifa started crying, she hid her face in Cloud's shoulder. Cloud pulled her closer to him, trying to comfort her.

Tifa: I can't believe she's gone.

Cloud: I know love, but she'll be back, don't worry.

They went back inside and sat down next to each other at the kitchen table. They didn't speak. Cloud finally broke the silence.

Cloud: What do you want to do about the money?

Tifa put her face in her hands.

Tifa: Let's not talk about it now.

Cloud: Alright.

Denzel walked into the kitchen.

Cloud: Hey Denzel.

Denzel: Hey.

He sat in the chair opposite of Cloud and Tifa.

Denzel: Don't you have to work today dad?

Cloud: No Denzel. I won't be working much from now on.

Denzel: Why?

Cloud: Because I want to spend more time with my family.

Denzel: Cool.

The rest of the day was quiet; no one said much of anything. They were all lost in their own thoughts. Tifa stayed at the table, Denzel went to his room, and Cloud went out to the shed to work on the Fenrir. Soon Tifa joined him; she came up behind him and touched him on the shoulder.

Tifa: Cloud?

He swung around, sword in hand, aiming at her throat. She reacted and kicked him in the stomach; he fell backwards on to the ground. She put one knee on his chest and raised her fist.

Cloud: Um…ow.

Tifa: What was that about?

Cloud: You startled me, it was instinct.

Tifa: Yeah well don't do it again.

Cloud: Fine. Now could you let me up?

Tifa: No not yet.

She bent forward and kissed him.

Tifa: Okay now I can let you up.

She got op and held out her hand. He took and she helped him up.

Tifa: What are you doing out here?

Cloud: Cleaning my swords, just keeping busy. But I could ask you the same thing, who's watching the twins?

Tifa: They're sleeping. And I was bored so I came out here.

He pulled her close to him.

Cloud: How come you always beat me?

Tifa: I don't know, maybe you're just afraid to hurt me?

Cloud: Oh yeah? Fine you, me outside right now.

Tifa: You're on Mr. Strife.

Cloud: After you Ms. Strife.

He gestured forward with his hand and she walked outside, Cloud following close behind her, once outside Cloud drew a circle in the dirt with the toe of his boot.

Cloud: First one outside the circle loses.

Tifa: Alright.

They went to opposite side of the circle and faced each other; both in a battle stance.

Cloud: Whenever you're ready love.

She sprang at him and went for his legs, he jumped and somersaulted over her and landed in the middle of the ring. She turned and tried again. This time she aimed a kick at his face, but he blocked it with his forearm.

Cloud: You're losing your touch.

Tifa: No you're the one losing yours.

She tripped him and he landed hard on his back, Tifa jumped back to the edge of the ring and waited. Cloud flipped himself up onto his feet and rushed Tifa. He came at her punching and kicking. She blocked every blow, except for one. Cloud managed to kick her in the shin, not hard but enough to break her concentration, this allowed him to hit her a few more times. The fight went on as if a dance. They would come together only to be flung apart a few moments later by the intensity of which they fought. They lost track of time, immersed in the fight and in each other.

Denzel: Hey!

Denzel's call broke Cloud's focus; Tifa took advantage of this and kicked him hard in the chest. He flew back, but he flipped and landed on his feet and skidded to a stop centimeters from the line.

Cloud: Nice try love.

Denzel: The twins are awake!

Tifa: How should we end this?

Cloud: I say we walk out together, that way it's a tie.

Tifa walked over to where Cloud was standing.

Tifa: Ready?

They each put one of their feet over the edge of the ring and let hang in mid-air. Suddenly Cloud pushed Tifa out of the ring. She stumbled forward, trying to regain her balance. When she finally did she spun to face Cloud. He had moved to the middle of the ring, his folded across his chest.

Tifa: You cheated Cloud Strife!

Cloud threw his head back and laughed. Tifa turned and stormed inside. A few minutes later Cloud followed. He found her in their room sitting on the bed feeding Zack. He went in and sat down next to her. He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.

Cloud: I'm sorry about what happened outside.

Tifa: I know you are.

She looked at him with a smile on her face, which quickly turned into a frown.

Tifa: Cloud, you're bleeding.

There was a long scratch across left side of Cloud's face; blood was dripping down cheek to his neck.

Tifa: Let's go and take care of that.

She went to get up but Cloud grabbed her arm.

Cloud: Don't worry about it, finish with Zack.

Tifa: He's done.

She got up and put Zack into his crib.

Cloud: What about Aerith?

Tifa: She can wait a few minutes.

Tifa went into the bathroom, she came out a seconds later with a wet cloth, some gauze and tape. She sat back down on the bed next to Cloud. She started dabbing the cut with the cloth. Cloud sucked in a breath through clenched teeth.

Tifa: Oh shut up you big baby.

Cloud: It hurts.

Tifa: Let's see if this makes it feel better.

She kissed the length of the scratch and continued to his lips. It was several moments before they broke apart.

Tifa: Feel better?

Cloud: Yeah.

She finished cleaning the wound; it was bandaged nice and neat. Aerith started to cry.

Tifa: I'll get her.

Tifa got up off the bed once again and walked over and got Aerith. She sat back down and began feeding her.

Cloud: My two best girls.

He kissed the both of them and stood up.

Tifa: Where're you going?

Cloud: To find Denzel, see what he's up to.

He walked out of the room.

Tifa: Dinner's in an hour!

Cloud went all over the house looking for Denzel. Just when he was about to give up the search he saw Denzel outside in the makeshift ring, imitating what he and Tifa had been doing just an hour before. He went outside and leaned against the side of the shed to watch. Denzel went on kicking and punching the air, oblivious to Cloud's presence.

Cloud: Make sure you follow through on the punches.

Denzel practically jumped out of his skin. He spun around to face Cloud.

Denzel: Cloud, I mean dad, I mean…how long have you been watching me?

Cloud: About five minutes. And just so you know, move your shoulders more when you punch, it gives them more force.

Denzel: Will you teach me?

Cloud: I don't think Tifa will like it, and besides, you don't need to be fighting. Let's go help Tifa with dinner.

Alright, so all we really learned from this chapter is that Cloud is a CHEATER! And that he and Tifa are now filthy stinking rich. Please review, I promise the next chapter will be better.......I hope....