Title: Day 12
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"Cloud?" 7:00 am. It was two hours and thirty-six minutes until Islatro would come by again with the next flower, when Tifa's cell phone rang.
"Teef? Did I wake you?"
"No..." Her voice betrayed her lie. A chuckle sounded on the other end.
"... Liar."
"Okay, I was sleeping... It's seven in the morning, what do you expect?" Now Tifa was more aware.
"She told you?" 'The name?'
"Treasure?"
"She told you."
"Disappointed?"
"No. You understand it?"
"Yeah... With a little help, but I figured it out just yesterday."
"It's okay to have help."Another chuckle. "The Turks are helping me."
"Yeah, I know that too." She started laughing. "Well, Reno told me he and Rude are helping."
"The chopper isn't his."
"Point." Tifa thought how to tell him for a moment. "You know something about strange dreams?"
"Aerith did it again?" Cloud said 'Her' name? Now that's strange.
"... Again?" Tifa thought about that. "... So the first time... The thunderstorm, you were really here."
"She told me she'd help you, something about last names and being stubborn. Has something happened again?"
"... The last time... Sephiroth was there." Tifa heard Cloud take a sharp breath.
"Are you okay?-"
"-More than ever." At that Cloud seemed to relax again, but Tifa could tell he was confused. "A Lifestream-like experience always feels good." Tifa let out a small laugh. "Four voices helped me get away from his darkness. I think It helped me move on, even if it was just a little. It's been seven years, but until now, I've never realized how full of fear and sadness my memory of Nibelheim was. They helped me to rediscover the good parts, so I'm fine now. Really, more than ever."
"Four voices?" Cloud was calmer now, but curious and still a little confused.
"Yeah... Three masculine and one feminine. The feminine was Aerith, and one of the masculine, was my... My father."
A grunt was heard in place of an invisible nod. "And the other two?"
"Don't know-"
"-Tifa!" Marlene voice sounded from the other side of the door, "It's 8:30!"
"Coming!" Tifa turned to the phone. "Sorry, Cloud."
"I know. Bye Teef."
"Bye."
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After sending the kids to school and preparing the bar to open, Tifa waited for Islatro.
Three, two, one and doorbell.
"TIFA!! This one is decisive!" Tifa opened the door and saw red flowers. "I'm going to kill that Cloud! 'Friendship'? After all those flowers he sends you the red Chrysanthemum?" Islatro gave an exasperated sigh after putting the flowers in the vase, and gave the note to Tifa. "That blondie is an-" Tifa face reddened more than ever. "Tifa?"
Red Chrysanthemum: I love you.
Day 12: Red Chrysanthemum