Now, I forgot to mention it last chapter, but I've started school now, so updates will be much more scarce from here on out… I have absolutely no intention of giving up on this fic, so I will be updating it, just a lot less often :P
Wow! So many reviewers! I'm so glad to have everyone along! And I'm ESPECIALLY glad that Cloud's Song went over so well. That was the first real song I ever wrote, so I'm really glad it worked and fit with the scene. Thanks to everyone who let me know!
g2Luvmeh: Nope, no Vinny. He'll show up… eventually.
Epic Popcorn: You mean you actually imagined it happening? Like, you actually took time out of your real life to consider my story? Geezums… I don't know what to say…
The Lone Wanderer: Closed-minded idiot? I can accept that. Hey! Everyone! That's the new term for Cloud. I think he's dropped below 'ass' at this point, so 'closed-minded idiot' is taking over. Any complaints, take it upstairs.
vLuna: So, what's my next lesson, Master?
mira ff: Pfft! You don't give yourself enough credit! You have no idea how cheesy 'Cloud's Song (The Darkness of His Eyes)' sounded to me…
ohsnapples: *Hides wooden oar behind back* Mmm… Yeeeah… You said who needed to be punished? Cloud? Oops… My bad. Well, like I said, Vincent won't be back for awhile…
Valentine'sNinja: Oh, well. I guess Tifa can have the honors now. Cloud's spawn? Must you word it so… disrespectfully? Unborn babies have feelings, too…
caledon: Allow me to assure everyone once more. The Cleris will be light-hearted and nothing… steamy… will happen between the two. Understood?
zackfairfan: Unfortunately, school will likely rule my life for awhile. I only have three days of classes, so as long as my homework load stays light…
mom calling: I always get this happy feeling when people say they're rereading my stories… I just can't express how much it means to me that my stories have that reaction on people. Although, you said you were going to reread to make sense of things…
Deaddude221: Yeah, well, you got an earful in my review reply, so I'll keep this short. Yep. Aeris is still touchy-feely about couple stuff. Who wouldn't be after losing their fiancé?
Truth-Unspoken: Glad you could come along! What's a tangled web without some elaborate weaving?
DeeJay-Dubu: Yay! Another new face! I will say at least one person gets a happy ending *winks*
Nice changes, Wanderer! (It's getting to be a pain to write your full name every time…) Having a beta really pays off!
Chapter XIV
Sunday…
The following takes place between 9:10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
(Cloud, 9:14 a.m.)
Cloud walked out of the greenhouse, holding a cardboard box full of flowers in biodegradable pots. He walked out to the shop, pausing to address his sister watching the desk, "Hey, Luc? You mind watching the store for a couple hours?"
She looked up, "Huh? How come?"
"A friend asked me to help plant some flowers…"
"Can't you do that when the shop isn't open?"
"She wanted to plant them by a grave… The cemetery's closed after hours."
"Oh… Alright, fine. I'll handle the shop. But come back quick. I need to set up my class for tomorrow."
"Fine. Wedge is on his way here to give me a lift. I'll leave as soon as he gets here."
"Alright."
He gave a little wave with one hand, holding the box with the other, and walked back to the small hallway connecting the shop, greenhouse, and upper level. He set the flowers down on the bench and sat beside the box, staring out the window and waiting for his friend to arrive.
(Zack, 9:43 a.m.)
Zack lay in bed, staring at the crimson-colored ceiling above him with his head resting on his arms. For once in his scatterbrained life, he was concerned about where his life was headed. Angeal was out and the director didn't want to start filming until three, so he had all morning to himself. He pressed his head back into the pillows, 'Damn… Aeris, I don't know how much longer I can take this… I've never felt like this around a woman before…'
He let out a frustrated groan and rolled over, burying his nose in the soft white linens. He pushed himself out of bed and caught sight of the photograph tucked into the edge of a picture frame in his private hotel suite. A smirk crossed his features, 'Wonder how that turned out…? Maybe I should go find out…'
(Aeris, 10:07 a.m.)
Aeris climbed out of the passenger seat of the convertible and looked at the man in the driver's seat. She bit her lip uncertainly, "Um… Thank you, Cloud… For doing this for me."
He popped the trunk and pulled the flowers out, "It's no problem. You've been good to us at the Lucky Girl… It's the least I could do."
She could've sworn she'd seen something else twinge across his face for a moment. Pain? Remorse? Sadness? She wasn't sure. She might not have seen anything at all, so brushed her thoughts aside and led the blond to her beloved fiancé's grave. She knelt down before it in a quiet greeting, keeping her hands folded in her lap. He stood behind her, silent, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts.
She opened her eyes and read the stone in quiet remembrance, "Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return. To become the dew that quenches the land, to spare the sands, the seas, the skies, I offer thee this silent sacrifice."
Almost uncertainly, her silent companion spoke, "That's 'Loveless,' isn't it? An ex-girlfriend of mine dragged me to the play back when I was in college. It sounds a little familiar."
She nodded slowly, "Mm-hm… Genny loved the poem… He liked the play, too, but he always kept a copy of the book on hand… He was always coming up with theories for the last act. Before…" she swallowed, "Before the stone was cut, I found some of his notes where he wrote his own ending."
"Is that what's on the stone?"
She bit her lip, "Yeah… He…"
He nodded once, "I understand." He set the box on the ground, "Should we get started?"
"Um, sure…"
(Tifa, 10:25 a.m.)
Tifa hummed the final notes and watched as the 'recording' light above the glass window clicked off. She slid her headphones down to her neck and walked out of the recording booth. She stepped into the next door over where a man sat behind the master control board. He looked up with a grin, "Great job, Tifa! I think we're about done with that one!"
She returned his smile with a weak one, "Thanks... You know where Shalua got off to?"
"I think she's in the break room... Might want to catch her while you can. She said she was meeting her boyfriend later."
"Thanks, Johnny. I'll keep that in mind." She ducked out of the small room after dropping her headphones on the desk and made her way to the break room. She walked through the doors of the room that looked like a miniature cyber-café, complete with a red-and-white checked tile floor and bright green plastic chairs. She got herself a mug of cocoa before sitting down in the yellow papasan near where Shalua sat, a cup of coffee sitting in front of her while she talked on her cell phone.
Tifa waited for the other woman to hang up before speaking, "Shalua?"
The redhead looked over, having just noticing her Tifa's arrival on her blind side, "Yes? What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering..." She took a deep breath, "Could I have the afternoon off? I have some... personal... problems I need to take care of..."
"Of course. I was taking some time off myself... It wouldn't hurt for all of us to get some time away from here for a bit."
"Thanks. I better get back... Get as much done as I can before I head out..."
(Aeris, 10:48 a.m.)
Aeris sat down in the small fast-food joint after setting the cheap plastic tray down. She took a sip of her milkshake and looked at the blond sitting across from her, "Um, thank you... For doing that for Genny. I know he'll love the flowers..."
Cloud shook his head, "Don't worry about it. I'm glad to help. It's not too often a florist's skills come in handy."
She managed a weak smile, "Can I... ask you a question?"
He looked up, focusing his unnaturally bright eyes on the brunette's green ones, "...What?"
"Do you think...? It's possible to love again after losing?"
"Lose how?"
She shot him a blank look, "Huh?"
"I mean, as far as death goes...? Or like you made a mistake and there's no way in hell you'll ever be able to make it up to the one person you really loved?"
She blinked for a moment, taking a guess they weren't just talking about her anymore, "Um... I guess... in this case... death."
He slumped down in the cheap plastic chair for a moment, "I suppose... I mean, if the guy really loved you, wouldn't he want for you to be happy?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you fall in love again, shouldn't your first boyfriend be happy that you found someone else to make you happy?
"I... suppose... But I can't help but feel like I'm cheating on him..."
He shrugged, "My guess is that feeling'll go away eventually."
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"That example you gave seemed a little in-depth to be off the top of your head. You... lost someone, too, didn't you?"
He nodded slowly, "Yeah."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really..."
"I'm here if you ever want to talk."
"Thanks."
She cracked a small smile, "You know... There was a time I thought about asking you out."
He looked back up at her gaze, "Really?"
She hummed around her straw, "Mm-hm."
"Huh... The feeling's mutual."
"Really?"
"Yeah... No offense, but that's in the past."
"That's fine." She smiled a little more openly, "That feeling is mutual, too."
"Mm."
(Cloud, 11:36 a.m.)
Cloud walked in the door of his house and dropped the now-empty box in the greenhouse before going upstairs. He changed his clothes out of his slightly more formal attire he'd donned for the cemetery before going back downstairs to relieve his sister of the shop. He nodded a greeting to the too-happy brunette, "If you want to go take care of your class, I can handle the shop now."
She smiled, notebooks spread over the counter in front of her, "Thanks, Cloud, but we're only open a half-day since its Sunday... And I seem to have found a rhythm sorting my assignments here. You go get cleaned up." She nodded towards his dirty hands and filthy spots on his clothes where he'd pulled them on.
He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, sure. Whatever. I guess I'll go grab a shower and watch a movie."
She smiled, "Have fun!"
He glared at her cheerfulness before trudging up the stairs to follow through with his plans.
(Tifa, 11:49 a.m.)
Tifa walked through the halls of the recording studio, fiddling with her keys as she made her way to the elevator. She pressed the 'down' button and waited, keeping her eyes down and her teeth firmly on her lower lip. The elevator doors slid open and she moved forward, pausing when she realized someone was getting off. She stepped back, "I'm sorry..."
"Tifa?"
She looked up to find herself face-to-face with... "Zack...?" She looked at the other man and dropped into a ready stance, "If you don't get the hell away from this place, I'll..."
He extended his hands, "Easy. I'm good about separating business and-"
"And what? Pleasure? Seriously, Angeal, what were you thinking, coming here?"
The tall man sighed, "I was thinking I was going to meet my girlfriend and take her out for lunch..."
Zack raised his hands, "Wait. You two know each other?"
Tifa didn't take her eyes off Angeal as she said, "Oh, yeah... Angeal and I go way back, don't we?"
"Wait a minute," Zack turned to the other man, "Were you two...? You know... together? Is that why you said those things about her?"
"What did Angeal say about me?"
"He said you used to be in a gang... And it was a pretty rough group, too."
"Did he now...? Well, Zack," she turned her full attention on him, suddenly reenergized, "let me clear it up for you. Yes, I was in a gang; yes, they were tough people; and, before you ask, yes, Angeal was among them. As far as I know, he still is."
The actor slowly turned to face him, "Is that true, Angeal?"
The other man released a slow sigh, "Yes, Zack. It is."
A realization struck Tifa like a lightning bolt, "Wait... Why were you asking Angeal about me if you didn't know we knew each other?"
Zack froze, scratching the back of his head, "Um..."
She narrowed her eyes, "You did a background search on me, didn't you? You had your lackey go and dig up all the dirt on me so you wouldn't have any surprises..." She touched a hand to her forehead, "I can't believe I let you lead me on like that..."
Zack started to say something, but she ignored him and dashed into the elevator, jamming the button for the main floor. She leaned back against the wall and tried to push that conversation out of her mind, focusing on her goal of the day.
(Zack, 12:04 p.m.)
"Wait, Tifa! That's not-!" Zack called after the fleeing brunette, cutting off when the elevator doors closed in his face. He turned to face Angeal slowly, "Why didn't you tell me?"
He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, "What could I have said? 'Oh, yeah, and Zack? I'm in a gang one of my best friend's started and I'm only in it still because my friend is relying on me.' Would that have worked?"
"I don't know, Angeal!" He threw his hands in the air, "I trusted you! You were like a brother to me!"
"It'd be wise for me to quit as your agent, then. The last man who said that to me..."
Zack froze, "Wait... Aeris's fiancé... He... did he die fighting for that gang?"
"Zack, it's not as simple as that-"
"You know what, Angeal? Stuff it. I don't give a damn what you say. Aeris is suffering. She's been crying her eyes out day and night, praying for that guy to walk through her door, hoping it was just some, sick, freakish nightmare... And you were just fighting for sport!?"
"Zack... I didn't want Genesis to die. Aeris isn't the only one mourning his loss."
"Never mind," he turned back to the elevator, visibly steaming as the doors slid open.
Angeal watched him get on, "Where are you going?"
"To get some lunch and check on Aeris."
(Aeris, 12:51 p.m.)
Aeris sat in her apartment, numbly flipping through the book to accompany the play to 'Loveless.' When she came to the part where the 'prisoner' and his lover were separating, she blinked to keep the tears at bay. Failing, she watched with limited vision as fat droplets spattered against the pages. She looked up towards the window, 'Genny... Are you happy? Are you safe? I really did -do- love you... Help me make the right choice...' She dropped her head to the armrest of the couch and curled her legs against her shaking body as her shudders became more violent.
(Tifa, 1:32 p.m.)
Tifa sat on the couch in her living room, one hand resting on her stomach, the other nervously stroking her pearly cell phone. She sighed, bit her lip, and flipped it open. She scrolled through the menus and stopped, hesitating once again. She worked up the courage and pressed 'send' over the listing, 'Cloud (Home).'
(Cloud, 1:39 p.m.)
Cloud sat on the couch in his living room, blankly watching some movie that he still hadn't registered. His sister sat at the table on the kitchen side, quietly organizing her plans for the next day's class. The phone started to ring and Cloud made no move to answer it. He heard the scuffle of the kitchen chair sliding back on the tile and his sister's footsteps cross over to where the phone was. She picked it up and greeted, "Hello!" She was silent for a moment as the person on the other end spoke.
Cloud called back over his shoulder, "If it's Tifa, I'm not home."
His sister smiled against the receiver, "Yep! He's right here. Just a second." She walked over and held the phone down next to him.
He glanced up at her, "Who is it?"
"Tifa."
"What the-! I told you-!"
She brought the phone back to her ear, "Hang on a second." She turned back to her brother, holding the phone to her shoulder, "I don't care, Cloud. I'm getting sick of your sorry-ass attitude and the only way that's going to change is if the two of you talk it over."
"Luc…" His eyes narrowed dangerously, "Can't you back me just once?"
"I've backed your pathetic hide for the last two-and-a-half weeks. I'm done. Now here. Talk," she handed him the phone.
His gaze didn't soften as he took it, stood, and wandered to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. He dropped onto his bed and hesitantly brought the phone to his ear, "…Yeah?"
"Um, hi, Cloud…" Her voice sounded beautiful despite the impending sadness. Sadness he had caused. "I know you probably don't want to talk to me, and I know I said I wouldn't call anymore, but…"
He closed his eyes, determined not to lose it, "…But…?"
"But… something's changed… Can we talk?"
Confusion forced him to pause for a moment, "Aren't we already?"
"I meant in person. There's something I have to tell you face-to-face."
He swallowed, a foreboding feeling consuming his instincts, "Where?"
"In the park in Sector Six… Under the tree."
"Half an hour?"
"Okay…"
"See you then."
"Thank you, Cloud… Bye…"
He held the phone to his ear, waiting for the dial tone to fill his hearing. He stood up, stuffed his wallet in his pocket and went to the kitchen, dropping the phone on the kitchen table. His sister looked up with a start at the sound, "What's up?"
"I'm leaving. I don't know when I'll be back." He walked towards the door, waving over his shoulder, "See you later."
(Zack, 1:54 p.m.)
Zack pushed the door to his Gabbiani open and climbed out, grabbing the bag of Wutaian take-out from the seat next to him. He walked into the building and made his way to the second floor, knocking on the door to his destination. After a long moment, he raised his fist to knock again just as the door creaked open. The small brunette smiled weakly, "Hey, Zack... What brings you here?"
He held the plastic bag up, "Lunch. Did you already eat?"
"I stopped for a burger earlier, but I wouldn't say no to some noodles..."
He grinned, "Great! Let's eat!"
She stepped back to let him in before moving to the kitchen to get plates. She set two on the table and he stared blankly at them for a moment. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, "What?"
"What's the fun in eating Wutaian take-out if you don't eat it out of the carton?"
"I can't use chopsticks... I found that out a long time ago."
"You don't have to use the chopsticks. You can use a fork if you want, as long as you eat out of the carton."
"Okay." She picked up the plates and put them away, "I'll try it. But I am using a fork."
"That's cool." He laughed, "Let's not try too many new things at once."
(Tifa, 2:01 p.m.)
Tifa sat in the passenger seat of Reno's taxi, staring blankly out the window at the gentle downpour. The taxi came to a stop at the curb outside the small park and she moved to get out, pausing when Reno touched her arm. He looked at her, "Want me to go with you and beat some sense into him?"
She managed a strangled chuckle, "No, thanks, Reno. That won't be necessary... Despite everything, he's still the father of my child."
"I know. But let me know if you change your mind."
"Mm... I should probably go..."
"Good luck, Teefs. Be careful."
"Even though I was with Sephiroth, I don't think Cloud would hurt me..." After receiving a doubtful look from Reno, she finished, "...physically."
He sighed, "Alright. I'll circle around and come back in a little bit for you."
"Thanks." She pushed the door open and stood, making her way to the gate of the park. She froze, attempting to collect herself when she spotted the blond leaning against 'their' tree.
(Cloud, 2:06 p.m.)
Cloud looked up from his reverie at the sound of footsteps through the damp grass. He felt his throat go dry as Tifa moved ever closer, coming to a stop five feet away. He felt his heart begin race and willed it to slow, trying to keep a cool head for whatever she wanted to say. She took a half step closer, extending a hand towards him, "Um, I... I know you probably don't want to see me, but I..." She moved her hand to her chest, balling it into a fist, "I have something to tell you."
'And there's something I want -no, need- to tell you.' He pushed himself off of the tree where he'd been leaning, "...What is it?"
"I..." He watched, heart twisting, as her shoulders began to shake a little. "I... Oh, Goddess..." she dropped down to her knees as her tears began to slip down her cheeks.
He bent down to her level, keeping his distance, "Teef? Are you okay?" He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, 'That was a dumb question, Strife. She's only crying her eyes out in right front of you and you don't even try to comfort her! Why don't you ask if you're alright? But, clearly, you're not.'
She slowly pushed herself back to her feet and, even with the rain, he could still see her tears running slowly down her cheeks. He stood with her and watched her semi-patiently. She sniffed to keep her nose from running and shuddered once before speaking again, "Cloud, I..." She swallowed, "I'm pregnant."
He felt his jaw drop open and stared for a good, long moment before he managed to stutter, "Wha...?" He shook his head, willing his voice to work, this time getting out, "Say what?"
She sniffed again, "I'm pregnant, Cloud. And, before you ask, yes, it's yours."
He fell back against the tree, bark digging into his back, "You... I..." He blinked and forced a question out of his jumbled thoughts, "How long?"
She raised her eyes to his, "Hm?"
"How long... have you been...?"
She nodded, understanding, "Almost two months..."
He closed his eyes, doing some quick math in his head, and spoke, "I guess Minerva didn't want us to forget that first night, huh?"
She dug her toe into the soft dirt, "I guess so."
Cloud licked his suddenly-dry lips, 'I'm... gonna be a father...? That... that's not right...'
"So, where does this leave us?"
'It can't be...' He looked up, just realizing she said something, "What?"
"I said, where does that leave us?"
"Could I... have some time to... to think about this? Let it settle in?" His heart betrayed his mind, shouting, 'What? C'mon, Strife! That's not what you wanted to say! You were gonna fall to your knees and beg for her forgiveness, remember?'
She nodded once, "Of course. Take your time..." She set a hand on her stomach, "There's still at least seven more months..."
He stayed where he was, back against the tree, staring into the distance. Finally realizing she was still standing there, he asked, "How long have you known?"
"Since Friday. The morning sickness started the day before."
"I guess we both need some time to figure it, out, huh?" He watched her nod her reply before drifting off again, 'Friday...That was before the show... before Sephiroth tried to...' A new anger consumed his soul, 'She was...when... If Sephiroth had succeeded... he would've killed the baby, too... My... baby...'
(Tifa, 2:14 p.m.)
Tifa raised her gaze back to his for a brief moment before speaking, "Cloud…?"
He blinked, "Yeah?"
"Can I…? Will you at least let me explain?"
He stared straight ahead, his eyes showing that he knew what she was talking about, "…I don't have anywhere to be."
She nodded once and moved over near him, but not next to him, and sat down with her back to the tree. She watched as he slowly moved to sit down, too. She took a deep breath, "I was eighteen when I met him. I was just finishing up high school. A guy passing by saw me when I beat the living crap out of a guy who was trying to, um… take me." She noticed Cloud wince out of the corner of her eye before she continued, "Nothing happened to me then, and the guy watching came over to talk to me. Naturally, I was ready to beat him up, too. He talked to me, we became friends."
Almost against his will, Cloud asked, "…Who was it?"
"Reno. That's how I met Reno. Later, he introduced me to the rest of the gang. Literally. Sephiroth was their leader… the rest of the group consisted of two of his cousins, named Yazoo and Loz, Reno, and two guys named Genesis and Angeal. In the beginning, I didn't even know what it was they did… Killing, I mean. Sephiroth and I… we started to date. He only ever showed me a nicer, calmer side of his personality. I had no idea."
"So what changed?"
"I… walked in on him. He was… punishing a rival. Some guy who looked a little older than me. He killed him without mercy… slaughtering him. I had no clue what to think or do… Sephiroth turned and saw me there. Just like that," she snapped her fingers for emphasis, "he changed. He was suddenly dark and seething. I pretended that what I had just seen hadn't bothered me, and we went on with that lie for a little while… When… when he tried to… pull me into bed, I fought with him, not wanting to be with him anymore."
His shoulders stiffened as he mumbled, "Damn you, Sephiroth…"
"By now I was twenty and my dad had died…" She swallowed, "I fought against him, but that only made him angrier. He… pulled his sword on me… He cut me…" her hand strayed back to where her scar lay. "I just remember searing pain, and then I woke up in the hospital with Reno at my side. He told me that Loz had stopped by and delivered a message from… from him, saying that as long as we had our tattoos removed and never spoke of our lives there again then they'd leave us alone. He… he knew about Marlene, Cloud. I couldn't… I couldn't take the chance…" She touched her forehead to her knees in an effort to hide her quickly encroaching tears.
He set a hand on her shoulder comfortingly but didn't say anything. His fingers formed hypnotic circles on her back, attempting to sooth her.
She looked up and caught sight of the beaten-up yellow car pulling up to the curb and spoke, "Reno's coming around again... I have to go." She bit her lip, "Call me with what you decide, okay?"
He managed a nod, "Yeah..."
She managed a weak smile, "Thank you, Cloud... Bye..." She stood and walked off in the direction of the old taxi, climbing in and riding away.
(Aeris, 2:17 p.m.)
Aeris sat on the couch, scraping the edge of her fork against the edge of her take-out carton, trying to get every last bit of food from inside. Zack sat beside her, a look of amusement on his face as he held his own empty carton, plastic chopsticks deposited inside. She slid her fork between her lips and licked the rest of the spicy sauce off of it. Leaning forward a little, she set the carton on the coffee table with a sigh. She fell back against the sofa, "Well, I'm full."
Zack laughed, "That's too bad… I was saving the fortune cookies for the end." He reached in his pocket and held up two, individually wrapped cookies.
She gasped and reached out, trying to grab one. He held them at an arm's length, just out of her reach. In her attempt to snatch one, she lost her balance and fell over in a fit of giggles, landing right in his lap. She looked up at him, wide-eyed and flustered, before pushing herself back to her seat. Sitting in silence for a moment, Aeris closed her eyes and offered a quiet prayer, 'Genny… Give me the strength to move on…' She turned towards Zack and, holding her balance on his leg, pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth.
She pulled back and looked at him shyly, nibbling at her fingernail. He blinked and gave her a lopsided smirk, saying, "If you wanted a cookie, all you had to do was ask."
Oh, I just remembered! I have a video up on YouTube that I made to accompany this story. It's called 'Pride Weaves a Tangled Web' and it's done to U2's 'Pride (In the Name of Love).' My username is OCValkyrie if you can't find it the other way. If you have an account, please, drop a comment! I always love them! They're like reviews… They feed an artist's soul… Plus, I'm a college student. I need all the sustenance I can get ^_^
Please review!
-Valk