Note: I'm switching back to left-aligned text for a while, instead of centered. Thanks to everyone for being so patient in waiting for this chapter. At first, I was suffering writer's block, and after that, I started to really dive into my poetry headfirst and get lost in it for a while. The chapter's not that long, but I don't feel that it has to be. Besides, the past 2 or 3 have been really long. Anyway, congrats to Cloudlover2989 for correctly answering the question for Chapter 20. The answer was: Blackbird.

(This chapter's quiz question is very random, but if you've seen the show 'How I Met Your Mother', you should know. If not, google it. I know the answer's there, because I checked it.)

Chapter 21 Quiz Question: Who is Barney Stinson's slap-bet commissioner?

Chapter 21 Prize: Who will Tifa go on a date with in Chapter 22? The choices are: Reno, Denzel, Sephiroth, Cloud, or Aeris (girl's night out).

Chapter 21- How I Met Your Father

(12 years in the future)…

They were sitting on the bed, patiently, like good children. Story time was something that the young five-year-olds (a boy and a girl) always looked forward to, and this night was no different. Tifa walked into the room and began, "Alright, kids. Are you ready for story time?"
"Yes!!!"
"Okay. Hmm…how about this…I'll tell you the story of how I met your father. It was about twelve years ago…"
"But mom! Daddy said that he met you 10 years ago!"
"It's alright, son. The journey is just as important as the first encounter. Now, where was I? Ah yes, I was at my job after I had sent away the monster for good."
"Ooh! A monster?! What kind of monster?"
"A mean monster."
"We want to hear!"
"Fine. It was a sunny day in September…"

Dear Diary:

Aeris was sitting at the bar when I woke up. There was a commotion outside, and she was curious as to what it was.

"Is that who I think it is?" she asked.
"It sure is…social services. It's not my job to take care of that little monster, because I didn't sign up for this."
"Yeah, but who would?"
"I'm sure somebody will."

Aeris walked towards the entrance, but turned to look out of the window. "She's already inside the van?"
"Yes. Oddly enough, she left without a fight."
"Maybe it was just you that she had a problem with."
"I doubt it."

Glancing back at me, Aeris queried, "Are you serious about quitting the adult film business? I hope you are."
"I am serious, and I promise that I'm going to turn my life around and get my book written."
"The one about the murder mystery?"
"No. I've decided that I'll do something a bit more abstract."
"What will it be about?"
"I don't know. I want to write abstractly, but I need some practice."
"Oh. I'm more of a crime/romance muse myself, but Sephiroth could help you. Just tell him that you want some abstract lessons."
"Alright. It's worth a try."

Aeris stepped away from the window and walked back towards the bar.
"You know, Tifa, I wonder what's going to happen with Jenna's baby."
"Who?"
"The monster."
"Oh…yeah. I don't know. It might make it harder to get her adopted."
"Maybe not. It's like a double package. You know you're getting two kids for the price of one."
"Personally, the only reason I care is because of who the father is."
"That's how I feel too."
__________________________________________________________________________

Reno always wears suits. It's his thing. In fact, I've never seen him without one. It's almost creepy, in a way. But it's also hot. There's just something about a man in a suit.
Anyway, when Reno came in today, Aeris and Sephiroth were nearby, perfectly able to hear every word that was said.

Reno walked up to the bar and said, "How's my favorite bartender today?"
I laughed and replied, "I think you have the wrong bartender."
"No, I'm sure you're the one."
"That's really nice Reno, but I'm trying to clean up my image. Give me one reason to believe that you could contribute to my little 'Spring Cleaning' experiment."
"Tifa, it's Fall."
"I know. Answer the question."
"It's not a question."
"Are you trying to test me?"
"No, Teef…I thought you were testing me."
"I am."

I bit my lip flirtingly as Reno answered, "Well, I haven't called for a hooker in…a month."
"That's an improvement for you, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Do you know what you need?"
"What's that?"
"You need a group of friends…friends that care about you and will commit to meeting together at a set time weekly, or maybe biweekly, if they start feeling lonely."
"Are you the lonely one?"
"Are you kidding? Everybody's lonely except for me and my…"
"…hand?"
"That's not funny, Teef!"
"Of course it is. There's no insult like the truth."
"Yeah, right. Anyway, we need some friends. I suppose you and me make 2. Let's throw Sephiroth and Aeris into the mix."

Sephiroth instantly perked his head up in attention and commented, "We're only visiting this planet. We're just passing through."
To which Reno replied, "Aren't we all? Anyway, that's 4. How about one more? Yuffie, perhaps? Or Vincent?"
"That's not going to happen." I said. "Yuffie's too pissed to let that happen anytime soon. Besides, she just got out of the hospital. She looks rough."
"Okay. How about Cid and Shera?"
"No. I don't think so."
"I've got it! Let's get………wait for it……….. Barret!"
"Whoa! I think he hates me now!"

Aeris piped up, "I don't know, Tifa. If you're really getting your act together, he could be impressed by that. He may even lift the restraining orders."
"Fine, but I'll have to test the waters on that one before it becomes a reality."
"Good!" Reno replied. "Now we need a place."
"How about here?" Aeris chimed in.
"That's perfect, on one condition…"
"What's that?"
"Everyone needs to suit up."
_____________________________________________________________________________

I talked to Sephiroth later. I think I said something like 'Can you give me abstract lessons?', and he responded by placing his hand on my head.
It felt as if my mind was being folded in upon itself, and I know that I dozed off for a minute. When I woke up, I found that I was inside of a large room. The room was completely empty…and square. Every wall was painted white, and it looked like something from an abstract film.
I noticed a figure in front of me, with his back turned. I called out to him.
"Sir, who are you?"
"My name is Denzel."

I nearly had to catch my breath.
"Is it really you?"
"Yes, it's really me. I was in my room, and now I'm here. Why?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. I mean, I was just talking to Sephiroth about getting abstract lessons."
"I suppose this is your lesson. He knows."
"He knows what?"
"He knows that we need to talk."
"I'd say so. You, uh, weren't exactly too…how should I say it…umm…"
"You're dancing around the issue."
"The issue…?"

Denzel stood and turned around, so that I could see his face.
"Tifa, I've made love to you."
"Denzel, you forced yourself upon me!"
"You were nude…visibly excited…free invitation, right?"
"Absolutely not! Are you trying to say that if you hadn't interrupted me while I was in the bathroom, you wouldn't have done that?"
"I know I wouldn't have. Your body is intoxicating. It makes a man do things that he wouldn't normally do."
"I thought you would…refrain…"
"Because you helped to raise me as a child? No. I always knew you weren't my mother."
"But it's not about the letter of the law. It's the intent."
"Tifa, I love you."

I stood silently for a while, a large lump in my throat causing me not to speak and my eyes to water. When it cleared, I muttered: "You don't love me. You worship me."
"Pardon?"
"You don't want to be my wife. You don't want to know how I'm feeling. You don't even want to be in a relationship with me. You just want me to keep tending to your needs like a child, and you get your sex in return. That's not okay with me."
"So you're saying no?"
"Please, don't…like…go crazy or anything."
"I won't. I might be perverted, but I'm not insane. I can take a hint. I heard that you quit 'the business'."
"I did."
"It's a shame. You were amazing."
"Save your flatteries. I'm done here. Sephiroth…I'm ready."

As soon as I said those words, I was back in the real world, staring deeply into Sephiroth's face. "Was that real?" I asked.
"Every second was real. Okay, so Denzel might not have really been there, but that's what he would have said. Those are his feelings, truly."
"Wow…he's become such a pervert!"
"Like Reno?"
"No. Not like Reno."
"How so?"
"He's too clingy."
_____________________________________________________________________

(12 years in the future)…

"Mommy, your stories take a long time."
"I know. That's why they're so good. Now, good night. Let's get to sleep."

Tifa tucked them into bed, turned out the light, and closed the door. The only thing that she could think about was the blessing that she had been given:
Two great kids, without the pain of childbirth. It was like everything a woman could wish for, but of course, that's a story for a later time."