AN: Feb 17 Prompt is "Mood."

This is the kind of energy I'm trying to have in my life. Shout out to Senigata for the inspiration~

Summary: If Tifa had to list her favorite things, days like this would be right at the top.

Tags: canon, fluff, quiet days, snuggles


If Tifa had to list her favorite things, days like this would be right at the top.

The house was quiet, save for the rain pattering on the windows, thunder rolling in the distance, and the heater kicking on every few minutes. Barret had decided to take the kids for the weekend, so it was just the two of them at home. And as much as she loved them, she loved these moments she had with him just as much.

Her head rested against his shoulder, her legs curled under her on the soft couch as she turned the page on the mystery novel she was reading. His arm was around her waist, snuggling her close underneath the large plushy blanket as he flipped one-handed through a motorcycle magazine. He absentmindedly scratched her stomach above the heating pad that rested on her lower abdomen, the plug snaking over the side of the sofa. A candle flickered on the coffee table, vanilla and honey, with two steaming mugs of spiced ginger tea on both sides of it.

Every now and then Cloud would point out something for her to look at and she would shake or nod her approval. He'd indicate some mark next to the part or feature with a red pen. Sometimes he took her advice, sometimes he disagreed, but for the most part, they were silent in their enjoyment of one another's company, not really needed words.

After a few minutes, she gently folded the corner of her page and closed her book. Leaning forward, she placed it on the table and grabbed her mug, holding it with both hands as she blew across the top. He lowered his arm back to its original position and continued to lightly rub her tummy once she settled back against him, his touch just as soothing as the heating pad. After a few more minutes, he set the magazine next to him and picked up the remote. She glanced at it and nodded, taking a sip. He switched on the television, quickly finding their favorite channel. One thriller was ending, another starting in just a few moments. Luckily, they'd already seen the one that was going off, but she wasn't familiar with the one that was coming on after it. She wasn't sure if he was, but she knew she would soon find out.

On afternoons like this, they liked to watch these movies and talk through them together – the plot holes, the twists, who they thought the mastermind was. It had become a little tradition of theirs, something they used to get outside of their own lives for a few hours.

Not that they had too many issues with their own lives these days. Things had settled down and seemed to be staying that way nearly a year after the second reunion. The kids were growing and had futures to look forward to now. Both of their young lives had been so tumultuous for so long, she figured it was nice for them to finally feel normal.

She found herself looking over her shoulder less now, too, and she knew he had relaxed as well. The bar was doing well; the delivery service was flourishing as all over the world people started to find their own way from underneath the shadow of Shinra. They were both grateful for these mundane days, where there was nothing to worry about. They both needed less worry, less fear, less anguish – they'd had enough to last several lifetimes.

So days like this, when he pulled her into his lap so she sat sideways with her mug and leaned against his chest; when he kissed her softly on her forehead while holding her underneath a plushy blanket with the rain pitter-pattering on the windows, she would put at the top of a list of her favorite things.

Definitely in her top five at the very least.