Author's note: Thank you for reviewing and as popular vote says........ hehehe..... I have a character development plot for this chapter. I'm gonna have a bit of everyone in here because if I don't my story won't go anywhere! Sorry to those of you who wanted an exclusive chapter, but I will have more of those later! I promise.... wink wink. Hehehe, I love conflict in romance! Oh well enough of that. Thanks for reviewing my chapter Sorceress Fujin! I love your review..... I would love anyone else who reviewed, too. Oh well, If you don't want my love you don't know what your missing! As always Square knows the deal with me and the other fanfic writers! Noe thank you for flying Reese airways..... next stop the next chapter!
"Yo, Spike, let me use your Phs for a second." Barret said. Sighing as he tossed his own small machine aside. "I've run the batteries on mine down."
Cloud shrugged as he pulled his Phs out of it's holder on his belt. "Who you going to call?"
"Who ya think? Marlene, you know. My daughter and ........... Elmyra." Cloud looked at Barret in disbelief. This was the first time he heard the man say he was going to call Elmyra. "What you lookin at Spike? It's not like I like the woman...... well I like her just not sexually and she's the one who's been lookin after my daughter all this time. Besides how else am I gonna tell if she's been acting up or not? She ain't gonna tell me!"
Cloud watched as the former leader of Avalanche babbled on about the reasons he was calling Elmyra. "You really like her don't you?" he asked frustrating Barret even more. The blonde man laughed as Barret sputtered and grabbed the Phs out of his hand. Stalking off the black man dialed the now familiar number to reach Elmyra. 'Man, that kids got some nerve.' he thought as he heard the phs ring. 'Elmyra just takes care of Marlene for me.'
"Hello," answered a small voice.
"Guess who?" Barret answered, immediately recognizing his daughters voice.
"DADDY!" Marlene screamed with excitement. "Oh, guess what daddy! I've got a suwpwise fow you when you get back! Oh did you see the pwetty staw! The one that was pushed away by the pwetty gween light! Evewyone was cwying, but not me! Why did they cwy daddy? Elmywa said it was cause the light was so bea....bea......pwetty! I don't think that's why! Daddy? Did you cwy?"
"No honey," Barret replied "I didn't have the time." Listening to his daughter ramble on the phone made Barret happy that he was going to see her soon. 'Which means I have to talk to Elmyra. Before Spike's batteries run down.'
"and then. I said to the kitty 'Mr. Kitty youw going to get huwt in the twee why don't you come down?' and he did daddy! Do you believe that!"
"Yes, my daughter can do anything, but I need to talk to Elmyra right now, okay?"
".......okay." Marlene said as she felt a little disappointed. She still had to tell him about how hard she's been training. "Hold on daddy."
"Princess?"
"Yes daddy?"
"I love you."
"I wuv you too daddy!....... ELMYRA........ daddy's on the phs. He said he want's to talk to you."
"Hello?" he heard a mature voice answer when she picked up the phs. "How are you doing Barret?"
"I'm alive........ don't know where I am, but I'm fine." he said unknowing that a smile had crept on his face when Elmyra asked if he was okay. "I should be back soon. We have to fix the Highwind and then we're out of here. So how's Marlene behaving?"
"Well, she's over being shy now. In fact, she's quite popular with the boys. They like the fact she can beat up snotty little girls."
"What do you mean by that?" Barret asked suddenly concerned. 'My little princess wouldn't be so rough.'
"I mean she's a total tomboy Barret. She had some trouble with one of the girls in school so she took care of it. I've never seen a black eye look so good on someone before."
"You did punish her for fighting didn't you!" he asked with dismay dripping in his voice.
"Of course," she said "I hated to do it though. Well, think of it this way Barret. You have a daughter that can take care of herself."
"Well, I just wanted for you to know I would be back soon." Barret said as he heard a beeping that meant the batteries were getting low. "I'll see you in about a week. I have to go now."
"All right, good bye Barret. Take care of yourself."
"I will, good bye Elmyra."
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Cloud watched as long chestnut hair swayed over Tifa's back in a silken wave. The slow deliberate movements of the martial artist's were beautiful and full of power. Cloud leaned on his sword handle just watching as Tifa warmed up for there training session. Awe overwhelmed him as he remembered the night before they fought Sephiroth. So many things happened that night. One of the most amazing was the realization of love he felt for Tifa. Of course he didn't say that to Tifa. How would she have reacted? Most likely not good. Sure she was a friend.... and a lover, but he didn't want to ruin there relationship by saying three little words. Besides what if she didn't feel the same way?
Focus, that was the only way to clear your mind. Let your body take over. That's what Zangon always said. When you didn't want to think you had to clear your mind and that meant practice. Don't think about Cloud and you. Don't think about the night before Sephiroth, or the way he held you. Don't think about what you did. 'I slept with the man I love there's nothing wrong with that.' Unless you break a promise that you made. Tifa cringed. 'So what if he didn't say he loved me. I still love him and that's not going to change.' The young martial artist paused from her warm up. Noticing Cloud staring at her.
"Are you going to stare at me all day or are we going to train?" she teased.
Author's note: Falls down on her knees....I'm sooo sorry! Please forgive me Sorceress Fujin! I tried! I just couldn't reach Yuffie and Vincent! I think they turned their phones off......besides I wanted to post this chapter today!
