"Cloud, come on! You've been in there for over a fuckin' hour!" Cid shouted at the locked bathroom door.
"I have to fix my hair." Cloud said, annoyed. He stood in front of the mirror, working with one particular section of hair that just refused to stay in place.
"Well, get the hell out! I need to take a fuckin' shower!" Cid's gruff voice replied. Cloud held the hair in place, and plastered it there with massive amounts of hairspray. He unlocked the door, and walked out, brushing past Cid.
"'bout damn time!" He yelled, going into the batroom, and slamming the door behind him.
Cloud started towards the deck of the Highwind. He knew he could find Aeris there. She was always there. He'd been out of the hospital for a week, trying his hardest to act naturally. Having Aeris around was definately different than having Tifa around.
For one thing, Aeris wasn't exactally the best cook. One bite of her terrible excuse for eggs and bacon, and Cloud's breakfast diet became toast and cold cereal. She'd tried to make oatmeal for him once, but she got the proportions wrong, and the concoction blew up in the microwave.
Aeris tried her best, but Cloud found that the meals only got worse and worse. So take-out ruled over the Highwind. True to his prediction, he found Aeris standing on the deck, looking to the ground below. She turned, hearing Cloud's heavy footsteps coming up behind her.
"Hey, Cloud." She greeted, cheerily.
"Hey, Aeris...." Cloud smiled at her. The weather outside was beautiful. The sun shone down warmly overhead, the sky totally clear of any clouds. Cloud was wearing some black pants and a navy colored tank-top. Aeris wore the same dress she always did, but her hair was down.
"The weather today is wonderfull, isn't it Cloud?" She asked, looking up at the clear blue sky. Her hair blew slightly in a gentle summer breeze. Cloud looked at her for a moment. He had nearly forgotten how beautiful the Cetra girl was.
"Yeah..." He said, still looking the girl over. Her light chestunut colored locks blew freely, the wind picking up slightly.
"I can't believe it's already August..." He commented softly. Aeris nodded.
"It seems like it's just the begining of summer, but..." She let her voice trail off, watching the scenery passing by.
"AERIS!!! I need ta talk to ya!" Cid yelled, stopping right behind the two. Aeris turned, smiling brightly. Cloud turned around as well.
"Erm...Cloud...think I could have a moment alone?" Cid asked. Cloud nodded, slowly walking back off the deck. He went towards the chocobo stables to feed his gold chocobo, Kuja.
Cid watched Cloud leave, making sure he was out of earshot before speaking.
"So, Aeris. Uh...I kinda hadn't realized that it was so late in the month, and since I don't exactally have the best ideas when it comes to Cloud...erm..." Aeris looked at Cid somewhat confused. She tried to think of what he could be talking about.
"What do you think I should get 'im for his birthday? I mean, shit...it's already today. I gotta hurry my ass..." Aeris' eyes widened, and she gasped slightly.
"It is!? Oh no!" Aeris cried, her voice distressed. She'd totally forgotten about Cloud's birthday.
"You forgot, too!? SHIIIIIIT!" Cid yelled, he turned to the pilot.
"Kid! Get us to a store, quick!" The pilot nodded, and zoomed off towards Costa Del Sol, the nearest destination that was still in tact after meteor.
***
Cloud sat in the living room area of the Highwind, watching TV. Cid and Aeris had to leave right away to get some things from the store, and they made him stay, leaving him in charge.
"Oh, oh! I wanna watch General Hospital!" Yuffie yelled, changing the station.
"Hey! I was watching that!" Cloud yelled, somewhat angrily.
"Key word there being, 'was'." Yuffie laughed, turning up the volume.
"Come on! I don't wanna watch some stupid soap opera!" He yelled, trying to grab the remote from her. Yuffie growled, and bit his hand as hard as she could.
"OW! Shit, Yuff!" He yelled, shaking his hand, which was bleeding slightly.
"Shut up, and quit being such a baby!" She ordered, turning up the volume on the television. Cloud grumbled angrily, slumping down on the couch. Yuffie smiled, aptly watching the show.
"Gawd, how do you watch this shit!?" Cloud stood up, and stalked off into his room. He fell backwards onto his bed, soon finding himself lost in his own thought.
I wonder where Aeris and Cid went. Actually, I don't. They probably both forgot my birthday and were rushing out to pick up my gifts today before they 'surprise' me with them later tonight. If Tifa were here...she would've reminded everyone weeks ago.
Tifa....man, I really miss her. But Aeris said she wouldn't be gone long. Of course, it all depends what Aeris's definition of long is. These couple weeks have seemed like an eternity to me. I can't wait untill she finally comes back.
I mean...it's not that I don't want Aeris here or anything...I'm just so accustomed to Tifa. But Aeris...I loved her. I was planning on *searching* for her. She came back, and now I'm not even sure I still feel that way.
But on the other hand, whenever I look at her I get that feeling. No, not *that* feeling...that warmth inside. She's so beautiful...that chestnut hair. The way it's always in that perfect braid down her back, not a strand loose or out of place. Those bright emerald eyes, so happy and light.
Tifa's really beautiful too. And strong. She's so tough, and good with her fists. I know she can always protect herself, but I feel this need to protect her.
Our promise. Yeah...I almost forgot. Back before I left for Midgar, I promised that I'd come back and be a hero for her. I couldn't even do that. Aw, damn it...I'm thinking about her again. I need to get my mind back to Aeris.
She's here now, not Tifa. And I should be glad that I have this time with her. She was supposed to be dead, and she came back somehow. I need to treasure this time. It's never gonna come again. Maybe I should take her to the Gold Saucer...
Yeah! That's it! We can relive our date...she'd like that I think. Okay...that's what I'll do.
Cloud sat up in his bed, formulating a plan. He thought about taking her for her birthday. That was still months away. He couldn't be sure she'd even still be here by then. Just a date for no reason would probably be nicer anyway.
He figured that way she wouldn't think he was just being nice to her for her birthday. He nodded, and stood up, heading to the kitchen for some food.
((Later that night))
"Okay, Aeris, did you let the butter sit and soften?" Yuffie asked, looking at the recipie for a chocolate cake in an old cook book.
"Yup!" She smiled, nodding towards a half-melted stick of butter.
"And you have all the ingredients?" Yuffie asked, looking over the list of ingredients.
"Sure do!" Aeris replied, standing in front of a table with some eggs, flour, cocoa, vanilla extract, water (already measured out), vegetable oil, and some frosting set aside.
"Okay. First it says to pour four cups of flour into the large mixing bowl." Yuffie read. Aeris scooped out a cup of flour, and poured it into the bowl. It flew everywhere around the table. She repeated the process a couple times, just as messily.
"Okay...now add the water." Yuffie instructed. Aeris splashed half of it over the bowl. The rest of the process was just as messy. After all the ingredients were mixed, and the cake was in the oven, Yuffie and Aeris began the nearly endless task of cleaning the mess to the point where Cloud wouldn't know that they had tried to bake the cake.
The cleanup was much quicker than the actuall process of cooking the cake, and Aeris seemed to excell much more in that area. It took about 20 minutes to have the kitchen looking the same as it did before the cake was attempted.
"Okay...we have about 15 minutes left." Yuffie said, looking at the clock on the wall.
"I think you'd better get changed, Yuffie. You have cake mix all over your clothes!" Aeris said, looking at the flour-covered ninja.
"You're a mess, too! Come on, you can wear some of my clothes." Aeris smiled and accepted, greatfully. The two zipped of to Yuffie's room, and changed.
It took about 10 minutes for them to get changed. Aeris wasn't exactally sure how to work out the clothing. It wasn't exactally her usual style.
"Shit!Aeris, come on! We have to check on the cake!" Yuffie yelled, looking at her watch. The two ran as fast as they could to the kitchen, and quickly turned off the oven. Aeris opened it, to look at the cake. It was lumpy and uneven, burnt in some places, raw in others. Of course all you could see from the surface was the lumps.
"Looks good! Let's frost it!" Aeris said, putting on some oven mits, and placing the cake on the counter. They generously glopped on the chocolate frosting, covering the uneven surface. Yuffie plucked a small box out of a drawer in the kitchen.
"Trick candles!" She exclaimed tossing Aeris the box. Aeris laughed, and pulled off the plastic wrap.
"Um...Yuff?" Aeris asked, somewhat softly.
"Yeah?"
"Do...you know...how old Cloud is?" She asked, her cheeks flushing.
"I honestly don't know..." Yuffie said, thoughtfully.
"Tif would-" Yuffie stopped short. In her memory Sephiroth had killed Tifa. Tears stung at her eyes, and she looked down at her feet.
"...It's okay, Yuff. I'll go ask Cid." Aeris said quietly, zipping out of the kitchen.
"CIIIIID!!!!" She called out, seeing him standing on the deck. Cid turned, surprised.
"What the hell is it?" Cid asked, looking at Aeris.
"Cid, do you know how old Cloud is?" Aeris asked, panting slightly from running.
"Twenty-three." Cid said, smiling. Cid was off a little. Cloud, of course, was only twenty-two. Aeris smiled and thanked him, rushing back to the kitchen.
"He's twenty-three." Aeris said. Yuffie smiled, and placed 23 candles on the cake.
"Okay. Let's put some words on!" Yuffie said. Neither of them had thought of doing this before, of course. So Aeris pulled out a blue tube of frosting from the drawer they got the candles from, and began writing. Neither noticed Aeris's slight typo, and the cake read,
'Happy Birthday, Clod.' The two smiled at their work.
"Perfect. Now we just need to get everyone else to get in the living room with the gifts. I think Cloud's still napping." Aeris said. Yuffie nodded, and the two friends zipped off in opposite directions.
***
"Hold on Cloud, one minute..." Aeris called from the kitchen. She carefully lifted the cake with it's lit candles, and birthday message to Clod, and presented it to the group in all its glory. She set the cake down on a table, for everyone to see.
"Wow, you guys! It looks great!" Cloud smiled, looking down at the cake. His face changed a little, as he stifled a laugh.
"Um...Aeris, Yuff...er..." Cloud laughed a little. The two looked down, and Aeris suddenly realized her mistake.
"Oh no!!" She exclaimed looking down. Cloud smiled, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't worry, Aer...it's still really nice." Cloud laughed, and Aeris did too.
"Okay spike, just blow out the damn candles! I'm fuckin' starving!" Cid exclaimed.
"Not yet Cid, we have to sing!" Yuffie chimed, cheerily. Cid muttered a few curses, and the group sang to Cloud. It was an interesting combonation. Even Vincent joined in the singing. It didn't sound bad...just not very good.
"Okay! Make your wish, and blow the fuckin' things out!" Cid yelled.
Cloud closed his eyes, and made his wish. He wished that both Aeris and Tifa would be able to stay in this world. That he wouldn't have to choose one over the other. He blew the candles out.
A small applaud came, but died down as the candles re-lit. Cloud blew them out again. The once again restarted. The process continued for about 5 minutes before Cid began to pull out the candles, and throw them out the window.
"Guess it's time for cake." Aeris smiled, and began to cut the cake. She gave Cloud the full Clod portion, and divided the rest among them.
Cloud was the first to take a bite. It was awfull. Runny eggs, and burnt oil combined with powdery flower. He didn't want to dissapoint Aeris, though. So he smiled brightly, and let out a small,
"mmm...good." Of course everyone could tell that he was faking. Aeris's eyes teared up.
"Oh! It's bad isn't it!? I can't believe I ruined your birthday cake!" Aeris cried, looking at the ground. Cloud pulled her into a comforting hug.
"It's okay. You'll do better next time." Cloud assured her, rubbing her back, comfortingly. Next were the presents. From Vincent Cloud recieved some money. He got the same gift from Cait Sith, Barret, and Nanaki. He got some materia from Yuffie, which was from Vincent as well in a way.
Aeris's gift was probably the only real gift. It wasn't the worst gift, and it definately costed enough.
"A video game?" Cloud asked, looking at the box.
"It's a Playstation2! And there's bunches of games!" Aeris said, handing Cloud a box.
"Let's see....Chocobo Racing....Final Fantasy X....Kingdom Hearts...." Cloud smiled.
"Wow...thanks....oh, and Final Fantasy VII...thank you...." Cloud gave Aeris another hug, and pulled open the box.
"Boy...there's a lot of cords in here...." Cloud said, scratching his head.
"And the instructions don't make any sense..."
"That's cause you're reading them in French! CLOD!" Yuffie said, flipping the pages.
"Oh...that's better..." He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed, and began to try and figure out the instructions on how to hook up the machine. This was going to be a long night.
((Okay, my friend requested a funny chapter, so here it is. It also has an important few details in it, just so it isn't for nothing. ^-^ Please review...but no flames. I just mastered my reflect materia!))