Chapter 2

The baby gurgled. Tifa glanced over from her seat at the dining table and smiled against her cup.

"He sat up all by himself the other day," she said.

Cloud placed his fork down and turned his head to look at the child: "Did he really?"

Tifa nodded. The blond man rose from the seat beside her and walked over to the blanket spread out across the floor, kneeling by it and the small boy.

"That's my boy. Sitting up all by yourself like a big, strong man already."

Caleb reached for his father, making happy noises.

Cloud laughed and wiggled his fingers. "Can you sit up again, so daddy can see? Hm?"

The baby gripped his thumb and wrist, bringing his mouth to the side of his father's hand and proceeding to cover it in fresh drool.

"Ah!" he laughed again, lifting his arm slowly and the baby rose as well, still hanging on with hand and mouth. "Fierce little thing, I will say that."

"He gets it from you," Tifa commented from her seat at the table. Cloud smiled back at her and began to play with baby Caleb. Rolling her eyes, Tifa stood and grabbed his plate, walking around to the two and crouching beside her husband. "When was the last time you had a decent meal, honestly? Here, open."

She hand-fed him the rest of his breakfast as he played with their son. Occasionally, her fingers would linger a bit too long on his lips, or he licked the residue of the food from their tips a little too eagerly. They began exchanging glances as this continued. He lifted an eyebrow as she slowly fed him the remaining piece of bacon. She winked as he sucked lightly on the tip of each finger that passed his mouth.

"Should I put the baby in his room?" Cloud mused aloud with a grin. Tifa got up and went into the kitchen to wash the breakfast plates.

"I don't know," she called back with a slight hint of tease in her voice, "Lene really wants to see him."

"Do you think they can take him for a morning?"

"Why? Were you planning on being busy today?"

"Actually, I've made other plans with this woman…"

"Oh really? What were you planning on doing?"

"I don't know. I thought something nice, but a little too… well, loud, for a baby."

Damned if the man didn't like too much subtlety. Tifa smiled to herself.

And, as if Cloud had already set this entire fiasco into motion, there was a knock on the door.

"Wonder who it could be?" he chirped and her suspicions were instantly confirmed. She laughed silently and shook her head as she heard him open the door and greet whoever was there.

"Marlene's happy as a chocobo in a field o' greens," Barrett chuckled.

"Caleb! I wanna see baby Caleb, pleeeeeeeeease, Cloud?" the aforementioned girl bounced up and down. Cloud laughed at her eagerness.

"You can watch him while I put together a bag for him. Come on, Lene."

"YAY!"

They left up the stairs. Tifa finished the dishes as Barrett stepped into the house and closed the door.

"Taking da day for you and yo' man?"

She blushed: "It wasn't my idea."

"It's aw'right," he grinned. "We'll jes' spend a day wit lil' man."

"You don't have to. Honestly, I don't know what he was thinking—"

"He wasn't thinkin' nut'ing but being wit you again," Barrett laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. She smiled at her long-time friend and placed her hand on his own.

"Thanks, Barrett."

Cloud, Caleb, and Marlene returned. The little girl was dragging the bag down the steps and chatting excitedly to the man about how Papa had finally gotten her the kitty she always wanted, and how the kitty was currently at a friend's house as she traveled with Papa to see the Flower Lady's big, pretty home, and how they had made really pretty flowery boat-things out of white tree skin and put them on the big lake, and how she'd never seen white trees or water that sparkled. Cloud nodded his head; sometimes it was funny how much patience he had. He handed Caleb to Barrett, whom he had dressed in a blue jumpsuit and red undershirt, with a small red-orange jacket over his tiny body.

"Everything you need's right in the bag," he gestured and Marlene held up the backpack of items proudly. "And if he's giving you any trouble, just bring him back."

"Yea' right," Barrett grinned broadly, cuddling the baby in his arms. The vast size differences looked almost comical, and Tifa knew her maternal instincts would be kicking in if it wasn't for the fact that it was Barrett holding him, and she absolutely knew he was safe.

"Bye, Tifa! Bye Cloud! Thanks for letting us take Caleb!" Marlene sang and rushed out of the house. Barrett nodded at them both and turned to leave as well. He paused as if he were going to say something else, then shook his head and left, closing the door behind him and closing in his final words:

"We'll be back a' six. 'Have yo'selves."

Cloud waited exactly 0.2 seconds.

"So, this woman," he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight to him, "do you know if she's busy right now?"

"Let me check," she slid her own arms around his shoulders and rose on her tiptoes, bringing her lips to his ear. "No, actually, she's quite free at the moment."

"Oh, good," he responded and lowered his own lips to the curve of her neck, kissing lightly. "Very good…"

How they even got upstairs was beyond her comprehension. And the clothing… she'd have some sewing to do after this. Of course, however, that was the last thing on her mind. Although, truthfully, there wasn't anything on her mind besides the fact that his hands were all over her and his touch was like an ice blade cutting through her burning flesh. Their bodies were coated in a sheen of sweat as they tangled in the blankets, rocking strongly, slowly, their voices joining as intimately as their bodies, names turning to moans, escalating to screams of passionate ecstasy.

Tifa Lockheart was a very happy woman.

Cloud lay stretched out beside her, his eyes closed and his breathing slow. She turned to face him, her eyes taking in the way the late afternoon (Already? It had been breakfast just a little while ago…) sunlight made his profile glow surreally. Tifa lifted a hand to touch the angle of his cheek, and he opened his eyes and turned his head to hers.

"Hm…?"

"I thought you were asleep," she lay the hand against his face.

He shook his head: "I'm actually pretty awake, I just need to catch my breath."

"Mm… worn yourself out?" she propped herself up with her other hand and grinned lazily. He paused only briefly before rolling over on top of her.

"Nah," he grinned back, and pressed his mouth onto hers. Tifa moaned into him, her arms coming around his shoulders again and guiding him down to lay atop her.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Argh…" Cloud mumbled against her lips.

"Do we have to get it…" Tifa pouted and he sucked on her bottom lip eagerly.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Guess that's a yes," he grumbled and sat back. Tifa pushed her hair out of her face and slipped from the bed, standing and stretching slightly. Cloud reached over and pulled her back down against him, showering her neck and shoulders with kisses. She giggled happily until…

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"I'll get it," she sighed and rose once more. She grabbed her robe hanging on the back of the bedroom door and slipped it on, tying it closed as she thumped down the stairs.

KNOCK KNOCK—

"I'm getting there!" she shouted across the foyer, rolling her eyes. Her hand fumbled on the locks for a second and then she twisted the knob and pulled the front door open. "Ye—"

"Sorry, Tifa," Vincent strode inside quickly, moving directly into the kitchen. She heard him grabbing something off the counter and the faucet began to run. She tried to close the door, but someone else was pushing in past her.

"Could you get us a towel or something so we don't ruin your floor?" Cid looked over at her sheepishly, looking as if he were carrying something heavy on his back. She closed the door and came face to face with Nanaki, who was indeed sprawled atop Cid's broad back, looking severely bruised and broken. Dark, purplish-red blood spilled from hundreds of tiny cuts and several larger gashes that ran along his flank, exposing the bone underneath the red-orange fur.

"Cloud!" she turned and dashed back upstairs.