OK, this is almost completely a flashback chapter, focusing on Yuffie and Tifa's [past] pregnancies.
Tifa and Cloud were asleep in each other's arms, like they were every night. Tifa suddenly woke up with a start, her head rested against Cloud's chest. She looked at him. "Alex looks just like him..."
[FLASHBACK]
Tifa sat at the table in her home, just staring into the distance. She had just told Cloud she was pregnant, and now she didn't know where he was. She didn't know what she was going to do. She wasn't the kind of person to just kill the kid, but without a father to help her...
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Getting up was a struggle for Tifa because of how tight her favourite top was now. When she opened the door, she was greeted by Yuffie, who looked like she had been crying all morning. "Yuffie, what's wrong?"
Yuffie sighed. "Can... I come in...?"
"Sure..."
Tifa stood aside as Yuffie walked in. Tifa opened her mouth to say something, but Yuffie burst into tears. "Yuffie...?"
Yuffie threw herself into Tifa's arms, sobbing hysterically. "I haven't had a period for two months, I-I-I've been throwing up all morning, my favourite clothes don't fit any more..." Tifa could barely understand what she was saying; it was all babble. However, the general message got across.
"Are you... Pregnant?"
Yuffie broke away from Tifa and began to thump the wall with her fist. "Why? WHY DID I SLEEP WITH HIM?! IT-WAS-ONE-TIME!" With the last sentence, she hit the wall with every word.
Tifa grabbed Yuffie's hand, which was now red and slightly swollen. "Listen." She was now calm. "Without sounding cliché, one time is all it takes. Take it from me."
Yuffie gasped and looked at Tifa, the tears stopping. "Are you pregnant too?"
[/FLASHBACK]
***
It was morning at Yuffie's house, where the 20 year old and her young daughter were having breakfast. Yuffie didn't have a job; Her dad died shortly before Rikku was conceived, and she inherited his massive fortune. Rikku suddenly stopped eating her breakfast and looked down at her feet, which Yuffie immediately picked up on. "What's wrong, kiddo?"
Rikku, who had inherited Reno's green eyes and silky, chestnut-brown hair, looked at her mother with a mixture of curiosity and despair. "Who's that man who always comes over when Alex does?"
Yuffie's bright look, as well as her heart, sunk. "Well, um, hi-his name is Cloud..."
Rikku looked confused. "But why is he ALWAYS with Alex and Aunty Tifa?"
"Because he's his daddy..." Yuffie knew, as soon as those words escaped her mouth, that she had made a massive mistake.
Rikku then grabbed one of Yuffie's hands. "Why don't I have a daddy?"
Yuffie bit down on her finger, and looked at Rikku. She just didn't know how to tell her. How did she tell her that her father was a perverted, evil man who had seen her as no more than an inconvenience? "It's...complicated, kid. I don't know how to put it..." She then looked hopelessly at Rikku, knowing that she'd have to tell her the truth someday.
***
"Tifa?" For the fifth time in a row, Cloud woke up with Tifa nowhere to be seen. "Tif---" He then heard retching sounds coming from the bathroom in their bedroom. He knocked on the locked door. "It's me." He said almost instantly. The door unlocked, and he was greeted by the brief glimpse of Tifa crawling back over the toilet. "Jeez, Tifa. That baby's causing you a lot more hassle than Alex did."
Tifa gave Cloud a hand gesture before lifting her head up. "Is Alex up yet?"
"Nope."
"Alright." She then began to gag. "I think that's it." Cloud helped her up and put an arm around her as they went downstairs. "Thanks..."
"No problem. Listen, you're about three months, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Do you think we should make an appointment with Shera?" Tifa nodded and smiled. As they sat down for breakfast, they heard a massive noise from upstairs, followed by a thumping sound coming down the stairs. They both rolled their eyes and smiled as Alex came charging in. "Morning, Alex!" Tifa said with a smile.
"Mornin', mom." Alex's voice was just like his moms'; Sweet and soft, almost like a whisper. Alex had inherited just about everything from his mom. As he took his seat next to Cloud, Cloud couldn't help but notice that his expression was slightly unhappy.
"What's wrong, pal?"
Alex started swinging his legs, as his feet couldn't touch the floor when he sat down. "When my brother or sister comes, are you gonna stop loving me?"
Cloud smiled and ruffled Alex's hair. "Whatever gives you that idea?"
Alex sniffed, and Cloud's smile faded as he noticed that tears were forming in Alex's brown eyes, the same eyes that won Cloud over when he was born. "Well, I just think that you two might be getting tired of me...That's why you're getting another kid..."
Cloud sighed and looked at Tifa helplessly, but she just shrugged. Cloud picked up Alex and put him on his knee. "Alex, the reason we're making our family bigger is because we want there to be... More love around here, and you'll have a friend all the time."
Alex sniffed again, and began to smile. "All the time...?"
"All the time."
Alex beamed widely, his smile another thing he got off Tifa. "Okay!" As he got down and began to get his breakfast, Tifa flashed Cloud a smile.
***
"You are BRILLIANT, Cloud. How do you do it?"
Cloud looked at the sky as he and his wife prepared to go to Rocket Town. "You know, I really don't know."
"Daddy, where are we going?" Cloud sighed again; Ultrasound wasn't exactly an easy thing to explain to a four year old.
"We're going to one of our friends, to see how well our new kid is growing inside your mom, pal. It's nothing to worry about." As Cloud attached a Chocobo Lure materia to his armband and pulled a Green out of his pocket, Tifa stopped him.
"Wait, Cloud. Are you sure going by Chocobo is a good idea with the baby...?"
Cloud put the green back in his pocket. "You're probably right... Um... I know! Let's take that new train they built!"
In the four years since Alex had been born, there had been a lot of changes in the world. There was now a train, which was built by the people in North Corel, running throughout the continent. Also, Holy had completely destroyed the plate above the slums, meaning everyone could live under the sky.
As the Strife family approached Shera and Cid's house, Cloud began to think. If his newborn baby did indeed turn out to be a girl, what would he do? He had no problem raising Alex, but that was because he was male. Tifa had frequently had to turn to Cloud for help with Alex, but if a girl were to come into the family...
"Cloud?" Cloud snapped out of his train of thought as they arrived at Shera's house.
Shera had gotten pregnant before Cloud had even met her. She was so excited at the prospect of raising a family with Cid that they got engaged immediately. Back at that time, however, the doctors in Rocket Town were sub-par at best. She went for a routine check-up, and then miscarried 5 days later. She was so horrified that the hospital had failed to notice anything wrong with her baby that she spent the next five years learning how to become a pregnancy and birth specialist herself. She had been an incredible help to Tifa when she was pregnant with Alex.
Cid answered the door almost as soon as Cloud began knocking. Cloud was surprised at what he saw; Cid was clean-shaven, and didn't have a cigarette in his mouth. "Cloud, ol' pal! How ya doin'?"
"I'm fine, thanks." Cloud said as he accepted a tough handshake from Cid.
Cid looked down at Alex, who was clinging to Clouds leg, completely red in the face, as if he were afraid to talk to Cid. "Who's the little guy?"
Could gently removed Alex from his leg and ruffled his hair. "He's my son, Cid. His name is 'Alex'."
Cid looked at Alex again. "Heh, I can see what he gets from you two. Especially you, Cloud." Cid was right, as Alex had almost the exact same hair as Cloud, and even wore replicas of Clouds battle clothes, from time to time. "Hi, little fella!"
Alex looked at the floor and didn't say anything, before Cloud gave him a gentle nudge.
"Don't worry about him, Alex. He's a friend of ours."
"Hi, Mister Cid..." Alex was still not looking at Cid, and his voice was very quiet.
Cid smiled and knelt down. "How old are ya, kid?"
Alex smiled, looked at Cid for the first time, and held up four fingers. "This many!"
Cid stood back up. "Wow, the kid's smart! You been home schoolin' him?"
Tifa looked at Alex, than at Cid. "No, we usually just read him stuff and whatnot."
Cid smiled. "Sure. I'll bet you're here to see Shera, aren't ya?"
Tifa nodded. "Yeah, that's right."
***
Shera was working on a computer when they walked in. "Well, if it isn't Tifa? How are you?" Shera was quite possibly the most polite person Tifa knew. She then looked at Alex, who seemed to be gaining some trust in these strangers. "Don't tell me this is Alex! I haven't seen him since he was born!"
Alex looked at Tifa. "Mommy, is this lady your friend too?"
Tifa smiled. "Yes, honey, she helped you be born."
Shera looked at Tifa and smiled. "So, what's up?"
Tifa looked at Alex, and then at Cloud. "I'm here for an ultrasound."
"Oh, are you pregnant again?"
Tifa laughed to herself. "No, sometimes I just like to have ultrasounds for fun."
Shera laughed. "OK. Follow me to my clinic. It's on the other side of town, if you remember."
Tifa and Shera walked out the room, and Alex tried to follow them. However, Cloud stopped him. Alex looked at him angrily. "Why can't I go with mommy?"
"She just needs to go alone." Cloud said, looking at Cid. "Don't worry, I'm sure we can find something fun for you to do."
Cid clicked his fingers "I know! The Tiny Bronco! I've got it out back!"
Alex's look brightened, but Cloud's didn't. "The Tiny Bronco...? Are you sure that's safe?"
Cid looked at Cloud as if he was a whole new person. "Did you just ask if it's safe? You rode on the damn thing several times, man!"
Cloud shook his head. "I'm sorry, paternal instincts. That's a great idea." As they began to walk out the back, Cloud gave Cid a little nudge. "Please, try to keep the swearing to a minimum, Cid."
Cid chuckled. "You really do sound like a father, you know that?"
***
"WOW!" Alex really didn't seem to mind that it was a pink airplane. He had never seen one in his life.
Cloud picked up on Alex's excited look. "Do ya like it, pal?"
"Yeah!"
Cid smiled. "Do you know what it is?"
"No..." Cloud smiled.
"You're gonna love it, buddy." Cloud gave Alex a lift into the plane using his shoulders before getting in himself. Eight people could fit in this aircraft, which Cid had fixed since it was broken. Alex sat in the front with Cid, Cloud sitting directly behind him.
"Alex, put the seatbelt on."
Cid looked at Cloud and shook his head pitifully before starting the plane. It vibrated heavily, which made Alex nervous.
"Daddy, what's happening?!"
Cloud leaned forward and put a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Don't worry, son, you're perfectly safe in this thing." Because of all the noise and vibration, he had to yell.
"HERE WE GO!" There was a slight stutter as the plane took off. As the noise went down, the trip was surprisingly smooth. "You enjoying yourself, Alex?"
Alex looked out the window in absolute awe. "Yeah..."
Cloud decided to look out too. He could see the Golden Saucer. "Good view, huh?"
***
When the Bronco landed, the three of them had been gone for about two hours. Cloud hopped out of the plane, helped Alex out, and then realized how long they'd been gone. "Uh-oh, I hope Tifa's not mad..."
When Cloud walked into Cid's house, he saw Tifa quizzically rubbing her stomach.
"Are you sure, Shera?"
"Yes, Tifa. I'm sure." She then handed Tifa a piece of paper, which Tifa studied, looking slightly upset.
Cloud stood forward. "Tifa...?"
Tifa gasped. "Cloud! Umm..."
Cloud noticed Tifa's expression. "Is something wrong?"
"That depends. Look." Tifa then handed Cloud the piece of paper. It was Tifa's ultrasound.
Cloud looked at the ultrasound carefully. "What's... wrong? I can't see anything wrong..."
Tifa suddenly grabbed Cloud's hands. "I'M HAVING A GIRL!"
Cloud smiled, and that slowly turned into a laugh. "Wow... A little girl."
Shera then started to explain to Alex why Tifa and Cloud were both crying tears of joy while wrapped in each other's arms.
***
[FLASHBACK]
Tifa was six months along when Barrett came to visit her. She spent most of her days sitting on the couch of her Nibelheim home, eating peanut butter straight out of a jar. Compared to Yuffie, whose cravings could only be satisfied by celery and chocolate sauce, she thought she had it easy. She had, however, gained almost twenty-seven pounds because of her pregnancy. Yuffie had only gained ten. As there was a knock on the door, Tifa struggled to get up. "What the Hell did you do to me, Cloud...?" She said to herself as she rubbed her now bulbous stomach. She smiled at the figure that greeted her when she opened the door. "Hey, Barrett."
Barrett smiled back. "How are you?"
Tifa rubbed her back. "Sore."
Barrett sipped at the coffee Tifa had made for him. "You're sure you don't want me to track down Cloud?"
Tifa just drummed her fingers on the table, her eyes stinging from holding back tears. "No, Barrett... He doesn't care."
Barrett sighed and leaned back on his chair. "He does care, Tifa... You are carrying his child, after all."
Tifa clenched her eyes shut. "Well, that didn't help before, did it?!" She gasped after realising she had just shouted. "I'm sorry, Barrett..."
Barrett shook his head. "It's alwight, Tifa. The hormones, the loneliness, I understand."
***
Whereas Tifa had Barrett, Yuffie had Vincent. She had originally turned to her father for help, but he had blown her off, calling her a variety of insulting names.
Vincent looked at Yuffie, who was dipping a celery stick into chocolate sauce. "I can't believe this." He said as Yuffie took a bite and groaned. "Do you really want that?"
Yuffie smiled. "No," she then rubbed her stomach. "But the baby does. I can't stand all the stuff it keeps wanting."
Vincent smiled, a far sight from the cold, heartless man Yuffie once knew. "You feeling okay?"
"A little tired..."
"Why don't you go to bed?"
Yuffie looked at the clock in her kitchen. "Come on, Vincent. It's only three o'clock."
Vincent shrugged. "Well, it still might not be a bad idea..."
"I guess you're right."
"Any time you need me, just gimme a call."
[/FLASHBACK]
***
Alex charged into his home, a massive smile on his face, with his mother and father following close behind. Tifa grabbed Cloud and kissed him. When they broke off, Cloud grinned at her. "What was that for?"
"You gave me a girl! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"
Cloud gratefully returned Tifa's 'gifts'. "That's alright."
***
Thank you, thank you! Hope you enjoyed that! Chap 3 will be angsty, with Yuffie deciding it's time she took responsibility for her daughter! You'll see!