"I don't want Kadj or his gang to know about this. If they see you, they'll know. They will try to take our baby, Tifa. We can't let that happen," said Cloud.
As he said this, Tifa remembered Loz's question. "Where is Mother?"
She knew in her heart that he was right. She would have to stay hidden away while Cloud went out alone into the night to find Marlene and the other children.
She threw back her head and let out a strangled cry. She was afraid if Cloud walked out the door, she would never see him again.
He knew what she was thinking.
"Don't worry my love. I promised that I would be around to help you through this. You are carrying my child. I want to see it born healthy. And I want to make love with its Mother again . . . soon," he whispered to her with a smile.
She hung her head and nodded slightly. Cloud let out a small sigh of relief. He gathered her up in his arms again and kissed her passionately. She held on to him tight, not wanting to let him go.
"I will be back before dawn, with Marlene. I promise."
Cloud stood and pulled Tifa to him for one last embrace. He kissed her gently and then bent down and kissed her belly. "Stay safe, both of you," he smiled at her and walked out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him
Tifa slumped down on the bed sobbing.
Cloud walked into the kitchen to find Rude and Reno. Rude was standing by the coffee machine pouring himself another cup while Reno was slouched on a chair, his feet up on the table.
"Want some?" asked Rude over his shoulder to Cloud.
"You two stay here and look after Tifa. If anything happens to her or if she comes to any harm while in your care, I will kill you both," growled Cloud.
"Whoa, buddy!" Reno sat up and put his feet on the floor. He didn't like being told what to do, especially by some spikey haired kid with a big sword and a bigger ego.
"We are not your babysitters. Anyway, that bitch can take care of herself. I've seen it," he said, rubbing his chin again.
Cloud looked down at Reno with a smirk. "I bet you have. Just the same, stay here with her."
Rude put down his coffee and turned to face Cloud. "What happened? Did you knock her up?"
Cloud's eyes glowed with rage at Rude's words. He didn't feel like explaining himself to these two jerks and if Reno didn't wipe that sardonic smile off his face, he would do it for him.
He pulled out his sword and pointed it at Rude's chest. He moved so quickly that Rude didn't have time to react before he found a blade at his throat.
"Remember what I said."
"Ok, so what are we protecting her from?" asked Rude, backing away from Cloud's blade.
"Kadj, any of his crew, anyone that may come looking for her."
"And why would anyone come looking for her, then?" said Reno, standing slowly to his feet. He wasn't smiling anymore.
Cloud sheathed his sword and paused before he answered.
"You know why. Just look after her."
Cloud walked out the back door into the night, past a stunned Rude and a blustering Reno.
The Forgotten Capital. Cloud knew it well. It was where he laid Aeris's body to rest, in the pool near the Lifestream source. This time, for the first time, when his mind transported him back to that event he didn't feel the guilt that always accompanied the memory. He found that he could see Aeris's face in his mind and not feel the gaping hole in his soul any more. It had been filled. By the woman in the room upstairs. He glanced up at the bedroom window where he knew Tifa was and saw the outline of her body standing in the window looking down at him. He smiled up at her and saw her place her hand on the glass separating them.
He found Fenrir outside the bar and mounted the bike. The familiar dull throb in his arm returned, causing him to wince in pain. He shook it off and kicked the bike into life and roared out onto the dark street.