"None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting a few months or a few years to change our lives."
Kathleen Norris
Cloud was awoken the next morning by a cold body sliding back into bed. Sleepily, he opened one eye and saw Tifa's dark head laying back down onto her pillow. Still half-asleep, he reached over and pulled her close, the contact of her chilled skin waking him up a little more. He snuggled them both down under the warm covers.
"What were you outta bed for?" he mumbled into her haired, voiced slurred from sleep.
"Bathroom." she replied.
She shivered a tiny bit and ducked her cold face into the bare skin of his chest. Tifa was beginning to think she'd never get used to the cold mornings of Cosmo Canyon. She could hear a sigh rattle through Cloud's chest.
"Is it time to get up yet?" he asked her tiredly. "I forget what time the meeting's at..."
Tifa shook her head.
"We still have a hour..." she whispered.
That's right...Cloud thought, closing his heavy eye-lids contently. It's later today...It didn't take long for him to begin to drift back to sleep. Just when his breathing had deepened and sleep was tugging him temptingly back into dream-land, Tifa stiffened slightly in his arms.
"Something amatter Tifa?" he murmured, still drifting off.
There was no answer, but all of the sudden, Tifa had jumped out of bed. Cloud could hear her bare feet slap against the ground as she ran to the bathroom, and the slam of the door behind her. Now completely awake for the first time this morning, Cloud sat up in bed. He scratched his head confusedly and stared at the closed bathroom door, worry causing him so slip out of the warm bed and brave the cold.
He walked over to the bathroom door quickly, being careful not to leave his bare feet on the frigid floor for too long. Hesitantly, he lifted a hand and knocked softly on the door.
"Tifa?" he asked quietly. "You alright?"
Again, she didn't answer him. Cloud pushed the door open cautiously. When he saw Tifa bent over the toilet, he rushed forward, pulling her hair back and supporting her around the waist. His heart thumped frightenedly as she threw up. The poison...he thought, feeling panicky. It's the poison again! Tifa stopped, and turned around to see Cloud staring at her as though his worst nightmares had come true.
Tifa sighed slightly and stood up. Cloud hovered around her, supporting her carefully. She placed a gentle hand on his arm.
"It's alright Cloud," she said softly. "I can stand."
She gave him a small smile and headed over to the sink, washing her face and hands. Cloud followed her. He hugged her from behind, eyes wide and frightened, as she brushed her teeth. When she was done, Cloud tugged at her waist anxiously.
"Come on Tifa..." he begged. "Let's go to the hospital..."
Tifa turned around in his embrace and rested her head against his chest.
"No Cloud, I'm fine..." she told him comfortingly.
Cloud took her by the shoulders so he could stare at her disbelievingly.
"Tifa!" he exclaimed. "If you were fine, then you wouldn't be throwing up! Just like that one night!"
Tifa shook her head quickly.
"No Cloud!" she said earnestly, running a hand across his furrowed brow. "It's not like last time at all, I swear. I'm just a little naseous, that's all. I was a little scared the first time too but-"
Cloud jumped. He gave her an incredulous stare.
"The first time!" he asked loudly.
Tifa lowered her gaze, shuffling her feet slightly.
"How long have you been sick?" Cloud questioned weakly.
"Not long..." she mumbled, but continued hastily when she looked at Cloud's face. "Two weeks...maybe three."
Cloud face fell. Tifa began talking quickly, placing her hands comfortingly on his shoulders.
"Don't look like that, Cloud!" she urged, smiling reasurringly. "It's not that bad! It's just in the mornings really. I feel fine by afternoon, I swear!"
She hugged him tightly. After a minute, he returned her embrace shakily, resting his head on her hair.
"Let's still go to the hospital Tifa..." he whispered.
"But Cloud..." she protested into his shirt.
Cloud cut her off, pulling back and meeting her eyes desperately.
"Please Tifa..." he begged. "Even if it's only to make me feel better...let's just go okay?"
Tifa took one look at his face and sighed, nodding glumly. Cloud slumped in relief, and they left the bathroom to get dressed quickly.
A half an hour later, Cloud and Tifa stood outside the hospital hand-in-hand. After the poisoning incident, neither had stepped in the hospital. After spending those few, terrible hours in there, when they were sure Tifa was going to die, they avoided the area. It brought back painful memories for both of them. Which is why they were paused outside of the doors, staring at the building apprehensively.
Cloud slid his arm around Tifa's shoulders and ushered her forward gently.
"Come on Tifa..." he whispered. "Let's go."
She gave him a wary look, but allowed herself to be walked through the door. The hospital was empty except for a nurse at the desk. The nurses head popped up when the door clicked shut behind them. She gave them a cheery smile.
"Mr. Strife! And Mrs. Strife!" she said perkily. "Good morning!"
Then returned her greeting quietly.
"What can I do for you this morning?" she asked, still smiling.
Cloud gave Tifa a litte nudge.
"I've been feeling um...a little sick lately." Tifa said, voice small.
Cloud sighed exasperatedly.
"She's been throwing up." he told the nurse matter-of-factly. "We think it might be related to the poi-"
Tifa shoved him slightly.
"Cloud!" she hissed. "It's not related to the poison."
The nurse eyed them warily.
"Well then..." she began. "Come around back and we'll see if we can figure out what's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong..." Tifa mumbled under her breath as Cloud led her forward, arm around her waist.
The nurse followed them, shaking her head slightly. She motioned them into one of the cubicles and drew a curtain around them. Both of them, Cloud especially, looked more than a little uncomfortable in the environment. The nurse gave them an encouraging smile as Tifa sat on the edge of the examining table and Cloud sunk nervously into a nearby chair.
"So..." she said, settling down into a chair of her own. "What seems to be the problem?"
When Tifa didn't answer, swinging her legs nervously, Cloud answered for her.
"She's been throwing up." Cloud said, looking at the nurse anxiously, as though waiting for her to confirm his worst fears.
The nurse merely nodded and made a note on her clip-board.
"I see..." she murmed. "And Mrs. Strife?"
Tifa jumped slightly as the nurse addressed her.
"How often have you been throwing up?" the nurse questioned kindly.
"Two or three weeks..." Tifa answered hesitantly. "But it's not like last time at all...and just in the mornings. It's not like I'm sick all day."
The nurse cocked her eyebrow slightly at her words and gave Tifa and Cloud almost amused glances.
"I see..." she said again.
Cloud looked at her nervously.
"What is it?" he asked her. "Is it possible that the poison's still affecting her?"
The nurse gave him a skeptical look.
"I highly doubt it." she told him.
Cloud's shoulders slumped in relief and the nurse smiled at him before turning to Tifa.
"Now Mrs. Strife..." she said, turning to a new page on her clip-board. "I need you to answer a few questions for me."
Tifa nodded, looking slightly nervous.
"Have your cycles been normal lately?" the nurse questioned.
"Uhh..." Tifa said, looking surprised at the question. "I honestly couldn't tell you...everything has been so busy lately."
The nurse made a note on her clip-board and looked back up at Tifa.
"Are you sexually active, Mrs. Stife?" she asked seriously.
Cloud began chuckling in his corner and Tifa stared at the nurse, mouth agape.
"Excuse me?" Tifa asked.
The nurse merely smiled and repeated her question. Pink began to tinge Tifa's cheeks.
"Yes..." she answered, looking slightly confused.
After scribbling another note, the nurse faced her yet again. What now...Tifa wondered apprehensively.
"And how often do you engage in sexual intercourse?" the nurse asked.
This time, Tifa's cheeks flared red. Cloud was laughing loudly in his chair.
"Nurse!" Tifa exclaimed weakly.
The nurse smiled at her and ignored Cloud's laughter.
"I need you to answer honestly, please." she requested lightly, pencil poised over her clip-board.
Tifa glared at Cloud, who was still chuckling, and looked at the nurse, hands over her flaming cheeks.
"About...every other night..." Tifa mumbled, eyes on her feet.
Cloud gave a loud snort of laughter as the nurse made another note on her clip-board.
"Okay then," the nurse said briskly. "I'll need you to come with me Mrs. Stife, so we can get a urine sample."
With one last glare at the laughing Cloud, Tifa followed the nurse out of the room. When Tifa returned about ten minutes later, without the nurse, her cheeks were still tinged pink. Cloud gave her a sly smile when she sat back down on the examining table.
"Every other night, huh?" he asked, slinging a hand over her shoulder. "You've got it scheduled that perfectly?"
Cloud laughed as she punched him lightly, still blushing.
"Shut up Cloud!" she growled at him, even as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Stupid nosy nurse..."
He gave her another sly grin.
"Hmm Tifa..." he began, "Looks like we're due for another round tonight..."
Tifa pushed him away, glaring playfully.
"If you keep this up, we won't be due for another thirty years!" she declared, crossing her arms.
She laughed at the crestfallen look on Cloud's face and kissed him on the cheek.
"I was kidding Cloud..." she said exasperately.
He gave her a grin and a slow, lingering kiss on the lips.
"Good..." he murmured.
They both burst into giggles and pulled away quickly as the nurse pushed back the curtains. She waited patiently for their laughter to stop.
"I have the test results." she told them, motioning to her clip-board.
Cloud weaved his fingers through Tifa's.
"And?" Tifa asked quietly.
The nurse gave them both wide smiles.
"You're going to have a baby!" she exclaimed.
This time it was the nursed turn to laugh, as Cloud and Tifa's jaws dropped open in surprise.
About twenty minutes later, Cloud and Tifa were approaching their house, faces suprised. The nurses words were still sinking in.
"A baby..." Cloud whispered, shaking his head in amazement.
"Two and a half months pregnant..." Tifa said wide-eyed. "And I didn't even know."
They stopped walking, and turned to face each other, holding hands. The shock on their faces was beginning to wear off. Cloud met Tifa's eyes, and huge smiles blossomed on both their faces. At the same time, they began laughing loudly and joyously, paying no mind to the few strangers outside. Cloud hugged Tifa fiercely, and lifted her off the ground, spinning her. Tifa's laughed happily, her arms tightly around Cloud's neck. He set her on her feet and kissed her swiftly.
"A baby..." he whispered, heart thumping excitedly. "We're going to have a baby..."
Tifa smiled, looking just as excited as Cloud felt.
"A baby..." she repeated softly, pressing her forehead to Cloud's.
They kept repeating it to each otherquietly, as though to confirm it was really true. They continued home, arms looped tightly around one another, grins wide on their faces.
"When are we going to tell everyone?" Tifa asked, bursting with excitement.
Cloud laughed and kissed her hair.
"Whenever you want to." he told her.
Tifa grabbed his hand and began to run.
"Now!" she said, laughing. "I want to tell them now!"
Cloud joined her laughter and squeezed her hand tightly.