"There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new order of things...Whenever his enemies have occasion to attack the innovator they do so with the passion of partisans, while the others defend him sluggishly so that the innovator and his party are alike vulnerable."

Niccolo Machiavelli

It still amazed Cloud, how whenever he wanted time to slow down, it seemed to go faster. There were only two weeks left until the assination mission. They had gone over the plans a million times, but it failed to soothe everyone's anxiety. No matter how many times they reviewed the plan, there was still chance for failure. Cloud, Yuffie, Barret, Reno, Rude, and Elena had all been given specific instructions to do in every possible situation. Vincent would also be helping with the mission, but only with the breaking into Junon.

Cloud squinted into the sun as he descended the stairs from the conference room. Tifa usually insisting on attending all the meetings, but she had trouble sleeping the previous night, and Cloud managed to convince her to stay home. In the past, Tifa had always slept on her stomach, but now that her belly bulged past her pelvic bones, she was forced to resort to her side or back. Cloud shook his head and smiled as he clutched a jar of pickles- Tifa's newest craving- in his hands. Tifa was five months pregnant and beautiful as always.

His smile faded slightly as he thought of what was to come two weeks from now. Cloud found that he was more afraid of this mission than the one with Sephiroth. Last time, if they fought, they may die...and if they didn't fight, they'd die anyways. This time if he died, there would still be people left behind...people he loved.

Unbeknownst to Tifa, Cloud had made several preperations. Reeve told Cloud that he would give Tifa some unexerting jobs to do while he was gone to keep her mind off the worrying. Red was coming back to Cosmo Canyon in two weeks time, so that he could be there while Cloud and the other's were gone. Red had always been good at comforting Tifa. Tifa was going to be staying at Ms. Elmyra's house along with Marlene. Ms. Elmyra reassured Cloud several times that she'd keep Tifa from stressing herself out.

But those weren't the only preperatioins Cloud had made. He had also made plans...in the case that they should fail. Reeve had pulled him aside from dinner a couple weeks ago to show him the escape path he had developed to get out of the fort. Both him and Red and promised Cloud that they'd get Tifa out if the mission failed. And Cloud had spoken to Cid and Shera several times. They would take in Tifa and the baby...if he died.

Cloud sighed and shook his head. He didn't really want to think about that at the moment. He tried to think less depressing thoughts as he continued on his way home. The people of Cosmo Canyon were beginning to emerge from their homes. Several of them stopped him to talk- everyone wanted to know how Tifa was doing. Cloud smiled. Him and Tifa were the first out of all their friends to have a baby, and they were all excited. Yuffie was perhaps a little too excited, but Cloud had rained on her parade and told her that their baby was not going to become her sidekick.

Cloud shook his head amusedly as he began walking up the stairs that led home. He hoped there was time for a nap before the next meeting...It felt like the days were filled with plans and preperations...

"Cloud!" a shout came from the top of the stairs.

His head snapped up. Tifa was standing in the doorway in her pajamas, both hands clutched to her stomach.

"Cloud!" she persisted. "Come quick! Hurry!"

Cloud began running when he heard the urgency in her voice. The pickle jar slipped from his hands and broke into pieces on the concrete. But Cloud ignored this, taking the steps two at a time. The baby...he thought, panicked. There's something wrong with our baby! He skidded to a stop in front of Tifa, but before he could ask what was wrong, Tifa grabbed his wrist and pressed it firmly to her stomach. He felt confusion when he saw she had an excited smile on her face, and her eyes were sparkling.

"Tifa what-" he began.

He jumped when he felt a tiny thump against his hand. Tifa laughed joyfully at the shock on his face. His eyes looked from his hand to Tifa and back again. Slowly, a smile spread across his face as he felt another tiny kick.

"The baby's been kicking all morning!" Tifa announced. "I thought I had the hiccups at first..."

Cloud joined in her joyous laughter, and gave her a happy kiss. They walked inside, sat down on the sofa, and Cloud pressed his hands onto her stomach again, looking up excitedly every time he felt it.

"Do you feel it Cloud?" Tifa asked him with a huge smile.

He nodded vigorously and laughed as the baby gave another gentle thump.

"Good thing our baby doesn't kick as hard as its mommy..." Cloud said jokingly.

"Well you know Cloud..." Tifa said, pointing an emphatic finger at him. "By the time our baby is ten years old..."

Cloud cut her off with a gesture and a laugh.

"I know, I know Tifa..." he said, chuckling. "Master in martial arts, sword master, pro-shooter, ninja, pilot...Master in getting its way if Marlene hangs around too much..."

Tifa giggled.

"But not a materia thief!" Tifa said, waggling her finger in fake sterness.

Cloud nodded vigorously.

"And we don't want you hanging around Reno..." Cloud said directly to Tifa's stomach. "We want a smart baby..."

Cloud burst into laughter and Tifa punched him lightly on the arm.

"Cloud!" Tifa laughed. "Poor Reno...he's already been getting enough grief from Elena."

They both laughed at this. Elena had been taking advantage of the fact that she could gross Reno out for a change. She enjoyed talking loudly to Tifa about "placentas" and "breast-feeding" in the middle of dinner, while giving Reno evil smiles.

Tifa leaned back against Cloud, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Her stomach loomed right in their line of vision. Cloud smiled and ran his hand over it.

"It's still hard to believe..." Tifa said softly, placing her hands on her stomach too.

"I know..." Cloud whispered. "We're going to be parents..."

They bothed sighed, but smiled slightly as the baby kicked again.

"Do you remember a lot about your mother Tifa?" Cloud asked her quietly.

Tifa was quiet for a minute before answering.

"I remember a lot of good things..." she said slowly. "I remember Mama singing me to sleep...her hugs and kisses...but I never got to ask her a lot of things that mother's tell their daughters. Taking care of a newborn baby...giving birth...those things are still mysteries to me."

Cloud nodded.

"You'll be a great mother Tifa..." he told her gently.

She smiled and leaned back against his chest.

"And you'll be a great father Cloud..." she responded.

"I don't know..." Cloud said softly, running his hand over Tifa's bulging abdomen. "I never knew my father."

Tifa grabbed his hand and clutched it between both of hers, pressing it to her face.

"It doesn't matter Cloud..." she said, nuzzling him gently. "I'm sure there are a lot of things about being parents that can't be taught..."

Cloud kissed her hair tenderly.

"Did you get back to sleep after I left?" he asked, running a hand through her silky hair.

Tifa gave a tired laugh.

"You try sleeping while someone kicks you in the stomach!" she said humorously. "Besides...I was too excited to go back to sleep."

Cloud smiled and again reached down to feel their baby kick.

"I wonder what our baby will be like..." he murmured sleepily.

They leaned back onto the sofa, falling asleep together. Just me and Tifa...Cloud thought contently, resting his hand ontop her stomach. ...And our baby...

Kale sat in his office, eyes gleaming manically. Heidegger looked slightly afraid of him as always. Kale had killed several of his own men in the past week for mild annoyances, two of them SOLDIERS. His insanity was starting to get the better of him. Heidegger took a step away from the desk.

"You called for me?" he asked, voice quavering.

Kale's head gave a jerk, as though he was seeing him for the first time.

"Did I?" he asked, stroking his chin menacingly.

He took another step backwards and nodded meekly. He watched, limbs shaking and Kale fingered his sword carefully. Heidegger almost had a heart attack when Kale jerked forward again.

"That's right!" Kale exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I did call for you."

Heidegger clutched a hand to his massive chest.

"What did you want sir?" he wheezed.

Kale grinned.

"The new weapon?" he prompted, watching Heidegger eyes follow his hands as he twirled his sword.

Heidegger gulped nervously.

"It's..." he began slowly.

Kale sat up quickly, causing Heidegger to cower.

"Done?" Kale hissed, eyes bulging. "Isn't that what you were going to say?"

"No sir..." Heidegger whispered, cringing.

Kale gave a wild howl, and with one sweeping motion of his arm, knocked everything off of his desk.

"No! Did you just say no to me?" Kale seethed, smashing a glass on the ground.

Heidegger backed his huge body into the farthest corner of the room, wincing away from Kale's anger. Kale looked up at him and began to laugh. Heidegger looked even more frightened by his laughter as Kale bent over, almost wheezing from the force of his laughter. He slapped his hand on his now empty desk and motioned for Heidegger to come back.

"Come here..." Kale said, between laughing fits.

Heidegger obliged unwillingly, looking as though he thought Kale would snap and kill him any second. He let out a whimper as Kale grabbed him forceful by the collar and put his face inches away from his, eyes gleaming in insanity.

"I want the weapon finished by the end of the week, do you understand?" he hissed. "And then I'll give you one more week to get my best SOLDIERS over to Cosmo Canyon with the finished weapon."

Heidegger nodded and Kale pushed him away, causing him to stumble and nearly fall.

"In two weeks time..." Kale yelled at Heidegger's retreating back. "I want Cosmo Canyon reduced to rubble and flames!"