"A mistake which is commonly made about neurotics is to suppose they are interesting. It is not interesting to be always unhappy, engrossing oneself, malignant and ungrateful, and never quite in touch with reality."
Cyril Connolly
Tifa tossed and turned in the comfortable, yet unfamiliar bed, unable to feel even a little bit tired. It was so early in the morning that it was still dark, and Tifa wasn't quite ready to give up and leave her bed. The day before had been awful enough, and she wasn't prepared to face another day if it was going to be just as bad. She sighed and ran a hand over her stomach, trying not to think about what was going to happen in the upcoming night.
She didn't know how she was going to make it through the day without going crazy with worry. Yesterday had been hard enough. Reeve had tried to distract her with all sorts of things that were going on with Cosmo Canyon. It had worked for awhile, but by midday, Tifa had grown listless again. Red had then stepped in, and took Marlene and Tifa on a walk around the outside of the fort. Marlene enjoyed herself immensely, and cheerfully picked a bouquet to give to Elmyra when they got back.
Elmyra seemed to enjoy having Tifa and Marlene in her house. She filled up Tifa's somber silences with cheerful stories about Aeris when she was young, how she met her husband, and all sorts of things. Tifa listened interestedly to Elmyra's stories; she was surprised how much she didn't know about Aeris and Elmyra.
Tifa smiled into her pillow, but after barely five seconds, she could feel the smile fading again. It's happening tonight... she thought, sighing. Please let everything turn out alright. The doubts lingered on the edge of her thoughts, but she pushed them away stubbornly. She knew that the only way she would make it through the day, was if she told herself that everything would be fine. Tifa closed her eyes briefly, trying to imagine where Cloud might be at that very moment.
Her eyes snapped back open as she heard her door creak open. Tifa hauled herself up on one elbow, the other arm carefully sliding under her stomach. She could barely make out a shadow in the doorway.
"Hello?" Tifa asked softly, a note of suspicion barely detectable in her voice.
The door opened wider and someone took two light footsteps into her room.
"Tifa?" a small voice whispered uncertainly.
Tifa smiled as she recognized Marlene's sleep-laced voice and her small, pajama clad form. She patted the spot next to her on the bed, and Marlene rushed forward, her stocking feet padding gently on the floor. Marlene jumped on the bed next to Tifa and tucked her legs under her.
"What's up?" Tifa asked her, titling her head inquisitively.
"Can't sleep." Marlene responded, her voice sounding nothing like her usual cheerful chirp. "I've been up since two o'clock in the morning!"
"Wow." Tifa said softly. "You've been up longer than me."
Marlene nodded at Tifa solemnly.
"I heard you wake up 'round three." she informed Tifa.
Tifa checked the clock and sighed. It was only four o'clock. It felt like she had been tossing and turning for ages, but it had only been an hour.
"Anyway," Marlene continued. "I got lonely, and thought maybe were lonely too, so I came in to keep you company."
Tifa smiled and gently pushed back Marlene's sleep-tousled hair.
"Maybe we could try to get some sleep together, huh?" Tifa suggested softly.
Marlene nodded vigorously and Tifa scooted over in the bed so Marlene could settle under the covers next to her. Marlene cuddled into Tifa's side, and Tifa stroked her back gently. Eventually Marlene's breathing became steady, and Tifa thought the little girl had fallen asleep, but Tifa was surprised as Marlene's voice piped up sleepily.
"Papa, Cloud, and the others will be home tomorrow, right Tifa?" she questioned, voice muffled by Tifa's shoulder.
"That's right..." Tifa answered slowly.
"And you'll have your baby when they come back?" Marlene asked.
Tifa laughed softly.
"Not right away Marlene." she told her gently. "These things take time."
Marlene quieted for awhile. She fiddled with the sleeve of Tifa's pajama top for a minute before voicing a question.
"Tifa?" she asked shyly, burying her face into her shoulder. "You and Cloud will still love me even after you have your own baby, right?"
Tifa felt something tug painfully on her heart, and she found herself almost struggling against tears. She bent down to kiss Marlene on the face.
"Of course we will Marlene." she promised, smoothing her hand over her brow. "Nothing could ever change that."
Marlene smiled up at Tifa before closing her eyes again, and barely ten minutes later, both of them finally fell asleep.
Cloud grunted grumpily as the sun crept through his eyelids. He shifted uncomfortably in his sleeping bag for a minute, but stopped when he hit a particularly sharp rock. He sat up groggily, looking over his surroundings in the early morning light.
His companions were strewn over the small clearing in the forest. Rude and Elena were sitting up in their sleeping bags like him, but Yuffie, Barret, and Reno had their eyes screwed stubbornly shut, trying to savor their last few minutes of sleep. Tied to some trees to his left, the chocobos were waking up, warking sleepily.
Cloud stood up, stretching his stiff muscles. He caught Yuffie staring at him despairingly through one barely cracked-open eye.
"Everyone up." Cloud said, looking pointedly at Yuffie. "We have to move on soon."
Rustling sounds filled the clearing as everyone reluctantly peeled off their covers. Cloud carefully began gathering his things together. He stopped for a minute to look at the heavy metal of his wedding ring before pulling his gloves on over it. Cloud glanced at Barret. Barret's eyes looked far away as he got himself together. Cloud bet he was thinking about Marlene.
Cloud sighed and pulled on his boots. He wondered how Tifa was doing back at home. He hoped she wasn't making herself sick with worry. Cloud looked around at the others, silently urging them to hurry up. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner he could go home.
Finally, Yuffie, Barret, and the Turks looked up at him. Despite the less-than-restful night of sleep they had the night before, they all looked alert and awake. Cloud gave them all a small nod. They all silently swung up on their respective chocobos, their faces serious.
"We'll be at Junon by nightfall." Cloud said solemnly.
He received five nods in reply. Cloud made a quiet noise to his chocobo, and they headed out.
Heidegger shifted his heavy weight nervously as he stood outside Kale's office. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pant legs, taking no notice of the unattractive wet marks they left on his thighs. Stress had caused him to eat enough breakfast to sustain five men, and it churned unpleasantly in his stomach as he hovered around anxiously.
A young recruit passed by him, and Heidegger's watched him, a glimmer of opportunity in his piggy eyes. He called out to the recruit, trying to regain the authoritative tone he once possessed.
"Hey you!" he shouted. "Come back here, I have an assignment for you."
The recruit dragged his feet as he walked back towards him. He stared at Heidegger, his face surly. Heidegger tried to hide his discomfort.
"I need you to give President Kale a message." he said firmly. "Tell him that the weapon and the best of his SOLDIERS are ready to attack just as he asked and-"
The young man cut Heidegger off with a loud snort.
"No thanks." he scoffed. "I'm not really in the mood to die today."
He walked away quickly, and Heidegger slumped hopelessly as he disappeared around the corner. His eyes flickered almost in a panic, to the heavy door in front of him. He took a shaky step towards it, and stopped. You're not really going in there, are you? he asked himself incredulously. Heidegger gulped.
It had been nearly two weeks since he last stepped foot in the president's office, but rumor had it that Kale's insanityhad gotten worse since then. Barely anyone made it out of his office alive. Heidegger's knees wobbled as he took another step forward. His breaths came out in panicky puffs as he placed his sweaty palm against the door and pushed it open.
An awful smell assaulted his senses as he stepped into the office. The immense breakfast he had was now pushing up his esophagus. Heidegger swallowed hard, and pressed a handkerchief to his nose. There were at least seven bodies lying on the office floor, decaying where they had fallen.
Heidegger quickly looked away from the bodies, and turned his eyes towards the large wooden desk. He had to smother a gasp as he caught sight of President Kale.
"Mr. President?" Heidegger asked, voice muffled by his handkerchief.
There was no response. Heidegger took another step forward. The president was bony, and dirty, his head slumped down on his desk. It seemed that he hadn't changed clothes or bathed since Heidegger had last entered the office. There were untouched trays of rotting food around him. Apparently he hadn't eaten either.
Feeling revolted to the core, Heidegger raised his voice a little louder.
"Mr President!" he shouted.
The gaunt and sickly figure raised its head and stared blankly at Heidegger. Kale's mako-eyes were teeming with insanity.
"Who're you?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
Heidegger gaped at him a minute. It wasn't until he saw that Kale was gripping his sword tightly, that he responded.
"Heidegger, sir." he answered, trying to keep the disgust out of his voice.
Kale grunted and leaned back in his chair. He fingered the handle of his sword with bony fingers.
"What do you want?" he asked harshly. "Why have you come here?"
Heidegger gulped and tried to keep his gaze steady.
"The weapon is ready just as you asked." he said, wincing slightly. "The best of your SOLIDIERS have reached the Cosmo Canyon coastline and will be attacking tonight."
Kale eyes had wandered away from Heidegger and were currently staring at a spot on the ceiling. Heidegger stood uncertainly. He cleared his throat loudly. Kale continued standing eerily still.
"Um, sir?" Heidegger said meekly.
Moving with unnatural quickness, Kale let out an inhuman shriek and slammed his fist down on the desk. Heart jumping into his throat, Heidegger watched, frozen with fear as the wood splintered around his fist and the desk broke in two. His eyes flickered back to Kale. He was staring at the ceiling again.
"I'll just leave then." Heidegger whispered weakly, cowering.
There was no response from Kale. Heidegger took a few steps backwards before breaking into a full out waddle-run and pushing the door open. The door swung closed behind him, and Heidegger fell to his knees, and became violently sick on the floor.