RoxasxNamine4ever: My computer does that sometimes. Takes all my will power not to drop-kick it lol

Angelicxox: lol maybe I should have left Cid and Barret in the house in that case.

Ankosune: Yeah you should write a Clerith fanfic! I demand to be the first reviewer if you do write one lol

Chapter 14: Trouble in Paradise

Cloud turned in the bed, screwing up his eyes as the sun hit them. He blinked and shielded his blue orbs with his hand. He smiled as he saw Aeris scoot closer to him, her hand lying across his bare chest. He kissed her cheek, which seemed to be the key to awakening her as she opened her eyes, sleepily staring at him. He sat up a little to allow her to move while she lifted her head and yawned.

"What time is it?" She asked, still groggy. Cloud shrugged.

"I don't know. Does it matter? I can spend all the time in the world with you." She smiled at him.

"I'm sure Cid and Barret will love that." She replied as she reached over the side of the bed for her dress. Cloud stretched as she got out of bed and dressed.

"Why are you getting out of bed?" He groaned, reaching over to her, now empty, side. Aeris giggled at his antics.

"Because I'm hungry and want some breakfast." She replied. Cloud looked up with a smirk.

"Tired you out did I?" He questioned cheekily, watching her fight a blush. She playfully slapped him across the head.

"You sound like Reno. That is, before he got all loved up with Yuffie." She said as she opened the door. Cloud moaned in defeat and reached for his clothes.

Aeris waited by the door until he was done and they went into the kitchen together. Cid and Barret were already there, having obviously came back while the two were in Cloud's room. Barret smiled slightly while Cid just stared at them with no emotion, smoking his cigarette.

"Want some tea?" Barret asked. Aeris nodded with a smile as she and Cloud sat down. Cid narrowed his eyes at Cloud, who just gave him a puzzled look.

Cid rolled his eyes and wrote something down on paper, sliding it across to the blond. Cloud frowned and picked it up, immediately blushing at the content and scruching the paper up. Cid looked amused but Cloud glared at him.

"Did you have to word it like that?" He yelled. Cid stubbed out his cigarette.

"So you did then." He mused, looking between Aeris and Cloud. Barret set the cups down in front of the youths.

"So Aeris, what do you think of this place?" Barret asked. "I'm sure Cloud showed you lots of places."

"Yeah and I bet half of them were on his body." Cid muttered, dodging the smack Barret sent his way. Aeris ignored it and answered the question.

"It is beautiful." She admitted before she turned to Cloud. "But, if you've been alive for ten years, why didn't you come back to Midgar?" Cloud set down his cup, an emotionless expression on his face.

"Aeris," he began but the brunette frowned.

"You can't abandon us! We need you!"

"Aeris please."

"Cloud start acting like the King you are!" Cid and Barret simultaneously spluttered on their tea, looking at the pair in horror. Cloud sighed but before he could say anything, Cid spoke.

"King? Girl, I think you have the wrong spiky head." He laughed. Aeris frowned at him as Cloud turned to his friends.

"Excuse us for a few minutes please." He said. Barret and Cid stopped their laughing and looked at him seriously.

"You're not really a King are you?" Cid asked. Aeris was about to state it but Cloud interjected.

"No."

"Cloud!"

"No, I'm not the King. Maybe I was going to be one day, but things change and that was a long time ago."

"Wait, you never told us you were the King." Barret exclaimed.

"I'm not! That's what I've been trying to say."

"Cloud! How could you say that?" Aeris hissed. Cid whistled inwardly.

"Well, look at the time, I better be off." He smiled before walking out the door. Barret made a similar excuse and followed. Aeris and Cloud sat in silence.

"I can't believe you're doing this." She muttered.

"Can you drop it already?"

"Cloud, we need you."

"Nobody needs me." He replied darkly. "Besides, Sephiroth is the King." Aeris let out a sigh of frustration.

"Yes we do need you. Sephiroth let the clones take over Midgar." That caught Cloud's attention.

"What?"

"People live in the slums with no food or clean water and if we don't do our slave duties we are either executed or tortured with materia. So yes, Cloud, we do need you."

"What about Yuffie? She'll take over in five years."

"Sephiroth manipulated her into signing an abdication." Aeris explained. "And five years is too long anyway. Cloud, if you don't do something soon everyone will die."

"What about you? You've abandoned them!" he cried, standing up. Aeris stood up with him, banging her fists on the table.

"I left to find help. And I found you. Don't you understand? You're our only hope." Cloud looked away for a moment.

"Sorry." He mumbled. Aeris narrowed her eyes.

"You're different." She stated. "You've changed, you're not the Cloud I remember." Cloud turned to her.

"No, I'm not. Satisfied?"

"No. Just disappointed." Cloud scoffed as he turned to look out the window.

"You sound like my Dad."

"Good." Aeris countered angrily. "About time one of us did." At that, Cloud's eyes widened and he whirled around.

"You think you can show up here and tell me how to live my life? You don't know what I've been through!" Despite his strength and towering figure, Aeris didn't show fear as she answered.

"What's different about what you and Yuffie went through?"

"I went through more than Yuffie ever did." He said sadly. Aeris lost her angry expression, replacing it with concern.

"Then talk to me." She insisted, reaching to comfort him. He snapped away from her grip and glared.

"Forget it." he spat, as he walked to the door. Aeris groaned in frustration.

"Fine!" She yelled after him as he slammed the door shut.