He watched her as she exchanged stories to their friends. A reunion too long waited for them since the last time they met up together. It was their relatively small group which consisted of Yuffie, Cid, Barret, Red, Cait Sith, Vincent, and surprisingly Reno and Rude too. They were well aware of the new closeness between Yuffie and Reno as they exchanged glances every so often. It wasn't until Cid finally pulled the plug and made them confess. Reno at first was a bit shy at this, which wasn't his true nature as a Turk. That showed them all just how much he cared for his girl.
Tifa's bubbly conversations with them made him smile gently each time he watched. It was the way she laughed and the way she interacted with them that would always amaze him. Just how was she able to let her spirits go and have such a pleasantly happy conversation? Whatever it was, that was just one of her strengths and is weakness. Like they say, opposites attract.
She caught his eyes a few times and calmly sent a smile back to him. Their relationship had grown over so much since the last time they all got together. There was more in life now, and not just battles. He looked down at the bundle in his arms and he smiled. Only two weeks old. So small and innocent, pure and beautiful.
"That's the cutest baby I've ever seen," Yuffie cooed over the baby. She was a bit drunk, judging from the way she stood and spoke. She looked back up at Tifa then to Cloud. "I still can't believe you two are together and parents too," she gasped.
It wasn't hard for them to break the news to their friends. The moment they had arrived and seen the child in Cloud's arms, they knew instantly. Anyways, thanks to Denzel and Marlene, the news came out like a voice over a microphone when they arrived. What helped more was the happy face planted on Tifa, she glowed in a way that no other would.
"He's perfect," Cloud said softly. "Just like his mother."
"I still can't believe you didn't tell us about your little relationship," Yuffie whined, "Had to wait until we met up again ey?" she patted Cloud's shoulder.
The blonde nodded and tried his hardest to keep the child away from her swinging hands. It wasn't until Yuffie let out a fit of laughter that awoke the sleeping baby. They all kept quiet and watched as the child woke up.
To their surprise, the child didn't even cry. Its hazel eyes were a perfect match of its father and mother. As it slowly awoke, his small arms stretched through the blankets he was wrapped in and he yawned. Cloud looked down at the child and firmly covered the blankets over his now slightly exposed clothed chest. The baby squirmed around with joy after realizing it was his father who was holding him. His small hand lowered from the stretch and went to rest on his fathers hand. Gently he wrapped his small fingers around Cloud's finger and looked back up at his dad.
"Wow Spike," Cid gasped as he overlooked from across the bar. "Fatherhood fits you well."
Cloud felt his cheeks redden and his lips forming a smile, "Thank you."
"And motherhood fits you well too Tifa," Cid raised his pint of beer to her. "To the new parents and their son," he toasted. They toasted back and drank their pints.
"Ah took ye long enough to figure huh?" Barret chuckled as he raised his glass.
Yuffie had long gone away from them and was now happily laughing with a very drunk Reno too. Their bubbly personalities made them a perfect fit.
Cloud enjoyed the presence of his child and slowly found himself smiling over the thought. It seemed to him, that his very most wished desire was to be a father. He didn't realize it, not until Tifa had given birth. It was then that carrying the baby made him complete. He looked back up to see Tifa exiting her way from behind the bar and walking towards him.
Their baby boy was the idol of their love and the result of their life. He was their goal, and future. Their love.
"Hello cutie," she touched the baby's nose with her finger and settled her eyes on Cloud.
He watched her inventively as she interacted with the child through hopeless smiling and awing. The baby between them squirmed with a happy smile as he laughed childishly at the touch of his mother's finger. She lowered her hand down onto the curve of his head and gently stroked it. His squirming and smiling was enough to make Cloud feel complete. The way she laughed along with their son.
She looked up and locked eyes with him. A smile grew on her lips as she felt her mind tremble beneath his eyes. He moved closer to her and smiled just before their lips touched again.
"Thank you," she said softly to him as she glanced down at their child.
Their foreheads just touching as she heard him whisper back, "No, thank you Tifa. Thank you for everything."
"Aww look at how he stares at his parents like that," Cait Sith commented and reached forward to touch the child's head.
"Here carry him," Cloud stood up and handed the child out to Red.
The dog raised his brows, "Me? Carry him?"
Cloud nodded and smiled.
"Okay," Red smiled sheepishly as he awaited Cait Sith to carry the child. As the parents watched their child safely handed off to Cait Sith, Cloud felt her leaning against him and couldn't resist but to put his arms around her.
"I love you Tifa, and Reiyh too," he whispered into her ear. She smiled and whispered in return.
"Reiyh Lockheart Strife," they heard Cait sith saying as he read the name that was sewed into the blanket.
Once a mistake, an eternity to fix. But the wait, is all worth it.
Just one more time, was all the chance he needed.
That was my quote. I hoped you liked the story. That's my one shot "One More Time"