So I really fucked up the story continuity. Thanks to Syneiam and Kay-Mika for actually pointing out that chronologically this couldn't really work. Eh, I suppose I'll go back and fix it, get rid of the Denzel being Cloud's son thing... but damnit, it seemed so good. Ah, I'll just leave it the way it was and hope no one kills me for it. Sorry, guys, my brain is messed.

--

Cloud's eyes fluttered opened, trying to focus.

"There's those baby-blues." Barrett leaned forward in the chair next to Cloud's bed.

"Where's Tifa?" Cloud croaked.

"What, no 'Hi, Barrett, it's nice to see you' or 'Thanks for helping to nurse me back to health'?"

"Tifa," Cloud whispered.

"She'll be back any minute, went to the store to pick you up some more bandages. So just chill," Barrett laughed.

Cloud tried to sit up but felt a weight on his arm. He glanced over, seeing Denzel sleeping next to him. "How long has he been there?"

"He's been sleeping next to you every night."

"Barrett, did you know?"

"Yeah," Barrett sighed. "But don't get angry at me, she made me promise not to tell."

"It's alright." Cloud reached over, smoothing Denzel's hair. "I just… can't believe it."

"Neither could I." As Barrett laughed, Tifa stepped through the door, dropping the bandages from her hands.

"Cloud…"

"I think, that's my cue." Barrett stood and walked past Tifa and out the door.

"Hey, Tifa." Cloud eased himself up slightly, careful not to disturb Denzel.

She walked slowly, almost painfully to the side of his bed, sitting next to him. "How… do you feel?"

"Pretty good for being stabbed twice."

"Good," Tifa looked at her hands. "Cloud… I'm… I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Denzel."

"You don't need to be," Cloud reached out and took her hand. "I made the mistake."

"That night… never should have happened."

"That's not what I meant." Cloud sighed. "I made the mistake to leave you after that."

"I didn't mind."

"Tifa…" He pulled on her hand but she still wouldn't look at him. "Was it hard?"

"Having a baby?" she laughed. "It wasn't exactly a walk in the park. And giving him up… was even harder… but I couldn't picture myself being a good mother to him, especially if I couldn't make you stay with us."

"Tifa…" He pulled on her until she collapsed on his shoulder.

"But when you came back and proposed this business… I just thought that maybe… if I brought him back into our lives… and told you… we could change." She pushed her head into the crick in his neck. "I just wanted to tell you. But how could I?"

"Cloud, Denzel is our child?" Cloud smiled.

"Jerk." Tifa sniffled. "I thought that was the last thing you wanted to hear."

"Probably." Tifa appeared from her hiding space, horror on her face. Cloud shook his head, "But only because it meant I hadn't been able to take care of him for all those years."

Her face relaxed to a soft smile.

"I just wish… I had known when he was born."

"Kind of hard with the way you run off and don't tell anybody where you are," she smirked.

"Right, my fault." Cloud tightened his grip on her hand. "Did you…"

"Well, after Aeris… Jenova said those things… he had a few questions," she laughed softly.

"How did he take it?"

"Luckily he was so worried about you that he didn't have time to be angry." Tifa reached over and touched Denzel. "We should wake him, though. He'll want to know you're alright."

"In a minute." Cloud moved his hand from hers and grasp on her to arm, pulling her forward. Tifa went willingly, their lips meeting. "I meant it, Tifa, when I said I loved you. I was going to tell Aeris that when she kissed me, because I didn't want to kiss anyone but you."

"Cloud…" she kissed him again, savoring the moment. "I love you, too."

"Mom?" Denzel yawned.

"Hey, baby," she reached over and cleared the hair from his eyes, smiling as his eyes opened. "We were just about to wake you."

"Hey, Denzel." Cloud reached over and messed his hair, smiling slightly.

"Cloud!" Denzel shot up immediately and wrapped his arms around Cloud's neck. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Did you think I'd go down that easily?" Cloud hugged him close.

"Of course not!" Denzel slipped out of his arms and smiled widely.

"You were pretty brave, though, Denzel." Cloud touched the side of Denzel's face gently. "You really saved me and T… your mom back there."

"When you touched me… I heard Aeris, the real Aeris, talk to me. She said I had to, for Mom… and for you, Cloud," he looked down, "Dad."

Cloud's heart stopped at the sound of the word. He looked to Tifa, seeing a smile he had never witnessed before spread across her face. Cloud pulled Denzel to him, his fingers in his hair. "I'm so sorry, Denzel." He pressed his lips against Denzel's forehead.

"Dad, cut it out!"

"Sorry," Cloud laughed, letting Denzel slip out of his arms.

"It's okay." Denzel fixed his hair.

"But I am sorry," Cloud sighed, "We… I really messed up."

Denzel smiled, "Yeah, you did."

"Thanks," Cloud laughed, "You're really not holding back, huh? Well, kid, you have every right to be angry, but… uh…"

"I don't want to be angry," Denzel smiled. "It's not like it's that big of a change, either. You and Tifa were always my parents. It's just an added bonus that it was the truth."

Cloud looked over and saw the tears starting to form in Tifa's eyes. "As long as… you're okay with it, Denzel."

"Yeah." Denzel hugged Cloud again and then stood away from the bed. "I'm going to go tell Marlene that you're okay."

"You do that," Tifa smiled.

Denzel walked out of the room slowly, stopping at the door to smile at them one more time before leaving.

"What a kid," Cloud whispered, taking Tifa's hand again.

"He is your son," Tifa laughed.

"I'm not going to take all the blame this one." He reached for her face with his other hand, but it dropped, his face cringing in pain.

"Cloud!" Tifa reached for him.

"No, no, I'm fine." Cloud smiled through the pain. "Just took things a little fast."

Tifa leaned in to him, letting her head rest on his good shoulder. "Don't scare me like that."

"If it gets you to get this close to me, I don't mind." Cloud laughed softly and rubbed his cheek against hers.

"You could always just ask."

"I…" Cloud swallowed hard. I can't. For some reason, I still can't ask you to touch me.

"Ask me, Cloud." She placed her hand along his jaw, her thumb making small circles along his cheek.

"Tifa…" he sighed. Cloud took a deep breath, focusing on the movement of her finger. "Please, Tifa…" This wall… I don't want this wall anymore…

"What is it, Cloud?"

"I want… you to sleep here with me." Cloud held his breath.

"Of course, but I think Denzel might get jealous." She laughed and helped him to lie back down in the bed. Tifa curled up next to him, her leg draped over his. She nuzzled her nose against his cheek, kissing it softly. "Is this alright?"

"No…" Cloud slipped his arm under her and pulled her closer, slightly on top of him. "There." He took a deep sniff of her hair and smiled. "Kiss me?"

"Yeah…" Tifa tilted her head and enclosed his lips with hers. "Better?"

"Yes." They lay there like this, hot breathes cascading across lips. Cloud sighed, "I really wish I weren't this beat up."

"There will be lots of time for that… won't there?" Tifa's voice seemed filled with that desperation again, her eyes locked with his.

Cloud smiled softly. "Well, as long as the business doesn't boom, I'm sure we can make some time."

"Cloud…" Tifa's face fell with disappointment.

"Hey," Cloud pulled her closer again, kissing her gently. "We can stay like this forever, Tifa, if you want. I don't want to run anymore."

"Thank you…" She moved her hand from Cloud's face and ran it through his hair.

"It's what I should have done all along."

"Dad? Mom?" The door opened suddenly and Denzel walked in.

"Yeah?" Tifa laughed and sat up slightly.

"Marlene's too busy with Barrett; she says she'll come see you tomorrow morning."

"Alright, Denzel." Cloud almost wanted to laugh. "Come on, kid." Cloud patted the bed next to him, across from Tifa.

"Okay…" Denzel walked to the bed and lay next to Cloud, careful not to lean on his bad shoulder. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing." Tifa smiled and at him and eased back into Cloud's arms.

"Mom," Denzel almost seemed to whine.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow, Denzel. For now, go to sleep," Cloud smoothed Denzel's hair, watching as he closed his eyes, begrudged.

"So how do you like it?"

"Hm?" Tifa moved her eyes from Denzel to Cloud, smiling.

"How do you like your family?"