Sorry that it took me ages to post up this chappie..very sorry :)..forgive me..after reading this hopefully you will..And I haven't finished this story to some of those who think i have..It's a tiny bit short but well..it'll hav to do. I'm currently writing chapter 5 for this so when it's ready it'll be posted up. :) my grand mother just came so give me sometime before the next update...Enjoy.

They sat at the dinning table that was placed in the kitchen of Seventh Heaven. The seating arrangement was easy, at the head of the table was Cloud, then on his left Tifa, and next to her Denzel; across from him was Marlene, and on her left was Barret.

"Mm.." Barret mumbled. "This is really good," he pointed to the food, staring at Tifa with amazement.

Tifa smiled and nodded. "Thanks," she said softly as she continued eating her food.

Barret went back to his food, gulping it all down within 15 minutes. At one stage the entire participants of the table had their eyes locked onto Barret who was gulping everything down at a fast speed.

"So what do you two plan to do this spring?" Barret asked, eyes shifting from Cloud to Tifa.

Cloud kept silent, a blank look on his face.

"Just stay here in Migar I guess," Tifa said.

"I was thinking of visiting Nibelheim," Cloud said, gazing his eyes over to gauge Tifa's reaction.

Her eyes widen; he could read the question in her eyes; You're leaving?

"I wanted to take Denzel to our home. It'll be a small vacation," Cloud said; eyes locked onto Tifa's.

"Hmm..Me and Marlene are headed to Costa del Sol," Barret smiled as he glanced to the time.

Tifa smiled. "What time do you have to leave?" She asked Barret.

"Yeah!" Barret gasped when he looked at his watch. "We should get going Marlene, if we want to reach there before sunset," he stood up, gathering his plate together; with other plates as well.

Cloud stood up as well as Tifa, and the kids.

-----

"Thanks but you-"

"It's ok Tif, I'll do this. It's the least I can do to thank you for the wonderful lunch," Barret smiled, after putting the last plate away in the cupboard.

"It was nice of you to drop by," Tifa smiled.

Barret nodded, he peeked through the crack of the door to see Cloud with Denzel and Marlene on the couch.

"Lover boy over there is smiling a lot now," Barret smiled, leaning back against the table; crossing his hands.

Tifa blushed and nodded.

"I think he finally realized," Barret said, "I'm happy that you two are together. The both of you look damn happy now," Barret gave Tifa a warm smile.

"Thanks," Tifa answered. "I think he's finally forgiven himself," Tifa said, gazing at Cloud who was talking to Marlene and Denzel.

Barret nodded. "I'm sure he forgave himself because of you?"

Tifa smiled. "Ah, we won't be this happy for long. With the small arguments here and there," she giggled.

"A little thing like that ain't gonna ruin it all ey?" Barret laughed. "Nah," he sighed, "I don't think he'd ever stop loving you. No matter how much you nag," Barret smirked.

Tifa glared, swatting his shoulder with the cloth in her hands.

"Oi!" Barret gasped, wincing from the hit. He was three times bigger than her, but the thought of hitting a woman; well a friend, was something he'd never do. Tifa was his friend, besides Cloud would kill him if he even laid a finger on Tifa.

Tifa rolled her eyes; they softened when she stared over at Cloud who was smiling now. "He still misses her though," Tifa said.

Barret nodded, laying his hand on Tifa's shoulder. "We all do," he said sadly. "But he's got you next to him."

Tifa kept silent for a while, the two adults watching Cloud, Denzel and Marlene. "Do you think he loves her?" Tifa asked, turning her eyes to Barret.

He nodded. "He loves her like a sister and he loves you, like how a man loves a woman," Barret smiled. "Cloud loves you a lot Tifa. His eyes say everything. He can be the bitchiest man on the field of battle, but when he's with you and Denzel, he's a different man."

Tifa smiled and nodded, remembering how gentle he was when they shared that special moment a few hours ago. "Cloud can really be gentle. It's hard to imagine him being gentle after seeing him in a battle."

Barret nodded. "Cloud..he's-he's a good man," he nodded.

Tifa smirked. "Judging by how he fights in battles, he's never shown anger to me or Denzel," she whispered under her breath.

"Believe me…he wants to spend the rest of his life with you," Barret said, standing up fully now.

"Really? How do you know?" Tifa asked, taking a step closer to him.

"Because he told me something this morning that informed me so," Barret smiled.

"What did he tell you?" Tifa gasped, almost attacking Tifa.

"Now, now. Don't need to fret over such small matters, in time he will tell you." Barret chuckled as he walked out toward where Cloud, Marlene and Denzel were.

"Barret!" Tifa gasped, following him furiously.

"We gotta go now Marlene," Barret smiled.

Marlene stood up. "Okay," she said then turned to Cloud. "You can finish the story when I come back for the summer," she smiled to Cloud who nodded and smiled back.

"I'll get Cloud to tell me first, then when you come back, he can tell it again," Denzel smiled.

"Nuh-uh, Cloud.." she whined.

Cloud smirked. "We'll see," he said standing up.

Denzel laughed, which made Marlene roll her eyes.

"Fine," She said, stomping over to Barret; she peeked at Cloud. "I'll miss you Cloud," She said quietly.

Cloud smiled. "I'm sure Denzel will miss you more," he said, taking Denzel's hand.

Denzel nodded. "When you come back we can play," he smiled.

Marlene nodded then turned to Tifa. "I'll miss you too Tifa," She sniffed as she threw her arms around Tifa, who smiled warmly and hugged her back.

------

Soon later the adopted child and father left the three. It was back to being just the three of them again.

An hour later, Cloud sat on the couch with Denzel, listening to childish wisdom that came from Denzel. It never seemed to tire the child; speaking so much; he was just happy to have someone like Cloud to listen to what he had to say. There was never that father figure in his life, and so naturally Cloud has taken that role. Cloud has always been like a father, just like the time when he walked with Marlene into the forest when he tried to rescue them from Kadaj.

At this time Cloud was lost in his own thoughts, still every so often saying a 'wow' just to make Denzel happy. Truth is, he wasn't even listening to a word Denzel was saying, he tried a couple of times but concluded that none of it made much sense until.

"Tifa's a lot happier," Denzel stated, watching Tifa who was in the kitchen talking on the phone, her back facing them.

Cloud nodded, admiring her beauty from the back. "Did she hurt much when I was gone?" he asked, shifting his gaze back to Denzel who was leaning against his side.

Denzel nodded. "She never cried though," he said. "She always told me and Marlene, that you will come back soon, which you did," Denzel's happiness fell after he whispered, "Though you left soon after for another delivery."

Cloud sighed, "I'll stay from now on, don't you worry about that," Cloud said.

Denzel smiled and nodded. "Hey," he started, "I wanted to know, would you-" He paused, "would you teach me how to fight like Tifa?" he asked nervously. Standing up, "you know like," he placed his hands in fighting position in a fist infront of him. "Like this?"

Cloud raised a brow.

"Oh," Denzel gasped, "I wanted to because like," he was nervous again, "the streets aren't safe, and I-"

Cloud nodded and smiled. "I understand," he said. "Sure."

Denzel grinned widely. "Cool," He smirked.

Cloud chuckled. "First we'll start with the basics," Cloud said, untangling Denzel's tight fist to just a relaxed hand.

Meanwhile.

"..Yuffie, I really got to go," Tifa urged.

"Noo!" Yuffie gasped. "Just talke a while longer, geez, whats so important to do?"

"Noth-"

"OHHH!" Yuffie shouted in the phone. "Cloud there ey?" she said in a rather unpleasent manner.

"Yuffie!" Tifa gasped. "Cloud and I-"

"Look great together," Yuffie finished.

"Would you stop-"

"doing that?" Yuffie finished again.

"Yes," Tifa nodded. "I have to go, come down some time, I'm sure Denzel wants to see you. You know him and his fetish for sweets, and how you are so nice in giving him everything he wants, resulting in me having to calm his hyper active state down." Tifa said, remembering the day before the group left when Yuffie took a liking towards the kids, buying them candy since they begged her; though the result was Marlene and Denzel running around like crazy drunken kids, hyperactive; laughing and making faces.

"hehehe…" could be heard in the phone from the other

"Ok, we shall talk again. I really have to get going now." Tifa said, hanging up.

"Tifa Wai-"

Tifa smirked at the phone. "She'll probably kill me later anyway," she sighed turning around to walk to the living room.

Watching as Cloud and Denzel fighting was amusing yet discomforting. They had seriuos emotions on their face which made her ask herself; were they really fighting? Or is this just a joke or something?

"Uh.." She mumbled.

Cloud stopped, drawing his hands back to his side and so did Denzel.

"Just teaching Denzel to fight like you," Cloud answered shortly.

Tifa shifted her gaze to Denzel who smiled and nodded. "I wanna fight like you Tifa."

She couldn't help but smile. Motherhood never pondered in her mind but it was starting to seem like the first thing in her mind these days. Since Cloud returned and stayed with Denzel and her. Life did look like a happy one.

She had her small family, a one with a woman and a man and a child. This was what she always wanted.

With him.

Cloud.