Hiya! This chappie is a tad short..but hey..it's either you take it or leave it lol. i won't be updating till about the 20th jan..because i'm going away on a holiday with my parents. :) Going to Hong Kong for the first time lol..then back to singapore..YAY!To visit family..you know...the usual.

Anyway..thanks for all your reviews..they really do help!

Enjoy...


Her steps were soft and quiet as she made her way down the steps. Hearing the familiar laugh of a certain male she couldn't help but wonder exactly what he was up to. Peeking into the kitchen she saw Denzel and Cloud hovered over the other side of the counter with their fists up and in quite the battle.

They are up to no good.

Smiling she entered briskly, tip toeing her way over to them she stopped just a metre away and watched.

Denzel was quickening his moves, dodging slow punches that Cloud inflicted. It wasn't until Denzel managed a small jump onto Cloud when he bent over that made her really take an interest in their battle.

For a young child like Denzel he sure had his moves. He had managed to hit Cloud in the chest; a dull thud hit the ground with an 'ouff'.

"I'm getting old," Was Cloud's response.

Denzel smirked and gave the older man a hand, pulling Cloud up. But in the process, Cloud clasped his hand tightly over Denzel's, bringing the child into his arms and grasping both of Denzel's hands. Grabbing onto Denzel's legs and hanging him upside down. Denzel crossed his arms over his chest; gravity pulled his hair down which made it incredibly hard for Cloud to not laugh. Giving the older man a glare at the current situation.

"First rule," Cloud smirked, "Never take the hand of the enemy."

Denzel groaned. "How was I supposed to know that you were going to do this?" he said slightly angry.

"Words are hard to distinguish if that's what you truly feel," Cloud smiled.

The Childs eyes suddenly caught hers. Giving her a sheepish smile he muttered, "Hi..Tifa."

The smile was wiped clean away from Cloud's face as he turned to the woman. He swiftly brought Denzel back to a standing position.

"Was teaching Denzel how to fight," Cloud answered with a stutter.

"Hmm..I see," Tifa smiled at his nervousness.

"Tifa," Denzel tugged on the woman's shirt.

Glancing down she nodded. "Yes."

"Cloud said that I'm part of the family now," His smile beamed.

She raised her brows, casting her eyes to Cloud she asked, "Really?"

"Our family," Cloud said with his custom blank face, taking a step forward.

"Cloud, you and me," Denzel explained.

"Oh," Tifa gasped but then smiled. "Haven't we always been a family?" Tifa asked suddenly.

"We have," Cloud said, eyes locked onto hers, "It just wasn't official."

"Remind me again why we are doing this," Tifa groaned as she wore her gloves for battle.

Cloud stood a metre in front of her, his arms at the ready. "Denzel wants to learn from this," he explained.

"Don't hold back," Tifa smirked.

He laughed softly at the memory of their little discussion earlier about this very thing. "I always will Tifa," he muttered before she swiftly made her move.

Swinging her hand she found it passing it through as his head dodged the hit, coming around her he grabbed onto her shoulder. Throwing her against the wall, he knew she'd manage an easy attack like that. Besides he'd break her fall if she failed.

Eyes following her move he saw her swiftly step onto the wall. Lifting her head almost instantaneously she gave him a smirk. "Nice," she muttered under her voice. Pushing herself off the wall she flew into the air and toward him.

He held his hand open, ready to catch her fist but instead her hand slipped pass his, and to his chest. He flew back, into the wall.

Tifa stood triumphantly, giving him a smile. "You know what?" she said.

"What?" he rolled his eyes as he detangled himself from the wall fragments, landing on his feet.

"You are getting old," she smirked.

He couldn't help but chuckle slightly at his words before.

"I know I am," he said before charging at her again.

He went so fast that she didn't even have a chance to defend herself. Grabbing onto her hands he smiled to her. "Mmm.." he smiled at their position.

She shook her head. "That is not fair," she whined.

"What's not to be fair?" Cloud asked.

"Denzel's watching you know," she said.

Cloud nodded. "I know," he said before kissing her and releasing her hands, jumping a step back.

"That's seducing me Cloud, not hand to hand combat," She mocked.

Cloud smiled a rare smile. "Well, life's just going to be different now that we're a family."

"I thought you said it wasn't official," Tifa mimicked him earlier.

Cloud chuckled.

She pushed a punch toward his chest, which he casually caught with his hand; quite startled by the force that was in her punch.

"It won't be until I make it," Cloud said quite seriously.

"What are you implying?" Tifa asked, swiftly turning her head as he made an attempt to swing his hand over her head.

"I will ask you one day," Cloud said. "When the time is right."

"We shouldn't really have conversations like this in a hand to hand combat," Tifa laughed.

"Yes I agree," They heard Denzel shout.

They stopped abruptly and turned toward Denzel, giving him a shrug. "When adults have hand to hand combat, conversation usually strikes up the tension levels," Tifa smiled.

Denzel rolled his eyes. "Adults," he coughed.

"Second rule Denzel," Cloud said, eyes fixed onto Tifa's. "Never let the opponent seduce you, well that's if it's a female otherwise you have nothing to worry about."

"Oh," Tifa gasped, swatting him on the shoulder.

"See what I mean," Cloud smiled. "Women get anything they want from a smile."

Tifa smirked, "Well then," she traced his chest with her finger, "Why didn't you say so earlier."

"There are children watching," Cloud gasped, grabbing her hands in his.

"I know," Tifa laughed as she found the right moment to strike Cloud, causing him to fall to the ground.

"Ouch."

Tifa sat above Cloud, holding his hands in hers. He was totally pinned to the floor.

"The only rule Denzel; when you fight, defence is all you need to know, the rest comes on easily. Because eventually, the battle has to end doesn't it?" She turned her head to Denzel then back to Cloud.

"Yeah," Denzel said. "Defence."

Tifa smirked at Cloud. "I think that's enough for one day," she started to stand up.

"Why do I always let you seduce me and make me loose?" Cloud sighed.

"Because you love me?" Tifa answered, eyes staring at his with question.

"That's one reason."

"What's the other?" She then narrowed her eyes.

"I always hold back," he mimicked his voice earlier.

"You really," she touched his nose, "Really have to stop holding back. It isn't fair when you do."

"Yeah," he pleaded.

She shook her head and walked off to the exit. "I will be fine Cloud, don't hold back."

As he watched her exit he heard Denzel jumping down his seat. "You hold back?"

"For Tifa I do."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to hurt her," Cloud confessed.

"Then don't," Denzel said, tracing Tifa's steps and walking out of the chapel.

Cloud stared at his surroundings. This used to be his home, a place where he used to hide from Tifa last time. Things were different now, they stayed in the same home, slept in the same bed, and had dinner with each other. It'll stay like this from now on.

"Why did I ever stay here?" Cloud said disgustingly, kicking the pole with his leg.

He watched as it crumbled and fell down.

Eyes falling onto the spot where he witnessed Tifa lying down, almost dead. He had returned late from his delivery and came home to see her on the ground.

It was painful remembering, but he had too. He had to remind himself how much he had hurt her and the countless of times he was never there for her.

He remembered that day like it were yesterday:

"Tifa," there was a hint of worry in his voice; it wasn't usual for him to show emotion back then.

"Tifa!" he said again after she stirred. Assuring himself that she was okay and alive.

Minutes passed as he watched her slowly stirring. Her brown eyes opening slowly, "You're late," she mumbled weakly.

"Who did this to you?" his voice was showing worry now, he didn't care if he was breaking his wall he so blatantly built up to shadow emotions from others.

"Some guy I don't know…"

Suddenly out of no where she bolted up, "Marlene!" she gasped.

The pain struck her head, causing her to fall back into his arms again. She fainted.

Glancing around his room he noticed his Materia missing. "Damn it."

He thought for sure he had lost her when he saw her. All he ever wanted was to be forgiven by Tifa, only she could make it all better.

"You know, staying out here all day isn't going to change the fact that you lost Cloud," Tifa's voice shook him out of his thoughts.

His eyes scanned around the place and then rested on Tifa who was at the door, staring at him with a smile.

He boldly took a few steps, nearing her. "That day I saw you on the floor," he stopped, turning around and looking at the spot which he found her in last time.

"I thought I had lost you," he said blankly; Closing his eyes.

"I'm still here," she assured him.

He re opened his eyes and gave her a small smile, stepping forward he snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "I got you back and I'll never lose you again," he whispered in her ear.

"The rain stopped, I think we can make it there by sunset if we leave now," Tifa said, placing a small kiss at his jaw.

"I was having second thoughts for this trip," Cloud confessed.

"Why?"

"Nibelheim, our village was destroyed, there is nothing but ruins," Cloud said drawing back.

"Doesn't hurt to visit it, we can camp there Cloud. Just like we did last time," Tifa said.

"And if it starts to rain there?" Cloud asked.

"We stay at one of those inn's," she answered.

He nodded, his failure to win the battle this time. "Love you," he whispered quietly.

"Mmm..Love you too," she murmured back to him.

"Come, if we leave now, we should have enough time to set up camp, walk around a bit and build a fire," Cloud said, leading her outside and back to Seventh Heaven.

She nodded, and obliged as he led her out.