Yay! I should be congratulated for finding the time to write this chapter. You wouldn't believe how hard it has been to actually find the time to do this. But I have, and that is all that matters..lol. if i take the time to really explain how hard it has been, I think it won't fit in one chapter. So I'm just not going to go there.

I am not sure when the next chapter will be up, as I have a heap of assignments to do. However, I have made a start on chapter 13 and if I can't find the time to finish the chapter, then I shall just post up what I have.

And Thank You! To those wonderful people who reviewed, The-Dark-Spirit-182, IronicEnding, Hipathya, Omniheart, bookwormzes, Prozacfairy.

I donate this post to ya'll, since you took the time to review after such a long period before I updated the story.

Enjoy..

This was their goodbye, to the house they had called home for a long time now. A place where love grew and homeless children called home. A place that was once peaceful and happy.

Will this be their last battle?

Denzel had a rather sadden expression on his face as he gazed his eyes upon his home. If only had Marlene by his side, then he wouldn't worry too much.

It was the separation that made him worry. A girl, whom he had come to call his sister, was with her adopted dad somewhere in Costa del Sol. Sometimes he wondered whether she was just his adopted sister, when he found himself worrying about her safety more than any one else.

Tifa took this moment worse. She stood there blankly a step away from Cloud. She said nothing, nor did she make no sound. Not even a sigh. This had been a home where she had fixed and worked hard. It was now one that was going to be demolished soon, by those unknown monsters.

This cruel world they lived in.

When will peace ever reign out again?

She had kept sad thoughts once when she lived here. Sad thoughts of a certain man, at the back of her mind as she aided to children and also to her customers.

Things had changed though, that man was now closer than she had ever thought. He was more than just her friend.

A child grew within her womb, one which was of not only hers, but also his. Cloud, was his name.

"We will come back here one day right?" Denzel asked quietly, fighting the urge to let the water from his eyes fall.

"One day," Cloud answered, placing a comforting hand on the child's shoulder.

"Not just the three of us though," Tifa added softly.

Cloud could sense the hurt in her voice. Making his move he made a step toward her, letting his hand pull Denzel closer as well.

"Tifa," he said softly, eyes locked on her.

She nodded, and turned around fiercely. "Peace is overrated anyway," she told him.

"We'll be back here one day Tifa," Cloud promised, taking her hand in his.

"And if we don't?" Tifa asked, eyes flashing at his.

"We'll have each other," Cloud answered, trying his hardest to give them hope.

Hope is all is left, to see this place again.

Let this be the last battle.

"I hope Marlene and Barret are okay out there," Tifa said aloud, turning to look at Midgar.

"They're meeting us in the Forgotten City," Cloud answered.

"And Yuffie?" Tifa asked sadly.

"We've sent out a message to her," Reno said, suddenly appearing beside them.

"A message..how?" Cloud asked.

"We sent a messenger to gather up all your friends, help is what we need. We need men and women who can fight this creature," Reno said.

Fight? What if some cannot fight?

"We think Bahamut has returned," Rude spoke up from behind them.

Cloud spun around. "Bahamut?"

"He was called by something," Rude said, "Maybe the spirit of Kadaj?"

"Come on," Reno said, "We should head off before an attack springs into action."

Cloud could see the hurt in Denzel's eyes as he tore them away.

"How are you so sure an attack will happen in Midgar?" Cloud questioned Rude.

"Like I said," Reno began, "We give an ass about you. Or well, Rufus gives an ass about you. We think the next attack will be in Midgar, and because you are in this city we are saving your asses by doing this job for Rufus."

Cloud nodded, as if satisfied.

"Goodbye," Tifa heard Denzel whisper softly.

"Come on," Tifa urged the child.

And with that they left the city, their home. Denzel, Tifa and Cloud sat on his Fenrir; whilst Rude and Reno on each their own.

Cloud made sure Denzel sat in front of him, just so that the child wouldn't take up too much space for Tifa in the back. She was after all, carrying around a four month old foetus.

"Don't let go," Cloud said softly to Tifa before they had started their journey.

"Don't worry," she smiled warmly, "I won't."

"Space enough back there?" Cloud asked, almost in a yell.

Tifa smiled and leaned in to his ear, "All the space I need."

"I don't think," Cloud began, "..that pregnant women are supposed to be riding this."

Tifa giggled. "Well, I'm not a normal average pregnant woman."

The remaining of the journey was quiet. Each in their own trail of thoughts.

Denzel had found, the shell effect of Cloud quite comfortable. Settling back against the older mans chest and resting his head back.

Denzel having his childish behaviour lifted his head to the way where he could see Cloud's face, but upside down.

Cloud chuckled and looked down. "Having fun?"

The child nodded happily and smiled.

Eventually Denzel relaxed down, resisting the urge to close his eyes. Sitting on moving objects such as the Fenrir always gave him the feeling of a lullaby. It was the wind that stroked them as they drove on.

However while the child enjoyed the urge to sleep, the older man fought a battle in his mind.

"Aeris?" The familiar name escaped his lips. When he needed help, she was there to save him.

/"Why is it whenever you are troubled, we end up here?"/ her voice had a smile in it.

He kept time and stalled a bit. Keeping silent for a while.

/"Cloud, what is it you wish to ask me?"/ she asked, her voice trailing on to another question soon.

"Do I have the strength to protect her?" he asked blankly.

/"What does your heart tell you?"/ her question was a rather hard one to answer.

"My heart tells me.." he trailed off, suddenly feeling the touch of Tifa's hand on his waist.

/"Yes?"/

"My heart tells me that I will protect her to the very end," he said with confidence.

/"You can't live forever Cloud. Don't you think to the very end is long time?"/ Aeris asked wisely.

"I.." he blinked a few times.

/"Words are easy to speak, but hard to promise."/

"I don't want to fight in this battle," Cloud changed the subject.

/"Who said you had too?"/ Her questions were rather twisted.

Cloud blinked a few times, taking a hand off the Fenrir handle to touch Tifa's. It took Tifa a while to respond, but finally she did by brushing her fingertips against his hand.

He wanted her to know that he was there.

"She expects me too."

/"Cloud your reasons are valid. Tell her your decision; she will follow if your words are true."/ Aeris persuaded him.

Cloud paused his breath for a while, before continuing in a whisper, "I fail to save the ones I love."

/"If you love her truly then protecting her is an easy task."/ Aeris paused before continuing/" Cloud, nothing would happen to her if you don't want it to."/

"Cloud!" his thoughts were mixed.

"Cloud!" the same voice awoke him from his dream.

The blonde blinked a few times before settling his eyes on Reno who was in the bike in front.

"That way," Reno pointed to the exit of the highway.

"Are you okay?" Tifa's voice suddenly entered his ear as he made the turn.

He tilted his head to the side, as if to acknowledge her whisper. Finding it hard to speak over the noise he took his hand of the handle again, bringing it to his back to her. He felt her gentle hand cradling itself in his.

…Nothing would happen to her if you don't want it too…

…words are easy to speak, but hard to promise….

After a while he gave her hand a last squeeze, which she understood his silent words. Then took his hand back and steered on.

The touch of love will always bring a smile to someone.

Not too long later the Fenrir entered the path to the Forgotten City.

The fear of the sudden darkness was easy to distinguish from the child; his small gasps and actions.

Making his bold move, Cloud took his hand once again off the handle and circled it around Denzel's waist.

"It's just the dark, there is nothing but silence in these forests," he bent down to whisper to Denzel.

Denzel nodded, and took breath in. "I will be brave," Cloud heard the child whispering.

His thoughts drifted again.

/"Cloud,"/ Aeris said suddenly in his mind.

"Yes?" Cloud's conscience answered.

/"Congratulations,"/ he could sense the excitement in her voice and happiness too.

"Congratulations?" he questioned.

/"You are to be a father?"/ she paused/"Are you not?"/

He smiled warmly, so he wasn't the only one who spoke to Aeris. "Thank you."

/"She's a great girl Cloud. One lucky girl to have been chosen by a guy like you."/ Aeris said with a smile.

"Yeah," Cloud sighed happily. "She is."

/"Just so you know, she isn't expected here anytime in the near future, and that goes to you too."/

"Cloud?" Tifa's voice rang in his head.

Blinking himself out of deep thoughts he focused on the road ahead.

"We are just five minutes away," Reno shouted to them.

Cloud nodded.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tifa's question entered his ear.

The Fenrir lowered it's speed as the roads began to narrow. The light silence already mixing into the sounds of the machines roar.

"I was just thinking," Cloud said to her.

"Thinking?" she questioned. "You were more than thinking."

His eyes widen. Did she know?

"You were talking to her weren't you?" Tifa asked.

Caught.

"I.." Cloud trailed off. "I was."

"Okay," Tifa said, you could sense the ping of sadness in her word.

"Marlene!" Denzel waved excitedly as they neared the pack.

"At las' took ye long enough," Cid grumbled but eventually gave the couple a smile.

Cloud took the Fenrir to a stop, parking it neatly beside the tree.

"Took ya long enough," Barret chuckled, handing Tifa a hand as she got off the Fenrir.

"Been too long my friend," Vincent helped Denzel.

"Denzel!" Marlene screamed too.

"Shhh!" Reno hushed the two screaming children.

Red XIII chuckled quietly with Cait Sith at the corner. "They are quite the pair," Cait Sith smiled.

"Where's Yuffie?" Tifa asked, tracing her eyes along each member but never did it rest on a young woman.

"She's lost a few," Vincent said softly.

Tifa's eyes widen.

"She's by the lake," Barret added in.

"I'll take you there," Red shouted over to the group of people.

Tifa turned to Cloud, and after receiving his small nod she walked off.

"Hey Red," she greeted the nickname they all gave him.

"It really has been too long," The dog like creature smiled.

"Hey," Cait Sith shouted. "Wait for me."

Tifa giggled as she watched the cat creature run its way over to the dog. After it reached them, it jumped onto the Red's back.

Red XIII was after all a long name and quite hard sometimes when you're in a rush to blast the name out.

The dog like creature gave the woman a smile. "Hmm.." he hummed for a while, his eyes trailing over her figure. "Something's different about you," he sniffed her hand and her legs.

"What is it?" Tifa hoped he wouldn't notice.

Red paused his pace suddenly, causing her to stop as well.

His eyes softened as he said, "You're with child aren't you?"

She blushed a little. "Why I.." her hand found itself touching her abdomen gently.

"Let me guess," Red smiled widely, "It's Cloud's?"

Tifa blushed again, "I would be lying if I said it wasn't."

Cait Sith spoke no words, instead stared at her with wide eyes. "It seems like only yesterday you were yay high," the cat creature started to tear.

Tifa giggled. "How did you know Red?" she asked.

"The ability to smell is such a powerful tool," he told her.

"Quickly now, I don't want Yuffie to be waiting," Tifa urged on.

"Yes Mam," Cait Sith saluted.

As the neared the lake a small glimpse of a figure could be seen huddled over at the lake's edge.

"She's been there since we arrived," Cait Sith told them.

"How many did she lose?" Tifa asked softly.

"It wasn't how many," Red paused, "It was who she lost."

"And?" Tifa asked.

"She lost her friends in Wutai," Red explained.

"Oh," Tifa sighed.

"There, she's there, I think you're the only one who can help her sort things out now," Red smiled and nodded.

"Do your best," Cait Sith smiled widely.

"Need anything, just call," Red said before running off into the bushes.

"Argh," Cait Sith screamed with horror as the speed picked up.

Tifa smirked, the cat and the dog. What an odd friendship pair.

It was now time to begin her talk with Yuffie. Hopefully the younger woman would want to talk.

Afterall, talking does help with sadness or grief.

As quiet as she could be, Tifa walked slowly toward the younger woman.

Tifa noticed as Yuffie quickly lifted her hand to her face, which she assumed was wiping the tears away.

"Tifa," Yuffie spun around, trying her hardest to smile.

"Don't be afraid to shed some tears," Tifa tried her best to sooth the younger woman.

"I can't help it," Yuffie tried to laugh a bit. "It's just too damn painful," she said, sniffling back some tears.

"Hey," Tifa said softly, sitting down beside Yuffie. "It's okay," she rubbed Yuffie's back. "It doesn't make you weak when you cry."

Yuffie nodded and smiled again. "I know," she said slowly, "I just..it was so unexpected," she wiped the falling tears again.

"I know, Cloud and I didn't expect to be leaving anywhere this morning, but what do you know, a door bell changes everything," Tifa said.

"Why are we here anyway?" Yuffie asked, sniffling a bit.

"I think, Rufus wants us to fight in the battle against Bahamut," Tifa told her. "He thinks we're the only ones who can handle it, I mean last time we defeated it so.."

Yuffie nodded. "Are you going to fight?"

Tifa sighed, and smiled, "I don't think I can."

"Why not?" Yuffie asked, suddenly worried.

"Um, with the condition I am in at the moment, Cloud won't let me anywhere near any battle," Tifa chuckled.

"Ah, so what, Cloud can't protect you forever can he?" Yuffie smirked, the sadness from her face slowly seeping away.

"It's different," Tifa looked to the floor.

"Wait," Yuffie paused their conversation.

Tifa lifted her eyes back up again.

"You're not," Yuffie peered into Tifa's eyes. "lying are you?"

"Lying?" Tifa smirked, "Yuffie, I'm pregnant."

Yuffie's eyes widen, "Tifa no way," she gasped, "Why didn't you tell me?" Her eyes fell to Tifa's stomach.

"I was going to," Tifa said.

"How many months?" Yuffie asked happily.

"Um, three going onto four after this week," Tifa answered.

"Wow," Yuffie gasped, tracing her hand on the small bump, "You can hardly tell Tifa."

"Um..Thanks," Tifa smiled.

Yuffie sighed, drawing back, "You and Cloud ey?"

Tifa nodded and smiled.

"Now I know what you mean about not participating in the battle," Yuffie giggled.

It was as though as if the grief had been swept away by that happy news.

The wonders of a children's presence will always amaze us.