CHAPTER SEVEN

Cloud was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Denzel whisper his name, not use to hearing Denzel sound so unsure before his head snapped up, his mako infused blue eyes gazing into the boys dark blue ones. "Denzel you ok?"

The blonde watched as the little boy before him shuffled his feet and lowered his gaze, the seconds that ticked by seemed like hours to both of them, before Denzel finally looked up meeting Clouds concerned gaze. The boy finally nodded indicating he was all right.

"Umm…Cloud…this…this…umm…here…" Fumbling over his words Denzel gave up and shoved the small box into the man's unsuspecting hands.

Cloud looked down at the package that was thrust into his hands and saw a small box wrapped in sliver paper with a blue bow tied around it. "Tifa helped wrap it…"

Looking back over to the boy slightly confused, but deciding not to say anything, the ex-soldier turned his gaze back onto the box and began pealing away the wrapping paper.

The air surrounding the two was thick with apprehension as both unknowingly held their breath. With the paper now stripped off the box, Cloud slowly slid the lid off and gasped at what he saw laying on a small silky blue cushion. Unbelieving blue eyes rose to stare at the young boy who still remained standing in front of him, he gazed at the boy for a long time before moving his eyes back down to the gift inside the box.

Cloud still couldn't believe his eyes as he continued to just stare at the gift, he couldn't believe this child standing in front of him would ever even think of getting him a gift, let alone a gift like this.

There, laying on the small cushion was a shiny sliver dog tag that hung from a silver flat linked chain, it wasn't the tag or the chain that caught the man's eye, it was what was engraved on the front of the tag.

"Greatest Dad Ever"

Cloud very carefully picked the tag and chain up, and continued to gaze at them still completely shell shocked at such a gift, he heard the boy whisper for him to turn the tag over.

He did as he was instructed and as he read what was inscribed on the back he felt his heart catch in his throat, and tears form in his eyes.

"To my daddy (Cloud)

Blood my not connect us

But the heart goes far deeper"

"Love always your son

Denzel"

Cloud fought to keep the tears from falling, he never knew this boy felt this way about him, never thought the boy would view him this way, he always thought he was too scared for anyone to see him like this. Then Tifa's words from a few months ago echoed in his head, 'Children love without question Cloud, they forgive without doubt, all they need to know is that someone will be there to protect them to shelter them, and they'll return the caring and the love ten fold in it's purest and most innocent form.'

He thought he had forgiven himself those three months ago, but he realized he hadn't completely…not until now. This little boy and his most innocent act of love proved to Cloud that it didn't matter to Denzel what his sins were, he was still loved, he was still viewed as his protector, his mentor, his…father.

Without hesitating Cloud reached forward and pulled the young boy into a bone crushing embrace, one that Denzel happily returned.

After several minutes passed Cloud finally managed to find his voice, though it was a little raspy from all the emotions he was feeling. "Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me Denzel, I couldn't have asked for a better gift… then to have you as a son."

The end…for now…

Authors Note: I've been going crazy trying to decide if I should add a little more to this ending or just leave it here, and well I kinda like how this one ends with Clouds words to Denzel. All though I fully plan on mentioning more of the gift in what I'm calling "the main fic" but if you guys would like a little more added here…like say maybe a bit more on Cloud thinking about the gift he was givin…then let me know and I'll consider writing it in this story instead of the "main fic" OH and I'm going to try to have the first chapter of the new story up soon. Thanks and Toodles!