A/N: Hello everyone! four months later and I'm back with another update! XD Seriously, I just finished spring semester and I've been like "WHAT ARE WORDS!? 0_o" This is the most popular story I have on this site and I never thought It would be! I'd like to thank you all for your patience and continuous support! It means a lot to me! :)

Disclaimer: "Where's mother?"

Setting: Modern Day

Rated: T for language

Characters: Tifa&Cloud Zack&Aerith Marlene&Denzel Yuffie& Vincent Cid&Shera

~Family Dinner~

"Hello! Anyone home or not, I'm coming in!"

The loud voice of Yuffie Kisaragi echoed off the walls of the acute corridor to the main entrance to the Strife apartment.

It was a warm Saturday night in mid may and Tifa, Cloud, Aerith, and Zack decided to have a few of their friends over for dinner. Unfortunately Nanaki and Barret couldn't make it, Barret was sick with the flu and Nanaki was out in Cosmo Canyon visiting with his family.

"Hi Yuffie, Vincent! Glad you two could make it!" Tifa greeted them from the kitchen, as she was currently in the process of skinning potatoes.

Aerith was with her cutting up squash.

"It smells amazing in here!" Yuffie announced, dragging Vincent in the kitchen with her and inhaling deeply. "What's for dinner anyways!?"

"Turkey, squash, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables." Tifa answered, as she continued to skin the potatoes making sure the skin made it inside the trash barrel.

"Sounds great! When will it be ready!?" Yuffie pushed further, sitting down on one of the bar stools.

"Not for another hour or so!" Aerith replied with a giggle.

"Aww man! If I known that I would have brought over some snacks! My famous Wutain cookies!"

"I'm trying to teach the kids to be patient and limit their snacking, and we all know what happened the last time you tried making cookies in my house!" Tifa replied, making Aerith giggle and Yuffie frown.

"Don't remind me." Vincent muttered, sitting down besides Yuffie with a stoic expression.

"What!? I didn't burn your house down! I just made a little mess is all!" Yuffie defended with a pout.

"How are you, Vincent?" Aerith asked the silent man with a warm smile.

"Still need to get a phone." Vincent muttered, his crimson eyes fell on Aerith's swollen abdomen. "I see you're pregnant..."

"Oh! Yes!" Aerith beamed, setting the knife down to rub at her middle happily. "Tifa and I both are! We're twenty-seven weeks to be exact!"

"How many months is that!?" Yuffie asked. "I don't understand why pregnant women always tell you how far along they are in WEEKS instead of MONTHS!" The short ninja shook her head.

"RIGHT!?" Came the voice of Zack Fair as he walked in the kitchen, he put a hand on Yuffie's head and ruffled her hair. "Still causing trouble?"

Yuffie grinned. "Always!"

"Alright!" Zack whooped before going over to stand behind Aerith. "Why don't you let me cook?"

He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck lovingly.

"Because you can't cook!" Aerith laughed and playfully swatted her husband away. "We have company! Don't go kissing me like that in front of them!"

Zack pouted. "Aww! But Tifa lets Cloud kiss her in front of everyone!"

"We all know Cloud's too shy for that!" Tifa replied, gathering all the potatoes in a red strainer.

"Where is Cloud?" Vincent asked.

"He's giving Marlene and Denzel a bath!" Tifa answered, carrying the strainer over to the sink to rinse off the potatoes. "He should be down soon! Aerith, when you get a chance, could you bring out the champagne!?"

"Of course!" Aerith said, brushing her hands together and waddled over to the fridge.

"Yeah! Alcohol!" Zack cheered.

A loud knock came from the main door.

"That must be Cid and Shera!" Aerith said, taking out two bottles of champagne from the fridge.

"I'LL GET IT!" Yuffie shouted, bolting up from her chair, she was at the end of the hall answering the main door in seconds.

"Vincent, how much materia did you let her have?" Tifa wondered.

"Can't say, she sneaks some behind my back. I need another set of eyes."

Zack laughed. "Cheers to women!" He poured himself and Vincent a glass.

"Thanks." Vincent replied, before gulping down the liquid. "Did Tifa make this?"

"I did this morning!" Tifa replied. "Not my best batch, but I figured It's better than that cheap store brand stuff!"

"Hello everyone!" Cid greeted, setting two different kinds of pies on the bar counter. "We're here with the desert!"

"Oh! How lovely! Shera did you make these? I've always loved your pies!" Tifa exclaimed, setting the strainer of mashed potatoes down and racing over to give Shera a hug. Tifa adored Shera, she was like a mother figure to her since Tifa lost hers when she was very young.

"I sure did!" The women replied, wrapping her arms around Tifa. "I made your favorite, Coconut cream! And oh, my! Look at you!" Shera paused, taking Tifa's hands in hers and spreading her arms out so she could examine her baby bump.

"Aren't you just glowing! I never thought I'd see the day, but pregnancy sure suites you!" Shera gushed, dropping Tifa's hands to rub at her stomach lovingly. "It won't be long, hmm?"

Tifa smiled and shook her head. "Nope! And Cloud's a nervous wreck!"

"Of course he is!" Cid said, pouring himself a glass of champagne. "That blonde's always stressing about something!"

"Cloud is Cloud!" Tifa replied with a grin, walking over to give Cid and Yuffie a hug.

"He's still my best bud!" Zack replied, wrapping an arm around Aerith's waist as he sipped at his drink.

"Let me give you girls a hand!" Shera said, pushing her glasses up her nose and walking over to the abandoned potatoes.

"Thank you!" Aerith said. "Would you like me to get you a glass?" She pointed toward the bottles of champagne.

"That would be lovely, dear!" Shera replied, as she moved the potatoes into a pot and filled It with water.

Aerith nodded and moved around Zack to pour Shera a glass.

"At least let me cut the rest of the veggies, Angel." Zack said, looking at Aerith. "I may not know how to work a stove, but I think I can handle cutting up vegetables!"

Aerith laughed. "Alright you! Go ahead!" She replied, handing Shera her glass.

Just then Cloud descended the stairs with Marlene and Denzel by his sides. The children were both dressed in their pjs and their hair was still wet from their bath.

"Denzel, everyone's here!" Marlene cried, grabbing her brothers hand and the two raced down the stairs to greet everyone with hugs.

"How did it go?" Tifa asked Cloud as he stood by her side.

"Alright, we're going to have to pick up more bubble bath..."

Tifa frowned. "I just bought bubble bath..."

Cloud rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah..."

"Oh Shiva, how much bubble bath did you use, Cloud!?" Aerith cried.

"Cloudy, good to see ya!" Cid greeted, slapping the blonde on the back.

"You too..." Cloud responded, giving Vincent a nod.

"Auntie Shera!" Marlene cried, wrapping her small arms around the women's waist.

"Marlene! My goodness you're getting so big!" Shera bent over, picking the young girl up.

"I'm in kindergarten you know! And I'm going to be a big sister!"

"That you are!" Shera looked over at Denzel who gave her a bashful smile.

Denzel was getting better at socializing but he still hasn't come completely out from his shell yet.

"Hello, handsome! How old are you now?"

"Seven..." Denzel replied, rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Ahh...so first grade!?" Shera set Marlene back on her feet.

Denzel nodded. "I'll be starting second grade this fall!"

"Wow, and you'll be a big brother then too! Are you excited!?"

Denzel nodded.

"I've been getting ready for the baby! I've practiced changing diapers on my doll and reading baby books with Tifa and aunt Aerith!" Marlene cut in.

Shera laughed at the girls enthusiasm. "You'll be Tifa and Aerith's little helper!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Marlene, come here sweetie and let me do your hair." Tifa said, sitting down on one of the bar stools, she held a hand out for Marlene.

Marlene quickly obliged and stood still in front of Tifa as she braided her hair.

An hours went by and the whole gang was seated and cramped at the table.

Zack, Cid, and Yuffie were tipsy and throwing out lame jokes by the minute.

Tifa, Shera, and Aerith were talking up a storm about babies.

Vincent was being Vincent.

And Cloud was accompanied by Marlene and Denzel, not that he minded. He was never good at socializing in the first place, but he was glad to have his closest friends around and having a good time.

Cloud looked down at Denzel when he felt a gentle tug at his shirt.

"Do you think we could have some of Shera's pies now?" Denzel whispered, looking up at Cloud with big eyes.

"Yeah, everyone keeps talking! We might never get a chance to have desert!" Marlene chimed in, giving Cloud her best puppy face.

Cloud took a quick glance around the table to see that everyone was too absorbed in their own conversations to notice anything, except for Vincent. But they didn't have to worry about him. Cloud looked back down at the two children before him.

"Be sure to get me a piece."

The two children nodded and were off on their little quest.

The blonde's eyes fell on Tifa, his childhood friend and now lover. He admired her rounded waist where a growing life that they made remained. He watched her as she laughed and every now and then dropped her hands over her belly.

It was easier to be alone, but being alone could never make him feel complete.

A/N: I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it! Please leave me a review and tell me what you thought, or if you have a request! :D

Stay tuned!

Always,

~Boohbear19~