Chapter 05:

Cloud woke up with intense sunlight on his face. He sat up and checked the time: almost eight in the morning. Screw it. I'm not taking any calls for deliveries today.

He cracked his neck and stretched before proceeding on getting dressed. He grabbed a standard vest and baggy pants, all black, and set off for the bathroom. Eight in the morning to him was late, way past the time he normally leaves at to deliver packages for customers. Yet, he did not have seconds thoughts when he decided to stay home instead. Home. Here? Maybe… Cloud groaned out loud and scratched the back of his head. Stop being stupid. You're unbelievably lucky, you know. Saving the world without losing your arms and legs, not to mention your life, even. You have wonderful friends that stay by your side in times of distress and chaos. Now you have a place to stay all your life, and you're still asking questions? What, are Tifa and the kids not good enough for you? Are your friends pathetic, or something? What is with you? Snap out of it! You're not dreaming, this is your life, and it's great. So accept it before you officially miss out.

Cloud jerked his head up and stood almost abnormally straight, facing life as it is. My life. Cloud's mind now settled on maintaining this life of his, as he mentally listed and arranged goals for himself to keep and any routines that he would make habits of. I won't let go again, not this time.

Then again, his conscience tells him that his life is great, but Cloud knows that he failed more than once. The guilt bomb had been dropped upon him each time, making him regret all his choices and all he had done. Well, regrets were regrets, but only one woman stood by him day in and day out to reassure him that everything would be okay. Cloud speedily finished his morning hygienic routine and went towards Tifa's room. He developed these needs to see her for some reason. Although he knows that she is safe and that she is perfectly capable of defending herself (being that she's a superb martial artist), Cloud refused to cease checking up on Tifa. He slowly pushed open the door to Tifa's room and heard a little creak. Tifa was still in bed, curled up with her back, visible through the see-through back of the sleeping gown, facing Cloud. Cloud did not notice how time flew by as he stared at Tifa's back from the doorway; he then approached Tifa and sat at the edge of the bed.

Not even a minute passed and Tifa, eyes still closed, started talking to Cloud. "You know, you asked a pretty incredible question last night when you were sleeping, Cloud. I don't know if you were asking me or someone else."

Cloud looked at Tifa. "You were in my room?" he asked, but it was obvious in his tone that he didn't mind whether or not Tifa entered his room without permission, "What did I ask you?"

Tifa slightly opened her eyes and shifted her position; her body was still curled as she collected the blankets towards her.

"Tifa, what did I ask? Was I talking in my sleep?" Cloud moved to Tifa's bedside, facing her. "Tifa."

"I don't know. Never mind." Tifa closed her eyes and swallowed before asking, "Hey, do you still think of… Aerith?"

Cloud foresaw the question; it was to be asked eventually. "I do. She was a friend…"

Tifa opened her eyes again, "A friend, that's all? Don't you think softly of her?" Tifa lamented about bringing up the topic. I fear pain…

"…A dear friend, yes, but not someone I think of like that…" Cloud had trouble with his selection of words. He didn't want to lie about his own opinions, nor did he want Tifa to assume wrongly. "Tifa, nothing happened between us before and nothing would've. I loved her as a friend, nothing more or less."

"Okay," said Tifa, "That's all I wanted to know."

Cloud was about to ask Tifa what was it that he asked her in his sleep last night, but he chose to keep quiet for now. He decided to ask something else instead. "Did you ever forgive me, Tifa?"

Tifa now looked to Cloud, a little angry now with him, "I thought you were capable of forgiving yourself, Cloud. You forgave yourself over Aerith, why won't you forgive yourself over me?" She closed her eyes and turned away, her back facing Cloud once again.

"I don't think I'll be able to do that," Cloud got up from the bedside, "Nobody deserved the pain that I've caused. Especially you." He left her room in an instant. Tifa called out…

"Cloud, I closed the bar today since everyone's coming over. I hope you'll be able to stay." There was almost a begging tone to her voice and Cloud gazed back from outside the door. He forgot to mention to Tifa that he was planning on skipping work for the day.

"Umm, I'm staying. I decided to drop all delivery calls for today."

Tifa sat up and smiled, "Really? You're really staying here for the whole day?" Her anger from a minute ago seemed to have completely dissipated from the news.

"I guess," Cloud replied, "It won't be a problem, will it?"

"No, no, of course not," said Tifa almost immediately. She wanted him to stay for so long. "I'm gonna get changed, so…" Tifa felt herself blush a little as she motioned her hand toward the hallway, indicating for Cloud to either turn around or go somewhere else. Cloud got the message and departed.

Denzel and Marlene were already downstairs when Cloud stepped into the living room. The phone rang and Cloud diverted his attention from the kids to the phone.

"Hello, Strife De― umm, Seventh Heaven―"

"Spiky! Haha, finally woke up, eh? I called like two hours ago and neither you nor Tifa decided to answer!"

"Yeah, everyone was still sleeping that time," Cloud looked down and found Marlene tugging on the seam of his vest, "What is it, Marlene."

"Who's that calling, Cloud?" Marlene asked in a sweet, small voice.

"It's your dad."

"Daddy!" Marlene yelled out.

"Is that Marlene? Yo, when did you put the kids to bed yesterday, anyway?" Barret inquired.

"Uh, I think around nine or ten or so," Cloud lied.

"Ah, for real? Good man, now I won't have to kick your ass or anything. Tell my little girl I said hi and I love her and I'll see her soon. Oh, you do know Cid and I will be over there later this afternoon, right? That bastard can't wait for Tifa's drinks!" Barret was laughing unbelievably loudly that Cloud had to move the phone a few inches away from his ear.

"All right, man. Do you know who else is coming today?" Cloud asked as soon as the monstrous laughs stopped.

"The whole gang, I think! Me, Cid, Vincent, Yuffie, Red, and that damn Cait Sith are all coming. I think Shera will be coming, too. I doubt poor Cid has the power to leave her behind!" Barret let out another huge laugh with Cloud moving the phone away from his ears again.

"That's great. I can't wait to see everyone again and just relax."

"Amen! Later, jerk!"

Cloud hung the phone back up and went to where Denzel and Marlene were sitting. He noticed how spotless the bar was, even though the kids had garbage and toys everywhere last night. Tifa must've cleaned the place up when she came back last night. Whoa, how ironic. I'm usually the one that gets back late. Cloud continued his way and sat down on the floor between Denzel and Marlene. "Hey, you two. Since our friends are coming over today, how 'bout helping me make the bar even cleaner than it is already? And let's make some breakfast for Tifa."

Denzel was the first to jump up, "Sure! Tifa taught Marlene how to cook stuff for me when you were gone or when Tifa's busy with the customers!"

Cloud looked away. Damnit, I didn't know that. I really did leave too much and for too long. He shook his head, and responded, "That's great, so what can you make, Marlene?"

"Tifa showed me how to scramble eggs and make those nice noodles," Marlene began, "But I can't make them perfectly like Tifa can."

"Noodles? For breakfast?" Cloud asked, "Eggs are good, how about ham and bacon?"

"I can do that, those are easy!" Denzel exclaimed, "Marlene, you do the eggs and I'll do the bacon!"

"Okay!" the two kids ran off into the kitchen to grab the necessary materials.

Cloud watched as the two children used their hyperactivity to do some good for a change. Ever since Denzel's Geostigma was cured, he was as strong as he was spunky. Cloud got up from the floor and paced around the bar, helping the kids when they couldn't reach certain things. He continued to battle his conscience, but he seemed to be winning. More positive thoughts swept through his mind, improving his mentality. Physically and mentally relaxed, Cloud breathed a sigh of relief and passed through the kitchen. "Let me know if you guys need any help, all right?" he said to the kids, "I'll be upstairs for a bit." Everything will be fine from now on. I will make sure of that.

Cloud walked up the stairs, oddly, at a quicker pace than normal. He strolled by Tifa's room only to observe that she was changed, but somehow managed to fall back to sleep on her bed again. Cloud chuckled to himself and decided to wake her up after the kids made breakfast. He returned downstairs to check on the children's progress.

"Cloud, we're done!" Denzel called after about thirty minutes.

Cloud got up from the couch and arrived in the kitchen. His eyes bulged slightly. "This is actually very nice," he complimented enthusiastically, "For certain, it's better than anything I can ever cook."

Two scrambled eggs with signs of spices and pepper on them, two trips of bacon, and a slice of ham awaited on a porcelain dish. Cloud gave the two kids a thumbs-up (with an equal, excited return by the children) and carried the dish upstairs. He stood by the doorway to Tifa's room and felt a minuscule tug of guiltiness in his chest for waking up the sleeping beauty. Whatever, thought Cloud as entered the room with a grin on his face. He went by to Tifa's bedside, where he stood earlier before, and put the dish on the bedside desk. He gently nudged Tifa's arm with his hand, waiting for a response.

"Tifa."

Tifa let out a soft groan and opened her eyes. She sat up, vaguely bemused, while facing Cloud. "Oh no, what time is it? How long did I doze off for―and what's that I smell?" Then she turned her attention to the dish on the beside desk, "Oh my…" Tifa managed to spurt out. "Did you make this, Cloud?"

Cloud stood up, "I wish," he joked. "It was all the kids' work."

"Aw, that's sweet," Tifa smiled, "I suppose this was your idea, though?"

Cloud didn't feel like showing off or taking any credit, but he managed to say, "Yeah, kind of."

Tifa got up and placed a kiss on Cloud's cheek. "Thanks, I appreciate it." She picked up the plate and began her breakfast while Cloud took the time to check out the room.

"I never actually paid attention to what's in your room."

"Well, that's because there's not much in here to pay attention to," Tifa answered.

Cloud went by one of the shelves and found Tifa's fighting gloves. He took them in his hands and felt the smooth, black leather. Still perfect. No rips or scratches even after countless battles, he noted. He placed the gloves back on the shelves and turned to Tifa, who was just about done with her breakfast in bed.

"Did the kids do a good job?" Cloud questioned.

Tifa put the plate back on the desk and was putting on her boots. "It was perfect."

"That's good."

Cloud was about to exit when Tifa asked, "Um, who made the bacon and the ham? I don't recall teaching Marlene that. Did Denzel…?"

"Yeah. The bacon and ham part was from him."

"He's full of surprises, isn't he?" Tifa said and Cloud nodded. "Just like you," she added.

Cloud and Tifa found them staring into each other's eyes once again. It was times like these that Cloud was left speechless. Moments like these left Tifa in anxiety. When speechlessness and anxiety combined, it was a case of non-communication. Both adults simply gazed at each other in silence; yet they were comfortable.

"Remember yesterday you said you feel for me what I feel for you?" Tifa asked.

Cloud nodded and said nothing more. In a few moments, Cloud and Tifa found their faces almost touching again by the doorway.

"Tifaaaa!" Marlene called from the first-story, "Tifa! Yuffie's at the door!"

Tifa and Cloud separated before even making contact, Tifa's face slightly reddened, and Cloud once again in a daze.

"Coming," Tifa called back.