Phew, the next chapter is ready. I know it's kinda short but it is important for understanding some past and future events. Enjoy!
AerithRosey:hope thisonewill make that episode clear for you!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Mutual Understanding or Meet a new 'resident', Spikey!

Actually, there was not a lot of space that separated them but after all it could have been enough for breathing normally. But for Cloud it wasn't. On the contrary, it was too damn hot for him so he was gulping for air like if he was in a desert. He put a newspaper aside, on another half of a sofa he was sitting on and dared to look at his wife intently.

"What?" she asked placing her cup of tea on her knee from what he could tell it was rather cold.
"Come on, I promise you I'll be okay" Cloud said feeling a bit irritated. Her stubborn silence for the last two days was driving him crazy. Well, maybe not that crazy to show this but he wanted to be greeted with a warm embrace in their bed but what was he getting recently? Only hearing her steady breathing and seeing her slender figure covered with her own thin blanket.

"I know that you're not just staking your life on that competition but…" she fell silent looking for suitable words. "But we're a family now."

Her eyes were compassionate even if she didn't want that. He turned his head away not being able to stand her gaze.

"You should have thought about the way I would react or… or at least ask me for suggestion…you know I'll... it's not that easy… I just can't find the words to explain that," she ended with a sigh, closing her eyes.

Cloud couldn't find what to say. He also didn't have words to say everything as it was to his wife. The whole situation was going out of control since it was quiet hard for the man to imagine her future actions. Would she continue to be angry for him or would she understand and accept the fact? He wasn't sure but hoped for the latter.

"Fine," Aerith said making a deep breath. "Why are you going to take part in that?"

Cloud hesitated to tell the truth but sooner or later she would know it.

"I was nominated for this by our department. It's no big deal," he replied calmly though there was a tornado raging throughout his head.

Aerith frowned and rubbed her chin. When she was about to answer for that he added:

"Listen, I'm the youngest there. And without any overstatement one of the best but they don't see that. This is my chance to show I'm not a greenhorn. They gave me it and I don't want to lose."

Well, he couldn't have told it better. She became silent for a time that seemed like eternity, her gaze unfocused. Then she shook her head and took a sip of the cold tea.

"Is it really that important for you?" she asked and after receiving a deep nod as his answer continued. "Then I'll accept it. What is important for you is important for me."

Cloud responded with a weak smile. He stood up and took her cup.

"Do you want me to make you another one? I know not by hearsay that it's not very tasty when it's cold."

Aerith flashed him one of her trade smiles and nodded.

"I'll repay you in my own way if you make it. You know what I'm talking about."

The man was actually going to walk to the kitchen but suddenly a phone rang. Aerith turned in her armchair and took the receiver. Cloud watched her frowning then saying series of quick 'Aha's and then hanging the receiver. She sat into her previous pose as if nothing happened.

"So?" Cloud asked impatiently.

"What do you mean?... Ah, that! That was Cid. He called to say that he'll bring me a computer soon."

"It's good to learn news at the last moment," Cloud said with a note of discontent in his voice.

"Honey, think of yourself in the first place."

The man frowned.

"Anyway, I asked Cid to bring a computer so I could do some of my job at home. You know I don't like to work late hours at the office so I can do it here. There are a lot of orphans recently. You do understand that, right? And it's much easier to sort all the cards with a cup of tea in your hand and with your legs on a table."

"I give up." Cloud said and finally walked into the kitchen. He couldn't help but notice that freaking cat sleeping peacefully on a chair. The man scarcely defeated the urge to pour out a glass of water on the animal. And his conscience did what it could to help.

He filled the cup with water, put it into a microwave and set the time: two minutes. The man sent their stove an angry look and sighed soundlessly. Cid was the one he couldn't imagine him life without. Even if he was an incorrigible, always swearing, masterful person. He was easy to get used to.

And as if hearing his thoughts somebody rapped at the window.

"What! Were the doors outlawed?" Cloud muttered through gritted teeth. He came closer and saw, who do you think, Cid! The man was holding two huge boxes in his hands. Cloud sighed and slowly walked to the front door. When he opened it Cid was already there.

"Damn you, Strife!" Cid said instead of common 'Hello' while storming inside and almost dropped the boxes when he was putting them on the floor. "That is too goddamn heavy!"

Cloud crossed his arms on his chest with a smirk.

"Maybe you're too old for that?" he asked.

Cid quickly turned to face the younger man.

"Never. Say. That. Word. To. Me. Understood?"

"Right, right, I forgot," Cloud waved his hand at the other man and looked at the boxes curiously. "Is it there?"

Cid changed the expression on his face from angry to skeptical.

"What else can be there? Of course your freaking computer!"

"Watch your tongue, mister!" Aerith said with a happy smile on her face coming into the hall.

Cid returned the smile and came to the woman to hug her.

"Hey, sweety, how are you? Still can't understand why you married this chicken instead of me," the older man laughed. He was enjoying sometimes making fun of the younger man.

"I can't too," Aerith said between snickers.

Cloud was taken aback.

"Maybe you would stop talking as if I'm not here," he put in his comment gloomily.

"Man, your presence hinders me from flirting with your wife so would you be so kind and get lost," Cid joked but unfortunately Cloud barely understood that. He twitched at the older man's words and turned his head away from them.

"Cloud, come on, that was just a joke!" Aerith said playfully, poking him arm.

"So it was just a joke!" Cid decided to show his acting skills. "Life is cruel."

Cloud shook his head then silently took the boxes and started to go upstairs.

"You should work with his sense of humor," the older man spoke in undertones. "Just for his sake."

That night when he entered their bedroom it was rather late. His muscles were aching from hours of creeping on the floor to connect all the computer cables. Thanks to Cid they made it two times. Cloud was about to start doubting in the pilot's talent for machines but fortunately it was just a mistake in a hand-book.

Cloud looked at Aerith's outstretched arms and couldn't help but smile. He climbed under their blanket and felt her hands on his bare chest.

He opened his eyes and looked around. He could recognize his small but tidy room with a comfortable soft bed. He could also feel a wet cloth on his forehead. Cloud made a try to sit up but was overtaken by the pain that rushed through his back.

"No, darling, don't move," he heard his mother's voice somewhere at the side. "I'm glad you're awake."

He tried to say something but his throat hurt unbearably. Then he took ahold of it and forced out some words.

"Mom… what happened?"

Cloud couldn't see that because his eyes were shut in pain but he was sure the woman was smiling.

"Those kids who brought you here…" she started.

"Aerith and Zack" Cloud stated quietly.

"…they said you had passed out. They didn't have any materia so that boy had to carry you on his back. He brought you to our neighbors and they showed them our house. So that's why you're here."

Cloud guessed that he was ill. Very ill. But he didn't regret about running under the rain. Finally seeing ruddiness on his always pale face had given him a feeling of joy. A feeling he missed so much.

"Oh, and Cloud, that girl… well, you know her name, she told me to give this to you when you come to your senses."

The boy was hearing his mother's light steps while she was making his way to his bed. Then the woman placed something almost weightless on his palm.

"Here you go. She said it would help you to recover. And also she said when you go out if you visit the place you've met you can find them. They'll be waiting for you. If you ask about my opinion, I think you can become friends with them. They're very nice."

Cloud smiled mentally. Somehow he was amazed they didn't leave him there. But if he faced the girl at that moment he wouldn't be. It was written on her face that she couldn't leave a person lying on the ground.

The boy clutched the thing his mother gave him but then quickly unclenched his fist. It was delicate and fragile. And when its scent reached his nose he was sure. Aerith gave him a flower.

"You had a high temperature when they brought you here but now I've used some materia. It should be better, right?"

Cloud moaned, trying to bring his hand to his face to take away the cloth. It was sill too hard for him to move.

"Don't," the woman said noticing his attempt. "You'll have to stay like that for two or three days, mister. And don't think I forget about how exactly you've caught that!"

He wasn't even hoping for avoiding a punishment. After all, his life wasn't a fairy-tale.

"Sweety, that boy told me you're too light for your age. I have two versions. One of them is that he's very strong. He can make a good career at SOLDIER then. The other is that he's right. I'm sorry for never noticing that," she ended sadly. "I think I should free your father's memory and continue living for your sake…"

"But you said that he can come back!" Cloud snapped. "So why give up hope then?"

It was difficult to speak lying on the bed with his face covered by the cloth but his mother's words touched him on the raw.

"That's not what I mean," she replied. "You have to understand that sometimes everything goes the way we don't want it to go…"

"I don't care. I want dad back."

Cloud heard the woman sigh and then walk to a doorway. Her slow steps echoed in his head, making him want to be deaf.

"You'll understand soon. Have a sleep now," with these words she left the room.

The boy swallowed the tears that were coming dangerously close to his eyes. He got used not to cry.

In his attempts he fell asleep. His dreams were colorful, fabulous…

And he was in a field of flowers.

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