The End of the Day
For: Lachrymosity
Prompt: Love subtle
Summary: Because even at the end of the day, she knew he loved her.

Tifa Lockhart was a loving person; she was one quick to spread cheer, and friendship. She was often at the center of parties, and the mastermind of gathering friends located on several different continents. She carried her love before her, her friendships tucked safely in her arms. She felt in strength; if she loved you, you knew it. Coincidentally, if she hated you, you knew that too.

Also, her temper was one thing that could not be avoided.

The wrath of Tifa was a strong one.

"Denzel! I told you that you were grounded!"

"But the guys are playing ball!"

Tifa planted her hands on her hips, and glared beneath her eyebrows. "Did the guys break the Tea Shop's window last time?"

Denzel huffed, glancing away. "No."

"Who did?"

"Me…" he muttered sulkily.

"Upstairs. Now."

"But Teefah—

"Now."

"Fine."

Tifa sighed, and shook her head. It would've been one thing if he had broken one of the back windows (not that that would've been okay) but Denzel had managed to break the largest window on the front of the building; the one that customers gazed out of on sunny mornings with their tea.

They now stared at a tarp.

The cost to replace it was unholy, but she wouldn't tell Denzel that. She knew it had just been an accident, but she had told him (and his friends) that facing the Tea Shop's broad windows was not a good idea when swinging a bat at a baseball.

Obviously they hadn't listened…as often times little boys do not.

Not to mention the fact that Marlene had been sick for a few days. Taking her to the doctor had proven fruitless, as well. The doctor had said it would just have to take its course, but her cold hadn't gotten any better. If anything, it had gotten worse.

Then there was the late shipment which she had no idea why it was late or where it was. She was running low on her stock, and she was cursing herself for not placing the order sooner.

But with Marlene's cold, and Denzel being grounded and Cloud being…well, Cloud being Cloud, she had found little time to do anything out of her normal schedule.

Tifa let her mind stray for a moment, to a conversation she had had with Yuffie earlier that week.

"Honestly, girl, I do not see how you put up with his crap. You make the man breakfast for crying out loud and breakfast is like, the most important meal of the day. He should be like, bowing at your feet every morning thanking you for your god-like cooking. But what does he do? Stays out for a week longer than originally planned…and he barely even calls you at that. The man is a heartless bast—

"Yuffie! He is not heartless!"

"So why did he leave you stranded with a sick kid, and a wild child?"

"Denzel is not a wild child."

"Not yet…I haven't seen him in a while."

"Tifa?"

Tifa snapped back to the present. She glanced over. Marlene was standing in her pajamas with a blanket over her shoulders.

"What is it sweetie?"

"Can I have some juice?"

"Sure…here, I'll get you some more medicine."

Tifa walked to the fridge; she wouldn't say Cloud had stranded her with a sick child, and she certainly wouldn't say he was heartless. He just wasn't like everybody else. He didn't walk up to people and give them hugs, or show affection. If he did, she might be a little worried about him.

He just showed his love in different ways… like taking out the trash, or making up the bed. The fridge was always stocked with plenty of milk (he drank an unprecedented amount of milk), he always found time for Denzel, and Marlene. Sure, he wasn't out there greeting the neighbors, but he certainly wasn't heartless.

Course, Yuffie had always been harsh, and she only ever meant half of what she said.

"Here," Tifa smiled, handing Marlene a glass, and the small pills.

"Thanks Tifa… is Cloud coming home tonight?"

Tifa pressed her lips together, tucking Marlene's hair behind her ear. "We'll see."

He just loved secretly…subtly.

Xxx

Semi-trucks were seldom seen in the inner streets of Edge, and even when they were they were at designated times in the early morning.

So when a semi pulled up beside of Tifa's window at two o'clock in the morning, she woke up, and went downstairs with good reason.

Someone was opening her door that shouldn't have the key which meant said someone was about to get their ass kicked in by a woman in bunny slippers and a fuzzy, purple robe.

She decided to start with a round house kick.

It was caught.

Easily.

"Calm down."

"Cloud! What is wrong with you?"

Cloud flipped on the lights, and stared at her.

She glared back. "How was I supposed to know it was you?"

He shrugged.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you in a semi?"

"…yes."

"Why? Where's Fenrir?"

"It's your shipment," he said, walking out the door.

"What?" she hissed. She wrapped her robe around herself before following him outside.

"It took me a while to track down," he said, climbing up the back.

Tifa watched as he easily lifted the door to the trailer, stepping inside.

"Where's the driver?" she asked, spotting Fenrir amongst boxes of wine and liquor.

Cloud shrugged in the dim light. "…dunno," he muttered.

"You stole my shipment?"

"It was your shipment."

"Okay. You stole a truck?"

"Nobody was driving it. On the side of the road…engine problems…needed fixing."

He knew he was in trouble. He had stopped forming complete sentences.

"Cloud…you just can't…fix a truck and drive it somewhere."

He shrugged again. "Would've been here eventually…"

"Cloud," she shook her head.

He jumped out of the back, pulling the door down. "Unload it in the morning."

She could've smacked him.

Or thanked him.

He made her very indecisive on a regular basis.

"One more thing."

"What?" She followed him to the cab of the truck.

"I stopped in Cosmo Canyon… Nanaki had some medicine he said might would help Marlene." He pulled a bag down from the truck.

Tifa took a deep breath of relief. "Thank you, Cloud."

"Oh…one more thing. Here's the extra money from the deliveries this week. It should cover the window."

She raised an eyebrow as he handed it over.

"Thank you, Cloud. You shouldn't work yourself to death, Cloud."

He shrugged… again. "No big deal." He looked down.

She stared at him for a moment, until he slowly looked up.

"So…are you mad about the truck?"

She rolled her eyes. "Get inside, you thieving idiot. I'll figure it out in the morning."

He smirked, following her inside.

Okay…maybe stealing a truck wasn't so subtle, but Yuffie certainly couldn't call him heartless after this.

A/N: life...I LIVE! Trying to update stuff I haven't in a while. Hopefully you all are still reading, and hopefully you'll enjoy this little diddy. I leave for california in one week! I've got my costume for Anime expo, and I am PUMPED. ...I think that has been distracting me from writing. Maybe once I get back, I'll be better. I SORREH. LOVE YA! Thanks for reviews!