Disclaimer: Final Fantasy, characters and everything associated with the Final Fantasy world belong to Square Enix.

Summary: In which Denzel believes his homemade gift is not good enough for her.

A/N: This was written specially for Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there!

Warnings: Please note that some of the stories will contain spoilers or reference to the original game, Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core and Remake.

~Family~

Denzel clutched the item in his hand nervously.

It was something he put his mind and heart into, but wasn't sure how to approach the one person he wanted to bestow it upon.

He learned how to make one in school back when he was living in Sector 7 and thought this would be the best way to show his appreciation for her.

Unfortunately, he didn't have all the materials needed to make it extra special or perfect. So he was now somewhat afraid she wouldn't like it at all.

It was just that...he had nothing better than this and it was already so late into the day with all the shops closed to get anything else for her.

So Denzel lingered around the hallway, walking back and forth, hoping to find the courage to just give it to her.

Cloud took notice of Denzel's anxiety and pulled the young boy into his office, "What's got you so worked up, kiddo?"

Denzel tried to hide the item behind his back, "It's nothing."

Of course, Cloud could tell he was lying, "Nothing huh? What you got hiding behind there? Did you sneak one of Tifa's chocolate chip cookies again?"

With a grin, Cloud held out his palm, "I won't tell her if you share half with me."

Cloud waited for Denzel to answer honestly, staring him down with his deep mako infused eyes. It was a look Denzel abhorred, because it felt like Cloud was staring straight into his soul.

Denzel let out a groan and pulled out the item in front of him, "See? I told you it's nothing! Nothing but a piece of shi—"

"Hey, language!" Cloud scolded before Denzel could finish his sentence. Despite being a good comrade to Cloud and cool uncle to Denzel and Marlene, Cid had often let his foul mouth tantrums slip out around them. Cloud was going to need to give the Highwind pilot a good talking.

"But it's true. I shouldn't have considered this as a gift for Tifa." Denzel glowered at the item and decided to let it slip from his grasp, hoping it would break into pieces.

Cloud's quick reflexes caught the item in time before it could even touch the ground, "This is your gift to Tifa?"

Soft footsteps sounded from the hallway and eventually, Tifa stepped into the office and placed a Cosmo Canyon mixed drink on Cloud's desk, "Did I hear there's a gift for me?"

Tifa looked around curiously and then gazed down at Denzel. "Oh, how was your day today Denzel?"

Denzel gasped at the appearance of Tifa and hid behind Cloud, avoiding her gaze.

"Honey, what's the matter?" Tifa took a tiny step forward, but that only made Denzel hide his face completely into Cloud's back.

Denzel was usually an energetic boy and was quite the chatterbox, so it bothered her that he wasn't his usual self. "Did something happen?"

Cloud looked at the object in his hand, taking in the details of the imperfect edges, then glanced at Denzel before cracking a wide smile,

"I think I know what's going on..." Taking Tifa's right hand, Cloud rested the item gently in her palm. He concealed the item with his big one over hers before slowly revealing it.

"No wait!" Denzel cried out as he stumbled toward Tifa, hoping to swipe the horrific item from her grasp, "Please don't give it to her! It's—"

"This is amazing!" Tifa exclaimed happily, holding the item close to her heart, "I love it!" She smiled warmly and pulled Denzel into a tight hug, "I never got anything like this before. You made it just for me?"

There was no hint of disappointment or oddity in her voice, which puzzled him. When he first gifted the same gift to his real mother, she hesitated and her voice went up an octave when she spoke.

How could anyone like such a horrible item?

Denzel nodded, "Yeah...Y-you really like it? Truly like it?"

Tifa admired it, as she opened and closed the lid of Denzel's gift, "Of course I do. I am grateful for this beautiful jewelry box. It will go perfectly with Marlene's gift. She made me a small vase to replace the one we lost in Sector 7. Such a sweet little girl."

She pointed at the small vase sitting on top of the dresser in her room, opposite from Cloud's office.

Marlene's vase surprisingly matched in color and decoration to Denzel's gift, and it was just as disproportionate but still stood stable enough to hold a single yellow lily, which Tifa held dear to her heart.

The yellow flower was a gift Cloud had worked hard to actually grow himself, with some lovely advice from Elmyra of course.

Denzel finally let out a sigh of relief, "I am so glad you like it. I worked really hard on it."

"And this is why I am putting my favorite belonging in it." Tifa placed a kiss upon Denzel's cheek, "Thank you sweetie."

Cloud grinned, "Perfect, now you have something to store the silver Fenrir ring I gave you." Cloud took Tifa's hand that wore the said ring and placed a chaste kiss upon it.

"Hmm...I guess so…" Tifa replied with ambiguity.

Cloud looked up, "Oh, you want something else?"

"Maybe…?" She teased him, tapping her finger at her bottom lip as she looked away. The hint on her face told him otherwise.

It was a surprise that Cloud hadn't taken her hand in marriage yet. What was the blonde fool waiting for?

Hell, they were practically raising two kids together, Denzel and Marlene, like a family.

Denzel was still getting used to calling Cloud, Tifa and Marlene his family. They were not related by blood, but they took him in and raised him like he was their son.

Cloud would tousle his hair and tease him like any father would do.

Marlene was the younger sister he desired to protect.

Tifa had cared for him like a mother, and never once felt he was a burden to have around.

He was content with the life he now had and didn't want to change a thing.

~owari