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

A/N: This was inspired by another discussion from CloTi discord and a quote about describing home.

Summary: In which Cloud describes home.

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. Also, I'm unfortunately running into a writer's block, so this piece may be very sappy and cliché.

~Light~

It was just a simple question that was supposed to have a simple answer.

But somehow, Cloud let himself ramble on to a complete stranger.

The sound of her voice is the first thing he looks forward to, especially on the days he returns home late. Her voice is husky yet soothing, gentle whispers to his ears.

He recalls the sweet fragrance of her after raspberry rain shampoo, when she pulls him into an embrace, letting his face bury deep into the curve of her neck.

The way her fingers tangle through his locks before trailing down to brush the back of his neck and trace his face would cause tingles across his skin. He shudders, wanting to feel more than just her gentle touches.

He loves to taste her soft lips, yearning for more than just a chaste peck. A sigh of content would escape between his teeth every time.

He never felt more alive when he's around her. Knowing she's here gives him this sense of happiness, where her light always fills the gap in his heart and guides him through the darkness in his world.

The elderly woman before him that had asked the question for the sake of making conversation while signing for her package delivery, simply chuckled at his rather romantic ramblings.

"You silly boy, she sounds like a lovely girl but I only meant to ask where you live now?"

Cloud was quite embarrassed, having not realized that he spoke of something completely different than what was expected. Cloud had not intended to describe it that way.

The words just spilled out like a waterfall. It just felt right to talk about home like that.

While Seventh Heaven was a home to him, a place to live, it really would not be the same without Tifa around. She was home and Cloud would never doubt the road home.

Everything always led back to her.

"Seventh Heaven in Edge." He made sure to answer quickly and straight to the point this time.

"The one owned by Tifa Lockhart? Ahh, I see now."

The elderly woman dropped a bag of gil in his palm and thanked him for delivering her package. Before she turned to head back to her house, she gave him a piece of advice,

"You're lucky to have someone like her, so don't ever let her go."

That was a phrase he was often told. The first time he heard those words was from a local Doctor in Mideel. He didn't give it much thought then.

Cloud gave the elderly woman a grin, "I don't intend to."

"Good, because if you do anything to break her heart, I'm going to tell Marle."

Good god, this woman knew Marle? He would never hear the end of it from Marle if even a single tear fell from Tifa's lovely eyes.

He had Tifa shed enough tears for him over the years and it took him so long to realize just how important she was to him.

Cloud did not intend to break Tifa's heart.

He was far from ever doing that.

Not ever. Not anytime soon.

Never again.

When he returned home later that evening, Tifa was there as always, greeting him with a tender smile,

"Welcome home, Cloud."

Cloud slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, her body fitting perfectly like a puzzle to his.

It had become somewhat of a routine now, the way he felt when he came home to her. Breathing in everything about her and kissing her from top to bottom was satisfying.

"I'm home."

~owari