55. Get questioned by Tifa over Josh's parentage

"Cloud, I was wondering, you said when Aerith was killed she was already a couple weeks pregnant?" Tifa asked getting back into bed after putting Josh down for the night, again.

"That is what she told me, yes." Cloud responded, dreading where Tifa was heading with that statement.

"So, did you ask her who the father was? Did she tell you who it is?"

"No need for me to ask, she told me who it was." Cloud wanted to tell her that he was the father, but was afraid that she would push him away.

"So how come she asked you to take care of him? Didn't she ask you to let the father know; give him a chance to know his son? He is alive, isn't he?" Cloud got out of bed and grabbed a sheet from the cupboard. Tifa stared at him in confusion. "Where are you going Cloud?"

"Going to sleep in my office," he replied opening the bedroom door.

Tifa rushed over, grabbing his arm to prevent him from leaving."Why Cloud? Please stay here with me. I find I miss you when you're not here next to me." He dropped the sheet then climbed back in bed. She got in beside him and snuggled up against his back, embracing him to provide reassurance. "I love you Cloud."

"I love you too Tifa." He held her hand as he said it, tears welling up in his eyes. After Tifa's breathing steadied and he was sure she was asleep, he started to weep.

56. Have a fight with Tifa

Cloud's alarm sounded noisily. As he shut it off Tifa asked, "Thought you turned off the alarm last night? I thought you have the day off?"

"I do. That was the secondary alarm. I forgot about it." Tifa slapped his back. "Ouch! What was that for?" he asked turning to look at her.

"For waking me from a wonderful dream." She smiled, pulled him closer, and kissed him. "Well, as punishment for waking me up early, you need to make it up to me. Make the dream a reality Cloud." She pushed him down onto his back and caressed his pecs while sitting over his crotch.

He brought his hands up and took her nightgown off. "Your wish is my command Tifa."

After they finished making love, Tifa got out of bed stating, "Better get up and make breakfast since it is close to Josh's feeding time anyway." Cloud just lay there smiling. She looked over and threw a pillow at him. "Oi, stop grinning like a Cheshire cat you!" He caught the pillow and grabbed her, starting to tickle her ribs. She broke free and looked at him, "Ok, you are going to pay for that." She grabbed a pillow and swung it at him, which he barely avoided.

"Not a chance," he retorted grabbing another pillow and swung it. She gasped in surprise as it hit her shoulder blades, knocking the pillow from her grasp onto the floor. She bent over to grab it, as she did he rushed over and started to tickle her ribs again.

She fell down onto the bed giggling like a school girl. "Ok, ok, I surrender, you win!" He grabbed a pillow and swung it above his head humming the victory fanfare. As he did she swung her pillow and caught him in the side. He doubled over winded; she then swung another pillow and caught him in the back. He fell forward, landing face first on the bed; she jumped behind him and tickled his ribs.

He started laughing and begging for mercy, "No, please… I'm sorry." As she stopped, she got off him and he rolled over onto his back gasping for breath. She leaned over him and put a hand on his shoulder to see if he was ok. He quickly pulled her down on top of him and placed his arms around her in a hug as they started kissing.

57. Reveal to Tifa who Josh's father is

"Cloud, breakfast is ready." He walked into the dining area and placed Josh into the high chair. He then took a seat at the table in front of his breakfast. Tifa walked in carrying a bowl of Rusks and started to feed Josh. After he was done, she sat next to Cloud who was just biting into a sausage. She smiled and pointed out that he had some sauce on his cheek. He grabbed a napkin and held it up to his cheek, "It's on your other cheek Cloud." He apologized and wiped it off.

"You not eating Tifa?" Cloud inquired noticing she had hardly touched hers.

"Not feeling very hungry, I'll have it later," she replied smiling at him.

After breakfast, they sat in the living room. "So, what do you want to do about Josh's father? Should we find him and tell him he has a son?" Tifa asked.

He sighed, got up out of his lazy boy chair and sat on the sofa next to her. He held her hand, took a deep breath and told her, "Tifa, I'm the father."

Tifa released his hand staring at him in shock. "You... you're the father? How… err when… No. I don't want to know."

"I wanted to tell you Tifa, but was afraid it would push you further from me. I don't want to lose you too."

58. Find out Tifa was used for Sex

"Cloud, earlier I said I don't want to know about you and Aerith, but I've thought about it and I do. I want to know. You are special to me. I would have accepted you as a couple. I would have given you my full support. Back then I still had feelings for Johnny and he had a crush on me. But we were travelling the world chasing Sephiroth, trying to save the planet and it didn't leave time for me to pursue a relationship."

"Is that why he was so cold towards me, why he left sector 7? Was it as I came back into your life?"

"When we first arrived in Costa, I found him staying there. So I asked him why he chose to leave Midgar at that time. I knew he wanted to travel and see the world, since he had been talking about it for a long time. His mother told me he was all talk and she doubted he would actually go and do it. He told me that your return into my life was the push he needed to stop talking about it, to actually go and do it."

"Did anything happen between you? No, you don't have to answer that."

"It's ok, you deserve to know. Yes something did happen and it was that night in Costa. After talking about why he left, he asked about me, so I told him about everything that happened since he left the slums, how we were on a mission to save the planet. Then I told him about you, how you seemed to be ignoring me, how you kept putting Aerith first and how it affected me. I was jealous of her Cloud. I was weak. I started to cry so he hugged me, gave me a shoulder to cry on. He was there for me so I kissed him and it just evolved from there."

She allowed Cloud to absorb all that had been said then resumed, "The next morning he apologized to me. I assured him it was ok and I tried to keep in contact, but he never responded. I never heard anything more about him. That is until a couple weeks ago, I heard he got married just after Meteorfall. Thinking about it now, I think he only wanted me for sex Cloud."

She started weeping. He pulled her into a hug and allowed her to cry into his shoulder. After she stopped, she whispered, "I feel so much better getting that off my chest. I'm going to eat now."

59. Tell Tifa about the Gold Saucer date night with Aerith

"Cloud, I want you tell me about your relationship with Aerith, were things serious between you two?"

Cloud got up and started to pace, then sat back down. "Tifa, you remember that night we were stuck at Gold Saucer? The one when Cait stole the keystone from my room while I was out with Aerith.

Tifa looked at him and nodded. "You were... on a date?"

"When I first met her, I saved her from being kidnapped by Reno. She asked if I would be her bodyguard, my payment would be 'one date'; that night at Gold Saucer was the date. I only went along with it because she had this way to convince me to do just about anything for her. Well, just after Cait handed Tseng the stone and Cait had admitted to being a spy we went back to the hotel. She comforted me because I felt guilty for letting him into the group and since I was the leader, I should have known he couldn't be trusted. She sat me on the bed and told me it wasn't my fault; that Cait had deceived all of us. She hushed me when I tried to argue that it was my fault and told me to get ready for bed. I looked at her to question her but she was already removing her dress. I continued to stare at her in confusion but she smiled back at me saying she was staying with me for a couple hours, then walked over and kissed me. She took control; she wanted me. I had wanted her but I was too afraid, I was unsure if she felt the same way. Turned out I was her first. That was the only time we made love. I never knew she was pregnant and I think it's why she went off to the forgotten capital alone."

He got up and went to leave Tifa alone. She got up and stopped him from doing so. "Cloud, you did nothing wrong. I understand, Aerith may have been quiet but she had a strong will and if she wanted something she would have gotten it one way or another." He turned back, tears in his eyes.

60. Get questioned by the Turks where Josh came from

"Cloud, I am pleased we had this chat this morning. I feel it's brought us closer as a couple," Tifa said, leaning into him and resting her head on his chest. He placed his arm over her to hold her close. After a while she repositioned herself by curling up, as best as she could, in Clouds lap. She started holding her stomach. "Baby's moving again," she replied to Cloud's unspoken question. Then gasped slightly as she felt a different sensation, she thought nothing of it, then felt it again. She lifted her top up slightly exposing her slightly bulging stomach. as the sensation came again she saw her stomach move and realized what it was. "Cloud, I can feel our baby kicking, here feel for yourself."

"You want me to feel you up again?" Cloud said jokingly positioning his hand over her breast letting it hover an inch above it.
She grabbed his hand and guided it down to her stomach. "I meant my stomach, where our baby is kicking." Cloud smiled as the baby kicked again.

She remained curled up in his lap nearly falling asleep on him. She woke herself up looking up at his beautiful face "What's the time Cloud?"

He glanced at the clock. "11:35." She nodded and then bolted up.

"11:35! Cloud the bar was supposed to open at 11:00." She got up stretching rushed down the stairs to the bar area, and unlocked the front door.

"I was getting worried there, didn't think you were opening up today babe," Reno said walking in as she turned the sign to say open. She looked at him as Cloud walked into bar's kitchen carrying Josh.

"Whoa! Cloud carrying a baby?" Tifa face palmed as Rude came in behind Reno.

"Reno, did I hear you correctly? You say Cloud's holding a baby?" Rude inquired, looking at Tifa.

"Yes we adopted a baby. Please, take a seat guys, it's a long story." She changed the sign back to say closed and locked the door again. "Cloud, get out here. We need to explain Josh to Reno and Rude."

"Cloud bring some beers over too. We got a thirst on here..." Reno called as Cloud walked out of the kitchen holding Josh.

Rude just shook his head while thinking, 'only Reno would want a beer at this time of the morning,' then called over, "I'll take a coffee if there's one going?"

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This chapter is for Kittie Darkhart. I was going to skip the topic of Cloud revealing to Tifa about him being the father, but thinking about it, I figured I would include it. I am trying hard not make this a serious story but it kinda wants to go that way.

I like to thank my wonderful Beta for her hard work in helping me develop this chapter, we will be working on the previous ones soon.