A/N: Hello readers! Sorry to keep you waiting. The second installment of this oneshot/mini-series. This fict took place within the same time frame as the last chapter, somehow a continuation of the first one. LOL. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 2: Pray tell, Cloud

"And then, I became the fastest among all the arrows! I pierced through wind, and I ended up hitting bullseye!"

Tifa smiled at her second batch of pancakes slowly cooking on the stove while listening to Denzel animated conversation with Marlene about his dream last night, where he became an arrow head. A sharp and pointy and fast arrow head claimed Denzel.

"Ah, is that why I heard a loud thud from upstairs this morning?"

Tifa turned on her heels as she refilled Denzel's empty plate. It was his third servings, he really loves Tifa's morning pancakes. Plus, it's Sunday, and Sunday means he could eat breakfast as much as he can because they are no school waiting for them on Sundays.

"Uhh.. I did not technically fall of the bed, you know.." He reasoned.

"You totally fall of your bed, Denzel." Marlene piped in while she smiled her sunny smile to Tifa as she helped her with the maple syrup. "Thanks, Tifa."

"You're welcome, Marlene." Tifa smiled back.

She shuffled back to her stove. Sunday mornings are her favourite mornings where she could spent more time with the kids as Seventh Heaven is closed on Sundays. But as she wiped the thin sweat forming on her brow, she knew this particular Sunday morning would be the hottest morning as they are approaching mid-summer, with El Nino currently sweeping Edge. With that particular reason, she opted to leave her favourite leather vest in her closet, leaving only her tank top and shorts. She also made her long dark tresses into a loose bun to let the wind kissed her neck once in a while.

"Well, I did not fall, because I let myself fall, becau—"

"Morning Denzel."

As their favourite blonde came into the kitchen bar (they always eat at the bar when it's closed), the kids turned to the said voice and smile giddily.

"Morning Cloud!" Denzel chirped.

Cloud glancing to the little girl sitting on the bar stool beside Denzel. "Morning Marlene."

"Morning Cloud!" She replied enthusiastically.

Then he made his way to the other occupant of the kitchen who were cooking something smelled sinfully delicious on this Sunday morning. He purposely lingered closely behind the bartender, as he noticed her dark hair was made differently today, showing her bare neck to him.

"Morning, Tifa."

He could practically see those little hairs dotting her neck stood up.

"Morning." She turned her head, smiling albeit the sheer blush on her cheeks, their nose almost touching. "Pancakes?"

"I would love that." Images of their love-making session last night flashed in his eyes, and he knew the woman could see it too.

As much as he wanted to kiss that smiling lips, he knew there were two pairs of eager eyes looking at them. Therefore, he decided to head back to the bar and slide onto the bar stool facing the two kids.

"So someone fall off their bed this morning." Cloud started the conversation that almost died minutes ago, much to Denzel's dismay.

"Denzel here, he dreamt of becoming an arrow head last night." Marlene took up the chance to fill in Cloud with their conversation.

"A sharp and pointy arrow head. It was cool okay?"

"Yeah, until you fall off the bed and hit your head." Marlene could not hide her laugh.

"You saw—I did not hit my head. It was a cry of winning. In my dream, I hit bullseye!"

"I said nothing about a cry, did I?"

Cloud let out a chuckle as he looked at them. If he knew Sunday mornings were like this, he would stop doing deliveries on Sundays way earlier.

"Ne, Cloud." Marlene started, successfully gaining the blonde's attention.

"Hmn?"

"Do you have deliveries to do today?" She asked.

"Are you doing deliveries to the northern continents today?" Denzel piped in.

"No, and no. I'm off work. No deliveries on Sunday, and no I'm not delivering stuff to northern continents anymore. Your uncle Cid is handling that." He stopped whatever he was doing as his blue eyes focused on his two adopted children. "And what makes you two asked these questions, pray tell?"

"Well it is Sunday." Answered Marlene.

"And you're wearing your usual sweater for work." Denzel continued.

"And it is currently summer."

"And you zipped your sweater up until it covers your neck."

Cloud was taken aback. "So?"

"So we were thinking why would you wear your usual work sweater zipped to the neck during Sunday morning in this heated summer? Only if you are going for deliveries to the northern continents, right?" their voices sing-song.

"…."

"Pfttt!"

Tifa could not held it anymore and her angelic laugh slipped her lips, catching the ears of the other three occupants of the room.

"What so funny, Tifa?" Denzel asked, looking at his guardian who had her back to them.

Tifa shuffled to the bar with a plate full of freshly warm pancakes. She placed the food in the middle while putting a piece of pancake on Cloud's still empty plate.

"Nothing much. Just, it's amusing to see someone else instead of me, handing and receiving your sometimes unthinkable questions and conclusions." She paused for a chuckle as she sat down on the bar stool beside Cloud. "So anyways, answer them, Cloud." Tifa smiled while eyeing the zipped-to-the-neck blonde man.

"Well.."

Suddenly the tv in their living room upstairs turned on, and the opening song of "Mr Thornberrys' Show" played, making the two kids turned around, ready to jump off the stool.

"Marlene, our show is starting! It's a good thing we set the tv to turn on at 10am on Sundays!" Denzel exclaimed as he helped Marlene hopped off her stool while his other hand holding their plates. "Tifa, we put the plates in the sink, we'll wash it later, okay?"

"Okay. Go on catch your show. Just don't watch any tv shows that is inapropr—"

"It's Sunday morning, Tifa. The tv only shows children…"

Marlene's answer was slowly muffled by their footsteps as they went up the stairs and vanishing into the living room.

Thus, leaving both Tifa and Cloud, sitting on the bar stool, a bit too closed to each other. Mr Thornberrys' Show had save his life today.

Cloud turned to face the woman on her right. "So you really want to know the answer to the kids' unthinkable question?"

A smiled creeped on her face. "Mm-hmm."

He unzipped the top part of his sweater, revealing the nape of his neck and simultaneously showing a bit of his chiselled chest. "Someone left a nasty bite on my neck last night. Wouldn't want to show the kids, they might want to know who bruised their hero."

Tifa's hands slowly linked together behind his neck, pulling him closer to her. The smell of their shared toothpaste and Cloud's aftershave flared her nostril as she took a deep breath inhaling his scent. Her lips played dangerously closed to his as she mouthed;

"And who did that, pray tell?"

End.

A/N: To the 7 reviewers and the story alerts and favourites, I am very thankful for your support. Updates may not be regular but I'll try to do more light oneshots like this. THANK YOU!

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