Note: I have a question for all of my fans out there. Which of my writing styles would you like to see more of: The normal dialogue, Flashbacks (Such as Chapter 2 and 8), Stream of Consciousness (Like Chapter 6), or a split male/female perspective (Chapter 12)? Whether by message or review, please respond.

Chapter 12- A Valentine Tea Shower

"It was a great idea to throw us a tea party, Tifa!", Yuffie exclaimed. "But what exactly would you call this?" Tifa took a sip of her homemade herbal tea and replied, "I call it a Valentine's Day Bridal/Baby Shower Tea Party."

The entire party of friends always had a tradition of meeting together on holidays, and Valentine's Day was no exception. These meetings were typically arranged by Tifa Lockheart, who had proven on many occasions that she was an exceptional host. Not only had she prepared tea and cookies in the kitchen for her female friends, but she had also fixed up a piping-hot plate of buffalo wings for the guys, who had already decided to set up residence in front of the television.

"So, what are the guys doing?", Shera asked. Yuffie quickly replied, "Probably watching the Winter Olympics. You know, I never have understood what is so important about sports. I mean, if I was going to be using all of my strength and energy, I'd rather spend it against an enemy. But anyway, how is the child doing, Shera?"

"Everything is coming along fine. I'm just starting to show, and it's due on Labor Day. Isn't that an odd coincidence?"

"It sure is. Tifa, where are those cookies that you made?"

"Oh, they're in the fridge, Yuffie."

Yuffie retrieved the cookies from the fridge and placed them on the table. Yuffie took one, and as she bit into it, she smiled. "Tifa, these are the best cookies in the world! How did you make these?"

Tifa blushed as she explained, "I think I have the recipe stored somewhere around here, but they're made out of Peanut Butter, Almonds, and a special ingredient, straight from the Seventh Heaven bar. Go ahead, Yuffie. Try to guess what it is."

"Is it beer?"

"No. If it was, then how would it taste so good? Keep guessing."

"Tequila?"

"No. You get one more guess."

"Vodka?"

"No. It's nothing that hard. It's just a tiny bit of wine, that's all."

"Cool. Anyways, what are you getting Cloud for Valentine's Day?"

"Absolutely nothing. What makes you think that I would give him a gift, after all he's done?"

Shera intuitively replied, "Because he's changed. He still has the hots for you, you know."

"Well, I don't care. He is never getting a gift from me for as long as I live."

"Okay. Yuffie, what are you getting for Vince?"

"I'm giving him the best gift a man could have, and that's me. You guys are coming to the wedding rehearsal tonight, right?"

"Sure, Yuffie. I guess I'm the only one giving a gift then. I bought Cid an iPhone. I know he'll love it."

"…And so Shera and I were walking through a store the other day, right? And she comes across this newfangled contraption called an iPhone. She asked me, 'Wouldn't you like to have one of those, Cid?' And I'm like, 'Sure, whatever', and she thought I was serious. What am I gonna do with something like that? I mean, all that I need my telephone to do for me is to let me talk. I don't need any music or pictures, and for cripes sake, what the heck is an Internet?"

Vincent turned toward Cid and asked, "Are you telling me that you don't know what the Internet is? I'd been asleep for years, and even I knew what the Internet is."

As expected, Barret piped up. "You do, huh? Tell me one good thing that this Internet does."

"…Uh…It lets me communicate with my Yuffie-Bear."

"…The Hell? What's the matter wit' 'choo, 'foo? You have a nickname for her now?"

"No, Barret. It's an actual bear."

Everyone sat in silence, except for Cloud. "Don't tell me. You let her take you to that Build-A-Bear thing across town?"

"Unlike you, Cloud, I take pride in what I have."

"Say it again, vampire boy. I dare you."

"Now you two calm down. The womenfolk can hear us, so you don't need to be actin'-a-'foo."

The room became quiet again, which annoyed Vincent. He finally decided to get the last word in. "They're caps, Cloud. It's not like I was born with long teeth. And besides, I didn't get them put in until I met Yuffie."

"Well that's just Yuffie, I guess.", Cid replied. "She's into cute teddy bears and gory vampire bites. What a character!"

"Shera, what was it like?" The young ninja sat on the edge of her seat, anticipating the soon-to-be-mother's answer. "It's like a roller coaster. It's kinda scary at first, but it's a thrill at the end."

"Yeah, I know. It's awesome, isn't it? I mean, uh..."

"Yuffie!?"

"Okay, I admit it. Me and Vinnie tried it last night. It was my first time. Tifa, why are you looking at me like you're shocked?"

"It's because I am! I mean, he did wear a..you know..."

"Of course, silly!"

"Well, tell us!"

"Tell you what?"

"How big was it?"

"It was pretty good. It wasn't one that would leave you in awe or anything, but it certainly wasn't small. Let's just say that it was perfect for a small girl like me."

"...She said that it was the best that she'd ever seen."

Cid replied, "That's because it's the only one she's seen."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

Cid sighed and then explained, "Listen, buddy. I hate to ask it, but who's wearing the pants in the relationship? It seems like the only that's done any changing is you. You've gone soft on us!"

"So, you went soft too."

"Well, she had to change a lot for me too. I wasn't exactly Shera's knight in shining armor, you know."

As Vince and Cid continued to discuss women, Cloud could sense that Barret was growing increasingly silent.

"Barret, what's the matter?"

"The hell do you think's the matter, spiky? How do you think it makes me feel to know that Sephiroth killed Marlene, and nobody's doing anything about it?"

"Shin-Ra will do something about it. It's just taking some time to restructure everything."

"Are you a Shin-Ra 'foo now too? What happened to the days when we used to fight those murderers?"

"The Stigma changed everything. Rufus isn't the man that he used to be. Midgar has finally got enough money in the budget to train up a police force, with Reno at its head. Rude is going to be the head of the new CSI unit. I think Elena is going to help us build a new hospital. Everything's turning around, so you can't say that Sephiroth is guilty until it's proven."

"But what about everyone else, Cloud? So some Turks are doing some good. What about the rest of 'em?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"You bet I can."

"Good. Rufus has set up a new group called Neo Soldier. It's purpose is to act as a kind of Central Intelligence Agency. I have joined this group. Vincent and Yuffie have also. Tseng will be the head of our CIA. That's why Vincent and Yuffie have begun training with swords. These will be the required weapons in the Agency."

"So, you think you're doing something good for society, right? That's what they said when they started draining mako. I don't approve of it, Cloud. I don't like it one bit."

"Think what you will. It won't change my mind. For once, I can actually accomplish my lifelong dream without feeling guilty about it. There's no way i'm passing it up now."