The Third Verse

You realize he thinks you're a threat. You realize this one day after you've been at Seventh Heaven for six months. You find it hard to believe that there was life before this. You knew Cloud really wasn't comfortable with you being here, but Tifa being who she is demanded that you stay, at least until you got back on your feet. He seems like he's okay with you, but there are times when he gets home early, and you question how much he accepts you. Maybe it's because you do so much with the kids, you really don't know, but you really don't like those looks he gives you from the table in the corner. Honestly, he's acting like you're going to kidnap her in the middle of the night. You know how she feels about him, though. You see the way she speaks softly to him, delicately almost. He treats her the same way. They act like they're walking on eggshells around each other sometimes. At first you didn't see why she loved him the way she did. All you knew was that she did. He seems cold, almost emotionless to you, and somehow you relate with that. You wonder if he's really that numb, or if he's just hiding in himself. Still, there are emotions present, you see after awhile. Marlene and Denzel tell you it use to be much worse, and he's doing good now. Still, you didn't see how.

It was those surprising shows of affection that made you see he loved her, too, that it wasn't a one-sided relationship. There have been times when you'd be woken up by him carrying her up the steps after she fell asleep waiting on him. You also note to get up early enough to see if he comes out of his room or hers. You don't think anything happens, really, it's just he likes to be with her, even if he can't say it himself. You watch him when he comes down on those mornings from her room, and he just sort of looks at you, and you look at him with as much understanding as you can. He still sees you as a punk kid, you figure. After all, you're only seventeen...or at least, that's how old you were when Kadaj took you. Now you're back, so you figure you're seventeen again. You remember when he first took her hand in his. You could never forget the look on her face that night, when he walked up behind the bar, speaking to her about his day. She's had a rough day, you've been sick, and she's gotten use to not having to hassle about with the kids. She's frazzled as she speaks with him, doing two different things with her hands, and watching you out of the corner of her eye to make sure you don't get sick all over the counter. You refused to stay cooped up in that room anymore, and now sit at the bar with a sulk and a blanket wrapped around you. You're hot, but you're cold, and you watch the two talk. She's ranting now, not even realizing that she hasn't stopped talking. He places his hand over hers, and she jumps, startled.

"Cloud?" She looks up, meeting his eyes, perplexed and blushing.

"You'll be okay." He says softly. "Tomorrow will be better."

"Uh..." She looks down at his hand, and back up again. "What if...something happens?"

"It won't...I'm taking the day off." He removes his hand, and begins to exit.

"It will be then, if you'll be here." She thinks no one hears, but you hear.

And so does he. He glances over his shoulders once, and you see an uplift to the corner of his mouth. You smile to, infected by the love in the air, if you will.

"In your dreams, sleep peacefully.

Tomorrow will be better, just believe."

Tifa looks up startled, and you realize you've said these words out loud.

"What's that?" She asks, and you reply nothing.

Now he's looking at you like you could snatch her away in a moment. You sigh, you should expect this. Tifa is a wonderful woman, everyone loves her, in some shape or form. He's very protective of her, even if he knows she can take care of herself. He doesn't seem to care though, so you have to make it known you don't love her like that...though you do know you love her. You choose to one night after putting the kids to bed. You're sitting at the bar while Tifa cleans, and Cloud's in the corner, scrubbing on dishes.

"You know, Tifa," You start, "I just want to thank you for saving me that day...I'd probably be dead now if it weren't for you."

She looks up, caught off guard, and then smiles. "Well, that was unexpected Shale...but you're welcome...I'm glad I saved you."

You smile too, "This may sound a little weird Tifa..."

"What is it Shale?" She asks, curious.

You see you've caught Cloud's attention. He's not looking, but he's sort of leaning back away from the sink, a glass frozen in his hand as he had just about began to scrub it. You figure if you say the thing he doesn't want to hear, he'll probably chuck that glass at your head and won't even bother to give Tifa an explanation. Good thing that's not how you feel, and you redirect your attention to Tifa again.

"It's just...well...my mother's been dead for a while, I suppose...and you sort of remind me of her. I mean, I'm not going to go around calling you mother...but you do remind me of her...and...well..."

"Are you trying to say I'm like your mother now?" She asks, giggling.

You manage a small nod and blush, and glance towards Cloud. He's visibly relaxed. Unless he thinks you're into incest, you're no longer a threat. He treats you with a little more respect now, and a better understanding. He picks up on the fact that the kids call you brother now, and called you his son once as a joke to a customer. You don't really mind, but you honestly didn't think the man knew how to joke until that moment. You thought life was wonderful when you came to Seventh Heaven, but now it's even better, with no more tension in the house. It's like a real family, and it makes you feel good...makes you feel better than you have in a long time. The hole where your mother was has been filled in again with her memories. It doesn't hurt to think about her now, because you know she's watching over you, that she'll always be there for you...you also know she's happy that you've found a new family.

It's another whole four months before Cloud finally gets enough bravery to ask her out. You kind of can't blame him for being a coward about it for so long. Tifa's an intimidating woman, she rejects every man that asks her out. Of course, you know and your siblings know, that she was just waiting for him. So when he does finally ask her, she agrees, and you get stuck with babysitting, not that you mind though. It's three dates later, approximately four weeks later, before they have their first kiss to your knowledge. It's another month before you walk in on them accidentally while they're making out on the couch. You have similar experiences to these, especially when you get up at night to go to the bathroom. Sometimes, though, they just sit on the couch in each others arms. You figure it's a good thing for two people in love to just be able to sit and not have to be all over each other. You figure it's almost as significant as kissing. It takes a lot more strength and love to just sit with the one you love, rather than feeling her up. You blush at these thoughts, but it's true. It's on their one year anniversary though, that brings about the biggest change. Cloud had a special delivery he had to make in the early morning, and left Tifa alone in bed before she even woke up. However, you also know by poking your head in to check on her after he leaves, that he didn't leave heartlessly. There's a yellow rose sitting on his pillow where his head should be, and you wonder how you could've ever thought the man was an unfeeling shell. He takes her out to dinner, and gets dressed up. It's hard for him, but he has Marlene's help. He buys her a necklace with a pearl drop on it, and she loves it. They get home, all smiles, and you see Tifa bought Cloud a new watch, it looks expensive too. They put the kids to bed that night, and you slip into bed early. You hear them that night though, only once. It's so soft you doubt if you really heard it, and you think that it was just in your head. Still, as you lay there in the dark, you can't help but think you're glad it's your room next to Cloud's and Denzel and Marlene's is all the way at the end of the hall. In the morning though, you know it's true. Tifa cooks a huge breakfast, and has got this big, goofy smile on her face. In fact, you catch Cloud once with the same goofy smile on his face. He sees you looking at him, though, and his smile immediately disappears. He doesn't smile at you for the rest of the day. It takes him another whole week before he'll finally meet your eyes when he talks to you.

"Breathe my child, it's all okay.

Don't cry anymore, my love today.

Love is life, and life is love,

Fly away my beautiful dove.

In your dreams, sleep peacefully

Tomorrow will be better, just believe."

A/N: thanks so much to DaLover miyuufa for reviewing...means alot to meh...thanks!