Author's Notes: Cute little peace with Rena and Maria before Maria's illness sets in and Rena becomes jaded.
Theme: Snow
Together
"Daddy, Mommy! Wake up! Lookie! Lookie!" a happy young voice called out, waking Reeve. Well, it was more of her bouncing on the bed that woke him.
"Rena, baby, don't do that," Maria said, "You aren't supposed to jump on the bed."
He mumbled in agreement before lunging at Rena. The seven year old giggled and struggled as her father tickled her mercilessly.
"Mommy…" she laughs, "Help!"
Maria chuckled and gets out of the bed. "Sorry dear. Maybe if you say you are sorry he'll stop."
"The tickle man stops for no one!" Reeve growled playfully as he continued the tickle attack.
"Da-daddy," Rena laughs. "Stop or… I'll call Uncle Reno."
"Oh no! Not that! Mo one true weakness," Reeve says, hand over his heart as he faked fear.
Now that the tickling stopped Rena jumped to her feet and ran to the door of the master bed room. "I'm gonna call him right now!" the girl declared. "He can play with me!"
"Rena dear," Maria says, already in her slippers and robe, "Reno has work today, and you have school."
"Nu-uh!" the happy child proclaimed and ran off.
Maria sighed, "Reeve, could you…?"
He silenced her with a nod. They had a meeting with the President that afternoon and needed more time than her to get ready for work than he did.
"I'll get her ready, don't worry."
His wife smiled and kissed him when he came close. Finally Reeve ventured into the living room, where Rena was perched on the sofa watching cartoons and eating cereal.
"Rena, you know you are supposed to eat and change before you watch cartoons. You can't be late for school."
"I'm not going daddy," she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"And just why is that my sweet girl?"
The kid bounced up from the couch and ran to the dining room windows. Quickly she pulled on the cord to open the curtains. The sudden tripling of the light led the male to cover his eyes. Midgar was covered in crimson. Snow, eight inches maybe, covered everything. There was no movement in the streets at all. And the red of the sunrise made the snow in the city look like blood.
"Maria," Reeve called in shock, unable to take his eyes from the sight.
"School got cancelled daddy!"
"Maria!" he shouted, still paralyzed by the sight.
"Reeve, what are you shouting about…" she said as she headed towards him. She froze at the sight.
"Snow day! Snow day!" Rena was cheering up.
"Maria, didn't they say it couldn't snow in this area?"
She nodded, "Too far south."
"Snow day! Snow day!"
Reeve and Maria looked at each other and smiled.
"We won't be able to find her a baby-sitter," she said.
"Can't leave her here alone," Reeve confirmed.
Rena looked at her parents expectantly.
"Put on your warmest clothes dear, and in layers. I'll show you how to make snow men," Maria said with a smile.
Reeve wrapped his arms around his wife. Rena cheered and ran to her room.
"Just like our honey moon in Icicle Village," Reeve said.
"Except this time," she responded, "I'm beating you in the snow ball fight."