(A.N) So this is the last chapter *cry* Endings are always sad. This one isn't as funny, but as I have said before, what do you expect from the last chapter?

A very large thanks to Chibi Emo-Chan, Muffcakeloverxiii, celticskyedancer, and sunset in love (haha!) for reviewing! And to everyone who has reviewed and will review thank you so much! I love hearing everyone's feedback!

Disclaimer: Yeah, nothing from Final Fantasy belongs to me

Sephy the Kitty- 8) Saved

Cloud wondered why he was so lucky. He had the girl he always wanted, he had to fabulous children, although they weren't his, and he has his best friend back. Although he's doubted his luck recently with his enemy that magically reappeared in his life, he believed he was really lucky. Of course a few years ago he didn't know how lucky he was and he always tried to run away. He decided that he wasn't very smart back then.

But right now, he was just cold. He was sitting besides the frozen lakeside that was outside Edge, watching Tifa, the kids and the animals playing on the ice. Due to his inability to ice skate, he refused to get on the ice. Plus while Tifa was trying to convince him to get on the ice, Sephy was giving a look saying, 'I'll make your life miserable if you go on the ice.' That gave Cloud more reason to say no. So Tifa gave him the duty of watching their stuff. Which were their shoes, and a blanket that was currently wrapped around Cloud.

The kids looked a little shaky on the ice, since they didn't know how to either, but Tifa was trying to teach the kids with little luck. Cloud remembered when they were kids in Nibelheim he used to watch her ice skate with the other kids and he would watch with envy. She just looked so pretty as she would do her spins. Now the dogs were chasing each other, and Sephy was looking unstable on the ice, which amused Cloud. He was a little happy to see the sadistic cat looking nervous for once.

Cloud sighed and looked at a watch on his wrist. They had to leave soon so they could get the bar ready for their friends that were coming. Christmas Eve was one of the only times that all of them could just be together like they used to be. With the addition of the President, who claimed that since they worked together, that he was invited to their party. Cloud sighed. Rufus always had an opinion when he was at the bar. He asked if everything was supposed to be black, or look like it was run by wolves.

Clouds thoughts were interrupted by a crashing sound that resembled the sound of ice breaking and a splash. Cloud snapped his head up and saw that Tifa was trying to rip off her ice skates, and failing, and yelling at the kids not to get close. And the kids were looking at the hole in the ice in horror, and the two dogs getting a better look at the hole. He noticed that one cat was missing. His thoughts were confirmed when the cat's head and flailing paws emerged from the water, looking desperate to find an edge before he sunk back in the water for good.

With out even thinking about it, Cloud jumped up, unwrapping himself from the blanket and running on the ice. Going on the ice he remembered that he couldn't skate, but he wouldn't let that stop him. He quickly tore off his jacket and boots before he reached the hole and dived in. He heard Tifa call his name.

The cold water instantly felt like daggers against his skin, and he could barely open his eyes to see any sign of a silver ball. Cloud swam deeper. He knew it would be worse for normal people, and since he had the make injections he was able to handle the cold better than everyone else, but he still acted like a baby when it was below freezing outside. Finally he saw a flash of silver from the corner of his slanted eyes, but his limbs were feeling heavier and he was running out of oxygen in his lungs. He reached for the limp cat, only to have him float even further away; he looked at Cloud with partially closed eyes. It was like the evil cat already gave up saving himself. Cloud blew out, trying to find much needed air. His muscles began to lock and the cold felt like it was starting to freeze his limps, but he kept reaching for Sephy.

Finally he grabbed a fist full of silver fur and pulled Sephy tightly against him. He looked up, trying to find any sign of the hole that he jumped through. It was too dark to see anything, he realized with despair.

'Great, I die trying to save my only enemy." Cloud thought with bitter humor. But then Sephy looked up at Cloud, his green eyes showing his gratefulness of the attempt of saving him. Cloud felt his throat close up as he tugged the cat closer to him and closed his eyes.

He then felt something pull hard on the back of his shirt, and he looked up slowly to see that two dogs were dragging him up. They broke the surface and Cloud gasped, trying to fill his lungs of air too quickly and started to choke. Cloud felt Sephy trying to get air too. A strong pair of arms pulled Cloud up and the dogs jumped out of the frigid water. Tifa dragged Cloud away from the thin ice.

"Kids!" Tifa yelled towards the two figures that were frozen in fear, "Get the blankets!"

The wet dogs tried shaking the cold water out of their fur, and the kids ran over, their ice skates now off, and handed Tifa the blankets. She wrapped them tightly around both Cloud and Sephy, and he felt relief as the cold air was blocked from his body. The dogs walked over, showing worry towards their master. Cloud smiled at them.

"Thanks for the help," Cloud said and Zack licked his face with a warm tongue. He looked up at Tifa and saw that pure relief was on her face and he looked down to see if she got the ice skates off. She had tears streaming down her face. Her feet were bare, so her socks must have gotten ripped off when she took off the ice skates. Cloud laughed a little and reached out to take her foot in his freezing hands. "Your feet are cold."

"You idiot," She mumbled as she tackled him in a hug. He could feel Sephy shaking against him, but still alive.

Cloud could still feel the chill down to his very bone. Even after he took a really long, hot, shower. When they were coming home from the lake, Tifa was driving like a maniac, trying to get to the bar as soon as possible. She demanded that Cloud take a warm shower, and she would warm Sephy up in the sink.

As Cloud exited the bathroom, he stopped mid-step when he saw Sephy waiting, his fur looking like it got dried by a hair drier. Oh great, Sephy was probably angry now because he almost failed on his attempt to save him. But this time, Cloud was ready for his fury.

He was a little surprised when he felt something brush against his legs gently. He looked down and saw Sephy rubbing his head against his legs. Cloud bent down and pet Sephy's head and he leaned into his hand.

"So are you going to be nice to me now?" Cloud asked with a smile. Sephy bit his hand softly, which was very different than his bites that usually hurt. It looked like Sephy was smiling.

After everyone had arrived that night they all heard the heroic story from Tifa, who was practically bragging about it. Cloud didn't mind though; she was looking at him the entire time with adoration and a very large smile. She was relieved that he was alright but she was more relieved when the fragile kitty survived. He knew how much the little fur ball meant to her. Everyone ooh and ah'ed over the story but they were more amazed when they saw the kitty just sitting next to him, not moving an inch. Cloud even managed to pet him once or twice as reconciliation and Sephy didn't even bite or scratch him.

"You never told anyone why you hate cats." Tifa said as she sat next to him and put a hand on his leg.

Cloud nodded and it seemed like he still wouldn't say anything but he looked at her and saw she was giving him a pleading look and he sighed. "You know the cat you had when we were young?"

Tifa smiled. "Yeah, Snowball." She loved that outdoors cat.

He looked down like he was ashamed. "He didn't like me. And I tried really hard for him to like me but he wouldn't warm up to me."

"Oh, yeah, I remember he would always scratch you so I tried to keep him away from you."

"And I figured because he didn't like me that you didn't like me either. So I began to hate all cats because I thought they would make you hate me." He admitted, his face changing to a shade of red.

Everyone in the room made an 'awww' noise and he blushed deeper and sunk in his seat. He didn't like all the pity on him. Tifa grabbed his face and kissed him deeply and everyone's 'awww's' changed into whooping noises. She pulled away and smiled. "I could never hate you, silly."

He smiled and looked around the room. Barrett had Marlene on his lap like he was Santa and Denzel was right next to them. Yuffie was in the exact same position as Marlene except she was on Vincent's lap and he didn't look happy at all. Cid was leaning against the wall and his pregnant wife was sitting in the dining chair in front of him as she was nibbling on a cookie. Red was on the ground in the center of the floor. Elmyra was on the ground by the dogs, petting the dog that resembled her adopted daughter. And Rufus was sitting on the opposite sofa with Tseng and Elena next to him and Reno and Rude were standing in alert behind the sofa.

Cloud looked down at the kitty at the same moment he looked up at him. His eyes showed that they settled a truce. And Cloud knew that he was able to respect his old enemy again.

A few hours after everybody left, and long after the kids went to bed, Cloud and Tifa were cleaning the bar up from their party that seemed to get out of hand. Their neighbors actually called the police. But they went away after they realized that the President was their with them.

Cloud was wiping down the counter when he notice that Tifa's ring was sitting on it. He picked it up, then looked towards Tifa and saw that she was washing the dishes, so she probably took it off so she wouldn't lose it. When she finished, he handed it back to her. She sighed.

"Cloud, when are we going to get married?" She asked, looking tired of having to wait a year and still not having to plan anything.

"May 3rd" Cloud asked, like it was absolutely nothing.

"Cloud, that's my birthday."

"I know,"

"But there's no way that we could plan a wedding in five months…"

"That's why I already planned it all," Cloud said and she looked at him in shock.

"Wh-What-"

"Merry Christmas," Cloud said with a smile, and for the second time that day, Tifa tackled him with a hug.

The End

So as all of you may tell, I will create a new story on May 3rd. So keep an eye out for it! Are all of you as sad ad me that the story is over? It has been a pleasure writing for you all.

Well, until next time.

-ohsnapples