A/N: Finally, the title makes sense! Lol. This chapter has a cliffhanger, you are warned! I think it's good, though.Please read, review, enjoy, as always!
Ch. 6 --- Four Months and Eight Days
It had been four months and eight days since the children were cured. We had fallen into a completely comfortable, carefree routine; he was my best friend again, someone I could depend on, the children's hero, and above all, part of our little family-like household. He wanted to be with us, and whether it meant something different in my case or not, I still didn't know, but it was good enough. I wouldn't say that I'd given up hope for something more, I just don't know whether I was prepared at the time to risk my whole heart on it... which Cloud unknowingly held in his hand.
Anyway, on that day, four months and eight days since the man I loved had saved the planet (again), I was calmly doing the dishes late afternoon, listening carefully to the children, who were upstairs playing, and enjoying the calming sounds of the rainstorm outside. Cloud was on a delivery for a friend; I didn't expect him back until later, and a sort of melancholy had stolen over me at this. So I continued the menial task of washing glasses for the opening of the bar later, so repetitive and simple that it allowed me to lose myself in thought... thought of Cloud, of me, of the odd little life we'd built together and the fact that we weren't really together.
The clock was nearing five, and I finished the washing, instead intent on starting dinner. The kids would be hungry soon. Sure enough, just as I pulled the last pan off of the stove an hour later, Denzel and Marlene tumbled down the stairs, eager to eat. I sighed and shook my head as I watched them, not hungry myself. Just another mess to clean up... but as I watched Denzel spill gravy on himself, I couldn't help a giggle. A cute mess, that was.
After dinner, I let the kids play for a while, and then told them around eight that it was time for bed. They agreed with a yawn, already halfway up the stairs again.
"Why isn't Cloud here to say goodnight?" Marlene asked me in a pathetic little voice as I tucked her into bed. I frowned. She, even through her childlike faith and idolatry of Cloud, had not forgotten the times when Cloud had not been there for us, in mind or body.
"He'll be home later, Marlene," I told her, confident. "It's just a delivery, and he doesn't have so many anymore." She smiled happily at that, and by the time I had kissed her and Denzel on the head, they were both sound asleep.
Back downstairs, I began to ready the bar, doing the usual things and still listening to the rumbling thunder and rain outside happily. I might have even been humming to myself. I really was content with life, even though I loved Cloud so and he was... well, a little clueless. Things could always – always – have been worse.
So, I was turning on the faucet again, preparing to wash my hands, when I heard the front door open. I cast a look at the clock – only 8:30? It seemed quite early for Cloud to be home, but when I heard his heavy boots on the hardwood, I smiled. It was Cloud... and somehow, the fact that he was home earlier than I'd have expected did not alarm me.
"Hello, Cloud," I said as I heard him enter the kitchen behind me. I turned off the water when I was through, turning to him with a smile, drying my hands on a towel... and was unprepared for what I saw there. There was Cloud, of course, in all his tall, lean, handsome glory... and he was dripping wet, from the rain, which made me giggle a little. But this was all normal. What I didn't expect was the look in his eyes – so serious.
And the last thing I expected was the kiss.