Disclaimer: As per usual I don't own anything, do I really need to put this here? Lol

-Fox

x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x

Cloud clicked the phone off and threw it on his bedside table harder then intended the phone. He groaned as it broke open and flew across the room. He heard shuffling outside the door silently getting up and striding to the door, he yanked it open he saw Marlene standing there holding her moogle plush in one hand. She looked up at him with those big brown eyes looking guiltily up at him, he laughed to himself picking her up.

"What are you doing up Marlene?" He asked.

Marlene rests her head on his chest "I heard you talking to somebody, you didn't sound happy, so I wanted to see if I could help." She proudly stated then yawned, rubbing her eyes.

Cloud held her a bit tighter and kissed the top of her head " You already make me happy Marlene, you and Denzel have helped more than you know." He said into her hair it was the truth being around the kids had helped him open up. He no longer flinched at physical contact well, at least with the kids.

Marlene looked up at him "Cloud?"

"Hmm?"

"Who was that on the phone?" She asked with curosity, he debated telling her. 'Well neither her or Denzel have mentioned Tifa in awhile what harm could come of it?' he worked his jaw "it was Tifa..".

She bit her lip looking confused. "So why did you get mad Cloud?"

"I guess... I'm just angry that now that shes been gone so long...she suddenly wants to know how we are" He said clenching his jaw again. He began again "and I was mostly angry for her leaving our family, not talking to you guys for two months then she has the nerve to just call randomly in the middle of the night" He finishes.

Marlene looked up at hopefully, "maybe she wants to come back?" she says, he subconsciously winces "yeah maybe..". He stood up picking her up "but I think you need to go bed Marlene." he says playfully. Marlene responds by sticking out her tongue "Can I sleep with you?" she asks him.

He tilted his head in confusion, "why?" he responds to her mimicking sticking his tongue out. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt as if to reassure he was there.

"Because last time you got sad you left us." she whispered into his chest, his heart did a little flop followed by a wrenching feeling. He stood there silent for a time "Marlene you know I will never leave you and Denzel again right?" He looked down expecting an answer only to be met with her shallow breaths she had fallen asleep again, he set her down on the bed covered her with sheets and sat in the chair watching her. She looked just like Tifa in this light, he sat there for a time just watching her until he too finally embraced sleep.

Cloud woke to a small hand shaking him awake, he opened his eyes to see Denzel. "Morning" he murmured looking at the clock 10:54, Marlene still laid asleep Denzel merely smiled at him "Morning cloud" he chirped and left the room. Cloud slowly roused himself fully covering Marlene in her sheets before washing up. He came out of the bath with his bed empty 'Denzel must have woke her up' he thought, coming down the stairs all he could smell was pancake batter. Coming down the last few steps he came upon a flour covered Marlene and Denzel. He barely contained the laughter that threatened to break loose trying to look stern "you couldn't wait for me to come down?" he asked them.

They looked at each other Marlene spoke up " I told Denzel you were sad so we wanted to make breakfast for you, so you would be happy again" she replied looking hopeful. He reached up scratched the back of his head "well thanks guys I'll be upstairs if you need anything" he said, "seeing if my damn phone still works" he added in an undertone before stalking up the stairs.

He found the battery on the other side of the room, replacing it in the phone he watched the screen light up. The phone buzzed 3 times one for the missed call the other for voice mail and the final for a text, all from the same woman. He went straight to the text message all it said was "Please". Checking his voice mail listening intently for her message "Cloud I know your mad at me you have every right to be, but can I please just speak to the kids? Not now of course, when they wake in the morning?" He sighed, considered deleting it but felt a twang of guilt 'just because I don't want anything to do with her, doesn't mean I can rob them of that choice'. He rubbed his temples and sat there listening to her voice over and over, till Marlene stuck her head through the door frame "Cloud pancakes ready" she proudly stated she had pancake batter smeared on her nose. He walked over got down to her level and started rubbing her face clean the whole while she flailed and protested. Marlene ran down the stairs after she was free of his grasp, he slowly followed debating on letting Tifa talk to the kids. Upon arriving in the kitchen his first thought was he walked into a battlefield of flour and pancake batter, his mouth twitched 'there is always consequences for laziness' he mentally scolded himself. They ate in relative peace realizing it was too late to take them to school, he let them stay home today.

Getting up to wash the dishes he left his phone on the table, he mentally berated himself for this. He began puting the dishes in the sink and set to work on the kitchen.

"Tifa wants to talk to you guys if you want of course" he stated louder then necessary. Marlene and Denzel looked at him for a moment before they both lunged for the phone.

"It's in the recent ca-" he tried.

"We know" they both chimed, he felt jealousy rise in his chest 'so that's how much they care for her'. Throwing pots and other utensils into the sink he waited for their conversation to begin, he winced when he heard Marlene almost screech "Tifa"! He set to his work with a new found ferocity he only heard little snippets of their conversation.

"We woke up late, so he let us stay home... he tried to do laundry but he shrunk our clothes... yes... no... we miss you too". He had begun to block them out until Marlene screeched again "really today?" he looked over to Marlene and Denzel. He was just in time to see Marlene snap the phone shut and Denzel take off at high speeds to his room. Marlene came to his side and tugged his shirt, he grunted.

"Guess what Cloud?" he remained silent she tried again.

"Come on guess!...Fine Tifa is coming over"! He dropped the plate he was washing and looked at her mortified.