A/N: Chapter 1!

DISCLAIMER: FINAL FANTASY 7 AND ALL IT'S LIKENESS ARE PROPERTY OF SQUARE ENIX.

Shionlover: Awww, thanks man! I'm glad to have such a loyal fan! I'm working on Chapter 1 right now! :D And your English is fine if ya ask me!

Final Fantasy VII

Shadow – Advent Children: Chapter 1

"Alright that's everything...I think," came the smooth baritone as a stack of items were set on the bed.

Tifa turned from her closet. She had been inspecting the garments, trying to decide what to wear for the party. Should she go with an old sun dress? Or maybe go and buy herself something new? Oh! That was an idea, she could talk Cloud into going, she was sure.

"Wow...did you wrap them yourself," Tifa asked, stepping up to the bed.

"O-of course! Why would you even ask," the blonde haired man responded, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Cloud," Tifa stated, cutting her chocolate eyes to the man. As per usual, he crumpled immediately.

"No, M-"

"-arlene helped, right? I'm sure by helped you mean wrapped them all for you," Tifa finished.

"Hey, give me some credit. I wrapped this one," Cloud said defensively. Picking up one of the items, he showed it to her. Like most men, his wrapping skills were...well below average. It loosely moved in the wrapping paper as she took it from him. She had to admit, her husband had come out of his shell entirely. While he had always been withdrawn somewhat, even as kids, that was all but gone. She had learned that closed off-ness wasn't because he was a loner, but because he had a huge crush on her. Now, he was a lot like Zack—though he didn't share the man's deathly fear of spiders. She had to admit, he was cute unique...but the man he shown her he was was downright sexy.

She placed the present back on the bed and stepped in front of Cloud. "And here I was thinking of giving you a present for wrapping all those on your own..."

Cloud blinked his blue eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching at a smirk he was holding back. "Oh really?"

"But, since you didn't...well, that's that isn't it?"

Cloud didn't hide his disappointment before the brown haired fighter pushed him back, causing him to fall onto the bed. Straddling her husband, Tifa walked her fingers up his chest. "I guess there is -something- you could do to earn it..."

"Oh really," Cloud repeated, head lifted as Tifa draped herself across his chest, turning her lips to his ear.

"Mmmhmm...but you have to really want that present..." Tifa whispered.

Cloud swallowed a lump. Their relationship had always been like this, he would admit. He was pretty sure they wouldn't have had Chloe, but Tifa was pretty...forward. Not that he didn't harbor sexual desire towards his wife—far from it, in fact, but Tifa was usually the one to initiate any type of contact like this. Usually.

"...say the word," Cloud said, his voice having dropped with desire that Tifa took note of.

"...we go shopping for a dress for Saturday."

"...I'm good," Cloud said, causing Tifa to roll her eyes, not that the blonde swordsman could see. She sat up a bit, moving so that her hips were atop his and leaned back down, sending kisses up his neck, back to his ear where she spoke again—this time in a breathy whisper.

"You sure, Cloud," she asked in a tone that made Cloud shudder.

"...L,let me get my keys," he replied. As per usual, he crumbled.

"Heya Shera, is Cid there," Zack asked as he tried to feed Aiden a spoon full of applesauce. The boy was wearing more than the father could get into his mouth. Aerith sat at the table, watching, hiding her smile behind her interlaced hands. She had asked Zack's mother, and apparently Zack was the same type of child—he wore more than he ate. The boy merely laughed as his father 'flew' the spoon around. Zack took the opening of the child's mirth to place the spoon inside his mouth. The child blinked, cheeks slightly puffed from the sauce as he looked at his father in disbelief.

"He is. I was just about to put on some tea. Let me step out and get him," the woman's voice came.

Zack waited patiently as he heard the opening and slam of a screen door followed by the typical static of a receiver being covered up as she spoke. When the sound came of phones changing hands, Zack smirked as Cid spoke.

"Yeah, whaddaya want? I told ya'll I'll be there at Chloe's party," Cid said and Zack replied.

"Hey, this is about work. If I slide ya some of the pay, do you think you give me a lift to Icicle Inn?"

There was a pause. "Look kid, I like you—I really do, but going anywhere near that crater gives me the creeps. Furthermore, if I miss the party cause I'm haulin' your ass around, Shera will lay into me something good."

Zack rolled his eyes. Shera never yelled, not that he had seen in the last two years. What Cid really meant was state that she was disappointed in him and leave it at that. Cid was the type of man who would rather just be yelled at that talked to when he was in trouble. But that was fine, Zack had learned exactly what buttons to push with Cid.

"So, the great Cid is telling me the Highwind can't make it from Kalm to Icicle Inn and then to Midgar in less than a day?"

There was the distinct sound of Cid exhaling a plume of smoke—of course he was smoking. "Now you listen here, kid, I ain't saying that. You just better hold on to your teensy tights cause I'll be there to pick you up tomorrow."

"Alright, see ya then," Zack said as he hung up the phone. He turned to see Aerith shaking her head at him.

"Who would have thought, Mr. Fair, that you could be so manipulative. Do you have a materia I don't know about," she asked.

Zack grinned. "I'm pretty sure I put it in the ring I gave you."

He barely had time to dodge the oven mitt she launched at him.

"Yo, boss, any word," Reno asked as he reclined upon a chair, kicking his feet up on the decadent table that furnished the room. Himself, the Shinra President, and Rude were all within the room. It had been two days since they last heard from Elena and Tseng, and that wasn't good. Tseng wasn't one to not check in—the man was a by the books kinda guy.

"No," Rufus replied, wheeling his mechanized chair into the room. Rude, who had been standing with his arms folded near the window, bowed his head in courtesy towards the man.

"What about our other agents? Are they still undercover," Rufus inquired to Reno, and the laid back fiery haired man waved his hand.

"Of course. I spoke with Cissnei this morning. She's living it up in Costa De Sol, while we're here slaving away in Midgar."

Rufus gave a small smile. "I keep you and Rude here with me, because I need to be able to extend my reach here. With Tseng and Elena in the field—and Cissnei working as our eyes and ears across the ocean—you two are my main force here. You give yourself too little credit."

"Yeah, but still" Reni said, letting his feet down, "I'm a little worried about Tseng and Elena."

"I am sure they are fine. With all the energy readings the crater gives off here, some phone interference is expected the closer you get."

Reno let the subject rest, but was clear that Rufus was worried. And if the Prez was worried, he knew they should be too. He couldn't shake the feeling that things had gotten dicey when his two co-workers hit boots on ground at the crater. And if they got dicey, it meant that there was literally someone still around to make things dicey. And that meant that a certain black haired swordsman needed to be consulted.

"Alright, well...Rude and I are gonna hit the streets. Need anything while we're out, boss," Reno asked as he stood.

"Actually...there is...one thing," Rufus replied.