A/N: Thanks for the review, sunflowerspot! Made me happy~

Back to Cloud. He's paying a short visit to an old friend on the way to pick up something. Have a guess at what, coz I won't reveal it until the final chapter~

By the way, sorry for the late upload. I had a bunch of stuff to do and didn't get to write the chapter until I got home today. I'll try and be faster next time, promise!

Merry 3rd Sunday of Advent! :D

Chapter 3

The following days, the snow continued to fall, but after staying for twenty-four hours in the cave, Cloud ventured out into the harsh weather. The tiny snowflakes hit his face hard as he got onto his motor bike and started the engine, but he put on his sunglasses as protection and drove on. He knew if he'd stayed any longer, he would not be able to make it home before Christmas Eve, especially because he had to make a short stop on the way to pick up one last thing.

Soon, the wind had gotten stronger and every blow made it feel as if it intended to rip off his skin. But tough his teeth clattered and he was shivering from top to toe, Cloud simply continued forward. He had a feeling he would have gotten lost, had it not been due to the fact that he knew the wastelands like the back of his hand, and the way Tifa's face kept appearing before him, giving him the will to drive on towards Midgar.

Around noon three days after he'd left the cave, he finally pulled in at a small house in the middle of nowhere somewhere close to Rocket Town. Brushing the worst snow off his clothes, he grabbed his pack and went to knock on the small wooden door. He had to knock twice before the sound of footsteps finally reached his ears, and a moment later the door was opened by a middle-aged man with short, blond hair who only cast one glance at Cloud before motioning for him to come inside.

"There you are," Cid Highwind said. "Took you long enough."

"The snow slowed me down a little," Cloud replied. "So, did you get it?"

"Got it, alright," Cid told him. "It's right in here. Had a bit of trouble getting back from Nibelheim, but there's no weather my dear ol' plane can't handle. Let me get it for ya."

And he left for the living room. Cloud, not wanting to drip snow all over the house, stayed in the hall. He did not have to stand there long before Cid returned, carrying a paper bag in one hand and a small item wrapped in brown parchment in the other.

"Hope she'll like it," he said as he handed Cloud the package. "Care to take these," and he gestured to the bag, "back with ya? They're to Tifa an' the lass an' lad. Christmas presents."

"Sure," Cloud replied, knowing he still had some room left.

"Want a cup of tea before ye're leaving?" Cid inquired.

Cloud shook his head.

"No thanks. I've gotta get going. There's still a good deal of miles left before I'll reach Midgar."

"Well, the storm's gotten worse, so take care," Cid said, making the ghost of a smile appear on Cloud's face.

"I will."