In the End:
Lightning smiled and laughed as she hugged Cloud's neck, letting him spin her around in the kitchen of the 7th Heaven. Their friends laughed and flung jokes their way, but nothing could make the pair stop holding the other, stop smiling at the other.
Many things had changed in the year since Loki had been defeated, some good, some not so good. ShinRa was coming back into the picture as a partner of the WRO, with Cloud and Lightning now acting as liaisons between the two and the people, making sure everything went smoothly, and now there was many a nights when the drunken cheers of businessmen and military men alike could be heard streaming from the bar after a long day's work.
During the night's when they weren't needed on Gaia, however, the pair found themselves wandering the newly rebuilt world of Pulse, living a completely different life and hiding their godly powers from the reborn souls of Lightning's former friends and family, or running wild with Fenrir in Valhalla, battling with each other amongst the ruins of Etro's gate.
However it was this particular night that Cloud and Lightning would have preferred to be hidden away alone, instead of surrounded by their friends from Gaia.
It the first night they had been home after their honeymoon.
The new Strife giggled and kissed her husband's cheek, letting Tifa pull her away to hug her protectively.
"Cloud I hope you didn't abuse her any while you two were away!"
"All the abuse I dished out was what she had begged for."
"I don't beg!"
"Well you sure learned." Cloud smirked, grabbing Lightning's arm to pull her away from Tifa and back into his chest. "Don't worry Claire, your other side is safe with me."
"Oh no, it'll be safe with me for a while now."
The music stopped, all of their friends fell silent as they looked expectantly at the pink haired woman. Cloud, with a worried eagerness on his face moved a hand to cup her cheek, but pulled back when she smirked.
"What?"
"It'll be safe for at least nine months. Maybe more."
"Wait, what?!"
"I'm pregnant."