Bonus Chapter: 9 Months of Worry, 9 Months of Ripping my Hair Out

Month 1:

"Are you sure it's too early to start getting stuff? I mean, we could at least start getting the furniture together."

"Cloud, I'm fairly certain Tifa doesn't want baby stuff flooding the bar."

"We don't have to get pre-assembled furniture." Cloud reasoned. "We can get the boxed kits, or even just some wood. We could even get some stuff from your world now that it's all… weird."

"Being non-magic based with no monsters, summons, or crazy bull-shit is not weird Cloud."

"Yeah, it kinda is."

Lightning rolled her eyes, flipping through the pages of a pregnancy book. "It's too early to get stuff Cloud. We don't even know what it'll be yet. Doesn't make a difference to me, but I'm sure it will to you."

"What's that got to do with it?"

"You'll probably go hog wild getting every little thing you can if it's a girl, but if it's a boy, you'll probably get the furniture, some books and maybe a chocobo stuffie." She looked up at him. "And don't even try to argue on the point."

"I would treat them equally and you know it."

"So you would make either one get up at six in the morning to train half-to-death?"

"Four, actually, but yes I would. Any child of mine needs to know how to defend themselves and you don't learn how to do that by sitting around playing games all day."

"Of course…"

Month 2:

"Cloud, what the hell is this?" Lightning wiped her mouth as she walked out of the bathroom, looking a little paler than usual.

"A rocking chair. Hey, but before you start fussing at me, I didn't buy it."

"Who did?" She fought off the urge to puke again as she looked at the dark wooden chair.

"Cid made it, Shera paint it and made the cushions."

"How sweet." Lightning looked at the chair in mild-curiosity, examining the well carved details in the wood. "CId certainly knew what he was doing."

"I wouldn't say that until after you try sitting in it."

"You have a point." She hesitantly hovered over the seat for a moment, slowly sitting down, then leaning back. Once she was sure it wouldn't fall apart underneath her, she allowed herself to slowly rock in it, looking up at her husband whom stood chuckling in front of her.

"Well, I have something to build the room around now."

"Hm?"

"It's easier to get one central thing, then match other things to it to have a cohesive room. That chair is a good base."

"What, are you a designer now?"

"My mother was very good at it."

"Must've rubbed off."

"I can also cook, clean, sew, and give a death glare that could make a grown man run in fear."

"I've never seen that glare."

"I've never gotten that mad around you- uh Light, you might want to go back into the bathroom. You're looking green again..."

Month 3:

"Light! Are you aware that a certain blond just signed away most of his life savings?"

"What?!" Lightning's head shot up, her eyes locking on Tifa. The brunette stood at the end of the booth by the front window of the bar, and looked back at the rose haired woman with a smirk.

"Remember how the building across the street got cleared out after that whole incident with Loki and has been sitting empty since?"

"He didn't."

"He did. Oh, wow that's a lot of tools… oh Gaia he has a sledgehammer."

"Tifa… please tell me you're-" a loud series of crashes from across the street cut her off as she got up to walk over. "Oh Planet…"

"He's fine. He just walked out the door and grinned like an idiot."

"Oh he won't be fine by the time I'm done-" she paused, gaping at truck full of wood and tools. "That idiot better at least have a helmet."

Tifa shot her a look. "Cloud? With a helmet? Are you serious? There's a better chance of Sephiroth coming back."

"Oh no there's not!" Lightning stalked over to the bar's door and flung it open. "Cloud Strife put a fucking helmet on or I'll beat your ass so badly you'll have no choice but to go back to Mako treatments!"

"Yes ma'am…"

Month 4:

"So… it's a… it's a girl…" Denzel frowned, leaning against a wall of the newly re-designed "house" that had previously been an apartment building across from the 7th Heaven. "Great…"

"Don't sound so happy Denzel," Cloud laughed. "Someone might think you're excited to have a sister."

"Huh?" The boy looked a little confused. "She won't be my sister…"

"Yeah, she kinda will." The blond pulled out his wallet, then pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Here, tell me what this is."

Denzel walked over and took the paper. He glanced over it, then went wide-eyed, gaping up at the man. "These are adoptions papers."

"Now, who would I like enough to adopt, hm?"

"Me?"

"I don't know Denzel Strife, is it you?"

"Really?!" He gave him a look full of joy. "You're really adopting me?!"

"We really have adopted you." Lightning walked down the stairs and gave him a smile, but her look turned sour when she looked at Cloud. "I thought we agreed not to do the nursery walls pink."

"They're not pink, they're lavender. They look pink because the sun is setting and you obviously didn't turn the lights on when you looked at the room." Cloud returned to carrying boxes into the house. "Hey Denzel, your room's up on the third floor by the office. Why don't you go get some of your stuff from the bar and bring it over so you can make the place feel more like home?"

"Okay!"

"It was very sweet of you to put sound proofing material between the floors Cloud."

"Hey, just because we have to be able to hear the baby cry at all hours of the night, doesn't mean he should have to."

Month 5:

"Cloud~! Please!"

"No."

"But-"

"No."

"Bu-"

"Yuffie, stop. You are not naming my daughter and that's final."

"It doesn't have to be her first name!" The ninja whined. "It could be her middle name or something!"

Vincent chuckled, carrying a plush leather armchair into Cloud's new living room. "If you're so against it, does that mean you already have a name in mind?"

"Ula."

"Ula? Really Cloud? What kind of name is that?"

"A very powerful name you noisy little mouse." Fenrir growled as he appeared behind the small woman. "And one that I suggested myself after gazing into the future. It is the best name for her."

Lightning sighed, rubbing her swelling stomach as she walked down the stairs. "It means 'wolf power'."

Cloud nodded, darting over to wrap her in a hug. He smiled, resting his hand on her stomach to feel the baby moving. "Apparently kid's gonna be stronger than me eventually."

"Dad, I think even I could be stronger than you eventually." Denzel smiled, walked down behind Lightning with Marlene in tow. "After all, when you're all old and wrinkly I don't think you'll be able to lift your sword any more."

"Actually Denzel, Cloud will not age past what he is now." The wolf barked out a laugh. "But even so, it is possible you will at least match his strength one day."

"But only if you keep train- Light, what the hell are you eating?"

"...Leave me alone…"

"Is that ice cream and pickles…?"

"Vincent, that goes for you too. Leave me alone."

Month 6:

"Lightning I really think you should take it easy." Tifa gave her friend a worried pat on the back. "I know you're getting restless but you could really hurt yourself doing this and then Cloud will kill us all for letting you do it."

"It's just a little monster extermination, nothing too dangerous. Look, I just don't want to be stuck all fat and shit after Ula's born. Besides, it's not like I'm fighting Behemoth's or summons. It's just a couple web spitting worms.

"I really don't think Cloud will react that way when he finds out."

"He's not going to find out Tifa, he's in Wutai until Friday remember? And what's today?"

"Tuesday."

"Exactly."

Tifa gave an exasperated sigh, watching Lightning pull out Blazefire Saber. She kept it in gunform, finger on the trigger, and Tifa couldn't help but be a little surprised when the rose haired woman shot off many of the monsters before they could get close enough to actually fight.

"Not really much of a workout…"

"Just thinning out the stronger ones so you don't have a panic attack." Lightning smirked, quickly changing Blazefire to its sword form. "Come on, let's get this done so we can get back to the bar before Denzel calls Cloud and tells him I'm missing."

"Don't you think Marlene would be the one to-"

"Nope. Denzel is extremely worried over 'the safety of his little sister', ever since Cloud told him all kinds of things about problems women can have that can hurt the baby. Poor kid's just as paranoid as Cloud now." Lightning paused, looking back at Tifa with a frown. "He spent his allowance to go get me fresh vegetables. Cloud just thinks it's adorable."

"Well…"

"Not you too!"

"Yeah…"

Month 7:

{Hey Cloud it's Marlene. I went into town with Lightning to help her get some food for the house so don't be worried when she's not there. Also, you might want to turn your volume back on.}

Cloud frowned, pulling his phone away from his ear. After taking a moment to turn his volume back on he walked down the stairs to his kitchen and started digging around for some lunch.

"What kind of food would she be getting if we have this much at- oh planet she's getting Wutainese again…"

"Mmhmm!" Lightning slurped up a noodle as she walked through the front door, Marlene walked in behind her, carrying a large take-out bag.

"We got some for you and Denzel too, Cloud." The girl smiled. "You like the sesame Chocobo right?"

"Yeah, thanks." He frowned at his wife. "You could have come gotten me from the office. I would have driven you."

"I needed the exercise."

"Too much exercise is b-"

"Shut up, it's fine. Not like I actually worked up a sweat or anything."

Marlene giggled, taking her and Denzel's food upstairs to his room while the adults bickered. Lightning finally relented, taking her food and slumping over at the dining room table to eat in silence. With a sigh, and a shake of his head, Cloud grabbed his food and sat beside her, scooting his chair over so it was right up against hers, and leaning over to rest his head on her shoulder for a moment.

"You know I worry about you."

"I know. That's why I've learned to give up arguing against you about it. You're too stubborn to listen to me."

"I did listen about one thing."

"Hm?"

"Remember the classes you-"

"Oh fuck no! I was kidding! I was kidding!"

"Every Thursday for the next month."

"I hate you~!"

"...Love you too hun."

Month 8:

"Cloud I hate you so much for making me take those damn classes."

"Calm down Light, that was the last one."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Now let's get you home. I have a surprise waiting for you~!"

"No."

"What?"

"I don't trust your 'surprises'."

"Oh come on."

"No."

Cloud frowned, then smirked and lifted his wife up. She hissed and protested, but had no chance of escaping from his hold as he carried her home. The man grinned up at her, giving her a wink that she only responded to by attempting to kick him in the stomach. He gave her a teasing pout, setting her on her feet in an alley not far away, making sure to hold her arm so she didn't try to run -waddle- away.

"Cloud, what the hell-" she cut off when a portal opened beside them, and had no choice but to allow him to pull her through. The woman held onto him as they passed through the Historia Crux, finally coming out in her world. Cloud gave her a smile as she looked at his clothes (a blue t-shirt under a white button up shirt and some jeans), then down at the blue maternity dress she wore. He kissed her forehead, then gently took her hand and led her to a hidden truck, helping her in before getting in himself. Claire looked out the window at her world as he drove down a well paved street, wondering where he was taking her. But she couldn't help the surprised gasp when she saw where they were going.

It was her sister's house, which had pink balloons tied to its mailbox.

Claire looked at Cloud in wonder as he parked the truck, hopping out to dart around and help her. He gave her a smile and held her hand, leading her up to the front door to knock. And when the door opened-

"Surprise!" Serah smiled brightly, gently wrapping her older sister in a hug. Snow smiled from where he stood behind his wife, standing in front of a pile of pink and lilac wrapped presents.

"Welcome back sis. Cloud."

"Snow. Hey Serah."

"Welcome back Cloud!" The younger woman gave him a brief hug, then turned to grab her sister's hand. "Oh I'm so happy for you two!"

"Good job buddy." Snow smirked, but jumped back when Claire sent him a glare. "What? Oh come on! Stop looking at me like I'm a piece of meat!"

"It's okay Snow, she's been looking at me like that too. I think it's the hormones. Make her more irrat- I'm shutting up…" Claire had turned her glare on her blonde, making him raise his hands in defense. Serah laughed, hugging her sister's arm before pulling her over to the chair beside all the presents.

"So what are you naming her sis?"

"Ula." Claire smiled softly. "Her name will be Ula."

Month 9:

"Cloud! Cloud come quick!" The man's head shot up as Reno of all people burst through his front door. "Your wife's going into labour yo!"

"What?! Where is she?!"

"Elena and Rude are taking her to the hospital. I'm the fastest of us so they sent me back to find you!"

"Shit!" The blond grabbed his keys and ran out to where his motorcycle was. Reno looked a bit concerned for a second, but after a sideways glance from Cloud, he hopped on the back and let him hit the gas and head for the hospital. Reno hopped off the back and ran in the building while Cloud parked the bike by a tall column, then ran out to him as he was heading in.

"Second door to your left, take the stairs and she the fourth door on your right. Rude already called the bar and Tifa and the kids are on their way. Elena's in the room with Lightning waiting on you."

"Thanks!" Cloud darted off, following the Turk's directions and nearly busting his ass when he turned the corner to go into the room. A nurse tried to stop him but missed, the man going straight to his wife's side and grabbing her hand.

"Sorry I'm late."

"N-Not your fault." She hissed. "Oh Gaia can't that medicine kick in faster?!"

Cloud cringed when she squeezed his hand. "Hey doc, how's everything-"

"Everything's fine. Her contractions are running at pretty even intervals and the baby has already entered the birth canal."

Elena looked across the bed at Cloud. "She'll be delivering soon. I'll go downstairs and let the others know."

Cloud gave her a nod, his eyes never leaving Lightning's face. Her eyes squeezed shut and she bit her lip, squeezing Cloud's so tight he thought the bones would break. Lightning opened her eyes again, looking up at him with a slight smile, but grunting in pain and closing her eyes again a second later.

"This is going rather quickly… The baby's already crowning."

"Quickly?" Cloud's gaze turned on the doctor.

"Yes. Most women stay in labour for hours, sometimes so long we get ready to do a c-section on them in case something has gone wrong. Mrs. Strife has barely been in labour long enough for the baby to already be this far along, unless she's been in labour for a while before hand."

"Light?"

"I thought they were," she gasped. "Just the baby kicking or something! Or more false contractions like last week!"

"Lightning!"

"Don't raise your voice at me!" She hissed through gritted teeth, glaring up at her husband. "Don't you dare~!"

Cloud gulped, but his fear was replaced by worry when she bit her lip again.

"Push!"

Lightning snarled, but followed the doctor's directions. It was only a few more minutes, though it felt like hours to the parents, when Lightning went limp, only to lift her head when that first cry reached them. Cloud perked straight up when the nurses swarmed the doctor, whisking the baby away to get her cleaned up while another help Lightning get cleaned up, covering her with a blanket when she was. Tifa and the kids walked in as the nurses returned with Ula, the little girl crying her head off, fighting against the blanket that swaddled her.

"She's already an energetic little baby. Congratulations."

Lightning smiled, taking her daughter from the nurse and letting Cloud sit on the bed beside her. Denzel walked over, leaning over Cloud's knee to look at his baby sister.

"She's all red."

"She was just born Denzel." Cloud ruffled his hair. "She'll even out after a while."

"She's so tiny." Tifa smiled, watching Lightning nuzzled the baby's little cheek. Ula's tiny little hand reached up, pressing to her mother's face for a minute, her crying effectively stopped. The baby cooed quietly, giving a big yawn before falling asleep in her mother's arms. Cloud kissed Ula on the forehead, wrapping his arms around his wife and slipping one under her arms so he could rest his suddenly large looking hand on his daughter's stomach.

"You did good Light."

"We did good Cloud."