A/N: urrg! I don't feel so good! Strep sucks ass! I can't drink! (Sad face) well here's your next chapter! Hope you all enjoy it!

Late Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters featured in this fan fiction, which is purely fan-based. Any Characters I do make up you are free to steal though! Thank you!

Warning: If there are any spelling errors, be nice and forgive me...I am quite drunk. OH and this fic will/has become quite lemony!

Redemption

Chapter 8

The Message

(The same night)

Somewhere outside of Calm

Cloud looked down at his phone. One new voice mail? he pressed the number 1 button on his phone and placed it next to his ear. "Cloud, this is Tifa, again...I have something important to talk to you about. It's...It's something I'm not sure I can deal with right now." CLOUD! Please call me!" he could hear a familiar shakiness in her voice. "Please come home...goodbye." Cloud pressed seven and deleted the message. I'll call later. He revved his bike and drove off.

3 months 4 days

7th Heaven

Tifa yawned and looked at her alarm clock. 7:47! Shit the kids have to be at school in 12 minutes! Tifa threw off her blankets and wrapped her robe around her. She was about to toss her slippers on when she heard a scream. "MARLENE!" she ran down the stairs barefoot. She reached the front room, where she saw Marlene sobbing into Yuffie's arms. "Marlene, what's wrong?" Tifa knelt down beside Yuffie, and Marlene threw herself into Tifa's arms. Yuffie cleared her throat.

"You may want to look at the door yourself." Yuffie pointed to the front door, which was cracked open. Tifa nodded and passed Marlene to Yuffie. Tifa walked out and looked at the horrible mess on her door. The door was splatted with blood from a small kitten nailed up to the door. Tifa could feel her stomach irking and knelt over and vomited in a nearby bush.

"Yuffie!" she gasped. "Take the kids to school, go through the door to the bar!" she choked and wiped her mouth off. "I'll take care of this." Yuffie peered out at Tifa and handed her a napkin.

"You sure, I can handle it?" Tifa wiped her face off with the napkin and stood back up.

"Yeah, I got it!" Yuffie nodded and grabbed the children. Tifa walked inside and put on a pair of rubber gloves, grabbed a bucket, a rag and some cleaning fluids, as well as a garbage bag. She tied a rag around her mouth and nose to minimize the smell. Tifa put her fingers on the nail embedded into the kitten's chest, closed her eyes and ripped it out. She held the small creature in her hands. Poor thing, you didn't even stand a chance did you? She took the hose from the yard and washed it's body off. She placed it in a garbage bag. I'll bury you later, I promise. She moved the doormat and tossed it into a trash can. I'll buy a new one later. She noticed a note that had been under the doormat. She picked it up and read the note carefully.

The Note

Bill's friendly family protection agency awaits

your future payment.

-Bill

Tifa scrunched her nose up and crumpled the note. How could anyone do that to a kitten! Next time that man comes around he will be getting a couple fistfuls of my mind. Tifa finished cleaning up the front door and she buried the cat. How dare they threaten me!?

"Looks nice." Yuffie walked up to Tifa and nudged her. "Why don't you go lay down, you look exhausted." Tifa nodded.

"This kids taking a lot out of me." she put her hand on her belly. You could just barely make out the bump on Tifa's figure, but you definitely could feel it. Tifa took off her rubber gloves, dumped the cleaning bucket, took off her mask and let her hair down. Yuffie touched Tifa's belly and looked up at her.

"Its Cloud's isn't it?" Tifa smiled.

"That obvious huh?" Yuffie smiled back.

"Yeah! Does he know?" Tifa's smile faded. Tifa walked into the house and sat down on the couch.

"No, I haven't been able to get a hold of him. I don't think its something someone should find out over voice mail anyways." Yuffie opened the door and sat down on a couch next to Tifa.

"How many times have you called?"

"I've called him twice, once after the bar was finished and once the night I found out." Yuffie shook her head.

"He still hasn't called back? That was like a month and a half ago!" Tifa frowned. "Mabey he didn't get your call? You should probably try again!" Tifa nodded.

"I'll call him later." Yuffie nodded.

"Oh I've been meaning to ask." Tifa nodded. "What was that whole door thing about?" Tifa looked at the ground. There's no need to worry her.

"Probably just a couple of hoodlums, wanting to pull a practical joke." Yuffie could read the lie, written all over her face and decided to not push the subject. "I'm going to take a nap." Yuffie yawned and flicked on the television, and Tifa went upstairs to take her nap.

5:56 PM

Tifa jumped out of bed and into the shower. She could here the kids downstairs bothering Yuffie in the kitchen while she made them dinner. Tifa shampooed and conditioned her hair, then scrubbed all the filth off of her body. She quickly jumped out of the shower and dried off. I've got to open the bar soon. She threw on some clothing and dried her hair. She ran downstairs and joined her family for dinner.

After dinner she sent the kids to their rooms to finish their homework. She looked over at Yuffie.

"At 9:00 can you tuck them in for me? I'll be down in the bar all night." Yuffie nodded and began to clear the plates from the table. Tifa felt a buzz from her pocket. She pulled out her phone and looked at the screen. One missed call? She pushed the end button and a new message appeared on the screen. One new voice mail? Tifa smiled and pushed the voice mail button on her phone. Could it be Cloud?

"Hey Teef. Sorry It took me so long to call you back, my phone died and it took me a while before I reached a town I could charge it in. I'm excited to she what you've done to the bar. I'm not quite ready to come home, I assume it'll be a couple of weeks, but nothing too long. Talk to you later." Tifa pressed the erase button on her phone. His phone was dead for a month and a half? That's hard to believe! He probably just erased the message and forgot to call me back. She smiled and dialed in Cloud's number on her phone ant hit send. The phone was actually ringing. Tifa crossed her fingers and held her breath. She heard a click on the other line.

"Hello" his voice was the same gruff voice as always.

"Cloud?"

"Mmm..."

"You answered your phone!?"

"Mmmm"

"How have you been Cloud?"

"I've been okay, how are you?" Tifa looked down at the floor. Should I lie to him? Should I tell him the truth? Should I tell him...? "TeeF?" She huffed.

"Sorry, still here!" she took a deep breath. " The bar is doing wonderfully! Its so big! I've been so tired lately that I had to hire help! " she paused waiting for a reply, when none came she continued. "The Children have been doing well in school, they miss you. Yuffie has been here for a while since you took off, helping me with the kids and the bar. Its been so nice." Cloud sniffed on the other side of the phone.

"I'm glad your doing wel-..." Tifa cut him off.

"Cloud I need to tell you something. I don't want to tell you over the phone, it wouldn't be right!"

"Are those people that you told me about still threatening you and the children?"

"Yes, No, I mean well, yes buts its nothing I can't handle. That's not what I need to talk about!" Tifa sighed.

"Can it wait a few more weeks?" Tifa began to get red in the face.

"Why must you be so selfish! Can it wait a few more weeks? Its been three months and four days since you took off! How can you ask me to wait longer?" Cloud grunted.

"I can't deal with this now. I'll call you when your calm." Tifa's eyes began to well up with tears.

"Please don't run away anymore! I NEED YOUR HELP NOW!"

"Sorry..." Tifa wiped her eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to get so upset, it's just been so hard, and every things been coming at me all at once! I can't take it Cloud! Please come home, you are needed here more than you know!" The silence grew to an uncomfortable level before he spoke.

"I'll see what I can do." Tifa fell to her knees and tears rolled down her cheeks silently.

"I love you Cloud." she chocked on her own words.

"I love you too." Tifa cried more when she heard his words. She felt uncomfortable, she wanted to believe him, but his actions always stood out more than his words. All the lies that he never meant to hurt her, everything he always did to place her last, or so it felt.(A/N: wow this conversation and situation sounds waaaaaay to familiar just a over a different topic.)

"I guess I'll have to see you when you decide to come home huh?" there was silence on the other side of the phone.

"...Yeah... I'll call you later..." Tifa wanted to tell him not to leave, but it wouldn't matter anyways.

"...Yeah, later...I guess. Bye." Tifa frowned.

"Bye" she felt sick in her stomach and her heart. Why do I always feel like this after I talk to him? Is it because he never helps? What he's doing must be more important to him than me. I'll just have to wait till he has time for me I suppose. She brushed of her clothes and prepared for the night's rush of bar-goers.

End Chapter 8

Unrequited love sucks huh? It'll get better, promise! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, though it's kind of Emo huh? I must be depressed, sorry! My story wont be too depressing I can guarantee that! Well please review thanks,

Kannami

"Brain Slugs are people too, Vote YES on proclamation 99!"