Final chapter. Yeah, I know. It started out great, continued like that for a bit, dropped quality and plateaued for a while longer, and then completely collapsed. At least that's how I feel about it. That is why I decided to finish before everything good in this story completely died. If you like this story, awesome! If you have the same view of it as I do, I don't blame you. In any case, enjoy the final chapter. Sorry it's short. It just worked out that way. *ducks* Please don't hate me.

Tifa smiled as the sound of Fenrir's familiar engine idled near the backdoor to the repaired Seventh Heaven. "Denzel, Marlene!" she called into the backroom, grabbing a towel and laying it out as added space for the drying dishes. "Cloud's home!"

A sound of scurrying and nervously excited whispers burst from around the corner as the two children came into the room. Marlene sneezed.

"So if we…?" Denzel asked, shifting anxiously.

"–can convince Cloud, you can keep the cat," Tifa clarified.

Marlene cradled the shivering, orange kitten closer and sneezed again.

"Marlene?" Tifa asked. "Are you feeling sick?"

The eight year old girl shook her head stubbornly. "No, it's nothing," she sniffed, "Tifa. My nose is just itchy."

The back door opened loudly and shut with a loud bang. Tifa winced. When they made "renovations" six months ago, she should have asked if Johnny could cut her a wood door to replace the metal slab that served as a back door. He stopped by once in a while to pay her a "friendly visit", although Tifa knew he still hoped for more than an exchange of greetings and a "what can I get you?"

"Marlene, give me the cat," Denzel held out his hands, "It won't help if you're sneezing while we're trying to get Cloud to let us keep it."

On cue, Cloud entered the main room of the bar. He glanced at the pair of troublesome children before casting a questioning glance at Tifa. She smiled in welcome and nodded toward Marlene and Denzel. He approached them cautiously, not sure what to expect.

"Denzel? Marlene?" He asked expectantly.

They looked at each other and a silent agreement passed between them. Cloud understood Denzel better, but Marlene's little girl charms would be best for persuasion in this situation.

"Cloud?" Marlene asked in her cute, subtly intrusive voice. "Denzel and I were wondering…you know, since we both need to learn to be more responsible," she glanced at Denzel as if for reassurance; it was as though they had rehearsed this, "if we could keep a pet around the house. Um," she stepped back bit to let Denzel bring the cat forward.

"We found her out front. She was cold and wet, and–"

Marlene sneezed. Cloud's eyes narrowed at her discerningly. She muttered a sheepish apology.

Denzel bit his lip and continued. "We couldn't just leave her all helpless like that," Denzel explained.

"Tifa?" Cloud drew her direct attention and gestured to the kitten questioningly.

"I told them to talk to you," Tifa smirked.

His expression, becoming gradually more readable, whether because she was growing more sensitive to it or because he was starting to be more open with her, morphed into an "oh".

"So please," Denzel asked as innocently as he somehow managed to pass the kitten into Cloud's hands. "Can we keep it?" Cloud held the purring animal carefully, almost fearfully. A bit worriedly, Tifa recalled that Cloud had once been in the same position as Denzel and Marlene: a little child with a big heart and with the determination to love and care for a stray animal. Tifa hoped the memory wouldn't surface and strike Cloud hard in the face, but to her surprise, Cloud smiled.

Cloud smiled and held the kitten, pulling off a glove and smoothing the kitten fur gently. His features had lost all hardened edges, and the years of wisdom and strength fell away as he smiled at the little kitten. Almost reluctantly, he relinquished the orange fuzz ball to Marlene's care. "If you think you can handle the allergies, you can keep her."

Marlene gasped in joy, and Denzel gaped delightedly. Tifa smiled. Things weren't perfect. They never were, but she would be content with what she had. Cloud wasn't the same as before, but perhaps one day Cloud would be the person he once was, only better. Until then.

-Dante