Eep! OMG I'm so sorry, I didn't even realize it had been almost a year since my plot bunnies had abandoned me where this story was concerned! Well, as a Christmas present to all my loyal readers, the long await Fifth chapter of Puppy Love. It's so fluffy, just to warn you! Don't own characters, just the plot! Enjoy! And I will finish this story, I think the plot bunnies are back now! Review if you want more, without inspiration my bunnies die!


Chapter 5: The Game

Cloud awoke later then he normally did, the softer bed and warm body next to him caused a sleepy sort of euphoria to cover his brain like a soft blanket. He'd made love to Tifa the night before, and it still seemed like a dream to him. The angel next to him stirred slightly, turning in her slumber so she was pressed against his chest. He smiled softly and opened his eyes a bit, moving his hand to play with a tendril of her messy hair. Even when it was tangled and sticking up at weird angles, it was still beautiful. He felt a small shiver run up his spine as her hand brushed up his chest, the effects that waking up had on parts of his body only intensified at the innocent touch. He glanced over at the clock and saw that it was nearly ten in the morning, and he needed to get her up and out of the house so the decorating could go on…

The swordsman kissed her lips, hoping to rouse her gently… he'd kept her up late, and he didn't want to startle her. Another small smile came to his lips when she made a small noise and clung tighter to him, obviously not wanting to wake her up. "Happy birthday," the swordsman whispered, "if you get up, I'll take you out to breakfast." That seemed to grab her attention somewhat, and a wine-colored eye cracked open to look at him. "Pancakes?" she whispered back to him, and he nodded a bit… "We can go to that place down the street, the one with all the different kinds of syrup." He had the whole day planned to keep her out of the bar, their friends were coming, and actually should be nearing Edge right now, and they had a lot to do before the party tonight. Both Tifa's eyes were open at the mention of her favorite place to eat, a smile stuck on her face at the promise of breakfast. Cloud was about to get out of bed when the door to the room cracked open and a little ball of fluff came rocketing into the room and jumped on the bed. Shit! I forgot about the dog! The barmistress looked at the little puppy with wide eyes as it started to lick her face, then her eyes went to Cloud… "What is this?"

"A puppy Tifa… Happy birthday. You said you always wanted a dog…" The martial artist picked the little pomeranian up and the white ball of fluff barked playfully, licking her nose. "Oh Cloud, what a cute dog! You really do listen… don't you? I never expected you to remember some off handed comment I made months ago!" The dog wiggled out of her grasp and bounced happily on the bed between them, and she leaned over and gave her hero a soft, loving kiss. "Thank you… what is a good name for a dog?"

Cloud shrugged a bit, having never owned one, he really didn't know. "Spot?"

The barmaid giggled a bit and rubbed the feisty puppy's head, which cause her to pounce her hand and lick her fingers. "Let's call her Heaven. It will fit in with me, the bar… and you."

The swordsman blinked a bit, "me? How does that fit in with me?" The woman giggled happily, and let the dog down, moving to get out of bed and get dressed, he had promised pancakes after all. "Because Heaven is made of clouds silly." The blond looked at her pulling on her bra, and he felt this warmth pass through his chest. Dear god… why did I wait so long? He smiled softly and got up…

"So it is Teef… so it is…"

.:xXx:.

Vincent and Yuffie were taking a round about way to the block the Bar was on. They'd just dropped Shelke off with the kids, and they needed to get to the gift store that was only two buildings away from Seventh Heaven, and precisely one building away from Claire's House of Pancakes. Cloud had warned them all that he'd be taking her there first, but she and her vampiric lover were on gift duty, then they had to go help with the decorations. Cid and Shera would be next, and the cranky pilot had told them not to take to long. Not like they would anyway, keeping Vincent in public more then one hour had one of two effects.

Either he'd get grumpy then Yuffie would take him home…

Or girls would mob him, and Yuffie would take a grumpy Vinnie home.

She guessed that saving the planet from Omega pretty much single handedly had made him top o' the hero list with cute, blond girls. Seriously, couldn't they go attack someone else's man? She felt a claw gently grip her shoulder and she was shaken from her reverie to see Cloud and Tifa, holding hands and ducking into the restaurant. Yuffie couldn't help herself and she squeaked, which had drawn Tifa's attention, but the quick gunslinger moved them both out of the line of fire and gave Yuffie the patented Vincent Valentine glare (trademark) and if it wasn't for the fact she slept with him every night she was home… she might have been intimidated. But this was Yuffie, and she glared right back with the White Rose of Wutai thorny gaze! Of course, Vincent didn't know she named their looks in her head… but that didn't matter!

His black head went back around the corner, and they were safe to move. "It is safe, we should hurry." The problem was, to get to the store, they had to cross in front of the windows, and if Tifa was looking she'd see the barely pregnant ninja running down the street, followed by a black and red splotch, since Vincent ran faster then she did. It was the only way though. "Ok Vinnie, on the count of three, we run as fast as we can, hopefully even if she does see us, she won't know it's us." Vincent looked at her with a doubting gaze, but she was already counting, and on three, they both dashed out of their hiding spot.

.:xXx:.

Tifa and Cloud were just about to enter the House of Pancakes when she heard a very familiar squeal. She knew her best friend better then to think it was someone else, and when she was going to question Cloud, he distracted her with a poster in the window advertising crepes. Cloud knew his girl, and she smiled, walking in without talking of Yuffie again. The swordsman lead her in and got a table, it was in view of the window, but he didn't think it would be too big of a problem, since the bar was before the restaurant on the street. That should mean that Vincent and Yuffie could just sneak into Seventh Heaven without a care.

However he should have known Yuffie better then that, and all of the sudden he saw a small blue and yellow blur run past, followed by a very tall red and black blur. He moved the menu up, to make a show of pointing out Tifa's favorites; thankful she hadn't seen their two, crazy friends running down the street.

.:xXx:.

The unlikely couple had managed to get in and out of the store in under ten minutes… probably because Vincent, being the smart, thoughtful man he was, already had the present made. When had he called for it? Then it was better not to question Vinnie's methods, he'd just stare a person down until they gave up. It was a silver charm on a chain that was a stylized A for Avalanche, and in it was a birthstone for each of their friends… even Aerith. She also didn't know how he'd come up with that, until he remembered Reeve's list. Something like that had been on there, so at least she let the jealousy subside a bit. She never got cool presents like that. When they made it back to the Bar, Cid made a grunt and called for Shera, since it was now their turn. "Brat… blow up them ballons!"

Yuffie glared at the old man and Vincent walked past her, "that is a good job for you, you have enough hot air to do it quickly."

The ninja gaped at him, "Oh my fucking gawd, write this in the damn history books! Vincent f-ing Valentine just told a joke!" The pilot snickered, "Good one Vince, an' I'm glad ta see m' good habits are rubbin' offa ya, Yuf!" When Cid's wife came from down stairs, the two left and Vincent took the lone moment to walk over and kiss his ninja unobserved.

.:xXx:.

Cloud managed to keep Tifa busy for the rest of the day, though there were several times that there were narrow misses. Once they'd turned the corner and caught the back of Cid, but luckily the barmaid had been looking elsewhere. The whole day was just them hanging out on their own, and as the sun was setting, the swordsman grabbed Fenrir and stuck her on the back. "I want to show you something."

The martial artist nodded and got on, holding onto him as he rocketed away from Edge… though he didn't go far. They went up on a bluff, over looking their city and the ruins of Midgar, and when they stopped and Tifa saw the Buster blade sticking out of the ground, she knew what this area was. It hurt her heart, and also made her feel warm inside. It seemed that her hero was including her in all of his life, not just the good stuff. He took her hand and walked to the sword, looking out over the valley. "I said I'd live for both of us," he murmured to the wind, and he held Tifa's hand up, firmly clasped in his. "I finally kept my promise, Zack."

Tifa smiled gently at Cloud and leaned against him, watching the sun dip under the distant hills. She could have sworn that she heard male and female laughter on the wind, and she thought he did too, since he pulled her into a kiss. "I got from here, to the train station where you found me. I still don't know how, but somehow I think Zack helped me, even after he was gone. He died right here, I don't know what happened to his body, so once you helped me get my memories back… I came out here and gave him back his sword." He looked back to his angel and saw tears standing in her eyes. "Thank you, for including me."

The swordsman ran his hand down her arm and smiled softly at her… a smile that was only for her. "It took me long enough, I am sorry about that. But…" He kissed her again gently, "I'm going to try and make it up to you."

Tifa smiled at him, a radiant, beautiful smile. He hadn't done anything elaborate or costly, he'd just done everything from the heart. This day couldn't have been more perfect. "You already have Cloud… just by being here, you already have."

He smiled again and led her back to Fenrir, "there is more, and I think you're going to like your surprise." The barmistress smiled a bit, "I don't know, both these days are going to be hard to beat." She raised her eyebrows at the mischievous look he gave her, and she just got on the bike. Whatever it was, she knew that she'd love it. She loved anything he did for her after all.