Chapter 13
Over the following month, things were the usual in the Seventh Heaven, except for the extra preparations for Prior Day – a widely celebrated holiday on their side of the world. It was a day to trade gifts and spend time with loved ones. The tradition had supposedly started many, many years ago as a way to show solidarity within the community and within the family, by giving useful gifts to others to help them survive the winter because in that time, they didn't have the medicines or materials they had now. Over the years though, the presents became less useful, more for pleasure, and were typically wrapped in pretty paper and ribbon.
It was a great holiday and Tifa was glad for it because it was one of the few days of the year that the Seventh Heaven was packed with her family and not simply customers. It was a day when everything was all right with the world and there wasn't Geostigma, homicidal science experiments, deranged scientists, or monsters to be taken care of. It was a day just for her and her family and happiness. As the young proprietor looked around the room, at all the decorations and people that filled it, she felt her heart swell and tears of joy well in her eyes.
Cid and Shera shared the loveseat by the fireplace with grins on their faces as they watched how the children tore into their presents. Cid had his arm thrown across the back of the seat with an ankle propped on his knee while Shera sat demurely with a cup of tea, watching the pilot every now and then out of the corner of her eye. Red XIII lay at their feet, flicking his tail contentedly to and fro, being mindful of the flames at the end and the decorations.
Reeves had stopped by earlier with Cait Sith in tow, but could only stay for a little bit, giving an update on the flower research progress and dropping off presents for everyone. It turned out that they were able to use the oil, after pressing the flowers, in a balm that was showing signs of effectiveness on the tests they ran on volunteers. It wasn't nearly as potent as the water had been, but with this new balm, the Geostigma's symptoms abated.
Perhaps they may have been able to use the flowers to a greater extent, but from what had happened with mako they had learned the value of conservation. Reeves explained that they were trying to use the flowers sparingly, according to a certain barmaid's wishes, also especially considering that there was only a small patch of flowers to begin with. Tifa appreciated this greatly and hugged the man in the suit tightly. The others laughed uproariously as they witnessed his expression when Tifa squeezed him and heard him wheeze when he was able to get air back into his lungs.
Yuffie sat on the floor, like the kids, in front of Barret who sat in his chair, and was also tearing apart the wrapping paper when she wasn't throwing around people's gifts. For Cloud and Tifa, she merely kept theirs in a growing pile; Vincent's, however, she unwrapped herself and would throw at him when she was done showing everyone. Despite the crudeness of it, she was correct in thinking that Vincent wouldn't have done it, so it certainly saved some of the awkwardness.
Tifa, who had perched herself on the couch's arm, caught Vincent's eye and he held hers before closing them from his corner, where he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, brooding by all appearances. She smiled and laughed inwardly, knowing that the tall man conveyed his emotions in the tiniest ways and she had been able to translate his motions as approval. Her smile slowly fell, though not unhappily, as she considered him thoughtfully, her thoughts turned inwardly, trying to discover what sort of feelings she held for him.
He certainly affected her in ways that were new to her, but… not in the way that Cloud had. Her love for Cloud had developed from a childhood crush, an image of the cute boy she thought she knew. Though they weren't close, she thought about him constantly when he went away, and it was then, that she supposed, that she realized how strongly she felt towards him.
It had amazed and puzzled her when she saw him around her friends, how he would hang around, but be so detached from them. There was a depth and maturity to him, even at that age, that had drawn her and she would have gone towards it, if she hadn't had been so aware of her father's anger towards the boy who had tried to save her life.
Cloud was everything a man should be, to Tifa. He was strong, didn't ignore his emotions, and he really truly thought about things without discounting the possibilities. He loved her children in his gentle, serious way, and supported and protected them all, above and beyond what was normal for a regular family. He was not their real father nor was he her husband, but the way he accepted those responsibilities made Tifa feel alive inside. Her heart raged with emotion when she thought of him, especially when she remembered kissing him, like an inferno that had enveloped her with warm, soothing flames that would oddly enough calm her. When he was there, she felt safe, steady, and not at all searching for anything, content with the embrace of his mere presence. When he had returned to her in Midgar, she thought she would never stop smiling. He was alive and he was beautiful.
But Vincent… he wasn't evoking much of anything but a warm blush to her cheeks and a case of nervousness, almost like a school girl with a crush on her teacher. Vincent was a hauntingly handsome man with a dark sexiness that she had to admit was affecting her in other ways as well, but when she looked at him… she didn't have that comfortable feeling of content. This was a man that could not rest, despite how calm his outward appearance was, and because of that feeling, her own nerves couldn't rest when he was around.
With a deep breath, she stood to busy herself before she became too distracted and went to get drinks. She smiled to herself as she heard Yuffie exclaim loudly that Tifa had gotten Vincent a new cape, just like his old one, just not tattered. The door opening was what caught her attention though, as a very familiar head of blonde spikes poked through and a pair of startling blue eyes widened sheepishly once they caught sight of her at the bar.
She couldn't fight that feeling of wholeness and warmth when she saw him – and for today, that didn't matter.
"Cloud," Tifa greeted with a soft, but wary smile.
"He-ey… Teef," He answered, still standing behind the door with his head poking through.
"Are you going to come in or what?"
"Uuh…" He looked behind him. Tifa furrowed her brow, wondering what in the world was keeping him.
"CLOOUUD!" Came two simultaneous voices as two children came zooming from the backroom and yanked open the door he stood behind. They jumped up and down in their excitement of seeing him, "You're late!" "What did you get us?!" "Where's your bike at?"
Tifa almost laughed at his perplexed and hapless expression as the children accosted him, and eventually couldn't help herself as they tugged him farther into the room. Cloud's attention was completely captured by the sounds of her laughing, and with a hopeful expression, he smiled back, before bending to whisper in their ears.
Marlene and Denzel agreed with devilish grins before turning around and grabbing Tifa's hands and began to pull her into the backroom. "C'mon Tifa! You haven't even started opening yours yet!" "Yeah! You have to open up mine!" "Ours, Marlene!" "Fine, fine, ours, but I made most of it." "I wrapped it!"
What was she to do but follow them? It was her turn to turn a hapless expression towards Cloud as they dragged her away, leaving the blonde man still standing in the middle of the room.
"Cloud needs your help... and you too." Marlene ordered her father with her hands on her hips as well as the be-goggled man with the cigarettes behind both his ears once they had gotten Tifa into the room, while Denzel and Yuffie dumped her pile of presents into her lap. Both men wondered if perhaps Tifa was rubbing off a bit too much on the young girl who still continued to wear her hair with a pink ribbon as they headed towards Cloud. Ever since Tifa had absently recreated Aeris's ponytail when brushing Marlene's hair, the girl hadn't changed it since.
Tifa knew something was up, but really couldn't imagine what would require all three, very strong men. She tried to peak a few times down the hall but Marlene would tut and insist she try on the necklace that she and Denzel had made. She was amazed at what they had done, she almost wondered if Barret had helped at all other than procuring the materials, but she caught herself underestimating those two again. She couldn't stop thinking of them as children, even though they were growing up quite fast and quite well. Marlene had already begun to equalize the height difference that had been between her and Denzel a couple of years ago.
The two had given her a thin, silver, chain necklace, embedded with three tiny blue gems which shined brightly in the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Oh Marlene… Denzel…" Tifa breathed as she held up the necklace, not taking her eyes off of it, "You made this?! It's beautiful…." She broke her awe and pulled them both into her arms tightly, hugging them like they were the most important things on the Planet.
Marlene giggled and pulled away just enough so that she could reach up and point to each individual stone. "This one is me, Cloud is in the middle, and that's Denzel."
Denzel then pointed at the clasp, "And that's you."
Tifa blinked and looked at the clasp with raised eyebrows, "Me?"
"Yep! 'Cuz you hold us all together!" He grinned while Marlene bobbed her head in agreement. Shera gasped and brought a hand up to her mouth, doing nothing to hide the touched smile and the sparkling eyes, while Red XIII seemed to grin, nodding his own head sagely. For once, Yuffie didn't say anything, but she beamed at the children and cast her own pretty smile towards her friend. Vincent, remained silent, steadfastly supporting the wall with crossed arms.
Tifa didn't think she had ever heard anything more beautiful. She gathered them up once again in her arms and hugged them fiercely. She was beyond touched; she was elated and filled with such love for her children that could have done back flips if the room had allowed it.
"Thank you very much, I love it." She murmured into their hair, giving them both a kiss on the head as they hugged her tightly in return. "You two make me soooo happy!" She shook them a little with mock brusqueness.
"Tifa… does this mean you won't be sad anymore….?" Marlene asked quietly, lifting her head up to look at the only mother she really knew with somber eyes. Tifa froze, her heart suddenly breaking at Marlene's words.
"I…" She considered lying but she knew that they were both incredibly perceptive children and were no longer naïve and as innocent as she would like them to be. "How can I be sad with you two around, huh?" Tifa dodged, hugging Marlene tighter and laying her check on top of her head. "Here, will you put it on for me?" Tifa turned towards Denzel and swept her hair up for him to attach the clasp. "But how in the world did you two learn how to make something like this?"
Marlene giggled and pulled away, "Shera taught me."
"Us." Denzel corrected. She stuck her tongue out at him with a small glare.
"Tifa…" A deep, timid voice came from behind her. Tifa looked up at Cloud, still fingering her gift around her neck as it began to warm with her body heat. "Would you mind coming out here again?" He held out his hand.
She looked at it for a moment before nodding and hesitantly placing her hand in his, very conscious of the way his much larger hand enveloped hers gently, his hand warm and calloused and looking rather red at the moment. When he pulled her to her feet, she had to swallow the rising surge of affection, stubbornly refusing to let him gain back her love, but after a moment, she let that go. Today… she wasn't going to worry about getting over Cloud Strife. Today, she was allowed to feel whatever she wanted.
With a smile he led her back towards the bar where Barrett and Cid were leaning against the bar, huffing and puffing and rubbing their backs. What caught her attention though was the large, red bow, set atop of a beautiful, mahogany piano, almost just like the one she had as a girl. The wood gleamed with a reddish finish, and the keys shone brightly in gorgeous black and white contrast. Tifa was glad for Cloud's hand for she nearly fell to her knees. She looked at him with joy and threw her arms around him, "Oh Cloud! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Cloud laughed gently as he returned her hug, ignoring the leers from the older men and the excited ruckus behind them as the others filtered into the room. Yuffie and the children cheered and teased Cloud, who reluctantly let Tifa practically skip to the piano. Her excitement was evident as she paused for a moment before she pressed a key. The piano was in perfect tune and its sound quality was beautiful. Without needing to be asked, Tifa picked a tune and played and played until she noticed Marlene and Denzel in that fidgety, slightly grumpy state that meant they were hungry.
With Shera's and even Yuffie's help, Tifa prepared a feast. There was plenty of meat, cooked in a variety of ways, vegetables, sauces, puddings, bread, casseroles, salads, and dressings. Naturally, Tifa had prepared some of it the day before, but for the large part everything had been made that day. The others pushed the tables and chairs together to form a large, long banquet set up as Cid and Barrett kept a steady supply of alcohol coming. A few times, there were people dropping in with homemade pies and gifts and wishes for a good holiday. They sometimes stayed for a little bit, enjoying the happy atmosphere of the Seventh Heaven, and brightening their souls.
Tifa kept going back to the piano sporadically, hitting a note or two or playing a whole song. She continued to thank Cloud effusively throughout the evening, sometimes pressing him as to where he got it or saying that he really shouldn't have gone through all the trouble. She even felt bad for simply getting him new riding goggles, gloves, and a sweater.
Before he left, Vincent stood suddenly and approached Tifa deliberately, drawing nearly everyone's attention with his movements. He didn't move much to the point that people noticed, so when he did, he drew their curiosity. He stopped behind her from where she sat with Cloud, chatting amicably like old times, about chocobos of all things, and held out a small box.
In mid-sentence, mouth half-formed in a smile, she looked up at him in surprise and took the box. When she opened it, everyone saw the color drain from her face, before turning pink, and her mouth opening with a silent exclamation. When Cloud looked over and caught sight of the box's contents, his body went rigid and his face took on a somewhat deadly expression, his mako infused eyes flaring. His fists tightened and his mouth pressed into a firm, thin line, the muscles in his jaw working as he clenched tightly.
"I noticed that you had lost your other one." He said simply, then nodding to the rest of the room in farewell, he departed. Cloud's eyes flicked to her hands, searching for the ring that he had given her, but it was as Vincent said. Tifa wasn't wearing it.
Tifa could feel the change in Cloud and didn't have the courage to look at him. In the box was a silver ring, thin and beautiful, with engravings of vines and roses. When she held it up so the others could see, they collectively inhaled sharply and their eyes widened. It would have been comical to Tifa if it didn't mean complicating everything so much.
Finally, she looked over at Cloud guiltily. He wasn't looking at her, but at the ring with such a fury that it almost scared her. When she tentatively reached to touch his hand on the cushion next to her, he withdrew it sharply, looking away and settling farther away into the couch. "I'm sorry… I did lose it… in the church."
He looked at her in a way he never had before… with anger. "You said that you'd remember… with me." He accused her lowly, before standing and walking away, retiring to his room upstairs.
He left the others to return to their original conversations, but there was a hushed, cautious atmosphere that wasn't there before, but for the sake of Tifa, they went on as if it hadn't happened.
Tifa continued to stare at the ring, unsure of what to do. She nearly felt breathless from the fast exchange of emotion. It wouldn't go on her hand; no, she knew that much. Instead, mechanically and indiscreetly watched by the others, she unclasped her new necklace and thread it through the ring, before she looked up and smiled just as mechanically and asked who wanted another drink.
AN: I know... the name of the holiday is kinda hokey, but I really didn't want to call it Christmas, mostly because their world is a different world than ours and something just tells me that they don't have a Christmas. :P Anyway, this was an awkward chapter to fit in the time line that I had going, but once I wrote it, I really wanted to keep it and it sets up later scenes nicely... I think, heh. So, I apologize for the little time jump.
In the next chapter, you'll meet that girl again, lol. Look for it soon. ;)
Thank you so much to all those who have been reviewing and favoriting me and "How Long Will It Take"! It makes me happy. ^_____^