Hey readers! PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THE LATENESS OF THE UPATE! I promise no matter how long it takes I will finish this story so dont give up on me please. I want to thank you all so very much for all of your support and faithful reviews! Please continue to let me know how you like it! I really love hearing what you all have to say, in fact, when I get reviews it makes me want to post faster! You all are fantastic and I love you so much! Please enjoy! Sorry this is a shorter chapter! I have big BIG plans for next ;)
I DO NOT OWN FF VII!
Chapter 18: Madness in Midgar
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"Whadduya mean they're 'out of town?!" Yuffie exclaimed after begging Vincent to go with her to visit Tifa. After all it was her birthday. Yuffie had even gotten up early, baked her, well burned, her a batch of cupcakes and even wore a cute blue dress for the occasion, after all, Tifa was 26 now.
"Yes, they went to Costs Del Sol." Vincent answered as he dumped a dozen burnt cupcakes into the garbage can. Zack had notified him of the event much earlier in the week. He'd been asking Vincent several questions about Tifa and her likes and dislikes. He was quite pleased to see Zack taking such an interest in Tifa.
"And they didn't have the decency to invite me!? Or you?! How rude!" Yuffie pouted and crossed her arms.
Vincent then set the muffin pan on the counter and walked to Yuffie who was sitting on a bar stool by the island the center of his kitchen. Once he got to her he put both arms on either side of her, Trapping her e tween him and the counter, and leaned his face close to hers. "It's good for them to have alone time, Yuffie." he said in a sultry manor.
Yuffie trembled a bit in excitement. She knew exactly what he was leading to and she blushed as she stared into his crimson eyes.
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Cloud rose early and climbed out of bed before Aerith had even budged from her deep slumber. Today was Tifa's birthday and he had so many plans to fulfill that day that were now washed down the drain. What happened? He found himself wondering. Had he not stopped at that church on his way to do another mundane job, he'd be proposing to Tifa and Zack and Aerith would more than likely be together again. He just couldn't help it. When he saw Aerith in that church, all the memories of her kindness and softness returned, her beauty was radiating all around. He couldn't resist. But the more time he spent with Aerith the more he realized that she never cared for Zack as much as she did for Cloud. Although she mourned Zack's death, she always felt a strong connection with Cloud because of his strong and quiet demeanor. Cloud smiled as he thought about it. He knows telling Tifa he wasn't ready for her to move on was wrong. If he was, she should.
Slowly Cloud trudged to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He then started the water for his shower and began to undress. As he took off his shirt he pulled it over his head and held it at his chest for a moment and stared at his reflection in the mirror. A few small wrinkles found the selves around his eyes. He could tell the boyishness of his face was wearing off with time and age. He sighed, finished stripping down and jumped into the shower.
As the warm water hit his body for some reason Tifa came to mind yet again. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her face an her beautiful wine eyes sparkling. The face she was making was a stern and angry face. But it made him smile. God, I miss that face. I hope you have a happy birthday, Tifa. He thought to himself as he lifted his head and let the water fall onto his face. Cloud then began to lather up his hair and scrub his head aggressively as the shampoo lathered. As he did this he heard the door ope. And hit the back of the wall, then he hear bear feet slapping against the tile of the bathroom floor. After that he heard the sound of the toilet lid slamming into the tank of the toilet. And the sound after that sent shivers down his spine. Aerith had vomited violently, followed by a miserable moan.
Cloud rinsed his hair and peaked out at her, concerned. She was still in her matching pink pajama tank and long pants and she seemed to be clinging to the toilet as her knees hit the floor. "You okay?" He asked.
Aerith couldn't speak, fearful if she opened her mouth it would happen again. She simply looked at him with an expression Cloud hadn't seen before, something quite pitiful and shook her head. Seconds later she vomited again. Cloud quickly turned off the water, jumped out of the shower and wrapped himself in a towel.
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Cloud sat anxiously in the waiting room of he hospital. He and Aerith waited a few hours at home to see if she felt better, but she only grew worse so he rushed her to the ER as soon as he could. The last thing he wanted was to lose her again. He knew he was overreacting and that it was most likely just the flu, but he wasn't taking any chances. He was filled with worry, an desperate for someone to talk to so he grabbed his phone and called Vincent. Cloud heard the ring over and over and it seemed as though Vincent wasn't going to pick up, until finally at the last minute, he did.
"Hello?" Vincent said in an almost annoyed monotone. It was hard to tell how Vincent was feeling just by the tone of his voice so Cloud ignored it.
"Vincent." Cloud said with a sigh of relief.
"Do you need something?" Vincent asked, growing increasingly agitated.
As Cloud listened, he thought back to Tifa once more, he wondered if Vincent might be with her. "Is she happy with Zack?" Cloud blurted. He had no control over what had just escaped his mouth. Here he was at the hospital waiting to hear news on Aerith's health and he's asking about his ex girlfriend.
Vincent paused before answering. "Yes, I believe so. He took her to Costa Del Sol early this morning and they're spending a few days together there. Why do you ask?"
Cloud blinked a few times upon hearing this. "Costa Del Sol?"
"Yes is that all you wanted?" Vincent said, ready for the conversation to end.
"No I actually called to tell you that I'm at the hospital right now with Aerith." Cloud replied. Directly after saying this, a Doctor emerged through the doors of the waiting room.
"What, really is she okay?" Vincent asked.
Cloud ignored Vincent and moved his phone down and looked up at the Doctor. She seemed like a kind woman. She wore a soft smile on her face.
"Mr. Strife? Congratulations." The Doctor said cheerfully.
"What? Why is she okay?" Cloud said standing.
While this conversation proceeded, Vincent continued to listen. He and Yuffie were in the middle of a hot make out session when the phone call came. She urged him to answer so long as she could listen too. So she listened along with him and they could barely make out what the Doctor was saying. But they heard loud and clear what came next.
"Your girlfriend is pregnant!" She said with a smile closing her eyes.
"Shit." Cloud mumbled to himself remembering Vincent was on the phone.
The next thing Vincent and Yuffie heard was a rustling noise followed by a dial tone.
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"The prick hung up on us!" Yuffie exclaimed angrily.
"Well technically he was talking to me. So he hung up on me. " Vincent said, setting his phone down on the counter. Yuffie quickly snatched it away. "Yuuuufiiieee..." Vincent said sternly, knowing exactly what she was up to. "Don't ruin her vacation."
"She has to know." She said, clutching the phone closely to her chest and making a pitiful puppy dog face.
"She can find out when she and Zack come home. It's not your place to tell her." Vincent scolded.
"It is too! She's my best friend!" Yuffie yelled as she pushed away from Vincent and marched upstairs
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Tifa lay peacefully in the plush king sized bed, soundly asleep. Her hair was wildly covering her pillow and one arm was hanging off the side of the bed dangling by the night stand. Zack lay on the other side of the bed stretched out completely, his hands tucked behind his head and a light snoring came from his side.
Suddenly a loud and obnoxious buzzing sound interrupted Tifa's slumber followed by a Dark fanfare of music. Vincent's ringtone. Tifa's dangling arm reached up to the nightstand and groped for the phone. Once she finally had it, she turned onto her back, pushed the hair out of her face and answered.
"Hello?" She said quietly, peering over at ZacK. The phone had also caused Zack to awaken, so he sat up slowly and looked at Tifa Who smiled softly at him.
"Heyyyyy birthday girl!" Came Yuffie's voice. But Tifa could tell by the tone in her friends voice something wasn't right.
"Hi Yuffie. Why are you up so late?" Tifa asked curiously.
"Oh you're in Costa Del Sol.. I forgot about the major time difference. I'm sorry to wake you!" Yuffie said, biting her thumb.
"No it's alright, Yuffie. What's wrong." Tifa asked concerned.
"Howwwws your vacation with mr sexy pants over there huh?! Has he made a move?! Have you guys... You know?!" Yuffie said, avoiding the dreaded news she had to bring her friend.
Tifa blushed and looked at Zack. "No Yuffie. " she gigged. "What did you really need?" Tifa asked, reading through Yuffie's diversion with ease.
Yuffie let out a loud sigh. "Look, Teef this isn't gonna be easy to say..." She started.
"Well what is it, go ahead." Tifa urged, now a bit concerned.
"Aerith's pregnant." Yuffie said briskly.
Tifa paused for a long time before saying a single word. Uppn hearing Yuffiw mention pregnancy, Tifa remembered back two years when she had asked Cloud about children.
*Flashback*
Cloud and Tifa were at the store getting a few things for the house. Tifa had just barely turned 24. As they walked, the came upon the baby department and Tifa walked over to the clothes.
"Look at how cute these clothes are!" She exclaimed. Cloud rolled his eyes.
"Let's go." He urged.
"Well... Cloud, don't you think it's time we start thinking of a child of our own? Imagine how cute that baby would be." She smiled.
"Tifa don't think about shit like that. The last thing we need is a baby running around. We can't just be some family. Just drop it."
*End flashback*
"Tifa?" Yuffie asked, breaking through the silence and bringing Tifa back to reality. "You okay?"
"Thanks for letting me know, YuffIe. I'll be home soon and we can hang out then." Tifa said pushing back emotions.
Of course Yuffie knew Tifa was upset, but she needed her space and Yuffie would respect that. "Okay, well if you need me call me and please enjoy some of that sexy beast while you're there!" Yuffie exclaimed.
Tifa again blushed. "Behave!" She shouted before hanging up on her friend.
"Everything okay, Tifa?" Zack asked a bit concerned.
Tifa looked over at him and sighed. She knew the news would probably hit him just as hard as it hit her, he deserved to know too. "Aerith is pregnant."