Well. Now we've got an idea of what going on hopefully which means I can stow it with the fillers for a while. Now with this in mind its time for another Tifa chap. Let's see how it goes.

Now when we left had just saved the bartender. Ironic seems how generally its suppose to be the other way around. Anyway he now has some inkling into who lithium is and has chosen to watch over Tifa and Cloud while the rest of the crew get settled in.

Let's just cut to the chase and get started.

Mother:

"Tifa….. Tifa sweetie get up." a voice echoed in her head. It was gentle and soft "wake up….. Tifa…."

"Mother….. Is that you mom….." she mumbled groggily as she began to regain her senses. "Huh..?"

She wasn't in her room. She knew by the way she was laying she wasn't in her room but the more disturbing fact was that she wasn't alone. She panicked for a moment before realizing she was in the presence of a familiar touch. A gentle pressure graced her chest and rough calloused fingers rested like velvet upon silk skin.

Calming down she regained the feeling in her body that she had forgotten about. Her senses finally returned she concentrated to feel out the dark room and collect a better handle on the environment around her. The first thing she noticed was that she felt a soft thumping against her hand.

It was soft and periodic. Almost imperceptible but yet so notable. It wasn't until several minutes of concentrating on it that she realized just what it was, and also took into notice the hand gently placed over the top of her own. She was still sleepy and couldn't make out anything until the eerie memory of the day previous made its way into her mind.

She was suddenly snapped awake and was fully aware of a second presence that was obviously aware of her.

"Who's there?" She was hoarse and her once sparrow like voice now displayed an uneasy weakness.

The groan from beneath her hand alerted her to the fact that it was Cloud that she was resting against. She rubbed the hand she felt placed on her chest lovingly. 'Oh thank goodness you're okay.'

"Shhh Tifa. He's still sleeping." Zack informed her of Clouds status and his presence.

"Oh it's you…."

"Yeah…. Sorry but you don't know how … rough, it's been sense you guys have been out." He was leaning against a wall.

"Look I'm sorry…. I just."

"I get it. I understand you hate Shinra and anything affiliated with it, so that puts me on top…. But I'm not with them now…. That means we both have spiky… if nothing else…. He's all I've got here…. Please don't hate me for that."

"I…. I don't…. it's just so."

"Difficult?" Koty's soft tone entered the room and startled Tifa.

The shock in her must have been obvious because Cloud stirred and a worried look could be seen on his face even in the dark.

"Tifa…… mmmmm………. What's wrong..." he blinked several times to relieve himself of the sleep prior. "Are you okay……"

"I'm fine. You can go back to sleep. I just…. Get some rest" she finished her sentence to notice that he had already fallen back into sleep. He coddled her hand like it was something of great sentimental importance while he slept.

"cute." Zack giggled "looks like spike's got a bit of a crush haha."

"I swear sometimes…. You know. Shinra or not you're an ass."

"Well even so I'm locking the windows and other things. There were some guys who tried to break in. I don't think even being an ass entitles me to be stupid."

"Tifa it is lithium. They…. You understand" Koty glanced at the floor and his eyes hid under his hair.

"I know." She sighed "so what are we going to do about this?"

"I suggest we find somewhere to send the children. They are vulnerable here." He sounded greatly concerned.

"You got a thing for kids don't you?" Zack teased.

"They're children. Their lives are not yet in full spectrum. They do not even know the finer points of existence yet." He seemed mortified by Zack's disregard of reverence for childhood.

"Neither do I and I'm technically younger than them. Don't see me whining over it do you?"

"Zack knock it off for a moment." Tifa chided.

"Whatever"

"So Koty. What are we going to do?"

"The children" he added. "Are safer when not in my presence. To my knowledge lithium doesn't know about them. But they know about you."

"And that means?"

"Liability" Zack groaned acknowledging the prospect.

"Yes. This means all of you are in danger. But the children are unknown. That gives them anonymity. And that at this point is our best defense."

"Okay so assuming we can get the children away from here until we can get rid of lithium…." Tifa attempted to play at planning.

"It's not so simple. Lithium is not a group of soldiers they are warriors under the rule of an almost monarch like leader. We need to destroy the snake head first." Koty implied. "If we kill the leader the rest will fall quickly. However this will take several weeks to properly plan. We can't rush into battle with an army."

"I did it once." Zack chuckled.

"And you died for it." Koty's response was cold.

"How did you….."

"That is not important. However the children are. Tifa I must ask that I be allowed to keep a close eye upon them. If lithium suspects them to be involved then they are an alibi. That would mean that they are in more danger than anyone else."

"How close are we talking about…..? You're not a pedophile are you?" She laughed softly.

The expression on his face displayed a sense of both disgust and hurt. She had obviously wounded him.

"Of course not." His tone spoke as if he were betrayed. "I would never harm a child. They are the gifts of the creator….." he was cut short.

"It was a joke. Did you not learn humor in your world?"

"Not hardly. Even if so that was not humorous…. I suggest we make arrangements for the protection of the children soon. Lithium knows I am here and even if I leave they'll suspect you are harboring me and use you to draw me out…"

"Why are you asking me now…. Could it not have waited till morning?"

"I actually came to check on Zack. But when I arrived you were awake……."

"Then why are you asking anyway?"

"When you're dealing with children is it not right to ask the mother's approval before sending them away?"

"Mother……?" she had never thought of it a lot per say but she thought about it often enough.

Mother wasn't a term used a lot around her. She had certainly done the job but the title always seemed overshadowed by her age and the fact that Denzel and Marlene never really were her children. She had always been called Tifa, never mother.

"You care for these children with an unwavering affection. As if they were your own you have cared for them. I would say that makes you their mother. No?"

"Sorry…… didn't mean to space out on you…" she had caught herself staring at the floor. "I'm just not use to being called that."

"It is understandable." He spoke lowly and closed his eyes as if thinking until a knock was heard at the door.

"Hey you guys. Their fine, but we need to talk. The whole group does but let's let them rest. Come on." Yuffie whispered or at the very least attempted to through the door "reds gona give one of his sermons" she sounded more sarcastic than necessary.

"Another time perhaps" Koty spoke softly "adieu."

"But….?" Zack hesitated "what abou……"

Koty didn't wait for a response and dragged Zack from the room by force.

'Mother' she tossed the word like a bottle careful not to throw it too high. She hadn't thought about it like this until the box. 'Oh Cloud……… I can't….. I want to be a mother……. But I'm not theirs or yours for that matter…….. So why are you playing with my heart………. Can't you just come out and ask?'

"Ti……fa………?" his eyes slowly cracked and just in time to hear the door shut. "Who was that?" he was still groggy.

"It was Zack." She moved her hand to pull herself into him.

"Needing a little attention?" Cloud chuckled and winced in what appeared to be pain.

"Oh baby are you okay?"

"Baby….. Since when did you call me that?"

Embarrassed she tried an alteration of subject. "You shouldn't move too much you took quite a trouncing."

"Yes mother…" he rolled his eyes and pulled her into his chest. "But you know I don't mind the names right…..?"

"I know…… but Cloud when you're healed up we've got a lot to talk about."

"Like what?" he groaned as his body protested the speech.

"Oh nothing too serious……"

"That's convincing."

"Well I'm the mama and you gota listen."

"Oh boy…." He rolled his eyes again before noticing Tifa sound asleep in his arms.