A/N: just something short and sweet...don't have much to say about this one...enjoy! and as always thanks for everything!

Shopping Trip

It'd been a while since I'd gone shopping with Tifa and the kids, let alone been out with them. It sounded like a nice change of events, and I think it's safe...it's been a while since the 'shower' incident. The marks on my cheeks have faded, and she's let it go, although those looks for a while could freeze ice.

I could never answer Denzel and Marlene's question about my strange shaving job that day.

So, there we were, strolling down the streets, with Marlene and Denzel hoping about in front of us.

"Candy store?" Marlene asks, puppy dog face in place.

Tifa sighs, "I guess, it's been a while." She hands over a couple gil to each of them.

"Only this much?" Denzel exclaims.

"Would you rather have none?" Tifa asks, tilting her head.

"Thanks!" Denzel and Marlene shouted at the same time.

I smiled slightly as the two dashed off, Tifa chuckling lightly.

"Works every time." She says smiling.

Her eyes find me, "See what you've been missing?"

We shop around for a bit more, stopping to get some food. I carry the groceries stacked up in my arms. I refuse to allow Tifa to carry any, and she smiles at me, baffled.

"You know, I am the one who usually carries those."

"Well, consider it my job now."

"You shouldn't have to work on your day off."

"It's not working."

She smiles at me, and I feel a blush threatening.

"So, when will Marlene and Denzel come back?"

"Oh, I imagine they'll be running up sometime soon." She replies, glancing into the windows of the stores.

"Oh! Look at this!"

Tifa runs over to the window, her fingers pressed up against the glass.

She looks so cute doing that.

I swallow, feeling the blush rise.

"Ne, Cloud, look at this!" She shouts, waving me over.

I step over standing beside her hunched up form. It's a jewelry shop. In the window, there's a string of pearls on display.

"Gah, I love pearls." She says, her face glowing.

I glance at the price, so does she.

"Meh, can't afford that though...ah well, it was nice to look at." She says, frowning slightly.

"Well...ya know Teef...-

"Tifa! Cloud!" I look up. Denzel and Marlene are running up, a small bag of candy in each of their fists.

"Alright, hand it over. One piece each for now."

The kids comply, each taking out a sucker, and Tifa takes the bags. I almost tell her to hand them over, but she looks at me and smiles.

"I think I can handle this much."

She begins to usher the kids forward. It's time to go home now. I take a quick glance at the window, calculating in my head, a small smile forming on my lips.

"Cloud!" Tifa shouts.

I look up, startled. She grinning at me, and I start to follow, knowing well that my blush could be visible to a blind person.

A/N: Yeah, don't ask me about Tifa's expressions 'gah' and 'meh'...that's all!