We'll Just Stick With Plan

It's two weeks from my day off when I tell Tifa it's her turn. She sighs, eyeing me, looking upset. Well, she does have a reason to be upset...technically I tell her the night before, and somehow I manage to bark orders. I'm not even going to let her clean up the bar.

"Cloud...my day off starts tomorrow..." Tifa says, glaring at me.

"No, it starts now." I state.

She huffs once, and plants her hands on her hips.

Oh no, not that stance. Can't let this get much farther, or she'll have me backed into a corner. Time to end this.

I say the first thing that comes to my mouth...which isn't always a good thing.

"Upstairs...bubble bath...now." I point towards the steps.

Wow...did I just say that?

I see her face freeze in shock, contort into amusement, and then she burst into laughter, leaning over and clutching her stomach. I feel the heat surface on my face, but at least she isn't assuming the "there's no chance in hell I'm going to change my mind" stance.

Undoubtedly, despite the length of time we've known each other, Tifa has probably never heard me say the words "bubble bath".

Is it really that damn funny?

I can't help but try and muffle the laugh that's trying to rise.

It is...hell, I don't think I've ever even heard myself say bubble bath...

Bubble bath...snicker.

I struggle to find a straight face as Tifa leans on her knees, still in full blown laughter. I take three deep breaths and calm myself.

'Come on, Strife, we've got work to do.'

Did I just refer to myself in the third person in my own head?...I have got to start talking more.

"I'm serious Teef..." I begin, and she has stopped laughing...and is now gasping for breath.

"You know Marlene will be very upset when she finds out all the trouble she went through was in vain."

Tifa's eyes widened.

"Marlene set it up?" She asks.

I give a curt nod, and she responds with a defeated sigh.

"All right, all right...I'll go..."

"Better hurry before the water gets cold." I say as she heads towards the steps.

She turns quickly and pulls a face before disappearing.

I let myself smirk.

Heh...bubble bath.

I never realized how much work Tifa has to do when she's cleaning up the bar. As I head upstairs to put the children to bed, I stop outside the bathroom door. I can hear her softly singing, and I smile slightly. After tomorrow, maybe she'll sing more.

I tuck the two in bed, and finish wiping down the bar. As I head upstairs, I see Tifa has left the bathroom, and I poke my head in her door slowly. She's sleeping on her side, and she's still in her robe. I walk in softly and shut the window she's left open. I slip her beneath the blankets, trying to ignore the fact that she's only wearing her robe.

Yep...just going to ignore that.

As I'm settling her beneath the blankets though, she reaches out and pulls me over in her sleep. I sigh, she's got a firm lock on my waist. Well...I guess I can handle this.

Despite the fact it's her day off, she's the first one up in the morning. I don't even stir when she gets up. I scold her for making breakfast, but she just sighs. I shoo her from the bar. We're not opening it today.

"Cloud, I know I agreed to taking a day off, but I just can't sit around here doing nothing...the bar practically screams at me to do something." Tifa huffs, tapping her foot on the ground.

"I know...that's why I have something planned...if you wouldn't mind." I state softly.

This has to work...it has to...if I don't get her out...if she doesn't say yes, well, then we're all screwed.

Yes...we'll ALL be screwed...I'll be murdered, so there'll be no saving the world from the wrath of ...shudders...them...

Please just say yes! Pleasesayyes, pleasesayyes, pleasesayyes...

"Really? Okay."

I let out a sigh of relief...I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath.

"What are we doing?"

"Well...it's been a while..and I just want to go...with you...and since you've not been with me so...it's just a couple deliveries...sort of personal, something I want to do...you know...nothing much, just a bit of traveling...yeah" I hear myself mumble.

Just stop...stop talking...I think I'm just making matters worse.

Wait...

I mumbled and rambled at the same time...how does one accomplish this?

"Okay..." Tifa says cautiously. "When are we going?"

"In a bit, if you don't mind. We might want to pack a lunch or something...in case we get hungry."

"Alright...you go get Fenrir ready, and I'll pack us a lunch." She smiles at me.

My knees just turned to mush...her smile has that affect on me. Yeah, I'll go get Fenrir, as soon as I remember how my legs work...sounds like a plan.

Or a date...

"..."

We'll just stick with plan.

A/N: HELLO! well, I know...short chapter...but the next chapter should be like...BIG...so bare with me...heh, bubble bath...I meant to update Come Together...but have ya ever sat down to write something and was like, this is going to be spiffilicious...and then you tried writing it, and you're just having problems? Yeaaah...heh...that's my problem...so, I'll be aways once again...but thank you guys SOOO much for your kind reviews, I'm so glad you're enjoying this one...and yes Rend...poor POOR Cloud...and it was a bit confusing...but so am I...enjoy! Love ya all!