A/N: Warning...Cloud contemplates!!!!

When Love Began

"...oud...Cloud!"

I start, flinching, someone poking me in my back.

"Cloud! Hey, Cloud...wake up!"

I groan as I roll over, blankets tangled around my feet and squint my eyes open slowly.

"Cl-oud..Geez, take forever to wake up, why don't ya?"

I identify a small figure beside of my bed, and study it. "Marlene?"

"Hello Cloud! Finally! How ya feeling?"

I'm confused, "Alright...actually, I feel pretty good..."

"Well you should after as long as you've been asleep, mister."

"What?"

"You've been asleep for...like...a day and a half."

I blink. "Huh?"

"You heard me, Cloud. Tifa said you got up twice to use the bathroom, but she swears she didn't even see your eyes open. All I know is that she kept muttering 'He better not miss'...though I have no clue what she was talking about."

I better not...oh...OH...

"That's okay Marlene..." I state, "Is there something you needed?"

"Here!" She holds out the phone.

She's had that the entire time?

"Um..."

"It's daddy! He wants to talk to ya!"

Dammit, can't I get some peace and quiet around here?

I reluctantly take the phone, "Thanks. Hello?"

"Spike!"

My ear! Man, I know I'm better but honestly...Ow.

"Hello Barret."

"Listen, Vince is pissed at you, and well...I guess we all know why."

"So he's not calling?"

"Hey, I heard about the whole morbid clown thing. I'd be pissed too."

"So what can I call you to keep you from calling?"

"Shut up you mother-

"Ok, I get your point. What do you want?"

"Do you even have to ask, Cloud, really?"

Oh you've got to be kidding me!

"–..." Wait...wait a second... "Yes."

There's a moment of silence, and I can hear the steady breathing of Barret as he slowly processes this information.

We might be sitting here for a while, folks.

"Wahhhoooo! Hell ya bitch! I knew you'd finally get around to it! Woo! I gotta talk to her...lemme talk to her, damn, lemme talk to her!"

Oh ... crap...

"Um...yeah...about that." I state slowly.

Barret's voice immediately dies, "What, she don't love you back?"

"No, it's not that..."

"Spike...did you actually tell her?"

"...Yes."

"...did she understand the significance of your words?" Holy...that came from Barret? How'd he figure it out so fast.

"Um..."

There's a heavy sigh, "Spike! Damn, man! Here you had me all pumped...you little weasel, I should head over there and tell her myself! See how ya like it then, you like spikey punk!"

"Barret, calm down."

"Marlene told me you wus sick, but I didn't realize you were that sick."

Now that was uncalled for. "Barret, it's just..."

Barret sighed, "I hear ya man...I hear ya...and don't you worry about that damn reclusive vampire...I'll get him off your back..."

"I don't see why he's so interested, really."

"I guess he don want you to make the same mistake he did...ya know? Lose her and what not. He may act like he don't got no heart, but let's face it...beneath those red eyes and that deadly looking claw-

"And shoes."

"-he's got a big ol' soft heart." Barret lets out a loud laugh, "You know he ain't nothin but a big ol' softie, ya know?"

"Actually...I really don't get that impression, Barret...but I'll keep it mind, thanks."

"Heh heh heh...no problem, man...no problem...Now, lemme speak to my little baby. I gotta say bye to my little-

The phone is already being handed back to Marlene. I really don't feel like listening to Barret gush about his daughter. Marlene smiles as she takes the phone back, and gives a long winded speech about how he's 'the best daddy in the world, and oh how she loves him and she can't wait till he comes back, and to not worry, she'd make sure Cloud told Tifa he loved her.'

...wait...

...oh...hell...

Dammit! Every single time! Why can't these people just give it a rest already?! And now Marlene knows?! What...what the...oh...Dam-

"Whoa! Wahh!" There's a boyish yell from the steps.

Crash! Bam! Thwack!

"Denzel!" Tifa screeches.

Denzel?!

I spring up from my bed, and fall flat on my face, the sheets still tied up around my legs. But I'm up in a second, and run out of the bedroom , Marlene close behind, clutching the phone in her hands.

"Denzel! Denzel!" Tifa's yelling.

Somehow I make it all the way down the steps, sheets and all, and run into the bar. Utter chaos.

There's a bar stool laying on the ground beside of the fireplace, a few picture frames scattered across the floor as well, some broken glass. Denzel's lying on the ground beside of it, and Tifa's kneeling on the ground beside of him.

"It...hurts..." Denzel whimpers, as Tifa presses a hand to his forehead.

"What does, sweetie?"

I move quickly, kneeling down beside of Tifa. She spares me a glance, but turns her attention back to Denzel.

Denzel bites his lip, fighting back tears, "My...a-arm..."

Tifa frowns, reaching out.

"Don't touch it!" Denzel shouts.

"I'm not going to touch it, Denzel, but I need to look at it." Tifa keeps her voice calm.

"No! Don't!"

"Denzel, calm down. We can't do anything if we don't know what's wrong." I tell him.

Denzel sniffs a couple time, and fidgets, questioning look on his face before nodding his head once.

"Okay, but don't touch it."

"I won't." Tifa leans forward, looking down at the arm in question.

I follow suite. We both reach out, Tifa's fingers lightly brushing Denzel's arm, but he doesn't yell to stop. She's got a grim look on her face, and so do I.

"Broken." she mutters under breath.

"What is?!" Denzel cries, eyes frantic.

"Calm down, honey...we'll get you fixed up soon."

Three hours later, a trip to the emergency, and one awkward, itchy cast, we returned home. Denzel has been sulking ever since, eyes piercing the back of my head...I can feel them, I swear...and I think he's trying to drill a hole to my brain so he can hurt me.

Although I'm not sure why.

Tifa puts the kids to bed early.

"This isn't fair." I can hear Denzel's muffled voice through the door.

"I know, sweetie...but your actions have consequences." Tifa's voice is a soft contrast.

"How was I suppose to know that was the stool with the lose leg?"

"What were you doing climbing up there, anyways? You broke some glass young man, and don't think you're getting off the hook just because you broke your arm."

In my mind I see Denzel scowl before replying, "So? It was a good purpose. I saw something."

"...You saw something? What?" Tifa asks.

"'S not important." Denzel mutters, and I hear him shift.

I turn, going back downstairs, and move towards the fireplace. Tifa's cleaned up the broken glass, and laid the damaged picture frames on the mantle. I pick one up. It's of Barret and Marlene, the glass splintered across Barret's chest.

I sigh. What could he have possibly seen up here to interest him? A bug? A mouse? I don't know. I shake my head, replacing the frame back onto the mantle. My eyes drift across the other frames. There's one on the far corner near the wall. It doesn't seem to have a back to it, and is rested up against the bricks of the chimney. I feel something stir in my chest.

Moving the frame out of the way, I spot a small, black velvet box.

Oh...fuck.

How could I have forgotten about that?

I pick up the box gently, holding it between two fingers. I remember this. I bought it...hell, I bought it before Meteor. Before Sephiroth. I bought it back after she found me in Midgar, all those years ago.

I turn the box in my hands, contemplating it.

How could I have forgotten this? It didn't leave my body for...months. I mean, I had it with me the entire time, always carrying it in a pocket...waiting for the right time, if there was such a thing. How could I have forgotten?

Because Sephiroth came, and along with him, came the fate of the planet. And as much as I hate to admit it, it was a more pressing issue than mine and Tifa's relationship. Still, even after Meteor, and Aerith dying...I kept it on me until...

Until I got Geostigma. That's right. When I got Geostigma, I felt like...I...I knew I was going to die, so...there was no right time. I left it here. I didn't hide it in my room, because knowing Marlene and Denzel, and the tricks Yuffie's taught them, they'd probably find it. So, I hid it in broad daylight. Maybe...maybe I was hoping that after I died she would've found it...maybe that's why it was in broad daylight...for sheer hope that she would find it, and come after me.

Even when I was resigned to death, I was still tethered here...to her...I couldn't let go of that hope, even if I didn't realize it at the time.

Even still, how hasn't she found this?

Or maybe she has...and just didn't want to believe it.

Hell if I know.

But I think I would, if she had found it.

Or would I?

Or have the kids found it before? But they would've said something, wouldn't they? And that would explain why Denzel was so intent on seeing what it was that was up here...but maybe he didn't find it. Maybe Marlene did. But she's blatantly obvious about these sort of things.

I don't know, I really don't.

I scratch the back of my head, pondering, before flipping the lid open.

Silver compliments her, I think, better than gold...and I any time I saw pearls, I always thought of her...so that's what it was, silver and pearl..It isn't much, I mean, it was post SOLDIER days...and I was...muscle for hire...so, 's not like I had the most money in the world. However, there's still a tiny engraving on the inside of the ring; a symbol, a circle with intricate lines wrapping it...and MJ in the center.

Midgar Jewelers. They'd been destroyed in Meteor.

Hell, I had an artifact on my hands.

I was what...twenty when I bought this? I scratch my head again. I can't believe I bought it...I had just been found by her, and already, I was thinking of that...maybe...I don't know. I don't...know if that was the right time, to even consider something that serious. We were in the midst of a revolution... How long had it been, six months after she found me? Yeah, that sounds about right. Six months after I met her again, after she brought me back into the real world...That was when I bought it. God, and I had a mouth on me then, I was a freaking cocky bastard.

I blame Zack.

Still, she put up with me. And I think...I think that then, I knew there probably wouldn't be anyone else who would put up with me.

That's when it started, that's when I truly fell in love with Tifa Lockhart.

I slipped the ring back into the box, closing it. There's a squeak on the steps, and I slip the box quickly into a pocket.

"What are you doing, Cloud?"

I turn to see Tifa, standing at the landing. "Nothing...just...thinking."

She gives a small smile before walking over towards me.

"About what?"

"..." I can't help it...I trust Tifa the most, but...I'm still not good with talking, with words, at least with my thoughts.

Especially with those relating to Meteor and the events around it.

"The past, Cloud?"

"And the future." That's right, the future too.

She gives a small smile, "Well, Denzel's finally asleep...after a long-winded complaint speech, he finally tired himself out and fell asleep. Put Marlene to sleep too...almost did me in, as well."

I give a small smirk, my hand resting on the box in my pocket.

What would they say, Cid and Yuffie, Barret and Vincent, Nanaki and Shera...what would they say if they heard that I'd been planning to marry Tifa for four or five years now. How would they react? Especially when they were the ones pouncing on me to propose to her.

That would shut them up.

"Cloud, you okay?"

I blink, startled out of my thoughts, "Yeah...of course."

She turns her head slightly, narrowing her eyes, "You sure?"

I sigh slightly, "Yes, Tifa...I'm sure."

"It's a good thing you're such a terrible liar," she states, walking away, "Cause I can see straight through that."

My eyes widened, "I am not a terrible liar."

"So you admit you were lying?" She asks, nonchalantly.

"Tifa."

"You were lying! I knew it...what's wrong?" She asks, filling the sink up with water.

"I am not lying."

"Well, there's something on your mind."

"There's always something on my mind, Teef."

"Oh really, what?" She asks, scrubbing at a glass.

My fingers grace the small box once again.

"You." I whisper, and she doesn't hear me.

A/N: It's been a while since Cloud's had a serious thinking moment. his brain finally recovered, and I felt the need to give him another blow. It's a stretch, I know...Cloud buying a ring before the events of even the game. But I couldn't help myself. I got the idea in my head, and it wouldn't let go...so, it won. You guys better be glad I wrote half of this chapter, like a week ago...or else you guys would have to wait longer. Don't expect many updates in the future...I mean, just as of the late. I'll be writing as much as I can, but I can't concentrate right now, so you guys are just going to have to hold on and bare with me. NOW! on a more cheerful note...annomynous: bwhaha, you're so right...Aerith shooting Zack with a bow and arrow...I just pictured that and about died. animegirlie Aw! I'm sorry, guess I wasn't thinking of that! Calistar: Haruki, what are you not telling me? And just breathe, Calistar...breathe. Sephy! somehow, you waiting in the shadows with your big ass sword disturbs me...I keep glancing over my shoulder, course, as long as you don't have a chainsaw, I think I'll be okay. VinVal! Thanks so much for the reviews, and those on my oneshots. You're always so kind, and thank you! And I'll let you know I have started to read your story To much Hope. I've been avoiding it (Trying not to spoil DOC) but, I'm no where near DoC, nor my playstation, so, I was like screw it...I'm reading it. And it is GREAT...I'll review once I catch up. Bianka-chan You updated! Good for you. Rhyssa! Dude, food poisoning does suck, how do you think this chapter was bred? Heh, and I have no problem if I take over your favorite story list...heh, one day I will rule the world!

OH! and no! Pen-Pen was not an Evangelion reference. I'm just that good...I've never even seen Evangelion O.o

Till next time, loves!