Wanted: Rug

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Dammit all.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Alright you stupid alarm clock! Death to alarms everywhere!

I lean over, slapping the button to the alarm clock. Back to the normal, daily life of Cloud Strife. Hey, heh, that rhymed. I'm skilled.

Mad props...ha.

I sit up slowly, groaning as I do. It is too early for anyone to be awake. I glance at the clock; it reads four.

Dammit.

I...

Dammit.

I can't even think straight yet. I'm thinking diagonally. UGH.

I yawn, running a hand across my face before swinging my legs off the bed.

Son of a! Damn, I forgot it's colder here in Edge than Costa del Sol. I need a rug, or some slippers. Freaking cold wooden floor freezing my toes.

Crap, now I've got to make it all the way across to my bathroom. This will be fun.

We've been back in Edge for approximately half a day. I know it's going to be hell for Denz and Marlene. They haven't been to school in like a week. Good luck with getting them up, Tifa. Surprisingly enough the trip back to Edge wasn't that eventful. Of course, that's post picture discovery, but that's not important.

What is important is how I still feel guilty about it, and I shouldn't even feel guilty! Yuffie was the one that took that damn picture, therefore, I am absolved of all responsibility.

Dammit...

Tifa even says she forgives me (though I have no idea what she did with that picture) but I still can't shake it. Sad, huh? I mean, it wasn't even my fault! Stupid ninja...

Carla even apologized to Tifa when we were about an hour out from Edge. They talked it over for a while, and when Tifa told Carla that Yuffie was behind it, well, Carla forgave us. She still hasn't forgiven Yuffie, for neither the picture or the pink ball that was her son...course, can't really say I blame her. We've all experienced the dangers of one Yuffie Kisaragi. You know, it's strange, you'd figure for the heiress to a country that little scrawny ninja would be a bit mature. But no, of course not. While Wutai is full of traditional, responsible, sensible people, we of course get the crazy one. After generations and generations of great rulers we get stuck with Yuffie.

It's just my luck, I know. It's all my fault.

I sigh, finally standing despite the freezing temperature of my floor. Damn it, rug. I need to put that on a check list.

If I woke up in Tifa's room, I could stand on a rug...

Hmm...there's a question for the books...when are we going to start sharing a room? Should we keep it chaste for the children (and so Barret doesn't kill me) and wait until after we get married? Or should I just go hop into her bed tonight when I get home?

Questions, questions.

Anyways, time to get ready.

Hot shower here I come...I should grab some socks first so my feet don't freeze to the floor, though.

I think life seems a bit surreal right now. It's very, very strange to imagine Cid and Shera married. They weren't exactly the couple of the year when we first met them...I guess they've come - wait, scratch that. I guess Cid has come a long way since then.

Oh great, they're going to have a kid too! Crap...I hope it's a girl...or even if it's a boy I hope they take after Shera. I really don't know if we could handle another Cid running around.

Holy crap, what if Yuffie had a kid? That would be terrible...that would be horror movie worthy. Not only can I not see Yuffie having kid, but raising one?! The terror...she would be teaching that kid how to terrorize me from birth. The first words that would come out of their mouth would be 'Torture Cloud'.

Dude, I hope she never gets married...or never has a kid.

Dammit...

Or what if it was Vincent having a kid? Oh yeah, that kid would be one freaking ray of sunshine right there. I'm at least hoping if one thing goes right with that is that he doesn't take after their father's fashion sense...golden pointy shoes and all.

Course, I can't really say anything about Barret...either he is a really good parent, or Marlene is just gifted on her own because no kid should be that smart, or perceptive especially after being raised by Barret. Really, it's infuriating what she can figure out before the rest of us.

...wonder what my kid will be like?

...okay, that's just weird...kids...mine...weird.

Hopefully they'll take after Tifa.

Anyways.

It takes about half an hour to get dressed and showered. I have to be quiet about it, if I don't, then I know I'll wake up Tifa. She can be a light sleeper, especially on those mornings I have to leave early, or those nights when I get in really late. I have a sneaky suspicion that she waits up for me on most nights when she really shouldn't.

I tiptoe down the steps; I need coffee...awaken me beany substance of delight.

It is too early.

I sigh, waiting for the coffee. I suppose I could try and make breakfast...or settle for a nifty cereal bar.

...or cereal.

Woo hoo!

Cereal it is.

It's amazing simple pleasures in life...sugary bits of cereal is one of these. Okay, so it isn't very manly and it really doesn't seem to be the breakfast of champions, but, well, it works...

I could blame Zack for my obsession with the sugary, decorative marshmallows. Choco puffs are really good, too; chocolate first thing in the morning is always good!

Yeah, right.

I think I eat more cereal than Denzel and Marlene put together.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Tifa's cooking as much as the next person, but it's not like I'm going to wake her up at four forty-five in the morning and ask her to cook me breakfast. That's just rude, and inconsiderate.

...hmm...

I should leave soon...I need to be out of here by five. I'll probably end up leaving early, though. Even if I only have to wait around ten minutes, I'll be bored and antsy out of my mind. I hate doing that, waiting for just a few minutes. It's so annoying.

...still...

No, Cloud, don't. You'll wake her up, and she needs her sleep.

Yeah, but...dammit.

Just leave.

No.

Why not?!

Because I need to make up this past week to her, that's why...

Dude, and like waking her up before the crack of dawn is really going to help?

Shut up dammit.

I make my way up the steps slowly, poking my head in on the kids. Marlene and Denzel are sleeping peacefully; I hope I never have to wake them before six again.

That was a chore.

I shut the door softly, and move into Tifa's room even quieter if that's possible.

I open the door slowly, peering in to see her in her gown standing by her dresser. She turns quickly; lucky, she's got slippers and a rug.

I frown, and she smiles at me, her eyes still squinting against the little light from her lamp.

"Why are you up?" I ask, moving into the room.

She yawns deeply, "I was going to try and get up early enough to make you breakfast and see you off. I didn't succeed," she grins.

My frown deepens, "You didn't have to."

She shrugs, "Oh I know you can fend for yourself, but I thought it would be nice."

I move over towards her, taking her elbow, "Go back to sleep."

"Hmm?" she asks blearily.

"I said go back to sleep...you don't need to be up."

She makes to protest, but I lead her over to her bed. She sinks gratefully back into it, slipping her slippers off, and curling up on her side. I watch her for a moment until her eyes close peacefully.

She sighs deeply, and I brush a bit of hair from her face, causing her lips to perk slightly.

"You'll be late," she breathes, not even opening her eyes.

I glance at her clock, dammit, she's right. I knew I shouldn't have come up here for the fact that I wouldn't be able to leave.

Dammit.

"I won't be able to go to sleep until you leave," she says in a sing-song voice.

"Why's that?"

"Because, you'll be in late this week mostly, and I have to be awake when you're here while I can."

"You won't go to sleep when I leave...you'll get up."

She grins mischievously, catching my hand with her own, "But I'll tell you I went back to sleep cause that's what you'll want to hear."

"And I won't believe you."

She grins wide, her eyes opening slowly, "You're going to be late...and if you're late leaving, you're late getting in."

My lips press together in a thin line, "Go to bed early tonight."

"I'm not going to go to bed till you get home," she yawns.

"Tonight, just one night."

Her brow wrinkles, "Why?"

I shrug, "Just because."

She raises an eyebrow skeptically, "Am I getting something out of this?"

I shrug again, "Won't know till you try."

"I better," she grumbles.

"So, will you really go back to sleep?"

"Won't know till you leave," she challenges.

I give a tiny smirk, leaning down and kissing her temple softly.

She sighs contentedly, "Fine," she breathes.

It is nearly one when I get home, the lights off except for one, and the house is silent.

I take a quick shower, and change quickly...quicker than I ever done.

I make my way slowly to my bed, sitting down softly and slipping beneath the covers. I roll softly onto my side, slipping my arm around her waist, and resting my face next to hers.

She stirs, "Mmm...Cloud?"

I grunt in response.

"What time is it?"

"One. You didn't wait up."

She yawns, rolling in my arms, "You told me not to."

"Was it worth it?"

"Mmm hmm," she breathes, snuggling deep against my chest, "But I won't be able to fall asleep until you leave..."

I sigh, "You'll have to get used to this, then."

"Why?" she asks softly, her eyes still closed.

"Because," I kiss her forehead softly, "I'm going to be here tomorrow night..."

She grins, "What about the next night?"

"That one too."

"And what about the nights after that one?" she asks.

"Every night."

She blushes in the night, but her grin is solid, "Good...question, though..."

"Hmm?" I ask, closing my eyes.

"What if I wanted to sleep in your bed every night?"

"Because this is my bed."

"Kuh-loud. You know what I mean," she huffs.

"Because," I murmur sleepily, "Your room has a rug."

And now I can steal your slippers.

A/N: If you didn't get that last bit, it was basically Cloud has decided to now sleep in Tifa's room. Why her room? Cos she's got a rug, and slippers he can steal in the morning time when he ventures off the rug. That'd be picture worthy, especially if Tifa has girly slippers. I do, I have monkeys that wear crowns with a hearts on them. THAT would be interesting. Heh, anyways, thanks for the reviews everyone! Do you guys realize we are quickly making our way to our one year anniversary? That's right! Diaries is almost a year old, and now has 60 chapters. We've even got over 1100 reviews! How exciting is that? Hee//Huggles for everyone// Anyways, I have to go finish a couple papers now, so I'll leave you in suspense until next chappie. Love ya!