Sorry, but this chapter had to be kinda short, or it would have ended up really long. This is mostly setting stuff up for later, so please don't get mad at me! Hugs and Kisses!

One More Problem

"Shit!" Cloud had been on his way back to Costa del Sol when he remembered that he forgot something very, very important at the house. Yuffie's present! Oh, please let Tifa have destroyed that God forsaken thing!

Cloud sped ahead to del Sol at highly illegal speeds. If he rushed, he might be able to make an earlier departing ship, and those couple of hours could make the difference between humiliation and saving face. He was going to kill Yuffie! His phone lit up. He'll call back later.

Once on the cargo ship, Cloud checked his phone to see that Tifa and Yuffie had both called him several times. When had Tifa called? Oops. Cloud called her back.

"What's taking so long? Are you okay?"

Cloud blinked, "Hello to you, too."

"Sorry, but nothing bad happened, right? I'm getting calls from some of your regulars. They said that you told them you'd be delayed."

"Oh, sorry, I thought I called you," Cloud must've fallen asleep between calls on the night of many calls.

"No, you didn't, but what happened?"

"Barret asked me to deliver something to Corel. You remember Dyne?"

"Marlene's father?"

"Yes, Barret had me bring some stuff to where he died."

"Oh, I see. Is Barret okay?"

"Are you kidding? You could throw a Behemoth at that guy and he'd get off with only a bump on the head and a scratch on the wrist."

"You know I meant if he was upset," Cloud could practically see Tifa's hand on her hip as she sighed.

"Well…yeah he was upset. But my point was that he's tough. He'll be fine," Cloud fiddled with a strand of his hair.

"Okay. So, where are you now?"

"On the cargo ship on my way back to Junon," Cloud ran his hand through his hair, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Did you take care of my birthday present from Yuffie? I forgot it under the sofa."

"Yes, I took care of it."

"No one saw it?"

"No one."

"No one will see it?"

"No one."

"And the wig?"

"Ashes."

"Good."

Tifa giggled, "But you know, you really were a very pretty girl," she tossed in.

"Goodbye, Tifa."

She laughed one more, "Bye, Cloud. See you when you get home."

I really mess with my hair a lot.

Cloud had been thinking about general things he had to take care of to stay on top of life and had once again found his hand in his hair. He twirled the spike in his fingers before relaxing his arm to fall back next to him on the bed. How much longer until the ship reached Junon? Cloud's stomach rumbled, wanting food and meds. The blond groaned and rolled over onto his front, not wanting to get out of bed. There was a rumble outside and the ship rocked a bit.

Oh, God no. Please no bad weather.

Cloud got out of bed, popped a pill, and went outside. The air was clear. Confused, Cloud started wandering around the deck, looking for the disturbance. He hadn't been the only one to notice that something had happened; other people were wandering around with a mild curiosity in their eyes.

Another rumble. Another rock. Sounded like it was coming from below deck. Cloud raised an eyebrow, wondering if another of the things that Cait Sith had been watching was on the ship. Interested and prepared to possibly fight something nasty, Cloud got his sword from his room and went below deck to find the cargo area or wherever the disturbance was coming from.

Tifa went out for a bit after finishing up with the last few customers for the day and checking on the sleeping forms of Marlene and Denzel; it was late, sure, but the smallish dark-haired girl wanted some air and was pretty sure she could take care of herself if someone decided to get frisky.

As she walked and watched, Tifa noted with a smile the lack of homeless in the streets. Not to say that there weren't any, but their numbers had greatly diminished with the eradication of the Geostigma. Passing a huddled, aging woman sitting against a building in rags, Tifa gave her a handful of coins.

"God Bless you, dear," the woman said, shifting to pick up the coins at her side. That's when Tifa noticed the thickly blanketed bundle in the woman's arms.

"Ma'am? Is that your…would you like some food?"

"My grandson," the woman replied, "He's too young for real food yet, but thank you."

Tifa couldn't help but wonder what happened to the child's mother. Obviously someone had been an early parent.

"I have milk at my house, if he'd be okay with that?"

"You have a young one of your own?"

"Oh, heavens no!" Tifa laughed, waving her hands in front of her, "It's Dual Horn milk; and you and your grandson are welcome to come with me if you'd like."

"I would love that, dear. Thank you."

Tifa helped the woman to her feet and glimpsed at the thin, quiet baby in her arms.

On their way back to the bar, Tifa stopped by the store to get a bottle, slightly embarrassed that more people would think her a mother now, even when she wasn't in a relationship. Once back at the bar, Tifa got some milk from the back to begin heating it and some food on the stove. Once the bottle was at body temperature, Tifa shook it and gave it to the woman, who promptly coaxed it into the baby's mouth, suddenly awake at the smell of food. Tifa watched the child suck hungrily at the bottle and smiled, "Should I prepare more milk for him?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose. You've done so much already," The woman replied with a frown of worry, "I really am very embarrassed."

"Oh, don't be; I'm the one who offered."

"Yes, but still…you have no idea how horrible it is not to be able to take care of yourself, let alone another living being."

Tifa frowned, feeling sympathy for the grandmother across from her, when she had an idea.

"Well, what if you earned your food? I've been needing to hire someone for some time, now. The bar is getting too popular for me to run just by myself. We don't have room for you to stay here permanently, but…"

"Oh, no, no! I couldn't!" the woman yelped, startling the bottle out of the baby's mouth. He promptly started crying and his grandmother put the near-finished bottle back in his mouth.

"Well, why not?" Tifa replied.

"I just-…It's that…Just no…"

"Ma'am, with all sincerity intended, your grandson will die if you don't find a way to feed him regularly. I'm giving you the chance to save him."

The woman looked down at her grandson, hugged him into her.

"Ma'am?"

"I…"

"I'll go check on your food while you think on it."

Why, oh, why, did things like this always happen?!

Cloud sprinted down a corridor as a mess of Stingers, Stilvas, and Valrons, aided by an old, revamped, Shinra Gunner chased him down, assailants ignoring most other passerby in the determined pursuit of their target. As much as Cloud wanted to, he couldn't engage his entourage at the moment for fear of injuring innocents; he would have to get to the upper decks before stopping his groupies.

Once to the stern of the ship, Cloud got a split-second idea and kept running towards the boat's railing. With luck it would hold. As he neared the edge, Cloud jumped forward, feet first, intending to use the rebound to get behind his attackers and possibly send them overboard. Luckily, despite bending heavily, the bar held and Cloud ended up behind the enemies after him and disposing of those which didn't fall off the ship in a matter of minutes.

Once finished, Cloud heard a muffled clapping. He turned and glared at a Cait Sith doll.

"What the hell were you doing leaving that cage with such a weak lock?" the blond growled.

"Aw, c'mon! It was just a bit of fun, Cloudie!" the cat laughed, still applauding, "That was quite impressive a show you gave!"

"Show? You endangered the lives of everyone on board for your own entertainment?"

"No! Of course not, Cloudie! ("Don't call me that.") I had just overestimated the strength of that lock is all!" Cait said, smile still plastered.

"That's worse. What if i hadn't been here?"

"Well, no one got hurt, did they?" the cat dodged, "Nope! So no harm, no foul, the way I see it!"

Cloud frowned and was about to reply when his stomach growled. He left to get food.

"Alright, Cloudie-boy! Be good now! And try not to break any more railings!"

Why was it that any time Cait Sith was around, Cloud got a headache?