I'm getting better at updatin, though a quick warning, I may not be able to update this often when school starts again tomorrow. I 'll try to update as fast as I can though, promise :)

Thanks to my amazing new beta reader FarewellfromFaith :)

To Amy: Of course I remember you! you were the first one to review this :)

To The Trio Of Twilight: Thank you for favoriting! It made me very happy

To Kazarina: Thank you for favoriting as well! :)

Hope to hear more of you all in later updates:) It makes me very happy to see that people come back to read :)

Happy Reading!

Cloud helped the last patron out and locked the door before turning to Tifa. She was exhausted. Tonight had been crazy, more then usual. Cloud grabbed the broom and started to clean and put up the chairs. He had just gotten home from a day full of deliveries and to say his body ached in exhaustion were just the beginning of it.

"Just leave it," Tifa said tiredly.

Cloud shook his head, he knew she would only be more annoyed by the unfinished business tomorrow.

"Cloud seriously, let's just go to bed," Tifa said, exasperated, and grabbed the broom away from him.

"It amazes me you can still stand," she said as Cloud reluctantly let her take the broom from him.

Tifa was just about to lecture him about admitting when he can't do things when they were interrupted by Marlene calling for them. The guardians hurried up to the room where the little girl stood hugging a moogle doll tight to her tiny frame.

"What's the matter Marlene?" Tifa asked, kneeling down beside the young girl.

Marlene shook her head and run up to Cloud hugging his waist. Cloud looked as surprised as Tifa. The brown haired girl would always confide in Tifa, leaving Cloud out of the loop.

"I thought you left," she whispered, tears barely audible, and Cloud's heart almost broke when he heard the words. He knew the fear of him leaving was something his family shared. It was his fault for leaving them just when they needed him. A hand on his shoulder made him jerk back, and he met Tifa's dark eyes; she sighed as if she could read his thoughts on his face like it was an open book. She shook her head at him before leaving the blonde man to calm down the small girl.

"I'm not gonna leave again, Marl," he said as he knelt to her level, letting the girl wrap her small arms around his neck, pressing her face into his hair.

"Promise?" she said

"I promise," he whispered and stroke her back comfortingly.

He gathered her up in his arms and put her back in bed, tucking her in tightly. Marlene looked up at him, a hand on his arm for reassurance. He smiled lightly at her. He shuffled down the hall and back to the bar where Tifa was still cleaning up. He turned his head when he heard another child's voice behind him.

"Cloud."

It was Denzel talking now, the boy had been woken up by the voices outside his room. The blonde man looked at the boy and leaned against the wall to hear him out. Tifa's boots made soft thunks on the hard wood floor, and she stopped to stand next to Cloud.

"Can you stay here tonight? You too, Tifa."

Cloud exchanged a glance with Tifa before getting up. He would do anything to assure his family that he was staying. He motioned Tifa on ahead of them, and grabbed Denzel's hand to lead him back upstairs. Back in the kids' room, Tifa moved the side table out of the way and Cloud pushed Marlene's bed up against Denzel's before both adults got ready for bed and laid down beside their wards. They all snuggled close contently. The two adults slept with the kids snuggled soundly in between them.

I'm sorry this is short, it kinda grew out of the last update but I deciced to put it as a independent part instead of a part of another update.

As always, I get very happy when I get reviews, they make me wanna write more because I make people happy so even if it's only a few word then send them my way :)

See you in the next chapter!