I'm so so so sorry! Thiw week has been crazy even though I've had my easter break... I have new ideas now though on things I want to write so please don't murder me.

To Shade the Hero, Haha yeah being dropped in the water is now fun. My brother did the same to me...and let me tell you the water in Sweden is chilly as f**k early in the summer. Cloud will show more emotions in my drabbles instead of grunting and ten different facial expressions because I strongly believe that under the cool exterior is the boy he usued to be and that side shows sometimes. Thank you for staying with me!

Thank you FarewellfromFaith, you're incredibly fast at beta reading and ads just the little extra that I tend to forget :)

Disclaimer, I own nothing

Happy Reading!

The week of vacation had passed quickly and it was already their last day in Costa del Sol. The sun were rising over the horizon when Tifa opened her eyes and sat up in bed, still with Cloud's arm around her hips. She smiled at the kids sleeping soundly in their own beds. Tifa knew she had to wake them up soon, it wasn't that hard, the one that took the longest to wake up were Cloud. He was a light sleeper but when he knew he wouldn't have to go anywhere he slept in. Tifa got out of bed and got ready before quickly waking Marlene and Denzel.

"Do we have to leave already?" Marlene pouted at her with sleep still in her voice.

Tifa stroke her cheek as she nodded. "Yeah, school starts soon and Cloud has work to do," she said.

"We can come back, though?" Denzel asked as he put his clothes in a pile near the suitcase.

"Of course," Tifa said with a smile.

She watched them while they were packing, both kids had gotten a small tan and some freckles were visible on their faces. Tifa felt a pang of happiness inside of her; why, she didn't know. Her eyes went to the swordsman still sleeping. Bad idea. She got stuck studying him, his relaxed face, smooth skin with big and small scars, reminders of all the hardships they had gone through to come to this point.

"Should we wake him up?" Marlene asked, already on her way up onto the bed.

Tifa nodded and closed their suitcase. Marlene sat beside Cloud and poked him, giggling as his eyebrows knitted together and irritated grunts emerged. Denzel joined her in the poking game until Cloud shot up from the bed and grabbed both kids, trapped them and started to tickle them. Hysteric giggling and pleads for mercy made Tifa laugh at her little family. The warrior released the kids who started laughing hard when they got a clear view of their guardian.

"You really look like a chocobo today," Marelene managed to get out through her giggles.

Tifa looked up at Cloud and had to fight not to laugh as hard as the kids when she saw the blonde man's hair. He usually didn't touch it after he had woken up, just some wax to keep the bangs in place but today it was worse. Cloud got up and found a mirror, letting out a big grunt. That made Tifa loose her control and she joined the kids in their laughing fit.

After Cloud had showered and gotten control of his hair they were on their way home. Denzel had fallen back asleep long ago. Marlene would soon be joining him in the land of dreams. She just needed to ask her guardians one important thing.

"Tifa" she said to get the older woman's attention. She didn't want to disturb Cloud as he was driving. The girl knew he was listening though.

"Yes, honey?" Tifa turned around in her seat to give the child her full attention.

Marlene looked down at her hands and bit her lip. She had been thinking about this for a long time and it really hurt thinking about it.

"Marlene, what's wrong?" Tifa asked, a slight worried tone sneaking into her voice.

Marlene looked up and spotted Cloud in the rear view mirror, casting a quick glance at her.

"I've been thinking about papa," she whispered, " he's just gone so much."

Tifa exhaled heavily and reached out to take Marlene's hand in hers.

"And I wonder if he really wants to be my papa." Tifa's eyes widened at the dark thought.

That made Cloud stop the car and turn around. This was more important then the usual thoughts the brown-haired girl had. It was true that Barret had left once the geostigma was gone, looking for more oil, leaving without a second thought about leaving Marlene behind again.

"He wants to be your papa, darling, he's just very busy," Tifa tried to explain.

"Cloud is also very busy, but he comes home" Marlene said and furrowed her eyebrows.

Cloud and Tifa looked at each other; they both knew that Barret loved his little girl but they had also had these thoughts when he once again left her behind.

"He's trying, Marl, he wants to have enough money so he can take care of you," Cloud said.

"I don't want him to have lots of money... I want him here, I want him to act like a real dad,like Cloud does" she said, Cloud's eyes widdened as he caught the tears in her eyes before she turned away from them.

The ex-SOLIDER got out of the car before opening Marlene's door and lifted her out of the car and put her on the hood of the car. He climbed up next to her and wiped her tears away. Marlene looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"It's not always so easy to stay or just to be close. Barret wants to be sure that he can take care of you now that Avalanche isn't giving him money. He loves you, Marl, just as much as Tifa and I love you" Cloud said and pulled her close.

Marlene nodded, finally calming down. "It feels like he doesn't want me when he leaves," she whispered.

Cloud nodded. He understood, he was afraid the small girl would feel like this when she stayed with them for so long. "He does want you, Marl," he said, "but I think it's important that you tell him this." Cloud put her back in the car, the fresh air having made her head clearer and the girl nodded.

"Next time he comes home, I'm gonna give him a lecture," she said before leaning back in her seat, the tiredness sweeping over her again.

Cloud smiled and pecked her forehead. "You do just that." He got into the car and started driving again.

"I was afraid this would happen," Tifa said after awhile.

Cloud breathed out and nodded. "Me too... we just need to talk to Barret, make him realize how important it is to be close to her," he said.

Tifa smiled at him and gripped his hand. "When did we become good parents?" she giggled.

Cloud played with her fingers as a smiled played on his lips. "No clue."

I've been playing around with the thought of the situation with Marlene and being a young child in that situation I think that she will start to doubt, who is her real guardians? where does she belong? etc

I always welcome reviews and I try to answer every single one of them ;)

See you in the next update!