Chapter Thirty-six: Donuts

Tifa sighed as she turned the key to unlock the front door. Cloud had told her that he would be home within the week. It was so frustrating to guess when exactly she could cuddle with him again. Above her head, the sky harbored a golden tint. But she was too tired to appreciate it, let alone notice it. It's been five months… of being physically apart and virtually together. She shook her head and pushed the door , she headed to the kitchen to boil water for coffee before she fired up her e-mail. This was has become her routine for the past five months. Their messages have grown lengthier and lengthier after the last. There was nothing new from Cloud. She opened his last e-mail.

To: Tifa Lockhart
From: Cloud Strife
Subject: Million to One
Message:

I just want to be right by your side right now. Ha, how many times have I told you that? I'm sorry if I'm annoying you with that line. But that's what I want the most right now. I can't wait until we finish shooting. I've heard so many funny lies about us lately. They're saying that we're falling apart because we're not seeing each other. I have faith in you, do you have faith in me? Please wait a little bit longer, and I'll be holding your hand in no time.

I sort of sprained my ankle today. I'm so clumsy. Maybe I'm just excited for the end of the filming. I don't know. I can't wait to see you again. I twisted my ankle during a chase scene. I'm so embarrassed. I bet I'd look funny on the video.

Our one year anniversary's coming up. I hope I'll be back home by then.

I love you.

Cloud

Their anniversary was due next week, and her mind's floodgates opened and drowned her present thoughts. Suddenly, there were butterflies flying inside her belly.

And then, the kettle's high pitched screams scared the butterflies away.

Midgar's skyline is brilliant, Cloud thought as he idly stared out of the plane's window. Everybody else was starting to stir, as they approached the airport. His heart was pounding hard against his chest. He can see her, touch her, hear her in a short while.

She's probably asleep by now.

Rufus passed. He was wearing an immaculate white suit and a contemplative expression. The only time that Cloud had seen him wear a different color was when they were at Icicle Inn—he wore a red scarf and black sweatpants. It was sort of a shock to everybody, to see the Great White wear something else.

"You've got a pending invitation in a gala tomorrow night. Do you want to go or do you want to rest?" the manager asked. Rufus's expression told him that he should agree, or else. Cloud nodded and Rufus moved on to his seat.

Half an hour later, the plane was beginning to taxi on the airstrip and his heart was racing faster than it had ever raced before.

"Welcome home," he whispered to himself.

The first thing that Tifa noticed when she woke up that morning was her phone. It was ringing, and her favorite caller was the one responsible for it.

"Good morning Cloud," she said, groggily. Tifa wondered where her boyfriend was right now. How many miles away was he from her?

Cloud took a deep breath in the other line. "Hey. Guess where I am."

That was odd. He was cheerful, but she could sense his nervousness. "Um, in my heart, maybe?" she joked. Tifa hoped that that would ease his anxiety. Where the heck was he?

He chuckled. "Yeah, I could be there. But seriously, guess where I am."

"Kalm? Costa del Sol?" Tifa racked her brains for places, but she was still so sleepy that she couldn't think properly. I've been everywhere and I can only name two? Am I a moron or something? She thought, biting her lower lip. Cloud chuckled again.

"No, I'm not in any of those places you just mentioned."

Tifa sighed. "Then where are you? Look, Cloud, I'm not in the mood for guessing games. I haven't had my coffee yet." She scolded.

"I'm sorry, then, go have your breakfast then."

"Can't you just tell me where you are?" she asked, half pleaded, as she walked out of her bedroom. Tifa was wearing his shirt and black, silk shorts. She debated whether she'd make waffles or an omelet today.

"You have to guess," he whispered.

Tifa's cheeks burned as she rolled her eyes. Why was he making her guess anyway? "Okay, what's the catch?" she asked, stopping in front of the kitchen's French doors.

"No catch, really. Just guess where I am, babe." His voice was suddenly louder. Tifa pushed the door open, and saw him sitting by the counter, head propped on his arm. He was wearing a huge, goofy grin. "Took you long enough to come here." Cloud winked. Beside him was a box of donuts and two mugs of what she guessed was coffee.

Her phone clattered down to the floor, and she rushed to him. "You're home!" she whispered as she nuzzled against the nape of his neck. He smelled of aftershave. Cloud embraced her tightly, and whispered back, "Yeah… did you sleep well? I missed you."

When they parted, he kept her at arm's length and studied her face intently. There was genuine intrigue in his eyes, accompanied with childish glee. He touched the tip of her nose and said, "You're paler than before. Are you okay?"

Tifa grinned and said, "I need it, my new show requires it." She took a donut and took a bite.

"A new show?"

"Yeah," she sat down on the stool opposite Cloud and continued chewing. He smiled and took one for himself. Tifa watched Cloud, everything about him had changed drastically since they'd gotten together. His body has definitely received most of the pampering. A lot of girls thought of him as a very sexy man, and Tifa felt sorry for them because they would never know how sexy he really was.

"Wanna go biking later?" she suddenly asked him.

Cloud took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Sure."

"I'll be attending a gala tomorrow night," Cloud told her as they pedaled through her neighborhood's mini park. The sun was up and cheery. His hair looked a halo beneath the sunlight. "Wanna come with me?"

The red carpet was the usual blur of flashing cameras and screaming fans. Tifa and Cloud smiled through them all. She wore a sparkly silver dress and he looked dapper in a black pinstripe suit. The gala was a charity event for people with Geostigma—it was equivalent to cancer, only more aggressive.

Everybody in the industry was present—even the motherfucker, Genesis. Of course he was already entertaining a crowd of starlets, most of them blonde. His voice was way too loud, Tifa thought, for a classy event. It could have her eyes, but Tifa thought he smiled at her. She looked away and tightened her hold on Cloud's arm. Jerk, she thought angrily.

Zack and Aerith were there too, each holding a flute of champagne. Aerith was wearing a cute pink mini dress and Zack was suited up in black. "Hello you two! It's good to see you!" Aerith said cheerfully, kissing Tifa's cheek.

"Bro! You gotta try this champagne, man." Zack said, giving Cloud a fist bump. "You look like a freaking CEO!"

Cloud chuckled. "So do you, sir Zack. Shall we head to the conference room now? We're making the others wait." The boys erupted in laughter.

Aerith pulled Tifa aside and whispered, "We've found a house!"

"Really? Where?" Tifa asked.

"We'll take you there once we're done decorating it." Aerith said, winking.

"So… do you guys have plans of getting married already?"

"Nope, not yet."

"Oh… that's so cute, you know, the two of you moving in together," Tifa said, smiling.

"We want to see whether we can live with each other, you know?"

"I see… so what's the house like?"

"It's got a very big garden!" Aerith told her happily. Of course Aerith would require a huge garden. Tifa guessed that anywhere would have been fine with Zack, as long he was with Aerith. They'd have a long lasting marriage, if they ever married.

"Ah… let's go buy plants together sometime, okay?" Tifa said.

"Okay!"

And suddenly, they were being ushered inside the hall, because the program was about to begin. Tifa clasped Cloud's hand as they entered. Genesis was right behind him, and he had a sour expression on his face. She rolled her eyes at him. No, she won't let Genesis ruin her reunion night with her beloved. She'd waited for too long for this.

"What's wrong Tifa?" Cloud suddenly asked.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Nothing's wrong."

"Are you sure?"

Tifa nodded. "Actually, everything feels so right tonight, since you're home."

That made a wide smile creep in his mouth.

Author's Note:

So let me disappoint you once again as I stop here.

I told you, my update would take really long time before you see it. College… is very cruel. Le sigh. I hope I clarified the thing about Zearith now. Haha. Ah… I wanna see this baby grow up soon—if you know what I mean, hehe. Also, I apologize for the cuss words.

Also, I'll go ahead and be a demanding bitch author and ask for 20 reviews, before I update at all. I appreciated all the reviews, faves and follows all of you have given me!

Victoria Chrystallis

PS

Have you noticed the fic's cover yet? :D