This will be a dramatic chapter, just to let you know... *Sobs in a corner*

Twenty four

The couple had dinner later that night at Claudia's after their work was done, either Tifa or Claudia attempted to open up about Cloud's father, not to ruin the mood of the night. But it was Cloud who asked something related to his father.

"You and... Father..." He suddenly said which made both ladies look at him in surprise. "You never really got divorced so now that he's dead... Are you going back to your maiden name?" He asked.

"Yes, that's right. Emilia handed me a copy of his death certificate, so it'll be no problem. I'll be Claudia Strauss again, for now." She said with a smirk, Cloud gave her a perplexed look.

"Are you kidding me?" He asked then Tifa shushed him.

"You need to let your mom have someone to love her and be with her forever, look at her!" She gestured to the older woman. "She's beautiful, she's kind, she's loving, I'm sure she has men throwing themselves at her feet, am I right, Ms. Strauss?" Tifa said with a wiggle of her eyebrows, Claudia couldn't help but laugh heartily.

"Yes, you are right darling." She said, Cloud made a loud noise of disgust. Tifa sneered at him.

"He's just being possessive of his mother." The brunette said.

"Yes he is, he's been like that since he was litt-"

"Stop it." Cloud said before he rolled his eyes.

"I bet he's the same with you." Claudia teased further.

"Oh, you have no idea, he's willing to strangle any guy who wants to talk to me. I'm really flattered." Tifa said with a giggle, Cloud closed his eyes with his mouth formed in a thin line. Claudia started laughing again.

"So... Have you two set a date?" She asked. Tifa and Cloud tilted their head in confusion.

"Date?" Tifa asked.

"For the wedding!" Claudia exclaimed, Tifa's mouth formed a perfect 'o' while Cloud stared at his mother with a bored look.

"Here's my mother and her obsession with organizing events. I knew you would say that."

"Who else would do it? I would, you both are very busy so I have an excuse to do it all." The older woman said with a small laugh.

"We haven't actually talked about that." Tifa said with a scratch of her chin.

"Better get started then." Claudia said with a smirk.

Cloud leaned his back on his headboard while waiting for Tifa to get out of the shower. He had his father's letter in his hand while he stared at it absentmindedly, he ran his finger on the words that was written in front, he recognized his father's handwriting.

To my son Cloud

He heard Tifa emerging from the bathroom wearing a lose fitting white shirt and some black cotton shorts while she dried her hair with a towel, then she started brushing it on the vanity before she crawled up on the bed to sit beside her fiance, she leaned her head on his shoulder before he kissed her wet hair.

"You ready?" She asked. He nodded his head. He started ripping the ends of the envelope then he pulled out the piece of paper inside, but a few photos fell out of it as well taking them both by surprise. He slowly lifted them up to look at them and Tifa couldn't help but gasp when she saw them.

It was a picture of a handsome, brown haired father, while he carried his beautiful baby boy with blond hair and blue eyes, he was smiling and the baby was sucking on his fist. The other one was showing how the father was pushing his son on his bike, both of them obviously laughing, the other one was, the father was patting the head of a smiling little boy, who was carrying a big box of a train set, which was newly opened from its gift wrap, the last one was a family picture of a pretty blond woman, the handsome father and a very cute blond haired boy in front of their lovely fireplace. Tifa gave them all a pained expression before she looked at Cloud, but he was just looking at them with a blank look, he placed the pictures down on Tifa's lap before he opened the piece of paper, he inhaled and exhaled a long breath before he started reading.

Cloud,

I know that there is nothing I can do to bring everything back, all the pain and misery that you and your mother had to endure because I made the wrong choices can never be changed, I guess you could say I wasn't really mature at the time. My alcohol dependency and gambling addiction was the worst thing of them all, and I didn't like how it changed me into a monster. Thinking about it now, I didn't know how I was able to do or say those horrible things to you and your mother. When I realized these things I felt like I was losing my sanity and I did what I thought was the best thing, to run away. I was a coward, I was weak, and I left you with nothing.

But even if I left, my alcoholism never left me, with the few money I had with me, I would spend it in a cheap bar, alone and drunk and pathetic. That's when Emilia came into the picture, she helped me get out of my own, stupid little world, she became my friend but she didn't know my whole story, she just knew I was a jobless drunk who was alone in this world. I know I shouldn't be saying those things to you, but, she made me realize that I need to work, to gain back my family, I need to change my ways, so I did, I landed another job as a realtor but I wasn't lucky like I used to back then, I could barely sell a house, maybe it was karma. I tried to earn money so I could go back to you and your mother, but I couldn't, I didn't have the courage to face you again after all I did.

When I found out that you've become a well known model I couldn't be more prouder, but I couldn't brag about you being my son, that would raise questions about us, and I didn't want that. And when I realized that you've come a long way, it made me feel more inadequate to show my face to you, so I just watched in the sidelines while wearing a proud smile on my face.

I wish that I was able to face you so you can tell me everything you hate about me, yell at me, curse me, hit me, but sorry it didn't happen, maybe this illness is punishment enough for me. I'm welcoming all the pain and suffering with open arm.

The pictures included in this letter had always been kept safe with me, and I would stare at them everyday to make me feel that you are with me. The happier times we had that I wasted because of my wrong choices, I was glad I was able to keep them with me. I hope that you keep them as well, that's a little request from your old man.

I'm so sorry for everything I have done to you and your mother, I really am. This is the best apology I could do, I hope someday, you can forgive me.

And despite of all that happened to us, I never stopped loving you, Cloud. You are my number son, always and forever.

Love,

Your father

Tifa covered her mouth with her hand while face was scrunched up in pain, she saw droplets of water falling down the letter and when she looked up at Cloud, she realized that it was his tears, he had a blank look on his face and his eyes were all hollow, but his tears were uncontrollable, she cried harder before she set aside the photos on the bedside table, then she switched into a kneeling position to give him a tight hug. Cloud didn't hesitate to return it with his one arm while his other hand clutched the letter tightly. He buried his face on Tifa's shoulder before he started sobbing. Tifa started rocking him side to side while she caressed his head and it went on for what felt like hours, he had helped her cope up with her father's death before, and now, it was her turn, but his story was much more tragic than hers and she couldn't imagine what he was feeling at the moment.

"It's going to be okay... I'm here my Grumpie..." She said lovingly, Cloud set the letter aside before he wrapped the other arm around her while he shook all over. Tifa let go of him to lean back on the head board, then she grabbed him so she can position him to her chest like she was rocking a baby while he still cried. She hummed the song that her father used to sing to her when she was younger whenever she would go to sleep.

"Tifa..." Cloud said in a shaky tone while he still sobbed loudly.

"Shhhh... It's okay... I'm right here..."

Tifa and Cloud stayed like that for a while until he calmed down a little. He kept sniffing every now and then but he had already stopped crying. Tifa kept wiping his tear stained face and kept wiping his nose, then she would kiss his forehead lovingly. When she realized that he had finally calmed down, she spoke into his hair.

"I asked Emilia where he was buried, if you want to see his grave." She whispered and that's when Cloud sat up to look at her before he crashed his lips into hers.

"I love you." He said against her lips, they lost themselves into a passionate kiss before Cloud started pushing her down the bed.

A/N: Is it wrong that I was crying while writing that letter? Sorry for the drama but it'll pass after this chapter. *Peace* Thanks for all your reviews! I'm so happy right now!