Chapter 5
Cloud found himself doubting his motives as the blonde found himself standing in front of Tifa's hotel room. He was about to knock on the door but froze up. 'What am I going to say to her? 'Hey Tifa sorry for forgetting that we were getting married I hope we can move on.' Cloud decided to go with Lightning because even with the revelation of his fiancé he still loves Lightning and just can't remember the love he had for Tifa. Cloud stayed frozen in place until the door in front of him opened revealing a young boy.
"Cloud you're here, are things with you and Tifa ok now." Denzel the adopted son of Cloud and Tifa said looking up to his father figure.
Cloud forced a small smile for the kid as guilt ate him up from the inside, 'As much as I care for Lightning I can't bring myself to abandon Denzel, he is my son in all but blood, and the kid deserves a father and mother.'
"I came to apologize formally with Tifa, is she here?"
Denzel shook his head and soon made a quick smile, "No she is not, but she will be back soon. Hey Cloud can you take me and Marlene around town, the others left us and Barret is asleep."
Cloud looked conflicted because he wanted to wait for Tifa, but looking into Denzel's pleading eyes in a few minutes he found himself following the kid and Marlean around the city. The two kids were going into every other store looking at the strange things that the new world offered. They looked at the new technologies, and constantly begged Cloud to buy them some candies. Needless to say Cloud would need to start working overtime.
It took an hour till the kids settled to playing in an arcade, Cloud giving them enough money to do what they want while he sat at one of the tables where he waited for the children to come back when they wanted to leave. Cloud noticed that out of the adults there were a few mothers looking his way with admiration. Cloud heard a woman speak to her husband about how hard it must be for a single parent to raise two kids.
A few of them recognized him taking a few pictures but quickly returning back to their conversations giving the man some privacy. Cloud had ordered some peach tea while he waited for the kids, and was enjoying his moment of peace until a woman sat across from him.
"Hey Cloud fancy seeing you here."
Sitting in front of Cloud was none other than Vanille; the younger girl was dressed in a simple tank top over worn skinny jeans. The Younger woman sat there with her hand to her cheek resting her head against it as she smiled at Cloud.
Cloud returned her smile as he sat a little straighter, "Hey Vanille, I'm just waiting on Denzel and Marlean. So why are you here?"
"Oh I was with a few friends we sort of got separated and we planned to meet up back here once we had enough fun. But forget about that, those kids are yours right?"
"I adopted Denzel, Marlean is Barret's kid."
"Blood child or adopted."
"Adopted." Vanille giggled as she adjusted her position sitting straight forward leaning slightly over the table.
"So what are you going to do about the whole Tifa and Lightning thing?" She whispered while having a small smile that somehow irked Cloud.
"Why should I tell you you're still a kid?"
"I'm an adult Cloud, I'm about to turn 19 in a month."
"Yet you are still in school?"
"That's only because I never went to school before, so they just placed me in with Hope's class. Otherwise I would have graduated. And stop changing the subject this is serious."
Cloud sighed in frustration. "I know it's just I'm conflicted. I love Lightning, and I don't remember dating Tifa."
"Well if you truly love Light then try to explain things calmly to them both, I don't know about Tifa but Lightning understands, although I still bet she will kick your butt." Vanille gave a small laugh.
"I wish that it was that simple, Tifa is the mother of Denzel we adopted him under both of our names. His legal name is Denzel Lockhart Strife. And if I stay with Light I would be abandoning Denzel as well."
Vanille stopped smiling for a moment as she realized how much more complicated it had gotten, then she realized how nice Cloud really is. Most men might not even care about the Child's position, unless they truly treated the kid as their own. Vanille looked at our blonde hero with admiration, "You know you're a nice guy Cloud. If you want my opinion, I suggest you go with Tifa. Denzel is too young and will need you there as a father."
Before Cloud could react he heard said child call out to him, "Dad come over here," The excited voice of Denzel called. Cloud got up with a smile, Cloud always felt a sense of pride when ever Denzel calls him dad, and normally the shy boy calls him by name.
Vanille smiled as she watched the blonde head over to his son and notice how happy the child and Cloud was when they both started to race each other in a hover bike racing game. The little girl known as Marlene was simply watching not really wanting to race Denzel herself.
"Hey Vanille you ready to go?" The 18 year old girl turned her head and saw Hope along with a few others getting ready to leave. The orange haired beauty got up to leave with them throwing one last look over the shoulder to the Blonde she kissed about a month ago. 'Whoever he chooses, will definitely be lucky.' Was her thoughts as she joined her friends.
After about another hour at the arcade Cloud took the kids to a restaurant, luckily those under the age of thirteen ate free today so Cloud only had to pay for himself. Cloud was listening to his son chat to Marlene about a show they saw on the TV.
"Cloud, "The blonde turned to see Snow making his way to the table pulling up a chair, as a waitress followed him. "I haven't seen you in a long time. How are you doing man." The taller blond said cheerfully as he received the menu and asked for a cup of coffee.
The kids kept to their conversation when Snow sat down, "Doing fine, just spending time with the kids."
Snow let out a laugh "I can see that." Suddenly Snow became serious, leaning forward a speaking softly so the kids won't pay attention, luckily Denzel and Marlene were in their own world. "What are you going to do about Tifa?"
Cloud looked at Denzel who has yet to pay attention to the conversation as the kid told a joke to Marlene. "I think I'm going to stay with her, I can't leave Denzel." The taller man nodded in understanding. Before giving Cloud a firm glares, "Even though you would break Lightning's heart." This caused Cloud to flinch which caught the attention of the kids. Whenever Cloud flinches something important happened.
"You know when this Tifa girl showed up, Lightning has never been the same, and you betrayed her, unintentionally but still a knife in the heart." Cloud looked down as the kids tried to piece the puzzle pieces together and catch on. "If you were to leave her I doubt she could ever love again, you were her first. And probably the only one that sees her as a woman instead as a celebrity."
Cloud looked cress fallen as his heart cringed, knowing that Lightning was suffering because of him. "Cloud?" Marlene spoke up, noticing the sad look. Looking at the kid then Denzel. Noticing they were done eating, Cloud stood up, "Come on son, Marlene." The kids followed behind Cloud as Snow sat still. Cloud paid his bill and left, while Snow's food finally arrived.
Cloud was torn inside still unsure on what to do about his current situation, having not said a word to the kids as they followed him back to the hotel. Cloud was stuck between the love for Light and the love and responsibility he has for Denzel.
Cloud was forced from his thoughts as he opened the hotel room with Denzel's card, "Denzel, sweetie is that you." Tifa's voice came, causing Cloud to freeze in place as Denzel came into the room with Marlene, "Yes mom, Marlene is here along with Cloud." There was a pregnant silence that the kids ignored as they made their way to the couch to watch some TV. Cloud followed slowly as he sat at the dining table not so far from the kids who took over the couch. It took a while for Tifa to come out but when Cloud saw her he was stunned.
Tifa came out of her room in nothing but a black tank top and baby blue pajamas, she was currently brushing her still wet hair, meaning she just got out of the shower, her reddish brown eyes glistening like a gem and Cloud felt something in his heart he realized as love, and pain as he quickly remembered he betrayed this woman as well.
"Thanks for watching Denzel Cloud, "She said in almost a businesslike manner, not affection in her voice. Cloud noticed the ring around her finger symbolizing her engagement. She sat across from Cloud as she placed the brush down and started to braid her hair.
"Tifa, I'm…." Cloud stopped the look of conflict clear on his face as the woman he was going to marry stared into his sole while she calmly braided her hair. Cloud tried to continue, "I'm sorry for betraying your trust, I have no excuse." The blonde said the guilt was eating him alive, true he couldn't remember due to an allergic reaction to the serum he took to travel here but even then he felt he should have at least remembered he was engaged.
Denzel and Marlene overheard Cloud as they glanced back to the table and saw Cloud bowing in his seat apologizing to Tifa whose face has yet to change and was still braiding her hair. "I was irresponsible, and I can't forgive myself. You were by my side the most when I needed someone from my child hood to meter and through the Geostigma crisis. You were the only person who saw me at the verge of defeat, and the only person who told me to move on." Tifa finished one strand of braided hair, and crossed her arms, and closed her eyes.
"What you did to me, to Denzel. Is unforgivable, but I might let it go, but on the condition we get married and move back to Gaia, and you must never come back to Cocoon." Tifa looked confident that Cloud would accept her terms when the look of shock and hurt came to her face. Cloud made eye contact and shook his head.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, you see I, believe I've fallen for Lightning." The room became suddenly tense and silent with only the sound of the TV filling the room for a minute.
"What do you mean you fell for her, you barely know that…. Harlot?" Tifa started to yell but called herself before she said something in front of the kids, changing her preferred word from bitch to Harlot. Denzel and Marlene started to look uncomfortable. Denzel looking between his parents with concern.
"Tifa, she appeared in my mind, she is the reason I defeated Sephiroth last time."
"But I was there with you the first time you faced Sephiroth, I was their helping you go through Aerith's death and Meteor. What has she done that I have not." Tifa was yelling as tears started to fill her eyes.
Cloud watched as his heart broke, the kid's not sure how to react to this situation. "I'm sorry Tifa but I have to go." Cloud stood up leaving a tearful Tifa, but before he walked out the door Denzel grabbed the back of his shirt.
"You're not going to leave us, are you…Dad?" Cloud froze and looked over his shoulder to look into his son's eyes, and soon regretted it. Denzel had a tear in his eye after realizing that he might lose the man he learned to call Father.
Cloud turned around and got on one knee to give his son a hug, "Give me some time, Denzel. I Promise I won't abandon you, I just need to clear things out a bit." Cloud felt the young boy nod his head and return the hug. Cloud broke the hug sending Tifa a final look as the woman who lived with him for many years avoided eye contact drying her tears.
Cloud walked out the hotel with only one thought in mind. 'What the hell am I going to do?' Cloud didn't have time to think on this to much for he had to go train with Sephiroth in a few minutes at the beach. And if he was going to learn anything he needed to face Sephiroth with a clear mind.