He slowly awoke, opening his eyes to find her still asleep. She was peaceful, a small smile on her lips, and he found himself unable to move, fearing to awake her. One week had passed since he stole that first kiss from her, but they didn’t yet tell their friends about it. They were still taking their time, slowly admitting their mutual feelings. Even if they shared the same bed nothing more had happened. Although he could feel the desire burning inside of him, there was something that he had to do before, something that hit him a week ago. Strangely, that didn’t scare him. He knew he was ready. Sweetly, he put a kiss on her lips, and she awoke.

“Hey,” she said, smiling.

“I’ve got something to do this morning. But after that, I’d like to take a day off. Could you close the bar?” he asked.

Quite surprised, but also delighted at the idea she nodded. “Of course… I’ll tell Denzel and Marlene.”

They woke up, and while Cloud was watching over the kids, she took a quick shower and hurriedly went downstairs, having the breakfast to make.

“Say, Marlene, Denzel, what do you want for today’s breakfast?” she inquired.

The two children looked at each other. “Pancakes!” they both exclaimed together. Tifa laughed, and began to prepare her dough.

She liked to proclaim that she was, undoubtedly, the best ninja that had ever existed. Whether her friends agreed or not, she also liked to prove her point. Which meant, usually sneaking into one or the other’s house, and jump on them when they didn’t expect it. So, that morning, when she found that spot in Seventh Heaven, she was really glad. She could see everything that happened. But her genie only appeared when she spotted her two friends… kissing. She grinned.

When Tifa went upstairs instead of putting the sign open on the bar's door, she understood that they would stay closed today. She was curious about why she wouldn't open, but she had a much better idea that slowly took shape. She silently went outside, and knocked on the door. It was best if Tifa thought that she just arrived.

“Hey, Yuffie! Since when do you knock on the doors?” she inquired, half-laughing.

The young ninja stormed in, pretending she didn’t hear the sarcasm. “Today, I decided to hold a party, Tifa!”

“What?”

“So, you go outside, I don’t want to see you here before seven p.m., okay?”

“WHAT? Yuffie, calm down and explain yourself!” Tifa just couldn’t believe it. What was that for?

“Isn’t that clear? I decided to throw a party here, at Seventh Heaven, with all the crew! So you take a day off, go wherever you want, while I do everything with Marlene and Denzel,” she grinned.

She was sure her friend was up to something. That was really suspicious. “But Cloud just had to go to Midgard,” she countered, “and he’ll be back in an hour or so. I can’t leave like that, Yuffie,” she tried to calmly explain.

“That’s okay, I can wait! I’ll ask him to take you somewhere nice, that’s all! Prepare a picnic or something to eat for lunch, that just give you time to do it! Isn’t it marvellous?” She took her cell phone. “I’m going to inform Spiky, don’t worry!” she exclaimed while dialling the number on her phone. “Hey Cloud! You know what? No? Well, I’m going to throw a party here at Seventh Heaven, all by myself with the kids, so I’d like you to take Tifa somewhere nice, and be back at seven, just in time to take a shower and get dressed! Tifa said yes, so I guess it’s okay! See ya, don’t be late!”

Her eyes went wide. “I never said yes, Yuff’,” she protested.

But the young girl wasn’t listening. “He said okay, so go get ready! I’m going to check Marlene and Denzel, they’re upstairs I bet?”

She could only nod, and Yuffie was already storming away. Really, what was that, she asked herself, quite lost.

When Yuffie entered the kids’ room, she found them doing their homework. Today was a day off from school, but before they had the right to do anything, Tifa always wanted them to do their work.

“Yuffie!” exclaimed the petite girl.

The boy turned his head, and smiled shyly. Even if now they kept contact with one and another, she might have seen him five times, so he was still not really himself with her.

“Hello! How are you doing? You know what? I’m throwing a party here tonight… would you like to help me preparing everything? I think we’ll have a lot of fun… although, I may call for help…”

They both looked at her, eyes as huge as plates. “But,” tried to state Marlene, “Cloud and Tifa told us that we were going to stroll…”

“Forget that. I’m sending Cloud and Tifa alone, but I need you here. Let me explain it to you guys…”

Five minutes later, they were convinced to help her. She took her cell phone again, dialling another number. Cid hated this kind of stuff, Barret couldn’t hold his tongue, Red XIII couldn’t help that much in that case, and Reeve… was probably the most busy amongst them… that left only one possibility, but he'd be hard to convince. “Vince? I’ve got a favour to ask… you won’t believe me…”

One hour later, they were practically thrown out the house by a mischievous Yuffie, supported by the two children.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Tifa asked, quite puzzled.

“Yes, we are sure!” decreed Marlene with emphasis.

“Have fun!” grinned Denzel.

Why did he feel that Yuffie had a strange idea running in the back of her head?

“Alright, just make sure the bar and the house are still up when we’ll come back Yuff’,” sighed Tifa heavily.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything!” exclaimed the ninja.

“That’s what's bothering me,” she muttered darkly.

She mounted Fenrir behind him, and, after one waving goodbye, they were off.

“Where are we going, Cloud?” she inquired.

“You’ll see,” he said, smirking slightly. “It’s a surprise.”

“I hope not one like Yuffie’s. I bet she’s onto something…”

He nodded, agreeing silently.

It took them two hours to finally reach their destination. It was a lieu totally wiped out from the memories, one that only he knew, and that was because he got lost during one of his deliveries.

She clasped her hands in rapture at the sight. A river was merrily flowing, falling into little cascades here and there, sprawling between sweet flowers –the firsts of the year– and blossoming trees. The place was surrounded by mountains, and it really was as if they were alone in the world.

“Wow, Cloud, how come you know such a beautiful place?” she asked, still surprised.

“That was way back before, when I still had Geostigma. I had a delivery run to a house in the middle of nowhere, but I had an attack just when he explained how to get there. So I got lost, and found this…”

“I won’t complain that you got lost, but I’m really glad that this disease has ended,” she commented softly.

He nodded silently. He could feel his heart pounding loudly in his chest, and hoped that she didn’t catch the glint of pink that rose across his cheeks.

“What’s up, Cloud?” she inquired, arching one perfect brow. So much for being unnoticed, he thought.

“Well, I know that can be surprising but...” He stood in front of her, and, without answering, leaned over her, stopping just when his lips met hers, brushing them gently. “Tifa, will you marry me?” he whispered.

Her eyes went wide, and she blinked. “Of course yes!” she replied on the same tone.

He kissed her and, without even glancing at it, took her hand, sliding the alliance he was nervously playing with since they arrived in her ring finger.

“Awwwwwww, isn’t that sweet?” she asked, her beautiful eyes shining in happiness.

“Hey, I could have done something like that!” he protested.

“Yeah, sureeeee!” she replied, rolling her eyes up. “Like I know you, you would have asked that while eating or drinking, between a conversation about SOLDIER and your last battle!” she mocked gently. “You weren’t that sweet when we were still alive, you became sweet after because you wanted to prove that you still loved me…”

“Hey, hey, that’s not true! Besides, I was right,” he retorted, wrapping one arm around her waist. “And why are you complaining? Didn’t you make me a better man?”

She laughed, and kissed his cheek. “You’re right. I’ve done a fantastic job with you,” she grinned.

He stole her lips, and sighed in contentment. “I think they need to be alone, you know. I wouldn’t want to watch… well that! It may be interesting, though…”

“ZACK!” she cried.

“Aerith!” he mimicked, half-laughing.

“You’re right though…” she began.

“Do you have popcorn? You prefer a seat in front, or at the bottom of the scene?”

“ZACKKK! We go I said!” she snapped, turning away from the two lovebirds they were watching over, broking his embrace.

“Hey, Aerith! Hey, wait for me! Honey, come on, I was joking! Hey!” he exclaimed while pursuing her.

“Nearly everything is okay… we’ll put the final touch when they will take a shower and change themselves,” Yuffie declared, grinning.

“Quite frankly,” gulped Denzel, “I’m not sure that the final touch will please them.”

“Trust me, little boy! I know what’s good for them!” she avowed cheerfully, thumbs up.

“Probably explains why the last time Cloud was running after you with his sword,” stated an ironic voice. “And Tifa forbade you to enter in the bar for one month,” he added thoughtfully.

“Vince, that’s cheating!” she protested violently. “Last time was last time! This time everything will be alright, you’ll see!”

“I hope so,” mumbled a not so sure Marlene.

It was seven o’clock when they entered the bar. Visibly, Yuffie had made lots of decorations, and preparations for the party.

“See? I didn’t break anything!” claimed triumphly the young ninja.

Tifa looked around doubtfully, but nodded. “Alright, for this time… guess it’s okay,” she sighed. After the day she just had, she wasn’t about to complain. Her alliance was hidden in her pocket. It was a beautiful ring in white gold with a ruby set in between two interlaces, that she couldn’t see before hours after it was set in her hand. At the fugitive thought, she blushed slightly.

“Now, go get dressed!” grinned Yuffie, pushing them through the door that led to the stairs.

A shower later, she was getting dressed, her skin still smelling the sweet scent of her soap. “That’s weird,” she thought loudly.

“What’s weird?” inquired Cloud.

She jolted, surprised to see him in her room. “Cloud! I didn’t hear you,” she confessed.

He smirked, wrapping her with his arms. “So, what’s weird?” he repeated.

“Well,” she frowned, I could have sworn that Yuff’ was onto something. But the bar seemed to be okay... so I was wondering what’s really going on. She even didn’t tell us why she was throwing a party!”

“We should know soon, because it’s nearly eight o’clock,” he noticed. He kissed her sweetly, profiting that he didn’t have to share her –yet.

“Cloud…”

“Mmh?”

“Will we tell them? For us?”

“I guess we’ll have to… since they will be our guests for the marriage,” he grinned.

“I’ll put my alliance then… Yuff’ will probably see it, and make some comment about it,” she smiled.

“Yup, that’s a good idea,” he approved. “Let’s go?”

“Yeah,” she sighed.

Once downstairs, though, they found the door closed and an embarrassed Denzel hindering the way.

“Denzel?” asked quizzically Tifa.

“I-I’m sorry Tifa!” stammered the young boy, apologizing. “Yuffie said you couldn’t enter the bar yet!”

Cloud narrowed his eyes. “What is she doing?” he inquired, feeling uneasy.

“She called that…”

“IT’S OKAY DENZEL, MARLENE!” shouted Yuffie from inside.

“Oh, well, you’ll see,” muttered the boy.

He followed Tifa, frowning slightly. Facing them, their friends who were entering the bar. They were all here: Cid and Shera, Barret, Red XIII, Vincent, even Reeve managed to come. All gaping at them, except...

“What’s with your faces?” enquired Tifa, stunned by their behaviour.

Finally, Shera managed to point something behind them. He turned slightly, and, immediately, shouted. “YUFF’ YOU’RE DEAD!”

The young ninja laughed. “What? Not my fault if you were too busy to noticed that I took some photos. I enlarged them, aren’t you too cute like this, hanging on the wall? Frankly, the kiss was way too beautiful; I had to take this pic!”

“I told Yuffie that it wasn’t the best idea she ever had,” confirmed Vincent in his monotonous and doctoral tone.

A vein popped on his forehead, but before he could chase her, he felt a hand on his arm. He looked down to see Tifa, slightly chuckling. “It’s okay, Cloud,” she stated, a flush on her cheeks.

“So,” asked carefully Barret, “that’s a true photo?”

They both nodded, embarrassed, feeling their cheeks burning. “Although”, he added thoughtfully, “Yuffie didn’t catch the moment where I asked Tifa to marry me, and when she said yes.” He grinned, while his friend’s goggled-eyes told him how surprised they actually were. Even Yuffie. Eat that, he thought, amused.

“What?” cried the ninja. “How come I didn’t know that? Oh my god, this is so fantastic!”

Suddenly, they were in the middle of their friends, Shera hugging tightly Tifa, eyes all teary, Yuffie hugging them both, Barret patting his shoulder, Cid patting his other one, Red XIII smirking, hell, even Vincent was smiling! Finally, after everybody congratulated them, he looked at Marlene and Denzel who were smiling shamelessly.

“Da-” began Cid, immediately elbowed by his wife, “I mean it was about f- freaking time, I f- thought you would never declare!” he shot, trying to prevent himself from swearing.

“Cid, there are two kids here, what did I tell you?” scolded him Shera. “And when where you going to tell us, guys?”

“Well, tonight,” laughed Tifa, “but really, Yuffie caught us by surprise with the photo. Of course, you’ll all be our guests…”

“So, since when are you fiancés?” asked curiously Yuffie.

“Well… today,” he replied coolly.

“That’s a freaking good news!” bellowed Barret.

“And when I think that back then, I thought that Aerith would be a perfect match with Cloud,” muttered Reeve, still under the shock.

He narrowed his eyes. “Aerith was really gentle, and on-going, smiling, and all…” He shook his head. “But this period of my life was too confusing, and I was also under Zack’s influence. Aerith never knew who I really was. And the Cloud that I really was already belonged to a girl that has ruby eyes,” he concluded, eyeing a blushing Tifa.

“That may be why my prediction wasn’t accurate,” grinned the dark-haired man.

“Speaking of Aerith,” said Tifa, “I think we should do our wedding in her church. It would be as if she was here, that would be great.”

“That’s a good idea,” he approved, smiling too. And Zack will be here too I bet.

Hours later, Cloud and Barret had led Denzel and Marlene to their bedroom a long time ago. They were sharing a bed, so Yuffie could sleep there too. Alcohol had flowed, and nearly all of them had passed their limits. Red XIII was half asleep on the floor; Reeve and Vincent did the same, each one at the end of the couch. Shera was getting Cid in Cloud’s old bed, with her help. Barret, thank god because his snoring could have awaken the deads, had his own room. She took some sheets and distributed them to her guests. Tomorrow too, would be a day off. Yuffie was willing to help them to clean Seventh Heaven after a comment from Cloud, including the usage of his sword. However, her help would be appreciated…

“Is it okay?” asked Cloud. His eyes were shining even more than usual, showing that even he had been drinking a little bit too much.

“Yeah, I think everyone found somewhere to sleep,” she laughed silently.

He took her hand, gently guiding her in her –no their– room. “Thanks,” he murmured.

She raised an eyebrow. “Why?” she inquired.

“Because you make me happy, giving me a peace that I was yearning for,” he simply replied.

She chuckled slightly. “You make me happy, Cloud Strife,” she told him. He grinned, and kissed her. That was the life she yearned for too, and she wasn’t about to drop it.

I hope you enjoyed this little fic. Don’t hesitate to review, reviews always make me happy XD

I think that this is a good end for our two lovey-dovey XD if I ever add another chapter, it won’t be before long. I'd also like to thank my 6 reviewers for the last chapter, that was my motive to write this third chapter XD