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The Problem With The Truth	By : Chococat Category: Final Fantasy Anime > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 679 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Final Fantasy franchise in any form or fashion. I do not make money or profit in any way from it.

Chapter List
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Tifa woke up sweating. Her belly was cramping badly. Her son was ready to come. After the contraction passed she panted then sat up. She had to get the kids ready to go to the birthing center. She waddled over to Denzel’s room and peeked her head in. He looked up from the drawing he was creating. “Yes, Mommy?” He’d taken to calling her that since she divulged she was giving him a younger brother.
“Your brother is ready to meet us. I’ll be leaving soon.”
He got up and hugged her gently. “I can’t wait!”
She smiled and he helped her to the other room where Marlene was coloring as well. “Marlene?”
“Yes, Mommy?”
“Your brother is coming so I’ll be going now.”
She called Barrett and Yuffie, who was downstairs in the bar. Yuffie had come to stay a week ago to be on call for Tifa when she gave birth. They came upstairs, grabbed her bag and helped her down. They all piled into the car and drove to the clinic which was on the other side of town. As she stepped out of the car her water broke. Yuffie went for a nurse while Barrett helped her walk. Soon enough she was on a birthing chair and breathing steadily. Her son was coming down.
Her doctor smiled at her and looked down. “Considering he’s late he’s suddenly become impatient.”
“Sounds like his father.”
They shared a laugh then Tifa grimaced. She was now ten and a half months pregnant. The baby had been allowed to stay since the scanner showed it was viable. Since both parents had been in the Lifestream it was thought the gestation would need more time and let her be. Her doctor hadn’t been able to explain if anything might change but the extended carrying time was a part of it.
Her belly had exploded onto the scene after Vincent had exposed her secret and she had looked like she was carrying twins. Waddling had been the way to go because her belly had been heavy. She’d gained thirty two pounds quickly but didn’t mind since it was for the baby.
“Doctor Lorne, he’s coming.”
The woman nodded and they got ready. It took four pushes but he slid out of her body and into the waiting hands of the doctor. He started crying immediately and they all smiled.
“He’s a chunker!” She turned to the nurses who had a waiting towel. “He’s heavy so be careful.” Handing him off she smiled at Tifa. “We just need you to push out the afterbirth and you’ll be good.”
Was that all? She felt like a tunnel. Pushing it soon followed and she waited for the news.
“Twelve pounds six ounces.”
“Wow! His father must be huge.”
Tifa nodded. “He is.”
They brought him over, laying him in her arms. His bright blue eyes were cloudy and unfocused, but he was blinking. He also had a head full of light brown hair that resembled a fairer version of Denzel’s. He looked like Cloud though.
“Hello Ether Atmos Lockhart and welcome to the world. I am your mommy.”
+
Tifa smiled down at her seven week old son. He was hefty at twenty-three pounds. She was nursing him upstairs while on break. The bar was doing great and the exercise was helping with the weight loss. She’d lost twenty pounds in the first week of having him but she was still chunky. She wore leggings and fitted tees all the time now. Her belly had surprisingly gone back almost flat. She had a few stretch marks but it was good.
The door opened and she looked up to see Cloud walk into the room. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the tableau. He wore civilian clothes and carried the smaller sword he used when in town. He was staying somewhere else from the look of it. Probably with Mira.
“I’d heard you had a baby.”
She said nothing. She’d left his name off the birth certificate.
“When did you give birth?”
After a year this was how he greeted her? She lifted Ether up to her shoulder to burp him, refusing to answer.
He sighed deeply and walked a little closer. He watched as the baby latched onto her other breast, squatting to get a closer look.
“What’s his name?”
He didn’t deserve that either. She avoided his gaze, focusing on her son.
“Tifa, say something.”
Stubbornly she kept her mouth closed. She didn’t want to share Ether with him. She’d heard through the grapevine that he’d gotten married to Mira. She hadn’t been surprised but it still hadn’t felt nice.
Finally, he stood up and left. She let out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. After burping the baby she went downstairs to help with the lunch rush.
When Barrett dropped off the kids he asked to speak to her privately. They went upstairs to her living room. “What’s up, Barrett?”
“Cloud told me he stopped by earlier.”
“Okay.”
“He said you wouldn’t speak to him.”
“Alright.”
“Why not?”
“Why do I have to? I’m not telling you anything so you can run back to him.”
“You’ve changed. You used to be so open with your feelings. Now it’s like pulling teeth when I talk to you.”
“What you really mean is I’m not emoting about Cloud. I have a right to keep my own counsel. I don’t owe him anything!”
Barrett’s eyes widened. “Easy, now. I didn’t do it.”
“Yes, you did. You questioned me about why I wouldn’t talk to Cloud.”
“He asked me about Ether and I told him I didn’t know anything other than basic information. I couldn’t even tell him whose child it is.” His voice had an accusing note.
“Why do I owe you that?”
Barrett looked surprised at her words. “I guess you don’t. I didn’t realize things were so bad between you and Cloud.”
“That’s not something I would share.”
“I heard the ‘with you’ part.”
“Barrett, this isn’t even about you. It’s not fair that you’re giving me the third degree. My feelings are hurt at how aggressive you’ve become.”
“Aggressive?”
“Yes. You’re all about Cloud nowadays and you don’t care if I have a damned good reason for not dealing with him. You just care that he came running to you and you’re going to make it all right. I thought we were friends but I see that only counts if I’m friends with Cloud too.”
His eyes widened. “Tifa!”
She walked back into the bar and didn’t look at him as he left.
“Barrett looked unhappy.” Yuffie wiped down the bar.
“Cloud ran to him.”
“Oh.” She refilled the straws. “He needs to mind his business. I know he wants to help but he’s making things worse.”
“Yep. I told him it appeared we were only friends if I was friends with Cloud.”
She grunted. “That’s harsh but I see your point. It’s been a week since Cloud landed and this is the first day he came over here. What type of father figure is he?”
“The kids take him at face value. They understand sometimes he’ll disappear for work so they’re happy when they see him and fine when they don’t.”
“That’s wild.”
“It is but that’s life with Cloud.”
“What now?”
“We move on. Are we still going to Gold Saucer?”
“You know it. Life in the fake countryside is awaiting you and the children. It’s open all day long and a great place to get lost in.”
She was closing down for a little while to let the heat die down because authorities were on a witch hunt for rebel groups. Her bar was a known meeting place for those types of people. They were going east for a while. Gold Saucer had grown and the surrounding areas had sprouted a few villages.
The next few days were a flurry of activity and then they were on the train. The trip took four days and when they finally stepped off the train it was into a whole different world. It was more a medium affluent hub town with the suburbs a few blocks away. The heart of the town was full of shops but it wasn’t garish. The buildings sleeker and more modern. The ever present rot of Edge wasn’t around either. The air was clean. Perhaps they could start over.
Yuffie led them to the house that had been acquired for them. It was a four bedroom house with a backyard. They got settled and went to walk around town. The more Tifa saw the more she liked. Finally, even though she didn’t want to she sent a message to Barrett to let him know they’d arrived safely. It was brief and curt. His response was the same. She felt sad but not sorry. She’d told him the truth and he hadn’t tried to approach her ever since. Cloud had not come back either.
She decided not to worry about it. Whatever was going to be, would happen.
+
One month turned into three which slid to nine. Before Tifa knew it she’d been in Wuxia Village for a year. Marlene and Denzel had transitioned nicely into school and were behaving like normal children, not short adults. Ether was the apple of her eye and walking all over the place. She’d sold the shop to one of her compatriots for a great price. In his own way he wanted to help her make a new start. Using the money she opened up a day tavern near the middle of town.
Her relationship with Barrett was getting better. He apologized for his behavior saying he hadn’t known how bad the situation with Cloud was. He’d confronted Cloud about why he never interacted with Tifa. Cloud had said he didn’t see the point since he didn’t have much to say to her anyway. That had made Barrett consider his stance. While he was still loyal to Cloud he now understood why she felt the way she did. He visited every two months to make sure they were good and give her money. It stretched further since the cost of living was lower out here. She recalled their last conversation yesterday.
“Tifa, I have some news about Cloud.”
“You sound so serious. Is he dead?”
Barrett made a horrified face. “Don’t say such things! Not even in jest!”
“Fine. Just be aware you don’t have to tell me because I don’t care.”
“Cloud got married and had a baby girl. Her name is Mirage.”
Even though something flipped in her stomach she shrugged. “Good for him.”
Barrett blinked and then sighed. “Do you know how long I dreaded telling you that?”
“I don’t understand why.”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry. I think my behavior stems from past experiences.”
“Okay.”
Now he frowned. “Just okay?”
“Barrett, you apologized swiftly and you even admitted your reasoning. I’m sensitive to the fact that memories play a big part in why we act how we do. It’s exactly why I don’t deal with Cloud. So yes, it’s okay.”
He sighed. “Gotcha. I’ll be up next week.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
Tifa hung up then sighed. Such is life. She got up to make dinner.
+
“Mommy, is Cloud dead?” Denzel’s face was speculative.
Tifa sighed. She knew it was going to come about sometime. They’d been in Wuxia Village for over two years now. She called Marlene and they sat in the living room. “As far as I know Cloud is not dead.”
Marlene pursed her lips. “Then where is he?”
“I guess in Edge.”
“Is he ever coming to see us?”
“I don’t know.” She hoped not.
Denzel was quiet for a moment. “Is this because of what you do in the bed?”
Tifa’s eyes almost popped out her head. “What do you mean?”
“One night I had a bad dream and went to go lay in your bed. Cloud was on top of you but you were asleep. I asked him what he was doing. He said fixing you and told me to go back to bed.” He stared into space for a moment before focusing on her. “Did he break you or something?”
Tifa felt extremely embarrassed. “No, he didn’t break me and it’s not because of that. Cloud got married and had a baby with a mercenary named Mira.”
“Why didn’t he tell us?” Marlene pouted.
“Cloud doesn’t tell us anything, Marlene. You know that. He just disappears and reappears like clouds in the sky. That’s probably why he’s named after them.”
Wow. Out of the mouths of babes.
“Will we ever see him again?” Marlene’s intelligent brown eyes were bright with curiosity.
“Ah, I don’t know, baby.” No sense in lying.
“Okay. Can I have a snack?”
Tifa blinked at the change in subject but nodded. “Sure.”
The next day Tifa went to her tavern and started prepping for the day. Shepherd’s pie was on the menu as was some meatloaf. Things were different in the country. The meat was bred on local farms and hunted under strict control. She had decided to keep her fare seasonal to have prices remain decent. She was making a good living and she had a small work staff. She only stayed open till six since she had to take the teens home.
After the lunch rush she looked around. Paul was sitting at the counter and there were a few customers left. Paul was a guard at one of the better manor houses and a great guy. When he was on duty he came for lunch and they had great conversations.
“So, Tifa, you should consider my offer.”
She smiled at him as she fed Ether. “Which one?”
“The one where you become my consort.”
She smirked. “You already have a wife, Paul.”
“Yes, but I make enough to take care of us all and I’m eligible for a second.”
“I come with three children.”
He shrugged. “I have none. It’s not a problem.”
There was a laugh off to the side. Jack was sitting next to them. “You know damned well Lotta is not going to tolerate you taking another woman to bed.”
“I’m sure she’ll change her mind after a while. There’s enough of me to go around.” Paul was an average height man with a strong wide body. He wore his uniform well and she had to admit he wasn’t bad on the eyes. He turned back to Tifa and smiled. “You won’t be displeased with all I have to offer.”
“Pbbt! Is that your way of saying you know your way around the bedroom?” Jack burst into laughter and Paul rolled his eyes.
“Don’t mind him, he’s an idiot.”
She laughed too, happy she’d moved here.
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The Problem With The Truth