Rebirth

Chapter 6 - Promises and Threats

"I don't want Kadj or his gang to know about this. If they see you, they'll know. They
will try to take our baby, Tifa. We can't let that happen," said Cloud.

As he said this, Tifa remembered Loz's question. "Where is Mother?"

She knew in her heart that he was right. She would have to stay hidden away while
Cloud went out alone into the night to find Marlene and the other children.

She threw back her head and let out a strangled cry. She was afraid if Cloud walked out
the door, she would never see him again.

He knew what she was thinking.

"Don't worry my love. I promised that I would be around to help you through this. You
are carrying my child. I want to see it born healthy. And I want to make love with its
Mother again . . . soon," he whispered to her with a smile.

She hung her head and nodded slightly. Cloud let out a small sigh of relief. He gathered
her up in his arms again and kissed her passionately. She held on to him tight, not
wanting to let him go.

"I will be back before dawn, with Marlene. I promise."

Cloud stood and pulled Tifa to him for one last embrace. He kissed her gently and then
bent down and kissed her belly. "Stay safe, both of you," he smiled at her and walked
out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him

Tifa slumped down on the bed sobbing.

Cloud walked into the kitchen to find Rude and Reno. Rude was standing by the coffee
machine pouring himself another cup while Reno was slouched on a chair, his feet up on
the table.

"Want some?" asked Rude over his shoulder to Cloud.

"You two stay here and look after Tifa. If anything happens to her or if she comes to any
harm while in your care, I will kill you both," growled Cloud.

"Whoa, buddy!" Reno sat up and put his feet on the floor. He didn't like being told what
to do, especially by some spikey haired kid with a big sword and a bigger ego.

"We are not your babysitters. Anyway, that bitch can take care of herself. I've seen it,"
he said, rubbing his chin again.

Cloud looked down at Reno with a smirk. "I bet you have. Just the same, stay here with
her."

Rude put down his coffee and turned to face Cloud. "What happened? Did you knock
her up?"

Cloud's eyes glowed with rage at Rude's words. He didn't feel like explaining himself to
these two jerks and if Reno didn't wipe that sardonic smile off his face, he would do it for
him.

He pulled out his sword and pointed it at Rude's chest. He moved so quickly that Rude
didn't have time to react before he found a blade at his throat.

"Remember what I said."

"Ok, so what are we protecting her from?" asked Rude, backing away from Cloud's
blade.

"Kadj, any of his crew, anyone that may come looking for her."

"And why would anyone come looking for her, then?" said Reno, standing slowly to his
feet. He wasn't smiling anymore.

Cloud sheathed his sword and paused before he answered.

"You know why. Just look after her."

Cloud walked out the back door into the night, past a stunned Rude and a blustering
Reno.

The Forgotten Capital. Cloud knew it well. It was where he laid Aeris's body to rest, in
the pool near the Lifestream source. This time, for the first time, when his mind
transported him back to that event he didn't feel the guilt that always accompanied the
memory. He found that he could see Aeris's face in his mind and not feel the gaping hole
in his soul any more. It had been filled. By the woman in the room upstairs. He glanced
up at the bedroom window where he knew Tifa was and saw the outline of her body
standing in the window looking down at him. He smiled up at her and saw her place her
hand on the glass separating them.

He found Fenrir outside the bar and mounted the bike. The familiar dull throb in his arm
returned, causing him to wince in pain. He shook it off and kicked the bike into life and
roared out onto the dark street.