Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Come on, you guys!” Marlene called, waving.

“Come on!” Zack echoed his big sister from his spot in between her and Denzel. The two older kids were holding his hands to keep him running off.

“We’re coming!” Tifa called cheerfully as she started towards the kids, while Cloud tugged the door knob, just to make sure it was actually locked before all of them left.

They were going to the festival of the Holy Flame, where Barret and the others already were. In the years since the Jenova war, it had become a tradition for all of Avalanche to come together and attend the festival. Together they’d wander the market and see what there was to see, try some food from some of the stalls and get some hot drinks. The hot chocolate was always a hit with the kids and Tifa.

Denzel and Marlene spotted a puppet show and went to watch it with Zack while Tifa went to a food stand and was getting snacks for all of them.

Cloud got started on one of his favorite activities- watching his family.

He loved watching how excited the kids got about things like this.

Denzel and Marlene clapped as another character “marched” onto the stage, while Zack, too young to really grasp what was going on, was having fun because they were having fun.

Tifa, smiling as she chatted with the stall owner, was as beautiful as always. The cold brought an even brighter glow to her cheeks. That and her smile- and the laughter of the kids- brought a warmth to Cloud’s heart that no hot chocolate could match.

Well, unless Tifa made it just for him. She had a special ingredient that made it taste the best, one that she giggled shyly about when asked about and refused to share. 

Whatever was going on in the puppet show caused the kids to cheer.

Cloud wondered idly what it was about.

Last year there had  been a stall that showed a little puppet show showing a very abbreviated, not very accurate telling of what happened during the war against Jenova.

Most of the show Cloud would prefer not to think about, given how overly dramatic the dialogue was and oversimplified everyone's characters were.

He’d only felt that way even more after Marlene had been very interested whether or not he and Tifa had actually kissed before they’d left to fight Sephiroth in the final battle.

The rest of Avalanche had laughed at Marlene’s question while Barret tried to distract her. 

After finally finishing laughing, the others had helped with the distracting. No one wanted to explain to Marlene that Cloud and Tifa had done a lot more than kissing. 

Cloud did appreciate that this was what Sephiroth was known for now. Being a loser villain who only brought death. The bad guy in the play.

Cloud supposed this did make Sephiroth somewhat right. He’d said he would never be a memory, and very few people bothered to remember him, and those who did remember him only remembered him as the villain who tried to destroy the world. 

But then, Sepiroth had only ever been a pathetic man with a weak heart, one who didn’t understand anything. Why bother remembering him at all?

Movement distracted Cloud and he looked up.

Snow was coming down, just light flakes, but enough that Zack had decided he wanted to catch them. He swung particularly hard at one and overbalanced and was only saved by a fall by Cloud swiftly scooping him up.

“I gotcha buddy.” Cloud assured him. 

Zack, still young enough to be upset about his close call, clung to his father so Cloud shifted position and hugged him. 

Zack snuggled against his father trustingly and Cloud squeezed him gently. He still had days when he couldn’t believe how lucky he was, how this was his life with his wonderful kids and his beautiful wife. 

Speaking of which- Cloud and Zack both looked up to see Tifa approaching.

“Good catch Cloud,” Tifa told him as she came closer. She smiled at her husband before cupping Zack’s cheek with one hand. “You okay sweetie?”

Zack nodded, then looked at the snacks Tifa was holding. “For me?” he asked hopefully.

“For us,” Tifa corrected gently, “and for later.”

Zack pouted but nodded.

Tifa gave Zack another reassuring smile before shifting to smile at Cloud, who suddenly realized the tender smile he was giving her in the middle of a crowd of people.

Before he could decide on his next course of action, Tifa leaned closer and pressed her lips against Cloud’s.

Surprised but pleased, Cloud returned the kiss and in response Tifa deepened it. Husband and wife both got lost in the kiss until a passerby gave an amused chuckle.

“Ah young love.”

Cloud and Tifa broke off the kiss and smiled at each other.

“There was a snowflake,” Tifa said, quietly and somewhat breathlessly. 

“Oh,'' Cloud said, somewhat also somewhat breathless. Even after this time, a single kiss from her could still knock him for a loop.

“Denzel, did you see that?” Marlene demanded, tugging on her older brother’s sleeve while Denzel looked like he didn't  know whether to be grossed out or happy that his parents were happy. 

“Mama,” Zack said, tugging at her red jacket, “kiss me too?”

Both Cloud and Tifa chuckled. 

Tifa pressed a gentle kiss to their son’s forehead, before straightening up and smiling at Cloud again. “Come on, let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”

“Right, Tifa,” Cloud said with a smile as he shifted so he could continue keeping Zack safely in his arms and wrapped his other arm around Tifa, and then all of their family headed further into the crowd.