What's Best

100 Themes Challenge

Theme #46--Family

Tifa grinned and hugged Barett when she saw him at the door. "Barret! This is unexpected! How are you?"

He returned the hug slightly less enthusiastically. "I been alright. Got somethin' I need to talk to you 'bout, though."

The martial artist's face fell at his words and his expression. "What's wrong?"

Barett shook his head. "Nuthin' bad. Jus' been thinkin' 'bout some serious stuff."

"Well, c'mon in. Marlene will be thrilled to see you."

"I wanna talk before I see Marlene." The big man's eyes were serious—and sad. "Its about her."

Tifa merely nodded and led him into the living room of the apartment over the bar. He sank into the couch with a sigh while she brought some drinks from the kitchen.

When the martial artist had taken her own seat in Cloud's favorite chair, she asked, "Okay. What is it?"

"I been thinkin' a lot lately. 'Bout a lot of things." Barett looked down at his hands. "Corel's comin' back, but its still no place for a little girl. I do the best by her that I can, but I'm never around for Marlene.

"You and Cloud been taking such good care of her. If you let me, I want to sign custody of her over to you two."

"Barett, are you sure?" Tifa gave him a long look. "That's a big step—and she's your best friend's daughter."

"I know that, Tifa. That's why I want her where someone can give her a good life. I want her to have a family that can love her all the time, not jus' when they ain't busy."

The martial artist looked thoughtfully down into her tea. "I don't know. I'll have to talk to Cloud about it."

"I know. I just wanted to lay it on you now, while I was sure it was what I wanted."

She nodded.

"Absolutely not."

Barett goggled at Cloud's abrupt and immediate dismissal of his request. "The fuck, Cloud? Why not?"

"Marlene has bee your world since before I met you. Everything you ever did after your town was destroyed was for her. She is your family; I won't let you rob yourself of that." The blond put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know that you want to do what's best for her, but you've already done that. Tifa and I like to take care of her when you can't be around. And Denzel loves her."

"That's why I want—"

"But you don't need to," Tifa interrupted. "We'll take care of her when you can't, but we can't ever take the place of her father. And iyou/i are her father."

Barett stared at his two best friends for a long moment. "How did you two manage to convince me that this was the shittiest idea I've ever had?"

Tifa grinned. "You did that yourself, when you said that you needed to do this while you were sure it was what you wanted. You never really wanted to give her up."

After a moment of contemplation, Barett gave a grin that matched Tifa's. "I guess you right about that."

As his words trailed off, they heard the bar door opening, then closing, and the sound of children's feet coming up the stairs.

"Cloud, Tifa! We're home!" Denzel shouted on his way up.

"Come into the living room," Tifa replied. "We have company."

"Papa?" Marlene asked excitedly, trying to push past Denzel to see.

"Yeah, Marlene," Barett replied. "Its me."

"Yay!" Tifa and Cloud smiled softly as the girl sprinted across the room to hug her father tightly. "I missed you!"

Barett hugged the girl back just as tightly. "I missed you too. You been a good girl for Cloud and Tifa while I was workin'?"

"Uh-huh! I go to school and help in the kitchen and eat my vegetables. Are you going to stay now?" Marlene looked up at him with begging eyes.

"For a few days," Barett replied. "I gotta get back to Corel soon, though. I can't trust them guys to run everything without me forever."

No matter how hard she tried, Marlene couldn't hide her disappointment. "I was hoping you'd stay forever this time. We have another room here now, since Shelke moved out."

"Marlene, why don't you take your Papa out for some ice cream," Tifa broke in. "You can tell him about school and get caught up."

The girl brightened slightly at the thought of treats. "Okay!"

"Sounds good," Barett agreed. "You go put your school books away and we'll get goin'."

Barett stood up as his daughter ran out of the room. He gave Cloud and Tifa a smile. "Thanks, guys."

"You're welcome," Cloud replied, putting an arm around Denzel, who had watched the conversation quietly. "Sometimes the important things have to be pointed out to you."

"Ain't that the truth!"