"Well Zack, I've been married for nearly two weeks. Can you believe it?" Cloud was sitting on the balcony of the apartment. The grill still smelled of the meat Cloud had cooked earlier that night. He was staring out over the Midgar streets. It was unusually busy tonight; likely because it was Halloween and there would be countless parties going on tonight; including the one in Cloud's apartment. Cloud kept taking his wedding band off and sliding it back on repeatedly. "I wish you could have seen Tifa. She was so... She wore this white sweater that she has with her dark jeans…she was the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. " Cloud laughed as he felt the beginnings of a tear in his eye.

"You don't really know Yuffie but she took us out for Mexican after we signed the license. Yuffie's funny. She ordered me and Tifa margaritas and insisted we drink them like we were 'just married.' I always thought you would be first…in everything for that matter. I always thought I'd be right there beside you at your wedding. You got those wings too early. It's…just not fair." Cloud sniffed a few times. "So what do you think? Your best friend is a married man with two kids. Who would have thought, huh? Well let me tell you Zack…there is no greater feeling in this world." Cloud dried his eyes.

"I wish you could have been at our party tonight. It was fun. Our house smells good tonight too. It's like a…cider smelling pumpkin scent. You would have been the life of the party and I can hear Aerith cautioning the kids to not eat too much candy." Cloud laughed as he dried his eyes again. "Me and Tifa let them eat as much as they want. In fact, Denzel the negotiator, is probably in there making some kind of elaborate trade with Marlene. I should probably go help Tifa clean up. Husbands do that, right?" Cloud heard the sliding glass door open behind him. Cloud squirmed around in his chair until he could see Tifa.

"Whew! It's cold out here!" Tifa said putting one arm around his shoulders. Cloud reached for her other arm and pulled her around on his lap. She kissed him.

"Thank you for making so many ribs. They were really delicious." Tifa said.

"Did you bring any of the candy out here? Marlene and Denzel got some good stuff." Cloud said. He had already been into it tonight.

"Cloud, eating four of the mini candy bars is the same as eating one regular size candy bar." Tifa said.

"Oh yeah? Well…well…whatever!" Cloud said flipping his hand out at Tifa in his second failed attempt at being a 13-year-old girl.

"It's okay baby. I've eaten 27 tootsie rolls tonight….27! That's not counting the ribs, the better than sex cake, and all the other food we had tonight." Tifa said.

"Why do they call it better than sex cake…it's not. I call it the cake that lies but is still delicious anyway." Cloud said. Tifa shook her head.

"I'm just thrilled that Yuffie made one of those things because they are so good…I'm not exactly thrilled that she told Marlene and Denzel what it was called." Tifa said.

"Oh my god, that was hilarious. That was absolutely hilarious. I can still see the look on Marlene's face when she said Aunt Yuffie, is it really better?" Cloud said.

"And I can still see the look on your face when you screamed yes, yes Marlene it is! The cake is better than anything up to and including boys! My god if that wasn't unconvincing nothing is! Real smooth Cloud; real smooth." Tifa said.

"I didn't handle that all that well. Of course, I also can't handle the fact that Marlene is 12 going on 20. And can you believe that Marlene and Denzel figured out you and I were sleeping together at the beach? I could not believe that story when Yuffie told it." Cloud said. Tifa laughed. "Hey, and speaking of that trip…why didn't Marlene's little friend and her mom come by tonight?"

"Stella was at her dad's this weekend. I talked to her mom earlier tonight. Their divorce was finalized two weeks ago. I'm shocked it took that long but I guess it was a mess. Marlene is on the phone with Stella right now actually. Eliza, her mom…cried when I told her you and I got married. I felt so bad." Tifa said.

"Zack knows that we got married." Cloud said; his voice suddenly subdued. Tifa pulled his head over against her.

"I know he does, baby. Aerith does too." Tifa said.

"Yeah…she does too." Cloud said. "Of course, they are both pretty pissed that we didn't have a rehearsal dinner. Zack was going to start his toast with 'When I first met Cloud I seriously considered going blond'. Naturally, Aerith is all sad because she didn't get to put any flowers together for the occasion." Tifa laughed because it sounded so true.

"Hey, can you believe we didn't get any trick or treaters tonight?" Cloud asked.

"Yes…kids don't want to walk up two flights of stairs to get a chocolate disk. These kids just don't want to work for it anymore. But I'm glad, we got to spend that much more time with our guests." Tifa said.

"Well, I can't believe someone passed out apples tonight? Come on, who wants to get an apple on trick or treat night? I bet it was some lady in her early 50's…that seems like it fits the scenario." Cloud said.

"You are so mean." Tifa said laughing at him."

"You're not wearing a bra underneath that sweatshirt." Cloud said as he snuck cold hands up the back of her shirt.

"You're right, I'm not." Tifa winked at him.

"Is that your costume?" Cloud asked her.

"It might be…or…you never know I may have not even put my costume on yet." Tifa said. It was enticing.

"Maybe you should. I'll help if you want." Cloud said.

"How much of a costume should I put on?" Tifa asked digging her fingers through blond hair.

"Not much of one." Cloud insisted.

"How about you come in and help me clean up the living room and the rest of the kitchen and I'll wear anything you want." Tifa said.

"You know, I would have helped you clean up inside anyway but now you've really got my mind thinking." Cloud said. Tifa stood up and pulled Cloud up with her.

"Hey, isn't it great that we finally got rid of the last two turtle babies?" Tifa said putting her arms around him.

"I love Yuffie's boyfriend for taking one and Denzel's friend for taking the last one. I'm so happy we are a one turtle family again." Cloud said. The Halloween chill was in the air tonight as Cloud held her against him. Both Cloud and Tifa were surprised that Marlene and Denzel were wide awake at 11:00 tonight. As they came back inside the apartment, there was obviously still a lot of work to do tonight before this place looked clean again. Denzel had done half of the dishes after the guests were gone. Marlene cleaned up their now hardwood covered floors with the duster that was kept in the hallway closet.

"Did you see the mail today?" Cloud asked Tifa as she started phase two of the dishes.

"Yeah. I saw it." Tifa said. She knew what Cloud was talking about.

"You going to open it?" Cloud asked her wiping off the now clear counter top. The apartment smelled so good; the scent of cider and pumpkin and cinnamon looming throughout the apartment. It was comforting to Cloud and it made him want to take Tifa in his arms and curl up with her on the couch. Once they went to bed tonight, they would watch every horror movie shown tonight and probably lay there awake until 3:00AM glued to the TV. There was something about tonight that reminded Cloud of the night they spent in Nibelheim…but he wasn't sure what it was.

"I don't think so. I don't care what he has to say." Tifa said. Explaining to Marlene and Denzel that their only 'grandfather' didn't want a thing to do with them hadn't been exactly easy for them. Sure they were disappointed that Tifa's father didn't want them in his life; but what they really cared about was having Cloud and Tifa in their lives…and they had that. In fact, Marlene and Denzel were quite lucky. Not only did they have parents who loved them, they had Yuffie who would give them anything in the world, and they had Cid…even though Cloud feared Cid would try and take Denzel to a strip club. On occasion, they had Vincent. Vincent was a little...intense but he was so smart and he was the best homework consultant there was. It was like having a private tutor without the 50 gil an hour price.

Cloud went down the hallway to Marlene's room. She had just put her pajamas on and was close to going to bed. Cloud tucked both her and Denzel in every night. Well, it wasn't really tucking them in…it was more so just talking to them as they climbed into bed. It was precious time and Cloud cherished it more than Marlene and Denzel would ever know.

"Are you sad that this was your last year to go trick or treating?" Cloud asked sitting on the end of her bed as she smashed her pillows with her fists to fluff them.

"A little…but I know that we'll do something fun next year. Like have another party with our friends, or maybe go to the Halloween dance at school! The 7th graders get to have a dance." Marlene said.

"Well that's not a good idea. See, dances mean there will be boys there…and slow songs…I don't like either of those things." Cloud said. Marlene laughed at him. "But you are right that we'll do something fun next year."

"Cloud? Preston Withup's mom just got married and they went on a honeymoon. They took a cruise and everything. Are you and Tifa going to have a honeymoon?" she asked. Cloud smiled at her.

"No, honey."

"I'm happy you married Tifa. She has your last name now." Marlene said pulling the covers up around her.

"She does doesn't she? I'm happy too. Listen, don't stay up too late tonight watching TV, okay?" Cloud leaned over and Marlene put her arms around his neck. "Good night, love you."

"I love you too!" Marlene let go of Cloud and he turned her light out before closing her door behind him. Cloud walked in to Denzel's room. His room looked like a tornado had gone through it.

"I'll clean my room tomorrow Cloud, I promise!" Denzel said. Cloud laughed.

"It's okay. You've had a big night tonight. You can clean it sometime tomorrow." Cloud said.

"Tonight was a lot of fun wasn't it?" Denzel asked.

"It sure was. Your aunt spoils you, you know? Don't get used to it." Cloud reminded him. Denzel laughed.

"She doesn't spoil me that much." Denzel said.

"She took you and Marlene all the way across town tonight so you two could get the good candy from all the doctors' and lawyers' homes. That's spoiled for sure!" Cloud said grabbing hold of Denzel. Denzel laughed again.

"I guess she does spoil us. Are you going to bed?" Denzel wondered.

"It's past 11:30 and I'm tired. So yes, I'm going to bed." Cloud answered him.

"Well, okay then. Goodnight. Do you think I'm too old to hug you?" Denzel asked.

"You'll never be too old to hug me." Cloud said reaching his arms out to Denzel." That made Denzel feel better.

"Okay, well goodnight then." Denzel said squeezing Cloud tightly before letting him go. "Do you think someday soon I'll be as strong as you are?" Denzel asked out of nowhere.

"You might be. If you work at it of course." Cloud said.

"But you never work out or anything and you're so strong." Denzel said.

"It's because I pick boxes up all the time." Cloud told him.

"You don't pick up as many boxes as you use to. You sit behind a desk most of the day!" Denzel challenged him.

"You're getting too smart Denzel. Go back to the days when I could fool you into thinking I work out and that I actually care about keeping the definition in these arms of mine." Cloud said. Denzel laughed at him.

"Hey! I have an idea! Let's you and me go to the gym sometime! Just us! You can help me!" Denzel said, his eyes shining.

"You're trying to kill me aren't you? We'll see about it. Maybe next weekend." Cloud said.

"Okay!" Denzel answered him. Just as he did in Marlene's room; Cloud turned Denzel's light out and closed the door behind him. He turned the lights out in their living room. The only lights to be seen now were the small orange colored lights that Marlene and Yuffie had wrapped around the balcony banister about a week earlier. Cloud walked into him and Tifa's room only to find her on the edge of the bed glued to some slasher flick on TV.

"That is the fakest thing ever." Cloud said making fun of her. "But I know we are going to stay up watching those movies like we're interested."

" Look how scary it is! That crazed psycho killer is going after the innocent barely clad lady running through the yard!" Tifa said.

"Yes, Tifa that's so terrifying." Cloud said still making fun of her.

"Shut up! She's gonna get stabbed!" Tifa said. Cloud turned their bedroom lamp out and pulled her backwards into his arms in their bed. Their bedroom window was open but the sounds and smells were nothing like Nibelheim...it smelled like Midgar. The sounds of traffic and the smell of exhaust and neighboring restaurants certainly wasn't the pines and bonfires of the north…but that same content feeling that Cloud and Tifa had felt in Nibelheim was present once again. Tifa felt so warm in her oversized sweatshirt as Cloud rubbed his body against hers. She put her arms around Cloud and pulled him on top of her.

"Hey you know what? I've been thinking...the next time we go back to Nibelheim…let's get a cabin. Let's get a cabin in the mountains; take the kids; invite Yuffie and whoever else you think we should invite and just go and have a wonderful time." Cloud said. Tifa smiled.

"I would like that. We could build our own bonfire outside…and then you and I could take a hot shower together to wash the smell of smoke off our bodies. She said.

"I'm very interested now…let's plan on doing that." Cloud said.

"We will Now, tell me…what you want me to wear right now? Tifa said stroking her hands all over his back. Cloud had his hands up her sweatshirt and on her bare skin.

"What are you wearing underneath these pants?" Cloud asked kissing her neck.

"Silky panties." Tifa said softly.

"Wear those…just those." Cloud said kissing her neck again. Tifa laughed as Cloud's fingers tickled her sides. "You're going to be on top too." Cloud said still tickling her.

"No, I'm not. I'm too tired." Tifa insisted.

"Oh my god, you sound like a wife." Cloud said teasing her.

"I do not! I cooked over half the evening for a party! I am really tired. If I wanted to sound like a wife I would pick up a craft magazine and tell you that I wasn't in the mood. Then I would proceed to gossip about so and so's mom's boob job and you would pretend to listen because that's what husbands do." Tifa said.

"God, that is frighteningly accurate. I'm so glad neither of those scenarios is us. You know what; I'd do anything you say anyway. You don't have to move at all if you don't want to. But oooooh you're so warm and you're so soft. I think I'm just going to lay on you and go to sleep to the sound of crazed killers and screaming helpless women." Cloud said kissing her.

"No! Don't lay on me! My god Cloud, you are dead weight when you do that! Tifa complained.

"But you're soft! And you still smell like pumpkins." Cloud whined at her. Tifa wrapped her arms around him and dug one hand into his hair. His body did feel so good laying there on top of her.

"Fine...your hair smells good anyway. There's one of those creepy paranormal movies coming on next. You want to watch it! Come on, you know how sexually charged those are! Someone may even get naked…like maybe you." Tifa mumbled into the top of his head.

"I'm going to get you naked right now. Well, down to your panties anyway." Cloud said kissing her again. Tifa slipped her arms above her head.

"I won't say no to that." She said laughing.

"I love you." He said stripping Tifa of her sweatshirt. The cold air sent chills all over her beautiful body.

"Mmmm…I love you too." She put her arms around Cloud knowing that this weekend would go by too quickly. Sure the weekends were fleeting around here, but one thing was certain; they would have so many more to look forward together as newly anointed husband and wife.