Home for Rest. (Open.)

[Cloud Strife]

Spiked blonde hair moved in the small wind, while bright blue eyes glanced through the town. There was a good number of people working and moving around. It was good to see so many still happy in this slum of a town. It made Cloud feel a little better himself.

He continued to walk through the town. His destination was a simple one. The 7th Heaven. Cloud hadn't been back in a while now. He knew Tifa would probably be mad about that, but it was alright.

Blue eyes spotted the building. He sighed and pushed through the door. Once inside he called out. "Hey. Is anyone home?" He was sure either Tifa or the two kids would hear him. The blue eyes took a look around. It was pretty clean. There was only a few things out of place. Cloud looked at the time. It would be a while still before the bar opened for the day.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa’s day had been pretty quiet so far. It was early enough so there hadn’t been many customers yet. Which suited her, as it gave her time to do a quick tidy and stock take before she opened up. Washing some glasses behind the counter, she wasn’t really paying much attention to what was going on outside. It was quiet enough and the kids must have been happily playing upstairs. As there wasn’t much noise going about. Which suited Tifa fine. The peace and quiet was rather relaxing.

If a bit on the boring side of things. Too much noise was a pest, but lively banter kept her going. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like she would get much of that today. Sighing, she finished cleaning up the shelves in the back when the sound of footsteps alerted her from the back.

Then a voice made her smile as she got out from the back. ”I’m here, one second” she replied, dusting her hands on a tea towel. Soon she had appeared in front of him, standing behind her counter... With her dark eyes watching him, she wondered what he had been up to today. After all, he didn’t tell her an awful lot. ”Cloud” she smiled in recognition, wiping down the counter. It was an unexpected occurrence, as it had been some time since she last saw him.

But she came to become used to it. He was after all, his own person. They it wouldn’t kill him to be more open... ”Long time no see...” she started, not really sure she wanted to add more to it. As she was a bit frustrated with him. With the fact that he hadn’t got in touch with her in so long. The pain...it was still in her heart, but his eyes...they tried to distract her from her frustration. The words wouldn’t come out from her lips. ”I’m glad you’re here” her response shocked her.

”But you could of at least called. I was worried sick, you know!” she scolded, though it was more of a teasing gesture than anything else. The very person that made her feel so care-free was right here in front of her. Which made an effortless smile appear on her peach lips.

[Cloud Strife]

It didn't take long before he heard a response call back. Cloud turned to see Tifa had come out from the back and was now cleaning the counter. It was quiet. Neither seemed to know what to say. Blue eyes looked to the floor. A hand ran through the blonde mess on his head. Cloud wasn't good at words. He was still trying to figure himself out. It had been a long time since the two were together.

"Long time no see..." Tifa finally started. "I’m glad you’re here. But you could of at least called. I was worried sick, you know!” Her voice changed to a playful scold. Cloud gave a small laugh. "Sorry." He half apologized. He didn't really know why he hadn't come back sooner. Guess he was just lost in his own thoughts. "So....Where are the kids? It's quiet for them." He added in a lighter note. Cloud knew he frustrated Tifa, but he didn't really know how to respond to her sometimes. He tried not to get on her bad side, though that was the side he was usually on. Blue eyes looked to the stairs. Marlene and Denzel were probably playing upstairs.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Hmm, despite not seeing Cloud in a while, she was rather happy to have him back. At last. Now the kids would stop bugging her. And maybe..they could be a real family? The latter was impossible, so she thought. Or...maybe not, in time anyhow. She wiped her hands on the towel quickly, having done her cleaning for the day. Soon it would be ready to open. But first...she was more interested in a quick catch-up. Even it would be brief and perhaps quiet. Till the kids came running down. Of which they were likely too.

”It’s okay, i understand” she smiled, though it clearly wasn’t. But she decided not to scold him. Till later. Right now she wanted something from him. Answers. But he kept putting that off, as per always. ”Upstairs, playing. Trust me, they won’t be quiet once they see you” she chuckled, placing the towel back on its hook.

”They missed you too, you know. Been asking for you.” she spoke quietly, with a serious tone to her voice. ”I understand you like being alone, but..where have you been all this time without telling me?” she asked, hand on hip.

[Cloud Strife]

"It’s okay, I understand." Tifa said. Though Cloud could tell she wasn't going to let him off that easy. She was going to let him have it later he just knew it. He shifted awkwardly. "They missed you too, you know. Been asking for you. The girl answered him. He gave a smile. "Yeah. I bet they were." Cloud could tell he couldn't delay the question much longer. Tifa wasn't going to let it go and he was running out of things to delay it.

"I understand you like being alone, but..where have you been all this time without telling me?” There it was. The subject he tried to avoid. Cloud shrugged his shoulders. "Just around....Thinking......Guess I got side track with it." He barely answered. Just like always, giving only a small amount of the information she wanted. Cloud didn't really have a reason to why he hadn't come around or called. He ran a hand through the blonde mess on his head, letting out a sigh. He really should stop worrying them all the time.