============================================================
============================================================


  It is better to be loved, than to love.

    -- Chinese proverb


============================================================
============================================================


  "Sssh, not so loud now."
  Baby soft footsteps approached the bed as he hid under the
covers hoping they'd just let him be.
  Fat chance though.
  "Waaaaake up Uncwo Cowd."
  Yep. Just as I thought, he groaned inwardly.
  A small hand pressed against his face for a little while 
before a sweet soprano chided, "Easy there, I think he's 
still asleep."
  "But Aun-tee Tee-fwa says to gwo!"
  "I know, I know. But she'll have to wait just like the 
rest of us."
  Cloud risked a peek and saw Marlene looking at him 
inquisitively.
  "Unca Cowd!" she squealed, "You're uuuuuuuup!"
  He winced as the tiny girl drove herself straight into his 
blanket covered belly.
  "Not too rough now," the healer's warning was gentle but 
firm.
  Marlene quickly settled down while her guardians 
conferred.
  "You're up early," Cloud patted his ward's head, "I'd 
thought you'd sleep in late."
  "Well not today," Aeris sat down beside them, "We've been 
waiting for over an hour."
  "For what?" he blinked as Marlene twiddled with a corner 
of the bedsheet.
  "We've a picnic remember?" the pink clad woman took up his 
hand and kissed it.
  "Right," he groaned and tried to wrap himself up, "Gimme 
another five minutes okay?"
  "Still sleepy?" Aeris had to laugh, "I suppose we did this 
to ourselves."
  "Uh huh," he stifled a yawn as he caught Marlene circling 
aimlessly around her slim guardian, "I'll be up soon. Go 
tell Tifa so she won't be mad."
  "Yessum," Marlene bolted out the door before Aeris could 
manage to call out.
  "Don't --- run," the slender woman sagged visibly, "Why 
won't she listen to me?"
  Cloud gave her a squeeze, "Don't try too hard. She's one 
of a kind."
  "Yeah," Aeris lowered her head, "I guess."
  "She takes after Tiff because she spoils her rotten, 
that's all."
  "Now Cloud," she pursed her lips, "Don't bad mouth her 
while she's not around. Golly, I wonder if you do this to me 
when you're alone with her?"
  "Only if we can still talk afterwards," he laughed as she 
stood up with an angry huff.
  "Hey," he sat up, "Kidding. I'm only kidding. Planet aside 
sake Aeris, I'd never thought you'd still be so touchy about 
this."
  "Well --- I am."
  Cloud put an arm around her as she lay down beside him.
  "You know once," she whispered, "Just once, I'd like to 
know what's it's like to have one."
  "Have one what?" he asked stupidly.
  Aeris looked up with smiling eyes while Cloud rolled his 
and groaned.
  "It takes time right?"
  "But not this long!" she said with exasperation, "The 
three of us have been going about like chocos in heat for 
over a year now!"
  "A year and a half by my count."
  "That's even worse!" she was beginning to sound shrill.
  "Easy," Cloud gave her a squeeze, "Easy now. Maybe there's 
something with that stuff I took."
  "Could be," Aeris lowered her voice, "Maybe we should see 
someone about that."
  "What for? I've got you."
  "I'm not a doctor," she pursed her lips, "Remember?"
  "You work wonders though."
  "But I wouldn't know if something's wrong with you," Aeris 
pointed, "Down there."
  "And I suppose if you were a man you would, huh?" he 
chuckled.
  "I suppose," she sighed and tried to get up but Cloud held 
fast, "Hey, wh-what are you doing?"
  He gave her a wink and tugged her, "We've still got time."
  "What!? No!" Aeris put her arms akimbo, "You know how I 
like things done!"
  "Yeah," he brushed aside the blankets, "And wind up 
spilling it all over."
  "Cloud!" she blushed as he slid off his pajamas.
  "Let's make sure it goes where it's supposed to. Come on," 
the young man said gently, "Maybe a double dose might help, 
too."
  "A-are you sure?" Aeris chewed her lip, "You don't want to 
save it up for Tifa?"
  "Planet knows she'll get at me tonight," Cloud groaned, 
"Not to mention you, then her again--"
  "Oh please," she reddened.
  "-- then both of you at the same time," he finished.
  "Oh all right," she sighed, "If it'll get you up."
  "You know it will," he gave her a wry grin.
  Aeris hesitated and closed the door to the bedroom. She 
turned around and partly unbuttoned her dress. She reached 
between her legs and began to stroke slowly as Cloud 
watched. He marvelled at how her slim fingers quickly became 
moist and glistening with her own juices. Tifa never got 
ready that fast --- or at least never without Aeris' help, 
he thought dryly.
  "Ready?" she looked up.
  "Yeah I guess," Cloud scooted himself to the side to make 
room, but Aeris just shook her head.
  "I want to be on top."
  "You're the boss," he said.
  She tried to explain herself, "I don't want to muss my 
hair."
  "With that bun?" he chortled, "C'mon. It's hardier than a 
Sweeper."
  "Ever the charmer you," Aeris dimpled her cheeks as she 
rested herself on one of Cloud's two dicks. He gritted his 
teeth as he felt her slick little cunny take him in slow and 
easy.
  "Oooh," she closed her eyes as she rested herself on her 
husband, "Mmmmn."
  Cloud grunted as he held her by her slim, waspish waist.
  "Go -- ungh --- bay --- uhh," he panted as she began to 
rock her hips. Aeris placed her hands across his chest for 
support as she rode him gently. His eyes glazed over as he 
saw her pert little tits play hide and seek with him past 
her faded pink dress. Cloud felt his other dick -- his 
'lower' one -- rub against his wife's ass crack as he poled 
in and out of her.
  Don't come yet, he shouted at himself. At least not that 
lower one. Planet fuck me to hell, he gulped for air as 
Aeris began to swoon.
  "N-not t-too loud," she gasped as he began to buck.
  "I--ggk--uhh--unnnhh!"
  Aeris sealed his throes of pleasure by placing a gentle 
hand over his mouth. Cloud bucked and writhed as he spunked 
and shot his first load into his slender wife's body. She 
sighed and popped herself off his spent prick to let herself 
at his other one with a wet SLIIICCH. A satisfied moan 
slipped past her lips when Cloud suddenly jerked upwards and 
let go.
  "Well *that* was fast," Aeris blinked.
  "Sorry," he groaned, "Maybe later okay?"
  "Yeah, maybe. Thanks love," she kissed him lightly on the 
forehead and hopped off his withered prick.
  The young man lay there on the bed exhausted and spent.
  "Well don't just lie there," she scolded as she 
straightened herself out, "Get up! Get up! We've still got a 
picnic, right?"

************************************************************

  "Well it's ABOUT time," Tifa stood as Cloud was lead into 
the kitchen by a giddy Aeris.
  "What took you so long?"
  "Nothing," the healer immediately replied, "He's slow to 
get up. Just like you!"
  "Yeah right," Tifa wrinkled her nose. Marlene quickly 
imitated her motion and added snorting noises.
  "Behave yourself," Aeris as always, announced her 
displeasure by reaching for her. Marlene took immediate 
cover behind Tifa as the healer stood a ways off and eyed 
her like a hungry hawk.
  "Ooh! How could you make me wait?" the busty woman pouted 
playfully, "You know what's today."
  "Sorry."
  "Hmph," Tifa sniffed and continued, "We never forgot 
yours---"
  "Okay, I'm *really* sorry," Cloud grinned and threw open 
his arms, "Happy birthday Tiff."
  As soon as the dark haired woman moved off to receive a 
kiss, Aeris swooped in and nabbed the girl by the shoulders.
  "Better?" the young man asked as he moved to the counter.
  "A little," Tifa's eyes followed him, "What were you two 
doing in there?"
  "Baby talk."
  "Oh," she paused and turned to Aeris, "Getting a jump on 
tonight already?"
  The slender woman grinned shyly as she held onto Marlene, 
"A little."
  Cloud poured a formidable black broth into his cup, took 
one sip and shuddered.
  "G-g-geeeez-z-z T--t-tiff," his teeth chattered, "What is 
this stuff?"
  "Well it's definitely not tea, that's for sure," Aeris 
soured, "I for one can't stand it."
  Tifa shrugged indifferently, "Dunno. Marla gave it to me. 
Said they found it growing near the ruins."
  Before the silence could engulf them, she quickly added, 
"But if that were true ---"
  "I'd be dead," Cloud soured and hastily set the cup down, 
"Still, it has this taste I can't really place."
  "You like it?" Aeris frowned.
  "A little," he flexed his shoulders, "What's it called?"
  "I'm not sure," Tifa wrinkled her nose, "But they can call 
it what they want -- it doesn't change the taste one bit."
  "Well, I won't bother for more," he gave her a half 
hearted grin, "Besides, I'd miss the tea."
  "Well, thank you," Aeris reddened slightly.
  Tifa wrinkled her nose knowingly at him.
  "Nice one, tiger."
  "Uh huh," Cloud gave them both a hearty grin, "Well, are 
we all ready to go?"
  "Yup," Tifa twirled her keys, "We're just waiting for 
you."
  "How nice," he said blandly, "Who's driving?"
  "I am!" Tifa spoke up before anyone else could.
  Cloud felt his heart leap to his throat as Aeris quickly 
shuffled Marlene out to the garage. The busty woman dangled 
the keys enticingly between her boobs as he mustered his 
courage to speak.
  "Gimme the keys Tiff," Cloud said evenly when the other 
two were out of earshot, "I'll drive."
  "Oh yeah?" she licked her lips, "Whose birthday is it?"
  "Yours," he stepped closer and held out his hand, "And I 
want to live to see the next one, 'kay?"
  "You bet we will," she smiled, "Now shut up and let's go."
  Cloud rolled his eyes as she firmly ushered him out the 
door.
  That was Tifa, he thought. Unlike Aeris, she still wore 
her hair loose and untied. The one thing he noticed was that 
she started wearing long pants after someone had made a lewd 
compliment about her legs shortly after they got back from 
the honeymoon. She smiled and shrugged as if she wasn't 
offended at all, but the pants stayed.
  "Get the door open," Tifa climbed into the truck's cabin.
  "Sure thing," Cloud spied Marlene's head in the backseat 
and gave her a wave.
  The girl tried her best to wave back despite the fact she 
was tightly strapped down into her seat. Beaming broadly, 
Aeris leaned out the side of the window.
  "You know where we're going right?" she asked.
  "Not really," he mumbled absently as he unlatched the 
garage lock.
  Cloud jumped when the truck roared to life and filled the 
air with its foul fumes. These damned 'internal burner' 
machines were a headache, but he reminded himself that it 
was he who pushed so strongly for them in the first place.
  Me and my fat mouth, he pruned as he swung the doors wide 
open. Save Planet my ass. He knew in his heart he wouldn't 
give a rat's ass about makou if it wasn't for Aeris.
  He cast a wayward glance at the truck's occupants and saw 
the healer holding her nose. Both of Marlene's hands covered 
her face as Tifa inched her way out. Cloud quickly shut the 
garage door behind them and hopped in.
  "So where are we going?" he asked as he strapped himself 
in.
  "Tifa's new worksite," Aeris flashed him a smile.
  "And where's that?"
  "Just a few miles north of town."
  Cloud felt the truck lurch as Tifa turned to him and grinned.
  "Keep your eyes on the road Tiff."
  "What's the matter?" she laughed, "Don't trust my 
driving?"
  "I do," he tried to keep his voice in control, "I don't 
know about everyone else. Watch that turn!"
  He sucked in a breath as the truck veered to take a 
corner, pressing him against the door.
  "Oh hush love," Aeris quieted them, "She's been driving 
for us for some time now."
  "That's supposed to make me feel better --- ouch!" Cloud 
jumped as Tifa jabbed him in the ribs as she turned a second 
corner.
  "Watch it buddy," she made a face, "I bet Marlene drives 
better than you, biker boy."
  "Oh really?" he grinned.
  "Yeah," Tifa replied absently.
  He looked back with an sly gleam as Aeris' eyes widened.
  "You --- wouldn't --- dare," the healer began.
  "So how 'bout it kiddo? Wanna help Uncle Cloud win a bet?"
  Marlene nodded vigorously as the two women shouted a 
unanimous, "NO!"


============================================================


  Hallo everybody!
    Hallo Lionel!
  I'd say, what a simply super day!
    Gosh, yes!!
      It's so -- you know -- sunny!
  Yes, isn't it? I'd say, anyone for tennis?
    Oh super!
      What fun!
  I'd say, Lionel -- catch!!

    -- Sam Peckinpah's Salad Days (Monty Python)


============================================================


  Shadows were short and small as the noon sun beat down on 
Planet. The heat was stymied by the oft cool breezes that 
found themselves passing through area. Trees dotted the 
land, though the occasional rock outcrop took their place. 
It was pleasant, quiet, and eeriely untouched by 
civilization, but it could have easily been called paradise 
by the fauna who dwelt upon it. The grass was undisturbed 
save for the single spot where the checkered cloth was laid 
out. An assortment of plates rested on top of it with busy 
hands laying out more.
  "Hey, have you seen those little cakes Missus Hollins 
brought us the other day?"
  "Who?" Cloud brought out the food and contented to place 
them where ever there was room. He looked up to see Tifa 
rollicking with Marlene in the distance.
  "The Hollins," Aeris sighed as she rummaged through the 
basket, "Don't you remember?"
  "Not really," the young man snuck a hand past her and
snatched a cookie.
  "How about a hint?"
  "They have a little boy. About Marlene's age."
  "Oh," Cloud wiped his mouth, "The ones with the 
kid who pounced Nanaki?"
  Aeris immediately grinned, "That's them."
  Before he could say more, Tifa and Marlene came over.
  "Hey, are we ready?"
  "Almost," Cloud replied as scarfed down another cookie.
  "Cloud," Aeris admonished him, "Don't spoil your appetite."
  "But I'm starving," he mumbled with his mouth full,
"Besides, it's only a snack."
  "Yah Auntee Aewiss, it's unwee a snack!"
  "Quiet you," Aeris tapped her finger on Marlene's nose
before turning her attention back to the basket.
  "What'cha looking for?" Tifa bubbled beside her.
  "Did you pack those pastries with the sweet cream?"
  "Um, kinda," she was suddenly quiet.
  Aeris looked up and asked, "You didn't eat them did you?"
  "Um, yeah," Tifa took on the look of a little girl whose 
mother found out hidden secret in her room.
  "Argh, Teee-faaa! I asked you to wait!"
  "For Planet's sake, Aeris! I was hungry!!" Tifa suddenly 
pointed at Cloud, "And how did I know it was gonna be that 
long for dopey to get up!"
  Aeris reddened as Cloud hid a grin. Tifa quickly 
remembered why the wait was so long and decided to press her 
point.
  "I mean honestly," she tried to keep a straight face, "I 
can't stand to wait that *long*, Aeris. It's really *hard* 
to keep myself from *gulping* down all that sweet *white*--"
  "Oh STOP IT!" the healer was ready to collapse from 
embarrassment.
  "All right," Cloud was verging on tears as he fell over 
laughing, "Okay. Enough potty-talk you two."
  "Oh look what you did now," Tifa winked and feigned 
irritation, "Now I'm all agitated and what not. I need a 
nice long walk to relax myself. Coming tiger?"
  Cloud caught her glance and chuckled, "Oh, I will be."
  "Can I come twoo?" Marlene tugged the woman's suspenders. 
The girl was eager for whatever shenanigans her adventurous 
guardian was opting for, but Aeris knew exactly what Tifa 
had in mind.
  "Um, no," the healer said hesitantly, "I need you to help 
me a bit here."
  "But Unco Cowd can help!" the girl protested loudly.
  "No, he's -- um," Aeris racked her brains for an excuse.
  "-- finished with my chores," he picked up the line, "Now 
its your turn."
  "No fwair!" Marlene folded her tiny arms, "I made the 
sandwidges!"
  "You do as you're told," Aeris immediately soured, "Now 
come here."
  "NO! I donte wanna!"
  "Don't complain now," Cloud said to his ward as he waved 
his wife off, "Everyone does their fair share of work."
  "What do you dwo?" the girl looked intently at him.
  "Well I, ah --- er, little help?" he looked around.
  Tifa wrinkled her nose and sighed, "It's so simple. He 
works to keep a roof over our heads." She patted her small 
charge.
  "But you work twoo!" Marlene challenged.
  "Right," she puffed a cheek, "But do you um, do -- any -- 
housework?"
  "Howse work?"
  "That's right," Aeris smiled wanly, "Laundry. Cooking. 
Teaching you homework. Tucking you in at night. Making sure 
you're full, fat, and frisky."
  "Oh," Marlene said as her eyes fell to the ground.
  "Well, I think you know how much we do to keep you happy," 
Cloud tickled her cheek.
  "Um hmm," both women nodded in agreement. Marlene only 
kept silent.
  Oh boy, Cloud thought. Why couldn't she be more --- more 
secure? I'd better bring her some cheer.
  "Be a good girl and help out," the young man grinned, "And 
I promise I'll let you drive on the way back."
  "Urk!" Tifa choked as she looked at him like he was mad. 
Aeris' mouth hung open as Marlene instantly perked up.
  "Weallwy? Pwomise?"
  "Um hmm," Cloud nodded firmly and patted her cheek, "I 
promise."
  He glanced at his wives. Their eyes said oodles as they 
swallowed his decison and turned back to their business.
  "Well," Tifa finally stood and announced, "I won't be out 
long, but start without me okay?"
  "Take your time loves," Aeris looked up and smiled 
knowingly, "We're in no rush."

************************************************************

  "Hey Tiff!" Where are you?"
  "Over here!" she waved wildly.
  "Wait -- up!" Cloud grimaced as he struggled over the 
losse rocks.
  "Tiger, tiger, tiger," she tapped her foot, "Maybe I 
should start calling you something else."
  "Tiger -- sounds -- nice," he pulled up to her level and 
lay down exhausted.
  "Tigers have stamina and grace," Tifa berated, "Not like 
you, slowpoke."
  Cloud could only wheeze in reply.
  "Hmm," she paused, "That's a nice one."
  "What?"
  "Slowpoke," she laughed and jabbed him playfully.
  "Hmph," he snorted, "You coined it. I only answer to it."
  "Don't get cocky with ME mister," she gently twisted his 
ear, "It might work with Aeris, but not me!"
  "Funny that should come from you," he flattened himself on 
the warm stone and yawned.
  "A smart mouth too," she leaned over and kissed him.
  "Like you huh?"
  Tifa smiled blandly as he gave her the once over. Her 
suspenders straps were in disarray, giving her that 'one-
strap-off-the-shoulder-slut-look'. Sweat had stained the 
front of her shirt and her black mane of hair gave off a 
musky scent. She caught his stares as she drew back her dark 
mane.
  "What are you thinking about?" she wore a sly grin.
  "Nothing really," he gave her a sly wink, "What are you 
thinking about?"
  Tifa leaned and whispered to his ear, "Eight inches."
  "Really?" Cloud chortled, "I'd like to think of it as an 
even twelve."
  "In your dreams," she wrinkled her nose, "And in my 
nightmares! You know how much room I have --" she rubbed her 
bare tummy, "-- and you barely fit inside as it is."
  "Only when you make me do double duty on you," Cloud 
tugged her closer, "That's why you like to go both ends, 
huh?"
  "You got that right tiger," Tifa lay beside him.
  "And to think," he planted himself over her, "You're the 
big boned one."
  She grinned and batted her eyes, "Not as big as you 
tiger."
  He grinned and kissed her. Her tongue instantly flared in 
response and flicked through his mouth. Cloud ran his hands 
under her bodice and grabbed giant handfuls of her chest. 
Tifa tugged his belt off and snaked her hands into his 
pants. She gasped as he planted kisses down the nape of her 
neck. 
  "Ouch! Here?" her suspender straps fell to the side, "It's 
gonna be really rough on my back."
  "Uh huh," Cloud yanked her top off and revealed her 
mountainous chest to Planet at large. He eagerly sucked the 
dark droplets she had for nipples as he drooled lavishly 
over her lithe, curvaceous body.
  "Tiger I'm serious---ah!" she bit her lip as he began 
kissing down her body, "I-- oh shit-- won't be-- fuck-- 
move-- tonight---umgwaa!"
  Tifa gushed as he slid several fingers into her hairy 
muff.
  "You're wet Tiff," he brought his head back up as he 
twittled her clit, "Tifa Lockheart, you've been a bad, bad 
girl."
  She laughed as he mimicked Aeris' soprano but she grimaced 
as he began to crawl on top of her.
  "Oh tiger," she panted breathless, "Please, put something 
under me okay?"
  "Yeah," he groaned, "Wait --ungh--"
  He pulled out his invasive digits, much to her 
disappointment as he tore off his clothes and folded them in 
a neat pile. He grabbed her jeans and yanked them off too, 
spreading it over the pile and forming an impromtu bed.
  Tifa lay down on the makeshift pad and sighed as Cloud 
continued his feverish foreplay.
  "I missed these," he buried his face into her chest.
  "Since when?" she laughed, "I remember you had them last 
night."
  "Um hmm," he was too busy cleaning her tits with his 
tongue to form coherent words.
  "I guess a little workout does bring out the best in you," 
she said softly as he planted himself over her.
  "Okay Tiff," he nuzzled her face, "Where do you want it?"
  "Where would you like?" she smiled.
  "Your pick," he grinned back, "Ladies always have the 
advantage."
  "I can see she's been working on your manners, hmm?" she 
smiled broadly as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
  Cloud nodded absently as he brushed each nipple against 
his lips. His tongue flicked out only briefly to savor the 
salty taste of her skin and to elicit her sweet sighs.
  "So, where to missus?" his two cocks hovered over her 
tight tummy, barely grazing her skin.
  Tifa hesitated as he hung over her eager and waiting. For 
a moment, Cloud thought he saw a flash of concern in her 
eyes. But it was gone before he could make anything of it.
  "Tiff?" His voice brought her back to reality and to their 
current situation.
  "Oh. Sorry," she wore a little smile, "Daydreaming."
  "Huh, I'm usually the one doing that. Now where to?" the 
frustration was in his voice as his dicks began to soften.
  "Here, put'em between my tits for a while okay?"
  He happily complied as Tifa scooted down slightly. Cloud 
groaned with pleasure as her mounds squeezed his twin fuck 
sticks. He grunted and rocked his hips back and forth over 
her body as she enclosed him with her arms. She lay there 
quietly as she slowly tit-fucked him.
  "Uuugh," he panted, "Ye-yeah--uuuh--"
  Cloud attained a glassy eyed gaze as he lurched his hips 
in ever larger strokes.
  "Uhh!" his teeth chattered as he tried to form words, "T-
tiff."
  "Yah?" she looked up.
  "Y-your--uffuck, hah! Tongue," he was barely coherent, 
"Fuck. Suck me."
  "You wanna fuck my mouth?" Tifa smiled wryly.
  "Yeah I -- aaah!" the young man shuddered with incredible 
pleasure as she planted a wet kiss on his lower prick as 
soon as it came near her face.
  "You want more?" she pouted her lips to tease him.
  He nodded feverishly and rasped, "Yah! Puh-please!"
  Tifa grinned and guided his hips over her waiting mouth.
  "Oh man," Cloud shuddered as he watched her put one dick, 
then the other into her ever-widening mouth. He stiffened as 
she gagged slightly -- but that was just reflex. Tifa's 
nails caressed his nuts as she urged him to relax and settle 
on top of her.
  "Uhhfuck, uhhman," he panted as he hilted himself on her 
face.
  She let out a muffled groan as his dicks jockeyed for 
position inside her eager mouth. Cloud felt her grip tighten 
a little, tugging his sac in rhythm with each lash of her 
tongue. With her other hand, Tifa pawed his slowly bucking 
ass as he rode her head to a slow satisfying orgasm.
  "Unnghh," the young buck let out a pent up sigh as he 
released himself, "Fuck aaahh, mmmmmnggh yeah!"
  "Whew," Tifa scooted out from under him, smacking her 
lips, "Now that's what I call a load, tiger."
  "Yeah," he collapsed from the chore and kissed her, 
"You're incredible, Tiff."
  "Oh?" she swished her mouth playfully.
  "Yeah, I mean how can you eat this stuff day after day --- 
OW!!" Cloud yelped as she renewed her hold on his nuts.
  "Don't be a smart ass," her eyes flashed briefly before 
she relented her grip, "You can be such a *handful* compared 
to Marlene."
  "Hehehe," he brought her hands together and kissed them, 
"And since when did you find that out, hmm?"
  Tifa let a wry smile pass her lips before she gently shook 
him off and reached for her clothes.
  "Hey," Cloud reached out and pinched her ass, "What d'you 
think you're going?"
  "Getting dressed," she gently swatted his hand.
  "So soon? We haven't even---"
  "We can wait 'till t'night," she flung her big black mane 
and stood up, "We'd better get back too. Leaving Aeris with 
Marlene is just cruel."
  "No it isn't," he circled his arms around her, "She adores 
the little 'boco. Now what's up?"
  "Definitely not you after what I did," she gave him a 
quick laugh.
  "C'mon Tiff," his tone became serious, "Something's with 
you today."
  "Nope," the busty woman sighed, "Not me. It's my birthday 
remember?"
  "You know by now that you stink at lying," Cloud sighed 
and turned her so she faced him straight on, "Out with it, 
Tifa."
  The black haired woman looked down and shook her head, 
"Sorry Cloud--" alarm bells sounded in his head; when she 
called him by his given name nowadays, it was always
something serious, "-- but y'know if I stink at lying,
then you're worse when it comes to secrets."
  He stroked her cheek softly, "Since when?"
  "Okay tiger," Tifa gave him a pallid smile, "All right. 
But promise me---"
  "What?"
  "Promise you won't tell anyone. Especially Aeris."
  "Yeah, all right," Cloud felt the hairs on his neck stand 
on end.
  "You promise now?"
  "Yes," he felt his guts churn as she leaned close to 
whisper. What could be so terrible that--
  "You're a daddy."
  "Well, of course I am," Cloud gave her a confused look as 
he thought of Marlene.
  "No tiger," Tifa smiled weakly, "I meant YOU'RE A DADDY."
  The young man blinked to make sure he heard right.
  "Y'mean?"
  She nodded solemnly.
  "Wow," Cloud couldn't find the words as he held her tight, 
"Oh man -- I gotta -- I mean -- WAAAHHOOOOOOO!!!!!"
  "Cloud!!" Tifa let out a shriek as he lifted her up and 
swung her around.
  "You're one of a kind Tiff!" the spiky haired young man 
could hardly contain his joy as he set his wife down and 
gave her a passionate kiss.
  "Tiii-gerrr!" Tifa squirmed out of his grasp, "Control 
yourself!"
  Cloud laughed as kissed her again, "I am. I just don't 
know if I can do this again in a few months and hey, why're 
you cryin'?"
  "Oh please," she was babbling, "Oh please don't tell."
  "Tiff," he tried to calm her down, "Tifa. Tifa!"
  "Don't tell her please," she was crying, "Don't tell 
Aeris."
  Cloud was puzzled, "Why not?"
  Tifa was biting her lip so hard, he was afraid she would 
cut herself.
  "Tiff, love," he steadied her, "I already said I won't say 
a word. Now tell me what the hell's going on."
  "Okay," she took a deep breath, "You -- you remember how 
we were talking about this -- ths baby business just last 
year when we were coming back from the villa, right?"
  "Yeah," Cloud dimly remembered, "Kinda."
  "Right, okay," Tifa had gotten herself under control that 
he relaxed his grip, "Well, Aeris and I, we had a pretty 
good talk after you took Marlene to bed."
  "You two actually talked?" he saw his chance to tease her 
about her sapphic activities but a glare immediately halted 
his fun.
  "Tiger, I'm serious."
  "Okay," he promised, "No more interruptions."
  Tifa went on, "We thought about who should --" her ears 
reddened a little, "-- go first."
  "'Go first'?" Cloud looked at her confused, "I thought you 
two liked it when I --"
  "No!" Tifa became annoyed, "Don't you get it, dummy?"
  "What!?"
  "I mean with Marlene and everything we've got going now, 
don't you realize what having another baby means?"
  "Dunno really," Cloud scratched his head.
  "Ugh," Tifa sighed, "Care to try harder tiger?"
  "More um, stuff we gotta buy?"
  "And not just that," she closed her eyes, "They don't all 
come out at Marlene's age -- Planet forbid -- babies need a 
lot of time just well, argh -- time. Time to grow up. So 
we'd figure we'd stagger our children. It's a whole new 
thing we're dealing with y'know?"
  "Yeah okay, I think I understand. But we can also take 
turns with 'em like we do with Marlene," he countered, "And 
I still don't see what the big deal with not telling Aeris."
  "Well, I'm getting to it." He felt Tifa shudder
inexplicably.
  "Tiger, you remember how she came back, right?" her dark 
brown eyes flashed a glimmer of hurt and pain.
  "How could I forget?" Cloud became quiet. Tifa squeezed 
her husband tightly before she went on.
  "Well," Tifa said slowly, "You know how long Aeris said 
she was alone with Greylorn?"
  "Yeah," Cloud felt an inner hate stir, "I think so. A day 
or two right?"
  Tifa stroked his cheek gently and she felt his body relax. 
He only stared past her and said what was obvious to him by 
now.
  "What did he do to her?"
  "It's not that--"
  "Then what?"
  "I -- don't -- know," Tifa let out a frustrated sigh, 
"Aeris said she'd know if something was wrong but then--"
  "But?"
  Tifa shook her mane of dark hair, "I doubt if she knows 
exactly."
  "That fucker," he hissed.
  Knowing what that cold hearted bastard was capable of, 
Cloud was surprised the man didn't just kill Aeris and be 
done with it. Although he never dare say it to the face of 
either woman, he was sure Greylorn had derived some sort of 
sick pleasure from watching the healer suffer.
  Perhaps it was to punish her for the things her ancestors 
did as Alegnin Sephiroth had sought to do. Or maybe it was a 
parting blow to rob Aeris of true happiness -- by sterilizing
her.
  "Tiger." A gentle voice brought him back to the reality.
  "Yeah?"
  Her hands gripped his tightly and he nodded gravely.
  "Hey look," Tifa was thoughtful now, "Maybe it's just been 
bad luck --"
  "I doubt it," Cloud shook his head, "I bump you both at the
same time."
  "Well, I dunno what else then," the dark haired woman said 
sadly.
  "Me neither."
  Her voice hardened, "Do something for me, tiger."
  "What?"
  "Fuck her."
  Cloud blinked, uncomprehending.
  "Fuck her," Tifa said flatly, "Just do her as much as you 
can before junior--" her hands drifted to her stomach, "-- 
pops up."
  "Oh," he was put off by her choice of words, but Tifa was
never one to mince words. Afterall, it was she who concocted
their living arrangements in the first place.
  "I guess we pray for the best, huh?" he said softly.
  "Yeah," Tifa rested her head on his chest and sniffed, 
"Poor Aeris. Damn that bastard."
  But we can't wholly hate him either Tiff, the young man 
thought glumly. No, he was the one who brought her back in 
the first place. And with that, came the privilege of doing 
what he wanted to Aeris' body.
  And if Cloud knew Aeris, she already was way ahead of both 
Tifa and him. Which might explain a few things, like why the 
petite woman took such a great interest in Marlene's 
welfare.
  His face hardened as he brooded over the matter. However,
if the ordeals he went through had taught him anything, it
was that he wasn't just going to give up if things went 
sour. Had he did, not a thing would be alive and breathing 
on Planet this day -- nor the two women he loved.
  "Don't worry Tiff," he sniffed, "I'll do my best."
  The busty woman looked up and nodded fiercely, "That's my 
tiger."
  They both shared a rueful grin before they straightened 
their clothes and headed back down the mountain.


============================================================
============================================================


  Contact: Maximillian Zhang <grey228@hotmail.com>


============================================================
============================================================