Chapter 3

Delay

Cid mumbled as he worked on repairing the engine. It was already getting dark outside and the entire group was a little antsy after the mutant attack.

"Fuck'n piece of fucked up…ah, whatever the hell they are! This engine's a mess!"

"Cid!" Cloud yelled from the ground.

"What the hell do you want?"

Cloud immediately regretted getting the pilot's attention. It seemed the stress from the battle brought his cigarette craving back tenfold. "How we looking on the engine?"

"That bitch of a mutant did a number on her. I've got all the spare parts we'd need on board, but I don't see us lift'n off 'til daybreak, and that's with me working through the whole damn night."

Cloud's sprits didn't dampen too much. True, they were now behind schedule, but it's not like the world was going to come to an end if they had to take a day off. "Knock on wood," Cloud silently muttered in his head.

Grasping him from his thoughts, Tifa interlocked her arm with his. "How about a nice bite to eat?"

"I've got to help keep watch with night falling. We don't want to deal with another mutant before we get this thing fixed."

"Oh come on. Yuffie and Barrett are on shift right now. There's the restaurant within earshot of the place."

"Alright, alright you win. Lemme just tell Vincent where we'll be and we'll go grab something to eat."

Tifa squeezed the General's arm tightly before letting him go, assuring him he made the right decision.

Cloud sighed. That woman had him wrapped around her finger; all she had to do was tug on his string and he'd do as she asked. He smirked. "Just one of the things I love about her."

Approaching the ramp way to the airship Cloud spotted Vincent leaning against the door frame of the entryway. "Vincent?"

"Yes, Cloud?"

"Keep a close eye out for me, will ya? I'm gonna take Tifa to grab a bite to eat. When we get back you can grab some grub with Yuffie if ya like."

"Sounds like a plan, my man."

Cloud was dumbfounded. Vincent must have been able to see his expression through the dark. "Yuffie taught me some 'hip' phrases and wanted me to practice them."

Cloud smiled. The young ninja seemed to have Vincent around her finger just as tightly as Cloud was wound around Tifa's. Walking towards the town entrance Cloud met Tifa at the gate and they walked towards the restaurant.

"Nice weather huh?"

Cloud pulled Tifa close to him. "It is; I'm glad I was finally able to get out of the office and take a trip with you."

Tifa laughed. "I'll bet you're happy not wearing that uniform either."

Cloud shuddered. As much as he hated comparing himself to Sephiroth, he didn't see why he had to wear the gaudy military dress uniform when Sephiroth had never worn it. "You can say that again. There's no way I'd be able to fight in that thing."

"Oh? I think it makes you look sexy."

"Whatever; every time I come home in it, I can tell your holding back a laugh."

Tifa laughed. "Guess you caught me. I don't understand why Rufus makes you wear it though. Sephiroth never…" Tifa cupped her mouth looking at Cloud apologetically.

Cloud hugged her, assuring Tifa she hadn't made a mistake. "No, it's alright, Teef; to be honest, I was thinking the same thing. I'll have to ask Rufus about that."

Tifa smiled. "Knowing him, he'll probably dock your paycheck."

"Hell, I could live like a king on half of what he's paying me."

The couple entered the restaurant and was quickly seated at a small booth. The waitress brought them a menu and took their drink orders: Just two waters; both wanted to be alert in case something should happen tonight.

"Decided?"

Tifa nodded. "I've always been a fan of pot stickers. What about you?"

"I think I'll take a sweet and sour chicken dish. May as well eat up while we have the time."

They placed their order with the waitress and before they knew it, the food was placed on the table and the two quickly dug in.

After the meal was finished Cloud noticed Tifa looked a little uncomfortable. "Something wrong, Teef?"

The raven haired beauty looked down at her lap, unable to meet Cloud's gaze. "There's something I need to tell you Cloud."

"Sure, what's up?"

Tifa smiled at Cloud's friendly tone, but she wasn't sure how the 'General' would take this news, especially with her being on this adventure with him. "Firstly, I want you to know I just found out yesterday on the airship. I've been feeling a little nauseous the past couple of weeks…"

"Are you sick?"

Tifa smiled. "No silly, I'm not sick. I've been having these weird cravings for food too. Like I ate a bowl of vanilla ice cream with cheese on it last night for dinner."

Tifa had to hold back her laughter as Cloud's face clearly showed he wasn't following her at all. The butterflies built up in her stomach. "Crap. This is harder than telling him I loved him for the first time."

"Tifa, what are you trying to tell me?"

"I picked up a test from the supplies on the Shera. It was positive."

"Test? What test? What did you test positive for?"

Tifa reached out and grabbed Cloud's hand gently stroking it with hers. "Baby."

Cloud blushed. "Come on Teef, don't call me that here."

Tifa laughed. "I wasn't talking about you Cloud."

The gears in General Strife's mind started turning quickly. The blonde swordsman was a master of war tactics and swordplay, but the concept his mind was trying to grasp was hidden a little further back in Cloud's mind.

"Father?"

Tifa smiled. Cloud was starting to get it.

"Baby?"

Tifa nodded.

"I'm going to be a daddy?"

Tifa grew a little nervous when Cloud's face showed fear and confusion. She withdrew her hand as he stood up and got up from the booth. His back was to her as he looked around the restaurant filled with patrons.

"I knew I should have told him in private. What am I gonna do?" Tifa felt strings tugging at her heart. "…What's Cloud going to do?"

"Everyone! I'm gonna be an f'n daddy! Everyone get s a shot on me tonight!" Cloud quickly leaned down and hugged the confused martial artist. He gently pulled her out of the booth and presented her to the now attentive crowd. "And this beauty is my fiancé and the momma!"

Tifa felt a blush covering her face. Cloud stood there with a huge smile plastered across his face. Tifa felt herself calm down as she giggled over Cloud's facial expression. "I don't think I've ever seen him this happy."

The entire restaurant filled with cheers as a few women came to congratulate Tifa and a number of the men came over to Cloud, slapping him on the back and pushing beers his way. All the fear Tifa had felt disappeared as she hugged her fiancé tight. "Thanks."

Cloud gently grabbed her arms and pushed her back slightly to meet his face. "No, I'm thanking you. This is amazing!"

Tifa felt a few tears drop down her cheeks. "I knew I fell for this guy for a reason." Staring up at her fiancé she gently wiped away the tears on his jacket and a smile spread across her face. "Where's my drink?"

Cloud had a look of fake shock. "Are you kidding? You're not drinking any alcohol until that baby comes out."

Tifa pouted. She wrapped her arms around him and stared up at his face. "Please? Just one?"

Cloud shook his head. "Absolutely not."

Tifa pouted a little more, but when she saw it was getting her nowhere a smirk crept across her face. "Well if I can't drink, I guess we better not have any fun time 'til the baby's born too."

The restaurant erupted in a roar of laughter. Cloud turned red with embarrassment. Tifa always had a daring quick wit to her. Touché.

An older woman waddled to the couple with a drink in her hands. She quickly handed it to Tifa. "I've been a mid-wife for over sixty years, General. This early she'll be fine, even up to six months she can still have a light drink or two." She pulled on Cloud's cape, bringing his ear down to her level. "And if she won't give ya any fun time you just come by my cottage cross the way and I'll fix you up." She said it loud enough so everyone heard, and just to make her point she kissed Cloud on the cheek.

The restaurant filled with even more laughter. Tifa nearly fell over holding her stomach since she was laughing so hard. Cloud still bearing a deep red blush slowly shifted towards the door. "I think I'm going to go get the other's to celebrate with us."

The laughter followed the General all the way out the door as he ran from the entryway towards the Shera. When the group saw him running back frantically without Tifa they feared the worst. "Spike what the hell's got you running like that?"

Barrett walked up to Cloud placing a hand on his shoulder. "You hear'd that punk-ass Cloud, what the hell's going on and where hell is Tifa?"

Cloud smiled. "Everyone we're taking another day vacation. Cid, stop working on the engine; we're all going to the restaurant to celebrate."

The group gathered around the swordsman all eager to be filled in as to what caused this sudden celebration. "And Cloud, what are we celebrating exactly?" Vincent stared at Cloud, his eyes questioning him.

"Yeah, chocobo head, what's going on?"

The group was shocked when they saw the usually stoic Cloud Strife grinning from ear to ear. "Tifa's pregnant, I'm gonna be a daddy!"

If there had been a cigarette in Cid's mouth it would have fallen out. "Come again, Spike?"

"Tifa's having a baby. I'm the father."

Barrett walked up to Cloud. His larger imposing figure loomed over the blonde as he stared down at the General, rubbing his gun-arm. "So you already jumped the gun and knocked her up huh?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it like that…"

"You're a real piece of fuck'n shit." Barrett leveled the gun at Cloud. "What's my Marlene gonna think when she see's Tifa like that!"

Cloud quickly knew it was time run as he darted towards the airship.

"You bring that Spikey horn dog ass back 'ere right the fuck now!"

As if on cue, what was going on finally clicked in Yuffie's head. "A baby! Oh my gosh! Vinny, I'm going to be an aunt!"

"Please don't call me that."

"Sorry, but Vince, a baby! Oh my gawd! I'm so excited."

Cid stood blankly still trying to take everything in. "Baby? Yuffie, an Aunt?...Wait that makes me a…"

Cid grabbed his lance and charged after Cloud with Barrett. "Oh fuck no, your Spikey ass ain't making me no f'n grandfather when I just had my first kid!"

Vincent buried his face in his palm. "Unbelievable…"

Yuffie had already run off to the restaurant to join her newly pregnant friend in the celebration.

It wasn't soon after that the entire group joined in on the fun. The guys were swapping stories at the bar and Cloud turned red as one of the older men told Barrett and Cid what had happened earlier. Both men erupted in a fit of laughter. Cid, now drunk, even fell out of his chair. Barrett wrapped his arm around Cloud still unable to control his laughter.

"So I hear you're into older women?"

"Oh, lay off already! Can't I just enjoy the fact I'm gonna be a daddy tonight?"

Cid drunkenly stumbled over to the General slapping his back with a little more force then necessary. "Heard your woman really showed you when you tried to keep her drink away."

Cloud groaned. It seemed there wouldn't be an end to this. He looked around and was surprised to see a familiar…mane…walking through the entryway.

"Red?"

Red XIII perked up at the familiar voice and walked towards Cloud. "Good to see you again, Cloud. Or do you prefer General Strife?"

"Cloud's fine, Red. How'd you get over here?"

"Cid called and told me about the delay. I got on a ferry heading to Wutai and decided to join you here. Just what's going on here?"

"Tifa's pregnant!" the entire group yelled. Red XIII's eyes went large looking to the raven haired woman in question.

"Your...?"

Tifa nodded. "Cloud's the father."

Red XIII smiled. "That's a relief."

Another round of laughter filled the bar as Cloud groaned. The poor blonde had been bested by a talking wolf-cat. "This just isn't going to stop is it?"

He nearly jumped when he felt a pair of arms wrap around from behind him. Half terrified the old mid-wife had come back to give him another shot, he slowly turned around to meet the arm's owners.

"What? You thought I was that mid-wife?"

Cloud groaned. "Can't we just celebrate me being a daddy?"

Tifa frowned. "Only if we get to celebrate me being a mommy."

Cloud kissed her. Hoots and hollers filled the bar.

"Get a room, you two!"

Cloud and the rest of the group were shocked when they recognized the voice. A slightly embarrassed Vincent Valentine looked a bit disappointed when the crowd didn't laugh. "Perhaps I still need some practice."

Laughter resounded off the walls once again. Cloud was thankful Vince had taken some of the attention off of him. "How about we celebrate to being a family?"

Tifa kissed him. "Perfect."

--
The Next Day
--

"Another day? What's going on? Couldn't Cid fix the engine in time?"

Cloud groaned. Greeted by another hangover this morning, Reeve's loudly concerned words bounced around in his skull like marbles, making the headache worse with each syllable.

"We're fine, Reeve. Red XIII came to Wutai to meet us when he heard about our engine problem since that shaved off a day we decided to celebrate last night instead of repairing the engine."

"You guys have been like a bunch of college kids on spring break up there. How are you gonna get anything done if you just party all the time?"

"We had something big to celebrate."

"What? Did Yuffie steal another materia from the royal treasury or something?"

"No, actually; Tifa's pregnant with my kid."

Laughter was heard on the other end. "Right…but come on, really, what's going on down there?"

"I'm not kidding, Reeve, she's pregnant with my kid. I'm gonna be a daddy."

A long period of silence filled the phone. "Holy crap, Cloud! Congratulations!" The yelling through the phone made Cloud's head feel like someone slammed it with a sledge hammer.

"Yea, thanks Reeve. We'll be back early tomorrow."

"I've got to go spread the news!"

"Reeve!"

"Everyone, you've got to hear this!" Cloud could still hear Reeve's voice in the distance. He had dropped the handset and had run towards his coworkers.

"Holy crap, General Strife's fiancé is pregnant!?"

Cloud sighed, pressing the 'end call' button on the phone. He didn't feel like answering literally thousands of eager Neo-ShinRa employee's questions.

"Cloud!"

The General's mood dropped. He knew that voice, and from the past three trips he had taken today, he knew exactly where he was going to have to go. Tifa had been having a ton of weird cravings for food. At 2 AM, she wanted peanut butter ice cream with Ketchup. Then at 5 in the morning, she sent him to the galley for a potato chip and jelly sandwich.

"What's up Teef?"

"Could you help me make pot sticker pizza?"

End Chapter 3

Believe it or not this chapter has been ready for nearly a month now…Yea yea I know but put those flames and pitch forks down working from 5AM-6PM isn't nearly as easy as it sounds…in fact it doesn't even really sound that easy does it? I've got a good portion of the next chapter finished but it still needs some final touches. I'll be taking a trip to my most inspirational spot in a few weeks, the beach. That's bound to reenergize my writing ability. Enjoy! Big thanks also goes out to Blue-eyes2014 (formerly known as Calistar Heir) and Inkster for their BETA work on this chapter. Please Read and Review!

Personal Thanks:

Luneress: I'm sorry its take'n me so long to update this I hope you continue to read this story and enjoy it. Please send a review soon!

LovingCloudStrife777: I know the wait's been awhile but I hope this chapter had enough fluff in it for you. R&R

Yo Wuz Up: You've been a very loyal reviewer from Advent Hearts. I hope to keep you reviewing this story and that the long wait hasn't kept you from reading. I'm looking forward to your reaction to this chapter.

Story Weaver 1: Another loyal reviewer and at one time BETA. I'm glad we share a liking for both Lunar and Final Fantasy VII. Hope this chapter is something you enjoy.

Mrs. Maxistrife: I hope you were able to wait. Another apology for the long delay. Hope Chapter 3 was good.

Protossmaster1: I promise I'll continue writing this story as long as reviewers like you continue to tell me you enjoy it.

Zili: I can't rightly remember where I pulled Advent Rising from. Of course Advent came from the last story. I think there's a action movie called Advent Rising, but I can assure you I didn't steal the title. AH was a more romance story. AR is going to be more action/adventure orientated so I wanted an action sounding title…if that makes sense.

TroublesomeTori: I'm glad I've carried you over from AH. I hope the wait hasn't kept you from reading the other chapters in this story. Look'n forward to your thoughts on this chapter.

Bepsey007: Glad yet another AH fan has found this story. Hope this one is just as good. Let me know what you think.

Kattzia: I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to update this. I hope the wait didn't get you angry at me ;) Hope to see your thoughts on this chapter soon.

GothQeen: I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I hope to hear your thoughts on this chapter as well.