A/N: Today, at 11:11 AM, on 11/11/11, I was listening to "11:11 PM" by the All American Rejects, and eating bread that expires on 11/11/11.

I'm also very envious of the lucky kid somewhere in the world who turns 11 today.

…sorry. I couldn't resist. XD

Thank you so, so much for everyone who reviewed, favorite and alerted this story. It really meant a lot to me that so many people enjoyed this story. :D Thanks so much for still reading throughout this crazy story!

._._._.

11:11

A Double Digit Final Fantasy VII Fan-Fiction

._._._.

DAY ELEVEN

CLOUD'S ELEVENTH BIRTHDAY PARTY. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. 3:00 PM.

A birthday was just another day, Cloud had realized. It was kind of nice to have some of his friends come around with him, so they could eat and splash each other and laugh together. His parents were really sweet to him, even if his dad didn't pay as much attention, and Cloud loved all of them to death. He didn't throw any tantrums, scream at anyone, and did as he was told quietly and with a smile.

Cloud was growing up.

Still, though life was pretty good…Cloud couldn't help but feel a little unsettled. He was getting bigger, sure, and it was coming with new feelings that he wasn't sure were good or not. His legs had started getting too long and gangly, increasingly easy to trip over, while he was suddenly thrown into an entire other perspective. When school started, the entire thing would slam into his face with sudden responsibilities and things to do…he knew it, so he wanted to make his normal time last as long as possible.

Unfortunately, some things were interfering with that.

Cloud wasn't sure if it was right, but…

Cloud sighed, shifting on his chair and pulling a half-hearted smile. Zack and the rest of his friends were playing street baseball. Reno was owning everyone else, but Zack was taking it pretty well, pulling faces and making everyone else laugh. Cloud had said he was tired, and was now shivering in his towel, just watching.

Zack was his very best friend. Cloud had known Zack for practically forever, and they'd shared everything—colds, food, and arguments, as well as the most of their lives. Zack said that he'd always be there for Cloud, and Cloud believed him whole-heartedly…

…except that Cloud was well on the way to messing the entire thing up.

After all, what kind of friend was a little too dreamy over Zack's every smile; was a little too jealous when he directed that smile somewhere else; felt all fluttery and girly every time Zack so much as sneezed in his direction? Cloud knew what was happening when he saw it, though he knew it was asking for trouble. He knew, now, that he was in love with Zack. But; the problem was that he was never going to love him back.

Right then, sitting quietly and smiling wistfully at Zack, Cloud wished that Zack would, maybe, someday, just love him back.

But, of course, that was never going to happen.

._._._.

Cloud had gotten the best sleep he'd ever gotten in the past eleven days. He almost forgot what he was going through, until he got a vague uncomfortable feeling. Squirming with a frown, Cloud cracked his eyes open.

Fredrick's face was an inch from his.

Cloud shrieked, shooting upright. Fredrick went flying off his chest and onto the floor.

"Ow," he said.

Zack doubled over in laughter, and Cloud turned to glare at him.

"That was absolutely priceless!" he wheezed. "You should've seen the look on your face!"

As much as Cloud liked having human company—Fredrick was welcome, but it was comforting to have a real person to talk to—he didn't particularly like having them both team up on him together.

Zack leaned over him, grinning, before his face became serious. "It's around ten fifty or so, buddy. You wanna try rewishing now?"

All of Cloud's irritation quickly melted away, and he went completely serious as well. "Okay," he said, swinging his legs over the side of the couch. The entire thing felt déjà vu with how Zack had been sprawled over a chair, and he'd been sprawled all over the couch. Cloud rubbed his eyes, sighing. His pajamas were starting to reek again. He hoped this worked.

Zack slipped off his watch, handing it over to Cloud. Cloud took it with a deep breath, before he froze, looking over at Fredrick. Fredrick looked patiently up at him.

"Fredrick, you wanna go get me some water?" Cloud asked, his throat closing up.

"Of course, Master Cloud," Fredrick said, "I am here for you." So saying, he waddled off in search of the kitchen.

Cloud smiled sadly up at Zack, who nodded understandingly, and then looked back down at the watch. The numbers had just changed to 11:11, and Cloud took a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I wish all of my wishes would be taken back," he declared.

There was complete silence. Nothing spectacular sounded like it was happening; the clock was still ticking, and Cloud could hear his own heavy breathing. Nothing else.

He gingerly opened one eye, looking at Zack, who was looking around with a frown.

"Did…it work?" Cloud asked uncertainly.

Zack shrugged. "I don't know. Do you feel any different?"

His stomach sinking at what he might— or might not— find, Cloud got to his feet, wobbling uncertainly to the kitchen. He found Fredrick there, sprawled over the floor, and for a moment panicked. But then, his face slowly peeled up from the floor, dripping with water.

"I am sorry, Master Cloud," his teddy said monotonously. "I tripped."

Cloud let out a sigh of relief, scooping his bear up, even though his insides felt like Jello. If nothing was going back to normal—at least not Fredrick—then what was he doing wrong?

._._._.

Aeris, as usual, had a solution.

"It's simple," her voice warbled through the phone. Cloud could hear something clicking in the background. "You said that you wished at 11:11 at night, right? Not morning. If you wished at 11:11 at night in Zack's house, though, it still wouldn't work. You probably have to replicate everything. You have to go and wish at the wishing well, at 11:11, using a nickel."

Cloud nodded, and then quickly voiced a 'yes' when he realized that she couldn't see him. "Are you…sure that'll work?" he whispered, clutching the phone closer.

Aeris hummed. "I'm…sort of sure. Around eighty percent sure."

Cloud swallowed. Twenty percent was still a rather large chunk, so it wasn't actually that comforting to him. Sport teams with the odds against them suddenly turned out on top. What if the same thing happened with him wishing?

"Is something bothering you, Cloud?" Aeris asked softly. "You seem a little worried today."

Cloud took in a shaky breath, hastily shaking his head. "I just feel a little sick today. That's it." He glanced over at Zack, who raised an eyebrow, and shook his head. "Yeah. I'll get over it, Aeris."

"All right. Don't worry, I'll be coming later," Aeris assured him, sounding worried herself now. "You have the entire day; try to relax a bit."

"I'll try," Cloud murmured, and ended the call.

"You sure you're okay, buddy?" Zack asked, leading the way back into the living room.

Cloud just shrugged, giving him a half-hearted smile. "I'm just a little tired still, that's it." There was something he was forgetting. All of the wishes so far he'd forgotten, yes, but this one was really bugging him, and he couldn't put his finger on why.

He almost asked for the phone back so he could call Aeris, but Zack was already dialing a number, so he snapped his mouth shut, flopping back onto the couch and waiting.

Whoever was on the other side picked up, and Zack began talking amicably, though he seemed slightly agitated. Cloud didn't really pay that much attention, lost in his own thoughts. Zack wandered into the kitchen, and he sunk into the cushions, thinking. When Zack's hand fell on his shoulder, Cloud jumped, and then giggled in embarrassment.

"I was just checking up with Genesis," Zack said.

Oh. Right. Cloud hadn't even thought about him; he'd just thought that Genesis had left after Tifa had burst in.

"Oh, don't worry, he's fine," Zack said, rolling his eyes. "He was watching Tifa after we left the church. He says that pretty much, she's just sulking, but she might try again later. He also sends you 'luck in finding the right guy', whatever that means."

Cloud, of course, knew exactly what that meant, and he flushed.

"Anyways, we've got some time to kill," Zack declared, "So let's make the most of it."

Cloud opened his mouth to respond, when his eyes suddenly focused outside of the window. He could clearly see Sephiroth's face pressed against the window through the thin blinds, and he sighed.

"Actually, I think I'll go and take a shower. I feel kind of gritty."

Zack looked between him and the window, jumping a little at seeing Sephiroth there, and sighed, getting up. "Go ahead. I'll let Sephiroth inside."

._._._.

Cloud quickly discovered that it wasn't as easy to just 'take a shower' as he thought. The moment he got into the bathroom and took off his pajamas, they slithered underneath the door. A toothbrush—new, thankfully—immediately leapt at him with a liberal amount of toothpaste. Cloud managed, finally, to get under the cold spray, shivering and foaming toothpaste the entire time. When he got out, a pair of Zack's pajamas came under the door. He managed to keep them away long enough to dry himself off, before, tripping over the hem, he came down the stairs.

Sephiroth, wide-eyed, watched him come down the steps and all the way into the kitchen. Cloud managed to spit out some of the toothpaste in the sink, washing it down as his toothbrush continued brushing furiously. All he felt was tired; he wanted this entire thing to be over, but it just seemed like it was getting worse.

"Are you all right?" Zack asked. Cloud jumped; he hadn't even noticed Zack behind him. He turned, giving him a wan smile.

"I just have to wait until 11:11," he whispered, "And everything will be fine. It's just getting a little…extreme right now."

Zack smiled at him, though worriedly. "Don't worry. I'm sure it won't be that long."

._._._.

It was long, though. Cloud found his cell-phone—or more accurately, Fredrick had brought it with him—and absently checked his messages. There were too many to open from his father, who still claimed that he was on his way. Considering that his parents lived way out in the city, he would have to get past Cloud's mom before he actually came, which comforted Cloud a little. After that, there were a whole bunch of threatening texts from Tifa, saying that she knew where he was, and everything like that. Cloud kind of became numb to it after a while.

A niggling worry had finally wiggled its way into existence. Eleven years old wasn't that far away. Cloud vaguely remembered that birthday; Zack and the others playing street baseball, and him shivering in his towel and bathing suit. The wish had gradually come back.

That was what was worrying—no, terrifying Cloud.

If he had wished that Zack would love him, which meant that Zack would become just another wish coming true, in a horrible way. He'd go over the top, and the worst part was that Cloud would suck up every moment of it—even if it wasn't true.

Cloud curled up miserably. Usually, it seemed like the wishes came true right away, but if this one had come true, it was sure taking its time. He was glad, too; but just the same, he distanced himself from Zack, just in case. He didn't want any mistakes.

All his wishes seemed to be over the top today, maybe because he was going to wish them all away, and if he could avoid a falsely lovesick Zack, he would be okay with it.

Sort of.

Cloud couldn't coax the toothbrush out of his mouth, so he did everything around it. He didn't eat, and ended up staring wide-eyed at the television. Zack seemed kind of tense, too; he kept walking back and forth, asking Sephiroth—still sitting there—if he needed anything.

It was a long day.

Finally, at around ten o' clock at night, Aeris called.

"I'm running late," she said, sounding breathless and worried. "Tell Zack that he can take you to the park, but remember; you have to wish at exactly 11:11. Not a moment before or after. I don't know what'll happen."

Cloud swallowed, holding the phone close as he nodded. He explained about the overboard wishes, and Aeris hummed in concern.

"Ask Zack to take you right away," she finally said. "I don't think that's good."

It was moments after Cloud hung up with her that Tifa began pounding on the door.

Heads pressed together, Zack and Cloud peered through the blinds, with Sephiroth hovering over their shoulders. Tifa her minions were on the front porch, looking appropriately out for blood.

"I know you're in there, Cloud!" Tifa yelled out. "I saw you jumping on Zack's motorcycle! I'm not stupid!"

"No she isn't, yo!" called Reno. Cloud made a face. The traitor had quickly gone on Tifa's side. Cloud didn't really feel as sorry for the unexpected wedgie as he did before.

"You won't be able to get out!" Tifa taunted. "We'll be waiting for you!"

Zack moved away from the window over to the couch. "We'll wait until ten forty, and then we go," he said, handing an extra jacket to Cloud and shrugging on his own. Sephiroth watched them curiously, probably not knowing completely what was going on, but he tentatively volunteered, "I will make sure they don't break in."

Zack smiled at him, taking Cloud's arm and leading him to the back of the house. "Thanks, man. You're a lifesaver."

._._._.

Cloud swallowed, clinging to Zack's arm in turn as they moved towards the darkened back door. Something latched onto his leg, and he jumped; but it was just Fredrick, staring up at him. Anticipating why he was there, Cloud picked him up and hugged him with his free arm.

Zack quietly opened the door, scanning the yard, and then pulling Cloud out after him. Cloud had forgotten about the candy rainfall, and with all the fury of a thunderstorm, they were suddenly pounded with candied nuts.

Cries went up from the front lawn, and Zack sprinted, dragging Cloud behind him. He leapt onto the motorcycle, giving Cloud time to jump on behind him, and took off, zooming down the street. The park was a fifteen minute walk, but on Zack's motorcycle—probably breaking a few laws—they made it in five. They pulled up, and Zack tugged Cloud off the motorcycle, taking him by the hand and dragging him through the park.

"Do you remember where it is?" Cloud asked, a little breathless. Zack was holding his hand, and even though this wasn't the situation to gush over it…Zack was holding his hand.

Zack beamed at him, red in the face. "I'm Zack Fair. I never forget."

Cloud flushed. Cloud Strifes never forgot either, and Zack pulling him through the park was very reminiscent of the last time they'd been here.

They reached the well, and Cloud leaned over, looking down into it. It was deep, dark, and gave him a bad feeling, as usual; except, far off, he could see a fierce glow of green down in the very depths. It gave him the chills.

"I need a nickel," Cloud said, rummaging through his pockets. He came up short, while Zack pulled out a quarter and a dime. Cloud was about to panic, but he'd forgotten about Fredrick, who held up a nickel to him. Cloud smiled appreciatively, taking the nickel in one hand, and then Zack's watch in the other.

11:05.

His toothbrush still dangling precariously out of his mouth, Cloud puffed out his cheeks, tapping his foot nervously as he wondered if this would go well or not. What if nothing came true? What if it all stayed the same? Then what would happen?

Cloud jumped as, suddenly, he felt a soft touch on his cheek. Whirling, he came face to face with Zack. Zack's cheeks were pink from the exhilaration, and he had a strange, nervous smile on his face. His eyes were warmer than usual.

"Cloud…" Zack swallowed. "I've got to tell you something." He laughed, turning his head away a little. "I've been kind of putting it off, but…if this all turns around and we maybe forget, or something, I wouldn't have messed anything up."

Cloud's stomach dropped straight to his shoes. Oh no.

Zack looked Cloud straight in the eyes, smiling softly. "I…I think I'm in love with you, Cloud."

Oh no no no. This couldn't be happening at all. Cloud shook his head sharply, not believing it, but Zack caught his cheeks in both hands, nose to nose with Cloud now. Cloud froze, and Zack leaned in.

It was raining gumballs, multicolored gumballs, from a cloud directly over Cloud's head, which was actually pretty. Cloud's pajamas were flopping off of him. His toothbrush was poking out of the side of his mouth, and his mouth was full of toothpaste. And now, to top it all off, Zack was kissing him.

It was, needless to say, a very weird first kiss. But that didn't change the fact that it was Zack, and Cloud had been in love with him for so long, and…and…

Cloud moved desperately closer, pressing himself entirely into Zack's chest and hugging him around the middle. He squinched up his lips and his eyes and kissed back.

Then, he shoved Zack away, backing away.

Zack looked confused, stumbling a little, and then moving towards Cloud. "Cloud…?"

"Don't come near me!" Cloud said, stumbling backwards himself.

"What?"

"You don't mean it," Cloud said, his eyes tearing up now. "You don't mean any of it. It's just another wish, isn't it?"

Zack opened his mouth to respond, but Cloud beat him to it. "I love you!" he blurted. "I've loved you for forever. But you're not like that, and this is a silly, silly wish." He swallowed, murmuring, "I'm sorry I kissed you back, Zack."

Then, he went over, leaning over the well. He clutched Fredrick to his chest, checking his watch.

11:10.

11:11.

Cloud took a deep breath, closing his eyes and sniffling.

"I wish that all my wishes had never come true."

He threw in the watch and the coin, watching them both be sucked down into the vacuum. His heart in his throat, he watched the green light at the bottom of the well grow bigger, and bigger…

…and then implode into itself, folding inside of the dark.

Abruptly around him, the gumballs stopped falling. His toothbrush, which had hovered in his mouth, went tumbling to the ground. Fredrick, squirming against his chest, went still.

Cloud stood there, shivering, cold, and normal again.

Someone put a hand on his shoulder, but Cloud, wide-eyed, pulled away, running. He could hear Zack shouting after him, but he sped up, running as fast as he could.

He reached his own house, locked all the locks and turned on all the lights. He ran all the way up the stairs, reached his room, and huddled underneath his bed.

Then, hugging Fredrick—who was very, very still—Cloud cried like he hadn't before.

…

…

…

._._._.

The next morning, normalcy finally set in. Cloud, red and puffy-eyed, walked numbly down the stairs, holding Fredrick still firmly under the arm, and sat down heavily on the couch.

It was all over. Cloud was dressed in a pair of jeans and a loose t-shirt; the pajamas had come off without a hitch. He had had to make his own bed. Fredrick had not moved once, which made Cloud unbelievably unhappy. He hadn't even twitched when Cloud meekly voiced that he was having eggs for breakfast.

Cloud thought that after his wishes were taken back, everything would become all right and fine. But instead, he'd become used to the routine. He'd liked Fredrick running around. He'd gotten used to discovering a new wish, breaking down and hiding it from Zack.

Plus, he'd probably lost his friendship with Zack.

He knew, that if he remembered, then Zack did too. Zack was probably disgusted with himself right now, for kissing his best friend. It'd all been under the influence of a wish. Him and Cloud would be even further apart.

Cloud felt a lot like crying again, but he suppressed that. He couldn't do that anymore.

His cell-phone buzzed, and, idly, Cloud flipped it open.

A new text message from Tifa was in the phone. A simple, 'I'm so sorry, Cloud. I have no idea what came over me.' Cloud deleted it with a sigh. He was going to face it eventually.

Then, a new message from his father.

"Cloud!" his father sounded familiar, slightly awkward. "I meant what I said. I'm sorry that I was bugging you, I have no idea what came over me. But a promise is a promise; tell me when you want to have a father-son day! We'll hit Migney World and everything." Then, softly, awkwardly, "I love you, Cloud. And don't ever think that I'm not proud of you."

Cloud, wide-eyed, stared at his phone for a long time. When the doorbell rang, he automatically got to his feet, shuffling over to the door.

On the other side, shifting awkwardly on the porch, was Zack. He hastily stuck his foot inside the door, stepping forward when Cloud made to close the door.

"I'm sorry!" Cloud blurted before Zack could get anything out. "I didn't mean to do anything, and I know that it was all just a wish. It was a stupid wish that I made when I was a kid. I'm so sorry; I didn't mean it." Cloud was rambling now, stepping back when Zack stepped forward. His gaze dropped to his feet. "I know you're probably mad at me now. I'm sorry. It was my entire fault—"

"I'm not mad at you."

Cloud peered up at Zack. Judging by Zack's blank face, he could very well be mad and just hiding it, so Cloud hurriedly ducked his head down again.

"You remember your eleventh birthday?" Zack said softly, leaning against the wall. "I remember it. We were playing baseball in the street. I wanted you to play on my team, but you said you were cold. The entire time you were shivering on your chair, but you smiled every time I looked up."

Cloud opened his mouth, but Zack still kept talking. "You know, Cloud? I was twelve that time. I was hormonal and wired, and all sweaty and messy. And you know what?" He swallowed. "That day, I decided I was in love with you."

Oh. Heck.

Cloud's head shot up, eyes wide. Apparently thinking that he was going to interrupt, Zack hurriedly continued, "All this time, I didn't want to mess up anything, so I didn't tell you, but I really, really like you, Cloud. And if anyone should be apologizing, it's me; I didn't mean to kiss you like that. I mean, I know it was the wrong time and everything—"

"You like me back?" Cloud whispered.

Zack stopped talking, looking at him. "Yeah," he said.

"You like me back?" Cloud was trembling all over now.

"Yeah!" Zack said.

With a shriek, Cloud barreled into his chest, spreading his arms as far around Zack's waist as he could, and squeezed. Then he pulled back, looked up at Zack, and shrieked again, burying his face into Zack's chest again. Zack gave an uncertain chuckle, but then apparently let go of all his inhibitions and grabbed Cloud back, lifting him off the floor.

"You never told me!" Cloud screeched, completely overwhelmed. "You never looked like it, or—or made it obvious—"

"You didn't either," Zack pointed out, but all with a smile.

Cloud finally calmed down, resting his head against Zack's chest and trying to catch his breath. Zack leaned down, pecking him on the top of his head.

"I really do love you," Zack said. "And this is going to be weird, but I promise I'll try and make it work out."

"It's not weird," Cloud said, "It's perfect."

For a moment, they stood against each other, basking in the silence, before Cloud sighed again.

"I miss Fredrick," he said sadly, grabbing a handful of Zack's shirt (to still make sure that he was real).

Zack grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "You know," he said, "The wishing well could just be magic year-round, and not just on a double digits day. We could go back sometime, on another double day. Make a wish, and see what happens."

Cloud smiled up at him. "Okay. I miss his mangled eggs." Even so, he looked forward to seeing Fredrick again.

Tentatively, Cloud tugged on Zack's collar, tilting his head down. He almost lost his nerve, but he leaned up, pecking Zack on the lips. In response, Zack picked him up, kissing him back harder—and more embarrassingly—than Cloud had. He laughed at Cloud's bashful look, leading him over to the couch.

They had some things to work out and get used to, sure. But…

Cloud smiled at Zack, picking up Fredrick and scooting over closer to him.

He was sure they could work it out.

Cloud leaned against Zack, closed his eyes, and, for the first time in a while, felt completely and truly relaxed.

The clock ticked.

It was 11:11 AM.