Darling Cloud

By Amatsu

Warnings: Rated R, Shounen-ai/Yaoi, citrus, fluffiness, major sappiness, OOCness, and poorly written.

Disclaimer: All the events you read here (obviously) did not take place during the PS2 game, Kingdom Hearts. It would be damn interesting if it did though. As much as I would love to own the characters, they do not belong to me. It would be damn interesting if they did though.

Author's Note (Rant): You can go ahead and skip this part if you want. I don't think you would want to sit around and listen to me rant on…but I'm going to do it anyway. Ahem. The last chapter!! (Sad face, sad face, sad face) Yes, all things have to come to an end. I know some of you are wondering why don't I just continue this fic. Truth is, I found this story less appealing to me then when I first started. I mean, I loved the closeness I created between Leon and Cloud, but it's too sappy for my taste. I find it hard to write like that. I'm very inexperienced in that field, if you know what I mean.

This fic was actually suppose to be one of those PWP - all lemons and limes sort of thing. If you ever heard the song "Darling Nikki" by the Foo Fighters, then you would understand why. This was suppose to be about Cloud being a little sex fiend and Leon being his dominative lover…urm, bedmate. I did intend on having Cloud screwing up whenever the going got hot, but I didn't intend on having their relationship be so lovey-dovey. I actually wanted them to be like…friend with benefits, maybe a little something more, minus the 'I love you's'. I don't know how the whole 'I love you' thing got in to this, but I guess it worked well.

Actually I think it sucks as my first fanfic. And because I think that, I will continue writing! Yes, I will be writing more Leon/Cloud fics. Whether or not will it be like this or on …maybe. We'll just have to wait and see, huh? Anyway, I should stop my ranting and let you get to reading if you haven't skipped on down yet. Thanks for sticking around me for this short but long time. Here is the epilogue you all have been waiting for. I'm not going to talk about it until the end…I don't want to spoil anything. But let me warn you now, it is very, VERY long for an epilogue. Enjoy (Happy face, happy face, happy face)!

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Epilogue: Ender

"So after another year, it really had to come to this?"

"Yeah…"

"It's for the best, Leon."

"I know." Leon sighed and took a sip from his glass of water. Deciding to change the subject, he cleared his throat then spoke again. "So what about you, Zack? What have you been doing the past year?"

"Oh, nothing. You know how it was in Hollow Bastion. Working everyday, boring, and what not." He smiled. "I'm just glad Cid gave me a new job."

Recently, Cid had offered Zack to come work for him in Traverse Town. Leon still worked for him, but after what happened between Leon and Cloud, he decided to let the brunette take some much needed time off. So Zack moved to Traverse Town for his new job and to fill in for Leon while he was out. He just arrived a few days ago and was currently staying in a cheap apartment in the First District. He remembered the brunette said to give him a visit if he ever came to Traverse Town. He wished his timing could have been better.

"I have to warn you, Cid doesn't pay much." Leon said jokingly.

Zack chuckled. "Hey, as long as it pays and I don't ever have to go back to Hollow Bastion, then I'll be ok." He probably could had left Hollow Bastion sooner, but he didn't have a place to go or stay. And if he went to another place for no reason but to get out of Hollow Bastion, then he would only end up the same way he was in Hollow Bastion in any other world - lonely. Luckily, he had a reason to go to Traverse Town - to work. He got a place to stay and he at least knew people here. He was really looking forward to seeing Leon again, but he didn't think the brunette would be like this.

Leon glanced at the piece of paper with his handwriting on it, sitting on the table. "Can't believe you still have this thing after a whole year." It was the 'I.O.U.' he had given to Zack when his gummi ship died on him in Hollow Bastion.

"How could I forget it? It's dinner and I never pass up a good, free meal." Zack had taken this opportunity to see Leon by using his 'I.O.U.'. It probably wasn't a good idea to get Leon to take him out to dinner right now, but he thought the brunette could use some time away from the house. Leon was always stuck in there. "Besides, Cid told me that you have been stuck inside the house for awhile. You need to get out on some days."

Leon shrugged. "I don't feel like going out anymore."

"And why's that?"

Leon sighed. "When something happens to you…" He trailed off in the middle of what he was going to say. Deciding to just leave it at that. Zack should understand.

Leon looked down at his hands, carefully placed on the table in front of him. Zack watched as the brunette twisted the gold band on his fourth finger. A light smiled on Leon's face as he gazed down at the gleaming gold engagement ring. Yep, Zack's timing really could have been better.

"You should be happy."

Leon smiled up at his friend. "I am."

The raven-haired man leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest, and he smiled back. "You lucky dog, I'm jealous…of your happiness." He was actually going to say he was jealous of Leon's fiancé.

Leon just smiled then looked around the restaurant. "What's taking the food so long?" He got up from his seat, "I'll be in the restroom." He told Zack before walking off towards the restrooms.

Zack watched him go before he noticed an angry-looking man with spiky, blonde hair enter the restaurant. "Well, what do we have here?" He asked himself as the blond man surveyed the restaurant, obviously looking for something or someone. "'Spiky, blonde hair with blue eyes and is easily jealous' was what Leon said right?"

He noticed when the blond eyed him suspiciously then stalked over to him.

"You!" The blond pointed a finger at Zack. "Where is my Leon?"

Zack looked at the finger being rudely pointed at him, and then up at the blonde's angered face. He smiled. "You must be Cloud."

Cloud crossed his arms and huffed. "And you must be Jack."

"Zack." He corrected.

"Whatever." Cloud rolled his eyes, giving the raven-haired man an attitude. "Where is Leon?"

"Leon is in the restroom right now. Can I help you?"

Cloud slammed his hand on the table, rattling everything on there. "Who do you think you are, taking my Leon out for dinner? You do know he is taken!"

Cloud couldn't let Leon out of sight for a few hours. Ever since the engagement, he had kept Leon all to himself in their house.

Zack smirked. "I know, but he owed me dinner."

"I don't care if he owed you one frickin' munny! You can't have him!" By now, everyone in the restaurant was staring at them, but both seem not to care.

Zack decided that he liked seeing the blond all jealous and riled up, so he decided to feed the 'green-eyed monster'. He crossed his arms, giving Cloud a smug look and a smirk. "I already did."

"WHAT?!" The blond slammed his fist down on the table.

"Excuse me sirs, is there something wrong?"

"FUCK OFF BUDDY!" Cloud snarled at the manager of the restaurant. The manager 'eeped' and retreated back to his kitchen. The blond was red in the face as he jerked his head back at the raven-haired man and growled at him. "What do you mean 'you already did'??"

Zack grinned. "You know what I mean." Of course he was just messing with Cloud. It was payback for making him jealous. He sighed exaggeratingly, "Didn't you ever wonder what was taking him so long to get back from Hollow Bastion?"

The blond cocked a brow, his hands gripping on to the edge of the table. "Hollow Bastion…last year…he was gone for a whole week." He said through clenched teeth.

"Yep, he was with me the whole time. That sure was fun…and damn good." Zack gave him a wink, placing his hand behind his head and leaning back into his chair, feigning a satisfied grin.

The blond reacted before thinking, reaching over the table ready to strangle the other man. "Why you?!"

"Hey!"

The two looked up at the loud gruff voice and they both jolted. A very big man in an apron, holding up a butcher knife, snarled at the two. The manager from earlier stood smugly behind him.

"If you want to cause trouble then I'm going to give it to you." The 'chef' bellowed, waving around his bloody butcher knife. The man looked downright like a homicidal killer. Even Cloud thought the man could kill him in one punch.

"Sorry about that sir…with big knife…" Zack trailed off then smiled nervously at the chef. "We'll settle down now."

The chef grunted and went back in his kitchen, with the manager quickly following behind him.

Cloud angrily sat down in a seat, glaring at the spiky, raven-haired man. Zack rolled his eyes and straightened out his shirt. "Jeez…no need to make a scene. I was kidding."

The blond crossed his arms and huffed. "Yeah, well you shouldn't have been saying all those stupid things."

Zack arched and eyebrow. "You're saying you don't trust Leon?"

Cloud slammed his hand on the table again. "What? No! That's not what I said! Of course I trust him! I trust him with all my heart and soul!"

"Yeah if that was true, you wouldn't have believed what I said earlier and get all jealous about it."

"It is true! And I didn't believe you in the first place! I just wanted to hit you!"

"Yeah right…"

Cloud growled. This man's smug attitude was really pissing him off. If that homicidal-killer-chef weren't around, he would have clobbered the raven-haired man right now. That would teach him a thing or two.

His left hand shot up, showing the back of his hand to Zack, his other hand pointed to the golden band wrapped around his ring-finger. "You see this?" He tapped his finger against the gold ring. He noticed when Zack frowned a bit, making him smile wickedly.

"This is the trust I have in Leon. I trust and love him more than anything, and I'm going to marry him!" He nodded vigorously, "Leon and I are getting married!" He announced to the whole restaurant…or world. "Yeah that's right, Leon proposed to me and I couldn't had been more happier to accept."

"If I recall from that night…it was you who was begging me to marry you."

Cloud jumped up from his seat and squealed seeing his lover standing behind him.

"Leon, honey!" He glomped on to the brunette. "There you are! I was telling Jack--"

"Zack."

"--about our engagement."

Leon gave him a grim look. "You were saying?"

"Propose to me, asked (begged) you to marry me…same thing!"

The brunette snorted and unwrapped the blonde's arms around his neck. "Uh huh…what are you doing here, Cloud?"

Cloud frowned and stared down at his feet. "I felt so lonely at home by myself. I missed you."

Leon crossed his arms not falling for Cloud's 'cute attempt'. "I haven't even been gone for more than 30 minutes and you already come interrupting before my dinner had even arrived yet."

"If you wanted dinner, you could have asked me." The blond pouted.

"Yeah right. If you made dinner, I couldn't even get a bite in before you…never mind." Leon shook his head and turned to his friend who was sitting there quietly. "Sorry about this, Zack. This is Cloud." He placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder. "And Cloud this is Zack, my friend."

Cloud 'hmphed' and tossed his head. "We already met."

Leaning in to his ear, he murmured, "You be nice, or I'm not coming home tonight." He gave him a shove toward the raven-haired man. "Go on. Shake his head."

Cloud huffed and stiffly extended his hand out to Zack. "Hi. Nice to meet you." He muttered.

Zack smiled and graciously shook the blonde's hand. "Nice to meet you too, Cloud."

Cloud wrinkled his nose and took a closer look at the other man. "You know, you look strangely familiar." He studied the appearance of the other man. He would have noticed earlier had he not been so caught up in his earlier actions.

Zack smirked. "I was wondering the same thing." He said while staring in to those familiar baby blue eyes.

The two had not realized that they were still shaking hands as they stared at each other intently, but Leon, who was watching them, had. Leon wanted them to be friendly to each other, but not too friendly.

He loudly coughed then cleared his throat to get their attention. Cloud heard the unpleasant cough, and when he looked down he saw his hand still inZack's. He quickly yanked his hand back, giving Leon a nervous smile before glaring at the raven-haired man again.

"Ah…whatever. Who cares? For all I know, you could be some punk that I beat up before."

"Cloud…" Leon warned.

The blond turned to his lover giving him the pouty-innocent look. "What? I was just kidding, honey!"

Zack let out a chuckle. "It's ok Leon, let him be childish as much as he wants."

"I'm not childish!"

Zack snorted. "Yeah, you are."

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"You're the childish one!"

"Am not!"

"Are so!"

"Am not!"

"Are so!"

"Am not! Am not! Am not!"

"Are so! Are so! Are so!"

Leon sweat dropped at the very childish exchange. 'They're both childish,' he thought while his eyebrow started to twitch.

"Cloud!" He hollered, ceasing their squabbling. When he had their attention, he narrowed his eyes. "Shut up."

Cloud frowned. "Why are you being so mean to me? He started it."

"I did not." Zack muttered, but Cloud heard.

"Did to!"

"Stop!" Leon hollered out again, "Cloud, stop arguing with him…you're giving me a headache."

Cloud's jaw dropped, "But…"

"I don't care who started it. Just stop it, or I can promise you I will not be coming home tonight."

Cloud frowned even more.

"Sorry." Both Cloud and Zack said at the same time. They glared at each other when they realized that.

Leon just sighed and sat down in his seat. He saw the blond pull up a chair beside him and sat down also. He scooted his seat next to Leon's as close as possible, while clinging to the brunette's arm as he stuck his tongue out at Zack from across the table.

"What are you doing?" Leon asked.

"Sitting next to you…"

"Why?"

Cloud furrowed his eyebrows and curled his lip. "What do you mean 'why'? I can't sit next to you anymore?"

Leon rubbed on of his temples and sighed. "Go home."

"What?! But why?? I didn't do anything!" Cloud pouted.

"I'm suppose to take Zack out for dinner, not you. So go home."

Cloud gave him a sad face. "Aw…but Leon…can't I stay? I won't eat and I'll stay quiet." He begged. "C'mon please??"

It was getting harder for Leon to not fall for whiny-cute-Cloud, but he had to resist.

"Cloud--"

"Leon, just let him stay. He might cry if you don't." Zack told him.

Leon glanced over at the raven-haired man then back at Cloud, who was glaring at Zack, who in turn was grinning back.

Leon sighed. "Fine, you can stay. " Cloud perked up. "But don't start anything!"

"Ok! Ok! I promise I won't do anything! I'll just sit here right next to you. And you can have your dinner with Jack--"

"Zack."

"--I'll be quiet. You won't even notice I'm here. I won't bother you. No, I won't. Nope, nope, no--" Leon gave him a look and Cloud shut himself up. "Sorry! Sorry…quiet now. Quiet, quiet, quiet!" He quickly shut himself up again.

Zack shook his head as he chuckled to himself. Leon cleared his throat and proceeded to talk to Zack while pretending that Cloud wasn't there.

"Anyway, so how long do you plan on staying here, Zack?"

"Trust me, I don't plan on going anywhere for awhile."

"Oh that's a shame…" Cloud muttered, but Leon ignored him.

"Yeah. I'll be around for awhile since you won't be able to work for Cid on some days…because of the…'wedding preparations'."

"Guess who's not invited?" Cloud muttered again. Leon ignored him again.

"I'll be happy to fill in for you, Leon."

"While I'll be filling in Leon." Again, Cloud muttered. Again, Leon ignored.

Zack tried not to laugh. Although it was pretty hard for him to like the blond, and it was sort of obvious that Cloud didn't like him, he was sure he and Cloud were going to get along just fine.

"So Leon, tell me, what's it like being engaged…knowing that you're going to be stuck with this same person for the rest of your life?"

Before Leon could answer, Cloud butted in. "Who do you think you are asking Leon a question like that? You don't even know him!"

"Cloud…" Leon warned but the blond didn't hear.

Zack smirked. "I think I know him well enough to ask."

"Oh yeah?! And what the hell do you know about Leon? You had only known him for less than a week and you think you know-know him?"

"Cloud…"

"Well, I know he lives in Traverse Town. He works for Cid. He has a boyfriend that he often has problems with. And he's a very good guy."

Cloud rolled his eyes. "That's nothing! Do you know that Leon's favorite flavor ice cream is vanilla? Or that he doesn't like to watch TV? Or that he likes to collect cards and magazines? Or that he's allergic to cherries? Or that every night, he would go to bed at exactly 9 p.m.? Or that his favorite sound is the sound of a heartbeat? Or that when he showers, he washes everything twice--"

"Cloud…"

"--Or that he likes to sniff things? Or that he prefers gloomy days to sunny ones? Or that he likes to watch foreign films that he can't even understand? Or that he pees in the shower to conserve water? Or when he eats something sour, he makes a really cute face? Or that he has an obsession for black leather, belts, and birds? Or that he lost his virginity to a girl when he was 17...then he lost his other virginity (to me) when he was 20?"

"Cloud…"

"Or that his favorite hot spots include his ears, nipples, and--"

"CLOUD!"

The blond paused, looking at Leon with frightened innocence. "Yes dear?"

Leon rubbed his temple, closing his eyes in frustration. "Go home." He stated blankly.

"What? But…I'm sorry Leon! I'll be quiet now! Really!"

"Go home."

"But I won't do or say anything anymore. Leon, please don't make me go home! It's so lonely there! I promise--"

"I'll see you at home, Cloud." The brunette said coldly.

Cloud shut himself up and he frowned. He glanced at Zack, who grinned at him while he stood up pathetically. He heaved a sad sigh before walking toward the exit, pausing in his steps to look back at the two still sitting at the table. Leon still did not bother to look at him while Zack happily waved him goodbye.

"Stupid jerk…" He muttered to himself as he continued.

When he got out of the restaurant, the last place he would have thought of going to right now would be home. Instead, he made it look like he was going home before dropping to the ground and scurrying over to one of the windows on the other side of the restaurant. Ducking as much as he could, he peered in the window. He decided if he can't stick around in their company, then he'll just stick around out of their company…yes, that meant he was going to spy on them.

Well, he was sure Leon wasn't going to do anything, but he couldn't be sure about Zack. 'I swear if that punk tries anything with Leon…I'm going to rip his balls off!' But he was also sort of mad at Leon for being mad at him. "Leon, you jerk."

He watched them talk but nothing else happened. He sees Zack laugh and Leon smiles. 'What the hell is he laughing at?' He hated it that he couldn't hear what they were talking about. 'This is so boring…' Well, it was better than being home alone doing nothing at all. He just wanted Leon to get this dinner over with so he could go home and they could make love. They seem to do that a lot more lately. Cloud wouldn't protest. But he wasn't sure that was going to be happening tonight.

"Hey! Look, a restaurant! Let's get something to eat! I'm hungry!" Cloud heard a familiar voice from around the corner.

"Yeah, good idea, Yuffie. Let's get something in here." Cloud was sure that was Aerith.

'Ah shit…' he ducked himself even further and peeked around the corner. He saw Aerith and Yuffie walk in to the restaurant.

For some reason, when one of the girls saw either Leon or Cloud with another guy, they would have the tendency to get mad and beat one of them up. Actually, that was just Yuffie. Aerith would just have a nice long talk with the both of them. And since the girls hadn't met Zack yet, this couldn't be good.

Cloud chuckled wickedly to himself. "Yeah, that will teach them…"

(INSIDE)

Zack glanced to the corner of his eye. Those large, blond spikes peeking up behind the window weren't doing a good job of hiding. He knew that Cloud hadn't gone home and was now spying on them, and he knew that Leon was aware of that also, but they both decided to ignore that for now.

"I wonder what's taking the food so long…" Leon looks at a clock on the wall. They had been here for over 30 minutes and their food still had not arrived yet. Everyone else was eating. Why weren't they?

"Umm…I don't know."

Leon was getting impatient. He could be quite the cranky bitch when he's hungry - scratch that, he could be quite the cranky bitch, period.

He began to stand up. "I think I'm going to go check--"

"Oh. My. God. Squall Leonhart, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Leon cringed hearing that voice. Not to mention his real name being spoken again. Now that he realizes it, it really had been a long time since he was called by that. Then he remembered the girls hadn't met Zack yet, which meant the girls were going to jump to conclusions, which meant he was going to get another beating and another long talk.

"Ah shit…" Spinning around, he was met with an angry-looking Yuffie. "Ok, before you jump to conclu--"

"LEON, YOU BASTARD!" Yuffie launched at him, gripping at Leon's collar and shaking him violently. "I can't believe you would do this to Cloud! You guys are engaged and now you're on a date with some guy?! What the hell is wrong with you?! I thought you loved Cloud! What kind of fiancé are you?! Do I have to beat some sense in to you?!"

"Wait…let go…it's not what you think…" Leon gasped out in between breaths. "Wait…"

"GASP! Leon, what are you doing here?" Aerith appeared behind Yuffie, who was strangling Leon. She looked around and noticed Zack. "Leon, who is this man? And where is Cloud?"

Zack nervously smiled at them, then waved. "Hi, I'm Zack Ando." Yuffie paused in the strangling and they all turned their attention toward the raven-haired man. "I'm a friend of Leon's."

"Leon has friends?" Leon glared at Yuffie but she still had not released the grip on his collar.

"Zack Ando?" Aerith tilted her head to the side, staring at Zack more intently.

"Uh…yeah. We met in Hollow Bastion last year and…"

"WHAT?! You were with this man while you were in Hollow Bastion that one time?!" Yuffie yelled at poor Leon, continuing with the strangling. "Does Cloud know about this?! We're you cheating on Cloud then?! I can't believe you did this to him!"

"Yuffie, stop." Aerith told her.

Yuffie didn't hear her. "How long has this been going on, huh?! What does this mean, Leon? Are you breaking it off with Cloud? If you are, I am so going to kill you! You know how much that boy loves you?? You're the only person who keeps him in one piece! Does he mean nothing to you, you stupid jerk?! How could you do this to him?!"

"HEY!"

All became quiet when they saw a very large man with a bloody butcher knife standing nearby.

"What the hell is going on here? If you're going to cause trouble in my restaurant, get the hell out before I put this knife to better use!"

They didn't say anything.

The chef eyed Zack and he growled. "These are your friends too?"

Zack smiled nervously at the large man. "I'm very sorry, sir. We'll be quiet now."

"You better! I'm not dealing with this again!" He waved his butcher knife around then grunted before stomping off.

Leon was going to ask him where the heck was their food, but then he still had Yuffie's hands wrapped around his neck and also he didn't want to ask anything that will have the result of piss-soaked food.

Yuffie roughly released Leon, and then she huffed. "So Leon? Why are you so quiet? What are you going to say?"

Leon rubbed his neck and straightens out his jacket. "Well, if you gave me a chance to answer…" he glared at her. "This is Zack. He is my friend. Yes, I met him in Hollow Bastion that 'one time', but I was not cheating on Cloud with him. Yes, Cloud knows about this, and I already had a talk with him."

She scoffed. "That's right." It was a wonder why they cared so much about Leon and Cloud's relationship. Well, it was nice to have such caring friends…sometimes.

"I knew there was a logical explanation about this." Aerith smiled cheerfully at everyone. "So lets all be nice to each other now."

Leon crossed his arms. "Yeah, so…go away."

"Nonsense! We don't see each other anymore! We just got here and we have yet to introduced ourselves!" Yuffie chirped. She bounced over to the raven-haired man, giving him her cute two-finger salute and a wink. "Hi! I'm Yuffie!"

"Uh…hi…" he waved back, a little afraid of what she can do after seeing her strangle Leon.

Aerith shyly walked over to him and she extended a hand to him. "Hello Zack. It's nice to meet you. My name is Aerith."

Zack stared into her bright green eyes. They looked so familiar and it gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling. He took her hand and shook it. "H-hi…"

She smiled. "I can't help but ask, but…have we met before?"

Why did it seem like that? Like, he knew these people from somewhere, but he just didn't know from where. He hadn't had the slightest clue if he had met them before. Was it just a coincidence that theses people got the same first impression?

He stared deep in to those green orbs and he swallowed. "I don't know…but I wish we had."

Leon noticed the blush on Aerith's cheeks and the dreamy look in Zack's eyes as they held each other's hand in their forgotten handshake. Yep, he and Cloud had nothing to worry about anymore.

Leon sat back down in his seat. "Ok. Everyone's acquainted so…what now?"

"We eat!" Yuffie happily bounced up and down.

"Good luck with that. We've been waiting for over and hour for our food." The brunette yawned and rested his head on his hand propped up on the table. He was ready to go home. Perhaps, he and Zack could have their dinner another day, because the only thing he could think of that would make him feel better is Cloud. Although he knew Cloud was just outside, maybe he shouldn't had made him leave, but then again Cloud would be all jealous and annoying if he was here right now.

Leon groaned when the girls sat themselves at their table. Oh well, the girls would be better company than the very jealous and annoying Cloud right now.

"Hey waiter!" Yuffie called out as she started banging on the table. "Where the heck are you? I'm hungry! Waiter! Get your butt over here! Waiter! Waiter!"

Actually, he would prefer Cloud's company to Yuffie's.

(OUTSIDE)

'What the hell is going on in there?' Cloud watched the girls talk to Zack. 'Why aren't they beating the crap out of Leon or that other guy?'

He sees the girls sit down at the table. "Ah! They're sitting down! What?! That's no fair! He's letting them stay but make me leave. Me, his own fiancé! And he kicked me out!"

He continued watching them. Yuffie busied herself by annoying Leon. Zack and Aerith seem to have forgotten about everything else but each other, little hearts floating above their heads. And Leon didn't look too happy there. Sitting there bored and annoyed. See, if Cloud was there, he knew many ways to entertain and make his lover feel better. But noooo…he was kicked out.

"Gosh Leon…you're such a jerk."

"Who's a jerk?"

Cloud looked up when he heard another voice, and he found Cid standing above him.

"Hey spiky butt. What the hell are you doing down there?" Cloud suddenly pulled him down. "What the…?!"

"Shh! They'll see you!"

"Who the heck are you talking about?" He gave Cloud a 'you're crazy' look and tried to stand up again but the blond forced him back down.

"Them!" He pointed at their friends sitting at the table.

"Hey, look it's your wife…and that boy. What they doin' here?"

"They're having dinner." Cloud answered as he kept his eyes on the group.

"They ain't eatin'. Why aren't you there?"

"Because."

"'Cause what?"

"Because Leon told me to go home."

"Why?"

"Because I was being annoying."

"What'd you say?"

"I..." he glanced at the old man, giving him a weird look, wondering why was he asking so many questions. "…was saying mean things to that guy."

"Who? Zack?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"You don't like him?"

"Not really…"

"Why?"

"Because."

"'Cause what?"

"…"

"Jealous?"

"Shut up!" Cloud gave him an annoyed look. "Why are you asking so many questions?"

"Why not?"

"Would you stop that?"

"I ain't doin' anything!"

Cloud sighed exaggeratingly, deciding to ignore him and turned his attention back to the window.

"You still hadn't answered my question." Cid told him.

"What question?"

"What the hell are you doing down here?"

"…I'm spying on them."

"You're spying on them? Why? Why don't you just go back in?"

"Leon would be mad."

"Chicken-wuss."

"Shut up."

"Just go in! Who cares if Leon gets mad! Be a man for once!"

"Shut up."

"Fine. I don't want to stick around with a chicken-wuss. You won't go in, then I will. "

"No!" Cloud exclaimed, but the old man already had gotten up and walked over to the entrance. "Wait! Cid, you stupid old man!"

(INSIDE)

"So you spent all that time in Hollow Bastion, alone?" Zack nodded at Aerith. "Oh! How sad! Don't worry, you can stay here as long as you like, and you won't be alone."

"Thanks." He smiled at her. He noticed Leon, looking bored over there. He forgot about Aerith then. "Hey Leon, is something wrong? You look bored."

Leon shook his head. "I'm hungry…and yeah, I'm getting bored."

Zack chuckled. "The service here must suck. Next time, we'll go to a different place."

'Next time'? Cloud wasn't going to like that.

"Well, look at what we have here." They all turned their heads when they heard Cid's gruff voice. "Howdy folks!" He greeted them with a crooked smile and a grunt.

"Hey old man!" Yuffie chirped. "What are you doing here?"

"Why else would I be here? Get me some food."

"Don't you have a shop to be watching?" Leon asked, not really concerned.

"Boy, what are you talking about? I am the shop! Anyway, what about you? Don't you have a little girl to be watching? I give you another day off with that prissy-ass punk and you go out to party.

Leon rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Cid pulled up a seat and sat down at the table. "So, what we havin'?

"Nothing…" Leon roughly crossed his arms.

"The food hasn't arrived, and we've been waiting around for more than an hour." Zack told Cid.

"An hour?! Then what are you bunch of chicken-wusses waiting for? Go back there and demand your food!"

"Yeah!" Yuffie agreed with him.

Everyone else didn't say anything. "Damn, you people are nothing but a bunch of pussies! I'll go get your damn food!" Cid stood up. "And when I come back, I expect one of you pussies payin' for me." He proceeded back to the kitchen while Yuffie followed after him.

"Hey! What kind of crappy service you got here?!" Cid yelled out to the whole restaurant.

"Yeah! We're starving and we're not leaving until you give us food!" Yuffie joined him.

The rest of them watched as they disappeared into the kitchen, but they all heard what was going on from here.

"Hey! You can't be back here! Employees only!"

"Employee, my ass!" Cid bellowed. "Hey you! You the owner of this crappy place?"

"Yes, I am the manager of this restaurant."

"Well, I have a complaint for you, 'manager'. My friends have been waiting for over an hour for their food. What the hell is taking so damn long?"

"And your friends are?"

"That don't matter! Where's our god damn food?"

"Sir, it takes time to prepare all the orders and we are busy back here. So, if you would be patient with us, you and your friends will get their orders."

"My ass!" Cid snorted. "We want it now!"

"Sir, will you please leave the kitchen?"

"Like hell, I won't! Not until you give us our food!"

"Hey, is there a problem here?" Both Leon and Zack knew that voice belonged to the chef, and he didn't sound too happy.

"Great, a chef! You! Make our food now!"

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to?"

"Damn, no wonder the service here is slow. You got an overweight chef doing all the cooking. How the hell you expect him to move around here?"

"What the hell did you say, old man?!"

"I said make our god damn food now, Moby Dick!"

"That's it!"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"

"Ahh! Hey Cid! Look out!"

BANG! CRASH!

"You son of a--"

Cid and Yuffie suddenly burst back out of the kitchen, the chef chasing after them with, not one, but two bloody butcher knives.

"Come back here! No one calls me 'Moby Dick'!"

Leon, Zack, and Aerith sweat dropped as they watch them chase each other. Who knew old men could run so fast…and also in a very dorky way?

"Can't keep up with us Moby?" Cid cackled, running around the restaurant, startling all the people.

The chef chunked his knife at Cid, who dogged it, and the thing went crashing through a window. Cloud, who was outside, saw it coming and ducked out of the way.

"Holy shit…" glass shattered all around him. When he thought it was safe, he looked through the new hole in the window. He ducked again when another butcher knife went flying at him. "What the hell is going on?"

"Hey! Where you aimin' that thing at? You trying to kill everyone?" Cid continued running, accidentally bumping in to a couple's table, knocking and spilling their food all over the floor.

"I'm going to give you an early death old man!" The chef ran after him, not noticing the food all over the floor. Before he knew it, he slipped on the very hot chicken soup. "Argh!" He came crashing down on the floor, landing hard and heavily on his ass, causing nearby tables to rattle and knock over more food, on to the floor…and on to him.

Cid stopped in his tracks, looking behind him. He went back to the food-covered Chef and he laughed. "Holy shit! It's bad enough you eat too much food, but now you bathe in it?"

The chef growled, wiping the food out of his eyes. "You! Get the fuck out of my restaurant! You and your friends!" He pointed at Leon and the rest of them. "Out, now! OUT!!!!" He snarled. "Don't ever come back, you hear? GET OUT!!!"

---

"Well…that was fun."

"Hmph."

After being kicked out and banned from the restaurant, everyone figured it would be best to go home now. Leon walked Zack home. It was the least he could do since he still owed Zack a dinner.

Zack chuckled. "I hope you know you still owe me dinner."

"I know. Next time. Sorry about this."

"It's ok. I had fun, really. Thanks Leon."

Leon arched a brow but he lamely smirked back at him. "I don't know what's your idea of fun, but you're welcome…I guess."

Zack chuckled again. "Well, I guess I'll see you later." He extended his hand out to Leon.

Leon took it and shook his hand. "Yeah, I should be getting home now…Cloud is probably still waiting around."

"Yeah, and you don't want to upset the wife." Zack laughed.

Leon smiled. "I'll see you later." He turned to leave when the raven-haired man called after him.

"Hey Leon, do you happen to know where Aerith lives? I think I'm going to give her a visit tomorrow morning."

"Second District, across from the hotel."

"Thanks Leon! Goodnight!" Zack smiled then waved him goodbye.

Leon just nodded back before turning to leave. Finally, he could go home.

His tummy growled as he walked home in the dark. What a hectic day. He didn't even get to eat dinner. He was hungry and not really in a good mood. It was all because of his stupid friends. If they all would have just left when he told them too, then he wouldn't have been banned from the place, and he could have eaten. Oh well, the service sucked there, so he really didn't care.

It was true what Yuffie said about them not seeing each other anymore. The girls moved out of their small house before the engagement, leaving the house to Leon and Cloud, and moved in to another small house in the Second District. And when the engagement happened, Leon and Cloud saw less of everyone and more of each other. That thought alone made Leon feel a little better. That's all he wanted to do right now - go home to see his Cloud.

---

Arriving at home, Leon entered quietly. The place was quiet, so it must met Cloud went to bed already. Considering he was still hungry, he decided to get something to eat before climbing in bed. Cloud could wait.

As he entered the kitchenette, he was a little surprise to find the blond sitting at the table with a steaming bowl of ramen noodles sitting in front of him. He looked up at Leon and smiled softly at him.

"Hey."

Leon felt his heart swell and he smiled back. "Hey."

A very short moment of silence passed between them as they gazed lovingly at each other.

"I made you some ramen…" Cloud pushed the bowl forward, "in case you're still hungry."

Leon nodded, and then he sat down in the seat across from his lover, pulling the bowl toward him. He took a sniff of the chicken flavored noodles. Cloud always made the best ramen. The blond gave him another smile as he handed him a pair of chopsticks. Leon gratefully took them, and then started on his noodles.

Then it was quiet, except for the slurping noises Leon made as he ate. Cloud gazed at him at he ate. Leon noticed his gaze, but he continues to eat his noodles. It was sort of funny how this was exactly the same thing he ate the day they got engaged. In fact, he was eating this while it happened.

(SOME WEEKS EARLIER)

"Leon! Food's ready!" Cloud called out as he placed two bowls of ramen noodles on the table.

Leon turned his foreign film off, and then got off the coach. He walked in to the kitchenette then sat himself at the table.

"Ramen noodles?" he asked.

Cloud already had started on his. "Yep."

Leon shrugged then picked up his chopsticks before he began to eat. They were quiet as they ate and it continued like that halfway through their meal.

Cloud looked at his bowl of noodles, then at Leon's bowl, then at Leon, and he suddenly sprung forward, capturing Leon's hand in his as he came out with it. "Leon, marry me!"

Leon's eyes flew wide open. "What?!"

Cloud got out of his seat, getting down on his knees as he moved around the table to Leon. He took both of Leon's hands and held them closer to him. "Leon, we've been together for 3 years now. You know that I love you, I truly do. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have children and grow old with you. I want it all with you! Leon, I love you and I want to marry you. Leon, will you marry me?"

He bit his lip hesitantly, ready to cry if Leon rejects him. He had been giving a lot of thought about this lately, but this wasn't exactly how he had planned to do it. He was actually hoping Leon would be the one to ask him, but during that moment, as he watched Leon eat his noodles, he knew he could just watch him forever. Whether is was Leon eating noodles or making cute faces at sour stuff…he would want to watch him. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

Leon stared at him with wide eyes, almost forgetting how to speak. "…Cloud…I…"

"Leon, don't you dare say 'no' to me! Please Leon! I need you so much Leon. I don't ever want you to go away. You are the only person who keeps me whole. I want it to stay that way forever. I want everything with you. I want you forever, Leon. Please Leon, don't say 'no' to me…I love you so god damn much…I…" Cloud trailed off, letting his head fall in Leon's lap.

Gosh, he felt so stupid. He should have known Leon would never agree to a thing like this. Now he probably had Leon all freaked out and--

"Yes."

Cloud looked up at Leon. Tears streaking down his face. He wasn't sure if he heard right but he thought he heard Leon say…

"What?"

"Yes, I will marry you, Cloud." Leon simply answered.

"Really??" Cloud brightened up.

Although there were tears rolling down his cheek, he reached forward and wiped the tears from Cloud's face. "I want everything with you too…and I love you so god damn much too…and I also want you forever." He smiled at him.

Cloud smiled back. He wrapped his arms around Leon's waist as Leon leaned down to kiss him wholeheartedly on the lips. Cloud felt all his senses tingle and warm. Knowing he could watch Leon forever, he knew he could kiss him forever, listen to him forever, smell him forever, hold him forever, and love him forever.

(PRESENT)

And that was how it was. If anyone had told him three years ago that he was going to get married to a very odd and strange man, he would had never believed them. But it was true, and Leon wouldn't have it any other way.

Earlier, when Zack had asked him, 'What's it like being engaged…knowing that you're going to be stuck with this same person for the rest of your life?' If he could have answered before Cloud butted it, he was going to tell Zack that it was wonderful – the best thing that could ever happened to him. And he never had been any happier.

Leon was almost finished with his bowl of noodles, when he felt a foot playing at his leg under the table. He looked over at Cloud, who smiled suggestively at him. Leon pretended he did not notice as he quietly got up from his seat, put his bowl in the sink and he washed his hands. He rinsed his mouth before he casually walked toward the exiting doorway, then he turned back to the blond. Leaning himself against the doorframe, he gestured for Cloud with a finger.

Cloud got up from his seat and went over to Leon. The brunette pulled him in to his arms and kissed him passionately. Cloud kissed back gratefully, tasting the ramen in Leon's mouth. He loved it.

"Bedroom?" Leon suggested breathlessly.

Cloud couldn't get enough of Leon's lips and kept kissing him. He only paused shortly to nod. "Bedroom," and his lips were on Leon's again, tongues swiping against each other as their hands began to undress one another, both desperate for the feel of the other body.

"I love you…" Cloud whispered before pushing his tongue in to the warm mouth again.

Leon pulled away momentarily. "…Forever, Cloud."

And Leon didn't let it end there.

---

None can begin to describe how perfect their union was. Pure bliss was all that could be thought of at the moment.

The sounds of their lovemaking filled the dim room. Hot flesh moved against hotter flesh. Lips parted in panting gasps and moans of the other's name. Limbs tangled and fingers interlocked in an intimate embrace. Deep eyes never left each other's. Breaths coming in shorter. Bodies trembling. Heart feels heavy.

He touched his flesh. He cried out. He didn't stop moving. He was the first to give himself to his lover. His lover followed soon after. He shuddered. He collapsed on top of his lover. He gave him a sweet, loving kiss. He trembled, and so did he.

Baby blues meeting with blazing blue. He sighed and he smiled.

Pure bliss.

"Did you know…that your smile is what I like best about you?"

Cloud smiled even wider. "Really? I always thought it was my butt that you liked best."

Leon chuckled. "That's second."

The blond chuckled also, tilting his head to the side, giving his love an adorable curious look. "And then what?"

Leon gazed at him for a short while, and then spoke. "Your lips…" he leaned down, pressing his lips to Cloud's.

Cloud locked his arms around Leon, holding him as the brunette rested his head on his chest. He buried his face in his lover's neck, and then he noticed the glinting piece around the blonde's neck. The promise ring he had given to Cloud, a year ago remained around his neck. It reminded him of his past-away lover. It reminded him of his past self.

"You know…Yuffie says I'm the only person who keeps you in one piece." Leon remembered.

Cloud sighed contently. "It's true."

"I bet she doesn't know that you are the only one who keeps me in one piece."

Cloud looked down at his lover and smiled. "I love you…do you know that, Leon?"

"Squall."

Cloud looked at him, a little confused to why he responded with his real name. Leon lifted his head off his chest and looked straight in to those baby blues eyes. "Squall, my real name. I want you to call me by my real name."

The blonde blinked at him then he nodded with a soft smile before Leon continued.

"…And yes, I do know that. I realized…that when I lost my first love, I decided to change my name so I would forget about her and everything. To start over…forgetting about love…and forgetting about Squall's feelings…I was a coward, but when you came, it started to come back. Slowly, those feelings came back. I admit I was scared at first. Scared that I might lose you somehow, but you are strong and I will protect you always. After these long years I've spent with you, I knew that if I lost you then…I would follow you. You brought Squall back…and I want him to stay…thank you for bringing me back." He hugged his lover close.

The blond smiled. "You're welcome, but you know I would love you with any another name…Squall. The name doesn't matter…it is your heart. If you are happy, then I will be happy. If you hurt, then I will hurt. If you leave, then I will follow. I will always protect you. I will always love you. As long as you love me back, then that's all that matters."

Leon smiled softly. "I love you Cloud…" he kissed him again.

He started to move himself out of his lover, but Cloud caught him before he could get away.

"And where do you think you're going Squallie-wallie?" Cloud grinned. He sure did know how to be sweet sometimes, but he also sure did know how to kill the mood…especially with the nickname thing again, but the brunette decided to ignore it.

Squall smiled as he settled back down on his lover. He interlocked their fingers once more, gold bands connecting between their fingers. He rested his head on Cloud's chest. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"Nowhere…anywhere…with you."

Cloud wrapped his arms protectively around his lover, planting kisses in the coffee mane.

"Forever…Squall…"

And Cloud didn't let it end there.

----------

BUT I DID! BWHAHAHAHA! FINALLY! FINISHED!!!

Holy crap…19 pages. I don't think I ever written that much for just a chapter. Epilogues can't be this long, can they? OH WELL!

(RANT ON…) Ok, so what you think? Did you think they would get married? I bet you guys thought, they had broken up in the beginning, huh? Nope! They're engaged! Actually, I thought I was going a little overboard with that one…but hey, they are crazily in love with each other…that's what crazy people in love do.

Anyway, yeah, I brought back Zack in this one. He was lonely, so I gave him a place in Traverse Town. I actually wanted him to go flirt with Cloud while he still was crushing on Leon. But then, that would make him look like a slut, and yeah…Zack's not a slut! So, I made him still like Leon…but then forget about Leon because the guy was engaged! But I still couldn't have Zack all alone…so I made him like Aerith (please don't throw rocks at me!) They did go out in FFVII, didn't they? Yeah, I made them not 'remember' each other, when they actually did know each other from before. I don't know why. I thought it would be better that way.

Almost everyone that was in this fic was in this chapter…except for Kairi and Sora. I don't really like them and yeah…I really had nothing for them to do in here. I had to put Cid in here, 'cause he's such a cool guy. Look at the way he ran in FFVII. LOL. Just imagine that in this chapter. And Yuffie…well, she's not all that great, but she's annoying, and that's what this fic need more of - annoyingness.

Too bad, Cloud wasn't as annoying, or such a screw-up in this one, but I did give you some citrus-ness! I know, I know, it probably would had been even better if I had gone all out and put the whole damn lemon in here, but then the thing would probably had been another 19 pages longer. LOL. But I liked it, I really did. It was simple and sweet. Good for the following part after that, when Leon told Cloud of his feelings and of 'Squall'. It would have sort of been weird if I had a scene with them going at it like animals having raw, hardcore sex…and suddenly 'I love you! I would die for you! Call me Squall, I love you forever!' Actually…that might had worked. Haha just kidding.

You know, while I was writing the ending…I just wanted to gag. I was thinking, 'Oh god…this is so sickeningly sweet'. But I really couldn't have thought of any other way to end it. The proposal Cloud made to Leon was sort of funny though. You know, I was thinking about making a sequel. I was watching this movie 'Just Married' with Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy and the movie reminded me so much of Leon and Cloud in this story…so I was thinking I might do a parody or something based on 'Just Married' for a sequel to 'Darling Cloud'. I don't know though…you think I should? But…sigh…I won't be able to write as much anymore, 'cause school is about to start and I have a job now so I'll be pretty damn busy. But damn it! I want to write!

ANYWAY, god, I talk too much…ok, well I guess this is it - the end of 'Darling Cloud'. Thanks for reading and supporting this fic. Keep reviewing and…look forward to more LeonCloud-ness from me. LEON/CLOUD FOREVER!!!! (Exclamation mark, exclamation mark, heart, heart, heart, smiley face, smiley face, smiley face).

Thanks to those who reviewed:

Uzumaki-sama: LOL. I know what you mean. I'm always desperately craving for Leon/Cloud. I just want to watch…or imagine about them all day.

Tama-Kistune: Phew...the net hasn't taken me off the yet. And hopefully they won't. But if they do, that's ok! I got a back-up plan! Look forward to seeing my own website (some time in the future) and you will definitely see this story there, and many others!

Blue Eyed Angel2: I do not remember that happening in FFVII at all…haha it's really been too long since I played that game. But poor Zack! He's so cool!

inumoon3: Yep, they finally got their much needed lemon. I say there should be more lemons with this pairing out there!!!

Zee4: You like hide and FAKE too?!?! AND Die is your favorite member also(sorry, he's mine though!)?!?! Holy crap I think I found my soul mate! LOL. Oh man I have too many favorite Dir en grey songs too! I LOVE them all! Like, embryo, ain't afraid to die, 24KO Cylinder, Egnirys Cimredopyh, Yokan, Mushi, Fukai, Kasumi, THE IIID EMPIRE, THE FINAL, ooh! And the new single! droooool…AHEM…ANYWAY, yeah…I'm really, REALLY lazy. I'm sure this chapter had a lot of mistakes and errors in it. But oh well. Anyway, summer's practically over now, so I have no idea when I'll be able to write again, but look forward to seeing more fics like this from me in the future! Whoo! Hope to hear from you again!

DragonDame57: Actually, the fic already came to an end. I'm sorry it didn't last any longer! But look forward to more of my Leon/Cloud fics like this one on the net soon!

bahamutshadow: Unique eh?? Ok, ok…so maybe it doesn't suck…that much. Hehe, thanks for the support.

Arpazia: LOL that was my favorite part in chapter 9 too. I LOVE Cid! He's such a cool guy! Yes, I know I made Cloud so very out of character…but it was funny though, right? And yes, there needs to be more Leon/Cloud out there!!! Ooh! Maybe you should start writing some! DO IT!!!

Moo: COOL! Your birthday is Jan. 18th? HAPPY (LATE) BIRTHDAY! LOL. You know what that means? It's a sign…it means you should review this fic again, and again, and again, and again.

babymar-mar: Zack's last name is 'Donovan'?? Wow! How'd you find out? I wished I found out sooner so I hadn't used a different last name for him.

Siryu: Beautiful lemon?? Really? You think it's beautiful? AWWWW! Thank you!

tintinabellum: You almost cried?? Wow…I knew it was bad…but I didn't think it was THAT bad. Haha…I'm just kidding…I know what you mean. It's so sickeningly sweet…eh, I can't cry for that stuff. Can't believe I even wrote it. Lol. You were obsessing over this, eh? Hmm…you know what you should do then? Recommend it to a millions of people and tell them how much you love this! Haha I'm kidding!

Bkchan: I KNOW!!! It is so hard to find Leon/Cloud fics out there!! Unfortunately, mine still isn't all that great, but I'm glad it made your day! And you like Dir en grey too!??! COOL! And yes, Die is so very, very, very, very, kawaii!!

And thanks to everyone else who reviewed!

YOU GUYS ARE TOO COOL!

It's the end of this fic, the least you could do is review to celebrate the ending! Do it now! Go on congratulate me! You know you want to!