Fanfiction by the awesome Irish-Brigid.
You'll Never Know
Cloud waited as the phone rang. Just as he decided to try again later, someone picked up.
"Hello? Whaddya want?"
"Hey. I heard you married Shera. Uh... Congratulations."
Cid laughed. "You know, you're the second person to say that. Guess Barret couldn't keep his mouth shut."
"Should he have?"
"Naw, guess not. Just feelin' kinda bad 'bout not invitin' ya'll. Woulda, but we were in kind of a rush."
"'A rush'?" Cloud tried to think of why there would be any hurry to get married. "You didn't... get Shera pregnant, did you?"
"What?" A snort came through the phone. "No, no, nothin' like that. It was... Shera had Geostigma."
"Oh."
"She never quit, either. Fool woman was about to work herself into the grave, stigma or no stigma. Ya'd think she'd have more sense than that, what with the way she fusses over everyone else."
"So, what made you propose?"
Cloud wasn't sure, but he thought he could almost hear Cid take a drag on his cigarette.
"We ain't really talkin' about me here, are we."
"I..." The one good thing about phones, Cloud thought, was that the person he was talking to couldn't see him blush. It was just... embarrassing... for a guy.
Not that Cid needed to see Cloud to guess the reaction. The smirk was practically audible. "I proposed 'cause if I didn't then I might not get another chance. And you might not get another one, either! Hell, ya should've seen Tifa when we thought you died in that explosion. Girl was practically beside herself. Don't know how you two can be so blind when everyone else can see that you've got a couple candles burnin' for each other."
Tifa had been upset? Because he might have died? Cloud fell silent for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I... She deserves someone better than me."
"Damn straight."
Cloud flinched at the bluntness of that statement, but didn't have time to say anything as Cid continued.
"The best man in the world is nothin' compared to the best woman in the world. Just the way things are, and the sooner ya realize it the better. Hell, I know Shera's too good for me, but she said yes, anyway. Damn fool of a woman, but if she's willin' to spend her life hitched to me then all I can do is try to make the ride as easy as possible. That girl of yours is the same way. She deserves the best life can give her but takes the worst with a smile. Dunno why, but she seems set on keepin' ya 'round. Ya wanna wait till ya deserve that attention? Ain't gonna happen. Best ya can do is let her know that yer gonna be around to try."
By the time Cid finished his speech, Cloud was starting to wonder if he should have gone to someone else for advice. Not that Barret would've been any better, and he got the impression that Vincent hadn't had much success with relationships. Reeve, maybe.
Not that Cid wasn't telling the truth. It just pulled Cloud's mind in a direction he'd spent the last few months avoiding. He grabbed hold of the last sentence as a ray of hope. "'Try,' huh?"
"Best thing any of us can do. Now ya gonna waste more time talkin' to me, or ya gonna make yer girl's day?"
Cloud opened his mouth to say that he did have one more question, but quickly closed it again. Best to get that advice from anyone but Cid. "Thanks."
"No problem. Ya got anythin' else ya need help with, I'..." Whatever Cid was about to say was cut off as Cloud started dialing a new number.
"Hello, Cloud."
"How did you know it was me?"
Reeve chuckled. "It's called 'caller ID.' You do have that on your phone, right?"
Cloud frowned. "Yeah." Though he hadn't thought anyone else would bother saving his number. He really had to stop thinking like that.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure? It's not like you to call someone just to chat."
Cloud rubbed the back of his head. "I... need some advice. About Tifa."
For a moment, Cloud wondered if the connection had been lost. Maybe he should've gone to WRO headquarters?
When Reeve did speak, he sounded a little apprehensive. "What sort of advice?"
"If this is a bad time..."
"No, no, it's not that. There are just some things concerning women that it's best to ask another woman about."
Oh. Oh... "I... was thinking about... proposing... to Tifa."
"Really? That's great! What do you need advice on?"
"Um... I don't know how."
Reeve chuckled again, though a bit more quietly. "You never change. But why ask me? I've never been married."
"Because I don't want to ask Barret or Cid."
This time Reeve laughed openly. "Of course. Hmm. I suppose it depends on how you want to propose."
"How I want to propose?" Cloud thought for a moment. "I don't know. That's why I'm asking you."
"I see... Do you watch movies?"
"No. Why?"
"Good, because they're bad examples of how proposals should be done. For you, I think it would be best if you just ask her."
"Just ask her?"
"Yes. Decide on a time and then do it. Oh, and I recommend you ask in person. Don't call to ask."
Cloud still felt like there was something missing. "It doesn't have to be in any particular place? Or day?"
"To my knowledge, no. But remember that I have no practical experience. This is a big step, Cloud. You're dedicating the rest of your life to one person. You should do what you believe is right."
One person. He'd already done that long ago. He tripped a few times, but he never completely forgot. "Thanks. I will."
"You're welcome. Let me know how it turns out."
*7*7*
After supper that day, Cloud stayed downstairs to help Tifa with the dishes. He fidgeted and kept looking at the kids.
"Cloud? Is something wrong?"
He shook his head. "Why?"
"Because you dried that cup three times now."
He looked down at the (very dry) cup he was holding, frowned, and set it down, again. "There's just something I want to ask, but I'm not sure if I can."
"Something you want to ask me?" Now Tifa looked nervous.
Cloud mentally kicked himself. He hadn't even asked yet and it was looking like he'd screwed up already. "It's not... I know I can ask you, I don't know if I can ask it the right way."
She smiled. "If it comes out wrong, you can always try again."
Was that really possible with a question like this? He picked up a (wet) cup, started drying it, then put it down still damp. "I... Do you... want to marry me?"
It was a good thing he didn't have any weapons on or near him, because his battle instincts kicked in the instant Tifa shrieked. Once rational thought returned a moment later, he came to the conclusion that screaming and tackling meant 'yes.'
And that he wouldn't at all mind having to ask again if it meant getting kissed like that a second time.