LOL!! Andi is full of little surprises. She's bright, spunky, cheerful and playful just like Aerith but she also has a side to her that's completely different from Aerith and that's her strong, fighter side, well, you'll see what I mean as we get further into the story 
Here's Chapter 12! 
Chapter 12- Healing a Little at a Time
Mid summer, mid August brought upon decently warm weather in Edge. The sun broke through the window as the morning dew trickled down the window pane. She giggled. He heard her voice very lightly, it sounded so far away, echoing in the depths of his mind. The sound was twinkling and beautiful. It was familiar and yet different, something he loved to hear. He was warm, snuggled up against the soft pillows and the blankets resting over his body. He didn't want to open his eyes. He just wanted to enjoy listening to the soft, gentle sounds of her giggling. She spoke his name.
"Cloud...wake up sleepyhead," he heard her speak. She brushed her fingers through his soft, blonde spikes and gently ran a finger down the middle of his face, lightly tapping his nose.
"But I don't want to wake up," he grumbled, pulling the blankets over his head. "I just wanna stay here with you and stay in bed all day," Cloud added as he realized the giggling he heard was Andria's. What a nice thing to wake up to...he thought warmly.
She snuck under the covers with him, laying next to him and as he wrapped an arm around her waist. Andria snuggled up under his chin. "But you have to wake up because you promised," came her voice full of a smile.
Cloud opened his blue-green eyes and pushed the foggy sleep out of his head, as her face blurred before his vision. He blinked once and his vision became clearer. Andria was laying next to him on her side. She tapped his nose again playfully and Cloud responded with faintest hint of a smile. Andria took her fingers and traced his attractive jawline softly as Cloud closed his eyes, enjoying the gentle, soft sensation of Andria's touch. It had been a couple of weeks since her parents had died and with each passing day, Cloud had found the girl was growing more happy, always seeming the happiest when he was near.
Cloud buried his face and smirked into his pillow inspite of himself. He had to admit that he'd been feeling a lot more lighter since he was spending so much time with her. It had been a good while since he felt this light. The holes in Cloud's heart were closing up a little more and more through each moment he had spent with Andria. Though despite all the things she did, that reminded him of Aerith quite often, there was still this whole other new person that he was getting to know and he loved it. For some reason, both of these things made his heart feel nearly content.
"You said you'd take me to get a sword today," she said with a trace of excitement in her voice. "And so it's time to get up and go make breakfast and go sword shopping!" She leaned her head up and turned his face out of the pillow, smiling brightly at him.
Cloud's smirk changed into a grin, something he very rarely ever did. Whenever Cloud did smile, it made Andria's heart leap up into her chest. She gently ran her fingertips over his soft lips. "But I don't wanna get up just yet," he groaned as his grip tightened on Andria's waist. "Can't we just lay in here and sleep for awhile? I took the day off and I wanna just sleep in," he complained.
"Yeah you took to the day off so you could take me sword shopping," Andi replied playfully. When Cloud didn't respond she stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh poo, you're no fun!" the girl protested, lovingly fingering the small lone wolf earring he wore with her fingertips and brushing a few stray strands of blonde hair away from his face. It fell back into his face, just as stubbornly as he was sometimes and it made her giggle.
"Yeah yeah yeah, do you know how many times I've heard that?" Cloud groaned as he removed the covers off of their heads and sat up in bed. "Cloud you're no fun, Cloud you don't wanna do this, Cloud you don't wanna do that," he said in a mocking voice towards Andria.
"Hey! That's not very nice you know," she stated, shoving his bare chest with her hands. Cloud grabbed ahold of her wrists and with a swift, swooping motion, pinned her down on the bed. She girl squealed as Cloud held down her arms. He folded his arms across her chest and rested his head on crossed wrists, looking up at her.
"You know," he stated with a devilish gleam in his eyes. "You're going to have to learn quicker reflexes if you intend to fight with a proper sword."
Andria laid underneath him, slightly shocked at his quick movement and giggled, her chest rising and falling with shortened breath. "Well, if you'd let me fight with something else beside practice swords then maybe I could be a bit better."
Cloud sat up and continued to hold her wrists down against the bed. He leaned down into her ear. Cloud's warm breath against her neck made Andria tremble lightly. "But practice makes perfect," he purred into her ear. "You'll never be as good as me if you don't practice." Cloud sat up, releasing Andria's wrists and pondered for a moment. "Actually...I don't think you could get as good me," he said with a slice of ego in his voice. He cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the girl laying beside him. Andria sat up in bed as her emerald green eyes widened and she clasped her hands to her chest.
"Oh Mr. Strife, do tell me! How does one get to be an amazing swordsman such as yourself!" Andria exclaimed in sarcastic and yet teasingly manner. "I do so what to learn to fight just like you!" she continued.
"Hey you're gonna pay for that!" Cloud exclaimed, noticing her sarcasm. He reached out and ran a hand down her side and began tickling her. He found his way into a certain area on her right side that was extremely ticklish and dug his fingers under her ribs. Andria squealed with laughter as Cloud ran his hands all over her body, discovering all of her ticklish spots. "Think that'll be 20 gil!" And he tickled her rougher.
"20 gil! For what!" Andria squealed persistantly. "I'm not giving you 20 gil!"
"Oh yes you are! For that comment you are," Cloud replied defiantly, still continuing to hold her down and tickle her. "20 gil for me to give you sword fighting lessons too. So I guess that makes, hmmmm, 40 gil now?"
"NO WAY!" she cried out with laughter. Cloud was still holding down the girl, tickling her until she couldn't even breathe. "Okay! Okay! I give in! You can have the 40 gil! Cloud! Stop I can't brea-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" she cried with laughter as he tickled her all the more harder, holding her down on the bed, his hands finding their way all over her torso as he discovered her most sensitive, ticklish places on her body.
"I call this tickle attacking," he replied with delight in his voice and Andria could clearly tell that Cloud was enjoying this while she was about to explode from her laughter. "This is something I do to the kids. They know all about tickle attacks. You should ask them sometime."
The two were laying on the bed and Andria managed to wrench her way out of his grasp, but Cloud was still too quick. She was rolled over on her side, laughing and gasping for breath when Cloud rolled over and grabbed her from behind, holding her arms down with one arm and tickling her stomach and her sides. Cloud began to laugh. It wasn't a full laugh, more like a giggle, a chuckle. He actually heard himself snickering, but it was drowned out from the sounds of Andria's beautiful laughter. He didn't want to stop. Cloud was enjoying this entirely too much.
"CLOUD!!! PLEASE! STOP!!!" Andria exclaimed between breaths and laughter. "NO MORE DILLY DALLYING!"
Cloud froze...he stopped and let go of Andria who was breathing rather heavily and he sat back looking at her. "Did you just say dilly dallying?" he asked, his smile vanishing, a little shocked by what he had just heard. His eyes darkened slightly.
Andria sat up and looked him, still trying to catch her breath. "Yeah I guess I did," she replied noticing the look on his face. "I don't know where it came from...I just said it...why? Did I do...say some-" she paused as she caught the look in his eyes and immediately felt guilty, though she didn't know why. "Cloud, what's wrong?"
Their moment of fun had surpassed much too quickly. Andria drew her eyebrows in with slight worry and looked at him as she saw a slightly pained expression on his face. Sometimes she would notice that slightly pained expression if she did or said anything, but she never asked why. However this time she chose to. Why did he look at her that way sometimes? Andria felt that she just had to know.
"Oh, it's nothing," Cloud replied shaking his head, causing is blonde spikes to sway gently. "I'm sorry...it's just...sometimes the things you do remind me of...her," he mumbled.
"Her...Aerith right?" Andria asked suddenly becoming quiet. "I'm sorry," she turned her head from him. "Maybe I should just-"
"No! Don't...Please, don't go," Cloud told her, his shoulders slumped and he looked at her almost pitifully.
Andria just looked at him uncertainly. Maybe that's all I am to him? Maybe he is just being this attatched to me because of Aerith. Things I do and say remind him of her...so maybe that's why he kissed me. Maybe he just wanted to cling onto her memory and so he's doing that through me... Andria hated having negative thoughts, but she couldn't help it. Cloud had just sat right there and admitted that things she does reminded him of her. She could feel herself starting to get slightly upset now.
Cloud's face fell. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said." He shook his blonde head.
"Yes you did," Andria replied defiantly but softly. "You all have told me so many times I remind you of this girl and I don't even know who she is. So is that it Cloud? Is that why you're spending so much time with me?" she asked softly.
When she saw the look in his eyes again she hung her head. She was instantly sorry. She hadn't meant what she said...did she? Andria wasn't sure, but she knew that she never meant to hurt him by what she said. She wanted Cloud to be with her for her and not for Aerith.
"I'm so sorry Cloud...I didn't mean to say that. I just..." I'm so stupid! I just had to open my mouth didn't I? I just had to see that hurt look in his eyes again by what I said. Why didn't I just keep my feelings to myself? I'm so sorry Cloud...
Cloud placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him. "Listen Andi. Sure things you do remind me of Aerith, but I'm not holding onto you because of her," Cloud fully admitted. "I swear to you. I really like you for you. I enjoy being around you. You're a different person and I like that. It's a good thing..." the swordsman paused..."damn I can't say anything right can I?" he sighed.
Cloud stood up from the bed and walked over to the window. How do I make her understand that THAT is not the reason I'm always with her! I LIKE being with her! She's...just...she's Andi...and I like Andi. I like who she is...a lot. I mean yeah, she does little things that remind me of Aerith, but that's to be expected right? Didn't I do things that reminded Aerith of Zack? I wasn't angry at her for feeling that way...once I found out the truth. So is Andi angry at me? Cloud put his forehead in his hand. Ugh I'm so stupid! Cloud felt a small hand close over his shoulder and he turned his head to see Andria standing behind him with a smile.
"It's okay Cloud. I understand," she told him and she truthfully did. Her sparkling green eyes showed that she did. "I know how hard it can be for you. You don't have to try and explain yourself. I know that I remind you of her, but that's okay."
Andria had always seen in Cloud's eyes the haunting memories, but she had also seen a new light in them since he kissed her that night. That new light had never left his eyes since then. Not once and she knew that new light was filled with something that didn't pertain to Aerith. You're just being stupid for feeling this way Andi. Just deal with it. Lighten up. Cloud isn't around you because of Aerith, he's around you because you're you!
"But I...," Cloud began and hung his head. "It doesn't mean...I just..."
Andria leaned forward and placed her hands behind her back. She titled her upward slightly to look at him. "What did I just say, hmmm?" she asked with a playful grin. "It's okay. I understand! I honestly do!" She stood back upright and rested her elbow in her hand and put her other hand under her chin and observed Cloud.
Cloud noticed right off that Andria was making another Aerith gesture towards him, but he just brushed it off. As a matter of fact, Cloud admitted to himself that she even looked cuter doing it than what Aerith did, and he couldn't help but grin again. Her eyes were filled with warm delight like that of a child and she smiled back.
"Now see?" she told him poking him lightly on the shoulder as she approached him. "It's all okay. I know. Now, et's see...where were we...?" her voice trailed off as she eyed Cloud and approached him, holding her body close to his. "I think right about....here!" Andria exclaimed as she dug her hand into his left side and surprised him by attempting to tickle attack him. Cloud responded by letting out a surprised, short laugh.
"Hey now! That's not fair!" Cloud exclaimed as he grabbed Andria around her waist and threw her over his shoulder. She began beating on his bare back with her fists "I'm tickling attacking you now!"
"Cloud Strife! You let me down right this instant!" Andria squealed, but she knew her hitting him wasn't even phasing him. "CLOUD DON'T YOU DARE! NOOOOOO!" she squealed as she felt him lift her back up.
Cloud threw Andria down on the bed and began tickling her yet again until she laughed so hard that tears were rolling down her cheeks and her face was flushed from laughter. Andria was rolled over on her side, curled up in the fetal position, her body shaking with laughter.
"So hah!" Cloud replied as he stood up with a triumphant look like that of a winner. "I'm going to get dressed. I'll be in the kitchen," he stated as he took his clothes out of his dresser drawer. Cloud made his way to the door, opened it and left the room. Andria heard his footsteps across the hall and then the bathroom door close behind him.
Andria lay on the bed still trying to catch her breath from Cloud's surprise tickle attack and she looked up at the ceiling and grinned. Yes! You're finding your way. Little by little those barriers around his heart are disappearing. She was finally starting to find her way into Cloud's heart and in all honesty Cloud had already stolen hers. Andria lay there for a few moments day dreaming about her life with him and then lept up with excitement and got dressed. She brushed her long, honey-brown hair and tied it back into a ponytail with her green hair ribbon, brushed her bangs and smiled. The girl couldn't remember when she felt this happy. It had been so long. So long...
"Break...temple...the church..."
"What the...?" Andria looked at herself in the mirror again. She had heard a strange voice in her head yet again. She hadn't heard anything like this since before her parents had died. It was a female voice, but it wasn't the one who sounded like her. It was someone else, a woman slightly older than her perhaps?
"Temple...city...forest..."
"I can't understand what you mean," Andria said outloud but quietly incase anybody could hear her. "What is going on? Who are you?"
"Temple...church...break...down..." spoke three female voices consecutively.
"What in the hell!" Andria exclaimed softly as she grabbed the sides of her head and looked in the mirror at her reflection.
Andria could hear their echoes in her head and it was just becoming more and more confusing to her. Andria's emerald eyes had gone wide with confusion and even slight fear. She remembered what happened the last time she had heard voices. Her parents were going to be killed. Only that time there were so many of them screaming at her she couldn't comprehend or understand it. The girl didn't want this to be the same thing.
"Break down? Church? Forest? City? What does this all mean!? Please tell me! I don't understand!" she cried out softly, trying to understand, but the echoes had diminished, leaving her once again confused and afraid.
Andria tried to brush off the thought that was now weighing heavily on her mind. As she departed from the bedroom, Andria could hear the laughter coming from the kitchen of Barret, Cid, Shera, Yuffie and Red XIII. Andria also caught the unmistaken smell of something burning. She walked into the kitchen and saw a rather humorous sight which forced the thought of whom was speaking to her out of her head completely. She tried hard to control the laughter that threatened to burst out of her chest as she her eyes fell on something completely unexpected.
Cloud was standing at the stove with a white apron tied around his waist. He had one frying pan on each burner of the stove and whisp smoke was starting to stream from one of the pans. Cloud had egg yolks all over the front of his apron and splattered pancake mix to boot. Cloud held a spatula in each hand, using his right hand to flip something over in one of the pans. Noticing the smoke he turned down the burner and dropped one of the spatulas. He grabbed a pot holder from the counter and began waving the smoke away. Cloud gave a feeble smirk as Andria approached him trying hard not to laugh. Instead she wore a big smile.
"MORNIN' ANDI!" came Cid's hearty voice. He waved across the room at her and Andria noticed that Shera was sitting next to him. She smiled and waved. Andria waved back across the room. "Seems like Cloud here's attemptin' to cook ya'll some breakfast!" He sat back with a lit cigarette and guffawed at the sheepish looking swordsman who was standing in front of the stove. "But I think I'll pass on eatin' this mornin'."
"I am cooking breakfast," Cloud told Andria as she approached him and stood by his side. Andria couldn't help but notice how adorable Cloud looked standing at the stove and attempting to cook them all something to eat. Cloud looked over at Cid, hearing his taunts. "Why don't you get your pilot ass over here and do it yourself if you're so much better?"
"Me cook!?" Cid asked incredulously. "Psshaw! I have my Shera who cooks fer me!" he exclaimed as he put an arm around an embarrassed Shera next to him. "She's all the cookin I need!" Cid padded his slighly inflated tummy and grinned. Shera just blushed.
"Oh Cid, stop it," she mumbled as she lightly shoved the pilot's built chest.
Andria laughed as she turned towards Cloud and laid a hand on his arm, patting it gently. "I can see that you are," she grinned heartily. "Well you just go right ahead and cook Cloud. I'll be sitting over here at the table with the others," she replied in a sweet voice, trying hard to surpress her giggles. "I'm sure it'll be delicious."
"See?" Cloud replied. "Andi thinks I can cook," he stated sounding slightly pouty and turned back towards the stove. Cloud opened up a package of bacon and threw it into the pan which popped and sizzled as it sat in the pan. "OUCH DAMMIT!"
"What's wrong? asked Yuffie, peering from behind a newspaper and smirking sarcastically.
"Nothing nothing, grease hit me is all," Cloud replied, not taking his eyes off of the stove.
Nobody would admit it, but the sight of Cloud Strife standing at the stove and trying to cook them all breakfast just came across as funny and completely out of character for him. However noticing this, they had taken it upon themselves that they all preferred this Cloud compared to the one who had isolated himself from everyone and never bothered to answer his phone. Now here it was, the solitary swordsman, cooking his friends breakfast.
"Where's Tifa?" Andria asked as she had a seat on the other side of Cid and made herself comfortable. "She hasn't been around much lately," she added as Cid threw his other arm, in a brotherly fashion, around her shoulders.
"Tifa and Denzel both went into town to do some shopping. She said she needed to pick things up for the Delivery Service, you know more order forms and such. She told us that she and Denzel would grab a bite to eat on their way into town," Yuffie answered, taking a sip of her orange juice.
Andria just nodded her head. In a way she sort of felt bad because Andria assumed that Tifa had feelings for Cloud, or atleast she was sure she did, but at the same time she wasn't sure. Though she really cared for Tifa a great deal, Andria couldn't help but feel her connection with Cloud growing stronger and stronger by day. It was something out of her control.
No matter how hard previously she had tried to keep from feeling for him, Andria just couldn't. Cloud was giving Andria his heart. He was placing it right into the palm of her hand, and she could feel that. She often wondered if Cloud realized that too. Did Cloud realize that Andria had given him her heart as well? She stared at the back of his spiked blonde hair and sighed softly. Cid noticed this and he grinned at the girl he thought of as his little sister. Cid looked over at Yuffie and winked who replied with a smile.
Cloud was also beginning to come out of his stupor, everybody seemed to notice this, but never made word of it. He was no longer running off to be alone. In fact, he was having a great time with his friends and especially with Andria. Granted they hadn't kissed again since that night, but that was okay. And nobody knew about the kiss yet except for Mari. Andria was still enjoying every waking moment with Cloud. She wanted so badly to tell him how he was helping her heal from losing her parents. Though it hurt very much still and she sometimes felt on the verge of tears, Andria would just go to Cloud and his gentle face and strong arms hugging her tight would let her know that everything was alright. Andria was lost in all thought by Barret, who was now eyeing her.
"So," Barret began as he leaned across the table towards Andria, looking at her seriously though a small shine in his eyes hinted an oncoming smile. "Are you doing this to Spikey?" he whispered.
Andria leaned in and looked at Barret. "Doing what?" she whispered back as if they were being all secretive.
'"Making Cloud the way he's been lately, ya know. Not so anti-social, actually enjoyin' himself and havin' a good time. It was him who volunteered to make breakfast," Barret replied with a wink. There was a sizzling sound from the stove and a loud "DAMN!" from Cloud as smoke began pouring from one of the pans. "Though he's not doing a very good job," added Barret as they all turned towards the stove.
Marlene lept up from her seat beside Barret and ran over to Cloud. "SPIKEY'S BURNING BREAKFAST! SPIKEY'S BURNING BREAKFAST!" she taunted happily, pointing out Cloud. Marlene had taken it upon herself, whenever Barret was around, to calling Cloud 'Spikey' just like her father did.
Cloud frantically grabbed a dish towel and began waving it over the stove as the smoke billowed up into the air around the kitchen. It rolled across the ceiling and wafted past the smoke alarm, setting it off. Yuffie was so surprised by the wail of the alarm that she knocked her orange juice all over the table. It poured off of the table and onto Cid's leg, soaking his pants.
"SON OF A DAMN BITCH!" yelled Cid as he lept up from the chair were the orange juice was dribbling down from. Shera lept up with him and ran to fetch a towel. He had dropped his cigarette out of his mouth which fell into the orange juice on the table and was quickly put out. "I LOOK LIKE A FUCKIN' PISSED MAH PANTS!" He stood up from the chair, dancing back and forth from each foot for a moment, trying to get his wet pants unstuck from his body. "SOMEBODY GIMME A DAMN TOWEL!"
"Cid, watch your damn mouth around Marlene!" Barret bellowed as he grabbed a fresh towel with his metal hand off of the counter and threw it at the pilot. Cid reached out and caught it in mid air. Yuffie had ran and grabbed a pot holder. She stood on a chair and began waving it back and forth across the smoke alarm, trying to clear it from the smoke.
"You should talk Barret!" RedXIII retaliated. "Listen to the way your mouth is. You're no worse than Cid!" But the red beauty laughed inspite of himself.
While Shera was busy dabbing up Cid's little issue with the orange juice, Andria had ran over to the stove to help Cloud who had now grabbed the skillets and threw them into the sink, turning on the cold water so to stop the smoke.
"Well damn. I try to cook breakfast and look at where it gets me," Cloud grumbled, but looked at Andria with a smirk. She walked up next to him and stood very close, turning her face towards his. She smiled beautifully at him. It made Cloud's heart pound in his chest. Everybody around the kitchen was busy fussing with the orange juice and opening up the window, trying to clear the smoke out of the kitchen to notice the two.
"Well, why don't you let me take over breakfast," Andria stated as she leaned up towards Cloud's face. She tapped the end of his nose softly with her fingertip. "And you go and get plates and silverwear out. Besides, I look cuter in an apron," she giggled, looking up into his sheepish, pink face.
"AND DAMMIT! I NEED A FUCKIN' PAIR A PANTS!" yelled Cid standing there with his legs slightly spread, his entire groin area and left pant leg soaked. Shera was trying to dab up the orange juice, but she was just in a fit of giggles now. Cid had his arms folded grumpily across his chest. He looked over at Yuffie with his lip raised in a snarl. She just stared back sheepishly.
"Sorry Cid, but the alarm scared me!" the little Wutai ninja insisted. "It really was an accident."
Cid didn't care if it was an accident or not. He just continued to carry on bitching about his wet pants. Marlene however had taken to notice Andria and Cloud staring into each other's eyes and Andria lighting tapping his nose with her slender fingertip and the smile that appeared on his face.
"Hey guys!" squealed the little girl, her brown ponytail bouncing as she jumped up and down. Her big brown eyes were bright and sparkling with happiness. "Cloud's smiling!"
Cid quit hollaring about his pants being wet while Shera, Barret, Red and Yuffie both looked over at the rather embarassed looking pair. Andria had dropped her hands and stepped backwards from Cloud lowering her head, her long bangs shielding her face from their site. Andria could feel her face getting warm and cheeks turning pink under their light complexed exterior. Cloud began to untie his apron from around his waist and wouldn't look at the others. Everybody was just standing there, staring at the two. Andria could tell they struggling to see if Cloud really had smiled and what was going on between the two. The quietness was interrupted by voices and foosteps.
"Morning guys!" called Mari's cheerful voice from the kitchen door. She stopped and noticed the left over smoke floating around the kitchen and quickly recalled the time Cloud had tried to make breakfast before when she had first came to live here with them. Vincent was at her side, his golden clawed hand rested easily on her slender waist.
"Well, I can tell Cloud attempted to cook breakfast again," Vincent pointed out as he and Mari walked over to where the others stood. "I can smell the burn."
Mari raised an eyebrow. "Something's going on in here," she observed looking around at everybody. The mage turned her elegant head towards where Cloud and Andria stood, thoroughly embarassed now. Aha...it's those two... Mari walked up to Cloud and Andria with her hands behind her back and grinned.
"Hi Andi, hi bro," she grinned as though she knew something. "So what are you two kids up to?"
"Cloud was cooking breakfast," Andria hurriedly replied, trying to change the mood. Mari grinned as she sniffed the air.
"Ah bro, making another attempt?" she asked patting his arm. Cloud just looked down at the girl with a raised eyebrow. Mari laughed and gave him a shove. "Go sit down and let the women handle this," Mari told him with a laugh. Cloud walked over to where Cid was standing and he started complaining about his wet pants again when Marlene's high pitched voice piped up.
"Hi Mari! Cloud SMILED!" she squealed tugging at Mari's skirt. "HE REALLY DID! I SAW IT!" Mari just grinned down at the excited little girl and she rubbed her head.
"C'mon Cid, quit complaining about your wet pants and I'll go see if I have a pair that fit you," Cloud offered, changing the subject. He put a hand on the pilot's shoulder and turned him back towards the hall leading to the bedrooms.
Cloud glanced back at Andria and gave her that same, tender look that made her heart race. She watched the back of his blonde head as he and Cid disappeared down the hall, Cid's loud complaining echoing as they left. Andria turned towards Mari who was grinning and she grinned back, knowing that only her friend was the only one who could possible begin to understand what she was feeling.
Cloud led Cid into his room and opened up a drawer pulling out a pile of folded, freshly laundered pants. He sat them on the bed.
"There, go through and see if you can find a pair that fit you," the swordsman offered.
He looked at Cid who was staring at him now with somewhat of slight acknowledgement. "So,' the pilot began as he rummaged through the pants. "What's goin on with you and lil Andi?"
Cloud looked at Cid. "Nothing is going on between me and Andi," he lied. But, was there something going on with him and Andria? I mean he had kissed her. He was taking her today to buy her a new sword. What was going on? Cloud just shook his blonde head. He wasn't quite sure himself what was going on.
"Mmmhmmm, and ya know ya can't lie to Cid Highwind because he always knows," the pilot replied as he half grinned at Cloud. "So tell me, you two been spendin' a lot time together. She seems like a nice lil lady and purdy as hell to boot."
"Yeah she's a really..." Cloud caught himself before he carried on. "Listen Cid, I don't want to talk about this right now, okay?" Cloud told him starting to blush. He turned and looked out the window. "Just find a pair of pants and I'll be in the kitchen with the others." Cloud turned to leave and go out of the room when Cid just chuckled behind him.
"Yeah yeah, so you can get back to sweet little Andi's side, eh?" the pilot chuckled. His expression and tone changed when he held up the pants that Cloud had offered. "Ya know, how the hell do you expect me to fit in these damn things! I'm not as skinny as yer spikey ass ya know!" Cid yelled at his retreating back.
Cloud just stood for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess they'll be a tight fit then, huh?" and left the room, leaving the pilot curious about what was going on in Cloud's head, but more so disgruntled at the fact that he either had to wear tight pants or wet pants.
~~~~~
Andria hopped on Fenrir, just behind Cloud after breakfast. She was bouncy and excited. The young woman could hardly wait to get to the store and start shopping for a new sword. "Hurry up!" she said anxiously. "I've been waiting for this!"
Cloud smirked as he sensed her excitement. He reached down into one of his compartments on his massive bike and pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses. He put them on his face and adjusted them comfortably. Cloud reached down and started the roaring engine up on the bike and looked back at Andria.
"Time to go," he told her of his shoulder.
Andria wrapped her arms around Cloud's waist as he hit the gas and they zoomed off from the front of Seventh Heaven. Andria always loved riding on Fenrir with Cloud. It made her feel as free as the wind. She titled her head back and closed her eyes as she felt the wind rushing through her long, honey brown hair. The ride seemed to end much too soon, for Cloud had pulled up just outside of one of the shops that sold weaponry.
As Cloud shut off the engine, Andria leaped excitedly down and stood at the front of the motorcycle. She folded her hands under her chin and bounced anxiously on her toes. Cloud looked over at the girl and smirked. She so cute. I swear, she's cuter than anything I've ever seen. Cloud couldn't help but think of how adorable she looked, like an anxious child about to go into a toy store. Andria couldn't handle the wait any longer. She grabbed one of Cloud's gloved hands and drug him into the weapon shop with her.
"C'mon let's go!" she squealed with delight as she pulled him in after her.
The couple stepped into a dimly lit shop with tall shelves all around the walls. In the center aisles of more shelves, each one littered with many different types of weaponry. There were mages' staffs, swords, shurikens, katanas, brass knuckles, knives and just about any type of weaopn you could think possible. There were shields and armor as well. Cloud took Andria down an aisle of swords.
The swordsman crouched low as he studied a few blades that had caught his eye, but her eyes had fallen on one in particular. It had a long, silver blade. The end of the blade was sharply pointed with the edges extended ever so slightly as if it were in the shape of an elegant arrowhead. The hilt was crusted over in gold with white handle. Underneath the handle was engraved set of wings that extended across the hilt. The handle was a little wider than some, but Andria wrapped her hand around it and lifted the sword with ease. The weight was perfect and her hand fit perfectly around the handle. Cloud had just looked over at Andria as he saw her holding the sword when the shop ower approached them.
"Hello, hello there! Is there anything I can help you folks with today?" he asked cheerily. He was a rather round man with short brown hair with flecks of gray, dark eyes and bifocals that rested on the perch of his squat, upturned nose. He had a mustache that stretched underneath his nose and he wore a red shirt tucked into a pair of black pants with black striped suspenders.
"I was just looking at this," Andria stated calmly as she studied the blade in her hand.
"Ah that sword," began to shop keeper. "That is one of my double bladed swords, one of my best pieces! Do you see that latch on the hilt and down here to the center of the blade?" the man asked, waddling towards Andria and pointing it out. Andria nodded her head and the shop keeper grinned widely.
"If you snap those latches this beauty turns into a double bladed katana. Perfect for using in any type of fight. You can use two blades or you can use just the one big blade!" he explained the usage of the weapon cheerily.
Andria did as the shop keeper said and unsnapped the sword, holding the two blade in both hands. She stepped back from the others and twirled the blade in a swiping, crossing motion, jabbing the two blades backwards. Oh this is perfect! Andria looked at Cloud and smiled.
"I really like this one a lot." she told him softly, blushing. Andria knew that Cloud was going to use his own money on her and she didn't want him to spend too much, but Cloud's blue eyes were softened as he studied her with the blades.
"Seems like you handle it pretty well too," the shop keeper observed. "It's nice to see women who know how to handle weapons."
Andria grinned and looked up at Cloud who was standing next to her now. "Well I've had a wonderful teacher."
Andria took both katana blades and pieced them back together. She then held the sword and did a few manuevers and techinques with it that Cloud had been teaching her over the past few weeks. Cloud stood back and watched Andria messing with the blade and couldn't help but smirk. Damn she looks good with that sword. Andria looked up at him and batted her lashes.
"Well, what do you think Cloud?" she asked smiling.
"Well, I think you do seem to know what you're doing with it and it does look like a good sword for you. Does the weight feel okay? It's not too heavy is it?" Cloud asked.
"Yeah the weight is fine," she insisted. Andria smiled beautifully at Cloud again, making his heart thump in his chest. "Well Cloud? Can I get this one? Pleeease?" she added, batting her long lashes.
"Well, if that's the one you feel most comfortable using and that's the one you want, then I suppose I don't see any harm in it," Cloud told her finally.
The shop keeper clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! Now if you'll just follow me I'll get the sheath for it and get you a total!"
A few moments later, a beaming Andria and smug looking Cloud walked out of the shop. Andria had her new sword sheathed on her hip as she walked with Cloud. Cloud felt rather good about himself as the two approached Fenrir. He had just bought Andria a brand new sword with his own gil, and he had made the woman he was really starting to care for, even more happier than she had been recently.
Cloud wasn't sure, but this made him feel even more lighter as he saw the shining looking of happiness cross her pretty face. The two jumped on Fenrir and Cloud started it up. Just as he did, Andria leaned up and threw her arms around his neck from behind. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear. Cloud grinned and nodded his head at the girl's gratitude. He stepped on the gas of Fenrir, driving the two back off to Seventh Heaven. Andria literally felt as though she were on Cloud 9 so to speak. She was with Cloud and Cloud had take his own gil and bought her her very first, brand new sword. If that didn't show that he truly cared for her, then what did?
~~~~~
Later that evening, Mari, Vincent, Barret and Marlene had watched Andria and Cloud, sparring as she worked with her new swords. She was becoming a decently skilled swordswoman in the short time that she and Cloud had been practicing together, but still had a lot to learn. After the two finished, Cloud resheathed his sword and looked down at Andria with that same, warm look.
"I told you I'd teach you to be as good me," he spoke to the winded girl. "I'll meet you inside." Cloud departed and headed towards the bar. Marlene anxiously jumped up and grabbed Cloud's hand. He looked down kindly at the girl and the two disappeared behind the door.
Andria was a little out of breath from this particular sparring session. Cloud had decided to go a little rougher on her this time, and had warned her that in the future he would continue to. Andria was able to hold her own anyway. She snapped her katanas back together and sheathed them in the sheath belt that hung around her waist. She brushed her bangs out of her face and began going towards the bar when Mari, Vincent and Barret had approached her. Their faces were full of planning, scheming almost and Andria looked up at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Alright you guys, what's going on?" the girl asked, noticing the sinister look on their faces.
"Nice work with the swords Andi," Vincent stated as she cocked her head to the side. Sure this wasn't what they were going to talk to her about. She rested her hand under her chin, laying her elbow in her other hand and looked at them.
"Now come on, you guys wouldn't have stopped me from going inside just to tell me that swordwork is nice," she replied knowingly. "Now what's going on?"
"Well, we wanted to let you know that Cloud's birthday is coming up in a few days," Mari began as she took Andria by the arm and brought her over to where the rest stood.
"So we were talking about planning a surprise party for Cloud. You know, tell him that there's only one delivery that needs to be made that day and tell him where he needs to go. That'll give us plenty of time to decorate the bar and we can keep our eyes out for him. We can just shut off all the lights, hide and when he comes in, surprise him!" the mage exclaimed.
"So whaddya think Andi? You gonna help us out with a surprise party for Cloud?" Barret asked in his deep, gruff voice that carried a hint of a grin.
"Yeah of course!" she exclaimed. "Are we going to get party decorations and such?" Andria asked.
"Yeah! We're gonna have Yuffie and Tifa go into town and pick up decorations," Mari explained. "When they get back we're gonna make the boys decorate the bar," she added with a playful shove at Vincent. "And us girls will take care of the food."
"Me? Decorate the bar? You've got to be kidding," the gunman stated as he rolled his crimson eyes at Mari.
The mage giggled. "You're damn straight you're gonna decorate it and you'll like it too," she added finally.
The gunman just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, whatever you say." Though Andria could see that decorating the bar wasn't something that Vincent was overly joyed about doing.
Andria and Mari laughed. "I'll bake Cloud's cake too if you'd like?" Andria volunteered.
"I was hoping you would!" the mage replied happily. She took Andria by the arm again and walked away from Barret and Vincent. "You can make it ecspecially for Cloud, do it all in your own special way," she added with a wink, lowering her voice. "I knew you'd want to bake the cake."
Andria grinned at Mari. "You know, Mari, I think this party is going to be one hell of a good time."
Mari grinned, nodding her head and couldn't help but feel that this little party was not only for Cloud, but for Andria as well and she somehow knew within her heart this was going to bring them closer together.
Meanwhile, as Cloud stepped inside of the bar he met a very angry Tifa. Her hands were placed on her hips and she stared daggers at Cloud. Marlene had ran straight up to her room to play with Denzel as they entered and Tifa waited until the young girl was out of sight before she rounded on Cloud.
"You bought her a sword?" Tifa asked, through clenched teeth.
Cloud shrugged. "Yeah I did. She wanted to learn proper swordwork. I felt it was time she had her own sword. Is that a problem?" He looked at the angry martial artist, trying to figure out why she was so angry with the fact that he had bought Andria a sword.
"If you don't know by now Cloud Strife then why should I have to tell you!" Tifa yelled angrily. "You just don't get it, do you?"
Cloud looked at the girl incredulously. "Tifa," he began. He wasn't quite sure how to word it, but Cloud knew what she was referring to. Tifa had feelings for Cloud, but Cloud just didn't see her that way. He cared for her and he loved her, but not in that sort of way. She was more sisterly to him than anything. "Tifa, you're my best friend. I like talking to you, being around you. We've been through so much together, but...things are just different," he tried to explain. "Don't you understand?"
Tifa just shook her dark head. "No I don't understand Cloud and I'll never understand! Andria is NOT AERITH!" she finally screamed at the swordsman, balling her fists at her sides. "AERITH IS DEAD CLOUD!! SHE IS DEAD AND SHE IS NOT COMING BACK! SO QUIT HOLDING ON TO THE DAMN MEMORY!"
Cloud just stood and looked at the floor for a moment. He then lifted his head as anger flashed through his eyes, taking on the slightly familiar glow of his past. The green outlined his pupils, and he stared coldly at her. Cloud's tone lowered down to a quiet, almost dangerous sound.
"I know she is not Aerith. I am not spending time with her because she reminds you all of Aerith. If you would just get to know her, you'd know there's a whole different person there, and you know something Tifa? I like this person a lot. So don't you go and throw that on me about Aerith. I'm not holding onto a memory," Cloud replied cooly. "Not anymore."
"Oh that's bull and you know it Cloud," Tifa growled. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. "That's all you want is a memory because you loved her!"
The martial artist turned from Cloud and disappeared from the room, leaving Cloud feeling angry, hurt and frustrated. Upon Tifa's disappearance, Andria and the others had now entered the bar. Andria at once saw the look of hurt on Cloud's face and approached him. She rested a hand on his arm.
"Is everything alright?" she asked quietly, looking up into the swordsman's face.
Cloud just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he stated. He turned away from the others and walked up the stairs, trying to gather his thoughts.
Andria felt slightly hurt as he turned away from her, despite the fact that she and the others had heard everything Tifa said, she hadn't let it bother her until now. Maybe I'm just more trouble than it's worth? Maybe I should just go, get away from the others, away from Cloud...The thought pained her. I have my weapons now. I can fight, I can hold my own. I need to find out what's going on with me anyway. Mari approached Andria as she saw the hurt look in her friend's emerald eyes. The mage rested a hand on Andria's shoulder.
"It'll be okay," Mari reassured the girl. "Tifa was really cruel. Give him some time to cool down. He'll be okay," she told her tenderly.
Andria looked back as her eyes met her friend's warm and caring gaze. She turned and looked back up the stairs. "I hope you're right," she sighed.
Here's Chapter 12! Chapter 12- Healing a Little at a Time
Mid summer, mid August brought upon decently warm weather in Edge. The sun broke through the window as the morning dew trickled down the window pane. She giggled. He heard her voice very lightly, it sounded so far away, echoing in the depths of his mind. The sound was twinkling and beautiful. It was familiar and yet different, something he loved to hear. He was warm, snuggled up against the soft pillows and the blankets resting over his body. He didn't want to open his eyes. He just wanted to enjoy listening to the soft, gentle sounds of her giggling. She spoke his name.
"Cloud...wake up sleepyhead," he heard her speak. She brushed her fingers through his soft, blonde spikes and gently ran a finger down the middle of his face, lightly tapping his nose.
"But I don't want to wake up," he grumbled, pulling the blankets over his head. "I just wanna stay here with you and stay in bed all day," Cloud added as he realized the giggling he heard was Andria's. What a nice thing to wake up to...he thought warmly.
She snuck under the covers with him, laying next to him and as he wrapped an arm around her waist. Andria snuggled up under his chin. "But you have to wake up because you promised," came her voice full of a smile.
Cloud opened his blue-green eyes and pushed the foggy sleep out of his head, as her face blurred before his vision. He blinked once and his vision became clearer. Andria was laying next to him on her side. She tapped his nose again playfully and Cloud responded with faintest hint of a smile. Andria took her fingers and traced his attractive jawline softly as Cloud closed his eyes, enjoying the gentle, soft sensation of Andria's touch. It had been a couple of weeks since her parents had died and with each passing day, Cloud had found the girl was growing more happy, always seeming the happiest when he was near.
Cloud buried his face and smirked into his pillow inspite of himself. He had to admit that he'd been feeling a lot more lighter since he was spending so much time with her. It had been a good while since he felt this light. The holes in Cloud's heart were closing up a little more and more through each moment he had spent with Andria. Though despite all the things she did, that reminded him of Aerith quite often, there was still this whole other new person that he was getting to know and he loved it. For some reason, both of these things made his heart feel nearly content.
"You said you'd take me to get a sword today," she said with a trace of excitement in her voice. "And so it's time to get up and go make breakfast and go sword shopping!" She leaned her head up and turned his face out of the pillow, smiling brightly at him.
Cloud's smirk changed into a grin, something he very rarely ever did. Whenever Cloud did smile, it made Andria's heart leap up into her chest. She gently ran her fingertips over his soft lips. "But I don't wanna get up just yet," he groaned as his grip tightened on Andria's waist. "Can't we just lay in here and sleep for awhile? I took the day off and I wanna just sleep in," he complained.
"Yeah you took to the day off so you could take me sword shopping," Andi replied playfully. When Cloud didn't respond she stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh poo, you're no fun!" the girl protested, lovingly fingering the small lone wolf earring he wore with her fingertips and brushing a few stray strands of blonde hair away from his face. It fell back into his face, just as stubbornly as he was sometimes and it made her giggle.
"Yeah yeah yeah, do you know how many times I've heard that?" Cloud groaned as he removed the covers off of their heads and sat up in bed. "Cloud you're no fun, Cloud you don't wanna do this, Cloud you don't wanna do that," he said in a mocking voice towards Andria.
"Hey! That's not very nice you know," she stated, shoving his bare chest with her hands. Cloud grabbed ahold of her wrists and with a swift, swooping motion, pinned her down on the bed. She girl squealed as Cloud held down her arms. He folded his arms across her chest and rested his head on crossed wrists, looking up at her.
"You know," he stated with a devilish gleam in his eyes. "You're going to have to learn quicker reflexes if you intend to fight with a proper sword."
Andria laid underneath him, slightly shocked at his quick movement and giggled, her chest rising and falling with shortened breath. "Well, if you'd let me fight with something else beside practice swords then maybe I could be a bit better."
Cloud sat up and continued to hold her wrists down against the bed. He leaned down into her ear. Cloud's warm breath against her neck made Andria tremble lightly. "But practice makes perfect," he purred into her ear. "You'll never be as good as me if you don't practice." Cloud sat up, releasing Andria's wrists and pondered for a moment. "Actually...I don't think you could get as good me," he said with a slice of ego in his voice. He cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the girl laying beside him. Andria sat up in bed as her emerald green eyes widened and she clasped her hands to her chest.
"Oh Mr. Strife, do tell me! How does one get to be an amazing swordsman such as yourself!" Andria exclaimed in sarcastic and yet teasingly manner. "I do so what to learn to fight just like you!" she continued.
"Hey you're gonna pay for that!" Cloud exclaimed, noticing her sarcasm. He reached out and ran a hand down her side and began tickling her. He found his way into a certain area on her right side that was extremely ticklish and dug his fingers under her ribs. Andria squealed with laughter as Cloud ran his hands all over her body, discovering all of her ticklish spots. "Think that'll be 20 gil!" And he tickled her rougher.
"20 gil! For what!" Andria squealed persistantly. "I'm not giving you 20 gil!"
"Oh yes you are! For that comment you are," Cloud replied defiantly, still continuing to hold her down and tickle her. "20 gil for me to give you sword fighting lessons too. So I guess that makes, hmmmm, 40 gil now?"
"NO WAY!" she cried out with laughter. Cloud was still holding down the girl, tickling her until she couldn't even breathe. "Okay! Okay! I give in! You can have the 40 gil! Cloud! Stop I can't brea-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" she cried with laughter as he tickled her all the more harder, holding her down on the bed, his hands finding their way all over her torso as he discovered her most sensitive, ticklish places on her body.
"I call this tickle attacking," he replied with delight in his voice and Andria could clearly tell that Cloud was enjoying this while she was about to explode from her laughter. "This is something I do to the kids. They know all about tickle attacks. You should ask them sometime."
The two were laying on the bed and Andria managed to wrench her way out of his grasp, but Cloud was still too quick. She was rolled over on her side, laughing and gasping for breath when Cloud rolled over and grabbed her from behind, holding her arms down with one arm and tickling her stomach and her sides. Cloud began to laugh. It wasn't a full laugh, more like a giggle, a chuckle. He actually heard himself snickering, but it was drowned out from the sounds of Andria's beautiful laughter. He didn't want to stop. Cloud was enjoying this entirely too much.
"CLOUD!!! PLEASE! STOP!!!" Andria exclaimed between breaths and laughter. "NO MORE DILLY DALLYING!"
Cloud froze...he stopped and let go of Andria who was breathing rather heavily and he sat back looking at her. "Did you just say dilly dallying?" he asked, his smile vanishing, a little shocked by what he had just heard. His eyes darkened slightly.
Andria sat up and looked him, still trying to catch her breath. "Yeah I guess I did," she replied noticing the look on his face. "I don't know where it came from...I just said it...why? Did I do...say some-" she paused as she caught the look in his eyes and immediately felt guilty, though she didn't know why. "Cloud, what's wrong?"
Their moment of fun had surpassed much too quickly. Andria drew her eyebrows in with slight worry and looked at him as she saw a slightly pained expression on his face. Sometimes she would notice that slightly pained expression if she did or said anything, but she never asked why. However this time she chose to. Why did he look at her that way sometimes? Andria felt that she just had to know.
"Oh, it's nothing," Cloud replied shaking his head, causing is blonde spikes to sway gently. "I'm sorry...it's just...sometimes the things you do remind me of...her," he mumbled.
"Her...Aerith right?" Andria asked suddenly becoming quiet. "I'm sorry," she turned her head from him. "Maybe I should just-"
"No! Don't...Please, don't go," Cloud told her, his shoulders slumped and he looked at her almost pitifully.
Andria just looked at him uncertainly. Maybe that's all I am to him? Maybe he is just being this attatched to me because of Aerith. Things I do and say remind him of her...so maybe that's why he kissed me. Maybe he just wanted to cling onto her memory and so he's doing that through me... Andria hated having negative thoughts, but she couldn't help it. Cloud had just sat right there and admitted that things she does reminded him of her. She could feel herself starting to get slightly upset now.
Cloud's face fell. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said." He shook his blonde head.
"Yes you did," Andria replied defiantly but softly. "You all have told me so many times I remind you of this girl and I don't even know who she is. So is that it Cloud? Is that why you're spending so much time with me?" she asked softly.
When she saw the look in his eyes again she hung her head. She was instantly sorry. She hadn't meant what she said...did she? Andria wasn't sure, but she knew that she never meant to hurt him by what she said. She wanted Cloud to be with her for her and not for Aerith.
"I'm so sorry Cloud...I didn't mean to say that. I just..." I'm so stupid! I just had to open my mouth didn't I? I just had to see that hurt look in his eyes again by what I said. Why didn't I just keep my feelings to myself? I'm so sorry Cloud...
Cloud placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him. "Listen Andi. Sure things you do remind me of Aerith, but I'm not holding onto you because of her," Cloud fully admitted. "I swear to you. I really like you for you. I enjoy being around you. You're a different person and I like that. It's a good thing..." the swordsman paused..."damn I can't say anything right can I?" he sighed.
Cloud stood up from the bed and walked over to the window. How do I make her understand that THAT is not the reason I'm always with her! I LIKE being with her! She's...just...she's Andi...and I like Andi. I like who she is...a lot. I mean yeah, she does little things that remind me of Aerith, but that's to be expected right? Didn't I do things that reminded Aerith of Zack? I wasn't angry at her for feeling that way...once I found out the truth. So is Andi angry at me? Cloud put his forehead in his hand. Ugh I'm so stupid! Cloud felt a small hand close over his shoulder and he turned his head to see Andria standing behind him with a smile.
"It's okay Cloud. I understand," she told him and she truthfully did. Her sparkling green eyes showed that she did. "I know how hard it can be for you. You don't have to try and explain yourself. I know that I remind you of her, but that's okay."
Andria had always seen in Cloud's eyes the haunting memories, but she had also seen a new light in them since he kissed her that night. That new light had never left his eyes since then. Not once and she knew that new light was filled with something that didn't pertain to Aerith. You're just being stupid for feeling this way Andi. Just deal with it. Lighten up. Cloud isn't around you because of Aerith, he's around you because you're you!
"But I...," Cloud began and hung his head. "It doesn't mean...I just..."
Andria leaned forward and placed her hands behind her back. She titled her upward slightly to look at him. "What did I just say, hmmm?" she asked with a playful grin. "It's okay. I understand! I honestly do!" She stood back upright and rested her elbow in her hand and put her other hand under her chin and observed Cloud.
Cloud noticed right off that Andria was making another Aerith gesture towards him, but he just brushed it off. As a matter of fact, Cloud admitted to himself that she even looked cuter doing it than what Aerith did, and he couldn't help but grin again. Her eyes were filled with warm delight like that of a child and she smiled back.
"Now see?" she told him poking him lightly on the shoulder as she approached him. "It's all okay. I know. Now, et's see...where were we...?" her voice trailed off as she eyed Cloud and approached him, holding her body close to his. "I think right about....here!" Andria exclaimed as she dug her hand into his left side and surprised him by attempting to tickle attack him. Cloud responded by letting out a surprised, short laugh.
"Hey now! That's not fair!" Cloud exclaimed as he grabbed Andria around her waist and threw her over his shoulder. She began beating on his bare back with her fists "I'm tickling attacking you now!"
"Cloud Strife! You let me down right this instant!" Andria squealed, but she knew her hitting him wasn't even phasing him. "CLOUD DON'T YOU DARE! NOOOOOO!" she squealed as she felt him lift her back up.
Cloud threw Andria down on the bed and began tickling her yet again until she laughed so hard that tears were rolling down her cheeks and her face was flushed from laughter. Andria was rolled over on her side, curled up in the fetal position, her body shaking with laughter.
"So hah!" Cloud replied as he stood up with a triumphant look like that of a winner. "I'm going to get dressed. I'll be in the kitchen," he stated as he took his clothes out of his dresser drawer. Cloud made his way to the door, opened it and left the room. Andria heard his footsteps across the hall and then the bathroom door close behind him.
Andria lay on the bed still trying to catch her breath from Cloud's surprise tickle attack and she looked up at the ceiling and grinned. Yes! You're finding your way. Little by little those barriers around his heart are disappearing. She was finally starting to find her way into Cloud's heart and in all honesty Cloud had already stolen hers. Andria lay there for a few moments day dreaming about her life with him and then lept up with excitement and got dressed. She brushed her long, honey-brown hair and tied it back into a ponytail with her green hair ribbon, brushed her bangs and smiled. The girl couldn't remember when she felt this happy. It had been so long. So long...
"Break...temple...the church..."
"What the...?" Andria looked at herself in the mirror again. She had heard a strange voice in her head yet again. She hadn't heard anything like this since before her parents had died. It was a female voice, but it wasn't the one who sounded like her. It was someone else, a woman slightly older than her perhaps?
"Temple...city...forest..."
"I can't understand what you mean," Andria said outloud but quietly incase anybody could hear her. "What is going on? Who are you?"
"Temple...church...break...down..." spoke three female voices consecutively.
"What in the hell!" Andria exclaimed softly as she grabbed the sides of her head and looked in the mirror at her reflection.
Andria could hear their echoes in her head and it was just becoming more and more confusing to her. Andria's emerald eyes had gone wide with confusion and even slight fear. She remembered what happened the last time she had heard voices. Her parents were going to be killed. Only that time there were so many of them screaming at her she couldn't comprehend or understand it. The girl didn't want this to be the same thing.
"Break down? Church? Forest? City? What does this all mean!? Please tell me! I don't understand!" she cried out softly, trying to understand, but the echoes had diminished, leaving her once again confused and afraid.
Andria tried to brush off the thought that was now weighing heavily on her mind. As she departed from the bedroom, Andria could hear the laughter coming from the kitchen of Barret, Cid, Shera, Yuffie and Red XIII. Andria also caught the unmistaken smell of something burning. She walked into the kitchen and saw a rather humorous sight which forced the thought of whom was speaking to her out of her head completely. She tried hard to control the laughter that threatened to burst out of her chest as she her eyes fell on something completely unexpected.
Cloud was standing at the stove with a white apron tied around his waist. He had one frying pan on each burner of the stove and whisp smoke was starting to stream from one of the pans. Cloud had egg yolks all over the front of his apron and splattered pancake mix to boot. Cloud held a spatula in each hand, using his right hand to flip something over in one of the pans. Noticing the smoke he turned down the burner and dropped one of the spatulas. He grabbed a pot holder from the counter and began waving the smoke away. Cloud gave a feeble smirk as Andria approached him trying hard not to laugh. Instead she wore a big smile.
"MORNIN' ANDI!" came Cid's hearty voice. He waved across the room at her and Andria noticed that Shera was sitting next to him. She smiled and waved. Andria waved back across the room. "Seems like Cloud here's attemptin' to cook ya'll some breakfast!" He sat back with a lit cigarette and guffawed at the sheepish looking swordsman who was standing in front of the stove. "But I think I'll pass on eatin' this mornin'."
"I am cooking breakfast," Cloud told Andria as she approached him and stood by his side. Andria couldn't help but notice how adorable Cloud looked standing at the stove and attempting to cook them all something to eat. Cloud looked over at Cid, hearing his taunts. "Why don't you get your pilot ass over here and do it yourself if you're so much better?"
"Me cook!?" Cid asked incredulously. "Psshaw! I have my Shera who cooks fer me!" he exclaimed as he put an arm around an embarrassed Shera next to him. "She's all the cookin I need!" Cid padded his slighly inflated tummy and grinned. Shera just blushed.
"Oh Cid, stop it," she mumbled as she lightly shoved the pilot's built chest.
Andria laughed as she turned towards Cloud and laid a hand on his arm, patting it gently. "I can see that you are," she grinned heartily. "Well you just go right ahead and cook Cloud. I'll be sitting over here at the table with the others," she replied in a sweet voice, trying hard to surpress her giggles. "I'm sure it'll be delicious."
"See?" Cloud replied. "Andi thinks I can cook," he stated sounding slightly pouty and turned back towards the stove. Cloud opened up a package of bacon and threw it into the pan which popped and sizzled as it sat in the pan. "OUCH DAMMIT!"
"What's wrong? asked Yuffie, peering from behind a newspaper and smirking sarcastically.
"Nothing nothing, grease hit me is all," Cloud replied, not taking his eyes off of the stove.
Nobody would admit it, but the sight of Cloud Strife standing at the stove and trying to cook them all breakfast just came across as funny and completely out of character for him. However noticing this, they had taken it upon themselves that they all preferred this Cloud compared to the one who had isolated himself from everyone and never bothered to answer his phone. Now here it was, the solitary swordsman, cooking his friends breakfast.
"Where's Tifa?" Andria asked as she had a seat on the other side of Cid and made herself comfortable. "She hasn't been around much lately," she added as Cid threw his other arm, in a brotherly fashion, around her shoulders.
"Tifa and Denzel both went into town to do some shopping. She said she needed to pick things up for the Delivery Service, you know more order forms and such. She told us that she and Denzel would grab a bite to eat on their way into town," Yuffie answered, taking a sip of her orange juice.
Andria just nodded her head. In a way she sort of felt bad because Andria assumed that Tifa had feelings for Cloud, or atleast she was sure she did, but at the same time she wasn't sure. Though she really cared for Tifa a great deal, Andria couldn't help but feel her connection with Cloud growing stronger and stronger by day. It was something out of her control.
No matter how hard previously she had tried to keep from feeling for him, Andria just couldn't. Cloud was giving Andria his heart. He was placing it right into the palm of her hand, and she could feel that. She often wondered if Cloud realized that too. Did Cloud realize that Andria had given him her heart as well? She stared at the back of his spiked blonde hair and sighed softly. Cid noticed this and he grinned at the girl he thought of as his little sister. Cid looked over at Yuffie and winked who replied with a smile.
Cloud was also beginning to come out of his stupor, everybody seemed to notice this, but never made word of it. He was no longer running off to be alone. In fact, he was having a great time with his friends and especially with Andria. Granted they hadn't kissed again since that night, but that was okay. And nobody knew about the kiss yet except for Mari. Andria was still enjoying every waking moment with Cloud. She wanted so badly to tell him how he was helping her heal from losing her parents. Though it hurt very much still and she sometimes felt on the verge of tears, Andria would just go to Cloud and his gentle face and strong arms hugging her tight would let her know that everything was alright. Andria was lost in all thought by Barret, who was now eyeing her.
"So," Barret began as he leaned across the table towards Andria, looking at her seriously though a small shine in his eyes hinted an oncoming smile. "Are you doing this to Spikey?" he whispered.
Andria leaned in and looked at Barret. "Doing what?" she whispered back as if they were being all secretive.
'"Making Cloud the way he's been lately, ya know. Not so anti-social, actually enjoyin' himself and havin' a good time. It was him who volunteered to make breakfast," Barret replied with a wink. There was a sizzling sound from the stove and a loud "DAMN!" from Cloud as smoke began pouring from one of the pans. "Though he's not doing a very good job," added Barret as they all turned towards the stove.
Marlene lept up from her seat beside Barret and ran over to Cloud. "SPIKEY'S BURNING BREAKFAST! SPIKEY'S BURNING BREAKFAST!" she taunted happily, pointing out Cloud. Marlene had taken it upon herself, whenever Barret was around, to calling Cloud 'Spikey' just like her father did.
Cloud frantically grabbed a dish towel and began waving it over the stove as the smoke billowed up into the air around the kitchen. It rolled across the ceiling and wafted past the smoke alarm, setting it off. Yuffie was so surprised by the wail of the alarm that she knocked her orange juice all over the table. It poured off of the table and onto Cid's leg, soaking his pants.
"SON OF A DAMN BITCH!" yelled Cid as he lept up from the chair were the orange juice was dribbling down from. Shera lept up with him and ran to fetch a towel. He had dropped his cigarette out of his mouth which fell into the orange juice on the table and was quickly put out. "I LOOK LIKE A FUCKIN' PISSED MAH PANTS!" He stood up from the chair, dancing back and forth from each foot for a moment, trying to get his wet pants unstuck from his body. "SOMEBODY GIMME A DAMN TOWEL!"
"Cid, watch your damn mouth around Marlene!" Barret bellowed as he grabbed a fresh towel with his metal hand off of the counter and threw it at the pilot. Cid reached out and caught it in mid air. Yuffie had ran and grabbed a pot holder. She stood on a chair and began waving it back and forth across the smoke alarm, trying to clear it from the smoke.
"You should talk Barret!" RedXIII retaliated. "Listen to the way your mouth is. You're no worse than Cid!" But the red beauty laughed inspite of himself.
While Shera was busy dabbing up Cid's little issue with the orange juice, Andria had ran over to the stove to help Cloud who had now grabbed the skillets and threw them into the sink, turning on the cold water so to stop the smoke.
"Well damn. I try to cook breakfast and look at where it gets me," Cloud grumbled, but looked at Andria with a smirk. She walked up next to him and stood very close, turning her face towards his. She smiled beautifully at him. It made Cloud's heart pound in his chest. Everybody around the kitchen was busy fussing with the orange juice and opening up the window, trying to clear the smoke out of the kitchen to notice the two.
"Well, why don't you let me take over breakfast," Andria stated as she leaned up towards Cloud's face. She tapped the end of his nose softly with her fingertip. "And you go and get plates and silverwear out. Besides, I look cuter in an apron," she giggled, looking up into his sheepish, pink face.
"AND DAMMIT! I NEED A FUCKIN' PAIR A PANTS!" yelled Cid standing there with his legs slightly spread, his entire groin area and left pant leg soaked. Shera was trying to dab up the orange juice, but she was just in a fit of giggles now. Cid had his arms folded grumpily across his chest. He looked over at Yuffie with his lip raised in a snarl. She just stared back sheepishly.
"Sorry Cid, but the alarm scared me!" the little Wutai ninja insisted. "It really was an accident."
Cid didn't care if it was an accident or not. He just continued to carry on bitching about his wet pants. Marlene however had taken to notice Andria and Cloud staring into each other's eyes and Andria lighting tapping his nose with her slender fingertip and the smile that appeared on his face.
"Hey guys!" squealed the little girl, her brown ponytail bouncing as she jumped up and down. Her big brown eyes were bright and sparkling with happiness. "Cloud's smiling!"
Cid quit hollaring about his pants being wet while Shera, Barret, Red and Yuffie both looked over at the rather embarassed looking pair. Andria had dropped her hands and stepped backwards from Cloud lowering her head, her long bangs shielding her face from their site. Andria could feel her face getting warm and cheeks turning pink under their light complexed exterior. Cloud began to untie his apron from around his waist and wouldn't look at the others. Everybody was just standing there, staring at the two. Andria could tell they struggling to see if Cloud really had smiled and what was going on between the two. The quietness was interrupted by voices and foosteps.
"Morning guys!" called Mari's cheerful voice from the kitchen door. She stopped and noticed the left over smoke floating around the kitchen and quickly recalled the time Cloud had tried to make breakfast before when she had first came to live here with them. Vincent was at her side, his golden clawed hand rested easily on her slender waist.
"Well, I can tell Cloud attempted to cook breakfast again," Vincent pointed out as he and Mari walked over to where the others stood. "I can smell the burn."
Mari raised an eyebrow. "Something's going on in here," she observed looking around at everybody. The mage turned her elegant head towards where Cloud and Andria stood, thoroughly embarassed now. Aha...it's those two... Mari walked up to Cloud and Andria with her hands behind her back and grinned.
"Hi Andi, hi bro," she grinned as though she knew something. "So what are you two kids up to?"
"Cloud was cooking breakfast," Andria hurriedly replied, trying to change the mood. Mari grinned as she sniffed the air.
"Ah bro, making another attempt?" she asked patting his arm. Cloud just looked down at the girl with a raised eyebrow. Mari laughed and gave him a shove. "Go sit down and let the women handle this," Mari told him with a laugh. Cloud walked over to where Cid was standing and he started complaining about his wet pants again when Marlene's high pitched voice piped up.
"Hi Mari! Cloud SMILED!" she squealed tugging at Mari's skirt. "HE REALLY DID! I SAW IT!" Mari just grinned down at the excited little girl and she rubbed her head.
"C'mon Cid, quit complaining about your wet pants and I'll go see if I have a pair that fit you," Cloud offered, changing the subject. He put a hand on the pilot's shoulder and turned him back towards the hall leading to the bedrooms.
Cloud glanced back at Andria and gave her that same, tender look that made her heart race. She watched the back of his blonde head as he and Cid disappeared down the hall, Cid's loud complaining echoing as they left. Andria turned towards Mari who was grinning and she grinned back, knowing that only her friend was the only one who could possible begin to understand what she was feeling.
Cloud led Cid into his room and opened up a drawer pulling out a pile of folded, freshly laundered pants. He sat them on the bed.
"There, go through and see if you can find a pair that fit you," the swordsman offered.
He looked at Cid who was staring at him now with somewhat of slight acknowledgement. "So,' the pilot began as he rummaged through the pants. "What's goin on with you and lil Andi?"
Cloud looked at Cid. "Nothing is going on between me and Andi," he lied. But, was there something going on with him and Andria? I mean he had kissed her. He was taking her today to buy her a new sword. What was going on? Cloud just shook his blonde head. He wasn't quite sure himself what was going on.
"Mmmhmmm, and ya know ya can't lie to Cid Highwind because he always knows," the pilot replied as he half grinned at Cloud. "So tell me, you two been spendin' a lot time together. She seems like a nice lil lady and purdy as hell to boot."
"Yeah she's a really..." Cloud caught himself before he carried on. "Listen Cid, I don't want to talk about this right now, okay?" Cloud told him starting to blush. He turned and looked out the window. "Just find a pair of pants and I'll be in the kitchen with the others." Cloud turned to leave and go out of the room when Cid just chuckled behind him.
"Yeah yeah, so you can get back to sweet little Andi's side, eh?" the pilot chuckled. His expression and tone changed when he held up the pants that Cloud had offered. "Ya know, how the hell do you expect me to fit in these damn things! I'm not as skinny as yer spikey ass ya know!" Cid yelled at his retreating back.
Cloud just stood for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess they'll be a tight fit then, huh?" and left the room, leaving the pilot curious about what was going on in Cloud's head, but more so disgruntled at the fact that he either had to wear tight pants or wet pants.
~~~~~
Andria hopped on Fenrir, just behind Cloud after breakfast. She was bouncy and excited. The young woman could hardly wait to get to the store and start shopping for a new sword. "Hurry up!" she said anxiously. "I've been waiting for this!"
Cloud smirked as he sensed her excitement. He reached down into one of his compartments on his massive bike and pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses. He put them on his face and adjusted them comfortably. Cloud reached down and started the roaring engine up on the bike and looked back at Andria.
"Time to go," he told her of his shoulder.
Andria wrapped her arms around Cloud's waist as he hit the gas and they zoomed off from the front of Seventh Heaven. Andria always loved riding on Fenrir with Cloud. It made her feel as free as the wind. She titled her head back and closed her eyes as she felt the wind rushing through her long, honey brown hair. The ride seemed to end much too soon, for Cloud had pulled up just outside of one of the shops that sold weaponry.
As Cloud shut off the engine, Andria leaped excitedly down and stood at the front of the motorcycle. She folded her hands under her chin and bounced anxiously on her toes. Cloud looked over at the girl and smirked. She so cute. I swear, she's cuter than anything I've ever seen. Cloud couldn't help but think of how adorable she looked, like an anxious child about to go into a toy store. Andria couldn't handle the wait any longer. She grabbed one of Cloud's gloved hands and drug him into the weapon shop with her.
"C'mon let's go!" she squealed with delight as she pulled him in after her.
The couple stepped into a dimly lit shop with tall shelves all around the walls. In the center aisles of more shelves, each one littered with many different types of weaponry. There were mages' staffs, swords, shurikens, katanas, brass knuckles, knives and just about any type of weaopn you could think possible. There were shields and armor as well. Cloud took Andria down an aisle of swords.
The swordsman crouched low as he studied a few blades that had caught his eye, but her eyes had fallen on one in particular. It had a long, silver blade. The end of the blade was sharply pointed with the edges extended ever so slightly as if it were in the shape of an elegant arrowhead. The hilt was crusted over in gold with white handle. Underneath the handle was engraved set of wings that extended across the hilt. The handle was a little wider than some, but Andria wrapped her hand around it and lifted the sword with ease. The weight was perfect and her hand fit perfectly around the handle. Cloud had just looked over at Andria as he saw her holding the sword when the shop ower approached them.
"Hello, hello there! Is there anything I can help you folks with today?" he asked cheerily. He was a rather round man with short brown hair with flecks of gray, dark eyes and bifocals that rested on the perch of his squat, upturned nose. He had a mustache that stretched underneath his nose and he wore a red shirt tucked into a pair of black pants with black striped suspenders.
"I was just looking at this," Andria stated calmly as she studied the blade in her hand.
"Ah that sword," began to shop keeper. "That is one of my double bladed swords, one of my best pieces! Do you see that latch on the hilt and down here to the center of the blade?" the man asked, waddling towards Andria and pointing it out. Andria nodded her head and the shop keeper grinned widely.
"If you snap those latches this beauty turns into a double bladed katana. Perfect for using in any type of fight. You can use two blades or you can use just the one big blade!" he explained the usage of the weapon cheerily.
Andria did as the shop keeper said and unsnapped the sword, holding the two blade in both hands. She stepped back from the others and twirled the blade in a swiping, crossing motion, jabbing the two blades backwards. Oh this is perfect! Andria looked at Cloud and smiled.
"I really like this one a lot." she told him softly, blushing. Andria knew that Cloud was going to use his own money on her and she didn't want him to spend too much, but Cloud's blue eyes were softened as he studied her with the blades.
"Seems like you handle it pretty well too," the shop keeper observed. "It's nice to see women who know how to handle weapons."
Andria grinned and looked up at Cloud who was standing next to her now. "Well I've had a wonderful teacher."
Andria took both katana blades and pieced them back together. She then held the sword and did a few manuevers and techinques with it that Cloud had been teaching her over the past few weeks. Cloud stood back and watched Andria messing with the blade and couldn't help but smirk. Damn she looks good with that sword. Andria looked up at him and batted her lashes.
"Well, what do you think Cloud?" she asked smiling.
"Well, I think you do seem to know what you're doing with it and it does look like a good sword for you. Does the weight feel okay? It's not too heavy is it?" Cloud asked.
"Yeah the weight is fine," she insisted. Andria smiled beautifully at Cloud again, making his heart thump in his chest. "Well Cloud? Can I get this one? Pleeease?" she added, batting her long lashes.
"Well, if that's the one you feel most comfortable using and that's the one you want, then I suppose I don't see any harm in it," Cloud told her finally.
The shop keeper clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! Now if you'll just follow me I'll get the sheath for it and get you a total!"
A few moments later, a beaming Andria and smug looking Cloud walked out of the shop. Andria had her new sword sheathed on her hip as she walked with Cloud. Cloud felt rather good about himself as the two approached Fenrir. He had just bought Andria a brand new sword with his own gil, and he had made the woman he was really starting to care for, even more happier than she had been recently.
Cloud wasn't sure, but this made him feel even more lighter as he saw the shining looking of happiness cross her pretty face. The two jumped on Fenrir and Cloud started it up. Just as he did, Andria leaned up and threw her arms around his neck from behind. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear. Cloud grinned and nodded his head at the girl's gratitude. He stepped on the gas of Fenrir, driving the two back off to Seventh Heaven. Andria literally felt as though she were on Cloud 9 so to speak. She was with Cloud and Cloud had take his own gil and bought her her very first, brand new sword. If that didn't show that he truly cared for her, then what did?
~~~~~
Later that evening, Mari, Vincent, Barret and Marlene had watched Andria and Cloud, sparring as she worked with her new swords. She was becoming a decently skilled swordswoman in the short time that she and Cloud had been practicing together, but still had a lot to learn. After the two finished, Cloud resheathed his sword and looked down at Andria with that same, warm look.
"I told you I'd teach you to be as good me," he spoke to the winded girl. "I'll meet you inside." Cloud departed and headed towards the bar. Marlene anxiously jumped up and grabbed Cloud's hand. He looked down kindly at the girl and the two disappeared behind the door.
Andria was a little out of breath from this particular sparring session. Cloud had decided to go a little rougher on her this time, and had warned her that in the future he would continue to. Andria was able to hold her own anyway. She snapped her katanas back together and sheathed them in the sheath belt that hung around her waist. She brushed her bangs out of her face and began going towards the bar when Mari, Vincent and Barret had approached her. Their faces were full of planning, scheming almost and Andria looked up at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Alright you guys, what's going on?" the girl asked, noticing the sinister look on their faces.
"Nice work with the swords Andi," Vincent stated as she cocked her head to the side. Sure this wasn't what they were going to talk to her about. She rested her hand under her chin, laying her elbow in her other hand and looked at them.
"Now come on, you guys wouldn't have stopped me from going inside just to tell me that swordwork is nice," she replied knowingly. "Now what's going on?"
"Well, we wanted to let you know that Cloud's birthday is coming up in a few days," Mari began as she took Andria by the arm and brought her over to where the rest stood.
"So we were talking about planning a surprise party for Cloud. You know, tell him that there's only one delivery that needs to be made that day and tell him where he needs to go. That'll give us plenty of time to decorate the bar and we can keep our eyes out for him. We can just shut off all the lights, hide and when he comes in, surprise him!" the mage exclaimed.
"So whaddya think Andi? You gonna help us out with a surprise party for Cloud?" Barret asked in his deep, gruff voice that carried a hint of a grin.
"Yeah of course!" she exclaimed. "Are we going to get party decorations and such?" Andria asked.
"Yeah! We're gonna have Yuffie and Tifa go into town and pick up decorations," Mari explained. "When they get back we're gonna make the boys decorate the bar," she added with a playful shove at Vincent. "And us girls will take care of the food."
"Me? Decorate the bar? You've got to be kidding," the gunman stated as he rolled his crimson eyes at Mari.
The mage giggled. "You're damn straight you're gonna decorate it and you'll like it too," she added finally.
The gunman just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, whatever you say." Though Andria could see that decorating the bar wasn't something that Vincent was overly joyed about doing.
Andria and Mari laughed. "I'll bake Cloud's cake too if you'd like?" Andria volunteered.
"I was hoping you would!" the mage replied happily. She took Andria by the arm again and walked away from Barret and Vincent. "You can make it ecspecially for Cloud, do it all in your own special way," she added with a wink, lowering her voice. "I knew you'd want to bake the cake."
Andria grinned at Mari. "You know, Mari, I think this party is going to be one hell of a good time."
Mari grinned, nodding her head and couldn't help but feel that this little party was not only for Cloud, but for Andria as well and she somehow knew within her heart this was going to bring them closer together.
Meanwhile, as Cloud stepped inside of the bar he met a very angry Tifa. Her hands were placed on her hips and she stared daggers at Cloud. Marlene had ran straight up to her room to play with Denzel as they entered and Tifa waited until the young girl was out of sight before she rounded on Cloud.
"You bought her a sword?" Tifa asked, through clenched teeth.
Cloud shrugged. "Yeah I did. She wanted to learn proper swordwork. I felt it was time she had her own sword. Is that a problem?" He looked at the angry martial artist, trying to figure out why she was so angry with the fact that he had bought Andria a sword.
"If you don't know by now Cloud Strife then why should I have to tell you!" Tifa yelled angrily. "You just don't get it, do you?"
Cloud looked at the girl incredulously. "Tifa," he began. He wasn't quite sure how to word it, but Cloud knew what she was referring to. Tifa had feelings for Cloud, but Cloud just didn't see her that way. He cared for her and he loved her, but not in that sort of way. She was more sisterly to him than anything. "Tifa, you're my best friend. I like talking to you, being around you. We've been through so much together, but...things are just different," he tried to explain. "Don't you understand?"
Tifa just shook her dark head. "No I don't understand Cloud and I'll never understand! Andria is NOT AERITH!" she finally screamed at the swordsman, balling her fists at her sides. "AERITH IS DEAD CLOUD!! SHE IS DEAD AND SHE IS NOT COMING BACK! SO QUIT HOLDING ON TO THE DAMN MEMORY!"
Cloud just stood and looked at the floor for a moment. He then lifted his head as anger flashed through his eyes, taking on the slightly familiar glow of his past. The green outlined his pupils, and he stared coldly at her. Cloud's tone lowered down to a quiet, almost dangerous sound.
"I know she is not Aerith. I am not spending time with her because she reminds you all of Aerith. If you would just get to know her, you'd know there's a whole different person there, and you know something Tifa? I like this person a lot. So don't you go and throw that on me about Aerith. I'm not holding onto a memory," Cloud replied cooly. "Not anymore."
"Oh that's bull and you know it Cloud," Tifa growled. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. "That's all you want is a memory because you loved her!"
The martial artist turned from Cloud and disappeared from the room, leaving Cloud feeling angry, hurt and frustrated. Upon Tifa's disappearance, Andria and the others had now entered the bar. Andria at once saw the look of hurt on Cloud's face and approached him. She rested a hand on his arm.
"Is everything alright?" she asked quietly, looking up into the swordsman's face.
Cloud just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he stated. He turned away from the others and walked up the stairs, trying to gather his thoughts.
Andria felt slightly hurt as he turned away from her, despite the fact that she and the others had heard everything Tifa said, she hadn't let it bother her until now. Maybe I'm just more trouble than it's worth? Maybe I should just go, get away from the others, away from Cloud...The thought pained her. I have my weapons now. I can fight, I can hold my own. I need to find out what's going on with me anyway. Mari approached Andria as she saw the hurt look in her friend's emerald eyes. The mage rested a hand on Andria's shoulder.
"It'll be okay," Mari reassured the girl. "Tifa was really cruel. Give him some time to cool down. He'll be okay," she told her tenderly.
Andria looked back as her eyes met her friend's warm and caring gaze. She turned and looked back up the stairs. "I hope you're right," she sighed.
there won't be any summoning going on for awhile. Okay! Onto Chapter 13 
This next one will probably crack you up badly. Anyway, here's Chapter 14 
This chapter is very serious and very important. Pay close attention when you read. It explains everything with Andria.
