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Lily’s first birthday was uniquely chaotic.
It was a testament to Tifa’s never-ending faith in all of them, the extended Avalanche and Shinra families somehow holed up under the same roof. Seventh Heaven had that effect on people. Even the worst enemies struggled to keep it up in the face of Tifa’s glowing smile, especially once the liquor started flowing, and that’s how Reno found himself standing in the middle of it all, trying to balance his PHS against an assortment of brightly coloured gift bags at an angle that might just squeeze everyone in, while the party continued around him like a glittery tonberry-themed freight train.
They had Aunt Yuffie to blame for that one. Out of all the fluffy things people insisted on gifting them over the last twelve months, the small and unsettlingly adorable tonberry plush was Lily’s absolute favourite, squishy kitchen knife and all. It made sense really, given her genes. The poor kid was never going to be normal…
Now, Aunt Yuffie was dancing with Elena and Marlene, blissfully unaware of the fallout zone Tifa had carefully created around her, every glass, bottle and chair pushed to a safe distance where flailing arms couldn’t catch them, although as the music changed and a far-too-happy pop song kicked in, Reno realised Elena was about to give Yuffie a run for her money where the title of pint-sized disaster was concerned. The empty wine bottles were to blame. The term “house on fire” had never felt more apt…
Elena twirled Marlene around haphazardly, the little girl a giggling ballerina in sequined tulle, and Reno caught Tseng’s eye across the bar. He was a sore thumb in his black suit, clutching a tumbler of whisky like a talisman against the domestic bliss hanging over his head, his funny little grimace-smile wholly out of place and just a little scared.
Poor fucker, thought Reno, grinning back. He doesn’t stand a chance…
A crash behind had him spin on his heel, his PHS forgotten.
“Dang…” Cid was already on his hands and knees, trying to reach the bottle he’d knocked off the table. It hadn’t been empty, judging by the pool of beer that Rude was vainly trying to catch in his hands as it dripped into his lap, his green and black party hat hopelessly askew and a very rosy glow spreading beneath his shades.
“That was your fault,” Cid added, trying to punch Barret’s leg and missing.
Barret ignored him, struggling to pop the caps off another three beers and squinting at the bottle opener in his hand as though it had multiplied. “Can’t help it if you’re clumsy, old man…”
The screechy chorus of the song kicked in, and they lost Cid’s caustic reply beneath Yuffie’s enthusiastic singing. Shaking his head, Cloud ducked under her waving arms with a rag and a very resigned expression. Here we go again, it said, as Rude peered into his own empty bottle and tried to pour his handful of spilt beer into it.
He failed miserably. Trying not to laugh, Reno turned back to the task in hand.
Denzel had a disgustingly chunky textbook spread open on the table next to him, and was pointing something out to Reeve, who was watching Reno try to set up the photo. “Do you want me to take it? I don’t mind…”
“Nah, you’re good.” Reno tilted his head, considering the angle. “She’ll be upset if you’re not in it. Nice try, though.”
It’d have to do…
“Alright,” he said, letting go of his PHS. “Everybody up…”
One thing nobody prepared him for, as the assorted bodies shuffled into position, was just how much brighter she’d become. The squabbles continued around him as Elena bickered with Rude over who was going to be at the back, and a breathless Yuffie stepped on Nanaki’s tail, and Reno watched the detritus of his life so far drift together into one big and slightly terrifying family. They all faded into insignificance the second Tifa turned and smiled at him, her dark hair tumbling out of the fancy up-do she’d attempted and her party dress maybe a little snug this side of motherhood, one soft and very important bundle tucked in her arms. She readjusted, balancing Lily more securely on her hip and Reno caught a shock of wispy hair before those big, burgundy eyes latched onto him…
He'd never stood a fucking chance...
His heart was so full he could be sick. How had everything gone so perfectly wrong? He set the camera timer and then wormed his way into the centre of the mismatched group, sliding his hands around Tifa’s waist and dragging her closer. A bright white flash and then—
“Who’re you callin’ old man?” Cid shoved Barret, who nearly knocked Rufus off his feet. Around them, chaos resumed.
Feeling ridiculously happy, Reno kissed his wife on the cheek and confiscated their daughter from her arms.
Lily’s first birthday was a milestone for more than one reason. It was the first time since the wedding that their extended families had been in the same room and this time (thank the gods) there was no blood shed. A birthday miracle…
It was beyond late. Reno had finally pushed the stragglers through the door just after midnight, a very merry Cid and Barret joining Rude in a wobbly rendition of Happy Birthday as they meandered up the street to meet their taxi, and Tifa couldn’t help but feel they should’ve offered them a place to stay. Reno didn’t seem too worried though; they could look after themselves. It had been a long day, and she couldn’t deny that now the chaos was over, it was nice to have some peace and quiet…
She surveyed the sea of dirty glasses on the counter in front of her. She’d load them into the dishwasher, and then they’d go to bed…
“How the hell did they make so much mess?” Reno grumbled from the other side of the room.
He had a black rubbish sack clutched in one hand and a very unimpressed look on his face. Tifa suspected that when he offered to help, he was angling to talk her out of cleaning up and was hoping to whisk her off to bed instead. So far, his attempts at tidying had amounted to poking through the paper plates and streamers with a scowl on his face and she was about to reassure him that his near future involved snuggling up under the duvet with her when her PHS chirruped.
Dumping a handful of glassware in the dishwasher, she scanned the bar. It turned up under a half-eaten slice of tonberry cake, and Tifa had to brush sticky crumbs off it before she could read the message.
[CUTE!!!!!!]
Tifa grinned. Yuffie’s reply was to the photo Tifa dropped into the family chat earlier, and she scrolled back up to it, her heart unbelievably full. Barret’s eyes crinkled as he beamed out at her, and hers travelled from face to face, from Cloud’s crooked smile, to Reeve’s arm slung around Denzel’s shoulders, to Elena making a semi-rude gesture over Cid’s head. Wholly bizarre, and yet…
Reno grinned against her cheek, his dishevelled hair reflected in the tiny bundle in her arms. Husband-material, maybe not, but she wouldn’t change him for the world, and she could almost overlook the dark shadows under her eyes, and the way her dress clung to every lump and bump…
Almost…
“It’s a great photo…”
Tifa jumped. Reno hadn’t made a sound crossing the bar, and her heart was still racing when he wound his arms around her waist. Clearly, he’d given up on cleaning.
“I wish I’d worn the black dress,” she replied, tossing her PHS aside and leaning back against him. She almost did wear it, only his ‘kid at Christmas’ expression when she shuffled out of the bathroom in purple silk changed her mind.
His hands skimmed lower, fingers twisting her hem where it skimmed her thighs. “I like this one…”
“It doesn’t fit anymore.”
“Face it, babe.” He bumped his nose against her ear. “You’re a MILF.”
Tifa wriggled, trying to extricate herself from his grip but he just held on tighter. “Get away from me. I need to finish cleaning up.”
“Babe…?”
“What?”
“Say cheese—”
The camera flashed as a warm mouth collided with hers. This was the issue, she knew, as her arms slipped around Reno’s neck and they stumbled into the bar behind them. He was too distracting…
A clunk suggested Reno had dropped his PHS. He didn’t come up for air though, just kissed her harder, hands wandering over every insecurity until her heart was racing for an entirely different reason, and fine, maybe it was a little difficult to be self-conscious when every squirm had her pressed more firmly against the very obvious proof that he still had the hots for her…
“That’s not fair,” Tifa complained, struggling not to grin against his mouth.
“Who said anything about fair?”
The kids were all asleep. Maybe tidying up could wait until the morning…
His mouth found her ear. “What if we did it on purpose this time?”
“Hmm…?”
He leaned back, a positively wicked gleam in his blue eyes that set the butterflies in Tifa’s stomach fluttering. Tilting his head, his mouth curved into a smirk. “Lily’s not that bad.”
She hesitated, the gears in her head turning a little too slowly.
“I mean, she takes after you,” he added.
“She’s perfect,” Tifa said, her brain still catching up. “I don’t…”
Oh…
She considered the family photo, all the wayward dots somehow connected. How had everything gone so perfectly right?
“So... What if we did it on purpose?”
Reno's voice was heart-achingly hopeful. Tifa grinned, taking his hand.
They’d already done it once. How hard could it be to do it again…?