Title: Adoption
Fandom: Final Fantasy: Advent Children
Characters: Tifa, Cloud
Prompt: 099 - Writer's Choice
Word Count: 476
Date finished: 06/25/2008
Rating: G
Summary: Someone wants one of Tifa's orphans. And so it begins.
Author's Notes: Because I thought it would happen. Previous: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Square Enix and Sony Pictures as far as I know.

Adoption

The fallout from the trial (if it could be called that) was that people became more aware of the number of children Tifa cared for. She didn't mind; it worked out, since people began leaving tips with little notes: "for the kids" or something like that. And it all helped. Even Cloud benefited, although maybe that wasn't the right word; he got more jobs, but it meant he was gone more. Still, the money he brought in helped a lot.

The knock came from the back door this time, when the children were out, most of them at school, a couple still too young and out playing together. Tifa opened it to find the shopkeeper from down the street, shifting back and forth on his feet. "Hi," she said with a smile. "Can I help you with something?"

"I'd like to talk to you about adopting Vella," he said.

Tifa's eyebrows went up, but she stepped back. "Come in," she said, and lead the way back into the bar. Seventh Heaven hadn't opened for business yet, but she'd set it up early, ready for customers. "You want to adopt Vella?" she repeated, once he'd sat at the bar. She started to move around to the other side and thought better of it, taking a seat by his.

One point in his favor: she'd never seen him in Seventh Heaven.

He nodded. "My wife has wanted kids for a long time," he explained. "Vella comes into the store every day, and she and Pati have become fairly good friends. We realize," he added, "that it is up to Vella, but we'd like a… chance to see if it could work."

Tifa smiled. "I'll talk to Vella this afternoon, then, and see what she thinks."

He stood. "Thank you. I know you're busy, so I'll leave you to it." He let himself out, and Tifa sat there, staring at the stool he'd sat on, wondering if things could get any weirder.

"They want… to adopt me?" Vella asked.

Tifa nodded. "Yes."

"But… that would mean I'd have to leave here."

"Yes," Tifa said. "But that doesn't mean you wouldn't have your friends. You'd see them at school, and you wouldn't live that far from here. You don't have to decide right now," she added at the girl's conflicted look. "I want you to think about it."

"I like them," Vella said slowly.

"I like them, too," Tifa said, and left the girl thinking.

Cloud stood with Tifa when the shopkeeper and his wife came to pick up Vella. She leaned against him, smiling bravely, and waved at the little girl, who seemed a little nervous. Vella waved back, and then they were gone.

Tifa sighed and leaned against him. "There goes the first," she murmured. Cloud hugged her tightly, and she let the tears fall into his shoulder.

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