Chapter 15 - Telephone Calls

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He moaned softly as the light touched his eyes, shifting in his place in order to sit up and see what time it was but as he began to pull up he felt resistance. Raising a fine eyebrow Leon looked around, his gray-blue eyes looking from left to right, two arms hung loosely around his neck, they weren't scrawny but they were not muscle either, the word wiry would come to mind. As he moved a bit more he could feels the touch of the others skin against his. The skin that touched his was soft like rose petals and the color of tan. He looked the looked down from the arms towards his chest and there laid the source of his small dilemma, `Cloud' he thought surprisingly. `Last night' he began to reminisce still looking down at the smaller man below him, the light that had touched his eyes ghosted over the blonde youth hair which was causing it to glow brighter than the sun. He took his eyes off his hair to look down at Cloud's face, all he could think was that the man before him was breathtaking even in his sleep. His face was stress free, his lips parted slightly and his chest moving up and down faintly, it was already five fifteen in the morning, and he was late getting up, `I must have forgot about the alarm' he thought frowning but he always set it, `then what…' it dawned on him, he remembered he had stop setting it long ago, because Cloud always woke him up. A rare smile began to tug at his lips. `I guess I can sleep in today…' he leaned back down a bit propping himself up onto his elbow, which in turn caused Cloud's arms to slid down a bit.

``Leon just a few… more'' he groaned softly in his sleep, taking his arms away from Leon's neck and placing them around said mans waist then pulling himself closer to Leon. The blonde hair youth smiled softly, rubbing his cheek against the soft skin before him, thriving in the warmth and softness of Leon's chest. Cloud let out a soft sigh and Leon shuttered, feeling the warm breath that was so close to his skin. There was then a pleasant silence in the room. The only sound being Cloud's soft breathing and that of the birds that had just woken up as well, singing their songs of happiness and hopefulness for the day ahead of them. Leon took his eyes off Cloud and looked at the huge bay windows that were across the room and there set a small yellow bird, possibly a canary. It came up to the window, its eyes a color of ebony and its feathers as bright as the sun, ` kind of like Cloud's hair'. The small bird tuned its head to the side, gazing inside through the window, hopping a bit to the right while chirping. Leon watched it somewhat amazed at how bright it was and wondering why it was so curious about him, then he considered the other yellow being in the room.

``What never seen two guys sleeping together?'' he scoffed playfully still watching the bird, not soon after that a second bird came to sit on the window sill. This one slightly bigger and darker in color, a dirty brown with light tan highlights to be exact. It too chirped and looked in but this bird wasn't like the yellow one…This bird had a bit of an edge to it, looking in and chirping with a bit more of, dare he the say, a bark. He had his chest puffed out and his feathers ruffled, whist chirping loudly at the occupants in the house. Nevertheless they soon lost interest, well more like the brown one did not seeing Leon as a threat and flew off, yet the little yellow one stayed a while, still watching. It gave a soft coo cocking his head to the side but it to lost its initial interest and flew off in the general direction the brown one had flown off to. `Probably its mate' Leon thought off-handily while looking back down at Cloud, he then shifted somewhat to look over his shoulder, `Five twenty-four'. The small shift caused Cloud to groan yet again, he moved one of his legs this time slowly bringing it up a bit, tangling it in-between Leon's legs. It softly brushed up between the junction of Leon's legs, which in turn caused him to gasp softly and bite down on his lip, not even realizing he had a morning hard-on. The brunette sighed reaching down between his legs to push Cloud's knee down a little more. He then reached behind him, carefully unlacing the interlaced fingers that where around his waist, gently moving them to Cloud's side.

``Uh'' the blonde groaned again causing Leon to cease all movements. When Cloud settled back down he put the blondes hands down stepping out of the bed and grabbing a pillow to put in the younger mans arms. Leon then stepped back, making sure Cloud would be comfortable, then very quietly began to walk towards the bathroom, turning on the shower, taking off his pajama bottoms then stepping into the warm sprays.

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A couple of minutes after Leon got into the shower, bright crystalline baby blue eyes opened slowly while blond lashes fluttered up and down. Cloud stayed on his side, registering where he was and snuggling into the soft pillows allotted in his arms. He looked around the room and shot up quickly.

``Leon'' he asked out loud looking left then right, his hair moving as he did so. `Where…' just then he heard the sound of the shower. He sighed, relief coming over him. He brought his legs up and folded them in from of him and hugged the pillow tight to his chest as the memories of what happened last night came to his mind. `I told him I knew and that I liked him and he…accepted it…' he thought slowly taking his eyes from off the pillow in his arms, looking up and around to the bathroom door. He couldn't help the smile that came over his face, high cheek bones coming up and bright eyes got even brighter as he smiled at the door. Cloud got up and out of the bed off of Leon's side and made his way towards the hallway but was stop at the foot of the stairs was stopped when he heard a loud harsh groan coming from the bathroom followed by an obscene word. He raised an eyebrow at this but ignored it and made his way down the stairs.

He hurried into the living room walking by the couch when something caught his eye causing him to a hesitant stop. Cloud turned his head to the left slightly, looking at the couch in the living room. He then slowly walked over to the couch looking at what was lying on it. He reached a hand out softly touching the soft material but quickly snatched his hand back, as if he had touched something hot. Cloud looked at it a bit longer before picking up the soft quilt with the array of colors and Chocobo patterns on it. He looked at it sadly bringing it up to his face, delving into the softness and lightly sniffing it, `it will never lose that smell…' he thought sadly bringing it up towards his chest and hugging tightly. It always did and probably always will smell just like his father. That strong musky yet light and gentle smell. It reminded him of home, well, when his father was around. Cloud smiled towards the blanket `I guess you helped me again dad' he thought sadly walking over to his favorite spot in the whole house; the window seat Leon had set up for him, he proceeded to fold the blanket up setting it down on the cushion that lay there leaving a lingering hand upon it. He furrowed his eyebrows and then walked to the kitchen stopping in the door frame and sighed. He was a grownup now, a blanket shouldn't have to be the only thing he could lean on and take comfort in, besides now…now he had Leon. Cloud smiled, `and he has me' he looked back into the living room towards the window at the quilt and smiled, `but I'll still keep my blanket.' He thought happily walking all the way into the kitchen.

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Leon stepped out the shower, noticing the absence of a certain blonde man, he began to put on his clothes, already being able to smell the coffee and food. He could also faintly smell food being made he raised an eyebrow wondering what the blonde was cooking, he could defiantly smell bacon. Leon pulled the black leather pants up past his hips and buttoned them in the front. Grabbing a form fitting black tank top and slipping it on as he made his way down the stairs.

The brunette walked into the kitchen, leaning against the island in the middle of his expansive kitchen, watching Cloud move back and forth from the oven to the cabinets for seasonings. Leon still couldn't see what the blonde was making but whatever it was it smelled absolutely enticing. ``What are you making?'' Leon asked, his voice a bit deep and huskier than usual, probably from his earlier activities in the shower. Cloud turned his head slightly turning around with his hand on the handle of the pan.

``Good morning to you to Leon, I didn't even hear you come in.'' he exclaimed smiling at Leon.

``Good morning.'' Leon responded while smiling back at Cloud and taking in what the he was wearing, he was clad in an apron which read, `I may cook, look, and frack good but my personality's a dog!' he furrowed his eyebrows a bit remembering the gag gift Yuffie had gave him for Christmas last year. He sighed inwardly, `I'll have to buy him a better one' he thought looking back up at Cloud. ``I'm making some eggs with beacon bits in them, along side some beacon, French toast and hash browns.'' Cloud said, answering the earlier question Leon had asked and completely forgotten about.

``Hn'' the brunette grunted in response, Cloud turned back around and flipped the eggs turning the heat down a bit and checking on the toast. Leon walked over to his now full coffee machine and poured himself a cup. He watched Cloud take a plate from out of the above head cabinet and start placing the food on his plate. Leon watched him intently; he couldn't help but think the food looked as good as it smelled. When he was finished with placing all the items on the plate Cloud took it into the dinning room.

``Hey Leon, can you pour me some coffee and bring the cream and sugar in here for me please?'' he asked politely. Leon crinkled his nose in distaste, `Why ruin perfectly good coffee' he thought grabbing all that Cloud asked him and bringing said condiments into the dinning room. He was about to leave and do something when Cloud grabbed his wrist, ``Eat with me?'' he asked softly, Leon looked down at his wrist then up into the blondes eyes, nodding shortly and sitting down. He began to sip out of his own cup and watch the blond eat his food. Cloud would slowly take his fork place it in his eggs and bring it to his mouth, sucking on the fork to get all the food off and then do it again. He brought the bacon up to his lips letting his tongue test it before slowly placing into his mouth. Cloud accidentally spilt some syrup on his pants, he reached down with his index finger, sweeping it up and placing said finger in his mouth, letting it linger in there for a while making sure to suck all of the sweet nectar off. It was damn near erotic. Cloud saw the looks Leon was giving him and smiled, the brunette looked as if he was on the edge of drooling. He was still frozen in place with his coffee cup to his lips and his eyes seemed a bit hazy. ``Would you like some?''

Leon blinked, casting away the dirty thoughts. ``Some what?'' he asked, honestly confused about the blonde was offering him.

``Of my food.'' Cloud responded laughing softly at the confused look on Leon's face.

``Oh…well I not very hungry…''

``Then you'll just share it with me. Yeah?'' Cloud asked his eyes boring into Leon's, who in turn just shrugged.

``Whatever'' and Cloud laughed again, moving his chair to sit right next to Leon's and they both shared his breakfast, that he secretly made for the both of them.

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Leon read over the manuscripts and looked at the diagrams of different makes and models, Cloud was currently on his break and was downstairs with Yuffie in the small food area getting some coffee to bring back up to Leon. Though the brunette had insisted that he would get his own coffee or have his secretary get it for him, to which his secretary retorted

``You can get your own damn coffee''

The brunette sighed pulling at the short part of his hair that wouldn't fit into his pony tail and pushing at the thin reading glasses on the bridge of his nose. `I guess I'll have to be…patient' he groaned softly and huffed, straightening out the paper he was currently trying to read.

Suddenly the phone began to ring…

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``Soooo…Whatcha do yesterday?''

``Well I went to lunch with Laguna and Leon.'' Cloud answered oblivious to the females knowing smile.

``Leon seems reeeeaaallly relaxed today; you know less stressed…Whatcha guys do when you got home?''

``Well we talked for a long time and then I slept with him in his bed. I mean it was a bit embarrassing'' the blonde blushed slightly, ``but I mean I guess it was worth it. I think I made a really good connection with him.'' There was a moment of silence as Cloud and Yuffie walked down the corridors of the building. Then a burst of giggling that startled Cloud, catching him off guard, he turned his head and looked down at the ebony haired female and raised an eyebrow. ``What?''

``Oh, My, God!! You slept with Leon!'' Yuffie yelled as they entered, covering her mouth and looking around the room and then whispering, ``You slept with Leon!'' the room was filled with food and various items. Leon dared call this small room the company's faculty lunchroom. Cloud with his eyebrow raised posed a question, because he was thoroughly confused just now.

``Yeah, I slept with him. Why is that strange? Because the other day you said it was alright…'' he said questionably. Yuffie couldn't help the smile that grew on her face, waiting to ask for details. Anything to mess with Leon!

``No wonder he's been so upbeat, be that in his own way, today! I knew it!'' she yelled out again bringing a fist straight up in the air and bringing it down whist yelling ``Yes, yes, yes'' and Cloud just stood there and watched the energetic female a bit dazed about what had just conspired.

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He slammed the phone down, looking at it darkly

Leon kept in his office, now looking at the clock and wondering what was taking the two so long to get his coffee. He started to fidget a bit, his eyebrow twitching. He sighed heavily, ``frack this'' he muttered out loud. Putting the paper down and pushing his chair back away from his desk. He walked out the door of his office and out of the small waiting room before his office and into the hallways.

``Did you hear? Mr. Leonhart is sleeping with his office assistant?'' Came a hushed voice behind him from one of his employees.

``Guess we know what he's assassinating him with'' another female corresponded and they both began to snicker, Leon not having had any coffee since he left home, didn't really give a flying frack what they were talking about and being the nice guy he couldn't help but respond.

``Don't I pay you two to do work and not gossip'' he said tersely, turning the corner down the corridor and down the hall. He looked at his watch it was already about four in the evening and he hadn't had coffee for, what? `I left at 6:30 and it's 4:00 now that's a pretty long period of time without coffee' and he's be damned if he didn't get any right at the moment, but when he was about five feet away from the Company Lunchroom he heard Yuffie clearly say.

``I still can't believe he slept with you!'' at that Leon stopped right in his tracks. ``I bet he's a good lay huh?'' she asked a very befuddled Cloud.

``Well I guess so his bed is really soft…'' Cloud answered softly, feeling that he shouldn't have talked about this if it was such a big deal.

``Well how was it Cloud?'' Yuffie demanded standing right in front of the blonde with her eyes intensely on him, ``Details, details! I wanna know if what Irvine said was really true! Irvy told me that Squall has a big''

``That's enough Yuffie'' came a deep voice, Yuffie jerked forward, hunching down a bit. She turned her head to the side slowly and looked over her shoulder, her face broke into a nervous smile. Bringing a hand up and waving feebly at the man she called her boss.

``Hi Squall…'' she laughed nervously, ``how long have you been here?'' he raised an eyebrow his arms crossed over his chest, he looked thoroughly pissed.

``Long enough.'' He answered in a no bullshoot kind of way, glaring daggers at the small female. ``I ask you, my personal secretary to run downstairs to get me a cup of coffee and it takes you about twenty minutes to do so, and as you do you start rumors that aren't even true?''

``Well I…''

``Yes, I slept with Cloud but not in that sort of way, just in the same bed. What me and Cloud have is a mutual friendship and understanding, he is not my boyfriend just a friend.'' Leon said sternly, not in the mood for the females meddling. He then brushed passed Cloud and Yuffie walking over towards the coffee machine and proceeded to get himself a cup of coffee.

``Want something done right I have to do it my frackin self'' he muttered under his breath making his way out of the room and back up towards his office. Everyone stood still and the whole room was silent. Cloud had watched Leon the entire time, a deep frown now etched on his face, `What's wrong with Leon…I didn't upset him did I?' his eyes widen a look of sudden fear adorned his face.

``Leon!'' he called after him running out of the lunch room and in the direction Leon was headed. The brunette heard his name being called and recognized the voice, but at the moment he really didn't give a frack about that. `How could he. It's not like we get together very often and he had to go and frack it up.' He shook his head glaring daggering at anyone who even dared to breathe as they walked by him. He walked all the way up to his office and slammed the door behind him. ``Leon!'' the blonde called again also running into the office. ``Leon what's'' he reached out.

``Don't'' The brunette said, his shoulders hunching up, Leon stood still, breathing in slowly, as if to clam himself. Cloud remained still as well, not very sure of what Leon was don't-ing him for. The silence was horrible to Cloud's ears. He brought his hand up to his arms and ran it up and down nervously. Leon then shifted, letting his right leg come out more and putting his left hand on his hip. Leon gave off a frustrated sigh bringing his right hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. `This is complete and utter bullshoot' the brunette thought angrily, shaking his head a bit. Cloud stood and watched him with curiosity and worry, Leon had been fine when they left… `What could have made him so upset?' he thought confused, he reached out again, bringing his hand out.

``Leon?''

``I'm not in the mood Cloud'' The blonde youth frowned, letting his hand fall limply to his side.

``I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell everybody'' Leon groaned pinching harder.

``Yuffie has a big mouth and I really don't give a frack''

``Leon'' Cloud stressed.

``Fine, I really don't care about what people say. For all they know I could be fu…doing you or not. It's just simple stupid gossip made up and spread by even simpler and stupider people'' there was a slight pause in the conversation. Cloud's eyes widened and a bit of crimson came to color his cheeks. He knew what Leon meant by it, after all he did hang around Yuffie all day, so of course he would know by what that meant.

Cloud was taken out of his thoughts when Leon began to move, walking over towards his huge ominous desk, going behind it and sitting in his suede chair. As he came down he slumped in the chair, resting his arms heavily on the arm rests and letting his back slouch into the seat. Cloud looked at the brunette, extremely worried now, he was acting erratic and fidgety, looking left and right at all the things on his desk. But Cloud didn't let his gaze waver, he kept his baby blues focused on the man before and Leon, well it seemed that the brunette was…avoiding him. Cloud raised an eyebrow at the thought. Leon then pushed himself up in the chair, sitting properly now, he brought his elbows up and placed them on his knees, continuing to place his face into his hands, sighing deeply as he began to rub his face.

Cloud still being in the spot he was in when he came into the office, began to walk towards the desk slowly, taking a seat in one of the chairs that was in front of Leon's desk. He dragged his chair forward a bit and let his forearms rest on top of the desk, he crossed them and leaned forwards, letting his chin sit atop of them. ``Hey?'' he whispered softly trying to get the brunette's attention. Leon moved his hands from his face, running them up towards his hairline and then through his hair.

``Hn?''

``What's wrong?'' Cloud kept his voice soft, as to not upset Leon anymore than he already was. To which Leon knew, `he's babying me' the brunette thought frowning deeply as he looked into Cloud's eyes. He sighed Leon knew Cloud was babying him but he really didn't care if Cloud was because at the moment Leon ``Squall'' Leonhart was thoroughly pissed and aggravated. He sat back up straight in his chair and looked up at Cloud, responding to his question with one word.

``Laguna…'' Cloud raised an eyebrow, how could Leon be mad at his father he seemed nice enough. Then Cloud released something, he gasped, sitting straight up and on the edge of his seat with his hands covering his mouth.

``Is he all right?'' Cloud asked fearfully, looking at Leon with dread in his eyes. The brunette rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

``Yeah, he's fine. One could even say perfect.'' He said with a bit of malice in his voice, but he soon found himself frowning slightly more, remembering what Cloud had said about his father the other night.

After hearing that Leon's father was all right, Cloud sighed in relief, but then he realized he still didn't know what was bugging Leon.

``So umm, what exactly is the problem?'' Leon frowned a bit at that again running a hand through his hair.

``You know its November the twenty second'' Cloud nodded, ``and guess what it will be in two days.'' Cloud looked at Leon, his bright baby blue eyes looking at him in wonder and a hint of confusion. What did this have to do with Leon being upset?

``In twos days it will be the twenty fourth.''

``And that's?'' Cloud raised a fine brow, trying to think of what that was. It was his turn to frown. He looked down at his hands and sheepishly replied

`` That's…in two days?'' The brunette looked straight at the blonde, his eyes giving him you-have-to-be-kidding-me look. Cloud frowned even more as he looked up and saw the look Leon was giving him. He was not liking this little ploy on words, that somehow turned into a questionnaire. `Whys he still looking at me? I answered his question'

``…'' Leon kept his baffled look on Cloud and Cloud clenched his teeth and grabbed the material of his pants in a fist. He looked down again trying to ignore the look.

``…'' The office remained silent, now Cloud started to shift in his seat uncomfortably, he hated when Leon would just stare at him like that it was so…so…unnerving and dare he think annoying and it was down right rude!. `Didn't his mother teach him not to stare at people.' Cloud thought, he didn't want to but he let his eyes travel back up to Leon's and that look was still on his face, he sighed with frustration.

``…''

``…''

``…''

``Just tell me what it is!'' Cloud yelled a bit, getting fed up with the silent treatment. Leon yet again rolled his eyes and groaned, `How dense could a person be for God's sake!'

``Thanksgiving!'' Leon yelled exasperatedly Cloud's eyes widen as soon as the word left the brunettes mouth..

``Oh yeah…'' Cloud frowned he had forgotten, he'd have to write a letter to his mother saying why he couldn't or well didn't make it. Leon sighed, again pinching the bridge of his nose.

``Laguna called when you and Yuffie were allegedly getting my coffee. He told me that he did have a reason for visiting me but he had forgotten, because he was having so much fun'' The brunette responding, saying the last bit of information sarcastically. Cloud ignored that knowing Leon would say he did not particularly care for his father though he really does.

``What's the reason?'' The blonde youth asked, still confused on what the issue was.

``Laguna…'' Leon started yet again running a hand through his hair. ``He and my mom decided not to have thanksgiving together this year…'' Leon responded, his voice sounding like it always did…yet there was something else hidden in it. Cloud couldn't quiet put his finger on it but there defiantly was something, he frowned.

"I'm sorry..."

"..." Leon remained silent, looking over to a picture on his desk. He sighed softly, 'me too' and picked it up. Cloud kept frowning, trying to think of something to say in order to cheer the nomadic brunette up.

"Well" he dawdled, ``you can spend half of thanksgiving with your mom and the other half with you dad" Cloud suggested believing it was a reasonable idea.

"No that won't work...It wouldn't be the same for one and my dad is leaving and my moms going to visit her sister" Leon retorted softly. He picked up the picture and placing it on his lap, stroking it with his thumb. He then smiled, bringing the picture up and turning it towards the blonde, he deftly brought a finger up and pointed at a person in the picture, "This is my mom" he said, giving of a very smug smile. Cloud looked at the picture than back up to Leon also smiling, he moved to the edge of his seat to get a closer look. Cloud could see where Leon got his eyes from, a mixture of his moms and Laguna's eyes, he smiled and looked up at Leon.

"You look a lot like her in your eyes and nose." he commented to which Leon beamed at. It was another picture from when he graduated from college, but in this one he was standing in the middle of his parents still in his black and gold trimmed robe. His mom had his hat on her head and Laguna held the diploma. Both parents were smiling widely with their arms wrapped around Leon. Laguna's around his shoulders and Leon's mother was standing to his side with her arms wrapped around his one arm. It was a really nice picture and they all look so happy. Cloud let his smile grow wider.

"Yeah a lot of people say I look like both of them" he turned the picture around looking at it once more before placing it back in its proper spot.

"What's her name?"

"Raine...Her parents were a bunch of hippies, then again I guess she kind of was one too. She named me after an element as well." He chuckled lightly, "Squall" he said softly as he smirked at the thought of his name. Cloud crinkled his nose, `Does that make my parents "hippies"?' he thought, but before he could ask, Leon stood up and walked towards the door, "Best I make amendments with my secretary, or risk being poisoned or injured." And with that he walked out the room.


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It was hours since then and Leon and Cloud were just arriving back home. The day was uneventful and normal after the little lunchroom incident. They came home a little later that day at 7:23 because Leon had to fill out a couple of unexpected notices that needed his direct and immediate attention, or so said his secretary.

The brunette inserted his key into the hole, twisting it to the side, then bringing his other hand up to the knob, pushing forward slightly on it and opening the door. Leon sighed deeply as he walked in, he began to take off his jacket and shoes putting them into the closet, he was so exhausted; that all he wanted to do was shower and then go to sleep. With that thought the brunette turned around

"I'm in the shower." he said shortly and made his way up towards his bedroom. Cloud watched him go while he took off his attire and proceeded to close the closet door. He sighed, what to do what to do. `I'm not really all that tired. Maybe I'll read a book.' He walked over to his window seat, he now noticed that the moon was starting to show it's self again and the sun was sinking, he looked down at the current book he was engrossed in and proceeded to sit down and get comfortable. After sitting down Cloud began reaching his hand out forward to grab his quilt that sat folded in front of him. Cloud sat the book on the window sill and brought his legs up and crossed them in front of him, he then spread the quilt over himself and grab his book and began to read it. Cloud loved to read, he had a very inquisitive mind when it came to books. He personally liked to read classic and romantic novels. He had obtain the book he was currently reading from Leon's own library, he found it in a section with other books of its kind and he was enjoying it book very much. He loved how the author used words the words themselves.

`You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life that should be in a Roman you do want, or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze, and put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, to see the strange impatience of the heavens. But if you would consider the true cause why all these fires, who all these gliding ghosts, why birds and beasts, from quality and kind; why old men fool and children calculate; why all these things change from…' Cloud looked up from his book frowning slightly and looking to the living-room. He then brought his gaze to the top of the stairs, but all he heard was the shower, he sighed getting up from his spot and going further into the living-room.

The phone was ringing.

He walked over and stood for a while looking down at the cordless phone, it had stopped ringing by the time he got over to it and he didn't want to pick up the phone if the other line had hung-up, but no sadly it was still ringing. Which peeved Cloud a bit, he was trying to read for Christ's sake. He pushed the call button and brought the receiver to his ear. ``Hello?'' he asked softly and unsurely, not recognizing the number on the caller ID. To his surprise it was a very soft yet seemingly velvet females voice. Kind and dear to his ears.

``Hello, is this the Leonhart residence.''

``Yes it is''

``Oh thank goodness. May I speak to Cloud Strife?'' at this Cloud raised an eyebrow, he never got calls from anyone and he defiantly didn't know this woman, so why did she want to speak with him.

``Speaking'' there was a slight pause on the other line, he took the phone away from his ear and looked down at the small screen, it was still recording the time and didn't say the call was ended. ``Hello?''

``Cloud…Honey is that you?'' He was really confused now, who was this.

``May I ask who's speaking?'' There was no pause this time, but rather a very angry response.

``Cloud Alexander Strife! You do not know who this is!? I know I haven't spoken to you for months now, but how could you already forget my voice!?'' Cloud visibly paled his jaw slack and his face a look of true horror. Only one person in the entire world knew his middle name and could say it in a way that sent shivers down his spine.

``Mom?''

``Speaking'' now she was mocking him, he sighed, shaking his head, but he couldn't help the smile that came to his face. He went to sit on the couch, he knew it was going to be a long night.

``Hi mom, sorry about that you sound a bit different on the phone. Speaking of which I can't believe it. You Elena Strife with a telephone. Its unheard of.'' He laughed lightly, poking fun at his mother.

``Well, don't get me wrong Cloud, I do not like this thing. It was a hard commodity to come across. You know I had to catch a ride with Mrs. Donavan in order to get out to a store that sold these things. The young man who sold it to me was very nice. I'll have to send him a pie or something.'' Cloud sighed inwardly, only his mother would be so kind. ``And how come you haven't written to me? I h would be so kind. ``And how come you haven't written to me? I haven't received a letter from you in I don't know how long. What is the meaning of this young man?''

``Well I…''

``Don't you interrupt me while I am talking.'' Cloud closed his mouth, knowing not to talkback, there was another pause, Cloud again looked down at the screen of the phone. ``Well?''

``Well what?''

``Answer my question.''

``I was but you told me not to interrupt you''

``Don't sass me Cloud''

``But I wasn't''

``Cloud Alexander Strife! I am warning you.'' Cloud was about to roll his eyes but stopped, he knew that if his mother saw such an act of rebellion that he would be in some trouble. `Thank god it's over the phone'

``May I answer you now mom?''

``Now that's better honey, go ahead.''

``I've been pretty busy here, mom. I was going to right a letter to you today but I didn't have the time.''

``Oh I didn't realize that I've become such a burden, because writing a letter is such a hard task.''

``Mom'' he whined slightly bringing his hand up to starch his head.

``Oh Cloud I feel like I'm drifting away from you.''

``You're not, it's just hard to get a hold of you, but now you can talk to me anytime you want to because you have a phone. What's the number?''

``What number?''

``Your phone number?''

``…Oh dear'' Cloud couldn't help but smile, it was just so like his mother to not know such an important fact. ``Well honey, I don't know.''

``That's alright, I'll just take it off the caller ID''

``I'm not sure what that is but that's fine by me.''

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Leon was out of the shower and in his bedroom now. He was clad in some baggy gray sleeping pants and a gray tank top. He was drying his hair with the towel across his shoulders, but among hearing Cloud talking to, what he presumed himself, out loud made him want to go down stairs and investigate.

He made his way down the stairs and walked over to the couch. He walked around to Cloud's side and sat down by the blonde and raised an eyebrow. Cloud smiled at him and pointed to the phone while mouthing the words `my mom' to the brunette's unsaid question.

``Yeah mom, No I'm alright here. Honest.''

``Well let me tell you why I called hon, it's in regards to thanksgiving. When can I expect you down here?'' Cloud again forgot about this very important day, he looked over to Leon who was just sitting and drying his hair and then looked at his hands.

``Well, I'd come out for thanksgiving mom but I have to work.'' Leon looked over to Cloud and frowned, he knew for a fact that they were off for thanksgiving.

``We don't have work on thanksgiving weekend'' Leon interjected, looking straight in Cloud's eyes. Cloud put his hand on the button of the phone to cover up the sound of his voice.

``We don't…Well I still can't go, how will I get there in what two days?''

``You said your mom lives in Nibelhem?'' Cloud nodded, to which Leon smirked ``That's a day's drive from here. If we're lucky'' Cloud's face brighten a look of pure happiness came over him. He smiled at Leon brightly while taking his hand off the bottom of the phone.

``Mom, I'll be there tomorrow night.'' He looked over at Leon mouthing the words, `will you come with me' Leon hadn't expected to go with Cloud, but to just drop him off. He was ready to say no but the blonde looked at him hopefully, his eyes giving a pleading look, he couldn't help it. He sighed and nodded his head. Cloud smiled even more now ``Oh and mom can I bring a friend?''

``Sure honey, the more the merrier, just as long as you bring yourself.''

``Of course''

``Well I'll leave you now. Goodbye Cloud see you when you get here. I love you''

``Love you to mom, bye'' He brought the phone away from his ear and pressed the end button. ``This is going to be so cool. I'm going to go pack now'' before the brunette could put a word in Cloud was already up the stairs, He sighed deeply and rubbed his temples, looking up to the ceiling and asking out loud

``What have I gotten myself into?''



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Next time on Business and Pleasure….

Road Trip!! Cloud and Leon leave to go to Nibelhem to spend thanksgiving weekend with Cloud's mother!


Author Rants…

YES I KNOW I TOOK FOREVER TO UPDATE!! I am so SORRY!! School was a dog towards the end. But I AM NOW OFFICAILY A SENIOR!! *does a dance* and between that time I've been off I beat Kingdom Hearts II with a 100% completion in everything. I want to thank you all for the reviews! They always make me type faster for you guys. And on another note, if you read this story and don't have an account here, you can now review anonymously. I took the thing off. So there's no excuse (you know who u are). THANKS FOR READING AND YAY FOR SUMMER!!

Until Next Time

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