[His voice from above startles her, and the small log she'd been holding slips out of her hands and drops into the fire when she jumps and whirls around, and when she looks up at him, her eyes go wide, like she's just been caught doing something that she shouldn't have been, and she looks like she might be trying to hide the firepit behind her... to no avail, of course.]

Oh—!

[Tifa's hands shoot up innocently... before she relaxes, her expression turning sheepish and shy.]

Hey. I was just... um...

[What is she even trying to do? She's been caught red-handed, and she looks to the dogs pointedly, feigning disappointment.]

... It was going to be a surprise.

[Idris barks happily back at her, and really... it's hard to stay mad at any of this, and she's biting back a laugh.]

Mm...

[He won't be able to hear her, but there's a little nod, and she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. That smile does things to her...]

I thought I'd try, but some dogs are a little too eager. [It's Aerona's turn to speak up this time as if to say "yeah, me!!!"] So...

[Tifa twirls back and forth on the balls of her feet before she opens her arms and gestures to the firepit and the little two-person log for them to sit on behind her.]

Surprise...!

[Her laugh echoes off the branches of the trees along with the barks—something that'll likely be heard for at least a block or two through the houses, and she bounces happily again, glad that the distance and the dimmer lighting of the fire helps to mask the deep flush in her cheeks.]

No, just bring yourself whenever you're ready. Got everything we need down here.

[And he'll see that when he comes down. There are several blankets, a cooler, a thermos, and some dishes wrapped in aluminum foil. Tifa Lockhart always comes prepared to surprise hubby!!!]

[....?]

What?

[She does so anyway, only she sidesteps rather than moves back to not trip over the firepit... and it's only then that she registers what he might be planning to do...



As he does it.]

You're not going to jump—!?

[She should have known...

And even if she would have had the time to try stopping him, when he straightens and she sees that grin, he'll find her biting down on her lip to stifle her own smile... while she reaches out to give him a gentle shove.]

Show-off...

[There's a wave of pride that washes over her, and she happily leans in where he's holding her close to look back to what she's managed to put together for them.]

I did. Had a little help from the dogs though. They gathered some firewood and there's more inside, so be sure to thank them too.

[Idris, Aerona, and Bri all bark up happily. Isn't dad proud of them??? PRAISE THEM!

But the rest? The metal grates around the fire? The food and the drinks that are sitting and waiting for them to enjoy? That was all her.]

... Do you like it?

I don't know...

[Well, yes. She does know. That's a lie.

She trots over to him, hands folded shyly behind her back and checks on the fire before she joins him on the log, purposely seating herself at the very end of it away from him.]

It's getting colder out and I... I wanted to do something nice for us. [Tifa glances at him through her lashes.] For you. Thought it might be fun to have something like this right in our backyard.

[She might be trying to tease him a little, but she's not even surprised he's managed to catch on, nor is she surprised when she wonders if he's playing the same game right back at her when he doesn't move to pull her close.

It's probably for the best anyway. Tifa's blushing like crazy when he brings up the campsite in the woods, and she doesn't miss the way his eyes move to the covered plates, the food that she's brought still a mystery.]

Could be. All we need now is a glowing spring in the back.

[Yeah, definitely for the best that they're sitting on opposite ends of the log, but it's with a knowing, suggestive grin that she leans over to grab one of the plates, giggling quietly at the way the dogs tip their heads, confused.]

I know it isn't much, but... I did have fun that night. And this way, it'll be easier for us and the dogs too. Won't have to go out far anymore to have a nice fire to cook over and... maybe curl up around on the cooler nights.

[Like tonight.

Peeling back the foil, she reveals several strips of uncooked bacon skewered onto sticks, and they smell sweet, like sugar and maple.]

... You hungry?

[They all start to move in, and Tifa waggles a finger at them, and then at Eustace.]

I came prepared for something for them too, don't worry. They gotta let us eat first.

[A couple of them whine, even the older ones who are laying on the grass nearby.

That isn't all though. She hands Eustace the plate and then reaches for another to reveal more skewers of assorted meats and vegetables for their dinner that they can cook over the fire, as well as a grate for them to grill them on. As always, she's prepared.]

They're all from the Harvest... freshly picked and cut.

[...

She pauses, and her brows shoot up with a sudden look of doubt. Here she goes barreling through all of this again that she hasn't even thought to stop and ask:]

Ah... You didn't have any plans for dinner... did you?

[THEY JUST GOT TREATS! For helping her collect firewood! They can wait a little longer.

If he had plans, she didn't want to ruin them!!! Tifa fixes him with a dubious look, and for a split second, her lips turn downward into a hint of a frown but seeing him smile at her like that puts her at ease. If he's happy with this, then she's happy...

With her free hand, she sets the metal grate on top and starts to line up the skewers of cubed meat and veggies over the fire, spreading them out evenly as she scoots just a little bit closer to him with a quiet but proud smile.]

... You're always surprising me. Just wanted to make sure. Thought it was about time I did something in return.

[There's a brief pause after she's finished laying them out, and she folds her hands on her lap.]

And as a thank you... for the other day.

[In the dream.]

[The fire crackles when it rises, burning a little brighter and warmer as his hand pushes back her hair and her eyes connect with his. Even now, as their dinner cooks over the flames and they're enveloped in this comforting heat, she still wants to give him so much more. This is just something small in comparison to the amount of appreciation and adoration she feels, and the overwhelming feeling of wanting to show him that... and give back to him what he's given her in as many ways as she can think of.

Her little moon charm glistens yellow and blue in the firelight, and she dips her head away with a laugh.]

I'm glad.

[Tifa's hand comes up to rest over his.]

I think... with the wedding coming up too, I figure things're gonna get pretty busy. I wanna take some time to spend it with you before then.

[In the next few weeks, she imagines it will really start to pick up.]

Maybe hear your thoughts about it? It's coming up soon. There's still a lot I haven't really figured out.

Hmm.

[Well, now that he's holding her like this, she almost doesn't want to talk anymore at all but rather, to lean over and kiss him until their food is ready... Tifa leans into it, pressing herself into the warmth of his body as her arms wrap around him in return.

Honestly? There's still a lot to think about and discuss, and it's going to be a stressful time for both of them in the days leading up to it, and she figured... why not spend a nice, calm night by the fire talking about it instead. They were going to need to do it at some point anyway.

So, as she watches the fire blaze and cook the food, she sorts through the many questions she's had on her mind for a while for a place to start.]

Have you thought about what you wanna wear?