Monster

AN: I own nothing in this story. This is for fire mystic so enjoy. Please R&R.

The shadow moved down the stairs at a wobbly gait. Shuffling across the kitchen floor, it reached out blindly, finding something to sate it's unconscious hunger...

Reno was shaken by a pair of tiny hands. Eyes opening slowly, he saw his four year old daughter with a frightened expression on her face. She reached out her arms and Reno picked her up, placing her beside him.

"What's wrong Elly?" She looked at him with her mother's wide brown eyes and trembled a little, clutching her stuffed moogle Kenshin close to her tiny frame.

"Monster gonna eat me," Elly whispered. Reno shook his head and kissed her on the forehead.

"Nothings gonna hurt you, I promise." Elly looked up at her father then with watery eyes and held up a pinky to him.

"Swears?" Reno smiled and nodded his head before wrapping his pinky around hers.

"Swears," Reno replied.

A loud noise came from the kitchen and Elly shivered. Reno was about to check on the noise when Elly held onto him tighter than before.

"Monster..." Reno looked down at his daughter as she whispered this. Getting up, he held her close and exited the room.

"Let's have a look at this monster," Reno whispered.

As they walked down the stairs, Elly's heart beat faster and faster and she could hear the monster gulping down something.

Gulp...Gulp...Gulp...

It was dark when they entered the kitchen and saw a shadow putting something to it's lips, munching lazily. Elly's body stiffened but she clung to her father, drawing strength from his familiar warmth.

Going over, Reno turned on the light...


Two pairs of eyes went wide.

Long black hair cascaded down a back draped in one of Reno's T shirts while the woman's bottom half was covered in a pair of checkered pajama bottoms. Cookie crumbs were on her lips and there were droplets of milk on her chin and shirt.

"Mommy..." But Tifa didn't respond. Reno came around to her front and saw the content expression on her face.

"She's asleep," Reno observed. Tifa's eyes fluttered then and she started to fall to the floor, her feet failing her. Luckily Reno caught her and looked at Elly.

"Beddy time," Elly whispered. Reno nodded and took his family back to bed.


Sunlight speared through the heavens and shone brightly on Tifa's eyelids. Giving a moan combined with a grumble, the barmaid tossed around a little before opening her eyes.

She saw her daughter then, nestled in-between her husband and herself. Elly gave her a big smile and hugged her around the middle.

"Morning Mommy," Elly whispered. Tifa returned the smile and opened her mouth to reply.

URP!

Elly's eyes widened at her mother's belch but soon she donned an impish grin on her face and giggled.

"Silly Mommy..." Tifa's face turned as red as her husband's hair. But Elly just hugged her again and gave her a big kiss on her cheek.

"Did you have a nightmare last night?" Tifa asked.

"Monster ate cookies," Elly whispered. And Elly giggled again. Raising an eyebrow at her daughter's odd behavior, she decided to ignore it and wrapped her in a gentle embrace.

"Is your Daddy up?" Elly shook her head.

"Sleepyhead," she replied in the most serious tone she could. Tifa's eyes gleamed then and she grinned at Elly.

"Let's tickle him awake then, 'kay?"

And the next sounds that were heard consisted of Reno's surprised laughter mixed with shrieks, Tifa's joyous laughter, and Elly's giggles as mother and daughter surprised him with their tickle attack.