"What do you remember about your family, Denzel?"

Fourteen-year-old Denzel glanced up at his best friend, Marlene Wallace. She sat across from him at the table, staring intently at her orange juice. Her look of concentration made him smile.

"Nothing much," he replied honestly. "I know I must have had a family at some point or another, but this is my home now." He gestured at the walls around him. "Here, with Cloud and Tifa, and you."

Marlene smiled. "I don't live here," she reminded him.

"Practically."

She nodded softly. It seemed as though the conversation was already over.

"What about you?" Denzel wondered. Marlene glanced at him.

"What?"

"What do you remember about your family?"

"Nothing," she said quietly. "But I'm okay with that, too. Barrett is my father. He has been practically all my life. Why should I need to know who my real parents are when I have someone as wonderful as him?"

"You're lying," Denzel said practically.

Marlene's brown eyes stared back at him, filled with innocence. "Why would you think that?"

"We're not seven anymore. That doesn't work any longer."

The girl heaved a sigh. "I guess you're right," she admitted. "I do wonder, all the time, about my real parents. Who are they? Where are they? Why… why did they leave me?"

"Don't think about it," Denzel advised. "You're only worrying yourself. Your curiosity could get us into trouble again, like it did before."

"I believe that was your curiosity that got us into trouble. I went to save your sorry butt."

"It was the Geostigma talking. I can't be held accountable for anything."

"Oh, you're accountable, all right."

Denzel held in a laugh as his caretakers, Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart entered the room. "I don't like that look," Tifa remarked, eyeing Denzel warily. "What's on your mind?"

"Oh… nothing," he replied innocently, standing up from the table. He grabbed his empty breakfast plate and dumped the remains in the sink.

"Sure," Tifa replied, taking her seat. Her eyes wandered to Marlene. "Where's Barrett?" she asked casually.

"Home," the girl answered. "He has work later, which is why he dropped me off here this morning."

Tifa nodded. "We should open soon," she mused. "Cloud! Can you go unlock the door?"

The young man nodded curtly and crossed across the bar to unlock the door, promising to bring customers in a matter of minutes.

"Why don't you and Marlene head over to the park?" Tifa suggested to Denzel. The boy stood at the sink, washing his plate. He glanced over his shoulder and frowned.

"Tifa!" he complained. "We're not little kids anymore. We can't spend all our time doing nothing at the park."

Marlene jumped to her feet. "No way!" she replied. "The park is amazing." She jogged over and grabbed her friend's hand. "Let's go! It'll be great!"

"O…kay?" Denzel stumbled along after the younger girl and the two disappeared out the door.

Tifa threw a look to Cloud, who shrugged in response. "You know how kids are," he replied, watching as the door banged shut after the two.

* * * * *

"Marlene, what is up with you?" Denzel finally pulled away from the girl's grasp. "Why are you suddenly so hyper? Just a few minutes ago, you were spiraling into a self-induced depression."

"Maybe its hormones," she replied curtly. "Why do you care?"

"'Cause I'm me. Do I need another reason?"

Marlene glanced at the ground. "I'm thinking," she replied after a moment. "There has to be something that our families left behind. Somewhere. Maybe we can go back to the orphanage, and find out!"

"Marlene, you're dreaming," the teen replied. "Why can't you be satisfied with simply knowing that you have a family? Here. Now. Barrett. He's your family. Me. Cloud. Tifa. We're all your family. Why doesn't that make you happy?"

Marlene hung her head. "Back me up, Denzel," she said. "You're my best friend. I just want to know who they are. Nothing more." Denzel gave her a skeptical look. "Please," she begged. "I'll leave it alone as soon as I find out!"

The boy sighed and nodded slowly. "You're only getting names," he instructed. He could see her eyes light up. "Nothing more. We find out who they are and then we're going home. …Or to the park."

Marlene nodded eagerly. "Okay, whatever you say! Thank you!" She threw her arms around the older boy. "You're the greatest!"

Denzel chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Let's just get this over with, alright?" She nodded again.

"You'll never even remember we were there."