DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FF:VII OR ANY OF ITS BELOVED CHARACTERS

It was a calm day at first, Tifa was wiping down the bar, humming a song she'd heard Marlene singing a few days prior, and Cloud was sitting at one of the bar's many tables, lost in his thoughts, which were abnormally happy for once. It was already one o' clock and 7th Heaven had yet to receive any customers, which wasn't an uncommon occurrence on Mondays, and the children were at school. After two years without it, most of the children had no opposition to going back. It was better than sitting on the sidewalk doing nothing, especially to those who had spent so many days in bed due to the geostigma. Tifa started slightly when the phone rang, breaking the thick silence.

"7th Heaven, home of Strife's Delivery Service. Hmm?" Tifa's carefree tone quickly changed to a much more serious one as she shifted the phone from where it had been resting between her ear and shoulder to her hand, abandoning the rag on the bar's sleek surface. "This is her… I see… Is she okay? Oh, good. We'll head there right away. Thank you," she said hanging the phone up to find Cloud staring intently at her. Her quick change of mood had snapped Cloud out of his pleasant daydream and he was eager to find out who she was talking to and why they had called.

"So?" He questioned, making his way to the counter.

"That was Marlene's teacher. Apparently she fell off the slide during recess and hurt her arm. They don't think it's broke, but they're sending her to the hospital to make sure. I don't want to make her walk all the back here after all that, so I'd appreciate it if you'd came with," she replied, hopeful. Cloud shrugged.

"Not like there's anything else to do."

Looking up at the hospital gave Cloud an all too familiar feeling in his stomach, but he tried to ignore it as he followed Tifa through the sliding doors. Two steps in, the sterile smell of antiseptic hit his nose and caused him to stop in his tracks and pale considerably.

"Tifa," He whispered, barely audible as he grabbed her cape, almost making her trip. "I… I don't… I can't be here…"

Tifa immediately understood what he meant and hugged him in an attempt to calm him before telling him to wait outside, that they'd be out in twenty minutes tops. Cloud sighed in relief before shakily making his way back to Finrir. Fifteen minutes later Tifa came through the sliding doors with Marlene in tow and explained that her wrist had only been sprained and that she had to wear a splint on it until it's healed, to which Marlene replied, "It's no biggie" earning a smile from Cloud.

"And look, the doctor gave me candy!" Marlene cheered, waving two grape flavored dum-dums in Clouds face. "At first, the doctor only gave me one, but he gave me another after I asked if I could get one for Denzel."

"That was nice of you," Cloud stated as he started Finrir up.

By the time the trio arrived home, school had already let out and Denzel was inside working on his homework. His eyes shot to Marlene as soon as she walked through the door.

"Marlene, are you okay? I heard that you got hurt and had to leave early. I didn't believe at first, but I did when I couldn't find you after the bell rang." His eyes drifted to the wrapping around her arm. "It's not broken is it?"

Marlene simply shook her head in response before holding out a sucker for him to take.

"What's that for?"

"For you, silly. I convinced the doctor to give me two so that you could have one," she said, grinning.

"Really!? Thanks!"

"You're very welcome."

"If you didn't know better, you think they were actually siblings. I mean, technically they are, but I mean blood wise," Tifa whispered to Cloud after the children ran upstairs to play, abandoning their homework for later. Tifa didn't care as long as it got done before they went to bed.

A small smile formed on Cloud's face, but it quickly turned into a grimace due to the blinding light that quickly spread throughout the room. He couldn't help but close his eyes in an attempt to save his eyes from the tormenting light, but when he opened them…

Hahahahahaha! I love cliffhangers!

I'll work on typing up the next chapter soon, but until then...

CLOUD: REVIEW!