Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII

A/N: If Marlene seems ooc, don't flame! Please, I think I kept her well into character and I like how this turned out. I'm not much for angsty stuff, so don't hurt me!

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Oh dear, I thought. They were arguing again.

Well, mostly Tifa was the one arguing. Cloud didn't ever really say anything. I glanced at Denzel and noticed his face was scrunched up slightly and he was frowning.

I carefully removed the bandage on his head.

"Denzel?" I asked quietly. His eyes still looked up at the ceiling. I didn't see what was so interesting up there.

"All I wanted," He began. "... was a family."

I don't know why my eyes became watery. It was just a sentence. But then, I guess the meaning of it was true. Wasn't that all that we all ever wanted? Me, Tifa, Denzel.

I put a fresh rag on his forehead and we listened to the adults in the next room.

"Why can't you open up to me?" Tifa yelled exasperated. There was no answer.

"Why can't you see that you weren't the only one who lost her!" Again, silence followed. Tifa sighed and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You can't keep doing this Cloud! Not in front of the children!" Her voice broke slightly. "Don't you realize how much we need you!? Yet, you're isolating yourself from us! I just... I just don't get it!"

"I'm sorry." Cloud spoke, barely audible.

"Sorry! You're sorry! You can't just keep apologizing Cloud! Stop running, I know how you feel! My family was taken cruelly away from me too. Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, I lost them. And Aeris, she was killed so horribly as well; But, you can't keep blaming yourself for it!"

Tifa was sobbing hard now. Perhaps it was all the emotions bottled up. Sadness, regret, guilt, remorse, losses. All pouring out of her soul this very second.

Cloud felt exceedingly guilty for having Tifa in this condition. Another sin.

Maybe... he shouldn't burden them anymore with the blood n his hands.

"..." He couldn't find the words to say.

"Don't I-" She stopped herself, then continued. "Don't we mean anything to you? Don't you care for us?"

Cloud looked up at his childhood friend. Of course he cared for them. He cared for the children. But... That was the reason he couldn't get close. He was going to die soon. Why add fuel to the fire? He didn't want to get too close to Denzel, since he knew he had the stigma as well.

He stayed silent, and Tifa sniffed once and stood up from the bed.

"I'm putting the children to bed."

I jumped under the covers and pretended to be asleep when Tifa walked in. Just so she wouldn't find out Denzel and I had heard everything.

I heard her sniff and resisted my urge to cry. I didn't want Tifa to be sad. She was always there for us, and she shouldn't have to be sad.

She kissed my head. I opened my eyes, and hers widened.

Before she could say anything I grabbed my stuffed moogle that Papa gave me, and handed it to her.

"Mr. Ruffles always make me feel better." I told her. She looked a little surprised, then smiled really small. It made me happy to think Mr. Ruffles already had her feeling a little better.

"Thank you Marlene." She hugged him tightly, and pulled the covers higher 'til they it touched my chin, said goodnight, and went to tuck Denzel in his covers tightly too.

I woke up later when I heard someone walking down the stairs. It was very early, too early for anyone to be up.

Trying to be extra quiet, I slipped out of bed and walked down the hall to the top of the stairs, and saw Cloud leave through the front door with a bag, while putting his goggles out.

...Maybe Cloud had to make his deliveries early this morning.

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No flames please!