Woot another chapter! I got another chapter to write for another story to do, but I am going to adhere to this one best I can. I can't find many TifaLoz stories out there...kind of disappointing. x.x But here is another chapter! Hope you all enjoy and thanks for the reviews! Until next chapter!


Chapter 2 : The Fears of Change

It had been a long afternoon so far. Tifa was in the kitchen putting a large pot of water on the stove. The stove knob clicked and burst into beautiful flames under the heavy pot and slowly began its process of heating the water within. There were four mouths to feed for lunch and she chose a rather simplistic item to cook that could be done in bulk and stored away. All she needed to begin that process was for the water to come to a hard boil. A smaller sauce pan was taken from a cupboard and set on the counter next to an unopened jar of red mariana sauce. A soft tune she hummed filled the air as she grabbed a frying pan and placed a loaf of bread in it for the moment, crossing over to the fridge to take out the margarine and in the spice rack, some garlic powder. Tifa knew Denzel and Marlene would be racing down here soon and complaining they were hungry. Hopefully she could have just about forty more minutes before they decided to that, in which time the lunch would be finished. Loz apparently was still showering. The sound of the water draining down the pipes was a hint that he still was in there and washing. A sense of nervousness began to wash over her now as she thought about her once-was enemy. In the moment she decided she would drag Loz into her bar and take care of him, she only thought of the horrid things others would do to him and the utterly despicable things Rufus would do to the man. She did not stop to think what kind of danger she might have put the children in, or what Cloud would think the moment he steps into the bar and sees one of the silver haired men living here. If the gang saw she was housing a criminal like Loz, they would surely persecute her as well. What Tifa would have to do is convince Loz to be civil, and try and appeal to her friends that he deserves a second chance. Apparently the Lifestream and all the souls there decided he should. Who were they to revoke the Lifestream's decision? Denzel and Marlene spoke to her about why she was keeping that guy here, and she explained that higher powers than themselves granted that man a clean slate to start with. The two of them acted unsure about what she did but they promised to be supportive and help Tifa take care of their guest. It seemed that once she got to that bridge, she'll decide how to cross it. For now, she had to worry about lunch, and laundry...

A soft knock disturbed Loz. Instinct told him it was Tifa and frantic eyes searched for clothes to put on. The discarded pants Tifa lent him were on the floor and damp from the steam in the room. Taking the towel, he wrapped it around his waist and tucked it in quickly. "Are you decent, Loz?" came her gentle voice. Looking at the towel around his waist, he figured this was about as decent as he could be without putting on dirty sweatpants over his freshly cleaned body. "Uh...yeah," he answered. The door swung open and Tifa walked in with a small basket. An assortment of clothing lie in a colorful pool in the basket, and the tan sweatpants he'd worn for the night were thrown into the array of laundry. To his relief, she seemed perfectly fine. Seeing he didn't have any clothes to change into, the basket was set on the toilet and she walked out, not saying a word. Loz stood there dumbfounded for a few moments before she came right back to him, this time holding his leather outfit in her arms. A relieved sigh escaped Loz' s lips as he accepted the clothing from her. Remembering what Tifa said earlier about nakedness, he waited until she left with the laundry and shut the door after her.


Barret could not believe Tifa locked the bar. It was afternoon and it was normally closed around this time, but she hardly locked it up. A massive hand pulled out a small set of keys from the vest's pocket and he inserted it into the keyhole. With a little manipulation on the old lock and a final, smooth turn, the door unlocked and he pushed it open, pulling the key from the lock. He mumbled a bit as he came in, "Damn door was locked...why's she lockin' doors all a sudden..." and shoved the keys into the pocket they belonged to. Seeing no one upfront he decided to let his presence be announced, only having come here to see one important person in his life.

"YO MARLENE! DADDY'S HOME!" came his booming voice. In a few short moments, tiny feet were heard rushing down the steps. Marlene wore a bright smile on her face as she came bounding across the bar and into Barret's awaiting arms. He lifted her easily onto his shoulders in a swing and smiled as she hugged his head affectionately. Tifa walked downstairs to see what the commotion was all about and froze when she saw Barret. The tall, bulk of a man stared at her, not ignoring the temporary moment of rigidness Tifa's body seemed to overcome. The basket of laundry was under her arm and he noted the pair of sweatpants on top of the pile. Those were Cloud's...Barret was hesitant to jump into any questions about that, and swallowed down the suspicion building in him. If Cloud was indeed here, he'd be coming down the staircase with Tifa to greet him. Not long after Tifa appeared, Denzel made his way down and happily greeted the giant man, standing next to Tifa.

"Yo, Tif! How's it goin'?" he asked her, and she said everything was fine. Marlene was set down on her feet next to Denzel, the kids looking at one another with nervous glances. They knew the consequences if Barret was to find out about their particular guest. The four sat down at a table talking,

"So when's Spikey comin' back?" Barret asked. Knowing Cloud quite well, the man would be back and downstairs joining them. The man was absent however, and yet a pair of his pants lay used in the laundry basket.

"Hopefully soon," Tifa said, but her voice seemed worried and detached from truly wishing him back. There was something she was hiding. Barret leaned back in the chair, folded his thick arms and with a small smirk decided to spearhead his curiosity.

"Ok then. Who ya hidin?" he asked directly. Shock flared in Tifa's eyes as she grasped for an answer. Shaking her head and deciding to deny she was harboring anyone in her bar, there was no other option but to lie. Lying felt dirty by her standards, especially to such a good friend.

"No one," she replied. Barret's eyes rolled as he shook his head and held his hand out, indicating to the basket that sat on the floor forgotten.

"Then why's Spikey's pants lyin' in the basket when he ain't around? I doubt you wore 'em, considering they ain't gonna fit on you," he concluded. Barret was sharp when he wanted to be, and all he was wanting to do was watch out for his friends. Cloud was blind when it came to acknowledging Tifa's affections that she had always shown openly. Tifa was young, but she wouldn't wait forever and waste her youth and Barret knew this. A struggle appeared in Tifa's features as she searched for some excuse.

"Well," she began...but never got to finished. The stairs creaked and groaned under the weight of an approaching guest. The sound of leather stretching with the movement joined the small sounds that were made. As Barret turned around to see who was approaching, his eyes flew open in shock. Standing on the last step was one of those silver haired remnants that had nearly decimated this town a second time. The two men locked eyes, both wearing the look of determination one usually sports before they lock themselves into a fight. Tifa had been around this too long to not notice the signs and as the men began to take long strides towards one another, the woman flew in between them, hands on either chest and barring them from engaging in combat. Loz looked at Tifa's hand on his chest then turned his glare toward her, wanting her to get out of his way. Barret held the same sentiments.

"Tifa, what the...You...Why tha hell is this fucker here?" Barret exploded. Loz blinked, not knowing what the word 'fucker' meant, but something inside him welled with fury at being addressed as such. If the damned woman had not taken his weapons away, he'd flatten this bulky man into the floor. Tifa stood her ground though and kept her hands on either man's chest, barring them from fighting. Brown eyes fixed themselves on Barret.

"The Lifestream rejected him...it gave him back to us. There must be a reason behind that and if you kill him, we won't know why. Shinra cannot know of his existence. And neither can Cloud!" she stated. The look of utter disbelief plastered Barret's face, his lips moving to say something but no voice coming out. Tifa told him about this guy and she fought him in the church. He'd hurt her, and kidnapped HIS Marlene. Leaving her in this place wasn't safe as long as he was here. As for her telling him he could not tell Cloud...

"The hell I ain't! He's got to know!"

"No! He doesn't!" she argued and her word was final. So far the man hadn't disobeyed when she got between them and kept them from fighting. He only stood there stoically, those mako eyes glaring at him every once in a while. Tifa felt it might be fine to let her arms down but felt if she did, the two would jump at one another's throats. They both were bigger than her and she had a stroke of luck when both halted their advances when she got between them.

"...God damn it, Tifa!"

"Barret! He has not done anything to hurt me or the children! And anywhere else, they would kill him!"

"Damn right they would! With good reason!"

Loz watched the two arguing and was once again seeing the ferocity Tifa possessed. Loz backed away from Tifa's hand, resigned to not attack or strike out at the angry man. While he still kept his guard up, and a steady, hardened glare on the man named Barret, he kept quiet. Barret backed away too, and waved the kids off.

"Go upstairs, Denzel. Take Marlene with you...us grown ups got some talkin' to do, ya hear?" The young boy nodded and took Marlene's hand, rushing upstairs and leaving the three alone. Tifa stayed between the two, acting as a guard. It was a few minutes before Barret could regain control of himself and talk to Tifa. Why she was safeguarding this criminal was beyond him.

"Ok, Tifa...Say the Lifestream decided ta send 'im back to us...why?" he theorized. Barret's voice was calmer though there was still remnants of resentment behind it. Tifa had her beliefs who did it and didn't know if Loz should hear it. For all she knew Loz could believe it had been Mother who sent him back not her friend, their friend. She would need to talk to Barrett alone about Loz's presence. Tifa turned to Loz and she approached him, his eyes on her at all times. He looked down at her with questioning orbs and she gingerly placed hands on his chest.

"Loz...can you let us talk privately for a bit? Please?" she asked him nicely. The remnant didn't look like he was going to budge from the spot, staring at Tifa incredulously. Part of him wanted to know why he was alive too and didn't want to miss out on this discussion. Yet she was asking nicely and with respect...eyes turned to Barret, a sort of silent warning. Tifa was his only hope to adapting to this life and help him fulfill Mother's wishes. He stalked off and headed to the upper rooms, leaving the two alone. Tifa sighed and turned to Barret. Both stared at one another a moment, with Tifa crossing her arms and looking off to the side.

"Barret. I believe Aerith sent him back...I don't have proof, but...I feel it. Who else in the Lifestream would have been that gracious?" She questioned. The fact he hadn't done anything harmful either was a plus. Without the influence of his brothers and that hardwired drive to find Jenova, he was a lost sould with no direction. Aerith and her had their...confrontations concerning Cloud, but she didn't wholly hate the woman.

"I dunno...but C'mon. He's dangerous. He'll hurt you. I don't want him 'round Marlene!" he protested. Tifa only shook her head. Why was she so bent on protecting him?

"Tif! Why are ya so determined to keep this guy 'round, huh?"

"...Barret. I think Aerith trusted to send him to me, to take care of...he's been...civil. He just needs some guidance, good influences. Which his brothers were not! And if I didn't take him in, others would kill him and the Shinra Company...let's not even think of the things they would do," she finished. Barret could see he wasn't getting anywhere with her and once Tifa made a decision, she would never change it. The stubbornness in her eyes confirmed that the more he argued, the more breath he wasted trying to change her mind. It was true if he landed in Shinra's hands, they would do bad things. A heavy sigh drifted out of the man's mouth as he finally gave up. If this was what she firmly believed in, he couldn't change her mind once it was already made.

"Fine! But you watch yourself 'round that man, ya hear? I won't tell Cloud anythin' then" he said. Tifa gave a soft nod. Tifa figured Loz had gone to his room and dubbed it probably the safest place for him. Barret made his way upstairs to Marlene's room and walked in. The two children were sitting on the sunlit floor, playing with their toys. Tifa followed timidly behind them.

"Listen all, why don't we go out an' get us a bite to eat?" he suggested. The children leapt at the idea and threw arms around Barret's body in thanks. Eyes swam to Tifa but a raised hand was her answer. Marlene hadn't seen Barret in a week and it would be a day for her and him to have together. Surely a slew of new toys, all varieties of candy and a jubilant smile would accompany the trio on their return. Besides...her particular guest couldn't be left alone. The three walked out the door, with Tifa seeing them off. The man paused outside the doorway, watching the new construction that was rebuilding the gaping crater in the middle of the street. Barret cast a gaze to the sky, silently wondering why Aerith would cast that man down and right here of all places. Turning back to his good friend, a smirk was aimed her way before he walked off with the kids in tow, hopping and jumping in excitement. The door was closed and locked...it only was her and Loz now.


Loz laid on his bed with his hands behind his head and gazing out the window. No matter how much his voice silently cried out to Mother, she didn't answer. All he could remember was how sweet and gentle her voice was before he found himself in that crater. The voice washed over him like a cool mist, and he felt the tremble of the voice in his body as it spoke to him. Those kind words she had for him, the freedom she granted him to live his own life and go in the direction he chose, not what anyone else dispositoned himself to. Yet being free...scared him. Searching for Mother gave him purpose, reason to live...a reason to fight for his life and endlessly stumble through the hard task. Without any direction, any purpose given to him...what was he to do? The soft rapping on the door pulled Loz from his thoughts as he sat up on the bed. The dark haired woman appeared and offered him a kind smile. He sorely hoped she could explain about that man he was about to go after.

"Barret...he is Marlene's father," she explained first. Loz tilted his head, not quite understanding.

"So you and this man...had that child?" he asked, his question void of any emotion, and desiring only to understand. A smile spread on Tifa's lips and she shook her head. A strange comfortability had overcome the woman and she no longer felt edgy around this man. This showed as she walked across the room and made a second mental note to come back in here and clean up the mess Loz created in his sleep. Remnants of glass and wood still remained strewn across the carpet and hardwood floor. It crunched into fine dust under her shoes as she walked over it and came to sit on the edge of Loz's bed.

" Marlene is not my child. Neither is Denzel...at least, I am not their natural mother. I take care of them of my own choice. Marlene cannot always be with Barret, so he trusts me to take care of her while he works," she explained. Loz nodded, seeing what she meant now. This little bit of knowledge combined with what he knew of her now. First and foremost, she was a strong woman who could stand her own in combat and that he admired a lot. Maybe they could play later on...if she was up to it. Secondly, Tifa had a lot of compassion. Taking in children and caring for them as she did, as if they were her own, was kind. Taking him in though, a known enemy in the beginning and caring for him as well, he saw both as foolish and kind. with no regard for her own life, she worked hard to help others and aid them in any way possible. Would those children end up on the streets, homeless, like he and his brothers saw a long time ago? What of them? Where were their families? Would families really cast out their children like garbage for being infected?

"...So you took those two in...what about the other children me and my brothers saw?" he asked. A grimace came across her features and his visage sunk some. Why couldn't Tifa take them all in?

"They are fine, most returned homes to their families... Look, Loz...he only got angry because of what you and your brothers did...and to be honest, I am still a little bent about losing to you," she said with a stern face that broke into a smile again. A smile spread across his lips as he gazed at her, remembering their fight. It was one of supreme grace and beauty really, and he had truly loved the fun. "but he is going to believe me. He won't say anything to Cloud," she finished. The mention of Cloud brought a dark aura around him. It would be inevitable to fight him. After all the trouble he and his brothers caused these people, Cloud would surely want to make sure they stayed in the Lifestream and never came back. Seeing the distress in Loz's face, Tifa decided to broach the subject.

"What's wrong, Loz?" she asked. Thoughts had gone back to Mother, and her gift of freedom bestowed upon him. Tears began to form in his eyes and he did not want this woman seeing a man like him crying. He pinched the bridge of his nose and placed the fingers where the tears were welling to prevent them from being seen.

" Mother...I heard her voice before I woke up in that street. She...she told me I had to live my own life. That...I shouldn't worry about her now. B-but...I don't know what that means, Tifa. Ever since me and my brothers came to existence...it was just that drive to find her. Nothing else," he explained. It was the first time Loz had openly told someone of the things eating him up inside and shared his worries with another. Even his own worries were kept from his brothers, who condescended him for being such a crybaby. He wiped his eyes with his large forearm, lousily blaming the non-existing dust for getting in his eyes. The Mother Loz talked about sounded nothing like Jenova who was a destructive and bloodthirsty being. The voice he must have heard had to have been Aerith, since Tifa could not imagine Jenova soothing Loz with such words. The man she fought was reduced to a man with no purpose in front of her. No guidance, no purpose, no place to go, no reason to even be alive and she pitied him. Maybe this was why Aerith sent him here...for her to give him purpose. Mediocre as it was, what could she give him? A job here? Being a bus boy? It would not be much and he would earn money for himself...I could teach him about having a job, about money and living his own way. A gentle hand reached over and cupped his chin, a thumb smoothing over his cheek in a caressing way. Loz's eyes turned to her, relaxing at her touch.

"Well then...Mother gave you a second chance, and you should not be careless with that. I'll help you for as long as you want me to, Loz...I'll give you a job here being a bus boy. It's a simple job, and you earn money for it. And extra money called tips from customers. I'll let you live here if you do that for me. Maybe what Mother wants for you...is for you to have a chance experiencing what a normal life is, instead of one full of weapons, battles and endless searching. This is her gift to you," she finished. It made Loz think hard about what situation he was in and a large hand came up to cradle the slender one against his cheek. A little laughter broke out as he gazed back at her. This woman was too kind to him, and he didn't think he could ever repay her. " Uh...thanks," he said. His hand took her own off his cheek as he got up and stretched. He grimaced as he stepped in the pile of glass and wood under his boots and turned around to face her.

"So...what is it exactly I have to do to do this...job?" he asked. Tifa stood and suddenly remembered that by now the water should be boiling. Barret took the children out and hoped he wasn't getting them anything to eat. Not after she planned to cook spaghetti for them all.

"Follow me," she said and walked out. Loz did as she told him and followed her downstairs. The woman walked into the kitchen and there he saw water boiling in a large pot on a stove, and other food items set out to be prepared. Not far was a large basin sink, with one side half full of dirtied dishes. Intrigued by this, he walked to her as she began to run water over the dirty dishes and washing away the excess food caked on them.

"You will pick up dirty dishes from customers after they leave. You put them in a large tub, and you wipe the table down so its clean. Then you carry the tub of dirty dishes back here to be washed. That's about it," she explained. To Loz, this did not seem so hard to complete...and she said he would get paid for this. Money he knew about and to have his own would make him self-sufficient. A large rag hanging on the faucet was soaked with the running water and a thick, pink liquid squirted onto the rag. Suds began to rise up and Tifa took a dirty plate and rinsed it off. The sudsy rag was rubbed over the plate and in seconds the blue plate was clean enough to see his reflection. After the soaps were washed, she placed it in a rack sitting on the counter for it to dry.

"Not so hard, right?" she said. The water was turned off and the rag hung up. A soft, dry towel soaked up the water on her hands as she went to tend to that pot of boiling water. Loz watched transfixed, as he were a mere elementary student. Thin, yellow sticks were tipped out of a large box and broke up. Tifa threw them into the water and they sunk to the bottom. Loz watched as she poured some oil and salts into the water and began stirring the concoction. Peering over her shoulder, he saw the hard yellow sticks began to soften and expand in the hot water. What was this she was making? Sensing the interest he emanated, Tifa stated it simply.

"It's called spaghetti. They are a kind of noodle, and its food to eat," was the answer to his silent question. A soft "ah" escaped him as he went to the table to sit down. Part of him feared this new life he was beginning to live. What was Tifa to him? Certainly not a sister. He never had friends before...but she acted as a mother, or what he read about what mothers were. Caring and kind, sympathetic and helpful. Ever since he fell face first into the dirt at her feet, she had saw to him and made sure he got the rest he deserved and needed. A gloved finger traced the same scratch in the wooden table as he stared, getting lost in his thoughts. Where were his brothers?