Chapter 1:
The noisy rattling sound coming from the old rotating fan hanging on the ceiling in the bar named Seventh Heaven was immune to the ears of Tifa Lockhart as she sat on the stool at the bar counter summarizing the profit made for the day. It had been a year since the Meteorfall incident. Tifa and her childhood friend, Cloud Strife, realized it's just too painful to return to Nibelheim, a place filled with shattered memories. They decided to stay in Edge a city built around of Midgar ruins. Starting fresh Tifa reopened her bar, Seventh Heaven and somehow she managed to get Cloud to move in with her though she knew he preferred to stay in the Church at the slum. Tifa couldn't but help feeling a little hurt about it, she understood how he felt about Aeris. It's the guilt. He couldn't let go of it, he couldn't forgive himself over her death. Somehow, Tifa knew Aeris never did blame Cloud on what happened. He doesn't need to be forgiven.
"Tifa, I am hungry." A small voice came from behind.
Tifa blinked, broken from her thought she looked down at the little girl now standing next to her. Marlene, age 6, with her arms clutching tightly around a brown Teddy bear sulked.
"I am so sorry dear, I guess I must have forgotten about the time.. Gosh it's 8 already!!" Tifa shot up from her stool and rushed into the kitchen with Marlene trotting behind.
10 minutes later
"Where is Denzel?" asked Tifa over the stove as Marlene took her sit at the dinning table.
"He is in the bathroom." The little girl answered, looking eagerly at the food thrown onto the hotplate.
A year ago, few months after the battle, Barrett decided to put Marlene under Tifa's care so he could go scouting for oil fuel. Knowingly Marlene, his adopted daughter will be in good hands, Barrett could fully concentrate on his work without having to worry about his little girl. In the day, Marlene got to help Tifa around in the bar like taking up orders and answering the phone. She missed her father dearly, though Barrett made effort in calling her everyday. Marlene felt lonely at times, she hardly sees Cloud around as he was always away on delivery while Tifa was too occupied with the bar and other matters. However, this changed ever since Denzel came into their life. Cloud brought Denzel home one day, he found the boy lying unconscious at the side of Fenrir, Cloud's massive new hyper bike. Apparently the boy suffered from a sickness name Geostigma, the star syndrome decease where to date there were no cure to it. Marlene immediately found herself growing found of the boy. She looked after him carefully when Tifa and Cloud were busy.
"Ask him to come down for dinner will ya?" asked Tifa as she worked hurriedly on the dinner for four.
"Okie… Tifa? Is Cloud coming home tonight?" The little girl asked as she eyed at the four empty plates set on the table by Tifa.
"I hope… he would join us for dinner tonight." The bar owner smiled halfheartedly at the girl.
"Oh!!!! That is why you are cooking so late huh?" Marlene teased as she ran out of the kitchen before Tifa could react to her statement.
Tifa made a face after the youngster, her smile disappearing as she looked down at her cooking.
"You promised you would be home tonight, Cloud…"
Marlene made her way up the stairs giggling before she skipped happily down the hallway and stopped in front of the bathroom.
"Denzel, dinner is ready!" She called out to him.
"Denzel?" Again, came no respond.
"Denzel! Are you okay?" Marlene knocked at the door several times before she gently turned the knob and pushed open the door.
"Denzel!!!" The little girl let out a frightful squeal when she saw the still form of her friend lying on the cold floor.
End of Chapter 1
Note: My first fiction, hope you guys like it. Do drop me a review ya?
