"Mum's it's almost Six Thirty, weren't you supposed to go pick up that ridiculous cake you spent a fortune on for the Twerps?"
Cloud wandered into the Lounge-room where Aerith was putting on her coat.
"I'm going to go do that now" she stated, pulling the sleeve over her arm "Cloud, don't call your brother's twerps, I know we are hard on you, but try and at least be nice to your Brothers."
"Sure, fine" Cloud said, "You better go."
"Yes" Aerith said, "Thank you Cloud, I appreciate your input. I'm going...Where is your Father?"
"Dunno" Cloud drawled "Somewhere."
He walked from the room and Aerith called out "Zack!"
She heard the clambering of footsteps and she saw the Twins come running down, identical smiles on their faces.
"You going to get our Cake Mum?" Roxas asked coyly.
Aerith looked into the deep cerulean eyes of her son and grinned rather sheepishly, "How did you know"?
"Because we looked through the fridge and didn't find anything, so it's pretty obvious that you and Dad got a special pre-ordered cake." Sora stated matter-of-factly "You can't hide surprises very well. Not to mention that this is weird anyway."
Aerith shook her head; there was no point in surprising the Twins.
She put her hands on her hips, "Do you know where your Father is"?
Sora shrugged and Roxas pointed to the glass doors that lead out the back. "He went out there a while ago, he hasn't come back in."
Aerith sighed, walked to the door and slid it open, she heard Clouds voice echo from in the kitchen, "Mum! It's almost Six Thirty; get your butt in gear!"
"Zack"! Aerith shouted into the night, "Hurry up, we need to go."
She heard footsteps over the grass and as Zack appeared she pulled his shirt, "We don't have all night; the Baker won't wait up for us."
She pulled him inside and she grabbed his jacket from the armrest of the armchair in the corner.
She bustled to the front door and said, "Cloud look after your brothers and boys keep out of mischief, we will be fifteen minutes, we love you, and we'll be back soon."
Zack raised his hand in farewell, "Cya Kids, don't worry, you'll have the best birthday cake ever." He shut the door behind him and moments after that, the car had rumbled to life and left the drive.
As the door clicked shut, Sora looked up:
"Woo-Hoo! Mum and Dad aren't here lets Parrttayyy!"
Roxas grunted from his slouch on the lounge "You're an idiot."
They heard Clouds voice from the kitchen. "You little terror's get up to any trouble I will make you stand out in the cold butt naked on the front lawn."
"You're still wounded from the time Dad made you do that!" Roxas called out "The threats sort of lose any bite when it's you making them Cloud."
"Shut up" Cloud shouted, "I can be just as terrifying as Dad, close your traps and for once, stop being pains."
Sora scowled and then fell back into the cushions and snatched the remote off his fair-haired twin. "Gimme that, I wanna see what's on."
Roxas grunted, "No! I hate your shows, leave it."
The Twins fought over the remote to the TV and Sora's fingers slipped on the button. The channel changed and Roxas shouted, "You idiot, look what you did!" the News came on and a newsflash was blaring.
The twins looked towards the TV slowly, still both holding the remote and they looked at the screen.
"Each precaution will be taken in catching the maniac"
A police officer was speaking and a picture of a crazed looking man flashed on the screen. Roxas frowned, "Isn't that crazy guy that shot those people"?
Sora looked at the face, "He shot that Vexen and that Hojo guy, he used to work with Dad remember."
They frowned and Cloud came in at all the commotion in the Lounge-Room, his eyes rested on the TV screen.
"That's that Xigbar guy," he stated, "He escaped from Prison, He's on the run?"
"An escaped prisoner?" Sora cried "For real?"
He shot a mischievous glare to his Twin, "The scary Xigbar guy is after you Roxas; he'll come and get you in your sleep."
"Stop it you clown." Cloud reprimanded, throwing a tea towel he had slung over his shoulder at Sora "This is serious, he's a dangerous killer. Wouldn't want to be the one to meet him in a dark alley. He looks creepy enough as it is already."
"He looks like a Pirate wearing that silly eye patch" Roxas observed, "He looks like an idiot."
The three Strife brothers watched the TV further and the reporter came back on.
"We advise people to lock their houses and stay off the streets tonight as police try and track him down. We remember him as the gruesome murderer of Doctor Vexen and Hojo four years ago."
"Boring!" Sora yawned, flicking the channel over "It's no fun, I bet the police have already caught him and they're just scaring everybody."
"That's serious Sora," Roxas said from the armchair, staring his brother down, "You have to remember that Grandpa and Dad used to work with that idiot. They were the ones to get him locked up; we had to be relocated after that. He's dangerous and all you say is boring?"
"Everything will be fine" Cloud to assure his Brothers "Xigbar doesn't know where we live, let alone who we are. He won't even know that we are Zack's children. Since we don't look like him or anything."
Roxas still looked a little unsure, but he didn't argue the point.
Sora chuckled "Your right Cloud, things like that only happen to other people. It won't happen to us."
Cloud picked up the tea towel he had thrown and slung it back over his shoulder. He didn't have time to be dallying around and talking to the Twins, they were perfectly fine watching TV by themselves. Zack and Aerith would be home soon and the brats could have their cake and go to bed. He had studies to finish if he wanted to get into that Uni Course he had applied for.
…
Zack parked outside the Baker's and pulled the handbrake up. The Car fell silent and Aerith opened the door looking out into the night, "I hope they kept our order open, I wouldn't be happy if they threw it out."
Zack opened his door and stepped out, "Don't worry honey, it'll be fine. I can clearly see that Roxas gets his paranoia from his Mother."
They closed their doors and joined on the path leading to the small building that was closing up for the night.
They pushed open the door and their Friend lifted her head and waved them in.
She owned the Bakery and was the one that had made the cake for the Twins.
"You have to promise that you won't open it" she smiled as Aerith took the large white box from the Counter. "It's a surprise for the whole family, so you have to see what it is together."
Aerith nodded, "Thanks so much Scarlet, the Twins will be so excited. They would also love to know that it was you who made their cake for them."
Scarlet beamed "It's my pleasure to anything to the best of my ability for you two and you beautiful family, I'm in your debt. Now go, go back to your Babies."
Aerith looked to Zack, her face bright and happy, "I think that's a good idea, come on."
Zack and Aerith left the Baker and Scarlet disappeared back out into the Oven Room to close up her shop.
Zack unlocked the Car, with the Cake balancing on one hand; Aerith opened the door and leant inside to put in on the seat. Zack leant in as well before he stepped back and began to pull himself out of the car.
Zack froze when he heard the distinct, familiar sound of a Gun being cocked back.
Aerith stepped back and gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth as her green eyes widened in fear.
Zack held up his hands and kept his cool.
Training in SOLDIER meant that you shouldn't show fear when facing your enemy. He was a Warrior and knew how to deal with situations like this.
He turned around, his face twisting into a smirk "Hello Mr. Xigbar Sniper, what a surprise to see you out and about. I thought your sentence was supposed-…" Zack counted off his fingers before snarking "You can't be let off your Life-Sentence. Clever cookie escaping from jail."
"Stop talking to me like a child Zackary Fair" Xigbar snarled, "I am not one of your boys, I'm here to get my revenge and kill you for putting me in jail."
"Bit rough" Zack smiled "Kill me? Because you killed two innocent Scientists? You deserved to go Xigbar and you want to kill me?"
"Of course" Xigbar smirked "It'll give me peace of mind, knowing that your family will suffer and cower in fear until I go for them."
Zack face hardened at the statement and Xigbar noticed this and he began to taunt the SOLDIER First Class.
"Which one shall I go for first?" he said out loud "What about your eldest? Mr. Cloud Strife? Would he put up a good fight against me, he is training to be an Elite after Daddy is he not?" he tapped his fingers against his chin "Or should I make it difficult and go after your precious Twins? Tie one up and make him watch his sibling die before he dies a painful death himself?"
Xigbar snapped back into action as Zack lurched forward and they began to fight. Zack punched Xigbar in the jaw and tried to kick the Gun's from his enemies' hands.
The scarred man jumped out, avoiding Zack's large black boots and Zack skidded back and noticed that Aerith was still standing there, fear written all over her face.
She stepped back again and Zack dashed forward to stop Xigbar from aiming his gun. As he shot the first bullet, Zack had managed to knock his hand up and the gun fired into the air.
Xigbar growled, "Now I have to try and kill you even quicker, somebody will call the Police."
Zack avoided the next attack before Xigbar went for an easier target. His eye swiveled to Aerith, she stepped back and she was getting ready to run.
That was before Xigbar saw the Baker in her shop with the phone pressed to her ear, watching the scene outside the shop.
"Aerith RUN!" Zack shouted, running forward "RUN! Get to the Boys!"
Aerith nodded and she began to run down the alley, Zack's eyes widened as he saw Xigbar withdraw another gun from his coat, he cocked it and with expert aim, there were two simultaneous gunshots that rang through the night air.
"NO!"
Zack crumpled to his knees, his hand clamped over a wound on the front of his shoulder. He watched with large eyes as Aerith received a wound to her back. It was fatal and she collapsed to the stones, blood spraying up before staining the ground.
Zack yelled out angrily into the night, "Xigbar! You BASTARD!"
The SOLDIER got to his feet, without his weapons or even a Gun and a serious injury to his arm, there wasn't much he could do except keep fighting the murderer.
Tears blinded him, he was being reckless.
Angeal would have told him to be still and analyse the situation, but…Zack couldn't. His Wife had just been killed in front of him.
The wails of sirens were heard in the distance and Xigbar walked over to Zack and kicked him back to his knees and pointing the gun to his head.
"You'll be joining her Zack; all three of your Boys will follow. I'm going to make their life a living hell. I'm going to make your family suffer."
He cocked the gun once again, Zack let a tear slide down his bloodstained face, there was a single gunshot, and that was the end of it.
Red and Blue lights flashed through the night and across the walls and alleys. Xigbar drew back his guns as the body of his enemy Zack Fair crumpled on the ground in front of him. The scarred murderer leant down to the now lifeless Zack and hissed, "Now it's your Boys turn Zack. You may have hidden them from me, no matter how long it takes me. I will make all three of them suffer."
With the agility of a cat, Xigbar jumped the walls and vanished into the night, disappearing like a breath into the air.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
"Where are they? They left ages ago and they still aren't back!"
Sora pulled the curtain aside and peeked out into the darkness before turning back to his brother and shaking his head, "They haven't pulled up Roxas."
The blonde twin frowned, heaved himself up from the comfort of the armchair, and joined his brother to peek out the window and see the empty driveway.
"Its seven 'o'clock" Roxas muttered, "It shouldn't have taken this long for them to drive to the Baker and back. Do you think something happened?"
"What happens if they were in a Car Accident?" Sora gasped "They could be trapped and we are here doing nothing!"
"They won't be in a car accident" Roxas scolded, "Everything's fine! They'll be back any minute now."
After two minutes, Sora left the lounge room and went to the stairs.
"Cloud!" he shouted, "Where's Mum and Dad?"
After a moment, Cloud came down the stairs checking his watch "That's weird" he muttered, "They should have come back ages ago."
He fished into his dark pants and pulled out his mobile, he flipped it open and pressed a couple of buttons before putting the phone to his ear.
"I'll ring Dad," he explained.
He heard the dial then there was a small click followed by an eerie silence.
"Hello?" Cloud said "Dad?"
He pulled the phone away, gazing at the screen before clicking the call button again. He was greeted by silence once again before he closed his phone.
He walked to the window and wrenched aside the curtain; he looked up and down the road before stepping back and looking to the twins.
"Cloud?" Sora asked timidly "Will everything be alright?"
The eldest Strife Brother nodded, "Of course, maybe something happened at the Baker? I wouldn't be too surprised if Dad dropped the cake or something and they have to get a new one."
Cloud smiled when he saw the small smile stretch across Sora's face, Roxas however frowned. The blonde twin turned away and went back to the window.
He pulled aside the curtains just as red and blue lights flashed in the driveway.
"No" Roxas whispered his eyes going wide with shock. He dropped the curtains and raced to the door, Cloud was right behind him.
Roxas pulled the front door open as the Police Officers got out of the car.
They walked up the path and the Officer looked to the three Boys that crowded the doorway. "Cloud Strife?"
"That's me" Cloud stepped forward and pushed the twins behind him "What happened Officer? Is something wrong?"
"It's concerning Zack and Aerith, your parents" the Officer said slowly.
Roxas' eyes began to water and Sora could only stand behind Cloud and wait for the next words.
"At the Baker, your parents were confronted by one Xigbar Sniper. Unfortunately, I'm sorry to say. But your parents have been killed."
There sharp inhalations from the Twins and Cloud felt his throat clog up and his chest constrict. "H-How did-…" he couldn't finish his question and the Police Officer shook his head "I don't know the full story behind it, but there seemed to be a struggle between Zack and Xigbar. After that… I'm sorry."
"No!"
Suddenly all eyes were put on Sora, the brunette spun around with tears glinting in his eyes. "Everything was going fine" he cried "They were going to come home and…we were going to finish our birthday… This only happens to other people!" he shouted before the tears streamed down his face.
"Sora" Cloud muttered, he bit his lip and looked to the Officer, "What now?" he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You are old enough to take ownership of your brothers Cloud" the Officer said, "Since it's so late at night and I understand what you are going through, I request all three of you come to the station tomorrow morning and we can sort things out."
The Officer bowed his head, walked back to his car, got in it, drove back down the drive, and left the three kids on the front porch.
Sora began to cry, his hands fisting and rubbing his eyes.
Cloud was stunned, he put his hands on his brother's shoulders but he couldn't give any comfort.
It was Roxas that got angry.
He stormed back into the house, tears blinding him. He could see the kitchen table, where an hour before, the whole family was there eating dinner. His parent's items strewn over the desks and tables in the lounge room.
They couldn't be dead.
Roxas slammed the door to the hall and ran all the way to his bedroom. His bed had yet to be made, but as he jumped on the mattress, he could feel the cool dampness from where his Father had thrown water on him that morning.
They couldn't be dead.
'Things like that only happen to other people. It won't happen to us.' Sora's voice echoed through Roxas' memories. When they had watched the News Report on Xigbar, 'Things like that only happen to other people.'
"No!" Roxas screamed into his mattress, flinging his arms out and willing for the dampness to remain, to assure himself that he still had his Mum and Dad.
"Why? WHY!"
Roxas let the angry tears roll down his face as he lifted his head to the darkness of his room. This wasn't going to be any comfort to him.
With the devastated sobs tearing at his chest, Roxas escaped the confines of his room and made the decision to run down to the end of the hall, pushing open the doors to his parents' bedroom. The blanket had been pulled back neatly.
It wasn't neat for long.
Roxas jumped onto the bed and snuggled under his parent's blanket. He grabbed Aerith's pillow and bunched his face into it, trying to comfort himself in the scents of his mother's shampoo and perfume.
Roxas was numb; it was about half an hour later that a shadow appeared in the front of the door. There were light footsteps over the carpet and Sora's voice whispered out. "Roxas?"
The mattress sunk a little under Sora's weight and the brunette twin jumped under the blanket and into Zack's pillows.
He snuggled up to Roxas; he didn't get answer from his blonde twin.
They were grieving, Roxas refused to talk.
Sora snuggled up to Roxas, the silence full of sadness and grief. They couldn't feel more alone than what they felt at that moment.
A long time after that, the door opened once again.
Cloud looked at his sleeping brothers, bundled up in the blankets hugging each other.
Cloud hesitated, he was going to leave them but something made him stop.
After a paused moment, Cloud gave up and approached the bed; he lifted the blanket around Sora and jumped into his parent's bed as well. He settled down into the mattress and looked up at the ceiling before starting to cry all over again.