Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter. I apologize this one took so long, but as I was reading thorough my draft, I realized that it was alot of Starr and not too much about the FF7 characters, so I went back and wrote this one. Hope you enjoy.


Cloud had come home late from a delivery the night before. As usual, Tifa waited up for him, but he barely acknowledged her, giving her just a tiny nod before retreating to his room. If this bothered Tifa, she never let it show. She waited up a bit longer, busying herself with housework, secretly hoping he'd come back out. After an hour, she gave up and went to bed.

Cloud stood in his room, looking out his window into the darkened city. He felt alone. Sure he had Tifa, Denzel and Marlene, but lately he'd been having dreams about his mother. He missed her terribly. He sighed and looked up into another starless night.

"Figures," he muttered. He leaned against the window, avoiding his bed at all costs.

His dreams weren't nightmares. They were actually pleasant, but they left him feeling empty and hollow. He briefly wondered if these memories were his own or some lingering memories from Zack's borrowed subconscious, but he'd met Zack's parents in Gongaga. No, this was his mother.

"Cloud," she said quietly. "You don't look well. Are you eating enough?"

"I'm fine," he stated. "Tifa takes care of me."

"Lockhart?," she questioned. "You know what her father said, darling."

"She's my friend," he said, hint of teenage defiance coming through. His mother smiled at him.

Drops of cold water hit his face with a gentle patter. He'd fallen asleep against the window. It had begun to rain and large drops fell through the open part of the window. He wiped his face and latched the window shut.

"Cloud?," Tifa's questioning voice sounded from the other side of the door. "Is everything okay in there? I heard a noise."

"Everything's fine," he said, opening the door so she could see for herself. She was dressed in a white tank top and a loose pair of gray pajama pants. She'd obviously been trying to sleep before she'd come to check on him. She eyed his clothing skeptically.

"Are you leaving?," she asked.

"Not tonight."

She nodded, her lips pursed with a look of concern on her face.

"Fell asleep in your clothes again," she stated. He nodded, though he realized it wasn't a question. "Cloud, take tomorrow off. You need to rest."

"I have a lot to do tomorrow," he said, deciding by the look of disappointment on her face that he should let her win, at least a little. "I'll put of the deliveries to Costa del Sol. I have a few for Kalm. I'll be home after that."

She smiled slightly and nodded, seemingly satisfied with the small victory.

"Goodnight, Cloud," she whispered, yawning. She returned to her room. He watched after her for a moment before closing his door and stripping down to his shorts. He lowered himself onto his bed, wondering what his mother would think of his 'relationship' with Tifa. He drifted off to sleep, falling into the bittersweet illusion his mind created.

**~**

Tifa crawled into bed, still concerned about Cloud's actions. She'd heard him talking to himself, something she'd only heard him do as of late. She also noted that it was the third time that week he'd fallen asleep fully clothed. She rolled onto her side and stared at the rain outside her window. He'd most likely be gone already when she awoke, but she made up her mind to try to ask him about his weird behavior at some point the next day. With her mind made up, she finally fell asleep.