Oh gosh, I haven't updated this story in sooo long! So I'm going to pick it up again, and for my readers, thank you for waiting even through my procrastination for a month or two! ^^; And I'm so sorry it's short! D'X ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~XChapter:7X~

It was still a drizzly day, a new day, but looked that same as yesterday. Cloud was laying in bed, a cold rag over his forehead, a thermometer hanging loosely from his mouth, and Choco loosely in his arms. He had gotten sick when he ran away. Zack was almost constantly watching him now. The thermometer beeped rapidly. He checked the reading.

"102.2, that's a really high fever." Zack sighed.

"I'm sorry..." Cloud muttered from under his covers.

"It's not your fault your sick. You just rest up." Zack said turning the ceiling fan on. Cloud allowed himself to drift off to sleep. Zack began to watch T.V in the living room, so he could let Cloud sleep.

"Nothing but infomericals!" Zack growled turning the television off.

soft thunder rumbled in the distance. It's going to be raining hard today. He told himself. The rain began to slightly pick up. No doubt the storm will frighten Cloud. He decided to check on him. Cloud was trying to inch his way out of bed.

"No you don't!" Zack said stopping him. "Your sick, and your leg is still broken. Don't you DARE get up again!" He reprimanded.

"But, I'm scared." He sickly groaned.

Zack picked him up and gently set him on his own bed. He sat down.

"Scared now?" He asked, ruffling Cloud's hair. He nodded yes.

Zack chucked and sat Cloud in his lap. He gently cradled him. The thunder screamed outside. The winds were wailing. The lightning was flaring. Cloud shreiked and cried. Zack tightly carresed him.

"It's just a little storm. Don't be scared." He soothed.

Cloud whirled around and buried his face into Zack's shirt. He gently stroked his head.

"It's okay. It'll be over before you know it." He said sweetly.

Cloud looked up at him. His blue eyes filled with tears and sick. Zack caught a tear that coursed down Cloud's cheek.

"Hey, Don't cry." He said.

Cloud sniffled.

"Come on. Can you be brave for me?" He asked, cocking his head to the right slightly.

Cloud nodded and put on a serious face. Thunder boomed again. He shreiked and his his face again.

"Whe'll try again some othertime then." Zack chuckled.

Soon, the storm died down and Cloud had ended up falling into a tranquil sleep from the pitter of a light shower against the window. Zack to fell asleep, with Cloud resting on his stomach.
~[X]~

"Yaaaay!" Cloud exclaimed when his cast finally came off.

He hopped up, jumped up and down, and ran circles around Zack. The nurses giggled.

"Woah, calm down there." Zack said swooping him up into his arms. Cloud giggled.

"I'm really happy!" He exclaimed, smiling brightly.

It was nice to see Cloud smile again. He hadn't smiled since the first day he brought Cloud home. Little grins, but never a bright, happy smile.

"You ready to go home?" He asked.

Cloud nodded his head quickly. He set Cloud down outside to let him run around. Zack thought he'd do some training. He quickly dashed inside and grabbed his sword. He went out to the backyard of his apartment. The room below him had been vacant for years. So he never disturbed any downstairs neighbors.

Cloud found him slicing away at little targets. He sat in the grass and watched in awe. Zack smiled, and when he turned around, there was Cloud, watching him and the way he trained. He jumped up and dashed over when Zack had stopped.

"I wanna try!" He exclaimed.

"It's too heavy for you Cloud." Zack chuckled. He pouted.

"But Daddy!" He whined. Zack sighed.

"Alright."

He held up the blade part and let Cloud firmly grip the hilt.

"Ready?" Zack asked.

"Yeah!" Cloud exclaimed.

He let go, and the blade went straight down, almost immediatly.

"I can do this!" Cloud exclaimed trying to lift it up.

Zack helped and picked up the blade part again. Once again he let it go, and it quickly swung down. He grunted trying to lift it up.

"C'mon Cloud. You can't lift it." Zack chuckled.

"I'll get it!" Cloud strained to say.

"Alright, that's enough, your going to hurt yourself." Zack said easily taking the sword.

Cloud's hands were red and irritated, his knuckled were white from gripping the hilt so hard.

"Come on, let's get some lunch." Zack said holding Cloud's hand as they went inside.