A/N: Alright! New chapter coming up! Enjoy my dear readers! :D

Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy (games, movie, OVA….etc.)


When I have nightmares


Denzel and Marlene tossed and turned in bed uneasily, Denzel was the first to wake up in a cold sweat.

The nightmares…they kept coming back…

Denzel clutched his pulsing head, trying to will the memories of his past away.

His parents were dead as were Marlene's, it was a fact they couldn't just ignore.

He quickly got up and went over to Marlene, gently shaking her shoulder to wake the poor girl from her horrible nightmare.

She suddenly lunged forward and Denzel hastily drew back when Marlene shouted," Mom!" in fright.

Denzel gripped both her shoulders, silently shaking his head to bring her back to reality. Her parents were dead, his parents were dead…they didn't-

She surprised him by asking worriedly, "What happened to Tifa?! Is she alright? Where is Cloud?!"

Denzel remained rooted to the spot, stunned, "Wait…M-Marlene…you were screaming for your mother weren't you?"

Again, she surprised him by shaking her head, "Denzel, I know who my parents were but I can't be sad all the time. Don't you feel that Cloud and Tifa act like parents to us?"

He clenched his fist, contradicting feelings brewing up inside of him at Marlene's words, "Yeah but…"

Marlene's fierce voice cut him off, "No buts Denzel! Tifa and Cloud risk their lives to protect us! Cloud is away on long deliveries and Tifa works late at the bar so they can give us food and new clothes! Tifa and Cloud read us bedtime stories whenever they can and Cloud takes you on a ride on Fenrir every once and a while, doesn't he?"

The young boy nodded, feeling suddenly ashamed for not thinking about his guardians.

Marlene smiled, her voice softening, "Can you sleep?"

He shook his head and commented, "You can't either,"

She shrugged her little shoulders.

There was a rushing of two pairs of footsteps and both children jumped when there was a knock on their door.

Marlene called out quietly, "It's open!"

Tifa and Cloud, in their PJ's, opened the door with kind concerned expressions on their faces.

Tifa, ever the composed one, spoke first, "Hey, we heard you screaming so we came here to see what was wrong." She rested her hands on her bent knees to be more at eye level with Denzel and Marlene.

Denzel could see Cloud holding his sword. In their concern, they must have thought they were getting attacked.

It warmed Denzel's broken heart to see them so worried over orphans such as them.

Both children ran over to their guardians and hugged them, Denzel mumbled into Tifa's stomach, "We had nightmares again..."

Tifa and Cloud shared a look before they kneeled down and picked them up to carry them over to their beds again.

Cloud rested his sword against the wall near the bed and placed Marlene gently in the middle of the bed, as did Tifa with Denzel.

Both children were confused until the adults laid down on either side of them so they were cuddled in the middle.

Cloud gently petted their heads and said in his calm soothing voice," If the nightmares come again we will scare them away, right Tifa?" there was a small smile on his face.

Tifa smiled and nodded, tightening her fist for show.

That made the kids smile and giggle. Cloud and Tifa's hands interlocked in the middle of the bed, stretching over their beloved children as they slept, protecting them from whatever nightmares they could be having for the rest of the night.

The following morning when Cloud and Tifa woke up first, Cloud stared at Marlene and Denzel before his eyes travelled over to Tifa.

" Did you have any nightmares?" his voice was just a whisper, not willing to disturb the still sleeping children and his face relaxed with a soft smile.

Tifa shook her head, smiling and asked in return, "Did you?" and Cloud sent her a heartwarming smile and a soft shake of his head.

It's short but I wanted it to be a little something centered on their strong bonds, especially when the kids get nightmares. As you see at the end, Cloud and Tifa also have their own demons to fight at night.