And the story goes on!

----------

"It's nice of you to wake me up so early," Tifa said sarcastically.

"Sorry, m'am," Barret replied. "Mr. Shinra's orders."

"Shinra this! Shrinra that! I'm sick of that old man!"

Barret nearly peed himself laughing. They turned a corner down the hall and stood at another double door. Barret rapped on the door and a little girl's voice came through, beckoning them to come in.

"The lady speaks," Barret said.

The room was larger than Tifa's, much to her dismay.

"This is Cloud's room," Tifa mumbled. "It seems strange to make a fashion diva stay in a smaller room the host...even if I'm not a guest..."

"No, this is Marlene's room," Barret corrected. "Cloud's room is twice a large."

Tifa stared at Barret incredulously and stepped forward.

"This isn't a room," Tifa declared. "This is a freaking apartment! This is too much for a girl in the seventh grade."

"Not this girl," Barret replied.

They walked through a small living room and ended up in... A dining room?

"The kid has a dining room?"

Cloud and Marlene ate breakfast at the table. As soon as Marlene heard the word 'kid', she looked Tifa and scowled. Barret leaned close to Tifa.

"Don't call her a kid," Barret whispered. "Her mother told her that a kid was actually a billy goat, and now it makes her mad when you call her that!"

"The child has a dining room..." Tifa quickly said.

Marlene stopped scowling and smiled. Tifa breathed heavily in belief. Barret stole away from the room, leaving all three of them alone.

"Sit down and eat," Cloud commanded.

Tifa pulled up a chair and joined them. Marlene offered Tifa the oatmeal, and she took the ladle.

"So," Tifa began, "why am I here? Is something wrong?"

No one answered her at the table. Cloud simply took a sip of his coffee, while Marlene stared at Tifa with avid interest. Confused, Tifa spooned oatmeal into a bowl and reached for the nearby cream.

"Marlene," Cloud scolded. "It's not polite to stare at people."

Marlene ignored Cloud and continued her fixed gaze on Tifa.

"Hi," she said cheerfully. "What's your name?"

"Uh...Tifa Lockhart..."

"Tifa Lockhart!" Marlene screamed. "You mean the model!"

Tifa nodded her head nervously. Marlene quickly got out of her seat and dashed off to her room.

"I have I picture of you from a magazine," the girl shouted. "I'll get it so you can sign it."

Marlene poked her head into the room and scowled at Cloud.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me, Cloud! I'm wearing pajamas! My hair's messy! I look awful! You're mean, Cloud!"

And Marlene was gone. Cloud put his hand over his face in embarrassment.

"Sorry," Cloud said. "She must have stolen a sip of my coffee when I went to the bathroom. She has a problem with caffeine...but it still won't stop her..."

"What am I hear for?" Tifa interrupted.

"Don't be so impatient," Cloud replied. "Enjoy breakfast. If I know Marlene well enough, she's trying to dress herself up for you now. You'll get a moment's peace."

"Am I here for nothing? If so, I'm leaving."

"No, you're needed. But first...enjoy breakfast."

"My job here is not to compliment the chef!" Tifa retorted.

"Yeash," said Cloud. "No wonder you look so tense in your pictures..."

"My side job has nothing to do with now," Tifa shot back. "And I don't look tense."

Cloud took a long swig of his coffee. Tifa heaved spoonfuls of oatmeal in her mouth.

"Yes you do," Cloud replied.

"Are you trying to piss me off again?" Tifa asked.

"No, I'm trying to understand you."

"My life is none of your business!"

"If we're going to live under the same roof, we might as well get to know each other," Cloud replied.

"What do you know, Mister Club Owner!" Tifa shouted.

"Actually, the club owner thing is a side job," Cloud said. "I'm really a dance instructor. That's how I can tell that you are tense in the picture."

Tifa sighed in defeat. This man was uniquely different from any other.

"If you still don't agree with me," Cloud continued, "I'll prove it to you tonight."

"Whatever, I'm beyond the point of protest."

"Good," Cloud said. "Then it's time to discuss why you're here."

Tifa nearly fell out of her chair crying.

----------

"What we doing in the storage again?" Yuffie asked. "And why we moving out boxes!"

Tifa handed a box to Reno, and he walked out of the room to the second storage room.

"We have to clear out the basement for Mr. Strife's dance class," Tifa replied. "He's not allowed to be out of the house after 8 pm, and the class ends at nine."

Tifa managed get a hold of a heavy box and dragged it outside of the room. She took a quick glance at her watch.

"I'll be right back, Yuffie," Tifa said. "I'm going to check on Cloud."

Vincent walked past Tifa as she left. He entered the storage room saw that Yuffie was alone.

"So," he said slyly. "The little girl is all by her self."

"Shut up, Vinnie," Yuffie growled.

Yuffie set up a tall ladder and climbed up to get another box.

"I hate it when you treat me like a kid," Yuffe said.

"That's because you act like a kid," Vincent replied.

Yuffie wanted to insult him back, but she kept her mouth shut. She threw a small box down for Vincent to catch.

"Maybe I do act like a kid," Yuffie whispered.

"I was only joking," Vincent said nervously.

"It doesn't matter...I'm overly hyper...I get mad easily...I stick my tongue out to people hate...and I'm not graceful. I can't really complain..."

Yuffie began to step down from the ladder. Vincent walked forward and kicked the bottom of the ladder, causing it to tip forward. Yuffie lost her balance and fell into Vincent's arms bridal style!

"What are you doing?!" Yuffie yelled.

"Then I shall treat you like an adult from now on," Vincent whispered.

Her anger subsided. Yuffie stared at Vincent in confusion and then smiled in understanding. As if by sheer bad luck, Reno walked into the storage room at that moment.

"Hey!" Reno shouted. "How many more boxes are left?"

----------

Until next time...