Uh, hi? - insert very long and heartfelt apology here - I'm so, terribly sorry! I was going to post so much sooner, but, my Beta has a lot on her plate right now, so I figured I'd post it. So, sorry if there are any mistakes, I'll try to fix all the ones I see.

I have to thank anyone and everyone who's still following this story! And, uh, oops. I apologize for anyone who started to read a previous chapter ten that started in an unknown pov. I uploaded the wrong chapter, again. So, here's the right chapter ten. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII or any characters.

--

Thoughts

Chapter 10: Tears Shed

After I finished explaining, all hell broke loose. Cid started to cuss mercilessly, forgetting about the kids, obviously. Yuffie yelled at him for it, too. Barret intervened in that before it got ugly. Vincent was still staring at Yuffie, and Zack started to question me.

"Tifa, what the hell?! He threatened you? How dare that bas—"he snarled at me, but I cut him off.

"Zack, easy. It's not as bad as it sounds." I told him calmly, glancing at Aeris yelling at Cloud, said person trying to explain to her why he didn't tell her sooner. I almost smirked. "Here, let me talk to everyone."

I opened my mouth to scream at everyone to shut the hell up, but, someone did it for me.

"Hey! Be quiet! You all are hurting my ears!" Marlene yelled seriously, her eyebrows knit together. Everyone was silent immediately. Hmm, I thought, never knew Marlene had it in her.

"Guys, she's right. Nothing will be accomplished if all we do is yell at each other." Some murmurs of agreement. I smiled victoriously, continuing, "Okay, I know everyone has some questions to how we…came across him." I stuttered slightly, my eyes shooting to the kids. I hadn't, when I was explaining, said that he attacked me, and I wasn't planning on it.

Continuing, I stared at Zack when I spoke, "But, that doesn't matter. He's in our lives now, and we need to focus on how to get him out."
Some murmurs rippled through the crowd in resigned agreement, but, I hesitated. I sighed; figuring now was a good time to bring it up.

"Um…A little while ago, something happened." When I started to speak, everyone turned towards me again, intent on what I was saying. I turned towards Zack, whispering in his ear to get Marlene and Denzel somewhere else. He nodded in my direction, and walked over to the kids. Saying something to them, Denzel opened his mouth to argue, but Zack held up his hand to stop him, and then picked him and his sister up in his arms and walked upstairs, many complaints along the way.

I rolled my eyes, subtle, Zack, I thought towards him. Waiting for him to get back, I walked behind the counter and rested my arms on the cool granite.

When he came back, I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

***

Marlene

Squirming, I made a noise of protest as Zack picked me and Denzel up and proceeded to walk upstairs. He sat us down on our beds, ruffled Denzel's hair, and left without a word.

I crossed my arms, huffing in defiance. I hated having to go in another room because the adults didn't want us kids to know what they're talking about. I decided to be the rebellious Marlene for a bit and climbed off my bed, only to be stopped by the only other person here.

"Denzel," I whined, "Move."

The boy shook his head, and spoke, "Marley, you don't want to know what they're talking about, it'll just confuse you. I don't care." He said, trying to convince me not to step outside by showing nonchalance about it.

I wouldn't be so easily influenced, though. I raised my eyebrows at him, and said, "Nothing interests you, Denzel. Now come on, stop being such a party pooper!" I taunted him slightly. He rolled his eyes at me, and began to walk to his bed.

"Denzel!" I whined to him. He turned around to face me, which he shouldn't have done. I gave him my puppy dog eyes. The same pair that got me a cookie from Tifa before dinner and let me ride Fenrir, if only for a moment. I saw Denzel hesitate, but then he gave in.

He was always such a push-over. I squealed in delight when he told me that I'd have to be quiet. I nodded solemnly at him after my almost silent celebration.

I opened the door to the hallway and stepped out. Denzel tripped over something, Minerva knows what, and fell on the floor with a 'thump!' I yanked him up, and whisper/yelled at him, "Shh! Are you nuts, Denzel? They're gonna hear us!" My eyes were wide with subdued panic; hoping one of the adults wouldn't set foot on the stairs to see what made that noise.

He shook me off, and tiptoed to the stairs. I took a deep breath and followed. I heard quiet talking, and I strained to hear. Sitting on the steps at an angle so they couldn't see me, I listened. Denzel sat next to me.

"—so, something happened to Denzel and Aria, our neighbor that the kids like to play with, that they don't remember. It doesn't make any sense!" I heard Tifa wail, and lots of murmuring afterwards. I realized they were talking about what happened to Denzel a little bit ago, and he did too, for he turned a dull shade of white. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it, trying to comfort him.

"So Tifa, what you're saying is that they spaced out for a few seconds? Come on, they're kids. They'll do that type of stuff." A ruff voice said, Zack.

I heard a thump, and I assumed it was Tifa smacking her hands on some surface, she yelled, "It was different! They weren't spacing, they were gone! The life in their eyes, was...just…gone." she slowed down at the end, losing steam.

Then they went to talk about boring things, like why and how this happened. My eyelids were closing, giving in to sleep, but I heard people moving around, and I looked at Denzel. He glanced back at me, and we both bolted up to our room at the same time. Just as we closed the door, I heard steps on the stairs. I sighed a breath of relief, and plopped on my bed, idly playing with my moogle.

So many things to think about. But most of the things didn't make any sense. Throwing my back on the bed, I closed my eyes, hoping to have a short nap before I sorted it all out.

***

Tifa

I rubbed my temples, sighing deeply. That had not gone as planned. They completely brushed my idea aside, thinking it was ridiculous. Even Zack. I know what I saw, and it wasn't normal. Not at all. Everyone was still here, talking in groups, and Vincent, damn him, was still staring at Yuffie, who acted like she didn't notice, but she kept stealing glances at him every few seconds. Something was going on, but I didn't feel like trying to figure it out right now.

But, we had made progress on other things.

Like, what we were going to do about that freaking problem that kept popping up. Zanaku. Zack was going to go snooping around, see if he can find where, and when Sunday, he and his followers would strike. Yuffie, being her normally crazy-self, would flat-out ask people most likely. I would've helped by asking around during bar hours, but, it was closed all week, due to my 'injuries.' Seriously, I've suffered worse.

None of them would let me do anything. I felt useless. I am useless, right now at the very least.

Needing to do something to get my mind off of things, I walked upstairs to the kids' room. When I passed him, I pulled away from Zack's touch, telling him I was checking on the kids. He had a sad look in his eyes, uncommon for him, but said nothing to stop me. I didn't need pity right now.

When I walked in the kids' room, I saw Denzel reading a comic, while Marlene was lying on her back, looking like she was asleep.

Walking towards Denzel, he looked up, and I pointed over to Marlene, raising my eyebrows. He nodded his head, answering my question.

Kneeling, I whispered, trying not to wake Marlene, "Denzel. Now, you must've known what we were talking about downstairs." I watched as a guilty look crossed his eyes, but it went away to confusion and fear. He gave one, curt nod, and I asked, "Do you know what happened earlier today, while you were playing?"

He sighed, and whispered back, "Tifa, I don't know. I don't understand what happened to me or Aria. I don't remember it at all. All I know is one second I was running away from Marlene, and the next she's in your arms crying her eyes out!" by the time he finished, uncommon tears pricked the corners of his eyes, and his breath turned ragged.

I felt a tug of worry and concern pull at my heart, and my eyes softened. I often forgot that he's just a boy, just a kid. He's acted so grown up since the stigma…

I wrapped my arms around him, and for once he didn't object. He pulled his shaking hands around my neck, and I felt wetness trickle down my shirt. I held him as he cried. As we both cried. I couldn't help it, this had been one of the first times I'd seen him cry, and it terrified me. The unknown is terrifying, it always has been, and unfortunately, will always be. It leaves places for doubt and uncertainty to grow. I promised myself something. Promised he'd never have to cry again, that he'd have no reason to.

As our tears faded, he pulled back, his eyes still glistening, and whispered brokenly, "Tifa, I'm scared. What's gonna happen to us?"

I whispered back to him soothingly, "Shh, Denzel. Everything's going to be fine. Shh."

His eyes as wide as saucers, he asked me a seemingly innocent question, "Tifa, how do you know? How do you know everything's gonna be okay?"

I didn't know. I had absolutely no inkling of an idea of how everything's going to be okay, if it even will be. And that's the reason why he needed reassurances, because he felt it too. Felt the need for reassurances, as did I. Smoothing his soft brown hair out with my hand, I stated the truth to him, "Because it has to be. There's no other way."

--

Thanks again to all who's reading this, and have a great day!

Reviews are much appreciated!

~Niyati