First off let me start off by saying that after I finish this story (which shouldn't be too much longer, its reaching its end), that I am going to go back and put in a chapter or two before chapter 10 so that way chapter 10 makes more sense.

Chapter XIV Justification

Leo and Aeris sat looking blankly at the door. Both were thinking the same thing. How could a man who they thought they knew so well turn around and betray them like this? Leo couldn't begin to describe how much he hated Marcus at the moment right then, however Aeris had a different opinion.

"Why Marcus?" She said with a little bit of sorrow in her voice.

Leo swung around and looked at her, a very surprised look on his face. "Don't tell me you feel sorry for him?" He said looking at her accusingly.

"Don't get me wrong, theres nothing I would want to do more right now then get a knife and stab the bastard in his heart." She began, "But you have to understand where he's coming from. He never had a caring home and he was brought up in a neglectful house. Not to mention he just discovered that his mother was killed, he just…snapped. After years of bottling up emotions he just broke. Everyone has their breaking point."

"Don't tell me you're trying to justify his actions."

"I'm not its just that we can't put all of the blame on him." She said back, almost a begging tone. Leo looked back at Aeris and began to smile. Aeris was a little thrown off by his sudden mood change. "What?". Aeris quickly realized that it was an 'okay you're right' signal so she quickly said "Nevermind".

Leo walked over to Aeris and put his hand on her face, inspecting her now swollen eye. Aeris blushed a little as Leo put his hand on her cheek. "He got you good." He said using his hand to turn her head a little. He let go and walked over to the freezer and brought out a thing of frozen peas and placed it on her eye, to which she squinted with pain.

"Sorry." Leo said, jerking the peas back a little. Leo handed Aeris the bag and she placed it on her eye. "Well, I'm off to bed. See you in the morning."

Leo began to walk away but Aeris stopped him. "Wait." Leo turned around to find that Aeris had followed him.

"Whats up?" Leo asked.

"I just waned to say thank you for getting Marcus off of me. If you hadn't been here I'm not sure what would have happened." Aeris blushed again as the words left her mouth.

Leo blushed in return and scratched the back of his neck. "Uh… don't mention it. I'm sure you would have done the same for me." They both stared into each other's eyes for a minute until Leo broke contact. "Ah! I gotta pee!" He sprinted down the hallway and almost busted down the bathroom door, along to which followed a long sound of water hitting water. Aeris smiled to herself and went to her room.

About 8 A.M. the next day…

Leo woke up to the smell of french toast being made in the kitchen. He didn't bother changing out of his pajamas, but did however put on a shirt. He walked out to notice Aeris making french toast along with some pancakes. He stood there, watching her cook when another idea popped into his head.

Slightly grinning to himself he began to creep up on Aeris. He was silently giggling to himself and right before he got up behind her he reached up to yell BOO when…

"Morning Leo." Aeris said before Leo could get in his scare. How the hell did she know I was behind her? Mind reading powers? She must be a witch, burn her at the stake I say!

Aeris continued to talk, her eyes still trained on the food. "Before you even ask if I'm a witch, look." She pointed to the microwave, to which Leo could see his reflection, as well as the entire living room.

Aeris turned around and Leo got pissed. Every time he sees her eye he gets angry, angry at Marcus. How could he do that? I thought we were friends. But then Leo began to think about what Aeris had discussed with him the night earlier. Maybe… maybe it's not his fault. Well it definitely was his fault, but that he wasn't to blame.

"Leo, you're staring off into space again." Aeris said, waving her hand in front of his face. "Don't do that. I think that you're having a stroke and I get excited only to be disappointed later."

Leo smiled at her, "Yeah yeah. Don't get too excited, I'm still here. What are you making." Leo asked, turning his attention towards the food.

"Breakfast." She replied simiply as she flipped a pancake and landed it back on the pan. Leo walked around her and stared at the pan.

"What kind of breakfast?"

"The kind of breakfast where if someone named Leo doesn't back the hell off of me before I burn myself will be killed by a knife through the skull."

Leo chuckled to himself. Classic Aeris, he thought to himself. He went to the fridge and got out some milk and poured himself a glass as well as Aeris. He sat down and waited eagerly for the food to be done.

Aeris had finally finished and she had his plate already made. She sat it down in front of him but then quickly snatched it back up.

"Um? Please?" Leo asked confused. Aeris shook her head, as she didn't explain what she wanted ahead of time.

"No, I want you to make yourself useful and go downstairs and get the mail. You can have your breakfast when you get back." Aeris walked over to the counter and placed his plate there. Leo grunted and walked out, grabbing his coat as he closed the door.

Aeris was almost done with her plate when Leo returned. "What's wrong? You get lost or something on the way back? Do I need to send you out with a map next time?"

Leo didn't reply but instead continued to stare at an envelope he held in his hand. Aeris noticed this and asked genuinely, "Who's that from?"

Leo looked up and handed her the letter and said, "Guess."

Next chapter will be out tomorrow. Also it was very hard to keep Aeris and Leo in character this chapter, but I tried to put them back at the end of it.