I do not own Final Fantasy VII. I had most of this chapter written back a while ago and was originally going to be chapter ten, but I thought it fit in better here instead.

Change of Heart

Chapter XIV: Secret Stash

The storm outside was everlasting. Parts of the city had already flooded and Sephiroth was preparing for the worst. He'd already made sure there were plenty of food and enough candles and oil for the lanterns. He'd tried phoning Tifa, but the lines were down.

The radio however still worked as long as it had batteries.

He tried to tune it to a news channel and found nothing but horrendous static until finally he found the weather station. The power was out across Edge, flooding in various areas, and the school was closed until further notice.

"That's just wonderful." Sephiroth thought sarcastically. It wasn't that he didn't want the children to remain home, but they'd only had two full days of classes and now this happens…So much for starting somewhat normal lives.

It was only Tuesday, and Tifa wouldn't be home until Thursday. So he had two days to try to entertain the kids before they die of boredom. It was easier said than done. Sephiroth was beginning to feel like a moth in a bottle. The kids had been depressed since the previous day, and he knew it was because they wanted their parents. But it really couldn't be helped. He supposed it was his fault though, for suggesting Tifa go on a trip, but he hadn't anticipated this happening.

"Hey Marlene, what do you think about Sephiroth?" Denzel asked as he busied himself with his model airship. It was something he'd been meaning to ask, but never really found a moment to bring it up.

"I like him." Marlene giggled, grabbing her hairbrush as she proceeded to give her doll a make-over. "Why'd you ask?"

"I was just wondering; Cloud told me all kinds of awful things about him, but…He doesn't seem like such a bad guy."

"Hmm-mmn," She shook her head. "Nope, he's really nice and he likes Tifa a lot."

"Yeah. I've seen them hold hands all the time." Denzel uttered as he steadily painted a stripe on a portion of his model. Then his hand fell. He stared at the model blankly, as if he'd made a grave mistake. But he wasn't really looking at the toy, he was picturing something in his mind, a notion he'd only just considered. "Hey, you don't think…ugh…never mind."

"What?" Marlene tore her attention away from her doll as she looked up at her brother.

"I've seen him look at her." Denzel turned around in his chair and propped his elbow on the backrest.

"What do you mean? Of course he looks at her." Marlene chuckled.

"No, I mean…he looks at her…I don't think he just likes Tifa; I think he likes her, you know, like that." His eyes were wide and he seemed surprised that he'd just now thought of this.

Marlene was slightly clueless until her eyes grew enormous and her face blushed pinker than her bow. "You think Sephiroth loves Tifa?" She felt the heat rise in her cheeks and she clutched her doll to her chest.

Denzel nodded, biting his lip. The two children stared at each other for a long time before returning to their own separate tasks. The same thoughts plagued both their minds but they did not voice these worries. Denzel was far more tormented with it than Marlene was.

In the time that they'd lived there, the children had come to accept each other as brother and sister, and Tifa was most definitely their mom. But for Marlene, she already had Barret as her father and viewed Cloud as an older brother or an uncle, but Tifa was her mother. Denzel on the other hand, also looked at Tifa and saw his mom, but Cloud was his dad. The two of them looked at their friends and noticed those who still had two parents, that they're mothers and fathers were married and happy. But these two who shared a mother and had separate fathers were suddenly confused by their parents' relationships.

Marlene's situation wasn't so confusing, as she'd grown up with it, knowing nothing else. Besides, Tifa truly behaved more like a big sister until only recently. But for Denzel, he was completely dumbfounded by his new parents. He hadn't thought about it until just then, about why his parents weren't only unmarried, but they didn't even behave like a couple. It upset his young heart to think about it, especially because it was evident, even to him, that Tifa wanted to be with Cloud that way…but Cloud didn't seem to care.

But Denzel's mind had digressed; the true cause of his confusion was the idea of Sephiroth falling in love with Tifa. What if she fell for him too? What if they got married? Who would Sephiroth be to him? Who was he to him now? How would it affect his life as far as Cloud went? It was a conundrum that threw off the balance of his world.

"I gotta go ask him something." Denzel slid from his chair and ran out the door.

Marlene tossed her doll to the side and ran after him, curiosity gripping her. "Wait for me!"

As soon as they left the room, they rounded the corner, finding Sephiroth sitting quietly in the living room reading an old magazine. He glanced up to them, a pleasant grin crossing his lips.

"Hello children." He tossed the magazine on the table and reclined back on the sofa.

"Hey." Denzel flopped down beside him, followed by Marlene on his other side. "Sephiroth, I've got a question."

"You can ask me anything." Sephiroth was all ears.

"Do you love Tifa?" The boy wasn't going to beat around the bush.

Sephiroth's eyes flared and they darted awkwardly away before returning to meet with Denzel's. That was probably the last question he'd expected him to ask.

"That's a loaded question." He shied away from it. Cloud had pretty much accused him of being in love with Tifa and now his son was outright asking him. "What brought up that topic?"

"We were just noticing how you and Tifa are always around each other and how you always, ya know, hold hands and stuff." Denzel felt a little embarrassed now that he'd asked.

Sephiroth laughed at this, he didn't bellow, but a deep amused giggle escaped his throat. "Is there something wrong with grown-ups holding hands?"

"Well…no…I-I guess not." Denzel and Marlene just looked at each other. "Listen, I was just wondering…If you and Tifa ever got married…what would that make you to me?"

"If we got married?" Sephiroth was nearly speechless with that one, "Dear boy, what in the world –"

"It's just pretend!" Marlene came to the rescue, hoping to set the discussion back on track. "We were just wondering, since Cloud and Tifa aren't married, but they're both Denzel's parents, what would that make someone who married one of them?"

"Oh." Sephiroth closed his eyes thoughtfully, understanding this as a theoretical discussion and replied accordingly. "Well, anyone who married them would, I assume, be considered a stepparent. For example, if I did happen to marry Tifa, I'd be your stepfather. Think of me as an extra dad."

"Oh…" Denzel and Marlene looked at each other again. That was an easy enough answer. It seemed a lot more complicated in their heads than it really was. But perhaps, they thought, they were over analyzing the situation. But it still bothered Denzel that his mother and father weren't together; of course this was a different topic, skewed from the subject of Sephiroth's relationship with Tifa, however there was relevance to Denzel. "Hey, can I ask something else?"

"Sure." Sephiroth braced himself for whatever erupted from his mouth next.

"So, you're just friends, right?"

"Yes, we're just friends." Sephiroth attempted to read the expression on his face, hoping find the true meaning behind these off kilter inquiries. But from what he could tell, this child really could be a poker champion.

"So…do you think Cloud and Tifa will ever get married?"

Now the truth comes out. The man sighed heavily, looking from side to side at these two children. How he adored both of them. He didn't want to hurt their feelings, but he didn't want to lie to them either.

"I don't really know, Denzel. I really don't." He looked at him apologetically, then his expression changed into something a little more devious. "So what really made you ask if I was in love with Tifa?"

"Well…I just gotta funny feeling."

Sephiroth smirked and drew them in closer. "Can you two a secret?"

"Yeah."

"The truth is…I care about her very, very much…and to be honest, I don't really know if I love her. It's a complicated matter, you understand? Sometimes someone might like somebody, but that other person likes somebody else. But, Denzel, I've only been here for a couple of weeks…falling in love just doesn't happen that fast; it's not always like it is in fairytales."

"Oh…ok." His face fell just then.

"You seem disappointed."

"No, I was just curious."

The night seemed long to Sephiroth, he wasn't at all tired, so he attempted to exhaust himself by pacing around the bar. He'd walked from wall to wall and back again, but he didn't so much as yawn. His body didn't even ache for rest.

His mind was flooding over with thoughts about Tifa and what the children had asked earlier that day. It seemed almost random, but it wasn't without cause. Sephiroth was sure that the kids had noticed how he and Tifa got along, but he'd not expected that they'd read that far into it. They were children, but they were not stupid. They'd almost forced it out him though, but he wanted to smooth it over with a slightly ambiguous answer, not wanting to risk having them relay his feelings to Tifa.

Of course he loved her. He loved everything he'd learned about her and was certain he'd love everything he had yet to learn. She was perfect for him though she herself was imperfect. He wasn't sure when he'd fallen for her, but he was sure of how he felt. But the children couldn't know about it, and neither could Tifa…at least not yet. He wanted to tell her at the perfect time.

"Sephiroth?" Denzel's voice uttered tiredly behind him.

Sephiroth spun on his heels, finding the boy standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes as he dusted the sleep from them. It was shameful for Sephiroth that he was caught off guard by a mere child, but it was also relieving, as it was further proof of his rediscovered humanity.

"What's the matter, Denzel?" Sephiroth watched as the boy approached him.

"I can't sleep because of the thunder and lightning. It's keeping me awake." The poor boy looked exhausted.

"What about Marlene?"

"She sleeps like a baby in weather like this…and I hope she stays like that." Denzel meandered toward the cabinet and shoved Marlene's stool against the wall before using it to scale the cabinets to reach the small box of candy in the back behind the food. It wasn't the same treats that he normally ate though.

"Denzel, what are you doing?" Sephiroth wasn't aware of this secret stash, and was fairly certain that Denzel wasn't meant to have them. "Are those Tifa's chocolates?" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously, catching clearly the alarm in his young eyes.

"I'll give you one if you promise not to tell?" The child looked a little like a deer in headlights.

"Why are you taking your mother's sweets?" He ignored the bribe and instead was set on putting the boy right.

"Because…they're just so good…" Denzel went to a table and slowly opened the box, disregarding Sephiroth's "evil eye".

"You need to put them back." Sephiroth's voice was stern and he was intent on getting Denzel back to bed. "If you eat your mother's chocolate, she'll be very sad when she finds them gone."

"Oh come on, can I please just have one?" Denzel's bright green eyes looked so big and watery, like he'd die a long and painful death if he didn't eat the chocolate.

Sephiroth didn't want to give in to him, but the soft spot he had for children – this one in particular – made his heart ache. "Alright," He breathed airly, "you can only have one, but that is it, and it's off to bed with you."

"Thank you, Sephiroth! You're the best!" Denzel reached into the box and produced a peculiar choclate stick, about the size and shape of his little finger and bit into his slowly…deliberately. There was look of pure elation on the boy's face, like he was ascending to heaven.

With curiosity, Sephiroth lifted the lid to his view and noticed that it was completely black with gold filigree around the edges. There was a small logo in the center, a regal sort of coat of arms, something he didn't recognize.

"Are they good?" He asked finally, after Denzel had completed his piece.

"They are the best thing in the world."

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at him, skepticism etching his features. "Let me try one."

Reaching in, Sephiroth stole his own share. Running his finger over the rippled surface of the candy, he was a little hesitant about eating this coveted delicacy, but at length, he took the first bite.

Heaven.

There was the sweet taste of milk chocolate, quickly chased by an assault of sour orange gelatin, perfectly arranged to create the most succulent and sensuous flavor imaginable. It was clear why Tifa hid this box in the back of the cupboard.

"Amazing." Sephiroth breathed.

"Isn't though?"

"How did you know about these?"

"When I was sick, Tifa shared some with me in the middle of the night once. It's only time she eats them." Denzel snuck another one when Sephiroth finally yawned, tossing it in his mouth and making quick work of it.

"What do you call these?"

"I don't know what the real name is, but me and Tifa call them 'Secrets'. Because when she shared them with me, she said 'this will be our little secret'. And it stuck."

"So you're the only one who knows about them?" Sephiroth swiftly stole another one when Denzel tore gaze away as he stretched.

"Yeah. She said it was magic chocolate and that it would make me feel better. That's not true though, even if they are really really good." Denzel managed to steal another one from under Sephiroth's nose.

"So tell me, Denzel…About earlier this afternoon, why did you ask about me and Tifa? Come on, you can tell me the truth."

Denzel fell still and quiet. He didn't really want to talk about it, face grew hot and his stomach flip-flopped as he thought about it. It was kind of an embarrassing subject for him.

"I don't know." He whimpered as he idly bit into another piece of candy. "I guess I miss my real mom and dad."

"I'm sorry Denzel." Sephiroth suddenly felt guilty for reminding him of his parents, but Denzel shook his head.

"Don't be…they weren't really great parents." It was shocking to Sephiroth that Denzel would say something like that; it just wasn't like him at all. But he noticed his saddened eyes beneath his tousled bangs. He'd said that to make himself appear stronger, to force himself to believe that he shouldn't miss them…He hadn't meant it at all.

Sephiroth took another chocolate.

"How about this family?"

"I really love this family." He looked up at him and looked him straight in the eye as he slowly reached into the box for another chocolate…or two… "But I wish that I had parents who were married. It feels weird to me that my real parents were married, and that my friends' parents are married, but my new mom and dad don't really even talk that much. It makes me feel weird."

"How long have you been thinking about this?" Sephiroth's eyebrows knitted as he attempted to put himself into Denzel's place.

"I really only thought about it today." Denzel rested his forehead on his arm, discretely shoving the chocolate into his mouth and chewing it up with haste.

"But it's truly hurting you isn't it?"

The child only nodded as he kept his eyes buried in his arm. Sephiroth took this opportunity to steal another piece of candy.

"I just want my mom and dad to act like they love each other…so that it really feels like they're my parents. It just doesn't really feel like a real family if they don't."

"Denzel, you know that's not true. They're your parents regardless of how they act around each other."

"I know, but it's weird."

"Would it make you feel any better if I told you that I never knew my real parents?"

Denzel looked up at him, waiting to hear his tale. Sephiroth recounted, with restriction, how he grew up inside Shinra, what he'd been told about his mother, and how his father was less than desirable. He tried not to draw it out, wanting to keep it to the point, but he'd felt himself begin to feel ill at the thought of his mother. Wishing he knew who she really was. If it wasn't Jenova, when who was she and where was she? Is she dead or could she possibly still be alive? It unclear to him which details he was told were true and so far, all he'd discovered had turned up false. With an incredulous gaze, Denzel had listened intently to the whole story as Sephiroth recounted. It was saddening and he almost wished he'd not said anything in the first place.

"Whoa…" Denzel whispered thoughtfully, "…suddenly, my life doesn't look so bad."

Sephiroth regretted it a bit, fearing his story was a bit disturbing for a ten-year-old, but he continued,"Be grateful for your parents, even if they aren't grateful for each other." Sephiroth advised, at which Denzel nodded fervently. "I'd rather have had both a mother and father who weren't in love than none at all. At least they both love you and Marlene, that's what matters the most."

"Right, I remember."

"Good. Now off to bed!" He commanded gently and Denzel hopped out of the chair and started past him before turning back and hugging him tightly around the waist.

"Hey Sephiroth…I was just thinking…Maybe when the rain stops, we can see if we can find your real mom."

Sephiroth's heart lurched in his chest when he'd heard that. He felt a little nauseated, but at the same time, he felt warm, like Denzel just poured some love into his aching body. It was a welcome sensation and he was suddenly hopeful.

"That's sound like a good idea."

"Yeah! When the rain stops, we'll go out and find her!" Denzel smiled brightly before running up to his room.

Sephiroth remained at the bar with the open box of chocolates. Almost absently, he reached over to grab another piece until his hand touched cardboard. At first he thought he'd just missed the box all together, until he looked over and found it completely empty.

"Damn it."