Lyra woke up slowly, despite the strangeness of the dream. Her eyes opened wide, but she didn't actually leave the bed for a few minutes. When she finally did, she emptied the small bag that Tifa had given her. She didn't know why she hoped that her favorite hoodie would be in the bag, but she was disappointed when she didn't find it. Her brain was still foggy from sleep.

Tifa had picked out her clothes. Most of the garments were dresses, two of them with floral patterns on pastel backgrounds, one black with red roses, and a pair of jeans. Lyra spotted a folded T-shirt and a red plaid over shirt folded underneath it. Lyra had been given a pair of boots before they had left the WRO headquarters.

As much as she wanted to wear the jeans and T-shirt, Lyra changed into one of the pastel dresses, lilac with silver lilies. She pulled on socks, the boots, and tied her hair back with a ponytail and a lilac ribbon that was packed into the bag for some reason.

She slowly opened the door, listening and hoping that she wasn't being too loud. She peeked into the narrow hallway. She could hear laughing and dishes, and she could smell food.

Her stomach grumbled.

Well, hiding wasn't going to be an option, especially if she's hungry.

She crept down the hallway. The doors were all closed, and the laughter was coming from downstairs. Lyra continued walking until she was on the first floor. The stairs were hidden from the front room, where most of the bar was, and the kitchen was just in front of her. To her right was a backdoor. She couldn't see through the curtains covering the door window. She was hit with an idea.

Lyra's heart was racing. She could run outside. She could find help and get home. Lyra reached her hand to the doorknob and-

The kitchen door opened, and Cloud nodded at her. She dropped her hand.

"You hungry?" He asked. His eyes flickered to the back door as if he knew what she was planning.

Lyra felt a pang of guilt. Cloud and Tifa hadn't done anything to harm her, and they had let her stay with them. They were feeding her. She shoved the feeling down and nodded. Cloud stepped to the side and she entered the kitchen.

The kitchen was strange, to be honest. There were a sink and counters and a wooden kitchen island like most normal kitchens, but two industrial fridges and a large stove and sink were shoved against the walls.

The kids, Marlene and Denzel, were eating pancakes around the kitchen island. Tifa smiled at her and pushed a plate forward. Lyra sat and poured syrup on her pancakes before she began eating. The kids had quieted when she sat next to them and the silence was beginning to get awkward.

"Your bow is wrong."

Lyra jumped at the sound of the little girl's voice. She blinked at the kid, who just pointed at her hair.

"Your bow is wrong," she repeated. Marlene wiped her hands and jumped off her stool. She pushed it closer to Lyra and climbed on it again. "I'll fix it."

Lyra went still as Marlene untied and redid the lilac ribbon. She nervously glanced at Tifa, who just smiled back. Marlene finished and then pulled her stool back to her spot.

Lyra mumbled a thank you and continued eating. Marlene beamed and finished her pancakes. Denzel whispered something to her and they jumped down and ran back up the stairs. Lyra kept her eyes on her plate. She didn't look up as Cloud and Tifa cleared the island. She jumped when they sat on either side of her. She finally looked up.

"Did I do something wrong?" She asked. They looked at each other and smiled.

"No. You're fine," Tifa said. Lyra's hand tightened around her fork without her realizing.

"Then why-"

"We're just waiting for Yuffie," Cloud said. He got up and moved to a different stool and gestured to the hand around the fork. "Relax. Nobody is going to hurt you."

She set the fork down. Her hand stung from the fork handle imprints left on her palm. She pulled her hands into her lap. It was silent again, with only the occasional sound of laughter coming from the upstairs, where Denzel and Marlene were likely playing.

"Yuffie might bring the kids to the WRO," Tifa told Cloud. "I don't think that she likes to miss out on the excitement."

Cloud made a noise in agreement. Lyra frowned and looked up from the table.

"Are you taking me back to the WRO?" She asked. Cloud nodded. Lyra was beginning to understand that he wasn't very talkative, but she was getting tired of being given few answers. And she wasn't happy about going back. Maybe she did do something wrong and they were just too nice to tell her?

When they didn't say anything, Lyra turned her attention back to the table. She let her mind wander back to her dream. What the heck was it about?

She still had the feeling that she hadn't had many dreams before, but when she did, she remembered that they were awful. Many of them were like the pictures, just random noises, and sensations that had her waking up in a cold sweat, screaming for her mother.

Lyra was still mulling this over when Yuffie bounced into the kitchen. She was loud and obnoxious as she entered, and then Marlene and Denzel raced into the kitchen to tackle her with hugs.

Lyra watched them as Cloud and Tifa stood. Tifa reminded Marlene and Denzel of the rules, no sneaking snacks upstairs, no talking to strangers, the usual spiel parents usually gave their children, and then she waved at Lyra.

"Come on," she said happily. "Time to go."

Lyra slid off the stool. "Should I go get my bag?"

Tifa blinked and frowned. "Why do you need your bag?"

Lyra hesitated. "You're taking me back to the WRO, aren't you?"

She jumped at the laughter that followed and then jumped again as Tifa slid her arm around Lyra's shoulders.

"No, you're stuck with us for a while still." She reassured Lyra with a squeeze. Lyra let herself smile a little as relief filled her chest.

Thank goodness.

As they waited in front of the bar for Cloud to get his giant motorcycle in Lyra decided to ask Tifa a question that had been bothering her.

"Why do your kids call you Tifa?"

Tifa frowned at her uncertainly and didn't answer for a moment. "What do you mean?"

Lyra wished that she had found a different way of asking that and tried to ignore her burning face. "They call you 'Cloud' and 'Tifa' instead of 'mom' and 'dad.'"

Tifa chuckled and shook her head.

"No. They aren't my kids. Not exactly." She seemed to be choosing her next words carefully. "A few years ago, there was a war."

Lyra waited as Tifa went silent. Suddenly, the mood was sullen.

"A lot of people died. The Planet was under control of this company, and they were killing it," she continued. "Cloud and I were in a group of people who were against the company. Eventually, the war ended, but the Planet was devastated. Like I said, a lot of people died. Edge, the city we're in, was built by the WRO and refugees and what was left of the company. The refugees were from a much, much bigger city called Midgar."

Tifa took a moment. She sounded sad, and Lyra hoped that she wouldn't cry.

"Denzel's parents lived in Midgar, and they died when one of the plates fell. Midgar was divided into sections and it was one city built on top of another. He was wondering around when Cloud found him, and we took him in."

"What about Marlene?"

Tifa grinned at her. "Her father is in charge of finding a new energy source. He comes by when he can, but we watch Marlene for him."

The ride to the WRO headquarters was silent, but slow as there was more traffic than the evening before. It was slow enough for Lyra to think everything over and observe her surroundings more.

One of the first narrow roads they ran through led to a large plaza, where a large statue sat in the middle, surrounded by scaffolding and orange caution tape. The roads they went through weaved through tall apartments with stores built in the bottom. Lyra counted at least three restaurants and two nightclubs as they passed and they crossed another plaza filled with white tents and pickup trucks.

"Looks like the farmers' market is back," Tifa remarked. Cloud said something, but his voice was drowned out by his bike. Lyra was amazed. This was all built by after a war? And the war was just a few years ago? These people must be resilient.

They continued through the city and down a highway. Cloud didn't stay on the highway for long before he got off and drove towards the WRO headquarters.

It wasn't hard to see. It was at least five stories above ground with the front completely paneled with tinted glass windows that reflected the city around it. The grass in the front was yellow and patchy, and a few barrels of flowers sat in front of the doors, struggling to survive.

It was warm out, and the air felt humid like it would storm later. Lyra couldn't spot any clouds in the sky except in the far distance. She could spot the landscape surrounding the city when they were on the highway: a bleak desert wasteland filled with hills and rock formations.

Cloud drove down a driveway that led into an underground garage and parked to let Lyra and Tifa off. Cloud met them just before the elevator doors opened. They entered and rode the elevator the fourth floor.

Shalua was working away in her lab with her sister. She smiled at them as they entered.

"Hey everyone," she called. Shelke turned and waved, still looking expressionless. Lyra had asked about Shelke and Shalua the night before after they had left, and she was told that Shalua and Shelke had been through a lot. Shalua had miraculously survived a horrible accident and Shelke had been kidnapped as a kid, and she would forever look like a kid because of another accident.

"Reeve's here," Shelke said, pointing behind them. Tifa turned Lyra around. A man was sitting at the conference table. He gave her a friendly smile and wave and Tifa gave her a small push forward.

Lyra sat at the table a chair away from him. She eyed the giant cat sitting next to him. It looked cute with its little crown, boots, and cape. She guessed it was a stuffed animal, but then it moved. It startled her, but not as much as it did when the cat spoke.

"Good mornin' there lass," it said in a happy accent. Lyra stared at it, her jaw hanging open, barely registering the man's chuckle.

"This is Cait Sith," he said. "He's harmless."

Lyra nodded her head, still staring with wide eyes at the cat. Its tail twitched, and it grinned at her. She tore her eyes away as the man introduced himself as Reeve Tuesti. He continued to ask questions. Lyra felt like a parrot. The questions were mostly the same questions Shalua and everyone had asked already, just a bit more in depth.

Last thing she could remember? The man with multicolored eyes.

What was she doing exactly? Walking home.

What was she wearing? T-shirt, jeans, and her favorite hoodie. It was hot pink and zipped up in the front.

What were her surroundings? It was dark out, late at night. It was cool and humid. It was going to rain. She was walking along a well-lit path in a suburban neighborhood. When the man caught her, she heard someone yelling from a yard behind her.

Family life? Just her, her parents, and some stray neighborhood cats. It was quiet and it was good.

Childhood?

At that, Lyra paused. She still couldn't remember much, but she could remember enough to feel strange.

"I…It was good? I think?"

"Why do you think it was good, Lyra?" Reeve asked. Lyra thought about what she could remember. Everything suddenly felt off, like the world shifted sideways and she was the only one who didn't move.

"I don't think…." She broke into a cold sweat and her head throbbed.

"Lyra?" Reeve sounded concerned. Lyra could feel her pancakes churning in her stomach and it was getting hard to breathe.

"I don't feel good," she said quickly. Someone pulled her chair out and shoved her head down. A pail was suddenly in her lap and all the noise was muffled.

Why couldn't she remember her childhood? Why couldn't she know her parents' names? Why did everything about her life feel so wrong?

Even at home, she couldn't remember much. Did something happen? And even if something traumatic did happen, that didn't explain why she didn't know their names.

Lyra squeezed her eyes shut, willing the nausea away.

"Lyra!"

She opened her eyes and slowly sat up. The lights stung her eyes and she felt dizzy and cold. The chair and her immediate area were coated in thick ice. Everyone was staring at her a foot away, each looking concerned. She swallowed and was surprised to find tears streaking down her face.

"We should do a head scan," Shalua said, her voice way too loud in Lyra's ears. "This isn't amnesia caused by a concussion."

"What just happened?" Lyra's voice was thick. Cloud stepped forward and helped her stand, and the ground immediately felt like liquid. She grabbed the table to keep her balance.

"You just started panicking and talking a gazillion miles an hour." Lyra looked up in surprise. She hadn't seen Yuffie or the kids standing behind her. They looked scared and confused.

Well great.

"C'mon kid. I'll help you," Shalua said. Shalua and Cloud helped Lyra to a large white cylinder. Shalua pressed a hidden button on the side and it opened. The inside was lit with dim white lights. A black cushion laid on the bottom and the smooth metal walls were covered with small black sensors.

They helped Lyra lay down inside, Shalua instructing her to stay still and just breathe slowly while the machine powered up and scanned her.

"You can still hear us out here," she said. "It'll be A-okay."

Lyra felt uneasy as the lid closed. It sealed with a hiss and the white lights dimmed until they switched off completely. She flinched as the sensors blinked. She almost forgot to breathe slowly, but she didn't want to be in there any longer than she already was. The metal walls felt like they were closing in on her.

She closed her eyes as harsh purple light skimmed over her full body. After what felt like ten minutes, the sensors turned off and the dim white lights turned on. She heard muffled voices and finally, the lid opened.

Shalua waved for her to get out, and then stepped in front of her. She looked alarmed.

"Alright, I want you to go down the hall," she said in a low voice. "Tifa and the kids are going to sneak you out."

Lyra frowned. "Why? Did you find anything?"

Shalua shook her head. "I still have to go over the data, but I'll get back to you later. Probably tomorrow."

She quickly led Lyra to the door and it slid open. She wouldn't let Lyra go through, holding her prosthetic arm out and poking her head through. It must have been clear to her standards, as she dropped her arm and let Lyra through.

"Be careful, kid," she said as the door slid shut. Lyra blinked and stared at the closed door. A quiet, uneasy feeling settled over her. Her heart almost stopped beating when she heard Tifa whispering down the hall for her to hurry up. Lyra backed away and turned to run to Tifa.

They boarded a crowded public bus back into Edge, not getting off for many stops. Tifa looked agitated and very worried, but she wouldn't say why. She said that it was nothing, that she would tell her later, and Lyra caught on.

They didn't get off at a bus stop. Instead, they were at the edge of the city, standing in front of ruins that went on for miles in front of them. The kids seemed excited as they chattered away, practically dragging Lyra and Tifa along.

"Where are we going?" Lyra asked, wary of the situation. Marlene cut Tifa off with a giggle and she grabbed Lyra's hand.

"You're going to love it! It's super pretty," she said between giggles. She couldn't help smiling and let herself be pulled along. Eventually, Marlene led her to a church with a large hole in the ceiling. Lyra slowed and Marlene stopped to wait for Denzel and Tifa, who were some ways behind them talking and laughing as they made their way to the church.

Lyra stared up in awe. The double doors were closed, but Lyra felt the urge to push them open and walk inside.

No, she needed to.

She heard a buzzing in the back of her skull as she let go of Marlene's hand. She walked forward and pressed her hands on the doors. Her hands tingled. She pushed one open and took a step inside, the buzzing getting louder and drowning out all other noise.

Broken wooden pews lined the aisle, which was covered with a tattered red carpet. The aisle led to a pond of clear water. Vines and lilies surrounded the pond and almost took over the ground, pushing through cracks in the concrete.

The buzzing was comfortable, droning on and on until it sounded like someone was telling her, weeds are growing. Pull them out. The flowers farthest away need some watering. Take care of them, please.

Lyra got to work, humming along to a familiar song that she forgot she knew and pulling dandelions and crabgrass and pigweed. She thought that someone was trying to talk to her, but the buzzing overpowered the voices.

She snapped back to reality when Tifa pulled her back.

"Hey!"

Lyra blinked slowly at her, at first not realizing what was going on. Where was the buzzing? What happened? She looked down. Her hands were coated with dirt and mud and they were stained green from pulling the weeds. Her dress was stained where her knees were. She looked back at Tifa.

Tifa didn't look mad. In fact, Lyra couldn't exactly place the looks that flashed across Tifa's face.

She was confused. No, she was shocked, then a little angry and then concerned again.

Marlene and Denzel were waiting silently by the door.

"Didn't you hear me calling?" Tifa asked in a quiet voice. Lyra shook her head. Tifa smiled, though she looked uncertain. "Well, I said that it's time to go."

Lyra noticed that the light was waning. It was late afternoon. Didn't they just get there?

She followed Tifa and the kids home, not talking, still confused and wanting to go back to that pleasant pond to take care of the pretty lilies.

Author's Note: Hehehehe I loved writing this chapter! Also, Marlene fixing Lyra's ribbon sounded super adorable so I went with it. I've got it in my head that ribbons and bows are "in fashion" or something, and that Tifa thought that Lyra likes dresses.

Anyway, leave a comment if you liked this, and feel free to suggest things!