Hi everybody! This is a really long chapter, and Marlene is at the height of cute in it! Enjoy, and review as always please.

Chapter 6: Into the Woods

Cloud woke suddenly, and wondered about the cause of this until he saw a little face staring at him. Marlene had her little elbows on Cloud's chest, and was watching him sleep. "'Bout time!" She cried.

Cloud sat up, and ruffled his hair. "Marlene? What time is it?"

"Three in the afternoon. Papa said that I should go wake your spiky ass."

"Well," Cloud shrugged, "sounds like Barret."

Marlene hopped on the balls of her feet. "We have company!"

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"Miss Yuffie!"

Cloud grinned. Despite the looming threat of what they had to do, he wanted to get re-acquainted with the thief.

"Are you awake?" Marlene asked as she scampered to the door.

"Yeah," Cloud said, "I'll be down soon."

And as he walked down the stairs a short while later, he was surprised Yuffie's squeals hadn't awoken him sooner. She was still a child in Cloud's eyes, but the two years had definitely done her justice. She looked… older, not mature, but older, yet she still had wide brown eyes and a mischievous smile that lit up her face when she saw Cloud. "Cloud!" She raised her arm in greeting. She was sitting on the floor with Marlene, and by the looks of it, they were about to get into trouble. A long string was tied around Yuffie's hand, and the other end resided in Barret's back pocket.

Cloud shook his head, and stuck his fingers in his ears. Around Yuffie's hand, and the other end resided in Barret's back pocket.

Cloud shook his head, and stuck his fingers in his ears. This was going to be loud and unruly.

"Okay, the one thing you have to remember, Marlene, is to do it while their back is turned. Ready? Now!" She jerked the string back, and Barret's wallet flew out of his pocket. It flew into Yuffie's hand. Barret didn't appear to have noticed.

Yuffie giggled. She walked up to Barret and tapped him on the shoulder. He had been talking with Tifa, and turned to around. "Wha?"

Yuffie handed him his wallet, with Marlene laughing loudly.

Barret swore real loud. "What the f you doin'! Wha' you showin' Marlene?"

"It's all for fun, Papa." Marlene said.

"Yeah… fun…" Yuffie grinned.

Barret next turned on Cloud who had been innocently eating a bowl of cereal. "An' you! Sleepin' the damn day away!"

Cloud stopped in mid-crunch and turned to him. "Morning, sunshine."

"Barret and I have been talking," Tifa announced.

Everyone turned to her.

"She and Yuffie will head to Rocket Town, and Gongaga for Cid, and Red, and Cloud and I will try to track down Vincent."

Barret gave an anxious look at Yuffie who grinned. "I never agreed to this…"

"Quiet," Tifa said.

"But I want to look for Vincent!" Yuffie whined.

"I know where that crimson bat resides." A smooth voice said from the stairs.

Tifa turned and found Reno, cool as always with his back against the wall, and his arms folded.

"Well, don' keep us in suspense! F!" Barret grunted.

"He lives in the Sleeping Forest." Reno said.

"And how do you know?" Tifa asked.

"I've seen him, Lockhart. Any more questions?"

"But I want to come!" Marlene wailed, holding onto Cloud's leg.

"Marlene, it's past your bed time already. I told your father you wouldn't be up late." Tifa said.

"PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE!!!!" Marlene screeched.

"Marlene, I told you Reno is going to look after you while we go get Vincent." Tifa replied.

Reno had his back against the wall, and was flipping a coin in his hand. "Yeah, kid, won't we have fun?"

Marlene looked from Reno to Cloud with a horrified expression. She clutched onto Cloud's leg.

"Look, why don't I just go?" Tifa asked desperately, "and you can stay here with her?"

"No. No way, you're not going there alone." Cloud said.

"Well, I'm not letting you go alone either." Tifa replied.

"Tifa, I'd be back by morning."

"So would I."

"Why don't you let me go and get Vincent Valentine?" Reno asked smugly.

Tifa turned her head to him. "Are you crazy? He'd kill you before you opened your mouth."

Cloud raked his hands through his hair, and she crossed her arms. He looked down at Marlene. "Are you sure you're awake?"

"Yes!" She cried.

"Alright," Tifa gave in, "but you're sleeping in the truck."

"We're taking your truck?" Cloud asked with an eye roll. "But, I've got Fenrir…"

"Hey! It's been two years since you've seen my truck." Tifa said defiantly.

Cloud grabbed Marlene's hand as they headed for the door.

"Try not to break anything," Tifa told Reno.

He stuck out his tongue at her.

Cloud had to admit he was looking at one sweet ride. Tifa had new rim put out the truck, had in painted, and had overall made it badass.

"Whoa…" Cloud drooled, running his hand along the side. "Can I drive?"

Tifa gave a snort. "Not after you ripped it apart."

Cloud ran to Fenrir, opened a compartment, and pulled out his Buster sword, which he threw in the back. "Just in case." He said.

Cloud got into the passenger side, and helped Marlene in.

Marlene looked from Cloud to Tifa. "In case of what?"

"Wait till you hear the stereo." Tifa changed the subject quickly, and gunned the engine.

Marlene snored loudly as Tifa drove to the Sleeping Forest. Cloud stared out of the window, thinking. Who were those men?

"So," Tifa broke the silence. "How do you think Yuffie and Barret are doing?"

Cloud gave a snort, "They're probably running for their lives because Yuffie stole something."

Tifa chuckled.

Marlene clutched both of their hands as they made their way through the Sleeping Forest. She was scared of the dark, and saw nothing but darkness all around her.

"Cloud, I'm scared…" Marlene whimpered, looking around at the trees that seemed to go on forever, and all of the noises of the woodland creatures.

Cloud bent down and carried her. "There's nothing to be scared of, Marlene. It's the same as it is in the day… it's just dark."

Tifa exchanged a glance with him, and he gave a small shrug.

Soon they reached a lake, and Cloud stopped. "Is this it?"

"Its where Reno said he'd be."

"Vincent!" Cloud called, "Vincent Valentine!"

Silence.

Marlene's eyes were glued on the water. She knew any minute a monster would pop up out of there and swallow her whole. Her grip tightened on Cloud's shirt.

The waited, and listened for sounds of movement. Suddenly, there was a rustle in the trees overhead, and a figure leapt down using the moon as a sapphire backdrop. He was swaddled in crimson clothing up to his eyes. Vincent Valentine at your service.

"Vincent!" Tifa gushed, and gave him a hug.

"Nice entrance… show off." Cloud said with traces of a grin.

Marlene barely remembered the man that stood before her. She gasped when his gaze fell on hers.

"Is she your child?" Vincent asked the pair.

"What? Oh, no, no. She's Barret's. Marlene, remember? Marlene, say hello." Tifa interjected.

"Hi," She squeaked.

"Good evening," Vincent said to her.

They sat around the lake talking until Marlene fell asleep in Cloud's lap. It was time for bed. Tifa got up, and walked to the truck with Marlene, leaving Vincent and Cloud alone. Thy sat in silence for a while, until Cloud got up to check on the two.

Cloud walked over to Vincent, and sat down. "Tifa and Marlene are asleep."

"No I'm not." A defiant little voice said, and she jumped down from the truck, and ran to Cloud.

"She should be." Cloud said as the little girl sat on his knee. "Tifa would be upset if she knew you were awake."

"But I didn't say goodnight to you and Mr. Vincent!"

Vincent smiled.

"Well, good night Marlene." Cloud said.

She laughed, "Good night, Cloud, good night, Mr. Vincent!"

"Sweet dreams," Vincent replied.

Marlene started to scamper off, but turned back to Cloud. "Cloud?"

"What? Do you need help getting in the truck?"

"No, I can do it…" She paused, "Why do you talk to Aeris when you're alone?"

Cloud's jaw dropped. He felt a rush of sad emotions at her words. He had no idea anyone had heard him. "It helps me. It makes me feel better."

"Does she answer you?"

Cloud shook his head. "No."

"My mommy never answers me either."

Cloud reached out and pulled her into a hug. Then she pulled away, and clambered into the truck next to a sleeping Tifa.

There was a long silence.

"The innocence of a child," Vincent whispered.

"Do you think the Promised Land exists?" Cloud asked.

Vincent sighed, and stared into the water. "I think it's somewhere different for everyone, but yes, I believe it exists."

There was another pause to which Cloud asked, "Vincent, about Lucrecia…"

Vincent sighed again. "Love is a precious thing, Cloud. Though I can never have Lucrecia, she is always in my heart, as Aeris is in yours."

"To meet her again… that's my dream." Cloud told him.

"It is good to dream," Vincent said, "I have yet to dream in years."

And so Cloud told him about Avalanche, about the three mysterious men, about the crisis facing them, to which Vincent grimly nodded.

Thunderous roars of three motorcycles broke the silence.

"That can't be good…" Cloud moaned, getting to his feet. "I'll wake Tifa, I have to get my sword…"

Cloud holstered his Buster on his back, and shook Tifa urgently. "Tifa! Tifa, wake up!"

Tifa stretched and opened an eye. "Cloud? What is it?"

"We got company." He said urgently. "Take Marlene and the truck and get out of here!"

The sound of bullets filled the silence. One smashed the back windshield. Cloud grabbed Tifa, and they ducked down from the fire.

"What are you, nuts?" Tifa exclaimed. "You need all the help you can get!"

"Vincent and I will be fine! Just take the truck and go!"

"What's going on?!" Marlene's voice wavered, and tears filled her eyes.

"It's okay," Cloud whispered to her as the sound of bullets hitting the truck filled the air. He turned back to Tifa. "Go now!"

"Be careful." Tifa whispered.

Cloud nodded. "Vincent and I will hold them off until you get out of here." He closed the door, and heard the engine come to life. Cloud ran behind a tree. He heard the hollow BOOM from Vincent's weapon. The truck roared off, Tifa sitting as low as possible while still being able to see.

Then, all at once, the bullets stopped.

Kadaj walked forward, his hands in the air. "I surrender!"

Vincent stepped out from behind a rock, his gun on him. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, allow me to make introductions. I am Kadaj, and my brothers…" He nodded to the two men behind him, "Loz and Yazoo."

Cloud stepped out as well. "We know all about you."

"Do you?" Kadaj looked highly amused. "Well, imagine that, brothers, we're almost as famous as these sniveling dogs that stopped father so long ago."

"Father?" Cloud asked. "You mean Hojo?"

"Do not speak that worthless scientist's name to me!" Kadaj hissed. "My father is the great Sephiroth!"

Cloud felt his feeling of dread grow steadier.

Kadaj smiled, and lifted his hands in the air. On his right arm, he wore an armlet that glowed with almost electric energy. Cloud and Vincent both felt their feet leave the ground, as they were suspended high above Kadaj's head. "I am looking for the one that is said to stop me." He told them. "Tell me where they are."

"What is that thing?" Cloud demanded to Vincent.

"Oh this?" Kadaj overheard. "Just a little thing you call the Lifestream. Magnificent power, isn't it?"

Cloud's blue eyes grew as wide as dinner plates. The Lifestream… it couldn't be possible…

"Are you going to tell me what I want to know?" Kadaj asked.

"Even if I did know, I wouldn't." Cloud said.

"Wrong answer." He replied, spreading his arms apart. Cloud and Vincent were thrown, and landed to the ground with sickening thuds. "Yazoo, there was a woman with them. Find her, and kill her."

Yazoo gave a nod, and roared off on his bike.

"He's going after Tifa…" Cloud panted, clutching his ribs. Despite the pain, he got to his feet along with Vincent.

"Loz, come with me. We're going to make them talk." Kadaj answered, and walked to the spot where he had thrown the two men.