Chapter 57: Don't Leave Home

Like a ghost, don't need a key

Your best friend, I've come to be

So please think of getting up from me

You don't even need to speak

And I've been here for just one day

You'll already miss me if I go away

So close the blinds and shut the door

You won't need other friends anymore

Oh, don't leave home

Oh, don't leave home

And if you're cold I'll keep you warm

And if you're lost jut hold on

Cos I will be your safety

Oh don't leave home

Don't Leave Home - Dido

On Saturday they caught the train out to Kalm. Barret looked out of the countryside

"Can't remember the last time I was in Kalm. Been a while."

"Well, there's not exactly much to see." Aeris said. Cloud nodded.

"Yeah, it's tiny. About forty houses, a couple of shops, a well and a school."

"Bet it's not as small as Corel." Tifa said. Barret nodded.

"Corel's my hometown. Pretty much empty now. Everybody moved out to the big cities."

The hour and a half journey passed by quickly. As they got off the train Tifa looked around.

"You weren't kidding. It is small."

"Home, sweet home." Cloud said, putting an arm around Aeris' shoulders. They walked through the town centre. Several people going their shopping looked over and greeted Cloud and Aeris.

"Hey Aeris!"

"Hi Mrs Thompson."

"How's Midgar, Cloud?"

"Great Mr Alders."

"OK, does everyone here know you?" Yuffie asked. Aeris grinned at her.

"Everyone knows everyone here. The most exciting thing is when someone new moves to town."

Aeris unlocked the door to her house and was greeted by Infalna.

"Hi everyone! Come in! Can I get you a drink?" she said, ushering them all in. They sat in the spacious living room.

"You've got a great place!" Tifa said, admiring the house.

"Thanks Tifa. Aeris, your father is in the lab. Run down and get him." Infalna said, setting snacks down on the table.

Aeris got to her feet and went to the basement door. She went down the steps into the roomy laboratory. Matthew was bent over a microscope. Aeris smiled.

"Dad?" He looked up and grinned.

"Aeris! When did you get here?"

"About five minutes ago. Mom sent me to fetch you."

"OK, let me just clean up. He took off the white coat he always wore and took a pair of goggles off his head, then went to wash his hands.

"What are you working on?" Aeris asked. Matthew gave her an amused look.

"Do you actually want to know or are you making conversation?"

"I want to know!" Aeris said, pretending to be offended. Matthew laughed and said,

"OK. Your mother is doing research into a disease called Koralsis. It's a sort of parasitic virus that basically drains all the body's nutrients into itself and spreads."

"Ew. Nasty."

"Yes. I was looking at a sample of it just now. We're hoping to find a cure or at least find a way to immunise people." Matthew said, gesturing towards the microscope. "Now, we should probably get upstairs before your mother sends a search party."

Infalna and Tifa were discussing martial arts when they got upstairs. Infalna was saying,

"Yes, I had a friend in college who was very interested in martial arts. He trained at the Wutai pagoda. Do you remember, Matthew? Oh, what was his name…?"

"Zangan?"

"Yes, that's it! Zangan Shields." Tifa's mouth fell open.

"You knew Zangan Shields?"

"Yes, why?" Infalna asked. Tifa stared at her disbelievingly.

"He is my idol! He's the most famous martial artist in the world!"

"Really?" Infalna said, pleased. Yuffie laughed.

"Tifa, he studies at the Wutai Pagoda! You should have told me!"

"It's all very well telling me this now." Tifa moaned. They looked up as Aeris and Matthew came in.

"Hey everyone." Matthew said, smiling at them all. Handshakes and greetings were exchanged. Vincent started to get up, holding onto his crutches but Matthew waved for him to sit.

"Save your energy." He examined the arm brace with interest. "This is unusual. New method?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. I should think that'll catch on quickly." Matthew said appraisingly. Yuffie looked at Matthew and Infalna.

"I can't imagine you two as scientists. Well, maybe Mr Gast, but not you, Mrs Gast."

"Infalna and Matthew, Yuffie. And I've heard that before." Infalna laughed. "I suppose Matthew looks more scientific than I do."

They sat around chatting for a short while. Eventually Matthew got to his feet.

"I'll go check on the lunch."

"I'll come and help." Barret said, following him to the kitchen. Aeris went in to get a drink and went she came back out Infalna had managed to her baby photos out.

"MOM!" She cried, embarrassed. Yuffie and Tifa were giggling over one of Aeris as a five year old, trying on her parents' lab coats and glasses. Even Vincent had a smile on his face. Infalna waved a dismissive hand.

"Aeris, don't be silly. I took the naked ones out."

"There are naked ones?" Yuffie said eagerly. Aeris threw herself down next to Vincent who was still smiling.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You were so… cute." Vincent said, looking at one of Aeris on the swing when she was about three.

Cloud came in. He had been next door to visit his parents. He looked over at the pictures and grinned.

"Did you see the one of Aeris learning to ride a bike?"

"Did you see the one of Cloud in the paddling pool?" Aeris demanded. Cloud flushed red and seized the photographs.

"Picture time is over!"

The food was delicious. As they ate they talked about anything but Palmer. Aeris sensed that no one wanted to bring the incident up, and she wasn't going to mention it. After the meal was finished they settled back in their chairs to relax before clearing the table.

"That was incredible, Matthew." Cloud said, rubbing his full stomach.

"Thanks Cloud." Matthew replied.

They sat in the garden after the plates were cleared, enjoying the summer evening. Aeris leant her head on Vincent's shoulder, listening to the idle talk. He looked down at her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. Happy." She replied softly.

"Have you two got any plans for the summer?" Infalna asked, setting down a tray of drinks. Aeris and Vincent looked at each other.

"Actually, Mom… we were planning on going away. Well, not really away. Fort Condor."

"Fort Condor? What are you going to do there?" Matthew asked, taking a drink. Vincent said,

"I have a place there. It was my parents and it was left to me."

"Not… not the cottage?" Infalna said, staring at him. Vincent frowned.

"You know about that?"

"Of course! Lucrecia and Richard were going to go and live there after we'd finished our work. I thought Richard sold it."

"No, he left it to me."

"And you're going to spend the summer there? That's so lovely." Infalna smiled. Aeris looked up at Vincent.

"Yeah. It's going to be nice to just have a relaxing summer. I mean, this year has been so crazy. I mean, starting university, James, then the thing with you guys, then the concert, then going to Wutai, the whole Eric thing and then Palmer…"

Yuffie put her hand up.

"Aeris? Can I just ask something? Did you used to have a normal life or have you always been this weird?"

"Yeah, I was normal and then I met you guys." Aeris teased. She looked back at her parents.

"Anyway, so we were thinking of heading to Fort Condor for a while. I've got the premiere but that's not til the end of August. I mean, I want to hang out with everyone but I'd be nice to just sort of… get away for a while."

"That sounds like a great idea. You could really do with some relaxing." Tifa agreed.

"What about you guys?" Aeris asked them. Tifa grinned.

"I've got a big martial arts competition in Wutai. Cloud's going to come with me for that. I don't know if I can win but it'll be fun. I'll get to meet a lot people."

"You can come and see me! I'll introduce you to Zangan!" Yuffie said. Tifa grinned.

"You're heading home?"

"Yeah. It'll be interesting to see if I can make it through the whole summer without fighting with Dad. Not a hope, but I can try."

"I promised my Mom I'd go home for a while. She lives in Junon. Then I'm staying with Dad for a while. Hopefully I'll be able to get out to Wutai at some point." Reeve said.

"You're all going to be so busy! Let's hope you stay in touch." Infalna said. Tifa shook her head.

"Never happen. They'll all come running back to Barret's for coffee within three days."

They all laughed at that. Barret said,

"I've got clients to provide with caffeine. I might take a week off and head north. I've got friends up near the Icicle Inn. And I want to spend some it with my two girls. Your sister is not escaping family time this summer." He warned Tifa. Cloud looked at her.

"Family time?"

"Every summer we take three days to go hiking in the mountains. It's fun but not really Marlene's scene."

"She always tries to worm her way out of it. But not this time." Barret promised.

Eventually Barret said,

"We should be heading back." They said their goodbyes and headed to the station. As they sat on the train back to Midgar, Cloud said,

"It's so weird. The year has gone past so quickly."

"I know what you mean. So much has happened. It'll be nice to have a relaxing couple of months." Tifa agreed. Aeris smiled and looked out of the window. Vincent looked at her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." She said, smiling at him.

(A/N: Bloody writers block. It's been plaguing me. I think I'm pretty much over it now though, so woohoo! And may I just say, thank you all for the reviews! And for those of you who really wanted to know the reason behind 56 here it is:

About eight years ago, when I was coming up to ten years of age, I was failing maths. I mean REALLY failing maths. I ended having tutorial lessons with my godfather who was, unfortunately, my headmaster. Eeks. Anyway, basically I was forced to learn times tables. And the ones I couldn't get my head round were the 7 tables and the 8 tables. So I learned 7 x 8, so at least I would know one from each table. The answer 56.

That's it. Not interesting at all. But hey, it worked! I got you all to review! LOL, suckers! Hee hee, kidding. Love you guys. Please review. )