"One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, how big my house was, or what kind of car I drove. But the world may be a little better, because I was important in the life of a child."
Forest Witcraft
The sun was blaring full force by the time Tifa was on her way to pick up Marlene. At first she welcomed the warmth of the sun on her chilled skin, but as always, she began to long for the chilly mornings and nights. She stopped for a quick moment to sweep her hair up in an elastic and off her back; the ends of her hair still tickled the top her back. Tifa was grateful her hair no longer reach her thighs. Feeling slightly cooler now that the weight of her hair was off her back, Tifa continued on her way.
Barret's home was located in the original part of Cosmo Canyon. When he was home, Red still lived in his old home where he used to live with Bugenhagen. Everyone else had built their homes around the base of the structure. Their homes were simple and small, but they were all lived very comfortably. It's nice to live so close to friends...Tifa thought, her eyes avoiding the glare of the sun. The AVALANCHE members who lived in Cosmo Canyon, along with the Turks all ate dinner together at the old Cosmo Canyon Inn. The innkeeper gave them free dinner. It was always a relief to know that no matter how stressful the day was, they always had a hot meal and friends waiting at the Inn at 7 o'clock sharp every evening.
Tifa stopped at Barret's door, pushed it open, and gratefully stepped into the cool, dark, livingroom. She slipped off her shoes and placed them next to Barret's, who had somehow made it to the house before her. Tifa leisurely made her way into the kitchen where a pajama-clad Marlene was talking animately to the coffee-siping Barret over a bowl of cereal. Her short legs were swinging in the chair and her arms were moving to emphasize her words as she explained to Barret a dream she had last night. Tifa stifled a laugh at Marlene's enthusiasm. Barret and Marlene's heads shot towards the doorway.
"Tifa!" Marlene said happily. "I had a dream last night!"
Tifa smiled and sat across from Marlene at the table.
"What did you dream about?" she asked Marlene, leaning in interestedly.
Marlene looked thrilled at the attention. Barret shot Tifa a half amused, half exasperated look that Marlene luckily missed. Apparently he had been listening to Marlene's long-winded dream explanantion for quite some time.
"It was about the candle!" Marlene said, pointing her finger in the direction of the Cosmo Candle. "Papa sat on it, and made it go out and then Red got angry and bit him. So I bit Red! And then Cloud taught me how to use fire materia but Yuffie stole it from me and I couldn't relight the candle and-"
Barret's PHS interrupted Marlene's explanation. Tifa chuckled quietly at the relief on Barret's face. He walked out into the other room to talk on the phone.
"So Marlene..." Tifa said quickly, before she went back into the epic telling of her dream. "I wanted to know if you'd like to come help out at the hospital with me again."
Marlene's eyes widened excitedly.
"Today!" she asked, jumping up from her seat happily.
Tifa nodded with a smile. "Go get dressed, we can leave as soon as your ready."
Marlene shot out of the room. Tifa laughed quietly and dumped out Marlene's abandoned cereal in the sink. After being left with Elmyra during the Meteor crisis, Marlene was overjoyed to be able to see her father, Tifa, and Cloud daily. Red was surprisingly sweet with her, and she seemed to get along alright with Elena and Reno...but for some reason, the little girl was obsessed with and terrified of Rude. No matter how many times Tifa or one of the others assured her that Rude had normal eyes just like the rest of them, Marlene spent hours theorizing about what was under those sunglasses. Tifa smiled amusedly. Poor Rude...she thought sympathetically. He's doesn't seem to be comfortable around children in the first place...
"Where'd Marlene go?" Barret asked, walking into the kitchen.
"She's upstairs getting dressed," Tifa said, putting away the now clean bowl. "Who was on the phone?"
Barret sighed and sat down at the table. "Reeve...he wants electricity for his wall. Actually, I better git down there."
"Okay," Tifa said. "I'll keep an eye on Marlene today until dinner."
Barret nodded and smiled his thanks. "I better go down to Ms. Elmyra's and tell her that she don't haveta worry about Marlene today."
"How is Ms. Elmyra?" Tifa asked, her voice concerned. "I know the attack on Kalm and the transfer to Cosmo Canyon was rough on her..."
Barret sighed. "She's seems sad. But she says she enjoys seein' Marlene...says she reminds her of Aeris."
They both worked hard to hide the sorrow on their faces as Marlene came running into the kitchen. Barret swept her up before she collided with the table.
"I'm gunna go help Reeve today, okay Marlene?" he said, kissing her cheek.
"Papa!" Marlene said, giggling. "Your whiskers tickle!"
Barret set her down on the floor and smiled. Before he left, he shouted over his shoulder-
"Be good fer Tifa!"
Marlene smiled innocently. "I will Papa!"
Tifa rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"Are you all set to go?" she asked Marlene cheerfully.
Marlene shook her head and extended her hands which held a brush and an elastic.
"Will you put my hair up like yours?" she asked, pointing at Tifa's dark hair.
Tifa took a moment to look over Marlene. She was dressed in beige shorts and a white, thin-strapped top. Tifa didn't have to look down to know she was wearing almost the exact same thing. Suddenly feeling a pang of sorrow for the little girl who had never known her mother, Tifa took the brush and motioned Marlene into a chair. As she brushed the tangles out of Marlene's light brown hair, Tifa recalled how her own mother used to brush her hair for her, starting at the bottom so she wouldn't hurt Tifa. When Tifa finished, she gave Marlene a smile to hide her melancholy mood and they left the house hand-in-hand.
"You know Marlene..." Tifa said softly as they walked slowly into the hot sun. "My mother died when I was just a little older than you, and I used to live with just me and my father."
Marlene looked up at Tifa, her pony-tail swinging as she did so.
"Just like me and Papa?" she asked.
Tifa nodded. "Just like you and your papa."
"Where's your papa now, Tifa?" Malrene asked curiously.
"My Papa..." Tifa said sadly. "He died when I was fifteen."
Marlene nodded solemnly. "My real papa is dead too. Papa told me."
She used her free hand to free the end of her necklace from the top of her shirt. She held it up so Tifa could see the pendant on the end.
"This was my mama's..." Marlene said proudly. "Papa gave it to me...he said my real papa wanted me to have it."
Tifa touched it gently. "It's beautiful Marlene."
Marlene smiled and let the necklace rest atop her shirt.
"Aren't I lucky?" she asked Tifa cheerfully. "I have a mama and papa watching over me in heaven, and a Papa to watch over me here! And I have you and Cloud and Ms. Elmyra and..."
Tifa grinned broadly into the bright sun as Marlene listed off the many people who loved her. Tifa felt the brief sorrow about her parents leave her as she listened to Marlene carry on merrily. Sometimes I think Marlene is the wisest person I know...Tifa thought wryly as they turned away from the main structure of Cosmo Canyon and walked towards the building that was used as a hospital. She turned her head to the side as they passed by the training camp, looking for Cloud, but there were only a few recruits outside doing standard exercises. She stopped her search when she felt a tugging at her arm. Marlene had stopped walking. Tifa turned to ask her why she had stopped, but as her gaze flicked in front of them, Tifa immediately knew the reason.
"Hello!" Tifa said loudly waving her hand at the Turks.
She walked up to them, Marlene clinging to her legs from behind.
"Hello Tifa." Reno said, placing boxes in the back of a truck. "Where's your porcipine-head of a husband?"
Elena rolled her eyes.
"Just ignore him Tifa." she said before bending down to smile at Marlene. "Good morning Malrene. How are you?"
But Marlene wasn't listening. Her eyes were glued to Rude's glasses. Tifa gave Elena an exasperated look.
"Marlene?" Tifa said, trying to pull her out from behind her. "Aren't you going to say hello to Elena, Reno, and Rude?"
"Hello..." Marlene said distractedly, not taking her gaze off those glasses.
"Hello Marlene," Reno said loudly.
Tifa exchanged bemused looks with Elena and Reno as they noticed Rude scratching his bald head uncomfortably.
"So, uhh, Rude... " Elena said, grinning.
Reno chuckled lowly. "Aren't you gunna say hello to Marlene here?"
Rude shot them a frown. Tifa stifled a laugh as they gave Rude their most innocent faces..
"Hello." Rude said shortly, before leaving to get another box.
Marlene narrowed her eyes at his retreating back. As soon as Rude was out of hearing distance, Tifa, Reno, and Elena burst into laughter.
"So..." Tifa said, still chuckling slightly. "When do you all plan to head out?"
Elena and Reno sighed simultaniously as Tifa reminded them of less light-hearted matters.
"Not till after dinner..." Elena said. "We should be back late tomorrow though."
Tifa tilted her head. "You're going to come back so soon? You'll have to work quickly then..."
"We don't usually stay in Rocket Town for long anyways..." Elena said, glancing quickly at Reno.
Reno smirked. "Me and Cid don't get along all that well."
"That's not too hard to believe..." Tifa muttered.
They all laughed quietly but Marlene tugged at Tifa's arm.
"Tifa!" she said, glancing back to the storage shed that Rude had disappeared into. "Let's go! Please!"
Tifa shook her head and gave the others a smile.
"We better go then..." she said. "Take care!"
Elena and Reno said goodbye, and Tifa and Marlene set off again. As soon as they had gone a considerable distance, Marlene regained her talkative nature.
"What's under them Tifa?" she asked, her eyes wide.
Tifa sighed. "Normal eyes Marlene. Just like everyone else."
Marlene gave her a skeptical look.
"Have you ever seen them?" she asked Tifa.
"Well...n-no I umm haven't-" Tifa stuttered.
Marlene eyes got even wider and she grabbed onto Tifa's hand with her other hand too.
"Then how do you know they're normal?" she asked, voice hushed. "If you've never seen them? They could be alien eyes! Or...red eyes!"
"Vincent has red eyes." Tifa said reasonably. "You met him once, and you weren't afraid of him."
She ignored her.
"Or maybe..." Marlene said lowering her voice dramitically. "Maybe he doesn't have eyes! Maybe there's nothing under his glasses!"
Tifa sighed and gave up trying to reason with her. At least we're almost there...she thought, relieved. Maybe if Marlene is busy, she won't obsess over those stupid glasses...Marlene's theories grew more and more dramatic as they approached their destination. Tifa tried not to laugh as they walked through the double doors and into the hospital.