A/N: Terribly sorry, I completely forgot to update this story. And here I was writing chapter 15 away, thinking that I had already posted up this. Sorry for the long wait. Do forgive me.
Thanks to those who reviewed, you're what keeps me writing this.

"Are you sure they won't find out about us taking a stroll at night?" The boy whispered wearily as his eyes gazed over the sleeping adults.

A child's curiosity was something that one could never explain. It is the undesirable feeling of wanting to find out the truth without contemplating whether they would get caught. The brain of a child was mingled and crossed; there was no real answer to how it worked.

"What's the worst that could happen?" the girl whispered with a hint of annoyance in her voice. The curiosity of a girl was always one to fear.

"Marlene I'm not too sure about this," the boy contemplated his last moments of whether he would join her in the stroll or stay there at the camp.

"Denzel," her eyes flashed at him, "Make up your mind," she rolled her eyes. Leaning against the trunks wall, she stared at him.

Denzel kept quiet and stared the adults one last time before turning to her and leading them into the forest.

The time they had chosen was around the mid hours of the morning. A time that consisted of close watching and studying, before picked. That time, was 2am.

Even though Denzel knew this was very wrong, there was still something in him that couldn't leave that girl alone in the wilderness. Was it love? They were just kids though, how could someone as young as him know about the woes of love?

Whatever it was, she would always be his one and only bestfriend. He owed a lot to her. Who sat beside him and made sure he had the correct temperature of towel on his feverish head? It was her, Marlene. She was the girl who would always make him smile when he was sad. When the creature had attacked Midgar, it was her who he stood beside in Seventh Heaven. The feared together, stood together and waited together.

She had become his responsibility now. IF there was anything the world that was his purpose to protect, it was her. It was Marlene.

"Whatcha thinking about?" she popped her head infront of him.

Coming to a pause his eyes widen, "Just about this entire plan, I mean what if they wake up and find us not there?" he asked, brows at a rise.

"If it happens it happens," she smiled and walked ahead. Leaving him to stand in the forest alone.

"Wait," he called after her. His paces quickening as he neared her.

Behind them in the camp, the blonde tossed in his sleeping bag. His hands finding the body of a warm woman, he smiled.

"Tifa," he whispered and nuzzeled his nose further into her neck.

After settling he listened for a few moments. It was strangely quiet when usually he would be hearing the quiet breathing of Denzel.

Peeping one eye open he looked over Tifa and to the bed a few metres away.

Eyes widening he stared in horror. Empty.

Retreating his hand from Tifa's warm waist he sat up and slipped out of the sleeping bag. "What are you doing Marlene?" he whispered and shaked his head.

He knew that girl too well. This idea had to be hers.

Standing up fast he followed the footsteps that lead into the forest. His speed was fast, and indeed quick, as he could now easily see the hint of two kids walking in the forest.

Following their steps they ended up at the lake, coming to a stop he stood behind the tree.

Denzel sat down at the edge, whilst Marlene walked ankle deep into the water.

"Come touch the water," Marlene said to Denzel.

"Shhh.." Denzel shushed, "It's still the middle of the night Marlene."

"Their far away," Marlene said and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah well, it echoes," Denzel grumbled as he played with the sand that he sat on.

The adult stepped out of the dark forest and into the light of the dawn. Quietly he waited for the children to realize him and not too long later, it was Marlene who stood frozen. Her mouth was closed, but her eyes held the look that said, 'we're in trouble'.

Denzel however still didn't know, and continued playing with the sand. Eventually he noticed Marlene's sudden pause in voice and he looked up. Seeing her horrified expression he followed her gaze and his eyes rested on Cloud.

Standing up quickly Denzel took a step toward the adult. "Clo-ud," he began.

"No," Cloud shook his head. "If you can take a stroll at night, with no worry of running into a fiend. Then I suggest, I'd leave you two alone. But in the occurrence of a fiend popping up, don't expect us to save the day," Cloud said as a matter of fact.

"It was my idea to take the walk," Marlene made her way onto the solid ground.

"It maybe yours, maybe Denzel's," Cloud paused and shifted his eyes to Denzel. "But regardless of whose idea, you are both here still right?" he asked.

"Midnight stroll ey?" Red stepped out from the forest and beside Cloud, his eyes lingering from Marlene to Denzel.

Startled for a moment Cloud spun around but relaxed when he saw who it was.

"Come on," Red said to Marlene. "Lets go Marlene." She turned to Denzel who gulped and nodded. Giving him her best 'good luck' face she strutted away and followed Red into the forest.

"I know you didn't chose to follow Denzel," Cloud began and walked over to the boy.

"It was really my idea," Denzel lied.

"You followed because she was your responsibility, am I right?" Cloud asked and stared toward the lake.

Denzel looked to the floor, nervously he kicked the sand with his shoe. "Responsibility or whatever you want to call it, I don't know," he said angrily.

"I never really loved at your age," Cloud confessed and looked to Denzel.

The boy continued to kick the sand, eyes fixed on his shoes.

"But I did adore," the adult paused. He picked a stone from the floor and threw it into the lake. "And I did worry of ones safety amongst others, whatever she wanted to play I would play, and whatever she wanted me to do, I would."

"So if she asked you to take the blame for her in a situation like this, would you?" Denzel asked.

"She didn't have to ask, I already did," Cloud answered softly.

"It was just an innocent stroll in the night," Denzel stated and looked around the forest for any sign of danger.

"Innocence is the first sign of danger. Do you think, an innocent city like Midgar wouldn't have any dangers in it?" Cloud asked wisely.

"She wanted to go, so I just followed," Denzel confessed and sighed.

"You know," Cloud began, "You are different when Marlene is around."

Denzel blushed and looked away. "She's just a friend to play with that's all," he answered quickly.

Cloud chuckled, "Tifa and I began as friends, look where we are now."

The boy turned to the adult and smiled.

"So," Cloud began turning to Denzel, "Remember the moves?" he asked.

Denzel smirked, and held his hands up.

"Up to a mid morning session?" Cloud asked with a smirk.

Denzel nodded.

"Lets roll."

Swift moves were what Denzel took as he slowly attempted to block Cloud's attacks. They were however soft and gentle. There was no intention of Cloud wanting to hurt the boy. There never was.

Cloud taught and Denzel learned. The boy practiced precise movements that finalized the basics of the hand to hand combat. A triumphant look on the boys face was present as they returned back to camp.

Denzel decided not to approach Marlene as he saw her in deep conversation with her adopted father. It seemed that they were talking about previous events that happened no longer than a few hours ago. Getting a good scolding in a long lecture.

Denzel walked to his crumpled sleeping bag and laid down on it. Looking to the sky would ease his mind now. Afterall the smell of bacon on the fire was smelling very nice. Reno had the art to cook which surprised them all. Yuffie was already awake and helping the fine chef which was a hint of flirtation.

Cloud noticed Tifa who was still sleeping and decided to be the one who woke her that fine morning. Sitting down beside her he ignored anyone who was watching and bent down to kiss her cheek.

"Tifa," he whispered and cupped her small body in his. He nuzzled his face further into her brown locks.

"Wakey Wakey," he chuckled at his childish words. She couldn't help but smirk with her eyes still closed. She took her time in waking up, finding no absolute reason as to why she should hurry. Finally after she grew enough energy to move she turned around to face him. Eyes still shut, she smiled and pressed her lips to his chin.

"Morning," she mumbled as she snuggled closer to his chest. The morning chill was getting to her and having such warmth so close was something to take an advantage of.

Her slight bump between them was separating their chests by only just a little. Although, he still made a point to hold her close. It was a sobering thought to him. That between them now lay a child in the midst of her stomach. What made it more sobering is that it was partly his. He smirked at the thought.

"The kids decided to take a midnight stroll in the moonlight," he whispered into her ear after some silence.

She opened her eyes fiercely and her expressions grew with horror.

"Don't worry," he noted, "I went after them."

She sighed and settled back down comfortably in their lazy slumber. "And what happened," she asked with a sigh.

"Red actually appeared and took Marlene back," he began, "I had a talk with Denzel though."

"Really?" her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"He doesn't think that love is the best word to describe what he feels," Cloud explained, "But I told him, that friends can be lovers one day."

Tifa smirked, "Like a certain people."

"Yeah."

"WILL YOU STOP FANNING ME WITH THAT PIECE OF PAPER YOU DAMN IDIOT?" Yuffie suddenly shouted at the top of her voice. Causing the entire group to cut short their individual thoughts and to cast their eyes to the middle where the fire was.

"Can't a man and a woman enjoy a morning together?" Cloud grumbled at Yuffie.

"No," Yuffie answered but her eyes softened when she saw Tifa looking at her. "Of course you can, sorry I was just pissed at Reno."

Tifa rolled her eyes. "Theres more than just pissed, theres also like," she said softly to Cloud.

"Excuse me wha-"

"Will you shut up?" Reno rolled his eyes angrily at the young Wutai girl.

She set her eyes at him with fire. "Just do the damn cooking will you," Barret said sternly at them.

"Ye two kids ain't helpin' those that are tryin' to catch some close eye," Cid grumbled to Yuffie.

Denzel too was looking with interest as Yuffie and Reno continued arguing, but softly this time. Not only him, but there was something different about this morning. There was a specific pungent smell in the air, and it wasn't nice, but not foul either. It was just mysterious.

Vincent sat high above on his tree, staring down at the camp. There was something about him and trees that never seem to go away. Maybe it was because of his vampire alike self that made him enjoy the height of the tree. His eyes lurked around for any unexpected things, but yet he found nothing. The morning of the Ancient City was still like night, but with the slight glimpse of light shining through to the ground in some cracks of the forest.

The vampires eyes fell onto the happy couple. It wasn't long ago that Tifa had been alone and always sad. She had never enough heart left to smile those days, but now she was at contentment. Cloud too had his spirits lifted slightly. He was no more cold and distant. Cloud was right there now, standing beside Tifa.

"Sins cannot be forgiven until you forgive yourself," Vincent said softly and smiled warmly at the sight of the couple snuggling together in the blankets.

"Do you remember them when they weren't so close?" Cait Sith suddenly appeared beside Vincent.

The vampire settled his sudden shock and replied coolly, "They always have been."

"Well, I remember when they would sit at two ends of the camp fire in those days," the cat looking creature settled against the tree.

Vincent nodded, "I guess, Cloud came to his senses," he answered.

"I don't want to think about if he didn't," Cait Sith said slyly.