A/N: Okay so I just want to address the elephant in the room. The limit break. I'm just kidding no one talked about that one at all. It's the sex worker thing I know.

All I got to say about that is, hold up. The story is still young. I totally get your criticisms. Also Btw Thanks so much for reviewing. Such a big motivator. Even if you guys are criticising it I really do appreciate it.

So anyways the story is still young. I will address it a bit more clearly. I know it's probably not realistic but come on, this is a world where monster's, super soldiers, and aliens all exist. That being said I get it. Hopefully this next chapter kind of paints a more clear picture on the whole subject. If it doesn't, well I want really going to focus much on it anyway.

Now on to the chapter.

As requested, Claudia didn't leave her son's side that whole night. Cloud passed out almost imidiately after they left the school so Claudia carried him the whole way home. When they got home Claudia began to run a bath for Cloud. He looked filthy. Like he was Roling around on the floor. Claudia began to remove Cloud's clothes but stopped when seeing the bruises all over him. Seeing the damage she opens the bathroom cupboard to grab a potion potion to mix with the bath. The healing properties of the potion would help Cloud heal quicker. To her suprise however, they had only one left.

Claudia sighed in mild frustration toward herself for not being stocked on more potions. She cracked open the bottle and poured it into the tub. The steaming water in the tub now had a vibrant green glow. She placed her still sleeping child into the water after fully removing his clothes. The effects of the potion were slow. As she cleaned him the bruises all over his body began to slowly dissapear. The gash in his head also began to heal.

After his bath, Claudia grabbed some of his pajamas and put them on him before laying him down in bed. Now laying in bed Claudia looked over her boy as he peacefully slept. She pulled up a chair from the kitchen and sat next to his bed. She sat there just looking at her son. The pajamas picked out for him were just some plane looking blue ones. They were a few years old now, and they were beginning to get really small on him. Claudia noticed how big Cloud was getting. His bed was becoming to small for him as well. Pretty soon, she would need to buy him a new bed. As her mind began to wander, it eventually went to money. How would she afford to get Cloud a new bed when she can barely feed them on most days.

Claudia hated the situation they were in. She never wanted this for her son. When Cloud was born, his father brought home money from his job. He worked out of town for Shinra. But then one day the money stopped. They got a letter from Shinra saying that he had been killed in an accident. Cloud was barely a year old at the time. They were okay for few years. They managed to survive on what her husband had saved up while Claudia looked for a job around town. She got a job at the restaurant in town as a cook. That lasted for a little while but she was let go as they were down sizing the restaurant. She tried to help the blacksmith in town but she didn't have the ability for tools.

Then she tried a job at the clothing store, and this seemed a perfect fit. It help her pay for everything her and Cloud could need, plus she got a discount on clothing. She stayed at this job for about 5 years. Then the old woman who owned the store retired and it was given to her daughter. The daughter for what ever reason did not like Claudia. Suddenly everything Claudia did would be questioned. Eventually one day when Claudia was emptying the register the new boss accused her of steeling her money and that she had been caught red handed. Claudia couldn't believe what was happening. She had been fired instantly.

After that Claudia couldn't get a job anywhere in town. Her reputation had been ruined. She went to the Lockhart's, hoping they would do something and though Mrs Lockhart was understanding and wanted to help. Thankfully Mr Lockhart helped. He couldn't force the clothing store owner to bring her back on, but she got a buy out for a few thousand Gil. It wasn't much but it was something. Claudia tried to find another job but no one seemed to want to hire her except for a bar in town, but she had heard some bad things about the place and steered clear. So instead she tried to make a business of her own. She decided to make a bakery.

The bakery sucked up any remaining savings she had and the money from the buy out. And for a little while things were looking good. People were coming and trying her pastries and it seemed like things were turning around for Claudia. But nothing lasts forever in Niblehigm it seemed.

After a few months her old boss from the clothing store came in and complained about her food. Saying it tasted awful. After that she began spreading rumors about her food. Saying it was laced with poison. Claudia tried complaining to Mr Lockhart and to his credit he took action and filed the case as harrassment. She couldn't bother her again. Unfortunatly the damage was already done. The easy to sway population of Niblehigm didn't bother coming back to her little bakery. All except for the Lockhart's.

It was kind of them to continue coming over. They would often buy up as much as they could carry just to help her out. But this would only last so long. Eventually buying the ingredients became harder and harder. Eventually she had to close down and focus on only Cloud. Claudia could only cry as she could barely provide for her son. Thanks to the cruelty and ignorance of others.

One day Cloud had gotten sick with something, she didn't know what. She called the doctor over and asked him to take a look. The Doctor is an older man, about 20 years older then she was. He took a look at Cloud and said he had a bad case of the flu. It wasn't anything they couldn't treat however, she just needed to buy the medicine. Unfortunately the medicine was more expensive then what Claudia had available. Claudia begged the doctor to give him the medicine, she would pay for the rest later. The doctor had another idea.

" I'll give you the medicine free, if maybe we have some fun together." the creepy doctor offered. Claudia couldn't believe the doctor would offer something like this. She told him to get out of her house. Which the doctor obliged. But not before sticking the knife deeper.

" If he doesn't get treatment soon, he could likely die." The horrible man said. Claudia remembered how angry she was at that doctor. She couldn't even think properly. When she returned to Cloud's side, he was having trouble breathing, he coughed and coughed. She remembered him asking her.

" Momma...am I not gonna get better?"

" You will soon sweety. Really soon." Claudia reassured.

After this Claudia tried to sell things she had. Old clothes, furniture, anything someone would take. It took all day long but she managed to make enough money. She rushed over to the doctor to get the medicine that will make her son feel better. She didn't want to deal with this guy but he was the only doctor in town. She gave him the money for Cloud's medicine, but the price had gone up. They only had one bottle left so the doctor raised the price on it

Once again Claudia begged for him to take the money she had, he would pay him back somehow, but the doctor already had something in mind. Claudia didn't want to. But she was running out of time. So she gave him her answer.

"5 minutes..."

She came home with the medicine and first thing she did was gave it to Cloud. She sat on his bedside for the whole night. She waited for her little boy to come back. She hoped to whatever god was out there that this whole thing didn't happen for nothing. That Cloud would be alright. The next day Cloud began to feel better pretty quickly. When Cloud came too the next day Claudia had tears of joy as she saw the color return in her son's face, his hair had that same shine to it like before. She was so happy. But then she remembered the cost. She began to cry a little harder now. She remembered Cloud asking her.

" Momma? Why are you crying?"

Claudia couldn't stop crying. She tried to control herself but they just dropped and dropped. Claudia didn't want Cloud to see her like that though. So weak. So she quickly wrapped her little boy in a big hug, hiding her face from him.

" I'm okay Cloud. I'm just so happy your feeling better." Claudia said while trying her hardest not to break down into sobs.

That day was the worst day of Claudia's life. Never did she think she would resort to doing sexual acts with others for money. But to save her son, she did it. The next day Claudia went to Mr Lockhart and reported the doctor on his behavior. The doctor was quickly removed from the town and a new doctor moved in soon after. As for her reputation. It didn't improve, it only got worse. When word of the doctor spread around town, Claudia's name did as well. Men would often try to ask he for a good time assuming that is what she did for a living now. The woman would all look at her as if she was filth. Now no one would hire her, she couldn't start a business again. The only place that would hire her was the sleazy bar in town. Claudia didn't want to work there but at this point she had no other choice. What happened in there usually stayed in there. It also wasn't a place that payed regularly, you got paid by how much you brought in, and most of the time it was not much. The job was demeaning but at least it payed. Cloud needed her to be able to provide, so that's what she was going to do.

The day after the fight Cloud woke up to a sore body. He lifted his head off the pillow but noticed the blanket was weighed down by something. Cloud looked over and saw his mother laying her head down at the side of the bed. Cloud reached over and gave her a little shake.

" Mom? Wake up." Cloud said which stired Claudia awake. She rose from her little spot of the bed and looked over to Cloud. She had a brief look of confusion before she remembered the previous night.

" Hey Hon. How are you feeling?" Claudia asked.

" Sore." Cloud said.

" I bet. You had a lot of bruises on you. You want to tell me what happened. Claudia asked. Cloud broke eye contact with his mother as he thought back to what insinuated the fight. Cloud had never broached the subject of his mother's activities before. It was sort of an unspoken thing. Cloud understood. He wasn't stupid. But he knew his mother was uncomfortable about it.

" They...they said some, Hurtful words about you." Cloud explained. Claudia sighed.

" Cloud I know you want to protect me, but you can't just go starting fight at school because someone said some mean things about me." Claudia said.

" Mom... They said you were a...a..." Cloud started but really didn't want to Finnish the sentence. Claudia filled the blanks however.

" Oh.." Claudia said.

" Yeah..." Cloud said. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two. Claudia never wanted to have this conversation with her son, and Cloud never wanted to bring it up. But here it is.

" Okay...is there anything you want to say about it?" Claudia asked.

"'Nope." Cloud said almost too quickly.

" Then let's not talk about it.." Claudia said.

" Totally agree." Cloud said as he nodded. Another awkward silence hit them.

" I am going to make breakfast." Claudia said as she quickly got up and rushed over to the kitchen. Now alone Cloud quickly grabbed his pillow and shoved his face in it.

After the awkward morning greeting Cloud changed into his clothes for the day and entered the kitchen where his mother was cooking. They didn't have a lot of food in the house but she was working with what she had. Cloud sat at the table and waited for his mother to finish breakfast. Claudia had cooked some eggs and toasted some bread. She placed the food in front of Cloud and sat beside him.

" Thank you." Cloud thanked before eating. Claudia simply smiled at her son and watched him eat.

" So since you are suspended for a week I think we need to find something to keep you busy." Claudia said.

" Like what?" Cloud said between bites.

" Well, we need the grass cut in the back, the garbage taken out, and the dishes washed." Claudia said pointing out the chores needing to be done.

" Okay. I'll get them all done." Cloud said.

" Good boy." Claudia said as she stood up and began washing her hands. Cloud wondered what his mother was going to do today, but he didn't need to think too hard on that. He figured it out pretty quickly.

" So...are you going to...work today?" Cloud asked. Not wanting to directly ask if his mother was going to "work". Claudia took a moment before responding.

" We need the money, so yes I will be working today. Hopefully I will be home by dinner." Claudia said. Cloud didn't like his mother going of for this job of hers. Maybe he could help.

" Mom what if I got a job? You know like cutting grass or delivering stuff" Cloud asked.

" No Cloud, your too young to have that kind of responsibility. You have your chores and school to worry about." Claudia said.

" But Mom i- Cloud started before Claudia interrupted him.

" Cloud no. I take care of you, that's how this works. And that's the end of it." Claudia said putting her foot down. Cloud looked down at the floor in defeat.

" Okay..." Cloud said. Claudia walked over tocher son and gave him a hug.

" Cloud I know you hate this. but it's going to get better. I promise you." Claudia said.Cloud just nods in agreement but he knew that it wasn't. They were stuck in a rut, and things weren't going to change unless they made a change. and Cloud wasn't going to give up with out a fight.

A few hours had passed and Claudia had left the house to go to work. Cloud cleaned the dishes that they had in the sink and left them to dry in the rack. He took out the bags of garbage they had took it outside. As far as Cloud understood, someone would come and take there garbage and send it out of town to some sort of dump or land fill. All Cloud knew was that when he checked later, the garbage usually wasn't there.

Now with those first two tasks out of the way Cloud went out the back into his back yard and grabbed the mower. He didn't have a huge back yard but the grass would take a little time to cut. So with nothing else to distract him Cloud began to cut. Cloud went back and forth with the mower. It was a pretty boring job but he had to do it. Or at least his mother says he did. He never really understood why they needed to cut the grass. He supposed the grass looked nice when cut, but isn't it natural to keep it long? Cloud pondered this a little when out of the corner of his eye in the trees he saw something moving around.

Cloud looked over to the trees trying to see what was wandering around so much. Cloud figured it was probably a rabbit or something so he continued on with his task. He continued for a few more passes before he saw it again. This time Cloud stopped the mower. What was in the trees Cloud wondered. He walked a little closer to the trees to get a closer look at whatever it was in there. Cloud looked close into the trees and he couldn't believe what he saw.

It was the wolf.

The same wolf from the other day. At least it looked like it to Cloud. The Wolf was looking right at Cloud.

" How did he...?" Cloud wondered how he found him. Did he follow him home? Why was he here? The Wolf then began to walk closer to the yard. Cloud wasn't sure exactly how to react to this. The last time he saw this wolf it was ready to eat some kids. Is it still angry? Cloud braced himself in case the wolf tried to do anything. The Wolf came right up to where the trees to the woods would end and Cloud's yard began. Cloud and the wolf were once again face to face.

" What are you doing here? Cloud asked. The Wolf of course didn't say anything but it began to sniff Cloud's hand. Cloud lifted his hand up so it had a better angle for the sniffing. It sniffed and sniffed and then it began licking his hand.

" Hahaha, Okay I guess you recognise me then huh." Cloud said. The wolf then gave what looked like a nod to Cloud. It seemed like this wolf was much smarter then Cloud thought.

" So what's up?" Cloud asks. The wolf then runs back into the woods a little and looks back at Cloud. It looked as if it wanted him to follow him.

" You want me to come with you?" Cloud asked. The wolf just barked in response.

" I cant. I got my chores to do." Cloud said. The wolf turned its head to the side, as if it didn't understand what he ment.

" Of course you don't get it..." Cloud said. To his suprise the wolf came back and sat beside him. The wolf dug his head under Cloud's arm as if it wanted attention from him.

" Oh to just want to play? Cloud concluded as he began to scratch the wolfs neck.Thecneast seemed to love this and began tapping it's back footca little in excitement. Cloud couldn't help but find this whole situation funny. Yesterday he was being made fun of for being a wolf boy and now here he is the very next day petting a wolf. Cloud finally stopped scratching the fuzzy wolf.

" Okay big guy I got to finish up here" Cloud said as he turned to go to the mower The wolf began to follow him.

" No. I need to do this right now, you go back in the woods." The wolf once again looked a confused. Cloud thought about how to get the wolf to leave but at the same time he didn't want to never see him again.

" Hey how about I call you a name. Then if I call you, you can come by." Cloud said. The wolf seemed to understand this as it gave an agreeable bark.

" Let's see...what name would fit you?" Cloud thought about a name for the wolf but came up with nothing good.

" Kongo?" Cloud said. The wolf did not like it. He even gave a small growl at the name.

" Okay. Not that one" Cloud then thought of one he thought sounded cool.

" How about Fenrir?" Cloud said. This time the wolf looked like it agreed with it, his tail began wagging a little and he gave Cloud a sort of look of acceptance. At least that's what Cloud thought.

" Fenrir, yeah. I like it.." Cloud said. The wolf now named Fenrir barked in agreement.

Cloud then heated a door open behind him. He looked back and saw it wasn't his house door but the neighbors. Mrs Lockhart had come outside. Cloud turned back to Fenrir.

" Okay Fenrir, you got to go now. But I will call you soon okay." Cloud said. Fenrir gave him a small bark before it ran off into the woods. Cloud couldn't believe how smart that wolf was. Cloud went back over to his mower and began cutting his grass again.

Cloud made a few passes on the mower while briefly looking over to Mrs Lockhart.

She had come outside and looked to have a laundry basket. Cloud stopped breifly to look over at the woman. He couldn't help but notice she seemed a bit more pale then he remembered. Mrs Lockhart began putting the wet clothes out on the hangers to dry. Cloud took a break from his mowing and approached the woman. Mrs Lockhart was always so nice to him, he figured he should be nice to her as well. Plus she maybe she knew of a job a 10 year old could do. He still wanted to help his mother after all.

Cloud made his way to the chain link fence that divided there two properties and called out to her.

" Hi Mrs Lockhart." Cloud greeted accidentally scaring the woman as she jumped slightly upon hearing his voice.

" Oh Cloud. What a suprise, I didn't know you were home today." Mrs Lockhart said as she turned to look at Cloud directly. Cloud pauses briefly at the sight of her. She definately was more pale then before. She also had bags under her eyes, as if she had not slept in days.

" Yeah...I got suspended." Cloud explained.

" Suspended? Right. Tifa mentioned you were "COUGH" in a fight." Mrs Lockhart said as she coughed. Cloud came to the conclusion that she must be sick.

" yeah...that's right" Cloud explained.

" Well I'm sure that boy deserved it." Mrs Lockhart said. This took Cloud a little by suprise. he figured she would say he shouldn't fight or something.

" Really?" Cloud asked.

" Yes. Tifa told me what was said yesterday. An awful thing that Rye boy said about your mother." Mrs Lockhart said.

" yeah." Cloud said in agreement.

" Don't let those kids who don't know any better bother you. Your mother is one of the bravest woman I know." Mrs Lockhart said.

" Yeah, she is." Cloud agreed.

" I just wish that...i could help her out. That way she wouldnt need to go to that place." Cloud said.

" Your sweet for wanting to help her. But- Agh" Mrs Lockhart clutched her arm in pain as she collapsed to the ground. Cloud not thinking twice quickly climbed the small fence and rushed to Mrs Lockhart's side.

" Mrs Lockhart are you alright?" Cloud asked worried because this pain came so suddenly.

" Oh I'm okay "COUGH, COUGH" just a little run down." Mrs Lockhart said. Cloud did not believe her at all. Cloud looked at her right hand and noticed this black watery substance flowing down it. Cloud saw that she still had lots of laundry to put up but she didn't seem too able right now.

" Mrs Lockhart, you rest, I'll put the rest of your laundry up." Cloud offered.

" That's very nice Cloud but I can- agh. " Mrs Lockhart said as she tried to get up again. Cloud rushed to help her.

" Please...just take it easy. I can help." Cloud said. Mrs Lockhart couldn't help but smile at the kind boy.

" Okay... But just this once." Mrs Lockhart said as she relaxed a bit on the cool ground. Cloud then began hanging clothes that belonged to the Lockhart family. Cloud tried not to pay much attention to what artical of clothing he was placing on the rack, rather just getting them all on the rack.

" So, are you sick?" Cloud asked as he worked.

" It's that obvious now huh?" Mrs Lockhart said with a weak chuckle.

" How bad is it?" Cloud asked. Mrs Lockhart grew quiet for a moment before she responded.

" It's bad..." Cloud pauses briefly from hanging the clothing to absorb this information.

" So...are you...?" Cloud trailed off not wanting to Finnish the sentence.

" Dying? I think so." Mrs Lockhart said. Cloud couldn't believe it. This woman who had always been so kind to him, was dying? Cloud never knew anyone who died before. He understood what it ment and all but he had never really experienced it. The closest thing would be his father but he never really knew the man so it was hard to feel any sort of emotion toward him. But this was Mrs Lockhart. She was always around. She would sometimes give him food when he was younger and his mother had no food at home. Mrs Lockhart always looked out for Cloud and his mother.

" The doctors, they don't know what it is... They think it's Mako related but I don't know. It just feels different." Mrs Lockhart said. Cloud continued to hang the clothing up, making sure to let her know he was listening to every word.

" I think...I think my time is coming soon. I talked with my husband about it. He thinks I'm just being dramatic. Says I will be fine in a few days." Mrs Lockhart continued. She didn't seem to mind that she was talking with a 10 year old boy. Cloud figured she needed to vent a little. Cloud was always good at listening.

" Tifa doesn't know...She just thinks I just have a flu. She's going to be devastated when..." Mrs Lockhart trailed off as tears began to form in her eyes. Cloud stopped hanging clothes briefly and walked back to Mrs Lockhart. He grabbed her hand and gave her a smile.

" Everything will be okay... you'll see. Your going to beat this..." Cloud said optimistically. Hoping to at least get her hopes up but she knew. Mrs Lockhart knew his words were just that, words.

" Thats kind of you Cloud. But I know what I feel. My time is coming. Soon, I'm going to be leaving my husband. My baby girl. I won't get to see her grow into a woman, go on her first date, find love." Mrs Lockhart began to cry as she thought of moments she will never be a part of.

"I know you don't understand any of this yet but... Saying good bye to her is going to be the hardest thing..." Mrs Lockhart said as more tears began to fall.

Cloud didn't know what to say. She was right, he didn't know what those things could mean to him yet. But he understood. She was going away. She was going to never see things she wished she could have. This is something Cloud could understand.

" No...I think I understand a little. You wish you could see things happen, but you know you won't. That's sad for you. For me, Its my dad... I think of what if he was still alive... would we play catch? Ride bikes? What do son's even do with there dad's? I don't know. But that's the part that hurts the most." Cloud finished.

Mrs Lockhart had managed to stop crying and smiled. Cloud was still young, he didn't understand loss, but he understood the emptiness someones absence can cause. She appreciated him trying to connect with her though. This little boy somehow made her feel just a little bit better. She ruffled his hair a bit and smiled

" You really are a smart boy aren't you Cloud. In glad your Tifa's friend." Mrs Lockhart said.

Cloud smiled and stood up to finish hanging the laundry. Cloud continued to hang the laundry in silence with Mrs Lockhart just looking at the boy work. She couldn't help but feel that he was something special. That one day, he was going to do wonderful things. She briefly envisioned him as a grown man, tall, and standing strong. That same blond hair he had but he wears it proud. Tifa is standing with him. She has grown into a beautiful and strong woman. The two looked good together she thought. Mrs Lockhart let out another tear.

" Maybe...she will be okay...with him." Mrs Lockhart mumbles. Cloud looked back thinking he heard something.

" Did you say something Mrs Lockhart?' Cloud asked

" No, nothing at all kiddo." She said with a smile. She took a big breath of air in and closed her eyes. Feeling at peace for the first time in a while.

" Take care of her...Cloud Strife"

Cloud continued with his task with no more interruption from Mrs Lockhart. She seemed content with looking at Cloud work. Cloud didn't mind. He just liked to help. And then he was finally done.

" There, all done." Cloud said. Cloud turned around to see Mrs Lockhart sitting with her head down. Cloud wandered closer to her. The smile on her face never leaving.

" Hey Mrs Lockhart, I'm done now." Cloud says.

No response.

Cloud kneeled down to see her face and saw her eyes were closed, but she had a smile on her face. Was she sleeping? Cloud at first thought. He saw that her chest was not moving. She wasn't breathing.

" No..." Cloud shook Mrs Lockhart but instead of waking she fell to the ground motionless.

" No. No no no no!" Cloud rushed over to her side and kept trying to wake her up.

" Mrs Lockhart please... you can't leave yet. You need to say goodbye to Tifa... you can't leave without saying goodbye..."Cloud begged as he continued to try and shake her awake. But nothing happened. Tears began to fall freely from Cloud's eyes as he tried all he could to save her.

" HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! Cloud yelled Tring to get someone, anyone's attention.

He sat there yelling for someone to come for half an hour before before help arrived.

A/N Okay so I actually had some tears when writing this one out. It's probably just me but wow.

Okay so in this chapter I clearified on what Claudia actually does and also left it ambiguous kind of. Its not really something that I planned on focusing on in the story, but it was a detail I wanted to throw in.

Anyways that's done with now. Holy cow so Mrs Lockhart just up and died. Also what's up with the black liquid coming down her arm?'

I hope you guys are beginning to see some of the seeds im planting for the story. Also Cloud has a pet wolf Fenrir. I know this makes no sense but I thought it was cool so now it's in my story. Anyways guys thanks for reading.