NiNiChan: Hi Hi! I'm back with the first chapter! OH YEAH! I'm So Excited!

Cloud: Please excuse her. Some idiot had the brilliant {eye-roll} idea to give her a freaking HUGE helping of brownies and ice cream-

NiNiChan: But, Cloudie! I only ate 3 scoops and 6 brownies...

Cloud: Well anyway, before you sue NiNi, please be aware she does not own me- Thank HEAVENS for that- or anything about Final Fantasy VII.

NiNiChan: Yep, yep, yep, yep, YEP!

Cloud: Why am I doing this again?

Cause I wuv you, my lil chocobo head! {runs up to hug cloud, but gets punched in the face}

Cloud: Good riddance. {leaves on Fenrir}

NiNiChan: ON TO THE SHOOOOOW!

Chapter 1

"Run!" called out the soft voiced warrior as he slaughtered large beasts, pushing them away from the child.

The child spread her emaciated arms out and vigorously shook her head. "Brother, I won't leave you!"

"Leave, or they will detain you!" His sword struck down more of the creatures. Their black blood spattered on the two, but neither flinched.

"No, I won't! Not with you still here in the laboratory!" The child cried, "Why do you have to fight alone? Why can't I help you?"

"We would be easier to identify together." The tall man tried to ignore her tears and gently pushed the child into the elevator. "I'll find you. I promise." He hollered, then turned way, and the door shut.

"Don't leave me behind again!" she tried to shout to him, but the elevator was already ascending towards the outside world.

"BROTHER!"

"OI SPIKY! WAKE THE HELL UP!"

"Barret! Don't shake him, he's hurt!"

"C'mon, Tifa, he's worrin' Marlene!"

"He'll be in worse shape if you keep on hitting him, you idiot! Crap, I think you woke him up."

"Bout damn time!"

Cloud groaned in pain as he shifted on the bed and creaked open his eyes. "Cloud!" He grimaced as Tifa crushed him in a reluctant embrace. "We were all so scared! You were out for hours!" Her voice was cracking as Cloud realized her tears were falling on his bare shoulders. "When you weren't back yet," the dark haired women continued, "I thought you were just late like usual, but something felt wrong-"

"Spike, you were luck-y," Barret's gruff voice cut in, "if you weren't found…" the dark skinned man struggled for the correct words. "Well, 'ya wouldn't be 'ere right now."

Cloud nodded, remembering the strange beasts that attacked him. Tifa got off him, but was still sitting on the bed, wiping the rest of her tears. As he sat up, the blonde checked up on himself. Red stained bandages covered various sections of his bare chest, and scattered all the way from his toes to his boxers. They were all sloppily tied, them either being too loose or too tight.

"We patched 'ya up, kiddo. Took up half of our supply and whole lot of material."

The brighter dressings on each of his ankles caught his eye. They were not of the standardized medical variety, but were obviously ripped off something. The fabric was smooth, but dreadfully thin and almost translucent against his fair skin. "She put that on." Tifa said, sounding unsure. Apparently, she had noticed what Cloud was staring at. "She?" Cloud inquired quietly.

"The 'lil gal who found 'ya. The 'lil doll carried you all the way here without breakin' a sweat, and even I think you're heavy!" What girl? Cloud pondered in his head. Suddenly, it dawned on him. Not a name, but a face.

"Where is she?" He said quickly, bolting up. Tifa rushed to try to push him back into the pillows, concern lining her features. "Don't worry, Cloud. She's downstairs with Denzel and Marlene," Barret's eye's shifted, clearly uncomfortable that a stranger was left unattended with his young daughter. Cloud let an eyebrow raise, unsure to why his friends weren't guarding her like a hawk.

Tifa explained hurriedly, "She saved you, didn't she? Besides, the only thing I've heard her say is; 'nurse his abrasions'. I kinda felt like an moron, though, 'cause I had to find a dictionary…" Tifa trailed off, embarrassed at the memory. "But if she was dangerous, she would've let you bleed to death, instead of hauling all 120 pounds of Cloud meat a quarter mile."

Cloud's mind exploded with questions and realizations. "Can I talk to her? The monsters that attacked me called her specimen L. I need to know what they meant. And Barret, will you keep the kids downstairs? If she's what I think she is, they're too young to her this." Barret nodded and headed out the door.

Tifa got up from the bed and she headed over to his closet. She came back with one of Cloud's dark, sleeveless turtlenecks. She tossed it to him and sat down next to him on the small bed. He put it on, without much difficulty, while Tifa spoke.

"Hey, Cloud? You sure you're up for this? Just looking at her makes me nauseous. You'll see what I mean you see her." Cloud tilted his head in curiosity. Was she ugly? Or maybe deformed? But the child from the alleyway was like an angel.

A knock on his bedroom door shook him from his train of thought. "Come on in." He mentally prepared himself for the worst. The door seemed to take an eternity to creak open. He nearly gasped as the little girl stepped in.

The kid's body looked barely 4 feet tall, very pale, and skeletal. Covering it was what looked like a hospital robe, but closed in the back, almost lucent, and was frayed at the bottom. Red, black, and brown smudges were spattered across the 'dress' contrasting the bright white.

She looked like she would belong in a doll box, with multiple lovable outfits. Cherubs also came to mind when Cloud stared at her round, but not quite plump, face.

Her hair was a light brownish gray. It was lop-sided, with the back almost buzz cut short, but the front was a different story. Two long wisps of slightly curly hair framed both sides her face, and were cut around her waist.

Her ragged bangs looked as if they were meant to be straight, but instead began right above her right eyebrow, then ended below her left eye. Her eyes were an aqua color, and quite familiar, but Cloud couldn't place it.

"Who…who in Gaia's name are you? Why did you help me?" Cloud asked, bewildered. Tifa was right. How the child was so recognizable, yet he was certain he had never seen such a girl before, was nauseating. Said girl, looked up at Cloud with an unreadable expression he had never expected to see on child.

When she spoke, it was barely louder then a whisper in a soft voice, "I am Specimen L."

"Specimen L?" Cloud felt an uneasiness he hadn't felt in more then half a year. Suddenly it dawned on him who she might be; it made perfect sense, with her attire and eyes. "You're an experiment of Hojo's, aren't you?"

All the girl did was nod silently as Tifa gasped. She could barely imagine what the labs were like. Whenever the words "Hojo" or "Specimen" would be mentioned, even in passing, Cloud would just freeze up and a small flash of fear came up to the surface.

Cloud's eyes filled with comprehension and sympathy as he remembered the five years the 'professor' had his grimy hands all over him. He continued, feeling unexpectedly closer to the small child.

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you escape?" A new respect and gentleness creeped into Cloud's voice. I'm glad she got out of that hellhole. Hojo may be dead, but Vincent's still trying to neutralize all of the labs and dangerous subjects. This is the first fully human one I've seen recovered, though. Tifa squeezing his hand interrupted Cloud in his thoughts. "Cloud," she whispered, "look."

Cloud stood abruptly as he saw what Tifa saw. Silent lines of tears flowed in rivulets down her face. Shit! I brought up painful memories! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! He dashed to the girl's side. He guided her to the edge of the bed. The blonde sat the child down before pulling her into a tight embrace. "It's alright now, he won't hurt anymore. You're safe here."

Sobs filled the air. The girl's tears were no longer silent. Cloud heard her choke out. "All m-my fault… he's-he's gone again!" she clutched his shirt and he carefully lifted his head to Tifa in panic. Cloud mouthed to her 'What do I do?' She gave him a thumbs up sign and scooted closer to the cherub girl.

She rested one of her hands on the child's shoulder. The light haired girl looked up from Cloud's shirt and stared into her eyes. Tifa's heart nearly broke. To see tears filled with such feeling on a face that seemed to radiate innocence and purity…it made her want to hug the kid and never let go.

Before she could join the embrace, however, the child wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her Mako green eyes were still red and puffy, but her expression had gone back to the original deadpan she was sure she had seen before.

Cloud's arms were still wrapped protectively around her, but the child didn't try to break out of it. "He had to leave again." Her voice was full of hurt, and… Guilt? Cloud thought. "They always make him leave… he was gone for so long…"

Who was the 'he' she was talking about? The 'they' was probably Hojo, or maybe even ShinRa, but who was the boy she was talking about? He was most likely another specimen of Hojo's. I'll have to tell Vincent Cloud noted.

Tifa all but pulled the small girl out of Cloud's arms. She stood her up and said, "It'll be alright" She ruffled the small girl's hair, "You're here now. We'll protect you. Promise."

The girl stared up at Tifa with confusion clearly lining her features. Tifa stuck out her hand to her. "My name is Tifa, and Him over there? That's Cloud." She tilted her head Cloud's way, "Now what's your name?"

The child was staring at the hand as if she had no idea what to do, which she probably didn't, if you thought about it. Cautiously, her hand linked with Tifa's. She started in her whisper-speak, "As I said before, I am Spec-"

"That's not your name!"

Both girls jumped, surprised at the outburst. They turned towards Cloud, whose anger wasn't directed at her. It was for the pain she had go though, just for some data. It was for the life she must have had, to first call herself by 'specimen'.

"You're not a letter or a number. You are a person!"

At first the child looked shocked and confused, but then her face softened. A very cute small, sad smile played on her lips. She looked wistful, as if she was remembering something sweet, but dappled with grief.

"He told me that, so, so long ago. I was called Layci by him ever since. It's been so long, I almost forgot. That's what brother wanted me to call myself."

Brother…so the 'he' was her older brother. That must be how she escaped. He probably made her go on without him. Those poor siblings… I wonder if he's out there looking for her. An idea struck him.

He walked over to the little girl, Layci. He ruffled her hair that was as soft as kitten's fur. He smiled at her, in a genuine reassuring way that Tifa hadn't seen on him since childhood. "How about you stay here? That way if your big brother is looking for you, he can find you."

"YES!" a kid's scream of joy burst into calm atmosphere. Each one of the three in the rooms were as puzzled as the other ones. They all stared at the door, trying to make sense of it. Tifa cautiously tiptoed to the door. It quickly swung open inwards, revealing the hollorer.

"AHHHH!"

Barret, Marlene and Denzel all fell flat on their faces. Cloud laughed quietly, lifting his wrapped up hand to cover his grin, at their muddle of limbs, of which he was glad Barret had been on bottom. They untangled themselves and quickly stood up.

"Sorry…" Marlene said looking slightly guilty and Barret nodded along with Denzel. Both of the kids lit up though when they saw Layci. They ran over to her.

"I can't believe you're gonna be home with us, Mussy Head- err... I mean... Layci? Right?" Denzel barely waited for an answer before ruffling her already messy and uneven hair. He smiled at the look of curiosity on her face. With such adorable face… She's cuter then a Moogle! Denzel was almost blushing at his line of thought.

"Why are all of you creating mayhem on my hair? It is rather niggling." Layci murmured.

"Niggling?" Denzel and Marlene started to laugh, "What does that even mean?"

The three adults stood watching this. Tifa had already scolded Barret, so they just watched the three kids mess around. It was interesting to see them together. Even Marlene was larger then Layci but was probably younger. Denzel looked a full foot and a half taller then her, but still had that kidlike gleam of mischief in his eyes.

"' 'Ya know Spiky. The little doll hasn't answered 'ya yet…"

Layci twirled herself around. She tilted her head, and gave the cutest and most enchanting smile ever. It took so much willpower for Tifa not to run over and squeal. The little girl then asked,

"Why wouldn't I?"