Final Fantasy characters that don't appear in Kingdom Hearts will be appearing!

Cloud felt his stomach tighten as he walked up a very familiar hill…

He remembered to take his time…since he remembered that running usually resulted in him falling flat on his face and eating grass. Leon stayed close by his side and ready to catch Cloud if he slipped or fell.

The two didn't speak during their trip but Cloud was glad, because that tightening grip in his stomach just got tighter with each step that brought him closer to the top of the hill. He doesn't remember, yet he does. This wasn't just familiar, it was beyond familiar; in other words, he should know but…

Cloud gulped, and now he felt scared. And its official, Cloud knew he forced himself to forget this…place. And there was a reason for it other than this was a date-place/memorable place between himself and Leon. Speaking of which…said-man looked just as nervous as Cloud.

Cloud paused for a moment when he spotted a pink petal on the grass. The feeling of familiarity got stronger and Cloud forced himself to keep going. Slowly, he saw it: A cherry blossom tree. A single tree sitting by itself on top of a small hill. He definitely remembered this place…but Cloud still refused to remember the events that took place here. And he realized…he almost doesn't want to remember the happiness he felt just so he can avoid being hurt again.

"Cloud?" Leon whispered in worry as Cloud looked like he was going to cry again. The blonde responded with a shake of the head and continued to the tree. Now Leon regretted ever bringing Cloud here…maybe it was too soon after all.

Leon left Cloud alone, letting Cloud take in what he can at his own pace. The blonde kept staring at the tree branches, though still unsure why. He slowly circled the tree until he came across something carved into the tree. Reaching up he felt it…

"Why couldn't it be 'LeonStrife' again?" Squall asked as he carved into the tree with his pocketknife.

"Because 'Strifehart' sounds better!" Cloud pouted and folded his arms.

"Okay, well why couldn't it be 'S+C' or 'L+S' or even 'SL+CS' or the reverse of that?"

"Because that could be anyone!"

"True…" Squall finished up carving and stepped back to see his handiwork.

"Not bad, Squall," Cloud commented with a smile and went over to feel the heart that held 'Strifehart' in its center.

"Not bad? That's it? 'Not bad' is all you have to say?"

"Aw, did I hurt your masculinity?" Cloud teased and Squall just folded his arms with a frown. Cloud only kept that smile and went to give Squall a hug, "Thank you…I love it. I really do…"

"Hn…" Squall instantly gave in and hugged Cloud back. They held each other for a bit longer but Cloud nervously gave Squall an unsuspecting kiss before he whispered in his ear.

"I love you…"

"……I love you too."

Cloud tightened his grip on Squall as he snuggled close. Squall wanted to move them so they could sit down against the tree but when he took a single step towards it, he was met with someone's head, upside-down, unexpectedly appearing from the tree branches which nearly gave both Squall and Cloud a heart attack. Though Squall's natural reaction to being scared was punching whatever it was…so he did. In turn, Zack fell out of the tree while holding his face and wailing in pain.

"Zack!" Cloud exclaimed, appalled that he was spying on them.

"Ow…ugh! Your boyfriend is going to owe me a new nose!"

"Your problem," Squall stated bluntly as he felt no pity whatsoever. It took a while for Zack to explain that he was just checking up on Cloud, worried about him dating someone like Squall even it's been a year. He only showed himself because he wanted to congratulate their love confession. It's not that it made a difference to Squall who quite liked his privacy, thus threatened if he ever catches Zack spying on their dates again, he'll tell Aerith. And knowing Squall, he'll twist it just enough that it sounds bad without making it sound like a lie...though it's not too hard to make spying sound bad to begin with.

Cloud withdrew his hand and simply stared at the carving, almost as if it was foreign. So many memories…he knew there we so many memories right here at this spot but he can't bring up any of them himself.

"I loved coming here didn't I?" Cloud asked which slightly startled Leon who didn't expect Cloud to say anything, or just ask a question like that.

"Yeah…"

"Did we…always sit by the tree?"

"Sometimes we would sit on the branch…the one to your right," Leon replied and stared right at it. The lowest thick branch that gave the perfect view of Radiant Garden and of the sun setting. Cloud looked up and saw it…he remembered having important conversations while sitting on there even if he can't specifically remember what they were.

"We'd talk…after school right?" Cloud asked to make sure and stood under it before reaching up to feel it.

"That's right…"

"Then we would…watch the sunset together."

Leon simply nodded and didn't give a verbal answer, but Cloud continued.

"What did we talk about?"

Leon slightly stiffened, not expecting that question.

"Um…l-lots of stuff. Nonsense, important stuff, problems we had during the day, good things that happened during the day, just anything…"

Cloud found himself tempted to climb up and sit there again, just to feel that familiarity. It's just a tree branch…but he felt so secure on it. Probably because nothing bad actually happened when he sat there with Leon…

On the other hand, Cloud's not sure how many memories he can take in one day.

"Cloud…" Leon slowly approached him but made sure he's not invading Cloud's personal space, "Can I…bring you home sometime?"

Cloud only looked at him, confused,

"What do you mean?"

"Home…I don't mean my house I mean…my family."

"Oh…your parents," Cloud whispered out loud without even thinking, "How are they?"

"I…" Leon found himself shrugging, "I don't know…I haven't spoken to them in a while and it's not like I made them proud or anything…well I spoke to them a while ago to, well, talk about you. They really want to see you again. But there's no rush! You can come whenever you want!"

"……I'll go. This week?"

Sora was bored out of his skull…mainly because his parents are out, Roxas is out with Riku(again), and he's stuck with a sick Zack(again). The only thing interesting that happened today was Tidus making a surprise visit so they all played Scrabbles together: himself, Tidus, and Aerith. Zack almost puked on the game board from getting a headache so he was taken out of the game. Although losing three times in a row didn't make the game so much fun anymore…it's not his fault he's not good at English. Now he ponders why he agreed to play the American board game to begin with. But when Aerith suggested they play Go, he immediately declined knowing he's going to lose. So he's currently watching Aerith and Tidus play and he can't even tell who is winning…

So he excused himself to another room and called up his brother.

"Please come back, Roxy! I'm so bored!"

"Well I'm at Riku's house, want to come over and study?"

"…Not really."

"Well either study with us or keep…doing what you're doing I guess."

"You're so mean, Roxy!" Sora anime-cried and pouted. He would've continued begging if he didn't receive another call and thus put Roxas on hold.

"Hello?"

"Sora? I'm coming home. Can you do me a favor and head over there now? I was just informed that a friend is coming over and I want someone to be there in case they get there first," Cloud requested and Sora's excitement took over the boredom,

"No problem, Dad!"

"Thank you…"

So Sora did what he asked, after informing Roxas of what's going on, and headed home. But Cloud and Leon came back before his friend did.

"So who's coming over, Dad? Someone I know?" Sora asked, almost excited.

"Hm? Ah, yeah, you know," Cloud replied in a monotone voice as he walked away to his room.

"……Did something go wrong?" Sora asked Leon who let out a sigh he's been holding for a while.

"I'm not sure…he doesn't say anything to me," Leon shrugged but Sora clearly saw the man was down.

"It's okay, Leon! You're trying!" and Sora gave him a bright smile, "And at least he invites you into the house now!"

"True…" Leon nodded and played with Sora's hair, "Thanks, Sora…"

Sora only giggled with an added "No problem!"

Sora and Leon sat down together to watch some television to pass the time for…well they weren't even sure but since Leon wasn't asked to leave, he thought he should at least spend some quality time with Sora. Though he had hoped Roxas was here since he still needs to make a relationship of some kind with him.

So when the doorbell rang, Leon hoped it was Roxas unless the boy had the key on him. Sora was the one that got but he didn't shout for his brother…

"Barret!" Sora exclaimed before he got tackled with a hug by a teenage girl, "And Marlene!"

"Sora! You…" the girl hugging him crooked her head to the side a bit after taking a step back to look, "You haven't grown at all!"

Sora's head fell from that comment…especially since Marlene has definitely grown since the last time they saw each other. She came in a nice long white dress with some small pink flowers on it and carrying a matching tote bag. She styled her hair the same as always which was a lot like Aerith's.

Leon by now, left the couch to see who it was that arrived but he walked in the same time Barret did and Leon restrained himself from running from intimidation.

"Sora!" Barret practically bellowed and Sora released Marlene to give the big man a hug who easily picked him up and gave him a tight squeeze(and Leon almost thought he was going to kill him) before setting him down again, "Sora! This is how I left you last time: Thin and not working out! But that's what makes you yourself I guess!"

"What about Roxas? Last I checked, he Struggled," Marlene reminded with a small giggle, "So where is he?"

"Ah…" Sora tried to feel his back before answering, "He's studying with Riku."

"Really? Daddy? Can I go see Roxas and Riku?" Marlene asked excitedly and Barret just laughed.

"Hold on there, Young Lady! We did not even see Cloud yet!" Though after that, Barret's attention landed on Leon and his face frowned, "And you must be…what's-his-name…"

"Leon!" Sora answered with a smile, "Well, Squall is his real name!"

"That's right…well I will make this quick," Barret announced and approached Leon who unconsciously started to back up until he hit a wall, "If you send Cloud to Twilight Town in tears like before…I'm going to make you wish you never met him."

"Daddy/Barret!" Marlene and Sora exclaimed, not believing he just threatened Leon in front of them. Though Barret just smiled it off, as if it wasn't a big deal…although even Sora can tell the threat got through to Leon.

"Barret?" Cloud's soft voice were heard from the stairs and he was greeted instantly by his visiting friends when he reached the bottom of it.

"You okay, Leon?" Sora asked while Barret and Marlene doted on Cloud.

"Um…y-yeah…" he partially lied as he stared at Cloud.

"Barret is like a giant teddy bear once you get to know him!" said Sora but Leon knows for a fact, he'll never see Barret that way…

As Leon watched Cloud talk with Marlene and Barret, he caught something: Cloud giving off a light smile. He even heard a small laugh!

It's a good thing but Leon never felt more crushed…

"Um…excuse me, Sora," Leon whispered and returned to the living room, hoping he can just leave as soon as they all step away from the front door.

"Leon…" still Sora decided to follow but Leon put a hand out to stop him,

"I'm fine…" Even though they both know he's not…

When Roxas returned home that day, he was greeted the same way Sora was greeted except Roxas didn't feel the pain as bad as Sora did.

"Not that I'm complaining but what you are guys doing here?" Roxas asked as he joined them in the family room.

"Oh, just checking up on Uncle Cloud!" Marlene replied with a smile as they all re-sat themselves around the coffee table to talk.

"Are you hungry, Roxas?" Cloud asked but Roxas shook his head,

"It's okay, I ate a bit at Riku's place…I didn't know his Dad could cook so well. Hey…where's Sora?"

"He's upstairs," Cloud pointed before he reached for his drink.

"But…you guys are here," Roxas pointed to Marlene and Barret, "Kind of rude you think?"

"Now, Sora has his reasons and it's not our business to put our nose where it doesn't belong," said Barret, "The boy seemed worried about something."

"Worried?" Roxas repeated and raised a brow.

Well of course Sora was worried, especially when Leon left without a word and Sora wasn't even sure if Cloud even noticed it yet. He was extra worried when Leon didn't respond to his calls and messages. Still he didn't want to feel down and bring everyone else down with him, especially since Marlene and Barret are here to visit.

"Sora?"

Sora lightly jumped when he heard Roxas call for him outside his door.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Sora, Marlene and Barret are here. Why are you hiding out in your room?"

Sora was surprised that Roxas didn't sound mad.

"Um…long story?"

"…Did you break something of Dad's again?"

"No!"

"Then come on. Let's go spend time with Marlene. I heard she got a boyfriend."

"Really?" Sora jumped up at the news and opened the door,

"Well I don't know if it's true," Roxas shrugged with his arms crossed, "So let's talk to her."

"I…guess…" Sora slowly nodded and checked his phone, hoping Leon would get back to him soon.

"You really are distracted," Roxas commented and Sora just shrugged.

"Leon left without a word today. And I don't think it's because Barret threatened him."

"Barret threatened him?" Roxas repeated with wide eyes.

"Well yeah…and he was really upset about something…" Sora added but Roxas started talking about halfway through Sora's sentence with:

"Good! About time someone did!"

"Roxas!" Sora exclaimed afterwards.

"Sora, look, you're probably the only one that even likes him. Heck, even Riku doesn't like him!"

"That's because he spends all his time with you! With the way you describe him, of course he'll agree with you!" Sora exclaimed in anger.

"Well I didn't lie about anything I said!" Roxas countered.

"And you leave out the good things about him?"

"Sora! You knew him for a few weeks and you believe you know everything about him?"

"You're one to talk!"

The two would've continued if they didn't hear footsteps trudging up the stairs and Cloud came into view a second after.

"What's going on?"

And now the twins couldn't find any words.

"Nothing Dad," Roxas spoke first and sighed afterwards, "I'm sorry if we disturbed you guys. I will go back downstairs after I put my stuff away." Giving Sora angry glare, Roxas retreated to his room leaving Cloud with Sora.

"Sora?"

"I'm sorry too, Dad," Sora apologized with his head down.

"It's fine, but why are you up here? You love it when those two visit. What's going on?"

"I'm just…it's nothing. I'm just feeling…a bit down. And I don't want to make other people feel down too is all."

"Oh…" Cloud ran his fingers through Sora's hair, getting the boy's attention, "That's considerate of you. But if something is bothering you, you should talk to me or Roxas."

Sora looked up at him and was about to say something if Cloud didn't read his thoughts and continued, "Yes, I have guests over. But I'm a father first."

"…Thanks Dad…" Sora whispered and unconsciously found himself wrapping his arms around Cloud's waist for a hug. Now Sora knew why he would always defend Leon: It's was because of Leon that he opened his eyes and realized how lucky he is to have a family like this.

Leon felt nervous as heck, well not as bad as when he's with Cloud but this was a close second. He never thought Cloud would say yes. Of course he had to ask to be sure and was expecting a 'No' but he was proved wrong. He also never thought Cloud wouldn't catch him lying since Cloud was so good at that before…

But just because Cloud said 'Yes' today, he has to make this call…

Now that he's calmed himself down from his little jealousy/depression/anger problem, and will apologize to Sora for ignoring him later, Leon called up one of the people he would normally ignore at all costs.

"Hello?"

"Erm…hi…it's me, Father…"

Silence…not a great start. Normally, he's just hang up now but he can't. Cloud expects to be taken to Leon's old home tomorrow.

Notes:

-Regarding Marlene, I'm counting by official chronological years. So if I did my math right:

Cloud was knocked up at 17-18, but we'll just say 18 because of how long pregnancy is. So add on 15 years b/c that's how old Sora and Roxas are. So that makes Cloud 33 right now in the story.

Marlene is 6 in Advent Children. So I subtract 23(Cloud's AC's age) from 33 and get 10 and add that number to 6 and that makes her a year older than Sora and Roxas. Wow, I did math outside of school…

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