18. Stormy Weather
Angel laid relaxed in her bed while thunder and lightning crashed outside. She had just gotten Cloud and Cassie to go to bed. The poor things were terrified of the storm.
Angel had just closed her eyes when lightning struck the tree in the middle of their chocobo pasture. A large boom of thunder shook the house and made the teenaged blond jump. Angel's door quickly opened and showed a teary eyes Cloud holding his prized stuffed chocobo. Angel stood up and walked over to him, "Hey, it's okay…"
"I know…I wanted to check on you."
Angel smiled at the small boy's obvious lie, "Well, I appreciate you checkin' up on me, but you should be in bed."
Cloud tightly hugged her leg "Please don't make me go to bed alone!"
Angel picked him up and sat him on her bed, "I won't."
Angel lied down next to Cloud and looked into his large green eyes. Cloud snuggled up closer and hugged her tightly as thunder struck again.
Angel chuckled, "It's not that scary. You know, the last time we had a storm this bad the barn caught on fire."
Cloud tilted his head interested. Angel smiled, "Dad and I had to go in there to save all the chocobos too."
The small boy's eyes widened even more, "Is that where all your scars came from?"
"Some. Yes."
Cloud looked up into the older girl. He could see a secret and sadness in her eyes, "What happened?"
"While I was in the barn, lumber had begun to fall. I was trying to get Old Sam out of his stall and after he ran out, a large piece of roof fell on top of me. Hell, if it wasn't for dad, I'd be dead now."
Angel could feel her brother's amazed gaze. Thunder rolled father away and lightning became scarce. Looking down at Cloud, she saw him fast asleep. Angel smiled sadly.
Maybe one day she'd tell him the other story, but would he think of her the same way?