A/N: Hey Gang, so anyone following my posts, I will try to post every weekend but I do work all week so I can't usually write except on Saturdays. Disclaimer, don't own anything or I'd be rich and wouldn't be writing fanfics on a free site lol. Enjoy... well this is a sad chapter so you won't... but bear with the pain for the light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks :)

Chris watched in terror as Zack ran into the house, minutes later a blond jumped the fence and ran to the house just as warm arms wrapped around Chris' form and pulled him gently from the fence. A tall girl with black hair and gentle brown eyes was guiding him away from his burning home, saying something that Chris supposed was supposed to be comforting but he wasn't really hearing a word of it. After they had stopped moving, he burst into tears again and found himself compressed in a hug in the girl's lap as she rocked him gently back and forth and stroked his hair.

It took a good half hour before Chris calmed down enough to take in his surroundings, he looked up at the girl who was smiling gently but her eyes held much sadness.

"Wh-what happened?" Chris said as he looked around for his parents. It was painful to move his neck after having it bent for so long and his eyes burned from the long exposure to his salty tears.

"I... I'm really sorry sweetie... Zack did all he could... but... but..." The girl trailed off and wouldn't meet his eyes.

Chris jumped up, frantic and a little angry now, "But what?! Where are my mom and dad?!" He demanded.

"I'm so sorry," She said softly, holding his small hands and trying to calm him down, "Your parents didn't make it."

That was it. Chris' world fell apart. He stepped back, his mouth opening and closing but no words were coming out. Then he shook his head and ran. He ran as hard and fast as he could, but after just a few minutes of running, he tripped and fell face down on the ground. He just laid there and sobbed with all of his anger and fear and passion and mourning rolled into one. Each tear that fell and soaked into the earth was like a piece of his heart, leaking out until there was nothing but a lonely and empty feeling left inside him.

The girl had never been far behind, and she simply stood back and watched him cry on the ground, she figured he could use a few minutes to just let it all out without feeling the pressures of being watched; so she left him alone just far enough she could still ensure his safety.

Once Chris had cried all the tears he could muster, he slowly got up, his head still hanging low. He looked around through bloodshot eyes until he saw the woman in the distance; he then promptly turned away and started to trudge off by himself. He didn't want that woman, she was the one who ripped the rug out from under his feet, and even though deep down Chris knew it wasn't her fault, he still resented her for it.

But it was no use, he soon heard the sounds of boots hitting grass at a fast pace and then he was swept up.

"Sorry, kid," She sighed, "But I can't let you wander off with Sephiroth destroying the city."

Sephiroth Chris thought. He knew that name. Sephiroth was a hero, but he was destroying the city? He must have caused the fire. He's the reason this happened. I thought SOLDIER was supposed to protect us?! But I guess no one can really be trusted to do that.

Chris was lost in thought as he was carried to the nearby hospital, he was set down in a chair in the waiting room and the woman knelt down to look him in the eyes. "What's your name, kid?"

"Chris," He answered shortly, glaring slightly at her.

"Okay, Chris, I'm Tifa. I'm going to do my best to help you right now, ok? We need to make sure you weren't burned or hurt, so I've brought you to the doctor's. They are going to look you over and help you, but you need to cooperate. In a little while I expect that some people will be here to talk to you about what happened. You need to cooperate with them too, alright?" She had a very serious look on her face, yet her tone was still gentle and she spoke slowly, as though she knew how hard it was for Chris to perceive what she was saying. Then she kissed his forehead and gave him a sad look, but it wasn't like pity, it was as though she understood what he was going through and was feeling the same thing he was at that moment.

Chris nodded as the doctor came and escorted Chris to the examination room, where he was checked over and questioned. The doctor then took him to a hospital room and laid him in bed, where he quickly fell asleep, exhausted from everything that had happened that day.

Poor Chris... for anyone who doesn't know this is about the same time that Tifa lost her father as well. I'll try to post soon, but no longer than next week for sure! Hope everyone likes it!