Hey guys! here's the next chapter. I kindof wonder if anyone is reading this because I just keep getting favorites on Not Your Average Firebender and Snowflakes

As you woke, your senses were overwhelmed with the scent of what you could only describe as wind and motorcycle exhaust. Slightly disoriented you realized that you had slept in Cloud's room again, he refused to allow you to sleep on the downstairs couch. You couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by everything you shared with Cloud last night, you're always dumping your feelings on him, you wondered if he was annoyed by it.

You tiptoed into your room, Riley and Denzel were still fast asleep. You grabbed your clothes for the day and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. Your back stung as the water hit your scar, the wounds had been healing recently but it still stung. Once your shower was done you dressed in black jeans and a maroon crop top. You decided to allow your long black hair air dry.

When you got into the kitchen you were surprised to see Tifa, you weren't expecting her back so early. She was leaning against the counter glaring at the coffee pot as if it could feel her hatred willing it to brew faster.

"How was your trip?" you asked.

She sighed, looking exhausted, "Uneventful, I did find a new beer I want to keep on tap, I think Barrett will really like it" she said. "Hey, any idea why Marlene slept in my room?" she questioned curiously.

You absently rolled your eyes, of course Cloud would never say anything about where you're going to today. So you explained how the kids found Skylar, her uncaring parents and how you and Cloud are going to bring the spoiled little girl home today.

By the end of your tale, the coffee was done, Tifa handed you the first mug saying you need it more than she will regardless of how tired she is.

"Cloud's actually taking you on fenrir, he never takes anyone on that thing" Tifa mused with a sly smile.

"I doubt he wants to bring Skylar home on his own" You told her, instantly cutting off her train of thought, you knew what she was thinking.

"Hmm I guess your right" She paused for a moment, "I still think its because your special to him" she said as she stood up. You couldn't think of any good come backs, of course you and Cloud get along, you bonded over the loss of the two people closest to you and the deaths of nearly everyone you care about. Tifa just gave you a knowing smile before she said "Dilly dally shilly shally," as she headed upstairs coffee in hand.

You sighed, first Alyssa, now Tifa, even if you did like Cloud and you'd never admit it for fear of betraying Jace's memory, it wouldn't matter, he's not interested in you anyway.

"And Autumn" Tifa said peeking back into the kitchen, nearly startling you, "theirs a special place in Cloud's heart for you, even he has trouble showing it." Then she left again.

You closed your eyes and tried to focus on your morning coffee, feeling torn between Jace's memory and your growing interest in Cloud. Too scared to move on because what if moving on is forgetting?

You could hear the kids beginning to wake up and figured you should probably get breakfast started. You knew Cloud was already awake you could hear his motorcycle running just outside. You decided to make pancakes and as if on cue once the first one was done, Denzel and Riley showed up at the table ready to eat. You put a pancake on each of their plates and the two of them dug in. You started making a second batch when you heard a scream followed by a crash and more screaming.

"Riley" you said as you handed him the spatula.

"I gotcha sis" he said as he began flipping pancakes like a pro, while you headed upstairs hoping what you think is going on, isn't going on.

The nightmare just continues, you found an extremely confused Tifa standing outside the kid's room, where Skylar was wearing Marlene's favorite sweater and Marlene was trying to rip it off her.

"You grab one, i'll grab the other?" you asked. Tifa nodded and you grabbed Skylar while Tifa grabbed Marlene, pulling to two foul-tempered kids away from each other. "Both of you stop screaming" You ordered already knowing this was going to a long day.

"I will as soon as that brat gives me back my sweater!" Marlene yelled as she tried to escape from Tifa's grasp. It wasn't as effective as Cloud but still got the job done. Skylar on the other hand seemed to suddenly fear for her life as she didn't struggle against your grasp, instead she turned away and closed her eyes tight at the sound of Marlene's voice.

"Skylar you can pick out one of my shirts and you'll give Marlene back her sweater." You told her.

"Ok" Skylar said quietly. "I'm sorry I took your sweater without asking" She added.

You and Marlene were at a complete loss for words, you couldn't believe that the spoiled little girl actually apologized.

"Marlene manners" Tifa scolded. Marlene paused a moment as if testing her boundaries with Tifa before forgiving Skylar.

You told Marlene to go downstairs for breakfast, while you ushered Skylar into your room and began going through your closet looking for something that wouldn't be too big on the spoiled little girl.

"Why are you so nice to me?" Skylar asked as you examined a black sweater, it was too big on you, she'd never fit in it, so you put it away and grabbed another.

"what do you mean?" you asked, "You're a lost little kid, we couldn't just leave you."

"Not that" Skylar said quietly, "You don't ignore me" she nearly whispered. You dropped the clothes you were looking at and turned to her. "Everyone at home ignores me, the only time they pay attention to me is when I act up" She began to tear up but continued. "I don't want to leave here."

You frowned, it broke your heart. Skylar probably isn't a bad kid, just sad and lonely. You couldn't imagine how she must feel, after all your mother was extremely loving and supportive. Granted you've never met your biological father but Zander always treated you as his own. You definitely have some choice words for Skylar's parents, maybe having Cloud with you will make them listen to you too. Skylar ran to you and hugged your leg as she began to cry. You kneeled to her level and said, "I'm sorry, you deserve much better than this, but I have to bring you home" You told her, you were sincerely sorry. Why do people like that get to have kids, you couldn't understand it especially when…

"Please don't make me go" She cried pulling away from you.

"I have to bring you home" you told her, "but maybe if you apologize to Marlene, I'll talk to Tifa and your parents, maybe they'll let you visit."

"Marlene isn't going to forgive me" she said bluntly as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I think she will, you just gotta promise me one thing." Skylar looked at you with the biggest saddest eyes you've seen. "Be yourself, no more of this acting up, and yelling at people, I know thats not really you. I think Marlene, Denzel and Riley would really like to get to know the you." you told her.

"I want to get to know them too" Skylar agreed.

"Why don't you go downstairs and have some breakfast, I'll find you a sweater." you told her. Skylar nodded before running downstairs. You waited a few moments, so far no yelling, good signs.

You finally found a black sweater that wasn't so big, hopefully it will fit her. As you went to exit your room you ran into Tifa, she had a sad frown on her face. "Whats with that girl's parents?" she asked.

"ugh, don't get me started, I talked to the mom on the phone for all of three seconds, basically said they won't pick up their kid and demanded I bring her to home" you sighed in annoyance.

"Thats awful" Tifa agreed. "If she patches things up with Marlene, she can come stay whenever she wants."

You smiled, "Thanks Tifa" You told her.

She nodded with a smile, "Besides it seems we keep taking in strays," She teased "the more the merrier at this point."

You laughed and the two of you headed downstairs. You were a bit surprised to see Denzel, Marlene and Skylar sitting at the table, they actually sat next to each other and weren't screaming at each other. Riley was serving everyone pancakes. Tifa gladly took a seat and helped herself to some pancakes, but not before grabbing a much needed second coffee.

Riley offered you a plate of pancakes but you felt like something was missing. Riley seeing the look in your eyes smiled and put your plate on the table. You smiled, Riley is so mature and wise beyond his years. Earning yourself a confused look from Tifa, you headed outside and headed towards the makeshift shed where Cloud kept fenrir. The bike wasn't running anymore, now Cloud was laying on his back working under the bike. you couldn't help but giggle at the sight of some oil smeared on his face and bit in his hair.

Cloud suddenly looked in your direction upon hearing your laugh. He sat up as he gave you a curious look. You were a bit embarrassed that he caught you starring. "Riley made breakfast" You told him, "I thought you might want some." Cloud only gave a blank look, you sighed wondering why he's only like this when other people are around. "We have a long drive today, maybe breakfast would be a good idea" you suggested timidly.

(Cloud)

You woke up feeling awful, part of it was that old couch in the living room you slept on but most of it was guilt getting to you. You rarely dream, but you did last night. Even in your dreams you can't be happy, apparently your subconscious wants you to be miserable because you dreamed that Jace and Zack were still alive and that you were the best man in Jace and Autumn's wedding. Now that you'd be alone with Autumn for a few days you worried about being distant while struggling with the guilt. You decided to work on fenrir to take your mind off things but now heres Autumn, looking just as beautiful as always. When you heard her laugh you were able to speak but got caught up in her beauty, you were speechless.

"Cloud are you ok?" Autumn asked frantically as she kneeled on the ground next to you. Before you could speak she had placed her hand on your forehead. After a moment she seemed satisfied and mumbled, "You're a little warm but nothing out of the ordinary," before she moved to check your pulse.

"I'm ok" you finally said.

Autumn gave you a skeptical look, before sighing in relief, "You scared me, I thought something was wrong you were just sitting there starring." She mumbled more to herself.

"I'm sorry" you replied stupidly.

"Will you at least eat something," She asked, you could tell from her tone she was still worried about you. It really wans't helping with your guilt. Instead of replying you just stood up and offered a hand to Autumn to help her up. She gladly accepted the help and nearly tripped into you as you pulled up onto her feet. Autumn blushed in embarrassment and mumbled a 'sorry.'You remained silent fearing that you'd speak without thinking again as the two of you went into the bar.

(Autumn)

You took a seat at the table, you noticed Cloud look at his grease covered hands, before he headed up stairs, you assumed to clean up.

"Still think you're not special." Tifa teased, you shot her look of annoyance to which she only laughed, "Come on no one can ever get Cloud to stop working on that bike."

"Its true" Denzel said before eating another forkful of pancake.

"Even when it rains Cloud stays out" Marlene added.

You allowed yourself to linger on the thought that maybe Cloud did feel something for you but you quickly pushed those thoughts away. Cloud is always so distant, you know he cares for you, but it always seems like he feels obligated to because of his loyalty to Jace.

You absently started to eat your pancakes, trying to figure out your feelings for Cloud. You were genuinely confused. You did feel a flutter in your heart whenever he's around, you tried to rationalize that maybe its because he was so close to Jace, that maybe having a crush on Cloud was comfortable because he was so similar to Jace. You dismissed that thought, Cloud is nothing like Jace, they may have been good friends but they are polar opposites. Jace was always very outgoing, decently loud, like to have fun and was usually up for just about anything especially if it was something crazy Zack suggested. Cloud is quiet, reserved and apparently extremely anti-social until you showed up.

"Autumn are you ok?" Tifa asked the concern evident on her face. The kids had finished eat and were putting the dirty dishes in the sink. You glanced down at your food, you've barely touched it.

"I'm ok" you replied, "I just have a lot on my mind."

Tifa looked at you a moment longer before accepting your answer, "Well ok, just let me know if theirs something I can do." she said with a smile.

"I will thank you." you said sincerely. After a moment of thinking you finally decided to tell Tifa that you're a doctor, she'd find out soon enough anyway but you wanted to try to be a bit more open with her, after all she took you into her home and business without a second thought. The two of you became fast friends but you've hidden most of your life from everyone, its time you start letting people in again. Maybe it will help you figure out how you feel about Cloud.

Tifa reacted exactly how you thought she would, her first reaction was to yell, but before she even finished her initial thought she was already moving on to questioning you first about why you never mentioned it and then about your schooling and certifications.

"Why didn't you get to finish your residency?" Tifa asked curiously. You looked over at Riley who was drying the dishes as Marlene washed the. taking the hint, Tifa nodded thoughtfully and moved on to her next question. "Wheres your doctorate?" Tifa asked.

You thought for a moment, yet another question you didn't know the answer to. "I honestly don't know what happened to it. It went missing sometime after I left Junon."

Tifa frowned, "Where did you go to medical school." It wasn't a question.

"Junon" you replied absently, somehow in the shuffle between Riley getting kidnapped and Ryan becoming physically abusive, you lost your doctorate. "why?" you asked.

"I'm going to make a few calls." Tifa said as she stood up, a look of pure determination on her face as she walked into the living room. You smiled to yourself, thankful that you found this place.