ATE: I've finally posted chap 11. Enjoy.

Declaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII. I only own Tori.

Chapter 11

Things We Wish Not To Do

~(Cloud's POV)~

I left the room Tori and Zack shared and made my way to my room to get dressed. When I got to my room, I got out my normal attire and went into the bathroom for a quick shower. I soon got out, got dressed, and went back into my room. I picked up the shirt of my chocobo PJs and slightly grimace at the blood on it.

"If I plan on keeping this, I'll have to wash it." I thought.

I took the PJs (both pants and shirt) and made my way to the laundry room. Seeing that both the dryer and washing machine were empty upon checking, I placed the PJs in the washing machine. Just because I was a guy didn't mean that I couldn't do laundry. I poured in soap as the water started to fill the machine and closed the lid, leaving the room to go downstairs.

When I got downstairs I had a quick breakfast with Tifa, Zack, and the kids. But then Marlene asked the question I dreaded.

"Where's Tori?"

"She's in her room." I answered.

"Why?" Denzel asked.

I looked to Tifa, hoping that she understood what I was mentally telling her. She seemed to understand what it was that I thought and took action.

"Tori's not feeling well." Tifa said.

"Is she sick?"

"We're not exactly sure."

"Can we visit her?"

Tifa shook her head. "She's trying to get well." She looked over to Zack. "Zack?"

Zack looked up. "What is it, Tifa?"

"Do you think you could look after Marlene and Denzel in Tori's place while I work?"

"Not a problem. I'll look after them." Zack said.

"Let's go Zack." Marlene said.

"Why don't you two go on ahead. I'll catch up to you guys soon."

"Okay." They said at the same time. They soon went up the stairs to their room.

I got up from the table and got a clean plate out, placing some scrambled eggs on it.

"Are you getting breakfast for Tori?" Tifa asked.

I nodded.

"I understand that scrambled eggs would be easy for her to eat. What did she say she wanted to drink?"

"Coffee."

I saw that Tifa had a shocked look on her face.

"She wanted coffee?!"

"What's wrong with Tori drinki8ng coffee?" Zack asked.

"The thing is that Tori said that she never liked coffee and wouldn't drink it."

"She told me that she started drinking it when she got back to her world." I said.

"This is strange…" Tifa said. "Do you think it would have anything to do with last night?"

I shrugged.

"How did she want her coffee?"

"Brown with sugar."

Tifa started to prepare the coffee and soon gave it to me. I went up the stair to Tori's room.

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~(Tori's POV)~

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the door opened. I looked up to see Cloud in his normal clothes carrying a plate with scrambled eggs in one hand and the coffee in the other.

"That was fast." I said, smiling at Cloud.

Cloud raised an eyebrow at me in confusion.

"That wasn't fast. I took at least an hour just to get everything I did done." He said.

"Oh…" I looked down at my lap.

"You were probably thinking about a lot of stuff that made it seem like it didn't take long." He placed the plate and coffee on the nightstand. "I brought you breakfast."

"Thank you."

I took the plate and slowly ate the eggs, careful not to hurt my stomach. Once I finished the eggs, I placed the plate back on the nightstand and picked up the cup of coffee. As I stared into the coffee, I knew I would be making the biggest mistake in my life.

"Are you going to drink it?"

I looked up at Cloud and forced a smile on my face.

"Of course!"

He didn't seem convinced so he gave me a look that said 'prove it.'

I raised the cup to my lips and started to drink the coffee. I immediately pulled it away, trying hard not to grimace at the nasty taste of the bitter liquid.

"You don't like it, do you?"

"I-I like it!" I lied, forcing another smile.

Cloud had a suspicious look on his face, not buying what I said. I decided to down the rest of the coffee, trying to ignore the taste. I looked back up at Cloud to see that he still looked suspicious.

"Thank you for bringing me breakfast."

"Not a problem." He took the plate and cup, and went over to the door, only to stop. "Try to get some sleep Tori."

I watched as he left the room and listened as his footsteps faded as he walked on the wooden floor. I looked at my hands that laid on my laps as I immediately felt guilt.

"I'm sorry, Cloud. I know you want me to sleep…but I can't. I'm scared….that I'll have that nightmare again…and die…" I whispered.

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~(Cloud's POV)~

As I made my way downstairs I couldn't help but think about Tori. She was hesitant on drinking coffee and I was still suspicious about her drinking it. After getting downstairs I saw Tifa doing the dishes. When she saw me, she smiled.

"So how was she?" Tifa asked as I handed her the plate and cup for her to wash.

"She was able to eat, but it's the coffee I'm worried about." I replied.

"Why's that? Is something wrong?"

"I watched her. She was…so reluctant when she was drinking it. I could tell that she was trying not to grimace at the taste."

"So you believed she was lying about drinking coffee?" Tifa asked. I nodded. "Maybe you should talk to Zack about this. He might be able to help."

"I will."

I went up the stairs, making my way to Marlene and Denzel's room. Upon looking inside from the doorway, I saw the three of them draying. I looked to Zack and saw that he had a ribbon in his hair (courtesy of Marlene, I believe) and mentally laughed.

I watched as they drew pictures. I could see that Marlene was drawing Tori, Denzel was drawing Zack, and Zack had a poorly drawn chocobo on his paper. Said person looked up at the drawings Marlene and Denzel were working on and I could tell he was curious.

"What are you two drawing?" He asked.

The kids looked up and smiled.

"I'm drawing Tori, and Denzel is drawing you." Marlene said.

"Why's that?"

"Well, we already have drawings of Cloud and Tifa, so we thought of adding Tori and you to the collection. You're part of the family now."

"Part of the family, huh…"

"Your chocobo would be great to our collection." Marlene said.

"My chocobo!" Zack protested as he held his drawing to him protectively.

I again laughed mentally at Zack. But now wasn't the time for that. I needed to do what I came here to do.

"Zack." I said.

Zack and the kids looked up at me as I stood in the doorway.

"What is it, Spiky?"

"I need to talk to you. Alone."

"Oh." Zack got up from the chair he was sitting in. "I'll be back soon, kids."

I led Zack into my room, knowing that no one would be around to hear.

"What did you need to talk about?"

"It's about her." I said.

"You mean Tori, right?"

I nodded.

"What about her?"

"Remember how she wanted coffee to drink?" Zack nodded. "I watched her drink it. I could tell that she still didn't like it."

"You think she lied about it. What do you make of this?" Zack asked.

"I think she's trying to stay awake. She told me that the nightmare she had last night scared her."

"So what to you want me to do?"

"I want you to watch Tori tonight and see if she's sleeping at all. Make sure that she doesn't know that you're awake." I said. "Then tell me in the morning about it."

"Sure thing, Cloud. Well, I better get back to Marlene and Denzel!"

Zack started making his way tot the door.

"Zack."

He stopped right when he was about to touch the doorknob.

"Thank you."

He turned around and smiled.

"No problem. I'm your friend after all."

He left my room, closing the door. I went over to one of my drawers, pulling out a green materia. It was a Seal materia and I stared at it in my hand.

"If it comes down to it, I may have to use this." I thought. "As much as I hate the idea, I might have to…"

I didn't want to complete that thought. I placed the Seal materia back into the drawer and left for the laundry room. After I was done with the PJs, I would handle the deliveries.

ATE: Again, I thank those who have been patient again. Remember, Please R&R :)