Chapter Five

Graceona...

I sat in the living room as Kadaj and Loz gave Leonard the tour of the home after I had declined to allow the three of them time together. Yazoo had excused himself from the kitchen to finish packing, leaving me alone in the living room. I leaned back, looking at the ceiling, taking a deep breath, thinking of the past few days Leonard and I have been doing several missions for Vincent. I think it's more of a father-son thing and I was just the third wheel. Seeing the two of them gave me the desire to do things with my father, seeing how happy the two of them are. Sure, Vincent has accepted me into his family, but it wasn't the same as having feelings of wanting to spend time with the man that helped bring you into the world. The sound of Loz's laughter caused me to look up to see him and Kadaj making their way downstairs. Leonard was following the two of them. He looked at me with a smile and walked over to me, sitting down beside me. "Loz seems to be in a cheerful mood, they both do. What have the three of you been talking about?" I said, looking at the man that sat beside me with a smile of his own. "You seem to be giddy yourself. I'm glad to see this for a change."

He chuckled. "Loz thinks it's funny that I had taken ShinRa's offer, considering the fact that the idea was something that I would have snubbed my nose at when the three of them found me as well as something that Kadaj had said about some interesting news I brought up about the events of the WAR when the two of them found out that Cloud dressed like a woman."

"You didn't?" I asked, holding in a laugh at the response that my brothers could have thought of about the news they had been given recently. If only I could have been a fly on the wall during the conversation about the issue.

"I did, also pointing out the fact that he made a prettier female than a male." Leonard leaned back on the couch with a grin. "That conversation was interesting. I learned Kadaj has a sense of humor. Who would have thought?"

"Not me. I never would have thought in a million years he had a sense of humor, but with the Cloud event. I felt jealous for a short time. He was quite the looker."

"He has nothing on you, dear. He looks better than most of us in a dress. I couldn't believe that he pulled it off. Even boyish, me laughed, silently, of course. I wasn't going to get whacked by him."

"Silently? If so, you did a horrible job. I doubt he bought the fact that you were laughing at Vincent, since the man was the group's killjoy. As well as telling him I was being funny, considering the fact I was just sitting there, there is nothing funny about polishing a weapon. You picked the two most boring people in the group to hide behind."

"Yeah, you two were boring. Nothing has changed over the years."

"Oh, you think I'm boring?" I said as a small laugh escaped my lips. "For your information, I can be fun sometimes."

"I've yet to see that side of you, dear. The bar fights aren't new. Since we're all used to them. Face it, you're as lively as withering flowers, as entertaining as dead dial tones."

"As lively as withering flowers and as entertaining as dead dial tones. Perhaps I can be grateful that you didn't compare me to stale water. That's a plus, I suppose."

"Cloud is the one that holds the title of stale water. But you need more hobbies, add some excitement. Don't you sing, dance? Anything non-violent?"

"I do not."

"That's a lie. Weren't you a performer?"

"No."

"I suppose it was my imagination hearing singing late at night."

"No, there were businesses all around us. Maybe you heard their music. That kept me up a majority of the time. Sadly no, you didn't imagine singing, that was there."

"Well, that would make sense, I suppose," he said, standing to his feet. The look on his face was clear that he didn't believe that I wasn't a performer at one time. He saw through that lie as I sighed. I looked at him. "I don't think the daughter of a crazed lunatic could sing, more like I would bet you can't carry a tune." His statement was more of a challenge than anything. He knew the lie that I was trying to sell was that a lie.

"No, I don't think I can. It's not my thing." I said, looking at the wooden ground, placing my hands in my jean pockets.

"You're not going to be truthful about this, are you?" I felt the glare from the man in front of me, though I didn't have to see it. The piercing of the gaze was obvious, though our gazes weren't meeting. However, I couldn't blame him for growing angry at my lies. He didn't deserve the deception, but I didn't want to explain the reasons I had joined AVALANCHE in taking down the man that was my father.

"It wasn't me, Leonard. Can't you just believe me and let it go?" I asked, still not meeting his gaze. "I don't sing, Leonard. Not anymore." I sighed. "You have your things to hide as well as I do, and singing is one that I don't want to bring back to the light of day. You have your shameful side. I don't lecture you about it. I would appreciate it if you extended the same kindness toward me in my own shameful moments. They are past for a reason."

He sighed. "I don't see why you want to hide it. You have a beautiful voice. However, I respect your request. You have been generous in respecting my past. I owe you that much. It's not like you're harming anyone."

I finally looked at him as he now looked at me, his glare gone, his face soft. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing his temple, as he looked at me, wrapping his arms around me.

Kadaj's voice in the distance caused me to sigh as Leonard turned around with a sigh.

The argument starting between the brothers upstairs caused me to shake my head. "I suppose nothing changes. Should we go break it up or let them go?"

"I think we could at least go see what they are arguing about. The three of them have put a lot into this home for us to let their work be destroyed. This is a pleasant home." Leonard said as the argument between the brothers upstairs became louder. "Come on, let's go get this sorted out."

I sighed. "Very well."

"Oh, and no harm is to come to this home, meaning doors are to stay on the hinges. We are to enter the room civil and respectful."

"Fine," I said with a sarcastic pout that caused Leonard to chuckle.

"I mean it, Grace," he said, with a hint of laughter.

"Dude, I know how to be civil and respectful. Let's get up there before they get heated worse."

"You better. I love this home. I'm going to protect it from you."

"Ouch, I'll deal with you later, but first, let's get our children sorted out." I walked past him, as he followed along behind me, chuckling along the way.

The two of us walked upstairs.