Chapter Eleven

Leonard and I sat in the kitchen, hot coffee steaming in our mugs. I was wide awake, Leonard, however, that was a different issue. "Dude, we've been getting up at four in the morning for the past few weeks. You still haven't got used to it yet?"

He looked at me. "I'm awake, Graceona. I would rather not be awake at three in the morning, but I am awake.

"Cheer up, dude. Today is going to be fun. TSUNG will be there. That's always nice."

"Your sarcasm isn't funny when I've not had my coffee. Nice try." Leonard took a drink of coffee with a sigh.

"Dang, who put creamer in your coffee this morning? You act like someone spilled your oatmeal."

He looked at me. "Grace, not everyone is a morning person. Speaking of oatmeal, can you cook some?"

I looked at him, standing to my feet. "Two toasts?"

"Yeah, extra butter. I need a shower."

I watched as he walked out of the room, as I prepared for the task at hand. The sound of heavy boots coming down the stairs caused me to look up as Loz and Kadaj entered the room. Loz grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the table. "I'm making oatmeal, Loz. What are the two of you doing up at four in the morning?"

Loz put the apple back into the bowl. We have work. Kadaj has some work to do for Tifa. We're getting up and getting a head start since we live further away now."

"Ah. Do you want me and Leonard to give you two a ride? We have to leave in the next hour."

"We're fine to drive, no worries."

"Alright, can't say I didn't offer." I placed the oats into the boiling milk, stirring the contents.

"Graceona, I'll be back in a few hours. Some things need my attention in Midgar Edge."

"Things? What sort of things?"

He sighed. "Autumn wants me to spend some time with her. We've not done that. She promised to make me dinner if I came to her house."

"What's wrong with my cooking?" I felt myself getting defensive, taking a deep breath.

"Grace, Autumn cooks him steak and burgers," Loz stated, looking at Leonard's coffee. "Bring me back a well done and two cheeseburgers, would you, Kadaj?"

"Alright, Loz." The teen walked from the kitchen, as the door closing showed he was gone.

"Steak and cheeseburgers. I'm feeling jealous. I'm getting ready to follow Kadaj for that meal." I heard Leonard say as the sounds of the chair being pulled out from under the table.

"He brings a lot home, so no worries. The girl is generous with her food preparations, plus Sierra said she would bring over some food this morning. Yazoo should be here any minute."

I sighed, pouring the steaming oatmeal into three small bowls, and distributing the food. When the door opened, I looked up and saw Yazoo walking into the kitchen. "Something smells good in here. I'm not leaving until I get some. I've not eaten yet." The long-haired brother placed a fist full of bags of food on the large glass table, taking a seat across from Leonard and Loz. The two of them got bags with their names on them. A sound of satisfaction came from the older brother.

"Boy, Yazoo, Sierra knows just what I like. A container of fresh pancakes, with three strips of bacon, with a large orange juice. Did you make this, or did she?"

"I did." He looked at the oatmeal. "Why don't the two of you eat the oatmeal Grace made? " I placed a bowl in front of him with a tall glass of milk, and two pieces of toast, medium buttered. "Thanks."

Leonard looked at Loz. "We should eat the oatmeal, Loz. Save this for later." He picked up the spoon that I had laid on the table, taking a bite.

"So, Zoo. How is Sierra? Why didn't she come with you?" Loz said before shoving some toast into his mouth.

"She went to sleep after I left. She's not a morning person."

"I take it you spent the night reading? How do you go without sleep, Yazoo?" Leonard asked as I sat down beside him, digging into my food.

"Not reading, more like working on my latest book. Nighttimes seem to be the only hour that I have to myself, as well as being my most productive hours."

"Sleep is important too, Yazoo. Try to sleep, alright?" Leonard said, a concerned look on his face.

Yazoo sighed, looking at Leonard. "Alright."

Loz sighed. "That entered deaf ears, Leonard. Yazoo doesn't need to sleep. Of the three of us, Zoo was handed the option to sleep."

"Loz, you and Kadaj have the same ability. You two have become addicted to sleep. "I'm not a mutant," Yazoo said, then took a drink of his coffee.

"We're not addicted, Zoo, we like to sleep, we don't judge your habits, so don't judge ours."

Yazoo rolled his eyes, looking at Leonard and me. "I didn't come here to debate the habits of sleep. I came here for two reasons. I have given you the first and the second. We have moved a few houses over.

Leonard seemed happy about the news. I looked at Yazoo. "That's a long drive, Yazoo. Are you two sure that's a wise idea?"

"Yeah. This has something to do with the paper you were trying not to read that you saw on the coffee table the other day. I'm expanding the business. Midgar Edge and Kalm. We want to have everything finished in the next few months."

"That's great news, Yazoo." Leonard said with a smile on his face, "do the two of you need a place to stay until you can get a feel for the town?" Leonard continued as Yazoo looked at him, then at me.

"Is that alright with you, Graceona? The two of us staying here for a bit?"

I looked at him. "It's fine with me. When can the two of you move in?"

"Next week, Sierra has agreed she would watch Kourtney while all of us worked."

"I dunno, Yazoo, Sierra is a wonderful child, but can she cook? Kourtney does like her food. Can she be outside with her? The child is hard to keep up with when she sees the other children. She can get a little too excited." Leonard looked at him.

"Her cooking is coming along. She can make the basics. I can try to promise that she won't burn your home down, but in the case of a fire, I can promise that she will see that Kourtney is safe and out of harm's way,"

"Sounds good to me. We'll give her a chance," I said, standing to my feet, taking the empty bowls to the sink. "Leonard, we need to be heading out. There is a long drive ahead of us.

Leonard looked at me. "Very well. I'll see the two of you later."

He stood up as the two of us walked from the home.