Hello and welcome to the first chapter of Bella's past, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I loved writing it! First things first, I wanna say this story will contain spoilers for the Final Fantasy VII Remake and will take place during that time and if I made any mistakes, please let me know. Please enjoy!

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Bella sat around Seventh Heaven eating the food that was made for her, waiting for her caretaker. Her brown hair tied in a low ponytail, her green eyes staring at the food in front of her. Her legs crossed under her, her skin touching the mismatched socks. Her dark and light purple sleeveless turtle neck dress with a black belt that was tied loosely around her waist with socks that were almost mismatched because one is longer than the other (one touched the bottom of her hip and the other touched the top of her knee). Her black combat boots touching the stool.

"Bella," started the voice in front of her as the person leaned against the bar looking at the young girl with a smile on her face. "Did you finish the chores that Marle gave you?"

Letting out a gentle sigh, Bella looks up with a curt nod. "Almost, Tifa. I think I have one more chore I need to finish but – I figured I would eat before I finished it,"

Tifa lets out a chuckle, leaning back from her, and grabbed the empty cup of water, going to clean it. "I heard from the grapevine that you're turning Thirteen tomorrow; how do you feel about it?"

"If I'm going to be honest with you," Bella began looking at her as she took another bite of her food, giving a little bite to her companion sitting on the table next to her. "It's just another day for me. I haven't quite celebrated my birthday since my brother left me," Bella looks at Tifa and smiles a little bit. "Besides, little Kirara and I here just fly around the slums and just enjoy the day."

Tifa sighs seeing Bella finish her food with Kirara. Tifa felt sad for the young girl because she didn't have anyone to celebrate with. Tifa finishes cleaning the cup in time to see Bella stand up and stretch her back and shoulders, feeling them pop. "Where are you headed off, too?"

Bella chuckles a little bit. "Finishing up what Marle gave me, hopefully, Cloud will be back when I'm done!" Bella smiles widely rushing out of the bar with Kirara trailing behind her with a happy mew. Tifa smiles at her back grabbing her plate going to clean it.

~'*'~

A few hours pass, Bella finished her chores from Marle, waving at her as she heads to Seventh Heaven with Kirara in tow. Bella wipes her head gently passing by shops and others as she waves at the people when she passes by them. Kirara sensing something was wrong, jumps on Bella's shoulder rubbing her cheek against Bella's head.

"What's wrong?"

Bella stops walking and turns her head to look at Kirara, "I got to thinking and I wonder why Cloud-Cloud won't bring me along with him on his missions..." Bella wonders crossing her arms looking ahead of her now, seeing the path to Seventh Heaven. "Makes me wonder if he thinks I can't fight..."

"He knows you can fight, Bella," Kirara tells her, jumping down from her shoulder sitting on the ground scratching behind her ear quickly. "I think he doesn't want the same thing happening to you after... what happened..." Kirara looks at her after putting her paw down. "Another thing could be he thinks you couldn't handle it..."

Bella sighs once more and nods slightly. "I suppose you're right..." Bella agrees, letting out a disappointed sigh. "I wouldn't doubt that would be the reason, but – I get it." Bella begins walking with Kirara in tow. Kirara mews jumping on her shoulder as they continue walking. When they got closer, Bella heard noises outside of Seventh Heaven, grinning widely at the familiar voice of Barrett calling for his daughter. Bella began running over there.

When she got closer, she saw a familiar blond spikey-haired man standing there. Grinning, she rushes to his side and stops by his side. "Cloud! You're back!" Bella tells him as he turns his head seeing Bella grinning at him. "I'm glad," Bella sees his face and sees a very faint smile on his face.

"Were you on your best behavior for Tifa, Rose?"

Bella's face turns into a pout as she crosses her arms over her stomach. "You know, your lack of faith in my attitude is really hurtful, Cloud..." Bella pouts a little more as he lets out a small chuckle rubbing her head. "I'll have you know I've been working my butt off here, making sure things get done."

"Good," states Cloud rubbing her head a little more. "I trust you,"

Bella grabs his hand gently bringing it down to his side as she keeps her hold on it, looking overseeing Barrett walking up with Marlene on his shoulder. Cloud and Tifa follow them with Bella and Kirara, Cloud nudges Bella to go in, as she nods and walks in to go sit at the booth ignoring everything that was going on.

Tifa and Cloud were talking a little bit, while Barrett was talking to his little girl. Taking a deep breath, Bella was petting Kirara, trying to keep to herself. Bella noticed a flower on his chest, wondering where he got it. It seemed familiar but the young girl can't quite put in place where the flower was from.

"Hey!" shouted Barrett making Bella jump and look over. "The hell you doin' scaring my daughter like that!?" Barrett shoves Cloud back, and he stumbles a little bit making Bella stand up but – Cloud puts his hand up, stopping her.

Marlene shakes her head, "Daddy says never talk to strangers," Marlene told Cloud, hiding behind the counter. Barrett congratulates her while picking her up, walking towards her bedroom. Tifa shakes her head a little bit, turning herself towards Cloud smiling while leaning against the counter.

"So, what can I get you?"

"My money... I'm waiting on it,"

Tifa's face falters, "Ah... Right..." Tifa rushes from behind the counter to go up to Cloud. "About that... We should talk..."

Cloud looks at her, then back at Bella who looks at him. Bella grabs Kirara gently as she walks off behind Cloud as they walk outside seeing Tifa smiling at them. "Before we get into it, Bella was in an empty apartment down the road, it's nothing fancy; I was thinking you could stay there for a little while..."

Bella rushes in front of him as they both stop walking as she stops there, looking at him with a huge grin on her face. "The landlady is a big supporter of the cause, Cloud!" Bella brings Kirara closer to her chest. "We don't even have to pay rent which is nice. Can we stay a little while, please?"

Cloud sighs a little bit, looking at Bella's puppy eyes. She definitely worked on those hard to get what she wanted. "I don't see why not."

"Yay!" Bella jumps for joy, putting Kirara down, and looks at her. "Kirara, I'll beat you!" Both Kirara and Bella race off to the apartment leaving Tifa and Cloud behind.

~'*'~

"How was it up on the plate?" asks Tifa as they began walking after Bella.

Cloud sighs a little bit walking behind her. "It was... chaotic..."

"Sorry for dragging you into all of this," frowns Tifa looking in front of her. "It was wrong of me to put you in danger like that – it won't happen again."

"Dangers apart of the job, don't worry about me," Cloud responds shaking his head. Tifa smiles and chuckles. "Always happy to help stick it to SHINRA,"

Tifa nods; "So... You make nice with everyone?"

"Much as I could, all things considered, but maybe not enough for them." Cloud shrugs looking around the Slums.

Tifa chuckles; "Good, you're not exactly a people person."

Cloud rolls his eyes gently, "Got me there,"

Tifa chuckles again, looking ahead while enjoying the silence between the two, ignoring the people around them. She pinched her lips together, stopping making Cloud stop and she looks back at him.

"What's wrong, Tifa?" asks Cloud after they stopped abruptly.

"I never did ask," began Tifa, looking at him. "How did you end up with Bella?"

Cloud began thinking a little bit, then responds to her. "When I was training to become SOLDIER, an old friend asked me to watch her while he went on a mission, he never came back – so since then, I've taken care of her, raised her to be how she is now."

"Do you plan on keeping her here when you leave?"

Cloud shakes his head while answering her. "No," Cloud looks to Tifa with a hard look. "She comes with me wherever I go for any other work," Cloud then looks back to the apartments that were in the distance. "We've survived this long with me doing what I'm doing that she will be alright."

"She needs to be socialized, Cloud." Tifa defends herself, putting up her hands. "And I honestly think keeping her here will do that," Tifa then puts her hands to her hips. "She can't keep staying by herself, she's –"

"Tifa," Cloud snaps at her without meaning to, she flinches a little bit, but he softens his look. "She stays with me. She's already been through a lot – and her being separated from me will not help her." He explains to her with a soft sigh. "She's already been abandoned by her family; she doesn't need the same from me."

"The thing is, Cloud..." Tifa sighs looking at the apartment. "She often wonders why she can't go with you on your missions," Tifa frowns a little bit. "I hear her crying some nights and she hopes you're okay. And if I'm being honest, this is the first time I've seen her this happy."

"Then, don't worry, she'll be okay,"

~'*'~

Bella sits on the bed drying her hair, she had a nice shower. She began thinking about her brother, if only Cloud remembered what actually happened to him, but she had a façade to keep up. Sighing a little bit, she heard the door open, she gasps while Kirara jumps down and turns into her sabertooth form, growling heavily.

"Calm down, it's just me," stated a familiar voice, making Bella sigh in relief and jump from the bed to the person. Cloud closes the door seeing her with her head wet. "Need help?"

Bella shakes her head grabbing the brush that Tifa bought her, brushing her long hair. Bella walked towards the mirror in the room and begins brushing the knots gently out of her hair.

"You've grown this last year, Rose," stated Cloud, shifting his sword to stay on the wall. He walks to the bed and sits on it after Kirara changes into her smaller form and jumps on the bed, purring at him while he pets her head. "I wish your family could see it..."

Bella lets out a sigh, setting down the brush, and turns to him. "I know... I often wonder what they look like – but every time I imagine them, I just see you..." Bella looks at him and tears brim her eyes. "I'm just wondering if we can stop bringing them up, Cloud-Cloud, please? All it does is make me sad and frustrated."

"You're right, I'm sorry..."

"You're forgiven, Cloud-Cloud, I know I'm asking a lot..." Cloud shakes his head, patting his seat a little bit. Bella walks to him sitting next to him and leans against his arm. "Thank you, Cloud-Cloud..." He nods while petting Kirara still. "Hey, are we leaving anytime soon? I know I just asked if we could stay a little longer, but if I'm being honest, I'm ready to leave..."

Cloud shakes his head. "We're getting the rest tomorrow, and then we'll head out. Are you ready for bed?"

"I am. Why don't you take the bed, Cloud-Cloud, I'll sleep on Kirara," Bella said going up to Kirara but before she took another step, Cloud grabbed her arm. "Cloud...?"

"Sleep on the bed, I'll be right next to it,"

"But..."

Cloud shakes his head. "No buts, go to bed."

"Fine..."

~'*'~

Bella was sleeping peacefully with Kirara under her arm. Cloud leaning against the bed sleeping peacefully until a loud thud wakes him. Bella stayed asleep as she was used to the sound. Cloud grabs his sword and walks out of the door. After the whole ordeal, Cloud came back and set his sword down and went to sit back down but he heard quiet sobbing.

"Huh...?"

Cloud looks up seeing Bella sobbing against her pillow, muttering under her breath; he sighs walking to the edge of the bed getting into the bed, and touched her arm while she turns quickly sobbing into his chest.

"Please... don't leave me... You... you promised..." quietly sobs Bella as Cloud frowns heavily hugging like a brother would do, keeping her close while Kirara jumps at her head and lays down close.

"I won't... I promise..."