Jeanne: Wow, so it's our first chaptered fic that isn't just humor! It's got several pairings? Which of us is going to list them?

Aeriths-Rain: You can, you are better at remembering than me!

Jeanne: Okay!

Seph/Zack friendship fun! Reno/Cloud! Fatherson Tseng/Rufus! Rude/Cissnei!

Jeanne: Oh it so spoilery! -squiggles-

Aeriths-Rain: -facepalms and edges away-

Jeanne:-excessively happy-

Disclaimer: They own nothing, not even Raine Strife.

Jeanne; Oh! Oh! And this is AU! If you didn't already know by the summary!

Zack hummed idly, watching the road pass by under the churning wheels of their transport. Cloud was bent over the back of the truck as it moved, hurling up his Midgar Charms for whatever trucks that passed by to see. The poor SOLDIER didn't look to pleased to be in a moving object.

Zack chuckled, leaning over to pat the other's back. "Nearly there." The poor boy might have been a good fighter, but travel sickness seemed to be his major weakness.

"We could always see if the scientists can concoct some medicine for you?" His threat was empty though. Shiva knows what they'd do to the young SOLDIER, probably turn him into a chocobo or something equally disturbed. He chuckled louder, picturing his friend with a beak.

Cloud scowled slightly, pausing in his heaving long enough to flip his friend off. Of course it didn't last long, and he was bent back over. "How long Zack?" Cloud managed between spilling his breakfast.

Zack sighed, stroking Cloud's back gently. "About another hour..." he murmured. He wondered if there was any way to transport Cloud without him getting sick. He'd have to speak to Sephiroth about it.

Cloud moaned and finally pulled back into the truck, hand resting on his stomach. He could last an hour without emptying the contents of his stomach on the road. After all he was one of the two SOLDIERs on this mission. The two grunts were eyeing Cloud oddly and it was making him rather nervous.

Zack grinned at him, not saying anything. He didn't want to distract his friend when he was clearly trying to focus on not being ill. He stared back at the grunts, ending up in a staring match with one of them.

The blonde looked up upon hearing one of the grunts collapse in a fit of laughter. Glancing at Zack, he realized the man had been having a staring contest with the poor grunt. No one could take that for long without laughing.

The nauseous feeling was diminishing and Cloud sat up. The blonde himself chuckled a bit when Zack turned to look at him.

Zack stuck his tongue out, fixing his eyes on Cloud's, not breaking eye contact as he waggled his eyebrows, tongue flicking from one side to another, and then waggling up and down.

Cloud covered his mouth, ducking his head slightly to hide behind his uniform shirt. The blonde tried not to laugh, though he soon failed. The blonde clutched his stomach as he attempted to stem the tide of laughter, much as the grunt was doing.

Zack smiled, glad to see his friend clearly feeling better, and turned his attention back to the road. He hoped Cloud would do well as a guide here, having grown up in the small town.

Cloud looked ahead as well, his merriment quickly dying as he saw his town looming ahead. "It's been so long," he murmured, remembering his promise. "We might need to hire a guide," Cloud turned to Zack.

Zack nodded. "Its alright Cloud. We'll be fine, I'm sure they'll love you," he knew Cloud had had a lot of problems as a child, but he hoped that it would be sorted now. No one was cruel to his friends that didn't regret it later.

The transport rolled to a stop, freeing Cloud from the last bit of motion sickness. Grabbing his sword, he hopped out. Glad that his feet were finally on solid ground, Cloud turned around. "Come on!" Zack's excitement was contagious, and no one, not even the great Sephiroth, was completely immune.

Zack leapt out after him, throwing an arm around Cloud's shoulder. "So... Where are we going?" It was good to be out of the transport. He ran around, ensuring the grunts were safely off the truck, and then began to look for their destination.

Cloud pointed towards the inn, a building not far from the town entrance itself. "I should... go ask someone about a guide," Cloud shuffled his feet nervously. The blonde handed his bag to Zack when the raven haired man gestured for it.

Zack chuckled, bouncing the bag in his arms. "Brought bricks?" He wouldn't put it past the younger blonde. He watched his friend as he headed towards the inn.

Cloud ignored the comment, a tactic he'd learned from the General. It was a pretty smart one too. The innkeeper looked up upon hearing his entrance. "Good evening," Cloud murmured. "I'd like to book two rooms and inquire about a guide through the mountains."

The innkeeper frowned slightly. "Do I know you?" There was something memorable about that mess of blonde hair. He wasn't sure though, and he didn't want to question a SOLDIER.

"I-it's Cloud Strife sir," Cloud bowed his head slightly, being respectful to the elder. "I'm glad your inn is still going. It never seems to get much business." The blonde smiled nervously, hoping the man wouldn't yell at him to get out.

The man sighed, eyebrow raising a little. He didn't know how it had happened, the boy had always seemed worthless, and yet he had succeeded in making something of himself. "I'm surviving," he said with a smile. "I'll find a guide for you."

"Thank you sir," Cloud took the keys to their rooms, handing them over to Zack who had just skipped in. He nodded politely, still nervous, to the innkeeper and lead the way upstairs.

Zack grinned at Cloud. "This place is TINY!" He followed Cloud upstairs. "You have to show me where you used to live alright?" He followed his words by an attack of the puppy-dog-eyes.

"Gongaga isn't any better! At least Nibleheim has scenery," Cloud joked, making fun of their small town heritages. Looking away from Zack's best (and irresistible) puppy-dog eyes, the blonde nodded. "My mom would love to have you."

Zack squealed, jumping a little. That was good news. "Scenery? A few non-climbable mountains for the monsters, that's all," he said with a laugh.

Rolling his eyes, Cloud looked over when he heard a knock on their door. The grunts were in the adjoining room so it couldn't be them.

Opening the door, he received a shock. There, standing with the innkeeper, was none other than Tifa Lockhart. "Your guide Strife," the man swiftly departed, leaving Cloud to stand there awkwardly.

Tifa waved shyly, noticing the other's awkward blush. She wondered how he was. "Cloud?" she hadn't expected him. "It's been a while."

"Cloudy-boy introduce me!" Zack slung his arm around Cloud's shoulders, grinning. "Is this the amazing Tifa you talked about so much?" Cloud nodded, blushing brightly.

Tifa laughed lightly, glad Cloud apparently had such a great friend. Not even five minutes in the raven haired SOLDIERs presence and she was already feeling happier than ever.

"Tifa this is Zack Fair. He works as General Sephiroth's second in command," Cloud sidestepped, effectively slipping out from Zack's arm and causing the man to tumble to the ground.

Tifa chuckled, helping Zack to his feet. "Typical.. They must allow anyone in if he's second," but her words were said with a smile, she was joking, wanting him to accept her. "So, Cloud has spoken a lot about me?" The other man nodded. "All good I hope?"
Cloud scowled, elbowing Zack in the ribs. "Remember we have to visit my mom before we turn in for the night," he glanced meaningfully at his superior. Zack's eyebrows creased faintly.

"Sorry Teefs but we have to visit Ma Strife! We'll gossip more later," latching onto the blonde's wrist, Zack dragged him out of the inn and then into a random direction.

"Zack... my house is the other way."

Zack frowned, spinning and walking in the other direction, dragging Cloud along. "So? What is she like?"

"She's... well she's her," Cloud mumbled, pulling ahead of the Zack so he could lead the way. His house seemed to tower over him more than it ever did in his childhood. Knocking on the door nervously, he waited for his mom to answer.

Zack nodded, stumbling a little. He backed away, hiding behind Cloud. He always felt shy when meeting his friend's parents. He relaxed as the door opened, chuckling a little and holding out his hand for the woman's.

Raine eyed the rather tall teen hiding behind her son, hand outstretched towards her. Smiling she shook his hand before looking at Cloud. "Call ahead! Now I have to make more to eat!" She ushered the duo in before shutting the door.

Zack smiled and followed him. "Are you busy? I didn't mean to interrupt." He evaluated the woman.; she looked very friendly and that made him relax. "Pleasure to meet you Ms Strife."

"He's so polite!" the blonde woman clapped gleefully, pulling Zack into a hug. "Were did you ever find him Cloudy? Oh just look at him! He looks like he could use a good home-made meal, and so do you," Raine released Zack and he stumbled a bit. Cloud, wide-eyed, backed away from his mom. It looked like it would be another crazy dinner.

Jeanne: Wow! We sure wrote a bit compared to usual!

Aeriths-Rain: -grins- was fun though!

Jeanne; Indeed it was! So! Review please!

Aerith: Thanks again!