Author's Note: This is the first chapter rewritten. Not too much is different I hope.


Zack walked through the halls of the Shinra corporation thoughts slowly filling his head. Things were taking a turn for the worst and he had no idea what to do or say anymore. With Angeal and Genesis gone he didn't have much left. He only had his beautiful Aerith and his newly found friend Cloud even Sephiroth maybe, but even he seemed shady at times.


Matt was casually walking, well more like deep in thought when she carelessly ran straight into Zack.

"Whoops, sorry Zack I wasn't looking" she said sympathetically

"Gees girl you could have killed me !" He gives one of his award winning smiles and she can tell hes just over exaggerating again.

"Yea totally. Why don't you just go hang out with Aerith lover boy " she rolled her eyes and shook her head with a slight smile.

"I am not a love sick puppy!" he exclaimed moving his arms for emphasis.

"Sure your not since I called you lover boy not love sick puppy you idiot"

"Damn you got me"

Zack looked at the tall girl standing in front of him. She had on a SOLDIER first uniform that was personalized with a sweetheart halter top. Her light pink wavy hair was kept back in a clip while her hair was parted to the side with some pieces in the front left in a side swept manner . Zack knew Matt well enough to know something was off about her. He could see hurt, confusion and desperation in her light blue eyes.

"So Matt whats wrong with you, you seem off and not yourself". The girl in front of him let out a big sigh.

Didn't know I made it so obvious. Maybe I need to take lessons from my sister on how to hide my emotions more.

"Well everything is so much different now. Angeal and Genesis are gone plus our own board director betrayed Shinra. I'm starting to think this place is not right for me, maybe I should just go back to Cocoon."

Now really could be my chance.

"So let me get this straight your just gonna quit after everything you worked for ? Why? People look up to you, you know. Your the only girl that was ever let into the SOLDIER program who wasn't a Turk and you got first class your first attempt. Your gonna throw that all away just because of some strange events, think about everything you have been through is it really worth it ?"

I secretly had no choice but to join Shinra. It was a sort of trade off, well more like The Sanctum wanted new soldiers and Shinra wanted an elite and my name happened to be thrown out there. My time with the military just wasn't quite up at that point so here I was, against my own will.

"I see where your coming from but I have a family to think about. A family that I left behind to join SOLDIER. I gave up everything to be a part of Shinra and now that things are bad I find that it is the perfect opportunity for me to leave. My sisters, Claire and Serah are the only family I have left. I want to be there for them when they need me its the job that I have of being the oldest sister."

They continued to walk down the dark corridor. Now feeling a more ominous presence in the halls that they used to call their home.

" I guess I see where your coming from. When are you going to leave ?"

She looked into his blue Mako infused eyes and saw nothing but disappointment in them.

Guess I can't blame him for feeling that way. He actually wanted to work for Shinra. He put so much effort into working his way up through the ranks and now even he knows and this is Zack we're talking about knows, that it could just be the end.

" Most likely after the mission to Nibelheim" She answered after a long pause, peering out into the distance.

"Wait you got assigned there too?" Surprise clearly written on his face.

"Um yea but I have a bad feeling about it. If you truly think about it why would they be sending three SOLDIER firsts to just check out a reactor. There's something else there. Shinra could have sent a third class SOLDIER and they're sending us? If I were you I would make sure not to let you guard down. I can't afford to lose another foe".

I can't handle it emotionally either. They were friends after all.

"Never really thought that mission through. It really makes you wonder huh ?"

"Yea it does. Guess I'll see you around, Zack. Good luck telling Aerith! What is it your third or fourth mission this week? Better hope she over you stepping on her flowers."

With that they walked off in two different directions. Zack heading to the slum and Matt wherever her feet could take her.


Zack Fair stood outside of the church in the slums and inhaled a huge breath of air. Today he was going to tell Aerith that he was going away again but he was even more nervous at the fact that when he came back he was going to ask Aerith to marry him.

"Come on Zack you can do it!"

As his courage built up he finally walked inside the church to see the love of his life tending to her precious garden. She immediately turned around and walked up to Zack to give him a hug but she spasmodically stopped dead in her tracks.

" Your going away again aren't you?" Aerith claimed sadly.

Zack saw her head bow down just so slightly.

"Yea but only for a couple of days and then I'll be home again" he assured.

Aerith gave him a long hard stare an nodded her head.

"Be safe you here me Zachary Fair !"

"You know me Aerith. I'm always back in a flash!"

"I know you always are" she giggled


Matt walked to the train station in Midgar ready to get her ticket back home when she ran into Reno.

"Sorry I seem to be running into everyone today Reno"

There was a certain dullness and disinterest in her eyes.

"It's fine babe whats bothering you"? Reno said as he went up to hug her.

"Everyone is asking me that today. Again was it that obvious?"

" I really don't know how to say this but I think I'm going to go home to my sisters" she claimed sadly, inhaling slowly.

"Really now, I don't see whats holding you down on this decision unless its me of course then that changes things"

You know sometimes he really knows how to piss me off. I'd watch his balls if I were him.

"I have know idea. I just don't know how 'us' is going to work. Cocoon is a three day trip, it's practically a world away."

" Don't worry about we'll make it work and besides my entire family lives up there so I can see you then too. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't worry about it and maybe just get a good nights sleep since you have a big mission tomorrow".

"Your right. I'm gonna go now" she said as she kissed Reno goodnight.

Its just not the same.

She walked away until he was out of sight and then the tears threatened to fall. Stopping abruptly she closed her eyes. The feeling was all but familiar. Her heart ached. She only hoped that he knew how much she missed him.


(the next day)

Zack made his way to the helicopter pad just in time to see that Sephiroth and Matt had already arrived just before he did.

"Are you ready to go Zack?" asked Sephiroth in a plain monotone.

"Always ready !" said Zack as he put his fist into his palm

"And how about you Miss Farron ?"

"Ready as I'll always be" she replied in a sarcastic tone.

"Then lets get going"


After several hours of pure awkward silence Sephiroth, Zack and Matt made it to Nibelheim. Sephiroth then pointed to the hotel we were staying at.

"Now's the time to call or visit your loved ones. Tell me when your ready to get going, we have a tour guide waiting for us."

Since when did Sephiroth tell us to call loved ones. Like anyone could fucking love him.

Zack took this opportunity to call Aerith for the last time while Matt took the opportunity to call her sisters to let them know of her where abouts.

Ringing Ringing Ringing come on someone pick up the phone already.

"Hello"?

"Hey Serah I was just calling to let you know that I'm coming home after my mission today"

"Really, you are ? That's great ! Is there a reason why though?"

Damn her for growing up and becoming smart.

"No, can you put Claire on for me ?" lied Matt

"No problem Mattie"

"Hello?"

"Hi Cl- I mean Lightning, I don't know if Serah told you or not but-

Lightning cut in "so your coming home then"

"Yes I am coming home. Things are weird with Shinra and I don't want to be around when something tragic happens again. I'm on a mission in Nibelheim at the moment but I wanted to say that if anything were to happen to me today take care of Serah like you are for me now."

"Matt your scaring me right now, are you in danger ?"

I sure hope not but my stomach is telling me something else.

"Claire to be honest I don't know it's just this feeling I have. Be strong for me like you always have been and remember things happen for a reason. I love you Claire keep both you and Serah safe."

"I will do and remember one thing it's not a matter of can or can't. Be safe sis and remember I'll always be waiting for you."

I wish there was more reassurance in that.

And at that they hung up. For some inevitable reason Matt almost knew it was the last time she would hear from her sisters and sure enough it was.