A/N: Because I have posted the first chapter before I wanted to post the second so I would have some new content. I hope you all enjoy this story, it was born to be beautiful to be honest. I will be posting chapters when I start to get into the idea more and getting information. It is really short compared to previous chapter but that is because I had to split the first chapter up and yeah. I promise all the other chapters are fairly long.

I also have not beta'd any of this besides just editing by myself so I am sorry about mistakes. If you would like to beta let me know and we'll work something out since I disappear often.

Enjoy

Denzel got himself a wad of gil and free transportation services before he returned to Cloud to get the blonde out of bed and onto the ferry. Thankfully one of the sailors on board had promised him a place for Cloud to lay down and rest.

Cloud wasn't looking too great, he was sweating again and his blond bangs stuck to his face. His eyes were hazy with fever and cheeks slightly pink. Denzel had taken the chance to zip up Cloud's shirt and pray they didn't have an episode where the blonde tried to strip.

The brunet had no plans of seeing his mother's new body.

He saw the looks of sympathy given to him while he loaded his blonde mother on board. Shaky Cloud had grabbed onto him for support but looked like he was in pain every step of the way. Once on board a sailor took over and Denzel winced when the blonde mistook him for Barret.

The different voice startled Cloud so much that he fell silent, eyes wide and confused, almost as if the thought of the female pitched voice was horrifying.

The trip was uneventful, he didn't leave Cloud's side and spent his time trying to get liquids and pills down Cloud's throat. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if the blonde didn't start eating soon. It had been two days and Denzel only had enough bread to keep them both energized. He took to wearing the satchel he had bought from one of the stores in Junon, inside was the gil and a few supplies he bought from the store to make sure their trip went smoothly.

Cloud woke up when they were on the boat, fuzzily grabbing his hand and staying silent. Denzel had tried to pass the time by talking but something in Cloud's eyes made his chest tight.

"Denz, what's going on? Be honest."

He weighed his options, he could be completely honest and suffer an episode or just continuously lie until Cloud was all better.

But he knew he couldn't do that to his parent. He had been living in the household for years and Cloud was always as honest as he could be.

After the fight with Kadaj Denzel started seeing their old group more often and Cloud stayed at home. Cloud told him the truth, well as truthful as he could, and from there the rest of the group adopted him just like they did Marlene and all the other orphans.

Not telling Cloud was something he knew he would come to regret.

He looked at their hands, Cloud's fingers now a bit more slender but still hardened from his years of fighting. He could feel the strength through the gloves. "Cloud... ShinRa is here."

Blue eyes gazed at him in confusion. "Rufus?"

"No. No, Midgar is there, the plates, ShinRa controls everything. I... I don't know what happened but I woke up and we were here."

Blue mako eyes unfocused and Denzel felt that sour pit in his stomach churn.

"Time travel? Of fucking course." And Cloud promptly fell back into sleep.

Denzel paled, took a breath and decided to wait out the trip when Cloud was more coherent. The trip went by smoothly, the sailors docked the ship and helped Denzel set up a room at a cheap hotel, which wasn't even really all that cheap.

Afterwards Denzel spent the day in their hotel room, doting after Cloud who fell into a fit of fever and knocked down a few lamps and vases. Denzel never knew how well his kid looks worked until he was begging for innkeepers to let them slide.

Cloud would have apologized if he was coherent.

Sometime during their trip a knock on the door startled him. Cloud was muttering in his sleep, clutching his throat and the bed sheets. He was sweating and at some point Denzel decided to hell with fashion and found a large baggy shirt and dressed Cloud into it.

The pants stayed because well, Denzel had enough from Cloud's hazy mess ups to use the restroom. It was almost funny how every trip Cloud stumbled, cursed Aerith for some reason and returned, flushed and irritated.

Pulling out of his thoughts he wandered to the door and slowly pulled it open.

He did not expect to see a large bulky man on the other side with bright blue mako eyes. He almost forgot the SOLDIER program still existed. He wore the black first class uniform, a large sword on his back that itched at Denzel's memory.

For a moment he was terrified, but then he remembered Vincent's deep voice telling him to never show emotion to anyone, it could save your life.

"Can I help you?" He remarked, perhaps a little rudely. The man gave him a kind smile, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I was called in by the innkeepers. They were worried about you and your mother."

Okay. Okay. This could actually work to his advantage. He needed to find transportation to get all the way out to Nibelheim. He claimed to be going to Rocket Town but only because he knew he could leave Fenrir there and also repair her.

Plus Rocket Town was closer to Nibelheim. He could make a cut from north Corel to Nibelheim but he didn't know the terrain exactly.

"It's fine. I was traveling to go visit my father. Mom has never been this sick before." He chewed on his lip in nervousness and the bulky man frowned. The guy was probably a big softy.

"Do you know what it is?"

Denzel shook his head, dragging a hand through his brown hair. Darting his eyes back on to Cloud's shivering form. "A fever. It's been off and on. She's been lucid sometimes but other times she is... Really out of it."

The man frowned before giving a soft smile. "My name is Angeal Hewely. Why don't we have a talk and figure out how to get you home?"

Denzel mentally cheered.

Two hours later and one Cloud rushing to the restroom to throw up he had a truck heading out to Rocket town. Angeal had said he was unable to see it all the way through but that his student would drive him all the way out. Denzel explained Fenrir and Cloud made quite a scene of returning and collapsing on the bed, taking Denzel's hand in his own.

Angeal's presence had been ignored until Cloud promptly sat up and stared at the SOLDIER before muttering how fucked up his life was.

Yeah, Denzel really wanted a lucid Cloud again.

The days following Angeal's help were followed by a dazed and unfocused Cloud.

At one point Denzel got to meet the others student before the trip. It was a simple truck with the ShinRa symbol patched onto the side. The teenager, because it was a teenager he realized, fastened Fenrir like nothing grinning at him.

The only thing showing he was a soldier was developing muscle mass and the mako bright stare.
He wore a soldier uniform but he never knew what other colors beside first class there was so he wasn't sure on the guy's class.

Cloud had been draped over Denzel's form as if embracing and for a moment the brunet was sure that was exactly what Cloud was doing. Grasping at him tightly but not to hurt him. More to reassure himself that he was there.

It pained his heart because whatever illness had Cloud was just as bad mentally.

The teenager had tanned skin, signaling he probably came from a country town. His hair was black and spiky although a pair of bangs framed his face.

There was a long broadsword on his back, probably a regular issued one.

The teen took Cloud from Denzel and there was a momentary freak out when Cloud panicked, mako bright eyes snapping open.

Denzel repeatedly apologized when Angeal's student met the floor in a martial arts pinning move.

Soon after that, once Cloud was weak and just passed out, they were on their way.

"Names Zack Fair, by the way." The teen grinned at him, though the dirt covering the side of his face ruined it.

Denzel was in a fit of giggles in a matter of seconds.