Chapter 3

As soon as they had dealt with the wedding of the prince preparations were already going on for the General's wedding not that Sephiroth wanted it any more than before but at least neither did Elena. He waited in his study for Reno who had sent a missive asking permission to talk to him not reno's style really he had expected the red-head to come barging into his study on his own. Elena must have sent the message and told reno about it he decided. Though for his part the man in question did just barge in at the time the letter had asked.
"Reno."
"Sephiroth."
"you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes."
"Would you like a seat or shall you pace?"
"Pace."
"Very well."
"Sephiroth I know you don't want this any more than laney and neither of you have a choice,"
"Yes both of us have discussed this." He looked strait at him. "you do know that after the wedding there is no reason the two of you could not continue to be lovers i have another I love myself."
"Yeah laney told me the same thing , you really don't care?"
"Why should I this wedding is not my idea nor hers."
"Oh okay then." He really hadn't expected the man to be so calm about it.
"Reno Elena is a beautiful woman and yes most men would fight you for the right to her hand but besides the fact you obviously have her heart I am not interested in women for sexual partners. I like blonds yes but i prefer men in that respect."
"Like Cloud?"
"Yes like Cloud." he nodded.
"You know ther will have ot be at least one child between you two right?"
"I know that will be the only time I touch her like that."
"All right." He looked over at the cabinet near the window. "Is ther any alcohol in there?"
"Yes."
"I need a drink."
Sephiroth smirked and went to the cabinet pouring two glasses of thin reddish Gongagan whiskey and handed one to Reno.
"To the beginning of an interesting relationship." Reno said and downed the glass.

a year had passed and the wedding plans were finished leaving Sephiroth in the uncomfortable place of groom and Elena in the place of the bride. neither looked very happy even though it was a much smaller ceremony then the prince's wedding had been. they barely even kissed as Braska said they should and the party was even smaller. since both were military most of the well wishers were as well. The two of them were even acting like they actually enjoyed themselves.

Cloud watched the wedding feeling mildly upset. Sephiroth had agreed far to readily for him even if he had told him it was okay. He got up and sighed leaving the chapel and heading for the stables to grab his Chocobo. the pretty gold bird nipped at his hair.
"Not now Karat let's just go." He told the bird swinging into the saddle. he had to get out of there before he did something he would regret. He would leave and maybe come back, but first he would go home for a while.

The chocobo was willing to run as fast as she could and as far as possible but the town Cloud had been born in was on another continent and he had to book passage on a boat ot get there. He didn't really care he just wanted to get as far from Midgard as he could.

Niebelhiem was a nice little town nestled in the Corel mountains. Cloud had been born there to his parents Marine and Odin Strife. he was Odin's only child though his mother had been a mistress of Rufus' father and was Rufus' mother but only members of the family knew that. His mother still lived in Niebelhiem now. she was a sweet woman still quite lovely with golden hair and blue eyes just like both of her sons. she was glad to see Cloud and demanded to know all the latest things that had happened to her babies especially the wedding of her younger son and Quistis.
"So the child was a girl and is a cute little thing."
"That's wonderful so I'm a grandmother now."
"You don't look it mother."
"Flatterer. I'm glad you finally took some time to see your mother though i would like it if your brothers did."
"well they are quite busy mother."
"True."

He spent a few days ther mostly in the mountains one day he ran into an old friend, a girl he had known.
"Cloud?"
"Tifa it's been awhile?"
"it has where have you been?"
'Midgard I made it in the SOLDIER program and decided to visit mom. I thought you were in Corel?"
"no I came home for awhile want to get a drink?"
"Sure."

The two spent days together in the small town, and their nights together in the old inn owned by Tifa's mother. If the woman knew what was going on she said nothing to either of them or Cloud's mother who seemed unaware of her son's activities with the brunette. Neither had said anything to one another either. Cloud tired to ignore the nagging in the back of his head reminding him he was supposed to be with Sephiroth and the one that told him Tifa had left for Corel to marry some miner there.

Four month passed and a group of SOLDIERs arrived led by Zack. They were there of course for Cloud.
"Zack?"
"Hey cloud i've been ordered to bring you home."
"Why?"
"Because it's orders, from the prince himself." his black haired friend told him.
"fine let me say goodbye first though."
"Of course."

He went to find Tifa who was in her mother's inn cleaning up.
"Cloud why are the SOLDIERS here?" She asked him.
"To take me home my leave's over "
"Oh write me okay i haven't heard form you in nearly four years."
"I know I'll write this time i swear." He hugged her and left before he did something else he might regret.

His mother was easier to deal with she knew his duty was to the throne. She hugged him and let him go giving him some things to give to his brothers and sent him on his way. Cloud was part of the trip back but during the boat ride to the other continent he was too sea sick to care much. Zack stayed nearby in case Cloud wanted to talk since he was his friend after all.

It was a moonless night when Cloud stood alone on the deck staring out at the water after heaving up the last vestiges of his dinner. He was torn at this point between duty and desire, he didn't love Tifa but he did care for her, and Sephiroth was married now and it would look bad if anyone knew that he and Cloud were lovers.
He didn't even look up when footsteps approached him and a coat was thrown over his shoulders. He looed up to see Zack lean on the railing.
'you okay Spike?"
"fine."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then why disappear for months?"
"the court's uncomfortable."
"Any of that have to do with Seph?"
"No."
"Right it has nothing to do with Seph and Elena having to get married and produce children, she's pregnant by the way so they haven't even looked at one another since she said she was."
Blue eyes looked up at him. "really?"
"Of course they despise eachother it's all politics and I know you are worse than me when it comes to politics Spike."
"thanks a lot Zack."
"you're welcome."