A.N: hello peoples hope you like my story so far…. If you're wondering Goon is cheap wine that comes in a cardboard box with a bag inside that holds the wine and Goon of fortune is a game where you take the bag out of the cardboard box, put it on the table/floor/ anything that has a hard surface, spin the bag and when the bag stops who ever the thing that makes the wine come out points at has to skull a glass of goon I'll put a piccy in

Disclaimer: I own nothing nada zip zilch

Chapter 3

Next morning, Ariana woke to find a fresh bandage and a piece of folded paper on the little table in her room. She picked up the piece of paper and un-folded it and found it to be a note… from Cloud.

It read…

Ariana,

Here's a fresh bandage so you don't need to go rummaging through the cupboards.

Meet me at the church in the ruins of Midgar I have something I need to show you, if you don't know the way the directions are attached.

Cloud

p.s I do not mope.

Ariana laughed at the end part. She quickly changed her bandages and got dressed. Tifa wasn't up yet so Ariana left her a note telling her she'd gone for an early morning ride, that she took some toast and a beer and that she would be back by at least 10 or 11. Once all that was done she made her way to the ruins of Midgar.

She followed Cloud's directions and got lost a few times, geez, he could have made the directions a tad more specific thought Ariana, she finally ended up in front of a run down church, she parked her motor bike and went to the large oak doors, she stopped in front of them for a minute then proceeded inside. She scanned the church and saw a large pool of water in the centre. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't come" said Cloud coming out of a back room.

"Well you know your directions weren't exactly specific" said Ariana matter-of-factly "so why did you want me to come here in the first place?"

Cloud walked across the church, through the pool of water, he reached the edge closest to Ariana "come here" he held out his had for her to take. She took it wearily, "be careful, it's slippery".

Why does he care so much Ariana thought skeptically as she waded into the pool of clear liquid, she walked a few steps before losing her footing and slipping on a rock, she closed her eyes and waited to feel the water engulf her body, but it never came, instead she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist, she opened her eyes and looked straight into Cloud's and the moment her emerald eyes met his crystal blue ones Cloud thought she has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, she reminds me of someone, who though?

"Um thank-you" she said unable to stop looking in his eyes.

"Uh... that's ok" he said snapping out of his thoughts and putting her firmly on her feet.

"You know you still haven't answered my question, why am I here?" she said pointing at her feet to add emphasis.

"Well you see this water" he said looking down "it's the cure for Geostigma"

"Oh. My. God, you've got to be kidding me right" she said disbelievingly "but how?" she asked "and why do you care so much."

"Well two years ago there was a battle…"he told her the whole story of how Kadaj turned into Sephiroth and that a part of the life stream was underneath the church.

They had now progressed out of the water and were sitting on a fallen pillar off to the side of the church.

"So, um there's one thing I've been meaning to ask you for a while now" Cloud said.

"What?" Ariana asked curiously.

"Are you any relation to Zack Fair?"

"He was my bigger brother, but how do you know him?" Ariana was now really intrigued.

"Well we were in SOLDIER together, he was my best friend" Cloud said thoughtfully "he always used to go on about his little sister Ana and how she always used to beg him to let her come with him"

"Wow I haven't been called that since my mother died, I almost forgot about it. It's true I always wanted to go with him and fight by his side. Silly, huh?"

Flashback

5 years ago…

"I wanna go with you, I can fight, you know I can" Ariana begged her older brother.

"I know you can Ana, but its way too dangerous for a girl" said Zack.

"For a girl!? Is that what you think, I'm weaker because I'm a girl!" yelled Ariana "you know what, I don't want to go, because then I'd have to deal with an arse hole like and his arse hole friends"

"I'm leaving now, good-bye Ana, I love you" Zack said, he couldn't be bothered with his 16 year old sisters ramblings, he knew she didn't mean it she just wanted to be in SOLDIER with him.

End Flashback

Ariana was now in tears, Cloud had his arm around her shoulders telling her it was ok "it's not ok, the last thing I said to him before he died was that I didn't want to go with him because I'd have to deal with an arse hole like him, but now I understand that he just didn't want me to get hurt" she said in between sobs.

"I'm sure he knew that you didn't mean it" Cloud said how am I going to shut this girl up? Cloud thought. Cloud moved his head down and firmly planted his lips on Ariana's, Ariana just sat there looking like a stunned mullet, Cloud continued kissing her for a moment longer then whispered in her ear "you know you shouldn't mope so much it's not good for your health" and, with a smile on his face, got up and left, leaving Ariana sitting there with her mouth wide open.

What was that all about? Does he like me or was he just doing it to shut me up? Ariana thought definitely to shut me up. Ariana looked at her watch at was now 9:30 well best be getting back.

Meanwhile back at 7th heaven…

"Come on Marlene, don't be such a chicken, she's not coming back till 10 or 11" Denzel egged Marlene on, "ok" said Marlene still uneasy about snooping in Ariana's room. "I know she's hiding something and Cloud's in on it too" once they got in Ariana's room Denzel told Marlene to go through her bag while he went through her wardrobe, "hey Denzel come have a look at this…" Marlene said, Denzel came over to see that Marlene was holding several blackened bandages, "she has Geostigma …" said Marlene sadly.

"Well have a look at this" Denzel said holding out the note that Cloud wrote to Ariana "Cloud knew and he didn't tell Tifa" Denzel said somewhat shocked.

Ariana got back at 10:00 am sharp; she decided to sneak through the back door so she wouldn't be seen by the kids, she tippy toed through the back door and she put her hand on her door knob but stopped as soon as she heard voices coming from her room "she has Geostigma…" said, who Ariana guessed to be, Marlene. "Well have a look at this" said Denzel "Cloud knew and he didn't tell Tifa". Ariana then opened her door "and what are we doing?" asked Ariana with a smirk on her face, the look that the kids had on their faces was absolutely priceless, they both turned and went as white as ghosts, their mouths hung open and dropped what they had in their hands, then Denzel grabbed Marlene and they both raced past Ariana down to the bar.

"Tifa! Tifa!" called Denzel as he ran down to the bar with Marlene running behind him,

"What is it sweetie?" asked Tifa

"Ariana has Geostigma! See" Denzel said holding out one of the bandages he pocketed before Ariana came in. Tifa bent down and took the blackened bandage from Denzel and examined it. "Cloud knew too" said Marlene.

"And what were you guys doing in her room while she was gone; I don't think she gave you permission to go snooping around on her room, now go and apologize to her now" Tifa said pointing to the hall. Once Marlene and Denzel had gone up to apologize to Ariana she called Cloud, and like always it went to massage bank.

"Hey Cloud it's me, Tifa. I just found out that Ariana has Geostigma and Marlene told me that you knew, why didn't you tell me? Oh well I gotta go talk to Ariana now bye" Tifa's voice came through Clouds mobile, he put it away and got off his motor bike then walked up to a large, heavily rusted sword, Cloud often came here or the church to think.

Why did I kiss her? There were a dozen different ways I could have got her to stop crying. I mean I don't even like her that much. Cloud thought just then another voice entered his head maybe you do like her, maybe you're just in denial it wasn't his own but that of his deceased friend… Zack. Zack, but how? Somehow Zack had made his way into Clouds thoughts and was talking with him. Same way Aerith did doy, sometimes you're thick you know that. So… You're in love with Ana, you're in love with Ana Zack sung in Cloud's head.

"Shut up I am not, she is way too childish… and cocky" Cloud said out loud sounding very annoyed.

She's only been so childish since I died; she's trying to shut out her sadness, but the cockiness…well, she's always been like that. And… you're in love with Ana; you're in love with Ana. At that moment Cloud just shut Zack out of his thoughts.

Ariana was in her room cleaning the mess Marlene and Denzel made when she heard foot steps coming up to her room. She turned to find two guilty faces in her door way "we're sorry we went snooping in your room" they said in unison.

"That's ok, so now you know my secret huh? And you just went and told Tifa didn't you?" asked Ariana just then Tifa showed up "yes they did" she answered for them "go and play outside, I need to talk to Ariana" Tifa said to Marlene and Denzel and they ran off. "So why are you really here?" asked Tifa

"I came here to get some of the cure for Geostigma and to take it back to my village to cure myself and the sick kids" Ariana said sadly.

"Oh…so you told Cloud?" asked Tifa feeling a little rejected that she would tell Cloud and not her.

"He didn't find out by choice, he found some of my bandages in the bathroom" said Ariana.

"Ok, so how did you end up with the Stigma? You weren't in SOLDIER otherwise Cloud would have recognized you straight away and you're definitely too old to have been born with it." Asked Tifa curiously

Flashback

4 years ago…

Ariana was running through the corridors of the Shinra electric power company trying to find a certain room. She had knocked out all the guards that tried to stop her which wasn't many because they were all out at war fighting Sephiroth. She took a left turn then a right and wound up in front of a room marked Lab underneath that it said authorized personnel only she opened the door and knocked out the scientist with the handle of her Sai, she then went to the fridge containing the Jenova cells, she grabbed one of the syringes and jabbed it into her left shoulder injecting the cells into her body, she could already feel herself getting stronger.

She was doing this so she could become stronger and get revenge on Sephiroth for killing her brother.

"I'm coming Sephiroth" she said with immense anger voice.

End flashback

Ariana told Tifa about how she broke into Shinra and injected the Jenova cells into her body just to get back at Sephiroth for killing her brother. "Geez and I thought Cloud took Zack's death hard" said Tifa amazed "I swear he was moping for about two years".

"Oh my god really?" asked Ariana her eyes wide "I always thought he'd been a mopey kind of person but not that mopey".

Tifa had soon left and all Ariana could think about was the kiss Cloud gave her earlier "ah, it wasn't that good of a kiss" said Ariana to herself.

You know talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity Ariana heard her brother say "Zack? Oh my god I'm going mad!"

Even though it's debatable whether you're going mad or you were already mad to begin with, I am really talking to you. Zack said just think what you want to say and I'll hear it, I am in your head after all, it's quite bare.

Shut up I was always smarter than you.

It shows Zack said sarcastically I'm not the one with Geostigma, I can't believe you would do that, inject Jenova cells into your body.

Hey I was trying to avenge you and I'm not the one who's dead. You don't know the pain I went through, Sephiroth took everything from me, first you then Mum and Dad. I hated him so much; my decision wasn't made with my head but with the anger that filled my heart. Ariana felt her eyes sting with tears.

I'm sorry Ana; it just wasn't the smartest thing to do.

Ah, no shit, you don't think I know that.

So what's this I hear about a kiss huh?

Nothing. Stay out of my thoughts.

Ok but there is one more thing I have to say. You're in love with Cloud; you're in love with Cloud. Zack sung just like he had done before with Cloud and just like before, Ariana blocked Zack out of her thoughts, but not before saying… as if.

In the life-stream….

"Yes! And Zack strikes again" Zack said triumphantly.

"you know you shouldn't do that, if they love each other they'll get together in their own time you shouldn't rush things" said Aerith frustrated that he had used materia for other purposes than to talk to his sister.

"We all know it's gonna happen, don't we boys?" said Zack moving his head in the direction of three silver haired men "yeah!" Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz screamed in unison, "I'm just helping it move a bit faster" Zack finished.

Aerith just rolled her eyes and stalked off. Zack turned to Kadaj "I want you three to go back to the surface, I want you to keep an eye on Cloud and Ariana; I'll get the materia you'll need from Aerith and distract her while you make your getaway."

"Hey Aerith Loz wants you, I think Sephiroth was making fun of him again" Zack lied.

"Oh my god that guy is a grown man and I swear he cries more than Marlene" Aerith said walking off. Zack then went to Aerith's materia box and rummaged around until he found the ones he was looking for, they were white and Aerith only had a few, Zack just hoped she wouldn't notice they were missing or it was his arse on the line. Aerith came back shaking her head, "how'd it go?" asked Zack.

"He was bawling his eyes out, Sephiroth called him a useless cry baby that would never amount to anything" said Aerith with a sigh.

"Well I better get going, the boys and I are gonna go to the looking pond to see what Reno's up to, it's always a laugh" Zack said and walked off.

"Alright boys, I got the materia now quickly get going, I'm going back to Aerith now" said Zack handing Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz the white materia. Zack made his way back to Aerith "he was just flirting with Yuffie again, but this time he was sober"

Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz pushed the materia into their arms making them glow then stepped forward into the pond and slowly sunk into it.

The blinding light of the sun broke through the clouds and shone through a gap in the old church, Cloud was sitting on the same fallen pillar he and Ariana sat on, his buster sword resting next to him, he was so deep in thought he didn't see three figures rise up from the pool of water ten feet in front of him. Kadaj was shocked to see that Cloud hadn't tried to kill them yet. Yazoo walked up to him and said "brother, what's wrong?", as soon as Cloud heard Yazoo's voice he grabbed his buster sword and held it to Yazoo's neck, "what are you doing here?" Cloud said his tone dripping with hatred.

"Relax brother, if we were going to kill you we would have done it ten minutes ago, you were in such deep thought you didn't even see our grand entrance" Kadaj said with a slight laugh, Cloud let his grip on the sword loosen but didn't put it down, he still didn't trust Kadaj.

"Yeah we're on your side now brother" piped up Loz.

"So I hear from Zack that you're in love with his sister, he sent us back here to keep an eye on you two" said Kadaj cockily. Only then did Cloud drop his sword.

"I am not in love with Ariana" Cloud said frustrated.

"You sound like you need a drink, god knows I do" said Kadaj "know any good bars?" Cloud directed the three men to 7th Heaven but didn't join them; he needed to think about things before he could face Ariana again.

The three silver haired men entered the bar, Tifa wasn't at the bar though, it was Ariana, Tifa had taken the rest of the day off and was down at the park with Marlene and Denzel at Ariana's insistence.

"What can I get ya boys?" asked Ariana

"Um I'll have… oh stuff it I've been dead for two years may as well get something strong, get me a Tequila suicide" said Kadaj, Ariana handed kadaj the salt shaker, a piece of lemon and poured the Tequila into a shot glass and gave it to him. He snorted the salt on his hand, downed his shot and rubbed the lemon in his closed eye.

"I'll just get a beer thanks" said Loz not game enough to try a Tequila suicide.

"Make that two" interrupted Yazoo.

By the time that Tifa, Marlene and Denzel had returned, Ariana was playing a drinking game with Kadaj and was drinking him under the table, Yazoo and Loz had teamed up against Reno and Rude and were playing pool, Yazoo and Loz were down to the eight ball while Reno and Rude had only pocketed a few and still had several left to pocket.

Ariana explained, being the only one that was even remotely sober, to Tifa that Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz were on their side now, Tifa and the kids went to bed and Ariana got everyone around a bar table in the middle of the room to play Goon of Fortune.

Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz stayed the night in the bar, they lied on the couches and Ariana had got them some spare blankets and pillows before going to bed herself. When she was about to open her door she turned her head and looked over her shoulder at Cloud's door then went into her room, got changed into her pyjamas and went to sleep.

A.N: hope you liked this chappie remember read and review