Hi my loves!! Welcome back!! I have missed you something fierce and I'm glad that you've come back to me! Here is chapter 4 and this was inspired by "Sleep walker" by Adam Lambert.

Shazz was curled up on her queen sized bed that was set in the corner of her room. Her white cotton sheets were disheveled from tossing and turning and she lay there clutching her pillow to her chest. The sunset illuminated her bedroom with a warm glow but it wasn't enough to settle Shazz's nerves.

She felt guilty about locking herself away again, but she just needed some time to herself. As much as she wished she could talk to someone about this, she knew that no one would possibly understand what she was feeling.

The bottom line was Shazz and Sephiroth had history, good history. The memories Shazz had with him weren't easy to let go and that's why she chose isolation when it came to dealing with matters in which he was involved. She despised herself already for morning his death, she didn't need anyone else around her to pick at the wound.

After sometime Shazz came to accept that he was gone and she even felt a since of relief. Having him gone meant peace to so many and to her as well. She would never forgive Sephiroth for all that he took away from Cloud and from her. Yet despite her convictions, she knew, in the deepest well of her heart, that she would never really hate him. How could she? Her relationship with him was the only time when she felt completely safe and wanted.

Now don't get the wrong idea, this was no story book romance. Sephiroth wasn't exactly a flower and candy type of guy and Shazz had too much on her plate to put any emphasis on a relationship. One could assume that their relationship was purely physical and even though the sex could never be rivaled, it was so much more than that.

What these two had didn't need to be defined by labels. All they knew is that they enjoyed being together. Both of them were outsiders in their own right. Shazz was ignored by her old peers and her news ones were a long way from accepting her. Sephiroth watched as a friend of his started to degrade and even though his body possessed the same cells, in the end he was unable to save his friend. For a long time he wondered why he was the exception. Why he was not going to meet the same fate?

In a passing glance they sensed the same pain in one another but it took awhile for them to allow their feelings to surface. That night in the locker room seemed to be the point of no return. For too long they danced around what they truly wanted and that moment allowed them the chance to finally see where this would lead.

As time passed, it seemed only natural that they sought refuge in each other. No one could really understand what it meant to feel alone even though you were surrounded by people. That's why it was so easy for them to be with each other, even it meant sneaking around. There were nights when the two lovers would talk about anything and everything and there were nights where they did nothing but hold each other and still feel like they had the best conversation.

Shazz could feel the tears start to flow as she thought about her past. Her pillow became stained with her whimpering and she began to hate herself for her weakness. For so long she had buried these memories with Sephiroth and now that he was coming back, these remnants came crashing down upon her like a tsunami.

God how she loathed this! She wanted to forget everything about him because he sure has hell had forgotten all about her. She wasn't naive enough to actually think that Sephiroth would consider her an exception to his revenge, but to actually hear the words tore her apart. How could she have considered loving such an unremorseful beast?

Even though the pain of her memories were eating away at her, it seemed almost bearable to the pain Sephiroth was willing to inflict upon her. She knew that there was really no use for her to be here, in fact her whole role in the reunion seemed rather insignificant. Kadaj could have killed her when he laid eyes on her and everything would have gone on without a hitch. When she locked eyes with the silver haired boy she could see the eyes of her former lover staring back at her. Those haunting emerald orbs smiled as they told her of how they couldn't wait to look upon her face when he finally killed Cloud.

Angry and heartbroken, Shazz screamed into her pillow. "I won't! I won't let you kill him!! I won't!" Clinging desperately to her pillow she began to sob uncontrollably. "Zack!" she cried out "I know you are there and I'm asking you, no, I'm begging you to do me this one last favor, forget me. I know it may seem selfish but I can't stand by and watch him get killed. I will not be left behind again! I lost you but I'll be damned if I lose him too. My heart couldn't bare the loss. I almost wish that Sephiroth would grant me a simple mercy and kill me before he takes that boy's life. Death would be a welcomed gesture than the agony of knowing that I lost you both! I don't know what I'll do but I just can't let him take Cloud away from me. In the long run it may cost me by life but at least I'll die knowing I tried so please Zack…please…leave me behind and give all you can to Cloud. He needs your protection more than I do."

Reno pulled his ear away from Shazz's door and sympathy was lingering in his crystal blue eyes. He had never heard anybody cry like that and it was enough for his shameless heart to break a little. Softly he made is way down the stair case and into the main room where Rude and Rufus were waiting for him.

"How is she?" Rufus asked

Reno shrugged his shoulders "It's hard to say. I wanted to tell you that she was devastated, but even that word seems like an understatement."

"Whatever you do, don't mention this to Cloud when you see him. The last thing we need is for him to worry about here even more." Reno nodded his head but he didn't really agree. The red head couldn't read the reactions of the men that were standing in front him. Rufus hid his face underneath a white sheet and Rude never wore his emotions out on his sleeve but He sure as hell wasn't going to let Cloud go on thinking that his actions didn't affect anyone. "Moving forward" continued Rufus and this snapped Reno out of contemplation. "I called you back here because I have some good news for you. It would seem that I have a man on the inside that has witnessed children with Kadaj's gang in the Forgotten City."

Reno was grateful for their stroke off luck and smiled at his dark skinned partner. "Well, we be better get going man. It's not safe to leave children in charge of children for too long."

Rude simply nodded his head and followed Reno as they were heading towards the front door. "Wait" Rufus called after them. "I have another bit of good news for you. It seems that our witness was also able to rescue Tseng and Elena and they are being treated at a near by hospital. After you are done delivering the news to Cloud, I want you two to go over there and stand guard. I fear that Kadaj might want to get his hands on them again."

Both men became relieved to know that their comrades were safe sound. "That's great? Who was it that saved them?" Reno asked curiously.

"I'm not sure. I was called from a hospital phone and told that Tseng and Elena were there. He asked what was going on and after I told him the details and he hung up and I never heard from him again."

Reno and Rude stood there for a moment trying to figure out who the mystery rescuer was, but eventually gave up. They had other pressing matters to attend to. "Are you going to be alright sir when we leave?" Reno asked quickly before they left.

"Never mind me, I'll be fine. Now go."

Cloud sat by the window and had been diligently looking out the window since Reno and Rude had left. A black velvet sky stretched over the land and street lights and neon signs lit up the crumbling streets of Midgar.

"Cloud." came a weary voice behind him. Cloud was relieved that Tifa was finally awake but he just couldn't turn around and face her.

"Reno and Rude are out looking for the Kids?" He said rather shortly to her.

The raven haired beauty sat up in bed and hugged her knees close to her chest. She started to remember the battle she had with a silver haired muscle head and was certain that he must have been the one that took Marlene. She lifted her head to look at Cloud and her eyes zeroed in on his arms. "You have Geostigma don't you?" Cloud remained silent and continued his vigilance. "So it that it, you're just going to give up and die."

Again Cloud didn't respond and his silence was starting to get to her. Her eyebrows furrowed and her teeth clenched. "You are giving up! What is wrong with you Cloud? I know that there is no cure but that isn't stopping Denzel." Tifa realized that her shouting was getting through to him and she tried going with plan B. She released her anger and in a more hopeful tone said "You don't have to run you know. We can beat this together, I just know we can." This time Cloud turned to look at her and she could see disbelief shinning in his eyes. "I guess things like that only happens in real families."

The young man walked over and sat down on the other bed. He stared at the floor and sighed painfully. "Tifa, I'm not fit to help anyone. Not my friends, not my family, not anyone."

Tifa laughed a little underneath her breath. "Dilly dally shilly shally." she sang as she shook her head. Cloud stared at her curiously. He wasn't quite sure what to make of her ramblings. "Dilly dally shilly shally." She repeated a little louder.

"What does that mean?" Cloud asked.

"I think it means that she want's you to move on man." The blonde quickly got to his feet and spun around to face the bedroom door. Reno and Rude were standing in the exact same place they were before they took off. Reno was looking at him ominously.

Tifa swung her legs over the side of the bed, eye eager to see if see that the two men had brought her good news about Denzel and Marlene. "Have you found them?" She asked with words filled with hope.

"We don't have them, but we do have a witness?"

"Kadaj's gang took the kids." Rude said this right after Reno and it seemed as if he was finishing his partner's thoughts.

Tifa looked to Cloud and she could sense his anger when Rude spoke the name Kadaj. She recalled Cloud saying something about a kid named Kadaj who attacked him on his way home.

"Where are they?!" Cloud yelled and Tifa snapped out of her trivial thoughts. His voice was filled with a mixture of anger, sorrow, and reluctance

"They're at their base in the Forgotten City." Rude replied casually.

A sharp pain hit Cloud's stomach as Rude spoke the name of the city. Such bad memories were associated with that place and there was now way he could ever set foot in that area again. "You two should go then" Cloud said as he turned he back toward the two men in the three piece suits. "It's a day's drive and you don't have much time."

Rude stood there and maintained his composer, but Reno jaw just about hit the floor when he heard Cloud's reaction. He was about this open his big mouth to yell at the stubborn blonde when Tifa broke the silence.

"Stop running! I know that even if you find the kids you might not be able to help them and that scares you. Right now you really need to think about the situation and really take it in. You act like you got it so damn hard and that you are better off alone but I know that's not true. Sure you may never answer your phone, but I don't see you throwing it away either!"

Rude was feeling a bit uncomfortable when Tifa started shouting at Cloud. He felt like this was a private moment and that he and his partner should get out of there, but Reno was far from wanting to leave. There was something bubbling beneath the surface and he just waited for the right spark to let it boil over.

"So what's it gonna be Cloud?" Tifa asked harshly "A memory or us?"

There it was. The spark that the red headed Turk had been waiting for. He couldn't believe that Cloud would hold off on going on to save his friends because of the memory of that flower girl. It was just a memory and that could never compete to what he had right now. Tifa might have indulged Cloud's pain but Reno refused to let this moping go on. It was time for some tough love.

"You know what I don't get Blondie." Reno said with a vindictive tone. "I don't get your attachment to the past. Yes, bad things happen but all of us have to get up and move on. But do you know what really boggles my mind is that you are well aware that she is no longer a memory and you still refuse to move your ass!"

Tifa sat quietly on the bed in her own confusion. She had no idea what Reno was ranting about but it was obviously effecting Cloud. She could tell he was holding himself back from tearing Reno apart by the way he was clenching his fist."

Even though the sassy Turk knew was skating on thin ice, he still approached Cloud without caution. "You know Kadaj got is hand on her." This time the ex SOLDIER turned to look at Reno and his eyes looked like a deer in the headlights. "Oh yeah, and it frightened quite a bit. While we were looking for those kids, I went back to check on her and all I could hear were these heart shattering sobs coming from her bedroom. I thought that maybe she was more scared than I anticipated, but I soon learned that those tears weren't for fear of her life, but for yours. Can you believe that? Her life gets threatened and all she cares about is you. God not even I would be as heartless as to ignore something like that."

In a split second Cloud had Reno's back pinned against the wall and his hand was holding tightly to the Turk's throat. Reno was staring into a pair of blazing blue eyes and a face that was scrounged into a vicious scowl. "Don't you dare talk about her as if you really give shit!" Cloud hissed "You know NOTHING about her!"

Reno's hands wrapped around the blonde's arm and he pulled on it trying to relieve some of the pressure from his throat. "You're right man." He said gasping for air. "I don't know much about the girl, but I'll tell you what, if anyone ever cried for me like that, I would make damn sure those tears weren't wasted!"

Cloud grunted as he let go of Reno and the Turk started coughing and gasping for air. The expression on the young blonde's face as he walked over the bed and grabbed the sward that was leaning up against the headboard. Without even acknowledging Tifa he turned right back around and walked right out the door.

"Cloud! Cloud where are you going? Hey, wait just a min…" Tifa was cut off by a burly arm that blocked her from exiting the room. She looked over at Rude and then at Reno was still trying to catch his breath. She had no idea what just happened and she was about to ask Reno when she heard the roar of Cloud's motorcycle. She ran towards the window and she made it just in time to see a pair of tail lights fade into the night. "Where is he going?"

"To the Forgotten City." Rude replied nonchalantly.

"How can you be so sure?" Tifa's brown eyes fell upon Reno who had finally regained his composer and was leaning against the doorframe. "And you, what did you say to him?"

An impish grin formed upon Reno's thin lips. "An object at rest will remain at rest unless an external force is applied to it." Tifa was surprised and a little bit confused by his statement. "Oh yeah…I know things."

"Ooookay, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Let's just say" he said with a sly smile "I know the one person that can give Cloud that push he needs to get moving."

"Hold up a seconded? Who from his past are you talking about?"

Reno started to walk out the door and with out looking back he waived good bye and yelled "Sorry we can't stay in chat, but we have an important appointment to keep."