You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low

Just when things went right
Doesn't mean they're always wrong
Just take this song and you'll never feel
Left all alone

Take me to your heart
Feel me in your bones
Just one more night
And I'm comin' off this
Long and winding road

I'm on my way, I'm on my way
Home sweet home, tonight - tonight
I'm on my way, I'm on my way
Home sweet home

"Home Sweet Home" - Motley Crue

The previous week had passed in a blur, and when his birthday came and went with not one word from Zack, the cadet had convinced himself that his lover was dead, killed in action just as Angeal and Genesis were believed to be. The vague and speculative television news reports that Cloud had just heard were not helping much either.

Cloud had slept but briefly at Zack's place that night, right after he heard the initial news report - slept in Zack's bed, holding Zack's shirt tightly in his hands, gripping it as if it were a child's well-loved stuffed animal. He napped, but did not sleep well; any little sound he heard from his friends out in the living room would cause Cloud to bolt upright in bed, thinking that he was hearing the sounds of Zack returning home.

Cloud had insisted to his friends all along that he would be fine, that at least Zack and Tseng were only considered missing in action, and not killed in action, as Angeal and Genesis were believed to have been. The words themselves felt and sounded hollow, Cloud knew this even as he uttered them. He didn't even believe a word he was saying, and he was pretty sure his friends weren't buying it either. Inside, Cloud felt as if he was drowning, unable to breathe. Zack…might never be coming back, Cloud thought despondently. And if he does, what if it's in a body bag. No…don't want to think about that, not yet. Zack would never give up hope if I was the one missing.

Just before midnight, Cloud had woken up with a start, and looking around him, decided he needed to get the hell out of Zack's apartment, before he went completely mad. Everything, everywhere he looked, reminded him of Zack, and he needed to go somewhere that was less…him.

Cloud shuffled out to the living room, where his friends were still keeping vigil, hoping to hear of some word about Zack – good or bad – and wanting to be there for Cloud whenever he heard any news.

"Guys….thanks for staying with me, I appreciate it….so much," Cloud told them gratefully. "I really do. But I think I need to be alone now…and I want to go back to my room. I just…keep thinking about Zack, being in his place like this…I just need to get back to my own space, is all."

"You've been crying," Quinn said, in an almost accusatory tone. She got up from the sofa and walked over to Cloud, wrapping him in a gentle hug. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" the girl whispered.

"I have to be," Cloud said, sighing exhaustedly. "I…just have to be. I have to pull myself together, and just hope…for some good news, right?" Everyone nodded in agreement, Zane yawning, then apologizing quickly.

"No, don't be sorry," Cloud said kindly to his friend. "I can't thank you all enough for being there for me. I just…don't know what to do with myself, I guess. I don't think I'll get any sleep anyways, so I might as well head back to my room."

"What if Zack comes back, man?" Dill said quietly. "Shouldn't you wait here for him?"

"If he comes back – " Cloud paused, then corrected himself. "When he comes back…he can find me, I'm sure. If I'm not at his place, he's smart enough to check my room, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Dill replied dully. He wouldn't say anything about it to Cloud, but Dill was also starting to get a bad feeling about where the missing Zack could be. The last few news reports they'd watched on the television while Cloud napped were mostly bleak in nature. Shinra troops hadn't found any sign of the chopper - or Tseng or Zack for that matter - and were now concentrating their search and rescue efforts over the ocean, theorizing that the helicopter must have crashed into the water at some point after the radio went dead.

No, Dill would not be sharing that bit of information with Cloud. Let him hold on to a bit of hope, until we hear some actual news, instead of just speculation, Dill reasoned. They all walked back to their respective buildings and parted ways, just after midnight, with Cloud thanking his friends again, and promising he'd call them as soon as he heard any news about Zack.

Cloud entered his small room, shut and locked the door, then quickly undressed, throwing on a pair of sleep pants. He slid underneath the bedcovers, drawing them over his head, as if to shut out the world, but he couldn't. His thoughts wouldn't quiet, nor was Cloud even tired. I need to try and relax, he thought , tossing and turning in frustration for the next few hours, sleep eluding him no matter how much he tried to relax. I'm too keyed up…

"I suppose I'll take a shower, clear my head," Cloud muttered to himself, as he robotically dragged himself out of bed, and quickly threw on a robe, preparing to head to the communal showers on his floor. "Then…maybe I should call my mom or something. She…never got to meet Zack." A sob caught in his throat, as the realization of those words sank in. The best thing that ever happened to me…and what if my mom never gets to meet him. Oh gods…

The water ran hot in the shower, and stung where it hit Cloud's face. He'd rubbed his cheeks raw from crying earlier, and the scalding water burned against the sensitive skin. He braced his hands against the cool tile wall of the shower, as his body heaved and wracked with unspent sobs he'd been holding back. I need to hold it together, Cloud admonished himself, ashamed. This…is not how someone in SOLDIER would behave.

After some time under the hot spray of the showerhead, the hot water began to run out, signaling the end of his shower, and Cloud reluctantly got out, toweling his hair dry, he threw on his robe. Once he got back to his own room, Cloud dressed in clean clothes, and sat back down on the bed, glancing at the clock. Tick…tick…tick…

He got up and paced back and forth, checked and re-checked his cell phone for any possible missed calls – and of course, there were none. Not that they'd even bother telling me if there's any word on Zack, Cloud told himself. I'm just a lowly cadet.

Not knowing what to do with himself, and feeling much too restless to sit in his room, waiting for a phone call that might not come, Cloud threw on some running shoes, and decided to go for an impromptu run. Going for a run, at four in the morning…I might be nuts, Cloud thought, as he locked up his room. And maybe I am, just a little. I just don't know what to do with myself, until I know that Zack is okay.

The next thing Zack knew, he was waking up with one hell of a headache, and he felt as if his entire body was moving...yet, he couldn't feel his limbs or anything like that moving, just an all-over sort of swaying, to and fro. He slowly opened his eyes, which felt as if they'd been sealed shut with some kind of adhesive, just blinking was proving to be painful. As his eyes focused, he realized that the movement he felt was due to the helicopter pitching forward.

Helicopter? As recognition set in, Zack sat up quickly, which proved to be a mistake - he winced as his head pounded with terrible pains. He rubbed his temples, and glanced over to the pilot's seat, where Tseng was calmly piloting the chopper over the ocean.

"We're...we're over the ocean," Zack muttered dumbly, groaning. "My head...what happened?"

"You're likely feeling a bit of shell-shock," Tseng informed him. "And yes, we are over the ocean...because of the bombing, I had to revise my flight plan and take us off course to the west a bit...we're circling back, Midgar should be within our sights fairly soon."

"Bombing..." Zack muttered, shifting his position uncomfortably in the seat. "The last thing I remember...was an explosion..."

"Lucky I found you when I did," Tseng replied, glancing sideways at Zack. He sniffed, then banked the helicopter around to the right, making an arc. "We're approaching the continent again," he informed Zack. "You were out cold for a while there, Zack. Seems you hit your head when the bombing started. No concussion, though you'll have a hell of a headache for a while, I would imagine."

"Yeah...the last thing I remember, was hitting the ground...thought I was a goner," Zack mumbled, as he began to piece together what had happened. Oh gods...Cloud...I hope nobody told him I was hurt...

Tseng's words suddenly registered with Zack. "Tseng, what day is it?" Zack asked as he looked out the window for the first time, it was pitch black outside, and the SOLDIER had no sense of time whatsoever. The past few days – the better part of a week, had gotten away from him, and being unconscious for some time only added to his feelings of unease. "You didn't report my injuries to headquarters, did you?" Zack asked, fretting.

"It's Friday," Tseng replied. "Well...Friday night, Saturday morning, take your pick, it's well past midnight on Friday. And no, I've reported nothing to headquarters," he continued. "Our radio's busted, so I can't. I'm presuming we've either been reported KIA or MIA, due to the lack of communication. The island where we landed earlier to re-fuel, had no working radio either." Tseng explained. "We've 'gone dark' – been off radar, and have been on radio silence for nearly twenty-four hours now, since we left Mideel. Nobody back home knows whether we're dead or alive, Zack."

"No," Zack whispered, horrified. "I've lost so much time…where the hell did this entire week go? Gods, Cloud...if he's heard anything at all, he probably thinks I'm..." It's Friday...so that means it's Cloud's birthday today. I wish I could be with him right now...

"That's likely what everyone's thinking about both of us, Zack," Tseng said quietly. "Thank Gaia, we'll be home soon. I would imagine they're searching for our bodies right about now, or some wreckage," he added grimly.

"Gods, what an awful thought," Zack groaned. "Tseng, how much longer until we land?" Zack said impatiently.

"Not long now," Tseng told him. "I see the helipad...I'm taking us in." Tseng dipped the helicopter lower, maneuvering it toward the roof of the Shinra building and the helipad.

"Of course...I have no way to communicate with the tower, with our radio being broken," he added. "Hopefully they'll see the Shinra logo on the chopper, and refrain from shooting us down - "

"That's another horrible thought," Zack interrupted. "Way to be pessimistic, Tseng."

"I wouldn't say that," the Wutaian replied, grinning. "I'm more of a realist, I think." Turning his attention up front again, Tseng guided the helicopter down, and within moments he touched down on the helipad and landed the aircraft. Zack grinned as he saw activity within the tower, air traffic controllers scrambling as they recognized the missing helicopter and its passengers. A mechanic who was out on the tarmac ran over to greet them.

"Sir!" the man exclaimed excitedly, as Tseng opened the chopper door, still remaining in his seat as exhaustion hit him like a ton of bricks. "Sir, you and Commander Fair," the mechanic continued. "You're all right!"

"Yes, we're both fine, mostly….we're home," Tseng murmured, letting out the breath he'd been holding in. "At last. Please…inform Director Lazard and General Sephiroth that we've returned, would you? I'm…feeling a bit spent. I need a moment to collect my wits about me. " The man nodded, and ran off to do Tseng's bidding.

Tseng rubbed his forehead after removing his headset, and Zack noticed all of a sudden, how exhausted Tseng appeared. There was no telling when the man had last seen sleep; Zack was starting to consider himself lucky that he'd been passed out for a bit, at least it had allowed his body to rest somewhat.

"Tseng, you got us back safe," Zack said gratefully, his voice suddenly growing hoarse. "And...you saved my life, back there. I can't thank you enough."

"No thanks are necessary," Tseng replied, a faint, but tired smile on his face. "All in a day's work."

"Yeah, but still," Zack argued. He exited the chopper and shut the door, facing Tseng. "Still," he continued, "you don't know how happy I am to be back home."

"That makes two of us," agreed Tseng. "It's not easy realizing someone you once looked up to..." He paused, locking eyes with Zack. There was no need to go on; Zack knew Tseng was referring to Angeal. Zack sighed, his eyes heavy with sadness.

"I just can't believe it," Zack said, shaking his head. "I can't believe…that Angeal could be capable of such a thing."

"Perhaps he is not," Tseng said hopefully, as the men headed toward the rooftop stairwell. "You…didn't actually see him committing the act, did you?"

"Well…no," Zack said dubiously, scratching his head. "I didn't. Still, it seems like the logical conclusion…he was standing over his mother's dead body, and he held his sword in his hand…"

"Sometimes, logic is wrong," Tseng said cryptically. "And that which seems the more unreasonable outcome…is actually the correct one."

"I just don't know what to think anymore," Zack said sadly, shaking his head. "Everything…has been turned upside down."

"It has," Tseng said, nodding. He turned from Zack as they got to the corridor, and waited near the elevators.

"Go on home, Zack, get some rest. I'll contact you in several hours, we'll debrief the General and President Shinra then," Tseng added wryly.

"Yeah, I'm sure…everyone's figured it out by now, that we're alive and well," Zack agreed, the exhaustion suddenly hitting him like a ton of bricks. Everyone…except for Cloud, that is.

"Tseng…tell the general I'll brief him in the morning," Zack told the Turk Commander. "My head's killing me…think I'd better rest." It was true, Zack had a killer headache all of a sudden, borne of dehydration and exhaustion, but it wasn't anything that a good night's sleep wouldn't cure.

Sleep…as if I'll be able to sleep once I see Cloud, Zack thought, smiling sadly. It was after one in the morning now, and Zack had missed Cloud's birthday altogether. He hadn't even had a chance to phone him, as he'd promised. It wasn't my fault, I was unconscious, Zack thought. Still…I feel terrible about it…

It was cold out at this late hour – or early, Cloud thought, keeping in mind that sunrise was but a few hours away. This was a pretty miserable birthday, he reflected, as he mentally mapped out the route he wanted to run. It was a four mile loop; two miles out, and two miles back, up and down the main road. Nothing too strenuous or hilly, the route was pretty well flat, and served as a popular route for an easy, pre-dawn run.

Out and back twice, maybe, Cloud told himself as he stretched briefly before beginning his run. I need to do this, just to do something to take my mind off of everything.

Despite being nearly overcome with exhaustion, after parting from Tseng, Zack sprinted to his quarters. He quickly threw his bag inside the door without even looking, and, slamming the door shut once again, ran over to Cloud's dorm room as fast as his tired legs would carry him.

Gods, look at the time…Zack thought, looking at the clock on his cell phone. Feel terrible waking Cloud at this hour, but…I just need to see him.

He knocked, lightly at first; then, when there was no answer, a bit more persistently. "Damn," Zack muttered, running his hand through his hair. "He must be sleeping hard. And gods, do I ever need a shower," he commented, sniffing himself and making a face. He chuckled, imagining how Cloud would be rolling his eyes at him if he was there to see it.

"Where the hell could he be, if he's not sleeping?" Zack said to himself as he stood out in the corridor. He looked quickly at the bottom of the door; there was no light shining underneath. "I know he wasn't at my place…unless he was asleep there, and I didn't realize it?" Zack knitted his brows together, trying to remember. It had been dark when he opened the door and chucked his gear bag into the apartment, and hadn't even given any thought to the fact that Cloud might be there – and it was a possibility after all, since Cloud had been given a key.

Maybe I'll just head back to my place then, Zack thought, sighing with disappointment. He left Cloud's building, and slowly walked back toward his quarters, kicking away a bottle cap that glinted under the glow of the streetlights.

"I suppose I could call him on his cell phone," Zack muttered. "Gods, maybe I should just get some damned sleep…I'm not thinking clearly…head is pounding…ugh." As Zack stood on the sidewalk that led from Cloud's building to his own, he felt a rush of air pass through his body, as a small figure ran by at top speed. What the…is that guy running away from someone? Zack wondered, squinting. He's going so fast… A split second later, and Zack recognized the spikey blond hair, and an unabashed grin broke out across his face. "Cloud!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, running toward the elusive figure. "Cloud!"

Cloud didn't stop, though, as he had his headphones stuck in his ears, the music playing as he ran, oblivious to Zack's cries.

"Shit," Zack muttered, his legs – still feeling weaker than normal – moved slowly as he broke into a clumsy run. "Damn it, Cloud! Slow down!" he yelled after him. Who the hell goes for a run at this hour, anyway? Zack thought, groaning from overtiredness. His legs would never be able to run fast enough so he'd catch up with Cloud, he was so exhausted. Zack slowed to a walk, unable to keep pace with Cloud; he stood there sadly

But Cloud was slowing down, and making a turn…he was coming up to the two mile mark, where he would double back again, and continue his run in the other direction. Cloud spun at the two-mile loop, never breaking stride, as he continued his run, head down – plowing right into Zack, who was standing there dumbfounded, unable to move.

"What the hell! – " Cloud muttered as he collided with Zack. He looked up at a grinning Zack, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"Z-Zack? You're…you're alive?" Cloud stammered, staring at him in disbelief.

"Yeah, Spikes," Zack said quietly. "I'm alive, thank Gaia. Tseng, too. If it weren't for him – " He was cut short as Cloud launched himself at Zack, nearly tackling him in a hug. Their lips met in a bruising, crushing kiss, both of them barely pausing to breathe. "I missed you," Cloud whispered, when he finally came up for air. "This week has felt like – "

"An eternity," Zack finished, pulling Cloud close, smelling his hair. Home. "I know, Cloud…I know. "I missed you. So much."

"I missed you too, Zack. I – we – well, nobody knew what had happened – all the news reports were saying that the Shinra troops were searching for b-bodies…that you were missing in action," Cloud babbled in between stolen kisses from Zack, the words coming out in a frantic rush. "They said you were missing in action, and that Angeal and Genesis…" He swallowed hard before going on, and looked sadly up at Zack. "That they were killed in action – is that true?"

"I don't know, Cloud," Zack replied sadly, shaking his head. "It doesn't look good for them, but last I heard from Tseng, they haven't found any bodies – "

"I hope they're okay," Cloud murmured. "I really do hope so." He pulled back slightly from Zack, and looked down at his own somewhat disheveled appearance. "Gods – look at me. I'm sweating and I probably smell like a dead Marlboro, that's no way to welcome you home."

"Cloud. I haven't showered in several days," Zack deadpanned, then grinned. "I know I smell like a dead Marlboro." He placed his hands on either side of Cloud's face and drew him in, kissing him deeply.

"Happy birthday, Cloud," Zack murmured. "I'm so sorry I missed it." He brushed his lips against Cloud's tufts of blond spikes, one eye on the horizon. The sun would be rising in another few hours; Zack could see the faintest line of light, just at the edge of the horizon.

"You know, me being away," Zack said sheepishly, "kind of ruined the surprise I had planned for your birthday."

"I'd say this is a pretty good surprise right here," Cloud replied, chuckling. He crinkled his eyebrows into a small frown. "What time did you get back, anyway?" he asked, curiously.

"Not too long ago, we got in fairly late," Zack told him. "Can I ask why you're running around in the dark, before sunrise? Mister I-hate-mornings? I mean…this isn't like you," he teased.

Cloud shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Couldn't sleep. My mind kept racing…kept thinking the worst, even though I tried not to. I stayed as positive as I could, but still…"

"I know, Cloud," Zack said, kissing the cadet's forehead as he drew him close. "I know…I mean, I'm thinking the worst about Genesis and Angeal right now, and I'm trying not to." He shuddered, recalling seeing Angeal standing over Gillian's dead body, and wondered if he should even share any of that with Cloud. He looked down into Cloud's large blue eyes; eyes that were gazing happily up into his own. No, I can't do that to him, Zack decided. That information might be classified, anyway…and I still have to talk to Sephiroth about everything…

"What's wrong, Zack?" Cloud asked, as he saw the smile begin to fall from Zack's face. The SOLDIER shook his head, snapping out of it, and grinned again. "Nothing, Cloud. It's just…been a hell of a week. And I have a headache – I kind of bumped my head and blacked out – "

"Oh gods, you didn't get a concussion, did you?" Cloud asked, worrying. "You know, we have to stop getting head injuries, both of us."

Zack laughed, and wrapped his arm around Cloud's shoulder, as they turned around to walk back towards the barracks. "Tseng said I was out cold for a while, but I was checked out, though I barely even remember much of that. We had to stop and refuel on this small island that didn't even have a radio…so I couldn't even let you know I was okay. I'm so sorry, Cloud…I want to make it up to you, this being your birthday, and all."

Cloud shook his head, and wrapped his arm around Zack's waist, snuggling into his side. "You don't have to make anything up to me," he murmured. "This…having you back home, and safe – I couldn't ask for anything more. Welcome home, Zack…I love you."

"I love you too, Spikes," Zack whispered, as they reached his building. "Stay with me?"

Cloud smiled and nodded. "I will," he replied. "And you know…you didn't even need to ask."

A/N: Ohhhh, this took much longer to write than it should have; I've been sick since Christmas, and not writing as quickly as I usually do, even though I've been off of work all week...my brain just doesn't work very quickly when I'm sick. And, I did want to update this one fairly quickly, since I so CRUELLY left the last chapter at a cliffhanger. :)

So, a bit of a rollercoaster for poor Zack in this chapter, but he's home now with his Cloudy, yay! This was a shorter chapter than usual, but I wanted Zack and Cloud to have a nice little reunion scene, with nothing else major going on.