Cloud sat by Zack and watched over him protectively as the young woman and her second oldest, a daughter, helped dress the wounds he had received.

They had offered to let Cloud and Zack stay there for the night, long enough for Zack to recover, and Cloud had reluctantly agreed.

He wanted to get back to Edge so he could talk to Rufus but he knew Zack needed to stay here and get rest and he also wanted to see what was up with the Genesis Clone infestation.

Zack hadn't moved since he grabbed Cloud's wrist and hadn't spoken either.

" How is your husband? " Cloud asked quietly, looking up at the woman.

" He's fine. Your friend here saved his life…we're all very grateful. You two have done so much for us…"

" I'm glad he's okay. "

The woman nodded.

" Me too. You're friend – "

" Zack…that's his name. " Cloud interrupted.

She nodded again, smiling slightly.

" You're friend Zack is doing wonderfully too. He's healing rather quickly. It must be a SOLDIER thing. "

Cloud nodded, confirming her statement.

He watched as the woman, her daughter watching over her shoulder, tied the last knot for the bandage and sighed.

" There. Now we're done. "

Cloud watched as the woman stood, dusted her hands off on her skirt, took her daughter's hand and led her towards the door.

The woman paused in the doorway.

" If you need anything, don't hesitate to call. "

Cloud nodded.

" I'm have one of my kids come up and get you when it's time for dinner. "

Cloud nodded again and watched as the mother and daughter left the room, quietly closing the door behind them.

" You're probably starving Zack. " Cloud grinned. " You didn't have breakfast this morning and you didn't get lunch either. Make sure to wake up in time for dinner, this might be the last time we have a decent meal in a couple weeks. I'm planning on leaving tomorrow for the cave…I'll take care of Genesis then we'll leave for Edge. "

He knew Zack had heard him, even if he didn't look like he was awake.

Cloud suddenly laughed.

" This sure is a switch isn't it? I was the one with Mako Poisoning when we left Nibelhiem…now it's you. And instead of you carrying me around across the world it's the other way around. Now instead of on our way to Midgar it's to Edge…but…let's just hope no one gets killed this time. " Cloud offered a weak smile. " It's ironic, isn't it? How this has all played out? "

There was no answer from Zack.

" Don't worry buddy…you won't die this time and I won't either. I'll make sure of it. " Cloud gave Zack's knee a pat and got up to flop down on the other side of the bed.

He sighed, his hands behind his head and looked at Zack.

" You know what? I just thought of something fun that I haven't done in a while. Once you recover I'm going to take you snowboarding. How does that sound? Maybe we can even go to Costa del Sol and we can hang out on the beach. We could even go Chocobo racing. "

" Follow me. It's this way. " The oldest boy, Cloud found out earlier that his name was Ryan, said, looking over his shoulder at Cloud who was following behind.

Ryan lifted a branch and ducked underneath it, Cloud, not paying attention nearly got smacked with it.

He paused, watching how close he had become to becoming hit, blinked, then continued on.

" Not much longer now…" Ryan reassured him. " I'd come in with you but mother said I couldn't…it's not fair. I could help you, I've been practicing how to fight on my days off – "

Cloud toned him out and instead examined his surroundings, taking in the high cliffs and trees that looked thousands of years old. He let his mind wander.

Since he and Zack where staying at the family's house, Cloud had taken the time to memorize all their names. Mary was the young woman's name, Eric was her husband, Rebecca was there second oldest and Lillian was the baby's name.

Lillian loved him, or…more correctly, loved his hair. She tugged on it when she got the chance, which Cloud found annoying but tollerated, knowing she would start bawling if he told her to stop. If there was one thing he hated more than someone messing with his hair, it was listening to a child cry.

Rebecca was very quiet around him, shy and timid. She only seemed to talk around Ryan, and that was because, Cloud learned, the two were twins.

Ryan, on the other hand, never shut up. At first, after he learned that Cloud was his childhood hero, he had been shy but now that it was just the two of them Ryan never stopped talking, trying to impress him.

Cloud just sighed and played along with it.

Zack was always the one best with kids.

He was jerked from his thoughts when a branch hit him in the stomach.

Cloud glared at Ryan who was walking ahead, still talking, and hadn't even noticed that it had happened.

" Good God kid…" Cloud muttered, shaking his head and following along behind.

They walked for a couple minutes, Ryan still talking, before Cloud saw the entrance to the cave and Ryan stopped.

" This is it. Good luck…and be careful. I'd stay out here and wait for you too but…Dad said it was too dangerous. " Ryan said, his shoulders slumping foreword in disappointment.

Cloud nodded.

" You be careful too. You've got a long walk home. " Cloud told him.

Ryan grinned and puffed his chest out.

" Nothing I can't handle. " He smirked.

Cloud grinned.

How many times have I said that?

" I know, just be careful. Some of those clones managed to get a couple hits on me, remember."

The boy nodded, deflating slightly.

" I will as long as you promise the same. "

Cloud smiled.

" I promise. Take care of Zack for me. And I should be back at your house by dinner at the latest. "

" You'd better. " Ryan told him, looking serious.

" If I'm not...don't come looking for me. Take Zack to Edge and to a woman named Tifa, who works at a bar called Seventh Heaven. "

Ryan hesitated, not wanting to think of Cloud dying but nodded.

" I-I'll make sure he get's there. "

Cloud nodded again, muttered a thanks, and turned around, staring at the mouth of the cave.

He took a deep breath and entered.

He turned back around to give Ryan, who couldn't hide the worry on his face, a thumbs up and small, reassuring wave.

A/N- Sorry if this chapter sucks...I think it does. I didn't put as much into this chapter as I usually do, that might because of how late it is DX I wrote this just as I fill-in-the-blanks sorta thing. It's short and not as good as it should be but...I PROMISE I WILL TRY TO MAKE THE NEXT CHAPTER MUCH BETTER! Thank you all again :D