Zack sighed seating himself in Tseng's apartment, and ran a hand through his hair. "I made myself sound like an idiot didn't I?" he asked Aerith, Tseng had went to make tea.

Aerith just giggled. "You are concerned silly. I keep telling you that Cloud is Cloud. I've been more aware of things the last few years. He's still your friend, even if he isn't the friend you left behind. He's loyal and he'll always remember you. "

"I know and I should have listened before shooting my mouth off." Zack said leaning back in the chair.

"Zack if you want to be his friend you have to connect with who he is now, not who he was. Cloud is at peace with himself for the first time in a long time." Aerith said, a serious tone to her voice.

"How do I do that? You've always been smarter than me. " Zack said sounding emotionally exhausting.

Aerith thought for a moment but before she could answer the question Tseng walked back into the room."Forgive me but I couldn't help but overhear." Tseng said as he placed the tray down on an end-table and started to poor the tea. "I know Cloud's behavior has bothered you since you returned, but honestly you should be proud of him." He lifted one of the cups and handed it to Aerith. "Up until 6 months ago our world was still struggling to put the pieces back together after Meteor."Tseng sat a cup in front of Zack. "No one had the presence needed to pull the world back together and many suffered." Tseng then took the last cup for himself.

Tseng moved to a chair across from Zack and continued. "Cloud who had, had a hard time getting himself together finally found his purpose. He came to Rufus and took his standing offer to rebuild Shinra and the world, and I can guarantee you that the terms were dictated by him, not us. He became the general, the man he is now out of a need to inspire the people. They needed someone to turn too and he became that person. He's done an excellent job and while in the position and has indeed not only inspired the men below him but the world. Thanks mostly to him, we may not be back to what life was like before, but we are much closer then we were just 6 months ago. People have started to enjoy life again instead of just surviving."

Zack sighed again, he was getting tired of people telling him not to worry about Cloud. He knew they were right he just couldn't help it. "I am proud of him, really. I'm just still adjusting I guess."

"If you really want my advice Zack, think of him like you did Angeal. They have a lot in common and there is a lot you could learn from Cloud." Aerith said softly.

"I don't know, I can try I guess, but thinking of Angeal is still painful. Especially since everyone but him seems to have gotten a second chance. Maybe using him to connect with Cloud again might help with the pain that is still there." Zack said though he did manage a small smile for Aerith.

"There are a lot of people who weren't given this chance Zack. Director Lazard for one, and many of my Turks. You three have been given a very precious gift. " Tseng replied.

Zack just sat and took in Aerith and Tseng's words.

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The rest of their visit had been a bit more light hearted, and Tseng filled them in on a lot of what had happened since their deaths. Aerith admitted that her knowledge of the world had came from the lifestream and Cloud. Zack had learned what he could off Aerith.

It was as such that Zack was laughing when Cloud entered Tseng's apartment with Sephiroth.

"If we are going to make it to the Church and back before things get dangerous, we should go." Cloud said.

"If you don't mind I'll excuse myself. I really should get back to Reno and Rufus." Tseng said standing.

"It was good to see you again." Aerith said to him with a smile.

"You as well." Tseng said and took his leave.

Zack bounded up next to Cloud who just gave him an assumed grin. He could really see pieces of Angeal in Cloud. Zack eyed Sephiroth for a moment as Aerith made her way to the door, he had thought it was just going to be him Cloud and Aerith, but he wasn't going to push his luck.

Cloud waited for everyone to leave, before locking Tseng's apartment.

"You and Tseng have gotten pretty close huh?" Zack asked idly.

"I suppose, it's hard not to when you work so closely with someone every day. Tseng, Reno, Rude, Elena and Rufus are all closer to each other then I am, but, I guess at someone I got dragged along. " Cloud said with a sigh. "Never really thought about it much."

Zack just shook his head. He could do this, he really could. Cloud was like Angeal but Cloud was different enough from Angeal that it was hard to see the similarities at times. Angeal would never have dismissed his relationship with other people that way. Angeal thought about everyone, and what they meant to him. Zack had once asked him why and he wasn't surprised by the answer. The man hadn't wanted to dishonor the friendship by taking it for granted.

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The trip into the ruins of Midgar was simple. Cloud had requisitioned a van for the journey and they had made the short trip in companionable silence. When they finally approached the church Aerith just stared. It had been her home away from home for many years. They got up and they walked up towards the doors.

"I tried to repair some of the damage, dealt from when Tifa and Loz and Kadaj and myself fought" Cloud admitted as they stood outside the doors.

"Thank you." Aerith said with a soft smile, just placing her hand on the door, not yet ready to enter.

Sephiroth just looked at it, and felt a calming presence envelope him. Was this what it felt like to be accepted by the planet? He also ideally wonder how anyone could have considered covering the beautiful building and keeping it from the sky.

Finally Aerith gathered herself and pushed the doors open. Her eyes immediately went to the pool of water in the center, and the flowers surrounding it. She'd half expected them to be dead in her absence.

Cloud caught her line of sight and then said. "I tried to take care of them, though honestly I didn't have to do much, especially after the water came."

She just smiled. "You did more than you think, you cared about them. They wouldn't have grown if they hadn't had someone to love them."

Cloud's heart warmed a little bit at her smile, and knowing he had put it there.

By now though Zack and Sephiroth's eyes had landed on the shrine to the Buster Sword. "I still remember the day you came back with it. I had thought as long as he still had it, there was hope for him. But that day I knew he was gone for good." Sephiroth said quietly.

Zack didn't take his eyes off the sword. "I had intended to take it with me, to fight with it again, but now." he said then looked away. "I don't think I can. I think with the way he was, leaving it like this is best. This place is peaceful and that is all he ever wanted."

Cloud knew they were talking about Angeal, and it wasn't his place to intrude so he quietly stood with Aerith who was still looking over the flowers with a loving hand. Then he heard a noise to the side of the room and felt eyes on him.

He at first reached for his sword, people rarely made it out here, despite the healing water. Then his eyes went wide. A small child, he assumed to be about the same age as Denzel when they had first meet was staring at him, he had long black hair that shot out in different directions, much like Zack and Cloud's hair had. He was obviously standing protectively in front of a smaller boy peeking through his legs. This boy couldn't have been older than 3 and his hair was just as black, but it lay limply in front of his face. It seemed familiar too him but he couldn't understand why.

"Ni-san, who are they?" he could hear the younger one ask timidly. If it hadn't been for his enhanced hearing he wouldn't have heard a thing. "I don't know, stay behind me." he heard the other one reply.

Cloud took a gentle step towards the children. He thankful had, a bit of experience with small, frightened children. "It's ok, where are your parents." Cloud asked softly, getting the attention of the others in the room.

The older one stared him down, with more courage than someone his age should have had. Definitely like Denzel. But the younger one just sniffled. "Daddy went to be with mommy." he said and rubbed his eyes a bit.

"Shush, Jadak, we don't know who they are, they could take you away." said the older one.

"I promise I'm not going hurt you or separate you. If your alone, it's not safe out here. I've got a friend who takes care of children, who don't have parents anymore." Cloud said offering a hand.

Sephiroth and Zack however were just staring, they weren't sure if it was because their mind had been on Angeal or something else but the older boy before them looked startlingly familiar.

"Why should I trust you, I don't even know who you are." said the older boy.

"I'm Cloud Strife, and you have my word you'll be safe." Cloud said, still getting steadily closer.

The younger one, Jadak, just mouthed the world "Cloud"

"What's your name?" Cloud asked softly, not more than 10 feet from the children now, he bent down to their level. No sense scaring them anymore.

The boy just reminded silent, but Jadak pulled on his brother's pant leg. "He has a nice name, and he looks nice. I trust him ni-san." the little boy said coming around from behind his brother. Now that he could get a good look at the boy he understood the concern. Jadak had a bit of a Mako shine to his eyes. It had happened before Meteor but it was more common now that Mako pools were more prevalent . Sometimes children who lived near there would develop a natural infusion of Mako. Those who didn't understand it, especially those from the outlying towns, would think the children were bad luck. They often died young, as Mako was still poisonous to people, though occasionally they mutated. Cloud assumed that Jadak's father had been bringing them to Edge to seek treatment when he died.

"It's the Mako isn't it? Your dad told you to be careful of people because they would take your brother away right?" Cloud said softly. "Look at my eyes though, I have Mako too, I can help him."

The eldest boy's eyes narrowed and he took a step closer to get a better look at Cloud and then his eyes went wide and he started to cry. "I'm sorry Mr. Strife. If you can help him please we'll go with you. He's all I have now, and I promised. Please"

Cloud just moved and picked the child up in a hug. "It's ok, you've both been very brave."

Aerith slowly moved up to help with Jadak. She was amazed and proud of Cloud's handling of the children, they all where, but Cloud had taken care of my scared orphans since Meteor had struck.

"You smell nice." Jadak said snuggling into Aerith's arms. He had always wanted a mother, and Aerith was kind and pretty just as he would imagine one to be.

The older boy stopped crying for a moment and Cloud sat him back down "Angeal, that's my name."

Cloud looked confused but behind him both Zack and Sephiroth gasped. It could have been a coincidence, their mother, could have been a fan, but taking it all in. The look in the boy's eyes, the way he held himself.

"I guess he got his second chance after all." Zack whispered and Sephiroth placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I hate to cut our visit short, but we really should get these two back. Jadak should be examined soon." Cloud said turning to the other two.

Zack just nodded, there was so much he wanted to say, but knew it would be best to say it after the children had been taken care of. "Hi, I'm Zack." He had felt compelled to introduce himself to the children.

Angeal just stared at him. "You have Mako too?" he asked

Zack just nodded. "So does Sephiroth here, you and your brother will be safe with us." Zack offered the kid a smile.

Angeal just smiled up at Zack, finally relived to find people willing to help.

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Tseng walked into the waiting room expecting to find Rufus, with it empty he assumed that the process was over. He asked an orderly for Reno's room and made his way there.

He opened the door to find Reno still sleeping and Rufus looking out the window. Rufus turned to him and spoke. "The process was successful as far as we know. Dr Rayleigh said the real results wouldn't be until he woke up, but you can already see the changes."

Tseng just looked down at Reno's peaceful form, and could tell what Rufus was talking about. The physical changes to his body were obvious. "His eyes are glowing, I couldn't keep myself from checking." Rufus offered before Tseng did the same thing.

Tseng just took a seat cross the room from Rufus. "We knew this would happen. At least he's alive."

"That is true I suppose. I doubt honestly that Reno minds much, he never did let things drag him down." Rufus said. "How was your visit?"

"Zack is very much still Zack. He doesn't seem to be comfortable with Cloud at all though. Aerith is just as I remember her." Tseng said.

"I have told you ,I'm sorry for the way things were went I first took over. I should have ordered you to work with them instead of against them." Rufus said.

"You didn't know all the details." Tseng said turning his attention back to Rufus.

"But you did, and I didn't listen. I hate having been a foolish teenager. " Rufus admitted.

"We had a similar conversation over regrets." Tseng started. "It ended with deciding not let them weigh us down. We've spent too much time on it already. And just because we could have changed things, doesn't mean things would have turned out better. You could argue that most of the people in Sector 7 would have died in Meteor anyway, but as it stands, there are people dead today, that shouldn't be, because I didn't have the guts to refuse an order."

"Would you two stop with the dark trip down memory lane, your giving me a head ache." Groaned out the body laying next to them.

"Reno," Tseng said, moving to his bed side, Rufus close behind him.

"I'm honored Boss, coming to visit me in the hospital huh?" Reno said flashing his glowing green eyes at Rufus.

"How do you feel?" Tseng asked.

"Well if you two would move, I'd find out." Reno said shifting in his bed.

Tseng and Rufus backed up giving him a bit of room. Reno then moved to get out of bed, but not realizing his new strength, he practically leaped out of bed and crashed into Rufus, sending both of them to the floor.

Reno just grinned. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Get off me please Reno, I'm glad you can move, but I don't appreciate being pinned to the ground." Rufus said and Reno just stood up off of Rufus, being a bit more careful.

Rufus just stood and brushed himself off.

Tseng couldn't help it, at the sight of Reno toppling over Rufus, and the fact that the procedure had obviously been a success , he did something completely out of character for him, he laughed slightly. "I should go get the doctor, she wanted to speak with you, before you were released. Make sure everything was in working order and all."

"Aw man, can't I just go, those lab coats still creep me out." Reno whined.

"You've just undergone a very experimental procedure. It would be in your best interest to get checked out, so they can make sure there are not any undesirable side effects" Tseng answered.

"Alright alright." Reno said waving Tseng off.

"I'm glad to see your doing well, Reno." Rufus said, he wanted to tell Reno what had been going on, but decided to at least wait till after Reno had been cleared.

"I really do feel great, I'm a little unsettled about Mako and robots in my body, but I've never felt this strong before. I feel like I could do anything right now." Reno admitted.

"Well there will be a lot to do when the doctor releases you. I'd like to offer you some downtime but we simply don't have the luxury." Rufus stated.

"I understand, never a day off eh? We'll I'm ready to teach that bastard Yazoo a lesson. Cloud better not get to him before me." Reno said.

"You'll get your chance I'm sure. Cloud has had his hands full. But we'll worry about all that once the doctor releases you." Rufus said trying to end the conversation.

Reno knew the que's Rufus was sending out and dropped the subject. He was impatient but he'd do as Rufus asked, the man had after all taken the time to sit with him.

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Genesis sighed, Vincent had taken Shelke off to the side to make sure that Weiss hadn't done anything. And he was now seated in the living room of the large house she kept, drinking a cup of coffee and speaking with the man.

"She seems to be doing well, and she's happy. These children are happy and it feels peaceful here." Weiss said looking at his cup.

"Don't feel guilty about wanting to stay." Genesis said. "Minerva said you still had a purpose, she didn't say it was at my side. If this is where you feel you need to be then so be it. Taking care of these children is important and she can't do it all on her own."

Weiss just nodded, "I couldn't save Nero, but if I can help take care of these children, maybe on some level that will make up for it, just a bit."

In the kitchen another conversation was taking place.

"Are you sure about this?" Vincent asked the girl.

"He seems genuinely willing to help. And you told me yourself what happened, if what you said is true then I have no reason not to trust him. Or did you lie to me?" Shelke asked. She knew it wasn't fair but Vincent was being unreasonable.

Vincent just looked away. "You've had the chance to make up for your past mistakes, let him have his. And you know I can handle myself. I need the help. You do what you can, but I know you're not comfortable here. " Shelke continued.

"I just didn't want you to regret it." Vincent finally said.

"I won't, you didn't see him with the children earlier. He wants to do it for his brother, like I did for my sister. He cares he really does." Shelke stressed trying to get Vincent to understand.

"Alright, I won't protest anymore, but I still want you to call if you need anything." Vincent said pulling the girl into a hug.

"Of course I will." Shelke said hugging him back. "He's not replacing you, just adding some extra help."

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There are a few plot points I've had thought out in the skeleton that is the outline of this story. Angeal and his brother (whom I hope you've figured out but I will not confirm till the next chapter.) Was one of them. I'm thinking of this story much like a play and with the end of this chapter I consider ACT 1 finished. In my mind there will be at least 3 more, though one of them will be much shorter than the others. Anyway please review.