Warning: This chapter is a little long and the reuniting scene is here, though I didn't intend for it. I guess my inner romantic couldn't wait any longer.

Tifa and Zack's daughter: Anastasia, but Tasia for short. Two of her friends, who joined the Wutai army, are Dmitri and Yuri.

Cissnei and Zack's: Jem, Celia and Leila

Bernard and Yuffie's: Victor (first born son), and they have two more but aren't important and Yuffie's expecting another one, so she's staying in the village for the battle chapter.

I don't know if I mentioned him, but Aerith and Sephiroth's son is Xander.

And, for the sake of some more confusion, Angeal and Zelda reproduced a daughter named Isolde. She's got a crush on Xander

Change Comes Fast Chapter Twelve

Tifa gazed at her kitchen counter and the papers on it. Her peaceful life was coming to an end and it terrified her. The reality she avoided for almost twenty years was coming back with a vengeance, but she knew in her heart that she needed it. She glanced at Bernard and Genesis at the table. She took a deep breath in and sat across from Genesis. Without a word, Bernard handed her a map. Tifa pointed toward the SOLDIER camp and grinned at Genesis. His eyes started to twinkle.

"Anything I want to?" Genesis asked eagerly. Tifa gave a small nod and Genesis almost squealed with glee. Tifa looked at Bernard.

"We'll need our team to do some surveillance," Tifa told him. Before Bernard could speak, Tifa continued. "I need to know which unit she will be in, Bernard."

"She's in the third unit for the land corps," Bernard informed Tifa. "If you want her to be withdrawn out of the frontlines…"

"No, I want her to get real battle experience," Tifa told him coldly. Bernard's head snapped up from looking at the map. "She wants to know what battle is like, let her."

"I will keep an eye on her," Genesis volunteered. He looked at Tifa. She smiled as the thought came to her. "After all, wherever I am on that battlefield, a certain person will be attracted to the spot."

"Exactly," Tifa stated happily. She looked at Bernard and grinned. Genesis nodded and took his red coat off. They all crouched over the map and started strategizing.

"Tasia!" a male voice called out. Tasia turned around, set her large bag down, and grinned at her friend Dmitri. He stopped right in front of her and she gazed up into his brown eyes. They smiled at each other.

"Your hair," Tasia gasped as she touched his buzz cut hair. Dmitri nodded sheepishly and he looked at her short hair.

"You look like Lady Yuffie," he commented. Tasia touched her short locks and smiled sadly. Dmitri his hand on her head and rubbed her hair quickly. She smacked him on the shoulder. They laughed together until they sobered up.

"When is your first assignment?" Tasia asked. Dmitri gave a small shrug.

"I haven't gotten one yet," he confessed. They both started walking toward the barracks. Dmitri finally noticed Tasia's huge bag. "What's with the bag?"

Tasia started blushing. "My mother and I got into an argument. She doesn't want me to be in the Army and I told her that my life was mine and not hers."

"Harsh," Dmitri commended. "You know… whenever I'd go to your house, the Major General treated your mother with a lot of respect."

"What do you mean? Of course he's kind to her… she cooks his food," Tasia stated. Dmitri shook his head.

"He legitimately treated her like a commanding officer," Dmitri analyzed. "Major treats the Lady with affection but with Tifa… he respects her highly."

"YOU'RE PREGNANT!" a male voice bellowed from the barracks. Tasia and Dmitri looked at each other and ran toward the barracks. When they came in the door, a man with a machine arm was staring bewilderedly at Yuffie. Yuffie was blushing slightly and a man with blonde spiky hair looked uncomfortable.

"It's what happens when you're married, Barrett," the spiky blonde hair man stated with a quiet voice. Yuffie smiled at him. Her hair was just starting to show some gray, though it wasn't as bad as Bernard's. The man with the machine gun arm, known as Barrett, had salt and pepper as his hair color. The man with the blonde hair turned and gazed right at Tasia. He nodded and nudged the other man. "We know whose daughter she is."

"What are you talking about, Cloud?" the man said and turned toward who Cloud was looking at. "Tifa?" Tasia blinked and shook her head.

"You must be her daughter though," Cloud stated firmly. Tasia blinked and nodded once. The man smiled. His blue eyes, so warm, smiled as well. "It is an honor to meet you. My name is Cloud Strife. My loud companion is Barrett Wallace."

"By the gods… She looks exactly like Tifa," Barrett said loudly. Yuffie came up and slapped him on the back of his head. Barrett cursed at her, but Cloud didn't break Tasia's gaze.

"I guess you want to know my name?" she asked hesitantly. The two men nodded. "Anastasia…"

"Lydia Lockhart," Cloud finished for her. Tasia blinked. "But your nickname is Tasia, right?" Tasia only nodded which received a chuckle from both men. Cloud finally broke his glance and gazed at Yuffie. "She fulfilled her promise, didn't she?"

Yuffie nodded and Barrett couldn't take his eyes off of Tasia. He coughed softly and smiled at Yuffie cruelly. "Why did she hide this from us?"

"Because she couldn't handle it and she needed you to think she was dead," Bernard's voice boomed from the doorway. The two men turned and Tasia felt a hand on her shoulder. "Tasia would not have survived if Tifa stayed… She wouldn't allow anyone to be."

"She is dead, has been for years," Cloud said softly. Bernard looked at Cloud and laughed.

"The man responsible for doing that is here, but Tifa still couldn't take the chance," Bernard stated. "Someone came to visit about five years ago and gave her a threat."

Bernard stood in the hallway, talking quietly with his mother. When they heard a crash in the kitchen, Bernard put a finger up to his lips to signal his mother's silence. She nodded and made a way to the children.

Bernard crept toward the kitchen and paused in front of the door. He heard Tifa's angry voice from behind the door.

"What are you doing here?" Tifa's voice said coldly. Bernard brought a breath in to take a step in but the voice he heard made him pause.

"For you to never come back," a voice he hadn't heard in many years. The part of Bernard's heart that belonged to the person who spoke started beating uncontrollably. "We're all happy. He doesn't need you."

Bernard worked up the courage and opened the door. Tifa froze and tensed when she saw him. Bernard looked at the woman in front of him. Her hair, if possible, had grown longer but her cat eyes were still vibrant.

"Zelda," Bernard acknowledged. Zelda's shocked expression was quickly erased from her face and she started to glare.

"This is where you went?" she accused. Then she started laughing harshly. "You were one of the best hiders in the business, and you hide in plain sight?" Bernard's heart suddenly started operating normally again. He smiled cruelly at her.

"My favorite place to hide is right out in the open," he confessed coldly. "What do you want, Zelda?"

"Her word she never returns to Midgar," Zelda stated bluntly. Tifa unfroze herself and let out a small snort. Zelda's eyebrow raised and Bernard crossed his arms.

"Why would I return to Midgar? There's nothing there for me. My family has disappeared and the man I love is involved with another woman," Tifa said. She looked at Zelda and smiled cruelly. "As a member of the Kisargi clan, I ask you to leave my home."

"You heard her," Yuffie's voice came from the doorway. Bernard turned around and saw a four month pregnant Yuffie waddle in. she smiled at him affectionately and turned to glare at Zelda. "You are not allowed in our land, outsider."

"You married the gutter snipe?" Zelda spat out. Bernard gave her a shrug and put his arm around Yuffie's shoulders.

"Just make your threat and leave," Tifa said impatiently. The other three in the room turned to look at her. Tifa was mixing dough for bread and not minding the situation around her. "You're an elite SOLDIER. Just make your cause and then leave me alone. I'm sick and tired of listening to your people."

"Fine. If you come to Midgar, there will be a severe punishment in store for you," Zelda dealt. Tifa snorted and pointed her wooden spoon to the door. Zelda exited with one last glare toward Bernard and Yuffie.

"How many times have you been pregnant, Yuff?" Cloud asked casually. Bernard started to blush and Yuffie groaned.

"This is the third and hopefully last," Yuffie told him and hit Bernard. "Luckily everything I do now is more administrative than actual fighting."

"She switched when we were having our first child," Bernard said with a satisfied grin. "She leaves the warfare to me."

"Because that's the only thing he's useful in," Yuffie shot back. Bernard laughed lightly and kissed her on the cheek. Yuffie looked at Tasia and noted the bag. She shook her head and smiled at Cloud and Barrett.

"Now that you've met the kid, wanna see the mama?" she asked and started walking away. Without any words, Cloud and Barrett followed her anxiously.

"Uncle Bernard, who were those people?" Tasia asked. Bernard looked at Tasia and gave a secret smile.

"People from your mother's previous life," he said as he handed her a folder. "Here's your first assignment. You and the Dmitri boy are assigned to the same area."

Zack sat at his desk, with his son in one of the other chairs, and was checking his morning mail. A huge manila envelope at the bottom of the stack attracted his attention.

Zack looked at it and found there was no return address, but a Wutai postage marking. He gave a mental shrug and opened it. A sheet of paper fell out first. He quickly read it and blinked. Without missing a beat, he pulled the baggie in the envelope. It was filled with photos.

The first photo was a woman who looked exactly like Tifa, except with wrinkles starting to form, and a young girl with bright blue eyes and Tifa's hair color but Zack's locks.

"No fucking way," Zack muttered and read the letter again. They've been lying to you, puppy. She's waiting for you and so is your daughter. The girl's name is Anastasia Lydia. See you soon from a former mentor.

Zack looked at the girl and then at Tifa. She appeared healthy, but there was sadness to her eyes. The same sadness that Zack had in every photo taken by his friends and anyone else was in hers. The first time in almost twenty years, his heart start beating again. Zack smiled and looked at his son. He showed him the top picture.

"That's her!" Jem cried as he looked at Tifa. Zack nodded and felt weight being lifted off his shoulders.

"Lets go find her, Jem," Zack said. He smiled with grim satisfaction as he went toward the SOLDIER office. Jem stopped in front of the room and gave his father a thumbs up. Zack grinned his playful grin, the one he unknowingly passed on to his daughter, and went into the office.

"I'm giving my two weeks notice," he told Angeal and Sephiroth. The men at the tactic table looked at him blankly and Zack handed them the necessary paperwork. "I'm retiring."

"We haven't terminated your contract," Sephiroth started and Angeal held up a hand. Zack smiled the smile that was absent from his face for almost twenty years.

"Then you can terminate my contract because I'm leaving for Wutai within the hour," Zack said. Angeal stood and went to the door. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and grinned savagely.

"Who says we'll let you go?" Sephiroth asked coldly. Zack shook his head and looked at Angeal.

"Because if you don't, I'll bring someone neither of you want to come back to Midgar. She's supposed to be dead, after all," Zack said just as coldly. Angeal hesitated and moved away from the door. Zack nodded to both of them and left the office.

Sephiroth's cold gaze met Angeal's calculating one. "It's time to declare our war, Angeal."

"It seems so, Sephiroth," Angeal commented.

"TIFA!" a voice boomed from the center hallway. Tifa shook her head and opened the kitchen door. She motioned for the two men to come forward. They ran to her and Barrett twirled her around into the kitchen. Cloud hugged her tightly next and she laughed at both of them.

"You've gotten old, Teef," Barrett told her seriously. Tifa laughed and pointed to his hair. He grunted and sat at the table. Cloud approached her as she went behind her bar and quietly assessed her.

"I'm fine, Cloud," she told him seriously. He nodded and took a seat gently on one of the bar stools. She dealt them drinks quickly and then started cooking. "How's Midgar?"

"It's become a shithole," Barrett stated flatly. Cloud let out a small chuckle. "SOLDIER took control of everything. Our way of life is dying, Teef."

"Refugees come here every day," Tifa told them. "This hotel actually became a halfway house of sorts after the first squabble with SOLDIER ended. Everyone knows that the princess lives here, so many flee to get under her protection."

"Times have changed," Cloud stated sadly. Tifa nodded. She suddenly looked at Barrett.

"What's Marlene up to now?" she asked. Cloud gave a small chuckle and Barrett glared at him. Tifa raised an eyebrow.

"Ask her fiancé," Barrett said darkly. Tifa looked at him and then at the blushing Cloud.

"Not little Marlene," she said hesitantly. Cloud nodded quickly.

"She grew up suddenly, Teef," Barrett said sulkily. "My baby wasn't interested in the boys her age… didn't even give Denzel the time of day… but she was always enamored with the heroic Cloud Strife."

"I came home from a delivery that took me two months to do, and there she was in my bed," Cloud said blushing. Tifa closed her eyes and shook her head. "We got together six years after you left."

"My baby was only eighteen," Barrett whined slightly. Tifa shook her head at Cloud. He blushed even further.

"When is she getting here?" she asked them. Barrett pointed toward Cloud again.

"Within the week, hopefully," Cloud said happily. "Her and our daughter."

"Daughter?" Tifa asked. Cloud nodded. He grinned at Tifa.

"We named her Tina," he said happily. "She's about eight now."

On one of the unmarked trains, a former SOLDIER general sat with his ten year old son. The boy was bouncing happily and chatting the whole way. His father was quietly contemplating his life when they noticed a younger woman looking at them. A young girl with long blonde hair and big brown eyes. She grinned at Jem and Jem didn't hesitate to go over and chat.

"My name's Jem!" he said excitedly. The girl nodded shyly and nudged her mother, a young woman with auburn hair and brown eyes. The woman looked at Jem and her mouth widened. She looked up and saw Zack sitting quietly and she grinned.

"Her name is Tina," the woman said happily and gave her daughter a nod. The girl grinned and shook Jem's hand. Jem looked at the woman expectantly and held his hand out. "Very well… my name is Marlene."

When she said her name, Zack's head shot up. His eyes narrowed and she gave him a smile. His face relaxed when he saw her smile and he got up to join his son. They sat across from Marlene and Tina.

"Cloud's kid, huh?" he asked her. Marlene blushed and Zack saw her bulging belly. He gently tsked and looked at the little girl. "My name is Zack."

"Nice to meet you," the little girl squeaked out and turned back to Jem. Zack's eyes noted the three huge bags and gave Marlene a conspirator grin.

"How long have you known?" he asked. Marlene's face became expressionless. She paused a long moment and finally spoke to him.

"Cloud went to Wutai first. He wanted to scope the area and make sure it was safe," she remarked. "We've been under pressure from SOLDIER to get out of Midgar, so we're finally heading out. Daddy went with him."

"Grandpa!" Tina squeaked. Zack nodded and then looked at his son. Jem shook his head and Zack gave him a questioning look.

"You should show her what you found," Jem informed him quietly. Zack shook his head and his son just shook his head. Marlene looked at them both confused and Zack just gave her a grin.

"Why are you on an unmarked train, Zack Fair?" Marlene asked him quietly. Zack laughed and smiled at her. He held out his forearm, where a tattoo of his rank was slashed. She gasped when she saw the bandage.

"I found out that some knowledge had been kept away from me for about twenty years and I became enraged," he told her quietly. "I took my own retirement."

"Why would you do such a thing to yourself?" she asked him sadly. Zack grinned and stayed silent. "Fine. If you don't want to answer, then I won't push you. But you are welcome to come with us on this journey… I am sure we'll need someone to protect us."

Three Days Later…

"They're in place?" Tifa asked Bernard when he came into the room. He nodded and sat at the table. She smiled when she heard both Barrett and Cloud grumbling.

"Cloud!" a female voice called out. They all looked at the back doorway and saw Marlene standing outside. She had a young girl and young boy with her. Tifa felt a shiver go down her spine. It couldn't be…

Cloud, Barrett and Bernard went outside. Tifa turned and smiled at the figure that was in front of her.

She saw him start crying and she rushed to him. He hugged her tightly to him and Tifa breathed in his scent.

"I'm here," she cooed softly. He grasped her tighter and she felt his tears seep into her clothing. "I'm okay, Zack."

"God, I hope I'm not dreaming," he whispered and turned his lips to her neck. She felt him smile and her arms gripped him tighter. "I love you… I love you so much."

"I love you too," she told him. Zack nodded and didn't move to let her go.

"I never thought I'd be able to feel like this again," he whispered. She laughed and waited for his explanation. "When you disappeared, my life shattered. I haven't seen the world this bright since you left."

"It killed a part of me to leave," she replied. Zack nodded and finally let her go. He looked down at her and grinned. He put his hand on her cheek and his eyes went soft when he saw her grin.

"I'm never letting you go again, woman," he said softly. Tifa nodded and grinned. They heard the group come in and then exit quickly. He sat down at the counter and Tifa felt she was in the same situation when he had returned to her the first time. Zack grinned when he realized that's what she was thinking. He looked over and motioned for Jem to come toward them.

Tifa looked down and smiled at Jem. She knelt down to his level and he smiled at her. She looked at Zack, who gave her a small nod.

"You're Jem?" she asked softly. Jem nodded and Tifa smiled. "My name is Tifa."

"It's awesome to finally see you," Jem whispered. Tifa lifted an eyebrow up in confusion. Jem gave a small chuckle. "I've been dreaming about you since I was a child."

Tifa nodded absently and hugged him. When he let go, she smiled and helped him up into the chair next to Zack. As she was about ready to start cooking, her daughter stomped through the door.

"Look, I know you're mad at me, but I need to talk to you!" Tasia yelled. Tifa raised an eyebrow and saw her daughter lean on the counter like she always did and face her mother and not realize that there were two other people in the room. "Uncle gave me my first orders yesterday and I'm being assigned to the front lines! Mom I don't want to go there!"

"Deal with it," Zack stated. He smiled as his daughter looked at him and paled. "You're a recruit for that army, and you are theirs. You listen to their orders or quit."

Tasia looked at Zack and at Tifa and then glanced at Jem. She did that three times before she blinked. "Mom, why is a first class SOLDIER general in our kitchen?"

"Because he's your father," she told Tasia while she was taking out plates and handing them to Zack. Zack set the table and Tifa brought over the food silently. Jem sat down and smiled at Tasia.

"Mom… what are you on? He's married to a Turk," Tasia gaped out. Zack looked at Tifa and then held up his ring finger. She nodded and they started serving. "Mom… he has a kid! Are you guys delusional?"

"Do you still have the photos?" Zack asked quietly. Tifa nodded and pointed to the counter.

"Third drawer on your left, Tasia," she said. "There's a false bottom."

Tasia found the drawer and took out the false bottom. She grabbed a Ziploc bag and opened it. Four pictures were in it. One was of the group at a dinner, another was of Tifa and Zack at the ball, and the other was them under their tree. The final one was of Tifa holding Tasia for the first time.

"Mom," she stated and sat down in the last chair. Zack looked at the pictures and grinned at Tifa sadly. He finally saw the picture of Tifa and Tasia and his eyes darkened. He gripped Tifa's hand tightly and she nodded silently.

"Lemme see!" Jem called out and ripped the photos from Tasia's hands. He grinned when he saw them and nodded happily. "These are awesome, Ma."

"Ma?" Tifa asked skeptically. Jem nodded.

"I'm living with you two from now on," he said. He shuddered. "I don't have to worry about the two girls anymore."

"I also had two small daughters," Zack informed Tifa. Tifa nodded and smiled tersely. Zack shook his head at her. "I'm sorry but I wasn't going to remain living like a monk just because I thought you were dead."

Tifa glared at him and Zack glared back. Tasia looked at Jem confusingly until the boy smiled happily.

"I'm your half brother," he told her. Tasia groaned.