Okay, we're fully prepared for any onslaught of 'Where the hell have you been?!' or 'I'm not even going to bother reading this anymore!' And to be honest, we probably deserve it. Last updated on the 6th of December and now is.... the 30th. Yeah...

Well I'm sure Christmas is a good enough excuse surely? And also we've done a major and I mean major re-working of the 'plan' and edited the story and things. So it's all in your best interests really ;).

And while we've been gone we've hit the awesome 200 review mark! I think you guys all deserve a glass of champers, or whatever you've all got left over from Christmas! So to those who got it above the 200, Dani-Chan Sprite-Monster -13-, Infinite Freedom, Kisdota-The Freak Gamer, ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie, busard, Bmonti, gibs, celticskyedancer, writer, Vanilla Raindrops, Skykhanhunter, Inferno Phoenyx, vLuna, Feathery-Dreamer, LadyZaidey, Kaarina Helvete and Teegirl. Also many thanks to the other readers who are still there! I'd list you all but because you're all great it might take some time! So here it is in its overdue glory!

Happy New Year (for when it comes!)

See you all in 2010!

E S C A P E

Chapter Twenty-one

Can't Walk Away

The truck came to a slow stop in the wastelands that surrounded the city of Midgar. Their escape had been a strange breeze; like they were being allowed to leave but the group still remained silent and counted their brief chance of luck as something they most likely will not come across again.

Aerith was still trying to hide her tears that were streaming down her face as she threw herself out of the truck and took a moment to herself except Zack was quick to follow her and threw a caring arm round her and whispered soothing words into her ear.

Barret was still hurting inside for leaving his daughter behind, but knew it was for the best. He was also being torn up for abandoning Biggs and Wedge after them desperately calling, telling him they were being chased. They hadn't called back yet.

Cloud was silent, standing by himself staring out at his two friends and then back down at the ground.

Tifa sat in the back of the truck in a squat. She held her face in her hands, trying to smother her sobs. Her hands were covered in dry blood and she instantly tried to brush it away. Her eyes landed on her pale friend, who was motionless whilst lying at the back of the truck. Her once brilliant gleaming eyes had been closed by Aerith just before she screamed at Barret to stop the truck and threw herself out.

"It wasn't your fault, Teef." His sudden voice made her jump and she spun round to face him. Zack smiled at her, his eyes flickering to the body besides her. "I know I shouldn't be the one saying this but" he paused and then sighed "he's eating himself up at the minute." The Soldier laughed slightly, turning and glancing at Cloud and the flower girl in front of him.

"He blames himself?" Tifa whispered quietly, watching Zack nod. She frowned in confusion, how can all of this possibly be his fault? She briefly remembered Zack telling her how he had a serious guilt problem like it was a ravenous disease; the idea brought the faintest smile to her lips. Tifa turned back to the body besides her and lent forwards to brush the brown hair out of Jessie's face. Surely this had to be her fault, if she never invited Jessie to the Seventh Heaven, she would have never been found out and would have been safe back in her apartment. "Will you help me bury her?" She murmured to Zack feeling the tears starting to well in her eyes. Jessie had been the kindest, sweetest person she had ever met. That she'd welcomed Tifa into her home, not afraid of meeting new people, just wanting to help. But now Jessie was gone.

The thought made a dry lump form in Tifa's throat, making it feel like she would choke. She couldn't leave Jessie's body lying in the wastelands, waiting for a passing monster to come by. It was the least they could offer for the heroic young woman. "Of course." Zack replied, leaning forwards and pulling the lifeless body into his arms. The woman meant something to all of them here, maybe not so much Aerith, but Tifa knew how much it has hurt the woman in not being able to save her.

Tifa slid out of the truck and pushed her hair out her face. How could this be happening?

This woman had died because she'd been trying to save the planet. How did those young Soldiers even know she was a culprit? Why had they not shown a single sign of mercy? Why had it been so easy for them to pull the trigger and shoot the young woman?

The brunette could feel the tears welling in her eyes and it caused her vision to blur. She wiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands and spun round hoping no one to see her. She didn't feel ashamed for crying, but it was an automatic reaction.

The one thing that hurt the most was that no one would ever know what Jessie had been fighting for. The only way they would know was that they would come out victorious against the raging corrupt company. Their chances suddenly seemed incredibly thin.

Tifa stared up at the sky; she'd barely noticed she could see the greying sky above her. Everything suddenly felt so minute in comparison. She turned away and watched as Barret suddenly rushed forwards and took Jessie out of Zack's arms. Tifa could see the tears creep down his cheeks and couldn't even begin to understand how much this had broken the man. He had to leave his daughter in the care of a woman that he could only take her word for, his two male companions in Avalanche were most likely dead and the other member lay in his arms.

The martial artists suddenly understood that everyone was blaming themselves for her death. It was easily done. Tifa was sure Barret blamed himself because he was leading this attack against Shinra and Jessie had got caught up in it. Aerith must have blamed herself because she'd been unable to save the dying woman. Zack and Cloud must be thinking, if only they'd gotten there earlier, if only they'd been standing in the bar with her. But Tifa felt deep down it was her fault, she hadn't protected her friend.

"Don't blame yourself Tifa." Tifa stood up straight and slowly turned away from the broken leader of Avalanche. Aerith was standing close to her, her cheeks were red and stained with tears, but her eyes held that glimmer of hope they always carried. She smiled slightly before stepping forwards and pulling the other woman into an embrace. "You didn't pull the trigger, Tifa." She whispered into her ear.

The two let go and Tifa looked into the woman's comforting face.

The two turned to face the three men, all of them speaking quickly before they started digging with their swords and hands.

It had taken them an hour or so until they had been satisfied they had dug a deep enough hole so no passing monsters wouldn't be tempted to remove the earth. No one spoke as the two men covered the hole, as Jessie slowly disappeared from view.

It was so easy to lose something, Tifa had decided upon. She'd lost her mother and now lost one of her closest friends. That they had both been snatched away from her, not given a chance to apologise or to say everything that was needed to be said. It made her realise how much she had taken for granted in her life and knew that could have quite easily been Cloud that they were burying. If it had been she knew she would have been torn to pieces, unable to apologise to him and tell him how much she cared for him.

It was like how much everyone took the planet for granted and suddenly she felt a heavy weight fall on her shoulders as she realised that it was up to the five of them to save this planet now. For them to show that Jessie, Biggs and Wedge had all died because they wanted to save the planet.

Barret placed a final rock down and stepped aside, he'd done it just so they would know where to find the woman once all of this was over. He looked at everyone around him, at the three people he barely knew and a pain stricken Tifa. They all turned and looked at one another, not sure whether or not they should say something in the dead girl's memory, but for some reason it felt unfitting for them to speak so soon like none of them wanted to come to terms that this waitress, fighter, hero and friend was gone.

"I'm sure Biggs and Wedge will get out alright." Barret spoke suddenly, pulling his phone out of his pocket to stare at the screen in a desperate hope that they might call and say they were alright. But deep down Tifa knew the two men were gone. It destroyed her, knowing that she wouldn't be able to bury the two brave men, who might be forgotten eventually if the five of them don't strive onwards. What she would have given to be with the two men in their final minutes, like she had been with Jessie.

"What do we do now...?" Aerith asked. If anyone else would have spoken Tifa was sure Barret would have caused uproar and said it was too early. But she knew he must have realised they had to keep moving and that time was against them.

"We need get away from here a-s-a-p. We've already spent too long." Zack said suddenly, like he'd been planning their route for a long time now. Barret stared up at him anger held in his gaze, but Zack simply stared back making the man accept the truth.

"We can't keep running for the rest of our lives!" Tifa cried, she wasn't going to allow everyone to just run. They had to do what Avalanche had planned from the beginning, they were going to save this planet and make sure her three friends wouldn't be forgotten.

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you started your ragtag band of terrorists." Zack laughed slightly, before falling silent. There was a plain truth in his words that she might have missed if she'd not fully listened to him. In a way he was right, what were they possibly thinking? How could they have ever thought they would overthrow the gigantic company with an army at their call.

"They think I'm the leader." Cloud began, shifting his weight uneasily under everyone's gazes. "And they were going to get whoever works at the Seventh Heaven and seeing that the bar is in my name, they can't trace it back to you." Cloud finished. He looked at everyone in turn, like he was saying this was all his fault and he'll deal with everything himself.

Tifa shook her head, she wasn't sure if he was simply directing this at her or at all of them but couldn't contain herself much longer. "So I should just go back to Nibelheim?!" She cried, her voice tearing through the eerie silence in the wastelands. Cloud looked back up at her, his blue mako eyes holding a pleading look. "After what I've learnt from Barret and Aerith, that Shinra are killing the planet we have to do something. "We can't walk away." She argued, she looked round at everyone hoping for someone to back her up. "We can't!"

"You want to take on this company? The company that's practically in control of this damn planet?" Cloud muttered, Tifa frowned and glared at him. Where was this pessimistic attitude coming from?

"Tifa's right!" Barret suddenly yelled, catching everyone's attention. Tifa turned to him and he nodded to her. "That was the plan from the start, we can't stop now, and after everyone we've lost, Jessie, Biggs..." He stopped himself and turned to the stone grave not far from him.

"The planet is dying." Aerith spoke up, mostly talking to the two Soldiers besides her. "We're the only ones that can stop all of this now." The burden suddenly fell on all of them, the reality of their plan striking home and making them realise the enormity of what needed to be done.

"Aerith's right." The black haired soldier added, he turned and looked to Cloud. "We have to stop this now."

The blonde haired Soldier stared down at the dry and cracked floor that could have once possibly been lush and green but because of the use of mako energy in Midgar it had been sucked bone dry. "Alright; but it's no good just standing here." He answered, looking north to see if there were any trucks or helicopters to come chasing after them.

"We need to disappear for awhile." Zack muttered scratching his head deep in thought whilst his eyes narrowed, clearly thinking through all of their options. "We need to find somewhere safe for a while to sort out a plan." Tifa held back a smile at Zack's obvious thoughts.

"Your face has already been plastered across the TV, Cloud." The martial artist nodded remembering seeing the cold mako eyes pierce at her through the screen. He turned to look at her, his eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"Yeah, hiding this Chocobo head is going to be fun." Zack said, clearly speaking his companion's thoughts. Cloud turned to him and glared before noticing Aerith's quiet laughs. Tifa saw the flash of a half-hearted smile before it disappeared.

"I think I know somewhere we can go, who'll take us in." Aerith spoke returning to the formality of the situation. "Maybe Cosmo Canyon, they're close to the planet, if they know our cause how can they reject us?" Aerith made sense; they had to go somewhere away from Shinra.

"What about Wutai?" Barret asked, staring at the black haired younger man, like he'd just been made the new leader of this group. Zack instantly shook his head in disagreement.

"That would be the first place they would look." Zack answered, his normal carefree face screwed up in concentration. "We need to leave this continent quickly; as soon as we have it'll be easier to hide." He looked to the other Soldier who stared back he shrugged his shoulders and pulled at his torn shirt. "What about the Gold saucer? It's busy there this time of year, anyone can disappear there?" He looked at Cloud first who nodded once in agreement, before Zack turned to hear everyone else's views.

"Sounds like the only option we've got so far." Barret agreed, he glanced at the grave a final time before heading back to the truck. Zack was quickly behind him along with Aerith. Tifa turned to Cloud who was staring at the grave, his face expressionless before he realised Tifa was watching him.

"Let's go Tifa." He answered whilst half smiling. Tifa nodded and walked besides him towards the truck.

They watched as Zack and Barret argued over driving the truck, a clear competition as to who was going to be the leader of this group. Tifa glanced to Cloud, wondering why he wasn't forcing himself up there for leader of this group before deciding it might be better to have a silent warrior there, ready to catch them all if they fall.

They all crowded into the truck, with Barret allowing Zack to drive but with the condition he rode up front. "I've got somewhere we can stay for the night." Zack cried over the engine as they started off. "The owner's a friend of mine!" He added, before falling silent.

Tifa smiled knowing practically everyone who met Zack would end up becoming a dear friend to him, it was incapable of hating the bright charming Soldier. She turned to Cloud who was staring out the back of the truck, clearly looking for any following vehicles. Tifa wanted to reach him and tell him everything will be alright and they were all going to pull through this. But it felt wrong and that she should leave him for a while.

They'd been driving at a fast pace, possibly as fast as the truck would allow. It had been another two hours or maybe three until they pulled to a stop. They all crept out and stared at the wasteland, it was like they had simply gone round in a circle and were back where they begun. It was Barret who turned on Zack, asking him where he had driven them and why they weren't at this 'place'.

The Soldier had quickly explained that they were going to have to walk the rest of the distance that Zack couldn't allow them to leave a Shinra army truck outside of the Inn, as it would be a beacon for any passing Turks or the army and they would come running straight in. Barret had mumbled an acceptance and that his logic did make sense.

The temperature had dropped suddenly and Tifa stared up at the cloudless black sky. The stars were shining in the black back drop and the moon glowed and lit up the ground. It made her remember her promise with Cloud and it brought a smile to her face. She turned to the young man, hoping for that jacket to suddenly drop round her shoulders that he didn't need.

He was currently walking behind everyone, occasionally glancing over his shoulder and staring off into the distance. Tifa briefly wondered if there was something that had caught his eye, but instantly brushed the idea away. Zack was walking ahead of them all with Aerith besides him, he was smiling his brilliant smile and Aerith would push him away before laughing. Barret walked besides Tifa, both of them remaining silent. She wanted to offer him some comforting words but knew it was most likely too early.

Tifa lost track of the time again but eventually they could see the small lights from windows and their pace suddenly picked up, the idea of being in the warmth and for somewhere comfortable to sleep. They walked up to the Inn and Zack turned with a triumphant smile spread across his face as he waved his arms at the inn and turned to Barret. "And you doubted me!" Zack cried proudly, Barret laughed once before shaking his head and following the black haired man in.

The five walked inside and Tifa was grateful for wherever the warmth was coming from. There was a man behind the reception desk who cheered out when he spotted the black haired Soldier and she watched as Zack eagerly shook the man's hand and clasped a hand onto his shoulder. The man's eyes suddenly flickered over to the blonde Soldier and he turned and frowned at Zack. The said Soldier glanced to Cloud before leaning across the desk and began speaking quickly. His face had dropped to one of seriousness, no longer holding his normal bright smile.

The entrance was comforting enough, there were a few chairs scattered around that Aerith instantly fell into. Barret gave the room a once over like he was looking for any hidden cameras, whilst Cloud strolled over to a window and allowed Zack to smooth things over with the owner of the inn. Luckily there was no one else still hanging round and it made Tifa guess it had to be late into the night. She eagerly looked round for a clock but found none.

Zack suddenly came bounding over waving a set of keys into Tifa's face before pushing them into her palm. "One for the girls." He began before tossing another set of keys into the air and then caught them. "And one for the guys." They all turned to one another at Zack's ability to remain positive before eagerly following him up a set of stairs before waving a simple goodnight to the man at the desk before wondering how Zack had managed to persuade him into allowing them to stay.

"We're next door." Zack spoke softly as he pushed the key into the door and turned to both Aerith and Tifa. "So if anything happens you come running in, right?" He raised an eyebrow like he was daring them to question him. Aerith laughed and pushed the door open as Tifa unlocked it.

"We'll be fine." She smiled and Tifa watched as Zack smiled back. It made her feel suddenly jealous at how the pair we so deeply in love and how much it hurt Zack to be torn apart from Aerith, even if they were only next door. It made her suddenly wonder about herself and Cloud.

She wasn't even sure if he was angry at her. They had barely spoken to one another and the thought made her suddenly feel incredibly uncomfortable, it was like they were strangers all over again. But where were they now? A few nights ago they'd been sitting besides one another in her bar with Cloud twirling her hair in his fingers and now anyone would think they were nothing.

Tifa followed Aerith in and quietly closed the door behind her. These thoughts were plaguing her mind and she heard Aerith speak but was to focused on her thoughts that she wasn't sure what she said.

Aerith gave her a concerned look that she missed before she disappeared into the bathroom.

Tifa dropped down onto one of the beds. The springs screeched slightly and tore the silence in half. The room was comfortable enough, the walls were a dark blue and the carpet a matching colour. There was a t.v standing on a small table in the corner of the room and there were a few pictures hanging up on the walls. The curtains were thin enough for the moonlight to shine through, but still blocked the view.

She heard the sound of water running and the clunking pipes making her guess Aerith had decided to have a shower.

She could feel her weariness starting to grow and Tifa fell back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. She was still coming to terms with everything that had happened so far. How could she possibly do this? Maybe Zack, Cloud, Aerith even Barret have a chance in this fight, but herself? She felt like just a tag along, this was Barret's plan, Aerith knows what needs to be done and Zack and Cloud are needed to protect the young ancient.

The door opened and Aerith walked out, her long hair was loose and fell down her back. She smiled brightly and she seemed to fit the perfect description of an angel. "Are you okay?" She asked quickly as she walked forwards and sat in front of the other woman.

"I'm fine." Tifa replied, she pulled on her brightest smile, remembering Jessie's ability to forever have that smile across her face and stay strong. Aerith smiled back and Tifa hoped she believed her lie, she walked and headed into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. As much as she enjoyed Aerith's company she didn't want to sit there and lie to her. She quickly ran the shower and undressed before stepping into the warm water.

She was sure at some point she heard the door open and heard Zack's cheery voice and Aerith's laughter, before the door closed and it fell silent. After showering and dressing Tifa stepped back into the room to make sure her suspicions were right. There was a quick note on Aerith's bed, telling Tifa that she was with Zack.

Unable to deal with the silence Tifa walked out of her room and headed to the three men's room. She wanted to speak to someone, even if it had to be Cloud. She flicked her wet hair over her shoulder and knocked softly on the door, it opened slowly and Tifa held back a laugh as she heard a booming snoring fill the room. Her eyes landed on Barret's form as he slept on one of the beds and she glanced round for the blonde young man. The light was still on in the bathroom and she stood by the door before quietly muttering the blonde's name. "Tifa?" She heard him answer and she took it as she could come in.

Tifa stepped inside into the steamy room and stared at the mirror. There were signs that someone had written something on the steam filled mirror and Tifa narrowed her eyes to try and read it. She was sure there was a drawing of a chocobo but half of it had been wiped away."That wasn't me." She turned and almost jumped forgetting Cloud was in there. "It was Zack." Tifa smiled at the idea and glanced at the mirror a final time. The blonde was sat on the toilet with one leg outstretched onto the bath tub, his feet were bare and his black cargo pants hung loosely round his waist. Tifa stared at the pile of belts and his black boots that had been thrown in the corner of the room. His and Zack's swords had been propped up against the wall back in the main room.

His eyes were narrowed in concentration as he held his black sleeveless jumper in his hands. Tifa stared at him, there were cuts and bruises up across his arms and chests making her wonder why she hadn't noticed them earlier. He looked almost god-like, there were droplets of water still clinging to his muscular chest and his hair was damp and his normal spikes hung slightly. "You're staring at me." He muttered suddenly, not bothering to turn and look at her.

Tifa darted her eyes away, knowing she'd been staring too long. She looked back to the man and saw the faint sign of a smirk play across his lips and she frowned at him. Tifa wanted to scold him but instead just sighed and smiled in return.

"Are you alright?" She asked, staring at one of the larger cuts across his arms. Tifa sat on the edge of the bath, wondering why he hadn't gone to Aerith for her to heal them.

He turned to her with a clueless expression before he sighed in realising what she meant. "Yeah, they'll be gone in a few days." He answered, subconsciously rubbing his arm before staring back at his shirt. Tifa had barely noticed what the young man had been attempting to do before a laugh sudden rose from her throat. He turned suddenly to her, before his cheeks began to redden. "What?" He asked defensively.

Tifa leant forwards and snatched the small pack of thread and eyed it. "You carry a thread and needle on you?" She shook the packet at him and he laughed sarcastically at her once before snatching it back.

"Zack found it in the cupboards and threw it at me." He muttered, poking a finger through one of the holes in his shirt for emphasis. Tifa sighed and leant forwards and pulled his shirt out of his hands and took the needle he'd been attempting to thread. She held back a laugh as she watched him open his mouth to protest.

They both fell silent and Tifa could feel Cloud's mako blue eyes on her. The silence would be abruptly broken from a sudden snore from Barret and each time it caused a smile to spread across Tifa's face. It sometimes felt like that everything that had happened, hadn't.

Suddenly Cloud reached forwards and grabbed Tifa's hand. The young woman paused and looked up at Cloud from underneath her bangs. His eyebrows were furrowed and there was a deep pleading look in his eyes. "I'm not angry." He whispered, his eyes for the first time burnt right through her with desperation. "It's killing me seeing you like this, like you think I hate you." He continued. He licked his lips nervously and Tifa wondered how long this had been on his mind. He suddenly reached up and placed the palm of his hand against her cheek. She could feel his thumb moving over her soft cheek and she couldn't help but smile. He wasn't angry! "You're safe and that's all I care about." He moved forwards and caught her lips with his own.

His shirt fell from her fingertips as she moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She could feel a few tears spill from her eyes and she clutched onto his hair. He suddenly moved away from her and Tifa stared back at him. Cloud pulled her closer, his hands wrapping round her waist. "Why are you crying?" He whispered, moving his hand to brush away her few tears.

Tifa wanted to tell him everything but she knew her voice would betray her. Instead she leapt forwards and pulled him into a tight embrace. They were going to get through this; she knew everything would be alright.

I have to admit, this is my favourite chapter so far. Because I've been able to write in a 'scene' which was missed. It was one of the most annoying points in the game for me really. Basically: Jessie, Biggs and Wedge are dead, oh no!.. And there we go.

Know what I mean? So I've been able to write that in. Yes I admit it, there probably should have been more about Biggs and Wedge, but there's only so much depression I can take to write. And so I had to end it on a happier note. Pleased?