I own nothing from this story. Only Jeanne, Jena, Sienna, Renee/Yuie, Zeke and Claire are mine. Unfortunately.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Did I become a Hero?

A Shinra Helicopter was waiting. Cissnei was moving towards it until Tseng called out her name.

The army's mobilizing. Find the targets before they do." He ordered her.

"Understood. The army won't be as subtle." She turned but had to stop again.

"I want them alive, you hear me? You're going to save their lives."

"She turned to face him again. "Of course! I haven't even told them my real name yet." She turned and got on the helicopter this time.

"Help them, Cissnei," Tseng whispered. "Or else, Jena will…"

"I'm just kidding." Zack was saying. They were in the back of a large, green truck, watching the sky as they made their way to Midgar. He was talking to Cloud. "You know I wouldn't do that to you." He smiled. "We're friends, right?"

"Liar." Jeanne replied in a sing-song voice.

Zack glanced up at her. "Why do you say that?"

She gave him a sly look. "You know for a fact that you would steal his piece of birthday cake, you pig."

Zack laughed and threw his head back to stare at the sky again. "True, true." He was silent for a moment. "So, what are you gonna do once we get to Midgar?"

Jeanne didn't even have to think. "I'm going to go find my sister and get her out of Shinra. They're not going to do to her what they did to us. I refuse to let it happen."

He was silent for a moment. "What if she doesn't want to leave?"

Jeanne froze. She hadn't thought about that. What if Jena wanted to stay? What I Jena was fine with what they had done to her? What if-

Jeanne shook her head. Jena would never agree to let that happen. When she finds out she'll be pissed!

Jeanne took a breath. "Jena wouldn't stay there with them. Not after what they did to me. She's my sister. We've been looking after each other since I can remember. Would Zeke stay there after learning what they did to you?"

Zack shook his head. "Good point." He looked at her again. "Then, first thing we do is find your sister. We'll get her out of there, I promise."

"No," Jeanne shook her head. "The first thing that we do is get out of these SOLDIER clothes and into something else." She glanced him over. "Something pink for you. They'd never expect it."

"What?" Zack looked scared. "I am not wearing pink!"

"Then how about swimming trunks again? I have to say, you looked very nice in those at Costa Del Sol."

He flushed.

Reno flew the helicopter across the land, his eyes serious as he gazed, searching. "They can't be serious. There's no way we're gonna find 4 needles in a haystack this size."

Rude looked over at his partner. "There's no mission that's impossible for the-"

"Turks, yeah yeah…"

"Hmm."

"Besides, I have to find Jeanne for Jena. BBEFORE the army does."

"That, and Tseng has something to give to Zack."

"What? So we're couriers delivering packages to fugitives now, huh?"

Rude smirked. "And what does that make you then?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Do you not plan on hiding Jeanne when you find her so she and Jena can be together again?"

Reno flushed and glanced away with a 'Hmph"

Rude smirked as their headsets went off.

"Reno. Rude. Status?" Cissnei called to them.

"We got nothing." Reno answered angrily.

"You?" Rude asked.

"Likewise." She sighed. "I'm heading to Point 235. You 2 take Point 120"

"Roger."

"All right let's get going." Reno turned the helicopter to the right.

But only if he had waited a few more seconds. If he had, he would have seen the tuck below them fly off, leaving the 4 people in black behind him in the Rocks.

Zack and Jeanne carefully set Cloud and Claire against a large rock, the twins were still not moving but both would say a word here and there so they knew they were getting better.

Zack smirked and tasseled Cloud's hair before the two of them turned and walked away. Neither of them saw Claire's head lift up nor Cloud's hand reach out.

Peering around a few other rocks, Zack and Jeanne saw all the Infantrymen waiting.

"Jeanne," Zack pulled back behind the rocks. "I want you to stay back here with the twins."

She looked at him in surprise. "What? And leave you out there to fight by yourself? God no!"

Zack grabbed her shoulders. "Listen to me; I would regret it if I let you go out there and you get hurt! I nearly died when Banora blew up and I'm not going to risk losing you again!"

"Dammit Zack! You go out there alone and you'll die yourself! I'm not going to lose you, either!" Jeanne glared into his eyes. "We're stuck in this together, no matter what the consequences are, you got it?" She lifted her left hand. "The moment you gave me this was the moment your received someone that would follow you to the depths of hell and back, understand?"

Zack's eyes were full of love as he listened to her words. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her.

~She's right you know~ A voice in his head sounded. ~She'll now follow you everywhere. Even into death. Are you going to let that happen?~

Zack pulled back and shook his head. ~No, I won't.~

He smiled down at her. "You ready?"

"Of course! Let's g-" Jeanne was cut off by Zack's hand hitting the pressure points on the back of her neck. She fell to her knees and he caught her before leaving her against the rock.

"I…I just can't, Jeanne. I'm sorry." He turned and began to walk away from.

"Zack…n-no!" She cried watching him walk away from her. "D-dammit…" Her mind slowly slipped to darkness.

~I'm sorry, Jeanne~ Zack slowly thought as he halted out in front of the Infantrymen as they lifted their guns. ~But I refuse to let you die, too~ He sighed. ~Take care of yourself…and the Strife Twins.~

"Boy oh Boy…" He shook his head. "The price of freedom is steep." He started a small smile as he grasped his sword. He held it up to his forehead, eyes closed. "Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens," He began to lower the blade "Protect your honor…as SOLDIER!" His eyes opened and he flew forward. "

Come and get it!"

Memories flew through his mind of all that had happened. Some of the best times of his life and some of the worst.

His first mission with Jeanne as his partner. The day he met Jeanne and Jena.
The day that Angeal became his mentor. The Day he met Sephiroth and Sienna. His first vacation with Zeke and his family. The night that Jeanne agreed to marry him…

Everything just fluttered through his mind, bringing tears to his eyes. He refused to lose!

He had taken them all down, but the final three and the helicopter. Bullet holes were all over him as his blood.

He struggled to stand on the cliff he was on as he finished the fight, but it was just too much.

Zack's scream pulled Jeanne back to reality. The final bullets being fired made her move faster. She saw the three Infantrymen stand over him. With a yell, she rushed forward. Genesis' blade cut through the three bodies like string as the rain started to fall.

Jeanne dropped her blade and fell to her knees. Her heart was ripping apart. Crawling to Zack, she took his left hand tightly.

"Zack…"

"H-hey…sleepy head." The bleeding man smiled.

"Why, Zack! I could have helped you! I could've-"

"Died with me?" He cut her off.

Jeanne couldn't fight her tears this time. They won and broke free. She pressed her head against his chest, ignoring the blood. "Yes!" She answered him. "I could've gone with you, Zack! That's why I refused to be a SOLDIER with someone else. You're my partner, Zack. All ways will be. I…I can't go on without you!"

Zack smiled and held her head. "Yes you can, Jeanne. I know you can. You have the strength to carry on…I know it. You can't just leave the world in the hands of Shinra. Especially now that…" His voice faltered.

It was as if a hand gripped Jeanne's heart and squeezed it. Her world was shattering. Sienna…Sephiroth…Angeal…Genesis…they had all been ripped away from her, and now, Zack too. What was she going to do? How could she continue after this? She knew that no matter what medical attention Zack received he wouldn't last. They wouldn't get it to him in time, anyway. She'd even risk letting Hojo be the one that worked on him, and then just kill Hojo afterwards, but it would be no use.

No one could save Zack now. Not even her.

They heard a noise and Jeanne looked behind them. Cloud and Claire were crawling towards them. Cloud leaned over Zack's face while Claire went to Jeanne.

"Zack…" Cloud looked scared.

"For…both of us…" Zack replied as Claire gripped Jeanne's hand. She knew.

"Both of us?"

Zack gave a small nod. "That's right…you're gonna…" Zack grabbed Cloud's head and pulled it down, holding it to his chest. "Live. You'll be…my living Legacy. You'd best…take care of her." Zack's hand reached back to Jeanne's hand and squeezed it. More tears fell from both of them. Cloud lifted his head, blood now in his hair and on his face. Zack half-lifted the Buster Blade with his other hand. "My Honor, My Dreams," He held the handle to Cloud. "They're yours now."

Cloud slowly took it and Zack's hand fell. "I'm your…living Legacy."

"Claire…" The other blonde lifted her head at her name. "Make sure…he doesn't…hurt them."

Claire knew that Zack was referring to both the sword and Jeanne. She nodded. "I promise."

Zack smiled and then looked back at Jeanne. "I'm sorry…" He told her. "There's so…many things I…want to say…to do…but-"

Jeanne shook her head and leaned forward. He didn't need words. She knew what he wanted to say. Balancing her forehead on his and gazing into his eyes, she kissed him for the final time. He kissed back until his lips fell limp, and she knew.

Pulling back, more tears fell as she buried her face into her chest.

Cloud's scream and Claire's own sobs echoed around them as the storm parted and the sunlight fell on Zack. Jeanne pulled back and gazed down at him, the words that he didn't have to say traveling through her mind.

~I Love You~

She kissed his forehead. "I love you too, Zack. Till the day I die. We'll be back together then, I promise. I promise."

"Thank you." Cloud whispered to Zack as his sister pulled Jeanne into a hug. He stood, fighting his own tears. "Goodnight, Zack."

Jeanne watched as Zack's body dispersed into the lifestream. A single, white feather landed before her after he was gone. She threw her head back and searched the sky, but not one bird was seen. She instantly smiled as she picked up the feather and held it softly.

"Take care of him, Angeal. Please. At least until I get there."

Cloud led the way, dragging the Buster Blade behind him as Claire and Jeanne followed. Jeanne again held Genesis' blade while Claire held Jeanne's other one. The three of them would stay together, just like Zack had wanted.

~Hey~ Zack's voice floated into Jeanne's head. ~Would you say I became a hero?~

Jeanne smiled down at the ring on her finger.

~You've always been my hero, Zack.~