AN:

Okay I know some of you have already read this chapter, and I know I originally posted it FOREVER ago, ;) I decided to do some major editing for it because I got quite of few of you confused. I do apologize for that FF didn't keep my prospective-change-markers, ya know the "" things. I fix that as well as some minor spelling and some extra detail. Nothing major changed, so you don't need to reread the chapter if you don't want to.

Writers Creative Licence: The Strife home is not the same on as the one in the game. I've made it a two story house, it still not on the rich side of things, but it does have separate bedrooms this time. :)

Without further "bother-some AN" ;) Here is the story, I hope you enjoy!


Sephiroth watched the fire crackle as the owls hooted. Angeal's ragged breathing could be heard to his left. He stole yet another glance at his sleeping friend. Angeal's eyebrows were drawn forward as his eyes danced behind their lids, his dreams must not have been pleasant. Sephiroth looked back toward the campfire as it popped. He reached over and placed another log on the fire for the flames to consume, holding back a sigh. He wasn't sure why he was listening to a stranger and it wasn't typically his thing either. However, Angeal had trusted the stranger. It is not as if the man didn't know what he was talking about, he had the answers that Sephiroth had always wanted. What was annoying him the most, was that he never talked directly to Sephiroth. The man had completely ignored him on more than one account. He acknowledged Sephiroth, but that was it.

For the first time ever, a plan was made without Sephiroth. He and Angeal would work their way to what was left of Banora on foot in hopes of finding, if not attracting, Genesis. If they met him before they'd reach their destination, they were to knock him out and take them to a set of caves. Apparently, something in the caves should, how did Zack put it, "knock some sense into Genesis"?

An attack from Sephiroth's right pulled him out of his thoughts. With quick reflexes, Sephiroth dodged out of the way and pulled Masamune in time to block a red blade. He and Genesis locked eyes. The usual brilliant mako blue eyes were clouded over with something. Sephiroth wasn't sure with what, but it proved further that his friend was no longer thinking clearly. This fact concerned Sephiroth the most, how could he help his friend when he himself didn't have the answers to the questions that he has?

In the Neihbel Mountains

"Are we there yet?" Zack asked as he hiked up the side of the mountain.

"Are we in a house?" Cloud asked without turning around, sounding amused.

Zack sighed and kept moving. He started to count the pinecones that littered the ground as he climbed, only to lose count at 25 to another stab of pain in his temple. He gritted his teeth and was careful not to lose anymore trek. He couldn't let Cloud get further ahead of him then what he already was, it wouldn't look right if the hero was lagging.

Consumed by his thoughts, Zack almost tripped over a root. He kept walking as nothing happened, hopefully Cloud didn't see or hear that. Zack focused harder on the path and less on his thoughts, being this tired and in pain was making him too clumsy. He needed to get to their destination and then rest.

As they kept going, Zack's headache only increased. His head was now throbbing in time with his heart. Putting one foot forward and concentrating on his breath was the only thing that kept him moving. Well, until he bumped into Cloud. Zack could tell that Cloud was saying something, but he was too tired to make it out. However, behind Cloud was a door. He blinked and he was standing in front of the couch. Before he knew it, Zack was on the couch allowing his body to sink into the soft cushions.

Zack had expected to stop falling after his body had sunk into the soft couch, but instead he fell straight through the earth and into the lifestream. As the lifestream pulsed around him, he completely allowed himself to relax. Here he was safe. Here Jenova couldn't touch him.

"We're here," Cloud seemed to whisper. "It's pretty late in the evening, please try to keep quiet. My mom may already be in bed asleep."

Cloud's eyebrows drew together as Zack only nodded his response. Cloud opened the door and ushered Zack inside. He allowed his friend to wander into the living room and fall on the couch. Cloud watched Zack's breathing even out from the hallway as he took off his shoes.

"Cloud?" Vincent's voice seemed to dance on the silence.

Cloud nodded to him in acknowledgment and walked into the living room to check on Zack.

"Zack?" Cloud asked.

When there was no response, Cloud laid his hand on his friend's forehead, checking for a fever. When he found none, he moved his hand down and gently shook his friend's shoulder, frowning when he didn't get a response.

"Zack," Cloud called as he shook Zack's shoulder again. "Zack you are beginning to worry me."

Cloud heard Vincent's footsteps as he came to stand beside Cloud. He ignored Vincent for now while he studied Zack. Zack's breathing was even, he had no fever, and showed no signs of pain. Unsure of what was wrong with his friend, Cloud tried shaking his shoulder again, hoping that it would rouse him. It didn't work. Taking a deep breath, Cloud slapped Zack on the face.

Violet eyes shoot opened and looked into Clouds.

Zack was at peace and pain free floating in the sanctuary of the lifestream. The constant voice around were like a sweet lullaby. He allowed himself to drift with the motions, being swept away. He had almost completely surrendered to a nice sleep, when a sudden force brought him back to reality and to a concerned face of Cloud.

"Wha…" Zack started as he tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

"What happened?" Cloud questioned, his eyebrows coming together to form a straight line.

"Umm… I was sleeping. Did something happened?" Zack inquired as he stood only to sit down on the couch with his head in his hands and elbows on his knees. "Boy, what a head rush."

Zack stayed with his head in his hand while the world around him stopped spinning and the pounding in his head subsided to a dull throb. When everything settled, he looked up to confront Cloud to find Vincent the Vampire right where Cloud was.

"Oi! Hello Vampire," Zack exclaimed.

"Zack," Cloud hissed for another room. "My mom's sleeping."

"Oh… is it that late already, ops," Zack mumbled.

"Zack," Cloud almost whined.

"No worries Bright Star, I was awake when you walked in." A woman said as she walked down the stairs.

She was a little shorter than Cloud with the same hair color, though her hair was long and appeared braided for the night. She seemed to float down the last steps with untold grace. Her night robe was made of light material and the belt to hold it closed was tied into a neat knot.

Zack looked towards Spike to see his reaction. He wanted to know if he needed to intervene on Cloud's behalf.

Cloud froze in his steps, afraid to look back and wishing that Ciss were at his side for this. Facing a den behemothes were nothing compared to facing his own mother, who was long forgotten and foreign to him. It was a lifetime ago for Cloud but only a couple of months for her. He didn't even know if the women was his mom. He just assumed that she was because of the comment, that and the name 'Bright Star.' Long hidden memories seemed almost in his grasp, like they were shrouded in fog and if he looked hard enough…

"Cloud, are you alright?" A hand gently settled on his shoulder.

Every muscle in Cloud's body froze as he met Zack's eyes. He could honestly say that he was frightened. Zack nodded his head slightly in encouragement, and courage started to slowly melt away the fear. Taking a breath, he turned and faced her. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, aside from Cissnei. He looked her in the eyes and found blue eyes. The same blue eyes that he always thought of when he wanted comfort. He may not remember all of her, but those eyes were something he had somehow never forgotten. He had thought that he was seeing his own eyes this whole time, but now it made sense.

"Hello mother," Cloud almost stammered, blinking away tears.

"Oh, Bright Star, what's wrong?" She asked as her long thin finger's wiped away a tear.

"I guess… I've just missed you…" Cloud mumbled as he found his feet interesting. I had let her die the first time around. I failed her. Am I strong enough to keep her alive this time? Or will I only know her for this little bit? Will she burn—

"Oh my Bright Star," the woman whispered as she pulled her son into an embrace.

Even though Cloud's mother had said that Zack had not woken her up, she had still implied that she was woken up when they had walked in the door. Zack had felt bad about that, but not now. Spiky had needed this. He had needed to find some sort of closure with his mom, maybe he would stop blaming himself for one more death. Zack leaned back on the couch, letting his eyes slid close. He was tired and his migraine was back in full force.

Will it ever go away? He silently asked his head.

Relief is not too far off, my child. You only need to ask.

Ahh, I get it now. This is all your fault, Zack sneered. Won't you ever go away? Stop calling me your child you are not my mother! Mother's don't hurt their children.

Hmm, I am a part of you. Therefore you are a part of me. You cannot get rid of something that makes you, child. Your fighting is only hurting you.

Yah, well go away and I won't be in pain, Zack mumbled as he laid down pushing his face into the couch's cushion.

Relief of his headache came. Zack sighed and relaxed further into the couch. He had just enough time to think that she gave up when the alien spoke again.

That is only a small way I can help you. If you accept me fully, I could get rid of your pain completely.

Be gone! Zack growled and pushed Jenova as hard as he could.

Pain exploded in Zack's temple as Jenova seemed to dig her claws into his mind and hold on tightly. He gritted his teeth and pushed harder simultaneously pushing his head further into the couch.

"Zack," a hand on his shoulder tore Zack away from his mental battle.

"Cloud…" Zack's voice sounded weak after having a mental argument with the… thing. Forcing his muscles, Zack sat up. "What's up?"

"Mom got us some food and drink. You should eat it before you go back to sleep." Cloud instructed as he handed Zack a plate of food, giving him no room for argument.

The meal was a simple one of berries, bread, and cheese. Zack nodded his thanks while he started to pick at the given food not feeling up to really eating. It's strange how much problems a headache can give you.

Let me help you.

Zack continued to eat ignoring Lady Squid. Smirking to himself about its newest nickname he'd given her. He was not going to answer her.

Your life could be so much easier.

As your slave, no thanks, Lady Squid! Zack replied, snickering a little. What happened to not answering her Zackary Fair?!

Zack was thankful that Cloud had interrupted whatever the thing was going to say next by handing him a cup.

"Careful the tea could still be warm." Cloud said as he walked back into the kitchen.

"Thanks," Zack said calling after him.

Zack watched Cloud and his mother in the kitchen, talking as though Cloud had never left. He started to sip his cup, tearing his eyes off mother and son to give them a little more previous to around the room. He inspected it as a distraction from what was going on in his head. It was pretty basic room; one couch (which he was sitting on), a rug, a fireplace with odds and ends on the mantle, a plant in a corner, a vampire staring at him next to the plant…Zack blinked. He had forgotten that the man was there he waved a hand in greeting.

Vincent didn't respond but kept looking at him with his golden eyes.

Wait since when were they golden? Zack pondered to himself.

See him through my eyes.

Zack blinked and was going to tell her off, but got a good look at Vincent again to see more than one being standing there. He of course knew of the "demons" that were locked inside of him, but Zack had never really seen any of them.

A small sample of what I can give you.

Zack huffed in annoyance, finished his tea in one swollow, and then laid down where he was.

"Hope you don't mind Spiky, but I'm going to crash on your couch," Zack announced.

Not waiting for a response, Zack closed his eyes to sleep. He didn't even feel the blanket or the kind hands that tucked the blanket in around his form.


Thanks for reading! :)