The following morning, Sherry and Genesis were making a show of leaving on a honeymoon. It was supposed to have them gone for a few weeks and helped cover their departure together since it would have been strange for her to accompany him on a mission. It also helped explain the packs they both carried. They would need the supplies if they were going to be traveling for an unknown amount of time, so it worked in their favor.
It was as they were leaving the building that they ran into their first snag. Sherry wasn't sure if it was a good sign or not, but a worried-looking Zack stopped them as they were walking out. "Hey! Commander Rhapsodos! Wait a minute!"
Genesis was scowling when he turned to see Zack bound over to them. His voice showed enough irritation to make Zack take a step back. "What do you need?"
Sherry gave Zack kudos when she saw him stop himself from taking more than one step and squared his shoulders. "I was hoping you could tell me where Angeal was. We were supposed to train last night, and he never showed up. He wasn't in his apartment either, and no one else has seen him."
Genesis brow furrowed further as he looked at Sherry. She gave him a shrug and a nod. He sighed at her nonverbal answer to his unspoken question before he turned and grabbed Zack's shoulder. "Come with me."
Zack looked terrified for a moment, but he still followed close behind them as they walked toward the train station. It wasn't until they were almost there that Genesis spoke again. He turned to Zack and glared at him. "What I am going to tell you is dangerous, so keep your voice down."
Zack's eyes widened, but he nodded. He wasn't sure what to think of Genesis, but he knew that Angeal was the man's best friend, and he needed answers. At his nod, Genesis lowered his voice even further. "We have all been assigned to a top-secret mission. Angeal and Sephiroth left last night, and we will be meeting up with them."
Zack's eyes had somehow gotten even wider, but he didn't interrupt as Genesis continued. "I am certain that Angeal did not tell you because he felt he was protecting you, but I think you at least deserve the opportunity to decide for yourself. If you come with us, it could mean death, or worse. I will not share more unless you decide to take that chance. If you do not, then rest assured that Angeal will be back if and when he can."
Zack blinked in shock several times before he was able to shake it off. His looked turned determined. "I know Angeal can handle himself, but I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't at least try to help. Count me in."
Genesis smirked at his enthusiasm. Had this been before he had met the future version of the boy, he might have handled things differently, but he already knew the potential the Puppy could attain. As annoying as he still found the Second most days, he would not hold him back. "If that is the case, gather your things for a mission that is likely to take at least a month and wait for us outside the Sector Five gates. We will join you as soon as we finish our preparations."
"Yes, Sir!" Zack gave him an exuberant salute and a grin before he turned and ran off.
Once he was gone, Sherry gave Genesis a quick hug. When she pulled back, she was smiling, but her eyes looked worried. "I know he deserves the chance to find out for himself, but it's hard knowing he is still innocent."
Genesis shook his head as he took her hand and pulled her toward the train. "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess. I may not know the future, but I do know that what I saw of the Zack on Earth was enough to prove to me that he is far more competent than I ever gave him credit for. I cannot take this from him."
He paused and kissed her temple. "It is not something you should be worried about right now. Instead, you should be focused on how you plan to distract our tail long enough for me to retrieve our guest."
Sherry grimaced at his reminder. "Don't worry, all I need to do is cause enough of an uproar, so they are watching me and not you. I'm sure something will present itself, or I'll make it." He did not look happy with her response but held his tongue as they boarded the train down to the Sector Five slums.
Once they got to the market, they took their time going through the stalls. Genesis didn't have to pretend to be impatient, but Sherry just winked at him every time she caught him frowning. They were supposed to be enjoying themselves. After she bought a pretty ribbon she found, she then took his hand and led him toward the next sector.
At it happened, the playground was right in between, and the opportunity Sherry had been looking for called out to her from his spot on top of the slide. "Hey! Hey, you!"
Sherry chuckled as the boy nearly tumbled down the slick surface as he tried to jump down. It wasn't until he was nearly to them that he took in Genesis' presence and stopped a short distance away. He still managed to smile as Sherry waved to him. "Hey, Kid. How's it going?"
He side-stepped so that Sherry was between him and the intimidating redhead beside her as he answered. "Great! I wanted to apologize for not trusting ya the other day."
Sherry shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I understand. I'm just glad it all worked out."
By that time, the boy had noticed her pack. "Where ya goin'?"
She looked back at Genesis with a soft smile before she answered. "We are about to leave on our honeymoon. I just asked if we could tour part of the city as we were leaving."
The boy's eyes widened. He leaned to the side and looked at Genesis with open shock before he scooted a little closer to Sherry and lowered his voice. "You're marryin' him?"
She couldn't hold in a snort and nodded. "We are already married. Don't worry, he isn't as scary as he looks."
The boy gulped at the glare Genesis was giving him. Sherry looked back at her husband and made a shooing motion. "Why don't you see if you can find some materia you like down here. I'll find you in a few minutes."
Even though he didn't lose his glare, Sherry could see the genuine worry in his eyes. Her smile softened, and she winked at him. "I promise I'll call if I need help."
His lips thinned, but he came to kiss her cheek before he followed her advice. His voice was pitched so low, even she could barely hear him. "Stay safe." She squeezed his hand before he walked away.
When she turned back, the boy was staring slack-jawed. It took him a few moments to pull himself back together. He was shaking his head as he looked up at her. "Wasn't he a Soldier?"
Sherry grinned and nodded. "Yep. Commander Genesis Rhapsodos, Soldier First-Class."
"Wow." Sherry tried not to laugh at the boy's look. She could tell he was a little awed to see a Soldier up close, but he was still wary. It wasn't surprising given the fact that they lived in the Midgar slums. They were a lot closer to the nasty side of Shinra.
By that time, several of the other children had made their way over as well. One of the other boys poked 'Kid' in the arm. That seemed to work to get him out of his trance. He glared at his friend before he turned back to Sherry. "Where ya goin' when ya leave Midgar?"
Sherry hadn't expected that question, so it took her a moment to think of something reasonable. She shrugged. "We don't really have an itinerary. There are several places I would like to visit, but I think the first will be his home town. I haven't gotten to meet his parents yet. After that, we might go to the beach, or we might go skiing. I just don't know yet."
Kid tilted his head to the side and gave her a curious look. "Skiing? What is that?"
Sherry gave him a surprised look. "It's where you strap these long thin pieces of wood to your feet and plummet down the side of a mountain in the snow."
He gave her a look that clearly said he thought she was crazy. She laughed and shook her head. "It isn't as bad as I made it sound. It's pretty fun, even if it is cold."
His brows furrowed for a moment. "I've heard some of the people that moved to Midgar talk about snow, but I've never seen it. Is it really all that cold?"
Sherry's eyes widened as she realized this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. She turned her head and saw Genesis standing a short distance away and watching her with a frown. She gave him the barest of nods, but she knew he understood when his eyes widened. She didn't wait to see him slip away, she knew he would be ready as soon as she gave him a chance.
She grinned down at the children that had gathered around. "Would you like to see snow? Or at least as close as I can get."
Several of them gave her dubious looks, but Kid tilted his head. He didn't really know her, but everything he had seen so far said she wasn't a liar. His voice was curious. "Can you really do that?"
Her grin widened, and she looked around. She noticed that several children had bubble wands. That made it even easier. She turned back to Kid and nodded. "Yep. Can all of you make as many bubbles as you can? We need to fill the air with them."
There was some murmuring at her request, but Kid stepped back and pulled out a tiny bottle from his pocket. There was palpable excitement in his eyes when he turned to his friends. "Help me!"
He started blowing bubbles before any of them answered. Most of them looked at him with concern. At least until they noticed that the bubbles weren't falling. Sherry had flicked her wrist, and a mild flow of air was keeping them airborne. When they saw that, a few more joined the boy. It was only a matter of moments later that every child that had bubbles with them joined in. There were a few that looked disappointed that they couldn't, but Sherry hoped they would still enjoy the outcome.
When the air was so thick with bubbles that it was hard to see through them, Sherry called out. "That's enough. Now watch this."
All the children froze and looked up. Even the ones that hadn't helped to fill the air. There was a collective gasp as Sherry snapped and instantly froze every tiny sphere in the air. She let go of the air current and let them drift down. She felt a pang in her chest as she watched them hold out their hands and let the frozen bubbles land. It brought back memories if Anna and Stella, but she pushed them back and tried to focus on the moment.
There were a great many awed whispers as the children each looked around to the ground that was now covered in a fine layer of white. After a few minutes, the 'snow' started to melt, and they all looked back to her with excitement. Sherry didn't need to wait for them to ask. She grinned as she nodded to them. "Are you ready to try again?"
There was excited chatter as they all immediately started blowing bubbles again. Sherry laughed at their exuberance and flicked her wrist to repeat the process. This was supposed to be a distraction, but she was glad it was something they all enjoyed.
Genesis had stepped away when Sherry shooed him off because he realized his presence was intimidating, but he didn't go far. Despite her request, he hated leaving her alone for longer than necessary. He already hated the idea of leaving her to find Aerith. At least they had told the girl to be ready and waiting for them not far from where they were.
When Sherry looked back at him, he realized what she had planned, or at least the gist of it, and he couldn't help himself. Even after he acknowledged her nudge that it was time for him to go, he had to stay and watch. He was just as fascinated as the children when she used her magic to first lift and then freeze the bubbles. It was something he would never have considered, but it was effective.
When the frozen structures started to fall, he knew he didn't have time to stick around. He looked across the clearing and saw Reno staring with open awe at the false snow and knew he had to leave before the Turk regained himself. He turned with a smirk. At least he understood how the man felt. It wasn't just the fascinating show of magic. The Turk was a slum rat. He knew Reno had to have seen real snow at least once, but seeing it in the slums somehow made the gritty surroundings just a little more magical.
He kept his ears open as he headed back toward the market. He was relieved to not hear anyone trailing him and even further reassured to see a cloaked figure standing near the outskirts of the area and watching a large overhead monitor. He stepped next to her and looked up as well. He grimaced when she jumped at his voice, but at least she recovered quickly. "It is a shame that the only news we see is of war these days."
The girl looked up at him, and he noticed her raised brow, even within the shadows of her hood. Her voice bordered on laughter. "That is an unexpected response coming from someone like you."
He shook his head at her teasing and nodded back toward the playground. "You are ready?"
Her smile fell instantly, but she gave him a firm nod. He motioned for her to lead the way. He would follow a short distance behind. From there, he could watch her, but not be so close that people thought they were together. Most looked the other way uncomfortably when he walked by anyway.
Despite the precarious situation, Genesis had to smile when he heard the girl gasp as they walked into a winter wonderland. There was a layer of snow on the ground and Sherry was currently trying to dodge incoming snowballs and failing spectacularly. At least she was laughing about it. He was glad to see Aerith had enough sense to not get into the middle of it, though she did kneel so she could reach out and touch the sparkling substance.
He walked close enough to her that it grabbed her attention as he passed and pulled Sherry out of the way of another incoming snowball. The children froze at his actions, but they all burst into laughter when Sherry turned and smashed the loose ball of snow in her hand against the side of his face. He was so shocked that he didn't move right away. Sherry quickly leaned up and kissed his cold cheek to keep his from blowing up. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I thought you said the cold didn't bother you?"
He rolled his eyes at her playful behavior before he turned her back to the road. Despite his irritated actions, she could hear a note of laughter in his voice. "I believe it is past time for us to go. You have managed to make enough of a mess."
Sherry waved at the children as she allowed Genesis to pull her toward the gate. Several of them were sad to see her go, as they had been enjoying the unexpected fun, but none of them wanted to do more than wave with her scary husband next to her.
Aerith had already made her way around the edge of the playground and was a short distance ahead of them when they turned toward the vacant road. None of them spoke until a figure in a black suit stepped out in front of Aerith. Genesis clenched his jaw as he hurried to where she was standing.
Reno grinned at them all and winked at Sherry. "That was some impressive stuff back there. It's too bad you're set on leavin'. I bet you could be handy to have around."
Genesis tried to keep his calm as he sneered at the Turk. "My wife has no need to do anything she doesn't wish to. Besides, we are on our way to a well-deserved honeymoon. Why are you here?"
Reno chuckled and shook his head. He glanced over at the hooded figure once again and shook his head. "Don't worry. Tseng said to let ya go and he gave me a message to give ya."
Genesis felt Sherry tense beside him and pulled her slightly closer. He didn't get to ask what the message was before Reno continued. "He told me to tell you to keep her safe. I don't know what you're up to, but try not to bring the place down around our ears, will ya?"
Sherry stepped away from Genesis and gave Reno a curious look. "You're okay with this?"
He shrugged and grinned. "What can I say. It isn't often I get to see Tseng so pissy. Take advantage while ya can. Veld won't be as nice, yo."
Sherry shook her head at his reasoning. At least he was willing to follow Tseng for now. Though, she doubted they would have much opportunity to rest. Something told her Veld would have people looking for them as soon as he found out. She hoped Tseng had a plan. Still, they couldn't afford to linger. She gave him a nod and smirked. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunity in the coming days to see a whole new side of your boss."
Reno chuckled before he turned to Aerith. "Keep you're nose clean, Sis."
Aerith had been standing to the side stiffly. She had no doubt that Sherry and Genesis would have prevented her from being taken in, but she was still nervous. She was taken aback at Reno's warning, though. It took her a few moments to respond. "Thanks, Reno."
He grinned and gave them a mock salute before he turned away. He didn't look back as he called out. "Don't let me see you again, yo."
Sherry wondered at his actions but wasn't about to question their luck. They still had a long way to go, and they were far from safe. At least they didn't have to keep distance between themselves and Aerith anymore. She took the girl by the arm to try and reassure her as they made their way to the gate.
When they arrived, it was locked, but that was something that Genesis had been prepared for. He pulled out a keycard that had them out of the gate within moments. At least there weren't any guards at this exit.
Sherry had almost forgotten that they had told Zack to meet them until they exited, and she saw the Second doing squats in the distance. She tried to stifle her laugh as they made their way over to him. Genesis was smirking as the young man jumped up and nearly ran over. He only paused when he caught sight of Aerith. Her hood had fallen back some, and he froze at the sight of her face.
Sherry clamped a laugh in when his attention was diverted to the girl. He grinned and held out his hand. "Hey, are you going to help with this mission too? I'm Solder Second-Class, Zack Fair, by the way."
Aerith giggled and allowed her hood to fall all the way back as she took his hand, and he shook enthusiastically. "I'm Aerith Gainsborough. Nice to meet you."
Neither of them had released each other's hands. They both jumped and let go when Genesis stopped between them. "We have no time for teenage shenanigans. Let's go."
They both looked away with bright cheeks. Sherry poked her husband in the ribs and gave him a mild glare before she turned to the two younger people with a smile. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to get to know one another while we walk."
Aerith gave her a grateful smile before she took Sherry's arm, and they turned toward the road. Both the Soldiers were left to watch them with smiles. Despite his sense of urgency, Genesis could not keep from watching his wife as she made her way out of the shadow of the city, and toward a new future.
A/N: I Love Zerith :) Anyway, I have deduced that we have about 7 to 10 chapters left, so I am hoping I can focus and get this done within the next two weeks. That's the goal anyway. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!