The time was approaching and Cloud was uncharacteristically anxious. Why did he agree to this? All he wanted to do was find work and move on. Now he somehow found himself tied up in someone else's life. What did Jessie see in him anyway? Maybe her intentions weren't romantic, but what if they were? He looked around to make sure none of the others saw him heading towards her house. It was bad enough that Barret already caught her hugging him at the reactor. Once there, he breathed in and out, and knocked.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Soldier bo-I mean Cloud." What the hell?

The door opened quickly as if she ran over to it at light speed, "Hey," she said with a smile and wave. She had her hair down and was wearing regular clothing. Nothing too extravagant but sti. "Too much?" she asked.

Cloud snapped back into reality without noticing he was momentarily outside of it. "No you look nice."

"Aww thanks. C'mon in," she opened the door wider and walked over to the oven, put on mitts, and opened it, "The pizza should be...almost burnt. Damn these shitty appliances," she said with a frown, "Sorry."

"It's fine. I like crispy crust."

"Me too. Who wants a saucy, cheesy marshmallow?"

"Exactly," Cloud said with a nod.

Jessie smirked and put the pizza on a big serving plate, "Bon appetit," she made an Italian gesture with her hands.

They started eating in silence, until Cloud finally decided to say something, "It's good."

Jessie giggled in amusement, "Another satisfied customer."

"Reminds me of the pizza I had back in S-"

"And here we are, a whole pizza for each of us. Hell after training I'm starved enough to eat two of 'em"

Cloud refocused and Jessie was looking at him concerned, "I'm fine."

"You don't have to talk about it," Jessie said, like she read his mind. "I learned from my Mom. Her recipe is killer."

"Do you see her much?"

Jessie sighed quietly, "Sadly no. My...lifestyle makes it hard."

"Biggs said the same thing."

"What else did he say?"

"Well, I asked if he had doubts and he said yeah, that you all do."

"I mean, how could I not? I guess we all do sometimes, even-"

"Barret?"

Jessie chuckled, "Especially Barret. He doesn't say it, but I can read people pretty well. Years of acting."

"Really?" Cloud's eyes perked up.

Jessie smiled proudly, "Damn right. I was quite the star."

"When did you start?"

"When I was twelve. I begged my parents to let me after we saw Loveless. There was just something about going to different worlds and having different experiences, it was like magic to me."

"What made you stop?" Cloud's tone was somber, like he subconsciously became more invested.

"When I was sixteen, my theater group was doing a performance. Everything was going amazing. Talent agents had been at our last few shows and taken notice of me especially. I was on top of the world. The show ends and I wait for my Mom to pick me up. My Aunt comes instead, and tells me that my Mom was at the Hospital. My Dad-" her eyes watered and she tried to calm herself, "Had been poisoned after falling into the Mako pool at his reactor."

Cloud gasped. That explained her behavior when he saved her that night.

"He's been in a coma ever since. If all that stuff's true about souls returning to the planet, then his must be stuck." She started crying like a wall suddenly fell down around her heart. After a few seconds, she laughed and wiped her eyes, "This is the third time you've seen me emotional. I feel so stupid."

"Don't," Cloud said more sternly than he meant to.

Jessie smiled, "I'm glad you came."

They maintained eye contact before there was a knock at the door that almost made them jump.

"Hey Jessie, Barret wants to have a meeting about tomorrow's mission," Biggs said.

"Okay, be right there."

They awkwardly got up and walked over to the door.

"Hey uhhh, how long are you staying?" Jessie asked with a hint of hopefulness.

"Tifa asked me the same thing," Cloud shrugged, "I'm not sure honestly. Not before I make some more cash."

"Good," Jessie said softly before kissing him on the cheek, "Thanks for listening," she walked out and he followed. She walked into Seventh Heaven and he was once again alone.

"Guess I'll go to my room," Cloud thought. He turned around and started walking, but stopped when he saw someone in a black cloak. They started approaching him and they slowly contorted into someone familiar.

"Sephiroth…" Cloud whispered. His heart started to race and he felt faint, "I...it can't be."

"Oh?" she asked, "And why is that?"

"I ki...kill-"

"Killed me, your beloved? Why would you do that?" her eyes narrowed, anger, betrayal, and indignation just below the surface. "She's pretty. Too bad you'll just break her heart too, along with any other woman. That's what you do isn't it? Destroy."

"Hey Cloud, Barrett wants to talk to you," Biggs called out, "You okay man?"

"New friends?" Sephiroth asked, "Do they know who you really are?"

Cloud couldn't do anything but stand still. It felt like all of the moisture was sucked out of his body.

She leaned closer, putting her mouth to his ear, "I do."

Biggs put his hand on Cloud's shoulder, "Hey."

Cloud flinched and quickly turned around, "Did...did you see…?"

Biggs looked confused, "See what?"

Cloud pointed in front of him and turned back around, but noone was there, "What?"

"Between you and me man, I have somethin that can help you mellow out. C'mon, Barrett wants to talk."

Cloud took a deep breath and felt a bit calmer. He then followed Biggs into the bar. Barrett was standing in front of the bar counter looking flustered.

"Go on Biggs, tell Cloud what you told me."

"We have an...ally? Someone on the inside of Shinra who's been helping us from time to time."

"I still don't like it," Barrett said.

"They haven't let us down yet," Biggs said, "Besides, we could use all the help we get."

Barrett groaned.

"Do you know their identity?" Cloud asked.

"No idea," Jessie said, "Maybe it's a ghost. Apparently they live in the trainyard."

"Not this again," Biggs mumbled.

"The planet's alive, yet you can't believe in ghosts?" Jessie shot back.

"Focus ya'll," Barrett ordered.

"So what do you need me for?" Cloud asked impatiently.

"Well apparently, according to whoever the hell this person is, Shinra made a new Soldier."

"Made?" Cloud asked. He had a brief flash of a room full of mako tanks.

"Sorry, I didn't mean-" Biggs said, embarrassed.

"It's fine. So let me guess, you want me to go with you on the mission just in case."

Barrett scoffed, "Don't worry your beautiful blonde hair, I'll compensate for your trouble."

Cloud thought about calling Barrett out on his hypocrisy. He always acted like nothing ever phased him, yet now he seemed to be nervous and wanting Cloud as a security guard. For someone who always called him a Shinra tool, Barrett sure knew how to treat people like tools of his own. Still, more money sounded nice, and after all, who really cared when it came down to it?

"Fine by me," Cloud replied.

"Ahh thanks man, that means so-" Barrett started to say but composed himself, "I mean cool, the more the merrier ya know?"

"Alright, back at it with the biggest badass I know," Biggs remarked.

Jessie seemed giddy. She raised a hand, signalling a high five, but Cloud just looked at her confused. She rolled her eyes and gave him a fist bump, "One last hoorah Soldier Boy."

Her enthusiasm and overall joy at his presence caused him to do something strange, at least to him: smile.

"Well let's get some rest people. We got a big day ahead of us," Barrett said, clenching his fist, "Ya'll are gonna pay, for everything."

Everyone dispersed and Cloud walked over to his room, surprised to see Tifa standing there. "Hey what's up?"

"I couldn't sleep. Happens a lot I'm afraid."

"Same. Do you wanna come inside?"

Tifa smiled, Okay."

They walked into Cloud's room and sat on the bed.

"Actually, I wanted to ask about your time...away. I mean if you don't mind."

Cloud winced, but eventually nodded, "What do you wanna know?"

"Hmm," Tifa didn't even know where to begin, "Before you came back, what happened?"

"I was attacked. Let's just say things went south and I ran away. They followed me and I had to fight off a whole battalion."

Tifa gasped, "Oh my."

"I barely made it out. When we were kids, I wanted to be a hero just like…" Cloud shook his head, "You hear about Shinra and Soldier on the news, read about them in the papers, but the truth is...it's all bullshit. You're just following orders, regardless of what they are."

"I'm sorry," Tifa put her arm around Cloud. What she didn't expect was for him to do it back, and for them to embrace. "I was so worried about you."

"I'm here Tifa."

Her grip loosened, as if she didn't quite believe his words.

"Well, I'd better get to bed," Tifa stood up, "I'm really happy you're here Cloud. Funny how The Planet works wouldn't you say?" she chuckled.

Cloud smirked, "Definitley."

She went back to her room and Cloud tried to relax. Did he really see Sephiroth, or is the mako still affecting his mind? "I have to get away from Shinra, for good. After this job, I'm done." he thought resolutely.