One eye cracked open. Followed by another. The lights felt too bright. His body ached dully.

Slowly, Cloud sat up in bed. And there was someone sleeping by his bedside. Someone he wasn't expecting.

"Denzel?"

The younger man was roused immediately, shooting up from his slumped position against Cloud's bed. "Uh, operator," mumbled Denzel. "I apologize."

The older man nodded silently, confused by his former son's sudden appearance. "No need. But why'd you come?"

Denzel's answer was silence, his eyes downcast. Cloud simply joined him, tracing the cloth of his blankets until Denzel spoke. "You almost died because of me. Again."

The injured man's brows furrowed in confusion as he eyed the late afternoon sunlight pouring in through his window. "What do you mean?"

"Junon," hissed Denzel.

Immediately, Cloud understood. "Denzel, that wasn't your-"

"It happened a year before you left to join the WRO. Those things attacked, remember? Commissioner Tuesti told me the WRO was transporting captured experiments from a sunken gelnika. Mutated ones. We were just unlucky enough to be there. The one trip the four of us took together. You got hurt protecting me."

The blonde sighed. "Denzel, let me-"

Denzel shook his head. "Let. Me. Finish. Please. You even had to bring me to a medical tent in the middle of it all. People died when you were away. People died because you had to save me. And then you left. Did you just get tired? Of Tifa? Marlene? Me?"

"No."

"Then why?" Tears stained the pants of Denzel's uniform as his fists trembled. "Were we just not good enough? You said you'd be our hero. And you haven't been. For ten years. You left us. I thought we were your family. So I want an explanation. And I want to hate you. But I can't. I don't know why but I can't."

Cloud nodded. "I'm sorry. I am. For everything. For leaving. For not being there anytime you needed me. For missing a lot. It doesn't make up for me being gone. But…"

The bladesman chose his words carefully before continuing, hoping they would be enough to reach his son, now a man.

"...but I wasn't gonna bring a kid into a war. Not after I picked him up outside a church when he was half-dead and so was I. It wouldn't have been right. If I'd told him, I knew he would've followed him. I didn't want him to."

"And what about now?" Denzel's eyes locked with his, a look of understanding and silent pleading.

"I think things are different now," replied Cloud, nodding. "He's grown up. He'll make his own choices. And if he wants to fight then he will."

Weight seemed to leave Denzel then, his shoulders relaxing. "So that's it? No anger? No anything?"

"No," said Cloud with a shake of his head. "You were right to get mad. And you do deserve an explanation. I hope the one I gave was enough."

Denzel looked at him, nodding silently before his eyes travelled down to his hands. The two then sat in silence, a companionable one until Cloud noticed the slip of paper that had suddenly appeared in the brown haired man's grip.

"What's that?"

"Oh, it's, uh, it's a note. A letter," admitted Denzel, the pink hue of his ears noticeable.

"From?" inquired Cloud, even though he already knew the answer. A wistful half-smile made itself known on his face then, his mind filled with images of a starry night sky from a lifetime ago.

"This girl I hang out with." Denzel shifted uncomfortably, obviously embarrassed. "You know her. She used to bring this one moogle doll everywhere. Before I left Edge, I told her that when I came back I'd be..."

"A hero?"

Denzel nodded, his eyes downcast. "But I'm not. It's been a year since I left. We still talk but I don't have much to tell her."

"That's fine," consoled his bedridden parent. "Just keep at it."

"Thanks..." trailed Denzel. "...Cloud."

Two men joined them then, both clad in red and black as Genesis and Vincent entered.

"Good. You're awake. How are you feeling?" asked Vincent.

"You gave us quite the scare," added Genesis.

"Sorry," apologized Cloud as he threw his legs over the side of his bed. To his pleasant surprise, "I'm fine by the way."

His allies immediately produced his shirt, boots and goggles. "Time for you to get up," said Genesis. "The girl wishes to see you. She's already spoken to us."

Lacing up his boots and pulling on his shirt, Cloud then rose to leave.

"Cloud," said Denzel, his voice firm then suddenly soft. "I… I…"

"Hey," said his father, his eyes once more hidden from the world by the familiar tint of dark lenses. "I'll be back. Promise. Then we'll talk."

Denzel nodded, drawing in a breath. "I'll inform the medical staff you've left then. It's good to see you've recovered, operator. I-I mean..."

The younger man stood straight, his sapphire blue eyes meeting Cloud's Mako green ones unafraid. "...Cloud."

The blonde offered a half-smile in return, glad that some familiarity had been reestablished between them. "See you, Denz."

And as they left for their unnamed friend's quarters in silence, it was Genesis who cut through the quiet, his voice calm but notably light hearted. "I see you've begun to make up with them."

Cloud just nodded.

"But that's not all though," noted Vincent, his voice grim. "You healed quick, Cloud."

"I get better faster now. The last time it was two days before I was fixed. How long was it now?"

"Twelve hours." The last of the original First Class SOLDIERs let his face darken. "Your body repairs itself almost as fast as mine does now. Like Sephiroth before he fell."

"That's what I'm scared of."

And they made the rest of their way to their destination in silence, the atmosphere around them heavy. It was immediately alleviated when they arrived, entering the nameless mage's room to find her barefoot on the bed with Tifa.

Vincent and Genesis spoke quickly.

"She's already spoken to us. She only needs to talk to you now," stated Vincent, a glint in his eye that Cloud could have called mischievous.

"Correct," affirmed Genesis, the almost smirk conspiratorial. "We have much work to do elsewhere."

The red clad duo then promptly left, leaving the two ladies with respectful nods and their comrade without a chance to reply.

Turning slowly to face the rooms other occupants, the first sight his eyes were greeted by was the slight quirk of the younger lady's head in Tifa's direction as she flashed him a cheeky grin.

"Knew it," mused Cloud within the confines of his own mind. Still he forged on.

"So you wanted to talk to me?" he asked.

"Yup! But I wasn't expecting you so soon," lied the teen. "Since you just happened to stop by when Tifa was around, why don't you stay?"

Had it just been him and the mysterious girl, Cloud would have left already, a sarcastic remark the only record of his arrival. But considering Tifa was here?

"Hey," she greeted, her voice shy.

"Hey," returned the operator, his voice of the same tenor. He also shot a furtive glance at her neck, noticing what seemed to be a twinkle of metal beneath the light of the room. Cloud was thankful for his goggles and golden spikes then. After all, they helped to hide the pink hue that had begun to color his ears.

"Is something wrong?" asked Tifa, her voice concerned as he seemed to have frozen suddenly. "Cloud?"

"Uh, n-no." Not even a minute in her presence and Cloud had already embarrassed himself by tripping over his words. "You?"

"Nope, I'm good." After a pause, Tifa spoke once more. "Thanks. For asking."

"Should I leave you two alone?" The magic user smirked, her fingers dancing along her staff laid out across the bed as she took advantage of the shifting atmosphere in her dwelling. "I mean that way you two'd already have a room!"

"Oh, no, we're not like that," said Tifa, an almost inaudible quaver to her voice.

Almost. Except to one blonde standing close enough to her to hear. It was obvious to him not because of his enhancements. Instead, it was something he heard simply because he had always done his best to listen to her, the sound of her voice an ever familiar serenade. But the implication their young friend had made had brought up old scars, the clench of her voice displaying her pain. And so he did what he had been doing for the past decade.

"We're not," confirmed Cloud, more than willing to do whatever it took to ease the broken heart he had left her with. Even if meant shattering his own.

The cloak wearer before them, however, was an optimist. One who took issue with how easily they had brushed each other off if the pout on her face was anything to go by. "Hmph, sure," she grunted. "Oh, well, back to business then. Tifa and I were just talking about some stuff. Stuff that just popped into my head?"

Cloud cocked his head to the side. "Meaning?"

Petite shoulders rose and fell quickly. "I remember more now. Again, I shouldn't really know about all but I just do."

"Like a name?"

"No," sighed the teen, her voice slightly sad. "No name. But I do have something else."

Reaching over towards her pillow, the caster quickly pulled a heavy tome out from under it. Setting it onto the bed, she gestured to the logo adorning the volume's cover. It was a familiar symbol from Wutai philosophy: black and white swirling together, each harboring a bit of the other in an eternal balance.

Tifa raised an eyebrow. "So the book?"

The girl nodded. "Old Wutai philosophy. I've been reading it. It talks about balance and all that stuff. But this symbol was the coolest part."

"I've heard of it." Cloud nodded, remembering it from a moment of Genesis' rare musings not related to LOVELESS. "So what're you saying?"

The teenager took in a shaky breath, revealing a glimpse of the fearful youth Cloud had seen before. "I don't think I'm a normal person."

"We know," chimed in Tifa, an understanding smile on her face. "Go on."

"Part of me doesn't think I really am a person, y'know? Not the way you two are." She paused, steadying herself. "You two definitely remember the Remnants, right?"

Cloud and Tifa shared a wary glance, both stiffening upon being reminded of their old foes. Sensing their tenseness, the young woman before them spoke. "D-d-don't worry! I'm not like them," she stammered. "I promise I'm not."

"And you're not," affirmed Cloud with a nod of his head.

That seemed to assuage some of her fears as the girl once more. "So yeah, I guess I am a thing. From the Lifestream. Like them. But of your friends. Aerith and Zack, right? You keep telling me I'm like them. I know stuff they'd know. I even act like them. So that's what I am I guess."

"It all sounds pretty obvious when you say it like that," remarked Tifa. "But from both of them? I didn't even know Aerith could pull that off."

Cloud nodded in agreement, knowing that there was only. "It's weird. But not surprising. The way Reeve and Vincent put it, the Lifestream is everyone who's ever lived on the Planet. When you get there, you're just another drop in the ocean. But she was Cetra."

Blindfolded eyes widened in surprise. "The Ancients?"

Tifa smirked. "It's probably why you cast magic so well. And why you're always messing with people."

"Well, that's pretty cool," stated the Remnant, her connection to Cloud and Tifa's old friends now made clear.

"Still, one thing doesn't make sense," wondered Cloud, drawing the attention of the two women as the younger of the two spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"Why'd they send you? Things are bad. Definitely. Just like back then. But back then, they just talked to me. What changed?"

The being that was part-Aerith and part-Zack simply shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno actually."

The question went unanswered as the room was suddenly filled by the sound of an airship engine. The three immediately rushed outside to find a familiar silver craft in the evening sky. The Shera cut through the blackness, coming to a stop right outside Corel. The townspeople streaked past them, heading for the vessel as Cloud, Tifa and the still anonymous Remnant joined them.

Almost the entirety of the town went to see it land, held back only by the WRO's troopers. As the hangar ramp lowered, Cid emerged with his signature spear in hand. A few more wrinkles and streaks of gray dotted the pilot's face as Shera appeared at his side, the years having worked the same effects on her as well. The married pair scanned the gathered masses, their faces lighting up with relief when they saw a familiar head of spiky blonde hair.

Cid locked eyes with Cloud, motioning him and his two companions forward. They did, prompting Shera to step forward, her face serious as she handed him an electronic tablet. Cloud thumbed the screen, causing readouts and diagrams to appear across it's glassy surface. He immediately understood.

"So that's why."

Cid puffed a ring of smoke into the air. "Darn right, Cloud. Good to see ya an' all but this ain't no social call."

Shera smiled tiredly at him. "And don't worry, we'll get everyone's gear onboard as quickly as possible. Reeve's only got the people we can trust on this one."

"Who's we?"

"I am for one, dumbass," grunted Barret as he strolled into the Shera, fixing Cloud with a glare while he did. "Reeve called a while ago. Told me he needed help."

And that was the former rebel said as he trudged off into the ship's interior, greeting Cid and Shera with respectful nods. Shortly thereafter, two more figures materialized just as Barret had.

"Don't forget us," rasped Vincent, placing a hand on Cloud's shoulder before he entered the Shera.

"Indeed," agreed Genesis, a half-smile almost visible upon his normally placid features. "It wouldn't be wise to forget old companions."

"Anyone else?" asked Cloud.

"Well, Yuffie's on board," stated Cid, drawing a sigh from the spiky haired man.

"And there is one more person," said Shera, allowing herself an exhausted chuckle as her eyes focused on something that was behind the bladesman. Cloud turned to see Tifa wishing her goodbyes to Denzel and Marlene. Denzel settled for a quick hug. Marlene and a certain mage, however, did not. They wrapped their arms around her, enclosing her in what looked to be a gesture of affection. However, Mako enhanced eyes picked up how swift hands pulled something from Tifa's right pocket, a flash of silver that ultimately found its way into Marlene's hoodie.

Cloud stepped closer, eyeing them curiously. When Marlene and the Remnant noticed, their faces turned mischievous.

"Bye, Tifa!" said Marlene, her eyes fixed firmly on Cloud, his form not far behind her. "And bye to you too!"

The dress wearing maiden returned the farewell, pulling at Tifa's arm while she did. "See you, Marlene."

Tifa turned, following her youthful ally's direction only to bump into Cloud. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Cloud said nothing, opting for an understanding nod instead. When those two were gone, it was his turn to address Denzel and Marlene.

He spoke to Denzel first. "We'll talk. When I get back. I mean it."

"I know." Denzel smiled then, small and gentle, his words and actions no longer marred by resentment.

Then came Marlene. Without even giving him the chance to talk, she gave him a hug. It was one that also involved her slipping something into Cloud's right pocket. "You'll be back. And we'll be a family again, right?"

Cloud smiled. "Right."

He turned from them then, marching up the ramp. As the Shera's engine rumbled and lifted the aircraft into the sky, the dimming late afternoon rays allowed Cloud a final glimpse of his children as they jogged after the vessel.

The sight made him smirk, his mind drifting back to the days when they would chase after him as he left for his deliveries.

"I'll see you," bellowed Denzel, his words carrying the promise of reconciliation. They lifted the weary operator's spirits. "I'll see you, Cloud."

Marlene giggled, her words far less emotional but no less important. "Bye, Tifa! Bye, Cloud!"

Cloud was immediately snapped out of his reverie. Indeed, Tifa had been standing right beside him as the hangar doors had closed.

"I'm glad they're talking to you again," ventured the dark haired woman, her voice shy but upbeat. "They missed you."

And there was so much he wanted to ask. So much he wanted to say. But like always, something intervened.

The ring of his PHS sounded throughout the hangar. Cloud brought it to his ear while his gaze met Tifa's. She only flashed him a sympathetic smile in return as she stepped away from him. "Duty calls."

And once again, all Cloud did was nod. With a sigh, he finally answered his PHS. "Reeve? What do you want?"

"To make sure you know why you're being sent on this mission. It's Rufus. His project too."

"I know," whispered Cloud. "He talked to me before I left."

Reeve sighed. "I see. Tell me more when you take care of this. But I've also got some better news: you're, uh, special payment has been made. I know you always want me to tell you when it's been made."

Cloud's eyes still followed Tifa's retreating form as she suddenly stopped at a doorway leading into the rest of the ship, one hand on the frame while the other swiftly traveled to her pocket.

"I know. Thank you, Reeve," whispered Cloud.

"You're welcome. And good luck," wished the WRO Commissioner as the call ended. As soon as it did, Cloud immediately made his way to Tifa's side.

"H-hey, do you need help?"

"Oh, um, thanks, Cloud. I'm just looking for something."

A moment passed. Then Cloud finally mustered up the courage to speak again.

"What was it, Tifa?"

Then he saw it. Her face as it shifted from the calm, composed one she normally wore to the one he saw when they had spoken atop Seventh Heaven not too long ago. The first time they had spoken in a decade. The first time he had ever seen her look so confused, her expression betraying so many things. Pain. Happiness. Surprise. Anger.

But this one was slightly different. Cloud couldn't describe it. Tifa seemed softer somehow. As if a weight had been lifted from her. Yet she seemed sadder too. Like something precious had been taken from her.

"It was something important," breathed Tifa, her voice slightly shaky. "Really important."

Tifa turned away then and all he could do was watch. And in the silence she left behind, Cloud finally realized what she had been looking for. He reached into his pocket and pulled out what Marlene and the newest member of his party had given him.

A small silver chain shone brightly in the hangar lights. But even more radiant was the familiar silver band that hung from it, the ferocious facade of a wolf gripping a smaller ring in its maw.

Oh I took long with this one. Life stuff y'know? Hope you take the time out to review. =)