Before I could stop myself, I was reacting. My slap rung out across the room before my fists pounded hard on Sephiroth's chest. "This is your fault! You and your stupid 'MOTHER'!" I pounded harder for only a couple of seconds before his hands grasped my wrists tightly, stopping me this time. His face dropped to level with my own.

"You will not blame me for this. I have done many things I am responsible for alone, but not this. I will not allow it."

I broke free from his grip in fury with tears streaking my face and returned to my son's side. "Wake up baby, you gotta wake up." Vincent was on the other side and I felt his gaze on me for several seconds before I decided to acknowledge it.

"He is under some kind of enchantment. I have…never seen anything like it." My hands went up to my mouth as a cry escaped. My heart had never hurt so much in my life and I felt every inch of my resolve fading fast. "What the hell do we do?" Cloud's form came into my peripheral view and I saw him check Lucien's vitals. "His heartbeat is strong…like he's asleep." Sephiroth stood over the scene and as I looked up at him I felt the confusion and worry seep and pool into my mind like lava. His eyes lingered on our son before cutting to my own, all other movements absent. "Sephiroth…what do we do?" He thought silently then calmly came up with the solution.

"Let me try and reach him."

The seconds turned to minutes with Lucien lying motionless in his father's lap, Sephiroth's hands on either side of his temples. I drummed my fingers nervously on the floor while biting my nails on the other hand. Tifa's hand rested on my shoulder and Vincent stood nearby, arms crossed and watching. All others were absent. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have let him out of my sight." I buried my head in my hands and sighed deeply. "I can't believe I took my eyes off of him. I am so stupid." Tifa squeezed gently. "Stop. It isn't your fault." Vincent spoke and it felt like a command instead of console. "It is no one's fault. Not yours or Sephiroth's. No one's, but Hojo." I tightened my fist. "Hojo….that bastard…We have to kill him. And Jenova. For good this time. Will she ever truly leave this planet? Or is the contamination too strong?" I spoke almost to myself, in a small whisper. The room went quiet after that. I watched Sephiroth's hands clench and unclench, his eyes closed in concentration. After a while I felt my anxiety increase. Could he reach him? Could he even feel his mind? Where was he?

With a sudden intake of breath, I jumped at Sephiroth's abrupt movement. He rested back on his hands before finally pulling his wide eyes away from Lucien's face, still content and asleep on Sephiroth's knee. "I saw her. Finally. She has him well hidden." I covered my mouth once again with both hands as tears prickled my eyes. "Oh dear Gaia…Where are they? Surely it's a trap? I know they want him but they have to have his body. Do they think they will bring him willingly? Do they want you too? Do….?" "I don't know, Cassmora. I don't know. But I do know they are in the forbidden forest."

I locked eyes onto my son as movement started around me, plans being made. Sephiroth started barking orders as he once did all those years ago, but this time with anxiety etched onto his features. No one dared to debate his authority. Not in this predicament. I brought my knees to my chin and rested it there. Who was I without Lucien? I had been a mother for so long it seemed that I didn't know anymore. I couldn't just simply sit by and wait, but then again I had no purpose without him. He led me and I depended on him as a pet does it's master. Sure, I was the parent, but his need, his wants, his wishes had consumed me for so long I didn't truly feel anything for myself anymore. Was that healthy? Was that what being a mother was? Had I tried so hard to be unlike Jenova and unlike…HER… that I had went too far in the opposite direction? And why was I thinking of that now?

Suddenly, I came to my senses. Cloud had walked into the room and for the first time in forever, that I had ever seen anyway, I witnessed Sephiroth grovel. He slowly walked over to Cloud, eyes never leaving him, and came to a stop before closing his eyes and lowering his head completely. I watched Cloud step back almost in fright. He then spoke. I had to lean forward to hear. "I know that I am in no position whatsoever to ask for your help. You have no reason to trust me or aid me, but I need you. I…I can't save my son by myself and I am afraid of Jenova's control. You have witnessed what I can do when I am infected. You were a bystander in Nibelheim and I am asking now to keep that from ever happening again." With eyebrows in a scowl and face serious, Sephiroth then looked into Cloud's surprised expression. "She is too strong and I have to get him away from her."

Cloud stared for several seconds before I heard him whisper under his breath. I could barely make it out, but I realized he had uttered the word "Afraid" questioningly before inhaling deeply and nodding in acceptance. And that was it. A sort of truce was formed between them. I don't think Cloud Strife forgave him in that moment, and I am not even sure that he ever would, but I do know that he understood him and in that single second, accepted him for all that he had now become.

Sephiroth nodded back slowly before turning to me, the last person to direct. I still sat by Lucien, chin on my knees, tears on my cheeks, eyes glossy and staring back into his green orbs. He sighed and knelt in front of me, elbows resting upon knees. "I am going to bring back our son. You must stay be…."

"NO.."

"Cass…"

"No, Sephiroth. I am not staying behind while you fight this thing. You need my help and you can't do this without me."

Sephiroth sighed and lowered his head, shaking it slightly as I continued on. "What? You think that a band of heroes along with your arch nemesis will keep you from falling into despair? They mean nothing to you and you know it. You need me. If you had relied on me in the first place, we wouldn't be in this shit."

"You should not swear around Lucien…"

"Oh don't…are you kidding me? Don't you dare…"

His chuckle was forced but I knew that he was trying to grasp onto a slither of normalcy so that we could continue on, stand up and keep moving. Truthfully, I had needed the jest and even managed to playfully smirk through my scowl. I then slowly touched his face, the side I had abused earlier and rested my forehead against his own.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me." `

His eyes were closed but I knew he saw my tears as I placed my other hand on the other side of his face. "We have to bring him back, Sephiroth. We have to…" Sephiroth shushed my tears before pulling me into his arms completely, hand firmly on my back. "We will. I promise you, we will….. But we must hurry."