It lives!  (me, not the fic…there was never any doubt about that!)  I bet you never thought you'd see the day.  To apologize for the long siesta, this part is a little longer than most.  I changed and developed a lot of the relationships in this part, and Cloud gets a HUUUUGE bomb to drop on his mother…*smirk*

*

(Almost one year later.)

"Heeellloooooo~!  You guys home?" Cloud called into the quiet house.  He yanked his boots off as he dumped his backpack on his chair.

"In the kitchen, Cloud!" Zack's disembodied voice called.  Cloud padded in that direction, stripping off his jacket and dumping it in an out-of-the-way spot on the floor.  Just as he did so, however, Sephiroth's voice came to him, as well.

"Pick up that jacket right now, Cloud Strife.  If you want it to be washed, anyway."

Cloud sighed and rolled his eyes.  He was just getting too predictable.  He bent to scoop up the offending garment, straightened with a sigh, and gave an extremely unmanly squeak when a set of powerful arms twined about him from behind.  Sephiroth buried his face against the side of his neck, and whispered in his ear "Welcome home, Cloud."

Zack appeared in front of the both of them, a wide grin on his face.  "Ne, Seph, if you don't let go, we won't be able to ask him how it went today."

Sephiroth shrugged and proceeded to nibble lightly at Cloud's ear.  Cloud's eyebrows went up at the signal he had recognized from almost right off in their relationship.  /Well, someone's certainly horny this evening!/ he thought.  /Not that I'm complaining…./  He sighed and relaxed against the still much taller man.  He fixed heavy lidded eyes on Zack, silently willing him to take the invitation.  Zack had steadfastly refused all attempts to get him into bed with the two of them, and Cloud was starting to get annoyed.  As much as he loved Zack, the man sure knew how to tick him off!

Zack grinned irreverently.  "Well, it must've gone at least okay.  Spike, I can see the feathers sticking out of your mouth from here."  Cloud wiped at his mouth, a wide grin spreading on his face, despite being vaguely irritated.

"Oh, is that what that was?  I had wondered why my mouth tasted fluffy…"

Zack laughed.  "C'mon, Seph.  I'm sure he'll sleep with you.  You don't have to work so hard at convincing him."  The general didn't even pause in his wet ministrations, and Cloud grimaced.

"Seph, you better stop that, unless you want to help me explain the resultant spectacular hicky when I go in to work tomorrow.  Or when I go to check the results."

Sephiroth quirked a brow, actually deigning to lift his mouth from Cloud's throat.  "So you made it?"

Cloud shrugged.  "Well, they didn't tell me I was 'too short', this time."

Sephiroth smiled a decidedly unpleasant smile.  "They wouldn't have dared.  You've already seen more of SOLDIER than some SOLDIERs have and you have Zack and me as friends.  Besides, if they'd turned you out that lightly, half the garrison here in Midgar, as well as most out in Wutai, would have been immediately on the war path."  Zack nodded in solemn agreement.

"Damn straight, and those that didn't immediately go ballistic would be hearing treasonous and inflammatory speeches from yours truly at this very moment," Zack said, a grim light in his silvery-blue eyes.  Cloud smiled at the two of them.

"Thanks, guys.  I really appreciate it."  He swiveled his head to look into Sephiroth's green eyes.  "What say you," he started, his voice low and husky, "that we go find a nice place to…celebrate?"

It was always so easy to tell when Sephiroth liked a suggestion like that (though he seldom didn't).  With such pale eyes, the effects of their pupils dilating was stunning.  Now Sephiroth's eyes did just that, turning to black pools surrounded by glowing Mako green, and Cloud felt a heady rush of power.  He wasn't the sort who needed to be in charge all the time, but he did occasionally like being in control, a fine difference sometimes overlooked, and it was always so much fun to tease Sephiroth.

As their kiss grew more and more passionate, and Sephiroth started touching him, heedless of what Zack might be seeing, Cloud was suddenly struck by a sense of wrongness.  After a moment, he figured out why.

There were two hands too many on him.

With a gasp, Cloud broke free of Sephiroth's delicious mouth and twisted to look in the direction he guessed the owner of those hands must have been in.  He found himself at eye level with a familiar set of SOLDIER rank insignia.  Behind him now, Sephiroth chuckled softly.

"I had wondered just how long you could hold out, Zack."

Cloud felt strong arms pull him against his dark-haired friend's body, and groaned as one muscular thigh slipped between his legs.  He didn't really hear Zack's reply of "Well, now you know," hearing only the husky growl under the words.  He rubbed himself against his friend's leg, purring in sheer enjoyment, not even capable of a barb of his own.

Sephiroth smirked.  Cloud could feel him doing it, even without looking, and dug an elbow into his pale-haired lover.  He kept his body against Zack's, though, refusing to allow the other an opportunity to escape.

"I think we ought to get blondie here into bed before he gets into your pants with you, Zack."  Sephiroth's voice was nothing but amused and pleased.  Zack's reply, however, was downright evil.

"Bed?  Who needs a bed?  Especially when we have the whole house in which to have our wicked ways with him!"

Sephiroth laughed, surprised.  "Why, Colonel!  What a scandalous suggestion!"

Zack dragged Cloud along with him, and it wasn't in the direction of either of the bedrooms.  Zack's voice was both teasing and serious.  "Well, ya know, I've been having this dream about taking Spike in the middle of the kitchen table since we met.  Now I wanna find out if the fantasy did justice to reality!"

*

Well, they had eventually made it into bed.  After they made it to the kitchen table, the bathroom, and the garage, but they had eventually made it.

Cloud was now content to allow himself to cuddle in Zack's arms, one hand fisted in Sephiroth's hair, and a still-flushed cheek against his shoulder.  Cloud certainly didn't wonder what the big deal was with threesomes anymore.  It was as if Zack's participation alone had suddenly inspired Sephiroth to some of the most creative love-play Cloud had ever experienced, and Sephiroth had always had quite an imagination.  Cloud was never again going to be able to look at that motorcycle without turning an attractive shade of beet red.

"So," Zack started lazily, one hand tracing random patterns on Cloud's flank.  "Tell us about your day."

Cloud grinned.  "Lessee.  Sex with Seph in the shower at 0530.  Breakfast.  Drive to the testing facility.  Wait three hours.  Test for four.  Come home.  Lots of sex."

Sephiroth lightly thwapped Cloud in the back of the head.  "More details, silly."

Cloud pretended to be confused.  "But…well, I got up for a shower and…"  Cloud laughed at the mock glares he was receiving.  "All right, all right!  I give, but this story won't be any where near as interesting."

Zack grinned.  "We work in the Shinra, Cloud.  Boring is in the job description."

Cloud shrugged.  "Well, I waited around for three hours.  Then they called me up and I did the physical testing—again—then the written test—again—then the psychological exams—again.  I swear, I hate reruns, and I just sat through four hours of them!  Thank the Planet for you guys, or I'd've killed someone by now.  Probably in the psych department.  Damn, I hate shrinks!"

Sephiroth smiled.  "Join the club, Cloud.  I don't know many people who really like shrinks, anyway.  Even those that aren't Shinra."

Zack rolled his eyes.  "Damn straight.  They're all freaky."

Cloud smirked, then the expression faded.  "Well, I suppose I'll know in a few days.  Until then, I don't even want to think about it."

Zack frowned.  "Why so down, Spike?  This was your dream, wasn't it?"

Cloud shrugged, and wouldn't meet either pair of worried eyes.  "Yeah, it's more or less my dream, but…Mom won't like it.  Not at all.  I know I'm 'an adult' and she has no legal say in anything I do, but…I don't feel like an adult all the time.  And I want Mom to be proud of me, not just reluctantly accepting.  You know?"

Zack sighed.  "Yeah, I hear that."  At Cloud's questioning look, Zack shrugged.  "I left home, more or less without my parent's permission.  And that was before I was old enough to do so by law.  I told them where I was going, what I'd be doing, but I haven't even talked to them since.  It's been…about five years now."

Sephiroth sighed softly.  "At least you guys have parents.  My mother died giving birth to me, and my 'father'…"  Sephiroth scowled, soul deep hatred burning in his face.  "He lost any right to be called that long ago."

Both other men were silent in the face of what appeared to be a raw and bleeding wound in their companion.  But then Sephiroth took a deep breath and smiled at them.  "I'm fine.  Really.  It doesn't hurt so much, anymore."

Cloud shifted from Zack's arms to Sephiroth's, trying to comfort the pale man as best he could with his mere physical presence.  The taller man gratefully accepted Cloud's cuddling, pressing his face into Cloud's blond hair.  Zack also pressed close, and the three of them lay quietly for several minutes, lost in their own separate thoughts.  Then Cloud smiled at his two lovers, wrapping a hand around a lock of Zack's hair to match the lock he still had not released of Sephiroth's hair.

"Well, why don't we get some sleep.  I'm tired, I worked my ass off today, and I have work tomorrow, unlike some laze-abouts I could name…"

Zack grinned and ruffled Cloud's spiky hair.  "Just 'cause we know about weekends, and you silly Regulars don't…"

Cloud pouted while attempting to look menacing, which didn't really work, and just sent his bedmates into fits of giggles.  Finally, all three of them quieted and eventually drifted off to sleep.

*

(About a month later.)

"C'mon, Spike!  You have to come!" Zack exclaimed.  Cloud shook his head and glared mulishly at the dark-haired SOLDIER.

"No way, Zack.  I left telling everyone that I'd come back a SOLDIER, and I'm not going back there to get laughed at because I didn't make it!"

"Cloud, everyone knows you made it.  Just because Shinra is taking its damn sweet time telling us what we knew all along doesn't mean you didn't make it.  And even if you didn't, all of SOLDIER knows and respects you.  You could go around in SOLDIER uniform all you wanted, and no one would do a thing to stop you."  Sephiroth shook his head.  "Come on, Cloud.  We really could use your help.  We've got a guide, but I don't know if we can rely on her.  Another person familiar with the area would make things much easier."

"Not to mention, more survivable," Zack commented grimly.  "Why they're only allowing two SOLDIERs to go on this mission is beyond me.  This is a job for at least a platoon.  There are just too many caves and barely accessible places for the monsters to hide and breed in for two SOLDIERs—no matter how good—and a couple Regulars to check out.  We're just trying to stack the deck better than Shinra apparently wants us to."

Cloud shook his head.  "I dunno…I have a baaad feeling about this mission…"

Sephiroth nodded.  "Of course.  So do we.  Which is why we want you along.  To be honest with you, I would love to have you stay behind, safe."  Cloud couldn't help but bristle a little.  He could take care of himself! 

Sephiroth continued.  "But while we're being honest, I also have to tell you that you're probably the best the Regulars have had in a long time—maybe ever!—and you will be one of the best SOLDIERs.  As much as I don't want you anywhere you could be hurt, we need you."

Zack nodded.  "He's right.  Spike, you're too good to avoid where you're needed just because of some idiotic townsfolk who have not idea the bureaucracy that goes on in the Shinra.  If all else fails, you could just wear your helmet and mask the whole time."

Cloud stared disbelievingly at Zack.  "Let me get this straight.  You want me to go to a town where most of the people think I'm demon spawn, or something, in a nasty old truck, over some of the worst backroads on the whole continent, wearing my helmet and not speaking the whole time, and praying to the Planet that no one gets the sense to read my nameplate?"

Zack cringed.  He had forgotten the nameplates the Regulars wore on their uniforms.  SOLDIER didn't wear them, they were close-knit enough to know most everyone they served with, and their dog-tags were enough to identify their bodies if they died in battle.  Regulars had masks that covered their whole faces, so even best friends wouldn't be able to identify each other—thus, nameplates.

Cloud glared and continued.  "And the damn nameplate is the least of my worries.  Just thinking about going up and down in a clapped out old truck is making me sick right now.  Not to mention, I do have classes to teach and to study for."

Zack smirked.  "Well, I might have a solution to the motion sickness."  He stepped toward Cloud, extending a thin chain of mythril, with a tiny purple Materia orb suspended on it.  "There ya go.  Anti-motion sickness Materia: beats the hell outta the pills!"

Cloud smiled.  "Well, thanks.  Leave it to Zack to find an easy, practical solution to whatever ails ya."  He looked back and forth between them.  "So, anyone got any bright ideas about the nameplate thing?"

Sephiroth squirmed uncomfortably, and Zack turned keen eyes to his long-time friend.  Sephiroth was troubled, nervous beyond anything Zack had ever seen on him before.  Then he got a sudden suspicion.  /Would he?  Now?  Oh, my!/

Sephiroth ran a hand through his hair, looking quite harried.  "Planet.  And I thought I was ready for this."

Suddenly Sephiroth just seemed to want to get it over with.  He tore something out of his pocket, shoved it into Cloud's hands, and half ran to the other side of the room.  Cloud stared at his tense enough to snap lover, then glanced at the tiny box in his hand, like you'd get jewelry in.

Cloud just about fell over when his mind made the connection between the box and Sephiroth's strange behavior.  Hands shaking and heart in throat, Cloud opened the little box.  Inside was a simple silver ring.  It had no stones, no markings, and absolutely nothing to distinguish it from any other ring.

But Sephiroth had given it to him, given it with an amount of nervousness that indicated that this meant something more to him than the simplicity of the gift might indicate.

Cloud swallowed hard.  "Sephiroth?  Does this…mean…"  He swayed on his feet, on the verge of fainting, which was ludicrous.  He could stare down armies, contradict his superiors, get naked with the two most powerful SOLDIERs in the Shinra, yet one tiny silver ring was enough to bring him to the floor?

Sephiroth's green eyes turned to him suddenly, worried.  "If—if I've overstepped… just say so.  It-it's okay."

Cloud swayed again, and this time did collapse, hanging his head between his knees in an effort not to faint before he could tell Sephiroth that it was all right.  "Overstepped?  How could this—"  He indicated the ring.  "Possibly be a bad thing?"

Sephiroth's eyes lit with sudden hope, though he was careful to school his face into neutrality.  "So…" he started carefully.  "Do you want to?"

Cloud nodded, tears welling in his eyes, and Sephiroth was suddenly holding him, stroking his hair, his breath trembling as he fought tears of his own.  Zack smiled, and thought about the ring he had for Aeris, hoping she wouldn't just about faint like Cloud had.  He would die if she did.

Of course, as their best friend and sometime-lover he had a duty to rain on their parade.  "Seph, that doesn't really solve the problem of the nameplate.  I mean, you don't have a last name.  Spike's still gonna be running around with 'STRIFE' right on his chest for the whole literate world to read."

Sephiroth shrugged.  "Whatever.  If anyone says anything to him, I'll make sure they regret it."  He glanced at Cloud.  "Right?"

Cloud shook his head, fingering the ring as if checking to make sure it was real.  "Whatever you say, Seph.  At this moment, I could shout my name from the rooftops of that dinky little place, and not give a rat's ass what people thought."

Zack shook his head at the lovebirds and started for the door.  "Well, I think I'll leave the two of you alone to celebrate.  I have some stuff I need to do, too.  After Cloud's agreed to come, we can sit down and try to plan this wedding!"

*

Cloud shook out his watery legs as he scrambled out of the truck.  He was infinitely grateful for the anti-motion sickness Materia, but even so, his head was spinning and his stomach heaving.  Being here wasn't helping matters any, either.  Cloud looked out across the town that he'd been born in, the one that had once been designated 'home.'  Now, home was wherever Sephiroth and Zack were, although a part of him still quailed at the thought of being entirely without his mother.

He was kind of glad to be here now, though.  It just didn't feel right to send his mother a letter to tell her that he was getting married, and to the General of SOLDIER, no less.  He wanted to tell her face-to-face about their engagement, even though he had butterflies careening around in his mid-section—the big Wutaian kind that came complete with spines and stingers.  Cloud really wanted to go see her now, to get this whole business over with, but he knew he was going to chicken out, and put it off until they were ready to leave again.

A big, warm hand landed suddenly on his shoulder, and Cloud's head popped up.  He knew it was Zack before he even looked (Sephiroth wasn't so friendly on-mission, and the other Regular with them held him in almost the same reverence as Sephiroth), but he still jumped slightly.  Then he smiled up at the dark-haired man, despite the mask covering the expression, sure the other would pick up on it, anyway.

"Relax, Spike," Zack said, softly.  "At least you have this beautiful opportunity to speak to your mother and introduce the guy who's whisking you away.  And no in-laws to deal with!"  He glowered.  "I still have to work up the courage to meet Aeris's mom.  Aeris already told her about the engagement, but she really wants to meet me.  And I haven't the faintest idea what to tell my parents!  I haven't even spoken with them in five years!"

Cloud grinned evilly.  "You know, if we wanted to take a more used route back to Costa del Sol, we would go right past Gongaga…"

Zack shook his head vehemently.  "Unlike you, Spike, I don't have the balls to just show up on my parents' doorstep and drop the bomb.  I'll just send a letter.  Hell, maybe I should just send an old-fashioned pen-and-paper letter, instead of a vid-disc."

Something in Cloud rebelled.  "No way!" he exclaimed, then leaned in.  "You better at least send a picture!  It's been five years!  They probably don't have the faintest idea of what you look like, now!  Especially since you're always behind the scenes, and make Seph handle all the PR stuff."

Zack snorted and stepped away.  "Whatever.  I'll think about it.  Until then, we should probably be doing our job, right?"

Cloud nodded, threw a salute he hadn't bothered with in front of Zack for months, and took up the usual 'clueless grunt' position expected of Shinra Regulars.  Sephiroth started into town ahead of them, so Cloud and the other Regular—some guy by the name of Carver, newly transferred to Midgar from one of Nibel Region's smaller towns.  That was the official reason he was here instead of someone more experienced.  He was nice, willing to work hard, but just a little more uptight than was probably good for him.

Sephiroth paused at the very edge of town and turned back to them.  "How does it feel?" he asked of Cloud, who really had no idea what he was asking about. As if sensing his confusion, Sephiroth clarified with a slow shake of his head.  "It's your first time back to your hometown in a while, right?  So, how does it feel?"  He seemed kind of wistful, and his eyes were sad as he murmured, "I wouldn't know because I don't have a hometown…"

Cloud started to understand what Sephiroth was asking.  People assumed Sephiroth had been born in Midgar, like a good Company boy, but no one, including Sephiroth, really knew.  For all Cloud knew, Sephiroth could have been born right here in Nibelheim.

As a result of that uncertainty, Sephiroth was prone to long periods of disorientation and depression.  He felt out of place and unwanted a distressing amount of the time.  Cloud was sure he and Zack helped give Sephiroth a place to belong, a refuge, but  there was only so much the two of them could do against a lifetime of not knowing even the most basic answers to the questions "where do I come from," and "why am I here?"

Of course, Carver just had to speak up, wanting to learn more about this living legend.  "Umm…how 'bout your parents?"

Cloud could have throttled the man cheerfully.  /Of course he has to go and poke at the biggest sore of them all!/ Cloud thought angrily, but pushed his anger back.  Sephiroth seemed willing enough to play along, for now, so Cloud wouldn't interfere.  The moment Carver's questions started to irritate, annoy, frustrate, anger, hurt, or otherwise provoke negative responses from Sephiroth, though, Cloud would be glad to shut him up.

While Cloud went about his musings, Sephiroth adopted his usual thinking posture.  It wasn't a posture he took up for all his thinking, just when he was recalling unpleasant personal things.  Even Cloud rarely saw him thinking like that, but this was the one subject that brought all of Sephiroth's defensive mannerisms to the surface.

"My mother is Jenova," Sephiroth began, his tone slightly distant.  "She died right after she gave birth to me.  My father…"  He trailed off into bitter laughter, waving off the rest of whatever he might have said.

Cloud glanced uneasily at Zack.  Both of them knew who Sephiroth's father was, and how much Sephiroth loathed and despised him.  Of course, he wouldn't go into details in front of some Regular who seemed an awful lot like cannon fodder, but that didn't mean he wasn't thinking of the monster he had for a father.  Hell, Seph would undoubtedly have preferred to have been born to a real beast than to the so-called man who had sired him.

Zack shrugged, as if to say Don't worry about it.  Seph's in control, and Hojo ain't around to do anything to him anyway, but Cloud felt a bubble of unease well in him.  This whole mission was strange.  Zack and Sephiroth had thought so, too, but they were both acting so…nonchalant, careless.  It was sort of disturbing.

Sephiroth sighed, obviously desiring to end this discussion.  "What does it matter…?" he asked, almost more of himself than anyone else.  His eyes flicked up to meet Cloud's through the mask, and Cloud felt Sephiroth drawing comfort and strength from his presence.  The darkness in his eyes fled to be replaced with the light that usually filled them, and Cloud breathed a silent sigh of relief.  Sephiroth was going to be okay.

Sephiroth made a commanding gesture toward the village, back to his usual self.  "All right, let's go," he said, and started off.  The rest of them followed after, as was proper.  Cloud had briefed his lover on the layout of the town, so Sephiroth knew where the inn was.  If there was anything Sephiroth hated more than feeling foolish, Cloud had yet to discover it, so he had told the General all he could about the town in advance, under the guise of a simple tactical briefing.  He'd even drawn a map of Nibleheim and the surrounding mountains, to prevent any mishaps.  He doubted the area had changed much.

They stopped in front of the inn.  Sephiroth turned back to face them.

"We leave for the reactor at dawn.  Make sure you get to sleep early," Sephiroth said, comfortable in his command position.  He glanced at Carver.  "All we need is one lookout," he turned to Cloud and Zack.  "So you others get some rest."  He started to enter the inn, then paused and looked back at Cloud.  "Oh and…You may visit your family and friends," he said, as casually as if he was talking about the weather, despite the fact that Cloud was suddenly sweating under his uniform in the cool mountain air.  Sephiroth vanished into the inn.

Cloud and Zack took off on a slow loop of the town square, mostly trying to escape the too-sharp ears of their fourth, but also making sure that the town was secure.  None of them really knew Carver, so they were being slightly more cautious than usual.

Cloud turned to Zack as sure as he was sure they were out of ear-shot.  "God, Zack!  What am I gonna do?!"

Zack blinked.  "Do?  You were going to visit your mother, weren't you?  Seph just gave you permission, so go on!  I can make the rounds, you just take care of things with your mom, okay?"

"But…How?"

Zack rolled his eyes.  "Like I know…  I haven't done this yet, either.  Just don't chicken out, Spike.  That's all I can think of for advice."

Cloud glared.  "Thanks a lot!  That does me a lot of good!"  He put his hands on his hips.  "Can I at least count on you to be there for back-up?  You know, moral support?"

Zack held his hands out between them, chuckling nervously.  "No, no, that's okay!  I wouldn't dream of intruding!"  The dark-haired man scampered off so fast he practically evaporated.  Cloud scowled and shook a fist in the air.

"Jerk!!!!"

*

Cloud hesitantly stepped into his mother's house only to be arrested by a flash of white hair.  Cloud was always confused as to how Sephiroth always managed to get places before he did, even when the General had no idea where he was supposed to be headed.  Yet there he was, standing in what had once been Cloud's home, when Cloud hadn't even seen him leave the inn.

As if sensing Cloud's bemusement, the pale-haired man shot a knowing glance over his shoulder at Cloud, just as Cloud's mother noticed her visitors.  She turned around, eyes widening—after all, there was no one in the world who would fail to recognize SOLDIER's General.

"Ye—s?" she asked, warily.  Cloud had heard Zack mutter something about the people around here being scared of them as they entered town, and, though the thought hadn't really occurred to him, Cloud found it was reasonable.

Sephiroth was a master at disarming people, though, and smiled his most charming smile, walking toward Cloud's mother.  He stopped before her and bent his head both out of respect and as a concession to her small size.

"Are you Mrs. Strife?" he asked, his manners so perfect and looking so beautiful Cloud wanted to cry in envy and in sheer rapture.  To think that this perfect, perfect person was his…!

Cloud's mother looked at him, still a bit uneasy, but her face softened at his gentleness, utterly unaware that he would never have shown it to her if he had doubted for a moment her identity.  Her reply came out a quiet, but confident "Yes, I am she," and Cloud couldn't have been prouder of her.  He'd really just about genuflected upon meeting Sephiroth, even if he had managed to keep a strong front.

Sephiroth smiled a genuine smile—not so wide, but more in the eyes.  He took her hand and placed an elegant kiss on it.  "I cannot even begin to tell you what a pleasure it is to finally meet you, madam!  I am Sephiroth, at your service.  Cloud has told me so much about you."

Cloud's mother's eyes went wide.  "You…you know Cloud?  How?"

Sephiroth shrugged.  "He's my best friend, actually.  And a very fine soldier.  And an unbelievably tremendous student!  How he juggles all that, I'll never know.  Heck he's even a war hero, now!"

Cloud's mother's eyes looked ready to pop clear out of her head.  "Your… friend?!?!  A war hero?  How did that happen?"

Sephiroth smiled.  "He basically did really well in a sparring match against my other best friend.  Then the three of us got to talking and suddenly I have another best friend."  Sephiroth frowned slightly.  "Moderately confusing, actually.  Then he got pulled into that little uprising in Wutai, and basically saved the Army."

Cloud finally stepped forward, to save his mother from any further shocks from Sephiroth's end.  He did want her to survive his little surprise.  "C'mon, Seph, quit giving her coronaries!"

His mother looked a him so fast he thought she'd break her neck.  "Cloud?!  Welcome home, Cloud!"

Cloud straightened himself, and removed his helmet.  "Hi, Mom.  I'm home."  He held his head up high, knowing there was no other way to do this than to just get it out.  He could feel Sephiroth's support practically glowing around him as he spoke the words he had to say.

"Mom, I'm getting married."

There was a long silence while his mother digested that.  Her face chanced from shocked, to delighted, to dismayed, to sad, to overjoyed in the space of a few moments.  "How wonderful!  Oh, Cloud you're all grown up, now!  Who is the lucky girl?  What's she like, where's she from?"

Cloud shook his head.  "He is right here."  At her blank expression, Cloud rephrased his statement.  "I'm marrying Sephiroth."

*

            Okay, yes.  Zack is a little kinked.

            Yes, Cloud and Sephiroth are engaged, as are Zack and Aeris.  I know Zack jumped into bed with them, then right back out, but they gave him an open invitation…  Besides, it happens all the time.

            Beware!  The next part starts the depressing stuff that was basically the game timeline.  Don't be looking for fluffiness in the next installment.  That means, no, they never did manage to actually tie the knot.  Neither did Zack and Aeris.  She just seemed to me to be lying outright when she said she and Zack weren't serious, so of course I had to get them engaged!  I know I'm mean; I take great pride in that fact!

            All right, here we go.  I am very sorry for my extended absence and lack of work on this fic or any other.  Finals week all I could think of was fics, but, come winter break, all the muses had evaporated.  I truly am sorry.  I'm also sorry that Real Life overtook me: the problem of having two math courses and programming.  Please don't hurt me!  Review, too!

            Many, many thanks to those who supported me in getting this part done and out, especially Nathan, who will get more TFTMW eventually, and SVR for getting me a FFVII script site, and generally drooling over the concept of Cloud and Seph marrying.  *grin*

            To my reviewers: I love you!  Too many of you deserve Fic-Writers's Dream Reviewer Awards for Patience, Encouragement and General Excellence, and I really wish there were such a thing.  For those who've only reviewed a few times, I still love you, and some of you have some of the best reviews, too!  *eyes fill with tears*  You guys are WAYYY too good for me!

            If you want to be on a list to receive alerts that I've updated, just give me an email address and something to call you (as in, a name, nickname, penname, etc.) and tell me so.  To those on the list: yay!  See, I didn't forget you!

            Comments, questions, concerns, and all other forms of long-distance sugar/caffeine rush (a.k.a. 'reviews') are welcome and adored.

            Bai-bai!

              --Akuma no Tsubasa