"It is never too late to be what we might have been."
George Eliot

Reno rested his face in his hands. Finally, he was away from Cloud, Tifa, and Elena. He was finally where he loved to be most: in a dark, quiet tavern with a cool drink in his hand. He tilted his head back and downed the rest of the bitter liquid, enjoying the fuzziness in his brain that temporarily allowed him to stop thinking. He had just had one of the most restless nights he had ever experienced, and the ride to Junon had been nothing short of torturous. He could have kissed Cloud when he suggested they disperse upon arriving at Junon and regroup at sunset. Reno figured he could get drunk enough not to care by then.

Reno called the bartender over for another drink. Silently he held the drink in both his hands and stared down in the comforting liquid below. Just as he was about to lift the drink to his mouth, a dissapointed voice caused him to snap his head around.

"How did I know I'd find you hear?" Elena was asking.

Reno glared at her and took a defiant chug of his drink. "Go away Elena."

She set her jaw angrily and sat down next to her. Knowing how stubborn she was, Reno sighed as he realized she'd never go away until she talked to him.

"What do you want?" he asked wearily.

The anger evaporated from her face and was replaced with an upset, pinched look. "Are we still going through with this?"

She had to ask that... Reno thought through the buzzing in his head. He grabbed his drink and took another chug.

"Don't ignore me Reno!" she hissed. "You know this is wrong! Stop drinking all your problems away."

Ignoring her, he made to finish off his drink, but before he could lift it to his lips, he found that his hands were empty. He stared at his hands in confusion for a moment before turning his gaze towards Elena who was holding his half-empty drink with an imposing glare.

"Give that back!" he snarled.

She shook her head sadly and pulled a wad of gil from her jacket pocket. Open mouthed, he watched her call the bartender over.

"Here," she said handing the gil over. "Don't give my friend here any more drinks."

The bartender nodded. Reno watched disbelievingly.

"You can't do that!" he shouted.

Elena flipped her hair. "I just did."

Reno stood up angrily. "That's fine, I'll just go somewhere else."

"There is no where else, Reno." Elena said, exasperated.

With a growl, he sat back down and buried his head in his hands.

"Reno?" Elena's voice rang in his ears. "Reno?"

"What?" he said wearily, suddenly too tired for anger.

"We can't go through with this, and you know it." she whispered.

Reno did respond. He savored the buzzing in his brain that he knew would soon disappear if he didn't get another drink.

"Fine!" she snapped. "Do what you want, but I'm out. I'm calling Rude now and telling him."

In the back of his mind, he heard her leave. Somewhere in the distance he heard her talking in a low voice, and then she was back.

"Reno?" she said, hesitantly.

"What?" he groaned.

He felt a light hand on his shoulder.

"I know what we've done in the past," she said softly. "But you know this is our chance to turn things around. Don't do this Reno..."

He didn't respond. Elena sighed dissapointedly, and exited the bar. As the door slammed, Reno lifted his head. The tavern was empty except for the bartender. Sighing defeatedly, he ordered a water. The comforting blankness in his mind was leaving rapidly, and he began to brace himself for the headache and guilt that would come with the soberness.

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Cloud and Tifa stood in the darkening streets of Junon, adjusting their weapons and armor in the light of the streetlamp. Tifa shifted her weight impatiently as they waited for the two Turks to arrive.

"Nervous?" Cloud asked her smiling.

"No." Tifa said with a shake of her head. "Like you said, it was easy enough to break into Junon last time."

Cloud nodded. "Hopefully everything will go smoothly."

Tifa silently agreed. After they got Reeve, they could head to Cosmo Canyon after Barret and Marlene. There, they could come up with some sort of plan to ensure AVALANCHE's safety. The fighting isn't over, but I think there's a near end in sight...Tifa thought optimistically.

Cloud clucked his tongue inpatiently. "I'm going to call Barret while we're waiting."

"Okay," Tifa said. "I wonder if they're in Cosmo Canyon yet?"

Cloud pulled his PHS from his pocket and dialed Barret's number. It rang several times, before picking up. Tifa leaned in close, but all they could hear was static. Cloud turned it off and repocketed it.

"They must be there." he said. "Like you said, there probably isn't any service in Cosmo Canyon."

Tifa nodded. "At least we know they're safe...for now."

In silence they waited, until they saw Reno's lanky form approaching. He looked unrested and pale.

"Where's Elena?" Tifa asked.

Reno didn't meet her eyes. "I don't know."

"If she doesn't get here soon," Cloud began. "We'll have to go without her."

They stood silently for a few more minutes. Reno fingered his electrod by his side as Tifa pulled her gloves tighter and Cloud adjusted the sword on his shoulders. Tifa peered down the street, but there was no sign of Elena.

"Well, we don't have time to go looking for her..." Cloud said. "We'll manage without her."

"Is that alright with you?" Tifa asked Reno.

He nodded teresly. Tifa looked over at Cloud, her head tilted inquiringly. He shrugged.

"Let's go," Cloud said quietly, and led them over to the deserted elevator that went to the upper level of Junon.

They all piled in the elevator. Reno leaned against the wall. Voices buzzed through his mind.

"I know what we've done in the past," Elena's voice was telling him softly. "But you know this is our chance to turn things around. Don't do this Reno..."

"What happened in the past is the past...What you did at Sector Seven...It caused me to lose several people I loved...but I don't hate you for it."

Reno grabbed his head.

"You do know...that if we do this mission for her, she'll think that all she has to do to turn us into her little puppets, is offer us money. We'll be doing the same sort of things we were before."

"Stop the elevator!" Reno said, gasping for air.

"What?" Tifa asked bewildered.

Reno grasped for the emergency brake and then fumbled for his PHS.

"Rude?" he shouted into it. "Can you hear me? It's off! I'm out! Get out of there, I'm through with Scarlet."

The line went dead and the dial done resonated through the silent elevator. Shock was written all over Cloud and Tifa's faces. Slowly the shock faded from Cloud's as dark anger took it's place.

"You set us up!" he hissed angrily.

Reno ducked his head and didn't reply.

"Say something!" Cloud bellowed. "You lied to us, you bastard! You've been working for Scarlet all this time!"

When Reno didn't reply, Cloud grabbed him by the neck of his shirt.

"Stop Cloud!" Tifa said, still recovering from the unpleasant shock. "Just let him go...we don't have time for this."

Breathing angrily, Cloud disgustedly let Reno go, and Reno slumped to the ground.

"How do we get the elevator to go back down?" Cloud asked, the anger in his voice muting as he talked to Tifa.

"I don't know," Tifa whispered, looking anywhere but at Reno, the hurt and betrayl audible in her voice.

They began examining the elevators controls, but their search was stopped as the elevator began moving upwards again.

"Shit!" Cloud swore, pulling the emergency brake again.

The elevator didn't stop. Reno stood up, finally meeting their eyes.

"The elevator won't stop." he said flatly. "They have controls for the elevator on the upper level."

Cloud swore again and turned away.

"We're going to have to fight our way out." he said.

Reno shook his head. "Do you know how many guards Scarlet will have?"

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Tifa asked him, her anger becoming evident in her voice.

When Reno remained silent, Cloud and Tifa turned towards one another and nodded briefly. They readied themselves for a fight, and heard Reno getting his weapon out from behind them. Tifa's heart pounded in her chest with a mixture of fear, anger, and adrenaline.

The elevator came to a stop. Tifa exchanged one last glance with Cloud as the doors swung open and they ran into the fight.

Tifa met the first guard that rushed forward with her fists. She felt Cloud rush by her and take on another, and then from the corner of her eye, she saw Reno's red head as he began fighting another. She overpowered the guard easily and moved on to the next. They're no match for us, she thought as she downed another. If only there weren't so many...

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she felt arms far stronger than her own, grab her from behind and wrap a muscled arm around her neck. She choked for air. What is this! she thought, desperately struggling to free herself from the iron hold around her windpipe. The arm seemed unaffected by her struggles, and she felt her feet lift off from the ground. As the arms gripping her adjusted, the pressure around her throat loosened, allowing her to gasp out-

"Cloud!"

Cloud stopped his sword midswing, and the guard on the receiving end slumped in relief. Holding his sword at the ready, he spun around, searching for the source of Tifa's voice. He located her quickly, and felt his heart freeze in his chest. Silence descended as Reno saw what he saw, and the fighting stopped.

A tall, strong man had his arm wrapped around Tifa's neck, dangling her above the ground. Tifa was desperately trying to pry the arm away, but her attempts went unnoticed. But that alone wasn't why Cloud found himself all the sudden unable to move. It was the mans eyes...they were glassy, glowing Mako eyes. It was another nameless, faceless SOLDIER.

"That's right Strife." Scarlet's voice cackled as she emerged from behind the man. "We aren't completely defenseless. SOLDIER isn't completely gone."

Twelve more Mako eyed, muscled men gathered behind her. Two had a handcuffed Rude between them.

"Let Tifa go!" he shouted, as his voice returned to him.

Scarlet laughed. "Put your weapons down."

Cloud glanced at Reno. They both had their weapons out in front of them, pointed towards Scarlet. Cloud tightened his grip on his sword.

"Put your weapons down or she dies!" Scarlet shrieked, the laughter gone from her voice.

The SOLDIER holding Tifa smiled darkly at Cloud as he squeezed her neck tighter. Tifa choked, her eyes looking desperately towards Cloud. Hatred pulsing through his body, Cloud placed his sword on the ground and took a step back. He saw Reno do the same. Another SOLDIER came forward and collected their weapons.

Scarlet gave a tiny nod to the SOLIDER holding Tifa. Swiftly, he released her, and she fell to the ground, unconscious. Cloud jerked forward toward her, but the second he moved, nine swords pointed at his throat as all the soldiers, except the ones with Rude and Tifa, rushed forward to stop him. From behind him, he heard Scarlet's laughter.

"Cuff him!" she ordered. "And if he misbehaves...kill his little friend."

Stiffening at the sound of Scarlet's voice, Cloud allowed himself to be cuffed. Two arms grabbed him from either side and led him forward. To his left, he saw Reno receiving the same treatment. Scarlet smirked. Cloud would have given anything to have his sword back, and use it to wipe the smirk off her face.

Scarlet turned towards Reno and Rude. "So you thought you'd just forget about our little deal?"

She shook her head, and clucked her tongue disaprovingly at them.

"I don't think so..." she said, smiling maliciously. "Heidegger! Come over here!"

The fat, black haired man came waddling over.

"Yes, Scarlet?" he asked, eying the captured Cloud with triumph.

"Show the SOLDIERS where to take them." she said. "We have four executions to arrange."

Cloud glared at Scarlet silently as the two SOLDIERS flanking him pulled him forward. He turned his head towards Tifa, whose limp form was being hoisted onto one broad shoulder of a SOLDIER. Noticing Cloud's increasing rage, the SOLDIERS to his side tightened their grip on his arms.

"You know what will happened if you try anything..." one hissed in his ear.

Accepting his defeat for the time being, Cloud allowed himself to be led inside Junon prison.