Chapter Five

They went back into the house, finding Cid sitting in front of the television with the two boys. He watched as Tifa disappeared into the bedroom with Vincent again, not looking pleased with the fact.

Tifa went and sat on the edge of the bed as Vincent went to the closet and pulled out his suitcase. He placed it next to her and opened it.

She watched as he began to retrieve things from the dresser and placed them in the suitcase. Tifa realized that he was doing this a lot slower than he normally would have, and she knew that he was delaying, possibly in the hopes of her saying something to reassure him. This was all killing her, and she cracked. "Vincent?"

He stopped moving, clutching the shirt in his hands to his chest. His eyes met hers with some faint feeling. "Yeah?"

"Come here."

Vincent complied, and tossed the shirt in his hands into the suitcase before kneeling in front of her. He stared up into her eyes and placed his hands upon her knees.

Tifa reached forward and ran a hand though his hair. "I still love you."

He dropped his gaze away, not sure if she was telling him the truth anymore. Somehow, he couldn't shake the feeling that when he came home from this mission, that she would tell him that he wasn't welcome any longer. Vincent knew, however, that bringing up this doubt now would do no more than drive one more nail into their marriage's coffin. "I love you, too."

"Vincent, look at me."

He did.

"Promise me that you won't die on this mission." Tifa placed her hands upon his shoulders.

That's a promise I just can't make, Tifa, he thought to himself silently. "I'll try not to."

"Vincent, you had a heart attack today, don't you think--" She found her words cut off as he placed a finger against her lips. He tended to do that when he wanted her to stop.

"I'm aware of what happened to me today, Tifa, and I know the risks. We can sit here and argue about it, but I'm going, so let's not. Besides, you do need a break from me so you can think about things. Dr. Arlin is going to see that I get some help once I'm at the ASRIO base, and I can start sorting things out for myself. It's probably not a bad thing that we're going to be apart for a while. Maybe with a little distance between us, we can think a little more clearly. Obviously, being together right now is just going to result in us fighting. We're making our son miserable by doing that. He deserves better, Tifa, and if that means that you and I shouldn't be together anymore, then that's just the way it is. For now, though, we don't have to make any decisions until I come back." Vincent looked away from her eyes again, letting his hand fall from her mouth. "Besides, you and Cid… you two need this time together. It may be the last chance the two of you have to be alone and talk. I know you love him, Tifa, and I know that the two of you need to get as much time with one another as possible between now and when he dies. It's important to you, and I'm not going to stand in your way."

Tifa blinked back the tears. "Thanks, Vincent."

He nodded and got back up. Vincent went to the closet and opened it again, pulling a large black case from the top shelf. He set it on the bed, on the opposite side of Tifa from his suitcase. His fingers quickly ran over the combination lock on it, and a click was heard. Vincent pulled up the top of the box and looked down within, a smile coming to his lips.

There, before him, was a sight he hadn't lain eyes upon since moving to this house. The chromed barrel of his Death Penalty gleamed in the light, polished to perfection before having been locked away. Vincent hadn't touched this gun in all this time, opting instead to take his smaller 9mm with him to the firing range on a weekly basis. This gun was just far too powerful for casual target practice. He reached in and took it up in his right hand, it's weight and balance still perfectly familiar after all this time.

Tifa sat and watched him as he handled the weapon. His movements with it were always so fluid and gentle. His eyes narrowed as he dropped the clip from it, checking to see that it was all in working order and still loaded. Observing him while he did this, Tifa came to appreciate that this was the Vincent that she'd fallen in love with. For the moment, he was the Vincent of all those years back. She suddenly remembered something and got up from the bed.

Vincent turned his attention from the gun and over to his wife as she went and got onto the floor, pulling a wrapped box out from under the bed. "What's that?"

She got back up, holding the package before her. "It's your anniversary present. I've been looking for it for a long time, years in fact. When I finally saw it in a shop while we went on that trip to New Nibelhiem, I bought it and have been hiding it ever since. I guess I should give it to you now, just in case."

Just in case I never come back, or just in case I do and you don't want me anymore, Tifa? Vincent's eyes almost gave away his thought. "Really?"

She disregarded his expression and held it out to him. "I'd like to see you with it on, before you go."

Now his curiosity was piqued. He gingerly placed his gun back down and took the box from her. It was fairly heavy and he wondered what could be inside it. Vincent knelt down on the ground and set the box before him, and started to tear the red paper away.

Tifa got down onto the floor in front of him, having her hands clasped together over her chest. She hoped that his reaction would be a favorable one. After all, he'd seemed rather attached to the old one.

With the paper cast aside, Vincent slowly lifted the top off of the box. There was a layer of red tissue paper within, obscuring what was inside. He glanced up at Tifa for a moment, seeing that she was far more excited about this than he felt. After flashing her a quick smile, he reached down and pulled away the paper.

Vincent caught his breath. He let his hands reach down and feel the red fabric before him. "You…you found another one?"

"Yeah." Tifa's smile widened.

Vincent pulled the cloak out of the box and stood up. The one that he'd worn before had been the one thing, other than his gun, that he'd held onto after waking up from stasis fourteen years before. His old cloak had been destroyed seven years ago, during one of Chaos' breakouts. "I don't know what to say, Tifa."

She got up, too. "Is it okay? Do you like it?"

He kept his eyes fixed upon his gift, continuing to hold it before him. "Yeah…I do."

"Put it on," she requested quietly.

Vincent looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. He then flashed her another smile and then flipped loose all five buckles upon it before throwing it around his shoulders.

Tifa watched on. She could appreciate the fact that his whole posture seemed to change as he donned the cloak. He seemed taller, more confident beneath it.

Vincent reclosed the first three buckles of the cloak, in the way that he'd worn the previous one most of the time. With that done, he met Tifa's stare again. His expression was blank for the moment, as he wondered what she was thinking.

Seeing him there like he was, wearing the cloak and behind it, his classic detached expression, struck something within her. She took a few steps toward him, reached out, and tugged gently on one of his tresses. "I've missed you."

How she could miss him when he'd never gone anywhere he found odd, and his eyes narrowed. Then he realized what she meant. She'd missed who he had been, both seven and fourteen years back. The man he'd become over the last few years was not the man she'd known, the man she'd fallen in love with. Tifa had been longing for the old Vincent, and even if he didn't quite feel like he used to, for the moment, he at least looked the part. Without smiling, or displaying any feeling at all, he reached out and pulled her to him. Vincent closed his eyes and enjoyed the embrace for all it was worth.

Tifa nuzzled into him, appreciating the fact that he was going to humor her by putting forth his old air at least for a while. "Vincent…"

He looked down at her, his eyes only half opened at the moment. The old Vincent wouldn't have said anything in response, so he didn't.

She let herself give in to the fantasy that the last several years hadn't happened. Tifa tilted her head up and closed her eyes, indicating that she wanted a kiss from him.

Vincent reached up and placed his right hand behind her neck, and let his lips meet hers. When he heard her sigh, he held her to him tighter and invaded her mouth.

Tifa felt tears in her eyes again. Despite everything, she still loved him. Part of her hated this fact. With things as they had been recently, Tifa truly felt that she shouldn't want him anymore, but her heart disagreed. When his lips left hers for a moment, she opened her eyes and stared up at him. "Vincent?"

He just cocked an eyebrow in response.

"If you promise to be careful, we can try again." Her voice wavered as she said this.

Vincent knit his brow for a moment, not sure if it was a good idea or not. Then again, he was a man and refusing such an offer seemed ridiculous.

Tifa found herself kissing him again, and he gently guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. He knelt before her, undoing the buckles to his cloak, but keeping it around his shoulders. Once more he kissed her, and let his hands undo the waist to her shorts.

She lifted herself up from the bed for a moment, so that he could free her of her clothing, before retaking her position. Tifa felt his hands upon her knees again, slowly drawing them apart.

Vincent then moved closer to her and put one of his hands on the center of her chest, pushing her back carefully.

This far along in pregnancy, being on her back like this wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but the number of positions that she could be in for the act at this point were limited. Tifa closed her eyes when she felt his hands upon her legs again.

Vincent let his hands explore her for several moments, pleased that she began to respond to him quickly. He smiled as he watched her writhe before him, and he decided to do what she really liked.

Tifa gasped when she felt him begin to work her with his mouth. While he made a habit of this being part of foreplay generally, during both of her pregnancies, he'd not done it much. Something about her during those times seemed to hold him off from this, so the fact that he was actually doing it now told her that he really was trying to make her happy. When she felt control beginning to slip away she sat up slightly and pushed him back.

He looked up into her eyes, hoping that this meant that she was ready, because he certainly was.

She gave him a faint smile. "Now, Vincent."

Having her permission, he once more freed himself of his jeans and straightened up. As she laid back flat on the bed, he placed his hands on either side of her hips and carefully got to the task. Out of character, he kept his eyes opened and he looked down upon Tifa as he went. Seeing that she was keeping her eyes closed, he quietly asked, "Tifa, look at me."

She wasn't used to watching him when they did this. The two of them had always been a little shy about the whole thing, despite having been together for so many years. Yet, she knew why he was asking and she obliged. Tifa met his gaze, seeing his approval of this clearly in his expression.

With her looking into his eyes, Vincent knew that there was no way that she could be thinking about anyone but him now. Having this reassurance, Vincent's motions became slightly more forceful, but he was still careful not to hurt her.

Tifa's hands grasped at the sheets beneath her as she gave in and felt herself thrown over the edge. "Vincent…"

He could feel her achieve her goal, and he finally closed his eyes, as he too finished. As he had always done, he remained completely silent throughout.

With it over, Tifa sat back up and put her arms around him. She had so much to say to him, but knew that it was time for him to go, and she would have to wait until he came home, if he came home. "Be careful."

Vincent eventually pulled out of her embrace and stood up, getting his jeans on properly again. "I will."

Tifa got her shorts back on, resigning to take a shower after he'd left. There just wasn't enough time for that now. She looked on as he strapped his holster to his hip and then put his gun within it. Seeing him standing there with the cloak on and the gun hanging at his side made her smile.

Vincent closed his suitcase and smiled back at her. "Four weeks, Tifa. It's not that long."

She nodded shallowly. "I know."

He turned and put his arms around her again. Vincent kissed her sweetly and then picked up his luggage, ready to go to the airship.

He opened the door and left the room, Tifa following behind him. When they got to the family room, they found Cid still sitting there before the television with the boys. Seeing that Vincent had packed, Cid got up. "Going, huh?"

"Yeah."

Cid came to him, his hands shoved into his pockets. He glanced over at Tifa. "Hey, can you give us a second?"

Tifa nodded and went over to where the boys were sitting.

Cid walked with Vincent out onto the porch, the airship still resting out in the front yard. The pilot turned to Vincent. "You're really gonna do this?"

"I have no choice, Cid. They have my son." Vincent set his suitcase down for the moment.

"Right, I know." Cid frowned. "I've got a bad feeling about this whole thing, Sue."
"I think we all do."

His blue eyes narrowed momentarily. "Like I said earlier, you can't die. I'm not going to be able to be around much longer, so I can't take care of Tifa like she'll need if something happens to you."

Vincent nodded. "Give me your word that nothing is going to happen between Tifa and you."

"As long as you're alive, nothing will happen between her and me." Cid crossed his arms over his chest. If Vincent were to be killed, Cid really didn't feel like he'd have anything to lose by trying his luck with Tifa during his last few months alive.

"That's the best motivation for living that I've heard thus far, Cid." Vincent actually smiled.

Cid became uncomfortable and he scratched the back of his head, turning his gaze to the ground. "Okay, well, I guess I'll say goodbye then, and I'll go get Tifa for you."

"All right. Goodbye, Cid."

The pilot didn't move. If this was going to be that last time that he saw Vincent, then there was something that he needed to do. He stepped forward, and after a moment of hesitation, he took Vincent into his arms. "Take care, Sunshine."

Vincent submitted to the embrace, and put his arms around the pilot in return. This wasn't the first time that the two men had done this, but it had never gotten any more comfortable. "I will. Take care of Tifa and the boys."

"Okay." Cid stepped back and nodded. "See ya'."

Vincent watched after him as he went back into the house. A few seconds later, Aaron and Tifa emerged.

Aaron came up to him and grabbed the edge of the red cloak. "Cool."

Vincent cocked an eyebrow. "Thanks. Your mother got it for me."

"Dad," Aaron looked up into his father's eyes, "you're coming back, right?"

"I intend to," Vincent replied, dropping to his knee so he could be on his son's level.

The boy glanced back over his shoulder at his mom for a second, before facing Vincent again. "You're not just leaving because of the fighting?"

Vincent laughed. "No, Aaron. I'm going to go help your brother. He's in trouble, you know that."

Aaron thought about his considerably older brother for a moment. "Jaras is old enough to take care of himself. Why do you have to go?"

"I just do." Vincent reached out and put his hand on his boy's shoulder. "You behave while I'm gone, understand?"

"Yeah."

"Good." Vincent embraced his son for a few minutes, realizing that it could be the last time. If nothing else, he wanted his kid's last memory of him to be pleasant. Eventually, he brought Aaron back out to arm's length. "Go on in now, so I can say goodbye to your mother."

"Okay." Aaron started for the door. "Bye."

"Bye," Vincent said back, standing again.

Now alone with her husband, Tifa stepped up to him. "Well, I guess this is it."

He nodded. "Yeah."

She put her arms around him and gazed into his eyes. "I don't know what to say… It's like we went over everything already."

"I know." Vincent cocked his head to the side. "I'm sorry about everything, and this morning. It had nothing to do with Chaos, that was just be being more of a jerk than usual. I hope…I hope that when I come home, you'll be able to forgive me."

Tifa just silently smiled, knowing that if she said anything that she'd break down and begin to cry.

Vincent kissed her and then stepped back. He placed his hands on the sides of her stomach. The baby, for once, wasn't moving. "You need to take care of yourself, Tifa. Whatever you have to do to make yourself happy…that's what you have to do. If that means dumping me, then so be it."

Her attempt to keep her composure failed, and the tears came. "Oh Vincent…"

"It's all right. Do what you have to do." He leaned forward and kissed her lightly upon the lips. "I've got to go now."

Tifa had to fight the urge to cling to him and hold him back from going. She watched as he picked up his suitcase.

Vincent flashed her one last, pathetic smile before stepping off the porch and walking over to the airship. Before he got onboard, he looked back one more time and waved at Tifa.

She raised her hand back at him, and watched him disappear from view. Within a few minutes, the airship's engines fired up. Tifa felt someone's arm drop around her shoulders, and without looking, she knew it was Cid.

The two of them remained there and watched the airship lift back up into the air.

-------------------

From a window on the bridge, Vincent looked out as the ground began to get farther away. He saw Cid standing there holding his wife, and he hoped beyond hope that things would go well, and that Tifa would still be there for him when this was all done with.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pill vial that Janice had given him. Quickly, he had one of the tiny white tablets placed under his tongue. Vincent wasn't sure if the pain in his chest was from his heart condition or just his emotions, but he opted not to take any risk.

-------------------

Jaras had been taken out of the van and placed onto a helicopter several hours ago. Even though he never saw it, he could tell that it was a much nicer machine than the crude old military chopper that he'd ridden in with ASRIO. This was quieter, smoother, and the seats actually had some padding to them.

Now, he felt the helicopter set down, and he heard the engines cut. The men around him began to move. His legs had been untied at one point during the flight, and he felt someone grab his arm and lead him from the chopper.

He was taken into a building, and brought into an elevator. After a long ride, he was walked for a short distance, pushed forward, and heard some sort of door closed behind him.

"Now, take a few steps backward until your arms are against the bars, and I'll take off the cuffs," the mystery man said.

Jaras complied, eager to be free of the restraints after countless hours in them. It would feel good to be able to move his arms again. He felt someone manipulate the cuffs, and quickly they were pulled from his wrists.

His shoulders ached as he moved his arms from behind his back. At first, he wasn't able to move his elbows at all, and couldn't take off the blindfold. A few minutes later, and his arms finally cooperated. Jaras pulled off the blindfold and looked around.

He was in a cage. It was a large cage, but a cage nonetheless. In the center of it was a mattress, and in the corner, a sink and toilet. The cage was in the middle of a large room, filled with various pieces of equipment and thanks to the return of his memory seven years ago, he realized he was in a place not much different than Hojo's lab.

"I hope it's acceptable," the mystery man said.

Jaras turned around slowly, fearing whom he would see. The man standing outside of the cage was slightly shorter than Jaras. He had closely cropped dark hair, and wore a typical Shinra issued lab coat. The scientist had on a pair of silver framed glasses. For some reason, all the important researchers for the company seemed to have bad eyesight.

"Who are you and why am I here?" Jaras asked, rubbing his aching wrists.

"I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself before." He flashed a smile. "I am Doctor Peirte Methius. I'm the head of experimental research for Shinra."

Jaras swallowed hard. This was his worst nightmare. "What do you want me for?"

"Well, when I found out that you were alive, I was intrigued. It would seem that all of your power and strength left you after your considerable immersion in the lifestream. It made me wonder what effects that had upon you, and if you could be re-inoculated with Jenova. I wish to see if I can restore you, Sephiroth." He smiled again, and it seemed insincere.

Jaras went to the bars that separated him from the scientist. "Please, I'm not Sephiroth…there's been a mistake."

"We don't make mistakes, Sephiroth." Dr. Methius came closer to Jaras. "We can make you great again."

"I just want to go home and live in peace. Why can't you just let me live my life?" Jaras grabbed the bars before him.

"Do you honestly wish to keep going on like this? Weak? Vulnerable? Is that how you wish to spend your life?" the doctor asked.

Before a few days ago, the fact that he was no more than an average man hadn't bothered him. He never once had rued the loss of his superiority-- or at least he hadn't until the day before. The humiliation and misery he'd suffered last night burned through him.

Peirte cocked an eyebrow when he saw Jaras' expression darken. "You do miss it, don't you?"

Jaras had never been a good liar. Then again, he hadn't much had the occasion to practice. "N…no."

The researcher smiled. "I think you do, and I think I know why. Hatley and Graff are sent on all the missions to reclaim errant lab specimens. I have examined those that they've brought back, and I'm afraid to report that they have a nasty habit of imposing themselves upon their prisoners in the most inappropriate fashion."

Jaras felt his face flush as the scientist called it. He hung his head and sighed, his shoulders heaving slightly.

Methius saw his reaction to this and knew that he'd struck a chord. "Yes, you have my sympathy, you truly do, Sephiroth. Such a thing for someone like you must have been unbearable."

Jaras didn't flinch at all as he was called by his old name yet again. He was feeling sick to his stomach at the memory. "Unbearable…"

The door to the room opened, and a young assistant entered. "Dr. Methius?"

He turned around. "Yes, Derek?"

"I just got word that you'd come back." Derek came closer, his eyes going wide upon seeing Sephiroth in the cage. "Wow, is that really..?"

"Yes, Derek, it is." Peirte turned back to the prisoner. "One and the same. We need to show him our hospitality."

"I can't believe you brought him here!" Derek stopped a few feet away. "Why didn't you have him taken to one of the big labs? I mean, aren't they more secure?"

Jaras looked up. This had his attention.

"More secure, yes, also more apt to have been infiltrated by ASRIO, and of higher visibility." Peirte faced his assistant again. "I'd imagine that Toskin is around here somewhere?"

Derek nodded at the mention of the scientist's personal Turk. "Yeah. He's pretty steamed that you went out to meet the pick up team without him, Sir."

Methius smiled faintly. "I was with four SOLDIERs, he had nothing to worry about."

"Well, he is responsible for you," Derek couldn't take his eyes off the prisoner.

Peirte walked past the younger man, chuckling to himself. "Yes, I know. He's a little tight up."

Derek nodded. "Yeah, he is."

"Well, if you don't mind, keep an eye on our guest here for a moment, and see to it that his needs are met. I'm sure that he's hungry. There's some sandwiches in the fridge." Peirte continued toward the door.

Derek looked disgusted. "In the fridge in here? With the lab samples and stuff?"

"Is there another fridge in here that I should be made aware of, Derek?"

He smiled to himself. "No, Sir."

"Good then. I'll be back in a while." With that, Peirte walked out through the lab doors, which locked behind him.

Now alone with the prisoner, Derek went all the way up to the bars, showing no fear. He leaned close to Jaras and met his eyes. "Listen to me very carefully, all right?"

Jaras raised his eyebrows. This didn't seem to be the action of the usual Shinra employee. He should be afraid of him, not daring to come this close. "What?"

"I'm a agent, Jaras."

This was the best thing Jaras had heard in a long time. "ASRIO?"

"Yes." Derek smiled briefly. "I'll let them know where you're at, but you can't let on to anyone about what I am. Understand?"

He just nodded. "Where are we?"

"Auxillary lab in Junon."

Jaras hadn't thought they'd gone that far. "Okay. How long until they can get me?"

"That I don't know." Derek took a step back. "I'll make contact with my handler tonight. It shouldn't be long. Be strong, and don't do anything to upset Methius. He's dangerous."

"All right." Jaras managed a weak smile. Although Peirte had seemed far better than Hojo thus far, he was aware that he shouldn't expect anything good out of anyone that was this involved in the company. "Thanks. Any chance of getting any of those sandwiches?"

"Sure thing."

-------------------

Vincent was lying on the bed in his cabin on the airship, staring up at the ceiling. He had his red cloak that Tifa had given him before leaving draped over him. Agonizing over all that had come out over the last few days, he'd found it impossible to get up and leave his room at all, even though he knew that Janice had wanted him to return to the sick bay to get checked out.

A knock came to his door and without moving or sitting up, he just called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and the doctor stepped in. "I do believe that I gave you an order earlier, Vincent."

He didn't so much as look at her. "I lost track of time."

Janice came over and sat at his side. "No, you lost track of yourself."

Vincent knit his brow and turned her eyes at her. She had aged considerably over the last few years. Her light brown hair was now riddled with gray, and the lines on her face had deepened.

She saw that he was studying her, and wasn't particularly thrilled with it. She reached into her pocket and pulled out some small device. "Unbutton your shirt."

"What?"

Janice gave him a stern look. "Unbutton your shirt. This is a portable EKG. I need to check on your heart."

"I feel fine, Dr. Arlin," Vincent shot back, not feeling that it was needed.

Janice sighed to herself, pulled the cloak from his body, and got to the task of undoing his shirt herself.

Vincent was taken a little aback by this, and let her proceed. He knew that she wouldn't leave until she'd gotten what she'd come for, so he might as well submit.

This small machine only had three electrodes, and she quickly placed them on his chest, and then took her reading. She examined the small display screen and nodded. "It looks fine."

"I told you I was all right."

Janice clenched her jaw and then reached over, grabbing the three wires connected to the machine, and pulled back sharply, ripping the adhesive electrodes from Vincent's chest in one painful motion.

Vincent sat up and scowled at her, the sting of the electrodes having been so rudely torn from his skin lingering. "That was not entirely necessary."

She got up from his side, and stared down at him. "Vincent, I hate to say this, but your attitude sucks. You've changed."

His jaw went slack as he glared back at her, getting to the task of buttoning his shirt back up. "Excuse me? Commenting on my attitude? That's the pot calling the kettle black, Janice."

"Maybe, but it's true." She started for the door. "You will come by the sick bay in the morning for another EKG."

Not responding, he just watched her leave. Having to deal with the people working for ASRIO without Tifa around to distract him wasn't going to be a whole lot of fun.

-------------------

Toward dinnertime, Tifa and Cid took their sons to a pizza place in town. They'd handed the boys enough money to keep them occupied with the various games in the building for a while, and they sat at the table, staring at one another.

Cid looked at Tifa's plate, appreciating the fact that she hadn't eaten much. "Not hungry 'cause of being pregnant? Shera couldn't handle spicy stuff at all when she was as far along as you."

She decided to lie and not admit that she just wasn't hungry due to her nerves over being with him, alone. "Yeah, I get heartburn."

"You should have said something, Tiff. We could've gone somewhere else." Cid rested his elbows on the table, after stifling a cough.

Now that she knew what was going on within him, each of his small bouts of coughing cut at her. She forced a smile. "No, this is fine. The kids are having a good time."

"Yeah, I'm glad they like each other. Who would have thought that a kid of mine and one of Sue's could get along so well?" Cid said, smiling.

"Especially considering that both of them are carbon copies of their fathers," Tifa added, looking over to where the boys were playing.

Cid laughed, making himself cough again for a moment. "Yeah, they sure are. You think Sunshine was a spooky kid?"

Tifa raised her eyebrows. "Are you saying that Aaron's spooky?"

Smiling awkwardly, Cid tried to shrug it off. "Naw, just that, you know. Vincent's weird, in case you haven't noticed."

"I've noticed." Tifa pushed her plate back and sank back into the booth. "I don't know what to do, Cid."

He leaned over the table. "What do you mean?"

"Vincent and I…" She met Cid's gaze again. "We need to reconcile, for Aaron… for L.C., and I still love him, but sometimes…I don't know."

Cid narrowed his eyes for a moment. "Tifa, do you really love him, or are you hanging on to him in the hopes that he'll be the man you want him to actually be someday?"

She just looked back at him.

"Look, Tifa, you stayed with Cloud for all of those years, even though you weren't happy, hoping that he'd snap out of it and start being the man you wanted. Then, Vincent comes along, manages to pull you away from that, but lands you into yet another relationship with someone just as flawed and mentally ill as Cloud was. I've sat here all these years watching this whole thing. At first, you really did seem happy with Vincent, unlike the act that you'd been putting on with Cloud, but as the years have gone by, I've seen that same phony 'I'm happy, Cid' act click back on. It's pissed me off, Tifa. You let yourself be miserable." He leaned back, letting his hands fall to his lap. "I've stood by through all of this, wondering why you'd keep putting yourself through this. You've needed a man that wasn't so damned wishy-washy. A man that knew who in the fuck he was, and wasn't going to drag you through hell and back as he tried to 'find himself', or whatever is wrong with Vincent, and before that, Cloud."

Tifa felt tears in her eyes and picked up a napkin from the table to blot them away, knowing that Cid didn't want to see her cry.

He saw her do this, and he left his side of the booth and went to hers, draping his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, but it's the truth, Tifa."

"What was it that you were thinking when we were together seven and a half months ago, Cid?" she asked.

Cid held her tighter. "I'll be honest with you. Knowing that you'd been unhappy with Cloud and had agreed to take off with Vincent before you knew that he'd killed himself, part of me hoped that you'd do that again and leave Vincent for me."

She didn't know what to say. "Oh…"

"But it didn't work, because apparently you were still more attached to Vincent than you had been to Cloud." Cid pulled his arm away from her, the fact that his feelings had been seriously hurt that night creeping up on him. "That was stupid, though. You never actually told me that you loved me, other than as a friend."

"I…Cid, if I thought that it could have worked out between us, I would have," she admitted, fidgeting with the napkin still in her grip.

"After the bullshit that both of those guys put you through, you weren't sure if you could get along with me? Come on, Tifa, I know I can be a pain in the ass, but at least I'm consistent and predictable. You know that every morning when I wake up, that I'm going to be the same old Cid, day in and day out. That means that if I'm going to say that I love you and that if I'm going to treat you right today, that I'll still do it tomorrow and the next day." Cid leaned onto the table, not wanting her to see the expression that he wore. "Like I told you that night, Tifa, I love you, always have, always will. I'd do anything for you. Sad thing is, now that your marriage is finally at the breaking point, I find myself sitting here without a chance in hell. Not because there's some other angsty fuck standing in the wings to steal you away, but because I'm dying. It all seems like a cruel God damned joke. I hope the universe is having a good laugh at my expense."

Tifa turned so she could look at him. To hear him say all this broke her heart. "I'm sorry… Cid, I love you, you know that, but I still love Vincent. I wish I could make these last four months that you've got the best of your life, and if it wasn't for Vincent, I would Cid, I really would. But as long as he's still around, and as long as I still feel something for him in my heart, I owe it to our son to try."

"I know." Cid's voice betrayed the fact that he was choking up. "And that's why I feel like such an ass for what happened, Tifa. I had no right."

She couldn't let him take all the blame. "Cid, I told you that you could, it's just as much my fault."

He shook his head. "No. If I'd kept my mouth shut, it wouldn't have gotten that far in the first place."

Tifa fell silent. They seemed to be at some sort of crossroads in their relationship. Their feelings for one another were now out on the table, and nothing would ever be the same. When she saw him wipe tears away from his eyes, she put her arms around him and nestled into his side. "It would have been easier on both of us if I'd just ended up with you."

To hear her say this just made him feel worse. "But you wouldn't have Aaron, Tifa. Think about it."

This was true. The boy was the center of her universe, and she couldn't imagine being without him. "We could have had children of our own."

"I never wanted any more kids. I didn't even intentionally set out to make that one," he said, pointing over at L.C. "So I don't think that would have happened."

Tifa took one of his hands and placed it upon her stomach. "Well, it might have anyway."

Cid turned and stared down where she'd placed his hand. He felt the baby move within. "Both Vincent and I sat there denying the fact that it could be either of ours. I didn't finish, and he used… you know, you were there."

"Well, you two are the only one's I've been with, Cid. One of you did it." Tifa smiled awkwardly.

"Are you sure?"

Tifa's eyes went wide at the mere suggestion. "Are you serious?"

"Come on, Tifa. You know I don't think that you did, but the chances of it being mine in light of how our encounter went, and the fact that Vincent told me he used protection every single time, raises the question." Cid looked down at her.

She pulled away from him, frowning. "It's either yours or Vincent's, and if it isn't, then it's the second coming of Christ, Cid. I haven't been with anyone but you and Vincent. Who else would I have slept with?"

"I don't know. I'm not around all the time. Maybe you've got other male friends," he said.

"No, I don't have any other male friends that I ever see. Besides, I have only ever had consensual sex with men I've been in love with, Cid. That means you and Vincent. I'm not some whore of a housewife that screws every guy that drives by." She crossed her arms over her chest, angry.

Something about this statement hit the pilot hard. "So, you really do love me? Not just like that, 'Oh Cid, you're such a super friend,' sort of way?"

"Why is it that when I tell a guy that I love them, they always think I'm joking or just fucking with them?" Tifa shot back, looking upset.

Cid fell silent for a few moments. When they'd been together, she hadn't outright said that she loved him, but she had now and she'd meant it. That's why she'd let him touch her, but she also loved Vincent, which had made her force him to stop. Things were never simple. "I'm sorry, Tifa."

"I've heard that more times in the last few days than I can count." Her voice still kept its edge.

"Yeah, but I mean it." Cid moved closer to her again. The fact that he now knew beyond a question of a doubt that she cared for him, in fact, loved him, tore him apart. He wanted badly to put his arms around her, and he let himself go right ahead and do so.

Tifa gave in and rested against him, wishing that this was all just some terrible dream.

Over at the video games, Aaron looked over his shoulder back at his mother, seeing her within the pilot's arms. He poked L.C. in the shoulder. "Hey."

The blond boy looked at him, not pleased with having his attention pulled from the game. "The heck? You just made me lose!"

"Forget the game, look," Aaron said quietly, pointing at their parents.

L.C.'s eyes went wide when he saw Cid and Tifa in each other's arms. He had no idea about the affair they'd had. "Ew, that's gross."

Aaron's dark eyes narrowed. "Your dad needs to learn how to keep his hands to himself."

"They're just friends, Spaz." L.C. turned back around, intending to restart the game. Just like his father, he had a tendency to rename others as he saw fit. 'Spaz' was Aaron's pet name.

"No, they're not." Aaron's voice was quiet.

L.C. scowled and faced the other boy again. "What?"

"I saw them do it."

"Huh?" Although L.C. was the eldest of the two, he didn't understand.

"I saw them do it," Aaron growled.

L.C.'s expression turned to shock. "No way! They wouldn't do that!"

"I saw it," Aaron said coolly.

"Shut up! You did not!" L.C. grew angry that the other boy would make up such a thing. "My dad wouldn't!"

"He did."

"Shut up, Spaz!" L.C. pushed Aaron away from him.

Tifa and Cid's attention was drawn when they heard the boys raise their voices. They looked just in time to see Cid's son knock Aaron to the ground.

"Damn it, not them too." Cid got up quickly and strode over to the boys, Tifa following along.

The pilot stood before his boy with his hands on his hips. "You wanna explain all this to me?"

L.C.'s eyes went wide, knowing that he was in trouble. "Aaron was teasing me."

Tifa crossed her arms over her chest and locked gazes with her son. "Aaron?"

He glanced over at the other boy. "Sorry."

"You know better than to push people, kid." Cid continued to loom over his boy.

"I know. I'm sorry, Spaz." L.C. flashed a look at the other boy.

"It's okay," Aaron sighed back.

Tifa looked at Cid. "It's getting late, we should probably head back. I bet they're just tired."

"Right. Let's go." Cid grabbed L.C.'s hand and started for the door.

-------------------

Once back at the house, the boys were sent off to bed. Cid and Tifa sat in the kitchen at the table, each having a cup of tea before turning in. Tifa had made the kind Cid actually liked, knowing that Vincent's stash of Wutain tea was far too strong for the pilot's tastes.

They were sitting on the same side of the table, in the same seats they'd been in that fateful night.

Tifa set her cup on the table. "Cid, you don't think the boys were fighting because they saw you and Vincent going at it yesterday, do you?"

He shrugged. "Hell, how should I know. Boys fight."

"Yeah, but Aaron and L.C. have never fought," Tifa sighed. "They give each other a hard time once in a while, but I've never seen them lay a hand on one another."

"Yeah," Cid replied, then taking another sip. "Well, with all of us adults under stress and upset, I guess it figures that the kids would probably pick up on it and act out."

"Right."

"So, we've got to really watch how we act and what we say around them. We can't make 'em suffer for our bullshit," Cid said.

"Yeah." Tifa smiled over at him. "You know, you've been a really great dad to L.C., Cid. A lot of guys wouldn't have been able to hold it together over the years like you have. I can't say I approve of your son's language sometimes, but other than that, you've raised a really great kid. I mean, you're even home schooling the kid and doing a good enough job that he's acing all the tests they give him."

Cid grinned and flushed red from the compliment. "Thanks."

"No, really." Tifa placed her hand over his. "I think some of us had reservations about how you would handle being a single father, but you've surprised everyone, even me."

Cid's smile faltered. "I just wish I could finish the job, you know? Getting him to seven was better than nothing, but I would have liked to have been around for other things. Like his first date, getting his pilot's license, that sort of crap. I think I would have made a pretty kick ass granddad, too."

Tifa tightened her grip on his hand. "You would, yeah."

Cid heard the tears in her voice and looked into her eyes. "Can I be honest with you? And you have to promise not to laugh."

"Of course."

"Tifa, I'm scared." Cid looked down to where their hands were touching. "I'm fucking terrified."

Although it was obvious, Tifa had to ask, "Of dying?"

"Yeah." Cid frowned. "Well, I guess it's more that I'm scared about what I'm going to go through before I die. Once I actually die, I guess I won't care about much."

Her eyes immediately burned. She didn't want to think about him dying, it hurt too much. "Maybe… maybe they made a mistake, Cid. Maybe you aren't that sick."

She was grasping at straws and he knew it. "No. They took the x-ray and then did some needle biopsies of some of my lymph nodes. It's all over."

Tifa's shoulders heaved as she gave in and cried. "Cid…I don't want to lose you."

He pulled his chair over closer to hers, and put his arms around her. Instead of having anything to say to comfort her, Cid gave into his own fears and cried, too.

-------------------

Derek Heflin, a twenty-six-year old double agent for ASRIO and Shinra, left the lab at seven o'clock, as he generally did. As he got out of his car and started toward his small apartment, he casually dropped a small black object and kicked it beneath his car. This was his cold drop that, if all went well, his handler would get it shortly.

-------------------

Reno was lying in bed with his wife in his arms. He'd been in the mood for an after work romp, but Angel had turned him down, being too upset about her brother. Holding her like this was good for him too, though, and he didn't really mind.

When the phone rang, he cursed quietly. Reno had been on the verge of sleep, and this intrusion wasn't welcome. He answered. "Do you have any fucking idea what time it is?"

"Sorry, Reno. It's Amy."

He sat bolt upright, throwing Angel to the side. "What's up?"

"I got a drop tonight from Derek," she said.

Reno closed his eyes, hoping for good news. "Tell me something good."

"They have Jaras in the Junon lab."

"Fucking excellent!" Reno looked over at his wife. "Babe! He's in Junon!"

Angel scrambled to her knees, clasping her hands before her chest. "Really?"

"Yeah," Reno looked serious again, "Amy, did he say what they took him for?"

"Re-inoculation with Jenova." She sighed, "They're trying to restore him, if you will."

"Any sort of time frame? I mean, how long do we have to get our sorry asses down there and grab him?" he asked.

"Immediate."

"Shit, okay, thanks." Reno hung up and got out of bed. He went over to the closet and hastily began to put on a suit. Reno had taken to wearing one everyday at ASRIO now. It was his way of paying tribute to Tseng, although his suits weren't nearly as nice.

Angel rose from the bed as well. "What did she say?"

"They're gonna shoot him full of Jenova again." Reno almost fell over as he hastily pulled on his pants.

Her eyes went wide. "Are you serious?"

"Babe, I don't fuck around at one in the morning."

"How much time do we have?" she asked, coming closer to him.

"None. We have to get him now." He began to button up his shirt.

"Oh no…" Angel fell back onto the bed.

-------------------

At two in the morning, Vincent was jostled from his sleep. He opened his eyes in the darkness of his cabin and listened. He strained his ears, hearing some strange sound. When the ship shuttered again, it got his attention and he jumped out of bed. Since Vincent had fallen asleep completely clothed, he quickly went over to the door and stepped out into the hall.

The ship rocked once more, and Vincent had to steady himself against the closest wall. His innate dislike for flying was getting the better of him, and he wondered if the ship was going down. He'd slept through the alert given over the ship's intercom explaining the situation.

After deciding that it was safe to go on as the ship's movements seemed to level out, Vincent made his way quickly to the bridge. He saw Porter standing next to the pilot and approached him. "What's going on?"

Porter smiled at him. "You didn't hear the alert, I take it?"

"Alert? What? No, I didn't hear anything… I was out."

"We got a call from Reno. He told us to get back ASAP. He authorized conversion." Porter turned his attention back to some of the gauges before the pilot.

"Conversion?"

The former Turk faced Vincent again. "You know, these airships can go from prop to jet power if needed."

So, we're in a hurry, then, he thought to himself. "What's the rush?"

Porter led Vincent to an unoccupied corner of the bridge. "They've gotten word on Jaras."

His eyes went wide. "Really?"

"He's being held in Junon, and Reno has ordered us to get back to the base immediately, so we can depart and get him." Porter forced a smile.

"We're just going to take off like that? No planning? This seems a little rushed." Vincent was well aware that generally, things involving Reno didn't go this fast, well, except for one thing, but that wasn't the issue.

Porter was not going to be the one to tell Vincent what they planned for his son. "Well, I guess he feels that the sooner the better, Mr. Valentine."

"So how long until we reach ASRIO?" Vincent asked, moving to look out the window, into the early dawn.

"Two hours."

He nodded. "Okay, I'll be in my room."

-------------------

Tifa awoke from her sleep, finding herself not in her bed. She struggled to remember why she wasn't there for a moment, until she realized she was looking up at the family room ceiling. She was lying on the couch, up against someone else, with their arms around her.

It was Cid.

They'd come out here to continue talking after leaving the kitchen. She'd rested back against him as they discussed things, and had eventually fallen asleep. The pilot had never dared to move, needing to have her this close for the time being. Holding her comforted him in a way that nothing else did and he, too, had submitted to sleep here.

Tifa turned her neck back, and saw that he was still out. She smiled to herself, before settling back down against him. There was no need to leave his arms for the moment. This was the sort of thing that she'd miss once he was gone.