Aeris opened the door to her house. She still thought of the closeness between Sephiroth and her. She paused, standing right over the threshold, lost in thought.

"Aeris, are you going in?" Nefilim asked, shaking the Cetra out of her thoughts.

"Er… uh… yeah," she said, getting flustered again. She quickly stepped into the house.

Nefilim looked at her. He felt confused on the inside. No other woman had ever made him feel this way… he had turned every other woman who had been after him, down. So… why was this happening to him now? He shook himself.

You should not be thinking these thoughts. He scolded. Aeris and you are nothing but friends. It will not go any further. Control your feelings. The Cetra will not allow this.

He then stepped into the house and found all of AVALANCHE seated in couches, talking. The room immediately silenced when he stepped in. There was an uneasy pause, then Ifalna spoke up. "Nefilim…"

"Yes?"

"You have another visitor."

"Another person waiting to beat me up?" Nefilim asked, dryly, laughing a little. "Send he or she away."

"No way you're going to send me away, man."

That was too familiar. He knew that voice. He looked past Ifalna… and there stood Zack.

He sat at his office, checking on the files of all his new troops, making sure that every single one of them were in top shape.

"Hey, old man."

"Yes Zack," he replied, not looking up from his computer's monitor.

"How's it going?" the black haired man asked, plopping into a chair near him. "Checkin' on the newbies?"

He stopped for a second and looked at the man. "I prefer you call them… troops, for they have earned their right to be called that. I do not think they would like to be called 'newbie' or 'wet nose'."

"Sorry man," Zack said apologetically.

"Call me General, like the other thousands of times I asked you to," the silver-haired man replied curtly. "If you do not mind, Zack, I have a job."

Zack shrugged. "Well, all you do is check on those boring lists all day. Anyways… I met this girl down in Midgar."

"Another one?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in amusement. "Zack, I wish you would learn to stay with one… or be with none at all."

"Well this one's special. Her name's Aeris. She's real sweet. She's sure got a green thumb. She sells flowers down there."

"Flowers?" he said, his voice uncaring. "In Midgar?"

"Yeah, it's pretty damn strange huh? But she's good as hell with 'em."

"And you know what… maybe I'll ask her to marry me one day."

"I highly doubt it Zack. You'll lose interest in her, and you'll just find anther one."

Zack laughed. "Not this time, not this time."

Zack was right. He never found another girl. He had died.

The site of Zack made Nefilim have an urge to smile. He was still the same with his black hair all messed up, standing in a nice-guy pose, and having the same big goofy smile.

In his insanity, he drew the Masamune. Zack drew the Buster Blade, although he did not want to.

"What the hell is wrong with you, man?" Zack yelled. "You know that's not your mother in there!"

They both leaped at each other, their swords meeting in a flurry of blows. But he, being stronger and more skilled, he easily finished Zack off. With one swift motion, his blade connected with the black-haired man's chest.

"Zack?" he whispered.

"Zack!" both Cloud and Aeris yelled at the same time. Then both of them stopped and looked at each other as if to say "you know him?"

"Hey old man… Aeris… and what's up buddy?" Zack grinned, his entire face curving upwards.

Nefilim smiled. Zack's nickname for him was old man because of the shade of his hair. As much as he hated it… it was music to his ears. Then his smile turned into a frown. "How could you still greet me this way… when I almost killed you?"

"Aww come on, old one," Zack teased. "It's the past. No hard feelings, right? And I'm sure you didn't mean it!"

Aeris stared at Zack. How it hurt so much when he never replied to any of her letters. Her heart had screamed for him… and then… from the church's ceiling, as if a gift from someone above, came Cloud.

And now there was Sephiroth in the picture… and the picture frame was too small. He was pushing both Cloud and Zack out.

… The closeness between them… his gentle squeeze…

No! There is nothing between us! … Is there? Her mind asked, puzzled. I didn't know what I was doing… and he didn't either… but he was so… so…

… Was so…

… Handsome?

"I probably did mean it," Nefilim sighed, frustrated. "I'm not sure… I didn't know why I felt so angry… it was because you were stopping me from freeing… her…"

Zack shrugged. "You went totally crazy, man, thinking she was your mother and all."

Cloud stared at his best friend. "Zack… why did you leave me there? You know that my mother was gone… and I had no one left…" he looked down at his hands. "I became a fool… I thought I was you."

The black-haired man gave a sad look. "Yeah I know man… but man… death was so tempting…'

"Whoa. Whoa. Ok, so it's all a big reunion… hell, this is a damn small world," Cid said, for once not smoking. "So uh… maybe you two should of thought of US before running off, thank you very much for DITCHIN' us."

Aeris felt her face burn dark red. She was again reminded of her reactions toward Sephiroth. "Sorry," she said quietly, trying to push the thoughts out of her head and keep herself cool. "I don't know… Nefilim was just…"

Zack put on a weird face. "NEFILIM!"

"Yeah. I call him Nefily or Nefy…' Cloud said, casting a dark yet mischievous look of utter hate at Sephiroth. Then seeing Zack's puzzled expression, he added, "It's 'cause Nefy, right here, forgot his own name."

Nefilim's eyes flashed with anger. "I told you not to call me that, FAILURE," he said, his voice low with anger.

Cloud's eyes met the challenge and soon they were caught in a staring contest, neither breaking eye contact or blinking.

The silver-haired man crossed his arms. He'd stare down that blonde headed bastard.

Let's just see how long the failure would be able to take this. He thought.

Cloud's eyes were beginning to sting, but he refused to close them. He remained stony faced. Mako eyes met mako eyes.

"Ok, break it up," Zack said, walking over toward Cloud and clapping in the blonde man's face. Then he turned and waved his hand in front of Nefilim's face.

Both blinked, then looked at each other angrily. As much as he hated to, Nefilim broke eye contact and looked away.

Cloud stared in surprise, then he smiled triumphantly. Nefilim immediately turned around and flashed a look that said 'I'm not finished with you yet'. The blonde-haired man frowned deeply, then looked away.

"What more do you have to say, murderer?" Cloud asked, quite nastily.

Nefilim's back when rigid. The word murderer affected him greatly.

"Cloud… don't…" Tifa gave a frightened look.

"Why not? I'm just saying the truth. Aren't I, murderer?" Cloud said, his teeth showing, his smile evil.

MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! The words screamed in his mind.

"What did you call me?" he whispered quietly, so quietly that he could barely hear himself, and then he clenched his fists.

Cloud took this as a threat and took a step forward. Tifa grabbed his shoulder and shook her head no at him, but he ignored her.

Zack looked between his best friend and his general. He could nearly see the hate rays between them. He knew that he wasn't strong enough to stop both Cloud and Sephiroth.

"I've just had enough of you," Nefilim hissed. "I've tried to be nice…"

Cloud laughed coldly. "Tried to be nice? Hahahaha… you lying backstabbin' bastard."

"Cloud, stop it. Nefilim does have a point you know. He has tried to be nice to you… yet you just cannot seem to accept it," Red XIII said, getting off of his stomach and getting up. "I suggest you to think about how you are acting right now."

"Oh, so you're on his side now are you?" the blonde man said, his voice over the edge. "I see how it is… go ahead… join the murderer's side."

Cid shook his head, and began to scratch at his stubble nervously. "You know, Cloud, I think you're overreacting about all this."

"Yeah. I mean Nefilim's on our side now… it's no biggie," Yuffie added in.

Tifa sighed. "Cloud, I can't forgive him for killing dad… but… what you're doing is just too far…"

Barret didn't say anything. He couldn't. He still blamed Sephiroth for having his daughter experience the horror of Meteor…

"So all of you are on his side," Cloud said through clenched teeth. He closed his hands into a fist, all of his knuckles cracked.

Nefilim watched Cloud closely. "If you are going to hit me, I will not move."

"Damn straight I am!" he yelled and charged forward.

His right fist came straight at Nefilim's face. There was a loud 'thwack' as Cloud's fist connected with the silver-haired man's left cheek.

Nefilim felt exploding pain, his torso turned as Cloud's fist came. There was the coppery taste of blood in his mouth. He touched the blood running down from his lips, and wiped it away. Then he turned around again.

Cloud knew that this wasn't right, but who the hell cares! He was avenging all of his townspeople!

"Hit me more if it helps you make your anger subside," the silver-haired man said.

"Oh, playing the hero are you?" Cloud sneered, and got ready to punch him again.

"Cloud! Please stop!" Aeris begged. "Nefilim's already injured… he's hurt real bad… look! I think he's already taken enough beatings for one day!"

The blonde man wanted to give in to Aeris… yet at the same time he wanted to just beat Nefilim down. He took the second option.

He tackled Nefilim and sent him flying into the ground many feet away. Aeris screamed in horror, Yuffie clapped her hands over her mouth, and Red XIII gave a growl of disproval. Lucrecia, Gast, and Ifalna watched frozen, unable to say or do anything.

Everyone else stared dumbly as Cloud grabbed the man by the legs and dragged him. Then he began to punch him ferociously, screaming with rage at each punch.

Nefilim felt the pain shooting in his ribs. He grabbed the blonde haired man and picked him up, hurling him back. He got back up, bending over with all the extra pain.

Cloud smacked into the floor, his breath being knocked out of him. He tasted blood in his mouth. He must have bit his cheeks from the fall.

Barret roared and in anger and smashed his fist into Nefilim's body. The silver-haired man groaned and fell over, dazed. Aeris rushed to his side and watched as blood dribbled from the man's mouth.

Nefilim felt dizzy from the last punch. He wanted to wipe the blood away, but found that he had no control of his body. He fell onto the ground and fell unconscious.

"Damn," Cloud growled. "You should have let me take that last hit, Barret."

Aeris stood up angrily. She walked over to Cloud, her eyes blazing. With one swift move, she slapped him. Everyone was silent.

Cloud stared at Aeris for a long time, almost unbelieving that she had slapped him. That gentle Aeris he once knew would never do this.

"A…" he began but was cut off by another slap.

"Shut up!" she screamed, and pointed to Nefilim. "Don't talk, listen! Look at what you did to him and you knew he was already injured badly! He only let you hit him because he thought he deserved it! You know perfectly well that he doesn't and that Jenova was manipulating him! Yet you still take up the chance to beat him! I'd never thought you'd be so… so… ruthless! I thought you were better than that, Cloud! I really did!"

"Aeris… I'm… I'm sorry…" he stammered, surprised at the girl's sudden burst of anger.

"Don't you 'sorry' me! You go apologize to him once he wakes up… and properly also!" Aeris said, breathing hard, whirling around and bending over to face Nefilim.

She cast a healing spell that healed most of his bruises. Then she set to work on his ribs. The best she could do was to undo the break and straighten it. It would have to heal the rest of the way by itself.

She then walked out, storming her way to her room.

-----

Nefilim woke up. He felt absolutely fine and got out of bed. He could barely register what happened before he fell unconscious.

Then he remembered Cloud's fists and Barret's and he laughed bitterly.

Got beaten up again, huh Nef? He asked himself.

"Nefilim…"

Nefilim frowned immediately. It was Cloud. "Yes?" he said, trying to keep the coldness out of his voice.

"I just wanted to say…" Cloud's head was down and his voice was lower than a murmur. "That I am sorry…"

Nefilim stood frozen for a minute… then spoke up. "Aeris told you to say it… didn't she?"

Cloud didn't speak. He turned to leave, but felt Sephiroth's hand clap onto his shoulder and whirl him around. He angrily grabbed the other man's arm and roughly shoved him into the wall. "I said my apologies. Accept them," he said coldly and walked away.

The silver-haired man sighed and shrugged. He understood that Cloud hated him for all he had done.

He will probably despise me for the rest of my life. Nefilim thought. Another person adding me to their 'hate' list.

"Did he apologize?" Aeris said, from behind him.

He nearly jumped with fright. "Where did you come from?" he asked. "I would be able to sense if you—"

"Well, I dunno, but you just had a blank stare on your face. I was going to shake you, but I guess from your reaction… that would have startled you too much." Aeris said.

"Apparently that was already too much," he grumbled, embarrassed that Aeris had gotten past his defenses. "And by the way, yes… he did apologize…"

Aeris gave him a suspicious frown and searched his face for any sign of a lie. When she found none, she dished out another question. "And did he say it meaningfully?"

Nefilim was silent for a while. "Well… I guess…" he said, looking away.

Aeris began to speak but the silver-haired man cut her off. "Aeris… you can't force him to apologize to me… I don't believe he even needs to…"

The Cetra's eyes flashed with anger and the silver-haired man took a step back, wondering what he had said wrong. "Yes! He does need to apologize to you, Nefilim! He… ruthlessly beat you up! And yet you do nothing about it!"

"He doesn't need to… I practically killed him three times… and I destroyed his hometown." The man said, shying away from Aeris, feeling her anger directed at him. "I'm… going to go for a walk." He began to walk away, not seeing the disappointed look that she had on her face.

"May I come?" she asked, her voice calm.

Nefilim didn't look back. "If you want," he said, getting farther and farther away from her.

She sped up to catch up with him.

-----

Cloud quietly sneaked out of the house. He kept a distance from Aeris and Sephiroth, so that they would not see him. As they walked down the road, he slunk behind them, ducking behind people and anything else that would shield him.

He noticed how they began a conversation… though Aeris was doing most of the talking. Sephiroth would just nod his head and agree, or not say anything at all, sometimes dropping in a few comments.

"Nefilim…" she said.

Cloud watched as the silver-haired man cocked his head. "Yes?"

"…do you remember your childhood?"

-----

"… do you remember your childhood?"

Nefilim stared at her. What was she asking him about his childhood for? She knew it was all just the same, getting injections… and beaten. Feeling uncomfortable, he replied slowly, "Yes."

She looked at him briefly, seeing the pained expression on his face, she looked away again. "Never mind then…"

"If you were going to ask me about my childhood… I will tell it to you in a matter of simple words. I was counted as a monster. Hojo… told me that I had no father and that my mother was Jenova… and I believed it. Then… when I became fourteen… I tried to get away from Hojo… by joining the Shinra Army. I quickly rose through the levels and I soon became a general. Still… I was used as a puppet and I still had to 'visit' Hojo a few times to get injections." A muscle in his jaw twitched.

-----

Cloud was aware that they were now in a remote place of the underground city. He burned with white-hot jealousy, seeing Aeris pity Sephiroth. That bastard was telling pity stories to get her close to him!

He wanted to leap out of the bushes that he was hiding in, but he wanted to see what would happen.

"Nefilim… I'm so sorry…" she said.

"What are you sorry about?" the man asked, his voice low. "You didn't even do anything."

Aeris gently touched his face, Nefilim didn't move. Cloud wanted to jump out of the bushes and shriek, but all he did was shudder, he just couldn't stand Aeris touching her own killer's face.

Nefilim looked at her for a while. "Aeris…"

-----

Aeris didn't understand this feeling of warmth that was stirring in her. It had happened with Zack and Cloud… but this was more intense.

She didn't even flinch when Nefilim pulled her close.

-----

Cloud stared opened mouthed as Sephiroth held Aeris to him.

That bastard! That slimy bastard! He's getting her close to him with his seduction! His mind screamed, his heart pained that the one that he loved was being held by another man.

He wanted to go back and scream at everyone that Sephiroth seduced Aeris and that she was just under a false spell. But if he did so, he would earn the hate of Aeris… and perhaps everyone else.

He sighed and slid back from the bushes, easing out and making sure that he did not make a sound. Then he ran away from the scene as quickly and quietly as he could, a pain in his heart.

-----

Aeris heard something from behind the bushes and gently released Nefilim.

"What's wrong?" Nefilim asked, reluctant to release her.

"I thought I heard something…" she said, then shook her head. "Maybe it was just my imagination."

Nefilim scanned the area. There was nothing in site. "Maybe it was." He said, his voice lower than a growl. "We should head back now, Aeris."

She felt a pang of regret for releasing him, but followed him anyways. For these thoughts, she nearly slapped herself.

What is wrong with you, Aeris!

It was just a friendly hug…

But you wanted it to be more than that…

No I didn't! We're just friends! I just hugged him because he needed comfort!

If it was just that he needed comfort… then why do you regret for releasing him? You're falling in love with him.

I can't be! I love Cloud!

You said that you loved Zack when you met Cloud.

But Zack never came back… and Cloud… he's not the same anymore.

… and there's Sephiroth.

NO!

Aeris argued with herself for moments. Then wondered if she was going insane. She just wanted her emotions and thoughts to just go away.

-----

Cloud was tearing down the street, heading for Aeris' house. That memory was etched in his mind, and the pain, in his heart. How could Aeris do this to him! He loved her…

Whoever said that she loved you? The tiny voice of doubt inside asked. She never expressed it to you physically…

He sighed. Maybe it was true. Maybe she was always just his friend…

As he ran down the street, tears ran down his cheeks…

-----

Everyone of AVALANCHE sat around the kitchen table, eating breakfast. "Where the hell did Cloud, Aeris, and Sephiroth go?" Barret asked. "As far as I'm concerned, they're having a fight and that poor girl is stuck between them."

Tifa had her head down. She knew that Cloud had feelings for Aeris, and perhaps the same vice versa.

Maybe Cloud and Aeris are out… and Sephiroth is looking for Aeris. Her mind said darkly.

On the outside, she remained silent.

"Hey, maybe Cloud and Sephiroth just got buddy-buddy ya know? They are too different from each other," Yuffie said, cheerfully. Everyone gave her incredulous looks. "Well… it could be possible." She said, shrugging.

"I know Cloud and Sephiroth damn well. They aren't gonna get along." Zack said simply.

Cid nodded. "Yeah. Cloud hates Sephiroth's ass for killin' everybody down in Nibel. And Sephiroth just plain hates Cloud 'cause he kicked the shit out of him four times and he's a 'failure'."

"I'm sure Cloud's hate for Sephiroth is deeper than that," said Red, thinking of Cloud's tale of how Sephiroth nearly killed Tifa. "And I'm sure Sephiroth doesn't hate Cloud at all and only wants to be forgiven. He didn't even retaliate when Cloud began the fight."

Barret nodded and began to speak, but stopped when Marlene came down for breakfast. He hurriedly got up and served his daughter food.

They all froze when they heard the front door open and slam. Then footsteps, quick, as if the person was running. They heard another door in the hall slam.

"That's probably Cloud," Yuffie looked around the table and added. "Without Sephiroth or Aeris."

"Whoa! Whoa! You are not telling me that Sephiroth and Aeris are out alone!" Cid took out a cigarette and lit it, then began puffing on it, dismissing the looks of annoyances passed around the table.

Yuffie gave an awkward look. "And what are you suggesting?" she asked suspiciously. "…That they are out alone, and Sephiroth's a man and Aeris' a woman?"

Tifa gave a sigh of annoyance and turned away, brushing her brown locks away from her face. "Teens these days. Honestly Yuffie, I'm sure Sephiroth just needs some of Aeris' counseling."

"Are you sure?" Yuffie raised her eyebrows, in an almost-Godoish way.

That forced Tifa to give another cry of "teens these days!"

-----

Cloud sighed, hearing all of AVALANCHE's conversation. How little they knew. Sephiroth didn't need any of Aeris' counseling… he needed Aeris. Or rather… he had Aeris.

"Damn you Sephiroth!" he yelled aloud, punching the wall and stared at the dent his knuckles left, then sat down and did breathing exercises.

Sephiroth had taken everything from him… and now the one he loved? He wasn't going to allow that to happen to him. He was going in there and saving Aeris from that silver-haired monster.

He stood up, grimly. He was going to rip that bastard into pieces.

-----

Jenova burned the ground, no longer amused by the bright flickering fingers of fire. She had lost the puppet.

She had gnawed on her tentacles, slap them onto the floor, scream out in anger, and gnashed her teeth together, but to no avail. They were not going to make that traitor come back.

Her plan had been perfect. Have the puppet do all the murdering for her. He was powerful enough to defeat all those weak Cetra. And when he was done, she would easily dispose of him and reign over the Promised Land, having the Cetra as her slaves.

If she had the Promised Land… then she could control the world of the humans and she would be the queen that she had dreamed of being.

…But she had lost him…

Something caught her attention, and drew her away from her thoughts. This was similar to that puppet named Sephiroth. One of the puppet's clones?

And she smirked, recognizing who it was. Immediately, an image of a blonde man with spiky hair came to mind. "Ahh… Cloud Strife," she whispered, evilly.

She could feel his anger… anger strong enough to become evil. She would bend his evil to her will… and he would be the one she would use.

Jenova knew how easy it would be to brainwash him. That man was already insecure. Just a few memory changes here and there and he would be totally ruined.

She threw her head back and laughed. Somehow, the fire was amusing again.

AGGGHHHHH! I'm screaming for Final Fantasy 7 Advent Children to come out! WAAAHHHH! Ok... sorry about that. Whew! Longest chappie yet! Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this!