A/N: I love coming back to so many good reviews having not been on for a while; thanks again so much Sephy! Also thanks to those who reviewed on my other stories/ ramble/ songfic...I have 6 new chaps now and I noticed that I leave cliffhanger endings hee hee sorry. Well enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope I still don't own anything except for Jessi

Chapter Thirteen

A New Partner

"And that pretty much sums it up." Jessi finished. Everyone leaned back and relaxed. They were aboard an airship, the Highwind so they called it.

"I can't believe Hojo did that to you," Vincent looked down. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, you went through the same thing, in fact I think your punishment is far more worse than mine."

Jessi touched his golden claw gingerly and frowned.

"Both of yeh' suffered equally I say." Barret said. Jessi shook her head.

"No, Vincent had his life taken away from him…"

"Yeah, but so did you." Yuffie pointed out.

"Again, no. I was merely in a deep slumber…"

"For nineteen years." Cloud said.

"It does not matter." Vincent waved his claw.

"All that counts is that you found each other." Aeris smiled warmly at Jessi.

Sephiroth had been quiet throughout the long conversation. He was sitting on a railing looking down at the little town below them. Jessi stood and walked over next to him.

"Sephiroth; why have you been so quiet?"

Sephiroth glanced at her and then resumed looking down at the town.

"I am just surprised to see you is all, you haven't changed a bit since we last met."

Jessi touched his arm and he looked at her.

"Ah but you have, you grew to be a handsome man, that you did."

Sephiroth shrugged and said, "Whatever…"She shook her head and smiled.

"Then again, maybe you haven't changed."

Jessi re-joined the group and took her seat next to Vincent.

"So then, what do you plan to do now?" Elena asked.

"Not sure, now that I know what happened to my sister and found Vincent, I really don't know what I am going to do or where I am going to go."

"Then stay with us. I am sure Vincent would like the company of an old friend. Wouldn't ya Vinney?" Yuffie said cheerfully.

"…Vinney?" Jessi said with a smile.

Vincent closed his eyes and growled at Yuffie.

"…Don't call me that Yuffie."

"You used to laugh when I called you that Vincent." Jessi said.

Vincent glanced at her quickly, "Don't encourage her."

Jessi smiled and Yuffie laughed; with that, Jessi stood up.

"Well then, it was nice to meet all of you."

"You're not leaving are you?" Tifa asked. Jessi nodded.

"You all have been through so much together. I can't just become a part of the friendship just like that." Jessi said with a snap of her fingers.

"Of course you can, I did." Sephiroth said and Aeris nodded.

"That's true, and you can't just leave after finding Vincent again."

"But that is all I wanted to do, was find him…"

"And you did," Vincent said, "so what is your decision?"

Jessi looked among the members of the group.

"You're quite sure about this?"

They nodded and Jessi was touched. Cloud extended his hand and shook hers.

"Welcome aboard Jessi." He said warmly.

"Thanks, all of you."

"Its no problem; always a pleasure to have another babe with us." Reno said with a smirk and

Jessi laughed out as Yuffie glared at him; Vincent raised an eyebrow.

"Well, what shall we do now?" Reeve asked.

" I would like to see the rocket Cid is working on, if it's allright with everyone." Aeris said.

"Aeris, you are a part of the team again, remember? You don't need to ask."

Aeris smiled at Tifa, "Right thanks."

"Allright you bums, you heard the lady!" Cid bellowed at the crew.

"Let's get this baby back home!"

The crew saluted him and off they went. Yuffie ran to her spot with Reno at her side and everyone left as well. Jessi stayed behind and went to the railing. The wind flew through her hair and she closed her eyes, it felt nice to not have to be in Harpy form to enjoy the feeling of flying. She remembered when she and Vincent had the motorcycle thrill ride all those years ago and grinned. Now that they could both fly that ride seemed like child's play. She looked down as they crossed over the ocean and smiled warmly at a family of dolphins that leaped and soared through the water and air.

"Dolphins are such brilliant creatures...aren't they."

Jessi looked over her shoulder as Sephiroth joined her.

"That they are." She agreed.

"I could have destroyed them along with the whole planet."

"But you didn't. And you know it wasn't your fault; it was all Jenova's doing."

"I know, Aeris finally helped me understand that."

"Mm…She is a beautiful young woman."

"Yes she is… most Ancients are."

Jessi nodded and was quiet for a while.

"I am glad you have found someone to love and love you in return."

Sephiroth looked at her a moment before embracing her.

"And I am glad you decided to stay here. Especially since you are the only family I have left."

She was shocked a moment, but then slowly wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you Sephiroth. That means a lot to me."

He nodded. "Are you coming in?"

She shook her head. "I really like it out here. I'm going to stay a bit longer."

He nodded and went back inside. Moments later, the airship stopped and landed in Rocket Town. Everyone climbed down the ladder and gawked at the tall rocket.

"Damn Cid, you built this outta scrap metal?" Barret asked in wonder.

"Yep, with help from Shera that is."

"Wouldn't you prefer a real rocket instead?" Nanaki asked.

"Hell, I loved building this baby and I ain't about to replace her… but I would chop my own arm off to have another rocket; and another chance to go back into space." Cid said with a distant grin, thinking about his last trip to space. Shera shook her head and smiled.

"Some people are never satisfied."

"Man, I'm starving. Let's go to my place and eat!"

"I'll cook up a homemade meal real quickly." Shera said.

"I'll help you Shera." Tifa said as she caught up with Shera and Cloud whooped.

"We're gonna be stuffed to the gills with great food!"

"Well, yea; we've only got the two best cooks on the entire damn planet at out disposal!" Cid exclaimed.

The two girls smiled heartily and blushed.

"Oh stop sucking up you two." Tifa said. Cloud scratched the back of his head and smiled again.

"Forget dinner, let's make it a party!" Reno said.

"Yea! A party for Aeris coming home and Jessi joining the gang!" Yuffie agreed.

"Oh, that really isn't necessary…" Aeris began while Jessi shook her head.

"I'm all for it!" Cid said and Shera nodded. Aeris sighed and smiled.

"Oh fine, I give up. I'll gladly take a homecoming party."