Cloud stared out over the City, at night everything seemed more peaceful further away. His Mako eyes glinted as he gazed at the lights from the City.

'Cloud.' His thoughts quickly faded as he heard the rustling behind him, glancing back into the bedroom turning his back on the night and the City he stared at his wife.

'Cloud.' Tifa whispered again the words choking in her throat, lying in the bed she had shared with her husband for over three years she was comforted by the warmth lying next to her turning her head she glanced down at the form of her sleeping daughter.

'Zack, where's Zack?' She questioned desperately, his head falling down limply Cloud couldn't find the words he couldn't tell his wife that their son was missing.

He didn't get the chance the bedroom door suddenly swung open Reno and Rude appearing both looking harassed.

'Did you find Zack, where's my son?' Tifa questioned desperately, her heart in her mouth as she waited for a reply. Rude shook his head as silent as ever.

'We found a witness; Kadaj's base is in the forgotten City.'

Glancing up at her husband she waited for his response, Tifa's eyes narrowed as the realization hit her that Cloud wasn't going to do anything.

'I need to talk to Rufus, you go.'

'Stop running!' She cried, gazing down at Aeris making sure that she hadn't woken her daughter.

'Tifa I,' Turning to face her he suddenly found himself speechless there was no way to explain, no way to make it better.

'Can you just, just give us a minute?' Tifa asked nodding in agreement Reno and Rude headed for the door.

'Please just tell me what's going on and I don't want you to pretend anymore.' Tifa pleaded reaching out for his hand gripping it tightly; glancing down at her Cloud realized that he couldn't keep it from her any longer it wasn't right.

'I'm sick Tif I've got the Geo Stigma.' Cloud announced falling down on the bed next to his wife.

'It will be alright we can fight this we can beat this, why didn't you tell me before?' She frowned, her slender hand reaching out for his clutching at him tightly. He didn't want to let her go incase he lost her forever.

'I'm scared, Tif.' Saying nothing she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck burying her head in the fabric of his strong muscular chest, Tifa clung to him like a drowning man might cling to a rock. It was everything she needed to say and more.

'You have to stop running you have to face this, whatever happens.' Cloud knew she was right she was always right. Tucking his hand under her chin he raised Tifa's face up so that he could look at her she'd been crying he hated the sight of her crying it cut through him like a knife.

'I love you Tifa whatever happens I want you to know that you and the kids are the best things that have ever happened to me. If I had a choice to live forever without you or to die tomorrow being your husband I'd choose you.'

'No Cloud…' She started to speak but Cloud cut her off with a kiss, Tifa melted into his arms kissing him back. It was the first time he'd touched her in over a month her longing for him was clear. It took a superhuman effort for him to pull away from her disengaging his lips her arms fell down and they were apart glancing up at Cloud Tifa quickly dried her eyes before Reno and Rude re-entered the bedroom.

'This Kadja his base is at the forgotten City you said.' Cloud mumbled Tifa's heart jumped into her mouth as she realized this was his way of telling her that he was going to fight, fight Kadja and the stigma.

'You must be cold.' Elena motioned still hugging Shera long after the woman had stopped sobbing.

'I hadn't noticed.' Shera whispered numbly suddenly realizing that she was still only wearing her long knee length purple t-shirt.

'Here.' The blonde winced as she pulled off her jacket movement was agony for Elena but she managed to work herself out of the material. Before Shera could refuse she was wearing Elena's Turks jacket it felt strange.

'Thank you, but what about you aren't you cold.'

'I'll survive besides this is my way of repaying you; you saved my life Shera I would have bled to death if you hadn't patched me up.' Shera opened her mouth to speak but was cut short by the sound of rustling Tseng suddenly flew out of no where hitting the deck in front of the two women.

'Tseng!' Elena frowned crawling over to her boss' side reassuring herself that he was okay he looked up at her mutely his face covered in blood.

'Say nothing…' He whispered weakly, his breath ragged and pain wracked at he spoke. The blonde Turk nodded glancing up fixing Yazoo with a determined glare she wasn't about to let herself down now. Yazoo stepped forward taking Elena by surprise as he moved past her and Tseng grabbing Shera he pulled her roughly to her feet.

'Let her go she hasn't done anything!' Elena cried indignantly struggling to get up onto her feet bleeding through her bandages as she moved. Yazoo sneered at her snorting with contempt.

'She's just some pilot's wife it's me you want take me I know what you're looking for I can tell you how to find it just let Shera go!'

'No Elena!' Tseng cried recovering his strength.

'Your time will come soon enough.'

'You can't hurt her she's pregnant you can't do that!' The blonde motioned running out of ideas realizing that their was no way to save Cid Highwind's wife.

'We're not going to damage her she's carrying our sister.' Shera's green eyes widened instinctively her hand ran across her slightly rounded stomach, that wasn't the way she had expected to hear about the sex of her baby. A girl she'd secretly hoped for another girl a daughter who would take after her and be a little less like her husband.

'Elena!' Shera shrieked watching unable to do anything to help as Yazoo kicked the female Turk hard in the stomach sending her flying up into the air she hit the floor hard landing next to Tseng.

'Sher…a…' She gasped attempting to get up determined to help the woman who had saved her life.

'No don't please they're not going to hurt me, please don't I'll be fine.' Shera motioned taking Elena and Tseng by surprise Cid Highwind's mousy little wife had a streak of steel running through her.

Yazoo dragged Shera away leaving Tseng and Elena lying on the ground side by side.

'Why did you do that?' Tseng frowned sitting bolt up right suddenly taking Elena by surprise.

'I was just, I wanted to help her she saved my life.'

'You're getting sentimental like Rude I don't like it. Now get up we're getting out of here.' He pulled her to her feet, even at a time like this all he wanted to do was criticize her.

'What about Shera?'

'She'll survive we have a job to do now remember that.'