The sun over the Costa del Sol burned down. The sky was blue and cloudless and the water from the swimming pool looked cool and inviting.
'Cloud?' Tifa questioned as she made her way out onto the patio.
'Yes babe.' Cloud grinned as he glanced up at her, sprawled out in a sun lounger reading the local newspaper.
'Do you think, I mean do you think we've done the right thing?' She questioned frowning hard, sitting next to him.
'How do you mean?' He breathed reaching out for her hand gripping her skin lovingly.
'I mean with the kids we should be helping them, we shouldn't have just let them go off on their own what if something happens?'
'Tif,' His face changed the expression of pleasure faded, sitting up he turned to face her.
'We're both on the wrong side of forty now it's time that we started slowing down. The kids need to learn to be without us, I mean in twenty years were going to be in our seventies. They can cope they're Strifes they can cope with anything trust me okay.' Wrapping her arms around his neck Tifa planted a kiss on her husband's cheek.
'Lockharts too, remember.' She giggled her nose wrinkling as she smiled.
'So relax, just relax.' His smile returning Cloud patted his lap, casting a wink in his wife's direction.
'Now come and sit on my lap.' He teased.
Molly ran as fast as she could her heart was pounding and her ears were ringing. She'd heard her Mother scream but she didn't look back, she'd heard gun shots and the sound of a motor bike but she didn't stop. She just kept running into the glowing forest in the dark of the night. Her ears pricked up at the sound of voices she recognized them heading in the direction she ran and ran until she ran straight into Cloud's waist.
'Molly!' Cloud exclaimed his mako enhanced eyes widening at the sight of the little girl who clung to his waist.
'Mummy they hurt my Mummy, Uncle Cloud!' The blonde haired warrior frowned at this statement his eyes closed tightly as he remembered the sight of his son the way he looked as if he'd been possessed by something or someone Zack usually dark brown eyes glowing green like Cloud's own. Shera had been there along with the others Marlene and Diesel they'd all shared the same look. It scared him Kadja, Yazoo and Loz scared him as well they were fast and strong it had been hard fending all three of them off, maybe he didn't have what it took any longer to be a hero.
'I want to see Daddy, I want to see my Daddy!' Molly demanded, the tone in her voice reminded Cloud and Vincent of Cid. Her patients running out she spun on her bare feet turning to look at Vincent.
'Vincent will you take me to see my Daddy?' Molly inquired tugging on Vincent's scarlet cloak, glancing over at Cloud he shrugged he'd never liked being around children they were to active.
'No.' He said bluntly giving his comrade a look, which read you have to do this I don't want to and you have to face up to things.
Cloud closed his eyes shutting out Vincent and Molly as he did the whole world melted around him and he was left with his own thoughts. He thought about Tifa and what she'd said while she sat on the bed they shared, he thought about the look of horror on his daughter's face and the green gleam in his son's eyes and lastly he thought about Aeris his friend. Even though she knew it would mean her end she had never given up she'd gone to Sephiroth and his sword defiant and without fear because deep inside she'd know it was the only way the only way for all of them.
'Let's go…Cloud.'
Aeris' voice filled his head, his eye snapping open he stared at the young girl still standing in front of him expectantly.
'Come on Molly, I'll talk you back to Cid.' Cloud motioned a weight being lifted from his shoulders he was ready he was ready to fight Kadja and the stigma he was ready to live or die…he was ready to choose. Holding out his hand the pilot's daughter eagerly took it with a smile.
'I'll phone in the verdict.' Cloud motioned, glancing over his shoulder at Vincent.
It was still night time when Cloud reached Rocket town he made a bee-line straight for the hospital slipping in through the fire escape, visiting time was over. It didn't take him to long to find Cid's room glancing inside his eyes widened a little at the sight of Cid's empty bed frowning hard he searched the room through the glancing viewing screen in the door. His eyes fixed upon the familiar form, Cid was sitting in a chair looking depressed staring out of the window smoking a cigarette with wires and a drip still attached to his arm he looked beaten up but not as bad as he had done earlier he was healing fast.
'Daddy!' Molly shirked slipping passed Cloud pushing the door open and running into the room.
'Molly!' Cid's face was a mixture of confusion and sheer delight at the sight of his daughter, Cloud could tell that the pilot still doubt whether what he saw was real or just a figment of his desperate imagination. His answer came when Molly lunched on him jumping into his lap wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, gasping a little in pain Cid squeezed his daughter back burying his head in the fabric of her soft shoulder. Smelling her, touching her, seeing her it was all to much for the emotional pilot and he suddenly broke down, Cloud had never seen Cid cry before and it was rather un-nerving.
'Don't cry Daddy please don't be sad I'm okay look.' Molly informed sitting up straight waving her hands so that her Father could see that nothing was broken.
'I'm not sad baby I'm happy your Mama will explain, where's Shera?' Cid questioned once he'd recovered himself glancing up at Cloud who hovered nervously in the door way of the hospital room.
'Cid Shera…'
'They hurt Mummy, Daddy Mummy was screaming.' Molly answered cutting Cloud off letting her head rest against her Father's strong chest. Clutching his daughter in his arms Cid suddenly sat bolt up right in his chair.
'If they've laid a hand on one hair on that woman's head I'll tear there bloody hearts out.'
'Calm down Cid I saw Shera myself they haven't hurt her or the baby in fact I think that's why they haven't hurt her because she's pregnant.' Realizing that time was running out armed with the knowledge Vincent had provided Cloud turned to leave.
'Where the hell do you think you're going?' Cid's voice questioned angrily.
'I'm going back to Edge.'
'Not without me you aint I'll pull some clothes on an we can take the Shera it's quicker than that dumb bike of yours. Molly put this on baby.' Slipping off his lap Molly pulled wrapped the blanket her Father was holding for her around the fabric of her nightdress.
'Rug up huh.' He ordered pulling it tightly up around her neck.
'She can't come with us Cid she's a child, and you're sick just stay here I'll bring Shera home I promise.'
'The hell I will, and I'm gonna drop her at yours she needs a woman to look after her Tifa or the brat can do it.' There was no point in saying no Cid was going to have his own way, and Cloud was about to waste his energy.