Cloud stood on the barren rock. He looked around in a panic. What was going on? Where were Vincent and Tifa? Then he felt Sephiroth's presence.

He turned and Sephiroth was looking around just as confused. Cloud ran to his side. This time he was allowed to do so and threw his arms around the general. Sephiroth hesitantly returned the gesture.

"I love you. I'm sorry. I love you. I love you. Forgive me?" Cloud felt tears streaming down his face.

"Cloud...I forgive you. I love you." He was himself again. They couldn't sense her presence anymore. He was a little more clear minded.

Suddenly they were both pulled down. And the barren rock in the middle of space gave way to the flowing river of mako. Together they managed to stay on their feet, hugging each other tighter.

"Huh. Usually I'm not pulled up here. That's weird." A soft voice spoke.

They turned and Cloud recognized Aerith. Sephiroth blinked as the the link between him and Cloud gave him the information. He narrowed his eyes, sensing her for what she was.

"Why are you suspicious of me? I don't want to hurt you. You are special to Cloud, after all." Aerith tilted her head.

"Because you essentially have the power to send him back. And keep me here." Sephiroth frowned.

"You can't hear them, can you?" She realized why she was here.

"What is she talking about? What's going on?" Cloud was confused.

"You see, I am a Cetra. Or as you humans call us, an Ancient. My people were the Shepards of the planet Gaia. Sephiroth is technically Cetra himself, but his blood is by special circumstances. They're saying he was the product of an experiment while he was in the womb."

"Enough." Sephiroth already had experienced a terrible night.

"It's not your fault. You didn't ask to be born. I can hear the voices of everyone born and passed. They all forgive you. Even those of my people don't blame you. I certainly don't. We can't choose our circumstances. Cloud found love in you, after all. So there's good in there somewhere."

"But I...didn't fight her." Sephiroth tensed.

"Doesn't matter. You forgave Cloud and declared your love for him. As long as you don't carry out her will then you are fine. That's enough for the planet to pardon you." Aerith smiled warmly.

"So...what happens now?" Cloud still had no idea how to process all of this. But he learned from the link that Jenova explained her whole backstory to Sephiroth when he possessed Cloud.

She was the Calamity. Searching for the Promised Land. Then if there were any faults to the planet then she will destroy it and use the planet to hurl itself at another to search yet again. She became part of a Cetra, and that was how she got stuck in that woman's body. However she wasn't allowed to join the Lifestream, so she was forced to stay in her dead body.

Jenova's will apparently was to use the Black Materia created by the planet as a fail safe if there was no hope. And it will call a huge meteor to destroy the whole planet. This of course will repeat the cycle of using Gaia's remains and search for the Promised Land.

"I have no intention of doing so. Perhaps if I didn't meet Cloud, it would have been different." Sephiroth looked down at the blond. He meet his lover's gaze and smiled.

"I'm glad you see it that way. I believe our time is up. You two take care of each other, you hear?" Aerith waved with a knowing smile.

Suddenly they were falling. Cloud gasped as he opened his eyes in a panic. He recognized Tifa's voice as she cried in relief and happy tears. He blinked and took in his surroundings.

They were outside of the reactor. On either side of him was Vincent and Tifa. Cloud noticed the wounds on the gunslinger and his face paled.

"Did I do that?" The blond asked.

"I will be fine. You two need to return to the village. I imagine Shinra will be swarming by morning. Whatever you do, don't tell them anything." Vincent informed and the two nodded.

And so they parted ways. Vincent moved to a discreet location to have an eye over the mako reactor. Tifa and Cloud made their return to the village. They made it an hour just before dawn. Cloud snuck inside his house and changed clothes. He collapsed onto his bed sensing Sephiroth beside him.

Cloud awoke to his phone going off. He sleepily reached for it and answered.

"Ello?" He yawned.

"Did you just wake up?" Tseng's voice asked on the other line.

"Yeah. What's going on?" Cloud sat up rubbing his eyes. His stomach growled at the smell of his mother's cooking.

"Do you know anything about the Nibelheim Reactor blowing up sometime around 3AM?"

"No? What are you talking about? Haven't been up there." Cloud lied through his teeth. He knew he could do it over the phone but once they were face to face, nothing escaped Tseng.

"Perhaps it's a coincidence. I'm en route to Nibelheim right now to investigate. Reno and Rude are with me. If you don't mind, we will be spending the night in town then give you a ride home tomorrow."

"Yeah. I can give you the info of the inn. It's the only one in the village. Want me to relay to the owner you're coming?" Although Cloud didn't want anything to do with the mayor, he at least had to uphold mannerisms.

"Please do. He hasn't returned my calls." Tseng seemed relieved.

Oh, great. This meant the man was in a mood. Cloud could imagine why. Shinra ignored his calls for help over a giant mutated Nibel Wolf. So he was returning the same courtesy. Watch when he changes his tune real quick soon as the Turks arrive.

Cloud got up and began to help with breakfast. He grabbed two plates with one hand and carefully placed them on the counter.

"Who is that on the phone?" Mrs. Strife wondered, slightly hoping it was his partner.

"A friend from the company." Cloud didn't bother covering the microphone as he answered her.

"If they're staying at the inn, invite them over for dinner. A home cooked meal is better than the slop they serve over there." She knew well enough how the employees will be treated here.

"Tseng, my Ma invited you guys for dinner tonight." Cloud didn't like this idea either but figured why not.

"Reno and Rude as well?" Tseng wasn't used to being treated like common courtesy.

"Yeah sure. We got enough chairs. So long as Reno behaves himself. This is my home, you know." Cloud grumbled.

"I'll make sure he's not too wild. We will arrive in a few hours." Tseng hung up.

"So what's going on that the company is sending people over?" His mother asked.

"Apparently the reactor blew up. Oh, and there's going to be three of them tonight. Do we need more groceries?"

"Can you grab some after you talk to the mayor? I'll be cleaning and tidying this place up for our guests."

"Yeah. What do you want me to grab?"

"I'm thinking of making my famous stew." She smiled as she finished the last minute touches of breakfast.

"So everything for that?" Cloud made his plate after handing his mother her own. She was going to go all out for these guests.

"Yep! Enough portions for all of us." She seemed to grow excited at the idea.

"They're not my partner, Ma." He reminded. She laughed and lightly smacked his shoulder.

"I know that, dear. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't show off my skills! Gotta prove something other than just birthing you."

"Ma!" Cloud blushed with embarrassment. He had enough with his plate and took his seat.

After finishing breakfast and helping with the dishes Cloud changed into his uniform. He did a quick once over and discovered it showed no signs of the previous night. Confident that his uniform won't give him away Cloud strolled over to the inn.

"Cloud? What's up? Wanna go for another hunt?" Tifa was surprised to see him. Usually she had to go to him with a hunt she already signed them up for.

"Actually, we might have to cancel today. The company is sending people to investigate something about the reactor." Cloud explained.

"What's that? Shinra's finally sending people over? For what?" Mr. Lockhart poked his head out of the kitchen.

"Something happened to the reactor. I'm not allowed to say more than that." Cloud stood firm under the older man's glare.

"All right. I'll get some rooms ready. How many are coming?" Mr. Lockhart sighed, giving in.

"Three that I know of." Cloud forgot to ask if any troopers were coming. But then he's here, so they would have all the protection they needed.

"I'll get the rooms ready. Tifa, help me find clean blankets and linens."

"Yes, Papa." She agreed as he left. She turned to him with frightened eyes. "What do we do?"

"Act normal. They're probably only going to their rooms to sleep. My Ma invited them for dinner. You know how long she keeps guests." Cloud assured her.

"Okay." Tifa nodded, turning to gather the blankets and sheets.

Cloud left for the market and gathered everything for his mother's stew. He made sure to count the right proportions for three people. Just as he dropped them off Tseng called again to say that they will be landing near the reactor. So he should make his way up there as soon as possible. When they were done they will land closer to the village.

So Cloud left the cleaning and cooking to his mother and made the distance back up the mountain just as the helicopter landed. Tseng stepped out and frowned at the sight of him.

"Explain. Everything. Now." He knew something was going on.

"Um...Please leave it off record." Cloud refused to step closer. In that moment Reno and Rude joined their boss.

"That depends on what you tell me." Tseng was glaring.

"...I can't. Even begin to explain." Cloud had no idea what say or do. And he knew that if he wanted their help to cover up, he will have to sign his soul over to their services.

"Perhaps I can help." Vincent appeared out of nowhere, startling the Turks. Vincent decided to go against his own word at the sight of the Turks. He recognized Tseng and took a risk into coming out of hiding in order to help Cloud.

"Who the hell are you!?" Reno drew his weapon.

"...Vincent Valentine." He stated calmly.

Tseng recognized the name. He looked at Cloud, then back to Vincent. He stepped forward cautiously for a closer look. He studied the man's features, recalling what he could remember from memory. It was difficult when his memories were a little fuzzy.

"...You certainly look like him." Tseng had his doubts, but he saw enough similarities to remember.

"You've grown since the last time I saw you. And not so wild. Veld trained you well." Vincent commented, and Tseng looked away.

"I suppose it's an upgrade from brat." The Turk spoke with fury in his tone, but kept his face even as he looked at the pair again. "This better be good. And one hell of a payment for covering this up."

"If it helps, I will return as a Turk once I completed the task Cloud has given me." Vincent offered. Everyone stared at him with surprise.

"You will take the payment to let Cloud walk free?" Tseng raised an eyebrow.

"He's been through enough." Vincent wasn't going to budge from his decision.

"All right. I agree to the terms. So please, start from the beginning."

And so they did. Cloud explained he found Vincent. Then he turned in for the night at his own bed and dreamed a strange dream. Vincent took over to explain he saw Cloud leaving the village so he decided to follow.

Cloud went on to explain he woke up in front of the reactor and discovered Vincent and Tifa followed them. Cloud wanted to leave her out of the story, but he knew she had an important key in the story so he had no choice.

They explored the reactor and found the same signs as the visions Cloud had been having. Then he said he heard a female voice calling out to him. And then Sephiroth tried to take control.

"Hold up. General Sephiroth can mind control you? Like what, possessed?" Reno wasn't buying it.

Cloud closed his eyes and reached out to his lover. Sephiroth accepted the offer and when Cloud opened his eyes they changed. Vincent visibly tensed, remembering what occurred last time.

"I am not under anyone's influence but my own this time." Sephiroth's voice spoke over Cloud's.

"Holy shit!" Reno backed away. This was all too much for him and so he climbed into the helicopter to calm down. Rude followed a minute later.

"...Explain." Tseng took it all in stride.

"Hojo created a link between us. He made it so we cannot resist each other. We are joined in body and mind. In essence, if Cloud allowed it, I can control him no matter the distance between us. The same could potentially be done with the reverse, but Cloud has no aim to do so."

"All right. So what happened last night?"

"I took to fighting him off. I ordered the girl to destroy Jenova's body. During the fight he used Fire throughout the reactor. When she succeeded Cloud screamed and passed out. I dragged him through the fire and smoke and the girl found us in her escape and helped." Vincent relayed.

"We died. But in our desperation we found each other in the afterlife. I forgave Cloud and declared my love for him despite what happened. It was enough for us to return." Sephiroth explained the shorter version, leaving out Aerith altogether.

Tseng processed the whole story slowly. He took one look at the burned down reactor and sighed. He turned his gaze back at them.

"In addition to Vincent's return to the Turks, Sephiroth now owes me a favor. I will make the same rules that Cloud already agreed to. If I ever need your help with something, then I call you on it. You don't ask questions and don't tell anyone. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Sephiroth agreed.

"Good. Now, may I have Cloud back please? It's time for me to get to work. And Vincent looks like he needs to rest." Tseng wasn't looking forward to a long day ahead.

Cloud came to, having already heard and seen everything. Vincent disappeared over the rocks. Cloud sighed in relief. Meanwhile the Turks could only think about looking forward to a home-cooked meal for dinner.