The sounds of the storm increased in caliber. Tifa winced as the wind howled and a crunching sound indicated that the Seventh Heaven was loosing a few ceiling tiles. Her ears were sensitive to every sound; hopefully Cloud and Denzel would be walking through the door soon. She wasn't letting the full force of her worry wash over her yet. Just give them time... she told herself. They'll be back.

Tifa sighed and threw the rag down as she realized she had been wiping the same table for the past ten minutes. She collapsed into one of the chairs. On the surface she knew it was just a storm, and it was unlikely that anything bad would happen to Cloud or Denzel but deep down... Tifa sighed again. She couldn't help but worry. I hope Cloud and Denzel had good sense enough to at least stop somewhere... she thought, watching the rain pound against the windows.

Small arms wrapped around her neck from behind, and Tifa snapped out of her daze. Marlene put her chin on Tifa's shoulder from behind and shuddered.

"I don't like storms much Tifa," Marlene confided.

Tifa smiled and motioned for Marlene to come sit with her. The little girl squeezed into the chair with Tifa, and both of them looked out the window at the storm.

"Do you like storms Tifa?" Marlene asked, cuddling closer as lighting flashed.

Tifa grimaced and stroked Marlene's hair. Not when Cloud and Denzel are out in them on a motorcycle... she thought grimly. Marlene looked up at her, wide-eyed and waiting for an answer.

"They're not all that bad." Tifa told her. "Just loud."

Marlene covered her ears and nodded at Tifa in agreement as there was another crash of thunder. Tifa rested her head atop Marlene's soft brown hair and Marlene ducked her face into Tifa's shirt to hide her eyes from another flash of lightning. They stayed that way for awhile, seeking comfort from each other in the big, lonely house.


Cloud and Denzel followed the receptionist down the hall, leaving a trail of mud behind them. Denzel tried hard to stay right behind Cloud, but every now and then he'd look around to marvel at the many adjoining hallways and rooms, and Cloud would end up tugging him along. Denzel looked up at Cloud, but his face was carefully blank. Denzel wondered if he was thinking about the broken phone, and whether Cloud was as uncomfortable in this big building as Denzel was.

The receptionist motioned them into another waiting area, and they walked in slowly. A secretary looked up and smiled as the door closed behind them.

"Mr. Strife?" she asked pleasantly, ignoring his wet, muddy state. "Mr. Reeve will see you now."

Cloud hesitated and glanced down at Denzel. The secretary smiled in understanding.

"I'll keep an eye on your little boy." she told him, ushering him to a door.

Somewhat flustered, Cloud walked through the door and into the office. He paused a minute to look around. The desk, though expensive-looking and luxurious, was covered in mountains of paperwork. Behind the papers, Reeve was sitting in a chair and looking exhausted. Reeve raised his eyebrow as he took Cloud's appearance in.

"Raining outside?" Reeve asked.

When Cloud gave Reeve a blank strare, Reeve let out a tired chuckle.

"Sorry Cloud, stupid question." he said, rubbing his temples. "But I've been cooped up in this office since four o'clock this morning."

Cloud's eyes flicked to the walls; though spacious, the office was also windowless.

"Well sit down then," Reeve offered, motioning to a chair. "What brings you here?"

Cloud sat in a chair in front of Reeve's desk.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." Cloud began slowly.

By the somewhat apprehensive look on Reeve's face, Cloud figured Reeve had a pretty good idea what "something" was.

"I take it you've spoken with Tifa about yesterday." Reeve said quietly, running a hand over his exhausted face.

Cloud nodded and Reeve sighed, a resigned look on his face.

"I'm not sure what you want me to say Cloud." he said, shaking his head. "I understand how you two feel but-"

"No you don't." Cloud cut him off quietly. "You couldn't."

Reeve sighed but nodded, motioning for Cloud to continue.

"Tifa has no reason to trust any sort of government." Cloud said, a twinge of past pain evident in his voice. "Not after Shinra."

He scratched his head and smiled bitterly.

"Neither do I really." Cloud said wryly.

"There's not much I can do about that." Reeve said, sounding more exhausted than ever.

Cloud shook his head.

"I know." he assured Reeve. "That's not why I'm here."

Reeve straightened in his chair and stared at Cloud inquisitively.

"Then why did you come?" he asked.

Cloud shifted uncomfortably in his wet clothes.

"Yesterday..." he began slowly. "Tifa was upset about how well armed the W.R.O workers were."

He noticed Reeve stiffening. A guarded look appeared in Reeve's eyes.

"She couldn't understand why you'd do it, why'd you'd be so blind..." he said slowly. "But I thought maybe..."

Reeve was no longer meeting Cloud's eyes.

"I thought maybe you knew something we didn't." Cloud finished.

Cloud watched Reeve silently as his shoulders slumped and he rested his head in his hand. It took Reeve a moment, but he regained his composure and met Cloud's eyes. The grim look on Reeve's face was quite different from his normal cheerful expression.

"I do." Reeve stated quietly. "But if I tell you..."

Reeve sighed.

"You have to keep quiet about it Cloud." Reeve said, his tone dead serious. "I won't bother to tell you not to tell Tifa, but besides her... no one else can know."

Cloud nodded and Reeve continued.

"As you know... we've been trying to restore the world." Reeve said. "But restoration is a broad term. We've been doing everything from rebuilding to providing food to setting up businesses... but we've also been doing investigations."

Reeve motioned to the piles of papers in his office.

"All theses were discovered in the old Shinra building." Reeve stated lowly. "Some of them, we already knew about. Nearly all of them belonged to the old President Shinra, and were administrative paperwork and such- the type of stuff open to the general public."

Reeve stood up and headed to the back of the office. He stopped in front of a wall that was lined with tall filing cabinets, each with a heavy lock on the front.

"These," Reeve said grimly, motioning to all the filing cabinets. "Belonged to Hojo."

Cloud's gaze sharpened. Reeve moved over to one filing cabinet. It alone was unlocked.

"The papers in this one," Reeve said, rapping on it's metal top. "Were found in his lab. They're mainly about Hojo's attempt to breed an Ancient. They were nothing new to us."

Reeve trailed off, looking as though he didn't want to continue.

"And the rest?" Cloud asked quietly.

Reeve sighed.

"About three or four months ago, we began working with Rufus and the Turks. They were willing to help us with the investigation of the Shinra building for a hefty amount of money." Reeve told Cloud. "They knew a lot about the building, and it wasn't long before they discovered Hojo secret lab below the basement."

Reeve's face twisted into a look of disgust.

"The papers in the rest of the filing cabinets were discovered there." he said with a grimace. "Apparently Hojo had been conducting secret experiments underground for ages with President Shinra's permission. Rufus, however, had not been informed of them."

Cloud nodded, listening intently.

"I've been reading the lab reports ever since they were discovered..." Reeve sighed, looking sickened. "Hojo was conducting human experiments... It seems like he was determined to improve the SOLDIER program."

Cloud stiffened in his seat at the mention of human experiments, but motioned for Reeve to keep going.

"According to the reports, Hojo exposed test subjects to extremely high concentrations of Mako and Jenova cells." Reeve paused a second to shake his head. "I don't really understand all of it; it's very scientific- and twisted- but somehow he managed to keep them from mutating or from losing their minds. The ones that made it through the main part of the treatment were observed to have extreme strength and violent tendencies. He kept them from losing their minds, but he couldn't completely keep the insanity from creeping into their skulls."

Reeve sat down in his chair, looking weary. He looked up and Cloud noticed that there were dark circles under his eyes.

"We thought that Hojo would have destroyed his 'specimen' when he left the Shinra building, or the poor people had died when the building was destroyed." Reeve said, closing his eyes. "But it quickly became apparent that we were deeply mistaken."

Cloud waited tensely for Reeve to get to the point.

"When the Turks were investigating, they found several tanks with corpses inside... but the majority of them were empty and broken. Some of Hojo's test subjects escaped." Reeve continued quietly. "There were bodies of Shinra employees down there too. By the looks of it, they had been dragged down into the lab while they were still alive. Towards the end of Shinra, nobody would have paid any mind to missing employees but I wish we..."

Reeve trailed off and shook his head sadly. He glanced up at Cloud, who was eerily calm.

"So where are they now?" Cloud asked quietly.

"This is where we run into some issues." Reeve replied tiredly. "We know that they dug out of the Shinra building... and we have evidence enough to believe that they would have remained underground somewhere..."

Reeve threw his hands up in frustration.

"But besides that, we're shooting in the dark. They're out there bidding their time, waiting for a vulnerable moment." Reeve grimaced. "So basically we have to wait for them to strike first. All we can do is be prepared."

"And how are you going to do that?" Cloud asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"All our workers are armed and trained in case of an emergency." Reeve told them. "We have workers all over the globe, so chances are when a crisis strikes..."

Cloud stared at him incredulously.

"Where we they several days ago when we were being attacked by a giant Bahumut?" he asked. "Like always, we had to take care of it ourselves."

Reeve covered his weary face with his hands.

"There was a major problem with several old Mako reactors that day." Reeve said, his voice strained. "We had two evacuate three large villages and fix the problem before the reactors exploded and destroyed all the work we had done."

There was a tense silence.

"So that's exactly the type of weakness theses 'Underground Soldiers' will be waiting for."Cloud said softly.

"Exactly." Reeve said, in the same sort of hushed tone.

They both leaned back in their seats, troubled by their thoughts. The thought of just sitting back and waiting for them to strike was a sickening thought. Granted, Cloud and the others had done it years ago when they were hunting Sephiroth. The only way to track him down had been by the path of devastation he left behind him. It had worked, but they had lost Aeris. Now the idea of waiting around for the enemy to make the first move made Cloud feel like his head was exploding.

Tifa could take care of herself well enough... but if she was alone with the kids... Cloud felt a tightening in his chest. Tifa had already proved that she would put herself between the children and the danger. Cloud knew she would do all she could to protect the kids, but she wouldn't waste a seconds time worrying about herself.

Reeve watched Cloud as he mulled over the issue in his mind.

"I wish I could guarantee you their safety." he told Cloud softly. "But if you want to keep up to date with whats going on here, and stay close to home... I can offer you a job."

"I'm not joining the W.R.O." Cloud said tersely.

"That's not what I meant." Reeve said hastily, shaking his head. "I was talking about a delivery job."

Reeve looked over at Cloud to make sure he was following him, and continued.

"You wouldn't have to be away from home for too long." he told Cloud. "In fact, I could probably make it so you could make it home every night."

Reeve kept a close eye on Cloud as he absorbed this. Cloud's brow was furrowed, eyes focused downwards.

"If you need awhile to think it over..." Reeve began carefully.

Cloud quickly shook his head.

"I don't need time." he said, looking up. "I'll take the job."

It didn't take long for Cloud and Reeve to figure out all the minor details, and they then walked out of the office together and into the waiting area. It was late according to the large clock on the wall, and the windows revealed that it was still storming outside. The secretary was busily doing paperwork at her desk, and Denzel was sitting on the floor with his back propped up against the side of it, tongue caught between his teeth in concentration as he linked together all of the secretaries paper clips. Cloud caught his eye, and Denzel looked somewhat guilty, and quickly dropped the paper clips back into the tin.

"I didn't know Denzel was with you." Reeve said as Denzel stood up and moved over to Cloud's side.

Reeve observed the way Denzel tried to mimick the way Cloud stood and he fought back a smile. Denzel was wearing clothes that Reeve recognized as a W.R.O uniform even though they were missing the standard emblem and pins. The little boy tugged his pant up unceremoniously.

"Would you like some dry clothes too?" the secretary asked Cloud, holding up another set of clothes. "Denzel's wet clothes are in this bag here. You can go change in the bathroom if you want."

Reeve felt a little sheepish. He hadn't thought to ask Cloud if he wanted to change into something clean and dry. Reeve could tell by the dumbfounded look on Cloud's face that Cloud hadn't even thought to ask.

"Yea, thanks." Cloud said, taking the clothes

Cloud looked out the window at the still raging storm, and Reeve spoke up quickly.

"I'll get one of our big trucks to take you home." he offered. "Your motorcycle can fit in the back."

Cloud accepted Reeve's offer hastily, and in a matter of minutes, Cloud and Denzel were on their way home.


When the truck finally jerked to a stop in front of the Seventh Heaven, the lightening and thunder had stopped, though the rain still pounded the windows. Denzel had fallen asleep long ago, head slumped against Cloud's now numb arm. The driver, a W.R.O worker who appeared to be a few years younger than Cloud, rushed out his door to unload Cloud's motorcycle. The young man took it out with careful eagerness; he seemed half-awed half-frightened of Cloud.

Cloud thanked the driver and gently shook Denzel awake.

"Wake up Denzel." Cloud whispered. "We're home."

Denzel opened his eyes blearily and looked around. He seemed confused to find himself in the truck, but as he woke up a little, comprehension entered his eyes and he opened the truck door. Cloud jumped down quickly to steady Denzel as the little boy stumbled down to the concrete below. They hurried over to the door and Cloud fumbled for his keys.

The house was dark and silent. Cloud breathed in deeply, a sense of peace washing over him. It was good to be home again. Denzel, yawning widely, seemed to be sharing similar thoughts. He looked as though their day out had exhausted him. At least we won't be chasing him into bed tonight... Cloud thought amusedly.

"Why don't you head up to bed?" Cloud whispered to Denzel, unable to speak louder, in fear of breaking the stillness.

Denzel nodded, face split into another yawn, and removed him muddy shoes, placing them by the door. Cloud quickly removed his own muddy boots, trying to pretend that he had been planning to do so all along. After a quick whispered goodnight, Denzel padded through the living room and up the stairs. As the bedroom door upstairs closed, Cloud heard a soft stirring on the sofa.

Cloud walked quietly into the living room. He arrived at the sofa just in time to see a pajama-clad Marlene slip out from under Tifa arm. A moment before they had both been curled up on the sofa, sleeping soundly, but apparently Cloud and Denzel's arrrival had awakened Marlene. In Marlene's absence, Tifa drew her arms to her chest and rolled over, still very much asleep.

"Cloud!" Marlene said, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "When'd you get home?"

"Barely a minute ago." he replied quietly. "Denzel just went up to bed."

Marlene nodded and tugged her blanket tighter around herself as she tip-toed over to Cloud. She eye-balled his numerous pockets.

"Get me anything?" she asked, smiling a sweet, sleepy smile.

"Not this time." Cloud told her, ruffling her messy brown hair.

Cloud felt a grin tugging his mouth as she shrugged her little shoulders, not put off in the least.

"Why'd you and Tifa decide to sleep on the couch?" he asked her, as her head began to nod sleepily.

Marlene blinked her eyelids heavily and looked pointedly out the window at the rain.

"It was storming Cloud." she said emphatically. "I told Tifa that the roof would blow off for sure. She said it wouldn't, but I thought we should sleep down here just in case."

"The roof's not going anywhere, Marlene." Cloud told her, amused as always by her irrational fears.

She gave him a skeptical look and he just sighed, unwilling to try to convince her further.

"Well, it's not storming anymore." he said, giving her a gentle push towards the stairs. "I'm sure your bed is safe now."

Marlene seemed too sleepy to argue otherwise, and she trudged sleepily up the stairs to her room. Cloud stood silently in the dark living room until he heard the gentle click of Marlene's door closing.

The living room was now completely silent except for Tifa's soft breathing over on the sofa. Walking quietly across the hardwood floor, Cloud moved closer and sat down on the end of the sofa by her feet.

As soon he sunk into the soft cushion, Tifa made a soft noise and lifted her head up from the pillow propped against the armrest. Cloud could see her brown eyes reflected the meager light in the living room. She blinked at him sleepily for a moment, but then she pushed herself into a sitting position, pushing stray hairs out of her face.

"Sorry." Cloud said softly. "Didn't mean to wake you up."

Tifa smiled and shook her head.

"I'm glad you did." she told him, her voice fuzzy with sleep. "I was getting worried. Is Denzel upstairs?"

Cloud nodded and watched as Tifa wrinkled her nose and rubbed the side of her neck.

"You shouldn't let Marlene talk you into sleeping on the sofa." Cloud said, with a reproachful gaze.

Tifa smiled and shrugged.

"The wind was loud upstairs." she admitted. "I couldn't sleep either."

Cloud laughed softly, and then they fell into silence again. Tifa drew her legs up under herself on the couch and leaned against the cushions, the ends of her hair just barely tickling Cloud's arm. He wouldn't have mind remaining in this comfortable silence for the rest of the night, but Cloud knew the question was coming.

"How'd it go?" she asked softly, and Cloud could feel her eyes on him, evaluating his reaction.

Cloud sighed, and immediately felt the shift in Tifa's mood. The sofa cushions moved slightly as Tifa sat up straight. Cloud chanced a quick glance at her. He looked away quickly as he saw the mixture of concern and anxiety in her wide, brown eyes and blurted out the first thing he thought of.

"Reeve offered me a job." he said quickly.

Tifa jerked slightly in surprise, a pretty frown on her face.

"A... job?" she asked, sounding more confused than anything.

"Not as a W.R.O member." Cloud said quickly, and felt Tifa relax immediately. "But a delivery job. He wants someone he can trust to deliver important information to headquarters."

Tifa was quiet. Cloud knew what question would come next, and hurried to answer before it was asked.

"I accepted." he said. "Reeve offered me a good sum of money and..."

"And..." Tifa prompted softly, peering at him inquisitively.

"And he promised that I would be able to make it home every night." Cloud said, his tone equally soft. "No more week long delivery jobs."

There was a sharp intake of breath from Tifa, and a creaking from the sofa and she leaned towards Cloud to peer at him closer.

"You mean it Cloud?" she asked, her voice hushed but hopeful.

When Cloud nodded, Tifa threw her arms around his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder. Her happiness was almost heartbreaking to Cloud, as he remembered what Denzel had told him earlier that day. Maybe it's not too late to make it up to her... Cloud thought, returning the hug gently.

Tifa drew back a little, her hands resting on his shoulder, his still circling her back , and she fixed him with another gaze.

"Is that all?" she asked quietly.

Immediately, Cloud felt sirens go off in his brain, telling him to keep quiet. Apparently Tifa noticed something was wrong, because her brow wrinkled in concern. She looked so vulnerable in her pajamas, with her hair mussed from sleep, that Cloud couldn't bring himself to break the bad news to her. She tilted her head, now looking somewhat anxious, and her hands slid off Cloud's shoulders to his chest.

New, more urgent, sirens went off in Cloud's head, and he gently removed Tifa's hands, enclosing them into his own.

"That's all." he managed to choke out.

The lie burned in his chest. He avoided Tifa's eyes, focusing instead on her soft, warm hands which were still enclosed by his own. He felt her eyes on him for a moment, and he didn't dare look up until he heard her sigh gently and sink back into the sofa, her hands sliding out of his.

Any guilt that he felt over the lie almost disappeared when he saw the look of relief on Tifa's face. She gave him a gentle smile.

"I'm heading up to bed then." she said softly. "See you in the morning."

She brushed her lips across his cheek gently and Cloud's face lit up, though it was not visible in the dark room. The elation slowly drained away as Tifa disappeared up the stairs and into her room. The guilt stabbed at Cloud's gut, and he shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.

"There's no reason to tell her yet..." Cloud reassured himself in a frantic mumble. "No need to upset her."

But a small part of him still disapproved of his lie.

"I'll tell her when I know more." he promised himself.

Cloud sat alone in the dark living room for a long time before heading up to bed. He felt almost overwhelmed with the need to not only keep Tifa safe from the new threat emerging, but to keep her happy, keep her from worrying. As he thought of how he would tell her about what he had learned in Reeve's office today, his mind kept straying to the warm spot on the couch where Tifa had been moments before, and the way her hands felt in his.