WARNING! This chapter contains CloudxVincent and CloudxTifa. Also, a big surprise right at the beginning!

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It's morning, and I know he's down there with her… lying in her bed… holding her. It's such a lie. He acts like they're married or something.

Why can't he just admit it? What is he afraid of?

I hate it… I hate to know that he… makes love to her... no... not making love, that can't be it. He doesn't love her, does he?

No, it's more like… just… just sex. That's all it is, really, is sex. Even then, I don't know why he would choose her over me.

"Hey! Vincent! Cloud here?" Came Reno's panicked voice from the doorway. I was suddenly very aware of my clenched fists and angry stare towards Tifa's room. I turned around, trying to calm down a bit.

"He's still in bed. What the hell are you doing here? Cloud told you before he doesn't want you here." The arrogance of that Reno, I swear.

"Things have changed" he said.

It was then that I saw her. Was that? Oh my GOD! She looked just like him! But it can't be her… I heard her village was destroyed and everyone killed. There's no way…

I shrugged it off and knocked on Tifa's door, which Cloud answered. I found myself without words for a moment as I caught myself staring at him. He was, after all, wearing ONLY his boxers. He saw me starting and glared at me.

"Ahem.. uh, well… Reno's here.. and it seems to be some sort of emergency." I finally managed. Damn! How does he do that to me?I never lose my cool.. unless it's Cloud…

Within minutes, he's dressed and talking to Reno about what happened.

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He looks terrible. "What the hell happenned?" I pulled up a stool next to him to talk as Tifa took Merina to a Bedroom downstairs.

"IT was… another team. They caught me off guard because Rude was the one that knocked on the door. Next thing you know I'm on the floor, bleeding, and covered in piss." Reno was angry, and bruised up, but it looked like he'd be okay.

"Did they know Merina was there?"

"No... they didn't, but they would eventually. That's why I got on the bike and came here. It's not safe for us there."

I nodded. "Well, Tifa took Merina to the spare room downstairs. Take some time to help her while I figure out what to do."

Reno got up and headed down below, trying hard to cover up all the pain he felt.

What was all this about? And why is it that I get this strange feeling I know that girl?

This is beyond weird… but I can't shake the feeling.

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Vincent approached Cloud, now that the room was empty, save them. "I saw how you look at that girl" he said, staring at Cloud, who refused to return the eyes contact.

"She's just so… familiar." He said, kicking a rock across the floor.

"You know… I didn't believe my own intuition at first… but then… watching you look at her, I knew I was right."

"What do you mean?" Cloud finally looked up at him, and Vincent's heart skipped a beat, though he wouldn't show it.

"I mean, Cloud, that girl… You noticed her eyes were colored from Mako… right? Same color as yours? And looking at her is like, oh, looking in a mirror?"

Cloud nodded. "It is… I couldn't put my finger on it, but it is…"

"She's your… twin sister, Cloud. She was experimented on, and all your memories of her were stripped away. I remember... all those years in that coffin… I overheard some things."

Cloud had a tears welling up in his eyes.

"She was in that village that Reno was supposed to destroy… the one that the Turks went through and killed everyone. She was the reason they went there… the real reason. She must have gotten away. Reno found her after they left her for dead…"

Cloud clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his hands, and his palms bled, the blood dripped on the floor. "All this time… all this time I had family, and I didn't know! And YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"

"I didn't tell you because I thought she was dead. They said she died a long time ago… but that has to be her… it has to."

Cloud wanted to be mad at Vincent. He wanted to hit him, hurt him, make him feel that pain he felt… but that feeling melted as soon as Vincent touched his shoulder.

"Don't you see, Cloud? It's a good thing you're finding out… forget that you didn't know… you have family now… real flesh and blood…." Vincent said more softly. His velvety voice helped calm cloud, though he still fought back the tears. He looked up at Vincent, staring at those gorgeous crimson eyes. His heart felt like it stopped.

As he looked up, Vincent touched his chin, lifting it towards him. In response, Cloud moved towards him. He felt Vincent's arms around his waist… and then the kiss.

Cloud was surprised at first… and he didn't move. Though he and Vincent had always had… feelings, they had never acted on them, but now… now he didn't care. Finally, he wrapped his own arms around Vincent and returned the kiss, until he could no longer breathe. He rested his head on Vincent's shoulder. "Thank you…" he murmured.

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Tifa was taken aback when Reno pushed her out of the way. "Let me… I know her better than you." He said, helping prop Merina up on some pillows. Merina smiled at him in response, amused.

"You should be nicer to her, you know." She scolded.

Reno sighed. "You're right..." he turned to Tifa. "I'm sorry... it's just that… I just... I want to know she's okay" Reno managed, before turning back to help Merina.

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Oh my word, she loves him! Merina touched Reno's head gently, sweetly, as he tucked her into bed and changed her bandages. She played with his hair as if it were the only thing she ever wanted to do.

I don't think Reno even knows it… He doesn't have a clue how Merina feels. It's like watching some sappy movie, both of them are laughing about things that no one else would understand. They were both in a lot of pain, but smiles painted their faces… joy.

Somehow, Merina's smile seemed familiar. It reminded her of something she ached for but rarely saw, yet she couldn't put her finger on it.

We all got quiet when we heard Cloud yell upstairs, though, and listened closely.

"All this time… all this time I had family, and I didn't know! And YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!" (Cloud)

"I didn't tell you because I thought she was dead. They said she died a long time ago… but that has to be her… it has to." (Vincent)

There was a pause, and they looked at each other, waiting to hear more.

"Don't you see, Cloud? It's a good thing you're finding out… forget that you didn't know… you have family now… real flesh and blood…"

"Is he talking about…" Reno started.

"Me. He's talking about me." Merina said, having just realized it herself.

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All those dreams… they meant that... he was the one…

The pain melted away and I smiled. "My family... didn't all die… I mean, when the village was attacked… that wasn't my real family. I thought that they all died so long ago…" I looked up at Reno, and he looked at me with that cute puzzled look he gets.

"You mean that… you and Cloud…"

"He... I always had dreams about a brother… when I was very young. When I saw him today, I felt like I was looking at someone I knew… It was him. Cloud is my brother. Cloud is my only family…" I was in awe of it. "And Reno, if it wasn't for you... we never would have…" I can't even think straight.

I have family? I HAVE FAMILY! I don't know what to do or say.

And there he is, standing in the doorway.

"So… you heard us?" he said, staring right at me. I smile at him, and he comes over to hug me. Is he… crying?

"I always felt like… I was looking for something. I thought it was revenge, and then I thought it was justice… And I thought it was love… but it wasn't. It was family… it was you." He told me, hugging me tight as he could without hurting me.

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The room was quiet, with no one really knowing what to say. Cloud and Merina hugged for what seemed like an eternity, and it was as if they'd never been apart.

Tifa stood behind Cloud, placing a hand on his shoulder and smiling. Though she was still a bit confused, she was happy that Cloud had finally found what he needed… real flesh-and-blood family.

The silence was broken by a familiar chirpy voice and bounding steps down the stairs. "Hey, what's going on? I got here and no one was upstairs so I… wow" For once, Yuffie was speechless. She looked from Cloud, to Merina, to Cloud again. The crossed her arms, tapping her foot, thinking. "HEY! She looks like Cloud! Are you Related?" she asked.

Everyone laughed in spite of themselves. Cloud stood, the two finally breaking their hug. "Yuffie, meet Merina, My… Sister." Cloud said.

It felt good to say it to someone else… he sighed, content.

"That means if Reno and Merina get together, you'll be brothers!" Tifa said, picking up on the chemistry between Merina and Reno.

"What! Huh? No we… No way I just saved her is all…" Reno said, standing up with a panicked/confused look on his face.

Merina blushed. "I could never presume… " she couldn't finish the sentence.

Cloud looked at Reno, and Reno at Cloud, and the two shook their heads. "No way…" they said in Unison "We're too different"

Noticing their joint sentence, they flushed with embarrassment and turned away.

Yuffie giggled. "See! You two are just alike! I don't know whose hair is weirder!"

"HEY! This takes a long time!" Reno and Cloud said at once. They sneered at each other.

"Stop Copying me!" "NO! You stop copying ME!" "I said STOP, DAMMIT!" the growled at each other, frustrated with being called alike in any way.

"Let Go of My HAIR!" "No! You let Go first!"

Yuffie and Tifa were beside themselves in laughter, Merina grinned, and even Vincent cracked a smile. It seemed Reno and Cloud thought more alike then they knew. Finally, though, Yuffie and Tifa pulled the two men from each other.

Both men were cut and banged up in many places. Cloud's hairstyle had been reduced to a shaggy mop that somewhat covered his face, and Reno's hair was tied in bunches of knots and tangles. Knowing the Men's pride in their hair, Tifa set to work fixing Cloud's and Yuffie to fixing Reno's. Then, Yuffie changed her mind and handed the brush to Merina.

"I'm sure you know long hair better than me." She said, grinning. As Reno sat at the edge of the bed, she dressed his wounds while Merina brushed Reno's hair.

Vincent, seeing Tifa occupied with Cloud's hair, fetched some supplies and set to work on cleaning up Cloud's many small injuries.

"What a day…" Tifa said, smiling.

"Yes, Indeed…" said Vincent, looking at Cloud with a secret smirk.

Cloud's face flushed red and he looked away from Vincent.

Yuffie watched the trio with curiosity, stopping her work with Reno for a moment to scratch her head in thought. What is going on with those guys? Vincent acts like some jealous girl… and Tifa is all clingy when he's around. I swear, if I didn't know any better… She shrugged her shoulders and continued her work.

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After everyone was made "whole" again, Cloud reluctantly left to go back upstairs, along with Tifa, Yuffie, and Vincent. Tifa had suggested the give Reno and Merina some alone time.

Cloud sat with his back to the bar, leaning back on it and staring at the ceiling. "We have to do something about those guys… those Turks… what are their names?..."

"Mikono and Meseta." said Tifa.

"Yeah, the M&M's" Yuffie said, giggling.

Cloud rolled his eyes, though a small smile was apparent on his face.

"Yes, well… something has to be done about them. They may have orders not to kill Reno, but I'm sure that'll change if they find out about Merina."

"Not only that, but they'll go after her, too." added Tifa.

"Yes, and us as well." Vincent said.

"We all agree something must be done… but the question is… What?" Cloud said. This was not going to be easy…

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Well? Well? I'm especially proud of this chapter… it was fun to write.. had to get all kinds of emotions into it… and YAY! We Finally see YUFFIE (the most super cool ninja of all time…)

Anyway, please R&R while I go get me some Reno.

Reno: "AAAAAAHHH Not again!" runs away

"You know you love me!"

Reno: "I love YOU, not whips and Chains!"

"Hee hee… okay, I promise… no chains"

Reno: "What about whips?"

Whip-pish! (whip sound, lol)

Reno: "AAAAAAAHHHH SOMEBODY SAVE ME!"