Tengoko: First chapter I've written before midnight! Well, thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. Keep them coming. I love them.

Disclaimer: so redudant...
Rated M for language and romance

Chapter 7: Phone Calls

Reno just couldn't sit still. Even his secretary commented on his unusual cheery mood upon his greeting to her. The entire day, she saw Reno perform his tasks, faster than what was typical, and he even had time to sit down and talk with her for a while. It surprised her really. It's not that Reno was a stuck up man, it's just, he was usually so busy and wrapped in his work that he never had the time for it.

"So, you are going on vacation tomorrow, Mr. Storm? I hear that the weather in Wutai is going to be clear."

Reno smiled at Molly and nodded. He saw her gray eyes twinkle with happiness and suddenly felt guilty that his secretary hadn't had a vacation in a long time. "So, how are the grandchildren?" he asked with genuine interest.

"I'll tell you what, they are so much easier than having your own children. I can spoil them, take them when I want, and when they get fussy, I can give them back to their parents. I wish I had that option when their parents were my children…" She laughed and his chuckled as he leaned back in his chair.

"Speaking of children, Tifa and I are expecting another child," he said with pride.

"That's wonderful. You know, I always thought that you and Mrs. Storm were the perfect match. She brings out the best in you and, while I don't know her very well, I'm sure you do the same for her. That's exactly what this city needs; a family man. That's why you are going to win. We need a firm, but sensitive leader. Fatherhood is much the same."

"I don't think being president will be as satisfying as being a father," he smiled. Standing up, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pad of paper. "Can I borrow a pen?" he asked. She happily obliged and watched curiously as he scribbled on his paper. "Molly, I want you to do me a favor."

"Yes, Mr. Storm." She stood up, her head barely coming up to his chest.

Reno ripped the paper off of the pad and handed it to her. "Take this down to personnel. You need a vacation, and really, there's no sense in you staying here when I'm not here. So, this way, we both have stories to tell when we come back."

Molly was speechless. She stared down at the words but couldn't believe them. "You are too kind, sir."

"Not at all, Molly. Just fair." He patted her on the shoulder before telling her to get on her way. Turning around, he went back into his office and began filing away some papers (mostly plans for Sector Seven). Suddenly, the lights flickered. Of course, he thought nothing of it; lights flicker all the time.

However, what happened afterwards is what worried him. Suddenly, there were executives running around chaotically, shouting and cursing. Reno abandoned his papers and poked his head out of his office, trying to catch somebody going by. It was seemingly a coincidence that the next person was Rufus Shinra.

"Reno, we need to talk…now." He all but pushed Reno back into his office and closed the door behind him.

"What's going on?" Reno asked.

"There was an explosion at the Sector Eight power plant," Rufus walked to the window and pulled the blinds open. Sure enough, a cloud of smoke was billowing high above the horizon. Rufus looked at Reno with his glassy eyes and he knew right away that something was off about his boss. "Tseng and Rude just phoned in and told me that the terrorists have already been captured, but there is a more persisting problem. The damage is pretty bad. According to my information, the explosion decimated five square miles and the loss of life will be in the hundreds."

"Who was responsible?" Reno asked. His jaw was clenched now as he thought of all the people who were trapped, injured, dying or dead. It was a feeling very reminiscent of Sector Seven. Only then…it had been his fault.

"It doesn't matter. We'll worry about getting to the bottom of this later. Right now, I need to send in a special team to retrieve survivors."

Reno finally understood why Rufus had come. "No. No, Rufus. I'm leaving today. Tifa and I are going to Wutai, ask somebody else."

"There is nobody else. There are two people who know this city like the back of their hand. One is Reeve, but as it is, he's in Gongaga. He probably hasn't even heard about the attacks yet. Then, there is you. Reno, I need you to stay. No- I'm ordering you to stay. There are people who's lives are depending on it."

Reno said nothing, only stared vacantly at the black cloud that contrasted horribly with the pale blue sky. What could he do? People were dying and Rufus was waiting for Reno's answer. In the meantime, the sector continued to burn, there was no time to waste.

"Is my team assembled?" he asked stoically, his hands coming up to rub his eyes.

"It is being done as we speak. They should be ready to move out on your command."

"You owe me, Rufus. You owe me big."

"And you'll be repaid in full. For now, my people are dying."

Reno nodded and picked his jacket up from the back of his chair. "I'll keep you briefed," he said, pulling his PHS out of his pocket. As he walked towards the elevator, he dialed his home number and waited. "Baby? Yeah, it's me." He entered the elevator and hit the 'door close' button. "Yes, from what I hear, it's pretty bad. It looks like I'll be working overtime, sweet. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'll call you before I come home. Alright, babe. I love you too."

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Hanging up the phone, Tifa sadly leaned against the kitchen counter and sighed. She couldn't be mad at Reno. He was doing the right thing in staying. She'd have done it too; after all, people needed saving and that was nothing to get upset over.

Picking up her basket of laundry, she walked into the living room and paused to look at the television. The screen showed the carnage, the blaze that was only now beginning to die down. Helicopters were flying above ground zero, dropping water on the inferno. The newscaster had said that rescue teams couldn't go in until the flames were under control, or they'd be risking more lives unnecessarily.

She set the basket down and turned the television off. She didn't want Lena to come downstairs and see it. As she picked the basket back up, she headed towards the stairs and up to Lena's room.

It appeared that Lena was in the bathroom, so it gave Tifa ample time to put her clothes in her drawers. As she was doing so, she heard Wes' voice from his bedroom. Shaking her head, she straightened up and walked over to his door, pressing her ear against it. Sure it was wrong to spy, but at this point, Tifa felt that it was the only way she could monitor her sons actions.

"Yeah?" she heard an excited Wes. "Is it really like that? Do you think there's a lot of materia?" There was a pause before, "Awesome! Sure, I'll be there. Just give me ten minutes to meet you guys at the usual spot."

Had the boy forgotten that he was grounded? There was no way he was going anywhere, especially not to a place where there was a catastrophic explosion. She put her hand on the doorknob and was about to push her way into the room until this: "So, who's bringing the pot?"

She froze in her tracks. Surely, she couldn't have heard that correctly. Wes certainly had his faults, but being a drug user? This totally blindsided her. "Sweet…and the booze? Kris? How'd he get a hold of that? Oh damn, I hope his father doesn't find out. Last time he beat his ass back and blue for it."

Suddenly, an overwhelming anger took over Tifa, and she burst into the room. Wes only had enough time to turn around just as Tifa ripped the phone cord out of the wall, quickly ending his conversation with Lucius. He couldn't remember ever seeing his mother so angry in his life, and for a moment, he felt like a little boy all over again. "Mom?" he asked, trying to sound casual, but she could see the horror in his eyes.

"I hope, Wes, that I heard you wrong," she whispered dangerously. "Please tell me that you were only joking."

"Okay," he shrugged. "I was only joking. Will that help you sleep better tonight, mother?" His voice was dripping with disdain, and he stood up, appearing ready to defend himself. "Should I be afraid? I mean, father's not here to save me now, huh?"

"You are in so much trouble." Her voice shook in every word and she inched forward.

Wes rolled his eyes and dismissed her. "Same song as always mother. Hell, it's not even a different verse."

"Shut up!" she screamed, erupting at long last. "I'm trying to figure out what to do with you!"

"The more perverse, the better, I always say. Well, until you figure it out, I'll be downstairs watching television."

He tried to get passed her, but Tifa held her hands against the doorpost and blocked his path. "Not this time, Wes! We aren't talking about scouring Sector Seven anymore. This is worse! Not even your father will be able to make excuses for you this time."

"Why don't we wait for him to come home to find out?" he asked, his eyes challenging his mother in every way possible. "Until then…"

"WESLEY!" she shrieked, practically lifting him off the ground and tossing him onto his bed. He had not been expecting that. He lifted his head a fraction to stare at his mother who appeared to have a fire behind her eyes. "You've crossed the line, child. This time, you'll be punished and more."

"I'm not afraid of you," he spat. "And I'm not afraid of father either." He jumped up from the bed and stood in front of Tifa, staring her straight in the eye as if to challenge her anger. "Do your worst," he sneered.

Tifa reached out for him and clutched him by the collar. Without a word, she turned and dragged him down the steps while he struggled against the strength he underestimated. Before he realized it, they were in the living room and he had been thrown on the couch.

"I am so sick of this, Wes!" she shouted. "I'm sick of this attitude, your defiance. I just don't know what to do with you anymore. So, help me, Wes. What do you think I should do?"

"Forget you heard anything," he offered.

"I can't do that," she shook her head. "Nor do I believe you expected me to."

"Well," he shrugged, "it was worth a shot."

"I'm so lost," she said, looking down at him with anger and pain in her eyes. "I don't know how to punish you short of beating the ever living hell out of you. Is that what it'll take. For me and your father to beat you senseless before you give this up? 'Cause if that's the case, I'll be happy to do it."

"You won't touch me," he spat. "Neither will dad, so come off the act, mother. I know you better than that."

"What's going on?" They both spun around to the kitchen entrance where Cid and Shera stood, their youngest child in her arms. Cid stepped closer and looked at Tifa inquisitively. "Did we come at a bad time?" he asked.

"No," Tifa said triumphantly. "You came at an excellent time."

Cid only had to look at the situation for a moment to get the gist of it. Turning around to his wife, he motioned for her to take their child upstairs and then turned back to look at Wes. "What happened now?" he asked.

"None of your business, Cid. Why don't you mind your own family affairs and stay the hell out of my face?"

Right away, Wes regretted those words. He knew before hand that Cid was not a person to mouth off to, and yet, he went against his better judgment. Still, Cid didn't look that shocked, angry, or anything at all. He simply just took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. "I see," was all he said.

"This is what I have to deal with and more," Tifa told him.

Cid nodded as he lit the stick. "What the boy needs is a good back hand and a foot in the ass."