Disclaimer: Hmmm... No i don't think I want to own it anymore. This is actually pretty fun! :D

Soooo... I'm back! :D You guys should just be happy that I am posting and pushing through. I have wondered several times if I should even finish, and in truth I do it just for you guys! :) Though, this story is officially now over 40,000 words and 104 pages! :D Yay!

Zack woke up to a familiar smell. Forcing his eyes to open and sitting up Zack looked around. He had to wait for a dizzy spell pass. Blinking the spots out of his eyes, he found himself in Angeal's and his apartment… in Shinra HQ… in Midgar… before his promotion to First Class. His eyes roamed the room again as he was lost in thought. He had died protecting Cloud. Cloud was safe, and joined a new faction of Avalanche. At that point, Sephiroth came back to life. Cloud defeated him twice. Then things deteriorated. People started to die from a mysterious sickness and sadly, from other crazed people. All of the water on Gaia became poisonous. The animals and vegetation died off. The planet screamed for help that was nowhere to be found. Yet, there was one last chance. It was slim and dangerous. The next thing that Zack was aware of was being flushed into the big pool of Lifestream. After which, he woke up in his room as Shinra years in the past.

Zack shot off the couch and dashed into his room. It was the same. The books were still scattered across the room, some half open, some on shelves, and others upside down. Not as many clothes littered the floor, a lot of them were actually in the laundry bin. As usual, his bed wasn't made. The dirty dishes that were there when he first woke up were nowhere in sight and the papers were on a nice stack on his desk.

"Zackary?" Sephiroth's voice came from behind him.

Zack turned, wide-eyed and ready to strike down Sephiroth before he could kill him, but stopped dead in his tracks at the concern in his eyes. Those eyes did not belong to a madman. The man before him was the Sephiroth he knew before Jenova got a hold of him. He relaxed and gave his friend a half smile.

"Are you alright?" Sephiroth looked at Zack as if he might crumble.

"Yah," Zack answered truthfully as he tried to rub out a sore spot on his neck to help wake himself up. "Why do you ask?"

"Hmmm…" Sephiroth turned around. "Breakfast."

"You cook?" Zack called following him only to stop in his tracks again so he would not bump into Sephiroth.

"Indeed," Sephiroth's simple reply came as he entered the kitchen.

Zack's smile reached from ear to ear. He shook his head at a buzz and pull that suddenly appeared in his gut. He slowly walked toward the sensation. It was familiar, almost as if it has called to him before. Ignoring all around him, he slipped out the door and toward the feeling in the shadows, avoiding extra attention. To the staircase, up the stairs, and onto the roof, not a single eye caught where he ended up going. Zack squinted from the light radiating from the rising sun. A grin plastered on his face, he started toward a figure with wild spikey hair that was climbing out of the helicopter. He stopped mid stride, pissed. That head of spikes left he out of something. He marched over to the other figure, pulled his arm back, and punched with all his strength.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Cissnei stretched as she climbed out of the helicopter, holding two of the three bags. Still in the infantrymen's uniform, Cloud climbed out of the helicopter and stood next to her. Her gaze shifted forward to a figure stalking up to them. Before she could make out who was approaching them, a fist punched Cloud square in the jaw sending him flying back into her. Cloud jumped into action, tackling the stranger. He brought his hand back to punch back, only to stop at the sight of a smiling Zack. Cloud only had a moment to blink before Zack headbutted him. Cloud gritted his teeth, pulled his head back, and held Zack's wrists. They stared into each other's eyes like that for a while.

"I hope I'm not int—" Cissnei started.

"What is your problem?" Cloud hissed.

"The punch was for leaving me behind," Zack retorted. "And the headbutt was for not telling me."

"And this," Cloud let go of Zack's wrists and punched him in the jaw. "That was for being an idiot."

"Idiot? Really?" Zack pushed Cloud's knees from out underneath him causing the two to roll across the roof.

"Yeah, who told who about things when he should have kept his mouth shut?"

Cissnei thought about letting them duel it out all night if they wanted too, after all men just punched each other when they were mad and it was over. However tempting it was, they couldn't duke it out all night on the roof. Sighing, Cissnei walked over to stand above the two, heels clacking with each step. She waited to see if they had noticed her, when they continued yelling and hitting each other, she reached down and slapped the back of their heads. Instantly, the two looked at her.

"Ow! That hurt," Zack whined.

"What was that for?" Cloud growled.

"Hello boys, are you done yet?" Cissnei smiled cheerily down at them.

"I was just saying hi to Cloud." Zack replied looking all but too innocent as he jumped up on his feet.

"Saying 'hi'?" Cloud narrowed his eyes as he stood up and dusted off.

"Why don't you check in with Veld while Zack and I get the bags?" Cissnei suggested to Cloud.

"Hmph," Cloud shrugged as he headed to the elevator.

"Hello Zackary, how are you doing?" Cissnei asked as she handed him two bags and reached in to grab the last one to sling it over her shoulder.

"Eh, pretty good for what you guys did," Zack remarked.

"I'm sorry about that…" Cissnei truly felt bad about it, especially what it did to Cloud. "We didn't know that the two of you were that connected."

Zack stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean?"

"Well, when Hollander was done sealing your memories they started to flow into Cloud." Cissnei walked past Zack so she didn't have to look at him in the eyes. "It nearly killed him."

"Whew," Zack whistled. "That didn't even cross my mind. I didn't think anything like that would happen. I guess I should have realized it given what happened the first time."

"What happened the first time?" Cissnei was at a true loss of words for that.

Zack opened his mouth to answer when no one other than Sephiroth stepped out of the elevator. Zack's mind stopped in its tracks when an image of Sephiroth's bright green eyes gone insane invaded every sense. Zack grabbed his head as the smell of burnt flesh and immense heat swallowed him.

No matter what you try or do, this will come to pass. Jenova hissed at him. Just give up and give in. I will always win. If I have already destroyed the planet once, I can do it again.

Get outta my head you snake. You are nothing but a name to him and soon you shall just be a device of torture that that sorry excuse of a man uses.Zack's grip on his head tightened as he tried to push the alien out. Who invited you in here anyways? Certainly not me, you unwanted piece of—

Zack fell to his knees as Jenova shrieked. The sound seemed to split his head in two.

You worthless life form, how dare you insult me!

Temper, temper, Zack chided with his jaw clenched. And here I thought you were supposed to be some sort of lady.

"Zack!" Cissnei's concerned voice broke through Jenova's hold on Zack. He blinked up at her with a half-smile.

"Whatcha doin' up there?" Zack asked.

"Well, what are you doing down there?" Cissnei held a hand out for Zack.

"Thanks," Zack grabbed the offered hand and stood.

"Fair," Sephiroth's monotone voice drew Zack's attention.

"You didn't leave breakfast to burn did you?" Zack inquired with wide eyes.

"No," Sephiroth narrowed his eyes and called for the elevator.

"It's a complicated story Cissnei, and I am not sure I could answer you correctly. I didn't understand the situation myself," Zack continued as he shook his head.

They stood in silence until the elevator doors opened and the three climbed in. It was only then did Zack note that Cissnei was carrying all three bags. He reached to grab them, but she just shook her head no. Sephiroth swiped his card and hit the floor for the Firsts' apartments then hit the floor for the Turks.

"Huh… oh, well, does Chocobo know?" Cissnei asked.

"Chocobo? Oh!" Zack laughed. "Good one, I can't believe I didn't think of it! Hm, I'm not sure. The best one to ask is the flower maiden."

"I'll do that, thanks," Cissnei replied with a smile.

They rode in silence until the doors opened the Firsts' floor. Sephiroth looked at Zack to exit the elevator.

"Well, it looks like this is my stop as well." Zack shrugged and got off, Sephiroth close behind him. Zack was about to say goodbye to Cissnei when the elevator doors closed.

Sephiroth stepped around Zack and opened the door to Angeal's apartment. Zack dutifully walked in, knowing that he was going to get a "talk" as soon as the door closed. Well, it really wasn't actually talking when it came to Sephiroth, he would just tell you what you did wrong.

Give in!

The mental blow from Jenova blacked out Zack's vision. Zack stumbled and would have hit the ground, hard, if Sephiroth's hands hadn't caught him.

Become the puppet that you are meant to be.

Zack ground his teeth and tried to push her out. However, instead of feeling a receding presence, Jenova seemed to pull closer. A clawed hand started to reach out toward him threateningly.

"Will you just leave me alone!" Zack shouted while pushing with all his might, forcing the alien as far back as he could.

"I cannot do that Zackary." Sephiroth's calm voice sounded close.

Zack forced an eye open. "Sorry Seph, I didn't mean you."

"A nightmare than?" Dr. Daniels inquired standing above him.

"Huh…When did you get here?" Zack asked as he sat up on the couch. "When did I get here?"

"You collapsed when we got in the apartment," Sephiroth stated.

"Oh," Zack got up and started to do squats. Thanks you stupid alien!

Okay, share me your thoughts! Is this enough Cloud for you? Better say goodbye for awhile. I don't know when he will appear again! :D MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!