Author's Noted: Okay, let me begin by saying that no one's really been reviewing as I requested (with the exception of myself just to make sure everything was working properly). Secondly, Cloud may seem a little OoC in this little segement and on top of that, I figured everyone needed a break from the tension, so here we are. Enjoy

disclaimer: As usual, I do not own Final Fantasy 7. As much as I want to, I don't, but yeah...Onward!

Part 4

"I don't understand why lately, but…but I feel as if I know you…Cloud…but…where have we met before? Somewhere other than a dream perhaps? Someday soon, I'll remember, but until then…Let's just be friends, okay?"

-Selena Talos

"Hello?...Okay, hold on…Selena, it's for you." Tifa walked into Selena's room and handed her the phone. Unsure as to what to do, she spoke into it. "Ummm…hello?" "Selena? Oh Selena thank goodness!" cried a familiar voice. "Sigmund? Sigmund is everything alright? And where on Gaia did you find a phone?" Sigmund giggled on the other line and replied "Interestingly enough, Shibuki and I got Cid back. We're in…Hold on…" Sigmund yelled to Shibuki, who said something back and Sigmund's voice returned. "Shibuki says we're in Rocket Town, where ever the hell that is. Either way, it was a tough chase, but we got the old man back-HEY!! DON'T THROW SHIT AT ME!!" Selena pulled the phone away from her ear until the ranting stopped and was replaced by a much more calm voice.

"Terribly sorry about that my lady. Cid and Sigmund have been butting heads ever since the Cid became conscious." Selena gave a sigh of relief, but she quickly put her serious tone on. "Shibuki, don't tell Sigmund this, but Faera and I were nearly captured yesterday. We're alright, but we escaped by the skid of our teeth." It was silent for a moment, excluding the worried ragged breath on the other line. "Did the mortals escape as well?" he asked as calmly as he could. "Yeah, in fact they kept their word that they would protect me, as much as I begged them to just let me go. I really wish you were here to see Cloud fend off Silver back before he nearly destroyed Faera! I wish you could've seen the way his eyes were alight with fury and the way he didn't back down against me when I tried to leave!" she squealed in a foreign language and Shibuki gasped. "MY LADY!! What in the world could have possessed you into thinking of leaving the safety of the bar?! As for Cloud, give him my thanks. However, as soon as Cid's up and about, I will be back in no time. In the mean time, I'll send Sigmund back to you as extra protection. Those mortals alone can't hold off Artemia forever." He hissed angrily and Selena smiled. "Alright. Just be careful. The both of you."

"Of course." He concluded before he hung up and Selena handed the phone back to Tifa. "What did they say? And what were you squealing about?" She asked and Selena blushed. "Never mind the squealing bit, but guess what? Sigmund and Shibuki retrieved Cid and they're all in Rocket Town right now." She grinned and both girls screamed with utter joy. Tifa snapped her fingers and declared "you know what? This calls for a celebration. As soon as everyone is free from work, we should all get together and have a party for Cid's return" Selena 

tilted her head and asked "Shouldn't we wait until Cid's better so he can celebrate too? According to Shibuki, Cid just became conscious recently." Tifa nodded and replied "Good point…Either way, we should tell the others that we finally got him back."

"Naturally…Oh and Tifa."

"What?"

"Sigmund will be returning shortly. Shibuki said he was going to stay with Cid until he got better and Sigmund would have to watch over Faera and I until Shibuki gets back. I just thought I should give you a heads up." Selena warned. Tifa frowned a little and took a seat next to her. "Selena, when are you going to tell us what's going on? I really don't like that you're keeping us in the dark like this. Even if it's just one of us, please give someone an idea as to what we're up against." Selena looked out the window and up into the cloud covered sky. "Tifa…Were there any days that you regretted your birth?"

"To be honest, I've never really thought about it, but no. I've never really regretted being born. It's not like I had a choice in the matter anyways. Why?"

Selena's eyes narrowed as she concentrated on her next choice of words. "I suppose you're right. I guess I didn't have a choice as to whether or not I wanted to be born a base born child…Forgive me Tifa, but I don't think you're the right person to tell." She said softly half to herself and the other half to Tifa. Tifa merely nodded and sighed. "I suppose you can't just tell anyone, but please hurry up before it's too late. There are people willing to help you, but we can't help you if you won't let us in." Selena closed her eyes as a child's voice echoed and filled her mind.

"…I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong…."

"Where…Where have I heard that line before?" she murmured as she rose to her feet and approached the window. Suddenly the roar and visage of a custom built motorcycle and spiky wind tousled hair halted in front of the 7th Heaven. "Cloud's back." Tifa got up and left Selena to ponder over that faint memory. Where had she heard that voice before? She knew it was personal because if it wasn't, she would have forgotten until it was brought up again by the same person. But the question was who had said it and when? As a matter of fact, most of her childhood days were blank. What had happened to her memories? Was she going crazy?

Selena put her hand over her eyes and took a deep shuddering breath. She supposed there was no point in pondering over silly things like this when she still had her whole life ahead of her…saying if Artemia didn't snatch it away from her. Her hand fell to her side as she turned away from the window and made her way down stairs. Maybe all she needed was to be around other people today. Climbing down the stairs, she stopped when she heard Cloud and Tifa talking. Even though it was against her better judgment, she stopped and listened.

"Cloud, don't even think about badgering her! It'll only make this all the more difficult for her and for us."

"Tifa, I really hate to say this, but I don't like waiting around if there's a battle to be fought. The sooner we find out who's after her, the sooner we can take care of this problem and everyone will be happy." He argued, but Tifa snorted irritably.

"It's so easy for you to say that Cloud, but I don't Selena would agree with you on that. It's seems to be something painful to really tell anyone. I mean, for Ifrit's sake, she regrets her birth! Now would you want to tell just anyone about your past if you were hurt that bad?"

Selena leaned in just a little and all of a sudden, she lost her balance and took a sliding tumble down the stairs. "Oh my Odin, Selena are you alright?!" Tifa panicked as she rushed over to the flustered goddess. Selena slowly got to her feet and checked to make sure nothing was broken. "Yeah…Yeah I'm fine." She said and feigned a smile. Tifa looked a little unsure but smiled assuringly anyway. "Just be careful next time. If Sigmund's coming back soon, I don't want him getting upset if you break your neck or something." Selena finished climbing down the rest of the stairs and took a seat on one of the unoccupied bar stools. Today the 7th Heaven was closed and that usually meant that it was Cloud and Tifa's day off. Suddenly, the door burst open and in pounded Denzel and Marlene with excited grins. "Cloud! Tifa! You promised you'd take us to the park today! So can we go? Can we? Can we?" Marlene piped as she and Denzel bounced in place. Cloud looked from Tifa to the children. He cocked an eyebrow and shrugged "I don't see why not."

"But Cloud, we can't just leave Faera and Selena unprotected if we both go…I've got it! Selena come with me. You guys wait here!" Tifa belted out as she lugged Selena upstairs, leaving Cloud and the children baffled. "What was that all about?" Cloud mumbled.

Meanwhile…

"Selena try this on!" Tifa shoved a light green sun dress in Selena's hands and shoved her into the bathroom to change. "Tifa, what is going on?" Selena mewed out in the midst of changing. "You're going with Cloud and the children today. I'll stay here with Faera in the meantime." She explained and Selena wrenched the door open. "What?!" she cried and Tifa smiled. "It makes plenty of sense Selena, just go and have fun. Besides, it may be an educational experience for you since you're not from this world, right?" Selena snorted and shook her head disbelievingly. "And I thought Yuffie had energy!" she laughed as they went back down stairs 

and the children looked from Cloud to Tifa and finally their eyes rested on Selena. "That's a pretty dress Selena. Is that Tifa's?" Marlene asked as Selena approached them. "I'm just letting Selena borrow it so she won't stick out like a sore thumb." Cloud looked at Selena and said in a rather amused tone "I didn't know you still wore dresses Tifa." Tifa waved it off and commented "Last time I checked, I was a woman Cloud. And like most women, I wear dresses sometimes, but it's only for special occasions. Now you guys have fun and be safe." Marlene and Denzel gave quick waves before trying to tug Cloud out the door with Selena laughing right behind them.

A little while later…

"Ow, Marlene! Denzel! Slow down and quit pulling on me!" Cloud whined as they finally came upon their destination: the play ground. The children broke their grasps on Cloud and joyfully fled to the swings first. "They're a riot aren't they? They must really look up to you." Cloud looked over at Selena. She looked at him with those shocking green eyes that he seemed to find unnerving. "Yeah…I guess…." He mumbled as she turned her gaze from him and watched the children. "Do you think we should join them, or act like stiff jointed adults?"

"Selena…"

"Yes?"

Cloud frowned a little as he debated on whether or not to go through with the action and ask about what she wouldn't tell. "Never mind…It's nothing." He concluded, but Selena wouldn't let the deathly silence hang between them just like that. "Cloud…Can you remember your childhood?"

"A little bit here and there. Why?"

Selena shifted uncomfortably and sighed "I just wanted to know if everyone forgets about their childhood like me."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't remember anything before I turned 17 almost four years ago. Sure, I remember my parents and everyone back home, but there's this big blank in between. I can't ever remember doing anything bad in that time line." She narrowed her eyes out of confusion as she peered back at Cloud. Cloud noticed that pain Tifa had mentioned earlier. "If it means anything, I'm still trying to regain all of my memories after an incident nearly…"

"Nearly what? Did you remember something?"

"Nearly four years ago…" he murmured. Both Mako blue and bright green eyes were wide now. "You…You don't think this is just a coincidence, do you?" he asked and Selena shrugged. "I don't know Cloud. I guess there's nothing left to do, but wait and see."

"Selena! Cloud! Come play with us!" Denzel called to them as he hung upside down on the monkey bars. "Denzel! I said not to be doing that! You're going to fall and crack your head open!" Cloud chided as he marched over to him. Selena shook her head and mumbled "Said Mother hen!" She watched Cloud help Denzel get down from the monkey bars and smiled. Denzel's gaze met her own and he motioned over. "C'mon Selena! Honestly, you're so slow!" he whined as the goddess laughed, approaching the two slowly. Denzel took off and that left Selena alone with Cloud again. "Do you wanna try the swings?" he asked and Selena tilted her head. "Swings?" Cloud looked as if he were about to fall over. He quickly regained composure and led her over to the swing set. "Just sit in it and keep your feet up while I push you."

Selena obeyed and Cloud lightly pushed her from behind. The wind brushed past her face as the swing climbed higher and at moments, she felt like she were flying and Cloud had become her wings. "Higher!" she laughed and Cloud obliged with a smile as he put a little more power behind the push. Cloud stood back and smiled as her crystal clear laugh filled the playground like a joyful sonata. Suddenly a small memory trickled back…

Cloud had a rough childhood from what he could remember in his time he spent in the town of Nibelheim. He remembered just turning 7 years old and that day someone just moved into town, or so his mother told him at the time. He was on his way to deliver his mother's special pie: Banora White apple pie and it was fresh from the oven too! "Alright sweety, I want you to take this to the new neighbors just down the road from us and I want you to be on your best behavior, okay? Can I trust you?" his mother asked and of course, he nodded. Cloud would have done anything for his mother back then. He remembered how the house reeked of apples and as he went out the door, the sun shone beautifully and everything seemed to sing with life. Down the long dusty country road, Cloud trod along until a huge house came into sight. His first thought was that the neighbors were really rich seeing that the house looked a bit Wutaian. Certainly not a good style to have when winter came. Didn't they know that winter in Nibelheim could be rough if you couldn't keep the heat in the house? He strode up the porch and nervously knocked on the door. The adults in this part of the world tended to make him fuss and fidget just by merely looking at him like he did something wrong. The door was answered by a man with short, shaggy, sandy brown hair and he peered down at him at first with suspicion, but his eyes softened as Cloud offered him the pie. "Oh, you're one of our neighbors aren't you? Would you like to come in?"



The memory faded and Cloud shook his head. As much as he wanted to remember more, he couldn't. As his eyes refocused, Selena was standing in front of him. "Are you okay? You've been standing there for almost 5 minutes, Cloud". Cloud waved it off and said "Yeah…It was just something coming back, that's all." Selena smiled and the children ran up to them. "Did you two wear off that spare energy?" he chuckled and Denzel's stomach growled as he clutched at his abdomen. "We're hungry!" Marlene groaned as she dusted the sand off from her skirt and legs. "I suppose it is time to go back…" Selena said softly, looking curiously at Cloud as the children took his hands again, but this time they didn't try to pull him off his feet.

Sorry if the end sucks, but I couldn't think of a better way of ending it and I didn't want to drag it out...Anyways, Read and Review or whatever it is you guys do...I RHYMED!!