Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and PlayStation are owned by Square Enix and Sony, respectively, meaning they do not belong to me. I am in no way, shape, and/or form claiming to be the owner/creator of these concepts, though I do claim any characters not apart of the original Final Fantasy VII or Advent Children storylines (such as Rayne, Marcus, and Kale) mine. As such, I would appreciate fellow authors and readers to give credit where credit is due and not steal any of my characters and/or concepts. Thank you, and have a pleasant day.

(Attempts at Negotiations)

Astrid grabbed the handles and pushed him to the door, nodding to Rude when he opened it for them. She looked down at Rufus as she pushed him through, "What do you want Cloud for?"

"I need his help." Rufus said, "Now turn me back to the door and we'll wait for the opportune moment."

Astrid quirked a brow and stared at the back of his head.

Rufus jerked slightly, then shook his head, "Please."

"Better." She grabbed the wheelchair and turned it, backing further into the room when Cloud burst into the foyer of the cabin. 'He looks like he's doing well enough…' She smirked when he tricked Reno out the door and shut it on him.

"Okay! So you're good!"

She held back a laugh, sobering when the ever serious Rude walked through the door, pulling on his gloves.

"Yeah, Rude! Lookin' sharp!"

Cloud and Rude were about to fight when Cloud raised his heavy sword to Rude's neck, making the Turk back off.

"That's enough." Astrid walked through the door, grabbing Rude's arm and pulling him back, glaring at him slightly, "He's not here to fight." She looked at Cloud and smiled, "Hey, Cloud."

He nodded to her, lowering his sword, "Astrid. It's good to see you. Tifa's been worried."

"It's good to see that you still fight like the SOLDIER you once claimed to be." Rufus said, wheeling himself into the room and stopping between Rude and Astrid, "You haven't lost your touch."

Cloud blinked in shock, "Rufus Shinra?" He then looked at Rude, "Do I feel sorry for you."

Rude and Astrid looked away and coughed, Astrid holding back a laugh. Rufus jerked his head back at them, then looked at Cloud again, "The day of the explosion..."

Cloud frowned, "What do you want from me?"

Rufus continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, "I managed to get out..."

Cloud's frown changed to a scowl. "Who were the guys that attacked me?"

Rufus still continued, "Before it collapsed..."

Cloud started to turn away, "I'm leaving."

The room was silent for a moment.

"We need your assistance, Cloud." Rufus said.

Cloud shook his head and turned away, "Not interested."

"I acknowledge that Shin-Ra ... owes the planet a lot." Rufus said, stopping Cloud, "It goes without saying that my company and I are the ones that put the world in the sorry state it's in. Therefore, it's our responsibility to set things right."

"I'm still out here!"

"Shut it, Reno!" Astrid shouted, frowning.

Rufus ignore them and went on, "As a first step, we have commenced an investigation in Sephiroth's wake."

"Yep! At the Northern Cave!"

This time, Astrid didn't bother to snap at him. She was too busy staring at Rufus in shock.

"This news to you, too?" Cloud asked, glancing at her.

"You bet it is." Astrid said, shaking her head and walking to the right, leaning against the wall and staring at them, "I've been out of the loop a bit too long."

"In this investigation, what do you think we found?" Rufus asked, moving on. When Cloud tensed, he shook his head, "Nothing. Nothing at all. You can relax. However, not all went as planned. We were interrupted by the same three who attacked you — Kadaj and his gang."

"Kadaj…"

"Kadaj?"

Everyone looked at Astrid, Cloud asking, "You know them?"

"Met them recently." She said, frowning, "Polite enough boys… but hiding something."

"Polite." Rufus scoffed. He turned back to Cloud, "It seems he doesn't want us finishing what we started. Really, what could they be thinking?"

Astrid frowned, tempted to say something but biting her tongue.

"What does this have to do with me?" Cloud asked, frowning.

"You're our buddy, aren't ya?"

"Reno." Astrid raised her voice, never looking away from Cloud and Rufus.

"Kadaj and his group are young and violent — as dangerous as they come." Rufus said, "That's why we decided that it might be in our best to hire a little muscle." He nodded to Cloud, at which point the mercenary scoffed and turned away.

"Too bad. I'm only a delivery boy now."

"You're all we have." Rufus said after him, frowning, "Cloud, look, you're an ex-SOLDIER, aren't you?"

"Heh, in my head." Cloud paused at the door, not looking back, "What's this stuff about… Mother?"

Rufus blinked, "Why? Did Kadaj say something to you? No surprise." He shrugged, "There are plenty of kids who miss their mothers; that's the world we live in. I hear there are orphans living with you. Think about it: don't you want to put smiles back on their faces? All we want in the end is to rebuild our world, Cloud."

For a moment, it looked like Rufus was actually about to get Cloud. He turned back and glanced at the president, understanding and consent beginning to show on his face.

"But… I…"

"Come on, Cloud! Think about it! Together, we could rebuild Shin-Ra!" And with that, the bond was broken.

"Not interested." Cloud turned to the door and slammed it open, shocking Reno.

"RENO!" Rude and Rufus shouted.

"Cloud, wait!" The mercenary stopped, looking back at Astrid. She walked forward, shaking her head, "Do not fight Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo without help, and don't search any more into this 'Mother' thing. Alright?"

Cloud frowned, "Why?"

"Can't you tell?" She asked, her eyes widening, "Can't you see him in their eyes?"

Cloud stared at her for a moment longer, then turned and walked out the door, shouting over his shoulder, "Good luck, Astrid."

She ran to the door, shouting after him, "Don't fight them without us!" She watched him until he rode off, turning back into the room and shutting the door with a sigh. Astrid glared at Rufus, "Why didn't you tell him?"

Rufus, Reno and Rude stared at her, the president asking, "You know?"

"As if I couldn't." Astrid rolled her eyes, "Silver hair, mako eyes, and constant references to 'Mother'… Who else could they be but remnants of Jenova?"

"Cloud hasn't noticed." Rude said, frowning.

Astrid shook her head and sighed, "Cloud has only ever seen them between sword clashes at one hundred and twenty miles an hour. On top of that…" She shook her head, "He's still grieving."

"Jeez, that guy sure can hold on, can't he?" Reno asked, scratching his head.

"I guess that's something he and I have in common." Astrid said blandly, quirking a brow and crossing her arms.

Reno blinked and coughed, looking away.

Astrid sighed and shook her head, then frowned as a thought struck her, "Hey… where are Tseng and Elena?"

Rude and Reno looked away, and even Rufus lowered his eyes.

Astrid knew then that something was wrong.

"Where are they." This time, it wasn't a question.

"…At the Northern Crater," Rufus began, still looking at the ground, "Something… happened." He looked up at her and frowned, "Something with those 'polite boys'. We haven't seen them since." He paused, his frown deepening. "When did you meet them?"

"Today." She answered distractedly, thinking about Tseng and Elena, "We met not long before they fought Cloud. And they were polite… to me, at least." She looked at him and frowned, "They called me 'sister' and told me I was still invited to the Reunion."

"…Still invited…" Rufus frowned, "I don't like the sound of that."

"Rufus, what do you know about their search for Jenova?" Astrid asked, "Why do they still feel her presence? I thought we destroyed her?"

"You did." Rufus nodded, "They're wrong. We didn't find anything in the Northern Crater, so they can't be sensing anything."

Astrid frowned, "Then how did they come back if there isn't something left?"

Rufus frowned, taking a moment to answer, "Whatever there was left, if anything, was obviously used up making them. If it hadn't been, then they wouldn't be searching."

Astrid nodded, unable to deny the logic in it. Still…

"Don't think about it too hard." Rufus said, smirking at her, "You'll make the wrinkles on your forehead deeper."

She blinked, her eyebrows raising, "Excuse me?"

"Nothing." Rufus said, chuckling and waving her off, "Nothing at all."

"Fine, if you say so." Astrid turned and walked to the door, opening it.

"Where are you going?"

She turned back to Rufus and shrugged, "I've kinda been negligent in keeping in contact with Tifa. She worries enough as it is, so I thought I'd go see her. I'll be back soon enough." She pulled a PHS out of her pocket, waving it and quirking a brow, "I still have this if you need anything."

"Don't be long." Rufus said, frowning, "I don't like the fact that Kadaj and his gang are so interested in you."

"Jealous?" Astrid smirked, "Don't worry; I don't like men younger than me."

"I'm serious, Astrid." Rufus growled, glaring at her, "If anything happens, call here immediately. When you're done, come back immediately. Don't be gone longer than you have to."

Astrid rolled her eyes, "I'll be fine. I have Misha and I'm stronger than I look."

"You'll also have Dark Nation. Take her with you." Rufus said, nodding.

"Don't you think she should stay with you?" Astrid asked, "She's your daughter, after all. She needs to spend some time with her father."

He shook his head, "She'll understand. Go on, and remember to be back quickly."

She rolled her eyes and walked out the door, waving a hand over her shoulder, "Yes, o mighty overlord of my soul. I shalt obey thine wishes on the wings of the swiftest of chocobos."

Rufus frowned after her, shaking his head, "Why do I bother?"

"Because you two are inexplicably and constantly drawn to each other." Rude answered, smirking slightly.

Reno blinked and looked at his fellow, smiling, "Hey! Rude cracked a grin! Cool!"

Rufus moaned and smacked his head, "Now I remember; she's saner than the rest of you."

………

At the bottom of the stairs, Astrid knelt beside Dark Nation and patted her head, "Hon, could you stay here and keep an eye on Rufus for me?"

The hellcat licked Astrid's cheek and purred.

Astrid smiled, hugging the cat, "Thanks, Dark." She stood and walked over to Misha, mounting the chocobo and grabbing the reins, "Let's go, Misha. We're long overdue for a visit to Edge. And what do you say we take the off-road route, eh?"

The chocobo threw her back and warked loudly, dashing into the forest.

Coniferous trees were reduced to green blurs as they past through the glades at breakneck speed, the chocobo happy to be in one of her two greatest elements.

It all past too quickly, though, and soon they were on the grasslands, which quickly dissipated to the rocky terrain.

Midgar closed in, then past as the chocobo ran in a curve around the abandoned city and headed for the smaller city behind it; the city of Edge.