Everyone, I apologize for being absent. I have had major writers block; I knew what I was to write but my motivation just wasn't there. I'm not asking for reviews, just being honest but if you want to leave one...go right ahead.

I have gone over this chapter and corrected my mistakes. I apologize that my chapters are shorter then originally planned, but I'll make up for it.

Chapter 16

A Mother's Touch, A Father's Love, A Brother's Kiss

'You poor defenseless child...what has he done to you?'

A warm touch of a hand on her face brought her back to her senses. Her eyes stared straight up into the swirling array of colors...like the lights she read about in the Northern Continents. Among the silver, yellow, and blues was a tint of red and that color became two. The eyes looked down at her lovingly.

Ashes squinted and moaned, her body shifting on the soft shifting surface below her. Her hands dug into the softness pushing herself up while her mind registered it as sand. Her eyes stared at the emerald blue-green but nothing came to thought. The warm gentle hand cupped her face again and turned her face toward the source of such gentleness. Next to her sat a woman with choclate brown hair that fanned out like a cascading waterfall, the lights shining silvery off her form. Her eyes though: they were her own.

'I'm so happy to see you finally after all these years.'

Her voice was so sweet, so gentle, so...loving...

"Who are you?"

'You don't recognize your own mother?'

"Mother?"

'I'm the woman who gave birth to you: Tifa Lockhart.'

"But they said you were dead..." Ashes mumbled.

'In body yes, but not in spirit.' her mother answered sadly, 'but there is a way to bring me back.'

"There is?" she asked, confusion and hope mingling in her tone.

'Yes, there is sweetheart and your father knows how.' Tifa answered, a colorful smile illuminating her porcelin skin.

"Cloud?"

'No." Tifa said with a angry look, 'He took you away from me...but now you can come home to me. We can be a happy family with your real father, Sephiroth.'

"They said you two are enemies...that you tried to destroy the planet." Ashes stated.

'No...we had a dream that they were too afraid to understand.' Tifa said bitterly and stood up, her hair flowing about her, her hand clenched in a fist, 'Through our dream we can wipe out the bad and start a new life. We can bring the Promised Land to life and there will be no more differences, no more corruption through governments,' Tifa looked down at her daughter and said softly, 'A place where you can live normally, happily without fault.'

"Promised Land. I have read about that...it's where the Cetra go after they die."

'Yes, but those Cetra were a jealous possesive race. The Promised Land should allow Angels such as ourselves entrance as well. It's a place the beholds beauty, freedom, magic...' Tifa explained and looked at her daughter, her smile breaking into a grin.

Ashes listened and soaked in all the information that her mother had bestowed upon her, "Angels? We're Angels?"

Tifa laughed, 'Yes, we are Angels from the stars. We are the rightful rulers, not the Cetra, not these corrupted humans. Look behind you Ashes my dear, your wings do not betray you, neither do mine.' Ashes looked behind her and noticed a pair of wings flowing like an illusion behind her and then a thought struck her: Family.

"What can I do in order for us to all be together?" she asked. This dream appealed to her and her hope rose as she eagerly stood up looking at her mom who smiled so beautifully at her. That smile melted Ashes and she yearned for more, a touch... Tifa embraced her daughter and placed a kiss upon her daughter's brow. The lips were chilling yet warm in a way that only made Ashes bury herself further into her mother's arms. She didn't want to leave at all.

'Daughter, don't fret your father comes for you as we speak. He will take you away from those that are corrupt around you and then both of you will go on a journey to revive me. I will be alive again and then we can make our dreams come true. We will be a family I promise you this my child.'

Zangan traveled through the Nibel Forest on the outskirts of the town, his anger seething at the idea of Cloud ordering Ashes around like she was his. The forest foliage crunched slightly underneath his foot falls as the chilly fall breeze swept throught out the trees. The ground was still soggy from last night's downpour and mud clung mercilessly to his brown boots, his sage coat heavy with moisture. A noise caught his attention and he swerved to find a shadow hidden among the forest shade. He knew who it was.

"I've come for my daughter. I know you know where she is...if you don't give me the information, I will burn this town to rubble...again."

Zangan smiled merrily, "No need for threats General. I would have gladly given her whereabouts to you even if you never asked."

Sephiroth emerged from the shadows and into the forest light, a smile planted on his face, "It's been a while since I held my baby girl."

"I must warn you though, Cloud Strife is nearby. He considers Ashes his daughter and wants to take her back to his home, a home where she doesn't want to go back to."

Sephiroth growled and was about to make his way over to the home where Ashes was residing, but Zangan stopped him,

"He's not alone. She also had a massive seizure that rended her unconcious and you do realize why, with your genes and all."

Sephiroth nodded, "Lead Cloud and his group away from the residence. I'll take care of the rest."

"That I can and will do." Zangan replied.

Ashes drifted in and out of sleep and each time she noticed Daemon nearby watching her closely. This time she opened her eyes to find him fast asleep, his body slumped in the seat, his face on the crumpled blue bed sheets. She ached all over, her body ravaged and weakened. She looked over at Daemon once more and placed her hand on his face,

'Do I have to leave him?'

'Yes...unless you have some sort of attachment to this man?'

Ashes blushed and her mother voice chuckled making Ashes's ear burn.

'I was human once too. If you want, we can bring him along...?'

'Is that possible? Seeing as he is only human...'

'Child, he is half Cetra and is easily granted the power to access the Promised land and he has his father's genes as well. Cloud was an expirament...A part of your father Sephiroth. Now come back, your daddy is coming. He will take care of everything and we'll be together forever.'

Ashes smiled and closed her eyes allowing her sense of self to fall into a dreamless sleep. Daemon woke up at that very second and his blue eyes noticed a palm on his cheek. Alarmed, he sat up, his heart pounding a mile a minute as he stared at her pale hand an then up at her sleeping face, her chest rising slowly with each breath. He glanced outside to find it dark already, and it seemed to be snowing...

He walked up to the window and opened it, his outstretched hand grasping the gray flakes to find them crumble into dust. Ash. He turned around and walked back over to her, his hand shot forward to pull the hair out of her face but stopped, hesitating...wondering what he was doing.

'Why stop?'

'She's my sister...it would be wrong.'

'But she's not even related to you! What's to stop you now?'

Daemon frowned and looked down at the crumpled blue bed sheets, he couldn't argue with logic and the truth laid out before him. Wasn't his heart yearning for just such an excuse as this? He looked back up to her smiling slightly realizing it all as he leaned forward...his lips meeting hers.

Earlier...

Cloud and Cid were inside an item shop when Zangan burst in heavily breathing, his wirey gray hair in disarray from his run to find them,

"A forest fire! On the outskirts of Nibelheim and it's getting worse! You have to help!" Zangan exclaimed. Cloud looked alarmed as memories swarmed his mind as he rushed outside to find the towns people already taking charge, finding all sources of water to go help put out the raging torrent of flames.

"Come on, we have to help. I have the Leviathan summon, it will help relieve the forest of this fire." Cloud ordered and the men began thier trek up into the forest outskirts. To thier dismay, the raging inferno was bigger then they realized and began to cast all sorts of water-ice magic upon the burning woods. Zangan stood behind them, his gaze looking backwards at the town hoping that Sephiroth would have enough time to get her out of there.

Finally after an hour, everyone managed to diminish the flames into pummels of whisping smoke. Satisfied they began the journey back down into the town and Cloud's cellphone rang. He scanned the blue screen and read the name: Aerith.

"Hello?"

"How are you? How's Ashes and Daemon?" Aerith asked and Cloud smiled slightly. She was always quick to the point,

"They are fine. We just finished putting out a fire near Nibelheim."

"What? Is everyone ok?"

"There were slight casualties, but no one was lost in the process. What I don't understand though is, how can a forest be engulfed in flames when just last night we had raging thunderstorms."

"That is strange...could it have been done on purpose?" she asked.

"I don't know, but it seems like it. I just don't know why. Listen, I'll call you tomorrow morning when everyone's on the Sierra. I love you."

"Love you too."

Cloud placed the cell back into his pant pocket and sighed looking over at Zangan who seemed to be tensed up for some unknown reason. As they reached the house where Zangan resided in, they found Daemon standing alone waiting for them and Cloud felt his stomach plummet into dread. Something was wrong.

Ashes felt her body being picked up and embraced closely to a beating heart. She opened her blood red eyes to find piercing blue-green eyes staring down at her lovingly surrounded by a thick silver mane.

"Daddy?"

"Yes. I'm here to take you away and make you all better, then we'll go together to meet your mother." he said with words such comfort. She smiled and nuzzled closely, only to look back at the room,

"Where's...?"

"He went to buy us extra time. Don't worry daughter of mine, he will be spared from any harm. Now hush." he said and she closed her eyes once more.

Sephiroth braced himself as he jumped back out onto the rooftops only to see four individuals below him, smirking he leapt away, but not before being purposely spotted by his rival.

Cloud looked at his son, "Why are you here and not with Ashes? You're supposed to be watching her in case she wakes up."

"Oh, don't worry Father she is in good hands." Daemon replied. His son's head was down, his brown hair framing face in shadows and the lack of light wasn't helping but Cloud knew something was off.

"What do you mean, boy?" Cid questioned as he squinted through the falling ash.

"That is no ones concern and I'm sorry to say, none of you are allowed to pass." Daemon said in a monotone voice, his right gloved hand brought out his broad sword, similiar to the one his father wielded. He raised his face and looked his father straight in the eye , smirking as Cloud took a step back, his eyes narrowed. Daemon's eyes were no longer the deep blue he knew, but a sadistic mako green color.

"Holy Hell!" Cid exclaimed and brought out his spear.

Just then Cloud spotted someone on the rooftops, and Ashes in their very arms. The green malicious eyes smirked at him with merriment before it vanished into the darkness. No. He was supposed to be dead!

"Sephiroth."

Things are starting to look up...Review and I'll update the next chapter.