Disclaimer: I hold no copyright ownership to any and all characters used in a fan fiction manner in this tale. All characters are copyrighted Disney/Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura. I just use them for fan fiction purposes, and create the anguish with the writings of the tale before you.
AN: Dang. How long has it been since I last wrote on this tale? Long time, hasn't it? ^^; Sorry about that folks. Life got away from me in the time since this got posted. Certain fandoms took my interests, such as animes and other things. Such as making GMVs (Gaming Music Videos) on YouTube and the mind straying from this tale like many others. I'm working on getting this and others finished. Sorry if tales that may be still "In Progress" don't say "Completed" since its been so long since I worked on any of 'em, I have to re-read my own works. Even edit some things to get an idea as to where to go with the tale. This being one of them. Thanks to a Review by "Guest" I decided to take up the mantle to work on this and finish it.

Chapter 6-A New Dawn Is Breaking
Everything seemed to becoming roses as the saying would be, Leon was on a road to recovery and was going to come home. Even if the homecoming was only to gather up things and head out on the road for two weeks. Nonetheless, Leon seemed all smiles as he went from the Recreation Room back to his room, but something was nagging at the back of his mind. It had been nagging at him since dinner. He felt, he was being watched. In a sense, it could've Aerith's ever watchful, sisterly gaze. Then again, there was always the off chance of someone else watching. He had noticed a man that eeriely reminded him of Seifer in the Dining Hall that evening, but he had disregarded it as his mind, still tired, playing with him.
But as he had learned from befriending Belle and the Beast, appearances, could be deceiving. Not to be fooled. He was trying to shut it all out as he rounded the corner to his room, and began for the door handle, but he took a moment.
What is wrong, Host? Why Host not go through door? This one wants to rest because this one can't wait to get home to family, Griever prodded at the man, whining tiredly; it wasn't easy being a subconscious figure in the Ice Prince's head, Why you stop?
Leon's very skin began to crawl as he felt someone watching him, "...Someone's been following me."
Hackles grew on Griever as a deep growl formed in his throat, keeping an eye out for his Host, but as quickly as the worry came, it soon disappeared like a cold breeze. Cameras had been watching it all, Ms. Trepe had been watching Leon's demeanor and she had known someone was intentionally following him. But she had made it clear to not make the man uncomfortable. The figure that had been following was called off and to her office. Her demeanor was rigid and unappeased with the man as he pushed through the office door.
"I told you to be discreet. To not make him feel as if he was being followed or watched. He's already wound tight and working on fixing that without you sending him into a psychotic break Mr. Amslay," Ms. Trepe remarked as she turned her stare upon him with Mr. Kinneas standing at the ready to protect her.
A soft smirk crossed the man's face, "He's still as easy to set on edge as he was back in Balamb. Relax, I left Squally boy alone. Didn't rattle him too much. Not my fault he has a thing for blonde's with devious intentions."
"Tch, you're just jealous you didn't nail him before someone else did, Seifer," Irvine remarked smuggily before turning to the monitors.
"Watch it, Kinneas."
"Enough," Quistis remarked as she sternly stared at the two, "Letting you trail him like you did shows to me what I worried about...Squall, now Leon, he worries about repercussions for what he does. I can see that he worries about Cloud coming after him and punishing him."
Both men grew quiet, "Our worries for him aren't over, I still have a fear that Ultimecia...or even Adel may arise and try to do him harm without Rinoa to shield him."

XXX

In our lives, we have things we all fear; the monster under the bed or the one in the closet. The rapping of tree branches at the window panes that sound like a claw like creature pawing to get in. Even fears created from things we've encountered in our days of youth. Those within the house hold that Cid Highwind ran as the "Father" had things they feared. Yuffie feared having to do Sentry Duty around Radiant Garden; it was something she didn't look forward to and her fear of it was because of having to do it back in Wutai. One bad experience with falling out of a tree while spying on a pervy Priest of the local Temple was her excuse.
Tifa's fear was the fear of being unable to keep Cloud under control while Leon was away. She had seen his reaction to Leon being gone just to check in on Phil at the Coliseum. A day's visit away had caused the blond to go into an anxiety panic that had her scared to even approach the man. She was just waiting for the shoe drop that was Cloud was going to do something just as stupid as the last time Leon had gone away. It had taken her all day the last time to corral the man and pin him down.
With Leon going away for two weeks, she was going to have to sleep outside his room with a bell around his windows and door.
Cid's fears were for his entire family, especially Vincent. He couldn't sleep without knowing Vincent was almost on top of the man. Losing too much on their old world had caused the old man to want those closest to him, really close. Vincent could understand the man's fear. He had lost precious things himself. Losing them, would all but kill him.
Aerith, among everyone else; she seemed to live without fear. Or did a good job at hiding her fears. Knowing that Sephiroth was gone, Hollow Bastion was now restored to Radiant Garden, and that Leon was on the road to recovery. What was there to worry about? There was everything to worry about. Cloud's mental state. Leon's mental state. The two men were time bombs. Just waiting to set one another off. Cid may be the rock of the family as it was, but she was the true rock. Just hidden neatly underneath the bobs of brunette hair upon her head and behind a faintly shaking heart. Lying in bed, all she could do was pray to the Gods that Leon would come out of this a changed man. That all that had happened could be turned around and made perfect. As her eyes began to close, she started to hear what sounded like a soft rapping at her door.
"Hello?" she quietly called out as she heard it more, brought forth by a soft voice that she knew to belong to Cloud, "Cloud, you're more then welcome to come in."
Pushing open the door, she was shocked by what she was seeing; the man had all but scratched up his arms and was lightly bleeding, which was healing due to the Mako in his system. Dark circles were under his eyes, "What's wrong?"
"So...cold...Just trying to get warm...I can't get warm...so cold...need warmth..." such a lost soul the man was as she felt pity for the man; she wanted nothing more then to send him out of the room.
"Let's go downstairs..."

XXX

Aerith began to address his wounds, even though the Mako was quickly hiding the wounds and began a pot of tea to warm the man up. Even if it wasn't what was going to warm him. It was the best she could do with this circumstances. Seeing the state he was in, she could only judge as to what is subconscious spirit guide was feeling. Just seeing into his eyes; she could tell that Fenrir wasn't fairing well. He was howling deeply from within Cloud's soul. His fur matted and falling out. His majestic tail was drooping to the floor and looked as if the poor soul had been crying into it. Tears were growing at the back of her eyes as she looked away to Cloud's hands. But Cloud could tell, even in his off state of mind, that Aerith was distressed.
"...Sorry to have pulled you out of bed, Aerith," Cloud began as he tried to pull his hands away from hers, but she held steadfast, "I'm such a pathetic fool."
"You're a lot of things Cloud Strife, but not a fool. A little foolish with your words and actions, but not a fool. I know that if you could've, you would've gone and broken into his room at that Center and curled up on the floor beside his bed."
Aerith watched to see how he'd react, the faint blush and shyness that grew on his face answered her very words. She knew him too well. A soft sigh came from her lips as she leaned her forehead against his, "Cloud...he will not leave you, if that's what you're so worried about...Leon isn't going to disappear."
"But how can you be so sure?" Cloud's voice was filled with worry and unshed tears, but he felt himself pushed back as she pushed a finger into his forehead.
"Cause silly, I'm special. Remember? Or do I need to bring Zack into this picture to knock some sense into that tired brain of yours?"
There seemed to be a sudden change in Cloud; mentioning Zack was like a child hearing from their mother or father, "Do I need to bring your...into this?" Aerith could tell that an idle threat such as bring their best friend into the situation wasn't going to solve anything. Just, startle Cloud.
"You make it sound so easy..."
"Maybe, but its not going to be an easy road. If Cid decides to stay the night here tomorrow before heading off on his trip, I want you to promise me that you aren't going to corner Leon, you're not going to harass, talk down, chew out, or neglect Leon when he comes home."
Cloud lightly nodded his head; he could hear the pending punishment in her voice if he did any of the above, "With that...you think you could go to sleep? I know you might be cold still, but just think about Leon being there with you in bed. Maybe it'll help your warmth issue. And I'm sure once Leon's home, things will be back to normal."
"I know you're right, this time," Cloud pointed as he pushed her back slightly, playfully.
"When am I ever not right, Cloud?" Aerith giggled as the two finished off the tea that had been cooking on the stove.

XXX

Morning, a time when new beginnings dawn. And new beginnings were dawning as Griever purred up against his Host, the purrs growing louder and louder. Leon couldn't tell why it was that Griever was doing that, he only did that when...
"Morning," a soft feminine voice perked at Leon's ears; startling him awake as he saw a Nurse sitting on his bed side with the same hair color and cut as Rinoa, "I trust you slept well, Mr. Leonhart?"
This couldn't be possible, Rinoa wasn't alive. None of them were. So why was it she was here? How was it she was here? This has to be a trick by a Sorceress. That was the answer. This had to be a dream, but no matter if he tried to close his eyes, she was still there. Oh Gaia, why was this nightmare happening? Leon began to back up into a corner on the bed. Wanting to reach for the Call Button, but he knew if he did that it would only delay his release. And he wanted to go home. He wanted to see familiar faces. This familiar face, wasn't what he wanted to see. Everything in him screamed to scream for help. But if she was merely a vision, he would be deemed crazy and sedated. Breaking Cid's heart as well as every one else's for his homecoming being postponed.
"Mr. Leonhart?" the girl looked on at him before she realized his hand was upon the Call Button, "Mr. Leonhart, there's no need for you to do that, I'm your Discharge Nurse."
"I don't care if you're the freaking Queen of England, what the Hell are you doing in my room!?" Leon was trying to keep his voice from sounding like he was screaming, "I don't recall hearing about intimate contact with patients as part of the code of conduct here!"
As the Nurse looked on in shock and dismay, she could hear the running of feet to the room, Ms. Trepe was the first, "Ms. Mchale! I thought I locked you in your room! And I told you to not bug the other patients, heh, I guess we're lacking in security and need to fire those in Security and hire new security."
"Sorry Ms. Trepe," the guards remarked as they went about the duty of escorting the woman out of the room, "Sorry Mr. Leonhart."
And here I thought I was suppose to be safe here...Leon felt himself saying to himself as he mental reprimanded Griever for taking to the woman's attention. But something had seemed weird about how she was able to make Griever purr like that, the only other person who had been able to do that was...Rinoa. Leon's eyes watched the young woman being escorted out, she had that same look that Rinoa had. It couldn't be possible that it was her. Then again, everything he had encountered here wasn't possible. Running the palms of his hands into his eyes, scrubbing them awake before flopping back onto the mattress, Leon could feel his energy draining.
"How much longer till I can go home?" that's all he wanted to know as he crossed his arms over his face, awaiting Ms. Trepe's answer.
A soft sigh and smile crossed her lips, "Soon, Mr. Leonhart, soon."

XXX

The Restoration Committee House was a buzz with sounds and voices, excited voices that were ready for Leon to come home. Ready to see him and smother him in hugs and warm voices. Aerith contently went about making breakfast as she watched Cid a buzz making final preparations for the two week trip coming ahead in a matter of twenty four hours. Vincent contently was watching the man walk and work about the home as he sipped on a morning's cup of tea. Yuffie was still waking up from her rude awakening by Tifa who had seemed it her place to pull the sheets out from under her. With the intention of it being "laundry day" and she needed the sheets to wash them. Tifa seemed to stroll through the house, unaware of Yuffie's evil glare as she plopped her head on the kitchen table. The only one still not awake was the blond among them. Cloud had found it hard to fall asleep even after his talk with Aerith hours before.
Thankfully, Aerith knew of a way to help the man sleep and the man was sleeping off the sleep potion she slipped into his tea while they had been talking. The man hadn't slept as soundly as he was since the last time they had to save their Planet. Tifa had almost intentions of waking him up like she had Yuffie, but after seeing how he had been curled up around the blankets and pillows. Her heart wasn't in it to wake the man. He had been beating himself up over sending Leon into the place he was in, she didn't want to add to that.
He would wake on his own.
Cid strolled in through his last packing as he placed a soft peck on Vincent's cheek then on Aerith's cheek, "Well, once I have something in me, I'm gonna head down to the Center and pick up our boy. I know you're all going to have questions for him, but its probably going to be best to give him space and time," his eyes looked towards the strange little family in front of him, reading their faces, "If the Chocobo Headed one makes his way down here while I'm gone, just tell him I've gone to get the Lion. He should know what I mean."
"We will keep an eye him for you, Cid, don't worry. I had a talk with Cloud last night and I think he realizes what this homecoming means. I don't know how he's going to react to Leon coming home, but I'll keep a close eye on him," Aerith quietly remarked from the table as Tifa and Yuffie agreeded silently to do the same.
"Thanks kids, well, here I go," Cid's tone of voice seemed strained; he was holding back emotions that he couldn't bare to face just now.