Hey all! I know its been a while, but I hope I make up for it with a long chapter!

So, a few bits of explanation. Due to a mishap, I wrote earlier that Cloud had already given Sephiroth the Black Materia, when that shouldn't have happened till after Aerith's death. Now that I'm this far in the story, changing that would really mess with things, so let's just say that pretty much everything with the Black Materia situation happened, with a two major differences- the capture of Barret and Tifa, and the battle with Elena on the mountain. You'll see how it all plays out. :)

This chapter is a little dialogue heavy, due to me relying on the script for a certain scene, but hopefully it's still exciting enough (and yes, I added a few things in).

One other note: I try very hard to have each character share the spotlight. I think the person I succeed the least with is Cait Sith, mostly because he's a talking robot cat. There's only so much I can do with that. :P Anyway, I hope the characters all get their time to shine!

Also, I know there's quite a bit of time between updates, but alas that is real life. I'm not going to abandon this story, though, even if it takes me a while to finish. I recently had a really cool idea for another FF7 Cloud/Aerith story, and that has really helped to recapture my interest in the series. A lot of the fandom, especially for C/A, feels like its dying down, but I love it as much as ever!

DISCLAIMER: Yo no tengo Final Fantasy 7

Chapter Five

Shards

"The best place to start, like always, is at the beginning." Tifa's hands curled in her lap. A few strands of hair fell over her shoulder, curling gently under her chin. The way the light struck her face made her seem almost ethereal. She spoke slowly, not as if she were carefully omitting certain details, but as if saying these things truly was a physical burden.

"We grew up in the same town, Cloud and I. You know that much. We lived close by each other, saw each other almost every day."

"You were childhood friends," Aerith agreed, gently pushing Cloud's hand away from her face so she could see Tifa more clearly.

Tifa closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. For several moments, she didn't speak. "No," she said, her voice almost hoarse. "We weren't."

Aerith blinked. "What-"

Tifa held up a shaking hand, and Aerith nodded for her to go on.

She took a deep breath and continued. "Cloud liked me. Back then, practically every boy in town did. We weren't a large town, and there were far more boys than girls. I was popular, and had a lot of friends. Cloud… had no friends at all. We never included him. I never talked to him, except for a few words exchanged when I had to. I didn't like him, because no one else did. Even then, though, I could see that he was different, to the point that, years later when he was leaving, I finally decided to 'grace him with my presence'." Tifa laughed bitterly, leaning over and putting a hand over her eyes.

"You may have heard me make allusions toward a promise between Cloud and myself. Maybe not. What I am talking about is when Cloud was leaving to join Soldier. I was only twelve, he was thirteen. He asked me, the night before he left, to meet me by the well. For the first time, we had an actual conversation. He told me where he was going, how he wanted to be 'just like the great Sephiroth'…" Her fingers tightened, pressing against her scalp. "I asked him to promise that he would come and save me if I was ever in a bind; to be my hero. After a lot of prodding, he agreed."

"Years passed. The newspapers brought more and more details of Sephiroth, his great deeds. I waited in Nebelheim, holding on to the promise that Cloud had made. I don't know why; it wasn't a ifs we knew each other, but as the years passed I thought of him in Soldier. I pictured him as a great hero, better than all the others, coming back to that small town to save me…" Tifa blinked back tears in her eyes; she wiped at them angrily.

"Tifa-" Aerith stood, reaching out toward her, but Tifa held up her hands, shaking her head wildly. "No!" Aerith started, drawing her hand back slowly. Cloud made a low sound in his throat, like a growl, putting himself in front of Aerith. She pulled on his shoulder, whispering reassuringly as Tifa calmed, swallowing. "Wait until I'm done. Please."

Aerith nodded, sitting back on the bed, pulling gently on Cloud to get him to follow. He smiled, snuggling up against her neck like an animal seeking comfort in another's warm fur.

"I didn't know Cloud was there," Tifa said in a rush, her hands gripping her knees. "Cloud told it all as if we saw each other, but we didn't! I was saved by a soldier in a helmet- I-I never saw his face. I only saw Sephiroth, and another man, a member of First Class Soldier with black hair and blue eyes…he kind of looked like Cloud, but it wasn't him."

Aerith could have sworn her heart stopped. Black hair. Blue eyes…looks like Cloud…1st Class Soldier…no, it can't be…

"What was his name?" her voice came out as a whisper, and Cloud's smile at her voice melted into a frown at her distress.

Tifa furrowed her eyebrows, confusion replacing her sadness, if only for a moment. "Zack, I think. Why?"

Aerith found herself quite unable to say anything. Zack. So you were there too? You knew Cloud? She had always noticed similarities between them; they walked similarly, had similar eyes and hair. The likeness had bothered her at first, but as she'd gotten to know Cloud, she'd realized just how different he was, and how it was as if he didn't even know himself.

With what Tifa was saying, that very well could have been the case.

"I knew him," Aerith said finally. It felt like her lips barely moved. "He was…my first boyfriend. I haven't heard from him in a long time."

"Oh." There was silence for a moment.

"Please," Aerith sad, trying to shake herself out of her thoughts. "Go on."

Cloud was looking at her, distressed at her stillness. He tugged lightly on her hair, as if trying to make her move again; like a child with a broken toy.

She made herself smile, but Cloud did not smile back; instead he continued to watch her face, his forehead creased. It had taken him awhile, back when he was himself, to be able to tell when she wasn't really smiling; when she was smiling only to hide her sadness. He hadn't commented on it once; but the look he gave her was clearer than any words.

He was giving her a near identical look now; if not for the still childishly wide eyes, it would have been the exact same.

Bits and pieces of the real Cloud, even more fractured than they were when I first met him. But those pieces are still there, and that has to mean something.

Tifa was watching her with her solemn eyes, hands shaking slightly. "I never saw him," she said again. "I never really knew him." She said it almost as if reassuring herself. "I wasn't his friend…" her face crumpled. "Have never been his friend…"

Aerith didn't know what to say.

Cloud wasn't there…but he thought he was…

Zack- Zack was there! How could Cloud possibly know these things without knowing Zack? How could Cloud…

Oh, Tifa…

Tifa closed her eyes, her voice soft. "All of this time…I thought about the promise Cloud made me…it was so important to me. The idea that when I needed it, someone would save me. I…" she opened her eyes and fiddled with her gloves, staring at her hands. "From a young age I learned how to protect myself; how to protect others. I wanted someone to do the same for me. I wanted someone to keep me safe…" she choked for a moment, and took several deep breaths. With what seemed to be all of her courage, she looked up at Aerith.

"I thought for a long time about what I wanted, what I would say, and the truth is- the truth is that I know why Cloud doesn't like me." The last few words were hardly audible.

"What?" Aerith's word was more of a breath.

"He doesn't like me now, more than the others. And l know why…" Tifa closed her eyes briefly. "Bugenhagen said that he lost himself. But Cloud was lost before. He'd forgotten things, things about himself…it was like he was far away. But even then…even then bits of him were there, and that hasn't changed."

Aerith remembered what she'd said to him on their date- thinking of how similar he was to Zack in his movements…but then how awkward he was, how he was shy and quiet. The real Cloud had been there all along; she could see it, she knew the others could glimpse it, but it had been hidden from himself, of all people.

A puppet, Sephiroth called him. But he resisted. He was still there.

"He doesn't remember," Tifa continued softly, "but parts of himself are still there…and whatever was in his head before, whatever it was that made him confused about the past…that's gone now. And all that's left is what really happened…" she let out a shaky breath, trying to speak even as her voice grew higher and her words hard to distinguish.

"Never his friend—and I kept it from him—and, and, that's not what you're supposed to do—but—"

Aerith stood and walked quickly over to Tifa, even as the other woman drew back, shaking her head, tears falling steadily now.

Even as she heard Cloud immediately follow her, even as she felt his hands at her back, she did not move. She wrapped her arms around her best friend, and held her. She knew that Tifa, like herself, wasn't one to break down and sob; seeing her in such a state made her arms curl tighter, and she felt Tifa do the same. After a few moments, her breathing eased, but Aerith could feel the tears falling gently onto her shoulder.

For a while, they sat together and just breathed.

"I'm sorry," Tifa whispered. "For how I've been."

"Tifa-"

"Please," Tifa cut across her, drawing back. Her eyes seemed to flick involuntarily to Cloud, standing behind her, and she closed her eyes for a moment. "Please," she said again, opening them. "I wronged you. I was distant and hurt you and I'm so- so sorry." Her head bent, looking at her knees.

Aerith knew that their friendship was an odd one; how many people were friends with someone that loved the guy you loved? But even in the beginning, it had been impossible to not care for each other, to love each other, like sisters. She knew that they had been jealous of each other; that there had been times they had been quiet, thinking that surely the other had won Cloud's favor. Or the guilt that sometimes came for trying to be the one he loved. Never, never, had their feelings changed. They were sisters in all but blood.

Aerith looked at her, and reached forward, grabbing her shoulder. "Thank you," she said. She squeezed her shoulder. "It's going to be alright."

Tifa nodded, not saying anything.

"I was jealous of you," Aerith said suddenly.

A smile twitched on Tifa's lips. "And I of you."

Aerith felt her own smile grow, but it dropped when Tifa looked up at her. There was still bitterness in those eyes, but also ultimately, acceptance.

"He loves you, you know," Tifa said, and for a second pain flashed across her face.

It felt as if her insides had frozen. "What?"

"He loves you." Tifa didn't look away, even though her shoulders were shaking again. "Everyone could see it. He would look at you sometimes, when you were making a fire or pitching a tent and he looked so…at peace." A sad smile crossed her face. "And when you smiled- I don't know how to say it, but looking at him…I knew. I've been denying it to myself all this time, but I can't do that anymore." Her gaze grew hard, determined. "I can't do that. It will just break my heart, and hurt you. I can't do that if I want to be happy. I have to move on." Her fists clenched tightly.

Aerith didn't know what to say. It was too much to hope for, and too sad to express.

"Tifa…"

"I think I've known in my heart for a while that I had to do this," Tifa went on, as if she were talking to herself. "That I had to…step back." Her hands were shaking, and she fiddled with some hair that had fallen over her shoulder. Her eyes flicked to Cloud. "At this point…I want him to not hate me. I want us to be friends. Real friends. And for that…I have to let go." She looked at Cloud. He didn't seem to notice her, and Tifa took a deep breath. "I just hope that when he's back to normal, he'll have it in his heart to forgive me."

She still didn't know what to say. The hurt, for all of them, was almost too much. Aerith took a deep breath and reached for Tifa's hand, squeezing it. Tifa's fingers curled with hers, and she leaned against her.

Neither of them cried. They sat like that for quite some time, Cloud nestled happily against Aerith's other side, no words able to come.

(~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~)

Snowflakes blew gently past the window. Aerith pressed her fingers to the glass, feeling the chill move up her hand.

The town was small; a few stores lined the streets, houses in between, while a large Inn stood out among them, as one of the only buildings with more than one floor. At the edge of the small town were mountains, towering above all the houses. Aerith squinted, seeing a small building on the mountainside, like a lodge.

"Doesn't seem like the best place for Sephiroth to hide," Yuffie commented dryly, watching as a mother tried to pull her wailing child across the street, while further down the way an old man walked carefully on the icy road, each step measured. "There's like, five houses."

"And some fucking huge mountains," Cid added, nudging Yuffie on the back of the head, opening the door. "Shit, this ship's gonna be covered in snow by the time we get back."

Yuffie stuck her tongue out at him.

The cool wind blew over them, and Aerith pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders.

Nanaki stepped cautiously outside, sliding a little on the ramp. "Everyone," he called back, turning his head toward them, "Make sure you're dressed warmly. The last thing we need is someone to get hypothermia."

"Aye aye!" Yuffie gave a mock salute, sliding down the ramp like she would on a snowboard.

Tifa narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, watching the people on the street. "If there have been rumors of Sephiroth around, people here are bound to know. In a town this small, nothing stays secret."

"God damn," Barret said, as he joined the others on the ground. "The thief's right, not too many places Sephiroth could hide here."

Aerith stood at the top of the ramp, Cloud's hands wrapped around her arm. He looked at the falling snow with a mix of childlike curiosity and fear.

A snowflake landed on his nose, and he stared at it, cross eyed.

Aerith chuckled, and he looked at her. For a moment, she was breathless. Cloud, the real Cloud, was in that look, full of pride and embarrassment and humor he didn't know how to express. She felt a snowflake fall on her cheek, and Cloud's eyes focused on it. It was all so familiar, his expressions and movements, and yet, as he giggled and gently wiped at her cheek, it was enough to make her want to scream.

She felt everyone's eyes on her, and the desire grew. This wasn't Cloud. And this wasn't love, no matter what Tifa said. It wasn't proof of how he felt for her; it was empty, like an obsession. The real Cloud; maybe he did love her, but she would never know unless she could get him back.

"Come," Nanaki said, breaking the silence. He butted his nose against her shin kindly. "Let's get moving. Tifa is right; we should talk to the locals, see what they have to say."

As they walked, the others found ways to gently offer comfort. She guessed her thoughts must have shown on her face; Tifa clasped her hand for a moment, Yuffie wrapped her arm with hers and gave her a sideways hug. Cait climbed on top of her shoulders, and sat there for several minutes, talking about how the snow would surely freeze up Mog. Cid sort of quickly pat her back, and Barret actually mussed her hair, like she imagined he did with Marlene. Vincent did a kind of twitch in her direction, and then stood much closer than usual, as if ready to fend off any monster that dared attack.

Aerith felt warm, like a small fire was held near her heart. My friends. I am so lucky.

Cloud drew closer to her, watching their friends warily. His eyes narrowed at Barret, and when Tifa came over, he slid even closer.

Tifa kept her face straight, but her hand clenched in Aerith's. Aerith squeezed it back.

It hadn't really hit her, yet, that she had been born in this little town. That her father had died there. Her mother had talked about it often, about him, and had said once that it had been the best time of her life.

Aerith remembered her mother; soft face, thinned by pain, how her eyes were always bright, and the look on her face when she spoke of her dead husband. The winter air was thick, and it wasn't hard to imagine her mother, cheeks pink, scarf wrapped around her, her hands twining with a tall man, laughing and spinning in the falling snow.

She blinked back tears. Even after all those years, she still missed her mother. She supposed in some ways it was easier for her than others. After all, she could still feel her mother, her essence, and it was with her always.

Nanaki nodded toward a shop on the right side of the street; its windows were fogged, but lights shone brightly through.

The old man at the counter gave a slight wave as they walked through, raising his eyebrows at the number of people with them.

A young man at the counter finished paying, and the shopkeeper turned toward them. "What can I do for ya? Seems like you've sure traveled long."

"Hell yeah," Yuffie peered in a glass case. "Can't tell ya how long though, I was puking most of the way. Anyway," she looked up at the man, grinning. "Any creepers come through town with long silver hai- ow!" She glared down at Nanaki, and he moved his foot from on top of hers.

"I'm sorry," Tifa said hurriedly, coming forward. "We were just wondering if anything, well, unusual has happened recently."

"Any strange people come through?" Cid added, leaning back on his spear.

The shopkeeper eyed Cloud as he stood behind Aerith, peeking over her shoulder, and then looked at Vincent, who as always, lurked in a darker corner of the room.

"You all investigators or somethin'?" The man wiped down the counter.

"Something like that," Aerith said lightly, smiling a little. "Just a private little thing."

The man shrugged. "Well, I've got nothin' to hide. There's a shack in the middle of town that no one goes to anymore, 'cept stupid kids lookin to get scared. Some scientist lived there with his wife. Someone killed them, and the place has stayed empty since."

Aerith couldn't breathe. Could it be?

"Couple days ago, some guy went poking around in there." The shopkeeper's eyes flicked to Yuffie. "All in black. Silver hair. Didn't get a good look at him, and after that I think he headed toward the mountains."

When they went outside, it was easy to spot the shack. It was run down, old, and some of the ceiling looked like it had caved in. The door hung off its hinges.

Instinctively, Aerith clutched at Cloud's hand. He whimpered, and looked at her, drawing closer. "Aerith," he whispered.

She took a deep breath, and looked at the others.

"We have to be prepared for a trap," Nanaki cautioned. "Sephiroth may have left something for us there."

"Hey, wait!" Yuffie sprinted ahead of them, and stopped a few feet in front of the house. "Stay back," she called, plunging her hand into the snow. After a few seconds, she stood straight, something clenched in her fist. She drew her arm back, and threw it through the door.

There was a faint skipping sound as the rock bounced a few times on the floor inside. They waited, watching the house.

"Could still be somethin' there," Barret muttered.

"Well, we aint fucking gonna know if we freeze our asses off out here," Cid lit a cigarette, shifting his weapon on his shoulder.

Nanaki nodded. "Exactly. We just have to take the chance. Let's go."

Tifa touched Aerith's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. Her lips hardly moved when she spoke. "I think…that may have been my parent's house. Where my father died."

Tifa bit her lip. "Then we should go." She held out her hand, and Aerith took it, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. Let's go."

Inside were tables, computers, a torn up sofa, and a few broken chairs. Against the far wall, under the intact ceiling, a screen with many blinking buttons sat, the picture slightly fuzzy.

Aerith's boots scuffed a little, wiping away the snow in the front hall. Tifa gasped.

There was a reddish stain on the floor, under her boots.

My father's blood. Oh, oh-

She ran to the middle of the room, ignoring the calls of her friends. She stared around at the ruined home. Maybe they ate dinner at the table, made love in the next room. Maybe they sat at that couch and held her.

Cloud tugged at her arm, making small noises of distress, whimpering her name.

"Oh Cloud." Aerith wrapped her arms around him, burying her neck in his shoulder. His arms pulled tighter around her, and for a moment, he really was Cloud, and he was holding her because he wanted her to feel better.

"Hey, take a look at this," Yuffie called over, and Aerith turned. The others were gathered around the screen. She walked over, each step heavy.

On the screen were three options, shown in heavy block letters.

THE ORIGINAL CRISIS

WHAT IS 'WEAPON'

CONFIDENTIAL

"Someone has been here," Vincent said, leaning closer to the machine. "The keyboard is clean of dust."

"Sephiroth!" Barret's hand fisted.

"Quite possibly," Nanaki said thoughtfully. "He looked at whatever is on here."

"It is a video file," Vincent muttered. "Shinra design. I recognize the style."

"Aye," Cait bobbed his head. "Then we ought to watch it."

The Nanaki nodded, but then stopped, and looked up at Aerith. He regarded her seriously. "Are you sure you want to see this?"

She nodded. The others stared at her, and for a moment her heart swelled again at having such friends.

He looked at her for a few more moments, and then nodded again. "Very well. Someone start it, then."

Yuffie glanced at Aerith one more time, and pressed a small button on the console, labled 'PLAY'.

The screen went black for a moment, and then filled up with a close up view of a man's face. He had dark hair, glasses, and a goatee. He pulled back, and nodded to himself, turning around and sitting down next to a woman with long brown hair and bright green eyes.

Aerith felt the others look at her again, and notice the similarities.

On the screen, her mother seemed nervous. She played with a strand of hair.

The man laced his fingers together, facing her. "Ifalna, please tell us about the Cetra." His voice was not unkind.

Her mother took a deep breath. "Two thousand years ago, our ancestors, the Cetra, heard the cries of the planet. The first ones to discover the planet's…wound…were at Knowlespole."

The man- her father- nodded. "Where is the land called 'Knowlespole'?"

The woman gestured around. "Here. This area." She went on. "After that, the Cetra began to practice planet-reading."

"What does that entail?"

Her mother blew some hair out of her face. "….I can't explain it very well, but it is like having a conversation with the planet." She looked down at her lap. "It said something fell from the sky, and when it hit, it made a large wound in the planet. Thousands of Cetra pulled together, trying to heal it, but only the planet could heal itself. The wound was too severe for the Cetra, and after many years, the planet healed itself."

Her father nodded. "Do the Ancients- the Cetra, that is- have special powers to heal the planet?"

Her mother shook her head. "No, its not that kind of power." She seemed to struggle for words. "The life force of all living things on this planet becomes the energy. The Cetra tried desperately to cultivate the land so that the energy would not diminish."

Her father frowned. "The snow here never melts. Is that because the planet's energy is gathered here to heal its injury?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes. That energy was called forward to heal the planet, but as a result, it withered away the land. The planet tried to get the Cetra to leave Knowlespole, but…" She hesitated.

He looked at her, and worry creased his brow. "Ifalna, let's take a break."

She shook her head. "No, I'm all right." She took a deep breath. "When the Cetra…were preparing to part with the land they loved, it appeared." She looked past him, into the distance. "It looked like- like our dead mothers, our dead brothers, showing us specters of their past."

"Who, or what, was it?"

"He had been the one to injure the planet. We called him 'The crisis from the sky.'" She bent her head, and closed her eyes. "He first appeared as a friend…deceived them, and finally, gave them the virus." She looked up again. "The- the Cetra were attacked by the virus, and went mad…they turned into monsters, and…" She closed her eyes tightly again.

He stood and ran over to her. "Ifalna-"

She spoke over him. "Just like at Knowlespole, he went to other Cetra clans, and i-infected them with the v-virus…"

He touched her shoulders gently. "You don't look well. Let's call it a day."

He turned and walked back toward the screen, pressing something on the console, and the screen went dark.

"That-" Nanaki began, but then the screen lit again.

Her father was just stepping back. This time they both sat on the couch, closer than before.

"Ifalna," Her father leaned forward. "Can you tell me about the thing called 'Weapon'?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes, Professor." She moved a little closer. "The one that was mistaken for a Cetra…was named Jenova. That is 'the crisis from the sky'. The planet knew it had to destroy the crisis. You see, as long as Jenova exists, the planet cannot fully heal itself."

He cocked his head to one side. "Weapon was originally something the planet produced of its own will?"

"Yes, but…" She looked up at him. "There is no record of Weapon being used."

He raised his eyebrows, and she went on. "Its true. A small surviving group of Cetra defeated Jenova, and confined it."

He shrugged. "So, Weapon no longer exists on the planet?"

She smiled sadly. "Weapon cannot vanish. It sleeps somewhere on the planet. Even though Jenova is confined, it could come to life at any time. The planet isn't fully healed, and is still watching Jenova for any signs of danger."

"Where is Weapon, Ifalna?"

She looked away. "I don't know. I can't hear the planet very well now. Times have changed…but the planet is watching everything closely."

He looked at her, and then shook his head, and muttered something. She glanced over in surprise, and then he stood. "Thank you, Ifalna. I think that will be all for today." He walked over to the console, his steps seeming somehow slower, heavier, than before.

The screen went dark again. Almost immediately, it flashed back on. Aerith stared at her father's back. Her mother was sitting in a chair by the window, looking outside, and he gazed at her, his hand resting absently on the console. He turned slightly, smiling, eyes soft, and then jumped, looking at the camera and pressing a button, the screen going black.

They waited, but the screen stayed black. Yuffie opened her mouth, when a voice spoke.

"What are you doing, honey?"

Her mother's voice. Amused, happy.

"Oh, I was going to tape it, but the video's not working properly."

Her mother laughed. "What more can you tape? I mean…you haven't asked me any questions in a long time…"

"No, no," her father said. There was the sound of a chair scraping on the floor. "I want to record my beautiful daughter. When she's sleeping, her face looks like an angel."

Her mother chuckled again. "We have to name her first."

"Oh, I've already decided that. Her name will be Aerith."

Her mother snorted. "You decided, huh? I'd argue more if it wasn't such a good name." Her father grunted, as if he'd been elbowed in the stomach. "Especially since it came out of that forgetful head of yours!"

"Right! Oh, the tape…"

There was silence for a moment, and then the screen lit up.

Her father was standing at the console again, her mother behind him. In her arms was a small bundle. "Again?" She asked in exasperation, shaking her head.

He looked back at her. "Don't say it like that…She's our lovely daughter. Yours and mine. Don't you want to capture her childhood on videotape?"

She shook her head again, smiling this time. He walked over to her, and their hands linked. "If you spoil her, she won't grow up to be strong," she said, holding out the bundle to him, and going on. "Aerith is different from other children. She may have to face great danger…"

He turned sharply toward her, clutching the bundle to his chest. It wiggled slightly, a small arm sticking out. "Don't say that! I will protect you and Aerith no matter what!" He stepped closer, voice softening. "You are my only treasures. I'll never let you go!" He wrapped his arm around her, and she nestled her face in his neck.

Aerith felt a small sound escape her lips, and tried to blink back the tears filling her eyes.

A loud knock made everyone jump. Her father looked back at the door in annoyance. "Who the devil?" He muttered, setting Aerith gently on the couch. Her mother stepped around him to the door, brushing some hair behind her ear. She twisted the knob, and pulled it open, snow and wind rushing at her.

Her face went pale. "I- Its them!" She ran back into the room, standing next to her husband and child.

A tall man walked through the door, with greasy hair and shiny glasses. He laughed. "What a way to greet an old friend! I've been looking for you for quite some time, Cetra."

Hojo looked at her father. "And long time no see, Professor Gast." He made a mocking bow. "Two years I've waited for my new sample…and at last the day has come."

Four other men came in, tall and strong, carrying guns.

"New sample…" Her father whispered in horror. "You- no, you're not taking Aerith!" He rushed at Hojo, grabbing his coat and shaking him.

The guards raised their guns, and her father froze. Slowly, he lowered his hands.

"Aerith, hmm? What a nice name," Hojo smirked.

Her father's hands clenched again. "Get out of here! I severed all ties with Shinra! Leave now!"

Before anyone else could speak, her mother stepped very calmly between them. "I am the only one you want, right Hojo? Aerith has nothing to do with this!"

"Ifalna, no!" Her father grabbed her shoulder, but she merely moved closer to Hojo.

Hojo nodded, and gestured the guards forward. They stood beside her mother, who looked back at her husband. "Please," she began.

"Hey," Hojo looked past them. "What is that, a camera? Guard! Destroy it!"

A guard whirled, drawing his gun and firing, just as her father dived at the guards.

The screen went black, but the sound still came through- of men grunting, heavy thumps on the ground.

"Ifalna, take Aerith and run!"

Three gunshots ran out, and her mother screamed. A small wail, that of a baby, joined it.

"No, no, let her go, please! No! Honey, please keep breathing! Plea-" Her voice cut off suddenly, replaced with muffled sounds, like she had been gagged.

"Don't forget the child!" Hojo called over the wailing baby. The sound cut off, and the screen remained black.

Aerith stepped back, hand over her mouth. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Aerith-" Tifa touched her shoulder, but Aerith slid to her knees.

"Aerith!" Cloud wiped at her eyes desperately, holding her cheeks in his hands. He stared at her, blue eyes wide and full of nothing, nothing but worry for her.

He threw his arms around her neck, nearly sending her falling over.

"Aerith," he whispered. "Aerith, no. No, Aerith."

"Oh, Cloud…" She held him close, letting his warmth fill her up.

There was no time to cry for her parents, no time to mourn. They had to stop Sephiroth. They had to stop Meteor, before it destroyed the planet. They had to get Cloud back to normal.

She felt the others step closer, and Cloud stiffen. She held him tighter, and looked up at the others. Her friends. More like family.

She took a shuddering breath, and started to stand. "Thank-"

The crooked door was blown off its hinges, and slammed into the wall with d deafening blast.

They whirled around, seeing a few figures in the remnants of the doorway.

A woman stepped forward, dark eyes regarding them with fury. "So," She sneered. "Here you are, hiding in some pathetic little shack. You actually thought you were safe! Even after you did in my boss!" Elena raised a gun, and the other Turks around her did the same.

"Tseng?" Aerith gasped, holding out her hands in a gesture of peace, "We didn't kill him, Sephiroth-"

"No!" Elena shrieked, tears in her eyes, taking a step forward. She leveled her gun at Aerith. "No more lies! This ends, now!"

She fired.

Ah, cliffhangers. So fun to write, and awful to read. :P See what I meant about the battle with Elena?

Anyway, reviews!

Animefan111: Thanks! :D Well, not really a 'soon' update, but an update, so...And yeah, things with Tifa will continue to be complicated for a while, but Tifa is a strong woman.

Persephone Oswald Oleesen: Well, in the time it took me to update you changed your profile name. :P Anyway, this is one of the most flattering reviews I've ever gotten! I'm glad all the characters are coming across well. With so many characters, sometimes its hard to get it right, but its a good thing they all have distinct personalities. Tifa's pain is something that is actually really fun to write about, as well as satisfying. Too often people write Tifa off as a desperate bitch, when she isn't that way at all. In fact, I fully believe it takes a special kind of strength to be such good friends with someone that loves the guy you love. Anyway, nope, no Tifa/Barret fluff, I'm afraid (unless you mean platonically!) as I'm actually completely in love with the impossible idea of Tifa/Zack, but I'm glad you liked it all the same!

Lord Archeron: Thanks so much! Sorry the update didn't happen faster.

Imashitowareto: Well, it will take some time for her to fully get over it, but as you can see here progress has started!

shifty eyes: Thanks! Everyone seems to really like how I write Tifa, which is kind of funny as I've hardly ever written anything for her. :P

drivenbyaBEATINGheart: Oh, thanks so much! Hope that trend continues!

sloganlogan: Thanks for reviewing despite your laziness!

Clow-san: Thanks! Aww, dunno about PERFECT. But thank you, and hope you keep enjoying!

HauntingRequiems: Thank you! And yeah, time helps my writing skills, as does more editing. :P Glad you like it!

kikofreako: Thanks again for being my beta for a while. I totally understand about the busy life and all. :) Anyway, thank you so much! I'm glad the writing is good enough to work with the story, and that you like the dialogue so much.

Next chapter preview:

Scattered: Elena and the Turks attack, and the group is seperated. With some of their friends in enemy hands, they have to figure out how to rescue them...as the Shinra company discovers that Cloud will no longer be so easily led...