Sephiroth quickly dialed Angeal on his PHS in his vehicle. He again had the overwhelming and uncomfortable feeling of mourning yet again. This was getting to be terrible. How would he ever be taken seriously if he mopped around like a heart broken female? Angeal Hewley answered on the second ring.

"Seph my friend, how are you? It has been too long. I have been preoccupied with the puppy but know I was thinking to check on you. I heard you got married while I was away on mission- "

Sephiroth against his own self, whimpered at the mention of his "wedding" and the memory of what followed afterwards, against his own steely control.

Angeal was still just as enhanced and he heard the sound Sephiroth made, most likely against his own wishes, he proceeded cautiously.

"Sephiroth…what's wrong? Do you need me to come to you so we can talk? I have known you too long and I can help be a listening ear" he pressed. He knew Sephiroth could be notoriously private and even more so quiet when something was bothering him; Sephiroth shocked him to death.

With his head planted on his arm braced by the steering wheel, the cool leather against his forehead, he simply stated "yes, it would be good to talk…please."

Angeal pulled the device away from his head and glared at it, wondering where the real Sephiroth was and who was this clever imposter. When Sephiroth confirmed that he'd meet him at the usual place, his eyes went comically wide but he somehow managed to say an agreement on the meeting. The line was disconnected. It was Sephiroth, but what in Gaia's name was wrong with him?

Angeal quickly said goodbye to Zachary, who pouted but in the end understood. He had to talk to Sephiroth and see what was wrong.

Back across town, Tifa was doing her own research on her husband. She called her closest male friend… and got another on the phone, and a familiar female in the background.

"Vincent's phone. How can he help you?" the smooth, pleasant voice though monotonous, stated, her other friend clearly talking to the one in question in the background.

"Tseng, I know Vincent despises his phone but really? You know what, don't care so don't answer. I really need to talk to him. It's…it's about Sephiroth" Tifa said.

There was no indication that the phone had switched hands that quickly until the deep timbre of Vincent's own voice spoke.

"There's trouble?" he simply asked ready for anything if need be. Sephiroth was his son he'd found out and he'd help her anyway he could for both. She didn't know yet he was Sephiroth's father, nor did Sephiroth. Tseng and Yuffie had helped him stay grounded after the OMEGA crisis and Deepground. They were all…dating. It had been just Vincent and Yuffie after those events, then Tseng wanting to thank him for his kidnapping by the remnants became anything but chaste. Yuffie had begged to keep Tseng, as if she even had to. Vincent was hooked on him. She even wanted him sexually. For Tseng, it was right up his alley since they were both beautiful and both wanted him. He would oblige them. Everyone knew about them too and were fine with it.

"No, no trouble. I just have questions about Sephiroth. I…want to get to know him if this is to be good for us both. Why don't Tseng and yourself come? You both have knowledge about him and at different times of his life" she coaxed, breaking Vincent's musings.

Vincent conceded along with Tseng to come meet with her. Tifa said hello to Yuffie as the men headed her way.

After a quick text confirming that Sephiroth had contacted Angeal from Tifa, she left it at that stating whatever it was, she knew Sephiroth would be in good hands. Angeal had wrote back thanking her for having faith in his friendship with her husband. Tifa stilled at the notion. Sephiroth was her husband. It still took her by surprise and she'd had seen all he had to offer her and had given her. They still were perfect strangers with water under the bridge between them. Tifa wanted to move on. Hate for a puppet master alien entity that had used that person too wasn't helping.

Soon Tifa and Vincent and Tseng had made their way back to Seventh Heaven. She still owned it but had her son Denzel, Cloud when he was off the road, and Marlene running it with their own crew.

It was odd to see children, no longer children anymore. They had been twelve and eleven when they started the whole ordeal and now they were young men and women who had fallen in love throughout the tragedy that they had had to grow up in. Denzel had been reared by Cloud and herself exclusively after the events of Advent Day. There was so much of Cloud in the boy that she couldn't deny his involvement with the young man, even down to his sword skills and hand to hand from herself. Marlene also was growing up to be a wonderful woman. She was now fourteen going on fifteen and Denzel had just turned seventeen years old. She always came by to make sure that Denzel had his necessities and that he was okay.

At first, he had been resentful of the decision that Tifa was making…until she had to tell him exactly why this was needed and what was at stake. Quickly that hatred and disappointment had been turned on Cloud for his way of handling things though that was not Tifa's intention. She didn't have anything bad to say about Cloud…he just made very poor decisions and continued to run when others were susceptible to be hurt by them. Nonetheless, after Denzel had confided in Marlene and her step mother Elmyra now, the secret had been safe between them. Not even Barrett knew the extents that Tifa had had to go to end up in this situation.

Tifa came back to herself after greeting her son and Marlene with hugs and kisses that were met with a blush of embarrassment by Denzel though he allowed it because it was his mom, Marlene with a smile, and a hug to Elmyra for her friend that had been brought back to her, Aerith.

Tifa had sat at the bar talking with her son and would be future daughter-in-law both, Vincent and Tseng swept into the building, both sporting TURK suits. Vincent's was modified from a soft matte leather, straps still covering his legs here and there and his holster at his side for Cerberus. He had his hair pulled back into a messy ponytail as Tseng was content to let his flow freely down his back as they both took up their favorite haunts by the hearth in the high back chairs. Tifa watched each male until they took their seats. She agreed mentally that they made a beautiful pair together and ordered their normal round of red and white wine. Once the beverages were procured, she took her own whiskey with her and went to serve the men as she prepared to try to learn all there was to know about her erstwhile husband.

Both men thanked her as she served them their drinks and she pulled up a chair of her own in the middle of the two by the hearth.

Vincent surprisingly went first, and what he had to say was shocking and yet not to say the least.

"Tifa…there's something that you should know about Sephiroth and I. After…secrets were revealed during my fight with OMEGA and the Deepground… Lucrecia revealed to me that I am Sephiroth's biological father" he said smoothly while looking at the woman with his own carmine eyes.

Tifa wanted to be shocked truly but honestly it made a lot of sense. If she were to put darker hair on him, take away the cattish pupils and grant Vincent's own eye color to him, she could concede she could see it. She also knew what Sephiroth's mother had looked like from old pictures that Vincent had confided in her about. Her husband was the prefect mixture of his father and his mother.

"I see" was all she could manage to say intelligently being so deep into thought. She tried again.

"I mean I can definitely see a lot of your personality in him, now that that has been revealed. Thank you…for telling me, trusting me as you have. Does anyone else know besides your significant others?" she said looking at Tseng and thinking of Yuffie.

"We are all that knows that secret, Yuffie and I. Alas, your husband doesn't even know" Tseng spoke up for the man, Vincent not minding in the least. There was an air of comfort to the way they handled.

This was news to her. She knew from her observations of Sephiroth that he was sadden because he truly believed himself to still be a monster for things he technically didn't do and the fact he had no one that was on his level of jacked up in his corner, caused the man depression even if he wasn't aware that she knew about it. Vincent's guidance and revelation was needed and he really didn't know.

"I was…hesitant to tell him because of all of our histories together. I was very distraught when I found out, as you can imagine as we had hunted him down…had to ultimately kill him" to which for once real emotion showed on Vincent's face. "I remember him…in the labs as nothing more than a walking infant at the time. I had always had my doubts of Hojo's parentage of him, but I too was held captive. I couldn't…I was unable to even save myself" Vincent said, propping his face upon his human hand on the chair looking sadly thoughtful about the turn of events that had been his and his child's life.

"For something so small at the time, he had a perchance of escaping where they would try to keep him under lock and key in their mock "nursery". As soon as he could walk, he would naturally seek me out, his eyes literally glowing in the dark, tracking his way to my cell where I was kept. He would…become upset, cry, as if he knew that Hojo was doing his dirty work on my body. I wanted him to be as far away from me as he could to save his youthful innocence…but he sought me out every time. After I had been completely changed and right before I was drained from the Mako chamber where I was barely cognizant of the world around me, I did focus and saw his small hands against the tube and him beating against it to release me. He was crying his eyes out and I couldn't reply as I had all the other times. He looked…haunted, even at the tender age of three. The next day I was being stowed away as a forgotten plaything and he was on a helicopter far away from me, never to see me again until that fateful day almost eight years' prior" Vincent stated with finality on the thought.

He had said more on the subject than Tifa or Tseng had expected and it was apparent it had taken its toll on him mentally, if only a little to relive those horrible memories.

Tseng placed a hand on Vincent's knee in a well-meaning gesture of support, something the two had learned to show: support and emotions more, even after being bred to be the top and best TURKS alive.

Tseng then took over the reins with the young man he knew Sephiroth to be. After all, they had both been friends and still were, even if it was tentative because of all that had happened. But of course, Sephiroth had tried to stab him to death fatally in the Temple of the Ancients and again his multi-composite form of the Remnants again attempted to end him as well.

"Sephiroth has always been soft spoken and reserved. He was always kind to his men despite the huge difference between his own strength and those of his peers. He never craved his title of being General or anything assigned by Shinra. He often did confide that he felt like he was alone in the world, that no one truly understood his difference. He knew and despised his alleged 'father' Hojo due to his abuse, he bemoaned his difference with his hair color, eyes, and preternatural strength and skills, even when he had his friendship with the other two Generals, Hewley and Rhapsodos. He longed for true love but only managed to be used greatly. He never deserved his downfall and the subsequent use of his face for no reason" Tseng said uncustomarily solemn, taking a sip of his wine.

Tifa listened to both men and their recount of her now spouse. He had been exposed to his real father's abuse and suffering at a early age and then forcefully separated from him though he didn't know how important Vincent Valentine was to be to him. Tseng speaks as if he were describing Sephiroth…currently. It is as if the man never had a chance at life. Tifa took another shot of her own whiskey and contemplates what was said.

Both of the men's faces and emotions were the most telling. It was going to be hard but she would give her daddy a restful peace and try to leave the events of Nibelheim where they belonged-in the past.

Sephiroth looked up from his menu as Angeal slipped into the booth across from him. Sephiroth was looking but really not finding anything he was able to eat, not with his current stress.

Angeal took in Sephiroth's non pristine appearance and knew that something was definitely amiss. Before he could start, Sephiroth began the conversation.

"I don't know what I am doing. I gather the process of being husband and wife but…she is my ex-enemy. She despises me for my involvement in her life, though I was thoroughly used in form and mind, to have destroyed her hometown and killed her only family she had. I don't know what drew her to….me. Why would she not just leave me alone after she knew who I was? Then on top of that… she, she treated my body like a common harlot. Why would she do that to me?" he asked, subdued, the menu long forgotten, his face showing more than he intended.

The overall wretched sentence and confused pain of the last question cut Angeal deep. Sephiroth would never show this amount of emotion. What had happened to his friend? Wasn't he married and happy in life?

"Sephiroth, what is going on? What did she do to your body?" Angeal was alarmed.

"I. . . I had to marry, for my mother's estate. My lawyer placed a marriage ad on a site. I was…destitute. I didn't have so much as a bed to call my own before. All my assets from Shinra had been frozen, even now. What messed up situation would bring my arch-enemy's love interest to me? She dated me for a whole entire month, and then married me, taking away the only thing I had left of myself. I was just trying to survive since I was brought back again" Sephiroth at this point was breathing harder, becoming more pale as he relived the pain.

Angeal quickly slipped out of the booth, grabbed Sephiroth by the shoulders, snapping him back into the now, though his eyes were wild.

Angeal knew exactly what Sephiroth was talking about and honestly thought that Sephiroth would be better suited leaving with him to his home… for a time, until this was sorted.

He didn't like how Sephiroth was behaving… like he did in the past when he felt like he had no choice. Yes, the man had a sad history that was full of doppelgangers and violence not by his hands.

Sephiroth didn't deserve this.

He got the man to his vehicle and sat him down. Sephiroth looked ahead as if he wasn't really seeing his current surroundings or even the base subject was what they were talking about. He was seeing his past, all painful and bloody.

Angeal sent a quick text confirming that Sephiroth would be better suited with him for a couple of days, nervous texts now from Tifa spilling forth. Angeal got into the driver's seat, ignoring any other texts in lieu of his friend who if not handled properly with his previous life experience, could easily have another episode. With that thought, they both drove towards Angeal's home to help work through this darkness together.

He sat Sephiroth on the sofa opposite his in his two bedroom apartment and poured him a stiff drink, that he took but seemed only to want to hold onto as he stared straight ahead, his face a mask of confusion and his eyes swollen from his recent tears. He tried to distract him by telling him about his recent mission while he quickly assembled a huge plate of nachos, knowing Sephiroth could never resist snacking if food was placed in front of him and counted on this. He placed the plate in front of him with salsa and sour cream for dipping and was happy to note that his hand automatically reached for one of the cheese drenched chips.

Taking a sip of his own drink, he said. "I want you to tell me exactly what happened, starting where you learned of this inheritance, everything up until now, please leave nothing out. I need to know exactly what has occurred in order to be help you with your situation" he urged him and noted with satisfaction that he had eaten half of the plate.

Sephiroth gave him a look and explained it all in a weary voice. Angeal listened and noted that some of what he said painted his new wife in a positive light but little of it made sense. Why had she married him? He didn't know Tifa that well, but she didn't seem the greedy sort, she seemed very kind in fact.

Of course he had been shocked to learn of Sephiroth's rushed marriage, but had figured that even if it was wildly out of character for him, love makes you do strange things. Certainly Angeal had thought that given how lonely Sephiroth had been most of his life, if he found love, he would do anything to bind that person to him. But this mockery of wedded bliss made Angeal angry for his friend. He had hoped that Sephiroth had finally found the love he always wanted, only to gain this sham.

Sephiroth's voice sound broken when he got the point of his wedding night and his voice fizzled out at the end. It was as Angeal had feared, his first time he had had sex, he had been jumped. Angeal was one of the few that actually knew that the Silver General had been asexual, he just had had no interest in it.

Angeal felt like hunting down the young woman for her causal use of his body, yet he also realized that Sephiroth hadn't told her. She couldn't have known that the most powerful being on the planet had been a nervous virgin on his own wedding night.

"I asked her if she wanted to wait for another night" he said, trying to hold his tears back. "Why do I feel like this?" He asked him in a small voice.

"Because virgins need to feel safe with their first person and that they are cared about. That person should be gentle and compassionate with them and lovingly guide them through the act. It doesn't matter who you are or how old you are. You received none of that. Of course you are going to hurt" he explained. He could only wish that things had been different, that Sephiroth had told her and she had given him time to ease him into the act. They were contracted for five years, surely they could have waited a month or two for him to get comfortable with the role of lover? Or that she had approached their intercourse on a gentler level and made it more like love making. He could see why Sephiroth felt like he had been raped.

"I guess that it's a consolation, I won't have to do this again" Sephiroth said in a bitter tone of voice. "I'm not made for feeling like this."

"It sounds like she does care about you" Angeal said. "Perhaps if you talked to her? Told her why you are upset?" Angeal said.

Sephiroth laughed at the idea, "like she would care after all I took from her, you think she going to care that her would-be murder, turned husband is all weepy about losing his virginity?" he said in self mockery. "It's better she never knows, it doesn't matter" he decided.

"Clearly it does matter as it should. It was precious and with your life history, the hurt is going to be amplified. Vent all you want, we'll spar if you want to go to the VR room, you can call up Genesis and kick his ass again. We'll have a guys night if you want. How can I help?" He said.

"I just want to sleep, all of this has been too much. I need just to rest" he said, wanting only to escape into slumber.

"Then come" he said, knowing his friend's tendency to brood when truly upset, leading him into his spare bedroom. "Take the rest you need and when you wake, I shall have dinner ready. I wish you had contacted me, heck contacted any of us before taking on this inheritance and wife. I would have given you a place to live and kept you fed" he said.

"I prefer to depend only myself. I don't want to be anyone's burden" he replied and Angeal got him some sleep clothes and allowed him privacy to change. Not that he hadn't seen the other male unclad many times before, but he had never seen him this vulnerable before.

"Just rest, you can stay as long as you need to" he assured him.

"Thanks for being a friend" Sephiroth said as he settled under the blankets, glad to be with someone he felt safe with as he trustingly went to sleep.

Angeal flipped off the lights and closed the door softly after himself, concerned about his friend. Sephiroth had always been so elusive emotionally in the past and seeing him this fragile disturbed him.

He remembered when he first met him, he had been the oddest looking man he had ever met who was almost girlish in appearance, Genesis being the biggest slut over both sexes was the first one to notice him and desired to add him as a notch on his belt.

Sephiroth however had been coolly polite on that point and had seemed so distant that something about him made the kind hearted Angeal long to befriend him. There were so many rumors already about his prowess on the battlefield, but no one seemed to really know him or anything about him. So he began a campaign of attempting to win him over, they had finally bonded when Sephiroth actually had broken his famous composure and actually had a snit where he informed Angeal that he was not interested in him and not gay. Angeal had just informed him he was pretty for a guy, but was not into guys either. He had laughed at this.

From there they had just drifted into a friendship that had deepened over time, Sephiroth had come to know that Angeal and Genesis had his back. Genesis had long since given up on him and pursued other people and Angeal had had his own affairs as well, but both were there for Sephiroth, be it going on a double dates when he was forced to accompany the daughters of dignitaries to events or to help him get rid of his suitors. He certainly had no trouble in that department as he stood before the people looking as cold as an iceberg upon refusal, while people desiring him always made him feel a sense of panic. Rumors were abound about the three of them, speculations about what they did behind closed doors. Angeal never denied a thing, nor Genesis, having Sephiroth looking like he was spoken for wasn't a bad thing.

He finally sat down and read Tifa's texts, they all were about wanting to know what was going on and how Sephiroth was doing. All of her texts were indicative of her caring about him on some level, but how could Angeal really judge? He could only hope that her feelings for him would deepen with time, he certainly deserved that. Once you got to know what dwelled within the cold and stony exterior of Sephiroth Crescent, there was no way not to love him, if only as a friend. Five years was a long time and Sephiroth was an enigma worth solving.

He picked up his PHS and let her know that Sephiroth was okay and would be staying with him for a few days and requested she pack a bag for him, including his toiletries or have one of their staff do it and he would pick it up. Sephiroth was close to him in height but their body styles as different as night and day. He explained what had upset him was too personal for himself to divulge and Sephiroth himself would tell her, but she would have to give him time in order to be comfortable in doing so.

"Now I have an important mission for you soldier, find me a chicken about this big" Angeal said holding his hands up to indicate the size he was to search for.

"Why am I here? You know how I feel about grocery shopping" Sephiroth groused.

"Because Seph, if I don't keep you distracted, you will spend your time dwelling in my guest room brooding on the bed about what is bothering you and that will achieve nothing. You need to keep busy" he said.

Sephiroth glared at the man.

"You look so cute when you pout like that, now go get that chicken" Angeal said giving him a wide smile and watched him stalk off.

He was enjoying spending time with his friend, it was a nice distraction as Angeal would hate to admit it to anyone, but he had been lonely without anyone in his life. Certainly he couldn't call up last girlfriend, years had passed while he was in lifestream, she would have moved on by now and gotten married and had kids most likely.

He had been there as a friend to Sephiroth as he always had been to him, just letting him work through his problems but willing to listen if he wanted his input. Keeping him busy, but allowing him space as well.

The groceries were bought and paid for and they returned to Angeal's place. Sephiroth helped him unpack and stow the groceries away. "So what should we do for dinner..." He asked him.

"Could I ask you for relationship advice?" Sephiroth asked him.

"Of course what would you like to know?" Angeal asked him.

"Everything" he said.

"I'll open a bottle of wine, this might take awhile" he observed.

"There is no mystery to being with a woman, you talk to them as you would anyone else and treat them with respect and they will do the same to you" Angeal explained.

"How important is sex in a relationship?" Sephiroth said, casting an embarrassed look at him.

"It is important but only a part of it, people like intimacy and that is the closest you can get to another person, sex is important in a healthy relationship. You'll see what I mean one day" Angeal explained.

"No I won't, I don't want to repeat that again" Sephiroth said.

"Sephiroth, the way you were seduced; you weren't ready for it. Some day you will make love with someone and it will feel so different. Sex isn't just about release, it is a way to physically show someone how much they mean to you" he explained.

"Make love, fuck: what's the difference? I certainly felt no caring involved in the act" Sephiroth stubbornly said.

"Do you like Tifa? Are you attracted to her?" Angeal asked him.

"Well, yes, she's very attractive but there is more than just that. She's kind and loyal and makes me laugh and seems to accept me as I am" he said with more exuberance than usual.

"Do you care about her?" Angeal asked him.

"I enjoy her company, I like being with her and I find myself missing her despite what occurred, so I guess I must" Sephiroth said after a long pause, trying to get a handle on his emotions towards the young women.

"I want you to read the texts she sent me and then judge whether she really cares about you or not" Angeal said handing him his PHS and watched his face as he scrolled through their chat thread, although his face was neutral, there seemed to be surprise and confusion in his eyes.

The inquires all were about her being worried for his health, asking if he needed anything and how she had personally packed his bag. He paused at that, she had included all of his favourite clothes and in each item of clothing, candies had been hidden and had been released as he unpacked. This had caused him to smile in his misery as even his socks were bulging with treats. That had been her? What did it mean? "Those don't seem to be from someone who dislikes you" Angeal pointed out.

"She offered to be a true wife to me" he said dismissively.

"Why not give her a chance? She probably is just as confused by your separation" he said. "You should be honest with her about what upset you, you can't keep secrets in a relationship" Angeal cautioned him.

"She's keeping secrets from me" Sephiroth pointed out.

"In time she will tell you, she seems like a genuinely honest person, that's what everyone says about her" Angeal said.

"Then perhaps in time, I shall as well" he said.

"Let me show you the greatest way you can help a female, sit on my lap" he ordered him, patting it

"Why would I want to do that?" He asked him aghast.

"So I can show you what I mean" he said, patting his lap and Sephiroth gingerly sat on it.

"How does this feel?" He asked him when he wrapped his arms around him and started stroking his hair.

"I'm weirded out and highly uncomfortable and don't like the location of your genitals to my person" he said with a frown. "Why are you mussing my hair?"

"I'm stroking it" he replied.

"Why?" He asked him.

"Just pretend you're a small female" he said.

"But I cannot because I never have been. What is the meaning of all of this and how much longer must I sit on you?" He demanded.

"This is how you comfort a woman when she's upset, she feels protected because of how you're sheltering her with your larger body. It works everything" he explained.

"So I can get up now?" He asked him.

"I guess so, however you have a butt like a firm peach ready for the plucking, I find myself enjoying having you on my lap" Angeal said, suddenly settling his hand on one of his friend's rock solid cheeks and giving it an appreciative squeeze while grinding him genitals upwards against it. This caused the other man to vault off his lap like the cloth of Angeal's jeans had scalded him.

"Really was that necessary?" He snapped at him, looking offended.

"I couldn't resist" he said.

"I can't hide here like a frightened child, I have to go home and put things right between Tifa and I" he said and all levity went out of the room.

"Do you want me to come with you?" He asked him.

"No, this is between my wife and I" he said, using that title for Tifa in front of someone for the first time and oddly enough, he didn't feel uncomfortable saying it.

"I wish you luck and if you ever need to come back, I'm here for you" Angeal said to him.

"I know that you will always have my back" Sephiroth said, placing his hand on the broader man's shoulder in thanks.

Angeal looked at his friend and impulsively said, "Sephiroth if either of us had been a female, I would taken you to my bed long ago and you would know the difference between harsh fucking and making love. You know I love you, man"

Both men looked at each other, a blush crept over Sephiroth's face and an answering one suffused Angeal's own "Wow that sounded..." Angeal said.

"I agree, it's time I go home" he said.

Tifa could only look in shock at her PHS phone where Sephiroth had texted he was on his way.

Sephiroth stared out his windshield at what was now his home, that contained his wife and didn't know how to treat her. The hurt was still there but he had resolved to get past it, she didn't know after all because he hadn't let her know. Intercourse was after all a condition to make their marriage legal that had trapped them both. She had been a victim like himself.

Tifa was just as nervous when Sephiroth's car drew up before their mansion. She peeked out and noticed he was staring at the house with a look of almost fear on his face, before he opened the door with resolve, grabbed the duffle bag that she had packed him and started towards their entry way. Tifa suddenly appeared in the doorway, "Sephiroth" she said and felt rather hurt when he flinched from her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I won't touch you" she said stepping back.

"Thank you I appreciate that" he said.

"Are you, okay?" She asked him.

"I'm feeling more emotionally stable" he darkly said.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked him.

"Not yet, I would prefer to tell you at a later time. It's not that I don't feel I cannot trust you, I am not one given to sharing my feelings with someone. Emotions are hard for me to process, I need time to adjust to being with you. Barring that, it doesn't mean I don't care for you. I do care for you" he said.

"I will give you the time you need to adjust" she promised him.

"What I said to you about you being a wife, I should not have said that For reasons you wish to remain private, you are aiding me and I have no right to judge you. I promise to be a husband to you in sickness and in health. I clearly haven't been doing a good job so far. It will get better, but please bear in mind that with my unconventional upbringing, I will probably say and do things that hurt you and I want you to tell me when I do. All of this is new to me because I have never been with anyone in a relationship of any sort. That being said, I promise to honour you as my wife and treat you with respect" he said with resolve in voice.

"I can live with that. I'll give you space as you need it and promise to help you adjust" Tifa said.

"I request that we leave off having sex" he said leaving at that.

"That's acceptable" Tifa agreed.

"Thank you" he said with relief in his voice.

"So now what?" She asked him.

"We live together and see what sort of relationship we form. Until then, I would like to give you a hug" he said shocking both of them.

Tifa looked at him in shock, while dating they had often spent quiet evenings together at Dexter's, the kindly man insisting on working late on the nights they got together. Sephiroth would normally make them dinner and then they would sip wine and talk about many things. Never did they attempt to touch, their first kiss had been the wedding itself and then there was a their disastrous wedding night (for him, not her). Sure they had had intercourse as they had had to, but what Sephiroth was offering seemed much more imitate somehow. "Are you sure?" She asked him.

"Come here" he said holding his arms out, determined to get over his intimacy issues it wouldn't be fair to either of them if he didn't. He was going to get used to touching her, he felt a tad squeamish to have someone so close to him as she moved tentatively forward as if not to scare him and he actually jumped a little when she leaned against him. He forced his arms around her and realized how tiny she was suddenly felt almost violently protective of her. She was his wife after all.

Aerith looked over to where Zack was openly flirting with another girl and wondered why she had agreed to have an open relationship with him. He had explained he needed to have physical relationships before he married her and somehow in her blinding love for him, she had agreed. She had assumed their relationship would move forward from where it was left off, as she thought it would in the first place and had chosen to live with him. It hurt so much to watch him with other women while she slept in her virginal bed. At least he didn't bring them home she reasoned, but to see him returning in the mornings smelling of perfume was bad enough.

Her thoughts turned to another man who was in her heart, she hadn't expected to start to care about him when she tracked him down in the darkest corner he could find in lifestream, curious about her murderer. He hadn't wanted to talk her but she managed to wear him down finally and he opened up to her and she found in him a man worth knowing, they had bonded over neither of them being fully human.

As time went on, they became friends and she could see how tragic his life was and his longing for love and her own heart opened to take him in. There hadn't been a question of leaving him behind when she decided to leave lifestream with her two trueloves and brought his friend with him for emotional support and that he was a fine man in his own right. She had looked at Sephiroth looking so gorgeous and regal in his sanity and back in the flesh and wondered if she had brought the right man back to be her own. Zack had proved to be such a child.