When Cloud didn't return that night Lunara still sat in the church in wait. She had found Cloud's tattered sleeping bag on the ground by the small garden of flowers as well as a box of materia, another box to be used as a nightstand with a lamp on top and some used bandages. Upon picking up the bandages, Lunara immediately knew that it was Cloud's Geostigma. With a sigh she had put them down and went to sit by the bed of flowers after lighting the lamp for light.

Sitting crossed legged she stroked a flower, the soft petals bringing a memory to her mind…

"Seph, what are you doing? Why can't I open my eyes?" Lunara whined as her lover got up from the bed. They had been making love and when they were done and holding each other like they usually did, Sephiroth had said that he had a surprise for her. Telling her to close her eyes, he immediately jumped off the bed to get something.

"Just stay there and keep them closed," she heard him chuckle from the right side of her. Soon she felt his weight on the bed next to her and she rolled over as his one arm came around her to pull her towards him, their bodies still a little slick from their love making. She suddenly felt his breath by her ear and he whispered, "Now open."

When Lunara opened her eyes she was met with the sight of a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Roses, Daisies and especially Tiger Lilies, her favorite. She gasped and looked at Sephiroth who had a satisfied smile on his lips at her reaction. She smiled widely and accepted the bouquet to smell.

"Oh, Seph…" she sighed, giving him a long kiss to which he eagerly returned. "You remembered that I love Tiger Lilies." She looked back at the orange flower and gingerly stroked the petal.

"How could I forget?" he questioned rhetorically and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Happy Birthday, Lunara."

Grinning, Lunara rolled to lie on top of him and gently placed the flowers on the nightstand. His hands came to rest on her hips and his thumbs drew circles on her skin. Leaning down to kiss his neck and collar bone her nails gently scraped his muscular chest. "I hope you know that this entitles you to extra special bonus sex," she chuckled as she nipped his chin.

Her lover moaned slightly. "Mmm, I better. The damn things were expensive."

Coming back from the memory Lunara continued to stoke the petals of the flower. Flowers were so rare in Midgar even then, finding one Tiger Lily probably cost Sephiroth at least 100 Gil. After that night, she loved him even more. She knew just from that night that their relationship was more than just sex. He remembered her birthday as well as her favorite flower; that had to mean something.

With a sorrowful sigh Lunara let the flower go and it stood tall again; she hadn't had the heart to pluck it. "What happened to you?" she asked it softly as if it were Sephiroth. Of course, the flower didn't reply and Lunara sighed again before standing and moving to her little makeshift bed. After blowing out the lamp she fell into another restless sleep.

In the morning, the hole in the roof allowed the light of morning to illuminate the church. The blind ex-SOLDIER was already awake, sitting up and putting on her boots for another day of searching. Four months in Midgar and there was still nothing to be found. Every piece of information there could have been either burned in flames years ago or were buried under tons of stones from broken buildings. But there was nothing else to do until Cloud came back and she surely would hear Fenrir from a far enough distance.

By midday she was looking around the area where the old Shinra building used to keep its documents. She had looked the area over and over during the four months and still she found nothing. She was determined there was something though, she could feel it; today more than ever. Something was going to happen; would it be that she'd finally find something?

Tifa and Marlene entered the abandoned church slowly, but Marlene giggled and ran straight to the bed of flowers under the light of the sun through the giant hole in the roof. Following the young girl at a slower pace was Tifa. The woman had enough of waiting and so had decided to go to Midgar to look for her friends herself. Of course, Marlene had to tag along when she mentioned that she'd be stopping by Areith's church. Marlene loved flowers and always jumped at the chance to go see the bed of them that rested in the broken floor boards.

But their eyes were diverted to the makeshift beds to the right of the flowers and other personal things for drinking, light and the like. After gazing at the items for a few moments, Marlene decided to speak up. "Do Cloud and Lunara live here?" she asked looking to Tifa with curiosity.

Shrugging slightly, Tifa's eyes never left the beds. "I guess they do," she replied gently. Why hadn't Cloud told her? Sleeping at the bar was better than this, why did he stay away? Slowly the two approached the little living area and touching a metallic box lightly, Marlene looked over her shoulder at her caretaker.

"What's this?"

Again, Tifa shrugged and shook her head unknowingly before spotting something on the box that was used as a nightstand. Making her way over to it she found it was a white bandage with darker smudges. Closing her eyes for a moment in disappointment, she immediately knew what it was. The stigma. Either Cloud or Lunara had it and given their history with Shinra both of them were very likely to have it though she had a feeling it was Cloud. She'd seen him wince back when he used to stay at the bar. She used to ask him about it, but he'd always say it was back pain from sleeping wrong or a small scratch something or other.

Marlene came over and picked up the bandage to look it over. "It's just like Denzel. Is Cloud sick?" Again, the girl looked to Tifa for answers. The martial artist wished she didn't always do that, she didn't have all the answers, but she didn't want to hurt Marlene. She loved the little girl with all her heart, but sometimes she asked too many questions.

Ignoring what Marlene asked, Tifa stared blankly at the wall. "Why didn't he say something?"

"Did he leave because he's sick?"

"He just wants to fight alone," Tifa realized, still in the small trance she put herself in.

"Fight?"

"No," she said softly to herself. "I don't think that he will."

"Tifa?"

The woman was suddenly pulled out of her trance when Marlene said her name and she looked at her, a smile coming to her face as she saw the little girl's questioning eyes. She put her hands on her knees and leaning towards her. "Let's go home, Marlene."

Marlene frowned and ran around to the other side of the box as if she were afraid the older woman was going to pick her up. Stomping her foot determinedly, she said, "We can't! They're not here yet!"

Quirking a smile, Tifa admired Marlene's determination then picked up the blackened bandage and stood straight, taking a step towards Marlene. "I know, Sweetie. I miss them too."

"Yeah," chirped the little girl as she ran out from behind the box to meet Tifa as she knelt down before her.

"So say they come back?" she asked.

"We'll all go home," Marlene answered surely causing Tifa to chuckle slightly.

"Not before they get a lecture," she giggled and winked at the girl playfully. The brunette girl smiled brightly and held up her hand.

"Uh huh!" she agreed. Laughing the two girls hi-fived and proceeded to wait for their friends. As Marlene went back to the flowers, Tifa went to sit on one of the benches that were still sturdy enough to put weight on.

Suddenly a loud crash echoed in the air, startling a few crows that sat on the ledge of a broken building. Lunara's head snapped up and she waited a few seconds to possibly discover what it was. The air wasn't humid so it wasn't about to rain, so it had to be something else. Just when she thought it was probably another rock falling off an unstable building another crash was heard and it sounded like wood.

Gasping, Lunara leaped from the rubble she had immersed herself in and onto an over hanging rock. The crashes were coming from the church, she realized, and immediately she started sprinting in that direction, jumping over tall rocks and off of walls. More crashes echoed in the air, pushing Lunara to run faster.

When she reached the church, heart racing she saw nothing. Narrowing her eyes under her blindfold, she thought again that it was possibly some falling stones, but she decided to look in the church just to make sure. As soon as she stepped inside she could smell the flowers, but with was the cloudiness of dust. The church hadn't been taken care of in years, but she knew that the dust wasn't that thick; in fact it looked as if one more pillar was destroyed and many of the pews near the back were demolished.

Someone else was in the church, she could here them breathing raggedly. She looked around wildly then a scent suddenly came to her nose. Lavender; that was Tifa's smell! She recognized it from being in the woman's presence. Lunara sprinted down the isle of the church and into the flower bed where she found Tifa laying unconscious. Kneeling beside the woman she grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly so as to not hurt her.

"Tifa!" she shouted to get her awake, but the woman remained limp. Sighing, the older woman set her down gently on the flowers and checked for wounds. There was a lump on her head that bled slightly and when she prodded gently at her midsection, the woman let out a moan of pain, but still lay with her mind in darkness. Brushing a hand over the woman's hair, Lunara patted her cheek lightly. "Don't worry, Tifa, Cloud will be back soon."

Two hours later, when Lunara was beginning to think Cloud would never show, she heard Fenrir roaring closer to the church. Breathing a sigh of relief she looked down at Tifa with a smile. "He is back. I told you, did I not?" she chuckled as the motorbike pulled up in front of the church. As soon as the engine was cut and the roaring stopped, Lunara called out to him. "Cloud! Cloud, come quick! It's Tifa!"

Instantly she heard his heavy boots thudding quickly against the hardwood floor as he came to kneel on the other side of his childhood friend, putting his left arm under her shoulders to lift her slightly. "Tifa?" he asked and when he received no response he tried again. "Tifa!" There was urgency in his voice as he shook her lightly and the woman began to stir. Both Cloud and Lunara leaned in slightly in apprehension when she groaned slightly in pain.

"You're late…" she moaned softly, her eyes only opening a crack.

"Who did this?" Cloud asked angrily and his friend shook her head while furrowing her brow weakly.

"He didn't say…" Suddenly Tifa gasped and she sat up quickly, eyes wide. "Marlene!" As soon as the little girl's name left her lips she held her head and pain fell back into Cloud's arms unconscious. His own eyes wide with worry, Cloud looked around at the new destruction of the church and his missing materia box.

"Damn!" he swore then suddenly gasped and looked at his arm that was covered.

"Cloud?" Lunara asked uncertainly as the blonde's fist clenched and he continued to gasp in pain. Instantly she knew his Geostigma was acting up. "Cloud, listen to me, just breath alright?" Blackish blue pus leaked down the arm that held Tifa and he groaned; his arm tense and shaking. "Cloud! Calm down! Listen to my voice!"

But it seemed he couldn't hear her and suddenly he released Tifa. Just in time, Lunara caught her before she could do further damage to her head and set her gently on the ground before looking at Cloud who had collapsed next to her clutching his arm. "Cloud?" she asked softly as she saw the pain in his face slowly disappear to become calm and rested. He was unconscious now too.

Throwing her hands up in the air, Lunara let out an exasperated sigh. How was she going to fit both of them onto Fenrir plus herself? Even if she could get them all on there was no way she'd be able to keep them on throughout the ride. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she squeezed her eyes shut and began to think.

She was saved from thinking too long when she heard footsteps on the wooden floor. Fearing that it was the man coming back to finish Tifa off, she stood and unsheathed her sword, holding it lightly in her right hand. "Who's there?" she said loudly, her voice echoing in the church.

"Whoa, settle down there, doll, yo," said a familiar voice. A voice she hadn't heard in years.

Narrowing her brows slightly under her blindfold, she mumbled, "Reno?" Her voice was too quiet for her old friend to hear, but she knew it was him for sure. His familiar scent of cinnamon filled her nose and the brilliant red of his hair was unmistakable. What was he doing here?

"Take it easy, ma'am. We only want to help," said an unfamiliar voice. He sounded stoic and calm, much like Sephiroth had, but this man had a lighter tone and it sounded more professional. He was bald too with sunglasses, his expression emotionless. Lowering her sword she sheathed it on her back.

"They're unconscious. I can't fit them on my friend's bike and bring them back to Edge on my own," she said. She trusted Reno back when she was in Shinra, but he was only a rookie Turk then and not so in deep. Was he still with them? If so, what would they do with Cloud and Tifa?

"Cloud's your friend?" asked Reno in surprise and Lunara held back the small smirk at the sound. He was still the same Reno. Untidy clothes that were wrinkled, untucked as well as missing its tie. He still had his red tattoos on his cheekbones and he still had those goggles on his forehead. Some things never change.

"Yes. Their both hurt. Can you help me?" she asked impatiently. Reno nodded to his partner and the larger man stepped forward to lift Cloud off the ground at the same time Lunara lifted Tifa. She nodded to him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied and Reno led them outside where their shining black car was parked beside Fenrir. Gently the Turk and Lunara put Cloud and Tifa into the back seat and closed the door. "I'm Rude, by the way."

"Lunara." She lifted a hand and he shook it firmly before they let go.

Happily jumping in, Reno grabbed her hand and shook it as well, although more enthusiastically. "And I'm Reno!" he chirped.

Chuckling softly, Lunara let him shake her hand excitedly. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Hey, do I know you, yo?" he asked when they released hands. Lunara merely shrugged before moving over to Fenrir and started the engine with a roar. "Are you sure you can see with that thing on your eyes?"

"Trust me, I can see better with it," she responded before revving the engine. "You know the way to Seventh Heaven?"

"Sure do, Doll!"

"Good. Lead the way then," she said with a motion of her hand towards Edge. Reno saluted her before hopping in the car with Rude and speeding off with Lunara hot on their heels on Fenrir.

When they reached Seventh Heaven Reno and Rude brought the unconscious Tifa and Cloud up to the kid's room where they proceeded to lay them on the beds to rest. Reno sighed and shook his arms after setting Cloud down with Lunara's help. "So, now what?" he asked impatiently.

"We wait for them to wake up," she said calmly before moving into the bathroom and coming back out with two cold wet cloths. She then placed both cloths on her friend's heads to ease the pain of a head ache when they woke up.

"So, how do you know Spiky and Tif?" asked Reno curiously as Rude excused himself to get a glass of water.

"Cloud is an old friend. Tifa and I met a few months ago," Lunara replied nonchalantly with a shrug as she dabbed the cold cloth around Cloud's sweating face. That Stigma attack must have been good if it knocked him out for this long.

"Old friend? Meaning you guys used to date or something?"

Lunara snorted. "Definitely not. I suppose you could say that we used to work together," she said slowly before turning her head towards Reno. It kind of unnerved the Turk how he couldn't see her eyes, but he guessed she wore the blindfold because she couldn't see. But when he processed her last statement, his fiery eyebrows narrowed.

"Worked together?" he asked confused.

Lunara chuckled good-naturedly. "I'm surprised, Reno. How could you forget the girl that turned you down flat every day for a month straight," she smirked and turned completely to face him with a hand on her hip. "Although I shouldn't blame you. It has been eight or so years."

Reno blinked in confusion multiple times before his eyes widened in shock as he looked Lunara over again. He groaned and put his hands over his eyes. "Oh, hell no. I'm not seeing this. I'm not seeing this," he repeated to himself behind his hands.

"Think what you want, Reno. I'm not about to disappear," she chuckled as she turned the cloth on Cloud's forehead over. Reno spread his fingers and looked between them at the woman again.

"Luna…" he breathed in awe. "You're supposed to be… Supposed to be…"

"Locked in some Chryochamber in the cave of a mountain where no one can find me?" she supplied distastefully. Reno winced and rubbed the back of his head nervously just as Rude walked back in with his glass of water.

"Um, yeah. If you want to put it like that, yo," he mumbled quietly.

Lunara nodded and grimaced slightly. "Yeah, well, I got out and there's no way in hell anyone's putting me back in," she growled.

"The president won't be too happy about this," whispered Rude to Reno quietly already knowing what the conversation was about, considering he had heard most of it from down the hall. Reno smacked his arm and put his finger to his lips, but it was too late.

"The President? He's still alive?" she asked.

"Uh, no. I mean yes. I mean, uh, yeah… Well, Rufus, his son is anyway…" Reno sighed. Lunara's eyes narrowed again under her blindfold and she took a step towards Reno threateningly.

"Be careful that you don't tell me where he is, Reno. I don't know where you're allegiance truly is, but I can tell you that if I ever came close enough to that bastard, his head will be skewered on my sword and his body will be fed to Shadow Creatures. Do I make myself clear?" she growled lowly, her teeth bared dangerously.

Reno nodded instantly. He knew what Lunara was capable of. She was a First Class SOLDIER and almost as good as Sephiroth, Angeal and Genesis themselves. He didn't want to mess with that unless he had to, so he would make sure not to spill the beans. "Clear as crystal," he choked out.

"Good because I don't want to kill you either. I'd hate to kill someone I once called my friend," she sneered before moving past both men to go to the bar for a drink.

As she left, Reno let out a sigh of relief and Rude glanced through the door at Lunara's retreating back with a brow raised over his dark sunglasses. "You knew that psychopath?"

Reno nodded. "What's worse is that I wanted to date that psychopath," he shivered.

The conversation stopped there and the two waited for the two on the bed to wake up to tell them what they knew.