It was nearly one in the morning as Lightning and Cloud walked down the street to the beach. They walked in silence just enjoying the company the other provided. When they got to the beach the only sound was the waves gently lapping the shore and only the silhouette of the Highwind blocked the moon.

They turned and began walking to the Farron house before noticing the silhouette of someone on the beach. As they got closer they identified the signature tattered cape and realized it was Vincent. Cloud greeted his friend when the gunslinger took notice of them and Lightning's gaze shot to the spear and blue cloth lying at his feet.

"Stalking Fang?" Lightning asked Vincent using the joke that floated around Avalanche.

"She asked me to watch her stuff while she took a swim," Vincent answered calmly without facing her.

"How long have you been seeing her?" Cloud asked making Lightning think twice about the situation.

"What gave me away?" Vincent questioned back.

"You watching the water, knowing she's in there," Cloud pointed out "You said that you would never betray Lucrecia."

"Good to know that you have learned from me Cloud," Vincent said with a smirk "But to answer your question, since Oerba."

"Well, its best we be going now," Cloud said to Vincent before he and Lightning continued "I'm happy for him," Cloud thought aloud when they were a fair distance away.

"But why did it have to be Fang?" Lightning asked the air "I mean, now it's a pair of omniscient people," When she got a confused look from Cloud she explained further "Each of them already knew everything as soon as it happened, and if Fang rubs off on Vincent they will gloat about."

"And if Fang picks up the way Vincent is, they will keep the information to themselves unless someone asks," Cloud pointed out.

When they arrived at Lightning's house they gave each other a goodbye kiss and Lightning went inside. Cloud grabbed his sword(s) from the spot beside the door before letting Lightning close the door and engage the lock.

Cloud walked back along the beach while thinking about some of the things Lightning, Claire, told him. The first being Cloud could call her Claire, unless others were around. The other was Claire's suggestion at getting a job with the Guardian Corps.

Cloud was heavily considering it and became lost in his thoughts. He was so wrapped in his thoughts that he did not notice Vincent and Fang sitting on the beach and accidentally ignored their greeting.

"Okay, I'll do it," Cloud said to himself at the ladder of the Highwind "Maybe I can convince whoever hands out shifts to make my hours the same as Claire's."

One Month and Fifteen Days Later, Bodhum, Farron Residence

Everyone, except Hope because he was home with his father in Palumpolum, was gathered together for the last parts of the preparation for Serah and Snows wedding. The guys had just settled with playing several different card games until they were called. Everyone hated playing those games with Vincent and Cloud because they were impossible to read and Vincent was an expert on reading people. They had effectively kept both of them from joining the games.

Lightning and Serah had spent a large amount of time arguing over what Lightning would wear. Serah had said a dress and Lightning was saying her formal uniform. They, as in Aerith, Vanille, and Serah, had already decided that Lightning would look best in a basic-blue dress. The only issue was getting Lightning to wear one.

"Come on Light," Aerith said with mock pleading "You're gonna be Serah's maid of honour. And besides you'll look great in a blue dress," Snow started to take a drink from his glass of water "If it makes you feel better, Cloud looked great," Snow started choking on the water.

The room went silent as a sealed tomb as everyone turned to the blond warrior. Every person had a different thought on their mind about what could have made Cloud Strife don a dress. Aerith looked around the room and covered her mouth.

"You haven't told them, have you?" Aerith said in an apologetic tone. Cloud just shook his head slowly.

"Didn't know you were that kind of person," Fang said with a mischievous smile.

"There is a lot more to the story," Vincent said flatly "At least, I'm hoping there is," Vincent said flatly again but with a smirk.

Cloud let out a sigh and began to recount the events that took place in sector six of the Midgar slums. He started with how he met Aerith, the escape from the Turks, and his failed attempt at sneaking away to sector seven in the night. Cloud continued with seeing Tifa in a cart headed towards Don Corneo's mansion, why he had to cross-dress, and how he had to buy time for Aerith and Tifa to grab the Buster Sword from out side the mansion. The silence returned as he finished the story, carefully leaving out the part about Corneo attempting to 'take advantage' of him.

"So you were just being a hero?" Snow asked completely stunned by the story "But why did you-" Snow shut his mouth when he saw Cloud slowly reaching towards the Fusion Sword.

"That didn't make me feel any better," Lightning commented to Aerith "But I guess I will wear a dress. For Serah's sake." Fang, who had been standing beside Lightning, leaned down to whisper something into her ear.

"If you don't like wearing it," Fang muttered into Lightning's ear "Just imagine Hero taking it off of you." Lightning's face turned red in an instant.

Fang burst out laughing because she knew the soldier was thinking about that. Vincent strolled over and grabbed the Oerban around the waist with his right arm. Fang feigned surprise at the action and 'attempted' to break free, but settled with leaning against the gunslinger.

"You two will be there right?" Snow asked as Serah started talking to Lightning again. Both Fang and Vincent gave a why-wouldn't-I look "At the very least then, Vincent, get a new cape."

Vincent just made an 'mmhmm' sound before Fang let out a small gasp. Vincent had just grazed Fang's left thigh with the claw on his left index finger. Fang turned around in Vincent's arm and captured his lips in a kiss. She was glad she forced the gunslinger to keep the capes collar open. Vincent moved his hands to her hips, but only his left hand stopped. His right hand slipped down to her thigh and into her sari.

Barret snapped his fingers several times before speaking "Hey, hey, hey! No one wants to see that!" Vincent sent the large dark skinned man a dark glare, which only Vincent and Fang could do, over the huntress' shoulder. The two raven haired warriors parted, but remained in each others embrace.

"I liked it better when he was anti-social," Yuffie said with a small amount, but very obvious, disgust "And quiet, and scary, and not trying to get laid in public."

"Yuffie!" Aerith scolded, being the omniscient mother figure.

"Well she's not wrong," Both Vincent and Fang said quietly to each other.

Cloud sat in silence and humiliation for nearly an hour before something occurred to him. Tifa did not speak up at all to defend him; then again, he had barely even seen Tifa the past several weeks. Tifa usually hung off him in the same way Vanille hung off Fang, but Tifa seemed oblivious to his very existence right now. He knew she disliked him for having a relationship with Lightning instead of her and she seemed to be hating him more and more because of that. Cloud then decided he would go talk to the martial artist, at the café/bar she worked at, later.

Tifa had begun working for Lebreau and soon worked alongside the woman. Tifa suggested they change the name of the beachside café/bar from 'Beachside Café and Bar' to something more classy, like 'Seventh Heaven' as an example. Lebreau said she liked the ring of Seventh Heaven and changed the name of the café/bar to 7th Heaven. Barret almost died from laughter when he heard about that.

The night of final plans ended with the reconfirmation of the wedding being a week away and Lightning politely telling everyone to go home, except Snow. Lightning practically threw him out the door behind the others because he would not let go of Serah.

Snow, Fang and Vanille, Tifa and Yuffie and Aerith, Barret, Sazh and Dajh, and Cloud had returned to their apartments. Cid had gone back to the Highwind, Nanaki went with Barret and Vincent had gone into the night, as usual. Yuffie was convinced that he was going to find some poor helpless person and drink their blood, which always received a laugh from the others.

The Next Day, Tuesday

It was the beginning of Cloud's first day as a Guardian Corps soldier. He secretly hated himself for telling Amodar to treat him like any other recruit, which resulted in Cloud having to go through basic training like all the other recruits. Undoubtedly, he had far surpassed the other recruits but still had to go through all the training because he asked for no special treatment.

Cloud's internal clock began ring and he sat up quickly to prevent himself from going back to sleep. He got out of his bed and went to the bathroom of his small apartment. After the part of the morning routine that required use of the bathroom, Cloud slipped into the uniform, put on the SCMPEM* and put on the Guardian Corps jacket last. He looked at his reflection in the full body mirror, which was built into the wall.

The uniform consisted of military boots with steel shin-guards, brown pants, a rather tight brown shirt, and a white coat that was the same as Lightning's but there was no belt around the middle and it was a lot less form-fitting. Cloud simply hated the uniform right away. He put on his gloves, unzipped the jacket, put on the SOLDIER belt, and re zipped the jacket. Cloud instantly felt better that the leather-covered flexi-steel belt was, once again, protecting his middle.

He walked out of the bedroom, quickly picking up the core sword of his Fusion Blade and put it on his back. Cloud knew he would not need the other five swords and left them leaning against his bedroom wall. He left his apartment, locked the door behind him and began walking towards the base.

*SCMPEM – Super-Compact Materia-Powered Electro-Magnet. I thought it was the only 'reasonable' explanation for how Cloud kept the sword on his back. It appeared in 'Echoes' early in the story.

I am so sorry about how long it took me to post this chapter and sorry about its length. My mind had come to a brick wall and I had to bash my way through with a spoon.

I also started another story because it was an idea that WOULD NOT GO AWAY! But I might keep that story unposted for a while . . . until I finish the first chapter.

All I will say about it is it's another 7/13 story and the three worlds (Pulse, Cocoon, Gaia) are one. If you want a preview, send me a message about why I should let you see it.

Even though I'm back in school (Grad year! Yay!) I should still be able to update quickly because I only have one class that gives homework.