wow! so many reviews I'm beaming! Right to it then - Jini! I will take those hugs, thank you very much. And I'm glad you're enjoying the fluff. Once I let Cloud start he just wouldn't stop. Not that I hear Tifa complaining and I'm glad you appreciated both his uncertainty and Tifa's vulnerability with her scar. I think it's the little bits that make characters 'human' and worth reading and I'm glad they're coming across right. And Vincent will definitely have a part to play (or two). Dis - LOL - yes, Aeris did something, and will do something more no less ;) And Red just went off on his explanation without a by your leave to me. Glad it made sense. And good eye - yep, I am torquing Vinnie just a bit. He shouldn't be the only one to emerge unscathed from my AU. Fairheartstrife - oh, you make me so happy. Yep, Tifa's finally admitting maybe she really can believe what she wants to believe when it comes to Cloud. I don't think Cloud's going to give her much of a choice actually - lol. demonegg - yea! Yeah, Cloud wouldn't be right inside himself if he didn't clarify exactly where Tifa's heart was before he took advantage of it - lol. Red's the one that introduced the entire pack structure though. I didn't see that one coming. And it looks like we're developing quite a market for our 'sell Cloud plushies, get rich' scheme! Calenlass - yeah... isn't he just? :'D - very insightful concerning Aerith. She is. And it's going to show up as the story goes along. Glad you're enjoying the fluff though. I don't think Cloud's going to back off either when it comes to that kind of thing ;) (will accept that head pat - thank you :) writer - wow! just - oh. wow. A review a chapter?! I'm spoiled and it's delicious and lovely and - wow. You can probably see the glow from my idiot grin all the way wherever you are. thank you a million times over for the detail in each chapter review. You are made of awesome to do so many in one fell swoop. oceanee - oh, best beloved, you are made of awesome too. I absolutely eat up the fact that you review each chapter in depth. yes, yes, and yes! You picked up on an awful lot and yeah, you can shake Cloud if you promise to hug him afterward. More fluff, Aerith, Zack and Bugenhagen coming up! The way you phrased Aerith having a 'chance to fight with her own weapons' - pure gold. I really didn't think she got much use during the game beyond plot point and I wanted to give her a bit more. Poor Cloud and UST - yeah, it's going to get worse before it gets better. But we like that kind of thing. Right? David - thank you. Welcome along for the ride. Biskitty - yep, we all pick Cloud. It's true and it made me laugh. Red started in about pack dynamics and I thought 'huh... well, okay, let's roll with it'. It seems to have come out right. And - DON'T GIVE AWAY MY EVIL PLANS!! LOL. You, best beloved, are so much closer than you think in your guess and I won't be surprised if you figure it out way early. Which means I must be doing something right if you're picking up on it already. And - come on and jump. I promise Cloudy goodness all the way down. Tae!! I'm so glad you're here! I LOVE your writing and I'm so flattered you came along with me on mine. 'Possessive sneak-kissing Cloud'?! I'm SO stealing that line. That's great! vx-luna-xv - I'm also going to steal your line about Cloud not being able to keep his mouth off of Tifa. You have no idea how hard that made me laugh (cause it's true). OCV - I will be sure to stock the fridge with Mountain Dew from now on to help in the review hyperness ;) yeah, Tifa was being intentionally/unintentionally blind on that. I think she'd rather tell herself 'no' than set herself up for heartbreak. The more she wants something, the more she tells herself she won't get it because thinking she'd get it after wanting it that badly and then not just might break her - if that makes sense. She's working through that now though - lol. I don't think Cloud's going to slow down enough for it to kick in anytime soon. Which hopefully will provide you with the demanded fluff :D And - lol - well, I AM trying not to make the crossover at the beginning too obvious. Maybe if they run into the two photobugs from the convention one of them can let out a squeal and glomp poor Vincent ;) And speaking of which... meaning, not related at all - on with the show! All corrections and proper grammar are curtsy of Peeka-chan. All mistakes are curtsy of me!

Chapter 72: A Team

The room around Tifa, that had been full of stars and slowly whirling planets, filled with one planet now and she felt a little shiver as it expanded enough so that its edge brushed her and then she found herself swallowed. She expected the familiar green of the Lifestream but instead for a long time it was a warm, rich orange, just a little bit less red than the walls of the desert around them. In her arms, Aerith shuddered and inhaled and Tifa tightened her hold on her friend. She couldn't hear anything but the air felt – thicker. Sandier. As if they'd stepped into the rock walls of the mountain they were on. Ancient, rich, baked rock.

And then the green came. It washed into the orange like water, spreading out to pool at their feet first and then slowly rising to their ankles and higher. Glowing green and luminescent. Behind her, Cloud made a quiet noise that sounded like he was biting back a different, more violent sound and she remembered he had his own experiences with mako. Aerith started to sag in her arms. Worried, Tifa turned her head, not letting go of her friend to see Cloud standing still, eyes narrowed and face tight – but standing. His eyes fixed on hers and he nodded, just a dip of his chin. And then Zack was next to him and resting a hand on his shoulder and Cloud was looking over in surprise to see the dark haired man's grin as the green rose to their waists.

"I should have brought my swim trunks," Zack told Cloud. "But you know how those things drive the girls wild."

The edge of Cloud's lips twitched and Tifa smiled in relief and then turned her full attention back on her friend. Aerith's green eyes were open and full of the same green light that surrounded them like water even though Tifa couldn't actually feel anything. This wasn't real Lifestream. It wasn't even real mako. It was something else. Maybe – like seeing something on a television? There but not really there?

Aerith was taking deep breaths. The way you did when you wanted to cry but couldn't. Tifa lowered her face to rest her cheek against her friend's and Aerith gave her a weak smile and squeezed her hand but her eyes were elsewhere.

"I need to – I need to sit down," she managed weakly and Tifa nodded and, without even hesitating, sank down with her. She felt more than heard the barely there sound Cloud made as her head went under the green with Aerith's. And then – then they were – elsewhere… Somewhere green and luminescent and her hair rose around her as if she was underwater. Aerith leaned back into her chest, facing away from her and stretched out her hands in front of her. They floated a little and the green played around and over her pale skin while Tifa held her tightly and tried to remind herself that they weren't really underwater and she could keep breathing even though her lungs resisted the idea.

"…oh…" Aerith's voice was faint. "Oh, it hurts…" But her voice sounded more sad than pained. "The planet… it hurts. I can hear it. I can hear – " Her head shifted to the side to rest on Tifa's shoulder and she shut her eyes as the green light that wasn't really there played over her arms and hands. Tifa watched with knit brows, not sure what she should do except sit there and hold her friend until Aerith was either done or something went dreadfully wrong.

She didn't know how long they stayed that way, her watching and Aerith lost in the green around them. Tears slipped slowly down Aerith's pale cheeks and yet she was smiling sometimes, a helpless, hopeless, lost smile. Tifa tried to hear whatever her friend heard but there was nothing for her. Finally Aerith sighed out as if it was her last breath and went limp and boneless against her. It made Tifa's eyes go wide and she almost panicked until she felt Aerith draw in a deep, steady breath. Making a judgment decision, not sure if Aerith really was done or not, Tifa decided they were done. Bracing, she pushed herself upward and it was a bit like standing and a bit like pushing up underwater at the same time. Her face broke the green and, determined, she hauled Aerith up with her. She was just opening her mouth for the guys when arms wrapped around her and Aerith, and Tifa found herself hauled all the way to her feet. She half expected her hair to drip wetly but it was dry around her as Cloud gathered her up against himself and Zack took Aerith from her arms.

"We're done." Cloud's level voice was calm and flat and she caught Bugenhagen from the corner of her eyes as he made another motion. The room went dark and Cloud took the opportunity to bury his face in her hair against her throat and hold her so tightly against himself that it would have hurt if it hadn't felt so good and solid and – ungreen and non-ethereal. She was tempted to turn in his arms to face him so that she could put her arms around him as well but knew that if she did, if she could even manage to turn as tightly as he was holding her, they'd probably never get out of the room.

Slow and gentle, light returned as the platform lowered back down to the level of the house and Cloud lifted his head as the first hint of light came to look at Aerith.

"Is she all right?" he asked without a trace of fear in his voice and Zack nodded, face a little confused.

"I think so. She's breathing normally and she feels fine, no fever or anything. She's responsive."

"Responsive?" Tifa asked with a frown and Zack made a bit of a face and his fingers on Aerith's ribs moved.

She shuddered slightly in response. Ticklish.

It was so incongruous that Tifa couldn't decide whether to laugh in relief or berate the dark haired ex-SOLDIER for tickling her defenseless friend. As soon as the platform touched down level, Bugenhagen moved over to look at the sleeping Ancient.

"She seems unharmed," he offered, sounding a little worried but not upset. "And her face is relaxed. Perhaps she can rest on my couch until she's recovered."

Zack nodded and carried her into the living area with Cloud and Tifa following. Bugenhagen stayed behind in the kitchen with the offer that he'd get them all something to drink while they waited. Zack settled Aerith on the couch and Tifa sat down on its edge next to her, leaning in to stroke her friend's hair back from her forehead. Then she looked at Zack who was pulling up a footstool to make himself comfortable near the head of the couch.

"What's going on with you two?" she asked curiously.

Zack made a noise and rolled his eyes.

"You two go under that – green – and stay under forever and when you finally come up, you're asking what's going on with 'us two'?"

Tifa moved a hand.

"I don't know what happened. It was – green. Kind of like being underwater. I sat there and Aerith let the light play over her hands and arms. She said the planet was in pain. I didn't hear anything." Tifa shook her head and shifted to move her friend's hand to rest over her stomach. Aeirth's bracelets jingled and it reminded Tifa that she still had one of those from Elmyra. "Then she – fell asleep. Or passed out or something."

Bugenhagen came in with a tray of tea and small biscuits with jam and set it down on the table in the middle of the little room.

"I don't think she was in pain," Tifa offered. "Just… sad. And happy. I don't know."

It was strange. She'd always known the Aerith was a bit different. I mean, how many people could heal small wounds with a touch, grow flowers in barren soil or 'hear' mako? And yet, it had never seemed to be strange to Tifa. It was just… Aerith. What was strange was having the point driven home to her that her friend was different. Though Tifa didn't know why she was even bothering realize it. Hadn't she just gotten done showing both Zack and Cloud that she didn't care about 'different'? Aerith was still Aerith, Ancient Cetra or not. The same way Cloud and Zack were still Cloud and Zack. She smoothed her hand over her friend's hair again with a soft smile.

"I guess it's her turn," Tifa murmured. Who hadn't they all sat up with at some point so far after all?

"I wonder what the planet told her," Bugenhagen said, settling down into his own chair.

"What has it told you?" Cloud asked and the old man gave the equivalent of a facial shrug.

"Hoo hoo hoo. I know the planet is in pain. I can hear it screaming some nights. The Shinra reactors are bleeding it painfully. But there is more than that. There is some great horror it remembers and shudders at the thought of enduring again. I cannot say what – only that it makes the planet writhe and – and I think it may not endure whatever makes it shudder in horror if it should happen a second time."

Cloud was leaning against the wall between the couch and the door and he lowered his chin to rest against his chest above his folded arms.

"When was the last time you felt that – the planet's horror?"

"Three days ago," Bugenhagen answered, looking over at their small group. "Does this have to do with what tried to kill my son and the young lady and gentleman here?"

"Seems so," Cloud answered.

Three days ago? That was long after the reactor in Nibelheim Tifa realized. So – Sephiroth was still alive. Somehow she wasn't surprised. She'd seen the man shrug off matured lightening materia.

Zack exhaled through his nose and then slapped his hands down on his thighs.

"Looks like we just have to do this the old fashioned way and kick his ass."

It surprised a laugh out of Tifa and even Cloud smiled a little. Zack grinned and shifted forward on the stool to help himself to the tea and pass a cup to Tifa. Who passed it to Cloud and then got another from Zack for herself. The food got passed around the same way and she glanced over to see Bugenhagen watching them with a curious expression on his face.

"My grandson said the three of you acted like extensions of each other. Hoo, hoo, hoo. You really do."

It made Tifa smile.

"We're a team," she answered simply. Then she laid her hand over Aerith's. "All of us."