Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII. I depend on my daughter, Angeal Valentine, and on Bjanik for all my information on the subject.

A/N—Bjanik questioned how I could say that the plot bunnies had deserted me when Chapter 31 was my normal seven pages/5000 words long. It was the normal length yes, but it took me three times as long as normal to write it! From here, the Wutai elements are largely written, but the other story arcs have to catch up too!

(4:30 am, Mideel—Mideel Base; 2:30 am, Midgar; 10:30 pm, Gongaga; 6:30 pm, Wutai)

Sephiroth's body jerked. Sound? DARK!! Not floating! Where?! A body in his arms—Tessa!—but where? Not their bed—a hard surface… A table? A lab table?! Hojo?! Bastard!!

Sephiroth was instantly up, his hands searching for weapons. The wing was out too! He swept the room with it and collided with something. Smash it—away from Tessa! A squeak—a voice?—came from the something. Kill it! Sephiroth wrapped his hands around a throat and squeezed.

"Jeh…?" A voice squeaked again. "Plee…!" The body of the neck under Sephiroth's hands didn't attempt to fight but rather held still.

Familiar. The voice was… Sephiroth's head jerked. Friend? Memory came flooding back. Mideel Base hospital. That's where they'd been! Tessa?! The baby? That's right. "Caperton?!" The head attached to the neck nodded emphatically. "Sorry. I shouldn't have fallen asleep." Sephiroth relaxed his stranglehold. "What… time is it?"

Dr. Caperton squeaked out, "it's all right," then he rubbed his throat. "No harm done." His voice returned to its normal register. "It's about 4:30. You've only been asleep about an hour… I'm sorry too. I should have turned on a light…" The doctor reached for the handle on the hallway door to let in a bit of light, then used that light to locate the switch of an under-cabinet lamp. "Working mainly with soon-to-be mothers, I'd forgotten that combat veterans sometimes wake up like that."

While his wing slid back into his body, Sephiroth moved to the table and took Tessa's face between his hands. Her skin was warmer, and her color was better, but the lamp's light threw ominous shadows across her face. Somehow she had remained asleep through the previous few moments.

"General, Col. Malik has sent a car and requested that you come to the communications center near the middle of the base. He says it's important; there's news from Wutai."

Cccccccccccccc

Tessa stirred under Sephiroth's hands and sighed. She twisted about and slitted open an aqua eye. There. So close. "Hi." She lifted the hand nearest her husband and laid its back against his cheek. She loved waking up and seeing him looking at her.

"Hi, yourself." Sephiroth gave her his soft smile, the one that came out only for her and Zack. "How do you feel?"

Dr. Caperton had expected a response from the General to his news of Col. Malik's request, but instead the couple had entered their own world. He knew when to disappear; he quietly left the room. Give them a few minutes.

Tessa's eyes left Sephiroth's face and concentrated on her body. "I feel better! I'm certainly not as queasy or dizzy as I was… This is your coat, though, on me… and fetal monitor straps?" She paused and could feel the weight of broad sensors across her stomach. "What happened?"

"Hm. Yes. What did happen…?" Sephiroth paused and considered how much to tell her. "You were bleeding internally and went into shock. See, the oxygen tank is there, and the I.V.'s still in your arm." He looked at the equipment on the other side of the table from him, and her eyes followed his lead. "Everything seems to be fine now, though."

Tessa turned her head back to her husband. She suddenly realized that he was standing next to her clad only in his pants and kisori. With his body back-lit only by the cabinet lamp, she hadn't initially noticed the remains of several cuts from his fight with that ex-Soldier, Rhapsodos, until now. "Are you all right?" She sat up, and her fingers reached for the cut in his side. It was healing with Sephiroth's natural abilities, but the edges still looked raw and angry. Tessa wished for materia to speed the process, but hospitals rarely had much materia, though a military hospital might have more than normal. Next she reached around his head to lightly touch the tip of the ear that was missing. "Oh no…"

Sephiroth took the wandering fingers in his hand. "I'm all right," he insisted firmly, "and, what's more important, you and the baby are too. I'm sure Lucy is going to stay right where she belongs and come out only when she's ready—about three months from now."

Tessa shook her head. "What? How can you know that?" She tilted her head at him in a question. "Do you mean that whatever it was you were going to do to stop labor… worked?"

Sephiroth laughed softly and smiled again. "It seems to have… Minor miracle, I suppose."

"I think I want test results to confirm that before I believe in a miracle."

"Incredulous scientist…" Sephiroth chuckled. As much as he wished to stay, however, he had heard Caperton's words. He needed to leave, and he frowned.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Tessa caught his frown, and it worried her.

"Just before you woke up, Caperton delivered a message from Malik. It seems that there's important news from Wutai. I need to go to the communications center."

Tessa nodded, and her lips tightened into a line. Work was intruding, and he had said would he need to go the Mideel Base communications center when they had been on the RV. "You did say that a rebellion had started in Wutai, and you needed to lead the army. You can't be in two places at once." She looked into her husband's green eyes intently. He wasn't going to like what she was about to say. "Promise me you'll take me with you when you leave."

"What?! Tessa, I am going into a war zone. I can't take you with me, much less the baby!" What was she thinking?

"Maybe not all the way to Wutai, but you did say earlier you were going to Rocket Town first, right? At least take me that far."

Sephiroth nodded slowly. Rocket Town might actually be safer than Midgar, though he wasn't sure about the quality of its hospital's maternity facilities in case Lucy changed her mind again. "All right. I guess you could go that far. I'll need to leave soon, though, as in just a couple of hours. I'm sure Caperton wants to examine you. Are you ready to see him?"

Tessa nodded. "In a minute." The hand that Sephiroth had grasped escaped his fingers and reached behind his neck to pull his head to her. Their kiss was tentative at first, just a touch of the lips, then turned passionate. From somewhere energy was pouring in.

Sephiroth pulled back with a sigh. "Wasn't this how we got in this situation in the first place?"

"Hm. Let me think." Tessa paused, and Sephiroth could see a mischievous spark leap in her eyes. She glanced at the ceiling. "As I recall, we'd been out to Vincent's place. When we got home, we were cleaning the kitchen after dinner when you pinned me against the counter. Yes. That was it." She nodded with a satisfied look on her face.

"Oh. I see. My fault… Hm." Sephiroth looked intently into her eyes waiting for her reaction. "So you are blaming me about Angel."

"WHAT!" Aghast, Tessa leaned back and shook her head slowly in disbelief. "No. Not possible!" Tears welled in her eyes. How could she have not realized that Sephiroth would be blaming himself for the baby's death! He'd probably been beating himself up about it for days… without her… "You're not to blame! How could you possibly believe that?" She watched, shocked, as a teardrop, like a dream spark, caught her attention and landed on her hand. "If there's blame… sex for pregnant women in the second trimester is incredible. We're constantly semi-aroused. I wanted you badly. I'm not sure I could have stopped myself… Even now, with everything that's happened, I want…"

Sephiroth leaned forward and touched her lips softly with his. "The thing about war is, you put off mourning the dead until you have time, but not mourning nags at you and drags you down... We've been so intent on saving Lucy, we haven't had a chance to mourn Angel, and we have to. I know she's in the Lifestream, but she'll never have a chance to grow up with us, with Lucy…" When she didn't respond, Sephiroth snaked an arm around Tessa's shoulders. He then looked at her closely. "I don't say this sort of thing very often, but… Tessa, going into a war zone is incredibly dangerous, so no matter what happens, I want you to know I love you with every fiber of my being."

Tessa smiled gently. For Sephiroth to try and express his feelings was heart-warming in itself. "I love you too." She pushed her fingers to the webbings through his hair at the back of his head and leaned her forehead against his. "Come back to me! You have to come back! I'm counting on Zack to keep you safe for me… for us." Her fingers fisted in his hair. He was going. She knew it and everything in her nature wanted to stop him. Suddenly a knock came from the door. Tessa shook her head rubbing her forehead against his. No! Tears welled again, and she felt his arm tighten around her.

Muffled words came through the door. "General, Col. Malik has called again."

"Just a minute!" Sephiroth released his wife, straightened, and walked to the door opening it narrowly. "Caperton?"

The doctor stood in the hallway with a gurney behind him and a dazed-looking Cloud at his side. The kid was beginning to fall asleep on his feet. Better not. "General, I'm sorry to interrupt you." He glanced behind him. "I'd like to move Tessa to another room where she'll be more comfortable. I'll examine her while you're gone. I don't imagine you'll be gone long."

Sephiroth nodded, opened the door wider, and walked back to Tessa's side. "Did you hear?"

"Yes. Like I said—I'd like some test results, so this is just as well, I suppose." Tessa wiped her eyes furiously on the thin blanket, the I.V. tubing rattling against the stand as she did so.

Dr. Caperton stepped into the doorway, and Sephiroth turned his head. "Where will you be moving her?"

"Room 220. It's a private room one floor down just off the elevators and stairs."

Sephiroth nodded. "I want to see it. Stay with her." Entering the hallway Sephiroth looked at Cloud. "Come with me, Soldier." Behind him Caperton pulled the gurney to the labor room to begin moving Tessa.

At the 'Soldier' designation, Cloud jumped. "Yes, sir!" Cloud followed the General down the hall and then down some stairs watching the man's hair sway gently as he walked. Cloud wondered briefly if his own hair would move like that too if he let it grow long. Very few Soldiers had long hair. Probably got caught in swords. Long hair—maybe not a good idea, at least not for him.

At the door to room 220 Sephiroth glanced around. The room had a large window, maybe too large, comprising most of the opposite wall with a broad, cushioned, built-in bench long enough for sleeping before it. In addition to the standard-issue hospital bed, a table, visitor chair, and a comfortable looking lounge chair fitted with hospital-bed-style call button panels and monitor connections furnished the room. A sink, supply cabinet, and television near the ceiling occupied one corner. One wall proved to contain a small closet for personal items, and a door leading into a bathroom with a shower. Sephiroth walked across the room and looked out the window to the ground. It overlooked an internal courtyard completely surrounded on all sides by the high walls of the hospital and open only to the sky. Not bad as defensive positions went.

Sephiroth turned to the young Soldier following him. "Strife, I'm needed across the base, and while I'm gone you're responsible for my wife's safety." A look of near panic swept across Cloud's face. Good. The kid realized the weight of his situation. "Dr. Caperton will be examining her. After that, I want you stay in the room with her. She'll probably fall asleep. Make sure you don't until I get back. Understood?"

"Sir!" Cloud snapped to attention and pulled his eyes open wide. "Yes, sir!"

"I won't be gone long. Don't open the door to anyone but me or Caperton. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Now, get back to her room." Cloud turned smartly on his heel, and Sephiroth opened his PHS. "Malik, I'm hereby ordering a general video teleconference of all base commanders. Have it ready when I arrive. I'll be there shortly." He walked back to the labor room to say good-bye to his wife and retrieve his coat and sword.

Vincent?

… Yes? Sephiroth received the impression of bullets being fired from an overlarge, three-barreled gun in Vincent's hand. He could also see, as if from the corner of Vincent's eye, Verdot shooting from the opposite wall of a corridor. Vincent was unperturbed, however; he was handling whatever situation they were in.

You need something that big to hit your targets?

…Humph… Bang!

Hurry up with what you're doing and get everyone here!

What we are doing is disengaging! Tseng gave the evacuation order about half an hour ago. We should be out soon.

I know you. What you and Verdot are doing is enjoying yourselves, just covering the rear—as if—but this 'party' has to get on the road.

Hm… Right. Sephiroth could see Vincent look directly at the former Turk director then heard Vincent say, "On three: one… two… three!" Verdot seemed just a bit surprised. Perhaps he was the one who usually gave the countdown. At least, both men were running now…

cccccccccccccc

(7:00 pm, Wutai; 5:00 am, Mideel—Mideel Base; 3:00 am, Midgar; 11:00 pm, Gongaga)

Carlos Griegos and Bill Wallace were in for trouble. They had made their two-hourly report to Gavin McIntyre in Midgar, but McIntyre had passed them on to Mideel! Malik, who'd clearly been in a battle, had quickly answered the summons to the communications center, his yellow eyes had flashed to green at their news, and then he had sent for the General. Nuts! They were going to have to report to Sephiroth personally! At least, that indicated that the fight with Genesis Rhapsodos was over and that Seph had won. That was good news, but he was not going to be pleased with their report at all! To make matters worse, Malik had let them know that Sephiroth had ordered a general teleconference of all the base commanders. The faces of Sam Kuhn (usually in charge of Corel, but poised now at Rocket Town to move on to Wutai), John Nichols, Rocket Town's commander, and Bill Wallace Sr. at Gold Saucer were now joining Gavin McIntyre's on screens on the wall before Griegos. He glanced at the clocks in his own command center. It was after 10:00 in Rocket Town and midnight at Gold Saucer on the western continent. Kuhn, Nichols, and Wallace joined the conference looking puzzled but alert—at least they hadn't been awakened for the conference. Damn. Griegos was going to have to report their failure to most of First Class!

At the appearance of the General, all the First Classes but Malik, who stood behind Sephiroth, started; the Wallaces even reached over their shoulders for their swords. The General's leather coat was cut and smeared with blood in several places, and the tip of his left ear was missing where it poked through his hair! The First Classes exchanged horrified looks; Seph had been in a fight, and they hadn't been at his side!

"Gentlemen." Sephiroth's voice sounded tired, even to himself. "I'm told there is important news from Wutai, but before we begin, however, you should know that the threat here in Mideel is over. I killed Genesis Rhapsodos earlier tonight." Looks of sorrow passed over a few faces. Sephiroth understood. There had always been the hope, rarely spoken, that Rhapsodos would return to Soldier one day, though it had never been a real possibility as far as Sephiroth was concerned. "We will hold some sort of court of remembrance at a later date—for the Genesis who was our friend—as well as for the people we have lost so far in this conflict." Sephiroth's voice trailed off, then he took a deep breath. "On a happier note, my wife is here at the base hospital. She is safe, as is our child." Sephiroth smiled gently. "In about three months, I'll be the father of a little girl." They didn't need to know about Angel—his and Tessa's sorrow was personal and private.

Sighs of relief could be heard from every monitor. Gavin McIntyre spoke for them all. "Seph, congratulations. That's wonderful news…" Sephiroth nodded in acknowledgment, and—what was that on Gavin's lip? Oh…

As Zack would remind him, these men were his closest friends, and they had all known Rhapsodos. He needed to tell them something of the previous night. "Before you hear it from somewhere else, I want you to know that something extraordinary happened to me earlier tonight… I was dead for a few minutes, but the spell Genesis used on me backfired. When I came to, I destroyed him." Sephiroth paused. Dead quiet—no wonder. "Genesis and Vester Hollander had an extensive underground complex here on Mideel filled with cloned versions of Genesis and some also of Angeal Hewley." Everyone gasped; Angeal too?! "Zack, Niven, about fifteen of our people, and the Turks are still engaged in clean-up at Banora as we speak." Sephiroth paused again. Where before he had seemed tired, even pensive, now he straightened his shoulders. All chins lifted in response. "Now to business. After we hear what's going on in Wutai, I'd like readiness updates from all of you." Sephiroth turned pointedly to the Wutai screen. "Carlos?"

Griegos glanced at his second then looked back at the monitor. "General. I'm afraid we have bad news."

"Worse than the base being under fire?" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at the two men.

"Possibly, sir." Griegos sighed. He might as well just get it over with; he might lose command of Wutai Base, even be demoted. Damn. "General, my earlier report—that we had captured Emperor Godo and Princess Yuffie—was… inaccurate."

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and tilted his head toward his subordinate. "'Inaccurate,' Carlos?" McIntyre stood with his arms folded over his chest and frowned like thunder at Griegos. The sounds of sharply indrawn breaths came from the western-continent commanders--"Inaccurate?" not "dead wrong?" They were glad they weren't in Carlos' shoes!

"Yes, sir." Griegos took another quick glance at Wallace. "We've learned that the man we captured, believing him to be the emperor, was in actuality the emperor's… body double." Griegos quickly added. "Per your orders we have not broadcast the news of the capture to Wutai."

Sephiroth tilted his head to one side, and his eyes greened up a shade. McIntyre smirked. To him, Sephiroth looked like a snake about to strike a mouse. Poor mouse. "Your mission was not accomplished, Carlos?" Occasionally Griegos danced around subjects. Sephiroth was in no mood for that at the moment. Appointing Carlos to command Wutai Base might have been a mistake. He was good during peacetime, but wartime seemed to have rattled him. Hm…

Griegos stiffened. "No, sir." He suddenly regretted the presence of color monitors in the command center—they made the greening of the General's eyes truly alarming. He dropped his own eyes as did several of his fellow commanders.

"But… you do have the princess?" Possibly useful…

Griegos' chin lifted. "Yes, sir!" What was Seph thinking?

Sephiroth nodded slightly. "Prepare that broadcast... Godo is probably extremely worried about his daughter. Wouldn't you say, Colonel?"

"Sir, about the princess…" Confess it all.

Sephiroth turned his greened-up eyes sharply at the colonel. "What about her?" The man could truly be infuriating…

Griegos shuffled his feet nervously, but he met the General's gaze. "One of the Turks attempted to rape her."

Sephiroth loomed over the monitor. He could see Gavin almost jump through the screen at Carlos; clearly McIntyre hadn't heard this part. Sephiroth understood Gavin's reaction. "'Attempted'?! Is she is all right?!"

"Yes, sir! She was knocked around and battered, but the rapist was interrupted and captured by two of our Third Classes. The man's in custody." Griegos glanced at Wallace. "Sir, the princess is demanding the right of 'victim's revenge' according to Wutai law."

"Is she?!" Sephiroth leaned back thoughtfully. The girl had fight in her; better keep that in mind for the future if she were to become empress one day. 'Victim's revenge' was potentially nasty and had never been granted by Shinra. "I see." His eyes narrowed, and the green receded, but he looked intently at Griegos. "Very well. Keep her very secure, Carlos... Is there anything else I need to know?" Griegos shook his head in small, quick jerks. "All right. Contact all base commanders when the broadcast preparations are complete." The other First Classes had thoughtful expressions on their faces. Soldier had never honored victim's revenge claims in the past, but there was a first time for everything—especially if it somehow helped their situation…

"Will do, sir."

"Presumably everyone would like to see that broadcast. Am I right?" The General's question met with affirmative murmurs. Sephiroth's chin rose as he looked up, presumably at a different screen, to make eye contact with Sam Kuhn and John Nichols. "Next. Rocket Town—current status and deployment readiness."

"Yes, sir."

As John Nichols gave the Rocket Town Base current status report, Carlos Griegos stepped back from the monitor and breathed a small sigh of relief. He was off the hot seat for a few minutes. If all went well for the next few days, he might yet salvage his career.

Nichols' report was followed by Sam Kuhn's deployment readiness discussion. It seemed that everything would be ready for departure in time for the General's arrival. The last equipment and supplies needed for the invasion were expected to arrive by noon tomorrow, Rocket Town time. Military transports were standing by, and civilian airships had been diverted for military use and were sufficient for the invasion. Bill Wallace Sr. at Gold Saucer and Gavin McIntyre reported progress on combating the monster attacks on the western and eastern continents, respectively.

"Anyone have any questions? Comments? Concerns?" Sephiroth was winding down the meeting.

Sam Kuhn nodded. "Seph?" Sephiroth tilted his head in permission. "There're really only two questions: When will you be here? And where are we going in Wutai? A landing area, a destination, would be good to have…"

Sephiroth smirked and shook his head. He was keeping those answers to himself for now. "Any other questions?" Kuhn at first looked taken aback then smirked also. He thought he had suddenly caught an inkling of Sephiroth's plan.

"General, if I may?" Bill Wallace Jr. in Wutai raised a hand. Sephiroth nodded. "Dad? Has there been any word from Reactor 20?" The tension in the meeting, which had been lessening, suddenly ratcheted up a notch at the question. Marcus MacArthur and Nathan Grainger were friends with every man there. Reactor 20 was closest to Gold Saucer.

Bill Sr. shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry. There's still no word. I've lost two small search aircraft in the past forty-eight hours." Senior turned to look at Sephiroth. "Seph, do you want me to keep looking?"

Sephiroth shook his head thoughtfully, and his long hair moved in waves around his face. "No. Don't lose anyone else." The General raised his head to encompass all screens. Any protests over his decision died on his subordinates' lips. There was a war on and more lives were at stake than those of just the Soldiers at Reactor 20. "Gentlemen. I will be on my way to Rocket Town just as soon as the rest of our people get here from Banora and we can get the ship in the air. Until then, continue as you were." Sephiroth paused and turned his head to a monitor to his side. "Oh, and Gavin…"

McIntyre, who had started to turn away, looked back startled as did the other base commanders. "Seph?"

"You must be worried. I see the caterpillar is back on your lip. Time to swat him, don't you think? He came in crooked this time…" The base commanders laughed quietly; Gavin's occasional facial hair eruptions, in the midst of so much mako-induced hairlessness, had been a long-standing subject of teasing and jokes among the older First Classes.

McIntyre shook his head and smiled ruefully. "Yeah, I guess so. Maybe I can find a really strong razor, somewhere…"

"Good. Thanks, Gavin. Mideel Base out." Sephiroth cut the connection. A Gavin worried enough for a mustache—that bothered Sephiroth. Pointing his brain at his problems, Sephiroth paused to consider his options, and turned to the expectantly waiting Malik.

"Malik, wake up that pilot, Highwind. Tell him to get his ship ready. I want him in the air just as soon as our people arrive."

"Yes, sir."

Ccccccccccccccccc

"Group 5 reports they've cut through the perimeter fence and are in position."

Dan Hutchins, the bejowled former head of Shinra Security for Mideel, nodded at his second's reports; this was the last one. The people he'd planted at Mideel Base had given him the locations of Tessa Romera and Vester Hollander at the hospital—Romera in maternity, third floor, and Hollander in high security confinement, basement level—and had informed him that Romera's husband, General Sephiroth, was busy across the base.

The General. Hutchins smirked. While Hutchins intended to obtain both Romera and Hollander, he would be satisfied with either one. Both were worth a lot of money to certain people in Midgar. A helicopter was waiting to carry off his prizes. He'd be gone before the General knew what had hit him.

Cccccccccccccccc

"Roust me outta bed, tell me to get my ass to the friggin' ship, and be ready to take off who knows when for who knows where, but do it right now…" Cid Highwind stood at the controls of his very fast airship. "Shera! Tell 'em to keep runnin' that fuel. I don't know where we're goin', but we'll need more, you can jus' bet! Fuckin' military, messin' with my equipment, spare parts from the damn cheap, tag end of Shinra production…"

Shera stifled a yawn, walked to the door of the ship, and delivered Cid's message to the tanker crew. Turning, she leaned against the airship's wall and watched the muscles in the angry man's arms ripple through his tee-shirt, and smiled. It seemed another long flight with Cid was in the offing. Good.

A/N—Bjanik didn't like Gavin McIntyre's mustache ("Ew, you gave Gavin a mustache!"). That led us to some involved discussions as to hairlessness on Gaia and the effect of mako-infusion and the history of its use by Shinra. There are stories here—stories about the war in Wutai. TBD.

"Happy November" to all you crazed NaNoWriMo'ers out there! I'm not doing it, but AV is for her third time. May you make your quota of 1,667 words a day easily! 50k before midnight on 11/30! Good luck!