Disclaimer: Final Fantasy is owned by Square Enix, not the author. There's no need to sue.

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long. I wrote and rewrote this so many times and I'm forcing myself to be happy with this. There has been a question of how far I'm going to take this. The answer is all the way. This ain't over yet and you don't have to worry.

Genesis and Angeal stood there, not quite sure if they had heard correctly. She chuckled quietly.

"I'm going to say you didn't tell them," she said.

"No," Sephiroth admitted, "I wasn't quite sure how to." Angeal snapped out of it first.

"It's very nice to meet you ma'am," Angeal said politely. She chuckled again.

"You might be the first person to ever call me ma'am," she said, "It's very nice to meet you as well, Angeal." Not really knowing what else to do Angeal extended his hand. She took it and they shook. Angeal's father used to say he could tell a lot about a person by their handshake. Judging by the firm grip, Angeal decided he liked Sephiroth's mother. He reached back with his other arm and dragged the miraculously silent Genesis forward.

"Forgive the egghead," Angeal said, feeling strangely at ease once again. She laughed again.

"Sorry," Genesis said shaking himself, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she said. Genesis only managed a strained smile. Angeal thought that was odd. Few things could make Genesis shy like that.

"Well, you boys are just in time," she said, "I just finished dinner. You hungry?"

"You don't have to-" Angeal began. She waved him off.

"Don't give me that," she said, "I know what they feed you downstairs. 'Sides, I've been pestering Sephiroth for a week to introduce us. What better way than over dinner?" Angeal shut his mouth and suppressed a grin. It was official: He liked Sephiroth's mother.

"Thank you ma'am," he said and nudged Genesis again. What was wrong with him?

"Thank you," Genesis said. She frowned a little.

"The first time was cute," she said, "you don't have to keep up this 'ma'am' nonsense. I go almost exclusively by Cass."

"Almost exclusively?" Genesis asked. There, that was more like it. Cass jerked her head in Sephiroth's direction.

"There's one exception," she said as an explanation, "I hope you two like lasagna."

"I think at this point we'll eat anything," Angeal said.

"So I've heard," Cass said sympathetically, "Come on in. Make yourselves at home. Do forgive me, I don't often entertain." Angeal didn't see much to complain about. Her apartment was by no means terribly messy. It looked comfortable for certain. He and Genesis followed Cass and Sephiroth into a wonderful smelling kitchen. What on Gaia was he thinking, trying to refuse a meal?

"Set the table Sephiroth," Cass said. Sephiroth obeyed without a word, but a look at his face showed that he was quite content to obey.

"Do you need any help?" Angeal asked, more out of habit than anything.

"No, Sephiroth and I can handle this," Cass said, "Why don't you and Genesis tell me about yourselves. You're both from the same area right?"

"Yes," Angeal said.

"Banora," Genesis offered.

"I used to live not far from there," Cass said, "I've never been, but I wasn't far. Nice place?"

"Small," Genesis commented.

"It's not much, but it's home," Angeal said giving a threatening stare towards Genesis. Genesis grinned slightly.

"You had apple trees, right?" Cass said, "The kind that arched?"

"Banora White Apples," Genesis offered.

"I guessed," Cass said, "My house had one, but it never bore fruit. It blossomed, but that was it. I lived without. Those apples are freakishly expensive."

"Worth it though," Genesis said. Angeal didn't disagree. Cass laughed quietly again.

"And now you've up and joined the military," Cass said, "you're parents must have been horrified."

"My mother...she said I could," Angeal said. Cass nodded.

"Mine didn't," Genesis said.

"Calling home must suck," Cass said. She laughed at the face Genesis made as she set a steaming, wonderful smelling pan on the table. Angeal kept himself from drooling. By the way Genesis was eyeing the food, he felt the same. Sephiroth leaned forward and said something that Angeal didn't catch.

"No, it's fine," Cass said, "Sit down, I got it." Sephiroth obeyed again and took the seat next to Angeal.

"So, what do you do?" Angeal asked.

"I work for ShinRa," Cass said, "Under the Investigation of the Department of General Affairs."

"The what?" Genesis asked.

"I'm a Turk," she said simply, "Please forgive me for not serving."

"It's fine," Angeal said, helping himself. Genesis followed suit. Genesis covered his mouth after his first bite.

"Oh my god," he said. Cass started laughing again.

"Been a long time since you've had real food huh?" she asked. He and Angeal nodded vigorously.

"I started a petition," Genesis said after savoring his first swallow, "It didn't help though."

"Who'd you give it to?" Cass asked.

"Drill Sergeant," Genesis said.

"It's probably buried in paperwork," she said, "I'll see if I can't pull some strings. I'm scary when I want to be." A grin flitted across Sephiroth's face. Genesis caught on.

"Is there a story behind that?" he asked.

"There are many," Cass said as an explanation, "I'm kind of a badass." She winced as she plated her own share.

"Are you-" Sephiroth began.

"I'm fine, Sephiroth," she said firmly.

"Just-"

"I don't need a cure," she said, "I'm fine." Angeal stopped and stared.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I strained a muscle on my last mission," she said, "It stings like a bitch." She smiled through her next wince and rubbed her shoulder.

"I can-" Sephiroth began again.

"I said no," she said, "I went to the infirmary. They said I should ice it and the pain will go away in a day or so. It's fine." Sephiroth fell quiet. "Stop worrying," she said as she flung what was on her fork at him. He dodged with a grin. "That's my job," she said.

"What exactly do you do?" Genesis asked.

"Whatever I'm told," Cass said.

"Like what?" Genesis asked. Cass smirked.

"That's classified," she said.

"What does that even mean?" Genesis grumbled.

"It means that I don't want to talk about it," Cass said, "Or that I can't. It's not always as illustrious as it's made out to be." Angeal detected a hint of longing between Sephiroth and Cass. Genesis wised up and changed the subject.

"Thanks for helping out with the petition...thing," Genesis said. Back to being awkward again. What was the matter with him?

"If it's bad enough that Sephiroth even mentioned it, of course I'll step in," Cass said, "He's not one to complain. At all."

"We've noticed," Angeal said lightly. Sephiroth actually ducked his head.

"Oh come now," Cass said, "You know I'm only doing this out of love. I think there is a rule somewhere that states that I have to mortify you at least one time in your life. I've had enough practice with Tseng." Sephiroth snickered silently.

"Is Tseng another Turk?" Angeal guessed.

"Yep," Cass said, "He and I take turns babysitting ShinRa Jr. Though we seem to go on most of our missions together too."

"I thought you weren't supposed to talk about your job," Genesis chided, though it was much more light-hearted than before.

"Pshht," Cass said, "I hardly think it's a scandal admitting that I'm one of the bodyguards for the future president of the ShinRa Electric Power Company. He's only around eight."

"How is he?" Genesis asked.

"President or Jr?" Cass asked, "Never mind it's the same answer: He's a brat who needs a decent spanking and a time out, but Jr. is steadily improving." Genesis laughed quietly.

"Is it hard?" Angeal asked, "Guarding someone else's kid?"

"Yes and no," Cass admitted with a sad smile, "Rufus is a good kid underneath that spoiled brat syndrome, but he's not my kid. He bitches more when I tell him to do shit." Genesis laughed again. Angeal smiled, but couldn't laugh. Behind the humor he could see actual pain between the mother and son. Did his own mother feel the same now? He should call her more often.

"She knows Angeal," Cass said. Angeal blinked.

"How did you..." Angeal began.

"She reads minds," Sephiroth said as if he were commenting on the weather.

"I do not," Cass said.

"She has to," Sephiroth said, "there is no other explanation."

"What am I thinking about then?" Genesis asked. Cass paused and thought a moment.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess," Cass said. Genesis blinked.

"That wasn't too far off actually," Genesis admitted, "I was on Act IV."

"I told you," Sephiroth said. Angeal laughed this time.

"Really," Angeal prompted, "How did you know?"

"For him, it was a lucky guess," Cass said, "But your mother knows you love her. My own experiences taught me that. Every time Sephiroth comes here or calls me he always makes sure to tell me that. You made the same face he does." Angeal fell quiet. The words sounded true and honest, but it was not easy to place the cold, dedicated Sephiroth to the warm and relaxed one, even as he was sitting at the table with him. He'd seen glimpses before, but now it was a total transformation.

"Could I have seconds?" Genesis asked sheepishly.

"Go for it," Cass said, "there's an extra pan warming in the oven."

"If I said I loved you, would I be in trouble?" Genesis asked.

"No," Cass said, "so long as it pertains to my cooking skills. I worked hard to make them this refined. I've had enough practice with this one to know what mako and hormones to do a teenage digestive system. I expect to be cleaned out this evening and you'd better not disappoint." Sephiroth's content expression did not falter as he also helped himself to another serving.

"You will be," Angeal assured her as he joined in and added a second helping. It was really good. Almost as good as his mother's.

"If you don't mind me asking," Genesis asked carefully, "How did you and Sephiroth get here?"

"Sephiroth has been a part of ShinRa since he was born," Cass said, "I came later." Genesis and Angeal shared a confused look.

"I'm adopted," Sephiroth said with the barest hint of pride. It dawned slowly and painfully on Angeal. He had been right. Sephiroth had been locked up in here. But then how...

"How...?" Genesis asked.

"It's a very long story," Cass said. Genesis shut his hanging jaw.

"I don't remember how it started," Sephiroth said.

"I do," Cass said, "Hojo had me get you off the roof in the middle of a rainstorm. He was a weird kid. Almost as weird as one who quotes poetry all day."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Genesis said."

"You do that," Cass said, "Then Professor Hojo asked me to start watching Sephiroth during the day, because I'm halfway competent unlike himself. A year or so later, I couldn't imagine not having Sephiroth there. Even with Hojo bitching me out every hour or so. "

"So you adopted him," Genesis finished.

"I tried to," she said, "I was his guardian for almost two years before..."

"Before she joined the Turks," Sephiroth supplied. She nodded. Angeal suspected that she hadn't quite joined willingly. He knew better than to keep asking.

"The adoption was a recent thing," Cass said, "and I have to ask you not to tell anyone about it." Genesis and Angeal blinked then nodded.

"Is this why you've been happy lately?" Genesis asked. Sephiroth nodded.

"It couldn't be done earlier, Cass wasn't my real guardian then" Sephiroth said, "but now it is."

"Hojo would have a conniption if he found out," Cass said, "as much fun as that would be to watch, I don't think it's a good idea to be bragging about it."

"Who is Hojo?" Genesis asked, "a lot of the others complain about him."

"He's the head asshole of the Science Department," Cass said, "Avoid him at all costs." Sephiroth nodded vigorously.

"He is not a pleasant individual to be around," Sephiroth said simply.

"And he hates me," Cass said, "And I, him. Although, if you do meet him, be sure to compliment his nose. I gave him that face-lift seven years ago and I will never let him forget that." Sephiroth grinned again. Cass changed the subject again and entertained them with the latest pranks she had pulled on Tseng and his subsequent revenges. Angeal checked the clock. He nudged Genesis.

"We should be going," Angeal said apologetically, "We don't have weekend passes. It's almost curfew."

"Aww," Cass said. Angeal smiled. He couldn't help but like her just a little. Maybe it was her cut and dry sense of humor that permeated even the most sobering situations. Maybe it was the fact that Sephiroth looked at her without the emotionless mask he almost always wore.

"I should-" Sephiroth said.

"Gen and I can find our way back," Angeal said. He knew for a fact Sephiroth had one. He knew he'd want the time with his own mother and he wasn't about to take any more away from him.

"It was really nice meeting you," Genesis said.

"Same here," Cass said, "and since I know Sephiroth will probably forget to mention it, you two are welcome up here anytime."

"You don't have to-"

"I know I don't, but anyone who's friends with Sephiroth is welcome here," Cass said. Angeal smiled again.

"Thank you ma'am," he said. Cass smacked him lightly on his arm.

"Stop that," she said, "You're making me feel old."

"Thank you for this evening," Angeal amended.

"You're very welcome," she said.

"What's up with you?" Angeal asked. Genesis glanced back.

"What?" Genesis asked.

"Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?" Angeal asked, "It's not like you. Usually I can't get you to shut up."

"Hey, I resent that!" Genesis argued.

"You've been acting strange ever since..." Angeal trailed off. Then his face showed a sudden realization. He gave Genesis and evil grin that looked odd on his face.

"You have a crush on Sephiroth's Mom," Angeal said.

"That's preposterous," Genesis argued back. Angeal kept smirking. "I don't!" Genesis insisted.

"Keep telling yourself that Gen," Angeal said.

"I don't!" Genesis went on. Though he would admit that she was a very lovely, intelligent woman...that he admired...a little. Maybe a little more. But that was it. Really.