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In the days that followed, Reeve gave everyone a report of the state of Midgar Edge, and of his luck in finding a suitable orphanage for Zell. Edge had been transformed into a warzone with only Deepground and WRO troops remaining to fill the streets. Usually Reeve was busy commanding his troops from the field or from headquarters, but if he had time, Reeve would come to visit Cloud and the others. It was during these visits that he talked with Tifa about the orphanage Vincent had talked about. It was on a southern peninsula far from their current location and was run by a woman named Edea. Reeve had heard only good things about the care she gave to the children in her house. Edea and Reeve had talked for a short time, and Edea was more than happy to take Zell off of Tifa's hands. The only problem now was how much Tifa would miss the little boy. She was feeling more his mother than anyone else and, even under the current circumstances, giving Zell away felt like abandonment.

She was in the living room one day, talking with Cloud and Barret, when she felt Zell bump into her ankle. Surprised, she looked down at the chubby little boy lying on his back next to her. Tifa had put him down on a blanket a few feet away so he could start learning how to push up into a crawling position, but she didn't expect him to be able to move so much yet.

"Did you two see that?" she asked, picking the baby up, "I didn't know he could roll over already."

"How old izee, now?" Barret asked.

Cloud shrugged, "When we met Zelda, he was practically inanimate."

"He's probably around 6 months old or so. What's today's date?" Tifa continued.

"Mama!" Zell whapped Tifa's arm, "Mama! Madadabobre!"

"Did he just call you 'Mama'?" Barret asked.

Tifa looked confusedly at the little boy, "Say 'Mama'?"

Zell stared at Tifa with big blue eyes.

She looked at Cloud, then back to Zell with a smirk, "Dada?"

Cloud smacked Tifa's arm. She laughed, "What, Cloud? Are you embarrassed?"

Zell laughed, "B-b-brreeeee!"

Tifa turned Zell to face her and smiled, "You don't say? Tell me more!"

He shrieked and flailed his arms.

"No way," she laughed.

"What's he talking about, Tifa?" Barret teased.

"Oh, just about how Cloud always messes with his hair when he wants to avoid changing Zell or when he's thinking about something."

Barret snickered, "Spike afraid o' poopy diapers? Mr. 'Imma Save the World' can't handle a little baby mess?"

"Have you ever tried to change Zell since he started eating actual food?" Cloud scowled.

"No. But I potty trained Marlene."

Denzel burst into laughter from the room next over.

"PAPAAAAAA!" Marlene squealed from her hiding spot. She dashed out from a cranny no one knew was there and proceeded to beat the heck out of Barret's arm, "Papa, you meanie! Don't talk about things like that!"

Tifa laughed, accompanied by Cloud's chuckle. The door opened then to reveal a tired Reeve Tutsei. The head of the WRO walked over and flopped down on the couch next to Cloud and Tifa.

"How you holdin' up, Reeve?" Barret asked.

"I'm doing farily well. Deepground has been pushed further out of Edge thanks to everyone and Vincent has recovered from his encounter with Rosso."

"That's good. Anything else you have to say?" Cloud said, ready to help the WRO with Deepground at any time.

"Yes, Edea has room at her orphanage. She said now would be a good time to bring Zell to her."

Tifa blinked in surprise while the child in question played with a fistful of her hair, "So soon?"

Cloud nodded, "Would now be a good time to leave?"

"Everything's calm for the moment, so I would say yes," Reeve answered.

"We won't have Zell much longer?" Marlene asked sadly. She wandered over to Tifa and played with Zell's hands.

"I'm afraid not," Reeve answered, "But he'll be much safer down with Edea and the other children in her care."

Marlene frowned, "But isn't he safe here? He's got Papa. And Cloud and Tifa, and-"

"Reeve's right, Marlene," Tifa interrupted, "We're all going to be fighting really soon, and Zell could get very hurt. Remember when Loz and Yazoo took you and Denzel away? Zell can't take care of himself like you two can."

Marlene was silent.

"I'm going to pack," Tifa stood and left the room.

Cloud rested his chin on his fists after watching her leave, "You're absolutely sure that this orphanage is safe, Reeve?"

"Absolutely. He'll be safe and out of sight until someone adopts him," he turned his attention to Marlene, "I'm sorry that this is so hard on you and Tifa, Marlene."

Cloud waved his hand, "It's not just them. That kid has grown on all of us. Especially since we lost Zelda. The original plan was that Zelda lived and worked with us until she had enough money saved to live on her own with Zell while still working for Tifa. This whole fiasco shattered Zell's life before it even started."

"Ah. I'm sorry, Cloud."

"Damn…Ain't this planet seen enough o' war, already?" Barret sighed, "Nothin' good ever comes of it."

"Never thought I'd hear that from you," Cloud snorted, "But what Sephiroth did…" he leaned back against the couch, "There will be cause for fighting for years. Decades, maybe."

The room fell silent. Marlene left to find Denzel.

"And we can hide Zell from the fighting. Hopefully for his whole life, but at least until he's an adult or adopted," Cloud sat silent for a moment, "…I'm going to help Tifa," with that, he stood and left the room.

Barret and Reeve watched Cloud exit, then looked at each other.

"He's upset about giving Zell up, too," Reeve stated.

"'Course he is," Barret replied, "That lil' boy has become like a son to those two. If Marlene was a baby and I was in their shoes…I might do the same."