A/N: Here he comes! Here comes Speed Racer! He's a terror on wheels!

Disclaimer: (clicks mouse on ebay) Yes! High bidder! Score! Normura's soul is mine! Therefore, I now own EVERYTH-- What? (looks at computer screen in shock) NO! What do you mean the reserve wasn't met?! DAMMIT!! (takes needle and stabs Aeris(th) voodoo doll)

Aeris(th) (in the Lifestream): OW! Gods damn it, that hurt!

Zack (looks away from watching clouds...in the sky...not the blond hero of the game): What?

Aeris(th): I don't know! It felt like someone stabbed me.

Zack: Seph...

Sephiroth: It wasn't me this time! Damn it, you get possessed by a headless alien ONE FUCKING TIME and kill the last of the Ancients, then anytime she feels a little prick, it's all, 'Sephiroth! Quit stabbing Aeris(th)!' It wasn't me, Zachary!

Zack: I wasn't accusing you, Dumbass! I was gonna see if you could toss me a beer. The chappie's about to start.

Sephiroth: Oh, gods, great! It's about fucking time. This author is such a bitch.

Aeris(th): Ow! Something stabbed me AGAIN!

Azrael peered into the room where his mother and Niki were laying, unconscious. Akalara's hair was down, the long, green tresses pooling onto the pillow where her head lay. Niki's own sable locks were laying in a similar manner. The only difference, her's were matted with blood from the explosion.

The silver haired boy swallowed hard as he came into the room, followed closely by Revan and Dr. Irving. He looked over at the clinically insane rookie, unable to see her face as she was covered from scalp to shoulders in white gauze. He looked up at the doctor, cranberry eyes wide. "Is Niki-chan going to be okay?" he whispered.

Dr. Irving shook her head, looking over at the little rookie. "I don't know," she said softly. "I deal with psychiatric issues, Azrael. But the attending here at this facility are the best on the Planet. President Rufus saw to that. He cares for his people, unlike his father did. I'm sure Miss Barsai is getting the best care possible."

Azrael nodded, then turned to his mother. Taking her hand in his, he stepped closer. "Mom," he said gently. "Hey. It's me. Az. You know, your little Seph Spawn." Revan grinned at that and pulled up a chair, resting one hand on Akalara's leg and the other on Azrael's shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "Anyway, Revan's here, too. We want you to wake up, okay? 'Cause we love you...right, Rev?"

"Absolutely," the blond swordsman said, giving Akalara's thigh a gentle squeeze. "More than anything."

Azrael turned his gaze to the doctor. "Is it okay if I get up there with her?" he asked timidly.

Dr. Irving smiled and nodded her head. "Yeah, I don't see a problem with that," she answered gently.

The boy smiled and begin pulling the covers back so he could crawl under them with his mother. He started to kick off his sneakers, when he looked back to the bed and paused. The medical staff had put Akalara in a pair of hospital issued pajamas; the paper thin kind that resembled surgeon's scrubs. And when Azrael had pulled back the paper thin blanket that covered her, he noticed that the shirt of the pajamas had ridden up a bit, revealing Akalara's normally smooth abdomen. However, it was no longer smooth. Covering the once unmarked flesh was a series of nasty, red scars; deep cuts that had begun to heal, leaving their mark on her body.

"What?" Azrael cried out, running his hand over his mother's stomach.

Revan leaned forward, his eyes closing in shock. "Ak," he whispered, lowering his lips to the scars adorning her flesh.

"So, she's been cutting herself as well," Dr. Irving murmured. She picked up Akalara's chart and made a notation on it. "This is something that could have easily been taken care of with a Cure materia or a potion. She's opted to keep the scars."

"Why?" Azrael asked desperately. "Why would she do something like this?"

Dr. Irving reached across and patted Azrael gently on the cheek. "People cut themselves for a number of reasons, Azrael," she explained. "Some do it for attention, so that people will comment on the scars. Others, masochists, do it for the thrill of pain. And still others do it as a way to control what they feel. It's a way for them to take control of one aspect of their lives when it seems like everything else is spinning out of control."

"Which is what Akalara is doing," Revan stated.

"So it seems."

Azrael stared down at his mother and climbed up onto the bed beside her, tucking the covers back around them both and cradling her head in his arms. "It's okay, Mom," he whispered. "Whatever's going on, you don't have to go through it alone. You'll never be alone. You'll always have me. I promise."

Rude opened his eyes, blinking them rapidly to try and adjust to the flourescent lights of the waiting room. The bright lights always bothered his eyes, which was one of the reasons he constantly wore his sunglasses. That's when he realized...his sunglasses were gone. Scowling, he tried to search for them, but found himself unable to move, both of his arms wrapped securely around two little girls, one red headed, the other black headed with red streaks. Axys and Andria were both sitting in his lap, their heads snuggled up against his chest, their arms looped around his and their hands holding each others. Rude didn't bother repressing a smile as he planted a kiss to each girl's head, holding them more securely against him as they slept. How he became their bed was beyond him. He didn't even remember Axys coming over by them. Which made him wonder...where were the girls' respective parents?

Looking around, he spotted them. Now, if Rude had been any other man on the Planet, what he saw probably would have sent him into a jealous rage. But, being who he was and with what he was seeing and with the knowledge he was privy to, what he saw only made him smile in amusement. Kandi was laying on the floor, sound asleep, her arms, legs and hair tangled together with Reno. He knew, ever since the Nibelheim incident, that those two always turned to each other for comfort. They had been all they had at that time. Even though Rude had been Reno's partner then as well, he still knew why they were instantly drawn to each other in times of need. When Zack and Sephiroth were reported KIA, Kandi and Reno were in each other's arms, comforting each other. Now, with Niki and Akalara in the hospital, they were back in their old familiar positions.

"Why is Daddy and Aunt Kandi sleeping together?" Axys asked groggily.

Andria stirred at that and looked down at her mom. "Uh...Daddy Rude?" she asked, her voice scratchy from sleep.

"It's how they deal with their pain," Rude explained. "They draw comfort from each other. It's been that way for years."

"Doesn't that...bug you?" Axys asked, almost afraid that the big man would want to kill her father.

Rude shook his head and smiled, hugging the girls again. "Not at all," he answered truthfully. "You guys hungry?"

Axys nodded instantly, as did Andria. Rude nodded as well. "Then get off my legs," he grumbled. "They're asleep. You twerps are heavy."

"Hey!" Andria said indignantly.

Axys stepped on his toes for that one. "Meanie."

Rude chuckled and stood, stretching his cramped legs and cracking his back and neck. "Come on," he said. "See if Paulo wants to come, too. Looks like Nilto and Randak already took Kaya and Damian down to the cafeteria."

Axys went over to get Paulo while Andria watched the bald man kneel beside her mother and his best friend. He kissed Kandi gently on the forehead and gave Reno's shoulder and affectionate squeeze before raising back to his feet and holding his hand out to her, which she instantly grabbed. When the other two Spawn had joined them, they walked down to the cafeteria for some high octane coffee and what would hopefully be halfway consumable food.

Akalara's eyes fluttered open, instantly blinded by a bright light. At first she thought she was still in the Lifestream, but the continuous beeping from the heart monitor told her that she was not. She felt a heaviness on her chest and looked down, smiling at the silver head snuggled against her. Breathing in deeply of Azrael's hair, she smiled in relief of the sheer peace his presense brought her. Looking down the bed, she saw Revan sleeping in a chair beside her. Akalara's heart swelled, tears coming unbidden to her eyes. She didn't fight them as she normally did.

This was her second chance. This was her fresh start. She was going to do things right this time. She didn't have to be strong all the time. Showing weakness to those she loved...was okay.

And that in itself was liberating.

Looking over her son's head, she saw the matching twin bed where she knew Niki would be. She was still bandaged as she had been in the pool of the Lifestream. But this time, she was moving and whimpering.

Akalara gently moved Azrael over, careful not to wake him. She wasn't hooked up to any IV's and the heart monitor she had heard when she first woke up was attached to Niki. Climbing out of her bed, a chill shot up her spine as her bare feet hit the cold tile of the hospital room. She made her way over to Niki's bedside and took her hand.

"Niki," she said gently.

Niki's bandaged face turned toward her and Akalara could see the tears welling up in her hazel eyes. "It hurts?" Akalara asked with sympathy.

The blood soaked locks moved on the pillow as Niki nodded, keening quietly, unable to open her mouth.

"Okay," Akalara said, taking one of Niki's hands in hers and pressing the 'Call' button on Niki's bed. "Okay, Sweetie, hang on. I'm calling the nurse."

Niki made a noise that signalled she understood and squeezed Akalara's hand tightly. The green haired woman bent over and placed of soft kiss to Niki's bandaged head. "I'll make this up to you, Niki-chan," she whispered. "I promise."

Niki shook her head, telling her with her eyes that she didn't have to. Lifting her hands, she used Turk sign to signal 'friends'. Akalara smiled and wiped her eyes. "Yeah," she said, taking her hand again. "Friends."

The door to their room opened gently and a nurse entered. "Ah!" she exclaimed. "You're both awake!"

"She's in a lot of pain," Akalara explained. "Can you give her something?"

The nurse nodded and took out a syringe. Niki's eyes widened and a muffled scream escaped her bandaged lips. She began thrashing against the bed, trying to get away from the needle. Akalara took both hands in hers, feeling that the IV was in Niki's left hand and covered with bandages. "Niki! Niki, she's not going to give you a shot," the green haired Turk said soothingly, knowing Niki didn't realize she had an IV put in her while she was unconscious, the only way to get near her with a needle.

Niki looked up at her with wide, scared eyes. "I promise," Akalara said. She turned to the nurse and nodded, watching as the woman inserted the pain killer into Niki's IV tube. Niki instantly relaxed, her eyes taking on a glazed, drugged look to them. Akalara grinned. "Better?"

Niki nodded and Akalara could have sworn she saw her grin. She turned back to the nurse. "Can you get Reno, please?" she asked. She looked back at Niki and smiled. "I'm sure her boyfriend will be relieved to know she's okay."

"Of course," the nurse said, smiling as she left.

Niki looked up at Akalara, question in her eyes. Akalara simply smiled. "We agreed in the Lifestream," she explained. "No more fighting. I love Revan. Reno will always be my friend and I'll always love him as such; but you...worship him. You win, Niki-chan. He's yours."

"Mom?!"

Akalara turned to her son and smiled. "Hey Baby," she said, squeezing Niki's hands before she released them and took her son in her arms. "Azrael, I'm so sorry."

Azrael just buried his face in her neck and cried. Revan was now awake as well and rose to his feet, pulling Akalara into his arms. "I'm sorry, Ak," he whispered hoarsely. "I shouldn't have..."

"It's okay," she answered, still stroking her son's soft silver hair. "There's a lot of 'shouldn't haves', most of which could have avoided this entire situation. But things happen for a reason."

"Why did you jump?" Azrael wailed in between sobs. "Why did you want to leave me?!"

The doors burst opened and Reno rushed in. Taking in the situation, he saw Akalara lowering herself back to her bed, Azrael craddled in her arms and Revan sitting behind her, arms wrapped around her tightly. Then he saw the other bed, the pathetic bandaged figure lying there, pretty hazel eyes filled with tears.

"Niki," he choked out, going to her and climbing on the bed with her. He kissed her hands, each one of her fingers and anywhere else he could. "Thank Odin! I thought I'd lost you."

"Reno," Akalara said. The redhead looked over at her, eyes shining with unshed tears. Akalara bit her lip. "I'm so sorry this happened."

Reno stared at her hard, deciding which one of his 'Bitch Akalara Out for Hurting Niki' speeches to go with. Then he remembered, he'd almost lost her, too. "Ak," he breathed out. "You know, I'm just so glad you both are okay...nothing else matters. Nothing."

Akalara smiled and nodded, holding her son close to her again. Azrael turned his face toward her, tears falling freely from his eyes. "Why, Mom?" he pressed again. "Why did you want to kill yourself and leave me?"

"Oh, Az," she said, pressing a kiss to his hair. "I didn't want to. I wanted to protect you."

"Protect me?" he asked, confused. "How? By killing yourself and leaving me an orphan with no where to go?"

"No," she continued, tears falling from her own eyes now. "I didn't want you to have to watch me executed for killing Niki." She wiped her eyes and sniffed, accepting a tissue from Reno. She smiled at him as he held Niki as gently as he could while they both listened to her story. "If Niki had died, I would have been eliminated for her murder since it was my bomb that killed her. I didn't want you to have to go through that, Az. I thought it would be easier on you if I took my own life. Turks who kill other Turks can't be trusted and must be eliminated."

Reno's jaw set and he nodded reluctantly. "She's right," he said softly. "She's absolutely right."

"But it was an accident," Akalara explained. "I never meant for Niki to find the bomb and open it. I was going to dispose of it. I just didn't do it in time, and for that I am sorry."

Revan kissed her neck, lacing their fingers together. "I believe you," he said gently. "I honestly do."

"Me too," Azrael said, holding her tightly.

Niki squeezed Reno's hands and he turned, looking into her pleading hazel eyes. She cocked her head at him, trying to make him understand. Reno smiled gently and nodded. "I believe you, too, Ak," he told her. "And I promise, nothing's going to happen to you."

"Except, you will be seeing a psychiatrist."

Tseng came into the room, expression tired and weary, yet relieved to see his two Turks alive. "Akalara, we'll be getting you some professional help," he told her. "And it is not optional. Cooperating with Dr. Irving is the only way you will salvage your career with the Turks. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir," she answered with a nod of her head.

Tseng's lips curved upward ever so slightly. He turned to Niki. "As for you, Niki," he said, stepping closer. "President Rufus has ordered some of the finest reconstructive surgeons on the Planet to come and restore your upper body. You'll be good as new in no time."

Azrael looked up at the Wutain and then turned back to his mother. "Tseng, Sir," he began, lifting his mother's shirt up and revealing her cuts. "Do you think...do you think they can help Mom with these?"

Tseng took in the scarring with repressed shock. "I'm sure they can, Azrael," he reassured him. He looked at his green haired Turk again. "It seems you and Dr. Irving have much to discuss."

Akalara lowered her head. "Yes, Sir."

Two Months Later:

Akalara lowered her sunglasses and drank from the fruity concoction in the coconut shell, watching as her lover taught her son how to surf in the ocean of Costa del Sol. The first month after being discharged from the hospital, she was put on administrative leave, with pay, while she underwent an intense psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Dr. Irving, or Kyrn as she preferred to be called, was an excellent psychiatrist. Normally, Akalara hated all shrinks, but Kyrn was different. She did not instantly prescribe medication to a patient. If she could treat them with natural means, she would. And with Akalara, she had.

Akalara had spoken to Kyrn about her past. How she was beat by her father, left to fend for herself at the age of four, was in street gangs, homeless for most of her life, becoming a topless dancer, meeting, falling in love with and having a child with ShinRa's famous general, only to lose him tragically before she could even tell him of his pending fatherhood. The walls she had built up to protect herself were dismantling themselves, slowly but surely. Kyrn had recommended a hiatus for Akalara and her family, which consisted of Revan and Azrael. Tseng had readily agreed, wanting to help his people in anyway he could. And so, in an all expenses paid vacation, the three had found themselves 'stationed' in Costa del Sol for a month.

They had recieved word a few days ago that Niki's surgeries had been successful and that the doctors had prescribed rest and relaxation for her as well while she recovered. She and Reno would be arriving at the exotic beach paradise within the hour.

Rude set the chopper down easily on the helipad in Costa del Sol's harbor, adjusting his sunglasses as his girlfriend helped get the luggage out of the back for Reno and Niki. Niki, garbed in a white sundress and floppy sunhat to protect her still recovering face, leaned over and kissed the bald man on his head. "Thanks, Chrome Dome!" she giggled.

Rude just shook his head and grinned. He looked back at Reno and arched and eyebrow. "Take care, Partner," he said. "We'll pick you up when we get the word."

"Thanks, yo," Reno said with a grin. "You know I'm eating this shit up! Paid vacation with my girl? Nothing better, Bro!"

"Ah, shut up, you Assfuck," Kandi grumbled, shoving the bags at the redhead. "I hope your fair skin fucking burns. Or you at least turn all freckly."

"He'd be cute with freckles!" Niki squealed, jumping up and down, her sundress bouncing up over her thighs.

Reno grinned and kiss his girlfriend's smooth cheek. Kandi snickered at that. Reno glared at her. "What is so godsdamn funny?" he snapped.

"Reno, you ever wonder where the skin graft came from for Niki's reconstructive surgery?" she asked, hands on hips.

"Huh?"

Kandi rolled her eyes. "Let's just say, it's a good thing you think her ass is so cute, aight?" she said. She stepped forward and kissed the redhead on the cheek. "Take care, Reno. You know I love you."

Reno hugged her and pulled her hair a bit. "Love you, too, Babe," he said, kissing her forehead.

Kandi slugged his arm and turned to Niki, pulling her into a huge hug. "You too," she said gently, stroking her face soothingly. "Use lots of sunscreen."

Niki nodded and giggled before kissing Kandi and the cheek and taking Reno's hand. They started off down the helipad when Niki suddenly stopped. "Oh!" she exclaimed, dropping Reno's hand and running back toward Kandi. "I almost forgot!"

"What's that?" the red streaked Turk asked with a grin.

"Remember when me and Ak were in the hospital?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah," Kandi said, rolling her eyes. "Kinda stressful for everyone, Niki-chan."

Niki giggled. "Well, Ak and I were in the Lifestream for a bit," she said, cocking her head to the side, allowing her unbound hair to shift sweetly. "Just wanted you to know...Zack sends his love."

Kandi blinked at this information. "W-what?" she whispered.

"And he says if you need him, you know where to find him," Niki added. She giggled and grinned again. "See you in a few weeks!"

Kandi stared after them for a bit, still shocked by what Niki had to say. "Babe?" a low voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Yeah?"

Rude grinned and lowered his sunglasses. He killed the engine to the chopper and climbed out, shutting all doors and compartments up and locking them. He took her hand in his and kissed her gently. "Think Andi can spend the night with Kaya?" he asked.

Kandi grinned up at him, a mischievious gleam in her eyes. "Probably," she answered. "Axys is already over there since Re's here. She'd more than likely beg to anyway. Why?"

Rude shrugged. "Thought it be nice to spend a day or two here," he replied.

"What'll we tell Tseng?" she asked.

Rude grinned and lowered his sunglasses, looking her straight in the eyes and flashing a piece of plastic in front of them. Tseng's company credit card. "Thanks for vacation?"

The red streaked woman threw her head back and laughed. "Ever had sex on a beach?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Rude kissed her possesively and grabbed her hand. "Nope," he answered, leading her into the resort town. "I say we get to it. What do you say?"

"I say...I love you."

The bald man grinned. "I love you, too," he answered. "First things first...sunscreen. Burnt scalps are a bitch."

Somewhere down the beach, they heard a scream of "ULTIMA!" and saw a bright flash of blue-green light, followed by very masculine screams and then the unmistakable sound of Reno saying, "NIKI! No! That's MASTERED Ultima!" Followed by Niki screaming, "He shouldn't have grabbed my ass!" Then Reno returning with, "But he just touched your face...oh. OH! OH SHIT!!"

Ah yes...things were finally back to normal...well...not normal...more like...pseudo normal...fuck it. Things were as they were. Nothing more. Nothing less.

And it was fine.

A/N: Oh...my...GOD! This beast is finally finished! No, no! Not the fic! FFR! And fangirls and fanboys, this is the last FFR. The end of a saga, of an era. (weeps momentarily) And heaven-monument, there's your Ultima. Well, a taste of it at least. I'll do more with it soon. Now, call of Lulu and Vivi. Please? And reviews are most welcomed. HOORAY!