Disclaimer: I do not now or before and most likely not in the future, own Final Fantasy, Square Enix or any of the characters.

Reviews, critiques and flames are welcome. I absolutely love all reviews about the story as it gives me motivation, I use good constructive criticism to help my writing improve and I feed the flames to the fires of my imagination.

A/N: I'm so sorry for not getting out the updates. I really hate when authors put in their notes that life happens and they are going through some difficult times -I only hate it because of the small amount of nosey-ness that is in my character. On the flip side, I equally hate it when authors put in their entire health history and updates to what is going on with their health (especially when they do it to get reader sympathy and boost their reviews) but I'm not like that. So just to quell those curious people, if you really want to know, I'll tell you if you PM me.

Thanks to my before posting betaQueen of Jokers and my after posting beta SubZeroChimera!

"Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid." –John Wayne

Chapter 49

Reno's phone rang followed closely by Rude's. Reno answered his phone and faked as much surprise as his acting skills could muster, "Pick up professor Hojo? Will do. Ciao!"

Looking over at Rude as he flipped his phone shut, the bald Turk said, "Here we go."

They pulled up in front of the building where all the executives lived. The condos were large and spacious and a big waste of space as far as Reno was concerned, but then again, he strongly felt Hojo was a waste of space. Knocking on Hojo's door, Reno impatiently kept knocking until he finally answered with a tutting noise of displeasure that the doctor frequently did. He was already ready to go and the Turk wondered if the man slept in his lab garb. Walking past them with his usual air of superiority, Reno and Rude followed. Reno really wanted to just shoot the geezer right in his over-sized head and get it over with, but he thought maybe he'd do it later when there weren't any possible bystander witnesses that he'd have to kill too.

"Do either of you know what happened?" Hojo slinked into the back seat and Reno almost closed the door on his leg, he wanted to, but thought twice -only because his boss needed the slimy bastard.

Rude answered with a non-committal tone, "No sir, we just know it was a break-in."

Reno and Rude made eye contact and then faced the road lit up by street lamps.

"I get woken up in the middle of the night and don't even know what is going on. You two are useless," Hojo sat back and adjusted his glasses.

Reno nodded his head with a smile, "Yes sir, we are." The rest of the ride was filled with weirdly comforting silence.

When they arrived, they ushered Hojo up to the operating suites just below his main labs. Tseng was already on an operating table prepped for surgery. His arm was on the table next to him, and the doctor looked around and asked rhetorically with over-confidence, "A re-attachment? I thought it was going to be challenging." Hojo went and scrubbed up and when he came back out, he thoroughly inspected the arm and then Tseng, "A clean cut. They put the arm in stasis gel? I will get this done in no time." Hojo paused for a moment and questioned to no one in particular, "Why did the intruders put it in stasis gel? Unless…" He got lost in his thoughts for a second.

"Sir?" His assistants got to work prepping the arm, while Hojo began with Tseng.

"Oh, yes. Where was I?" He turned back to Reno, "He is in excellent hands. Now leave before you irritate me further. Nurse, get my cure materia out here as well."

Reno and Rude stood outside the room watching through the observation window. Reno pulled out a cigarette and Rude grabbed it and pointed to the no smoking sign. With a huff of indignation, the red-head yelled, "Fine! I'll just go up on the roof." Reno didn't want to let Rude know how worried he was. Tseng, Zack and everyone else, he put on a good front most of the time, but he still cared for those he considered friends, Tseng included.

The group got to the rendezvous point, just outside the gate to Sector 5 slums. They stood around the truck, waiting and listening. What they were listening for, they really didn't know. Barret was getting antsy and he slammed his fist on the hood, "What is taking so fuckin' long?!"

Tifa put her arm around him, "Barret, they will be here soon." Tifa bit at her lip and tried to believe what she just said. She secretly crossed her fingers and was starting to get a little worried. 'What if they got caught?' She let out a sigh and Aerith stepped away from Harding's complaining. As Aerith approached her, Tifa said, "I know what you're going to say."

The ancient tipped her head, "You do? Well then I guess it doesn't need to be said," She knowingly twirled her thumbs, waiting for Tifa.

Waiting her out, Tifa blew a few bangs from her face just before her eyes fell back to the smiling woman in front of her, "Oh, just say it!"

Aerith took a step closer to her, "Cloud will be just fine." She leaned in closer to her ear, "I'm glad you told him how you feel."

Tifa moved her head back to see her eyes, "Why? Why are you happy about it?"

Aerith took one of Tifa's hands into hers, "Because now he has something important to him, something more to fight for." She smiled sweetly at her. Tifa lowered her head and blushed, "Don't be afraid to show your love. It is beautiful."

Barret straightened up, "Did you hear that?"

Tifa stepped up, "What? Is it them?" She strained to listen; she thought she heard an engine and then yelling, "Are they being followed?" Tifa pulled out her gloves and quickly got ready for anything.

Barret shook his head, "I don't know, it doesn't sound like a battle, it almost sounds like laughing or… kids playing…?"

When the headlights came into sight over the hill, the noises had gotten louder. The engines roared loudly and slowed as they approached. When Cloud got to them, he turned the wheel a little and came to a sliding stop. The motorcycle was black with very wide tires. It was sleek and frankly, the way Cloud looked on it turned her on. Tifa saw the immense grin on Cloud's face and she had to ask, but added a little seductive slink to her tone, "What is this all about?" She had to admit that he did look very impressive and she wouldn't mind a little alone time -soon.

Cloud sounded out of breath as a child-like gleam in his eyes shone brightly, "This is the best ride ever!" He looked around and while no one was looking, he grabbed the front of Tifa's shirt, gently jerking her to him and spoke in her ear. She immediately turned bright red and she backed up a little and enjoyed the look on his face. He planted a kiss on her and asked with raised eyebrows and a smile that touched her inner youth, "Wanna ride with me?"

"After what you just said?" She twisted her hips and shoulders back and forth in a meek thinking move. Her fingers tapped her lips, "What was it you said the other morning?" He got a puzzled look while awaiting her answer, "Absolutely!"

He let out a surprising giggle and held out his hand to her. He swung her arm up and behind him as she threw her leg over. As her legs nestled next to his and she was so close to him, he shuddered and broke out in goose bumps. She reached around his waist and she laid her head on the top of his back. Reaching down, he picked up one of her hands and brought it to his lips, kissing it and then said to her over his shoulder, "I love you."

Tifa immediately sat straight, "What?!"

He turned more to where he could see more of her face, "I said that I love you!" He felt completely liberated, totally comfortable saying it, no reservations and no hesitancy. He turned back to face forward and smiled at Sephiroth. Tifa was surprised at his candor and relaxed state. Was riding a motorcycle what did it, or was it something else?

When Sephiroth had caught up, his hair blowing behind him, he was enjoying the feeling of freedom from the ride. Aerith studied the bike he was riding. It was very similar to the one that Cloud drove only it was silver. She thought that it suited him, as well as matching his hair. Approaching Aerith and coming to a stop, she grabbed his face and kissed him. Tearing herself from his lips, she said with a grin of naughty thoughts, "I missed you."

He put his other foot down on the ground and balanced himself out on the bike. Taking her hand, he put it to his cheek before bringing it to his lips, "While I was gone, a piece of me was missing. Now, I am delighted to have it back," He closed his eyes and leaned over for another kiss.

"Alright, alright, alright! I'm starting to get sick over here! Get a room would ya?" Barret walked back around to the driver's side of the truck. Harding went over to Cloud and Sephiroth and gathered the bags and brought them back to the truck. Once he got in the passenger side, he began going through the inventory. It was more than he expected, he just hoped it would work for all three of them.

Sephiroth held her hand, "Would you like a ride my lady?"

Aerith curtsied, "Why yes I would dear sir!" He helped her on to the back of the bike. She gathered his hair up and pulled it to the side, wrapping her hands around his waist and Sephiroth jumped at his body's instant reaction, "Seph? Are you okay?"

He smiled, "Yes. Yes I am," His smile grew bigger.

Reno could see that Tseng was beginning to wake up. He could remember waking up and feeling confused while trying to remember what happened on several different occasions. The only differences were that Reno's was usually involving a lot of alcohol and hopefully copious amounts of sex. Sometimes he would surprise even himself as to who he would wake up next to.

Seeing Tseng like this was really odd, "Hey boss, how ya feelin?"

Tseng reached up to pull the obnoxiously irritating oxygen mask down and swallowed, trying to wet his throat. He licked his dry lips and in a flat tone he rasped, "I feel like I had my arm cut off."

Reno had to laugh. Tseng was well-known for being so serious and for him to make a joke was very unheard of, "Well, everything is just fine now, sir."

He took a deep breath and slowly blinked, "Good. How is the investigation into the break-in going?"

Reno sat back and put his hands behind his head, "Well, we don't have any evidence to point to the guilty party. Too bad you never got a look at them," Reno winked and spun around in his chair like a child in his father's office chair.

Rude came in followed by Hojo and President Shinra. Reno stopped and jumped up, "Sir," The president's rotund body squeezed into the room. Reno thought to himself that his comb over needed some work. Elena stood guard right outside the door and Reno tried to get a better look at her ass, but the President was standing in just the right spot to block his vision.

Tseng started to sit up, but Hojo put his hand on his chest and pushed him back down, "I feel sure that President Shinra won't mind if you were to lie down right now." He turned to the President, "He will have full use of his arm in a few weeks. Physical therapy will start immediately," The president nodded and glanced at Tseng.

The president then turned to Reno and looked him up and down, "Since Tseng is incapacitated at the moment, I want you to head the investigation into the break-in."

Reno relaxed his stance, "Yes, sir."

The president turned to Hojo, "Get them a list of the items that were taken." He turned back to Reno, "Keep me informed to the progress." He turned and joined the other Turk waiting for him in the hall. Rude followed and Reno stuck his head out the door and watched Elena walk away, "I love this view."

"Reno!" Hojo yelled causing him to jump, he turned to Hojo and he already had a list of the stolen items, "I put a summary of what they could be used for. I have a very strong suspicion it was my escaped specimens," Hojo stated that he knew that Destiny showing up had everything to do with it.

Reno internally rolled his eyes and smiled his best strained smile, "Yes, sir. We will get to work immediately." He turned and left to meet up with Rude in his office. When Reno entered the office, he just saw Rude, "Is Elena still babysitting the President?"

Rude nodded, "We have two babies of our own assigned to us."

Reno kicked a chair and then pulled it back to him and sat down, "That shit fuckin sucks! Well, at least we have someone to do our leg work," Reno winked at Rude.

"Excuse us. I believe we are to help in the investigation," An extremely tall, thin man stood in the doorway. Another man about Reno's height, and more muscular, stood behind him.

Reno spun around in the office chair, "Holy mother of giant fuck strings! Who birthed you, an obese 100 foot sea worm?" Putting his hands behind his head, "You guys must be the sphincter weasels we're supposed to show the ropes," Reno's face did not change in expression, firm and steady.

They said in unison, "Sir?"

Rude stood, "What my colleague is trying to say is welcome."

Reno turned back to Rude, "Oh, stop!" He waved his hand playfully toward Rude, "No, I meant it. What is it you call yourself, iron giant shit-digger?"

The tall one spoke, "I'm Russell and he is Cameron."

Reno twisted back and forth in the chair and then held his hand up, "Wait, I remembered that I don't care." Reno grinned to himself and got a glare from Rude, "Why don't you two ladies go check the security tapes again, while we do the hard work," They stood there until Reno shooed them out of the office.

"Reno, you really need to work on being more of a people person," Rude sat back down behind his desk, "Well, let's get started on the inventory."

Reno rolled his chair closer to the desk, "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

Cloud led the way, Sephiroth was behind him by several yards and the truck was following after the two dust trails. Cloud's thoughts went to Zack and what he was afraid he was going to do. Tifa leaned forward and yelled over the roar of the engine and the wind, "Do you think the truck can make it through the pass?"

Cloud shrugged his shoulders and yelled over his shoulder, "Don't know, but we're gonna find out soon enough."

Sephiroth caught up to Cloud and yelled to him, "If we go a little to the east, there is a small town that has an Inn and gas station. We can stop for the night."

Cloud yelled, "Lead the way." He fell in behind Sephiroth and made their way to town.

Having driven the rest of the night and all day, it was after dark when they pulled into town. Sephiroth pulled his bike over and winked at Aerith in the cab of the truck. During a rest stop, Harding had asked for her and Tifa's help to mix some of the components. Cloud turned the engine off and dismounted the bike, "Hey Seph, I'm gonna see about getting us some rooms."

Sephiroth walked over to the passenger side of the truck. Tifa rolled the window down and she leaned her cheek on her fist in frustration. Barret and Harding were arguing, "I told you, that shit stinks, wait until we aren't in the truck!" Barret hit the steering wheel.

From the middle, Aerith looked over at her silver-haired warrior and mouthed the words, "I love you."

Sephiroth smiled and looked down when Harding yelled back, "I have to get it mixed so they can get it before anything else happens!" Harding punctuated his point when he stuck his chest out toward him. In the process he ended up squishing Aerith against Barret.

Aerith threw her hands and arms up, "Enough! Let me out! You two are intolerable."

Tifa opened her door and Harding followed and Aerith made her quick exit. Sephiroth took her by her hand and pulled her to the side. He worked really hard at suppressing a smile, "Are you okay?"

"I've been stuck between those two for hours now, I need some space. I think if I have to ride in the truck from now on, I'm getting in the back," She looked at him trying not to smile, "Don't you dare smile, or you're going in the truck and I'll drive the motorcycle."

Sephiroth put his hands up, "Oh no! I'm not getting in the middle of that, I would kill them first," His smile surfaced despite the threat.

"You wouldn't do that. You would put them in the back or leave them on the side of the road," She got a handful of his hair and ran her fingers through it. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply then opened his eyes. Cloud came out with some room keys and Aerith turned around with her back to Sephiroth. He put his arms over Aerith's shoulders and clasped his hands together. His chin found a resting spot on the top of her head. With an odd look on her face, she put her hands up to and over his. She couldn't help but think to herself, 'Zack used to do this.'

"Okay, Seph, here is your key. Barret!" He stepped closer to the angry-looking man, "Here is your key and this one is mine."

Harding put his hand up, "I'm rooming with Cloud or Seph, it doesn't matter which one."

Cloud rubbed the back of his head, "Um, no." He pulled Tifa to him, "I call Tifa."

Sephiroth spoke up, "I call Aerith."

Barret got a completely dumbfounded look, "No, no! I have to room with Hojo Junior?!"

Cloud and Tifa smiled at him and started toward their room. Sephiroth pushed Aerith forward without removing his arms. As Cloud passed his bike, he grabbed his bag and Sephiroth got his. They disappeared into their rooms leaving Harding and Barret in the parking lot staring after them. Harding grabbed his bag and snatched the key out of Barret's hand and ran for the door. Barret grabbed his bag and took off running for the room too, but Harding called the bed first.

"Damn it!" Barret slammed the door.

Sephiroth unlocked the door and stepped aside for Aerith to go in. After shutting the door he dropped the bag and with a loud sigh, he fell back onto his back across the bed, "I am exhausted." He opened his eyes to find Aerith standing at the dresser and was digging in the bag, "What are you looking for?"

She turned, "I am getting my pajamas for after my shower." She turned back around and seemed a little upset about something.

Sephiroth rolled to his side and whistled softly to get her attention. When she turned back around, he held out his hand. All she did was stare at his hand, until he moved his hand forward again. Finally relenting, her hand slid into his and he pulled her to the bed, "What's the matter?" His hand went to her chin and gently turned her to him.

She closed her eyes and sighed quietly, "I'm just tired."

He dropped his hand and raised his eyebrows, "And?"

She readjusted herself on the bed, "I'm worried about Zack…"

Meeting her eyes, "We all are. We will find him and he will be just fine. Okay?" She nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Then surprisingly he said with a large smile, "Now go bathe, you stink."

She laughed nervously and shoved at him. Going into the bathroom, maybe she was thinking too much, but that sounded like something Zack would say. She didn't think he realized it.

After he got his shower, he crawled into bed and rolled over, laid his arm around her waist and kissed her. She looked up at him and he asked, "Are you sure you're okay?" She nodded and picked her head from the bed to kiss him again.

As they kissed, she closed her eyes and felt his lips on her. Oddly, her thoughts went to Zack. The way his lips felt on her, his hands embracing her, the small little sounds he made when they were together. She pictured Zack and became immersed in him. When she opened her eyes, and hoped to see Zack, she suddenly became aware of what was going through her mind. She'd chosen Sephiroth, and that was that. She loved the silver-haired warrior and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

Sephiroth's head jerked back when she pushed him away, "What's the matter?"

"I just… oh it's nothing, really. I guess I'm just tired," She rolled over on her side away from him and he put his arm around her waist, "I had a stressful day. If I get some sleep I'll be fine."

"Okay. Good night then," He kissed her cheek and settled in next to her. She felt his breath on her neck and a shiver ran through her.

Thanks to everyone who reads, favorites, subscribes and/or reviews, I appreciate your time and I dedicate all of this to you. To quote another author, "Getting reviews makes me feel all warm and squishy."

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