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

A/N: To all four of my readers... (lol!) I'm sooooooo sorry! I completely lost track of what day it was. I have been so effing busy with school and work that I just forgot what day of the week I was on. It's a good thing that my phone doubles as my personal assistant, my alarm to get up in the mornings, or I probably would have forgotten to get my kids up for school!

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.

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

"Time and space are fragments of the infinite for the use of finite creatures." –Henri Frederic Amiel

Chapter 64

Reno and Rude made their way to Zack's room when they heard Sephiroth and Cloud yelling. Reno and Rude looked at each other and sped up their walking. Once they reached the room, Reno peeked around the corner and his eyes grew to enormous proportions, "Yo Blondie. You want to explain to me why Zack is tied up?" Cloud stood up from the bed and Reno stepped around him and went to Zack.

Zack had gotten to a sitting position, but kept his futile struggles and murmuring up; Reno leaned forward to get a closer look. Suddenly frozen, Zack tilted his head and studied Reno who sat down and studied Zack in return.

Cloud held a hand up, "Reno that may not be such a good idea."

Without looking away from Zack, Reno said to Cloud, "Just let me see something." Reno moved to the right, Zack mirrored his movement. Reno moved to the left and again Zack mirrored him, "Zack do you remember me?" Zack's eyes searched Reno's face, "Yeah, you remember me don't you? We used to be friends." Reno let a small smile raise his lips. Zack smiled a small empty smile that mimicked Reno's.

In a moment, Reno glanced away from the brunette, Zack attacked. With his hands still tied, he hooked his wrists up and over Reno's head and around to his back shocking the Turk into instinctively flinching back. Together they went to the floor and Zack tried biting him on the neck with a feral growl. Reno kicked and jerked trying to get loose while holding his hand under Zack's chin, keeping him from getting a mouthful of Reno's skin.

Cloud leapt over the two men and took a hold of the larger man's shoulder and pulled him away from Reno. Zack snapped his teeth at him and another deep growl directed at Reno caused him to duck under Zack's arms.

Zack continued to struggle and he looked over at Cloud. A genuine smile turned his face into a beacon of happiness, "Spiky! I love my little Spiky. Shhh. Come here, I have a secret."

Cloud snapped his head toward Zack as Harding came in with Tifa close behind him.

Harding looked at Zack's smile, "Here's his food."

Reno took the plate and put it on the table in a harsh movement, "Harding? Have you looked through the paperwork we gave you yet?"

Harding fidgeted and shifted his weight from one side to the other; he cleared his throat, "Uh, no… I was going to get to that after breakfast."

Cloud spoke harshly as he went into the bathroom, "Harding get on it now."

Reno stepped to up Sephiroth and spoke in a hushed tone, "Hey Sephy, I have something that I found in Hojo's computer. It looked really important."

Aerith entered the room quietly and picked up Sephiroth's arm and put it over her shoulders. The former General said in an odd tone directed to the Turk, "I am not used to you being nice like this. I don't think it is natural." Reno smirked and went over to Harding as he began reading through the pages.

Aerith looked up at Sephiroth, "What is that?"

Glancing at the plain white envelope with a curious face, "I am not sure," Sephiroth went outside with Aerith still in his arm. They walked in silence until they found a picnic table down the street at a park and sat on the bench. He pulled her down to his side and he began to read the letter.

After Aerith left the diner to meet up with Sephiroth, Yuffie was left with Vincent, Red and Barret all staring at her. She poked at her food with no intention of eating. Her chin rested in the palm of her other hand. She was unaware of the stares coming from the other side of the table. Red finally spoke in a quiet voice, "You are quite a bit quieter than you normally are. What is troubling you?"

Without looking or moving she flatly said, "I've just been thinking."

Barret chuckled, "You should stick to theft. It suits you better."

Yuffie snapped her head up and glared, "I was thinking about Wutai and how many lives have been lost at the hands of Shinra." Her eyes welled with tears that wept a thousand words, "The very men that I am traveling with back in that room." She stood and ran out the door. Barret ducked his head down and put his forehead in his hand.

Vincent stood, "I will go check on her." Vincent put a hand on Barret's shoulder before he went out the door.

Vincent made his way to Yuffie's room and knocked. He heard Yuffie yell, "Go away!" Vincent knocked again and she finally opened the door. She took a step back in surprise, "What do you want?"

"I was concerned about you. May I come in?" Vincent quietly stood awaiting a response. Yuffie stepped to the side and she shut the door. When she turned around, Vincent was right behind her. She didn't move and Vincent hoped that she would feel comfortable talking to him. Her face straightened and then fell again. She sniffled and dove for his arms. He gently wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. She cried and he just held her until she didn't need his comfort any longer. To his surprise, she looked up at him and her eyes focused intently on his. She rose to her tip toes and slowly pressed her lips to his. He inhaled and waited to see if it was a kiss that meant more.

When she didn't break the lip lock, he brushed his hand on her face and gently pulled her closer. He pulled back from the kiss and asked, "Are you sure?" Her face brightened and a smile found its way to her mouth.

"Don't you think it's been long enough?" She stood on her tip toes again and kissed him with passion.

Red and Barret came into the room where Zack was and saw for themselves that he was indeed restrained. Once Cloud had come out of the bathroom, Tifa noticed that he had cleaned his face off. He felt off and uncomfortable, but he wasn't sure why, so he tried to shrug it off.

Getting Cloud's attention, Zack called out, "Pouty Cloudy, my button is on the bottom of my boot."

Ignoring the outburst, Cloud looked over at Harding and Reno, "Any luck?"

Harding looked over his shoulder, "Would you leave me alone?! I'm trying my best, okay!"

Cloud started to get angry but then stopped and said, "Sorry, just let me know when you know something." He turned to Tifa, "I'm going to go get something to eat. You want to come with me?" She nodded and gave him a kiss. Cloud stopped just short of the door and turned around. Everyone stood quietly and he asked, "What is that noise?"

Everyone in the room looked at Zack, but he wasn't making any noise. Reno stood up and said, "It sounds to me like someone in the throes of passion right next door." Reno stepped closer to Cloud and elbowed him in the side, "But not everyone can be a marathon man; can they Cloud?" Cloud's face turned a fabulously bright shade of red when everyone looked at him. A few snickers and laughs scattered though out the room. Cloud turned and went out the door as he slammed it shut leaving Tifa fidgeting nervously who quickly followed Cloud, because the stares began to get to her.

Tifa caught up with Cloud and they entered the diner and went to a table close to the back. Tifa took his hand and put her finger against his chin and turned him toward her. Her lips brushed lightly on his and he closed his eyes and pushed forward into the kiss, "Ahem," Two menus dropped to the table top.

Tifa and Cloud startled and looked at the waitress. A nervous smile passed over his mouth and he scratched the back of his neck, "Uh, hi. Um, can we get some coffee?" The waitress smiled a little and turned and went toward the kitchen, "I suppose Zack will be okay with Barret and Harding."

Cloud sat quietly and Tifa asked as she looked around, "So what happens now? I mean Reno brought some more papers and Harding is going through them, so this will fix Zack now?"

Cloud smiled at the waitress as she set down their coffee. They ordered their food and when she left to put the order in Cloud looked at Tifa, "I hope so. I think Zack is getting worse."

Cloud fixed his coffee and took a sip then almost choked on it. Tifa grabbed a napkin, "Cloud what in the world?!"

Cloud's eyes stayed fixed across the room. He stood, threw some Gil on the table and grabbed Tifa's hand, "Let's go." He walked briskly through the dining room and rounded his way around the object of his discomfort. He ducked his head and tried to hide his face but it was too late. The man who was cleaning tables grabbed Cloud's arm and was pulled to face the man. The man had a smile on his face and took Cloud's hand and shook it vigorously. Cloud tried not to run out the door. Instead, he took a deep breath and as calmly as he could, he said, "Hello, how have you been?"

Tifa took a step closer, "Cloud, who is this?" Tifa smiled back at the man as she squeezed Cloud's hand to let him know she was there for him.

Cloud looked around nervously and rubbed the back of his neck, "Tifa, this is Drake." Cloud took a deep breath, "He was one of the guards in the labs."

Tifa whispered to Cloud, "He wasn't the one that… hurt you?"

Cloud shook his head and turned to Drake, "I have to go. It was… uh..." Cloud walked out the door and hung his head and walked to the inn in silence.

The office of President Shinra

Shinra Corporation

To Professor Hojo

Advancement of Science Department

Dear: Professor Hojo,

As you are aware, we have been investigating your claim with regard to General Sephiroth and his extracurricular activities.

The distraction in question, Annabelle Sterling, has been terminated as per your request. Sephiroth is now able to resume his current and future missions and your lab studies of him without any interference from the subject. Your son is now under your control again. Do not let this happen again.

If my Turks can assist you further, please call me directly next time.

Sincerely,

President Shinra

Sephiroth sat in silence. His shoulders slumped and his hands fell to his sides. The letter wafted on a light breeze to the ground. His breathing deepened and hitched in his chest. His eyes filled with the pain of all the years he lived without Annabelle. The brightness of her smile, the soft touches and the way she made him feel rushed through his mind. The thought of his unborn child dying with his love; his reason for going on, backed up on him and a flood of anger spurred a rage in him.

He stood and walked toward the parking lot, but he stumbled and fell to a knee. Picking himself up, he took a few steps and lost the strength in his legs completely. He sat back on his heels and all he was able to do was stare into the nothing that his previous life was full of. Annabelle and his child had been ripped from his life savagely and painfully. The very company that he fought for, killed for and subsequently died for, was responsible for the most excruciating thing he'd ever endured.

Aerith didn't know what to do; she didn't know what was happening. Bending over to the paper, she hesitantly picked it up and read it. Her confusion didn't lift much as she had no idea who Annabelle was or what had happened to her, but she obviously was important to him. The fact that Hojo was his father was shocking enough, but there was more to it than that. She decided to sit there and wait for Sephiroth to need her, and then she would be ready to comfort him. However, the longer he sat there, the more concerned she became.

When Cloud and Tifa returned to the room, Zack was crouched in the corner screaming. Barret was moving the night table that Zack was banging his head on and Harding was trying to calm him. Cloud yelled over the screaming, "What happened?"

Barret yelled back, "I don't know! One minute he's fine, he was eating and then he started screaming."

Cloud squatted down and approached him slowly, "Zack? What's wrong? Tell me what happened." Cloud reached out and put his hand on Zack's arm.

Zack looked up at Cloud and his tied hands went to Cloud's face and he cupped his chin. Zack had an agitated and crisp tone to his voice, "Annie's bells, they're gone to grieve at the factory… Annie's bells…" He dropped his hands and shook his head. In another anguished scream, Zack lifted his fists and began to hit himself in the head.

Reno came in with Rude close behind him, "Cloud. You need to come with us. Where is Sephiroth?"

Cloud grabbed the restraint between the strong wrists and attempted to keep Zack's hands still. Looking at Reno with a puzzled look, he shouted over the barrage of slowly quieting screams from Zack, "I'm a little busy right now."

In a very serious tone that was very unlike Reno, "We need to talk now." He turned and pointed to Harding, "Find the solution and find it now." Reno waited at the door and followed Cloud outside.

"Reno, what is going on?" Cloud stopped and pulled his elbow out of Reno's hand.

Reno stepped into Cloud's face, very close and in a quiet but stern voice, "We need to find Sephiroth now."

"How the hell am I supposed to find him? I have no idea where he is," Cloud backed away from Reno's face.

Reno straightened his back, "I suggest you figure out how to use this little ESP thing ya'll got going on and find him. That's what Zack is freaking about."

Aerith came running up to them and she was crying, "Cloud! It's Seph, there is something wrong." She turned and ran back the way she had come from and they ended up in the park. Sephiroth was still sitting on his heels and his hands rested on his thighs and he just stared out at nothing, "We walked here and he read this and then he started acting like that."

Reno put his hands on his hips and looked up at the sky, "Well shit. It hit him harder than I thought it would."

"What?" Cloud winced, "What hit him harder than you thought?" Cloud winced again and rubbed his head.

Reno took the paper from Aerith and folded it up and put it back in his pocket. Reno took a deep breath and began, "Years ago, Seph had a girlfriend, fiancée or whatever. She was killed in a car accident when she was walking home from the store. It turns out that she was pregnant and Shinra and Hojo are the ones that had her killed. They thought that she was a distraction to him, and to top it off, Hojo is his fucking father."

Cloud rubbed his head again and winced and then he grabbed his head and dropped to his knees. As Cloud relived Sephiroth's past pain of loving and then losing Annabelle, Aerith had gotten to the ground with him and held him. When Cloud finally looked up, he put his hand to his heart and grabbed a handful of his shirt and breathed through the worst of it. Aerith talked him through it as best as she could and then she wiped his face. Reno put his hand out and helped him to his feet.

Reno looked at Rude and then back at Cloud, "We also have an additional problem." Cloud took more deep breaths and straightened his shirt. He focused on Reno as he continued, "It seems that someone broke in to the Shinra building and assassinated the president."

Cloud cleared his throat, "So what does that mean to us?"

Reno crossed his arms, "It means that me and Rude have to go back to Midgar." Reno pulled another smaller piece of paper from his pants pocket, "Go see this man; he can help you get your asses in gear and end Jade."

"So is she the one who killed the president?" Aerith took the paper and looked at the address.

Rude spoke up and with an extra effort to hide a smile, "They're thinking so. They're reviewing the security footage and will determine the culprit soon."

Reno slapped Cloud on the shoulder, "See ya back in Midgar -marathon man!" Cloud turned red again which just amused Reno that much more.

Aerith got a puzzled look and stared at Cloud as he watched them leave, "Let me go see what I can do to help Seph. Could you get back to the Inn and take care of Zack. If Barret and Tifa can go meet this guy and get him on board that would help."

Aerith rubbed Cloud's arm, "Are you okay?"

Cloud strained a smile and put his hand over hers, "Yes, I'll be fine." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, "Now go ahead and get that taken care of please."

Cloud softly stepped over to the man, Sephiroth's face was overwhelming vacant sorrow. Cloud could see his broken heart clearly as he wore out in the open for anyone to see. Sephiroth's catatonic state kept Cloud at arm's length. Cloud got on his knees and sat face to face with him. Getting into his line of sight, he said softly, "Seph, can you hear me?" Sephiroth did nothing. Cloud tried again, "Sephiroth! Look at me." Sephiroth's eyes blinked slowly and he reluctantly focused his bloodshot eyes on Cloud's face. The blond took one of his cold limp hands into his and he sadly conveyed, "I know… I know what happened, but we need you." Cloud paused and lightly pulled on Sephiroth's hand, "I need you."

Sephiroth's speech was what the sound of a broken man would be, a small whisper, "She slipped through my fingers. Because of me, she died. Because of me, my family died." Sephiroth's eyes filled with the emotions that he had long buried and thought that he'd healed from. The old gash ripped open and the whole process of losing her repeated yet again. The pain and utter silent scream of the terror of living without her changed his face to that of a weeping man. As the single tear fell down his face, he couldn't look away from Cloud, "Tell me how to stop this feeling," Sephiroth hit himself in his chest, the hollow fleshy sound made Cloud wince, "Tell me please!" Sephiroth hit Cloud's chest and he rocked backward at the force of the impact, but he stayed in his spot, "I-I… can't do this all over again Cloud. I can't do it."

Cloud wrapped a hand around the back of Sephiroth's neck and pulled him into a sympathetic embrace. Sephiroth's head rested on Cloud's shoulder. They sat together in the middle of the park while Cloud held a broken General Sephiroth.

A/N 2: 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."

Please send me your reviews if you want. It is really easy. Just click your arrow in the little box, write what you thought or felt about the chapter and then click right down there, just below the box. A little lower… a little to the right… yeah, right there! Click it! *grinning*