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: Originally, it was at this point in the story that I had somewhat lost interest in writing it so I started kind of summing up a lot of the story, just so that I could end it. I guess you could say that from the last half of this chapter to the end is just part of the original epilogue. (However, I'm naming chapter 82 the official epilogue.) Without this extended type of epilogue, this story could easily go another 10 or more chapters and I don't think I have it in me to extend it that far. When we get to chapter 82 (the official epilogue) and you see how long it actually is, you'll see why I broke it all up and made it more of a three chapter epilogue - in a way. (FYI, the original epilogue (before I broke each chapter up into smaller chapters) was well over 20,000 words.) There is two more chapters to go kiddies.

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!

"Most people would say Love is the key to saving all relationships. I say that it is Respect that saves relationships and Love that keeps the flame lit." –Unknown

Chapter 80

When his heartbeat leveled out in a low pattern, seconds turned to minutes and the monitor still held steady.

Reno eyed the doctor, "What's going on?"

"I don't know, let me get the rest of this tube out," The doctor reached down and took the tape off and removed the rest of the tube from Cloud's throat. A long exhale passed his lips and then nothing. His heart rate began to drop again and the small momentary bit of hope was dashed when it finally flat-lined. The high pitch of the alarm on the heart monitor stopped when the doctor turned off the blaring beep.

Tifa's head dipped and she squeezed the blonde's hand gently. Every memory flashed in her mind, it was something that she couldn't stand and it hurt too much to feel anymore. She just wanted to stop time at a moment in the past and live in there forever. The moment was one that was the most precious to her; the first time he told her he loved her. They sat on the motorcycle, leaving to find Zack and he just said it, not once, but twice. She had him in her arms, her chin rested on his shoulder and the awareness of her and him together forever was no longer just a fantasy.

"Wait a minute." Taking his stethoscope, he put it to his chest, his mouth open in stunned surprise, the doctor muttered, "His heart is beating again, but that... that isn't possible."

The doctor was met with a dumbfounded look from everyone. Sephiroth asked, "So he is alive?"

"It appears so. His heart beat is odd, but it is beating. He's putting up a fantastic fight if he is coming back from the injury he came in with," The doctor cleared a path through the crowd and called to a nurse, "Call Dr. Kurtsinger immediately, I need his opinion."

Squeezing his other hand, Zack said, "Well, he's always been a fighter."

Sephiroth bowed his head and silently thanked Gaia for not taking the blond yet.

"What does this mean?" Tifa's eyes welled with grief falling away from her heart, but nothing wet her cheeks yet.

The doctor rechecked his pulse, "I don't know if this is temporary or if he will fully recover. That's why I am sending for the other doctor, I want a second opinion," Tifa looked around to everyone and smiles formed on most of the faces.

Tifa watched the doctors excuse everyone except her. She'd been very insistent that she get to stay. When the doctor felt the harsh sting of a genuine threat to his well-being and his manhood, he allowed her to stay at Cloud's side. Both doctors did several tests, took blood samples and ran more tests. For days, he stayed in that state, just like he was sleeping, and for days Zack, Sephiroth and Tifa took turns sitting at his bedside. Tifa wasn't too fond of the idea of Sephiroth being there at first, but as Barret and Red pointed out, she needed rest. She'd yet to talk to Sephiroth and he kept his distance, just as Zack did.

When Sebastian came to Frost Village with Shera, he had both questions and information. Knowing that Barret didn't like anything Shinra, Sebastian approached Vincent instead, "While I'm dropping Shera off, I'm picking up Rude and Carmine. Rufus wants Reno to stay back to fly the airship back to Midgar with everyone who wants to return."

"You look as if there is something else," Vincent never moved from his spot leaning against the wall.

Sebastian's steel-blue eyes studied the former Turk, "Before I see him, I just wanted to know how Cid was really doing."

"You know Cid?"

"He's the person that taught me how to fly different types of aircraft," Sebastian shifted his weight.

"You didn't speak with Shera?"

Sebastian shook his head, "I didn't want to ask a possible widow that question."

With a nod, Vincent relayed, "Cid is recovering well and he will be going home to finish recuperating," Vincent eyed him further then continued, "Cid has promised to visit Midgar as soon as he able to fly again."

"I'm glad to hear it," Sebastian started past him to Carmine's room, but stopped short, speaking over his shoulder, "Listen Vincent, Rufus has sworn to leave everyone alone, but I don't know how long he will stay back. With Hojo dead, there really is no point to continue with his research, but that won't keep someone from picking it up somewhere along the way."

"Why are you telling me this?"

The younger Turk started back down the hall and barely above a whisper, he stated, "Staying in Midgar permanently is probably not in their best interests."

Vincent stood there a moment longer, wrapped in his thoughts. If Tifa took Cloud back to Midgar, would Zack and Sephiroth follow? The former Turk contemplated whether they would be able to separate from one another. They were bonded by a deeper connection. Although, with a warning like what Sebastian just gave, he wasn't too sure if any of the three men should return to Midgar in any capacity. But it wasn't up to him.

When the diagnosis finally came, they weren't as ready as they thought. Both doctors informed Tifa, Zack and Sephiroth, "He's in a coma. He may or may not come out of it. It could be days, it could be years. There just isn't any way to tell. We are not equipped for coma patients, so since you are from Midgar, I suggest you go back there, they have better equipped facilities. You also have access to home health care."

Tifa turned to the two men next to her, "I want to go home." Tifa hesitantly let a smile return to her face, "Back to my bar."

Zack crossed his arms and hooked a thumb at Sephiroth, "We can help. I mean it isn't like we haven't taken care of him while he was like this before."

Sephiroth looked up from the floor and addressed Tifa, "That is, if you want me there. If not, I will go… somewhere."

Tifa took Cloud's hand again and gazed at her angel's face, "I want both of you there. You are just as much a part of his life as any relative."

Tifa heard a sigh from Sephiroth, it was small and barely audible, but it had relief all over it. She knew that Sephiroth needed to be there, he wanted to be there. After everything that the three of them had gone through together, to deny him a place to stay close to Cloud would be like taking someone's hands away and then asking them to clap.

So they readied Cloud for transport back to Midgar. Thanks to Yuffie and her infinite ability to 'find' things, Cloud had a comfortable hospital bed for the ride home. The whole trip, the martial artist stayed next to Cloud, watching him, waiting and hoping that he would wake up and that it wasn't just false hope.

On the airship, Aerith kept a very low profile, saying she didn't want to cause any more problems. Staying in her cabin alone, she prayed for Cloud. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to keep her thoughts far from Sephiroth and the pain that she'd caused him. A light knock on the door pulled her from her prayers. "Come in."

Slowly opening the door, the tall man towered over her as she sat down in a small chair across from the bed, "…Aerith…"

She couldn't look at him, lowering her eyes to her lap, she quietly conveyed her apologies, "Seph… I'm sorry for what I've done."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, his tone filled with regret and sadness, "Don't blame yourself."

Raising her eyes to his quickly, shocked at his statement, "How can you say that?!"

Bringing his elbows to his knees, he rested his chin in the palms of his hands, "Somehow I knew, but I just chose to ignore it, wishing it away like everything else."

"Yes, but still, I shouldn't have betrayed you or your trust. If you never forgive me, I understand," Rising from the chair, she stood and looked away from him.

A sigh and with nervous shaking hands, he looked at her, lovely as ever, "I know that it all ended with Zack when you confronted him in the kitchen at the bar. I just couldn't see past yours and Zack's relationship and actually see that you wanted me."

"How do you know-" Meeting his gaze, she shook her head and fought the surge of tears, "I almost forgot that you three know each other's memories." Pausing, she let a small glimmer of a smile lift her lips and raised her eyebrows, asking in a whisper, "Everything?"

Clearing his throat, he sheepishly glanced toward the door and then back to her. Matching her small smile and raising a single eyebrow, he whispered, "Well, not everything."

Her smile widened and shyly she looked away, but seriousness covered her again, "Seph, I think that if we take some time, we can move on from this," Looking back at his watchful eyes, she finished, "I think that it would be good for Cloud to have you close."

Standing slowly, Sephiroth nodded, "I think so too."

"Seph, do you think we can start over?"

With his hand on the doorknob and not looking at her, but in a tone that resembled regretful actions, he said, "I think in time we can."

While going through some clothes, trying to find a shirt he could wear, even with his wings, very quiet footsteps stopped right behind him.

A low-pitched voice belonging to the red-caped man spoke softly, "Sephiroth. I spoke with Sebastian, and he informed me of some information that you and Zackary should take into serious consideration."

Turning to meet his crimson eyes, Sephiroth took a deep breath, "I'm sure that it has something to do with not staying in Midgar." Vincent nodded and the former General added, "I do not think we are planning to stay and unless something changes, I intend to discuss it with both Tifa and Zack."

"Judging from what Hojo was capable of, I'm very sure that another scientist could be out there and is just waiting for the opportunity to take up the research… where Hojo left off," Vincent backed up to the door, "That is, unless Rufus and his Turks are able to put a stop to it permanently."

Listening to the former Turk as he left, Sephiroth began thinking. The original plan they had immediately after their escape from Hojo was to get to Midgar, get their loved ones and make a little money so they could make their way to a small town to live out the rest of their lives. He didn't see any reason that still couldn't work; only they would have to tweak it a little. Taking into account their new appendages, it would change their work plans. Cloud and Zack had mentioned before about being a delivery service.

When he'd first come back to Midgar after escaping Hojo's labs, he'd gotten a job doing just that. He made pretty good money and now they could save money on transportation by utilizing what Jenova imbued them with. Talking to Zack about it could wait until they got Cloud settled at Seventh Heaven. Feeling very confident in the thought that neither Zack nor Cloud would want to become a lab specimen again, he made up his mind.

Zack found himself standing on the outside deck of the airship, holding the railings tightly and watching the ground flash by. All the things they went through together and then for it to end this way sent a feeling of minor panic to his gut. Sephiroth being the man he was, he would probably want to put distance between himself and who hurt him. As he watched the horizon, he felt a twinge of anxiety, what would he do now?

The night he left in a hurry, after the overflow of memories at Aerith's house, thoughts and feelings took him to his breaking point, he remembered something. Feeling what Sephiroth felt for Aerith, that maybe he loved her more. Being separated for so long, she'd grown in a different direction than him. Being as young as they were before the mission, it was love, but in a different degree. There was just no way that he would be able to come between them, she was not his anymore and never would be again, she'd chosen Sephiroth.

The feelings that they felt when they acted behind Sephiroth's back were just lost memories that were resurfacing. Knowing that Aerith was in a quandary, she had to make up her mind and she couldn't get her feelings for Sephiroth out of her mind if she and Zack were together. Zack figured that she was missing him, but loving Sephiroth instead. However, she'd made up her mind and she wanted the place that her heart led her and that place was his silver-haired friend.

Sensing the aforementioned man coming up to his side, he waited for him to speak, "Are you thinking about jumping to your death or flying away?" Sephiroth took a hold of the railings next to Zack. He didn't look at him, instead he continued to stare out at the landscape.

Zack scoffed and shook his shoulders, shaking his wings, "I don't know if I can work these things. I'd probably crash and take out a herd of cows in the process."

Sephiroth let out a nervous and tight laugh, "I agree."

Zack sighed, "They are pretty cool though."

"It might make certain battles easier," Sephiroth's laugh was a little more relaxed. However, Zack could feel the tension.

In a serious tone that Sephiroth wasn't used to hearing from Zack, the brunette said, "We could always see about having them surgically removed."

Sephiroth skeptically nodded and a dense smile crossed his lips. Coming to an unspoken understanding, they stood there and watched Midgar approach.

Landing a half hour drive outside of Midgar, Zack and Sephiroth stayed behind with Cloud until nightfall.

While they waited, Zack tried his new wings to travel. At first, he face planted on the hard soil, just as he'd predicted, but being hard-headed, he tried again. Finally getting a little more confident about it, he couldn't help but feel liberated and trapped at the same time. It wasn't like he was able to live a normal life with large black and red wings attached to him and they weren't exactly easy to hide either.

Much to the dark-haired man's chagrin, Sephiroth seemed to take to his wings like a bandit took to stealing. His grace was surprising and with his long silver hair flowing behind him, it made him rather beautiful. Zack's mischievous grin curled the corners of his mouth, "Damn Seph, you look so darned purty."

Sephiroth did his best smirk and dove toward him, causing Zack to have to duck to the ground to keep from getting knocked back a few dozen feet. Zack heard Sephiroth try to hide a laugh. Coming back around, Sephiroth landed and approached him with the stride of a proud man, "Would you like me to help you?"

Rubbing the back of his head, Zack grinned, "I think I'll get it sooner or later."

Getting to the bar once the nighttime crowds died down to minimal numbers, and those who were there, were so drunk they couldn't put two words together, both winged men, wrapped in long coats, made their way to the bar.

Zack and Sephiroth got Cloud upstairs and into Tifa's room and it had been decided that they would have to share the bedroom across the hall from their blond friend. Zack noticed that after finding out that Cloud would live, Sephiroth still kept a quiet distance from him. He understood a little, he was uncomfortable as well. Sephiroth insisted that his stay was just temporary, but Zack felt as though he was lying to himself. He needed Zack and Cloud just as much as they needed him; it was an unconscious bond that the three of them formed.

The bar downstairs and the rooms upstairs had a strange feeling that surrounded the place anymore, old memories, old friends and old deceptions laid out to witness. They'd planned a memorial service for Harding for the next day. Hector and Steven's bodies and belongings were taken to Shinra headquarters and Kunsel would see to it that it all got home to their families.

The next day, in the duo's room, Zack shrugged, "Seph, just admit it, you want to stay close to Cloud. I get it, I really do," Zack stood across the room with his arms folded across his broad chest and watched as his newest bunkmate was digging into his duffle bag.

Sephiroth's shoulders sagged sadly as he began to put his things in the drawers, "Fine. I just want to help him get well."

Dropping his arms, Zack immediately jumped and hollered, "Oh, no you don't…" Grabbing Sephiroth's fore arm, he stepped closer to his chest, "I get the top drawers!"

"What? That's stupid, I was over here first," Sephiroth elbowed Zack back a step.

A smirk crossed Zack's lips, "I stayed in this room before you got here... and I'm taller. So I get the top drawers. It's what Cloud had to learn… and now you. It's the law of the man-cave." He closed the distance that Sephiroth had created when he pushed him back. Poking him in the chest, Zack narrowed his eyes, "Get it?"

Stepping into Zack, nearly touching chests, Sephiroth went on the defensive, "Oh, I get it. Well guess what? I'm older, so I get the top drawers," Sephiroth pulled out of his arsenal of iron faces, and his eyes narrowed, his lips thinned and his chin jutted out defiantly.

Holding still, watching as Sephiroth struggled to keep from pushing further, Zack burst out laughing, "Oh, you should see your face, it is freakin hilarious." Zack slapped the dumbfounded man on his shoulder, "You can have the top drawers. My shit's already in the bottom ones. I just wanted to yank your chain."

Sephiroth threw his things on the bed in a short fit of anger, "That was not funny Zackary!"

As Zack was leaving the room he said, "A little bit, yeah, it's funny. Come on, let's go get something to eat, I'm starving."

Following the laughing black-haired man down the stairs, Sephiroth argued flatly, "You're always hungry."

Zack could feel that their friendship was beginning to heal. Sephiroth was getting over the proverbial slap in the face with a wet rag. In time, they could once again become the circle of friends that they had once been.

The former General's thoughts of getting back together with Aerith were a future possibility. A coward is what she'd called him and it was true. It was what he had told himself, losing Aerith the way he lost Annabelle was too much to bear if it happened again.

That day was as bright to him as if it had happened yesterday, his sweet Annabelle and her enchanting eyes. Then suddenly he looked upon her photos at the memorial service and all he could see was death. Aerith understood, she knew that he needed time to heal, to process the new information and move on from there.

Before he could tell her, convey to her his feelings for her and that he'd acted too rashly by breaking up with her, Jade and Jenova happened. Getting over everything that happened would be a long road. It would happen, he would make sure of it. After all, he'd secretly saved up money for months to buy a ring, but never got the chance. Knowing exactly where the money was, hidden in the floor boards of the spare bedroom in what they once called their home and with enough time to heal, the house would once again become theirs.

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*