Epilogue

Notes: The story could have gone in two directions from here: timeskip, or end it. I wasn't sure timeskip was the right story-telling decision, so I chose the latter so it won't end up bumping up against other stories in the timeline, given that I've written quite a few now taking place after this.

The fires were everywhere, burning, consuming, taking away every bit of the world she had known. There had been so much death, and not only from the fire. Some had been killed with a sword. A very particular, unique sword.

She stopped running. Here was the man who had done it all, the man she now hated and would never forgive.

And of course, she had no hope of holding out against a man trained from childhood to be a killing machine. She could see the mercilessness, the insanity in his eyes as he turned to face her. And within seconds, he was reclaiming his sword and sending her flying down the stairs badly wounded as well.

A white blur was swiftly there, meowing at her in concern.

"Fluffy," she weakly whispered.

Fluffy meowed, scampering away into the catastrophe to find help. Tifa weakly reached for her but could not. Her hand dropped limply to the floor.

Tifa's eyes flew open as she gasped. She was laying safe and warm and uninjured in her bed, a purring cat on her chest. There were no fires here; Nibelheim was far behind her.

And yet it seemed closer tonight. Fluffy and her children were indeed a part of home. Tifa had been afraid the nightmares might return, but hopefully they would not last. She did not want to think about that horrible time.

Especially when she was living in his house and he was right down the hall, sleeping peacefully as well. Cloud was still in there with him, as far as she knew. Maybe by now Zack had joined them.

She sighed, sinking into the pillows. It was frightening and heartbreaking, how completely insanity could change a person. And with Jenova as a factor, it hadn't even been a standard insanity but had no doubt been influenced by her further poisoning Sephiroth's mind when he had been in such close proximity to her.

But he had overcome it, and her, on this world. He had repeatedly rejected her and chose to live in the light with his loved ones. And Tifa's childhood friend was now one of those loved ones, perhaps the closest one other than Zack. It was surreal.

Beautiful, though. Even though part of her still didn't understand, she was truly happy for them.

As she looked to the cat on top of her, she suddenly realized in surprise that this was one of Fluffy's white-furred children and not Fluffy herself. Where had Fluffy gone?

Curious now, she slowly got up, holding the cat in her arms as she stepped into the hallway. Soon she found Fluffy herself, sitting in Sephiroth's doorway as she groomed another of her children. Sephiroth was awake at the moment, staring at the scene in fascination. Cloud was indeed still curled up at his side, sound asleep and cradled in wings.

What a contrast between the madman in her nightmares and the sane man she saw before her now! She could scarcely imagine the Sephiroth from Nibelheim just watching innocent animals, especially with such an innocent expression himself. The childlike wonder in his eyes, so like what she often saw from Marlene, took her aback as she drew close enough to really see it.

He was aware of her, even though he was still fully focused on the grooming session. As Fluffy put a paw on the other cat, he finally spoke. "This is . . . a mother's love, isn't it? This is what it really is."

And suddenly Tifa had to blink back forming tears. He really had never known but had longed for it so much. That was, most likely, how Jenova had dug her talons into him in the first place. He had believed her to be his mother for so long. . . . Maybe if he hadn't, his mind wouldn't have snapped.

"Yeah," she said at last. "It is."

He watched them until they both went over to Tifa and started rubbing her legs. "It's beautiful. There are so many types of true love."

"There are," Tifa agreed. She bent down to the cats while still holding the one in her arms. "And even though you don't have that specific kind, you've got a lot." She smiled kindly.

Sephiroth looked from Cloud sleeping beside him to Lucy purring on his right shoulder. "Yes," he agreed, his voice filled with fervent emotion. "I have. I am unworthy to have been given so much, and yet I have it. Am I part of someone else's happy ending, blessed in order to bless them, or does God truly want my happiness as well?"

". . . I think it's both," Tifa said, after taking a moment to ponder on such a surprising question. "You're part of Cloud's and Zack's and even Lucy's happiness, but then that's your happiness too. We're all connected."

Sephiroth gazed off into the distance. "It's . . . overwhelming, to think that God would see fit to bless me after all I've done. Why wouldn't He instead want to punish me, especially for my arrogance in trying to become a god myself and going about it in all the wrong ways?"

"Maybe . . . He sees that you've been punished enough," Tifa suggested quietly. "It's your turn to be happy now. Really and truly happy. And you will keep using all the incredible powers you have for good."

Sephiroth nodded. "I will," he agreed. "Thank you . . . for being willing to give me a chance."

Tifa smiled. "I'm glad I was." She stepped back. "I'll let you get back to sleep now."

Sephiroth laid back down, his left arm around Cloud and his right hand up on Lucy. "Goodnight."

"Night." Tifa headed back to bed with three cats. Hopefully, this time there would not be any more nightmares.

Sephiroth settled deeper into the bed. Such a strange and incredible situation, beautiful and amazing. He was sane, people and animals could still love him, and now he suddenly realized a fourth cat had been present on the scene and was curled up against him, purring.

How were such things possible?

He reached out, gently petting the cat as well as Lucy.

This was a new chapter in all of their lives. And maybe, despite whatever challenges it might present, it would be overall more positive than negative. It was certainly a humbling experience for Sephiroth.

Cloud mumbled something but didn't awaken. Sephiroth looked to him with a bemused expression that melted into something tender.

He didn't fully understand how this had happened either. How had they grown so close after everything? After how toxic their bond had been, how could it be that it was beautiful now and Cloud wanted to be with him?

One thing was for certain—Sephiroth would not take any of these miracles for granted. He didn't deserve them, but they were his, and he would never stop feeling awed and grateful that he of all people was allowed to have so much.

He held Cloud a bit closer as he dozed.