Chapter 03

"So where do we go from here?"

Cloud turned to face Tifa, and stared into her lost brown eyes. They seemed to be holding a certain hope, although Cloud wasn't sure what for.

"I don't know," Cloud answered without much thought. "I guess everyone should just go back home."

Tifa turned to look at her teamates who were on the bridge celebrating and smiled. She looked back at Cloud, her smile slowly disappearing.

"Cloud, remember? We don't have a home to go back to."

Cloud winced as Tifa's eyes suddenly dulled with tears. He slowly realized that both of them were without family or residence.

"Don't worry, Teef," Cloud coaxed, carefully drawing Tifa into his arms to comfort her. "We'll figure something out, as long... as long as we stay together."

Tifa slowly lifted her head and looked up at Cloud. "Together...?" she repeated.

"Of course, Tifa," Cloud said matter of factly. "You're my best friend, and I can't lose you, especially not after all we've been through."

Tifa smiled again and laid her head on Cloud's chest. He reciprocated by running his fingers through her silky dark brown hair.

"Hey, love birds!" Cid boomed, walking over to them with a fresh cigarette. "I'm getting ready to drop everybody home. These motherfuckers sure are home sick! Ha! Should I drop you two at Nibelhiem?"

Tifa looked at Cloud for a decision. He slowly shook his head in response.

"No," he said. "There's nothing for us there."

"Then where the hell should I take you?" Cid asked. "I don't have all fucking day! I got to go see Sher- ahh, I got to go start building a new rocket, that is ... shit."

Tifa chuckled to herself and Cloud pondered a place to reside. "You know something, Cid," Cloud said, "Just take us to Midgar."

Tifa stared at him. "Midgar? What for?"

"There's gonna be alot of rebuilding going on in Midgar," Cloud explained. "Maybe you can open up a new bar."

Tifa smiled at the thought. "Alright, Cid. Drop us off in Midgar."

Aeris kicked a bit of snow of the tip of her boot, struggling to keep up with Sephiroth's mad pace. He was walking incredibly fast, and neither she or Tayeko could keep up.

"God!" Aeris mumbled. "Why can't he slow down? We can't keep up with this!"

Tayeko, who was a few paces ahead of Aeris, stopped and leaned on her knees to take a rest. "I know," she mumbled, winded. "He doesn't care that we're lagging behind."

The two girls complained ridiculously loudly as they continued to walk in hopes of getting Sephiroth's attention. But, the warrior never once turned to see how they were doing.

"When do these caves end?" Tayeko asked. "This place is creepy... what if something attacks us? He's way up there!"

"I have my rod," Aeris said, waving the materia-laden weapon in front of Tayeko. "Didn't you carry a weapon in your past life?"

Tayeko shrugged. "I used to kinda know how to shoot a gun," she mumbled.

Aeris nodded as she noticed Sephiroth had stopped and was facing them several feet ahead. Light was shining past him... the exit.

The two Cetra fought back cheers as they exited the Corral Valley Cave with Sephiroth in front. The former SOLDIER quickly scanned the snowy area with his bright green eyes.

"Icicle Inn is just above that hill," Sephiroth pointed out. "We can make it there in two hours if you try better to keep up."

The two rolled their eyes behind Sephiroth as the once proud general began his fast pace towards Icicle Inn. Struggling against the cold, Aeris and Tayeko ran ahead to keep up.

The Highwind had touched down outside of Midgar, Cid's last destination before returning home to Rocket Town.

"I'm gonna miss you fuckers," Cid joked as Cloud and Tifa began hauling their things down the ramp. "We'll be in touch!"

"You better," Cloud called back, remembering the pact AVALANCHE had made before everyone began going their separate ways. They would have reunions twice a year, call each other frequently, and if ever there were another crisis, God forbid, they'd band together again and fight. Barret and Cid even promised to learn how to use e-mail.

Tifa waved at Cid cheerfully as the crew began closing the doors to the Highwind. Cid walked back to the bridge and smiled at his trainee pilot. He slapped the kid on the back and offered him a lucky strike - something Cid was never known to do.

"I'm proud of ya, kid," Cid mumbled with a crooked grin. "Damnit, ya came all this way with us and shit, facing danger and becoming a better pilot all at the same time. What good things can't I say about you, fella?"

The pilot smiled graciously. "Thank you, Captain."

"No prob, Jeff," Cid finally called the boy by name. "What are you planning to do with yourself now?"

"Well, I have to go visit my family in Kalm, and make sure they're alright," Jeff answered.

"I tell you what," Cid proposed. "Just drop me and the rest of the crew off whereever the fuck their going and then take the goddamned Highwind to Kalm with you. I trust ya with my baby. Then, when you're done visiting your family, just bring her on back and you can work with me in Rocket Town on my new rocket."

Jeff's face lit up. "Really, Captain? You mean that?"

"Would I have fuckin' said it if I didn't goddamned mean it? Now just take me to Rocket Town!"

The young pilot grinned. "Yes sir!" he boomed before returning to the controls and taking off.

"Goddamned kids," Cid muttered with a chuckle.

Cloud carefully used the key he and the others found excavating in Bone Village to open the Sector Five gate. Tifa was waiting patiently, although she was not thrilled to be returning to Midgar.

Anything's better than Nibelhiem, she thought with a shiver.

Cloud held the heavy door open for Tifa as she walked inside the boundaries of Midgar. Cloud let the door slam shut with a secure boom, then took Tifa's hand and faced the slums that still cried out for help.

"Let's go, Teef," he prompted. The two friends walked into the crowded sector to find confusion. People were running around screaming, crying, clapping and praising Holy and the Lifestream for saving them. Cloud noticed that not only the poor were down in the slums now, but it seemed even the wealthy were running through the dishelved streets, their spoiled children in tow as they were most likely driven out of their expensive upper condos as they were threatened by the crashing plates.

"Cait- er, Reeve, did say he was trying to get everyone from the plates down here," Tifa pointed out. "But this is ridiculous! I can't imagine what the other sectors are like."

Cloud shrugged. "I don't know what we're gonna do with this many people in the streets. It's probably impossible to book a hotel room or anything. I don't know what we're gonna do, Tifa."

Tifa's worried eyes darted around the mass confusion of sector five. Parents were holding children tightly, people where jabbering into cell phones, others banging on doors and looking for food and shelter. She even noticed monsters, like whole eaters dart across the street every now and then.

"Cloud, I'm so tired," Tifa complained wearily. "We have to find someplace to rest soon."

Cloud was about to respond when the PHS rang. "Hello?" he answered.

"Hey, Cloud! It's Reeve. Where are you?"

"Hey, Reeve. Me and Tifa are stuck here in sector five."

"I see. I didn't know. I had Cait on auto after Holy pulled through, and I had Cid drop him off at the Gold Saucer. So, I didn't know you guys were coming to Midgar, otherwise I would have made special plans, like I'm about to do now."

"Huh?"

"Just sit tight, Cloud. I'm gonna send in a helicopter to bring you to where I'm running things in a building in sector one. Otherwise, you won't find a place to sleep any time soon with this mess. I'm trying to set up some organization around here so we can get all the people of Midgar a decent place to rest until I can rebuild this city, the right way. After all, I am the Urban Development director."

"Right," Cloud answered.

"I'll have someone out to get you in a minute," Reeve reassured before hanging up.

Cloud slapped the PHS shut and looked at Tifa. "Looks like we may have a place to bunk up after all, kiddo."

"Who was that?"

"Reeve," he answered. "He's trying to get the slums organized now that there's so many people down here, and in the meantime he's gonna send a copter over to bring us where he's set up in sector one.

"Great!" Tifa beamed. "I could use a long, twelve hour nap!"

"I know it," Cloud agreed. "And Teef, after we get ourselves situated, I promise you a visit to *our* beachhouse in Costa Del Sol. You deseve it."

"WE deserve it," Tifa corrected.

"Well, all the same, I think you worked the hardest out of us all. You really held the group together at times, Tifa. I don't think I would have been able to accomplish what we did without you. I owe you everything."

Tifa's cheek flushed deep red. "Oh, Cloud..." she mumbled, just as a helicopter appeared overhead.

Sephiroth stopped short of the entrance to Icicle Inn. Aeris and Tayeko caught up with him, huffing and drawing in cold breaths as they rested.

"We're here," Aeris puffed tiredly. "Let's go in."

"No," Sephiroth ordered, blocking Aeris from entering the small but busy town. "I.. I am not ready."

Aeris cocked her head at Sephiroth. "Why?"

Sephiroth stared back. "People will run and scream. I am a monster, if they see me, all hell will break lose."

"You're not a monster!" Tayeko shouted.

Sephiroth ignored her and turned away from the two Cetra. "You go on ahead. Buy supplies and get a gold chocobo. I will wait out here."

"But Sephiroth! Aren't you tired?" Aeris asked. "There are dangerous monsters out here!"

"I am well enough able to take care of myself," he insisted.

"But..?" Aeris stammered. "We need your help!"

Sephiroth cocked an eyebrow. "Then we must wait until nightfall to enter."

Tayeko sighed and plopped down on a large rock after brushing snow off of it. Things were going along slowly.

Cloud smiled as he surveyed the small room he and Tifa would share in the deserted office building Reeve had claimed as his headquarters during the Meteor crisis. A desk was pushed out of the way, and Reeve had two cots rolled against the wall for Cloud and Tifa.

"Well, this is better than being out *there*," Cloud pointed out, resting his huge Ultima Weapon against the wall.

"Yeah," Tifa mumbled, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms. "Cloud, I'm scared."

"Of what, Tifa?" Cloud asked, concerned.

"Something doesn't feel right... I guess I'm just nervous about starting over."

Cloud walked over to her and rubbed her shoulders. "I know, Tifa," he whispered. His mind was filled with similar worries, although he was still more concerned with why he saw Sephiroth's face as Holy and the Lifestream triumphed over Meteor.

Tifa drew herself closer into Cloud's arms. He felt her trembling.

"Teef, what's wrong?"

"I don't know," Tifa whispered, her eyes begin to well with tears. "Cloud, I just don't-"

Cloud stopped Tifa by crushing his lips against hers in a desperate kiss. He wasn't sure where the need to do such a thing came from, but at that moment, it felt right.

Tifa moaned as she felt herself melting in Cloud's arms. She didn't know why he had done it, but it was a moment she had been dreaming of ever since Cloud left to join SOLDIER when he was fourteen.

Cloud suddenly withdrew from Tifa, leaving her slightly confused. "I'm sorry, Tifa," he apologized, looking away from her hurt yet anxious eyes. "I don't know what came over me."

"No, Cloud," Tifa whispered, reaching her hand up to stroke Cloud's cheek. "I liked it."

Cloud's cheeks streaked light red. "Really?"

"Mhm," Tifa moaned, leaning her head on his chest."

Cloud smiled, drawing circles on her back with his fingertips. He wasn't sure where these strange feelings were coming from, but they sure were strong. He pulled away from Tifa slightly and kissed her forehead.

"We better get some rest," he told her."

Tifa smiled and nodded up at Cloud as she went over to her cot to retire for the night. She heard Cloud climb into bed as well, and her body tingled with memories of his touch.

"Goodnight, Cloud," she whispered.

"'Night Tifa," he responded.

I love you, Tifa thought in her head.

Vincent woke up in a cold sweat. He had the strangest dream.

He threw the lid off his coffin and lept out, nearly flying into the deserted hall of the Shin-Ra mansion's basement. He tore up the stairs, until he made out doors and was running out the gates of Nibelhiem.

What did this dream mean? Vincent would soon enough find out. Erupting into Chaos, he flew to Cosmo Canyon at the fastest speed he knew possible... Red XIII would surely have an explanation for him.

Barret groaned as he awoke from a strange dream filled sleep. He glanced over at Marlene, who was sleeping peacefully next to him. He was staying with Elmyra for the time being in Kalm, and was indebted to the woman for caring for his child.

Barret sat up and leaned on his good hand. He had the strangest dream, almost a vision that seemed more than real. Aeris, Sephiroth, and a black haired woman... what did this mean?

Barret figured whatever it meant, he'd contact Cloud via the PHS in the morning. He knew from his best intuition that dreams like this always led to strange events.

Cid tossed and turned in his sleep, angering from the strange dream he was having. He finally popped awake, and frowned as he wiped beads of sweat off of his forehead.

He looked over at Shera, who was sleeping peacefully next to him. He tried to smile at her, but his expression changed as he thought about that damned dream.

"Shit," Cid cursed pulling the sheets off his body. He hiked up his pajamas pants legs as he stood and looked out of his window. He stared at rocket town, and up at the empty space where his old rocket once stood.

Cid shook his head and looked down. Something was definately wrong. Again.

Aeris stood in a field of wild flowers. Her face was anxious and glowing, as she turned her head from side to side and glanced at all the opportunities to garden she had. She knelt down to pick one up, as a shadow suddenly loomed over her. She looked up to stare into the cold, green eyes of Sephiroth.

Aeris slowly stood and smiled at Sephiroth. Sephiroth didn't exactly smile back, but his features softened. Aeris offered Sephiroth the flower she picked and he accepted it, this time slowly smiling back.

A woman with long, black hair and bright violet eyes pranced over to them. She caught Sephiroth in a bear hug behind him, laughing happily. Sephiroth seemed stunned at first, then whirled the girl around in front of him. She giggled at him, and twirled a wisp of his long, silver hair in her fingertips. Sephiroth could not hide the redness streaking his cheeks.

The girl sighed as Sephiroth ran his gloved fingers threw her hair. After staring into each others eyes, their lips met in a slow kiss.

Aeris smiled at the two lovers. She turned away from them towards the sunset and clasped her hand over her heart.

"Cloud, where are you?" She quietly called. "We're searching for you, Cloud. We need you."

Aeris noticed that suddenly the flowers around her were dying, withering away one by one. "What...?" she began to question out loud, just as the ground began to shake and knocked Aeris and the black haired girl to the ground.

Sephiroth managed to keep his footing, just as he heard a maniacial laugh that seemed all to familiar.

"What's going on?" Sephiroth shouted, as he helped Aeris and the other girl to stand and hid them behind him. "Who's doing this?"

But the voice continued to laugh, as the world became shrouded in darkness. Aeris was screaming...

Cloud nearly lept out of bed. What was that about? His body was covered in sweat, and all he saw was Aeris' peircing green eyes widen in terror as she screamed for help. He wiped his forehead and glanced around the room. Tifa was also awake, shivering and sweating profusely. She had gathered her knees in her arms and was rocking back and forth.

Cloud chose to ignore Tifa for now. He thought back to the strange dream. He'd seen Aeris, and Sephiroth, again! Sephiroth again did not look evil, in fact, he looked almost kind and loving. And who was that black haired girl that kissed him? Was that the same woman he had missed during the vision after Holy struck? And why would anyone want to kiss Sephiroth?

Cloud thought about the strange laughter. It sounded somewhat familar, like he heard it before. It actually sounded like two people, a male and female. But neither sounded human.

Tifa finally noticed Cloud too was awake. She glanced over at him.

"Cloud? Did you-"

"Yes," Cloud answered, well aware of what she was going to ask. "I did."

"What does this mean?"

"I don't know Tifa."

"Cloud, I'm getting worried."

Cloud nodded, clenching his fists as he thought back to Sephiroth smiling at Aeris. "First thing tommorrow, Tifa, we'll call the others and see if they had a similar experience."

Tifa nodded and crept back under the covers.

Cloud too sank back into bed, but was unable to find sleep for the rest of the night. Instead, all he could think of was Aeris calling out his name, and why Sephiroth was near her, smiling.

"Let's go."

Sephiroth began to march into Icicle Inn, as it was well after dark. Aeris and Tayeko quickly followed, pondering what lie ahead for them in town.

"Where are we going to sleep?" Aeris asked. "We don't exactly have any gil."

Sephiroth ignored her as he approached one of the first houses in the small town. "This appears to be deserted," he said. "We'll rest here. I'll go out and find a gold chocobo to steal."

Aeris frowned as Sephiroth kicked open the door to the house. She didn't like the idea of stealing, but knew she had no other choice.

Sephiroth slowly walked in first, investigating the house for hidden danger. When he decided it was safe, he motioned for Aeris and Tayeko to enter.

Aeris glanced around the room. There was a television and complete video center set up against the far wall, and several tapes where stacked up near it. There was a small staircase leading to the living areas.

"Wow," Aeris said aloud. "I wonder what's on these tapes?"

"We don't have time to watch them now," Sephiroth said sternly. "The two of you need to rest and I must find a chocobo."

"Aww, come on, Sephy," Aeris cooed. "Just let's watch them! They're probably not long. Maybe we can find out a little bit about the people who used to live here, and what happened to them."

"Yeah," Tayeko agreed.

Sephiroth sighed in resignation. He would let them win this time, but during this journey he would not allow himself cave in to everything they wanted.

Sephiroth took a seat on the floor, Tayeko sitting next to him as Aeris popped in the first tape. A man appeared on the screen, with a woman who looked strangly like Aeris. She had the same long, chestnut brown hair and glimmering green eyes, but was older.

Sephiroth cocked an eyebrow as Aeris began to wonder. That was her mother! She remembered her from her dreams, and she had heard her voice so many times before. She remembered her crying when Aeris was refused access into the Promised Land. Aeris decided not to say anything aloud about her mother.

"Professor Gast," Sephiroth answered quietly. "And his wife Ifalna."

"Oh!" Aeris exclaimed. "So that is the famous Professor Gast! Whatever happened to them?"

Sephiroth shrugged, although he knew Hojo had them both killed. It was just not something he cared to talk about at the moment.

"Who's Gast?" Tayeko asked.

"Professor Gast was Shin-Ra's top scientist when I was little. He was the only kind person to me. But one day, he and his wife disappeared, and he was later found dead.

The final two tapes came as a shock to everyone. Ifalna was holding a tiny baby in her arms, and Gast was cooing over it.

"What shall we call her?" he asked.

"Aeris," Ifalna whispered. "Let's call her Aeris."

Aeris' eyes widened. Professor Gast was her father?

Sephiroth nearly fell over. *Now* he remembered...

"Hello. What's your name?"

"Sephiroth."

"Wow, such a big name for such a little boy. What are you doing here, Sephiroth?"

"Professor Hojo wants me."

"What does he want with a sweet little boy like you?"

"He always gives me shots and performs all these experiments that hurt."

"My name's Ifalna."

"What are you doing in there, Ifalna? And why were you crying?"

"Hojo wants to perform experiments on me too. I'm crying because he separated me and my little baby girl."

"Where is she?"

"Over there."

"Wow. What's her name?"

"Aeris."

"Aeris... I like that name, Aeris..."

Sephiroth lowered his head as he remembered how he had tried to help Ifalna and her baby escaped, and had recieved a horrible beating for it. Aeris was Professor Gast's daughter, and he had killed her. What a wonderful way to pay the man back for his kindness.

Tayeko was confused. "What's going on??" she asked. "Aeris..? That's you?"

Aeris' lip was trembling as she nodded. The three then watched the last video, where they heard, after the video was shot down by a guard, as Gast was shot dead and Ifalna and her baby were dragged away.

Sephiroth stood and began to step out of the house. "I'm going to get a chocobo," he said coldly as he left.

Aeris buried her face in her hands as she began sobbing. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

Tayeko reached an arm over Aeris and tried to comfort her, but the girl sobbed harder.

"My mother..." she cried. "Father.."

Sephiroth moved swiftly to a stable behind a large house where he had caught glimsp of a gold chocobo's feathers glistening under the moonlight. Quietly he lept over the small door and began to unchain the chocobo. He tried to clear his mind of everything, but learning that Aeris was Gast's daughter had made him feel emotionally distraught. And Sephiroth beileved he had no emotions.

The chocobo warked loudly as Sephiroth tugged its reins.

"Quiet," Sephiroth mumbled, trying to comfort the chocobo by stroking its feathers.

The chocobo did not want to leave, and was warking wildly. A light in the house flickered on.

"Damn," Sephiroth cursed. He pulled on the chocobos reins harder. "Let's go!"

A man with a rifle suddenly appeared. "Who's trying to steal my damn gold chocobo? Do you know how hard I worked to breed that damn bird! I'ma shoot-"

Sephiroth stood out of the shadows, revealing himself to the man, who in response dropped his rifle.

"My God," he mumbled. "It's Sephiroth!! Sephiroth is back!"

The man ran from the stable and screamed into the streets. "Sephiroth is alive! General Sephiroth is back from the dead!"

Sephiroth cursed again as he saw lights flicker on in houses all around the area. The man was still screaming.

Sephiroth violently kicked the chocobo and mounted it. The bird took off with a shrill scream, and Sephiroth raced it back to Gast's house, hoping not to be seen by anyone on his way.

"Red! I had the strangest dream. I do not understand what it means!"

"I know," Red XIII told Vincent as he invited him into his home at Cosmo Canyon. "I had it too."

"Have you any idea what it could mean? I don't understand. Aeris and Sephiroth, getting along. And that black haired woman again. This is so strange."

"Indeed," Red agreed, sitting up on his haunches. "If we both had such a dream, perhaps we should contact the others. They may have had it as well."

"Yes," Vincent said. "We shall call Cloud in the morning. Meanwhile, have you any hypothesis on this?"

"I beileve something is coming," Red said. "And that these three, Sephiroth included, will help us fight it."