A/N: Thank you to everyone for your reviews! We're incredibly sorry for the wait! The holidays plus computer troubles (always fun) interfered. As an apology, please enjoy a longer than usual chapter!

It was around noon and Marlene was playing dolls upstairs in Barret's room, safe and sound as Tifa and Barret intended. With her belly full, she had been given enough cooled off tea for her small tea party.

Meanwhile, there was serious discussion to be had between the adults. After the large group (rather noisily) ate lunch together with Marlene, nobody exchanged much in the way of words except for praise of Tifa's cooking, Barret—maybe somewhat gruffly—suggested the grown ups talk down below in Avalanche's hideout.

"Hey, lemme get seconds, first!", Cloud snapped with a glare, looking up from his bowl of rice. Barret would've quipped that the blond seemed like a man starving, until he recalled the bare minimum of how Tifa, that morning, had described Cloud's sickly appearance.

"Hmph. Fine." The leader of Avalanche drummed his fingers against the table.

The bar was quiet but for the whistle of a teapot, despite six people sitting in attendance at one of the larger tables. Tifa glanced towards them before fussing with seven mugs. Barret gave Zack a death glare, Zack merely picked at the skin of his arm and looking towards Cloud. Cloud, fortunately, seemed much more lucid...and, happily, stable. That minor attitude problem was a surprise to Zack, but maybe Cloud was just emotionally drained, considering recent experiences.

"Let's take these downstairs?", Tifa suggested, beginning to pass around everyone's drink of choice.

Biggs, Wedge and Jessie seemed more curious than anything, the first of the large group to descend into the living room area of the hideout below.

"So, what do you think?", Wedge asked, balancing his tea, too hot to sip from just yet. Although he wouldn't admit it—maybe Tifa caught his fear—those two pairs of glowing eyes were pretty intimidating.

"I dunno." Biggs made a face, staring into the steam of his coffee, steadying the pinball machine elevator for a smooth ride, letting Jessie and Wedge off first. "If the boss is fine with 'em, then they're fine by me, but…I say we give 'em a chance."

"They're both cute." Jessie held back a smirk, making herself comfortable on a beanbag chair near the table. She forgoed any drink, otherwise she'd be up all night later on in her already caffeinated state. There was a lot of programming to be done later.

The peace, as the trio feared, was certainly short lived.

"You alright?" Cloud asked of Barret, once the group were properly situated downstairs.

Barret's eyes snapped towards him, jaw tense and fist squeezed tight. "The hell you askin' that for?"

The blond shrugged, a disdainful and faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You look like you're about to have a stroke, that's all."

The leader of Avalanche slapped his good hand against the wood of the table as Jessie suppressed a giggle, then he pointed a finger threateningly at the former grunt. "And you look like you're about to have a hot air release hole in your spiky head!"

"Spike," Zack whispered to his friend, "I think you should leave the diplomacy to me."

Cloud scoffed softly, then looked up as Tifa placed a hot mug of tea in front of him. She'd carried his drink down the lift for him. "Thanks, Tifa."

She smiled warmly, happy to see him feeling better already. Everyone patiently waited for Zack to divulge into his story. He eyed the murky depths that smelled of verbena and honey, then looked at everyone with a curious glance. "So...where should I begin?"

"Hm…" Tifa's fingers tapped against the table, sitting right next to Cloud. "You could go over what happened."

"Yeah, why'd you quit Shinra?" Barret demanded.

"Oh. Well…" Zack took a sip, soothing his nerves. He needed to tell them, despite not wanting to remember. "We were both injured. It was bad. There was blood everywhere from the fight."

"I thought you were a goner," Cloud murmured to Tifa, his eyes slowly reaching hers in a sideways glance.

Zack gave a nod. "It's a good thing Zangan got you outta there. I guess he thought that Shinra would help us, since we worked for them and all. Well, I thought that too."

He sighed through his nose, eyes gazing at a hairline crack in the ceramic of his mug. "Shinra was there pretty fast. The thing was, they weren't there to rescue anyone. When I came to, we were in the mansion basement."

"Mansion?" Barret tilted his head forward and raised a brow. "What's a mansion gotta do with any of this?"

"Isn't that where Sephiroth hid for a week?" Tifa asked gently.

"Yeah," the ex-Soldier replied with a nod. "The basement has a lab in it. They took us and, well...I'm not really sure what Hojo wanted." Zack scratched the back of his head. "To be honest, it was almost exactly like the Soldier creation process. Cloud didn't take the Mako shower very well."

"Mako!" Tifa studied the bright blue eyes that were looking her way again. What did Hojo do to him?!

"...After that, he stuffed us in tanks. I don't know how long we were down there, but one day, during feeding time, I broke out. Then I got Cloud out, and we booked it outta there."

Barret grumbled a little, still studying the two for the faintest trick or lie. "So you bee-lined for here."

Zack shrugged noncommittally. "I might know someone who lives in the Slums."

"Then why'd you come here, and not to them?"

"I didn't know Tifa was alive, let alone living in the Slums, man!" Zack turned to look at her, then faced Barret again. "I was just looking for a safe place to rest and drink a Potion or two."

"Hmm." Barret's critical eye was on the two former Shinra employees. "I dunno if I believe a damn thing you're sayin'. Why stuff ya in tanks when they coulda just got rid of ya?"

Cloud began rubbing his forehead, elbow on the table as he leaned his head into his fingers. "Would love to know ourselves." He inhaled deeply, then let out a noisy sigh. "Hojo...he's insane. He was always insane…"

"Dude did things…" Zack muttered, nodding in agreement, suddenly more uncomfortable than he had been moments ago. A faraway look crossed his face. "The things he did to those Mako condensers…"

"Mako condensers?" Tifa asked. "They had those under the mansion?"

He shook his head. "No. They were inside the Reactor. Those were what made Sephiroth go bonkers in the first place."

"Yeah, they stuffed people in there," Cloud continued.

Zack did a double take at his friend. "H-hey...you weren't in there. How'd you know?"

Cloud furrowed his brow. "Of course I was! I went in with Sephiroth…" He lowered his head and stared at the table in concentration. "...Or was I outside…?"

"You don't know?" Barret narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"I...I was in Soldier. I made it in…" Cloud winced a little bit as pain went through his brain. "Didn't I?"

"Cloud, I think you deserved to be in Soldier, especially after what you did to Sephiroth," Zack answered sympathetically. "But you were the MP stationed outside the reactor that day."

Tifa tilted her head towards the blond, whose face was growing despondent and shameful. "You were one of those MPs…?"

"...I…"

She gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Oh, Cloud. Were you...hiding?"

Zack was about to say something, but Cloud stomped on his foot, warning him not to. "Ow! Eh, I guess the Mako poisoning did a number on you, man."

The blond shook his head before resting it in his hands, his fingers rubbing his scalp as he did so. "I don't know."

"You don't know." Barret looked like he was about to suffer a headache as well. His eyes went from the two former Shinra employees to the red eyed barmaid, snorting. "And you trust these two."

Her eyes immediately hardened as they met his. "I do. Why else would they be here?"

"She's right," Jessie finally said. "To Shinra, we're nobodies. They have no idea what we're up to."

"Uh, we just kinda wanted to start our lives over again...Wait, up to what?" Zack cocked his head to the side like a puppy.

"Damn it," Barret muttered with tense, short words. "It ain't your business!"

Biggs leaned into the table. "Hey now, not so fast." He looked at Zack and tilted his chin up before addressing the ex-Soldier. "How do you feel about Shinra, though?"

Zack stared at him and blinked once, a strangely long pause as his mouth formed a thin line. "I...had a lot going for me, I admit." Without his gaze leaving the other man, he very slowly shook his head. "But what they did to us isn't something I can forgive."

There was a nod of approval, then Biggs took Cloud into his sights. "And you?"

Cloud swallowed, a quiet anger and sorrow simmering in his blue eyes. "Shinra, and Sephiroth, took everything from me. I'll never forgive them for that."

Biggs lifted his arms up and leaned back in his chair as his hands cradled his head. He gave Barret a smug look. "Sound pretty bitter to me!"

Barret let out a grunt, not particularly approving nor completely distrusting. "We'll talk more later. Until then, there's some ground rules if you're stayin' with us!"

His good hand came up, along with a finger for each rule. "First, your asses are stayin' down here while the bar is open, and you're stayin' here 'til the Shinra is done lookin' for ya! Second, everyone pulls their weight here! Now you two ain't lookin' so hot, I'll give ya that, so we won't put your asses on chores just yet."

Zack gave an appreciative nod. "We'll do our best to repay everyone! Right, Spike?" He was given a nod by the blond.

"Alright. Lastly, and most importantly: if I catch either of you lookin' at Marlene funny, I'm blowin' your goddamn head off! Clear?"

"Crystal," Cloud replied dryly.

Sudden footsteps above, several loud knocks in succession, alerted everyone's presence to a potential customer. Barret narrowed his eyes.

Everybody tensed.

Sighing, Tifa squeezed Cloud's shoulder once more before approaching the pinball machine elevator.

"Be right back."; she calmly offered.

Outside the entrance to the bar stood an impatient-looking, ponytailed redhead in a business suit. His frantic knocking continued. "Yo, you open?! Got a customer waitin' out here!"

Shinra's still sweeping the area. But, now, in broad daylight? Swallowing her fears and calming her rapid heart, Tifa opened the double doors by a fraction, cherry-cola eyes meeting the allegedly drunk man. His business suit was wrinkled and his crimson hair messy. She frowned at him; doubting someone like him was any part of the sweep. "Sorry, we're closed for today."

"C'mon, lady!" He slurred, "Don't be like that. Start up a tab for me! Gimme a drink, yeah?"

Her fist clenched at her side. Was she going to have to get into it with this guy? "I said, we're closed! Today's reserved for restocking."

"Closed?! You ain't closed, yo! I saw a group a people come in!" the drunkard pressed.

Tifa rolled her eyes. "This is the Slums, if you don't remember. Sometimes, people live together."

"Tch."

Mock-irritation crossed the man's features as he whirled back around.

"Fine. But ya better be open tomorrow night!"; he spat, wobbly in his movements and into the narrow streets of Sector 7. She watched as his silhouette disappeared, then looked about for any curious troopers. Tifa, heart resuming its thudding in her chest, locked the front door once the redhead was nothing but a blur in the distant crowd.

Aerith watered a patch of particularly dry soil. Always that patch, and she never knew why, but she supposed that the Planet had secrets it would keep from her. No matter; her watering can would fix it. She wished the rusty tin container could fix more than dusty dirt, especially as of late. She wondered if the recently departed Rude enjoyed the flower crown she made him? Today, Reno and Tseng both seemed caught up in their work.

A glance at her leather-faded wristwatch. Shortly after 3:00 PM. No matter, she could easily accompany herself home. Fugitives didn't scare her. Certainly Tseng already understood that.

Aerith's fingers played with the pearl-colored Materia hidden in her hair ribbon. It wasn't that she felt afraid.

It was more so...that feeling, in the back of her mind, never ceased making her feel something strange and familiar in her chest. She hoped it would come to fruition soon, or leave her be.

The sound of the church door creaking open made Aerith twirl towards it. Her brow lowered in curiosity when instead of a Turk, there was a young woman. She was built powerfully despite the lithe figure, and her chest was...well, she wished she boasted something like that. Maybe Zack would have stayed, then. The stranger had long, dark brown hair, and as she came into the light, Aerith noticed she had sparkling cherry cola eyes.

The woman's pink lips turned up in a smile, cheeks belying her bashfulness. "Hi there! My name's Tifa. Umm...I heard you sell flowers, and I wanted to buy some to brighten my business up." She barely tilted her head to the side.

Aerith's eyes lit up at the offer. A business wanted her flowers?

"Flowers? For a business? Wow, I've never had a customer interested in interior decorating before…"

Tifa giggled a little. "I figured my customers would like a little something that reminded them there's a world beyond Midgar," she explained, motioning a hand towards the church door. "Would you be able to help me make a choice at my bar?"

"Hmm," Aerith held one elbow in her hand while a finger tapped her cheek teasingly. "You'll have to pay a consultation fee."

"Oh, a fee? Well, how about a cocktail, on the house?"; Tifa joked back.

The half Cetra laughed, then followed the bartender out of the church. "Deal."

Leaving the church, Tifa motioned towards a motorbike at the base of the steeple. "I live in Sector Seven. I hope this is alright?"

The flower seller was a little hesitant, if she was being completely honest with herself. Something felt off, but for one reason or another, she didn't think it was because of this sweet bartender with gentle eyes. She seemed genuine. With a nod, Aerith sat behind the brunette, then held onto her shoulders before they took off.

"My bar's called Seventh Heaven," Tifa almost shouted as the bike's monotonous drone continued. "It might be heaven with the scent of some real flowers!"

Aerith laughed a little. "They sure do brighten a place up, too!"

"Great! I miss real flowers."

The ride to Tifa's bar wasn't very long, and she soon found herself inside once the brunette invited her in. She gave it a quick glance, then turned to Tifa.

"Well, it's a nice establishment. But I can see what you mean about brightening it up. Hm…" It was when she heard the click of the lock behind her that she felt her worries might have been justified. "Um...no need to lock us in…"

Tifa turned to her, all smiles. "I was told you usually have Turks following you, so, I'd rather not have them barge in on us."

Aerith's eyes widened; how did she know? She looked around to see a tall figure quickly make its way to her from behind. She gasped, then threw her best punch at her would be attacker, causing him to let out an amused grunt as he picked her up. Aerith struggled, but his hands were strong and firm.

Immediately she was twirled about, embraced by… "Zack?!"

"Aerith!" He was smiling at her, his indigo eyes glistening from unshed tears. "Gods, I missed you so much."

Her lips felt a familiar softness mixed with the barest hint of stubble from his skin, and she couldn't protest. After nearly five years he was here, holding her in his arms, her emotions wildly flaring…

"Where were you all these years…?!"

Zack kissed her again, his hands cradling her to his chest. It was where she'd wanted to be for almost half a decade of loneliness, of waiting to hear back from him. Did they mean nothing to one another, after all? Had she been played for a fool, like those old stories of military men travelling from port to port, a girl in each town? Such a long wait, and it was like a floodgate opened in her chest. She wanted to angrily slap Zack out of confusion and deep hurt, but all she could do was to begin brokenly crying in his arms.

"Let's just say I don't work for Shinra anymore," he said. "They kept me from you for too long."

"Oh, Zack...I heard you moved to Junon, and…" She continued crying, noticing through watery eyes that he also silently began, foreheads pressing against each other.

He shook his head, then kissed her again. "No. I was halfway across the world. But I found you!"

Tifa hummed softly at that, then approached the couple. "So...how about that consultation?"

Aerith sniffled, being set down by Zack. As she rubbed a wet eye, she asked with a slight laugh; "Wait. You were serious?!"

The younger woman laughed a little, then beckoned them to the bar. "Mhm. Zack sold me on the idea, even if it was to get you here. He kept telling me how nice your flowers are."

"So, what'll it be?" Tifa smiled warmly, her arms relaxed against the countertop as she patiently waited for their on the house order.

"Hm." A drink sounded wonderful, right about now. Aerith tilted her head, examining the bottles behind the bar. "Something sweet?"

"Gimme somethin' hard!"; Zack exclaimed with a grin.

Tifa laughed, complying with the orders.

Aerith, wiping away wet eyes, took a seat at the barstool, shoulder brushing with Zack who sat next to her.

"I'm so sorry."; he muttered, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend's waist while Tifa, her back turned, busily prepared their drinks. Ice cubes clattering and the ting of shaken bottles filled the otherwise hushed bar.

"It's alright, now." Her weak yet sincere smile was what her heart felt: ready to shatter into a million pieces with the lack of hearing from him for five long years. "But...where have you been, if not Junon? Why didn't you contact me?"

"It's a long story, but I'll explain soon." His hand squeezed Aerith's; smile never fading.

"Promise."

"I'll hold you to that.", she chuckled.

"Mh…?"

Aerith gave a mild start. Something had unsettled her from the peaceful discussion between herself, Zack, and Tifa. They spoke and laughed of light topics, Tifa mentioning her origins from a quiet mountain town on the other continent, how she moved to Midgar five years ago. Aerith found it amusing how neither women had ran into each other in the Slums, although perhaps that wasn't so surprising, considering the mass of the impoverished lower city.

The quiet sadness to Tifa's eyes, Aerith would politely ignore for now. Simply wasn't her place to question.

"Something wrong?", Tifa looked up from her simple mug of beer towards Aerith's perplexed, inquisitive, expression.

Her simple bar snack of french fries and 'special' iced tea were forgotten. The flower girl muttered something Tifa didn't quite catch, approaching the pinball machine. It was making a strange noise.

"...Aerith?"

"I think something is wrong with your pinball machine?" With emerald eyes closed, she gently shook her head, bangs swaying. "There's more to this place than meets the eye, I think."

Her two friends, still seated by the bar counter, exchanged quizzical looks. How would she know?

The braided brunette took a cautious step back, startling for the second time when the pinball machine suddenly moved from its place. It remerged, only a moment later, carrying a blond with piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in a black sleeveless shirt and dark pants. "Hey, Tifa? Do you have anymore medic—"

In any other situation, Aerith would've immediately regarded this young man as incredibly cute. But as things currently stood, she couldn't help fight against a queasy sensation in her belly, taking two steps towards the man with an intense look across her features. The faint scent of Mako, stronger than Zack's, clung to him. "Hm..."

And immediately, Cloud scratched the back of his head while backing away slightly.

"Umm...hi?" His Mako tinted eyes went to Zack. "This a friend of yours, man?"

In complete confusion, he glanced towards the puppy-like boy who held back laughter.

"Yep! That's my girl, Aerith!"

"...Oh." Frowning, Cloud returned to staring at the girl who didn't lighten up with that stern gaze of hers. Certainly, she was pretty with her braided hair and flowy pink dress—it looked like she was holding back a smile—but there was something about her that felt a little...unnerving.

After what seemed like an eternity but only a minute at most had passed, Aerith straightened. That smile she was holding back bloomed in full, absolutely radiant. "Sorry about that!"; she chuckled with no other explanation, holding out a hand.

"Like Zack mentioned, my name's Aerith. It's nice to finally meet you, Cloud. Those two wouldn't stop talking about you."

Cloud shook his head firmly, still confused but offering a friendly smile, nevertheless. "Nice to meet you, too."