Hey everyone! I'm back and finally uploading my Cloud Strife story, For the most part this story is going to be pretty pg but at this point there is one specific chapter that has a sex scene just to explain that rating (that chapter isn't until after chapter 20 anyway) Hope you guys enjoy!

It was surreal, you stared in disbelief at the sword sticking out of the ground; you would know that sword anywhere. At one time that buster sword belonged to Zack Fair.

You dropped your beat up backpack as you approached. This could mean only one thing; Zack would never leave that sword, it meant so much to him, after all Angeal trusted him with it. And judging by the rust, it's been here for a long time.

You took a wrinkled and slightly torn picture out of your pocket as you walked up to Zack's makeshift memorial. You placed the picture at the base of the sword and put a small rock on top of it so it wouldn't fly away.

You fell to your knees in front of the sword, "Zack, you jerk why did you have to go and die" you whispered as tears rolled down your cheeks.

~Flashback~

" Why are you doing this?" your voice cracking as you cried.

"A few meaningless lives," Sephiroth said as he casually put masamune away. He turned away like it was nothing; he had no remorse for his actions.

"Their lives weren't meaningless" you struggled to stand, the pain was almost too much for you. You could feel blood trickling down your leg.

You picked up Jace's sword and charged at Sephiroth. In one swift motion Sephiroth dodged your attack and took out masamune. His speed shocked and amazed you, but you continued to attack him. Acting on pure instinct and adrenaline you managed to dodge several of his attacks. You finally saw an opening and took it, stabbing Sephiroth in the stomach. Seconds later you hit the ground as you felt a horrible pain along your spine.

"I've already taken what you cherish most and what you didn't know you had, just give up, you have nothing more to live for" Sephiroth said as a single black wing appeared from is back and he flew away.

You struggled to get up, as Ryan ran over to you followed by Jeremy who dropped his camera as he ran. Alyssa held Riley attempting to comfort the child and keep herself together.

"Autumn you shouldn't move" "Alyssa, get gauze" "Stop moving you'll make it worse" "my god he's dead" "Mom! Mom" "Riley she's dead" "Jace!" "I'm gonna be sick" "they're all dead" "Autumn, stop" "How is she still moving?" "Autumn!" "we need to put out the fires" "look he's still alive" "My god, Autumn theirs so much blood"

You couldn't focus, you knew people were talking to you but it didn't matter, all you saw was Jace barely breathing, laying in a growing pool of blood. You fell to your knees beside him as tears ran down your face. With shaky hands you tried to stop the bleeding, if you can prevent him from bleeding out you could save him, theirs hope. There was a gash across his chest, it wasn't too bad but he's already lost so much blood.

"Look at that beautiful face" Jace struggled to say. By the sound of his voice you could tell his broken ribs punctured his lungs

"Jace…" you trailed off. You tried to focus on using all of the skills you've been learning in school and everything your mom taught you, now is the time to put them to the test. He smiled at you and pushed your hands away from his wounds.

"I'll always be with you" with a shaky hand, Jace wiped the tears away from your eyes.

"I don't know what I'll do without you," you cried as you played with the ring on your finger.

"Find Zack and Cloud they'll take care of you"

"Jace please don't leave me"

"Autumn I love you" He said as his voice got weaker.

By now, Jeremy and Ryan got to you. Alyssa stood a few yards away with Riley. Everyone was crying, except for Jace.

"I love you too," you sobbed.

"Can I have a kiss?" Jace asked as the color drained from his face.

You leaned down and kissed him softly, it only lasted a few seconds but it felt like a lifetime.

Jace smiled as he closed his eyes and took his last breath before fading into the lifestream.

It started to rain as Ryan and Jeremy carried you inside, the last thing you heard before blacking out was Riley screaming as your friends scrambled to save your life.

~End flashback~

The scar from masamune extends along your spine for the entire length of your back; it is a constant reminder of that day almost four years ago. Between being captured by Turks several times, a couple of weeks or months, you weren't sure, of being experimented on that you have no memory of and a few horrible infections, the scar never healed properly.

The sun was already setting by the time you were able to move. "I don't think I'll be able to get to Edge today," you said to yourself so you decided to make camp here. You used the last of your matches to build a small fire from twigs and tumbleweeds you found lying around. You took your sleeping bag out of your backpack and laid it on the ground. You lay on top of it and began to reflect on your life as you played with the ring on your necklace.

'I never thought I'd be here again,' to your right laid the ruins of Midgar and to your left was Edge, after the upper plate fell and killed thousands in Midgar the city became deserted and Edge developed out of wreckage. Before, when Jace was alive, you planned to live in Midgar, you'd be a doctor like your mother and open a practice in the slums, and Jace would work in construction or security, he didn't care as long as it was hands on. When he died four years ago you dedicated your life to finding Zack and Cloud, they were Jace's friends when he was in SOLDIER. Though you've never met Cloud, Zack used to visit all of the time and you considered him one of your closest friends. You had forgotten about Cloud. Now that you know that Zack is dead, theirs only one person left to find.

Two years ago you added your little brother Riley to your search. During an extended stay at the Gold Saucer, while you were finishing medical school and you tried to save enough money to get Riley into a good school you were separated from your brother in the middle of a crowd one night. You were distraught when you found out that he was kidnapped and taken to Rocket Town. Upon arriving in Rocket Town you found out that a man named Cid Highwind had adopted him. Ever since then you've been searching for him.

You looked up at the stars and wondered if you'd ever find your brother, it's already been two years, part of you wondered if he even remembered you and if he would even recognize you. Either way you're determined to find him, nothing else matters anymore.

You eventually drifted off into a fitful sleep. You've always had trouble sleeping but sleeping on the cold hard ground at the mercy of your nightmares only made it worse.

You woke feeling gross and exhausted from the previous day, you were in desperate need of a shower and a decent meal. You packed up your sleeping bag, slung your backpack over your shoulder and made sure that your dagger was in its garter sheath before walking into Edge.

If you didn't know better you would have thought Edge was deserted. Well it was early; maybe everyone's still sleeping…

Then you saw them, kids, dirty and hungry. Some of the older ones bullied the younger ones, as they all looked for food and clothes. You'd heard rumors about the orphans in Edge but you never imagined it was this bad. Their clothes were worn out and dirty; it looked like they haven't had a real meal or a warm bed their entire lives. There was so many, your brother could be one of them, you were practically one of them.

As you walked you were nearly hit by a spikey haired man wearing sunglasses on a motorcycle, you had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. "Rude" you mumbled as you got to your feet. You were suddenly surrounded by a group of kids, each one holding their hands out to you hoping that you'll give them something.

You frowned, you didn't have much to give but you sighed, kneeled to the ground and opened your backpack. You gave them your spare shoes, the hoodie you picked up a few weeks ago, after all your old one is still good even if it has a few holes, and your sleeping bag. As you gave your things away more kids approached, you didn't have enough to give everyone something. You opened your wallet and gave them your last gil; it wasn't enough for a hotel room anyway.

"Sorry kids that's all I have left" you mumbled as you closed your backpack, you felt terrible, if you could give these kids the world you would, but the world is cruel and you need to survive too. You looked at the kids, with their big eyes and dirty faces, they learned too soon just how cruel the world can be.

As the kids dispersed you continued walking. The shops were starting to open and the kids scattered to the shadows.

You sighed, "I hope I find him this time," you mumbled to yourself, trying not to think about the kids.

You went into every restaurant, coffee house, bar and retail shop you saw, every time you'd show a picture of your brother and ask if they'd seen him, or Cid Highwind. Every time you were let down. No one recognized him, no one had seen him.

You sighed as you walked into a bar called Seventh Heaven. You went over to a few people sitting at a booth first because the bar tender looked busy.

"Excuse me? Would any of you be willing to help me out?" you asked.

It was two men and one woman they seemed friendly enough. Apparently still a bit drunk from the previous night.

"Sure thing little lady, what do you need?" one of the men asked in a southern accent.

You took out the picture of your brother and showed them "This is my brother Riley Hewley, we were separated two years ago in Junon" you told them. The group examined the picture. "He's 8 now, so he should look a little bit older." You added hopeful.

"Any other information?" the women asked, you could tell she felt bad and really wished she could help, but like everyone else she hadn't see your brother.

"All I know is that he was kidnapped and taken to Rocket Town where a man named Cid Highwind adopted him," you explained.

"Sorry but I've never seen him before" the other man said sympathetically, everyone else nodded in agreement. "I hope you find him," he added.

"Thanks for your time" you said as you walked away and sat at the bar. "Excuse me, I hate to ask but do you charge for water?" you asked the bartender, a girl who looked to be around the same age as you, as you started looking for coins in your backpack.

"Coming right up, on the house," she said. After a few moments she said, "What's your name?"

You were caught a little off guard though it's not terribly strange for a bartender to make polite conversation especially when business is slow. "Its Autumn Knight" you replied.

"Well I'm Tifa Lockhart, and theirs a little boy named Riley who lives here, I think he'd be very happy to see you" Tifa said with a smile.

Your eyes widened, as you jumped up, suddenly excited. "Wait! Really? My brother is here!" you couldn't contain your excitement; you must have sounded like a little kid. You were practically bouncing with joy.

Tifa laughed softly "here let me get him" she said as she walked upstairs.

You waited impatiently for what seemed like forever. You heard someone running down the stairs. The little boy's hair was a mess and he was still wearing his pajamas as he frantically looked in every direction except where you were.

"Riley" you called. He turned to you with the biggest smile on his face.

"Autumn!" Riley yelled as he jumped into your arms. Both of you held each other tight fearing you would lose each other again.