Oy… I'm sorry I took so long with this. Thanks to Truth-Unspoken, uber-tastic, vLuna, mira ff, mom calling, Master of Catdoken, bmonti, SorrowsFlower, Gryphon of Fire and Life, Rikku-rebeca, kerapal bubbles, VGComposerEscalante, and fragmentsofmemories16 for your awesome reviews! Thanks so much, everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its spin-offs. And I pray Square won't hate me for what I've done to their characters… (Still)

Chapter Three: To Find a Flower

Cloud ran up the stairs and boarded the train, following right behind Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie. Barret and Tifa ran at his heels, skidding to a halt inside the train. The big man shouted to the idiots- Er, his companions, "Yo! Looks like this ain't no private car! Split up!"

Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie all ran forward to escape to separate cars as a man in a red suit stood on the side, mumbling to himself, "…Hoodlums again. God, don't I have all the luck…"

Barret ran forward and shouted, "You say sumthin'?" while at the same time Cloud called, "Damn right, you're lucky! Not every day you see people as hot as us."

"I said, 'you say sumthin'!?" Barret glared at the man in the suit. "Yo, look at that! It got empty alluva sudden. What's going on?"

Tifa gave her eyes a roll. "That's what happens when you barge onto a train and shout at the top of your lungs."

He looked at her. "Huh? Whazzat?"

Cloud and Tifa chorused, "Nothing, Barret."

Barret walked over to the man in the suit and leaned over to look him in the eye. The man scrambled to get off the seat and ran for the next car back, screaming, "Y-y-yipes!"

Tifa walked forward and gently touched Barret's shoulder. "You've seen the news, right?"

Barret and Cloud responded at once, "No."

She shrugged. "Neither have I."

Cloud pocketed a bottle of breath-freshener and looked up. "So, what do we do now?"

Barret pointed a finger at him and shouted, "Shit! The hell you so calm about? You bustin' up my rhythm!"

The blond shrugged and grinned before nodding his head slightly in Tifa's direction. "No reason."

"Look, if you think you gotta chance wit Tifa, you gonna be plenty disappointed!"

Tifa looked up from under the seat and held up a little furball. "Look! It's a bunny!"

Cloud walked over next to her and started petting it. "Aw… It's almost as cute as you…" He looked up and winked at Barret while slipping his free hand around Tifa's waist.

She kept coddling the rabbit and ran her fingers through its fur. "Cloud… Isn't it adorable…? Let's adopt it!"

"Okay, Teef… What should we name…?" He rubbed at its head for a moment and said, "Teef? I think it's dead."

She cocked her head and examined it. "Oh. Would you look at that?" She climbed up to kneel on one of the seat and lifted the window, throwing the snow-white carcass outside. After closing the plexi-glass pane, she turned to face the two men and smiled. "Seems like they just finished connecting the cars. We're finally leaving."

Cloud shrugged and wiped his hands on his pants. "So, what's our next target?"

Barret let out a snort as he dropped down onto one of the benches. "Hah! Listen to Mr. Serious-about his work! Awright! I'll tell ya! Jessie's probably already told you, which is good! 'Cause I don't remember!"

He shrugged and looked around. "She didn't say a thing."

"Ah, well. We'll just wing it, then."

A voice sounded over the intercom, "Good evening and welcome to Midgar Lines. ETA at Sector 4 Station is eleven-forty-five."

Tifa looked up from where she was searching under the seats. "That means we've only got three more minutes until we reach the I.D. check point."

Cloud and Barret both turned to look at her. "The what?"

She sighed and set her hands on her hips. "The I.D. check point. It's the scanner built into the plate that prevents people like us from getting onto the surface."

The men shot her confused looks. "Look, it means we have to jump off the train in three minutes, okay?"

A red flash went off and started blinking repeatedly as an automated voice called through the train. "Unidentified passengers detected! A search of all cars will be conducted!"

Tifa looked around in surprise. "The checkpoint wasn't supposed to be until further down!"

Barret lazily glanced around the car. "What's goin' on?"

Cloud stared at the blinking light. "Ooh…"

Jessie ran back into the car, shaking her head. "We're in trouble." Without offering any further explanation, she turned and ran back in the direction she'd come.

Cloud, Tifa, and Barret all exchanged glances before shrugging and running after the woman. The same automated voice sounded, "Warning. The food cart is beginning to make its rounds. Please take cover and run for the nearest car."

Wedge ducked his head and called out, "They're gonna lock the door, Sir!"

"The food cart is continuing on to car no. 2."

Jessie turned back to Cloud with pleading tears in her eyes. "Just run!"

"Car no. 2, locked down. Proceeding to car no. 3."

The brunette sighed in exasperation. "They're starting another check. If we're caught, we're done for! But, don't worry, Cloud. If we can move up the train, car by car, we should be able to get past it!"

"Car no. 3, locked down. Proceeding to car no. 4."

The four of them rushed down the train towards the next car, shoving past a random passerby on their way. Tifa turned back to help him up, but paused when Cloud grabbed her arm and pulled her along.

"Car no. 4, locked down. Upgrading to maximum security alert!"

Barret gave a sigh of relief as they made it to the front of the train. "All right!! We made it! Yo! This way! Let's go! We're gonna dive outta here!"

Tifa looked around and gave Cloud her best wide-eyed frightened look. "…Scary, huh?"

Cloud gave her an odd look, completely missing her flirting once again. "Too late to be saying that now. Why'd you come along, anyway?"

"Because…" She leaned a little closer and took hold of his hand.

Barret looked back at them and shouted, "Hey, you two! There ain't no time for that!"

Tifa stuck her tongue out at the large man. "Hey! Butt out!"

Barret rolled his eyes and cannonballed out the open door while yelling, "Geronimooo!!!"

Tifa took a deep breath and walked towards the door, looking out. Cloud came up behind her and set his hand on the small of her back, jerking when the train lurched. His hold on her slipped and he knocked her out the open door. "Tifa!!!" he called, leaning out the door to see her rolling to an awkward stop a few yards back. His footing slipped and he fell, dropping down to the ground after Tifa.

He rolled to a stop and sat up, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair to straighten it out. Looking up, he found Barret and Tifa standing right there, not a hair out of place. He raised an eyebrow as he accepted Barret's gesture to help him up. "What the hell happened to you guys?"

Tifa stuck her nose in the air and crossed her arms, turning away from him. "Well, let's see you fall out of a moving train and look like rainbow sunshine!"

He scratched his head. "What? No, Tifa, I meant… Never mind."

Barret heaved a breath and looked around the tunnel. "Good! So far everything's going as planned. Better not let your guard down 'til we get to the Sector 5 reactor. Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie got everything ready for us. So, move it! Well, the reactor's just down this tunnel!"

The three of them ran down the bland, metal tunnels for what seemed like miles until a wall of bright yellow laser beams blocked their path. Barret moved over to examine the random buttons and switches on the side as Tifa lowered Cloud down off her back. "Thanks for the ride, Teef," the blond said as he studied the lasers for a moment. "Those light beams are ShinRa's security sensors… We can't go any further."

They spread out and started checking the area for alternatives. Tifa bent down in front of a ventilation shaft and yanked at the gate to pry it open. Cloud walked over behind her and pulled at the oversized sword on his back. "Here, let me get-"

A loud crunch sounded through the tunnel and Tifa smiled up at Cloud, holding the mangled grate up for him to see. He blinked in surprise and slowly released his grip on the hefty blade before turning to examine the opening. Barret looked over Tifa's head to look at it. "That's one damn tiny hole. You tellin' me to squeeze into that to get through the plate? No way!"

Cloud sighed. "We don't have a choice. Let's go. You can try the lasers if you want."

"Aw, fine! But, damn, man, that hole gives me the chills."

O.o

They climbed ladder after ladder until they finally found Jessie at the top of one of them. She looked down at her feet and mumbled, "I'm sorry… It's my fault the security check went off…" She looked right at Cloud as she said, "I made your I.D. special… That's why that happened…"

Barret scratched his head. "Wasn't it the food cart?"

The woman continued, "I put my heart into making it… But I failed…"

Tifa snapped out and slammed her fist into the other woman's face. She glared at her and hissed, "He's mine! Go find your own!"

Cloud touched his chin as he thought about Barret's comment. "That is what they said over intercom, isn't it?"

Barret shrugged. "Awright, let's go!"

Tifa looked up from her spot on the floor where she gripped Jessie's hair tightly in her fingers. She let go and let the woman fall to the floor before standing and smoothing out her mini-skirt. "Coming, Cloud!"

They climbed down another ladder where they found Biggs doing last-minute preparation work. He looked up as they approached and nodded a greeting. "We'll be gettin' outta here, so it's all up to you guys now."

Cloud watched him run off before turning back to Barret and Tifa. "Alright. Let's go."

The three of them turned and climbed yet another ladder before reaching an outdoor area. They looked around for somewhere to go and shrugged simultaneously at the sight of an oversized pipe. Cloud jumped down on it and slid it down with Tifa right behind him. They jumped off before it took a sharp turn into the ground and waited as Barret came took his turn belly-down.

After taking a corner, they ran inside the building to find an area identical to the reactor they'd busted the day before. Following along the similar path, they came across the reactor core. A sharp pain filled Cloud's head and he fell to his knees, holding his throbbing temples as a painful memory consumed him.

"Hey, Zack? What are you getting?"

"Chocolate! What else?"

"I should've known…"

"What about you, Cloud?"

"I'll probably get the twist…"

Barret's heavy voice rang out, "Damn, man! Get ahold of yourself!"

Tifa knelt down next to him and held his hand in hers. "You alright, sweetie?"

Cloud slowly pulled himself to his feet and shook his head to rid his mind of the horrid memories. "…Tifa."

She leaned closer and batted her eyelashes at him. "Mmm?"

He shook his head. "No… Forget… Come on, let's hurry!"

He ran forward and set the bomb at the core before turning and running back to the others. The three of them ran together and found a room with three big buttons in the middle. Tifa looked at the other two and said, "Jessie said we have to push the three buttons at once. Cloud, you do it."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "How am I supposed to push three buttons at different ends of the table at once?"

"I've seen you play Twister. You can do it!"

"Uh…"

Barret scratched his chin. "Lessee… Three buttons… Three of us…"

Tifa looked at him. "What are you getting at, Barret?"

"I dunno, but I think we're missin' sumtin'…"

Cloud sat in silence, staring at the buttons for a long moment before snapping his fingers. "I got it! We each hit a button!"

Tifa blinked. "And how does that make sense?"

"Never mind. Just follow my lead." He walked over and stood by one of the buttons, waiting for Barret and Tifa to stand by the other two. They each held a hand over their respective button as he counted down, "3… 2… 1… Go!" They all pressed down at once and the door opened.

Barret thunked his gunarm against his head as he thought out loud. "Huh… Whattaya know?"

They walked off again and headed through the now-open door before coming across a T-shaped path. Barret started to run down to the left, shouting, "This way!"

A squadron of ShinRa soldiers came running out to block their path as the large man yelled, "ShinRa soldiers!? Shit! What the hell's goin' on?"

Cloud reached for his Buster Sword and mumbled, "…A trap…"

A large man in a red suit came out through the door they just had and Barret shouted, "It's…!"

Cloud finished, "…Some guy I have never seen before!"

"That's what I was gonna say!"

Tifa reached in her pocket and pulled out a magazine, looking back and forth between the cover and the man in front of them for a long while. Finally, she gasped and covered her mouth.

Cloud looked at her. "What's wrong? You know who that is?"

She shook her head. "Not a clue, but this says mini-skirts are going out for leggings!"

"Geez… And here I thought the fashion-chasers were trying to get men's attention… Mini-skirts will never be out in a man's mind."

She looked over at him with tears in her eyes. "Even you?"

He grinned. "Especially me."

The rotund man in front of them closed his eyes, apparently not liking being ignored. He shouted, "I'm President Shinra! And don't you filthy insurgents forget it!"

Barret scratched his head. "Who?"

Tifa turned to look at him and whispered, "The fat guy in charge of the place we're trying to destroy."

"Ohhh! I gotcha now."

Shinra shrugged and said, "I'm a very busy man, so if you'll excuse me, I have a dinner I must attend."

Tifa leaned past Cloud to ask, "What are you having? Can I come?"

He snorted. "Fazoli's. And, no, you can't come."

She pouted. "Hmph. Oh, well. I don't like Italian, anyway."

"But I have made arrangements for a playmate for you all." He snapped his fingers and a loud grinding sound could be heard down the corridor.

Tifa covered her ears and shouted, "What's that noise?!"

Barret loaded his gunarm and ran forward. "The hell is this? It sounds like a busted 8-track!"

Shinra gave a casual laugh. "Meet 'Airbuster,' a techno-soldier. Our Weapon Development Department created him. Have fun now!" He laughed as a helicopter flew up and he jumped inside before flying away.

Airbuster slowly rode towards Tifa and whipped a tray out of nowhere. "Would you care for some tea?"

Tifa took a cup from him and smiled sweetly. "Thank you."

Cloud took a different cup. "How very kind of you."

Airbender nodded. "It is a pleasure."

Barret shook his head. "No thanks. I don' like tea."

"I have coffee, too."

"Sorry, I like my drinks a bit heavier."

Airbender sat completely still for a moment, his optic sensors focused on him. Finally, he let out a wail and his mechanical voice cried out, "I have failed! I am supposed to be the perfect serving machine!" He turned and plowed through the railing, driving off and down into the slums below.

Tifa looked down after him and held back a sniffle. "He was such a nice murderous robot…"

Cloud set a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah… It's a pity, but all workers of ShinRa commit suicide at some point in their careers."

Barret looked at his watch for a moment. "You know, this thing is gonna blow any minute."

Tifa looked up at Cloud and whispered, "Let's go. We'll mourn him later."

Cloud shook his head defiantly. "No! I refuse to leave a comrade behind!" He turned, grabbed hold of the railing, and leapt off.

Tifa reached down after him with tears in her eyes. "Cloud! No!"

Barret just signed and grabbed her around the waist, hoisting her off her feet and over his shoulder before carrying her off.

O.o

…You alright? ...Can you hear me now?

"…Yeah…"

Good!

"Say wha?"

Back then… You could get by with just skinned knees…

"What do you mean by 'back then'?"

What about now? Can you get up?

"What do you mean by 'that time'? What about now?"

'What about now… What about today… What if you're making me all that I was meant to be… What if our love…' Okay, this is getting awkward now. I'll be quiet.

"Right…"

"Oh! It moved!"

How about that? Take it slow now. Baby steps, Cloud. Baby steps.

"…I know."

"Hellooo?"

"Hey, who are you?"

"I find you…"

Light filled his vision as he woke, looking straight into bright green eyes. The girl above him smiled brightly. "You okay?"

He raised an eyebrow at her and she explained, "This is a church in the Sector 5 slums. The roof suddenly fell in on me—again—and scared me."

He blinked. "I fell?"

"Your hard head must've broken your fall! Just like the last guy who used the express!" She knelt down and started tending to the flowers sprouting around and said, "So, we meet again."

When he didn't reply, she prompted, "Don't you remember me?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I remember you. You were the weird girl who was setting explosives off in Sector 8."

She blushed slightly. "You saw that?"

"Yeah."

"Well, just so we're clear, that's just my weekend job."

"Okay. Note to self: Stay away from you on weekends."

"You know, despite what you may think, I don't get a lot of dates."

"Huh… Sounds like a bummer."

"Say, do you have any materia?"

He nodded slowly, not really sure what she was getting at. "Yeah, some. But you can find materia almost anywhere nowadays!"

She smiled even brighter. "But mine is special. It's good for absolutely nothing, just like me!"

"…Good for nothing? You probably just don't know what the hell you're doing."

"No, I do… I'm just too lazy. Say, I feel like talking. Do you feel up to it?"

"No."

"Too bad! Come on! Oh! Now that you mention it-"

"I didn't say anything…"

"-we don't know each other's names, do we? I'm Aerith, the flower girl. Nice to meet you."

"The name's Cloud."

"I'm Reno!"

They turned to face the red-headed man in the doorway of the church and shouted simultaneously, "We don't care!"

He pouted. "I just wanted to feel included…"

Aerith suddenly burst out laughing and Cloud asked, "What's so funny? What are you laughing at?"

"I just got the e-mail my boyfriend sent me when he was stationed in Nibelheim five years ago. I didn't even realize… The cat… and the plane…"

"Hey… I was stationed in Nibelheim at that time. We were probably on the same mission."

She placed a hand over her mouth to try to calm her laughter as she said, "He was a SOLDIER. A First Class."

Cloud blinked. Sephiroth…? What the…? "Right…"

The redhead, Reno, started walking closer and Aerith shouted, "Cloud! Don't let it get to you!"

She started running off towards the back rooms and paused, Say, Cloud. Have you ever been a bodyguard?"

He scratched the back of his head. "No, not yet."

Reno stood by the doors, leaning against one of the pews. "I'm still over here, ya know!"

Aerith smiled brightly, completely ignoring him. "Me, neither."

Cloud shrugged. "Why do you ask?"

"I dunno. I just like asking random men questions."

Okay, not the best stopping point, but at least it's an update, right? This chapter was mostly to introduce Aerith, so there should be more fun in the later chapters…

Please review!

-Valk