Disclaimer: Definitely not mine; always returned to Square Enix for further adventures.

A/N: Hard to believe, but it's The End! A story that I figured would take about a dozen chapters to (re)tell ended up almost double that, but it was a blast and a half to write. The final chapter was posted on May 3 as a tribute to Tifa Lockheart, whose birthday falls on this date.

Thank you so much to everyone who read, commented and supported the fic; you made the effort all worthwhile!

Many, many bouquets of yellow and white lilies to Kitsune13/TamLin and Ranuel, my wonderful betas who consistently held me to higher standards. They offered praise when earned, encouragement when needed, criticism when necessary, and made this fic the absolute best it could be. Couldn't have done it without either of you!

Warnings: The usual nonsense, plus more citrus content about two-thirds of the way through. Also, a complete redesign of the Villa ShinRa into something more palatial; the Original Game's cheerful Spanish plaster exterior coupled to the Victorian log cabin interior gives me the giggles every time I see it.

Learning Curve Continuum

Chapter Twenty-Two: Endgame

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

Luckily I hadn't eaten much, because the twisting, whirling trip through the Lifestream was worse than any carnival ride at the Gold Saucer. Zack was a comforting presence both at my side and at my back, due to the Buster Sword pressing against my shoulder blades. Hallucination or not, having him there gave me the extra courage I needed to face my darkest fears.

I'd left the crystal sword behind. It was me and the Buster against Sephiroth and the Masamune – the same way it had been all those years ago in the reactor.

"The big guy was right - those other versions that you fought were delaying tactics on Sephiroth's part, but they backfired. He's weakened because of the amount of energy he had to put into creating them, but make no mistake... he's still extremely dangerous."

I tried to smile. "It's my turn to go up against impossible odds."

He smacked my arm. "Except this time, the hero's gonna live... or else!"

"Zack... thank you. For everything. I... I'm sorry that you... that Aerith..."

A gloved hand gripped my shoulder; for a figment of my imagination, Zack was awfully strong. "Neither of us blame you for anything. No regrets. I mean it, Cloud. There's nothing to forgive – by saving the Planet, you save us as well."

We whirled around the inside of another wormhole; at any other time, my stomach would be rebelling. I wondered why it wasn't. "Zack... am I really here? Or is this all inside my head?"

"Bit of both. This battle is mental as much as physical. Work on your strategy, Cloud – we're almost at the Planet's core."

Pulling the Buster Sword off my back, I tested its weight in my hands. I'd used it to protect my loved ones throughout our quest; I would use it now to bring down Sephiroth for the last time. Pressing my forehead to the blade, I tried to block any outside considerations, but despite my best attempts, Tifa's face floated into view, her vivid eyes bright and a confident smile on her lips. An overwhelming desire to protect that smile formed a steely core in my soul, and out of that flared an energy greater than any I'd wielded before.

At that moment, the dizzying ride came to an abrupt end in an eerie black void, and I was facing Sephiroth. His body was complete this time, clad in black boots and trousers, but he was shirtless for some reason. The arrogant smirk and icy green eyes were the same as in my nightmares. He said nothing, his hair blowing in some unfelt breeze, the Masamune pointed at my eye.

Baring my teeth in a snarl, I dropped into a stance and spun the Buster. Brilliant coloured lights exploded, raced up and around the blade, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I could take him. Sephiroth responded to my challenge by bringing up the Masamune into an overhand attack position – for all the good it did him. Charging across the short distance between us, I planted my feet and started swinging. The huge blade weighed next to nothing in my hands, and my strikes were shorter, faster and harder than ever before.

Sephiroth appeared stunned at my ferocity; I didn't give him a chance to retaliate, and soon he was dripping blood from over a dozen wounds. Springing into the air, I swung the Buster up over my head – this was it! Sephiroth thrust the Masamune at my chest, with clear intent to skewer me again, but I kicked the blade aside and brought down the Buster like a hammer blow, then retreated out of range.

Blood pouring from his mouth, the monster shot me a look full of such naked hatred that I backed up a few more steps, but if he had any intentions of fighting back, it was too late. Beams of blinding white light began radiating from the wounds I'd inflicted, and his body spasmed as strange red energy slithered away. The final expression on his face just before he completely dissolved was one of shock and possibly horror; I guess he couldn't believe that he'd been bested once again by an 'inferior'.

Putting up the Buster, I looked around at the black void. Was it... growing lighter? Rents appeared in the darkness, and brilliant green flooded in. Twinkling lights danced in the viridian streams, wrapped around me, sparkled in the palm of my hand before twirling up my arm. A silvery laugh close to my ear. "Thank you, Cloud."

A feeling of profound peace settled into my heart. "Aerith...?"

"Ya gotta go, Cloud! Holy's gonna come busting outta here now that the plug's gone!" Zack's presence reasserted itself.

Unwilling to move just yet, I murmured, "I could stay..."

His blue eyes flashed. "No way, buddy. You promised to live out both our lives – to be my living legacy. 'Sides, there's a pretty girl waiting for you, an' she's the type who'd wait her entire life for you to come back. Don't disappoint her."

Before I could reply, soft white light enveloped me; blinking away my momentary blindness, I saw a pale hand reaching down for me, the slender fingers spreading in silent appeal. Smiling, I stretched upward to touch them...

"Cloud!"

I came back to myself with a jolt – literally. A boulder bounced off the heaving rock at my feet and would've taken me out at the knees if I hadn't jumped aside. "What the hell...?"

"Take my hand!" Tears streaked Tifa's face as she strained to reach me. "Hurry!" The ledge she was crouching on gave way, dropping her headfirst towards disaster. Launching off of the disintegrating ground, I awkwardly caught her and propelled both of us upwards. I somehow managed to grab a handhold on the sheer rock, but it was literally by my fingertips. Tifa's arms were around my waist and she was clinging with all her might; concentrating, I shifted my grip to include a generous handful of her skirt and belt. Luckily no-one was below us, or they'd be getting quite the panty shot. On second thought, I glanced downward, just to make sure Zack wasn't hanging around – he always was a bit of an opportunist.

We hung there for a few precarious seconds. Below us, the enlarged mako pool seethed, surging upwards several feet before retreating – as if Holy was gathering the Lifestream for the attack on Meteor. Our immediate future looked bleak, because we were too far underground to escape. Too many thoughts ran through my head, but one stuck. "D'you think I'll see her there?" I quietly asked.

"Who?"

"My mom. In the Promised Land."

Tifa pressed her head against my chest. "L-let's go see her," she whispered brokenly.

We both knew the Promised Land was a lie, because we'd experienced the Lifestream, but it was a comforting image to hold onto in what might be our final seconds. It was tempting to just let go, to drop into the gurgling liquid and end it at a time of our choosing... but I couldn't do that, not without a final goodbye.

Tossing Tifa up onto the ledge, I boosted her the rest of the way with my hand under her boot. She was no sooner safe than she pulled me the rest of the way up. Crawling as far away from the crumbling edge as possible, I put my back to the cavern wall and pulled her into my lap.

"You're bleeding." Gentle fingers lightly dabbed at my eyebrow, before Tifa showed me her reddened fingertips.

"Huh. Sephiroth must've caught me with the Masamune. I didn't feel it."

Wiping the blood on her slacks, Tifa turned her face into my throat. "As long as I'm with you, I'm not afraid," she whispered, sliding her arms around my waist and hugging tightly.

My heart lurched; it was now or never. The odds that we wouldn't make it out of here alive were terrifyingly high, and it might be my only chance to let her know that I was serious about a future together. Ironically enough, all those years ago when I'd fantasized about this moment, I'd planned to ask her while wearing my newly-issued SOLDIER uniform.

Pulling off my glove, I delicately stroked her cheek, tilting up her chin so I could see her face. "Marry me," I murmured. "Ever since we were kids, you were the only one for me." Her beautiful eyes shone with unshed tears, and her answer was in her kiss. I tangled handfuls of her hair and prolonged the contact until we were both breathing hard.

"Oi, you two – quit suckin' face and get on that PHS! See if you can raise the Highwind!"

Startled, we broke apart - but not very far - to see Cid lighting a cigarette on a ledge across from us, with Barret and Nanaki sprawled beside him. "Good to see you're all safe," I replied, while Tifa hastily pulled the PHS out of her pocket.

"Do you want to talk to Shera?"

"Naw, don't toss it over here – call up that cat, an' see if they can reach us!"

"But... we're so far underground!"

"Don't you worry 'bout that – jus' call!"

Puzzled, but hope blossoming, Tifa activated the PHS and we waited. And waited. Finally, through the heavy static came a familiar accent.

"Hallo, lads an' lassies! Ya ready for pick-up?"

"Yes!"

"On our way!" the cat cheerily reassured, and the connection was broken.

"It's a long way down..." Tifa said, biting her lip as she stared at the receiver in her hand.

"Lady Luck, don't fail me now," Cid muttered, scanning the distant ceiling.

His cigarette dropped out of his mouth as a deep rumble shook the walls, while the rest of us flattened ourselves against the cold, unyielding stone. I pressed Tifa against the wall, shielding her with my body and the sword on my back. "What the hell are they doing? Are they trying to kill us instead of saving us?" I growled into her shoulder.

There was a cracking, tearing, rending cacophony and the roof of the cavern collapsed, sending rock hurtling past us into the mako pool... quickly followed by gleaming silver as the Highwind dropped nose-first into the breach. The scantily-clad mascot painted on the fuselage slid past us, coming to rest with one of the hatches only a couple of feet above our heads.

That same hatch flew open a moment later, and I practically threw Tifa into the arms of the crew members reaching for us, then followed with alacrity. We tumbled into a machine room where everything was at a ninety-degree angle and we had to pick our way across steaming pistons and gears until we went through a second hatch and found ourselves on the main deck... which was currently vertical. Cid, Barret and Nanaki poked their heads out of a hatch across from us at almost the same moment, just as Shera shouted over the intercom, "Get in here, Captain! It's coming!"

"All o' ya! Grab onta something and hang on tight!" Cid yelled, swinging out of the door, sliding down the deck and scrambling over the bulkhead into the cockpit. The rest of us followed suit, avoiding the open engine compartment as we skidded after him. The rest of the crew, including Shera and Cait, were strapped to their seats. I grabbed Tifa and we slid across the decking until we collided with the sturdy railing that prevented passengers from getting too close to the bridge windows. Pinning her between me and the nearest stanchion, I braced for the oncoming disaster. Tifa wound her arms around me, burying her face in my chest; I wished I could hold her, but I needed both hands to keep us in place.

Over her head, I had the perfect view of the mako pool through the windows and saw the green glow become streaked with white just as the Lifestream boiled upwards. The Highwind very briefly acted like a cork in a bottle before it was blown backwards by the force of Aerith's defensive attack. The Highwind violently shuddered from bow to stern before it began corkscrewing; over the roar of the Holy-propelled geyser threatening to tear the ship apart, I was fairly sure I heard metal tearing.

I'd survived, only to die in the Planet's counter-attack, which was made possible by my killing of Sephiroth. In what reality would that outcome be considered fair?

Outside the windows, the rocky slope of the Northern Crater was coming up fast; Cid's swearing reached a new level of virulence as he struggled to reach a large handle attached to a flashing emergency light. I wondered where Marlene was, because Barret would really not be impressed if she repeated Cid's colourful language.

"Shit!" With a desperate lunge, the pilot grasped the handle and pulled. The Highwind immediately went into a spin that made my eyeballs feel like they were being sucked out through the back of my head, but our flight mercifully stabilized and when I could see again, we were streaking through the unnaturally-darkened sky. "Whoo-hoooo!" Cid hollered. "Ain't my ship amazin'?"

"Course set for Midgar, Captain," Shera said, remarkably unruffled despite what we'd all just gone through. "Holy is ahead of us by approximately two-point-five seconds."

I slowly unclenched my hands from their death grip on the stanchion and instead wrapped my arms around Tifa. Nuzzling her hair, I just breathed for several long moments, at least until Barret stomped over and pointedly offered us a hand up, since we were lying entwined on the now-horizontal deck. However, I didn't let go, and neither did Tifa; instead, Barret hauled both of us upright by my harness straps. Any lecture he might've had brewing vanished when Marlene flew across the cockpit and into his arms.

"Daddy." Burrowing into his chest, Marlene hugged for all she was worth. A few moments later, a rather green Elmyra wobbled into the cockpit on the arm of a crewman. Cait gave up his seat for her and she gratefully sank into it, then offered him a place on her lap.

"There it is!" one of the crewmen shouted, pointing. Keeping Tifa tucked firmly against my side, I turned to look out the windows; Barret and Marlene joined us, along with Nanaki.

"Dammit! Fifteen minutes too late!" I exclaimed, slamming my fist onto the railing.

"I don't think fifteen minutes one way or the other would've made a difference," Shera whispered, gaping open-mouthed at the cataclysm engulfing Midgar.

Meteor slowly spun like a blunted drill bit, the chunks of crust blown off by Cid's rocket crackling with red energy as it ground its way through Holy's shimmering barrier. The Highwind steeply banked and took us lower, allowing us a view of the destruction being visited on the city despite Holy's presence. The Sister Ray was crumpled and broken, and we could see large pieces of debris spinning in a bright red miasma, punctuated by explosions.

"Wait a damn minute!" Barret bellowed. "Why isn't Holy stoppin' Meteor?"

"Aerith said that if Meteor was too close when Holy was released, all bets are off," Tifa whispered.

"We gotta do somethin'! People are dyin' down there!"

"The Upper Plate was successfully evacuated to the Slums before Meteor struck, but several thousand people are now trapped."

"Reeve? Where are you located?"

"To the south of Midgar, with the air fleet. Yuffie is with me, but Vincent remained in the city - said he needed to investigate something."

"What else is wrong?" Tifa asked, alerted by his flat tone.

"My mother refused to leave the city; said there was no point in escaping if Meteor could destroy the entire Planet."

"I'm sorry."

"She's a stubborn woman – must be where I get it from." Reeve really did sound like he was trying to be brave.

"I hope that she's all right."

"Thank you, Miss Lockhart."

Nanaki padded forward. "Midgar is beyond our help, Barret-san. If Holy is unable to stop Meteor, the entire Planet is doomed."

Letting go of Tifa, I abruptly sat down, staring blindly at the deck. After all this... I still wasn't strong enough, or fast enough? Not good enough?

A failure. Again.

"What's that?" Tifa had knelt beside me, her hands on my shoulder and arm, but she suddenly glanced away, as if something had caught her eye. I didn't bother to look, despair sinking its claws into my heart.

"She's coming," Marlene said confidently, from her perch in the crook of Barret's arm.

"Who is, Marlene-chan?"

"Aerith," came the startling reply. "She's bringing the Lifestream to help."

Bewildered, I met the little girl's calm gaze – and then Marlene smiled knowingly and pointed. Twisting around, I looked through the windows... and couldn't believe my eyes. Far below, glowing against the darkness caused by Meteor, sinuous coils of sparkling green filaments burst out of the Planet's crust and undulated like living things. They grew more numerous with every passing second, lengthening and thickening, converging on Midgar and adding their strength to Holy. Several massive strands looped up alongside the Highwind's prow, but we didn't take evasive action; we didn't need to.

"Zack!" Tifa yelped, pointing; sure enough, the dark-haired SOLDIER waved and grinned, the phantom Buster Sword propped on his shoulder as he rode the Lifestream into battle.

"What ya talkin' 'bout?" Barret grumped. "Ain't nobody there!"

She squeezed my hand while smiling up at him. "Trust me, Zack is out there, and Aerith, too. They said they would help." Bringing her attention back to me, she added, "You did it, Cloud – you made it all possible."

"But I..."

Leaning in, she softly brushed her lips across mine. "My hero."

Too many emotions were whirling through my head, but I had enough sense to shut up and let her kiss me. After several more sweet moments, she tucked her head against my shoulder while cuddling into my side and we watched an incredible panorama of the entire Planet curving away below us. Apparently this new version of the Highwind had the ability to cruise at the very edge of the atmosphere, because above us was an infinite number of stars.

The entire Planet glowed briefly green, intensifying until pieces of Meteor began breaking away and vaporizing. There was a brilliant white flash, and Cid shouted, "Hard a-starboard! We gotta run for it!" The engines kicked in and I was glad we were already sitting down, because everyone else who wasn't already in a chair or hanging onto a railing hit the deck as we fled before the shockwave of Meteor's destruction.

A few minutes later, on the other side of the Planet, Cid let out a gusty exhale. "We're in th' clear - we made it."

We crested the top of the world and flew over the Northern Continent, heading south. The Crater appeared off our port wing, now just an empty shell; I wondered if it would continue to affect the local weather. If not, Icicle Inn would have to rename itself as Forest Inn and find something other than winter sports to attract visitors.

"Wouldja lookit that," Barret breathed as we crossed the straits between the Northern and Eastern Continents, to the east of Kalm. The glow of the Lifestream was already fading, the thousands upon thousands of strands returning beneath the Planet's crust; my chest tightened at the thought of Zack and Aerith disappearing once again into the seething mass of souls.

"I think it is fair to say that mako is now untenable as a fuel source," Nanaki commented. "The Planet will need a new type of energy."

"AVALANCHE is out of a job," the big man agreed. "An' about damn time." Running his hand over his cropped hair, he ruminated, "Might hafta take up prospectin' fer oil or somesuch."

"Don't start lookin' for work just yet," Cid said, gesturing out the windows. The sky was steadily lightening as Meteor's artificial darkness dissipated, and the tangled, smoking mess that was Midgar became horrifyingly apparent. "We got a job t' do here."

A burst of static, and then a familiar voice crackled out of Cait's chest. "Highwind, this is Vincent Valentine – do you copy?"

"Oi, Vinnie – you okay?"

"How close are you to Midgar?"

We all noticed that he'd ignored the question of personal condition. Cid frowned as he replied, "Where are ya?"

"Sector Eight... I think."

"Can ya send up a flare, or somethin'?"

There was a long pause. "Prepare the Infirmary to accept wounded."

"'kay," the pilot grunted. "How many?"

"Too many."

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

It wasn't until Tifa stumbled over her own feet and actually fell against the Highwind's bulkhead that I stopped to think about how much time had elapsed since the Lifestream had defeated Meteor. My own reactions were slower than usual, because I barely managed to break her fall. Knocking the Buster loose from the holder on my back, I flinched when it toppled to the deck with a loud, metallic clang. When I picked her up, I had to brace myself against the same bulkhead because my knees were suddenly weak – or maybe they'd been that way for a while, but I just noticed it?

Clumsily slinging her arms around my neck, Tifa slurred, "N' feelin' good."

"We're just tired," I mumbled, trying to figure out a place to sit down with her, but my brain wasn't working very well. The Chocobo Stable and the Operations Room were packed full of evacuees, the 'A' and 'B' watches had given up their cabins for the wounded overflowing from the Infirmary and were now squashed into 'C' cabin with Shera, Elmyra and Marlene. That left the cockpit, and I forced my unsteady legs in that direction.

The catwalk posed a considerable hazard, and my attempt to cross it in my condition would undoubtedly ended in disaster if two of the aircrew hadn't rescued us. "Wait, boss!"

Tifa was a dead weight, and I was in danger of losing my grip on her when the radioman caught hold of my belt with one hand and helped support her legs with the other. The relief pilot braced my other arm, and guided all of us to safety on the other side. "Sorry – not sure why I'm so wrecked," I muttered.

They exchanged glances as we negotiated the stairs. "You've been going steady for over thirty-six hours straight, boss," the radioman explained. "No wonder you can barely stand up!" Once inside the moonlit cockpit, they led us over behind the helm, where the solid walls of the fuselage ended and the glassed-in nacelle began. "Hang on tight for a sec, boss." While they scampered off to retrieve something, I propped up the wall and dazedly admired the starry expanse outside.

Opening two packed parachutes, they pulled out what seemed to be acres of silvery moonbeams. Folding one parachute into a billowy mattress that completely filled the floor space behind the helm, they offered the other as a silken coverlet. "Not a lot of padding, but it's warm and dry."

"Thanks, guys. That'll definitely do." Too tired to even take off my boots, I simply walked into the middle of the shimmering pile and lay both of us down in an untidy heap. Pulling a generous swathe of fabric over us, I was asleep before my head touched the deck.

I was awakened once during the night by a warm body colliding with my back; cracking an eyelid to peer over my shoulder, I recognized Yuffie's sweater. Rolling onto my back, I awkwardly patted her leg and was acknowledged with a whimper. More rustling, a distinctive tinkling and a gentle glow advertised Nanaki's arrival. Next thing I knew, there was a large muzzle rooting beneath my neck; as soon as I raised my head to glare blearily at the owner of the appendage, Nanaki scooted closer. Using my teammate as a pillow felt kinda odd, but Yuffie was already snoring into his shoulder, so I mumbled my thanks before passing out again.

Just before dawn, something small and sharp-kneed scrambled across my legs and wormed its way in between Yuffie and me. Marlene snuggled hard into my chest and promptly fell fast asleep; after a moment processing her arrival, I pulled the silk covering us over her as well. Tifa woke up enough to fondly pat the child's arm, and ended up linking hands with her. I hugged both of them and managed to drift off again.

The sun was streaming through the nacelle's canopy when I finally woke up for good, and it definitely wasn't first thing in the morning, despite the aroma of good coffee tickling my nose.

"The boss has collected himself quite a harem," Cid chuckled, and I focussed my eyes enough to see him and Barret hanging over the helm, steaming mugs in hand.

"The ladies love a man in uniform," Barret solemnly averred.

Glancing around at the assorted women of various ages currently snuggling on and around me, a lump rose in my throat. "More like a family than a harem," I managed to croak. The two men gravely toasted my words.

"Since when am I counted as a female?" Nanaki grumbled, raising his head.

"Yer not," Yuffie agreed, her voice muffled in his fur. "Yer a teddy bear."

"I am not a bear, either," he replied, nipping her ear.

"What are ya, exactly?" Cid wanted to know.

Nanaki adopted a regal pose, crossing his front paws at the joints. "I am me, and none other."

"Ain't that the truth," Barret affably agreed.

Taking Yuffie's presence into consideration, I asked, "Where's Vincent?"

"Introducin' hisself to Miz Elmyra. Ya comin' outta that cocoon any time soon, Spiky?"

"As you pointed out, I'm surrounded by beautiful girls - why should I?"

"Geez, Cloud – smooth as ever," Yuffie snorted, rolling over to face me and discovering Marlene. "Who's this cutie?"

"M'daughter," Barret replied, beaming.

"She's adorable!"

As Barret visibly swelled with paternal pride, Tifa muzzily added, "Especially when she's asleep."

"Same principle applies to you, brat," I said to Yuffie, who stuck out her tongue.

Tifa shifted upwards to plant a kiss on my cheek and then reached to ruffle Yuffie's bangs. "Welcome back."

"Never thought I'd ever say this about any moving object, but I'm glad to be back on board the Highwind," the teen grinned, then sobered. "Midgar's a mess, huh?"

"Be a while before anyone can live there again," I agreed, running my fingers through Tifa's hair and removing bits and pieces of debris. Her voice was worryingly raspy, but then we were all in rough shape.

"Midgar will be abandoned," Vincent said, arriving around the corner of the helm. Handing Yuffie a mug of what smelled like hot chocolate, he continued, "Reeve already has people designing a new city."

"No Upper an' Lower anything this time," Barret rumbled with satisfaction. "One single city – not powered by mako."

"Can't wait to see it," Tifa murmured; I wondered if she was thinking about her wish to build a new 7th Heaven.

Shera appeared, carrying two mugs that were clearly intended for Tifa and me; once my girl sat upright and freed my arm, I was about to manoeuvre Marlene into my lap when Yuffie patted the area that she had just vacated. "Put her here," she invited.

"Do you mind?" I asked Nanaki.

"Cubs are to be cherished," he replied, curling his body so that Marlene was nestled comfortably against his side; she made a little discontented mewling sound, so Yuffie pulled a flap of the parachute silk over her and Nanaki immediately began that purring sound to soothe her.

"Thank you, Shera," I said, gratefully accepting the steaming mug... and then realized just how bad we must have looked. Her hands were clean and her lab coat remained more or less white, despite the hours I knew she'd spent assisting the medical team. I suddenly felt in need of a thorough scrubbing; 'filthy' didn't quite begin to cover it. Flicking at the grime encrusting my sweater, I muttered, "What I wouldn't give for a couple of days off..."

"Funny you should mention that, boss," Cid said, grinning toothily. Snagging Shera by the waist, he planted a noisy smooch on her cheek. "Once we deliver this load of evacuees to Mideel, we're ordered to Costa Del Sol for some R & R."

Tifa's head flew up, her eyes wide. There was a large dirty smudge on her cheek that was probably from my sweater. "But there's so much to do...!"

"Reeve says, an' I quote, 'There's months of rebuilding to come, so pace yerselves'. He has things under control, thanks to them Turks an' the military pitchin' in, so we have ourselves what's known as a 'breathing space'." Not relinquishing his grip on a brightly-blushing Shera, he smirked. "We're gonna be guests o' the Villa ShinRa!"

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

"Oh, goodness... how far along are you, ma'am?"

"Thirty-eight weeks."

"I think we'd better have you in the maternity ward – don't want to take any chances. Orderly! We need a wheelchair for this lady!"

Julia Darrow blew her hair out of her eyes while continuing to make notes on a clipboard. She appeared much like the rest of us; too little sleep and too much to do. Her boyfriend's dog-tags dangled outside her blouse, glinting in the sunshine, and they were the main reason why I was helping Dr. Lassiter on the other side of the impromptu triage area outside the clinic as he worked his way through the stretcher cases. Tifa was back on the Highwind after her earlier, highly traumatic encounter with the young nurse. Julia had recognized her – sort of.

After the most badly-wounded cases were admitted, Julia had cornered Tifa. "Excuse me – do you have a brother?"

"No," came the too-quick reply.

"You look just like a Third Class SOLDIER named Teo Laurence," Julia sighed, shaking her head. "It's remarkable – your eyes, even your smile is the same!" While Tifa nodded, her smile strained, Julia continued burbling. "Seriously, though, you could be sister and brother! I can't believe the resemblance!" Tifa had escaped from the conversation as soon as politeness allowed and fled back to the airship, where she was hopefully being fussed over by Elmyra and Marlene.

"How are you feeling, Commander?" Dr. Lassiter asked, bringing me back to the present.

"I've been better," I replied. "Haven't slept much in the last few days."

He inspected my battered appearance with a professional eye. "You look like hell."

"You should see the other guy."

"Did you fight Sephiroth?"

"A few times. Wannabe gods don't go down easy."

"Thanks for saving our lives," he said, solemnly shaking my hand. "Now I have to find another bottle of cognac for the next big occasion... hopefully less dramatic than the end of the world."

"Let me know when you find one, and I'll help you drink it."

"We finally regained contact with ShinRa this morning, just in time to find out about your arrival." Lifting the edge of a blood-soaked blanket covering one victim, he peered underneath, shook his head at the stretcher bearers, and hooked his thumb in the direction of the morgue. "Who's this 'Reeve Tuesti' that's now running the show?"

"He's a good guy – a ShinRa insider, so he knows where all the bodies are buried, er, so to speak," I answered distractedly, watching as the stretcher with its sad burden was handed over to the clinic's orderlies. "If anyone can get the Planet working again, it's him."

"He wasn't shy about singing your team's praises. Midgar's bad?"

"About a hundred miles beyond 'bad'. We dug people out of the rubble for thirty-six hours straight, and recovery teams are still looking." Rubbing my hand over my face, I added, "These people are the lucky ones."

Peering over his glasses, Lassiter warned, "Make sure you take care of yourself. You won't be immune to the mental stresses caused by the things you've seen these past few days."

Suddenly feeling extremely tired, I admitted, "I've enough nightmare-fuel to last the rest of my life."

As Lassiter moved on to the next patient, he said, "It's a helluva business, Commander. When all this is over, make sure you come back this way; your aunts and cousins would love to meet you."

"I'll do that," I promised, and meant to keep it.

"Also, since you're the last survivor of Project G, I'd like to keep an eye on your health. Anything changes, you let me know."

"Like what?"

"I don't know – strange rashes or bruising that won't go away, chronic headaches, wings or horns sprouting in strange places..."

"You're kidding, right?" All I could think of was Sephiroth's final forms, and they were kinda horrifying, to say the least.

Lassiter cracked a grin. "You're a unique individual, Cloud Strife – you're doomed to have an interesting life."

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

After our stop on Mideel, instead of flying straight to Costa del Sol, we were diverted to Wutai. Reeve contacted the ship with a message from Godo, who was frantic for news of his daughter. Yuffie was reluctant to leave us – she was probably thinking of all the potential loot at the Villa Shinra - but Tifa pointed out that the country needed its White Rose to rally around in this time of stress, and that her father obviously missed her. To sweeten the deal, I let her choose a few materia so she wouldn't go back empty-handed, and she was fairly cheerful when she disembarked. My ribs were bruised from her ferocious hug, which had followed her terse command to 'Look after Tifa, you jerk!'

Vincent had patiently endured Yuffie's goodbye embrace, resting his hand on top of her head while she unsuccessfully tried to wheedle a promise to visit out of him. He then took us by surprise when he chose to jump ship over Nibelheim; our altered course had taken us close to the town. "I am forever connected to this spot," he said quietly, before sliding down the rope to the ground; I wondered if and when we'd ever see him again.

"The place looks deserted," Tifa observed as we watched Vincent stride towards the gates. There was a definite lack of movement on the ground, aside from our gunslinger's cloak.

"They were all ShinRa employees; I'll bet they packed up and headed for home once Meteor arrived."

"I suspect that Vincent-san wishes to be close to Lucrecia-sama," Nanaki said; Cid and Barret's heads bobbed in agreement.

"What do you mean?"

"While you and Cloud-san were in the Lifestream, we fought several running battles across the Planet with the Weapon that emerged from Mideel's harbour. During the course of those skirmishes, we discovered a cave under a waterfall not far from Nibelheim. It is Lucrecia-sama's resting place."

"She's... dead...?" Tifa whispered.

"No. Lucrecia-sama sealed herself into a crystal to atone for her sins as the mother of Sephiroth."

"How is that a sin?" I demanded. "Aside from having poor taste in husbands?"

"She agreed to the experiment on her unborn child... and after his birth, she was not permitted to hold him, not even once. She regrets many things." Nanaki fixed me with a thoughtful gaze. "Lucrecia-sama believes that she has been cursed with a type of immortality due to the Jenova cells in her body. You may also be affected by this condition, Cloud-san."

Great. Something else to add to Dr. Lassiter's list of potential problems. "Thanks for telling us."

He nodded and lifted his head, scenting the wind. "I believe that Vincent-san intends to support Lucrecia-sama as she mourns for her son."

Shortly after this unsettling conversation, an urgent request from Cosmo Canyon had us swinging by Junon to pick up a load of food and medical supplies. The Canyon was now housing several hundred refugees from Midgar, and its resources were strained by all the extra mouths. Shortly after we arrived, we discovered that Bugenhagen had passed away while we were fighting our way into the Crater. Nanaki was devastated, to say the least, and disappeared into the Observatory. Marlene slipped away and went looking for him while we unloaded the cargo; we found the two of them sitting on the couch in Bugenhagen's living quarters, Nanaki's massive head on the little girl's lap, his one eye closed as she combed his mane while humming softly.

I wanted to copy him and lay my head in Tifa's lap for some soothing, but Barret had other ideas. The Shildra Inn was doing a roaring business, and Barret was determined to make good on his long-ago promise to the deceased members of AVALANCHE before the inn's cellar ran dry.

"C'mon, Spiky – we're goin' fer a drink."

I wasn't in the mood, but I knew how much this meant to him, so we left Marlene with Elmyra and Cait, and headed over to the inn. Tifa linked arms with both me and Barret; Cid, Shera and Nanaki were close behind. The place was packed and loud, but silence rapidly fell as we entered. The crowd parted in front of us, and the occupants of a table against the rear wall hastily vacated their seats. We hesitated, keenly aware of our lack of weaponry, and almost reflexively adopted defensive positions.

"Three cheers for the saviours of the Planet!"

The grinning barkeep pumped his fist in the air, and the roof practically came off from the enthusiastic applause. Two smiling waitresses escorted us to the cleared table, but it was slow going due to all the hand-shaking and back-slapping, then drinks and snacks arrived as everyone in the place nearly fell over themselves buying rounds. It was all extremely overwhelming, but one look at Barret kept me in my seat instead of sloping off to a quieter location. The big man kept wiping his eyes as he exchanged pleasantries with well-wishers, and I knew Jessie, Biggs and Wedge were foremost in his thoughts.

Cid was in his element; his arm around Shera and a drink in his hand, he raucously entertained listeners with only slightly embroidered tales of our adventures. Nanaki gravely accepted the acclaim as well as repeated condolences for his grandfather; he sat a little apart from us, the centre of his own rapt audience as he spoke of the Lifestream and the challenges now facing the Planet.

It was strange; I finally had what I thought I wanted – recognition, adulation, respect – but instead of exhilaration, I felt... empty. Too many lives had been lost in order to reach this point.

Tifa slipped her hand into mine and shifted closer; the attention and the noise were also taking a toll on her. "I'm about ready to fall over," she whispered.

Squeezing her fingers, I murmured, "Just a bit longer."

"I never thought I'd be trying to skip the victory party," she replied, wanly smiling.

It took a couple of hours to extricate ourselves from the happy crowd, and by the time we reached the Highwind's ladder, the sun was setting. The crew was in the process of lowering Nanaki's bosun's chair when he cleared his throat.

"I shall remain here. My people need me."

Barret opened his mouth to protest, but shut it again. "Will ya say good-bye to Marlene?"

"Of course."

Marlene was allowed to ride down in the bosun's chair, and then there were more tears despite Nanaki's reassurances that she would see him again. I choked up a bit, too; our team was dissolving around me and my chest felt hollow. When the crew finally cast off the Highwind's mooring lines, I stayed up on the deck for a while and let the pummelling headwind be the excuse for any moisture on my face.

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

"Here we are, ladies an' gents, Caits an' girls! Costa del Sol, ahoy!"

Tifa barely raised her head from my shoulder to blearily peer out the cockpit windows. "That's not the beach...?"

"We're at the ShinRa aerodrome behind the town," I replied, watching as a large black limousine with a discreet red-and-gold logo on the rear door rolled across the tarmac. "They sent a car for us."

"Thank the gods we don't have to walk."

"I'd carry you."

She managed a crooked smile. "Thanks."

Unfolding my legs with an effort, I managed to heave both of us upright from where we were propping up the helm, but had to grab hold of the railing when we swayed dangerously. "I hope the Villa has lots of hot water," Tifa murmured, brushing ineffectually at the dirt blotching her skin. "Shower, then bed?"

"Sure."

Cid's co-pilot landed the Highwind with the gentlest of bumps, since our captain was several sheets to the wind by the time we left Cosmo Canyon. While the ship was being secured, we stumbled to the cabin to retrieve our knapsacks and weapons, then assembled on deck. The rope ladder was already unfurled over the side, the crew standing by with the bosun's chair for Elmyra and Marlene.

Down below, an honour guard formed up, creating an avenue leading to the limo. "Dunno 'bout you, Spiky, but it feels fucking weird ta be on the same side as them fellas," Barret muttered upon catching sight of their ShinRa uniforms.

"It's a fresh start," Tifa interjected. "We all worked together to save the Planet, so live and let live."

"How 'bout that fucking red-headed Turk?" he demanded, a dark glint in his eye.

She bit her lip and thought long and hard before her shoulders slumped. "Even him."

"Damn. Was lookin' forward to kickin' his skinny ass."

"What are we waitin' for? C'mon – the Villa awaits!" Cid jovially boomed, then led the way over the side, followed by Shera. We followed in fits and starts, waiting with Marlene and Cait on deck until Elmyra was safely on the ground, then sending the little girl and the stuffed cat over the side in the bosun's chair. Barret had collected all three of them and walked them to the car before I descended the ladder, my scalp prickling at my back being exposed to the troopers' guns, and had to really fight my instincts to not unsheathe the Buster the moment my boots touched the ground.

Tifa arrived behind me, and then her warm hand wrapped around my arm as we warily inspected the nattily turned-out honour guard. Their uniforms were all neatly pressed, their boots shined to a mirror polish, their posture almost painfully rigid as they stood at full attention. The Second Class leading them shouted, "Present - arms!" and they smartly obeyed, their rifles snapping exactly perpendicular as he saluted with his sword.

I admit it; I had Ifrit in my hand the entire time as we walked between them. Old habits die hard.

"Commander Strife!"

Slowly pivoting, I fixed the officer with a steady gaze. "Yes?"

He doffed his helmet and tucked it under his arm, then bowed deeply; his long black ponytail slid over his shoulder. "On behalf of my men and their families, our heartfelt thanks for saving the Planet."

"You're welcome," Tifa graciously replied as the officer straightened, revealing distinctly Wutain features. He inclined his head, appearing abashed at omitting the rest of the team, and I couldn't help thinking that he looked somehow familiar. His troopers burst into cheers and Tifa smiled sweetly as she blushed, causing a fresh wave of verbal enthusiasm. Raising my hand in acknowledgement, I ushered her into the car, where we squashed in beside Cid and Shera.

Sliding the Buster along the floor, I pulled Tifa onto my lap, ignoring her half-hearted protest of 'not in front of Marlene'. Since Cid and Shera were contentedly snuggling beside us, I didn't see that it was much of an issue. Besides, Marlene was half-asleep, cuddling into the crook of Barret's arm, while Cait lounged on Elmyra's lap. Tifa glanced around at the other occupants and sensibly stopped fussing; she was asleep on my shoulder before the limo left the airfield. Costa del Sol's streets were quiet, and in no time we were rolling through the wrought-iron gates of the Villa ShinRa.

It was surreal.

Beyond the high fence, the sea glistened in the moonlight. Inside were lush gardens, statuary, ponds and fountains, glimpsed as the car followed a broad gravelled drive up to the mansion. The façade was covered with fancy brickwork, elegant white columns stretching from the semi-circular porch all the way up to the towering roofline. The tall, multi-paned windows glowed softly from within, their light sources obscured by gauzy curtains, and they were flanked by crisp white shutters that appeared as practical as they were decorative.

"Quite the place, eh?" Cid said, his tone uncharacteristically subdued.

The large front door opened as the car came to a stop, and a half-dozen servants filed out, forming a liveried welcoming committee. A round, lace-trimmed woman of formidable appearance took up a position at the head of the broad staircase as the driver came around to open the door.

Gripping the Buster's hilt, I murmured, "I'll go first."

"Stand down, Spiky. Reeve ain't gonna send us nowhere that ain't safe." Proving his point, Barret sent Marlene and Cait outside as soon as the door opened, then ushered Elmyra out.

"We're the heroes o' the fucking Planet, boss. Enjoy the novelty while it lasts, because we'll be yesterday's news soon enough." Cid saluted, handed out Shera ahead of him, and then it was just me and my girl.

"He's right, you know." Tifa brushed a kiss across my cheek, slid out of my lap, and followed the pilot. It might have been rude, but I led with the Buster as I exited, making sure everyone had a good look at the blade before I slapped it onto my back. "You're glowering," Tifa whispered.

"Can't help it."

"Welcome to Villa ShinRa!" the round woman announced, casting a frankly unimpressed eye over our rag-tag group.

Cait Sith adjusted his crown, took Marlene by the hand and ascended the stairs with regal mien. "Good evening, Madame Richler," he said, his voice deep and sonorous. "I'm sure you recall our conversation of this morning?"

Madame Richler blinked rapidly, then took a closer look at the stuffed cat. "Mr. Tuesti?" she quavered.

"Yes. These people are not only my friends, but also saved the Planet from Meteor. They are very special guests."

"Oh! Of course we will make sure that your friends are well looked after!" Rallying, she bobbed a curtsey to Cait Sith. The cat gestured us forward, and we trailed up the wide stairs in his wake.

The entryway featured marble floors and the biggest crystal chandelier I'd ever seen. Twin curving staircases with wrought-iron balustrades gave access to the upper floors, and intricately carved wall panels cast delicate shadows from the light of etched-glass candle sconces. All together, it was the fanciest place I'd ever been in, and I was immediately conscious of my dirty clothing.

"Quite frankly, I expected more gold leaf," Tifa commented, eyeing a marble statue of a dainty nymph twining flowers in her hair.

"Please leave your clothing in the baskets inside the room. Brunch will be served buffet-style out on the terrace. Pleasant dreams!" Madame Richler bobbed another curtsey before bustling away; we were taken charge of by the liveried servants, escorted up the staircases and assigned rooms in one wing.

After the staff disappeared back down the stairs, Cid mimicked Madame Richler's simpering tones. "You heard th' lady – pleasant dreams!" Then he smirked naughtily. "Oi – if this room's rockin', don't come knockin'!"

"If your snoring is that loud, people will have a right to complain!" Shera tartly replied before pushing him through the open door. "See you in the morning!" We chorused our goodnights, then Tifa gave Cait an affectionate pat and scooped up Marlene for a hug. While she was planting kisses on both Barret and Elmyra's cheeks, the little girl marched over to me; it looked like she meant business.

Going down on one knee, I looked her in the eye. "What is it, squirt?"

"Are you Tifa's boyfriend now?" she demanded.

"Yes."

Cocking her head to one side, Marlene contemplated this for a moment. "Do you promise to look after her?"

I met Tifa's abashed gaze. "For the rest of my life."

"Good. Because Tifa's looked after me an' Daddy an' everybody else ever since I was a baby, and it's time someone looked after her." Small arms wrapped around my neck and Marlene hugged fiercely; I was briefly reminded of Yuffie as I returned the heartfelt squeeze.

Raising my hand, I solemnly intoned, "I promise."

Marlene nodded with equal gravity before crossing the hall, taking Tifa by the hand and escorting her back to me. "You have to kiss now," she declared, putting Tifa's hand in mine, and I complied, Tifa blushing the entire time. In the weirdest but best possible way, it felt like we'd just had a real ceremony; all that was missing was a ring.

Elmyra was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "How wonderful," she sighed. "Be good to each other."

"Always." Kissing Tifa again, I ruffled Marlene's hair. "Thank you." She beamed a huge, happy smile, hugged Tifa around the legs and skipped back to Barret. Another round of goodnights, and everyone retired to their rooms. Pushing open our door, I stepped in first to give the place a once-over, noting a small table and two chairs set up in front of the window, then frowned at the pillow-strewn four-poster occupying the opposite wall. "Why does that look familiar...?"

Tifa squeezed past me, dropped our knapsacks on the floor beside a tall laundry basket, and inspected the heavily-carved piece of furniture. "It's a twin to the bed at the Ghost Inn, just without a canopy."

"Also hopefully without fake vampires and trip wires."

She chuckled tiredly as she removed her boots and socks, leaving them beside the knapsacks, and began exploring the suite. Closing the door, I discovered that it lacked locks, and short of using the Buster as a massive pin, it meant that we were leaving ourselves open to attack.

"Cloud – come see this!" Giggling, Tifa beckoned from another doorway.

Consumed by worst-case scenarios, I reluctantly shucked my footwear and socks and padded across the room to see what had amused her. The thick carpet felt good under my bare feet, and I had perked up somewhat by the time I entered what proved to be a luxuriously-appointed bathroom that looked like something you'd find in a high-end brothel. Not that I'd ever been in one, but still.

"Does ShinRa buy everything in bulk?" Tifa chortled.

I shook my head at the gilded, multi-branched candelabrum standing next to the vast, claw-footed tub. "Does that mean the Ghost Inn is decorated in 'Early Villa Shinra', or the other way around?"

"I think you'll like this shower." Smiling, she pointed at the open stall taking up most of one wall, an elaborate pattern of tiny, black-and-white tiles marking a generous rectangle on the floor. A nearby console was stacked with a generous amount of folded towels. "Oh, I can't wait to be clean!"

As she unzipped her sweater, I said, "Go ahead; I'll wait."

"Eh...?" Immediately concerned, she laid her hands on my chest. "What do you mean?" she asked, searching my face.

"The door doesn't lock, and I'm not taking any chances."

"Oh, Cloud..." Sliding her fingers under my harness straps, she sighed softly before murmuring, "The war's over. You can let down your guard." When I avoided her earnest gaze, she gently tugged on the straps and quietly added, "Please."

Only someone made of stone could deny her, and I'm not that man. Surrendering with fairly good grace, I stashed the Buster outside the bathroom door and let Tifa undress me. I nearly objected when she tossed our filthy clothes into the bedroom – fighting naked is not my style – but my protest died on my lips when she pulled the tie from her hair and turned on the water, then stepped under the stream.

My libido certainly appreciated the way her skin glistened in the flickering candlelight, and how her wet hair clung to her curves. Slicking her bangs back from her face, Tifa blushed a little when she caught sight of my arousal, but beckoned anyways, and I obeyed.

This was a helluva lot better than the last shower we shared.

Tifa slid her arms around me, moulding her body against mine, and we simply stood under the hot water for several minutes, letting the warmth saturate our bodies. Contentedly nuzzling the crook of her neck, I allowed my concerns to drain away and instead focussed on the woman in my embrace. She was making these little humming sounds as her hands smoothed up and down my back, pressing kisses to my chest, completely relaxed and happy. Carefully gathering a handful of dark hair, I tilted back her head and kissed her. It was long and deep, growing in intensity until we were trying to find ways of fitting more closely together.

Sliding my hands beneath her, I lifted her off her feet and pressed her against the tiled wall. Her legs immediately wrapped around my waist, pulling me a little too close, and we both went very, very still as the potential repercussions filtered through the haze of arousal.

"Um, I need to wash my hair," she breathlessly announced, and we carefully disentangled ourselves. However, it turned out that hair-washing was even more arousing when you have Tifa's firm ass pressed against your crotch and her hair swirling around your erection as she rinses the shampoo out of her eyes. I couldn't help it; gripping her hips, I slowly ground against her until my knees were shaking.

Then she leaned back against me and slipped her arms up behind my neck, encouraging a whole new level of exploration. Cupping her breasts, I fondled her budding nipples until she was moaning audibly, her hips moving sensually until I could hardly think straight. At one point, she shifted her feet further apart in an effort to help our balance because we were teetering dangerously, and I took full advantage to play with her.

The water was slick and so was she, but on an entirely different level. She writhed and pleaded as I slowly stroked her most intimate places, the sensations of skin sliding over skin almost too much. I was so hard it hurt by the time she rose up onto her toes, her head falling back against my shoulder, her body fairly trembling with the need for release... but instead of taking her over that edge just yet, I decided to try something I'd wanted to do with her for – well, a really long time.

Confusion was writ large on her sweet face when I turned her in my arms - until she saw something in my expression. "C'mon," I rumbled, turning off the water and drawing her towards the console. She came willingly, never taking her eyes off my face as I draped both of us in towels. I took my time to blot every drop of water, pressing kisses to the warm, damp skin as I worked my way down her body until I knelt at her feet. Circling her slim ankle with my fingers, I rested her foot on my palm; when I laid a path of kisses upwards towards the apex of her thighs, she inhaled sharply but didn't move away. Encouraged, I repeated the attention to her other leg before rising to my feet.

Giving myself a cursory wipe-down, I dropped the towels onto the floor before sweeping her into my arms and carrying her out into the bedroom. Tifa said nothing, not even when I tumbled her among the pillows, just continued watching me with wide, dark eyes. Following her onto the bed, I crouched over her for a few seconds, simply admiring her, before slowly lowering myself until we were pressed snugly together the full length of our bodies.

She was soft and welcoming and smelled so damn good that I simply breathed in her warm skin-scent for a while, more to calm my raging libido than anything else. However, as soon as I began licking and kissing her breasts, and her hips began slowly rocking, my arousal came roaring back. Trailing kisses down over her satiny belly, I reached my goal and nuzzled into her short curls. Tifa let out a startled squeak and she tensed; when I looked up, she was blushing furiously, her hand sliding over her hip as if to block my intent.

"Please," I rasped, desperately wanting to taste her.

Reaching down, she touched my face; she told me months later that my expression at that moment was downright feral. Finally, she nodded and some of the tension left her frame. Settling in between her thighs, I began exploring her with my mouth... and her enthusiastic reaction was incredibly gratifying. Tifa gasped, whimpered and sighed while I tested the best ways to make her breathing hitch and her hips move. Teasing her sweet spot with my tongue, I revelled in the way she moaned my name just before her body tightened and she clapped her hand over her mouth to muffle an honest-to-goddess scream.

Reluctantly leaving my new favourite place, I kissed my way back up her trembling body, making it as far as her breasts before her hands clasped around the back of my neck and Tifa pulled me the rest of the way. "That was incredible," she gasped before passionately attacking my mouth. Knowing that she was tasting herself and didn't seem to mind ratcheted my desire up several notches.

Coming up for air, I looked towards the door to gauge the distance between the bed and our knapsacks, and thereby how long it would take me to retrieve the condoms, then bit back a curse when I realized that our bags were gone. Twisting to look in the other direction, I couldn't believe that I didn't notice someone collecting our clothes from outside the bathroom door.

Shit.

The Buster was where I'd left it, but at some point while we were too busy to notice, our gear, including most of our materia, had been lifted.

Not to mention the means of safely consummating our love-making, dammit.

Unaware of our predicament, Tifa found new ways to make me crazy. When her tongue flicked my nipple, I groaned and pressed into the provocative contact. Unfortunately, it just made our situation more acute... until I noticed the drawer in the bedside table. If we were really, really lucky, the Villa ShinRa would have all the bases covered. The drawer handle was just out of reach, and I had to partially roll off of her in order to investigate.

"Cloud...?"

"Gimme a minute." Yanking open the drawer, I momentarily exulted at the sight of a box neatly packed with two rows of small, square packages, until the design on the front registered and sent me on an unscheduled trip down memory lane.

"Is something wrong?"

"No; just more proof that ShinRa buys in bulk." Retrieving one of the condoms, I showed Tifa the distinctive red-and-gold packaging. "When we went on leave in Sector Eight, we were issued condoms exactly like these - five for officers, three for enlisted men – and given a chit for an army-approved brothel."

"But... you never used them..."

"I sold 'em to the rest of my squad. Three gil per condom, five for the chit. Sent some of the money to my mom, kept some to treat myself - went to see 'Loveless' a couple of times."

"Really? What was it like?"

"I didn't get it," I sheepishly confessed. "Zack came with me the second time; he was snoring by the end of the prologue."

Tifa tittered softly. "It has something to do with a goddess, right?"

"There's only one goddess I'm interested in worshipping," I murmured, leaning in for a kiss; she was a pretty shade of pink when I pulled back. I was able to apply the condom without help, despite my erection having softened slightly. However, it only took one bashful but eager smile from Tifa to solve that problem. It was almost embarrassing how easy it was for her to beguile me... and she wasn't even trying.

This time, there was no awkwardness or apparent discomfort when I slid inside her, but I was too riled up to be gentle. Tifa tried to match my urgent rhythm, but soon gave up and just held on for the ride. After a few powerful thrusts, I orgasmed so hard I saw stars and collapsed in her arms, a sweating, trembling mass of nerve endings; it took a long time before my heart stopped racing and I could breathe properly. I was too drained to move, but I had some clean-up to attend to. Reluctantly withdrawing, I kissed away her muttered complaint over the loss of our intimate connection, then forced myself out of bed. My legs simply did not want to support my weight, and I staggered like a drunken airship captain.

"Do you need help?"

Bouncing off the doorframe before grabbing onto it for balance, I replied, "Nope. Be right back."

"All right. I'll keep this spot warm for you." Snuggling down in the bedding, Tifa blew me a kiss when I glanced over my shoulder. Almost asleep by the time I returned from the bathroom, she was pliant and clinging when I joined her between the sheets. The bed was extremely comfortable, and it was very soothing to sift my fingers through Tifa's damp hair while listening to her deep, even breathing as she sprawled across my chest. It occurred to me that I could jam one of the chairs under the door handle, like I did at the Ghost Inn, but that would mean getting out of bed and I really didn't want to move. Despite my best attempts to remain alert, I was soon out cold.

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

The sound of distant surf woke me up very early the next morning, and I instantly noted that the window was now open. When I raised my head to assess the situation, I saw an ice bucket, a pair of goblets and an upside-down silver bowl on the small table across the room. Thin curtains gently fluttered behind the table, and fluffy white robes were draped over the backs of the two chairs; at least they were providing something for us to wear since they'd nicked our clothes.

Sweet Shiva, the Villa staff could give stealth lessons to ninjas; I wondered if we could sign up Yuffie.

Tifa moved restlessly, probably sensing my consternation; I tucked the blankets more closely around her, and she settled again. We hadn't been knifed in our sleep, so I was willing to give the staff the benefit of the doubt. Lulled by the sound of the waves, I drifted off again... but woke up in a hurry when Tifa let out a terrified shriek.

As soon as I made sure there wasn't an enemy inside the room, I tried to soothe her. "Shhh... it's all right." Her breathing was extremely erratic, coming in rapid, uneven gasps; I patted her cheek until her blankly-staring eyes finally focussed. "I'm here – you're safe." She whimpered once, then clung desperately to me, pressing her face into my throat. "I've got you," I whispered, wrapping myself around her trembling frame.

However, comforting quickly turned into something far more carnal, and one thing led to another until Tifa straddled and rode me with almost frantic energy. My libido was totally into it, but even as I briefly lost the ability to think due to a mind-blowing orgasm, I was still aware that something wasn't right. As I came back to reality, I realized my shoulder was wet - she was crying, but I had a feeling that it wasn't from the strength of her release. Despite an inherent sluggishness due to diverted blood flow, I encouraged Tifa to rearrange her limbs in a more comfortable position before cuddling her close. Stroking her hair aside, I kissed away the tears and held her until she calmed.

"Tell me."

She inhaled and exhaled deeply several times, her breath scudding across my chest. "I-It was S-Sector Seven all over again, except Aerith a-and M-Marlene were with us, b-but when the Plate fell... it turned into S-Sephiroth, and he... h-hacked everyone to pieces. Th-there were m-mangled b-bodies everywhere and b-buildings on fire... a-and him laughing." Shaking her head as if trying to dispel the images, Tifa shivered violently. I wished I could say something that would ease her fears, but couldn't find anything adequate because the horrifying imagery closely matched what we'd seen in Midgar after Meteor. Instead, I did my best to make her feel safe. It was like she couldn't warm up, but eventually she fell asleep nestled against my chest, her ear pressed to my heart as if needing reassurance that I was alive.

The next morning, it was obvious something was still wrong. When I returned from a disposal trip to the bathroom, she was sitting up in bed, the blankets pulled tight around her shoulders and her lower lip worried to the point of blood. All in all, she looked perfectly miserable, and I didn't like it one bit. Detouring across the room, I shrugged into one of the robes, collected the ice bucket, the goblets and a bowl of sliced fruit hidden under the silver dome and set them up on the bedside table. The contents of the ice bucket proved to be a carafe of juice; filling both goblets, I offered her one, but she shook her head.

Setting it aside, I decided to force the issue and deliberately trapped her against the pillows, my face only inches from hers. After a startled look, she averted her eyes and seemed to shrink. "What's the matter, Tifa? Don't tell me it's 'nothing', because it's obviously something."

She hunched a little more, ducking her head. I stifled my worry, and she finally swallowed hard and looked me in the eye. "I-I feel like I used you, and I'm ashamed," she whispered.

"Er... what?" Her lip trembled, and she looked close to tears. "I don't know what you mean – 'used me'? How?"

"When I just... sort of... climbed on top of you a-and..."

Deeply confused, I sat back. "I don't have a problem with you taking control."

"No - it isn't that; it's..." She chewed her lip again, then hung her head. "I felt so empty inside... so many people are dead, and some of it is our fault but more of it is Sephiroth's and ShinRa's, but we're still alive and I don't know if we deserve happiness and... and..."

"You wanted the darkness to go away," I finished, unnerved by how her feelings exactly mirrored mine.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Moving closer, I gently kissed her on the lips. "I know exactly where you're coming from. There will be times when I need you the same way, for the same reason." Nuzzling her cheek, I added, "We've been to hell and back several times in the last few months; it's gonna take us a while to heal."

Closing her eyes, she turned into my touch and murmured, "Thank you."

After I tucked myself into the bedding beside her, she burrowed inside my robe and we simply held onto each other. It was both comforting and upsetting to know that Tifa struggled with the same despairing thoughts as I did, and it made me even more determined to protect her, to keep the smile on her face.

After a while, I again offered her the goblet and she accepted. We clinked glasses and sipped the cold liquid, then snuggled some more while sharing the fruit. Drips were inevitable, and we eventually decided we needed to wash off the juice, which culminated in sharing a hot bath. Not that I was complaining; who wouldn't want to get wet with a naked and affectionate Tifa?

We were still soaking in the tub when someone knocked on the door, which was odd enough considering the staff's propensity for letting themselves in unannounced, so I volunteered to answer it. Hastily towelling off, I slipped back into my robe and picked up the Buster. Paranoid? Maybe slightly. However, our caller was armed only with the power of cuteness.

Marlene greeted me with a dazzling smile, wearing a fluffy pink sundress with a matching bow in her hair. "Good morning, Cloud!" she sang, bouncing up and down on her toes.

"Mornin', squirt," I replied, leaning the sword against the wall before I fully opened the panel. "What's up?"

"Daddy says you better get downstairs before Cid eats all the food!"

"That sounds serious." Over my shoulder, I called, "Marlene's here."

"Oh! Send her in!"

The little girl entered our room, and I became self-conscious about the rumpled bed. Spotting the other robe, I directed her attention. "Here, squirt – take this to Tifa." As she accepted the garment, something occurred to me. "Where'd you get that outfit?"

She twirled, the skirt opening up around her a flower. "Isn't it pretty? Elmyra and Daddy got new clothes, too!"

"Where from?"

"One of the ladies that works here," she said, pirouetting into the bathroom. Turning to close the door, I leapt backwards with a startled oath, because standing in the opening was a bespectacled woman wearing a thoroughly starched uniform; it perfectly matched her personality.

Proffering an armload of neatly pressed fabric, she said, "We hope you and Mrs. Strife will find these satisfactory."

"Uh, thanks." Accepting the clothing, I wondered how they knew our sizes, and then remembered they had absconded with our gear. "Where's our stuff?"

"Being cleaned." With only two words, she subtly managed to convey the laundry department's poor opinion of our tattered belongings. "I can assure you that everything will be returned." Bobbing a curtsey, she bustled off down the hallway, leaving me with the strong impression that our gear was safe from pilfering because it wasn't worth stealing.

Bemused, I shut the door and laid out the clothing on the bed. It was all there, including underwear. Tifa had been issued a dress made of some soft blue fabric, while I'd been given a pair of sandy-coloured, loose-fitting trousers and a red short-sleeved shirt – you couldn't get further from my uniform in terms of colour or material if you tried.

Marlene was helping Tifa comb her hair when I stuck my head into the bathroom and warned, "I'm getting dressed out here... no peekin'!"

While Marlene rolled her eyes and huffed, Tifa flashed me a genuine smile. "We'll meet you downstairs."

Nodding, I closed the door and quickly dressed, noting that everything fit fairly well... then wondered if the Villa kept a supply of summer clothes on hand for guests that showed up unprepared. No gloves, no gauntlet, no pauldron - they'd been part of my existence for so long that it felt like I was forgetting something. I considered the Buster and decided to leave it since Tifa appeared to be right about the natives being mostly friendly. "See you in a bit," I called, and left the room.

Given a choice of not one, but two grand staircases to make my descent, I picked the left-hand one. At the bottom of the stairs, the marble floor cool underfoot, I investigated the two high-ceilinged rooms opening off the entryway; one was a parlour full of overstuffed furniture while the other was a library equipped with comfortable leather chairs. Both had fireplaces, and the overall effect was of luxurious coziness.

There was an archway beneath the stairs, leading through the centre of the house towards a light-filled space on the other side. A pair of tall, glass-paned doors stood open, allowing the sound of the sea to fill the huge room. Tables and chairs made out of cane, the latter upholstered in bright fabrics, were clustered on one side while the other had potted plants standing guard over couches and chairs made out of the same materials. Floor-to-ceiling windows draped in sheer curtains let in bright but filtered light; overhead, fans languidly moved the already-warm air.

I heard Cid cackling from outside, so followed the sound through the doors onto a sun-drenched terrace. "There ya are, boss – 'bout to send a search party!"

Shading my eyes as I ambled towards the linen-draped table in the shade of a flower-entwined pergola, I replied, "Tifa had a rough night."

"We heard," Shera said, her expression full of concern; I belatedly remembered that their room was right beside ours. "Is she all right?"

"Nightmare," I grunted as I sat down next to Elmyra; she sympathetically clucked her tongue and patted my hand.

"Damn. Poor gal's back ta that, huh?" Barret sighed. He was downright dapper in a loose overshirt and tank top; somehow, even his scars appeared softened.

"Coffee or tea, Mr. Strife?" Another neatly-uniformed staffer, this time a man about my age, proffered two silver kettles.

"Er, coffee, thanks." He filled my cup, then retreated to a table next to a buffet arranged with an impressive collection of dishes; I frowned. "Are we receiving special treatment? Aside from the Villa, I mean."

Cid followed the direction of my evil eye. "It's okay, boss - I asked, because the idea was kinda stickin' in my craw, too. Costa del Sol's a refugee camp – plenty of families are stuck here, without a home to go back to. Reeve's makin' sure the food shipments are equally apportioned so nobody goes hungry – that's what them spiffy troopers up at the aerodrome are doin' ta earn their keep."

"He must've taken over the ShinRa bank accounts to pay for all this."

"Exactly, laddie!"

"Hey, Cait." Gesturing at the house, I added, "Nice digs," before taking a sip.

He swept off his crown, placed his gloved paw over his heart, and bowed. "Ah'm pleased an' honoured t'declare that th' Villa will be known as 'Villa Cloud' from this day forward!"

"Wh-what?" I spluttered, endangering the freshly-ironed tablecloth.

"Gotta like the sound o' that!" Cid chortled, reaching across the empty chair to thump my shoulder. "Beats havin' a street named after ya!"

It must have been a trick of the light, but I swore Cait's button eyes twinkled as he replaced his crown. He looked like he was about to say more, but at that moment, Barret gave a low, wolfish whistle.

"Well, now – ain't that a fine-lookin' gal!"

He wasn't talking about Marlene, either. Hand-in-hand with the little girl, Tifa crossed the terrace towards our table, and my heart skipped a few beats. She looked like a million gil in a blue halter dress made out of a soft fabric that clung to her curves and swayed alluringly with her every step. Her hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail that emphasized the bareness of her shoulders and I instantly wondered how soon I could get her alone to investigate all that exposed skin. Marlene slipped into the seat between Barret and Elmyra, and Tifa continued around the table to the chair beside mine. When she sat down, I discovered that the dress was essentially backless, and immediately took advantage by sliding my arm around her and tracing patterns on her skin with my fingers.

The waiter's eyes were in danger of popping out of his head, because the dress did amazing things for her cleavage, but one encounter with my stony glare had him remembering what he was supposed to be doing instead of ogling the guests. His ear-tips flushed when Tifa politely thanked him for the tea, and remained like that for the rest of the meal. Of course I checked.

It was like our breakfast around the Operations Room table a few days ago, except this time the spectre of Sephiroth wasn't hanging over our heads like a particularly long and shiny sword. In fact, we stayed at the table so long past noon that the waiter started serving drinks. While Cid, Barret and Elmyra availed themselves of his cocktail-mixing skills, the rest of us took Marlene to the beach.

The staff supplied bathing suits and sent us off with a hamper, towels and an umbrella, as well as buckets and shovels. The chauffeur offered to drive us to the seaside promenade, but we decided to walk through the gardens for a closer look. The features we glimpsed by moonlight last night were even more impressive by daylight, and we slowly meandered through the grounds while Marlene picked floral decorations; Tifa tucked a bright orange flower behind her ear.

The main staircase to the beach was right across the promenade from the gate; I let us out with a key card reluctantly entrusted to me by Madame Richler. It was plainly obvious that she was having trouble getting used to the change in ownership – I doubted that Rufus had ever left the Villa to mingle with the 'common folk' in his entire life – but she was putting on a stiff upper lip and dealing with it.

Once we claimed our patch of sand, the girls shed the gauzy wraps they were wearing over their bathing suits. Shera looked terrific in a floral one-piece, but Tifa was the scene-stealer. The colourful bikini fit her much better than the one Yuffie stole the last time we were in town, and the only thing that kept me from admiring her the entire time was the need to shoot hairy eyeballs at the other males on the beach.

It was mostly families, but there were a few stray uncles who were having trouble keeping their eyes on their nieces and nephews due to Tifa; I snickered when one caught hell from the toddler's mama for allowing the squirt to munch a mouthful of sand. There was also a distinct lack of off-duty ShinRa personnel, which suited me just fine, because they made me think of Julia Darrow and her Thane and I really didn't want that reminder right now.

We all helped Marlene build a sandcastle, and then she and Shera combed the beach looking for shells and seaweed to decorate it, while Tifa and I dug a moat to the edge of the surf. There were snacks and cold drinks in the hamper, and it was very pleasant to lounge on the warm sand under the umbrella between bouts of tag with Marlene – who turned out to be a fast little dickens, even with my unfair advantage of Jenova cells – and convincing Tifa to go for a swim 'to wash off the grit' complete with opportunistic groping that got me ducked more than a few times. A final, full-on, 'girls against the boy' water fight ended the afternoon, and we trailed back to the Villa among shadows lengthening across the warm pavement.

Marlene dozed on my shoulder, completely worn out; one arm curled around my neck, a pretty shell clutched in her hand. Tifa wove her fingers with mine as we sauntered through the cool of the gardens, in no hurry to arrive. The indoor and outdoor lamps were being lit as we entered, and dinner was announced. Shera went through the house to check on the rest of the group, who were still out on the terrace and being much quieter than any of us expected, considering Cid and Barret's proximity to the liquor cabinet. I carried Marlene up to her room, followed by Tifa and a maid who appeared out of nowhere, armed with a tray of child-sized nibbles. While Tifa chivvied the little girl into the shower and then her nightie, I changed back into the shirt and trousers and then took over cajoling Marlene into eating some of her dinner while Tifa went to clean up.

Cait Sith slipped into the room as a very tired little girl was fussing over a speck on a piece of melon. "Hallo, wee lassie – ready for a bedtime story?"

"Yes, please," she smiled, rallying a little. As she went into the bathroom to brush her teeth, I cleared away the tray and turned down her bed. Cait hopped in, and when Marlene returned, I tucked them both in; the stuffed toy positively smirked.

"Ye'll be a fine papa someday, laddie," he cheeked.

"You gonna be okay by yourself?" I asked, ignoring the cat.

"Cait's here," Marlene yawned. "I'll be fine."

"All right – you need anything, you send him down to get us, okay?" Ruffling her hair, I was about to stand up when Marlene beckoned. When I leaned in, she kissed my cheek.

"Thank you for a wonderful day," she sighed, her eyes slipping closed almost immediately.

"No problem." Exchanging nods with Cait, I turned to see Tifa leaning against the doorframe, a gentle smile on her lips. She was wearing that gorgeous blue dress again, and in the darkness of the hall outside, I pulled her close and dragged my tongue along the crest of her bare shoulder. Tifa's skin smelled intoxicatingly of sunshine and tasted of salt, and the flower in her hair added its own heady fragrance. If people weren't waiting for us downstairs, I would've ordered room service and kept her all to myself.

However, social niceties called; stealing a kiss, I pinched her bottom and chased her down the stairs. She swung around the newel post at the bottom, bright-eyed and giggling, then let out a girlish squeal when I slid down the banister towards her and fled towards the back of the house. Tifa pulled up just inside the open doors, the sheer curtains billowing softly around her silhouetted figure, and when I caught up, drew me into a tender kiss. We walked out onto the lamp-lit terrace with our arms around each other and joined the rest of our family.

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

An hour or so later, the colours of sunset still lingering in the sky, Tifa and I returned to the beach with a bottle of wine and a pair of long-stemmed glasses we'd filched from the dinner table. We found a convenient driftwood log not far from the steps; I plopped down somewhat untidily – the wine served with dinner had been excellent - and propped myself up against the sand-polished wood. When Tifa went to seat herself at my side, I scooped her into my lap instead. Tucking her skirt around her folded legs, she nestled close; dropping a kiss on her shoulder, I hugged her tight and we stayed that way until the stars came out, sipping wine and talking quietly about our future.

If I had any inkling that barely two years later, I'd be fighting for my life, the future of the Planet, and the chance to redeem myself with Tifa, I would've clung more tightly to that golden moment.

Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф

~finis