Seventh Heaven

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Reno facepalmed himself. "No, no, no... not pay. The word is, loan," he corrected. "We need a loan like no other, dudes."

Rude intervened. "What my partner is trying to say is, we currently have no money... or, to be exact, any valuable currency of any kind. BUT... after this entire debacle is finally concluded, we would be perfectly willing to repay you for any assistance you would be willing to give us."

Reno broke in, starting to get the idea. "Yeah... like that ship you guys keep going on about? We could get it back for ya, no problem!"

Rude elbowed him emphatically. Partner, learn when to keep your mouth shut, please. As a personal favor to me.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Tifa heard him blurt out the story and softened slightly... but only slightly. In the time since he'd been gone, it sounded as though he had experienced things just as nightmarish as her life had been recently, but still... Was that any excuse for what he had done to her, what he was doing now?

"Cloud... every night, Marlene has nightmares. Every single night. And do you know what she sees in them? Do you know which monster she sees in her closet every time I shut off her light at night?" She held him in a long, severe gaze, knowing he could tell what she was driving at. "She will never know what it is like to feel safe again. And here you stand, defending the people who did that to her." She shook her head and stared at the floor again. "I know that fate has done some terrible things to you. But that isn't your problem anymore. Your problem now is remembering fate has done things to other people, too. You've left your shell, finally... but some of us aren't sure we recognize what came out. I thought I'd never see you again... and right now, I'm not sure I do. We still need Cloud... so who exactly are you?"

****

Ami listened to her brothers relating the curious events that had brought them to the Dumpster, and Ami's face set itself into a series of hard lines. Her eyes traveled up the wall, towards the roof of the tavern...

"I have an idea, boys. This won't bode well for our relationship with Tifa... not to mention Cloud... but I'm not leaving my brother out here in the cold to wallow in puke, OK?"

They waited as she explained...

[lutz]

Cloud lower his head.
"Who am I?....who am I?
he shook it off.
"Why I am Cloud...same Cloud I always was! the Cloud you could trust....and love....the same as I alway was
He walked over to her and sat down beside her.
"I am seriously sorry Tifa....but I couldn't have done any different, I remember six months ago you told me to stop hiding and trust people again...let them into my life...again....now you've got to trust me! I want to livein a world were I can be with you and the kids....that world isn't now and will never change unless something is done now Tifa.....all our time together, all the things we faced have leaded us here to this moment, for a better world....please Tifa.....just trust me...."

*********

Abel: Samson the Pit Bull they promise the pit bull!"

Samson: "Eh...I don't know if I am trust fire crotch and silent bob over here....plus I dout even these guys could find away to get us our ship back from the people that have it now....we are talking some pretty low life scum here, thugs, gangsters....eh savy!?"

Abel: "Give it a chance eh? whats the worst that could happen?"

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Reno opened his mouth to say EXACTLY what the worst was that could happen (the destruction of the planet, obliteration of all lifekind as we know it, etc.), but Rude just managed to stop him in time with another strategically placed elbow in the gut. "My as$ociate and I were formerly employees of Rufus Shinra... Turks, to be exact. I'm certain we are more than capable of handling whomever you happen to owe."

Reno moved a step away from his elbow-happy partner. "So will ya help us out here or not?"

Vincent, more or less forgotten in the shadiest corner of the bar, observed quietly. As long as this Samson stops calling Reno "fire crotch", I'll have no problems working with him or his lizard friend. If they have any tricks in mind, they'll quickly learn they chose the wrong rubes to trifle with.

He suddenly heard a scrabbling sound on the wall from outside... he groaned inwardly, knowing too well what it could mean.

****

Tifa heard his plea and met his eyes, her own starting to mist over... she hadn't let herself cry since the month he vanished... she leaned over to him and embraced him, letting her bottled emotions vent. "I want to trust you, more than anything," she whispered, to keep herself from sobbing openly. "I just want to believe that it's all over..." Have you not been listening? It ISN'T over. "Cloud, don't you understand... there will never be one moment... it will never be over. It will only keep on like this forever. Just let it go, please. Let someone else do the fighting for once... let somebody else be the hero."

A sharp knock interrupted them, and Vincent quickly followed the knock, swinging open the unlocked door and roughly pushing Amnesty inside through it. "I caught her trying to break into a back window."

Tifa pulled back from Cloud, her jaw dropping. "Is this true?" she asked the dejected young girl standing before her.

Ami lowered her head and sighed. "It's true. I'm sorry--"

Tifa had seen more than enough. "Get out."

Ami looked up defiantly. "I had to! My brother is sick--"

Tifa stood up and pointed to the door. "Get out!"

"I won't! He can barely even think! You're throwing him out to die!" Ami shouted back.

"Thank G**!" Tifa retorted. "I won't have to kill him myself, then!"

Amnesty slapped her across the face with an angry scream. Tifa launched herself at her, and Vincent finally had to seperate them.

[lutz]

Cloud stood up fast
"ENOUGH! Tifa lay off, Amnesty cool down!"
Cloud ran over to Tifa and got in her face.
"I know what must be done Tifa....I will stay here with you...but understand Tifa it was never about being a hero....it was about creating a better future...."
he wrapped his arms around Tifa.
"I am not going anywhere this time..."
he slowly let go and looked over to Amnesty.
"I am sorry Ami this isn't my battle....it was an honor fighting alongside you...this has nothing to do with your brothers but everything to do with I have matters to attend to here....ok....Tifa doesn't trust your brother nor do I it may be hard for you to understand.....this isn't the only place you can stay, there is a Inn not to far from here.....I will stop by with Vincent to say good bye..."

Vincent: "Amnesty....I will infrom Lutz you and your brothers have moved to the Inn....Cloud...are you sure this is what you want?"

Cloud: "Yes Vincent I think its time to turn in the sword.....its been good.....friend!"
He patted Vincent on the shoulder.

Vincent: "Indeed....friend!"
once in a blue moon one can see Vincent Valentine smile, this was one of those times. Vincent Smiled
Vincent: "Take care....Amnesty.....I will show you to the Inn...."

Cloud turned back to Tifa.
"Forgive me...."

*********

Samson iched his chin.
"hhhmmmm death to the world eh? well if the planet is dead there is no Pit Bull eh!? ok deal!"

Abel: "Smart move Samson....these guys used to be Turk thugs....much more dangerous then who we got mixed up with!"

Samson: "Eh? maybe but if we don't get our ship back there will be hell to pay."
Samson patted the handle of his scimitar.
Thats it looks dangerous....look sly.....look good!

Abel: "All we have is a couple hundred Gil....here ya do!"
He hands Rude a bag of Gil, as he reacted out to Rude there was a symbol or glyph tattoo on the Silken's hand.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Rude accepted the money from Abel. "Thank you..." As it was exchanged, he noticed something... a tattoo on Abel's hand that looked all too familiar. The mark of Aztar...

He looked at this new ally suspiciously from behind his shades. "Interesting tattoo. Where did you get it?"

Reno raised an eyebrow... Never thought Rude was a body art type...

****

Tifa's face lit up and she threw her arms around Cloud... she was all too ready to forgive him. As long as he intended to stay with her this time... as long as he meant what he was telling her now...

But as she looked over Cloud's shoulder, she could see Amnesty staring at them... at first her gaze was filled with fury, but as what she had heard sank in, she slumped in defeat and shame... and a tear slid down her face.

Tifa froze. Tears...? From a Remnant?

Ami looked up to see Tifa watching her. She also froze... and a terrible need to leave the room seized her. She turned and fled. She had done the unforgiveable... she had shown pain to an enemy, and betrayed the trust of a friend, all within fifteen minutes. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die for shame...

Vincent saw her going and followed her outside, pulling the Cerberus on her. "Don't try to escape the consequences of what you've done--"

"Go to h**l!" Ami yelled back, but the split second to she took to turn back and scream at him caused her to trip over the curb. She wasn't hurt, but it was the last straw... she sat back up and screamed in anger and frustration, throwing gravel back at the tavern.

Vincent stood there and took it. "Been there and back. I didn't enjoy myself."

She glared back at him. "I'm not going anywhere," she hissed between gritted teeth.

Vincent was about to contradict her in no uncertain terms. But the look on her face was far too familiar. He found himself staring at her, saying nothing at all...

"Why don't you just take a picture?!" Ami snapped. "Sell some tickets? The world's last great living freak!"

"That's enough," Vincent said sternly, hoisting her to her feet as she screamed protest. "I've had enough of you feeling sorry for yourself," he scolded as she yanked her arm free from his hand. He continued before she could reply. "Poor you. You're so misunderstood. You never did anything to hurt anybody. You didn't ask to be a cancer. On and on in your self-righteousness. Would you f**king get over it?"

Never once did he even raise his voice, but Ami felt as though she'd never been bawled out so hard in her life. She did not... could not... think of anything to say.

Vincent gestured back at the Inn. "You may think you've done your share to protect this world. But there are people who have fought and suffered and even died to keep it safe for you. And those people, people like Cloud, have been at it since time out of your mind. They have sacrificed more and been hurt far worse than you can even imagine. So STOP thinking you're the only one who has had to feel uncomfortable to provide a better world for someone else, because if you want to know the truth, you are nothing more than a pathetic little girl who has no idea what she has gotten herself into or what true sacrifice really means. If you did, you would not for one moment THINK of blaming Cloud for doing what he has decided to do."

Amnesty's jaw hung open in shock as Vincent turned away, heading back to the tavern.

That child... that girl... she has no idea where she came from, does she?

If she knew anything about her REAL mother...

He entered the office, where Cloud and Tifa were standing and waiting, still not certain what had just transpired.

"Do either of you have some sort of automobile?" Vincent inquired quietly.

Tifa finally spoke. "We have a truck out back..."

"I'll need to borrow it."

"How long has it been since you've driven?" Tifa inquired before she could stop herself.

Vincent eyed her. "Not long enough."

****

A few minutes later, Amnesty and her brothers were loaded into the back of the truck. Ami was watching over Kadaj, who was by now curled up in pain and shivering convulsively.

She felt Vincent's eyes on her, and she looked up at him... she didn't have the gall to meet his eyes. She looked away.

Finally, you're learning something.

He headed for the driver's seat. He looked out at Reno, Rude, and the pirates. "I'll be back for you in a few moments."

Rude approached and handed over the gil. "You'll need this."

Vincent nodded. "Thank you."

He started the engine and drove off.

Ami steadied her brother as the truck lurched. He kept muttering something... a litany of names...

Yazoo blinked in surprise. "The orphans. Those are the names of the children we took away from here..." Something hit him. "In this truck... we took them away in this truck..."

Ami felt shivers running through her, and she knew it was more than just the wind... her brother's eyes kept darting back and forth...

Yazoo tapped into his brother's mind to try figuring out some way to calm him, to reach him, but he could only pick out one coherent thought... Sins. So many sins... I'll never get away...

****

Tifa watched them go and sagged with relief, leaning against Cloud. "So... you really mean... you're staying this time? You aren't going to help them?" Tifa couldn't help but feel just a little guilty... she shook it off. Stop it. They would have killed you once... they'd still kill you now given half a chance. So don't give them one.

****

Reno had a very bad feeling about all this... Cloud bailing on them was DEFINITELY a bad sign... and he was starting to get a vague idea on what Kadaj's problem was... he glanced at his new allies. "So... typical day in the life of a planetary savior. Still up for the job, yo?"

[lutz]

Abel looked at his hand.
"Oh that I had it on my hand ever sense I can remember, My father used to say it was put there for a reason but thats all....but uhhh anyways that job..."

Samson: "Yes thee job, for the Pit Bull we will do anything."

Abel: "I can show you were my home land is...my tribes....and where the Sarsha base is....but I am not much of a fighter....I can fix things! yes anything that would ever need repairs I can fix it haha!"

Samson: "Yeah Abel has never liked fighting, but I on the other hand love to fight, nothing is better then to feel the crack of a mans jaw on your fist, and if I am really angery slitting their throat with me blade! but of course I wont but doing none of that to me brand spankin new partners eh savy!?"

Abel: "Samson sometimes ya scare me!"

*********

Cloud held Tifa's hand
"I am not leaving this time.....my time is here now....besides Vincent will look after the planet in my place....I feel bad just leaving him with a group like that but I have a feeling Vincent will be a good rolemodel for the younger ones....He will whip them into shape!"

*********

Lutz left the seventh heaven into the cold snowy city.
Mighty Aztar....are they ready?.....

Lutz Airoth....time is not important...only life is important....learn to follow as one they will....

Amnesty....is she the right choice?

Amnesty.....is the chosen one....life flows through her....hidden power....power of the Ancients....power similar to Aries....

Aries? Ancients? are you saying Amnesty has the blood of the Ancients in her??? how can this be?

Ask her yourself? maybe she knows the answer even if she doesn't know it yet...

Aztar your full of riddles....

***********

A shadowy figure walks down the snowy streets of Midgar. The figure was a twisted creature, some kind of shaman. while slowly moving down the streets he was whisling a trembling beat.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Vincent returned shortly after to pick up the last of his passengers-- Squall, Cid, Nikky, Reno, Rude, and of course the pirates.

Reno kept looking like he was going over something in his head, shaking it like someone trying to solve a box puzzle. "Cloud, you sure you won't help us out, man? C'mon... excitement and adventure and really wild things..."

Tifa gave him a look. Reno grinned weakly. "Or maybe you better just sit this one out, yo."

Still, he felt as though Cloud should be with them... something to do with the brothers... Relax, you know they're working for the good guys now, you don't need Cloud to babysit them... But that's not why I'm worried, either...

The truck pulled up and Vincent waited for his passengers to load up. The Turks and pirates got into the back while the others got inside the truck.

Reno gave Cloud one more look. "At least say goodbye to the kid, yo. She's a little bit stupid, but she's not all bad, y'know."

Cloud hung back, an arm around Tifa. "Maybe later."

Reno shrugged. "Whatever, yo." He waited. "Let's get this bucket movin'!"

Vincent started the automobile again without comment...

((To Midgar Inn))

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Tifa watched the truck disappearing into the distance, her fingers laced through Cloud's. She sighed and turned back towards the Inn, relieved that her part in this seemed to be finally over...

A dog began to yap. The little yellow dog that had come to the tavern with the Lazuli family, the ones Reno and Rude left behind... funny how they had neglected to ask after them... but then, she'd heard them trying to beg off some money from her other customers, so she was hardly surprised...

The young girl of the family, Lana, came out to silence her pet. "Sorry about that... I don't know what got into him. He never pitches fits like this unless--" Lana stopped short. "Unless... hey, was there a girl here with black hair and gray eyes?"

Tifa blinked. "How did--"

Lana suddenly acquired a new spark. "Ami was here and she didn't even bother to say hello to us?"

Tifa suddenly felt a chill... "Why would she?"

"Because she's my sister, duh!"

(to be continued...)

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"Your sis..." Tifa trailed off. If she is her sister... then that can only mean...

Cloud remembered suddenly... the conversation he'd had with Amnesty back at the Ragnorak...

"You had parents?"

"Adopted, if you feel like splitting hairs."

"Do you know three men who-- who aren't quite..." Tifa was stammering as he snapped out of it.

"Human?" A man's voice called from the door. Stephen, the father of the Lazuli clan, was addressing Tifa. "That I do." He approached her. "What do you know of my sons?"

A little girl came up behind him, tugging on his sleeve. He turned to acknowlege her. "The monsters had a father?" Marlene piped up softly.

Tifa tried to intercept her. "Not now, sweetie..."

"Yes, they did," Stephen replied quietly. "And if not for me... they may never have been monsters at all."

Cloud gave him a sharp look. "What are you talking about? What do you mean by that?"

(TBC...)

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Stephen fixed Cloud with an equally intense stare. "If I tell you, you have to swear my daughter will never know. Even my sons never told her."

Cloud watched this person closely, veiling his hostility. What kind of man raises four Remnants? "I swear."

Stephen's eyes dropped. "When she was first diagnosed with the 'stigma --when it was believed there was no cure-- I wanted to send her to a... facility. I thought... at least if she was studied there... her death wouldn't be in vain. But her brothers found out... I still have no idea how."

Cloud had the slightest idea... Jenova.

"They wouldn't let me send her away," Stephen continued. "They knew she wouldn't want to go and die with strangers. I knew they were right, but I still thought I was doing the right thing... so they made a deal with me. They told me they had heard of someone who might be able to help them find a cure, someone they would go to as long as I promised to keep Ami at home."

Again, Jenova.

"And... they also told me, if I DID send her away, that they would run from us, and bring her with them. It was a slim chance, but they were in earnest. I thought there was nothing left to lose, so I agreed." Stephen shook his head. "How could I have been such a self-righteous fool? My pride almost cost me my daughter AND my sons. Well... I won't let them slip away again."

He looked to Tifa, pulling something from his pocket. "Here. It's a rare materia... very valuable, as I am led to understand. Take it... the price you get for it will cover our account here."

Tifa examined it... a flawless, genuine silver materia.

Stephen pulled a cell out of his pocket. "Did they tell you where they plan to go?"

"Midgar Inn--"

He opened the phone. "I need a number for the fastest taxi in this city."

"Don't bother," a dark voice interrupted. Vincent had returned to bring the truck back. "Cloud and I were just going that direction ourselves, if you'd like to join us."

Stephen closed the cell. "Lana, pack your bags."

Lana nodded and ran inside, her father not far behind. He paused. "Miss Lockheart... thank you for taking us in this way. I know times have been hard for you. And... thank you for telling me where to find my children. For that, I can never repay you."

He disappeared into the tavern.

A few minutes later, Tifa watched as Cloud and Vincent headed for the Inn, Ami's family in tow. Cloud had assured Tifa he only intended to say goodbye to Ami and then come right home, but she wasn't entirely certain of how true that assertion would come to be...

Marlene edged over to her. "So... they weren't really monsters after all?"

Tifa watched the truck disappearing once again... "Maybe. I don't know, sweetie."

Marlene nodded slowly as a soft voice echoed in her mind...

Not all monsters are evil, Marlene.

((To Midgar Inn))

[organizedchaos]

Tifa thinks to herself...and after six months poof he's gone yet agine *sigh* o well "come on sweetie go on up to bed with Denzel." walks Marlene to the door.

Once Marlene is gone she sits on the edge of the bar and thinks so now those monsters have a fauther when did that happen?

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Cloud parked the truck behind the bar.

He sat there for a few minutes with the engine idling.

I never thought it would be over. It really still isn't... not yet. But this time, it ends without me.

He killed the ignition and made his way inside. A sign and a table were by the door: "Please check all weapons."

Gladly. For as long as possible.

Every time I think it's finished... every time I'm sure I'll never fight again... something happens. But there's a new generation moving up now. Hopefully, they'll be the ones the planet looks to from now on.

He took off his sword and left it on the table.

Here's hoping you stay put long enough to acquire a healthy layer of dust. I'm dead tired... they don't need me anymore.

The door swung shut behind him. He glanced up... there was Tifa.

He'd almost starting thinking he wasn't going to ever see her again.

We've been here before... right after Meteor. Right after the Cure. Right after the danger is past and things are suddenly normal... but you know you never can be again.

You'd think the third time around I'd know what to say.

I don't.

He took a deep breath and watched her for a moment. "Hello." I want to say a lot more than that... but it's never a bad idea to pace yourself.

[organizedchaos]

"Hello? Thats it? After 6 months all you can say is hello? Would it kill you to stay home for a little while? See the kids... Be part of the family for a while before you bolt off like you saw a ghost or something" stops and closes her eyes for a minute.

thinks will we ever have a chance to spend time togeather like we did when we were kids without having to fight half the world at a moments notice. I'm getting tired of worring myself sick wondering if he's ok or not

alive,... dead,....happy?

will things ever be normal....ever

looks up at cloud walks over and hugs him

"i missed you"

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Cloud had been preparing to defend himself. I really hoped we were past this... But before he could say those words out loud, he realized that she had dropped the attack and had her arms around him.

The last six months have been a nightmare... for BOTH of us. I just want to put it all behind me and move on.

He put his arms around her and allowed himself to relax, for the first time since... since the day before the strange phone call that had started this entire mind-mangling business.

"Hey, yo... whassup, Strife?"

"Reno? How'd you get this number--"

"It's on your flyer, man. Duh. Look, me and Rude, we got kind of a situation here... I can't really explain a lot of it on the phone, yo. How's about we meet you someplace fairly... anti-obvious, and I'll fill you in there?"

"The last time I took a job from you, Reno, I almost got myself killed-- and that was BEFORE you and your partner tried ambushing me."

"Hey, no Remnants are involved this time, I swear. At least, not that I know of. Just meet me, OK? Cruise over to Midgar Inn and we'll have a word, yo. It's a free drink, if nothin' else. And... don't mention to the boss that I called you, OK, yo?"

"The boss? You mean Rufus? What--"

"G-2-G, man. Just be there. Three-ish."

*dial tone*

And now, six months later... Six months... no one had foreseen how long it would take to untangle that entire, horrible mess. It started with one orphan kid... and became a conflict that took in the entire planet.

No Remnants, he said. Even he had no idea how wrong that assertion was. And if either of us had told the other I would be working WITH them by the time it was over, the other would have laughed in his face.

And now, thanks to one of them, of all people, the pain is gone. The sorrow that was chaining me to the past.

I want to just move on. Maybe now, because of the Sacrifice... I really can at last.

He stood there and held her for a while, trying to let the memories slip away. Memories of the young warriors that had stood with him through the strange adventures of the last six months... Of Lutz, Blood, Amnesty...

Stop thinking about them. You aren't one of them anymore. It's over. Trust them.

Six months later... he was finally exactly where he wanted to be. And he was not at all surprised to find it was exactly where he had started. "Tifa... I missed you, too." More than I can even bother trying to tell you.

****

Marlene peered timidly into the bar, Denzel standing behind her. "So... he's back," she observed quietly.

Denzel nodded, thinking back on the lst six months... and on how badly he wanted to imagine now that they had never happened...

"How long do you think he'll stay?" Marlene asked.

Denzel glanced down at her. He shrugged, smiling wryly and shaking his head.

Marlene looked away, towards Cloud and Tifa again. "For a while, I hope."

Denzel merely nodded slowly... I doubt it. There's hardly been a time since I came here that he hasn't had somewhere else he needed to be.

I can't really blame him, but still. If he didn't have time for us... then why did he bother taking me in? He could have just left me where he found me... he didn't have... oh, geez. I don't even know what I'm going on about anymore.

He turned around and began pulling Marlene along to her room. "Come on, it's time for bed."

Marlene pulled her wrist back stubbornly. "I want to say hello to Cloud."

"Say it in the morning," Denzel prodded. "He looks tired."

Marlene shook her head wordlessly, running back out to welcome an old friend home. She approached the pair and threw her arms around thier knees.

Denzel sighed and considered going to bed, but in the end elected to drag himself back out after Marlene. He dropped himself into a nearby chair and watched as Cloud included the girl in the hug, letting himself return to his rightful place again.

I can tell just by looking... this is where he belongs.

So why do I still feel so out of place?