"uh... Aeris... You... how did you?" Cloud asked

"I didn't... you did..." Aeris smiled. "When you... Defeated Sephiroth, the lifestream gave us.. another chance... it gave us.. to you" she smiled again.

Cloud went to hug her and held her tightly. "Aeris..." he said.. he held her for a couple minutes before he realized what she had said. He took a step back. "You said... 'We'"

Aeris nodded as Kadaj finally stirred from his sleep. "He's on our side now" Aeris said.

"Are you really?" Cloud asked Kadaj.

------

Kadaj slowly woke up, wincing a bit as he forced his eyes open. Scattered memories drifted to his mind as he slowly recognized this place... He sat up, pushing himself into a sitting position as he noticed Cloud and Aeris. "Yes... I am..."

-------

Danielle stopped as she arrived at the door to the church, her eyes widening. Was that really... "Aeris...?"

Right now, they were waiting for Cloud to get back from a delivery.

Cloud leaned back against his Bike, then spoke to Kadaj. "There's another bike over there," he point behind the church "but if you wreck it..." Cloud left the snetence unfinished. He watched Aeris, still in awe of her return.

--------

Kadaj glanced at Cloud. "I won't wreck it, don't worry."

"Sure... since she's your friend... but we need to go.. they'r eexpecting me, and you know how Tifa is..." AS soon as CLoud said it, he regretted it, but he didn't let it show in his face. instead he clenched his jaw and stared at the ground.

Kadaj nodded, going over to the other motorcycle Cloud had told him about, mounting it. Danielle hesitated, but she got on behind him.

Cloud waited for Aeris to get on the bike, then took off back to headquarters. Seris held tight to them as they went.

Danielle looked up at Kadaj. "You... You're one of those men from before..."

Kadaj didn't look back, driving behind Cloud. "Yes, I am..."

"Why are you back...?"

"You could say the Lifestream has given me a second chance... There's no need to be afraid. I won't hurt any of you again..."

Danielle hesitated again. "If you say so..."

Kadaj remained silent, following Cloud.

Vincent, however, stood tensely. "What's HE doing here?" He asked Cloud, nodding at Kadaj.

"Aeris says..."

"He's with me... lifestream gave him a whole 'good guy makeover.." she teased to save Cloud from having to explain.

Danielle looked around at all of them, feeling a bit intimidated. She had heard about Tifa, Yuffie, and Vincent, but she had never actually met them.

Cloud cleared his throat and Aeris brought Daniell forward. "Everyone, this is my frin Danielle Roivas. Danielle, this is Tifa, Yuffie, and Vincent. Tifa shook he hand, Yuffie *gasp* hugged her, and Vincent simply gave her a nod.

Cloud sat at one of the confortabel chairs. "So, where is everyone else? We should tell them the news."

-------------------

(okay, for MErina, they all like her but they don't understand why she's with Reno. She was the only one for a long time that could see his good side)

Merina walked in to see the strange scene before her. "Uh... why are there 3 dead people here instead of just one?" she asked

"I'm not dead, I'm Undead." said Vincent.

Cloud just shook his head.

Kadaj blinked a few times. "My apologies..."

Cloud stood. "Merina... hey. When I killed Sephiroth, these two came back." he said.

"Oh, okay..." Merina sat on the edge of one of the tables. "So.. who're you?" Merina addressed Danielle.

Kadaj looked at Aeris. "Is your friend always so nervous...?"

Cloud nodded and followed her.

"It's almost finished.... all of it."

"The new sword too?" he asked

"Yes, and some artwork... and a couple things so that only you can use it... but.."

"Yeah, I don't want anyone to know about it yet..."

"Yours is ready, actually... it's the accents on the others... the finishing touches, that I'm working on... give me 3 days."

"Done." Cloud said, and the two returned to the group.

Kadaj looked over at Cloud and Merina as they re-entered the room.

Merina grinned at Kadaj. "I think a certain friend of mine may want to spar with you... a rematch... you know, for od times sake.." she teased. (she was thinking of Reno)

Kadaj looked a bit confused. "And who might your friend be?"

"Never.. thank God..." Cloud added, both thinking aloud and to Danielle.

Merina smiled and Mouthed. 'My Boyfriend... Reno'

Vincent shook his head at all of it...

"Ah, I remember him..."

Cloud turned to face Merina. "They can have their rematch someplace else... I don't want Reno here." Cloud said. Merina made a face.

"He's a Turk, Merina... I don't care if he's good to you...he's not to US, he works for blasted Shinra" Cloud kicked a stool.

Aeris bit her lip. "Uh, Cloud? Calm down a bit, kay?"

Cloud nodded and was quiet.

Merina shook her head and turned back to Kadaj. "Yes, well... he ** about how he was having a bad day that day and you cheated him... a fair fight would thrill him, I'm sure"

((Today is the day that Reno found out his family'd been killed. He left Shinra just that morning))

Kadaj smirked a bit. "Is that so? Heh."

((dinner time))

Merina nodded. "Uh huh.. he should be here soon..."

~~~In a nearby machine shop~~~

"Yo! Fenri! Get your ** moving; we've got a lot of machines in!" The blonde haired girl walked confidently through the shop to the back where the garage was. She pulled her goggles down over her eyes and adjusted her gloves, "Let's get the parts moving!"

Merina turned to Tifa. "SO, Tifa.... Just wondering... you... owrried about Aeris.. i mean... she and Cloud have... history..." she siad it in a teasing way, not a mean one.

Kadaj folded his arms. "I look forward to a rematch."

"Yeah.." Tifa replied calmly, "I'm just glad that Cloud is back again. Hopefully he'll stay for long this time. I... miss having him around." She paused, "it's great that Aeris is back. We all missed her greatly, especially Cloud." She cocked her head and smiled, "As long as we're all together and Cloud opens up a little, I'm... happy."

Danielle stood beside Aeris, still a bit nervous around other people.

Kadaj listened silently to them talk.

Aeris looked at her, and tilted her head, smiling, "Hey... you okay over there?"

"yes, well... I'm glad she's back, too.. he's actually smiling.. a little bit..."

Cloud indeed, was smiling, ever so faintly. He had someone he loved in hs life back... it was awesome... for a moment, he forgot the special question he had planned to ask Tifa... maybe.. maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all?

"Yeah." Aeris nodded her head, still smiling. She laughed a little, "I'm happy to be back with everyone again."

Cloud indeed, was smiling, ever so faintly. He had someone he loved in hs life back... it was awesome... for a moment, he forgot the special question he had planned to ask Tifa... maybe.. maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all?

Tifa walked up behind Cloud, hands clasped behind her back, her torso leaning forward slightly, "Hey. How you doing?"

"Yes, Miss Rikku!" The man called back. She was a tough boss, but the men who worked under Rikku loved her anyways.

As the doors opened, she pumped the gas and shot out through the back. 'excellent' she thought. She pulled it out in front of the shop and parked it where the finished machines were kept. She pulled the goggles up from her eyes and wiped her face with the rag she had kept hanging out of the back of her shorts/skirt (i'm going to call it a short- kimono; I know- original).

((be back in a few))

"Just shut up, would you!" Reno, for once in his life, was completely devastated. How could they have done this? He couldn't even bear to think about it. But Merina...oh, thank goodness they didn't know about Merina. "I've got to see her," he said, quickening his step.

"Happy... but confused..." Cloud said, looking up at Tifa. 'So do I ask her? or not?' he thought as he looked at her.

"Reno!" she said, jumping into his arms. "Why are you so late? I was worried about you..." she said, kissing his cheek. She leaned back and looked at his eyes, surprised by the sadness in them. She got serious, cupping his face with her hand. "WHat happenned?" seh asked softly.

Rude shook his head and turned to go inside. He would tell the others what had happenned... and the decision the two had made... to allow Reno some time with the only person he loved that was still alive.

Rude entered the door and was going to speak when he saw Aeris and Kadaj. He was speechless.

Cloud turned to him. "I told you guys I don't want you here." he said, yet made no move to make him leave.

"I have.. important news.." he said, eyeing Kadaj Wearily.

"you have 5 minutes" Cloud said. He leaned back against Tifa. He could feel her heartbeat... it was comforting to be near her.

"Shinra wanted Reno and I to... kill some... to kill some.. ahem" RUde was holding back emotion. "They wasnted us to kill some kids... something about them being too strong.. an enemy when they grow up. We went to the town but we... we couldn't. Reno went back and told them what-for.. told them he would never do something so cruel as to kill children in cold blood. this was yesterday."

"So You're telling me that he has a little concience? big deal" Cloud shook his head.

"Hey! that's not... anyway.. this morning they... they killed Reno's family. All of them.. all he has left is Merina, because they think she's just his mechanic... So we left. We quit Shinra. We're not Turks anymore."

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