"That bastard," Cloud muttered under his breath. He turned away from the window in a rage which died when he saw Tifa sitting on the edge of his bed, head down, both hands covering her face. "Tifa?"

Tifa didn't answer.

Cloud walked slowly toward her. "Tifa?"

She raised her head. Her eyes were damp.

Cloud knelt in front of her.

"She's going to ruin it, isn't she?" she asked him softly.

"She who? Ruin what?" asked Cloud. Then it hit him. "Oh. You mean Aeris."

"You started acting like a jealous lover the moment you saw her with Sephiroth." A tear slipped down one cheek. "What bothers you more Cloud? The fact that Sephiroth might be a danger to her, or the fact that they might be more than friends?"

"They are not more than friends," Cloud said hotly. "Aeris would never get that close to him. He killed her the last time! She's not that stupid!"

"And Sephiroth is a very handsome man." Tifa wiped at the tear.

Cloud glowered at her. "Since when have you had time to notice that?"

"Sephiroth was never an unattractive man Cloud, just insane." Another tear spilled down her cheek and Tifa let it go. "You saw the way the girls looked at him in Nibelheim the day I was his guide. Maybe you didn't pay any attention, but I heard the whispers and saw the smiles and the looks. If he hadn't been so cold all the time, maybe one of those girls would have approached him."

Cloud had a faraway look in his eyes, remembering.

"I thought he was the coldest man I ever met," said Tifa, "But if I hadn't been waiting for you, I might have been whispering with the others. Maybe I wouldn't have approached him, but that doesn't make him any less attractive."

"If you think he's so attractive, you're going to have to wait for him to get back to tell him," snapped Cloud. He knew he was being unfair, but there was a crazy mixed up feeling inside of him and he couldn't control himself.

"Oh Cloud," wailed Tifa, "You know I don't want Sephiroth. I want us to be like we were before . . . before . . . "

Tifa rose and walked to the window. It was beginning to snow. She could see the reflection of the room behind her. Cloud was watching her. She met his eyes in the reflection.

"Do you love her?" she asked.

"Tifa." Clouds arms hung limp at his sides.

Tifa turned around to face him. "I'll step aside if you want me to," she said softly.

He looked at her wet face and he felt like the biggest chump in the world. He went to her and held her in his arms. She clung to him weeping. He raised her face and kissed her. She kissed him back. They stayed that way, kissing and returning kisses. Tifa stopped before the situation got out of control.

"You didn't answer my question Cloud. I know you care about me," Tifa said. "But do you love Aeris too?"

"I don't want to hurt you Tifa. I love you, you know that, but if you want me to be honest with you . . . ," he hesitated.

"Be honest with me," she pleaded.

"I do have feelings for Aeris. I always have."

Tifa drew a shaky breath and nodded. "I knew that. Especially at the Ancient City. Now that we've come this far, who do you want to be with?"

Cloud thought back to how long he and Tifa had known each other. She had basically ignored him when they were children, but now he knew he could always count on Tifa to be there when he needed her. He would give his life to keep her safe. Cloud's thoughts went back to Aeris. Aeris had been special to him from the moment he first met her. There was something about Aeris that made him feel wonderful inside. When he looked into her eyes, he felt there was nothing he couldn't do or wouldn't do for her. He cared for two women, but he couldn't have them both.

"Tifa," he admitted, "I-I don't know."

She pulled away from him and went the door. "Then maybe we'd not take this relationship any further until you do. I love you Cloud. I'll go with any decision you make."

Tifa closed the door and walked out. Cloud grit his teeth and went back to the window. He slammed his fist against the wall. The glass rattled in the frame. He'd hurt Tifa and he had never intended to do that. The choice should have been so simple. Hadn't Tifa and he been together, been intimate, these past few months? The choice should have been an easy one to make. He should marry Tifa and start raising a family. They loved each other. They needed each other. Because Aeris was dead and you didn't have any choice, a voice said inside his head. You took second best.

No I didn't! He slammed his fist against the wall again. Tifa was not second best. She

was . . . what was she? Cloud had never felt such much turmoil inside before. This was worse than Jenova. Worse than Sephiroth messing with his head . . . Sephiroth. He stared out the window. It was snowing a little harder. It was too cold to run around the countryside on a chocobo. When was that killer going to bring back Aeris?

* * * * *

Aeris and Sephiroth made it back to the house just before dark. They had been forced to go out of their way to and from the trip to Chocobo Sage's house because of avalanche conditions. The snow was falling heavier now. Aeris made hot chocolate. Sephiroth was at the front window staring out in the snow. Aeris gave him a steaming mug and stood next to him.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" she asked.

"Snow is snow," he answered.

"Oh Sephiroth," she said exasperated, "Look at that view. The snow looks so pretty when it's lying on top of everything and there are no footprints in it. These is my first time seeing snow that wasn't in a picture book. It looks like great big piles of sugar."

"Great big piles of sugar would probably attract great big ants," he remarked dryly. "It's a good thing you are not in charge of making it snow."

"You have no eye for beauty Sephiroth," she said. He didn't answer. It took her a while to realize he was staring at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." He turned his attention back to the snow.

"Sephiroth?" she asked timidly.

"What is it?" He kept looking out the window.

"You weren't treated very well as a child, were you?" she asked. He didn't answer or look at her, but she saw his jaw twitch. "You never learned to care about anyone did you?"

He turned on her angrily and shouted, "I told you not to ask me about my past!"

Startled, Aeris jumped and dropped her cup of hot chocolate. Some of it spilled on her hand. She cried out in pain. Sephiroth quickly sat his cup on a nearby table and took her injured hand in his. He examined it.

"I'm all right," Aeris said, trying to pull away. "Very little touched my hand."

"I am sorry Aeris," he said anxiously. "I didn't mean to make you to hurt yourself."

"I know," she whispered.

"You should have let me die back in the Ancient City," he told her. "All I do is cause you pain."

"No." Aeris put her hands around his. "I need you here to help me. I don't think I can save the planet alone this time."

Her hands were so soft. Sephiroth raised them to his lips and kissed them. They stood in front of the window gazing at one another. Aeris stared into his beautiful green eyes and felt warm inside. She remembered the kiss they had shared and blushed. Sephiroth was remembering that kiss too. They moved closer. When their lips met, Aeris felt tingly all over. Sephiroth cupped her face in his hand and the kiss went on.

It was Aeris who pulled away. "I have to start dinner," she said. "You'd better feed Goldie before he decides to run away and find his own food."

She pushed his bangs out of his face, smiled and headed for the kitchen. Sephiroth looked after her, then went toward the back door to take care of the chocobo.

Outside in the snow, a lone figure stood concealed by a tree. His yellow spiky hair was heavily dusted with snow. Cloud had seen Sephiroth and Aeris in the window and he'd seen their kiss. So, there was something between them after all. His heart burned. It took a lot of strength for him not to run up to the door and demand to see Aeris. He'd sneaked out of the Lodge unseen. He would have to sneak back in without his friends knowing he'd been gone. He would have to find a chance to talk to Aeris alone. Soon.

* * * * *

Barret watched Cloud sneak back into his room. He made a snorting noise and closed his door. "I should go down there and kick his ass."

"You should leave Cloud alone," said Cid. "Whatever is going on between Cloud, Tifa, Aeris and Sephiroth is their business. We should just stay the hell out of it."

"You saw Tifa earlier tonight," protested Barret. "Either she's been crying or she was about to. Cloud must have done something to cause that. You saw how he acted out there on the glacier."

"I saw." Cid put out his cigarette and reached in his pack for another. Finding it empty, he reached in his pack and bought out a new package and began to tear it open.

"Tifa loves Cloud, can't he see that?" Barrett shook his fist. "How could he be so stupid?"

Cid lit his cigarette before he answered. "Cloud loves Tifa too, but I think Cloud loves Aeris just as much."

"He's known Tifa all his life," Barret went on stubbornly. "He hasn't known Aeris all that long!"

"What the hell has that got to do with anything?" asked Cid. "You can't put a goddamn time limit on love. People don't always find mates among the people they grew up with. Dammit man, haven't you ever heard of love at first sight?"

"But he was happy with her before he knew Aeris was back!" Barret pointed out.

"How can you be so sure Cloud wouldn't have stayed with Aeris, if that bastard Sephiroth hadn't killed her?" asked Cid.

Barret frowned and said nothing.

"Stay the hell out of whatever is going on there," advised Cid. "If Cloud and Tifa belong together, they'll stay together. If not, that's the way it goes."

"But what about Sephiroth?" asked Barret.

"What about him?" Cid blew smoke rings at the ceiling.

"He's living with Aeris." Barret frowned. " What's up with that?"

"Take my advice," said Cid snubbing out his cigarette and climbing into bed. "Stay out of it."

* * * * *

"My guess is Aeris and Sephiroth moved up here to stay out of sight for a while," said Red XIII, scratching his ear. "I wonder if they would ever have come to us, if we hadn't come to them?"

"Probably not," said Vincent. "You saw the way everyone reacted when they saw Sephiroth."

"Except you," pointed out Red.

Vincent turned to stare out at the driving snow. "I promised Lucrecia I would look after Sephiroth and I failed her the first time. This time I intend to keep my promise."

"How?" questioned Red. "The only way you can do that is to ask him to move here to the inn and share a room with you. Given a choice of you or Aeris, I think he prefers her."

"Do you think they are sharing a house out of convenience or do you think there's more to it?" Vincent kept his back to Red XIII.

"I think we need to wait and see," replied Red XIII. "I trust Aeris. If she says she needs Sephiroth's help, then I will support her."

Vincent turned away from the window. "When we all get together for breakfast, we'll decide how we want to handle this. Until then, we should get some sleep. It's going to be a long morning."

He and Red XIII prepared to turn in for the night.

* * * * *

Tifa was lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling. Yuffie was getting tired of seeing her like that. She wished Tifa would read a book or talk, or something. Anything was better than having to watch her lay there like a zombie.

"C'mon Tifa," complained Yuffie. "Cloud isn't the only man in the world."

Tifa kept staring at the ceiling. "Have you ever been in love Yuffie?"

"Heck no!" said Yuffie. "My time is time has been tied up helping my father make Wutai into the village it once was."

"Then, shut up!" said Tifa.

"Gee Tifa," whined Yuffie. "You don't have to bite my head off. I'm just trying to make you loosen up for a while."

Tifa sat up. "I'm sorry Yuffie. I'm not really mad at you."

"Who are you mad at? Aeris?" Yuffie suddenly looked sly. "Say, if you're going to beat her up or anything, make sure I get her materia!"

"Yuffie, please!" Tifa wiped an arm across her eyes. "No one is going to beat up anyone."

"I'd beat her up if Cloud was my boyfriend!" exclaimed Yuffie. "You have to fight for your man! Or at least that what I've heard."

"I want to blame Aeris," said Tifa, "But it's not really her fault."

"Whose fault is it?" Yuffie moved closer.

"No one," Tifa said dejectedly. "These things happen. I know Cloud cares for me, but when he's around Aeris, you can almost hear the sparks fly!"

"Sparks?" Yuffie looked puzzled. "Is that some new type of materia?"

Tifa managed a chuckle in spite of herself. "No Yuffie. Wait till you're in love and you'll figure it out."

"If love is going to make me feel like you do now," said Yuffie, "I'd rather have materia. By the way, did you see the materia that Sephiroth has? I'll bet all of it is mastered!"

"Don't even think about it," cautioned Tifa. "Sephiroth isn't insane now and that's an even better reason not to steal his materia. I don't think he'll be as forgiving as Cloud."

"You're probably right," agreed Yuffie. "I don't think I want him putting his sword through me like he did with Aeris. That reminds me. What's up with that? Do you think there is something going on between those two?"

"I don't know and I don't care." Tifa was suddenly very tired.

"It would solve your problem if there was something going on." Yuffie started turning back her bed covers. "I mean, if Aeris wants Sephiroth, you get Cloud."

Tifa thought about that as she got ready for bed. That would solve her problem, wouldn't it?

* * * * *

Dinner was over, the dishes washed and put away. Aeris dried her hands and went into the living room to find Sephiroth standing at the window.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Your friends will be here tomorrow," he said. "I wonder what they'll decide."

"I hope they decide to help us if they can," said Aeris. "If they don't, we'll just have to do it by ourselves."

"We don't even know what we are supposed to do." Sephiroth pushed a lock of hair away from his face.

"We'll know when the time comes," she said. "The danger is closer now."

"I know," Sephiroth answered. "I feel it too."

Aeris looked at him in surprise. "What do you feel?"

"Anger," he said in a flat voice. "I feel a burning anger and a hunger so deep it can never be satisfied. It's the hunger for power."

"Jenova?" Aeris hoped not.

"Yes and no." He turned his eyes to her. "It's not my hunger, but in a way it is. I don't understand it myself. It's a very dangerous hunger."

Aeris was worried. Was Jenova trying to take over Sephiroth's mind again? He turned his head back to the snow, thinking. He couldn't go back to Jenova, not now . . . could he? She wanted to touch him but she was unsure of his reaction. He surprised her with his next question.

"Does Cloud have feelings for you?"

She blushed furiously. How had the conversation gone from Jenova to Cloud? She answered honestly. "I don't know. He used to, I think."

"From his reaction on the glacier," observed Sephiroth, "I'd say that's still true."

Aeris' heart leaped in joy.

Sephiroth kept his eyes on the window but she felt his gaze on her reflection. "Do you have feelings for him?"

Aeris was floored. He'd put her on the spot. "He's my friend."

She hoped Sephiroth would drop the subject but he didn't.

"You want him to be more than a friend." He wasn't asking a question.

Aeris was at a loss for words. Did she want Cloud as more than a friend? She'd thought so once. Did she still feel that way? And what of Sephiroth? asked a voice in her head.

Sephiroth turned to her at last. "It seems to trouble your friends to see me here with you. I'll move to the Icicle Lodge in the morning. That might make it easier on you."

"No!" Aeris said the word more forcefully than she intended and Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "I want you to stay here. There is no reason for you to leave."

"But your friends . . . " he started.

"Will just have to accept it," she finished.

"Are you sure about this Aeris?" he looked deep into her eyes.

She didn't look away. "I'm sure, Sephiroth."

He smiled at her. Before she realized what he was doing, he reached out and touched her cheek. "Good night Aeris."

"Good night Sephiroth."

He turned and took a few steps. He stopped, came back and pulled her to him. His lips met hers in a quick kiss, then he turned and walked away. Aeris sank down on the sofa listening as his footsteps went up the stairs. She kept her ears trained on him until his door closed. She touched her lips. They still tingled.

I could have let him move out, she thought, then Cloud could come and see me any time he wanted. Why didn't I agree that Sephiroth should move? Because you're falling in love, said the voice.

That's not true she thought. Sephiroth and I are just friends. And you kiss every chance you get, chimed in the voice. I want Cloud to kiss me! Aeris thought furiously. I want to be with Cloud. Do you? The voice was relentless. Could you give up Sephiroth for Cloud? Aeris sat staring at the snow. She didn't know the answer to that question.

* * * * *

In a secret cave in Utai, a timer started the sequence that could change the future of the Planet. Two large pods were in this cave. The pods and the rest of the machinery was controlled by computers. The computers turned on the lights and began to freshen the air. The computers knew the supply tanks were empty. The supply tanks in question had once held a rich combination of Mako energy and Jenova cells. The mixture had been dispersed slowly for a long time. Now that the tanks were empty, it was time for the butterflies to burst from their cocoons.

With a roar of steam, the first pod split open. What half-fell, half-crawled out of the purple gelatinous material that spilled onto the floor was no butterfly. Thin black hair gummed to its scalp, the nude figure moved away from the pod on its hand and knees. It coughed and purple mucus splashed on the floor. The creature crawled through its vomit until it collapsed on the floor and rolled over on its back. It was a man. The man lay prone on the floor gasping for breath. After an hour he sat up. His thinking had cleared.

Chuckling to himself, the man went to another part of the cave. A portable shower had been rigged to an underground spring. The pump started up when he turned on the water. The water was very cold, but the man didn't mind. He kept chuckling himself as he scrubbed his body with liquid soap from a dusty bottle.

When his shower was over, the man stepped out drying himself. He went to a portable closet and dressed himself. Underwear first then black pants a grey shirt and a white lab jacket. The last thing he pulled from the cabinet was a pair a gold rimmed glasses which he put on his face. Now that he could see, he pulled out a comb and started pulling tangles out of his hair. He didn't care how hard he had to pull to remove them. Tangles were such a minor thing to worry about and he had so much more on his mind. When he finished the job, he admired himself in a mirror.

"Hojo," he said. "You're a handsome man."

The second pod burst open. Another figure spilled to the floor. Hojo waited until it went through the vomiting process before he went to it.

The body on the floor was a magnificent specimen of a man. Hojo laughed. His attempts to accelerate the growth process had been successful. He would have had to kill this specimen had it been imperfect. The man on the floor was young and strong. Long silver hair lay in tangles around him. His eyes opened while Hojo was still admiring his work. They were coal black but they glowed as if there was a silver fire behind them. The eyes looked up and found Hojo.

"Father," he said.

"Son," Hojo answered.

"Who am I?" asked the silver haired man.

Hojo's eyes glittered. "You are Zephiroth, my son."

Chapter 10