But he had to admit he was quite young when those things happened.... he had spent a good two years mourning for Aeris, which really frustrated Tifa, as much as she loved him. A strange dream ended his mourning. Aeris had actually never wanted him.... she'd wanted Zack. Cloud had been hurt, of course, but what could he say? Tifa was there. She was always there.

Then Storm had been born. Tifa had been in tears, because she'd given birth to twins. The other boy, sadly, didn't make it. But anyhow, life had stil been rosily sweet. Until Sephiroth returned.

Cloud did not want to mention the feelings that coursed through him : pain, rage, fear.... the terrible memories simply came rushing to the fore whenever he thought of Sephiroth. He had thought he was free of the silver-haired man. But he wasn't. That same man had come back, this time somehow winning his son's trust.

They were walking the down the corridor now.... Cloud stopped short at the sight. Sephiroth was much taller than Storm, certainly, and both of them were talking seriously. Sephiroth's green eyes shone intently as he listened to Storm, nodding every now and then. Storm looked like a shadow next to Sephiroth with his dark colouring. Storm ended with a sigh and a roll of his blue eyes. Sephiroth said something, and the younger man chuckled. They looked like comrades. Cloud's throat felt choked. How far away was his son now? he wondered.

Sephiroth noticed the blond man first, stopping. Storm, who had been talking stopped in mid-sentence, looking at his father with surprise... even apprehension. Cloud wanted to throw himself out a window at that moment. He had done this to his son. Sephiroth tactfully excused himself, leaving father and son in the corridor, alone.

"Hi, Dad," Storm spoke first.

"Storm."

A lump rose in Storm's throat. Was his father still angry? "How have things been?" he asked, wishing his voice wouldn't quaver. "Fine?"

Cloud took a deep breath. "No, Storm. Not fine."

"Was the house hit or something?"

"No..... it was simply missing something." Cloud's blue eyes misted. "Your mother and I missed you."

Storm choked back a sob. "I missed you too."

"Yes, son. I - I'm sorry.... about what I'd said.... You were only doing what you thought right."

The young man smiled, nodding his head even though his eyes shone with tears. "That's okay.... I didn't mind...."

It was too much. He had missed his son too long. Cloud crossed the few feet between them and pulled his son into a fatherly embrace, crying, "Gods, I missed you, kid tornado!"

Storm threw his arms about his father, his tears spilling out. "I missed you, Dad! I'm so sorry for being such a jerk and not explaining to you exactly why-"

"Oh, shut up. I'm the idiot jackass here and we both know it. I shouldn't have been so unreasonable with you. Dammit, I missed you, Storm. Your mother's putting away our stuff in our apartment. We're moving back to Headquarters."

"Really?" Storm's response sounded childishly happy. He pulled away from his father, grinning.

"Really." Cloud held his son's face. "I'm so proud of you, Storm. You're pulling this team so well. You've defeated a monster and found a human.... that I couldn't do. I could only fight him."

"I'm glad you're back, Dad."

"Me, too."

Both father and son walked to where the mother was waiting to embrace them both. Sephiroth had a wistful smile on his face, wishing his life had been like that. Storm was a lucky young man, lucky indeed.

Vincent was bemused. Where was he? He was wandering in a field... a very beautiful place, he thought to himself. The perfect place to share with Yuffie. Akiranni would like seeing those flowers in that corner there.... pinkish-red was her favourite colour, after all. Lucrecia and Storm would find themselves very comfortable underneath that tree.... if Vincent and Yuffie didn't get there first.

Wait a minute....

Where was he? It was such a lovely place.... where was his family? What had happened. Realisation dawned suddenly on Vincent Valentine. He clearly remembered shopping with Yuffie when that meteorite fell on the departmental store. He had shielded Yuffie's body with his, and paid the price.

"No..." he whispered, looking at his hands. His left hand was no longer a golden claw. "NO!" He didn't care at that moment that he was human once more! He didn't care that he was dead and at peace! He wanted to go back! Be with his family... with his love... be with Yuffie. She had only just retired! He had fully intended to spend the rest of his life caring for his family....

"Relax, Valentine," a tired voice said from behind him.

Vincent swung around. "Hojo....?"

Hojo it was. The seedy looking man wore a tattered shirt and trousers.... his feet looked scorched and his face smudged, as if he had been singed by fire. Hojo looked tired, weary, yet oddly peaceful.

"What are you doing here?" Vincent growled. "You don't deserve it." Then he frowned in puzzlement. "What are you doing here? Aren't you...."

"Alive? Oh, yes... the vessel which housed my soul is alive.... but I'm not really alive, Valentine. Not even then when you were cavorting in the laboratory with my wife all those years ago." Hojo's lips curled into a self-mocking smile. "Look around you," he gestured. "This is heaven.... this is the place my wife created in her dreams.... it is so beautiful... like her."

Vincent agreed.

"But I didn't see it... I couldn't share her vision. Up till now, I don't know why. But I know.... it was Jenova who filled me with greed and ambition. I was a weak man, Valentine. When Gast released her, I listened to her voice.... even though I was in love with Lucrecia... I'm paying the price still...."

"Then what are you doing here?" Vincent asked, feeling surprised that he was actually sorry for this pathetic man.

Hojo smiled. "Part of Lucrecia's dream... her love-scape, if you will, was to have me in it.... I come here every now and then to please her. Otherwise.... I can be found in the deepest pits of purgatory." Tears fell down his cheeks. "It is hard.... being in purgatory. So often I curse myself for being weak.... If I hadn't been, I would be here instead.... loving Lucrecia with all my heart and attending to her forever instead of dividing the eternities between her and hell."

If Hojo had been a different man, Vincent thought, I wouldn't be what I am now. I would not have Yuffie as my lover, nor would Godo, Lucrecia and Akiranni been born.

"But I will do it," Hojo said firmly. "If it makes her happy, I will continue to love her. One day, my sins will be repaid... Then I'll finally rest in her arms forever. Forever!" The man sighed and his shoulders dropped. "My time grows short.... but she wishes to speak to you. That is why you're here, Valentine."

Vincent nodded. Lucrecia stepped out of seemingly nowhere. She was still as beautiful as before, with her brown hair tied up into a neat ponytail, and her emerald green eyes sparkling behind her glasses. Yes, she was beautiful, but he did not feel the same towards her.

"Lucrecia," he said neutrally.

She smiled gently. "You've finally moved on, I see."

He nearly cried. "Yes."

"That is good, Vincent. I was tortured to see how our love made you suffer so much. I am so thankful to Yuffie."

He only nodded in reply. This was it. The final release. "I love her, Lucrecia. But back then, I also still loved you. But she was the one who named my daughter after you."

"I know. And I love you still too. You're worthy of it, Vincent. But my heart belongs to Hojo and your heart belongs to Yuffie. It's time to let go of each other, Vincent."

"Yes.... but in any case, I'm still dead. So it doesn't matter, does it?"

Lucrecia smiled. "You're not dead yet, Vincent. Hojo's experiments on you did something to you. You won't die just because a big rock hit you on the back."

Her words filled him with a surge of hope. She nodded, sensing his joy. "Life is only going to get better if the children do their job right. I would like you to do me a favour, Vincent." She hesitated, looking back at Hojo. Her husband also looked uncertain. "Tell Storm Hojo and I are thankful for the chance he gave Sephiroth. Then.... tell Sephiroth.... that we're sorry."

"Yes, Lucrecia. I will do that."

"You're a good man, Vincent Valentine." She stepped up to him. He felt as if a little bit of his heart was chipped away. He bent to kiss her one last time. It felt good, of course, to kiss her. It always had. Even in his dreams it had felt right. But this time it was different. This time it felt more real. Those days before her death love had always seemed to surreal, like a child's dream. This was the real thing. Maybe because he didn't love her anymore, but he loved someone else. Vincent was vaguely aware that he was now awake. And very much alive.

Slowly, he opened his eyes to find himself kissing the love of his life.... Yuffie Kisaragi. Her eyes were closed, her features creased into a little frown, as if she still thought him incapatitated. Then she sat back up, looking down at her hands, still not noticing he had woken up.

"Good morning, love," he whispered.

She looked at him. "Oh - oh gods, Vincent!" she gasped, leaping from her chair to throw her arms about him. "Vincent, I thought I'd lose you! Oh, Vincent! You gave me such a scare! Don't do that again! I swear, Vincent if you do, I'll kill you!!"

He chuckled and put his arms about her. "Has the world survived while I slept?" he inquired.

"Sure it has. The kids did a good job, but they're awfully busy with their upcoming plans. They said they'll explain it all later. Even Cloud doesn't know what they're planning. The only one of our generation who's allowed to partake in their secret meetings is Sephiroth, and you know he's a pretty secretive kind of person himself. Also, Akiranni's taken to helping Blazer. The boy lost his younger sister... very tragic, I hear - "

"Yuffie, stop!" Vincent exclaimed, still trying to digest the first half of her speech. He sat up, looking around.

"I suggest you not look into the mirror yet-"

"Good grief, what happened??" Vincent stared in shock at his reflection. He was old! Lines of age was on his face. He was still very much recognizable, but he no longer looked twenty-seven as he had for the past thirty years. He looked.... fifty-ish.

"Now you're as old as me," Yuffie said smugly. "No, older, in fact. Lucrecia says that she estimates that you'll live to be... eighty, physically. That gives you four more decades to be with me. Isn't that grand?"

"I think that's the greatest thing that ever happened to me since falling in love with you."

Yuffie's smile was immediate and very beautiful. "I love you so much, Vincent Valentine."

"It's about time we had a change in our lives," he murmured, feeling quite sleepy again. "As soon as all this is over... I want you to be my wife, Yuffie."

Tears shone in her eyes. "Anything, Vincent."

"Great. You know, I think there's enough room on this bed for two. You look like you haven't slept in weeks."

"It was a very restless week you've been sleeping through." She, too, yawned, crawling onto the small bed. He held her close, noticing that his golden claw was still a part of him. He didn't care. Yuffie was in his arms, and that was all he really needed. He drifted off to sleep again, with his lover warming his heart.