FINAL FANTASY: DARK ANGEL

by PJ

---

"It is my great pleasure to witness the launching of El Cid; may his voyage be a successful one!" smiled Tifa Lockhart, her long dark hair billowing in the breeze.

The white suited CEO of Valhalla Industries descended from the speaker's podium just as the rocket controller began the countdown to launch. Tifa joined the other citizens of Rocket Town, as well as Jade, Jenn, and a few other executives of Valhalla, everyone gazing up at the towering shape of El Cid that stretched up to touch the heavens. A low growl of thunder heralded the ignition of El Cid's main rocket, followed closely by its two boosters. The pointed spear slowly rose up into the air, gaining speed as it hurled up into the clear blue sky. The citizens of Rocket Town cheered, ecstatic that the rocket they had helped build would soon sail the sea of space. Tifa brushed some stray strands of hair away from her beautiful face, releasing her held in breath with relief.

"Looks like we did it!" grinned Tifa.

"It's amazing! I've never seen such a sight!" sighed Jenn with awe.

"I'm leaving you here to monitor El Cid's progress, send me regular reports," instructed Tifa while she walked towards the waiting flyer.

"I'll take care of it," acknowledged Jenn with a nod.

"I know you will," smiled Tifa, giving Jenn a soft kiss on the mouth before she climbed up into the flyer's small cabin with Jade and the other executives.

Jenn waved as the flyer took to the air, Tifa waving back through a small port window until the flyer buzzed away to the east. Jenn sighed softly to herself, then started walking to the control center where the ground crew was monitoring El Cid.

"Scarlet! I'm going to find you!" promised the lithe young man as he crouched inside the gardens, parting the foliage aside, his sharp grey eyes attempting to pierce the thick vegetation.

Scarlet quickly covered her mouth with her small hands, stifling her giggles when Wolf walked past. Wolf walked into one of the gardens' many clearings, scratching his head in frustration.

"Scarlet! Wolf! Time for supper!" called Aeris from the house.

"Damn!" cursed Scarlet and Wolf in unison.

Scarlet emerged from her hiding place, laughing out loud when Wolf appeared, his face dark with shame.

"I thought I caught your scent near those bushes," snarled Wolf while Scarlet poked him in the ribs.

"You're getting sloppy, city boy," teased Scarlet, her bright green eyes sparkling.

"Father's been too busy to take me out beyond Midgar, he says he will at the end of summer."

"We should go together, forget the old people," suggested Scarlet, the house coming into sight.

"Your parents would never agree to it, neither would mine," shrugged Wolf helplessly.

"We could sneak away," murmured Scarlet.

"You've never seen my father angry, he would skin me alive."

"Then my father would have a turn at you," giggled Scarlet.

"Thanks," scowled Wolf.

Scarlet playfully smacked Wolf's left arm as they approached the back door to Scarlet's house. Wolf inhaled deeply, enjoying the rich aromas of Aeris' wonderful cooking. Mother wasn't much of a cook, nothing like Scarlet's mom, thought Wolf, following Scarlet into the house.

"Wash up before coming to the table," admonished Aeris gently, her smile warm and bright.

Wolf blushed hotly, nodding in agreement, following Scarlet upstairs to the bathroom to wash his face and hands. Scarlet started a brief splashing fight, but the two young people managed to get cleaned up and downstairs just as Cloud entered through the front door.

"Wolf, good to see you," nodded Cloud in greeting, "keeping my little girl out of trouble?"

"That would take a greater man than me," grinned Wolf.

"Hey!" frowned Scarlet, punching Wolf in the arm again.

Everyone took their seats, digging into supper with enthusiasm.

Nanaki stared into the dancing flames, the night sky overhead clear, filled with millions of glittering stars. Yuffie deftly climbed up the side of the hillock, silently crouching next to the meditating red cat.

"You missed dinner again," whispered Yuffie, stroking Nanaki's thick mane.

"The flames are trying to warn me," replied Nanaki, his eyes reflecting the crackling light of the small blaze.

"Of what?"

"Nothing specific. Ghosts and gleaming blades."

"Weird," murmured Yuffie, nuzzling Nanaki's left shoulder.

"We just did that last night," remarked Nanaki with a glance towards the lovely woman at his side.

"I hardly ever get to see you," purred Yuffie, licking Nanaki's long ear.

"I'm chief of the village, I have duties."

"What about your duty to your wife?"

"You are right," sighed Nanaki in defeat.

Yuffie removed her wide breeches and tunic, lying down on her back upon the warm ground.

"Make love to me right here," demanded Yuffie with a sensual smile.

Nanaki smiled, baring his fangs as he straddled atop Yuffie, licking her warm tits with his tongue. Yuffie moaned, wrapping her slim arms around Nanaki's thick neck, pressing his muzzle onto her shuddering breasts. Nanaki's hardening prick pressed against Yuffie's pussy, caressing her stiff clitoris. Yuffie spread her legs wide apart, shoving her crotch forward onto the large cat's shaft. Nanaki growled, pumping his member back and forth within Yuffie's vagina, his tongue sliding over her left breast onto the side of her neck. Yuffie groaned with pleasure, pressing her thighs against Nanaki's flanks, rolling her hips, the slit of her cunt moist with her juices as her husband's tool rammed deep into her belly.

Yuffie climaxed with a loud groan, her hips trembling from her orgasm. Nanaki released his seed, spurting the stream into the naked woman's clenching vagina. Yuffie held onto Nanaki, kissing his warm muzzle, caressing his tongue with hers. Nanaki returned Yuffie's kisses, then buried his snout in her slick black hair, inhaling her feminine, musky scent.

"I have to go," whispered Nanaki into Yuffie's ear.

"Where?"

"Midgar."

"Then I go with you," replied Yuffie, her voice leaving no room for debate.

=====

El Cid moved silently through the midnight black void, the starlight reflecting off of its dark green hull. Within the small control compartment, Captain Raina Largen narrowed her eyes when something appeared on her scanner monitor.

"Nyura, I've got something."

Raina's young crewwoman floated across the deck to look over her captain's shoulder.

"Looks like a piece of ice."

"Go down to the loading bay. I'm going to bring it aboard."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Nyura nervously. "We don't know what might be inside it."

"We won't know until we get a better look at it, now hurry!" retorted Raina.

Nyura flew down the corridor to the loading bay while Raina guided El Cid towards the floating chunk of ice.

"He's gorgeous," said Nyura with wide eyes, her pulse quickening at the sight of the man trapped in the block of jagged ice.

"Uh, yeah," replied Raina, her own gaze drawn to the strong features of the man. "We better keep him in there until we land," she added, indicating the man's missing lower body.

"Sure, sure, boss," nodded Nyura absently.

"Let's get back to the flight deck," said Raina with a twitch of her head.

The loading dock was pitch black when Nyura glided inside. She floated over to the large block of ice, placing her hand upon it while she admired the imprisoned man's handsome face and strong chest. Nyura's breath washed over the ice, forming a few streams of liquid that rolled down the side of the block. The man's eyes snapped open, staring up at Nyura. The young woman stumbled away from the ice block, her hands rising quickly to stifle her gasp of surprise.

The man smiled at Nyura, his pale blue eyes boring into her mind, trapping her like a rabbit before a howling hover truck. Nyura walked in a daze to the laser mount, activating it, then firing its precision cutting beam into the ice block, searing it away from the entrapped man's body. When the task was done, Nyura returned to the man's side, kneeling down next to his steaming torso.

The man reached up with his right hand, grasping the back of Nyura's head, pulling her face down to his cold, blue lips. He kissed her hungrily, sucking the warmth from her trembling mouth. Nyura placed her hands over the man's cold cheeks, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, her body on fire with lust.

The man grasped Nyura's curvaceous hips, positioning her over his waist. She unzipped her white flight suit, peeling it away from her flat stomach and small breasts. The man yanked the flight suit off before pulling her on top of him, kissing her ravenously while his left hand slid up and down her smooth bare back. Nyura moaned, closing her eyes in bliss as the man thrust his right hand between her buttocks, caressing her pussy until it became moist with arousal. The man licked the sides of Nyura's throat, descending to her left breast, where he fastened his cool lips, sucking on her ripe nipple.

Tendrils of muscle began to grow from the stump of the man's torso. Leg bones started flowing outwards, wrapped in an ever-growing web of muscle and veins. A bundle of veins and muscles swiftly melded into a long, shivering cock, rising up to press against Nyura's tight ass. Nyura groaned deeply, her face buried in the man's thick silver hair, her arms wrapped around his strong neck as he licked and sucked on her heaving breasts. The man squeezed Nyura's buttocks with both of his hands, prying them apart so his ever-growing cock could dive into the young woman's cunt, wriggling deep into her honey slick hole. Skin began forming over the man's completed legs and crotch, his hips thrusting up against Nyura's, her moans encouraging him to shove his shaft ever deeper into her sucking cunt.

Nyura screamed as she orgasmed, her whole body shivering with ecstasy. The man's hands roved over Nyura's shaking buttocks, caressing the warm, creamy flesh while he shot his semen into her glistening vagina.

"Sleep," whispered the man, sliding the fingers of his right hand over Nyura's eyes, locking them shut.

"What the hell?" groaned Raina in her bunk when El Cid's main engine roared to life. She unstrapped herself from her bed, kicking out towards the hatch of her cabin. When Raina entered the flight deck, she saw a tall man with long silver hair hunched over the controls.

"You're the man from the ice block!" gasped Raina.

"I do not wish to hurt you, but I must return to the Planet," said the man, his voice easily heard over the constant rumble of the engines.

Raina floated over to a locker, retrieving a laser pistol from it, which she aimed at the back of the man.

"Get away from the controls."

"I wish you hadn't done that," sighed the man, his body moving in a blur. Raina gasped, blood drops floating from her slack mouth while she looked down at the knife embedded in her belly.

"I will have my revenge."

Jenn stood at the prow of the recovery boat as it sliced its way towards the bobbing command module of El Cid. The small, ungainly ship chugged to a stop next to the module as a recovery arm descended to retrieve it. A group of Valhalla medical personnel waited near the exit hatch of the landing pod when it slowly hissed open with the whine of protesting servos. Flight officer Nyura hopped down onto the ship deck, followed by a breathtakingly handsome man with gleaming silver hair that fell to his waist. The female personnel were paralyzed with awe, and Jenn had to admit that she almost forgot to breathe herself. Nyura pointed at Jenn, then followed the tall man as he marched towards the gaping young woman.

"Ms. Jenn, you are the leader of this recovery operation?" inquired the man with a sharp bow.

"Ah, ah, yes," nodded Jenn jerkily.

"Excellent. My name is Sephiroth, perhaps you know of me?"

"Everyone does, you're the man who almost destroyed the Planet."

"A mistake on my part. I have no wish to harm the Planet any longer. Where will we make landfall, if I may ask?"

"Rocket Town," replied Jenn quickly, perspiration forming on her brow.

"Adequate. Perhaps I can help you pass the time while we sail for port?" offered Sephiroth, his smile warm and full of promise.

Scarlet tossed and turned in her bed, the sheets drenched in her sweat. She sat up abruptly, her small chest pumping desperately.

"Scarlet?" murmured Aeris, peeking into her daughter's room.

"Mother," smiled Scarlet, reaching out with both arms.

Aeris sat on the bed next to Scarlet, hugging the shaking girl close.

"A nightmare?"

"Yes. It was horrible, I dreamt that the house was on fire, and that you were dying."

"It was just a bad dream, go back to sleep," soothed Aeris, kissing the top of Scarlet's head.

"Yes, Mother," sighed Scarlet, lying back on the bed and closing her eyes.

Aeris wiped the perspiration from Scarlet's face before rising and closing the bedroom door. The lovely woman frowned as she returned to her own bedroom.

"Is she okay?" asked Cloud, draping Aeris with the bed covers after she had rejoined him.

"Yes, she was having a nightmare. I could sense her distress."

Cloud caressed Aeris' soft hair, then kissed her affectionately on the lips. Aeris wrapped her arms around Cloud's neck, hugging him close to her.

"Don't worry, it was just a dream," murmured Cloud while he slowly fell back into sleep, holding Aeris next to him.

"Perhaps," whispered Aeris, her eyes wide awake, her thoughts troubled by fire and pain.

=====

Tifa sat engrossed with a sales report when the door to her large office opened, admitting Jenn.

"You're back!" smiled Tifa, rising from her chair to cross the office and hug Jenn tightly.

"I have someone who wants to see you," replied Jenn, her body stiff as she pulled herself away from Tifa.

"Who is it?"

"Hello, Tifa, it's been a long time," greeted Sephiroth from the doorway while Jenn departed.

"You!" snarled Tifa, her hands clenching into fists. "I thought that you were dead!"

"And so I was, until your brave rocket crew found me," bowed Sephiroth, closing the door behind him. "We have much to discuss."

"Such as?" prompted Tifa, returning to her desk, opening the drawer that held her Premium Heart battle glove.

"Cloud, I want revenge for what he did to me. You can help me."

"Why would I want to help you?" retorted Tifa.

"He rejected you, didn't he? You wouldn't be here in this lonely tower if he hadn't," observed Sephiroth, walking across the room.

"I'm happy, I have a whole corporation at my beck and call," said Tifa defensively.

"But it's not what you wanted, not what you really wanted," smiled Sephiroth, standing next to Tifa's desk.

Tifa left her chair, turning her back on Sephiroth to look out the wide window at the skyline of Midgar.

"I can give you what you've been missing, if you'll help me find Cloud," whispered Sephiroth into Tifa's left ear, his breath warm against her neck. Tifa closed her eyes, her conscience warring with her loneliness and desire. Sephiroth's strong arms wrapped around Tifa's waist, pressing her body close to his.

Tifa turned around to face Sephiroth, her wide brown eyes staring up into his narrow blue orbs.

"I'll help you," agreed Tifa, crushing Sephiroth's mouth with her moist lips.

Sephiroth slammed Tifa against the thick glass of the office window, ripping her jacket and blouse open, freeing her large breasts. He bent down to lick her wide, brown nipples, his left hand pinning her right wrist to the glass while his right hand plunged into Tifa's trousers, rubbing the front of her panties. Tifa shuddered with pleasure, her tits aching, her mouth trembling as she felt Sephiroth's hand on her cunt, rubbing her warm flesh until it became wet with lust. Sephiroth thrust his hand beneath Tifa's drenched panties, caressing her clit with his agile fingers. Tifa shoved her breast against Sephiroth's mouth, her own face buried in his musky silver hair.

Sephiroth released Tifa to unfasten his own black pants. Tifa knelt in front of Sephiroth, reaching up with her hands to caress his freed, stiff prick. She touched Sephiroth's cock head with her silky lips, then folded her mouth around the throbbing shaft. She let the member plunge deep into her throat, her cheeks growing taut while she sucked hungrily on the pole of engorged meat.

Sephiroth dug his hands into Tifa's dark hair, thrusting his hips, shoving his cock between the beautiful woman's red lips. Tifa's head jerked as she sucked on Sephiroth's pole, her lips smacking wetly while they caressed up and down her lover's member. She slid her tongue down Sephiroth's prick to his balls, then she licked each of them with her tongue before covering them with her mouth, sucking energetically, her small nose pressed against the bottom of Sephiroth's cock.

The tall man grasped Tifa's shoulders, raising her to her feet, then setting her butt on the edge of her desk. He pulled off Tifa's pants, then snapped away her soaking panties before spreading her long legs and burying his face in her dripping slit. Tifa groaned sharply, a fresh stream of her juices flowing out of her vagina as Sephiroth sucked on her labia and nibbled on her stiff clit. He pried the lips of her pussy apart, inserting his tongue into her vagina, licking the warm, glistening walls languidly. Tifa fell on her back upon the desk, her hips shivering in ecstasy, her thighs limp while Sephiroth licked up and down her cunt, her honey falling from his tongue in long, viscous streams.

Sephiroth took both of Tifa's wrists, pressing them on either side of her head upon the desk while he stabbed his long cock into her pussy. Tifa moaned weakly, her body shuddering with each thrust into her vagina, her tits quivering from the force of his slamming crotch. Sephiroth rammed himself into Tifa over and over, relentlessly, until Tifa orgasmed, her cunt tightening around Sephiroth's cock, squeezing every last drop of cum from his member.

Sephiroth licked the sweat from Tifa's stomach and breasts, his tongue running up the valley of her cleavage before sliding into her gasping mouth. Tifa kissed Sephiroth urgently, her hands buried in his long hair.

"You will help me?"

"Yes," sighed Tifa, taking another kiss with her hot, demanding lips.

"Relax, feel the Life flowing around you," instructed Aeris from her seat next to Scarlet.

The young girl squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on her mother's words. Instead of feeling Life around her, she heard Wolf cleaning his rifle, his arousing scent tickling the inside of her nostrils.

"Can you sense it?" asked Aeris.

Scarlet tried to focus, taking a long, deep breath.

"No," sighed the girl, opening her eyes, unable to meet her mother's gaze.

"We'll try again," replied Aeris patiently.

"I better be going home, Dad gets mad if I'm late," said Wolf, rising and placing his rifle in its leg holster.

"Can't you stay for supper again? Maybe you can spend the night," said Scarlet hopefully.

"Nah, Mom wants me home for dinner tonight. You know how she is," shrugged Wolf helplessly, tossing Scarlet and Aeris a farewell wave on his way around the house.

"Mom!" begged Scarlet.

"Concentrate," reminded Aeris.

"Mrs. Strife! Valkyries are coming!" shouted Wolf, his rifle held tightly in his right hand.

Aeris closed her eyes, sending a focused thought to her husband.

"Mom?" whispered Scarlet, hugging Aeris close.

"I sent for your father, but we should leave through the gardens," said Aeris firmly, rising quickly to help her daughter from the ground.

"I'll guard your escape!" swore Wolf, his eyes fierce.

"You'll come with us," corrected Aeris, her expression brooking no argument.

"Yes, ma'am," replied Wolf.

Aeris herded Scarlet and Wolf towards the gardens, watching the house while sounds of breaking wood and glass echoed from her home.

"They're escaping!" called out a blue-haired Valkyrie from the back door, her rifle leveled at Aeris and her young charges.

Aeris raised a quick Barrier just before the female soldier fired, her bullets splashing across a crackling green wall of magic. Aeris gasped, her heart racing, when she spied Sephiroth emerge from her home, his long, polished sword sparkling in the starlight.

"Sephiroth," murmured Aeris in horror, paralyzed where she stood.

"I see that I'm not the only one who came back from the dead," grinned Sephiroth wolfishly. "Where is your husband?"

"Why do you want him?"

"To kill him, of course," chuckled Sephiroth.

"No, I won't let you."

"Don't make me kill you again. This time nothing will be able to bring you back," growled Sephiroth as he raised his blade and strode towards Aeris.

Aeris closed her eyes, summoning the magic of her materia. She pointed at Sephiroth, unleashing a rain of shimmering blue Bolts that exploded around the sword wielding man. Sephiroth roared while several Valkyries fell screaming to the ground, fried by the powerful electrical Bolts. Sephiroth drew back his left palm then threw, hurling a sizzling ball of fire at Aeris' Barrier, the hungry flames pounding against the flickering green shield. Aeris stumbled, her breathing harsh as she called upon Bahamut Zero. The night sky became overcast with boiling clouds, right before a pillar of white fire fell from space, surrounding Sephiroth and his remaining minions. The Valkyries were reduced to ash in a moment, but Sephiroth writhed in the deadly beam, his white skin crisping to black. Sephiroth screamed in agony, falling to his knees after the beam faded away. Aeris fell as well, choking for breath, her body pouring with sweat. She slowly raised her head, then whimpered when she saw Sephiroth rise back to his feet, his flesh regenerating before her eyes.

"You will tell me where Cloud is or you will die on my blade," swore Sephiroth with a hiss, his shadow falling over Aeris while he raised his razor sharp sword.

A feline roar was the only warning when Nanaki landed on top of Sephiroth, his claws biting deep into the man's flesh. Sephiroth spun back and forth, trying to throw the big cat off of him. Nanaki's Limited Moon razor flashed, cutting a deep furrow across Sephiroth's chest. Sephiroth pushed Nanaki off, slashing with his own blade. Nanaki hopped away, then charged, smashing Sephiroth back, claws gleaming with blood as he inflicted more wounds on his foe.

Sephiroth raised his sword with both hands, ready to impale Nanaki upon it. He jerked forward when he felt a blade bite deep into his back, then quickly withdraw. Sephiroth glanced behind to see a beautiful woman with a ponytail of raven hair dressed in black, a green headband over her temples.

"Hi, remember me? I'm Yuffie!" smiled the woman before she stabbed Sephiroth in the back again, her sword dripping with his lifeblood.

Sephiroth retreated from both of his attackers, blood drenching his dark leathers. He kept Nanaki and Yuffie at bay with his long sword, quickly pondering how he could defeat them both.

"Sephiroth! Take the line!" shouted Tifa from the hovering flyer.

Sephiroth grasped the dangling cord, holding on for dear life when Tifa angled the flyer upwards, taking her lover out of harm's way.

"Aeris!" shouted Cloud from the corner of the house. He ran to Aeris' side just as flickers of flame appeared from within their home.

"Get down!" shouted Nanaki, crouching low.

The house exploded in a great roar, fire and debris blossoming outward. Cloud covered Aeris with his body, heat blasting over him from the raging fireball.

"Aeris?" whispered Cloud, holding her tightly.

"I'm okay," smiled Aeris, returning her husband's embrace.

"Are you two alright?"

"Yes," nodded Nanaki, watching Yuffie rise and nod.

"How are the kids?"

"They're hiding just past the gardens," replied Aeris, allowing Cloud to help her up.

"I'll go get them," volunteered Nanaki, followed closely by Yuffie.

"It was Sephiroth, he was looking for you," said Aeris, touching Cloud's worried face.

"He got my attention, and I'm going to make him regret it," promised Cloud darkly.

=====

The richly decorated bedroom was dark except for the lights of Midgar's skyline that poured illumination through the immense wall to wall window. The mattress of the large four poster bed shivered and jerked as Tifa and Sephiroth made love upon it. Both of the lovers knelt upon the bed, Tifa thrusting her ass onto Sephiroth's crotch, his cock shoving deep into her pussy.

Sephiroth squeezed Tifa's left breast, his right arm crossing her stomach to her snatch, his fingers massaging her engorged clitoris. Tifa groaned in bliss, her perfect skin gleaming with sweat, her nipples stiff as she stroked the muscled arm wrapped around her body, her cunt raining thick honey onto the disheveled sheets. Sephiroth pumped his hips, ramming his meat into Tifa, her skin hot against his own cool flesh. He kissed the back of her neck, then licked around her right ear, making her moan softly. He felt her climax, her cunt collapsing around his plunging cock, her thighs trembling as she gasped weakly with release. Tifa moved around to face Sephiroth, pushing him back onto the bed, her soft breasts pressing over his own heaving chest.

"It was a close call," murmured Tifa, kissing Sephiroth's chin, then his lips.

"They are a formidable team. I had forgotten how fierce they were," replied Sephiroth, stroking Tifa's left cheek.

"Is your revenge worth so much?"

"I thought so, now I'm not sure. I've been dead once, I really don't look forward to dying again so soon."

"Then forget about Cloud! Let's just leave this city and go somewhere else, anywhere else!"

"What about your company?" asked Sephiroth, his hand sliding through Tifa's sweat drenched hair.

"It's not that important. It was just a way for me to forget...things. Now I have someone to take care of," grinned Tifa, nuzzling Sephiroth's neck.

"Yes, I guess you do," chuckled Sephiroth, kissing Tifa lingeringly. "I'll go make reparations, then we can go, wherever you want to."

"Okay," sighed Tifa, kissing Sephiroth firmly before mounting him once more.

Cloud sat at one of the round tables in the common room of the 7th Heaven, going over the ledger figures supplied by Melissa and Vincent. Cloud sipped from his mug, then turned his head, sensing Sephiroth standing in the open doorway.

"Come to finish what you started?" growled Cloud, Ultima Weapon swirling into his outstretched hand.

"After a fashion," replied Sephiroth, walking slowly to Cloud's table, dropping a bulging bag of coins onto its polished surface.

"What's this?" inquired Cloud, his left eyebrow arched suspiciously.

"Payment for the damage to your home, a regrettable action on my part," shrugged Sephiroth, removing his long black coat before sitting across from Cloud at the table.

"Why the sudden attack of conscience?"

"Tifa...talked me out of my revenge," admitted Sephiroth with a wan smile.

"Oh," replied Cloud with barely concealed amazement.

"We're leaving Midgar, so you won't have to worry about running into me again after tonight."

"That will be a relief."

"That's all I wanted to say," said Sephiroth as he rose. The tall man walked to the front entrance, grasping the doorknob and turning it before glancing at Cloud, who watched him warily from his table seat.

"Remember the old days, when we were both Soldiers, raising hell and fighting villainy. Those were good times, weren't they?"

"Yes, those were simpler times," nodded Cloud. "Take care of yourself, and Tifa."

"I will," acknowledged Sephiroth, closing the door behind him.

=====

"A three story house?" asked Aeris, her left arm wrapped around Cloud's waist as they watched the construction crew work.

"Yeah, for the other kids," grinned Cloud widely.

"You want more?" whispered Aeris, folding Cloud in a fierce hug, gazing up into his eyes lovingly.

"At least three," laughed Cloud, sealing his wish with a warm kiss.

"At least," giggled Aeris, holding Cloud close, resting her cheek on his firm chest.

"Wolf! Wolf! Where are you?" called out Vincent, hands on hips.

"He's in the backyard with Scarlet," chuckled Melissa from the kitchen sink.

"What's he doing, he's supposed to come with me to the 7th Heaven to help count stock."

"He's busy with more important things, go on without him," said Melissa, her eyes twinkling.

Melissa resumed washing dishes, a bemused smile on her face as she watched her son and Scarlet exchange tentative kisses near the back fence, supposedly protected from sight by a scraggly bush.

Sephiroth sat at the tiller of the small boat, the engine puttering softly as the boat sailed northwest. Tifa emerged from the galley, handing Sephiroth a cold drink before sitting next to him.

"It's nice and clear today," remarked Tifa, leaning against Sephiroth's strong frame.

"Yes, we should make good time," agreed Sephiroth, taking a long pull from his drink. "By the way, who did you leave Valhalla Industries to?"

"Jenn. She's a good administrator. She'll take good care of Midgar."

"I'm glad. We all deserve some peace and quiet," admitted Sephiroth, kissing the top of Tifa's head affectionately.

"Yes," sighed Tifa, snuggling close, enjoying the warm sun and the cool breeze blowing across the calm ocean.

~~~~~~