Assassins in Gaia

Zack kissed Cloud's forehead, "Cloud, good morning."

Cloud nuzzled him, "Morning ~"

Zack laughed, "Ma has made breakfast."

It had been a few very hectic months with Palmer getting the literal boot from the company. It was quiet the crazy few weeks after the news hit the media, especially when Palmer's extortion came to light. It even brought to light the mess Heidegger had left behind when he had been kicked out. It had raised questions about the Shinra board and Rufus had used the opening to take over as the President of Shinra. Rufus had even convinced his father to take early retirement and enjoy the fruits of his labour. He pointed at his increasing bald line and bluntly told him, he was not getting younger. Rupert Shinra spluttered at his second child's audacity but seeing others agree made him finally retire. Rain and Caleb mumbled in their sleep before burying themselves into their parents sides.

Zack, "You know, I have noticed Caleb seems to stick to you a lot."

Cloud, "Mn, and Rain clings to you."

Zack grinned, "I think, I overheard ma tell me I used to do the same before I started to act like I could do everything on my own."

Cloud mused, "Is that so? I wonder how long these two will take. They might not even want to but who knows."

Zack, "The bathroom is empty by the way. If you want to wash up, now's the chance."

Cloud nodded and left Zack with the two toddlers who clung to him, making him melt at the adorable sight. They had started to talk around a month ago and both of them had been very excited. They had both been going to therapy and hoped they could raise their children as normal and happy as possible. Desmond, Vincent, Ace, their whole family, friends and even the SOLDIERs they were not close to were worried about the two of them. The Turks would never openly show they were worried about another person but left them gifts instead. Caleb always made a weird face whenever he saw Sephiroth, Angeal and Genesis with toddlers Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo now that Zack thought about it.

Cloud walked in, drying his face, "They are waking up."

Zack, "Yeah~ They are so cute."

Caleb, 'Curse this weak body. I never required so much sleep before.'

Rain, "Da... Ma.. "

Cloud, "We are right here, tesoro."

Zack, "You know, I have been curious. What does that mean? I mean, I heard Desmond call you that before but never asked."

Cloud, "It means baby bird. They kinda are too. Ace checked them, they have the eyes too."

Rain looked at him curiously, 'Eyes?'

Zack was excited, "You mean the Eagle eyes?"

Cloud nodded, "Yes."

Zack sobered, "So, they are Cetra too."

Cloud, "I know what you are thinking. No one outside our family and trusted friends will find out."

Caleb, 'Fascinating.'

Rain, 'Ironic.'

Cloud, "We'll keep them safe."

Zack, "Always."

Rain and Caleb were just starting to talk in full sentences without stumbling on their words but still babbled sometimes. Rufus and Lazard would be visiting them later on, to personally talk to them about a few things. Lazard had given Zack time off but with so many other SOLDIERs, both KIA and MIA ones returning, they needed help. Rufus was there to play hooky and avoid dealing with the paperwork that never seemed to end. No wonder his old man went crazy in the end, he was starting to feel a bit psychotic looking at the papers that looked like it was mocking him.

Rufus, "Cloud, Zack, little Rain and little Caleb."

Rain was staring, -Of course, Rufus is a family friend, because why not?-

Caleb, -I don't know why you are surprised. I remember Zack used to make friends everywhere.-

Rain whined, -But still, now I feel guilty for brushing him off so many times.-

Caleb, -Like I said he was Zack's friend.-

Cloud, "Rufus, Lazard, come in. Tea? Coffee?"

Lazard, "I could use some of your coffee, please."

Zack, "That bad, boss?"

Rufus, "Shinra has more SOLDIERs than we can deal with, I'm afraid."

Lazard rubbed his eyes looking tired, "Especially with so many of them turning up from missing to existing. I'm forced to put the SOLDIER programme on hold for the moment."

Zack handed him a cup, "Here boss, this is Ace's personal blend. He called it Brazilian coffee, whatever that meant."

Lazard laughed after taking a sip, "Oh, this is strong. Where did he get this from? I would pay for an entire jar."

Cloud chuckled, "I will inform him."

Rain was staring at Rufus and Lazard, in his previous life Lazard was dead. Zack, his Zack who was a spirit but always hijacked Aerith's calls, had informed him of Lazard's demise. He had taken Tifa's strongest liquor to search Rufus out. While SOLDIERs had a hard time getting drunk, normal people however had no problem being drunk. Rain had spent the night with Rufus making sure he was alright before leaving the next day. Tifa had her reservations about Rufus but had understood why he did, what he did. Losing family was hard even harder when you didn't know if they were alive or dead or worse stuck in a lab somewhere.

Rain, 'I wonder how Jessie, Biggs and Wedge are doing in this world. Are they alive?'

Lazard, "Zack, I know, I gave you the entire year off, but we need your help."

Zack was troubled, "Help with what boss?"

Lazard, "Do you remember the three boys and one girl who were in infantry with you?"

Zack nodded, "Yes, they were killed during mission?"

Zack's eyes burned with anger, "No, don't tell me! They didn't, he didn't."

Rufus nodded, "They were some of the few Genesis and Angeal managed to take out of Mako pods and save. They regained consciousness a few days ago and yesterday asked for you."

Zack stilled, "Me? Why me?"

Lazard's lips twitched, "Even though their mind is muddled, they still remember the overexcited pup who tried to hug a Zolom, in their words."

Cloud hugged Zack who looked ready to cry, "Zack, why not visit them? They remember you right, so go visit them. If they see you safe and sound they might feel better too."

Zack looked at Cloud, "You think so?"

Caleb had enough, "Go!"

Cloud chuckled, "See even Caleb thinks you should at least visit. Who knows maybe we will get more babysitters in the future?"

Zack finally laughed, "Oh they would love the tykes. I will visit them boss. After that we'll see. I'm no Nurse or Doctor or Psychologist. I wouldn't know where to even start helping them."

Lazard, "It's fine, Zack, the only reason I ask is, because they requested for you."

Rain who had been watching everything decided to speak up, he was curious about Zack's friends, "Me too, me too."

Rufus chuckled, "It seems young Rain is very open to the idea of visiting as well."

Zack picked him up, "You want to go meet your Uncles and Aunt, baby?"

Rain, "Yesh, go, go."

Zack, "Awwwwww, so impatient my precious tesoro. Okay, let's get ready and we can go now. In fact, let's all go together. I want to tell them I'm okay and doing well, all things considered."

Rufus, "Wonderful, we can wait here while you get ready."

Cloud mused, "It's been a while since we went out. We have been busy with Caleb and Rain it's hard to believe so many months have already went by."

Rain went with Zack and changed into different clothes from comfortable wear to something a bit more classy. After they were done, Cloud took Caleb and the two of them changed as well into matching clothes, courtesy of Claudia. Once they were ready they joined the two brothers in their car to head to Shinra main. Rain was staring at the two siblings the whole time. Did they make up in this world? Or maybe their fight was not that intense to begin with? There were so many questions.

Caleb, -They didn't hate each other from what I remember.-

Rain, -Really?-

Caleb, -They were very awkward around each other though. It seems they are awkward here too.-

Rain, "Huh!"

Zack, "Oh yeah, this is the first time we are heading outside our neighborhood. Do you like it Rain?"

Rufus chuckled, "I must admit, none of us pegged you to be the over protective type, Zack."

Zack, "I didn't either. It just come to me naturally, you know?"

Lazard, "After what happened? I think, we can understand why. By the way I was thinking of promoting Angeal and Sephiroth as Generals."

Cloud, "Oh? Genesis would like that. Last time he came to visit he was complaining of the workload he had to carry alone."

Rufus, "Yes, if Sephiroth and Angeal were Generals then, it would be easier for everyone."

Rain tuned them out after a while of listening in, when they started to talk about what the three First were up to. It it were before, he would have been very interested in knowing about their work and schedules. But now, after seeing the broken human behind the unbreakable heroes, it was hard to muster the same enthusiasm. Also, the missing memories during his struggles probably played a part in it as well. He had actually become terrifyingly apathetic to everything and everyone at one point. Looking back, it was quite scary, he should thank Tifa and the others for always being there for him.

Rain smiled wistfully, 'They didn't have to include me, but they did. I should find a way to thank all of them.'

Cloud, "Hey, coming here was a good idea. Look at Rain smiling away happily."

Zack, "Yeah, so which room?"

Rufus, "After making sure there was nothing else wrong with them physically. They were actually moved to your previous housing unit."

Cloud, "Ah, it would be large enough for four people."

Lazard, "Yes, they also seemed comfortable there too. Perhaps your smell still lingered in the rooms."

Zack nodded, SOLDIERs dealt with trauma in a slightly different manner. Not much but since every sense was enhanced, SOLDIERs liked to surround themselves with smells that comforted them and made them feel safe. That had been why he and Cloud had stayed inside their home for so long only leaving for therapy. They felt the safest and most comfortable around each other and their kids. It had made everyone worry and check on them, but seeing them get healthier and better had relieved some fears. Ace had made everyone back off after observing they just needed peace and quiet to get back on their feet. Desmond and Vincent had agreed though they still checked in on them every two months in person like Ace.

Their dates to check in on them was different too so it felt like someone checked on them after every week. Not like they were complaining, it was nice to see how much they cared and loved them. The group had made a schedule to check in on them. The first week Vincent and Desmond would check on them, a week after that Tifa and Aerith. Ace would check on them one week after the girls, then a week later one of the Turks would drop by staying for the night, claiming they were returning from a mission. Claudia checked on them the next week after the Turks did, her visit was followed by Zack's parents the week after to gush over their grandkids. After them, the three First would drop by with the excuse of the kids having playmates and at the end of two months, either Rufus or Reeve or Lazard would drop by.

Cloud swears up and down, they were all wrangled by Ace, he was the only one who could get shit like that done. Zack had to agree with Cloud, the visits were too methodical and planned to be anyone else's idea. Aerith and Tifa just smirked at them when they brought it up and told them it was either this or them getting watched twenty four seven. They decided not to complain and let their friends do what they wanted to do to care for them. Besides it was not like they were taking over the whole weekend, only Friday night before leaving early on Saturday morning. They had the weekend to themselves sometimes, when they offer to babysit the kids for a whole Saturday.

Rufus, "Here we are, Paloma, Jaden, Roddy and Hal, look who we brought."

Paloma, "Zack and oh, this must be the family you told us about."

Roddy was looking at Caleb and Rain, "We missed out on a lot of things, didn't we?"

Jaden, "He looks like you and you must be Cloud. We heard you were kidnapped like us."

Cloud nodded, "Yes, it was a nightmare. We managed to get out of that situation though."

Hal, "Can I hold him?"

Cloud, "Rain? Do you want to go to him?"

Rain had been eyeing the group and nodded going to Hal without any fuss, 'So these guys are the people Zack was friends with before everything went downhill.'

Paloma, "A sweet kid, ain't he?"

Jaden, "He sure is."

Zack, "What about you Caleb?"

Caleb was watching his twin get comfortable with these people and decided he would join them too. Watching his twin's annoyed expression was always hilarious and a great source of entertainment. He had watched an angry Rain feeling amused on his part over the baby babbling match. Rain pouted and turned away from him in a huff and focused on the man who was holding him. Hal was a dark skinned man with brown eyes that glowed green thanks to what happened. Jaden and Paloma looked like twins, they had blue eyes and brown hair and dusky skin while Roddy was a redhead with brown eyes.

Zack, "So what happened?"

Roddy sighed, "This might take a while."

Paloma, "Stay for dinner."

Cloud nodded, "Okay, take your time. We know it can be hard to talk about."

Rufus, "Since I have already heard this story. I'll take my leave."

Lazard, "I shall as well. Take it easy all of you."