"Cloud, you and Tifa were once in the Lifestream, you know that anything is possible in there. I was in the Lifestream as well, I had become a part of it. I know the vision I saw was true. After Vincent killed Sephiroth by using his forbidden attack, he split the Lifestream and his own soul. In order to compensate, the Lifestream merged him with half of a soul that you knew that had died at the same time. For that reason, that attack has been set off limits," came the reply.

"How is it that every person I've ever loved is killed or maimed or spliced? First it was Sephiroth, then it was you, now Vincent? I'm a danger to everyone I could ever love!"

"No you aren't. Now, would you like some good news?" asked Aeris, her gentle blue eyes lighting up, her smile warming the ice that was forming in Cloud's heart. "I promise it will kill any doubts that Sephiroth might be back to get revenge on you or Vincent."

"Aeris," he paused then, his voice wavering. "Thank you." The tears had started then. He was afraid that Vincent would stop loving him because half of him was Cloud's enemy.

"First stop crying....there, good. Now, when Vincent's soul was spliced with Sephiroth's in the Lifestream, he got the better half. The half you admired and loved those years ago in Nibelheim; the morally good half. And Vincent's own insecurities were split off from him and left behind in the Lifestream. His loneliness, his sadness, his despair were all stripped away forever. I know how you feel about Vincent, and I feel that it is safe to say that he feels the same way about you."

"Aeris, why are you so good to me? You do love me, yet I love someone we don't know much about?" asked Cloud as he held her close.

"You got me out of Midgar's slums. You taught me that the world was huge and that there's always adventure everywhere. You taught me romance in the Gold Saucer on our date. But most of all, you came after me because in your dreams I was in trouble. You've done so much for me, that I am indebted to you with this new life," came her reply as she returned the embrace.

"I gotta go make sure Tifa's okay with this," said Cloud.

"She is, I just came back from talking to her. Tifa....Tifa will get along fine because she knows she can rely on your friendship."

"Good. I better go check in on Vincent now, make sure he's OK. And Aeris? Thank you, for everything." She smiled then turned around and walked back to the bridge.

Cloud walked inside, back to Vincent who was still trembling, his red eyes seemed dim; distant. He didn't like this, seeing his friend shake gently, his fiery eyes glazed over.

"Vincent? Vincent?! Oh God!" his companion was in shock and disconnecting rapidly. The jagged breaths, the quivering, the shivering. "Gotta get you warm."

He slid his arms under Vincent and picked him up. For all his strength, Vincent was suprisingly light. Cloud held him close and still got no response. Kicking the door open, he ran into the hallway, his lover's eyes grew dimmer still; then they shut. The heartbeat was slowing to half of what it was. His body grew colder to the touch. Finally reaching his room, Cloud kicked open the door and laid Vincent out upon the bed before sliding in next to him and pulling the covers over.

"C..Cloud? Do you hate me now?" came a small voice.

"No. I could never hate you, Vincent. Not even if you killed me. I love you, now and forever."

"S-so c-c-cold and tired. Don't understand."

"You'll be all right. You just came out of shock and all you need is a little sleep to fix your nerves. Just sleep some and you'll feel a lot better, I promise."

"Hold me...," came the exhausted reply as he drifted into sleep.

Cloud wound his arms around his tired friend and held him close to his body. He was so cold, it was if he was dead. He reached over Vincent's head and stroked the long, raven hair which was held back by a defiant elastic. Sliding a finger between it and the hair, he snapped it and threw it away before letting his fingers savor the smooth waves. "So what if you slightly resembled Sephiroth today...I still love you, vampire," whispered Cloud as he too, fell into deep repose.

Vincent, however, was dreaming otherwise. He was in a long room with something dark and cold awaiting him at the end. He didn't want to go near it, but he knew he had to. Vincent got up and walked towards the black aura.

" I didn't think you'd be back," came the voice.

" I didn't have a choice in the matter. Tell me what you are, and what you want."

" I'm surprised you don't know me by know. Aeris was telling Cloud today that you are me, or part of it. However, she didn't know that even my docile side was strong and capable of leveling you."

"But we all know, Sephiroth, that you are too weak to do anything by yourself. Besides, your other half has been banished to the Lifestream and prevented from rejoining. I've learned to coexist with the fact that you are part of me now. But you've learned nothing."

"On the contrary, vampire, I've learned much. I've learned your forbidden attack's full potential. I've also learned that you are fiercely protective of Cloud and wouldn't want that same attack used on him."

"You don't have a body, you can't do anything," came Vincent's reply.

"Nor do I want to. But whatever Cloud can do, I can do better," bragged Sephiroth's essence. The dark construct reached down and with a touch, turned Vincent's pants into dust, sending the particles blowing off into the wind. " Let me please you, send your passions afire!" A dark figure was forming in the shape of Sephiroth, who reached down and grasped Vincent's cock, eliciting a moan.

Moving Sephiroth-construct's hand away, Vincent stepped back. " I have Cloud for that. Only he can do that." Closing his eyes, Vincent awoke to Cloud's eyes looking at him, their deep, blue pools were filled with relief.

"I was worried about you," sighed Cloud. With a strength that surprised the wielder, Vincent reached up, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him down in a passionate kiss.

"I had another nightmare. This time, it touched me," breathed the awakened. "It touched me where only you are permitted to, saying that it was a better lover. Still though, that was the thinnest lie. Only you, forever, can have me anyway you'd like. But for now, I'd just like to be held."

"You warm again, that's good. Before, you were freezing and somewhat incoherent. And when you were asleep, your moaning woke me up."

"Didn't mean to. Anyway, I'm going to take a bath. Want to join me?" asked Vincent.

"Sounds like fun," quipped Cloud.

"Good. I needed a masseuse anyway. Come on, let's go." Vincent got out of the bed and removed his clothes. He then pulled Cloud towards him and undressed him. Filling the large tub with hot water took only a few minutes, and soon enough, both lovers were in the dip.

Vincent pulled his hair back and went under for a moment, listening to the dead silence. It was in that moment that he realized how in love with Cloud he was, and that there were no limits in this relationship. He released his hair and felt the black tendrils drift out from under him before floating over his chest and just staying there. "Silence again," he thought. "Though I won't ever be alone again...Cloud..."

His thought was interrupted by a pair of strong arms pulling him out of the water. "Vincent! You were under for so long, I thought you had passed out again!" shouted Cloud.

"I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I always feel better when I'm underwater for so long. I feel things I haven't felt before," came the gently reply.

Cloud reached over and ran his fingers through Vincent's hair. The hair that felt so good to touch. Vincent was quiet, then. He leaned back against his lover's strong chest and rested his head on his shoulder. He took Cloud's wrist and moved it down towards his lower anatomy before releasing it.

"I'm the only one who can touch you like this?" he asked as he stroked the organ gently. Vincent nodded and opened his legs slightly to allow Cloud greater access. His cock was soon hardened by Cloud's manipulations, whose own organ was hardened at the permission granted. Vincent hauled himself up and sat on the edge of Cloud's lap, his legs spreading wider, the hand on his throbbing organ eliciting a low moan before he came.

Waiting a few minutes, Cloud nudged the inert Vincent and received a kiss of gratitude on his neck before turning him around. "It okay...if we try something else?"

"Do you want to?"

"Somewhat, yes. But tell me if it hurts and I'll stop."

"Pain isn't much of a problem. Hojo cut my arm off, remember?"

"So..you still have everything else in order."

"Cloud...if you'd like to, you can."

"Okay, but come closer. I'm not that big."

Vincent sat closer on Cloud's lap, and kissed him gently. "I've never done this before..." he whispered as he felt the organ penetrate him. Leaning forward, Cloud felt Vincent's long hair on his own shoulders. "Never let me go..." Cloud's breathing became labored as he moved in and out before his own passion spurted into Vincent.

"I won't. Not ever," replied his spent lover. They both got out of the tub, then, and dried each other off before climbing back into bed.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"A little bit, but not too much."

Vincent and Cloud awoke later that night to shouts and screams coming from outside Cid's small, yet roomy house:

"Oh shit, Barret! What're we gonna do now?"

"I don't know, Tifa! Just keep plugging away at the bastard!" Missing Score emptied another firey salvo towards the figure.

"Shera, my spear broke!" A new one was thrown to Cid promptly, and was then hurled at the correct target.

"My megaphone is out of batteries! Stupidly cheap Shin-Ra mass produced piece of shit!"

"Here!" Reaching inside her walkman, Yuffie produced two new Mako charges at threw them to Cait Sith. "Power up, cat!"

"Stupid fur! Always goes into my eyes!" Red pinned yet another barrette into his fur before casting berserk on himself and barreling into the tall, silver haired man which stood there

"Cloud! Vincent! You guys gotta wake up and fight! The others are already out there!" Screamed Shera as she kicked down the bedroom door. "Up! Up! You two, this is no time to fuck yourselves silly! Sephiroth is back!"

"What? How is that possible?" Asked Vincent as he pulled on his battle-gear and reloaded his Death Penalty. "Unless he managed to break out of the prison of the astral plane," he thought silently as he glanced over to Cloud, who was loading the four most powerful summon materia his Ultima Weapon could hold.

"Vincent, why is Sephiroth back? I thought even though he was ressurected, he was confined to the astral plane by Aeris?" Inquired Cloud. He looked so innocent, his Mako blue eyes wide with terror, anticipation, concern, and outrage at their happiness being destroyed by a madman.

"I myself am perplexed over this. The guardians of death and rebirth would've contacted me in the event of impending worldwide destruction. It is not like them to remain silent in this matter. If such an event were to take place, I would be called upon to use my life to ressurect the life that was destroyed in the attack," Vincent replied calmly as he filled his materia slots with barrier spells and curative magics. "No matter what happens, though, we are charged with stopping him, at any cost."

"I promise you, Vincent, that I'm not going to let you die over this. I'm gonna protect you at any costs. A world without you is a world not worth saving at all!" Cloud's eyes began to tear before overfilling. "I love you dammit! And I'm not about to give up my love to Sephiroth's insanity! Let's go kill that bastard."

"Cloud.....I love you too. You're right, let's go bury his charred skeleton permanently!"

The duo dashed outside, with Cloud leading the attack. Leaping high into the air, he focused all of his energy into the tip of his sword for the ultimate attack. "Omni-slash!" Cloud cried as his Ultima Weapon entered Sephiroth's body multiple times, perforating it with his rage and tears that he might lose his love to the egomaniac standing before him.

As Cloud Strife withdrew the blade and landed on the grass, his firey aqua irises regarded the ressurected horror which he had thought to be dead. He wasn't. Instead, Sephiroth was protected by some kind of barrier, not the usual M or X, but a soul barrier, which only one could break.

"Oh, it didn't work! Now what?!"

"Now this! Please get down, Cloud! I know now what I must do!"

Marching forward solemnly, long hair blowing softly in the jet streams of wind, Vincent whipped out his Death Penalty and began firing right into Sephiroth's chest. "BKAM, BKAM!!!!" The first bullet shattered Sephiroth's force-field, the second went right into the man's abdomen, bringing forth a torrent of blood.

Emptying his gun's ammunition into the man, drawing greater waves of red, Vincent folded his arms, concentrated, and vanished. In his place stood the Chaos demon, which flew forward, fangs beared, to bite Sephiroth's head off.

"I've been waiting for you to charge at me, Vincent Valentine. Now witness my full power!" Holding his arm out in front of his body, the taller man discharged several bolts of black lightning, which entered the Chaos' form, causing it to curl into a ball and let out an earthshattering scream. As Vincent fell to the ground with a sickeningly dull thud, the evil one grinned triumphantly at the remaining warriors. "Let's see, who will be 'lucky victim number two?' I know! Yuffie Kisaragi, come on down!" Despite all her strength and prowess in combat situations, the young ninjitsu still trembled in her leather boots when she heard Sephiroth's icy promise of harm.

"Vincent! No!" Screamed Cloud after the Chaos demon was compacted back into the human form of his lover, then slammed ruthelessly into the earth. Glaring at Sephiroth's Mako green eyes, the younger of the two spat in the direction of the man. "You bastard! First my friends, then my lover. I can't forgive...for what you've done!" Suddenly, he felt his limit ability break through to a newer more powerful level, the words already forming on his lips as he raised his sword high above his head, feeling it's cold metallic substance surge with infinite power.

"Guardian of the powers of light, I call upon you to send down bolts of lightning, wind, and fire to! Holy banish this evil power.....strike!" Pointing the tip of his fully charged weapon towards Sephiroth, Cloud shot forth a mighty orb of sparkling energy, luminescent with it's own strength. The ball struck the taller, stronger man, enveloping him with the three elements Cloud called upon to act. The effect was devastating.

"I...I'm losing strength! How can this be? Only Vincent and Aeris pose the real threat...not some puny, washed up SOLDIER...arghhh....better to lick my wounds than to count them. I know when I've burned my bridges," he shuddered as he grabbed his sides and doubled up in agony. Weakly pointing a finger at the still unconscious and smoking Vincent Valentine, he teleported the vampire to his lair before mustering enough energy to incinerate the Highwind and vanish himself to regions unknown.

Falling to his knees, the stress of losing Vincent too great to bear, Cloud buried his face into his hands and wept until the salty effusion of despair leaked out through the gaps between his fingers. His sobs were heard by everyone nearby, and they all lowered their heads in shame; shame for failing their leader and friend, and their inability to accept his love for a vampire right out of a Shin-Ra lockbox.

Tifa managed to break away from Barret's reassuring hand, which had gripped her shoulder, and tearfully pick her way over to Aeris. "Cloud," she thought as her blurry vision made contact with the rose-garbed Cetra who now prayed with all her might for the safety of Vincent, whom she was ressurected to protect. "I couldn't protect your love, but I shall make you feel comfort...at least for a few hours. Please, forgive me Cloud, for I shall not let you feel agony now, but rather, tomorrow when your emotions will be soothed by sleep."

"Aeris?"

"Yes, Tifa?"

"Can we combine our powers...you and I....to knock Cloud out for awhile. I mean, alone you wouldn't be able to since you are exhausted. But together, you and I can give him the sleep he needs," pleaded Tifa, her eyes bloodshot from her own tears, her own desperation rising up out of her throat in a choked sob.

"Of course, though since you have more power than I, you will suffer the backlash in a more profound way than I."

"I don't care....Cloud needs this. Do it!"

"Agreed. 'Spirits converge! Use the power of these two mortals to bring sleep upon the anguished soul!'" Raising her arms, Aeris cast the most powerful Sleepel-class spell she could before watching Tifa collapse from sheer magic-drain.

"Tifa!" Shouted Barret as he sprinted over to his fallen teammate. "What happened, Aeris?"

"She's just a little tired. Could you please carry her to her room, Barret? Nanaki?"

"Yes, Aeris?"

"There must've been something Bugenhagen had taught you to make in such instances?"

"Of course. I know how to produce such a potion. I shall get right on it!"

"An hey, I'll tuck the kids into bed." Picking up Tifa and Cloud, Barret slung both of them over his powerfully-built shoulders, fireman-style, before carrying them inside the well-illuminated house.

Moments later, the Cetra was alone and staring once more at the night sky. Placing her small white materia orb into her open palms, she offered it to the stars, begging for the one thing she knew she failed at.

"O, great master of the Lifestream. I have failed to carry out my mission to save my charge from evil. Show me a sign that Vincent will be okay until my friends and I are able to rescue him!"

And somewhere, in the vast night sky, a brilliant shooting star shot right over the Cosmo Flare in the far distance, bringing hope to a once hopeless situation.