Rufus looked around the port of Costa Del Sol. Cloud stood next to him. Barret had already run off into the town, but Red 13 sat by the two of them.

"Ahh," Rufus said when he watched Aeris and Tifa walk out of the ship, "Glad you two could join us."

"Can we hurry this up please?" Red asked, "My nose is drying out."

"So," Asked Tifa, "What's happening?" She turned and whispered something to Aeris.

"Cloud wishes to rest here a while before heading off to the Gold Saucer." Rufus told them.

"Um," said Aeris, seeming to respond to Tifa's whisper, "Sure."

Red ran off to find shade.

"Uhh..." Went Tifa.

Cloud shaded his eyes as Rufus looked around.

"Rufus," Cloud asked, "Aren't you hot in that?"

"I have a lot of memories of this place." Rufus murmured. He looked at Cloud. "I'm used to it. I've worn turtlenecks forever, and I used to live here on and off." He looked over the town. He spied the back of his old house. His eyes darkened.

Aeris looked at Tifa. "Well?"

"You two aren't gonna believe, "Tifa told them, "What we found in the engine room."

Rufus looked at Tifa. "What?"

"Sephiroth..."

"Sephiroth? He was onboard?"

Cloud blinked. "Sephiroth?"

"Yes." Aeris replied.

Rufus shook his head. "Heidegger is very bad at his job. I need a more competent person for that division."

"Oh, well..." Said Aeris, "I want to go hit the beach." She tugged on Tifa's arm. "Come on."

"Alright." Tifa conceded.

Rufus looked at Cloud. "What do you want to do?"

"Go someplace cooler?" Cloud asked.

"Hmm, how about the beach as well?"

"Hmm, sure."

Rufus headed in the same direction as the girls. Cloud followed. When they got to the beach Rufus spotted Hojo sitting on the beach, girls all around him.

"Hmm," Rufus said, "So this is where you ran off to."

Hojo blinked, looking up. "Well, well, President Rufus, and that ancient."

"It's the scary guy in the lab coat..." Cloud commented.

"You could at least remember my name," Aeris shot at Hojo, "It's Aeris!"

Hojo looked over at Cloud. "Scary, am I?" He chuckled.

"Why are scientists always mad?" Cloud wondered, "Is it part of the job description?"

"Gast was not mad." Rufus told him.

Hojo looked at Rufus and grinned.

"I didn't know Gast..." Cloud replied.

"I did." Said Rufus.

"Gast..." Murmured Aeris.

Hojo looked at Aeris and grinned as well. He started to chuckle again.

"What's so funny?" Rufus asked him.

"Oh, nothing." Hojo replied.

"He's crazy," Cloud said, "That's what's funny."

"I'm not crazy. I just know some things you don't."

"Sure, like what?"

"What do you know?" Rufus asked.

Hojo grinned. "I'm not going to tell.

Rufus's eyes darkened. Cloud put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Rufus," Hojo asked. "You ever wonder why you have Mako eyes?"

"Yes," he replied, "I wonder. What are you talking about?"

Hojo chuckled. "I was just remembering the day you were born."

Rufus looked at him. "You were there?"

"Yes, as an assistant to Professor Gast, but that's all I'll say."

Cloud looked back and forth between Rufus and Hojo.

Rufus's eyes flashed with Mako energy. "Tell me now..."

Hojo got up. "No." He walked off with the girls still following him.

Rufus watched Hojo leave. "He was there when I was born? That makes no sense."

"Lots of things in life don't make sense." Cloud told him.

"Yes, I know."

"Tifa?" Aeris asked.

Tifa sat in the lounge chair Hojo vacated. "Hmm?"

"Oh, nothing I guess."

Rufus looked at Cloud. "Where do you want to go now?"

"Dunno," He replied, "As long as it's someplace that doesn't move..."

Rufus chuckled. He walked off with Cloud, away from Aeris and Tifa.

"Well," Continued Cloud, "Of course unless we are the once moving it..." He smiled faintly.

"Yeah." Rufus grinned.

After Rufus and Cloud had gone Aeris looked up at Tifa. She was sitting in the sand next to her.

"Cloud didn't seem as obsessed," Tifa murmured, "When we told him about Sephiroth."

"Yeah."

"And Sephiroth, why did he want to know where Cloud was?"

"I don't know."

The next day Rufus, Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris flew by helicopter to the Gold Saucer, leaving Barret and Red 13 in Costa Del Sol.

Rufus stepped out of the chopper and looked at Cloud. He smiled. Aeris got out of the chopper next, then Cloud and Tifa.

"Ohh," Exclaimed Aeris as she looked around. "How fun! I wanna go play!" She grabbed Tifa's arm.

"Why are you always dragging me around?" Tifa asked her.

Aeris dragged Tifa into the station square. "I don't know."

"Hmm..." said Cloud.

"Hmm," Rufus mused, "I guess we should follow after the girls."

"No rides, please." Cloud blanched.

Rufus nodded. "It's ok."

Aeris looked around. "What do you want to try first?"

"Roller coaster!" Shouted Tifa.

"Hmm, anything you want to do while we are here?" Rufus asked Cloud.

"Ok." Aeris told Tifa as she dragged her of to the Speed Square. "Wee!" After the ride was over they left the speed square. "That was fun." Aeris looked around. "Ohh, look! A play!" She hooked Tifa's arm and dragged her off to the event square.

"Eck," Tifa said, "Why can't I drag you for once?"

"Well, well," Said the man who stood by the entrance. "It seems you two are the 100^th couple, so you get to play the leads, despite being both female."

Aeris let go of Tifa's arm. "Yeah!" She rushed off.

"Oh no," She heard Tifa say, "Do I have to do this?"

The narrator spoke "Princess Rosa has been abducted and the legendary hero must save her."

Aeris waited, not hearing anything else on stage. She smiled as the dragon roared and carried her on stage.

"Ooh kay..." Tifa murmured.

"Oh," Aeris whined, "Won't somebody save me?"

"Who is your enemy?" the dragon demanded, "Say it now!"

"Uh," Tifa stammered, "Uh, the dragon?"

The dragon roared. "Come and save her if you dare."

Tifa walked over to the dragon and blinked. Aeris sat on the floor next to the dragon. She giggled.

"Uh..." Tifa said. She bopped the dragon on the head.

"Arg!" the dragon roared, "This hero is strong!" The dragon stumbled away.

Aeris grinned and stood up, dusting herself off.

"And every one lived happily ever after." The narrator concluded.

Tifa and Aeris walked off stage.

"Are you ok?" Aeris asked.

"I hate that, all those eyes."

"Oh... I..."

Tifa shuttered.

"I'm sorry." Aeris sighed as she walked out of the Event Square. Tifa followed her. Aeris looked down.

"Wanna go on a gondola ride?" Tifa asked her.

Aeris looked up. "Sure."

"I heard it's pretty to see the fireworks from that."

Aeris smiled. "Yeah, let's go." Was about to drag Tifa, but stopped.

Tifa smirked. She grabbed Aeris and dragged her to the gondola. Aeris grinned and climbed into the car. Tifa climbed in as well, sitting on the opposite side. Aeris smiled.

"Cloud would probably get sick on this too," Tifa remarked, "Little wuss..."

The car took off and Aeris nodded. She looked out the window and smiled. "It's very pretty here."

"I've seen better views." Tifa replied.

Aeris looked over at her. "Oh really? Where?" She looked back out the window when Tifa did not respond. "Oh, Tifa, look!" She pointed out the Chocobos as they ran by. She smiled and looked back at her.

"Kewl."

"Are you ok Tifa?"

"Well, uh..."

Aeris straightened out her dress. "Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?"

Tifa got up and sat next to Aeris. "I've been thinking a lot."

Aeris smiled "And that makes you quiet?"

"Well, it take a lot of will power to think. Talk at the same time just wouldn't cut it."

"Yes it does." Aeris chuckled.

"It's like walking and chewing bubble gum..."

"Well then, what have you been thinking?"

"Bout... Bout who I was gonna spend the rest of my life with now that Cloud's gone..."

"Oh." Aeris smiled. "I've been talking to the planet a lot. I've learned a lot about people, and about myself."

"What's it say?"

"That I have a brother."

"Really?"

"Who's almost a Cetra, but not of Cetra blood."

"I don't have any siblings, or family that's left for that matter. Cloud's the same way."

"That's sad."

"I thought perhaps that would bring us together. Fat chance..."

Aeris patted Tifa's hand. "I thought I had no real family. Just mom, who I love dearly, but no one else. Then the planet told me I have a brother."

Tifa slipped her hand into Aeris's. Aeris smiled and looked at Tifa. Then she saw the fire works and pointed them out. She smiled.

Cloud was picking at his dinner. Rufus looked up as Aeris and Tifa walked into the restaurant.

"Hello you two." Rufus greeted.

"Hi." Said Aeris.

"Hello." Smiled Tifa.

"Hi Cloud."

Cloud looked up. "Hi..."

"You ok there Cloud?"

"Something's just nagging my mind, about Sephiroth..."

"What is it Cloud?" Rufus asked.

"Just that... Well, nothing."

Rufus watched Cloud, concern etched in his usually mask-like features.

Cloud continued to play with his food, looking depressed.

"Hey," Aeris asked, "Um, Rufus, when are we leaving here?"

"Tomorrow at the earliest." He replied.

"Ok, I'm tired, I'm off to bed."

"Me too..." Said Tifa.

Rufus put a hand on Cloud's shoulder as the girls walked out. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Rufus..." He replied.

"You look upset about something."

"Just, well, remembering, that's all..."

Rufus nodded. "I understand."

Cloud sighed. "Can we go play some games or something Rufus?"

Rufus nodded. "If you like." He smiled.

"Might help cheer me up."

"I hope so. It saddens me to see you upset about something." He stood up from the table.

Cloud got up, leaving his barely eaten dinner. Rufus walked to the wonder square with Cloud.

"All I can think about is Sephiroth..." Cloud murmured. He fished out a few coins and dropped them in a machine, trying to lose himself in a video game.

"He was on the boat," Rufus told him, "He's been occupying my mind too. Him and what Hojo said."

Cloud nodded. "That Hojo guy."

"Yes. He said he was there when I was born."

"You should have detained him for questioning." Cloud sighed as he lost the game.

"And he asked me if I wondered why I had Mako eyes. I should have, but..." He sighed. "Something stopped me. I don't know what."

Cloud looked around at the other games. He dropped a few coins in a skill crane and managed to pluck out a stuffed Chocobo. He held the toy out to Rufus. Rufus snapped out of his thoughts and smiled.

"Nice," He told him, "Felling any better?"

"A little."

Rufus smiled. "That's good."

"But, I feel like I wanna jump out a window and hunt Sephiroth down." He shrugged.

"I know what you mean. I want to find him."

"Then I wonder what I'm gonna do when I finally get him, kill him? Will I be capable of that?"

"I don't know."

Cloud played a few more games, then looked at the battle square sign wistfully. Rufus smiled.

"Rufus, you think I can?"

Rufus nodded. "Wait, kill Sephiroth?"

"No, Battle Square silly." Cloud smiled.

Rufus chuckled. "Sure, Battle square."

"Killing Sephiroth, that's something I don't want to think about."

Rufus nodded. "Me neither for some reason."

"How did your speech go by the way? I was a bit tied up, literally."

"The speech went well. Everyone was both excited and astonished at the same time."

"Said some good things then?"

Rufus nodded. "Yep."

"Think anyone here has recognized you?"

"Yes."

"No women have attacked you yet..." He smirked.

"That's a good thing."

The two of them headed for the Battle Square.

Tifa looked at Aeris in their hotel room. "Cloud seems depressed," Tifa told her, "Think he's going back to his old obsessive kick?"

"I hope not, but he might be."

"He used to forget to eat and stuff, did you see? He wasn't eating, just fooling around. That's the way he acts, but why am I so worried?"

"I think Rufus is worried too. Maybe it's because he showed improvement." She held Tifa's hand. Tifa leaned into her and Aeris smiled.

"This is just too weird," Tifa went on, "Not you, the whole thing..."

"I know. I mean, when the planet told me about my brother..." She grinned and chuckled.

"Have you ever seen the way Cloud, well, he puts his hands on his head and drops to his knees, and acts weird. Then it's like nothing happened. Why am I so worried about that spikey headed idiot?" Tifa shook her head.

"You've known him a long time."

"I guess I care about him."

"Do you want to know why I was drawn to him?"

"Sure."

"He reminded me of my first love. The way he dressed, and the fact that he was also a SOLDIER 1^st class."

"Not many people make first class. You think they know each other?"

"I don't know."

"Ever ask him?"

Aeris shook her head. "No."

"How close were you to this other guy?"

"It was not that serious. I haven't seen him in 5 years."

Tifa nodded. "What do you suppose happened to him?"

"He was a real ladies man. He probably found another."

Tifa fluffed up a pillow and lay back. Aeris lay next to her.

"Any idea who your brother is?" Tifa asked her.

Aeris smiled. "Oh, I know who he is."

"You do? Who?"

"I just don't think he's ready to know." She grinned again.

"And why haven't you searched him out?"

Aeris chuckled. "I don't need to. I know where he is right now." She held Tifa's hand. Aeris looked over at her.

Tifa sighed. "I feel like a log laying here."

"Oh, that's ok." She smiled.

"Eh, too much on my mind to be peaceful."

"It's ok." She patted Tifa's hand.

Tifa suddenly hugged her fiercely. Aeris hugged back and smiled.

"Hey," Aeris giggling, "You're rough."

"Sorry. You're my family now, know that?"

"It's ok, awww." She leaned her head on Tifa's shoulder.

Tifa sighed and looked at Aeris. "Don't think it's you. Just, there's lots of things on my mind."

Cloud and Rufus got a room in the hotel.

"Nice dicor." Cloud said, looking around the lobby.

"Haunting." Rufus agreed.

"Almost as creepy as Hojo."

Rufus chuckled as they headed into their room. "I wish I knew what Hojo was talking about."

"I wish I could get Sephiroth out of my head."

"Same here."

Cloud sprawled out on the bed. Rufus grinned at Cloud after closing the door. He walked over to the bed.

"I must look like a lunatic." Cloud told him.

Rufus kissed his cheek. "Not really."

"I fought until I was ready to drop, but still wanted to keep going. I would have until I passed out, If I had the GP..."

"I know where you are coming from."

"You should tie me up or something. I'm liable to wander off and go after Sephiroth in my sleep with the way I'm feeling."

Rufus put his arms around Cloud. "Don't worry, I'll keep you here."

"I thought I was getting better. Here I seem to be worse."

"For 5 years Sephiroth has been away. This is the first time since then you've actually been near him."

"I didn't even see him. It's like his mere presence in the vicinity triggered it."

"But, that makes no difference. Yes."

"I kind of felt this way before Tifa and Aeris even said anything."

"I know. I've been feeling it too."

"I though it was just slipping back into my old rut, but well, now I know what triggered it. Is he screwing with my mind? Or is it just me..."

"I don't know."

Cloud sighed. "I must be depressing you."

Rufus kissed him. "Well, it's payback since my story depressed you."

"I'm also worried about that Reno guy."

"I thought I heard her voice last night too." Rufus blinked. "Yes, the Turk."

"What he and his bald ape did to me seems like just a promise of what is to come..."

"I hope it does not come."

"I think he was gonna kill me..."

"Really?"

"But luckily he got called away."

"What did he say?"

"Well, most likely, he was gonna toy with me, like a cat with a mouse, before he did it."

"Damn him."

"Just the look in his eyes. Especially after I told him what you had for me was more than just a shine..."

"What was the look?"
"He looked like he was real pissed."

"That's not like him the break his cool. He must have been really upset."

"Over what though?"

"Because of you. That's my guess. Jealousy and revenge."

Cloud nodded. "Well, I won't be wandering off anytime soon. They are probably just waiting."

"Yes."

Cloud sighed. "Is that bald guy his pet or something?"

"Rude? Why do you ask?"

"Looks like he shaved a gorilla. He did whatever Reno told him."

Rufus chuckled. "Rude and Reno go back a long ways."

"Hmm, they a couple then?"

"Rude's not a gorilla, he's the only one who drinks more then Reno. They are just friends as far as I can tell."

"Wow. How do they pay their drinking expenses?"

"They are Turks."

"They could be watching us now..."

Rufus looked around. "I doubt it."

Cloud put his head on Rufus's chest. Rufus smiled.

"I still wish," Rufus murmured, "I knew what Hojo meant."

"Rufus?"

"Yes?"

"Just wondering, are you embarrassed about being with me at all?"

"No, why?"

"You just seem kind of distant when we are out in public, but I guess it's cuz neither of us want to be stared at."

"I'm sorry if I seem distant. Yes, I hate being stared at."

"It's alright, I know you love me."

Rufus smiled. "And I know you love me."

"I don't like it either, being stared at. Make me feel like I'm a lab specimen or something."

"Hmm." Rufus got lost in thought.

Cloud kicked off his shoes and removed some of his clothing. He curled up for sleep. Rufus took off his shoes and most of his clothing. He then held Cloud in his arms. They both smiled.

"It's redundant," Cloud told him, "But I love you. I never get tired of saying it."

Rufus smiled. "Then you can say it as often as you want. I love you too."

"I never thought I would ever say that again, or hear it in return."

Rufus smiled. "Life is full of surprises."

"I said it once to Sephiroth. Now I wonder if I really meant it."

Rufus looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"If it was love, or just love. I mean, I love you. We have a bond."

"I know." He smiled and kissed Cloud gently.

"I just said that to Sephiroth after waking up and feeling wonderful in his arms. You, well, I wake up feeling wonderful in your arms every day, but there's more then just that."

"I'm glad. I feel good having you here. Better then I have in my whole life."

They both smiled. Rufus ran his hands along Cloud's chest.

"Mm," Cloud told him, "You're wonderful with your hands."

"Thank you." He stroked Cloud's chest lovingly. Cloud pulled himself on top of Rufus and kissed him deeply. Rufus rapped his arms around him and kisses back. He ran his fingers down Cloud's spine.

"That, that," Cloud murmured, "Feels so good. Mrph..."

Rufus kissed him deeply, stroking his back gently. "You like that?"

Cloud nuzzled his neck. "Yes, yes, yes! What is there not to like about being curled up in bad with you?"

Rufus smiled. "Thank you." He kissed Cloud's nose as his fingers traveled up and down his spine. Cloud closed his eyes, a look of sheer bliss on his face. Rufus continued, happy to see Cloud looking that way. He kissed Cloud's neck. His fingers traveled lower. Cloud tried to stifle a soft moan as Rufus's fingers touched his skin gently, caressing him.

Rufus's fingers worked their way to Cloud's pleasure centers.

"You have me mapped out," Cloud moaned, "Love. Geez, you know exactly what to do..."

"Thank you love." He continued the work with his hands and kissed Cloud softly. He moved his hands, triggering every pleasure center that they can find on Cloud. Cloud arched his back, moaning loudly. Rufus smiled. He loved the sound of Cloud moaning.

Rufus kissed Cloud deeply, doing with his tongue in Cloud's mouth as he's doing with his hands on Cloud's body.

"Mm," moaned Cloud, breaking free of his mouth, "God, how can just your hands turn me to putty like this?"

"Putty, maybe because I know how to be gentle."

"I've never, ever, felt like this before. It's like I'm flying."

"I'm glad you feel good."

Cloud grabbed Rufus's hands and kissed him a tad bit roughly. Rufus clutched his hands and kissed back.

"Hmm," Cloud told him, "Lemme sleep a bit love. Remember, you're probably gonna stuff me in some vehicle tomorrow and I'll get all sick."

Rufus smiled. "Alright love. Sleep well."

Cloud curled up in Rufus's arms. Rufus held him and smiled.

"Think we could travel by Chocobo sometime?" Cloud asked him "I don't get sick on those."

Rufus smiled. "Maybe."

"Mm, I don't think I could sleep without you holding me. Now, don't ever go anywhere and leave me."

"I won't, where would I go? I never want to any way."

"Mm, some business trip or something. We aren't gonna have much time together are we. After all, this it'll be paperwork mountains."

"You'd still come with me, or I'd get lonely. I got staff for paperwork." He grinned.

"True. Make them suffer."

Rufus kisses his forehead. "I wonder how the girls are doing."

"No clue. Although, they seem to be getting close."

"Yes. I noticed it when I first saw them back in Junon."

"They don't have anything to fight over anymore."

"Right."

Cloud moved his fingers lightly across Rufus's chest. "You think your speech made people look at you different?"

"Yes. They know now that I'm nothing like my father."

"Think you're ever gonna let them know about, well, your alignment? Or gonna let them figure it out on their own?"

"I think some of them already figured it out. I'll let the others just figure it out on their own. What does it matter to them after all?"

"They are probably all wondering why a hot guy like you is going with a little spikey headed freak, like myself."

"You are not a freak. You're cute and you have something that no one else has."

"Well, I have you."

Rufus smiled. "And I have you."

"Nobody else has you, although, someone wants you I think. Hmm, and what do I have that no one else does?"

"You have my heart." Rufus smiled.

"Hmm, hopefully it's made out of something tough. I tend to drop things a lot."

Rufus chuckled. "Don't worry, it's in a safe place."

Cloud sighed. "Why do you think Reno wants you? Because he can't have you?"

"Maybe. Reno is, well, he's selfish in his own way. He never plays by the rules."

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No."

"Good, cuz I'd kill him..."

"If he tried, he knew he'd be dead in a second. But, he hurt you, which to me is the same thing."

"Catch him and lock him in a room with no booze..."

"Yes. Fitting punishment. And don't worry about me getting hurt love, that was my own dumb fault."

"He'd go nuts and tear himself to pieces. I don't like you getting hurt."

Cloud kissed him. "I can take care of myself, usually."

Rufus kissed back. "I know."

"They just caught me when I was thinking."

"What were you thinking love?"

"It must have been around when Sephiroth showed up cuz I was thinking about him."

"Oh."

"I watched the parade, then sat down on the steps of a shop. Next thing I know two guys drag me into a small room and tie me to a chair."

"What happened?"

"I was being a smart ass, though, so I probably deserved my reward." He rubbed his jaw, wincing.

Rufus kissed his sore jaw, hoping to help it feel better.

"Reno," Cloud continued, "He was pissed cuz I hurt him. I challenged him and called him a chicken cuz he wouldn't untie me and fight like a man. Then I complained that they weren't playing by the rules. Two against one and all. He got really pissed when he realized I was a lot more than just a pal to you, then baldy bopped me one."

"What do you think would have happened if they had not been called off?"

"Tifa and Aeris sort of saved me, hadn't it been for them and Reno getting beeped. I think they would have killed me in the most long and agonizing way possible. I was mostly worried that Reno was gonna do things to me."

"Do things..."

"Although he probably wouldn't have with that gorilla of his around."

Rufus closed his eyes for a second, remembering his childhood. "You should sleep love."

"Yeah, no time to worry about things that aren't here to get me now." He used Rufus for a pillow and began to doze off. He fell asleep, drooling on Rufus's chest a little.

Rufus held Cloud tightly to him, knowing he was not going to dream well that night. He drifted off.