Note: This has been a wild ride. Thank you to everyone who read and liked and commented this story, whether you were here from the start or you just discovered it. You made this a journey worth taking!

Epilogue

When Cloud was fifteen, he introduced his brother to his mother.

The memory of that day would keep Nibelheim's tongues warm all throughout the winter that would follow. They would recount the tale of the military-looking car that climbed up to their village just as the coldest months of the year were settling in. They would recall their relief at seeing the beloved daughter of their mayor step out, months after her disappearance during the destruction of the reactor. They would remember seeing her helping another young woman down, a beautiful but wan-looking little thing who shivered in the cold air of the mountains.

But that's when it got strange, the gossips would say, lowering their voices and widening their eyes.

Because then appeared the Strife son. And that would have been strange enough, wouldn't it have been, because what wasn't strange about the boy? Run off to Shinra, he had, and just in time for the civil war to break out. And that was the least of his offences, because there, behind him, was a talking lion.

And let's not even mention, someone would inevitably gasp, looking close to fainting, let's not even mention the dead body!

In fact, there was no dead body. But there was a stretcher with a human body on it, and a blanket covering its face. That stretcher was quickly ushered by Cloud and Tifa through the Strife's front door, with Mrs. Strife staring down at it in as much bafflement and alarm as the rest of them. Then followed the unknown girl, and the lion, and the door closed.

Not too long after, the Lockhart girl bustled out again and hurried to reunite with her father. But she would not speak of the others, and so that was all that the villagers knew for a long time, for no one dared to go knock at the Strife house.

Meanwhile, inside, Cloud sat his mother down and explained how he had brought a second son home to her.

Rain slept a lot.

So did Aerith, at first. His revival had taken a lot out of the both of them. The house was small; in the old Nibelheim fashion, it had one main room that was at once living room, kitchen and bedroom. There were only two beds, so Aerith shared with Cloud's mother and Rain got Cloud's old single bed. Cloud and Nanaki settled on the floor by the stove.

Aerith recovered faster. When Tifa came to visit, Cloud's mother would bundle Aerith in the warmest clothes she had, and the girls, Cloud and Nanaki would escape the stuffy house for a few hours. It wasn't the best season to visit his home town and the villagers were forever prying into their business, but Nanaki's presence encouraged them to keep their distance, and the company made even the dreary mountains seem more hospitable.

Sometimes, Rain would wake while they were gone. What he and their mother talked about during those times, Cloud didn't know. But as the weeks passed, something fragile grew between them. Rain's awkwardness, Mom's bewilderment progressively made room to a tentative affection.

At dinner, they all gathered around the old TV set and listened religiously to the world moving on beyond the borders of the isolated little town.

Shinra was shutting down. All surviving Deepground members had been arrested. Rufus was the new CEO, but the old hierarchy was crumbling. The executives tried to cling to their positions, but the Turks initiated a company-wide cleanup that had countless heads rolling—sometimes literally. Reeve Tuesti was the notable exception. Not only was he found innocent of any wrong-doing to the people, he left Shinra of his own free will. He soon got busy creating a new organisation.

The WRO wouldn't have been much, if it hadn't been for the entirety of the First Class army leaving Shinra and funding its creation.

Many other employees followed. With its structure gutted, Shinra's stranglehold on the economy collapsed. Rufus had his hands tied even holding on to Midgar's historical company stronghold. The WRO rushed in to fill the governmental power gap. There were talks of holding elections, of having every major town get a representative in a WRO council. Wutai was offered a spot not as a member, but as an independent ally. Commerce had dived, but with optimism steadily rising higher than it had in decades, more and more fledgling entrepreneurs moved to pick up Shinra's slack.

The WRO was still more military than civilian-based, but it was evolving. And in the meantime, no one minded that Tuesti's main advisors were the four First Class heroes and leaders.

As for the so-called fifth commanding officer, no one had heard of him since Midgar was freed. Unlike the other four, he was rumoured to be a renegade Deepground member. And that was quite the fantastic story, right? Surely he was just an army fairytale.

Spring came to the mountain. On its heels followed a Shinra vehicle.

Finally, someone wanted to talk about the repairs to the reactor that Deepground had put on hold, the villagers said. But the two sharply dressed employees, one man and one woman, didn't go for the mayor's house. Instead they knocked at the Strife's door.

The man who answered wasn't one the villagers had been expecting. He was blonde and blue-eyed, very much of Strife blood; but he was much older than Cloud, and there was something older yet in the way he looked at the world.

Rain ignored the twitching curtains and the staring passersby.

"Tseng," he said, leaning against the doorjamb.

"Rain," the Turk returned.

He held up a brown envelope.

"As per our agreement."

Rain opened it. Inside was an assortment of official papers: birth certificate, driving permit… He shook one out. The date of birth was his, though set back a good ten years. The name, though… He felt his eyebrows do something strange.

"What's this?" he asked, pointing at the line that said "Rain Cloud Strife".

"All information was provided by Sephiroth, as we were told you were unavailable. Is something inexact?"

He couldn't help the half-smile that tugged at his lips.

"No. It's fine."

When he looked up, the Turks had made no move to go on their way.

"Thank you," he said pointedly.

"Oh, Rain," Mom scolded from the stove where she was cooking. "Don't let them stand outside. They came from so far away to see you!"

After all this time, it felt foreign having her chide him for his manners. He smiled warmly at her, but didn't budge. The others were out, and he didn't want Turks anywhere near his mother. They had always been ambiguous allies.

"There was something we were hoping to discuss with you," Tseng said all the same, jumping to the occasion. "If we could—"

"I'm not interested," he cut in. "There is nothing Rufus could offer that would make me want to work for Shinra."

Tseng looked a little put off at being so transparent. He was not, though. Rain just knew what to expect from Rufus, by now. The woman—Cissnei?—smiled.

"We figured that would be your answer, but the President insisted that we ask."

"Yes," Tseng said, straightening up his suit jacket. "Well, then. In that case, we shall take our leave. We still have matters to discuss with the mayor. Good day to you, Rain. Mrs. Strife."

They gave polite nods and strode away.

"What elegant people," Mom commented as she came closer to the door. "Oh, there is Cloud."

Indeed Cloud was running up to them, Tifa, Aerith and Nanaki at his side.

"Was that Tseng?" he asked, worried.

Rain gently smacked the envelope on his head.

"Everything is fine."

He looked up, taking in the blue skies, the mountain slopes all around them, the cosy houses. This was not the Nibelheim he had avoided at all costs back in his old world. This one had never burned. It was the village of his childhood, not an eerie facsimile.

Nevertheless, it had not been his home for a long time… if he could ever have called it that in the first place. He would always be glad of its continued existence, but he could be glad from afar.

"But I think it's time to put an end to this vacation."

As a gesture of goodwill—and because it could no longer afford to pay the bills for such a huge, empty building—Shinra had donated its Junon headquarters to be used as a base of operations for the burgeoning WRO. One sunny March afternoon, a military van unloaded from a freshly docked boat and made its meandering way up the city.

When it reached one of the upper levels, it turned into a parking lot. One solitary figure stood among the cars, stringing squats together like pearls on a necklace. At the sound of their engine, he whirled around and beamed. Rain barely had time to slide into a free space before he heard the back door slam open and pour his passengers onto the asphalt.

Aerith reached Zack first. He snatched her up and twirled her into the air, both of them laughing with abandon. He only let her go to close an arm around Cloud and Tifa each and lift them from the ground, grinning ear to ear. Even Nanaki earned himself a hug. In retrospect, Rain shouldn't have been surprised when he caught up to them and was immediately swept in a crushing embrace. It still lit a gentle warmth in his chest. He leaned against his oldest friend, smiling.

"Man, I missed you guys!"

Zack backed up so he could loop an arm around Aerith, who was prompt to return the favour.

"Nice uniform," Cloud said.

He was wearing beige instead of the old dark Shinra colours. The seams were a pale red and the boots brown and sturdy-looking. Rain was immediately hit by déjà vu, and a surge of fondness for Reeve. Zack grimaced.

"Yeah, it's new. I keep telling the big boss it's going to stain like crazy, but he seems to think that'll prove we're hard workers or something. I'm drawing the line at wearing the beret, though."

He scowled when they laughed at him, but couldn't keep it going for long.

"You thinking of signing up, Cloud?"

Cloud exchanged a glance with Tifa. There hadn't been much privacy in Mom's tiny house, so Rain wasn't surprised when Tifa said in his brother's stead:

"We both will."

"Yes!" Zack yelled, punching the air. "I was so hoping you'd say that. You too, right?"

He turned to Rain. He hated dimming the blinding light in his eyes, but he slowly shook his head. Cloud's face fell just as hard as Zack.

"No?" he said, pleading.

Rain put a hand on his shoulder, doing his best to be reassuring.

"I won't be far. I just… I'm done following orders. I was done a long time ago."

"Even Sephiroth's orders?" Cloud said, but there was a smile tugging at his lips.

Whatever he saw in his expression, he gave a faint laugh and shrugged.

"Okay, okay."

Rain drew a self-conscious smile and looked at all three of them.

"You all do your thing. I'll be here if you need me."

"Too bad," Zack sighed. "We could have used you. Genesis has been making noises about leaving, I think he's sick of the military too. And if he goes… well, pretty sure Angeal will go with him. What about you, Nanaki?"

The lion's tail twitched sardonically.

"I thank you for the offer, but I do not think I would fit in. In any case, it is time I returned to Cosmo Canyon. I have so much to tell my grandfather. But I would see you all settled in first, and I will come visit often."

"Well, what are we all still doing outside, then? Let me show you in!"

He led the procession to the headquarters, Aerith at his arm.

Reeve Tuesti in person had left instructions at the check-in desk for them, and so they soon had visitor badges with a much higher security clearance than what the small cards were used to storing. Zack guided them on a grand tour of the place. Much had changed since they had used it as a running board for their attack on Midgar. The WRO logo was everywhere now, side by side with the First Class one. It was a much nicer place than the Midgar tower, with many windows offering a breathtaking view of the sea and of an unpolluted sky. From certain angles could also be caught the huge scaffolding crawling along the Mako Cannon. Currently being deconstructed, Zack said. Reeve's stance was that the WRO couldn't stand as a symbol of peace with that atrocity on its doorstep.

Cloud and Tifa stopped in the corridor to talk to some infantrymen about the enlistment process. Rain rocked back on his feet, trying to muzzle his impatience. An elbow nudged him in the ribs. He turned to face Zack's knowing smile.

"Floor 36," he whispered. "We'll catch up later."

Embarrassed at being read so easily, but grateful, Rain nodded and slinked away. He took the elevator up, employees giving him weird looks for his white badge and his absence of an escort.

There weren't many offices on floor 36, and they were all helpfully labelled with shiny new plaques. However, before he could even take a step forward, the door at the very end of the corridor opened.

Angeal and Genesis stopped at finding him there. They glanced at each other, then resumed their walk. Rain moved in the opposite direction, mirroring their smiles. They parted to let him pass between them, and a gloved hand settled on each of his shoulders. He stopped at the end of the corridor and watched them step into the elevator. The doors closed on their warm eyes.

He sighed. This journey had cost him many friends, and he would never stop missing them. But he had gained some new ones, too. To know that he had played a part in making their future brighter… he could be proud of that, at least.

The office door had been left ajar. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open. Orange sunlight flooded into the corridor, overriding the artificial lights. He stepped inside.

The room was large and painstakingly clean. Books lined up on large bookshelves, no trinket breaking their military order. The walls were bare. Two chairs faced the desk, the only place where clutter was allowed. It came in the form of paperwork, a computer, and expensive-looking writing implements. The office should have come across as cold, but behind the big leather armchair, a window bay opened on a balcony, allowing the setting sun to bathe the entire place in warm colours.

And on the balcony stood Sephiroth.

He was on the phone and hadn't noticed Rain walking in, giving him a chance to drink him in.

There was a lot to look at. For starters, he wasn't wearing his leathers, but the same uniform as Zack. The pant legs looked tighter on him and the jacket was draped over the armchair's back, leaving him in a simple black T-shirt that stretched across his chest.

Blindsiding him even more effectively, his hair was tied back in a high ponytail.

He had never seen Sephiroth's hair tied.

Sensing his stare, Sephiroth glanced at the doorway. He blanked visibly at finding him here.

Rain offered an awkward smile and stepped up to the desk, telegraphing that he would wait. He examined the work space without much interest until his eyes caught on an unexpected object next to the computer. From a photo frame, Angeal, Genesis and Zack grinned at him, their expressions deliberately foolish. Vincent lurked in the background, looking somewhat at a loss.

There was a click and the murmur of voice coming from the balcony ceased. Rain rounded the desk and crossed the bay door. The wind combed through his hair, soothing. Sephiroth watched him approach with hawk eyes.

"Hey."

"Rain," he breathed. "It is good to see you on your feet."

He shrugged, sheepish.

"Yes, well… Good to be back, honestly."

"You are fully recovered?"

"Yeah. Thank the Planet for enhanced healing, right? Turns out resurrection is not a walk in the park."

Sephiroth nodded. The obvious enquiries about his health now exhausted, the conversation died a violent death. Which was sort of appropriate to the subject matter, except not, because that was morbid. Stop it, Rain. He cast desperately for something to say.

"Nice uniform," he said, unintentionally channelling Cloud.

Was Sephiroth looking… self-conscious?

"Tuesti insists on it. At least in the beginning, he says. Seeing their commanders wear the uniform would supposedly create a stronger sense of unity."

He was. Rain did his best to swallow his laughter.

"Reeve is putting you through the wringer, huh?"

Sephiroth granted him with an irritated look.

"He was your idea. I do hope you—"

"Nope. Not joining."

Sephiroth's lips pursed around what was no doubt a protest. He sighed instead.

"I had guessed you might not. Though if it would be of any sway in your decision, we could ensure that you wouldn't be in my chain of command. A position close to Tuesti, perhaps. He would be happy to have you around."

Rain shifted, surprised by the offer. He inwardly quivered at what might be motivating it. But if anything, Sephiroth looked grim.

"Um," he said, unsure what else to vocalise.

Sephiroth cut his eyes to the side with a cynical twist of the lips.

"Or my very presence in the building could make you uncomfortable, which I would understand."

"… Not really."

"I caused your death, Cloud."

The words dropped between them like stones. Stubborn, Rain pushed through.

"I don't remember you having tentacles."

He immediately figured it was the wrong thing to say. Sephiroth seemed on the verge of spitting something vicious about all the other unnatural body parts he did manage to develop. He inspired forcefully.

"You don't need to check on me, Cloud. I know it's a tall order to believe after what happened, but I am stable. I feel… more stable than I have ever been, to be honest."

"I believe you."

Sephiroth's face said he didn't believe him. Rain sighed and scratched at his neck, frustrated.

"Look, I'm not… the best at this stuff. But it's not what this is about, is it? It's about what happened when our minds…"

He trailed off, and Sephiroth didn't appear in any hurry to complete the thought for him. His arms were crossed, and the flesh looked slightly paler where his fingers dug into the elbows. Nervous tell, he thought suddenly, Tifa whispering in his ear. Defensive behaviour. It helped strengthen his spine.

"I'm sorry."

Sephiroth looked aghast.

"You? What do you have to be sorry for?"

"I hurt you."

"You…"

Sephiroth drew back, trying to find his footing in this minefield of a conversation. He shook his head.

"It's not like I didn't know how you would react, Cloud. You've always made it clear your response to me was outside of both our controls. I didn't expect anything else from you."

"No, you don't get it," he insisted, frowning. "It wasn't… I wasn't…"

He wanted to explain, he needed to explain, but it was so hard to find the words. He had trouble knowing what went on inside his own head most of the time, let alone pouring it out for another to see.

"I wasn't afraid for me," he awkwardly tried to forge ahead. "I was… He only ever loved Jenova, you see?"

It was plain Sephiroth didn't, but he was listening. It wasn't that often that Rain was willing to open up, no matter how much he muddled it up.

"She was his only anchor, the thing his world revolved around. I mean…" He sucked in a breath. Spread his hands, helpless. "His love destroyed the world, Sephiroth."

Understanding lit in Sephiroth's eyes. With it came horror. He let his weight drop against the balcony's railing.

"And I proved you right," he said, voice bleak. "You knew in the instant she struck you down what would happen. What I would do. And I proved you right."

Rain shuddered. He didn't like to recall that moment; the overpowering certainty that instead of saving the world, his very existence had hastened its destruction. The cruel knowledge that it was fate, after all. The soul-searing despair.

He shook it out. He had been so sure that it was the end, and yet…

"And then you came back," he said.

Sephiroth's head was down. His bangs hid his expression. When he gave no sign of having heard him, Rain cupped his face in his hands, lifted it so he could look him in the eyes.

"And then you came back, Sephiroth."

He gave a mirthless smirk.

"Strife brought me back."

"You're not listening."

Feeling unexpectedly bold, he wound his fingers in Sephiroth's hair and untied it. The silver strands dropped in the breeze, lit pink and gold by the setting sun. Sephiroth watched him, startled. He deposited the hair tie in his open hand.

"He wouldn't have been caught dead with his hair tied. And he certainly never let anyone bring him back. He never gave anyone the power to."

Sephiroth looked at the elastic band. Slowly, he got up. There was hope when he dared to catch his eyes. Rain nodded.

"So. Yeah. I believe you."

He had never seen that smile on Sephiroth's face. It was small, uncertain. It pushed his eyebrows forward and his flawless features askew, highlighting the shy teenager he might have once been, had not a war stolen the last dregs of his innocence. Above all, it was painfully, blindingly honest.

Rain's throat closed.

For the first time since it had happened, he let himself linger on the memory of Sephiroth's mind brushing against his. For the first time, he managed to push away the pain and the horror that had followed. Just before it had all gone to hell, there had been one moment, one single, glorious, perfect moment, when love had washed over him and swept him off his feet. It had wrapped him in its embrace, unapologetic and proud. He basked in the feeling now, and his eyes prickled with tears.

All this time, he had been frantically trying to understand the man standing before him today. But nothing could have shown him the way like this last piece of the puzzle: knowing, in his very soul, how deeply Sephiroth loved, as uncompromising in this as in anything else he did.

Sephiroth caught sight of his emotion.

"Cloud?" he said, worried.

He reached for him, though he didn't quite dare touching him. Rain swallowed a sob.

"By the way," he said. "I've been in love with you since I was twelve."

The kiss took Sephiroth by surprise. Rain pushed through, uncaring. It didn't take long for two hands to thread through his hair, pulling him into the most fervent kiss of his life. Sephiroth's lips burned against his, devouring everything he offered and giving back without restraint.

This was what he had spent years mourning. This was what his foolish heart had refused to let go for so long. Just this once, he would let it be right.

Despite their distraction, the sound of the door opening managed to tear them apart for an instant. Zack gaped at them. Behind him, Aerith had both hands to her mouth, eyes alive with delight. Cloud was in the process of turning beet red. Tifa pushed to the tip of her toes to try and see what was happening over everyone's shoulders.

"But I was…" Zack stammered. "I mean… I knocked?"

"And you can close the door behind you when you go," Sephiroth said, unimpressed.

"Right."

He made to back away, but stopped, eyes flitting between the two of them and Aerith.

"Guess I didn't need to worry?"

"Goodbye, Zack."

"Right!"

The door slammed. Sephiroth's stern facade dropped and he smirked.

"Did we traumatise your brother?"

Rain squinted.

"He has a girlfriend," he muttered, mulish, and tugged Sephiroth back down to swallow his startled laughter.

It wouldn't be perfect. The Mako reactors were still operational, and it would be a few long years before the social situation was stable enough for an energy transition to be brought to the table. AVALANCHE was still out there, ready to loudly object to the delay.

It wouldn't be perfect. But it didn't have to be. Finally, he lived without fear.