Vagaries of Fate

Back to Midgar

Chapter 28 

It didn't take long for arrangements to be made. Godo had most of his troops remain to guard the facility where they found the three boys. All investigations were halted until a contingent of Soldiers could arrive to handle everything. The current priority was to secure the facility against any further attempts by Avalanche.

Once that was decided, the rest of their small group headed out almost immediately. Since there were less than a dozen people left in their group, it was agreed that the two Soldiers and the three boys would share a transport alone. Clarissa was thankful that both leaders had enough sense to see that the boys needed space. She was also more than grateful that the boys seemed to trust Genesis almost as much as they did her. Not that they trusted any of them explicitly, but it was enough for now.

Once they were on the way, they received confirmation that a unit of Soldiers would be able to meet them by midday the following day. Even though everyone knew they were on a tight schedule, they still ended up having to stop late that night. The unenhanced part of their group had pushed as far as they could go. Clarissa and Genesis took turns on watch. Neither of them ventured far from the truck with the boys.

When they finally rendezvoused with the contingent in the helicopter, Clarissa was both thankful and sad. She hadn't even been married a month, and she had to say goodbye to her husband for god knew how long. It was frustrating, to say the least, but she knew that there were more important things to focus on for the time being. At least the boys allowed them the space to say goodbye. It wasn't quite the goodbye that either of them wanted, but it was good enough.

They didn't have enough privacy for the kind of goodbye that Genesis would have preferred, but he still gave her a kiss that made her knees weak. When they pulled back, he smirked down at the look in her eyes. The look didn't last long before his eyes hardened, and he spoke. "Be on guard. I have no doubt that Avalanche will take advantage of any perceived weakness."

Clarissa wanted to roll her eyes, but she managed to settle for raising a brow. "I would hope by now they have enough experience to know that they shouldn't count me as a weakness."

His gaze did not falter when he spoke again. "No, but you have more than yourself to guard now."

Her look began to match his. "Don't think I've forgotten. What you need to remember is that I'm a mother. I raised a child all by my little lonesome once already. I may not have had to deal with psychopaths that wanted to kill her, but I do know what it is like to face the world alone and still take care of another person. Don't worry that I will forget my responsibility."

Genesis felt a twinge of guilt at her reminder of what she had lost. It was the first time in a long time that she had brought it up, and his gaze softened. He pulled her closer once more and simply held her as he whispered near her ear. "There are no dreams, no honor remains. Please forgive my thoughtlessness. I know better than most what you are capable of. It is only my selfish worry that causes me to say such things."

Clarissa relaxed in his embrace and let it go on for a moment longer before she finally pulled back. She smiled up at him and shook her head. "I know why, I'm just glad you realize it too. Now, make sure you take care of this quickly. We haven't been married long enough to be apart this long. I want you back as soon as possible."

He smirked at her pseudo reprimand. He had to fight a burning desire to pick her up and carry her to a secluded area for a few hours and let the rest of the group be damned. It was only the sight of the three boys that stopped him. With a sigh, he brushed his knuckles across her cheek. "Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return." He dipped his head for one more quick kiss before he stepped away. Any longer, and he would not have been able to.

Clarissa gave him a tight smile before she turned back to the boys and led them to the helicopter. She raised a prayer that Minerva would keep her husband and the others safe, and lead them home quickly as she helped the three up so they could be on the way to Midgar.

-----------------------------

Since they had traveled by helo most of the way, it had only taken them a little more than a week to get back to Midgar. Clarissa had waited until they were almost there before she contacted Sephiroth to let him know she was coming back alone. She asked that he meet her at the helipad.

He had been curious as to why she had waited, and why she wanted him to meet her instead of coming to him, but she refused to answer. She told him it was something that he would have to see for himself to understand. He hadn't liked her answer, but he knew her well enough to know that she wasn't doing it to be spiteful. He sighed as he agreed to meet her.

Even knowing that he had agreed did not make Clarissa less nervous about seeing the Silver General with the three Remnants in tow. She had no idea how he was going to take the news that he basically had three children. She waffled back and forth between calling him back and telling him she would come to him instead. It was only the idea that taking them through the building before they had a chance to meet him would probably be a worse idea that kept her from it.

When the helicopter finally landed, Clarissa didn't get out right away. Instead, she turned to the three boys. They all eyed her with interest. None of them had missed her growing apprehension. It was Kadaj that spoke first. "We are meeting him, aren't we?"

Clarissa sighed and nodded. "Yes. I don't want any of you to get the impression that he will be mad or upset, but this probably isn't going to be any easier for him than it has been for you at first. Just know that you have all had similar childhoods. If anyone can understand what you have been through, it will be him."

Yazoo frowned at her, and Loz looked like he might cry, but Kadaj only nodded. "Are we ready to go then?"

Clarissa sighed once more at how mature he was but didn't say anything. Instead, she stood to open the door. She only paused long enough to look back. "Give me just a moment and wait for me to call out for you, please."

As soon as she received confirmation from them, she opened the door and stepped out onto the helipad. She was greeted almost immediately by the sight of not just Sephiroth, but also Angeal and Zack. She almost cursed at the addition of the other two, but there wasn't much she could do about it now. She just hoped they didn't spook the boys too much.

Sephiroth stepped forward with a frown. "Why are you here alone, and why did you have me meet you?"

Clarrisa steeled herself to get this over with. She also reminded herself that this man was the one that gave her away less than a month ago. He would understand. "We were able to convince the Emperor to allow us to investigate the labs that Hojo left behind in Wutai. While we were at the first one, we found something unexpected."

Sephiroth's brows drew down, and he looked like he was about to interrupt, but before he could, his eyes widened, and he took a step back. Clarissa didn't need to ask why. She could feel a hand slip into hers and knew that Kadaj had come up beside her. She smiled down at him and looked back over her shoulder to the other two and waved for them to come as well. Loz tentatively took her other hand while Yazoo stood stiffly on Kadaj's other side.

Once they were all three out, she turned back to Sephiroth. "Sephiroth, please meet Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo."