The Golden Years?

* I have no ownership of the ff7 characters in this fanfic. *


The Golden Years?
Written by SailorPoison

Thanks to chibikenshin for suggestions and help.


It was once again time for their reunion and Cloud really looked forward to it. The former leader of Avalanche had aged with some grace though his hair was not as thick nor his eyes as bright but, inside, he was the same Cloud Strife. Tifa and Aeris also aged over the years. Both women still fought over his affection but with more tamer cat fights. Gray hair replaced the once luscious colors of they once had. All three waited the arrival off their friends.

They came in one group, flown in by Cid’s daughter who had her own airship named the “ Dragonfly “. She was taught by Cid himself. As for Cid? He was still alive and still very active for his age. The daughter went off to do a job somewhere, leaving Shera to keep an eye on Cid. Not among them was Barret, as he was unfortunate enough to be sick. Nanaki still looked as young as ever. Next was Yuffie, who was the youngest of the group and looked it still. Reeve was at home with a broken hip, so he sent Cait Sith to take his place. The last was Vincent. He aged slowly but aged he has. The gunman was still totting his weapons, but these days they tended to fall out of their holster and go off. So far no one had been hit.

Cloud greeted them all and they sat down to talk about the old days. For him everything was so awesome back then!

Cloud, “ Hey remember when Barret was after this Dana guy and we got arrested! That was weird.”

Tifa gently interrupted, “ That was Dain.”

Cait Sith added, “ And that was not fun!”

Aeris, “ I thought it was fun when Cloud had to race for our freedom!”

Cloud blurted out, “ Oh! Remember the time when we all were in the Temple of the Ancients but I flipped out, gave up the Black Materia, and bitch slapped Aeris?”

Cid by now had fallen asleep.

Vincent, “ Only you, Aeris, and myself went. “ he reminded the former leader.

Yuffie, “ Remember when we pwned the Don? That fat bastard had it coming!” fist punched in the air at imaginary villains.

Nanaki, “ I recall the Turks took him out and you stole our materia.”

Yuffie, “ I said I was sorry! Geez!”

Cloud, “ Cid, wake up! “ he threw one of Nanaki's chew toys at Cid’s head, as he hated it when the pilot fell asleep during a talk. More specifically, when he was talking.

Cid, “ What? “ as it woke him up quite nicely.

Cait Sith, “ If we must suffer, so do you.”

Cloud, “ What do you remember of our grand adventures?”

Cid, “ A time I could have a fucking nap in peace! Shit... Shera, is the tea ready?”

Shera was by his side with a cup, “ Of course, sir.”

Cid, “ Thanks.” Apparently old age made her faster and creepier or something. Cid has yet to figure out how.

Tifa, “ How sweet! Its about time you two got married.” That made Cid almost choke on his tea, “ But then again you two should have got married years ago.”

Aeris, “ Maybe.... but sometimes its sweet just being lovers! Right Cloud?”

Cloud, “ Well, I don’t... “

Tifa, “ Cloud is someone who believes in settling down!”

Aeris, “ Are you?”

Nanaki distracts them, “ I think the pizza man is here.”

Yuffie, “ Pizza!”

That was indeed a much needed distraction. Watching Cloud in a tight spot was fun but eating pizza was even better. The pizza itself was made by Zack’s Pizzeria! When you want the best you go Soldier First class! All eat, except Cait Sith who was a robot. But Reeve had his own pizza ordered so it was close enough.

Vincent muttered, “ I once again commit sin... “

Cid, “ Chill, this won’t bust your damn diet that bad.”

Aeris, “ I will always have the perfect waist.”

Tifa muttered, “ Dying helps.. “

Aeris, “ What?”

Tifa, “ Our strict Diet helps!”

Cloud, “ I remember when we were all together and Frogs attacked.”

Cid, “ Oh god..... Please don’t tell me you are gonna do that all night?!”

Voice from the darkness, “ Do you not recall the time Aeris died upon a really pointy sword?”

They all paused to recall this.

Cid, “ Which one? There’s too many.”

Sephiroth leapt from the shadows stabbing his very long blade through Aeris, “ You ruined the punch line! “

Cloud in grief, “ You killed Aeris! “

Tifa, dryly, “ Again. “

Sephiroth with a sadistic grin, “ Why get upset? She respawns. Besides everyone needs a hobby. Just so happens that killing the girl is mine.”

Cloud stood up, not as fast as he used to but not slow, “ I shall finally kill you once and for all!” with all the rage he could muster.

The heroes stood by their leader. Ready to attack, Aeris being the exception. Not that Sephiroth was going to fight them here, not when he can do a fancy exit and fight somewhere that makes hardly any sense. The flash of his escape is followed by an odd smell. It made their eyes water upon smelling it.

Yuffie, “ Ewwwwww! “

Cloud, “ Its Sulfur!”

Cid, “ Hell no! The bastard farted! Old man fart too.”

Shera and Cait Sith sprayed the air to help defume it from the evil smell.

Cloud, “ We must go after him! But where should we look?”

Vincent pulled out a script, “ According to this we are to randomly travel until we find the most unlikely place and he shall be there.”

Cloud, “ Then lets go! “

With that... the aimless wandering began. Yuffie was the first one to drop out of this as she had to go home and change her Depends. Apparently bowel control was not with her today. Cait Sith also had to bow out, due to his battery charge was too low to keep going.

After a while, Tragedy was about to befall them! Yes... As a random dungeon monster was attacking, Vincent went to withdraw his gun and it fell from his grasp, going off. The bullet did indeed kill the monster, which was low level, and glanced off Cloud’s shoulder guard to hit Vincent square between the eyes,

Cloud was in shock, “ Vincent... is dead!”

Tifa had the grace to show some grief, “ Poor, poor Vincent!”

Cid on the other hand was quite put off by this, “ God damn it! >.< Now who the fuck am I gonna hang out with?!”

Shera took this chance to claim her pilot once and for all, “ Sir, we could cling to each other in this time of grief! Become one in heart and soul.... “

Cid confused as that sounded like only one thing, “ What? You want me to marry you?”

Shera, “ Yes, I accept!”

Cid looked at her and at Vincent. Actually he gave the idea a hard ponder. Tifa held her breath for this grand moment. Will the pilot finally marry Shera?! The pilot knelt on the ground and.... picked up Vincent’s gun. “ I’m coming to meet you, Vincent!” and promptly shot himself dead.

Cloud, “ I guess that is a no. Oh well lets move out!”

And the grand trek resumed leaving the two fall commands behind. Shera stayed behind, he thought. Just knew she was no longer with the group. Ironically.. their trek took them all the way back to the Villa. It ends up, Sephiroth was found in the kitchen raiding the fridge.

Sephiroth’s only excuse, “ I was hungry.”

Cloud, “ We finally found you!” Then turns to Tifa, “ Why were we after him?”

Tifa kindly reminded him, “ To avenge Aeris.”

Nanaki had to put in his two cents, “ And get rid of this evil once and for all.”

Cloud, “ Oh yeah!”

Sephiroth scoffs, “ But Cloud.... How can you kill me? We’re married!”

Cloud was in shock, “ What?!” But then so were the others.

Sephiroth whipped out their wedding picture, “ See? You are the beautiful blond boy in the white wedding dress.”

Cloud, “ NOOOOOO! It can’t be!”

Sephiroth laughed that evil Sephiroth laugh, “ But it is! I was reclaiming what those whores stole!” With that, pulled Cloud in to kiss....

Cloud woke up in his bed. Yes, it was all a dream. He was not old nor was he married to Sephiroth. But he was at least alone and Cloud was very happy about that. So he snuggled his pillow and drifted back to sleep.


The end