~Snow's POV~

I sigh as another one of Gaia's people trips over a root on the dirt path. I thought I told Yuj to chop that one up months ago..?

"Hang on, what's happening?" Kristine asks, moving closer to me and Tifa.

"I'll explain later," I shake my head as I look back at Teef. She rolls her eyes when Reno winks at her and then nods toward Rude. Then she shakes her head and grabs my arm, spinning so that it wraps around her, making me chuckle.

"Whose that guy?" I nod toward the dark haired man in a suit matching Rude and Reno's.

"Tseng. He's the best Turk Shinra's had since Vincent."

"Hm," he nods. "Wait, they're not gonna try to make that place here, are they?"

"No," she shakes her head. "There's no mako. And we all know you could put them in their places if they tried to take over. But they're not that bad anymore. Kind of."

"I doubt that," I grin, shaking my head. Another freaked out person rams into me and then squeaks an apology.

"Look who I found!" I hear a young voice call. Groaning, we turn around to see Hope, but something else makes me brighten up and head toward them, Tifa hurrying to catch up.

"Maqui!" I cheer, clapping the youngest member of NORA on the back. He stumbles forward and Yuj swings out an arm to catch him, laughing as he grins up at me.

"Sorry we've been gone so long, Snow! Lebreau took a long time looking for drink ingredients."

"That wasn't all, you moron," she rolls her eyes, hands in her hips. "Besides, Gadot refused to leave until he was sure everything was dead."

"You know it!" The big man laughs, propping his elbow up on my shoulder casually.

"Hey," Yuj says with a smirk. "Who's this lovely lady?"

"Tifa Lockhart," she smiles at him. He grins back.

"Yuj. I work with him," he nods back toward me. I laughs and shake my head, Gadot chuckling deeply too.

"I'm Lebreau!" The younger woman sticks out her arm eagerly, which Tifa takes and shakes gently. "I used to help these idiots with money and stuff, but ever since Orphan, well, things suck."

"Don't be such a pessimist," Maqui pipes up. "Heroes never give up, right Snow?" He looks up at me with idolized green eyes. I nod and fight a laugh that tries to fight out at the excited look on his face. Gadot chuckles and ruffles his hair.

"Don't pee yourself, kid."

"Hey! I'm not a baby!"

"Hey, who're those guys?" Lebreau points at the people dressed in drab grays that make Yuj cringe.

"Midgar people things," I give a wave of my hand. Tifa scoffs and catches it, twisting her fingers with mine.

"The people of Gaia. The planet was destroyed and now they're here."

"Isn't that we're you're from?" Lebreau raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah," she nods. "Did Snow tell you?"

"Yep. I think he's a little obsessed," Yuj winks at me and Tifa blushes.

"Just a little," I joke. "What're you guys doing back?"

"Coming home, duh," Lebreau says as if I should've known. "I missed my little Dopey Hopey!"

"Don't call me that," Hope cringes.

"Aw, why not?" Lebreau grins, ruffling his silver locks. He groans and jerks away from her playful touch.

"Should we get to our house then? I'm kinda scared to see what critters might've gotten in while we were gone," Maqui admits, adjusting his headphones. "And then we can help you guys get places for these people to live!"

"Yeah, you can make another 'Lenora's Garage'," Yuj bumps him teasingly.

"Go on then, your guns are where you left them," I urge them on. Gadot frowns.

"You have been taking care of them correctly, right?"

"I know how to take care of 'em," I give him a cheeky smile. "I just prefer to use my fists and stuff, that's all." Gadot laughs and looks at Tifa.

"See ya later, guys!"

"Later!" I call. Tifa nods and grabs my hand.

"So what're we going to do?"

"We have this old place," I point to a massive marble building, probably thousands of years old. "They could stay there if they need to, other than that, we've probably got to build more houses."

"You think?" She laughs and shakes her head.

"Don't be annoying," I tease, bumping her with my shoulder. "Where the heck did those Turks go?"

"How should I know?" Suddenly, she shrieks and jumps forward. "Reno!"

"What?" The redhead laughs.

"You scared me! Don't do that!"

"Sorry," he shrugs, waltzing away like he owns the world.

"Jerk," Tifa mutters.

"What'd he do?" She shakes her head and grabs my hand again, hers so small compared to mine, yet just as strong. Weird.

After getting everyone settled in the giant house, we start heading back home. Somewhere along the road, Rufus Shinra starts striding along beside us in his silly white suit. We pretty much ignore him, assuming that he's just going to meet up with one of his Turks. When we walk by Kristine's house, we see the woman hanging laundry out front. She gasps when she sees Rufus. I raise an eyebrow.

"What?"

"He just looks like him," she blushes, quickly shaking her head and ignoring us. Rufus shrugs and we try to forget that he stays behind as we enter our home.

"Hey Hope!" Tifa greets with a smile. "What happened with Cloud?"

"Hmm," he hums, looking up at the ceiling. "Let me see. First, Shera got pissed at Cid and slapped him. Then I walked in on Cloud and Lightning making out. That was gross. And awkward. And then some guy tried to jump off one of the cliffs, but Light put a barrier on them all. So yeah. I've had an interesting few days."

"Sounds like it," I chuckle. "So are Cloud and Light a thing now or..?"

"I dunno," the kid shrugs. "It's not like I mind."

"Hey, neither do I," I shrug. There's a knock on the door and Tifa hurries to open it.

"Hello Yuj," she grins. "Maqui."

"Hey Teef!" Yuj greets, flipping his blue hair from his face. "So Snow, you don't mind if we hang out over here, right? Gadot and Lebreau are fighting again."

"I don't mind," I shrug. Tifa smiles at me, happy as ever. Do I make her like that? No, it has to be something else. Maybe... Maqui yelps as he knocks something over, the thud echoing through the house. I roll my eyes and hurry to see what it was. I love my old team, but sometimes they can be overwhelming. Very overwhelming.

NO