He felt the fear decrease in the ex-General, but he knew that until the war was over and the decision made, it would always be there hidden inside. Sephiroth feared abandonment and expected to be left alone; who wouldn't after so many years where the only constant in his life was Hojo of all people?

Cloud would have crawled into Sephiroth's lap at the point of the words, but he knew better than to shift his arm right now. No, he would have to be content with being glued to Sephiroth's side. "Because at the time the memory was made, it wasn't false or fleeting," he murmured softly. "It's only now jaded by the ideas of an adult's mind. When you were a child, I'm sure he made you happy or as happy as you could be in that situation."