To See Her Smile and Suffer

Notes: FF7 is NOT mine! Square Enix made it back in'97. This fan fiction is CxA BUT I adore Tifa so don't worry about her! She gets that sexy stud Reno! The story is about Ifalna has a word with Cloud to convince him that there was nothing he could do about Aerith's death and it wasn't his fault. Don't ask just read!

If I Had A Wish…

The sun hung low in the sky, Cloud sat staring blank faced from the roof of his home with Tifa, Denzel, Marlene, and the other orphans. Aerith had told him that her favorite time of day was the evening. That all the shades of blue, purple, orange, and yellow were incredibly romantic. "She may have forgiven me but I know…I could have done something. She could be sitting here with me tonight, admiring the sky…"

"Could she really?" He stood up and looked behind him. There stood Iflana, her arms crossed and expression serious. "H-how are you here? Is she here too?" Ifalna walked over and sat beside him, prompting him to sit as well. "No, Mr. Strife. She is with the planet. I am here for one reason: to finally convince it was her fate to pass away." Cloud looked away, pulling his knees to his chest. "Her fate? I don't think so…if I had gone with her and protected her, she would not of died by Sephiroth's hand!" Ifalna shook her head. "Even if you had saved her from Sephiroth she would die." He looked down. "You don't believe me, do you? Let me show you then…" Ifalna stood, tossing her hair back. "Planet, show him how much worse it would be…show him what real pain is!" Cloud's world went dark and when he awoke he was laying in his bed. "Was I…dreaming?" He looked around, then at his clothes. "These are my old clothes…" He then heard cheerful laughter. "I can't believe we did it, eh Vinny?" Yuffie 's voice rang out. He walked out to the living room where all his friends were celebrating. "Cloud! You're awake finally! I guess our fight with Sephiroth really took it out of you!" Tifa said cheerfully, holding onto the arm of Reno. "Huh…? What's going on…?" They all stared at him as if he were mad. "You…okay, man?" Reno said, looking a little freaked out. "Ya…I'm fine but…where's Aerith?" Reeve came forward, holding Cait Sith in his arms, and said, "Aerith? She's at her church." Cloud then dashed out. "Man, he must've slammed his head really fucking bad." Cid spat.

Cloud threw the church doors open, looking frantic. Standing in the middle of the aisle was the girl who he cried so many tears for, the girl who made him happier than any one else and sadder than anyone else. There, in that aisle with her back to him, was Aerith. She then turned around, just like she had when he was using the waters to cure the children of their illness. "Cloud? Are you feeling better?" He stepped forward looking totally in awe. "You're alive? You won't…leave me again?" She covered her mouth as she giggled. "Of course not, silly! Where did you get an idea like that?" He ran to her, holding her tightly. "I…I was so scared…Oh God, I was scared!" He dug his face into her hair. Aerith returned his embrace. "I know…we all were." He pulled back, still grasping her upper arms. "No. I wasn't afraid for myself or the planet…I was afraid for you. I was afraid you would no longer laugh, cry…or get angry…" She smiled. "Well, don't worry. I'm right here and I promise to stay as long as I can. For you…for us." He brushed her hair back and kissed her. "For us…always for us." They walked back to the house, hand in hand. "Hey Aerith, I'm going to change. Can you sit with everyone else for a moment?" She nodded and he entered his room. When he turned around from shutting his door he heard, "Such bliss, isn't it?" He sat on his bed. "It is, Ifalna. I don't see how things can go wrong." Ifalna turned to the window, placing her hands on the sill. "Bask in your ecstasy while you can, Mr.Strife." He lay back, placing his arms behind his head. "Why are you doing this…? You do realize I cherish, adore, and-" Ifalna cut him off. "Love her? That is exactly why I am doing this. I do this not out of anger but out of sympathy." Cloud closed his eyes and asked, "Is this what she wants…?" He received no reply, and when he opened his eyes Ifalna was gone. Aerith then walked in, smiling. "You didn't change?" He looked up at her and opened his arms, offering her to lay with him. She cuddled up, pulling his arm snug around her waist and holding his hand. They lay silent for several minutes. "Hey Cloud."

"Yes?"

"If you had one wish, what would it be?"

"If I had a wish…it'd be to be here with you forever." Aerith smiled and snuggled up closer, quickly falling asleep.

End of Chapter 1

I'm presently working of ch5 of my Final Fantasy VIII fan fiction but ch2 will come out soon enough. Here's the time frame: when Cloud meets up with Ifalna on the roof it is right after Advent Children. When Cloud awakes after speaking with Ifalna it is right after Final Fantasy VII. This story is severely Cloud x Aerith –or Aeris, whatever V.V- The implied pairings include: Tifa and Reno, Yuffie and Vincent, Cid and Shera, and maybe a little bit of Shalua and Reeve. My FF7 experience you may ask? I have beaten the original game, seen AC and Last Order, played Before Crisis and Dirge of Cerberus some, read On The Way To A Smile and Maiden Who Travels The Planet, and I've done extensive online research to double check my facts and theories. It is safe to say I know my stuff. Reviews are encouraged BUT no flamers. That is just mean!