Chapter one-

Well, here is Tifa and Zack! =] I decided to give it a go. I mean, I dunno. =] Please review though!! please please please! =]]]]]]]]]]]

I didnt edit it, by my buddy DarkAngel8694 did. =] . They are awesome. Its better than It was before. well, ENJOY! =]

*CLAPS FOR DARKANGEL8694*

Tifa sighed as she sat down on a bar stool. Her long, raven colored hair falling on the sides of her face, creating a curtain that blocked her face from view. She closed her eyes and then put her head in her hands. She didn't know what to do with herself. How long had she been alone? She didn't even bother counting. Cloud was gone. Actually gone. He died five years ago. It was a year after the Omega incident that it happened.

One would think that someone like him, the hero of the planet, would have a noble death. No, he died of a bike crash, which shocked everyone. Most of AVALANCHE didn't believe it. There was no body. It had burned in the fire.

All of Cloud's closest friends had a closed casket funeral for him. Everyone knew he wasn't in there. But they still wanted to honor him, because no matter what way one where to look at it, he was gone.

And that was the last time they mentioned him.

If any of them ever did mention him, it wasn't in front of Tifa. The one time he was carelessly brought up, she burst into tears, and didn't leave her room for almost a week. Marlene was the strong one of the house. She was now fifteen years old. Denzel did not and still would not accept it; after a year passed...he left. He merely said he couldn't bear to be in the same house that he had lived in. So he left. Denzel, being only nineteen, rendered Tifa barely able to stand the pain of knowing he was out there all alone. Knowing that he might not ever come back.

"Tifa?" A high pitch voice interrupted her train of thought. Then she felt someone sit down beside her.

Tifa didn't even bother to looked over; Yuffie was right beside her, her dark green eyes piercing her. She wore the outfit that she had back in the Advent incident.

"Tifa." The now twenty-five-year-old Yuffie pushed her. "Look, I know that this has to be hard....but come on Teef.....you need to move on."

That got Tifa's attention. Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowed as she glared at Yuffie.

"If Vincent died, do you think you could move on?!" She snapped, her teeth clenched. Her eyes were tortured. Yuffie raised an eyebrow, Tifa's yelling had no effect on her whatsoever anymore. "If your Vincent died, then could you move on!" She repeated, lashing out. "If you could then please tell me how! I really wanna know! Since you seem to be the expert on how to live my life," She continued, sarcastic; yet her eyes searched Yuffie's desperately, as if she was looking for the answer.

Yuffie narrowed her eyes, "I'm tired of being nice to you." Yuffie stood up then, and pulled Tifa down on the floor by her hair, "Was he your Cloud?! Were you two lovers?! No you weren't!" She released her hold on her hair. "Tell me Tifa, are you going to die feeling sorry for yourself? Huh?! Are you! Look, I understand the pain of losing someone you love. But look, Cloud wouldn't want this for you! And you know it!"

Tifa jumped up, and then avoided Yuffie's eyes. Every word stung like an arrow piercing through her heart, straight and true and incredibly painful.

The ninja continued, "What about Marlene? She is only fifteen years old! And look! She has to take care of herself. Do you want her to remember you like this?" Yuffie crossed the room over to the front door, "Look Teef, I don't know what you're waiting for, but I don't know what any of us can do anymore." She shook her head and then began to open the door, "And Teef, your not the only one who lost him. We all did. And we all miss him. You're not the only one who lost someone that day."

Tifa was about to scream at her, but the ninja was already out the door. It was the only emotion she had felt in a while. She was just empty. Without Yuffie there, she could no longer direct her anger at her. Only herself. Tifa stifled a sob.

There were footsteps approaching her, she looked over and saw Marlene. She wore her hair the same way Aerith used to, except her bow was now a dark red, just like the color of blood. She had on a black long sleeve shirt and a brown waist length leather jacket. She had on blue jeans and tight fitting boots.

"Tifa..." She walked over and wrapped her arms around the broken woman. "I'm sorry...."

Tifa shook her head, "No....no Marlene, she's right...it's been five years. I need to start living my life." And that was the truth, though it hurt to admit it. She broke away from the hug and then smiled affectionately at the girl. "Go call Denzel...maybe he'll come over...I need to go somewhere...."

Marlene placed her soft delicate hands on Tifa's shoulder. "Where are you going?"

She hated to see her leave, Tifa knew that; Marlene had told her that just because someone says 'I'll be back soon' doesn't mean it's the truth.

"I just need to go visit someone, I'll come back..." Tifa met the uncertainty in the girl's eyes. "No Marlene, I will come back. I promise."

"Okay....I'll hold you up to that." She smiled once more before dashing up the stairs.

Tifa smiled until Marlene was out of her sight. She walked over to the door and then grabbed her coat. It was drizzling outside. She zipped it up and then walked outside to her car – her black, sports car. She loved to drive fast. Of course, Shera, Marlene, and Barret always warned her not to. But she just loved to. She had her cell phone. She'd be fine.

Tifa climbed in the driver side and started it. It gave a soft purr of satisfaction. She gripped the wheel securely before driving off. The radio immediately started blaring – it was playing some love song. She glared at it and then turned it off roughly. She wanted to drive in silence. To most people it would have seen that Yuffie had overreacted, but the truth was that Tifa was done with words, everyone knew that. Everyone was too scared to talk and confront her about her sorrow. Yuffie was the only one. Yuffie knew that she wouldn't listen by words, so the ninja used force, which was now taking a toll on both Tifa's physical and mental well-being.

She was driving for about an hour, and then something popped in to her head. Well, more like someone.

Zack Fair.

She remembered him. He was the 1st class SOLDIER who accompanied Sephiroth. He was so...childish. But at the same time he was…wise. In so many more ways than she had been herself. But then again, she'd only been fifteen when she'd first seen him, after all. She recalled his smiling face, and when he flew down the stair case. The screams, the blood. The conversation. She remembered it all; how much she had hated him, how she had told him so and…something else, she didn't really remember all of it. She was dieing then. He helped save her life. She should have been thankful. But she hadn't been. She hated him at the time. It all seemed so silly now. To hate someone that was trying to help you.

But she didn't remember that day because of him, no, she remembered that day for one very important reason. It was the day Sephiroth went crazy, or…that's what everyone said. She could recollect the fire. Burning everything and everyone. The heat next to her skin, only fueling the hell spawn fire within her. Her father's dead body. To this day that infuriated her. Tifa gripped the steering wheel even tighter, then something calmed her down, like something that had been lost was back again. She didn't know why she felt this, this…relief. But she did.

He was surrounded by darkness. He was swimming in the never ending black pool. He panicked. Where was Aerith? Where was Angeal? They were gone. He was gone. He placed a hand over his breast. Where his heart should have been beating if he was alive. He jolted upright suddenly.

It was beating.

His heart was beating. He felt it pulse threw his whole body. He heard the thumping in his ears. Joy swam threw him. But then he looked around him, and saw darkness. Never ending shadows. Where was he? Could he get out? He began to walk forward. As if he was looking for any light. His black hair fell in his eyes and he roughly pushed it out of his way. His ocean blue eyes scanned every inch of the black sheet in front of him. No light. None.

"Where the hell am I?!" He screamed. His voice echoed threw the black valley and he grumbled, "Look Angeal! I don't like this!" He looked up at where the sky should be, as if the 1st class SOLDIER was flying right above him, but he wasn't. He sighed.

"Aerith? Is this a joke? Because I'll laugh, as long as I get the hell out of here!" He bellowed. He expected to hear the flower girl's laugh. But only silence answered him.

He narrowed his eyes and then walked determinedly ahead of him. He wasn't going to let this get him down. He was determined to get out of here. The darkness that surrounded him wasn't going to interfere with the light in his heart.

That was the answer.

Light began to appear around him. It spread across the darkness and he closed his eyes. The light was blinding. He felt himself fall, and sleep began to envelope him. He fell softly, and the light that surrounded him evaporated into different scenery. He was at the city of the Ancients. In front of Aerith's lake.

He was in the world of the living.

Tifa sighed, she didn't even know why she was doing this. She parked her car, opened the door, but before she could even get all the way out, she heard her name.

"Tifa! Hey it really is her! I told you dumb ass!"

The cocky red headed Turk was skipping over to her, hand in his pockets, Rude was trailing behind him. She rolled her eyes. What did she expect? They worked for Reeve now. The Turks were still in business, but doing different jobs than before. Reeve was also thinking about putting SOLDIER back together. Or he had been, before Cloud died.

Tifa stood up and then closed her car door. She ignored Reno and began to walk to the ferry.

"Wait! I haven't seen you, in like, four years! Come on!!!" He started to sprint after her. Rude grunted and then ran after his partner. Tifa put on her hood, as it started to rain a little harder.

Reno caught up with her, and began to walk by her side, "Hey! What's your problem? Running away like that. Made me run." He gave her his famous grin, she shook her head at him. Rude caught up with them he started to walk beside her on her other side.

"Hello, Tifa. It's been awhile." The bald Turk glanced over at her; he was still wearing his sun glasses. Despite the weather. "Where are you headed?"

She gave a fake smile; she was good at doing that. She'd had practice. "I'm going to go and visit an old friend. For some.....advice."

Reno grabbed her by the arm, gently. "Tifa, I'm glad you came...we have some information for you....I think you'll want to know this...." Rude gave him a warning glance, Reno shook his head at the other Turk, "No man....Reeve and even Rufus said that we can't keep hiding it...." Rude sighed and then walked over and stood beside his partner.

Tifa sighed, "Look, I don't have time for this." She wretched her arm out of his grip and then ran to the ferry. She ignored there attempts to run after her. She jumped on the ferry last minute and then saw them stop running at the rails of the fence.

"Tifa!" Reno called, "You idiot! This is important!" He glared at her, his eyes burning almost as much as his hair. Rude sighed, and then looked over at the red headed Turk. He mumbled something. Then Reno started to yell at him. Tifa smiled to herself, she never did like talking with the Turks much. Ever since the Advent incident, they were too...friendly. It bothered her.

She turned away from them. She looked at the blue blanket out in front of her. The smell of the ocean calmed her some what. The ferry swayed, she sat down, and her eyelids drooped slowly. Before she knew it, she was dreaming about a black haired SOLDIER.

­­­­Zack opened his eyes slowly, drawing in a sharp breath. He sat up quickly, placing a hand over his heart, he gasped. It really was beating. This wasn't a dream. The lake in front of him was shimmering from the moon that always lurked in the sky here, whether it was day or night. The moon was always there, and the sky was always dark. Letting the stars shine forever.

"Aerith?" He whispered. Jumping up, he laughed. The feeling was great. Death in the lifestream held no boundaries; it was awful. There was nothing to look forward to, nothing to regret. There was nothing to work for. But this, being alive. He felt his strength once again. He knew he had boundaries that he would hope to soon over come.

"Zack." The flower girl's transparent figure walked out of the lake. She smiled at him. "I see you're enjoying yourself."

He nodded slowly, amazed by her. So this was what it was like to talk to a person of the dead. He had done this a couple times, but he was never the living one. She laughed, then walked around him slowly, "Your here for a reason." Aerith stated finally.

Zack got over his amazement, and raised an eyebrow. "What am I here for?" Wait, if he was here for a reason, does that mean, once he was done, did he have to die again? He couldn't live the rest of his life?

Aerith sighed, then twirled around on her toes, "Well...there are two reasons…actually. The planet has summoned your spirit –" But Zack interrupted her.

"Do I have to die again?" He felt his heart begin to beat faster. Panic, the feeling, he had forgotten what it felt like. He didn't like the feeling. His stomach felt empty, like it was floating.

"Well, everyone has to die." Zack expression became confused. "I mean, you will die someday, but of your own causes. The planet has granted you life once again, when you complete the tasks you are here for, the planet will allow you to live your life."

"Why?" Zack didn't ask in disappointment; he asked because he was surprised.

"Because you give off a lot of energy...well you and a few other people....and the planet wants that energy. It gives it more life." She looked in the lake behind her, "I don't have much time...." She sighed and turned around quickly to face him, "Okay, look. The planet senses something bad happening soon. It can't detect when, but it is supposed to happen soon. And when that time comes, your strength can help...."

He nodded. "So, something bad is going to happen, and I am going to help... Got it."

Aerith nodded too, continuing. "And, well, there are other people who give off a lot of energy like you, and one of them…Well, she is killing herself with her depression, the planet wants to save her life, and it thinks you can help...."

"Well, who is it?" He rolled his eyes inwardly at the girl; if he didn't know her name, this would be hard.

She smiled. "She'll be here soon. Just wait." The flower girl turned around again, "When you need me I'll be here." Aerith smiled at him once more, her figure disappearing as she walked to her watery grave.

The ex-SOLDIER sighed to himself, sitting on the ground. Who was this girl going to be? Did he know her? What about Cloud, what was he up to these days? Zack looked up at the moon then back at the ground. Waiting was something he would do for right now. He smiled to himself again. Then he placed his hand over his heart. Thump thump thump. He loved the beat. The way it pulsed through him. It was like some nostalgic melody he had forgotten and discovered all over again.

He was alive. There was no other way to put it. Death was something of the past. Living was something of today, and of the future.

"Hey, girl! Wake up."

Tifa was shaken awake by rough hands. She opened her eyes and was greeted to a beautiful crescent moon. The face of the ferry driver was giving her a sour look. She stood up. "Thanks," She said quietly, then walked off the boat and into the snow. The cold air sent a chill up her spine. It was a good thing she had her coat. She began to walk. The white blanket crunched beneath her feet. Tifa loved the snow. It gave off an essence of innocence, which she wished she had herself. She was approaching the city without realizing it yet.

In a matter of minutes, it went from bright, shimmering light, to calming darkness. The moon was shining and the stars were glimmering. She remembered this place very well. She didn't want to remember the events that happened that dreadful day. Death wasn't something one could forget easily. It painted unpleasant images in her head every so often, to remind her of past sins. It stained her mind. Wiping away all the innocence that once lay there, like blood on the snow.

Tifa was so lost in thought she didn't even realize when she was at the lake. It was as beautiful as always. It made her forget her troubles, if only for a moment. Well, that was, if she hadn't known what had once occurred there. Tifa felt cold when she gazed at the glimmering pond. She hated it. But loved it at the same time. This was the only thing they could give there deceased friend. A beautiful resting place.

"Aerith?" She whispered. Her voice sounded awkward to her in this place. She waited. But nothing happened. She expected the flower girl to come, and greet her with a smile. But nothing happened.

"She had to go back, but I'm sure if you come back another time, she'll be here."

The voice jolted her out of her trance. She jumped back five feet and looked at the figure sitting on the ground.

When she saw who was sitting there her mouth formed into a perfect 'O'. She tried to speak, but nothing came out.

Zack Fair, first class SOLDIER, was sitting right there, looking up at her with a childish expression of ease. He was looking in her eyes, searching for something.

This couldn't be right. Zack Fair was dead. He died. Tifa remembered. Cl…he had told her about it. Once he had remembered the real story.

She remained frozen with surprise. All logic was blown away. Nothing could explain this.

He hopped up and laughed. "I know I'm gorgeous. But there is no need to stare." She glared at him, still a loss of words. "So you're why I'm here." He murmured, "Tifa Lockheart."

She shook her head, shaking all of her surprise away. "But your...dead," She stated, whispering the last word. Dead sounded so casual. "Dead" wasn't a word to describe the pain that comes with the property.

He stuck his arms out to his sides, twirled around, then put his arms back down,"I'm here, aren't I? I'm alive. Just as you are." He grinned at her.

She found herself smiling back at him, despite all the questions she had. Suddenly she recalled the ill words she last said to him. "I'm sorry." She said calmly.

He gave her a bewildered look. "For what?"

"I said I hated you. Last time we met. I'm sorry." She looked him over then, and found herself jealous. He didn't look like he aged at all. Probably hadn't.

He laughed, then looked at himself, "Yeah, it seems I am still twenty-two in body," He looked at her, "But either way, I'm still older than you in many ways." He walked toward her, "And you're forgiven, on one condition."

She leaned her head to the left, "What?"

"I get to stay at your place, I have no where to go." He gave her his famous smile.

Before she knew it, they were walking side by side, talking to one another, laughing. Like old friends. Tifa left her troubles at the lake, for the next time she came up here to see Aerith.

Well, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU! 3 =] GO DARKANGEL8694!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!