Ch. 1 Peace?
It had been ten years since Meteor fall. Everyone in the city of Edge was celebrating the planet's recovery. Tifa and Marlene watched as the fireworks shot into the sky. The red, blue, and green explosions captivated everyone's attention. Then Tifa heard a voice.
"Mommy, Mommy!" a young girl cried out to her. A small brown haired little girl came running up to Tifa he picked up the girl and swung her around. Mother and child laughed with excitement.
"Aerith?" Tifa asked in confusion, "Where is your brother?" Tifa asked the little girl.
"He's playing with Sirius," the little girl answered, "I told him, 'Gale, Mommy is going to want you to come see her when the fireworks start,' but he wouldn't listen to me."
Tifa sighed. Gale always wanted to play with other children. Marlene and Denzel were both too old to play with him now. Sirius was Vincent and Yuffie's son, and the two of them were best friends. "Let's go find him," Tifa said. She looked back at Marlene to see if she wanted to go, but she was talking to a boy and Tifa thought it best not to interrupt.
Tifa and Aerith made their way through the crowd. All of the cheering and celebrating could not quiet the sound of the Airship's engines as it sped along the sky shooting fireworks. Cid had volunteered to help with the festivities and Rufus Shinra, amazingly enough, funded the fireworks and the food.
Tifa, holding Aerith by the hand, came to a clearing in the crowd. A group of boys were playing tag, but Tifa had trouble telling who was "It". She scanned the boys and found Gale. He was easy to pick out. He had blonde hair and blue eyes like his father. Tifa called out to him, "Gale Zack Strife, Come over here this instant." She tried to sound mean, but she just couldn't do it.
"I got to go guys," the boy said to his friends. He looked at a tall boy with long black hair and red eyes, "Bye Sirius see you later."
"Bye," the boy said.
Gale ran to his mother. "Mom, I-"
"I told you to come when the fireworks started," she interrupted.
"I know," Gale said looking at his feet.
"You know it's dangerous to be alone," Tifa said. She could tell the boy was sorry, "You're lucky your father isn't here."
"Please," the boy begged, "Don't tell him."
"I won't," Tifa said, "If you wash the dishes tomorrow."
"I will," Gale answered, "I'll wash them and dry them."
"Good," Tifa said with a smile, "Now let's watch the rest of the fireworks."
They made their way back to where Marlene was. Tifa tried to enjoy the fireworks, but every flash of light reminded her that Cloud wasn't here. He and Denzel had left to go to the Forgotten City. Cloud had gone to see Aerith, older Aerith's grave. Tifa just couldn't shake the feeling; Cloud should be here more than anybody.