Drabble #59: Freedom

Summary: It felt good to be free

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. Characters and places belong to SquareEnix

"Are you okay now Cloud?" Marlene asked, looking over her cereal at the blonde who was sitting at the other end of the table. Cloud glanced up in surprise of being addressed and slowly nodded in reply to the girl's question. She smiled in return, revealing the gap in her teeth from where two of her front ones had fallen out. Cloud could not help but smirk slightly at the sight but she did not notice.

"Can we go to the Gold Saucer then?" she asked brightly. Denzel looked up with an equally hopeful look. Cloud glanced between the two of them and slowly nodded.

"After breakfast," he said.

The children exchanged excited looks and proceeded to wolf down the remainder of their breakfast as Tifa entered the room.

"What's the rush?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at the children's actions.

"I'm taking them to the Gold Saucer." Cloud explained.

"Now that Cloud's free of Geostigma we're going to take advantage!" Denzel added cheerfully, making the two adults chuckle lightly.

"Actually, I need to go somewhere first." Cloud said, looking down at the table. Tifa gave him a slight disapproving look, knowing exactly where he was going. Cloud swallowed nervously as he held her gaze.

"I won't be long," he insisted. "I just need to…do something."

"You need to thank Sister," piped Marlene, as she let her spoon drop down into her bowl. She smiled at Cloud, almost as if she were giving him permission. "I understand."

Cloud nodded at her before looking back at Tifa who gave a small smile in return.

"I understand too," she whispered.

The Church looked just as it always had. The water that Aerith had sent was now dried up, taken back to the heavens it belonged to. Slowly, the blonde made his way to the alter where a new generation of flowers were blooming. A small gust of air blew from behind him before he felt a soft pressure on his shoulder.

"I was beginning to wonder if you would ever visit me again. It's one extreme to the other huh?"

Cloud turned his head slightly, catching a view of a brunette braid swaying slightly as the woman behind him moved. "I don't need to come here very much anymore," he admitted softly. "I'm free now. Free from Geostigma, free from the guilt." He felt her nod against his shoulder.

"And?" she teased. "Doesn't it feel better to have freedom from those troubles?"

Cloud smiled slightly. "Yes Mum," he replied cheekily, earning a small slap around the back of the head and a giggle from here.

"What did I tell you about calling me your mother?" she demanded in mock anger. The blonde ducked his head as if guilty before he answered. "You mentioned cutting my head off I think."

"That's right," she replied, taking her finger across his throat in a pretend beheading. Cloud tilted his head a little, the feeling of her soft skin trailing across his neck was driving him crazy. He had missed her touch, her smile, her laugh. He was free from Geostigma, he had freed himself from the guilt that plagued him about Zack and Aerith's death. But he would never truly be free of the pain at not having Aerith beside him everyday. As if reading his mind, she gave a small sigh, her hand resting just beneath his throat.

"You know I love you, don't you?"

He took a moment to answer before a barely audible reply escaped his lips. "Yes."

"Always remember that. There's no need to be lonely anymore Cloud."

He felt the wind tickle the back of his neck but deep down inside, he knew it was her disappearing. He let out a slow sigh and looked towards the hole in the roof, his lips turning into a smile.

"Thank you Aerith," he whispered.

It felt good to be free...