A/N: Here was another story I wrote as a potentional Anime Detour piece. Turned out too short, oh well. R&R please :)

Standard disclaimers apply.

Background music: Dead in the water-Ellie Goulding

"Laid to Rest"

by MakoRain

It couldn't be possible. This couldn't be happening. Not here, not now. Not Aerith.

It was as if everything slowed down and time itself was mocking him, showing him how much time he actually did have. How he could've saved her. She was just out of reach. Kneeling there on the dais, praying to the Planet for help, for Holy to come and save them. Instead of salvation, there was a flash of light and a sword through her heart.

"Sephiroth!"

The creation without a soul simply looked up at him and smiled. A smile that went all the way to his dead black eyes. And then the Nightmare was gone.

"Cloud?"

He could hear Tifa's voice in the distance, as if somewhere very far away. Somewhere she was safe. Cloud was kneeling beside Aerith's body without actually seeing it, simply reacting to these mixed up feelings inside. He had liked Aerith. He had almost gone on a date with her. But this…this ache in his chest was not his…not for her.

Tifa's hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his stupor, her tears dripping softly down her face. He never wanted to see her cry again. They had both cried so much for so many things. They had to cry for this though, for their fallen flower girl.

Cloud lifted the broken girl's body off the ground and into his arms, cradling her. It was like lifting up a feather, she was so light without life. He shouldn't be thinking thoughts like that but he couldn't help it, he never did well with grief.

"She died doing what she believed was right, her purpose. She was going to save us. She can go home now."

Tifa spoke the truth and it rang deeper in him then he knew. Here in the Temple of the Ancients, she truly was home. The clear teal waters that surrounded them shimmered with harmony and beauty and faith. This is where he would lay her to rest. This is where she was meant to be. At peace.

Something made him look to the sky and there for an instant, he felt as if his world was falling apart. He couldn't let Aerith go, not for anything in the Planet.

But no, that wasn't right. There was someone out there waiting for her. He knew it better than he knew himself. Cloud would let her go freely, with no more urging from this unseen soul. He understood now.

He stood in the center of such a clear pool he should have been able to see to the bottom but he couldn't. It was as if it went on forever. A connection back to the Planet, the Lifestream. Aerith would join with the Lifestream and protect the Planet for them all, for the ones she loved. And he loved her in that instant.

That love sank away with her as he placed her body on the surface of the water, floating for an instant as if the Planet was thanking them for bringing her here, the only place Aerith would be free to go on to the Promised Land.

For Cloud and Tifa knew that was where she was going and in a misty haze she was gone, taken by the Lifestream or lifted to that higher place, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he could walk away, Tifa's hand a comfort of love. He was holding the hand of the girl he had always loved and he knew Aerith was smiling down on them. Aerith was nothing but happy for them as she held the hand of the SOLDIER she had loved all along.

And so Cloud could go forward, as it was meant to be.

The End.

A/N: Wow, that really was short. I've always wanted to rewrite this scene (I don't hate Aerith as much as I used to, honestly). What did you think? I'm always open to reviews :)