Yet again I am re-vamping my story. Hopefully for those of you who are already familiar with my story and have read it at an earlier time will like this new chapter. As always I am sorry for how long it is actually taking me to write and finish this story. I know how the story is going to end, but getting it all down is proving to be very difficult. I'm striving to actually type all of it now so maybe there is an end in sight. Either way, those of you new to the story, enjoy. Please ignore the discrepancies in writing in style between these chapters as I myself am quite different from when I first wrote this story. I will continue to update all of the chapters and re-uploading them and hopefully finish the story someday. Either way without further adieu, on to the story.

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me and I make no claim to any of it. Just a poor soul writing for this for the joy of it.

Chapter (1)

The impact of meteor caused the whole planet to shake. It looked like the Armageddon, the planet looked as though it was about to become a fiery explosion of rock and space.

"We aren't going to make it," a black man with a gun-arm shouts as the whole sky lights up, then nothing.

Two days later people from all over the world start their life anew, the shock from meteor was over. Now it was time to rebuild homes, shops, lives, and to smile. The world was saved by one group of people, now known all over the world as the saviors of the planet. Cid, a retired pilot hoping to go to outer space and return home. Vincent, used-to-be Turk with a dark past but brighter future. Yuffie, a materia thief/ninja whose only joy was to explore and steal. Red XIII also known as Nanaki, last of his race, protector of Cosmo Canyon. Cait Sith, a stuffed animal that was actually Reeve of Shinra. Barret, leader of the team AVALANCHE determined to save the world from Shinra. Tifa, a woman who lost everything due to Shinra and team member of AVALANCHE. Last, but definitely not least Cloud Strife, former SOLDIER First-Class and the man who led this great group.

"Damn it, Cloud did you even hear what I said? I know it's hard to understand stuff through that spikey head, but I repeated myself four times!" Barret yells in frustration at Cloud.

"Calm down, Barret before you give yourself a heart attack I heard everything you shouted. I'll hand you the hammer and go get the boards," Cloud says then saunters off.

"Fuck, wait until I get my hands on that little shit" Barret fumes.

"Hey, Tifa is this enough for right now?" Cloud shouts to the dark-haired woman sitting on the roof as he comes back carrying a load of lumber.

The dark-haired woman with wine red eyes looks down at him before surveying the roof top as she debates whether or not the lumber he carried was enough to finish the job or not.

"Umm, yeah Cloud just put it right there."

One Week Later

Cid, Yuffie, Cloud, Vincent, Red XIII, Cait Sith, and Barret are standing in front of the newer and rebuilt Tifa's 7th Heaven. Gone were the raggedy shutters and rotten wood, it now looked a more chic place. The new 7th Heaven was still Midgar, but no longer was it buried in the wreckage that was the Slums. It was now placed closer to the main Shinra building just a little ways into Sector 4 in one of the few areas that was not affected greatly by the impact of meteor. While the group stands on the outside, admiring their hard work and the place they built. Tifa is inside setting her bar up for the start for one heck of a party. She looks around at the new walls, tables, chairs, even the jukebox sitting in the corner thanks to a contribution from Cait Sith. Everything was set; now all that was left was to get all the participants. Tifa steps out the front door and shouts at the waiting group.

"Okay, everyone come on in and let's PARTY!"

All of them, except Cloud, rush in so they could drink free beer, take some shots, and eat all they could want. For most of them it was a welcome relief to finally be able to relax after all the experiences they had been through, mainly fighting Sephiroth and the Weapons to protect their world.

"Hey Cid, how much you wanna bet I could out drink you and Vincent?" Yuffie asks Cid getting ready to challenge to her thoughts the 'old farts.'

"Hah! Are you sure you're old enough to drink? I mean we wouldn't want you to become sick," Cid huffs in retort.

"Very well, I take your challenge Yuffie. Let us begin," Vincent calmly tells Yuffie who just smirks at him considering herself to already be the winner.

While the party was only just getting started, Cloud stands out front watching all of his friends through the window have fun. How could he be in there enjoying himself when all of his thoughts were a dark mish-mash of guilt, anger, and regret? What use was there in celebrating when the person who made all of this possible, was dead and gone?

God Aeris, why did you have to die? I can still hear your laughter and your voice. I can still picture every little detail about you…

He becomes lost in memory of the first time he saw the flower girl or maybe not the first time seeing her, but the first conversation he had ever had with her.

"Hey can you help me? You said you could do anything. How about you be my bodyguard?"

"Well it'll cost you something because I don't just work for free, what will you pay?"

"Umm, how about one date? Will that do?"

"A date, sure I guess, when do I start?"

"Right now."

"Cloud..."

"Cloud..."

"…CLOUD," a voice brings him back to reality and he turns around to confront the one who interrupted his happier memories.

"Oh hey Tifa, what are you doing out here? Isn't the party still going?" Cloud asks not being able to keep the frustration at her interruption from his voice. He feels bad for a moment when the dark-haired woman's eyes darken with sadness at his abrupt tone with her.

"Yeah it's still going Yuffie, Vincent, and Cid are having a contest on who can drink the most and the rest are just watching and eating. But I was wondering where you were out so I came out to find you," she pauses for a moment before rushing on.

"Are you thinking about her?"

"No, but thanks Teef, I'm alright. I'll come in, in a little bit if you don't mind."

She stares at him for a moment, before nodding slightly and heading back to where the rest of their friends were. She knew that he wasn't going to give her an honest answer and as much as she wished she could help him and wanted to, that in the end he just didn't want her help.

He was lying I know it. He thinks about her...Aeris, all of the time, he even dreams about her. He doesn't know I know that, but I can hear him at night talking about her or to her. He...he lo-loves her and I just can't compete with that.

A tear slides down her face at her own thoughts. She could hear the music and even above that the laughter coming from the bar. It was time to put on a happy face, it was what everyone expected of her anyway. A quick brush of her hand wipes the tear away, a pasted on grin is fixed and she marches into her bar to have a good time with the remainder of her friends.

During the night, in a dream

Yet again, he is staring out over the city of the ancients. The fallen spires and the broken buildings only made the city seem tranquil. As always he ends up staring across the pond where he laid a fallen angel to rest. As he stared across the pond brooding, two slim hands reach out and cover his eyes.

"Hey Cloud!"

"A-Aeris? What are you doing here?"

"Well visiting you of course, I have something to tell you."

"Visiting me, wait you have something to tell me."

"Yep, got some good news to tell you," the pig tailed woman smiles at him, delight dancing through her eyes.

"Well, what is it?"

"Silly Cloud, you got to guess it!"

"Aeris…" his eyes darken. She stares at him for a moment longer before deciding to just tell him, seeing the anguish on his face because of her, she wanted to make the anguish just go away.

"You can bring me back, Cloud. Back to life, that is."

His face shows his disbelief at her words and she rushes on before he could say anything.

"It is possible and I even know how you can do it. Just bring my body from its resting place, the Lifestream has kept it preserved, and place me in the spot where Sephiroth killed me. Make sure I have Holy with my body as well," she finishes with a smile watching his face expectantly.

"How is this possible…" his voice trails off as he lunges forward hugging her to him.

"I'm out on good probation," she replies her voice muffled against his chest.

"Good probation, is there a time limit?"

"No and me calling on Holy and saving the planet with the help from the Lifestream is what is letting this happen, great isn't it? "

"This is a dream, isn't it? Just a dream that I'm going to wake up from and know this isn't real."

"No, Cloud, this is real. Yeah, you are dreaming right now, but all of this is real. I'm real and so are you, here while you sleep is the only way to reach you. Now, get some sleep, some real sleep and don't forget to tell the others all of this. I can't wait to see all of you."

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to hope.

He smiled down at the woman and slowly closed his eyes to get some real sleep. It never hurt to double-check on things anyhow and if it actually meant having Aeris back, then…

"What the hell you mean it's possible for Aeris to come back? You ain't joking are you, Spikey? When we gonna go get her?"

Cloud broke the news as soon as he woke up to everyone from the party the night prior. Some time throughout the night Vincent had taken off so he wasn't there to hear the news, but everyone else was in various states of shock and happiness. Tifa stood behind her bar watching Cloud as he explained all the details that Aeris had passed to him through his dream. She didn't know what to think except that her chances of being with Cloud as anything but a friend were diminishing as everyone talked about Aeris. She was going to lose him to a dead woman; no that was wrong she had already lost him, but why was no one thinking about the flip side of the coin for all of this. What if this wasn't even really Aeris?

"Guys," no one was listening to her.

"Guys," she repeated louder this time. "I'm really happy that we may be able to bring Aeris back, but think for just a moment, what if this isn't really Aeris and it's all just a trick?"

Silence rang throughout the room at her words. Cloud looked stunned for a moment and she watched a thousand emotions run across his face before he finally settled on anger. She took a breath, she hadn't seen him show this much emotion in a long time.

"This is Aeris we are talking about, do you honestly think I wouldn't recognize Aeris? Aeris who I failed…" his voice trailed off for a moment, mako blue eyes lost in memories for a moment before they snapped back on to her. Her voice was long gone, all she could do was hold herself up and stay strong as his words cut through her.

"Aeris died to save all of us, don't you think that given what she did for us we shouldn't take any chance available to actually bring her back? Also if it is someone else, say Sephiroth for example, that all of us couldn't take him?" His voice rose with every word, each word driven like a stake through her heart as she could see the betrayal in his eyes, betrayal because of her. The rest of the group remained silent watching as Cloud ripped Tifa apart with his words.

"Why wouldn't you want to take this chance Tifa? Why?" The volume of his voice dropped. He didn't want to think of the alternative, if it all was an elaborate trick at the hands of Sephiroth instead of a second chance with Aeris. They had barely beat Sephiroth last time and that was only with everyone helping and Aeris using the Lifestream and Holy to help them as well. All eyes were glued on them, Tifa for bringing up the one thing that could ruin all of this, and Cloud with his burning hope of bringing Aeris back to life. They all knew that Tifa cared about Aeris, but she loved Cloud.

"I'm not going. Not until we can get some more information on this, Cloud. I want Aeris back too, but this is just too big."

"Fine, stay here and when it really is Aeris you can explain to her why you didn't want to come to bring her back. I'm going to go and get her though," with that said he turns on his heel and walks out the door.

Tears slowly began to trek down her face and she sits heavily on the bar stool beside her staring at the door and the remainder of her friends. Yuffie stares at her chewing on her bottom lip as she debates between following Cloud or staying, Barrett shuffles his feet indecision clearly written on his face, Red XIII sits on the floor tail swishing, while Cid leans against his spear, and Cait Sith slips out the door without looking at any of them.

"Well the quickest way to find out anything is to get up there fast and the fastest thing is my ship, so I'm gonna follow Cloud," Cid exhales a cloud of smoke and walks out the door. Barret shakes his head and looks at her, Tifa slowly nods to him, and he follows Cid. Yuffie and Red XIII soon follow leaving her alone in the bar with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company.

I do want her back, I really do. Even if it means losing Cloud, but we made so many enemies and Sephiroth and Jenova are just so powerful that it could be them using the one thing that would hurt Cloud the most. Aeris. If it really is Aeris though, I guess I can never tell him that I love him.

"What am I going to do?"

The door of the bar swings open and she looks up, wondering who of her friends it could actually be. Her eyes travel from the expensive shoes, over the dark blue suit, to lock eyes with none other than Reeve.

"Hey, can we talk?"

"About what, Reeve, and why aren't you with the others?"

"What I want to talk about is your suspicion with all of this and truly I'm just not that gullible. I hope it really is Aeris, but we did make some powerful enemies and all of that requires some thinking."

"My suspicion," she scoffs, "my suspicion is more me just have a bad feeling for some reason on the situation."

Her eyes shimmer and she blinks rapidly to stop tears from falling.

What if this is just me being jealous?

Reeve looked at her for a moment and then glances around the bar, it had already been a couple of hours since the others took off, and the bar was cleared of all signs of the party from the night prior. On the counter there was a bottle of scotch and a glass beside it filled to the brim with the dark liquid.

"So what do you think, Reeve? Am I just being jealous or do you think that they should have thought some more before taking off? I don't even know myself if I really wanted them to stop and think longer on it."

He mulls over words in his heads on how to best phrase his answer, as Tifa waited for his answer she moved around behind the bar counter and pulled out another glass to pour him a drink.

"I think that finding out if it's possible for Aeris to come back to life and moving on from there ought to be the first step all of us should have taken vice running off and messing with her body."

"How are we supposed to even find out if it's possible and what is your plan if it really isn't Aeris?"

"Well I propose, first of all we visit Cosmo Canyon and then decide the rest from there. Bugenhagen has a lot of knowledge stored in that old body of his and he may be able to point us in a good direction."

She slowly shakes her head at him.

"What?"

"Why didn't you go with them Reeve, and I want your honest answer now. Yeah, I believe what you just told me is part of the reason, but not your main one."

He tilts his head to the side and stares at her. He hadn't let anything slip or said anything that could make her think he had another reason, yet she was convinced he had one. He smiles softly to himself, perhaps Tifa could see more than most people thought. Also if he wanted Tifa to actually trust him, perhaps he ought to be completely honest with her. Decision made he began to tell her.

"…so you think you're in love with Aeris? I mean when did you even come to this conclusion?"

Reeve debates on how to answer; it was quite difficult to just talk about his emotions or feelings, especially for someone as secretive as him.

"I think I fell in love with her when I first saw her. We were given orders to capture her from President Shinra and she was such a free spirit. There was just something about her that I could lose myself in if I wasn't careful."

"…"

"Either way, I knew for sure when I saw her again at Gold Saucer, unfortunately I was a stuffed animal and she was already half-way in love with Cloud and he with her."

He watched the anguish ripple across her face at his words and he felt pity for her. The look on her face was heartbreaking and one he understood quite well. Unrequited love was a hard thing to deal with especially when even death had no effect in the matter. At least for him, it was the one he loved who had passed on. For Tifa on the other hand, the one she loved chased after the figment of a dead woman and wouldn't move on from it, could see nothing else but the past. A woman whose fist could decimate monsters with a single blow and who had helped save the world, couldn't fight memories of a dead woman whom she had cared for herself.

"I always have been in love with Cloud and I thought when I saw him again it was my second chance. I always thought he would realize that I loved him and maybe he would return it. Then all of this happened and I realized that he was falling in love with Aeris, but then Sephiroth…" her voice trails off. She blinks her eyes as she remembers that horrible day in the ancient city, watching Cloud raise the Buster Sword over his head while Aeris kneeled in prayer before him. Barrett and her voice shouting out for him to stop, the look of relief that passes over Clouds face as their combined voices break through whatever fog Sephiroth had enspelled him with. Then the shock that they all receive as Sephiroth falls from above, Masamune sliding through Aeris and the desperate battle with the piece of Jenova right after Aeris' death. All of them standing around the Crystal Lake tears staining her face as Cloud let the woman's body drift to the bottom of the lake floor. His mako blue eyes dry, but holding so much recrimination and anger in them.

"After we finally defeated Sephiroth and stopped Meteor I noticed that Cloud never seemed to move on, he was always grieving or blaming himself. I wanted to help him and I tried but he was always holding back. Sometimes at night, I would stand outside his door and hear him talking to her in his dreams or talking about her. It hurt."

Reeve suddenly realized how much there was to this warrior woman that he didn't know and how strong and fragile she truly was. The happy smile she always had on was a mask to hide her true self, her true feelings. In all actuality she was scared to death for the man she loved, and she was in pain because she who has been by Cloud's side nearly all her life was beaten in the game of love by a woman he just met. He sighed; this whole thing was going to be harder than he originally planned on.

"Well, we both know that we need to find out if it's possible for it to truly be Aeris and I know you're not going to like this but I have also enlisted the aid of the Reno and the others."

Her wine red eyes flash in anger and she opened her mouth to retort.

"Don't you see it Tifa, we are going to need help if this isn't Aeris and it is Sephiroth and Jenova. We can't take them on just the two of us. Also there will be no guarantee that Cloud and the others will be in any condition to help. We need the Turks," he interrupts her before she could even begin to speak. She closes her mouth and thinks about what he had told her.

"How do you know the Turks will help us and what's to stop them from helping the other side? I mean they don't exactly hold Cloud and all of us in the highest regard."

He chuckles a bit at how she kept referring to the Turks as someone else when he himself was a Turk.

"Tifa, just to remind you I am a Turk too. Also to answer your question, I am the president that they work for and I am the reason they have a job. So they are not going to join the 'other side' as you put it, everything that happened in the past between you and them was because they were doing the job they were ordered to do. Overall they don't have an issue with any of you."

He winces slightly as he remembers his conversation with the other Turks earlier that day.

"What the hell you mean you want us to work with that bunch of do gooder asses?"

Reno's voice splits the air as he rants on about all of Cloud's deficiencies, Reeve tunes him out as he makes eye contact with Rude and Elena, somewhere in the back of his mind he wonders why Reno is talking about Cloud's penis size and how could he know it was small, before deciding that everything being shouted had no value to retain or listen to. Rude and Elena were the ones he had to convince to help, he could just order all of them but overall that would be detrimental to them actually helping because they would just do the bare minimum. Reno was currently bad-mouthing Barrett.

"This is something bigger than just helping Cloud and all of them. For all I know at this point time it could be Sephiroth himself trying to come back."

Elena's hands curl up into fists, he figured she was remember Tseng, Reno was shouting something about Vincent being a vampire and going to eat them. Rude was still focused on him.

"Tifa, will end up doing this all alone if we don't help," Reeve added softly for Rude's benefit.

"We'll do it," Elena said after a slight nod from Rude. He sighed internally glad that he had their support on it. Reno had finally quit insulting everyone, although Reeve noted that he had insulted everyone in AVALANCHE or even associated to Cloud with the notable exception of Tifa probably to save himself from Rude's wrath.

Tifa stares at him a little longer before nodding her consent to his plan with a sigh, working with the Turks just what she wanted to do.

"When do we start?"

"Now."

Things were going to get even harder for the two of them, although neither one of them was sure what would be harder. Finding out that it really was Aeris who was coming back to them or finding out that it wasn't.