A/N; Shh, you don't have to tell me it sucks! I already know! Gosh! Yeahh, not my best, it worked better last night when I had it in my head, but I forgot how it went...soo here's the bad version! (:
"Aeris…" She stood there in front of him, her hands intertwined in front of her, smiling innocently. "I'm so sorry."
"Cloud," She tilted her head, slightly shaking it. "We've been through this!"
She moved closer to him, feeling his guilt was the hardest thing. If she could only prove to him that it was all okay… If only she didn't have to let him stand on his own now. She couldn't let the sadness show; she'd miss him dearly, much like Zack, who had yet to show his face. If only he would listen! Promises don't mean anything when they hit deaf ears; she touched his arm, staring up at him. Oh, Cloud…
"I-I can't help it…" He looked down, the flower field scene familiar and fresh in his mind. "I let you die…I didn't help Zack…and yet, they still call me a hero."
"Hey," Zack's arm snaked its way around Cloud's shoulders, finally. "Stop that, you are a hero, you defeated Sephiroth didn't you?"
"But…" Cloud turned to Zack, glancing up. "You should have been the one…"
Zack shook his head, Aeris waited patiently for Cloud to get the picture. He had all the strength in the world, but it was locked away and he's lost the key. Zack and Aeris could only guide him so far, regrettably for both of them. Zack seemed to be pondering the next move, and Aeris piped up.
"Cloud! Everything happens for a reason, I died and the planet lived, Zack died and you defeated Sephiroth, can't you see? It's not all bad!" She took Zack's hand and pulled him so they were both in front of Cloud. "And, I have Zack back…"
Cloud looked at them, trying to understand. Zack scratched the back of his head, nodding in agreement. Aeris hugged Cloud.
"We miss you too, and we'll be here for you," She shook her head. "We aren't gone forever."
She stepped back, and glanced up, he sort of seemed to understand. Zack nodded again, they'd be there waiting for his time. She gripped Zack's hand again, they had to walk away, it was so hard…
"We never blamed you Cloud," Zack shrugged. "I mean, what happened, happened. And we're fine, so just stop with the ball of angst looming around ya."
"Zack…"
Cloud watched them, as they waved him away, dissipating the scene. He wasn't ready for them to go, so many things he had to say. They were the real heroes, but they held him up like everyone else. Sure they never blamed him, but he blamed him, he couldn't do anything. His fist clenched as the whitened scene began to fade back into the bar. Selfish maybe, to want them to stay with him. Seeing them made him feel less 'angsty' as Zack put it. He glanced down.
"I still let you die."
"Dilly dally, shilly shally!" His two friends echoed at him, he smiled softly to himself. Maybe…
"Hey Cloud?" Denzel's curious voice, his eyes slid open and he stared at the child. "You okay?"
He just nodded, glancing over at Tifa, who shared a worried look with him. He shrugged.
"Dilly dally, shilly shally," He muttered.
