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As Aerith walked away, into the lifestream forever, Zack by her side, Cloud could only do one thing. The one thing he'd never found the heart or mind to do. It was so simple, brought so much happiness, and yet he had never managed it.
So, as he said a silent farewell to his friends as they departed unto the planet, Cloud smiled. Warmth touched his lips, and he found nothing to do but smile.
Wading a little through the healing water, he stood waist deep in the water before all of his companions. His friends. Slowly, he climbed out and made his way over to Tifa, she stood beaming, her hands clasped behind her back, swaying gently.
"You're enjoying yourself huh?" She teased, her lips pursed into a pinched smile.
"Why don't you come play with the kids?" Cloud spoke. Tifa tried to raise her hands in protest... but as she did, Cloud whisked his arms beneath hers, and carried her protesting and giggling form into the water with a splash.
They pushed each other about for a while, before Denzel and his friends gave Tifa an unfair advantage and saw fit to use Cloud as a boat.
Meanwhile, Yuffie and Cid were prodding each other towards the pool.
'You go in with 'em!' Yuffie urged. 'Nuh-uh! Ladies first!' Cid replied.
Bickering for a while, it would finally be Vincent who acted as the voice, or arm, of reason, casually strolled past shoving the two into the water. He was about to make himself content leaned against a pillar on the other side of the chapel... when he was stopped, by a hand on his shoulder. A large... tightly gripping hand. Vincent had just enough time to turn his head in fear and gasp silently, as Barret Wallace dragged him into the pool with an enormous woop! Almost drowned by Barret's weight, Vincent emerged from the water gasping for air, and could've chastised the larger man, if the children didn't take up an interest in his cloak, as it floated about aimlessly behind him.
It wasn't long before the shocked, but sweetened parents of the now cured Geostigma children, joined in the festivites. Soon the whole church was filled with merriment and people soaked through to the bone.
Until at last... Barret and Cid, noticed the one person missing from this special reunion. One person on four paws... slowly slinking away in silence. Emerging from the pool like two great Leviathans, they chased Red XIII all around the chapel, as he yelped in fear like a terrified dog.
"This is so degrading...!" He pleaded, until Yuffie dragged him into the water, where his fur covered his face like a curtain of sticky red.
Everything was alright now. Everything was... happy. So as Cloud found himself surrounded by the family he never had, he felt he had to say something. Yanking Tifa towards him, he stared at her with his face beaming, and muttered just above earshot...
"It's really good to be home."
He was greeted by a loving embrace, and tears of joy as Tifa Lockheart wrapped her arms around him in a loving, if not drowning embrace. All cheered, and found their way onto the pile somehow.
Yes. Everything was perfect. Cloud was home.