Yasha: Alright, so, this was inspired by multiple depressing Clack vids, and the ending of FFVII Advent Children.

Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII. None of it! If I did, Zack wouldn't have died and him and Cloud would've been together.

As I looked around the old church, I couldn't really focus on any one thing. I saw the children, their parents, and all my friends. Well...not all of them...two - no, three - were missing. And they had been for too long, never to come back. Yuffie, Cid, Vincent, Tifa, Barret, Cait Sith, Red XIII, and Marlene were standing on the edge of the floor while Denzel was in the water along with me and the other children.

I didn't hear what was going on. I was too busy stuck in my mind on the 'what if's' and 'why's' to listen to the children cheer happily at being cured. It was Aeris' work, so I don't see why some thought it was my doing. I looked away from my group of friends sadly. It was always someone else's doing that saved everyone.

Alright, so, I killed Bahamuth Sin, and Sephiroth...again. But, I didn't do it alone. I had their help. Their support. My heart throbbed in pain and I brought my hand up to clench my shirt where my heart was. Because of Sephiroth, two of my friends died. And I ended up killing him. That time, I'll admit it was my fault.

I ignored the concerned looks I got as I continued to look around the old, abandoned church that used to have Aeris' flower garden in it. The place where I used to sleep. The pond of water that I was in with the children was where her garden used to be. The only place in Midgar under the plate where flowers would grow. I think it's because Aeris was an Ancient. She could talk to the planet. But, others didn't believe me... Said I sounded insane..

Who wouldn't be after seeing three of their friends die? I honestly wanted to ask them that. Something had held me back; I didn't let people see the sadness I held inside. No one really knew the whole pain caused by their deaths. And no one ever would.

Does that make me sound selfish? I wonder...what would it have been like if Sephiroth didn't defect? Would Zack have died about five years later? What about Aeris? Would she have died? If neither of them had died, would they have still been together? If not, would Zack... I shook my head, not wanting to go there. Not wanting to make the pain worse. Not wanting to relive their deaths anymore than I already did.

My gaze swept past the front door of the church and I was almost back to my friends, but what I had saw at the door caught up to my brain and my head whipped back so I could look again.

My eyes widened, my heart started to beat faster, my hand dropped to my side, and I felt my mouth go dry. I was just seeing things, right...? There wasn't any possible way that Zack was there, leaning against the door frame, was there? And Aeris! I saw Sephiroth stab her! She couldn't be making her way back to Zack, could she..?

Without thinking about it any longer, I took off running towards them, ignoring the pain I felt in my heart as I hoped that I wasn't just seeing things. I didn't hear the concerned cries from everyone. I had only one thing in mind. And that was getting to Zack.

I jumped up, out of the water, and was running towards the doors as soon as my feet hit the wooden floor. Once I was a little bit closer, I still wondered if they were real... They had to be! I couldn't stand the pain if it was just another dream.

I felt tears well up in my eyes. I had saw Zack being shot to death! How was he here now?

I threw myself at Zack once I was close enough. Much to my surprise, I collided with a solid, warm body. My arms went around his waist and I hid my face in his chest. I felt strong arms wrap around me.

"H..How...?" I asked, my voice shaking. I didn't look up at him, knowing that if I did, the tears that I was holding back would fall.

"It's been a while, huh Cloudy boy?" he asked, not answering my question. Almost as if he wanted to see me cry.

I pulled back anyway and looked up at him, ignoring the tears and the others that were right behind us. "But I saw you die!" I cried, letting go of his waist only to bring my hands up and clench the front of his shirt in them.

I bowed my head, my shoulders shaking slightly. "How are you alive..? When did you come back..? Why did you leave me alone for so long?!" I whimpered, the last question coming out almost a yell.

Zack pulled me to his chest. "I'm sorry, Chocobo..." he said, resting his head on top of mine while he held me tightly. "I can't stay for long... I was barely able to get the chance to come now..."

I pulled back, my cheeks were wet as more tears fell. "What?! Why?!" I shouted, shaking my head in disbelief.

Zack gently pried my hands loose and pushed me away softly. "I'm sorry... I've got to go now.. I don't want to..but I've got to..." he apologised, walking backwards away from me.

I shook my head. "No... No! Don't leave me! Not again!" I cried, running to him. A hand on my wrist stopped me in my tracks. I tried to yank my arm free, but the grip only tightened. I looked back and Vincent shook his head.

"You can't go with him, Cloud.." he spoke wisely, yet sadly.

My legs gave out and I fell to my knees, covering my face with my hands. "Why...?" I whispered. "WHY?!"

My hands dropped from my face and I looked towards the door to where Zack was barely visible. I reached for him. "Why...Why must you leave me? Why did you come back if you were only going to leave me again?" I asked. I almost didn't recognise my own voice.

Zack stopped walking and turned to face me. "It's not like I want to leave. I never wanted to in the first place. But...I'm not allowed to stay... You can't bring a dead person back to life..." He paused. "Okay...wait... That's hypocritical. 'Cause I'm here, aren't I? Hm... Let me put it this way... I was brought back, but only for so long..."

"How...long...?" I asked, trying to stand up.

"Long enough to tell you that things are alright. That you're not alone. You've never been alone." Zack said, smiling softly. "And that..."

"That what..?" I prompted, staggering towards him.

Zack waited until he could give me one last hug. "That...I'll be waiting for you. But don't go before your time comes, 'kay?" he said, ruffling my hair.

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the sobs I knew were soon to come. "Why...can't you stay? For good..?" I asked, once again but in a different way.

"The planet won't let him go, silly." a soft, twinkling voice spoke.

I looked behind Zack and saw Aeris. "But...why won't it let him go..?"

"That...not even I know.." Aeris shrugged.

"Maybe it's stubborn and it'll miss me?" Zack suggested to the two of us.

Aeris and I both whacked him on the head. "And maybe someone has a large ego." I retorted.

Aeris looked over her shoulder at something I couldn't see. When she looked back, she was sad. "Sorry Cloud.. But... It's time we leave." She gave me a hug and waited for Zack.

Zack looked utterly torn between going back and staying. Finally, he sighed. "Sorry, Spikey... Just do me a favour, m'kay?" he said, ruffling my hair.

"Hm?" I asked, looking up at him. I was crushed that he had to leave.

"Die of old age, or something. Just don't kill yourself on purpose. If you do, I'll make sure to find you and kill you myself, ya hear?" Zack said, looking very threatening causing me to flinch back a bit.

I nodded and latched onto him. He let out a chuckle. "C'mon, Spikey, lemme go." he said, trying to pry me off him.

Aeris let out a sigh. "Cloud." she said sternly. I let go and looked at her like a kicked puppy. That mental image made me snicker as they left.

Before they were completely gone, I smirked. "Bye Aeris! Bye Puppy!" I faintly heard Zack let out an indignant squawk before saying, "We'll be waiting...love.."

At first, I just thought I was hearing things. But then, Yuffie spoke up, "Love?" Without turning, I nodded. "Yeah... We are...were... Lovers... Until his death..." I answered quietly, my hand gripping something hidden under my shirt.

Tifa looked shocked and didn't know what to say. Vincent took the opening and spoke, "We'll wait for you back at the bar." Without looking, I nodded and left to go visit Zack's Buster Sword. For the final time. So I could live the remaining years of my life in peace with the memories I had of him. The good and the bad ones.

They were the only thing I was going to rely on from now on. That, and what I held clutched in my hand. His dog tags. He had given them to me while he had mine. It was a custom with SOLDIERs to give their dog tags to their loved one.

I'll admit that it's going to be hard to live without him, now that I've seen him since his death... But, maybe I'll move to Gongaga, his home town. Although...in doing that, I'd leave his Buster Sword behind... I guess I'll just stay here then. Until I die of natural causes.

I sat by his sword with a smile on my face, although it was tiny. "I'll come out here when it's your birthday...and mine..." I vowed quietly to Zack's sword as if it was him.

Yasha: So, what'd you think? Please review.